Dollywood Diamond Pass

Dollywood typically begins selling passes for the next season in the fall. Purchasing a pass at this time is the best deal you will see. However, it can be confusing trying to determine which pass is the right one for you and your family. In my Is A Dollywood Season Pass Worth It post, I looked at the value of being a season passholder at any tier. Today, I am finally looking at the value of the highest and most expensive tier available – Diamond!

I renewed my Gold pass in 2025 by upgrading to the Diamond pass for 2026. Dollywood allows you to begin accessing their pass savings immediately. So, I’ve been using this pass for almost a year now and have a pretty good idea of its benefits. Then again, Dollywood has a tendency to change up their passes and benefits from year to year. So, let’s jump into its benefits and its costs.

Media Events

I think the main benefit that everyone was most excited about with the Diamond pass was the possibility to be invited to a press event with Dolly in attendance. In order to get a ticket to those events, you had to be a member of the press OR a Diamond Passholder. I was hopeful for an invite for the 2026 season opening event since I’ve been a Passholder off-and-on for several years. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive an invite to that event. So, I wouldn’t recommend getting a Diamond pass just to gain access to those events. Going forward, I don’t know that everyone will be as excited to attend a media event since Dolly has passed. Dollywood also doesn’t explicitly mention this perk being available in 2027.

Bring-A-Friend Passes

It used to be that pretty much every Passholder got to bring friends to the park for free. Now, they have practically done away with that unless you are a Diamond Passholder. So, if you are planning to use your pass to bring friends, then you will have to pay more by selecting the highest tiers of passes. For 2027, the Diamond passholder will receive 4 free Bring-A-Friend tickets for Dollywood or Splash Country. Meanwhile, Gold Passholders receive 1 for Dollywood. Silver doesn’t receive any.

Discounts

I’d say the other big perk of being a Diamond Passholder is the discounts. Diamond Passholders receive the biggest discounts in the parks and at the resorts. Diamond Passholders currently receive a 20% discount on food and merch as well as on resort stays (when available). I will admit, I purchased several shirts last Christmas and it was nice to get that 20% off each one! Unfortunately, the prices at the resorts have been so high on recent visits, that it was much cheaper to stay off-site and park at the the park (we get free general parking worth $25/day) when visiting. So, I haven’t been able to use the passholder resort discounts.

Free Drink Cup

If you purchased a Diamond Pass early on, then you received a special All Season Drink Cup! This year’s was a pretty purple featuring the new ride! You can get free refills in the cup, which can save lots of money. Unfortunately, I drink almost exclusively water, so that perk wasn’t as attractive to me personally.

Free Popcorn?

Diamond Passholders were previously allowed to redeem a coupon for one free cinnamon bread per month. However, that perk has been taken away in 2027. Now, Diamond Passholders will receive a Popcorn Bucket with Free Season-Long Refills. It’s not yet known what the popcorn bucket will look like. It’s also personal opinion if being able to get popcorn all season long is more valuable than a free loaf of bread each month. I don’t eat much popcorn and never buy it in a park. Although, I will eat a loaf of cinnamon bread, but I actually haven’t been able to redeem mine this year yet. I guess I better get on that before it goes away.

New Perks for 2027

Dollywood has added a few new perks for passholders in 2027. Both Gold and Diamond can park in Lot F, based on lot availability. Additionally, both tiers will be able to sit in reserved seating at shows in DP’s Celebrity, Showstreet Palace, and Pines theaters. It remains to be seen how that will be handled. Diamond is also being given a one-time Preferred Parking perk. Lastly, all three tiers are receiving a one-time Expedited Entry on NightFlight Expedition and a Passholder Lanyard.

Is the Dollywood Diamond Pass worth it?

Honestly, I think it’s difficult to say the Diamond Pass is worth it for most folks. I paid $399.16 for my pass last year, but haven’t gotten to access many of its perks. My mom and I did enjoy the discounts last December. Plus, we visited the waterpark for the first time this year (look for a post on that next year). I guess the real value of this pass for me is in the park entry. My mom and I went in August (very briefly because it was too hot) and are getting ready to visit in October. So, that’s two days each. I guess that’s worth around $260 for Dollywood entry and then $60 for Splash Country entry. Then, we used $75 in parking fees since it comes with free parking ($25/day). I feel confident we used at least $4 in discounts.

The math on this one is hard. You really need to be a local and to use all of the free passes to get all of its value. Have you ever had a Dollywood Diamond Pass? Did you feel it was worth the money paid?

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Universal Terra Luna Resort

In 2025, Universal Orlando opened three new resorts located near the newest theme park, Epic Universe: Stella Nova, Terra Luna, and Helios Grand Hotel. Last year, I stayed at Universal Stella Nova Resort while previewing the park. This time, I opted to stay at its sister resort – Terra Luna! Located across the street from one another and featuring a slightly different take on space, they are both considered Prime Value resorts. This means they tend to have more affordable rates while being a step above the Value Inns and Suites.

Standard Room

Similar to Stella Nova, Terra Luna features double queen rooms only. It also features space themed decor. However, Terra Luna tends to feature more browns/oranges with its focus on the lands in space. The rooms themselves are nearly identical to the rooms at Stella Nova. However, the decor is slightly different.

While I was able to get a theme park view (instead of pool view), I still heard a good bit of noise. I was on the 9th floor, near the elevator, with a view of Epic Universe. Even though I was nine floors up, I kept hearing the buses coming and going with their beeping right under my window. I also heard the elevator every time someone came to my floor. Then, I heard people talking and/or running the hallways. While I loved the view of the theme park and enjoyed watching the fireworks, it wasn’t the quietest room I’ve ever had.

