Love 2 Travel With Kids

Friday, November 1, 2013

Walt Disney World Trading Pins – Fun Way to Preserve Memories!

Trading Pins at Walt Disney World © Katrena

Looking for a fun way to connect at Disney World? Join the many visitors who trade pins with cast members and other guests while having a "magical" time at one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world.

Tips for Trading Pins at Disney World © Katrena

Disney pin trading began in October 1999 and has grown over the years. The first time my family visited Disney World as an adult, a cast member asked if we would like to trade a pin we had purchased for our daughter. We bought it at the park as a souvenir and thought it was a bit weird that someone would ask if we would like to trade at the time.

How to Save Money Trading Pins at Disney World © Katrena

After a bit of research, I learned more about trading pins at Disney World. Guests may present an official Disney pin and trade for a pin worn by a cast member. The cast members wear lanyards containing several pins. The selection constantly changes as guests trade throughout the day.

Fun Things to do at Disney World © Katrena

When we returned to Disney World a few years later, my kids were prepared with several pins. They would carefully watch for lanyards with Disney characters they have grown to love over the years. I found that I could save a significant amount of money by purchasing a bag of official Disney pins on eBay. Buying pins in bulk that were not necessarily of their favorite characters would encourage them to trade the pins once we arrived.

Walt Disney World Trading Pins © Katrena

It was interesting to me to watch the kids' strategies for trading pins. Their choices reflected their distinct personalities and offered them the chance to barter with an adult and sometimes with one another.

How to Keep from Losing Disney Trading Pins © Katrena

One word of caution: the pins have backs, but sometimes those backs can fall off. I brought small plastic containers with lids so that we would not lose the pins. Many of the cast members had special lanyards with they wore around the waist area that had an extra flap of material that helped to decrease the likelihood of loss, but I heard from several people that the pins would still sometimes fall off.

Money Saving Tips for Visiting Disney World © Katrena

Trading pins was one of my kids' favorite memories of the trip, and they sometimes pull out those containers and look at their very own unique collection of pins and talk of trading with various cast members. The pins can make great stocking stuffers or make a great surprise in Easter eggs.

Trading Pins at Disney World Magic Kingdom © Katrena

If you would like to see Disney's official rules for trading pins, here is their page on Pin Trading Etiquette. If ordering pins outside of the Disney parks, ensure that you are purchasing tradable pins.

Related articles:

See more of Katrena's articles at the Love 2 Travel With Kids and Travel NC With Kids site maps.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Carowinds Great Pumpkin Fest Daytime Activities in October

Carowinds Amusement Park in October © Katrena

In October, Carowinds begins to transform itself into two main themes. During the earlier part of the day, kids can enjoy a variety of fun and games geared toward October and Halloween. Many of these activities start after the park opens and some are offered on a schedule or between certain times. After dark, the amusement park becomes SCarowinds with elaborate frightening trails scattered throughout the NC/SC theme park.

October Musical Shows at Carowinds © Katrena

In 2013, Carwinds offers three October shows in the Peanuts Showplace near the back of Planet Snoopy. The Peanuts Spooktacular features Charlie Brown, Linus, and Lucy all decked out in Halloween costumes. This is a musical show featuring lots of fun tunes like Wooly Bully and Thriller and a bit of dancing and drama.

Puppet Show at Carowinds © Katrena

The puppet show encourages the audience to help Fraidy Cat get over Halloween fears. The Kiddie-Oke show encourages children to sing on stage, so this one in particular is dependent on audience participation. When we visited the Kiddie-Oke show, one child danced on stage for about a minute and then headed back to her seat. They asked if anyone else would like to sing or dance and when no children responded, they simply said the show was over.

Trick-or-Treat at Carowinds © Katrena

Quite a few children dress in costume to attend the costume parade and dance party. Stations are set up around Planet Snoopy where children can trick-or-treat. One type of candy is offered at each station. Kids can pick up a free trick-or-treat bag in the shop across from the Flying Ace Aerial Chase roller coaster. They will allow kids to trick-or-treat who are not dressed in costume and who do not have a bag.

