Pixie Dust Blog

The real question isn't simply whether Universal Nights is “worth it.” It's whether this particular version of Epic Universe fits the way your family wants to spend its time and vacation budget. Let's dive in.

Last updated: September 2026 If you know Walt Disney World well, a Disneyland trip can scramble your usual ride list. Some names are familiar, some familiar rides feel completely different, and some attractions are only in California. With two and a half park days, we wanted to spend our time on the experiences we couldn't simply repeat on our next Disney World trip. California was doing its best impression of Walt Disney World in July during our September trip. Temperatures

This page is updated weekly with the most recent Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando park news, including attraction updates, event announcements, closures, construction permits, and planning changes. Each section below is labeled by week, so you can quickly scan the latest updates or scroll back to earlier news from this month. Let's dive in.

Our 2026 Oogie Boogie Bash Map & Printable Cheat Sheet adds the planning details we wanted at our fingertips: villain-hosted treat trails, the characters meeting at each traditional character location, rotating character areas, Villains Grove, PhotoPass locations, Halloween ride overlays and Madame Leota’s route—including the full-performance show stops.

Oogie Boogie Bash is not Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party West. Let's dive in.

The Practically Perfect Pixie Dust fam only started dipping our toes into the Halloween Horror Nights world a few years ago. Kim and College Boy are the horror fans in our family, so they have been the brave ones heading into the fog while Bren and Lyn, our resident scaredy-cats, stay somewhere safely out of chainsaw range. Kim and College Boy love the spooky atmosphere, the elaborate houses and the general mayhem of HHN. They are also, affectionately, the travel princesses o

Well, Disney has done it. They have announced a resort that I am already mentally checking into almost a year before it opens. Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, being built in the former River Country. Let's dive in.

Disneyland uses the familiar Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass names, but the way they work in California is very different from the system we know at Disney World. So we did what we love to do: researched until everyone else’s eyes started to glaze over. Let's dive in.

They’ve been dropping hints for the last couple of weeks, but it is finally here; Disney Cruise Line has released its Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 itineraries. We’ve got new ports to sail from, new itineraries, and the return of a few favorites. Let's dive in.

Last night Disney held their D23 Parks Panel, the highlight of the D23: The Disney Ultimate Fan Event for Disney Park fans, giving us a glimpse behind the curtain at all the exciting things planned for Disney Parks around the world. Let's dive in.

We're following the Imagineering reveals coming out of D23 and looking specifically at what they may tell us about future Walt Disney World park layouts and vacation planning. Let's dive in.

On our most recent Walt Disney World trip, we finally experienced Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour at Magic Kingdom. This five-hour, behind-the-scenes tour is one of the only opportunities for regular guests to visit the famous utilidors beneath the park We had wanted to do this tour for a long time, but just could never squeeze the expereince in. However our 4th of July trip was slightly longer than our typical ones, and we decided it was finally time to dive in.

Whether you're wondering if the crowds are really as bad as you've heard, which park is the best choice for July 4th, or how to survive the Florida heat without melting into the pavement, here's everything you need to know before celebrating Independence Day at Walt Disney World. Let's dive in.

Disney has just released several new offers that can help make those magical vacations a little more affordable. Let's dive in.

If you're thinking about a Universal Orlando vacation in 2027, you can officially start planning! Universal has opened 2027 vacation packages, hotel reservations, and ticket packages, giving families their first chance to price out next year's trips. Along with those new packages comes a change to the discount structure that many Universal fans have been watching closely. Let's dive in.

This week Disney revealed the official story behind Monstropolis, the new Monsters, Inc. land coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Rather than simply walking into a movie setting, guests will be arriving during a citywide celebration. According to Disney, the event marks the first time humans have been officially invited into Monstropolis. Let's dive in.

If you’re trying to decide between Disney Alaska cruise itineraries — or simply wondering what the ports are like — here’s a full overview of the main Alaska stops, some planning tips we’ve already learned, and a few things that surprised us during the planning process. Let's dive in.

After months of planning, packing layers, and watching weather forecasts, we finally sailed to Alaska aboard the Disney Magic… and wow. Glaciers, whales, mountain scenery, cozy ship days, unforgettable port adventures… this trip absolutely lived up to the hype. Here's a photo sneak peak into our adventure.

Disney has announced major changes coming to Carousel of Progress in Magic Kingdom, including a new Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic introduction, refreshed show scenes spanning new eras, and a newly imagined vision of the future. The attraction is expected to close in July 6, 2026 for refurbishment and reopen sometime in 2027. Let's dive in.

Packing for an Alaska cruise is completely different from packing for the Caribbean. Instead of nonstop pool days and beachwear, Alaska cruises are all about layers, waterproof gear, cozy sea days, glacier viewing, and being prepared for weather that can shift from sunshine to misty rain in a matter of minutes. Let's dive in!