I will say that there was the same issue with the lights/air turning off that I had at Stella Nova. On this visit, I had some lights turn off when I was sitting in bed on my phone once. Then, the room was often warm when I got back to the room from being in the park. The first night, I started with the thermostat at 69 before I left the room. However, when I got out of the shower, I was still hot. I bumped the thermostat down to 67 to get the air working and noticed the thermostat said the room was still 71 even though I had been in the room for a while. So, something to keep in mind at these two resorts.

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Pros

• Affordable Rates – I paid $414 total for a Thursday and Friday night in mid-September. Not bad.
• Theme Park Views – It was neat to sit in my room and look out at Epic Universe. It was really cool to be able to watch the fireworks at Epic from my room.
• Newer Hotel – Everything was in working order and still looked shiny and new here.
• Park Transportation – While it’s only bus transportation here, it’s still nice to have.
• Fun Space Theme – I enjoyed the space theme here, just as I liked it at Stella Nova.

Cons

• Bus Transportation Only – There are lots of other hotels on property that allow you to walk to 1-2 parks quickly. Also, some have boat transportation. This one has only bus transportation as you can’t easily walk to Epic from here.
• Longer Ride to Other Parks – It took 15-20 minutes to reach City Walk and the other parks. It took 20 minutes if the bus was shared with Stella Nova.
• Shared Bus – Sometimes, Stella Nova and Terra Luna share buses. When this is the case, Terra Luna is picked up first and dropped off first. That means it will take longer to reach the park.
• Lack of food options – This hotel has only one quick service restaurant and no walking access to other options. I had the Seasonal French Toast one morning and it was pretty good. However, I didn’t see much on the lunch/dinner menu that interested me.
• Odd Air/Light Settings – I’m sure it’s for environmental/economic reasons, but the air will cut off when you aren’t in the room. The lights may also go out when you don’t move.

Should you stay at Universal Terra Luna?

I found Terra Luna to be a completely acceptable resort. However, I think there are better resorts on property. I would prefer Aventura or Sapphire Falls due to the boat transportation, proximity to the other parks, and access to different food. If you can get a good rate here though, it’s perfectly fine. It’s a good resort to save a few dollars while still being on property and it’s better than Surfside or Dockside. So, have you stayed here yet?

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HHN Scream Early

In prior years, I had an Annual Pass to Universal Orlando. So, I could enter the park whenever I wanted. However, I haven’t had an AP to Universal in a few years. This new Scream Early ticket sounded good to me. It gave me entry to the park at 2 PM and access to some houses early. So, I purchased the add-on ticket for $74.55, including taxes and headed on my way.

Sidenote: A tip I gave in my Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando: Tips for Anxious Folks post years ago was to get acquainted with the park and its layout before the sun goes down. This new Scream Early ticket allows you to walk around the park during the day and spot where the scare zones, food booths, shows, and houses are. I highly recommend entering early if you are a nervous person.

Early Entry Houses

As I stated above, I was able to enter the park at 2 PM. However, due to the heat and rain, I opted to wait until closer to 4 PM to enter the park. Immediately upon entering the park, I headed towards Strangers Things since three houses open at 2 PM for Scream Early attendees. I could have also entered the lines for Hellraiser or Jack & Oddfellow as those also open at 2 PM. After a really reasonable and pretty quick 20 minutes or so wait, I was able to complete the Stranger Things house.

Opening at 5:15 PM, I lined up for Ozzy Osbourne’s house an hour early around 4:15 PM. Thankfully, Universal has opened additional sound stages for guests to wait in this year. So, I sat in a cool area for about an hour. Then, the line started moving and we went back outside for another 20-30 minutes. I was done with my second house by 5:50 PM. Then, I hopped over to the Tribute Store and purchased an Ozzy shirt.

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Early Food

After knocking out the two houses I wanted to do, I headed towards some food. The food booths in Gramercy Park opened early. So, I got the Deathbringer Tempura Shrimp to enjoy around 6. Then, I walked around and got the Fried PB&J Bites around 6:20 PM. By 6:30 PM (the official start time for the event), I was sitting down enjoying some Pork BBQ Eggrolls from Sinners!

Is HHN Scream Early worth it?

As I stated above, the HHN Scream Early ticket is perfect for folks who want to wander around and get comfy in the park before it gets dark. It’s also perfect for folks who want to hit up multiple houses. The main drawback is the heat/sun and possibly afternoon storms. However, as I have proven, even if you wait until almost 4, you can still accomplish a lot before the event officially begins! I highly recommend this ticket and thought it was a great deal. I was able to see two houses, eat some food, and grab some merch before the event even began!

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2026 Unmasking the Horror

Back in 2023, I went to Halloween Horror Nights to see the Stranger Things house. While there, I did the Daytime Lights On Tour and posted a review of that experience. I’ve gotten a couple of comments on that post over the years, so when Stranger Things and Ozzy was announced for 2026, I decided that a trip back to UO was in order! Today, I want to go over my experience and compare it to 2023’s tour.

I’ll start by pointing out that in 2023, I received an email from Universal with a list of houses included on the tour. This year, that wasn’t the case. I booked my tour after someone posted on the HHN subreddit claiming that both Ozzy and ST were on the 6 house tour. So, I don’t know if that’s a permanent change or not. However, I would have preferred some communication from UO stating the houses. Nonetheless, the list the person shared on Reddit was correct.

