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- Beyond the Pixie Dust: Issue 06
Beyond the Pixie Dust: Issue 06
Your destination for tips, tricks, deals, and news on all things travel
Catherine at Timeless Tales Travel
November 03, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes
✨ The Holidays Are Coming to Disney! ✨
The most magical time of the year is almost here at Walt Disney World Resort! Starting this month, the parks transform with twinkling lights, festive parades, and seasonal treats that make the holidays unforgettable.
This year, there are two special after-hours holiday parties to experience:
🎄 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom
🎬 Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
I’m so excited to share that I’ll be attending both this December! Our family has always loved Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, it’s a classic filled with snow on Main Street U.S.A., hot cocoa, and one of the best Christmas parade around. And after enjoying Jollywood Nights last year, I can’t wait to return for a second time to soak in the glitz, music, and holiday magic Hollywood-style!
There’s so much more happening across the parks, too, like the return of EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays, where you can taste seasonal dishes from around the world and enjoy joyful performances that celebrate holiday traditions.
And if you’re heading west…
🎆 Holidays at the Disneyland Resort run from November 14, 2025, through January 7, 2026, featuring limited-time 70th Celebration fun and festive experiences that fill both parks with cheer!
Whether you dream of Mickey-shaped gingerbread, dazzling decor, or sipping cocoa while watching fireworks, the holidays at Disney are truly something special.
If you’re thinking about planning a trip for the holidays, now’s the time to start!
✨ Tip: With your after hour event tickets you can get into the park early and start enjoying the park before the party.
 | Save Up to US$250 Per Night on a 4-Night, 4-Day Room-and-Ticket Package✨Save up to US$250 per night on a 4-night, 4-day (or longer) Walt Disney Travel Company room-and-ticket package at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels, for stays most nights from February 22 to July 25, 2026. Other savings are available for stays most Sunday to Thursday nights from January 4 to February 19, 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) Restrictions apply |
🌴 All-Inclusive Spotlight
Bahia Principe Grand Tulum
   | Located along the stunning Caribbean shores of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, Bahia Principe Grand Tulum is surrounded by lush tropical beauty and offers the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. This vibrant, family-friendly resort is full of activities to enjoy—whether you’re lounging by the pools, playing on the beach, or exploring everything the resort has to offer. This resort is conveniently accessible from both Cancún International Airport and Tulum International Airport, giving you more flexibility when planning your getaway. Guests staying at Bahia Principe Luxury Sian Ka’an, Bahia Principe Grand Coba, or Bahia Principe Grand Tulum receive exclusive discounts at the PGA Riviera Maya Golf Course—home to an 18-hole Championship Course, a Twilight Championship Course, and a 9-hole Executive Course. Whether you’re dreaming of beachside relaxation, family fun, or a round of golf in paradise, Bahia Principe Grand Tulum is a fantastic choice for your next Riviera Maya escape. |
🚢 Cruise Corner
🌊 Weathering the Storm: What to Know About Cruising During Hurricane Season
Last month, Disney Cruise Line announced changes to itineraries for both the Disney Treasure and Disney Wish due to Hurricane Melissa, which was still a tropical storm at the time of the announcement. I wanted to take a moment to highlight this because it’s an important reminder for anyone considering cruising during Hurricane Season (June through November).
When a storm develops in the Atlantic or Caribbean, cruise lines like Disney take proactive measures to ensure the safety and comfort of every guest onboard. This often means adjusting itineraries, changing ports of call, modifying sea days, or even reversing the order of destinations. While it can be disappointing if your ship can’t visit a specific island you were looking forward to, these decisions are always made with your safety in mind.
If you’re already onboard when a storm arises, you can rest assured that the Captain and crew work closely with meteorologists to navigate away from the path of the storm. They’ll find calmer waters and alternative ports when possible, keeping guests informed every step of the way. Disney Cruise Line, in particular, has an excellent reputation for communication and guest care in these situations.
