Happy Summer!
For those of you who had kids graduate this year from High School, how are you doing? I know I was a bit emotional when my oldest graduated but also so very proud! And those of you with kids heading off to high school in the fall best of luck! It is wonderful watching our children grow into the people they are meant to be, even if its also sad knowing they don’t always need us anymore.
✨ Here’s what’s inside this month:
🏰 Walt Disney World and Disneyland Updates
✨ What's New at Disney This Month
There's no shortage of Disney news this month! Whether you're planning a holiday vacation, dreaming about EPCOT festivals, or looking ahead to your next Disneyland adventure, I've got you covered. Here are some of the latest updates—and don't forget to click through to my blog for all the details.
🎤 2026 EPCOT Eat to the Beat Concert Series Lineup
The full concert lineup has been announced! See which fan-favorite artists are returning, who's making their Eat to the Beat debut, and start planning your festival visit around your favorite performances.
👉 Check out my blog for the complete concert schedule here!
🛍️ New Experiences Coming to Disney's BoardWalk
Disney's BoardWalk continues its exciting transformation with a brand-new lounge on the way, along with Basin, bringing its popular bath, body, and beauty products to the BoardWalk. These additions will give guests even more reasons to spend time exploring this lively entertainment district.
🤠 Toy Story 5 is Inspiring New Disney Magic
With Toy Story 5 now in theatres, Disney Parks around the world are celebrating everyone's favorite toys with special experiences, merchandise, entertainment, and themed offerings. It's the perfect time for fans to reconnect with Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the whole gang.
🎄 Holiday Planning Starts Now!
Disney has officially released holiday information for 2026, including dates for some of the most popular seasonal events.
This month's blog features posts for all of the following, you can see them all on my website: catherineattimelesstalestravel.com/blog
✨ Disney Jollywood Nights 2026 Dates, Tickets & Sneak Preview
🎅 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2026 Dates & Festive Details
🌎 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays 2026 Dates & Details
🎁 Holidays at Walt Disney World 2026: Christmas Lights, Festive Deals, Jolly Fun & More
🌅 Disneyland Updates
Over on the West Coast, there are even more reasons to visit Disneyland Resort!
Read more about:
✈️ California Skies to World Horizons: The Evolution of Soarin' at Disneyland Resort
🎄 Annual Holiday Ride Overlays and festive attractions returning for the holiday season
🛍️ The Ultimate Guide to Downtown Disney - your go-to resource for shopping, dining, and entertainment outside the parks.
Whether you're planning your first Disneyland vacation or your tenth, these guides will help you make the most of your visit.
Soarin’ Across America Fun Fact: The production team traveled over 28,000 miles, with nearly 900 helicopter passes and over 60 drone passes contributing to the production.

Disney+ Perks Members: Save on Select Packages
Disney+ Perks members save up to 25% on rooms and get free Park Hopper benefits added to their ticket when they purchase a 4-night, 4-day room-and-ticket package at select Disney Resorts
September 25 to October 8, 2026
October 19 to 31, 2026
November 15 to 28, 2026
December 13 to 24, 2026
Save Up to 20% on Rooms
Save up to 20% on select rooms with the Disney Resorts Collection this holiday season—for stays:
Most Sunday to Thursday nights from October 4 to November 19, 2026
Most nights (including weekends) from November 22 to December 24, 2026

🌟 Save Up to 15% on Select Stays at a Disneyland Resort Hotel
Be immersed in the magic throughout your visit, save up to 25% on select rooms types of 4 or more nights at a Disneyland Resort hotel, from May 22 through September 7, 2026. Subject to availability and restrictions. Book by Aug 25, 2026
Save up to 15% at:
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Disneyland Hotel
The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
Save up to 10% at:
Pixar Place Hotel
🌴 All-Inclusive Insights
Not All All-Inclusive Resorts Are Created Equal
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is, "An all-inclusive is an all-inclusive."
The truth is, every resort has its own personality, and finding the right one can make the difference between a good vacation and an unforgettable one.
Some resorts are designed with families in mind, featuring waterparks, kids' clubs, splash pads, and activities from morning until night.
Others are perfect for couples, offering adults-only pools, romantic beachfront dinners, spa experiences, and a quieter atmosphere where you can truly unwind together.
If luxury is what you're after, there are resorts with butler service, gourmet dining, private plunge pools, and premium amenities that elevate every part of your stay.