Once again, this tour is listed as a 5 hour tour. I selected a 10:15 AM slot in order to sleep in some after attending HHN the night before. My tour wrapped up a little after 4 PM. So, I guess the new time guidelines are a little over 5 hours of tour, plus 45 minutes for the included lunch. Also, you have lunch after the 4th house instead of the 3rd now.

This year, the six house tour included: Sinners, Stranger Things 5, Evil Dead Burn, Ozzy Osbourne, Jack & Oddfellow, and Madlands. New for 2026 is that each tour did the houses in the same order, just 15 minutes apart. That way, all of the tour groups cleared the houses that open early for Scream Early (Stranger Things and Jack & Oddfellow open at 2 PM).

Light On Tour Before Lunch

We started out with Jack & Oddfellow. Our tour guide walked us through the story for the house and used his flashlight to show some of the effects in the house. Next up, was Stranger Things. I was happy that we were allowed to take so many photos in this house. Unfortunately, you can’t take photos in the scene where Will uses his powers against a Demogorgon for the first time. I loved being able to photograph the Wheelers kitchen though. Then, we paused for a restroom break.

Afterwards, it was time for Evil Dead Burn. No one in our group had seen the movie, so the guide walked us through the house and the storylines. Our tour guide made it seem interesting enough. I was impressed that he told us that a Universal creative hand-drew some of the artifacts in the room to match a book given to Universal from the film’s folks.

Then, it was time for Ozzy’s house. Unfortunately, we were only allowed to photograph in the first and last rooms of this one. I would have loved to have taken a photo of the train, but that wasn’t included. It was neat to see the little Easter eggs or references to various albums/songs in this house.

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Tours After Lunch

We had a 45 minute break for lunch before heading over to Sinners. Once again, we couldn’t photograph a really big scene here: inside Club Juke. However, it was neat to see how the club can appear to be on fire.

Lastly, we toured Madlands. This was an original house that allowed you to photograph to your heart’s content. Unfortunately, I wasn’t really into the premise and didn’t feel compelled to take many photos here. I was impressed with Universal creating a park map and tickets for this fake zoo. So, props for attention to detail. It just wasn’t for me.

Lunch

In my previous review of this tour, I mentioned the stress of having to find lunch during the tour’s break. I’m happy to report that Universal heard our complaints and added a lunch buffet to this tour. Granted, the cost of the tour has increased significantly since I took it three years ago. However, a large part of that is probably going towards the food. It was great to not have to run around looking for food and being scared of missing part of the tour.

We were given 45 minutes to eat lunch. Unfortunately, I was on the last tour group of the day and they were literally taking down the buffet as we entered. In fact, we didn’t get a chance to try all of the food because they ran out and didn’t replace it. So, if food is important to you: don’t book the last tour.

The food itself was ok. I enjoyed some salmon, chicken strips, broccoli, and ravioli. I also liked the pumpkin pie. Supposedly, there were some crepes, but I never even saw them on the buffet. Again, I felt like it wasn’t right that they were clearing the food before we had a chance to eat.

Should you book a 2026 Unmasking the Horror Tour?

I paid $276.89 for this tour, after taxes. That’s a pretty good chunk of change. It also took almost 6 hours to complete the tours. I think it’s worth it if you are a big fan of one of the IPs, HHN in general, want to take photos in the houses, or are interested in seeing how the houses are built. However, I don’t think it’s necessarily a must-do to enjoy the event given the cost and time.

So, have you done a 2026 Unmasking the Horror Tour?

The post 2026 Unmasking the Horror 6 House Tour Review at HHN appeared first on Laughing Lindsay.

Astra Lumina at Anakeesta

Let’s start by going over the basics of this event. Anakeesta is a mountain top adventure park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. While I’ve never done a post dedicated to Anakeesta, I have mentioned it in Spring in Pigeon Forge, TN, What To Do in Fall in Gatlinburg, TN, and Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains posts as a place to visit during those seasons. In the springtime one, I even mentioned Astra Lumina when it first arrived at Anakeesta. So, it was nice to finally be able to return to the location and see this event for myself.

Astra Lumina bills itself as “an enchanted night walk amongst the stars.” Astra Lumina has set up various night time lighting shows around the world for over 10 years. Back in 2022, Astra Lumina arrived to Anakeesta. Currently, they have installations in Gatlinburg, Istanbul, and Gold Coast.

Considering this is an event put on by an outside company, this is an upcharge event at Anakeesta sold as an add-on to your regular day ticket. A regular ticket to Anakeesta costs around $33-40/adult. Astra Lumina costs an additional $18.99 per person and you purchase a ticket for an arrival window. Arrival windows begin around sunset.

The Night Walk

Astra Lumina at Anakeesta features 9 different light experiences. Each one tells a part of a story about stars falling to Earth, regenerating, and rising back up. Each installation has additional music or sounds with a short show. Most of the stations have seating for you to enjoy the show. It took us about 50 minutes to see all 9 spots, but we could have taken longer.

My mom and I weren’t sure what to expect with this experience. However, we both really enjoyed it. I think our favorites were the Stardust Rays and Stellar Visions. Each part was enjoyable and unique. My mom initially compared it to viewing Christmas lights, but I think that’s an over simplification. It’s a chance to connect with nature and enjoy being outdoors. It’s a chance to think about how vast the universe is and how small we are. This experience can be enjoyed with loved ones or alone. It was the perfect ending to a hot summer day.