As a travel advisor, I always remind my clients that flexibility is key when sailing during hurricane season. The silver lining is that this time of year often brings fantastic rates, fewer crowds, and some beautifully calm days at sea between storms. With a little understanding and preparation, you can still have an incredible and safe vacation experience.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to cruise during hurricane season or how Disney handles these weather changes, feel free to reach out! I’m always happy to share insight and tips for planning your next voyage.
 | 🚢✨ Canadian Residents: Save Up to 35% on Select Sailings✨🚢 Calling all Canadian residents! Embark on an unforgettable Disney cruise and take advantage of special savings of up to 35% on prevailing rates as quoted by Disney Cruise Line for select stateroom categories. |
  | ☀️🏖️ Their easiest (and most epic!) beach day ever is coming soon! 🏖️☀️ Opening December 23, 2025, Royal Beach Club℠ Paradise Island is where families can soak up sunshine, splash in the surf, and enjoy endless fun — all with Royal Caribbean’s signature style. 💦 Compete in Captain Cool’s Coolympics for island-sized bragging rights From family competitions to soft-serve by the sea, it’s everything you love about a beach day — made easier, bigger, and way more fun. This all-new private island experience opens soon and is available to book now! |
🎢 Universal Orlando & Hollywood Updates
The Holidays Are Coming to Universal Orlando Resort
Get ready to unwrap the excitement of the holiday season at Universal Orlando Resort! From November through early January, the parks transform into a festive wonderland filled with larger-than-life parades, holiday treats, and unforgettable shows.
🎄 Experience the Magic:
Watch your favorite characters in Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, catch the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, and see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ come alive with dazzling lights and music straight from the films.
🎶 Holiday Cheer for All Ages:
Sip on hot butterbeer, stroll through beautifully decorated streets, and take in all the joy that only Universal can deliver.
Whether you’re Team Minion, Team Grinch, or Team Potter, there’s no better place to celebrate the holidays together than Universal Orlando Resort!
 |
Bundle your hotel and theme park tickets to get stacked savings of up to 30%* off the Flexible Rate at a Universal Orlando hotel on a 5+ night stay. Plus you'll also save up to $200^ with an automatic Bundle and Save discount. |
Staying at a Universal Premier resort hotel (Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, or Loews Royal Pacific Resort) includes a free Universal Express Unlimited Pass for all guests in the room, valid from the day of check-in through the day of check-out.
✨ From My Travels:
 | This is a little different from my usual travel updates, but it’s a reminder to all parents out there: we only have so many years to make memories with our kids. We have a trip planned for December, heading first to Universal Orlando and then to Walt Disney World for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights. With our oldest off to college this year, we carefully planned the trip around her December break. But she was recently accepted into the Campus Emergency Response Team, which requires a week of training from Dec 15–19, right in the middle of our Universal portion. While our flights are flexible, our party tickets are non-refundable, so we’ll go as planned. I won’t lie, it has broken my heart, I’ve literally cried over it but the good news is she’ll be joining us after her training. It may look a little different this year, but I’m grateful she’ll still be part of the trip. So, to anyone holding off on a vacation, my advice is this: don’t wait. Life is too short. The memories you make together are what truly matter. |
🧳 Travel Tip of the Month:
Be present, enjoy your time together, remember it won’t be perfect but it’ll be perfect for you.
📰 Additional Travel Highlights
Start Planning Your Next Vacation
With the holidays just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning your next getaway. Whether it’s a relaxing cruise, an unforgettable theme park adventure, or an all-inclusive escape to a tropical paradise, there is a world of travel waiting to be explored.
I can help make it simple and stress-free by researching destinations, providing personalized quotes, and taking care of all the details. That way, you can focus on the fun part, daydreaming about your trip, packing your bags, and maybe even figuring out how you’ll wrap it and sneak it under the tree!
No matter your travel style or destination, I’m here to help you create magical memories with your family while taking the worry out of planning.
Ready to plan your next escape?
Reply to this email or click here to request a quote:
📧 [email protected]
💻 catherinestravels.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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