For food lovers, some properties are known for exceptional dining, with multiple à la carte restaurants, international cuisine, wine pairings, and even celebrity chef-inspired menus.
Looking to relax and recharge? Wellness-focused resorts often offer yoga classes, healthy dining options, world-class spas, and peaceful surroundings.
If you enjoy live entertainment, themed parties, and vibrant nightlife, there are resorts that come alive after the sun goes down.
Travelling with young children? A resort with an incredible waterpark, lazy river, and family-friendly entertainment can keep everyone smiling from sunrise to sunset.
And for those looking for peace and quiet, an adults-only resort provides a more tranquil atmosphere that's perfect for honeymoons, anniversaries, or simply reconnecting.
The destination matters, but choosing the right resort matters just as much.
That's why I take the time to get to know my clients before making recommendations. By understanding your travel style, budget, and what you want your vacation to feel like, I can help match you with a resort that's the right fit for you, not just one that's in the right destination.
🚢 Cruise Corner

Extend Your Vacation with a Cruise Tour
Did you know that with many cruise lines, your vacation doesn't have to begin and end at the cruise terminal?
Many cruise lines offer Cruise Tours, which allow you to add a land vacation before or after your cruise. These packages combine the ease of cruising with the opportunity to explore destinations in greater depth, with hotels, transportation, and many excursions arranged for you.
Cruise tours are a fantastic option if you've always wanted to see more than just the ports of call.
Some of the most popular cruise tour destinations include:
🏔️ Alaska
One of the most popular cruise tour destinations. Continue your adventure inland by visiting Denali National Park, riding the Alaska Railroad, spotting wildlife, and spending time in Fairbanks or Anchorage.
🍁 Canadian Rockies
Pair an Alaska cruise with a journey through Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. This is an incredible way to experience some of Canada's most breathtaking scenery.
🌺 Hawaii
Extend your vacation by spending a few extra days exploring one or more of the Hawaiian Islands before or after your cruise.
🏛️ Mediterranean
Why not spend a few nights in cities like Rome, Barcelona, Athens, or Venice before setting sail? You'll have more time to experience the local culture, cuisine, and iconic landmarks without feeling rushed.
🦁 South Africa
Some cruise lines offer packages that combine a cruise with a safari, giving you the chance to experience incredible wildlife before or after your sailing.
A cruise tour is a wonderful way to make the most of your vacation, especially if you're travelling a long distance to reach your cruise departure port.
If you've ever thought, "I wish I had more time to explore," a cruise tour might be the perfect option for your next adventure.
🎢 Universal Orlando & Hollywood Updates
Universal has been busy, and there are plenty of exciting announcements for theme park fans! Whether you're planning a family vacation, dreaming of visiting Epic Universe, or counting down to Halloween Horror Nights, here's what's new.
Universal Kids Resort Opens July 1
Universal has officially opened the doors to its first-ever theme park designed specifically for families with young children in Frisco, Texas.
Universal Kids Resort brings beloved characters to life in seven themed lands, including:
🧅 DreamWorks' Shrek's Swamp
🦖 Jurassic World Adventure Camp
🧽 SpongeBob SquarePants' Bikini Bottom
🍌 Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club
🎤 TrollsFest
🐱 Puss in Boots Del Mar
🏠 Gabby's Dollhouse at the Isle of Curiosity
Families can also stay at the brand-new Universal Kids Resort Hotel, located just steps from the park and designed with young families in mind. If your little ones aren't quite ready for the larger Universal parks in Orlando, this could be the perfect introduction to the Universal experience.
✨ A New Nighttime Spectacular Comes to Epic Universe
Beginning July 7, guests visiting Universal Epic Universe can end their day with an all-new nighttime spectacular, Universal Celestial Goodnight.
The show promises to transform Celestial Park with:
💦 Dancing fountains
✨ Nearly 600 synchronized lighting fixtures
🌈 Millions of LED lights throughout the park
🎆 A breathtaking fireworks finale
🎶 An original musical score celebrating the worlds of Epic Universe
The nighttime spectacular will feature nods to each of the park's incredible lands, including:
🍄 SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
🐉 How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
🪄 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
🧟 Dark Universe
It looks like the perfect way to end a day exploring Universal's newest theme park.