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Tips

• Take a break – Most sections have benches to sit on. I highly recommend sitting down to view the shows when you see a bench. It’s also great for folks who tire easily since you don’t have to walk too far to the next area. Bonus: no stairs.
• You can purchase tickets ahead of time – We didn’t buy tickets online because we weren’t sure of our plans. In fact, we ended up at Anakeesta because I got a text message at 4 PM notifying me that the restaurant we were supposed to eat dinner at was closed due to technical difficulties. We pivoted and ended up going here. I’m so glad that we did.
• You can enter early – Anakeesta allows you to enter Astra Lumina 30 minutes prior to your arrival time. Since we bought tickets the day of, we ended up with the last time slot of 9:45. However, they allowed us to enter at 9:15 PM.
• Take your time – I was worried that things would be crowded since we had the last time slot. However, I think it worked out to our advantage. Most of the people had cleared out by the time we came through. There were some people around, but it definitely wasn’t crowded.
• Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes – I wore sneakers and was very happy with that decision. While you are on walking paths, you are still out in nature. Plus, there was a bit of an incline at the end.

Is Astra Lumina at Anakeesta worth it?

I think Astra Lumina at Anakeesta is worth the added cost for most folks. I think it’s perfect for older children and adults. Young kids may not get the story or get bored. Younger folks may get tired as well with the event taking place at night. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves and were happy we experienced it.

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Animal Kingdom Table Service

For those who are just becoming acquainted with Walt Disney World dining, table service restaurants are sit down restaurants. This is compared to quick service ones which are meant to be quicker and simpler. I recently posted a Magic Kingdom Table Service Restaurants guide and a Hollywood Studios Table Service Restaurants Guide. So, today I am moving over to a third theme park – Animal Kingdom. It has four fun options!

Tiffins Restaurant

I’ll start with the nicest restaurant in the park – Tiffins. It is a fine/signature dining experience. As such, it is supposed to be an elevated experience with a higher price tag. In fact, this restaurant requires 2 Table Service credits to eat here on the Disney Dining Plan. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to try this restaurant. I typically don’t frequent signature dining experiences when visiting Disney. I’m usually more of a regular table service person due to costs. However, Tiffins seems like a great restaurant to celebrate a special occasion in Animal Kingdom.

Rainforest Cafe

I last ate at Rainforest Cafe in December 2023 with my mom. I shared a whole Rainforest Cafe Breakfast at Animal Kingdom Review, where I go into the details of the fun of eating here. Suffice it to say, I think the animals fit wonderfully with Animal Kingdom. It’s a great cool, dark place to get out of the heat of the AK. Plus, they actually serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner here. The thunderstorm that occurs every 20-30 minutes is neat too. I will say that the food is just ok. I think that you can find much better food at the other restaurants in the park.

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Tusker House

Tusker House is a character buffet wherein the buffet features some African-inspired dishes and the characters wear safari themed outfits! I previously reviewed this location in my Tusker House Breakfast Review. Pro tip: booking around 10:15 AM will allow you to sample both breakfast and lunch dishes for a breakfast price. I enjoy that this buffet carries some good basic dishes while also providing some elevated dishes with a Lion King theme and African flavors. Plus, the characters are great!

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Yak & Yeti

Lastly, we have Yak & Yeti! Unfortunately, I’ve had the pleasure of eating here only once and that was several years ago. My husband and I enjoyed what we ate here. It just hasn’t worked out to return here. When I do, I will definitely write up a separate review. What I most remember from my one meal here was the fried wontons for dessert. It was a fun and tasty dessert that I’ve never had anywhere else. I also recall the pot stickers being really good too.

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Animal Kingdom Table Service Restaurants

So, there’s a quick look at the four table service restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Which of these four is your favorite?

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Greystone Lodge on the River

When we booked our Pancakes and Penguins experience at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, we wanted to stay somewhere close to the aquarium. Well, it doesn’t get any closer than the Greystone Lodge on the River! It’s located directly beside the aquarium! It also had some affordable rates when we booked in late May for our August trip. So, it seemed like a no-brainer.

The Queen/Queen Executive Room

At this hotel, they refer to a standard room as an executive room. We managed to snag a rate of $155/night, which we thought was a great rate! We were delighted with the hotel’s location as it gave us easy access to the Aquarium and Anakeesta. The hotel itself is older but has a few recent updates. My bed left a little to be desired. A spring would make a noise every time I moved. The tub was pretty deep and my mom had some issues getting in and out since there wasn’t a grab bar. However, I really enjoyed the balcony with a view of the river! We felt the room was adequate for the two night stay.

We were tickled to discover that we could remain parked at the hotel on check-out day until 3 PM. So, we left the car parked at the hotel while we visited the Aquarium. It worked out nicely.

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Pros

• Location – This is located on the main drag of Gatlinburg and beside the aquarium! It’s also directly across the street from Anakeesta! It’s perfect for exploring the town.
• Affordable rates – I think anything under $200/night is considered a good value.
• Free breakfast – While the area is known for its pancake houses, it is nice to have breakfast included. That way you can start your day without looking for food or waiting in line. I enjoyed a biscuit with gravy.
• Free parking – Anyone who’s been to Gatlinburg knows what a hassle parking can be in Gatlinburg. So, it’s great to not have to worry about that when you stay here. Also, the parking is very close to the rooms, so it’s easy to carry things in and out.
• Good housekeeping – We only stayed two nights, but they still made our beds and replaced our towels. I can’t say that happens everywhere these days.
• Balconies overlooking the river – Many of the rooms here have a great view of the river. I only wish it had been cooler so we could have spent more time on the balcony.

