Beyond the Pixie Dust: Issue 05

Your destination for tips, tricks, deals, and news on all things travel

Author

Catherine at Timeless Tales Travel
October 06, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes

How are we in October already!

With fall in full swing and Thanksgiving on the horizon, are you already planning your holiday traditions? 🦃 Whether it’s family dinners, cozy nights in, or dreaming about your next getaway, this season is all about slowing down and making memories.

This month’s newsletter is packed with all-inclusive favorites, cruise updates, and travel tips to make planning your next vacation simple and stress-free.

✨ Here’s what’s inside this month:

🏰  Walt Disney World and Disneyland Updates

🎃Spooky Season will be ending later this month at Disney Parks and the transformation to the Holiday Season will begin! ❄️

One of my favorite things about Disney is how quickly the parks transform from one season to the next. Almost overnight, the pumpkins and fall décor are replaced with sparkling lights, festive garlands, and that extra bit of holiday magic that makes everything feel so special.

At Walt Disney World, you can still enjoy the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, which is the perfect way to taste your way around the world before the holidays arrive. Check out the Foodie Guide for it here.

Next month, the celebrations continue with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights. Both are full of festive shows, treats, and plenty of holiday cheer that you really do not want to miss.

Over at Disneyland, the Food and Wine Festival will return in 2026, but this year the parks will still shine with beautiful holiday décor and that magical seasonal atmosphere.

Whether you love the cozy feel of Halloween or the joy and sparkle of the holidays, Disney has a way of making every season unforgettable.

✨ Tip: Visiting Magic Kingdom on more than one day during your trip? Be sure to check which day the park closes early, that usually means there’s a party happening that night. We’ve noticed ride lines are often much shorter on these days


Save up to 25% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels this spring—for stays most nights from February 22 to April 30, 2026.

Plus, enjoy additional savings on select nights from November 9, 2025, to February 19, 2026.

This offer is available at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels (see chart for details).

✨ Take Advantage of a Ticket Offer Too!
Canadian residents can save 25% on 4-day (or longer) Walt Disney World theme park tickets. Even better—you can combine this ticket offer with the room promotion to create a room-and-ticket package for arrivals:

  • Select dates: November 9 – December 12, 2025

  • Most dates: January 4 – April 30, 2026

🌟 Special Disneyland Resort Ticket Offer for Canadian Residents! 🌟

Don’t miss this magical opportunity! For a limited time, Canadian residents can purchase specially priced 3-, 4-, or 5-day tickets to the Disneyland Resort—starting at just $77 USD per day (ages 3+).

📅 Valid for visits May 16 – December 31, 2025 (Subject to theme park reservation availability)

Save Up to 20% on Select Stays at a Disneyland Resort Hotel

Restrictions apply

🌴 All-Inclusive Spotlight

Hotel Villas Playa Samara

 Hotel Villas Playa Samara – Costa Rica 

Nestled between lush jungle and the calm waters of Samara Bay, this family-friendly resort is perfect for both relaxation and adventure.

Enjoy a sprawling pool with a swim-up bar, beachfront sunsets, and prime snorkeling conditions. Kids will love the games room, while adults can unwind at the Morphos Spa ($).

Spacious villas that sleep up to six make it easy to feel right at home after a day of fun in the sun.

🚢 Cruise Corner

Celebrity River Cruises

Celebrity has transformed the way we sail the oceans, and now they are bringing that same modern luxury to the rivers of Europe. With Celebrity River Cruises, you will sail through storybook landscapes, vineyard-lined hills, and castle-topped towns while enjoying the thoughtful touches and elevated service that make Celebrity so special.

Itineraries include journeys along the Danube and Rhine, featuring iconic cities like Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam, and Strasbourg. You can even celebrate the magic of the Christmas Markets on select sailings. Every cruise includes daily shore excursions, locally inspired dining, complimentary Wi-Fi, and select drinks, so you can focus on soaking in the culture, history, and unforgettable scenery around you.

This is river cruising reimagined, and it is available for booking.

🎉 Celebrate the Bold Way 🎉

Take every celebration to the next level with Royal Caribbean. From birthdays and bachelorettes to anniversaries, guys’ getaways, or just because, it’s always a party onboard.