👻 Halloween Horror Nights Gets Even Bigger
Universal continues to reveal this year's Halloween Horror Nights lineup, and it's already shaping up to be one of the best yet.
🌑 Stranger Things Returns
Fans will once again journey into the Upside Down as Stranger Things Season 5 comes to life in an all-new haunted house.
Guests will encounter iconic locations from the final season, including:
🕰️ The Wheeler House
🔬 Hawkins National Laboratory
🌑 The Upside Down
⚫ The Abyss
Along the way, they'll come face-to-face with Demogorgons, terrifying creatures, and of course... Vecna.
🔥 Hellraiser Makes Its Halloween Horror Nights Debut
For the first time ever, Hellraiser is coming to Halloween Horror Nights.
Inspired by the original film trilogy, this all-new haunted house will transport guests into the terrifying world of Pinhead and the Cenobites.
Fans can expect scenes inspired by:
📦 The infamous Lament Configuration puzzle box
👹 The Channard Institute
🔥 The Labyrinth
⛓️ Iconic moments from the first three Hellraiser films
Even better, Doug Bradley, the original actor behind Pinhead, returns to voice the character for the haunted house experience.
✨ From My Travels:

As many of you know, we try to take a family trip every year, and this year we're heading back to Florida at the end of October!
We'll be spending time at Walt Disney World, attending Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (one of my favourite special events!), and then setting sail on the brand-new Disney Destiny for Halloween on the High Seas. Needless to say, we're counting down the days!
It got me thinking about our last October trip to Walt Disney World back in 2016.
That trip turned into something we never expected... we experienced Hurricane Matthew.
At the time, it was the first hurricane to close Walt Disney World since 2004. We were under a resort curfew, restaurants switched to boxed pick-up meals, and like everyone else, we really didn't know what to expect.
Looking back now, I'm incredibly grateful for the Disney Cast Members. They stayed on property with guests while many couldn't be with their own families. I'm sure responding to a hurricane wasn't something they had to do often, but they worked so hard to keep everyone informed, fed, and as comfortable as possible. Disney also did everything they could to help guests who were unable to arrive or leave as planned.
Was it stressful? Absolutely.
Did everything go according to plan? Not even close.
But it also reminded me of something I share with my own clients.
Travel doesn't always go exactly as planned.
Flights get delayed. Weather changes. Unexpected situations happen. The most important thing is remembering why you took the trip in the first place.
For us, it was about being together.
There is no one else I would have rather weathered that storm with than Andrew, Madison, and Savannah.
Years later, we don't remember the inconvenience nearly as much as we remember being together. We still laugh about moments from that trip, like this photo of Savannah. After waiting in line for hours to pick up our meals, she was so hungry she climbed right onto the table, ready to dive into the food before we even had a chance to sit down.
Sometimes the vacations that don't go exactly as planned become the stories you tell for years to come.
Here's hoping this year's October trip is a little less eventful... but just as memorable.
🧳 Travel Quote of the Month:
“Live life by the needle of a compass, not by the hands of a clock”.
Ryan from Wanderers compass
📰 Additional Travel Highlights
Flights to Cuba Remain Suspended
If you've been considering a vacation to Cuba, there's an important update you should be aware of.
Several Canadian travel suppliers have announced that flights to Cuba will remain suspended until further notice due to ongoing operational challenges on the island, including aviation fuel shortages and infrastructure issues. Affected suppliers are contacting travellers with existing bookings to discuss alternative travel options, refunds, or rebooking opportunities.
What does this mean for travellers?
If you already have a trip booked to Cuba, don't panic. Your travel provider or airline should contact you directly with the options available to you. If you booked through me, I'll be reaching out to guide you through the available choices and help make the transition as smooth as possible.
Looking for a similar vacation?
If Cuba was your destination of choice because of its beautiful beaches, warm weather, and great value, there are still plenty of fantastic alternatives to consider, including:
🌴 Mexico
🏖️ Dominican Republic
🌺 Jamaica
☀️ Costa Rica
🌊 Aruba
💙 Barbados
Each destination offers its own unique experiences, and I'd be happy to help you find an option that fits your travel style and budget.
As always, travel is constantly evolving, and I'll continue to monitor updates so I can keep my clients informed. If you have questions about an upcoming trip or are considering alternative destinations, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to help every step of the way.
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 your travels be filled with new memories.
Adventure awaits!
Catherine