Cons

• Older hotel – While most things have been updated recently, it’s still an older hotel.
• Deep tubs – It can be difficult for older folks to get in and out of these deep tubs without a grab bar.
• Low garage – The garage for the hotel has low ceilings. So, no big vehicles can park here.

Is the Greystone Lodge on the River worth it?

I think the value of things tends to be subjective. However, I think this hotel is worth it if you are on a budget and want to be in this area. Its location is ideal for exploring Gatlinburg and the free breakfast is perfect for families. If you want something a little more modern or upscale, maybe pass on this one.

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Pancakes and Penguins

Pancakes and Penguins is a new-ish addition to the offerings at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. For $99 + Tax for Ages 3+, it’s an early morning activity that includes admission to the aquarium. Held once or twice a month, you are served a buffet breakfast and are allowed to see some penguins!

We booked this experience back in May for August. A few months out, the event was booked up. However, when I checked back later, there was additional availability. So, if you want to book this experience but it appears full, keep checking back as people may cancel.

The Breakfast

Before the event, every group is assigned a table number. You are told your table number and its location when you check in. At the table is a bag containing a penguin painting for each guest! So, that was a nice start to the meal.

Breakfast was a small buffet of items. It included: pancakes (duh!), eggs, bacon, fried potatoes, fruit, coffee, apple juice, and orange juice. The pancakes were seemingly frozen and heated up. I highly recommend using some butter and syrup to make them good. The friend potatoes were pretty good. The eggs weren’t bad. I had a piece of bacon, but I typically eat turkey bacon. So, I probably shouldn’t judge that. Haha! I got a bottle of orange juice, which was as expected. Overall, the food wasn’t bad. It was probably about what you would expect from a hotel’s free breakfast. While not groundbreaking or gourmet, the meal was basic but filling.

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The Penguins

In addition to the breakfast, you get to see two penguins. We got to take a photo with a penguin too! They attempted to begin the breakfast with everyone getting a photo with a penguin. However, the penguins weren’t initially interested in sitting for photos. So, they allowed everyone to eat breakfast first and come up by table/group to take pictures during the breakfast. Afterwards, the penguins walked around the tables as an employee told us facts about penguins. Towards the end of the hour, they had the penguins go around for some additional photos with guests.

Ending

At the conclusion of the program, you are free to explore the aquarium at your leisure! Having just visited the Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach last year, we knew what to expect here. We picked up our included free photo prints with the penguin and started touring the aquarium at the beginning. This way, we ended our visit back at the Penguin Playground. It was neat to spot one of the penguins we met (Tessa) in their habitat. Then, we exited through the gift shop where we both purchased a penguin ornament and t-shirt to commemorate the experience.

Is the Pancakes and Penguins experience worth it?

At $99 per person, this experience is not cheap. However, it typically costs $42.99 for aquarium tickets. This also includes breakfast, a picture with a penguin, a penguin painting, and some information on penguins. My mom and I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. We both felt that the price paid was more than worth what we got in return. It’s not everyday you get close to a penguin! If you have a penguin fan in your family, then I think you should book it.

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Hash Brown Casserole

As I stated in my My Grandma’s Broccoli Casserole Recipe, I make these two casseroles at Christmas every year. My aunt carries on the tradition by making them for Thanksgiving and other family gatherings at her home. I know there are several variations out there, but this is the one we like.

This recipe was passed down from my dad’s mom. She’s also the person responsible for the Grandma’s Rhubarb Pie Recipe on this site. Most of her recipes are in fact simple and affordable. She was great at stretching a dollar to feed a family. I can only hope someone else out there needs this recipe for a get together or as a side dish at dinner. I associate it most with holidays and get togethers, but it would be a good side dish for a larger family’s dinner.

Print

Hash Brown Casserole

An easy recipe for casserole involving frozen hash brown potatoes!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword Easy, Potatoes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 32 Oz Package Frozen Shredded Hash Brown Potatoes Thawed
• 3/4 Cup Butter Melted
• 1/2 Cup Onion Chopped
• 1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup Undiluted
• 8 Oz Carton Sour Cream
• 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 2 Cups Corn Flakes

Instructions

• Thaw the hash brown potatoes.
• Chop the onion.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 2.5 quart casserole dish.
• Melt 1/2 cup butter. Set aside remaining 1/4 cup.
• Combine potatoes, 1/2 cup melted butter, onion, soup, sour cream, and cheese. Stir well and spoon into casserole dish.
  32 Oz Package Frozen Shredded Hash Brown Potatoes, 1/2 Cup Onion, 1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup, 8 Oz Carton Sour Cream, 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Crush cereal.
• Melt remining 1/4 cup butter.
• Stir cereal into the remaining 1/4 cup of butter.
  2 Cups Corn Flakes
• Sprinkle cereal/butter mixture over potato mixture in dish.
• Bake for 50 minutes.

Tips

Similar to my note on the broccoli casserole recipe, the measurements in this recipe can be a little off from what’s available in stores now. This recipe calls for a 32 oz package of potatoes. However, I often grab a 30 oz package at Kroger or even a 26 oz package at Walmart (NOT an ad). Additionally, the old recipe called for a 10.75 oz can of soup, but soup comes in 10.5 oz now. So, just know that it’s virtually impossible to mess this recipe up even if you can’t find the exact amount it calls for. I mean who’s had too many potatoes or too much cheese in a casserole?

Also, my family uses 2.5 quart rectangular glass dishes to bake casseroles, but you could probably use a bigger size or a different shape with success.