Sail on Oasis Class favorites like Wonder of the Seas and the brand-new Utopia of the Seas, both departing from Florida. Indulge in epic dining, unwind with maxed-out relaxation, and dance the night away with nonstop entertainment.

And when you arrive at their private island Perfect Day at CocoCay, the fun gets even bigger. Think adrenaline-pumping water slides, adults-only beach vibes, and plenty of laid-back Caribbean chill.

From ship to shore, Royal Caribbean makes every occasion unforgettable. 🚢✨

NCL’s Hotel Program

Here’s how they compare:

Hotel Program 

Ideal for travelers who want to save and don’t mind letting NCL handle the details.

  • NCL selects your hotel from a curated list

  • Hotel details shared 30 days before sailing

  • 3- to 4-star accommodations

  • Room & taxes included

  • Book up to 120 days pre-cruise

Hotel Plus Program 

Perfect for travelers who prefer choice and added perks.

  • Guest selects their preferred hotel from available options

  • Hotel details confirmed at booking

  • 3.5- to 4.5-star accommodations

  • Room & taxes included

  • Bellman gratuities included

  • Transfers between hotel & pier included

  • Breakfast at select partner hotels

  • Book up to 60 days pre-cruise


🎢 Universal Orlando & Hollywood Updates

🌙 Volcano Bay Nights – Happening Now! 

Experience the thrill of Volcano Bay after dark! Enjoy rides, a live DJ, games, and character meet-and-greets at this exclusive nighttime event—running now through the end of the month.

Don’t miss the fun under the stars!

🎈 Universal’s Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s 🎄

From Nov. 21, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026, catch larger-than-life balloons floating through the streets of Universal Studios Florida! Meet the Minions from Despicable Me and some of your favorite characters from DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek and Madagascar. It’s a festive celebration the whole family will love!

For package arrivals 05/22/25-12/31/25, save up to $200^ when you bundle a 2 night or longer hotel stay with a 3-Park PLUS 1-Day Universal Epic Universe Ticket

For package arrivals 01/01/26-12/31/26, save up to $200^ when you bundle a 2 night or longer hotel stay with a Park-to-Park Ticket

When you stay at one of the 11 Universal Orlando Resorts, you get exclusive theme park perks.

✨ From My Travels:

💙 Why I’ll Never Regret Traveling With My Kids 💙

I will never regret taking my children on trips. I am so glad we didn’t wait for them to reach a “perfect age” before we started exploring the world together. Time flies, my oldest is now in college, and I know our travels will start to look different. She may not always be able to join us, or she might have to come later because of her own schedule and obligations.

But I treasure the memories we’ve made. Traveling when they were young gave them so much more than just vacations. They learned how to navigate airports, go through security with confidence, try new foods, and meet people from different places and cultures. These experiences have set them up to be independent, curious, and comfortable stepping out into the world on their own.

For me, that’s what travel is really about, sharing moments, building confidence, and creating memories that last a lifetime. ✨

“When you travel with children you are giving something that can never be taken away: experience, exposure, and a way of life.” – Pamela Chandler.

🧳 Travel Tip of the Month:

  • When visiting a new destination, make sure you know what’s required for entry, like visas, vaccinations, or other travel documents. Your travel agent can guide you through all the details so your trip goes smoothly from start to finish

📰 Additional Travel Highlights

Experience the ultimate journey with a Transatlantic Cruise

From relaxing days on deck to world-class dining and entertainment, these cruises offer the perfect blend of adventure and luxury. Explore multiple ports, soak in breathtaking ocean views, and enjoy the unique rhythm of life at sea.

Whether you’re starting or ending your vacation in Europe or North America, a transatlantic cruise is more than a crossing, it’s a chance to make memories that last a lifetime.

Experience the ultimate journey with a Transatlantic Cruise

Ready to plan your next escape?
Reply to this email or click here to request a quote:
📧 [email protected]
💻 catherineattimelesstalestravel.com
👉 www.timelesstalestravel.com/catherinem

Thanks for being part of this journey. Until next time, keep dreaming, exploring, and may your travels be filled with new memories.

Adventure awaits!
Catherine

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