Please let me know if you make this hash brown casserole in the comments and what your family thought of it!

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Disney World Halloween vs Christmas

I’ve seen lots of folks online wondering if they should plan a trip to Walt Disney World during the fall months to experience Halloween or wait to experience Christmas. Today, I’d like to help people decide which one is right for them by comparing Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!

The Decor

Let’s start with the most obvious difference – the holiday decor! For Halloween, you can expect to see Main Street decked out in orange with lots of pumpkins! Plus, there’s fun character pumpkin wreaths around the park. For Christmas, there’s garland and Mickey wreaths. Don’t forget the huge tree at the front of Main Street!

For me, I think I prefer the Halloween decor because it’s unique. I can see Christmas wreaths back home and around town. However, you don’t see near as much fall decor or specialty fall wreaths around.

The Entertainment

I wrote a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide with Tips a few years ago and took a look at all of the different entertainment options at the party. From a parade to fireworks and special castle stage shows, there’s lots to see and experience. My Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Review briefly touched on the entertainment at its party. However, it is very similar offerings at the Christmas party, with fireworks, a parade, and stage show too.

Again, I would pick Halloween for this one. However, I feel like lots of places offer good Christmas shows that the whole family can enjoy. Once again, I think it’s harder to find a good Halloween offering that is family friendly.

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The Treats

Who doesn’t love to go trick-or-treating? I love visiting the Halloween party and coming away with a full bag of candy! It’s fun to go around the park and see what all goodies you can get! The Christmas party hands out cookies and drinks. I enjoy that too. However, I can eat several pieces of candy and only a few cookies. Full disclosure: the vast majority of candy and cookies typically come home with me to be enjoyed for days to weeks to come.

I think the candy has to win due to being able to enjoy several different pieces of it versus just a few cookies.

Outfits

Lots of folks dress up in costumes for the Halloween party. I enjoy sitting on Main Street and watching people walk by in their outfits. At Christmas, people wear a variety of Christmas outfits. Typically, it’s a Christmas shirt/sweater or pajamas. I think the Halloween costumes are more fun.

Ambiance

Halloween will get some of the catchy tunes stuck in your head “It’s really not so scary…. boo to you!”. However, there’s something special about watching it snow on Main Street! So, I’ll give Christmas this one.

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Weather

Unfortunately, Halloween takes place during hurricane season. So, you will have to deal with the heat and potentially storms if you visit during Halloween. By Christmas, hurricane season is mostly over and it’s cooled down. I’ve got to hand this one to Christmas. Granted, it can be chilly at Christmas parties, but I’d rather deal with that than the heat of summer/fall in August.

Other Offerings

People can visit just for the parties, but they often visit the other parks on their trip. So, I will say that Halloween is mostly concentrated at Magic Kingdom. Epcot will have Food & Wine in the fall. Hollywood Studios may have a few Halloween treats and their character dining gets a Halloween layover. Animal Kingdom usually doesn’t do much of anything, but may get a few Halloween treats.

Christmas at Disney is a whole thing. Every park has special decor and events! Hollywood Studios has Jollywood Nights. Epcot has Festival of the Holidays. Animal Kingdom has the merry menagerie. Disney Springs even has specially themed trees! The resorts get in on the fun too with special trees and decor.

So, if you are wanting a full holiday experience, then you have to go at Christmas!

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Should you visit Disney for Halloween or Christmas?

I love visiting Disney for both holidays. However, I’ve been hard pressed to find a comparable Halloween experience. Meanwhile, I love Christmas and can be happy with the offerings at lots of different places. So, I will vote for Halloween but just know that I don’t think there’s a bad answer here. You are going to Disney and it’s going to be great!

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Disney World Skyliner Resorts

For those who don’t know, the Skyliner is a gondola transportation system in Walt Disney World. In connects four resorts and two theme parks (Epcot and Hollywood Studios). Today, I want to highlight those four resorts. I have personally stayed at three of them, but have visited all four multiple times.

Pop Century

I’ll start with the resort I’ve spent the most time at: Pop Century. It was the second resort I stayed in at Disney World and I’ve stayed here many time since that first 2014 visit. It’s a laid back resort that harkens back to various decades of the 1900’s. It’s considered a value resort and will typically offer the lowest nightly rates of any hotel on the Skyliner. It’s great for adults on a budget as they tend to enjoy the nostalgia of years gone by. You can read my full Disney’s Pop Century Resort Review to get a better idea of its pros and cons.

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Art of Animation

Across the water from Pop Century is Art of Animation! While technically classified as a value resort, it’s the most expensive value resort with its highly themed rooms and family suites. I’ve stayed here twice, both times in a Little Mermaid standard room. My most recent stay was in December 2025 with my mom. You can read about that adventure in my Disney World Little Mermaid Rooms Review. Additionally, I posted a Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Review a few years back with a closer look at the resort as a whole.

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Caribbean Beach Resort

There’s one moderate hotel on the Skyliner – Caribbean Beach Resort! I’ve stayed here a few times as well. It is the hub hotel for the Skyliner as both the Epcot and Hollywood Studios lines meet here. I posted a Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Review a while back. However, I will say that my biggest complaint about this resort is its size. It’s a sprawling resort with lots of rooms and buildings.

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Riviera

Lastly, there’s the newest hotel on the Skyliner and it’s a Deluxe/DVC resort – Riviera! I haven’t been so lucky as to stay here yet. However, I love how compact this hotel is. I have enjoyed Topolino’s Terrace Character Breakfast a few times here. If you have the funds, I’m sure this is a wonderful resort to stay at!

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Bonus: Epcot Resorts

Technically, the three resorts behind Epcot aren’t considered Skyliner resorts. However, Boardwalk Inn, Yacht Club, and Beach Club are all walking distance to the Skyliner station at Epcot. Granted, those resorts can also take a boat or walk over to Hollywood Studios as well. It’s just worth mentioning that it’s a transportation option for those three resorts too.

Disney Skyliner Resorts

So, there you have it. The four Disney World Skyliner Resorts are: Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, and Riviera! Which one is your favorite?

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Dollywood’s Ember & Elm Restaurant

For those who don’t know, Dollywood’s Ember & Elm Restaurant is located at Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge! It is the primary sit-down restaurant located at this newer hotel at Dollywood. I stayed at HeartSong for two nights back in 2025 and enjoyed several meals here. I’ve also returned once more to get the cinnamon bread French Toast with my mom on a separate trip when we weren’t staying here! In this review, I will look at both breakfast and dinner.

Note: I have not posted my review of the hotel yet, but feel free to look at my DreamMore Resort review.

Breakfast

During breakfast, you can have the buffet or you can order a la carte from the menu. I have done both options. The buffet, lovingly called the Heartsong Breakfast Table, is currently $24/adult. It includes a variety of options including pastries, cereals, eggs, sausage, waffles or pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and an omelet station. I thought the breakfast flatbreads were a unique and tasty option. I also liked getting an omelet made to order. Overall, it’s definitely a great way to kickstart your day with lots of choices for everyone. I truly think there’s something for everyone on this buffet.

The other morning of my stay, I tried the chicken and waffles. I liked that they have the option to make it spicy. However, I went with the classic. I found it to be sweet, but not overly so. I enjoyed the chicken for some protein.

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I also must mention the Cinnamon Bread French Toast that you can only get here! It was very good. In fact, it wasn’t on the menu when I stayed here, so my mom and I made a trip over here when we visited the area on a separate trip just to try it. If you like the cinnamon bread found in the park, then you will like this. It is sweet, but very good. Although, I recommend getting a side of some protein for balance.

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Dinner

While the breakfast menu tends to remain roughly the same, the dinner menu switches up seasonally with the park’s festivals. However, you always begin the evening meal with some biscuits, butter, and pepper jelly. I really enjoyed those biscuits with jelly and think about them whenever I think about eating dinner here.

For dinner one night, I selected a festival item that consisted of a piece of fish wrapped in pastry. It was so good! It was accompanied by asparagus and potatoes. I really enjoyed this meal. In fact, it was some of the best asparagus I’ve ever had. However, it was a lot of food. I took the leftovers back to my room.

The other night of my stay, I tried a brick oven-fired flatbread. I believe it was the Margherita one. It was a basic pizza flatbread, done well. The edges were a little too crispy for me, but it tasted good. I would love to try some of the seasonal options in the future.

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Should you eat at Dollywood’s Ember & Elm Restaurant?

I have enjoyed everything I’ve ever eaten at this restaurant. I think it’s a must do, particularly if you are staying at this resort. It’s so convenient to go down a few floors for a meal and then walk back to the room. I don’t know that it’s worth going out of your way to try this place though. Although, the cinnamon bread French toast is unique and good. So, if you want a breakfast that screams Dollywood without much wait, then this might be a good option for you.

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Solo Universal Orlando

Several years ago, I posted Halloween Horror Nights Solo Tips to help people who were considering attending HHN by themselves, like I did. However, I never posted about visiting the parks by yourself during the day. So, I thought I would share a quick list of tips for making the most of a solo trip to the Universal Orlando parks!

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Tips

• Move at your own pace – I say this in every solo travel post, but it’s true. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to set your own pace or change your mind without needing to explain it to someone else.
• Ride as many rides as you want – If you want to try to ride every ride in a particular park, go for it! If you want to take it slower and see some shows, do that!
• Consider Single Rider Line – There are several rides at each park that feature a special Single Rider Line that you can take advantage of to ride rides sooner!
• Eat wherever and whenever you want – If you want to take the time to eat at a sit down restaurant, then do that. If not, grab something quick and keep moving!
• Have a list of things you want to do – You don’t have to have an exact schedule (unless you want one), but having a general idea of things you’d like to experience is always a good idea!
• Enjoy a show or parade – Solo trips are great for making time to see a show or parade!
• Visit with characters – I love seeing characters on solo trips because I don’t feel bad for making someone else wait.

Going to Universal Orlando Resort Alone

As you can see, the possibilities for a solo Universal Orlando trip are endless! So, what are you going to do on your trip?

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Disney Springs Resorts

I previously posted a Magic Kingdom Resorts Guide, Epcot Resorts Guide, Disney Hollywood Studios Resorts Guide, and an Disney Animal Kingdom Resorts Guide looking at the official on-site hotels located near those theme parks. However, there’s still one other location to consider when booking your hotel – Disney Springs! For those who don’t know, Disney Springs is Disney’s shopping and dining district. Unlike the parks, you don’t need a theme park ticket to visit Disney Springs. Plus, if you stay at one of these four hotels, you can take a boat over to Disney Springs (instead of a bus)!

It’s worth mentioning that are lots of off-site hotels located near Disney Springs. However, this post is going to look at just the four Disney owned ones.

Old Key West

Old Key West is a sprawling DVC/Deluxe Resort. In fact, it was the very first DVC resort that Disney built. That’s why the resort’s main hall and restaurant have much more of a family/community vibe. It was meant to entice folks to buy into DVC and make repeat stays here as members. I stayed here once, back in 2019 by myself. It was a relaxing trip that I remember fondly as I was in desperate need of a pick me up to chill out and this location provided just that. The blog image above was taken on the balcony of my room here. Although, you do have long bus rides here as this resort has multiple bus stops.

I have enjoyed the table service restaurant here, Olivia’s Cafe a few times. They have some good fried chicken and fantastic bananas foster dessert! If that doesn’t suit your fancy, you can always go over to Disney Springs to enjoy a plethora of dining options there!

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Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

I have stayed at the moderate Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter multiple times. In fact, I would call it one of my favorite Disney Resorts. You can read a full review in my Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort Review. However, I can summarize that post to tell you that I love how compact this resort is. There’s only one bus stop here and you don’t have to spend all night walking back to your room. Plus, there’s warm and tasty beignets! Yummy!

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Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

This is a moderate sister resort to French Quarter. Riverside is another sprawling resort with multiple stops. I have stayed here a few times as well. I posted a Disney Port Orleans Riverside Resort Review as well for a more in-depth look at this resort. I also enjoyed dinner here and detailed it in Boatwright’s Dining Hall Review.

They used to have princess themed rooms, which I reviewed in my Disney World Princess Room Review. However, those rooms have been refurbished and are now called “Royal Guest Rooms”. The update looks modern and clean with a few embellishments. The headboards still have some fun touches as well.

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Saratoga Springs Resort

Lastly, there’s another Deluxe/DVC – Saratoga Springs! It’s very similar to Old Key West in that it’s large with multiple bus stops and boat transportation to Disney Springs. However, it’s themed after the late 1800’s in New York versus Florida. Unfortunately, I’ve never stayed or even eaten here. Perhaps, someday I will visit and update this post with a more detailed look at it.

Should you stay at a Disney Springs Resort?

I think Disney Springs Resorts are great if you plan on visiting Disney Springs. The boat transportation is really nice. I think all of these resorts make lovely options for adult only trips as their themes are more laid back. However, all but the French Quarter are pretty large with multiple bus stops. So, have you stayed at one of these resorts? What did you think?

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Hollywood Studios Table Service

Before we dive into the options, just a reminder that Disney calls sit down restaurants table service. If you are on a Disney Dining Plan with Table Service Credits, then you can use the credits at one of these restaurants. I previously posted a Magic Kingdom Sit Down Restaurants Guide. So, today I am going do to the same thing at Hollywood Studios! Hollywood Studios has some iconic themed restaurants. Most feature some basic comfort food, but they are done well.

The Hollywood Brown Derby

I will start with the restaurant you are most likely to encounter first upon entering the park – The Hollywood Brown Derby. Located in Hollywood Boulevard, it’s technically a Signature Restaurant. That means it will require 2 Table Service Dining Credits to eat here if you are on the Dining Plan. This restaurant is supposed to harken back to the Golden Age of Hollywood with its warm wood paneling. It’s the perfect location for a nicer meal in the park. It’s known for its Famous Cobb Salad and Grapefruit Cake. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to eat here yet. When I do, I will update this post with my review. However, it looks like a nice place to eat if you are looking for somewhere nicer to eat in the park.

Hollywood & Vine

Located in Echo Lake is the park’s character dining buffet – Hollywood & Vine! The best thing about eating here is the rotation of the seasonal theme in the menu and character costumes! I’ve eaten here several times over the years. As I mentioned in my Disney World Character Dining Guide, I hate that they have lost Donald Duck from the rotation of characters here. Nonetheless, it’s a great place to eat to kick-off Jollywood Nights as the characters are wearing Christmas outfits. During Minnie’s Seasonal Dining you can see the characters dressed up for Summer Dine, Halloween Dine, Holiday Dine, Silver Screen Dine, or Springtime Dine! I intend to post my full review of the Holiday Dine closer to the holidays and will link it here when it goes live. This is a 1 Table Service Credit character buffet serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner! It’s a great use of Dining Credit and a fun way to see the characters in different outfits.

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50’s Prime Time Cafe

Located beside Hollywood & Vine (and sharing a restroom with it) is 50’s Prime Time Cafe! It is where the blog image used above was taken. Additionally, I posted a full 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Walt Disney World Review to give you a good idea of what to expect here. My mom loved eating here. The 50’s theme was full of nostalgia for her. I loved my peanut butter and jelly milkshake! Overall, it was a good meal of comfort food that everyone can enjoy. It’s 1 Table Service Credit on the Dining Plan and it’s a pretty good use, depending on what you order! Just come hungry! It’s an excellent value when part of the Fantasmic Dining Package when using the Dining Plan.

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Roundup Rodeo BBQ

In Toy Story Land, there’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ. This is the newest Table Service restaurant in the park. It’s themed to Toy Story and features family platters of meats and sides. I’ve yet to experience this one, but it seems like a fun time for any family. You would need to order a special beverage here to make good use of the 1 Table Service Credit it uses though.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater

Lastly, there’s the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater located in Commissary Lane towards the back of the park. I posted a Fantasmic Dining Package Review at Sci-Fi Dine-In a few years back. We weren’t overly impressed with the food here. However, we really enjoyed the set up and watching old sci-fi film clips on the big screen. This is another restaurant where you have to be intentional about what you order to get a good use of the 1 Table Service Credit it requires, unless you get the Fantasmic Dining Package like we did.

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Hollywood Studios Table Service Restaurants

Well, there’s the list of the sit down restaurants located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Which one is your favorite?

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