Hay Bale Maze at Carowinds © Katrena

Those riding on Gr8Sk8 can get a nice aerial view of the hay bale maze located right in front of the ride. Kids are challenged to use critical thinking skills as they try to navigate from one side to the other. The maze paths are flanked by hay bales, but they are short enough that many smaller kids can easily see over.

Foam Zone at Carowinds © Katrena

The Foam Zone is another popular spot in the October-themed Carowinds mix. This area allows for the smaller kids within certain height restrictions to have a blast in the bubbles. Lots of children emerge from this area covered with foam and a big grin. Those sending kids into this area will be thankful to have an extra set of clothes for children who look like they have taken a bath in foam.

Fun October Activities Near Charlotte © Katrena

The older truck parked beside the Baby Care Center begins to work magic by making bubbles...and more bubbles...and more bubbles. Lots of kids and even a few adults headed to that area to pop a few bubbles or perhaps see a cool view of the Intimidator roller coaster through a "bubblescope!"

Daytime Halloween Theme at Carowinds © Katrena

A few other areas to note are the talking pumpkin named Peter, who interacts with the children standing nearby and a mural wall where kids are invited to color a scene and then see their work displayed on the wall near Snoopy's Junction train ride. They also feature a "mumpkin" patch where children can pick out a mini-pumpkin to decorate and keep.

Charlie Brown with Halloween Costume © Katrena

Charlie Brown was a hit with me. He was the lone character walking around for photo shoot opportunities. He was sporting his famous ghost sheet costume! The above activities were offered free of charge after entry into the amusement park. I would recommend picking up a paper with show times – we found some near the hay bale maze.

Spooky and Silly Decorations at Carowinds © Katrena

Is Carowinds scary in the daytime during October? For my family, the answer was a bit mixed. My youngest child is pretty scared of spooky decorations. Skeletons, coffins, and various other haunted décor line the walkways throughout most of the amusement park. Once we got over the Planet Snoopy, the scenery was pretty tame and not so scary, although my youngest tended to keep looking over her shoulder just in case a creepy skeleton had tried to follow us over there.

Readers may also wish to read:

Fun Family Activities for October © Katrena

Find additional travel reviews and articles by Katrena at the Love 2 Travel With Kids and Travel NC With Kids site maps.

Monday, October 21, 2013

2013 McAdenville NC Christmas Lights Dates and Times and Tips

McAdenville 2013 Dates and Times © Katrena

McAdenville, a town in North Carolina, has been offering a unique Christmas light show since 1956. Residents all over the town string red, green, and white lights on over 375 trees and homes to provide a beautiful free light show for motorists and pedestrians along the approximately 2-mile stretch through town. You might be able to hear Christmas carols from church chimes or perhaps a home.

McAdenville Christmas Light Show © Katrena

McAdenville Christmas Town USA plans to turn on the lights on December 2, 2013 and continue the nightly light show through December 26. On Monday through Friday each week, the lights will turn on at 5:30 p.m. and turn off at 9:30 p.m. The light show times extend until 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tips for Seeing McAdenville Christmas Lights © Katrena

The lights are on automatic timers and will turn off at scheduled times, regardless of traffic still traveling through the town. Plan to arrive early in the evening, walk through, or visit on a weeknight to avoid some of the long wait times as this light show attracted more than 600,000 people to the small town last year.

Best Free Christmas Light Shows in NC © Katrena

Visit the Christmas Town USA official web site for additional information, history, pictures, areas for parking, and more.

Readers may also wish to read:

Drive-thru Christmas Light Show in McAdenville, NC © Katrena

Visit Katrena's Love 2 Travel With Kids and Travel NC With Kids site maps for a list of all articles of family-friendly travel tips, pictures, and reviews.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Carolina BalloonFest in Statesville NC – Great October Fun for All!

2013 Statesville Balloon Festival in NC © Katrena

While many folks are searching for pumpkins on the ground or apples in the trees, several thousand people know they can get a beautiful treat by looking up in the sky above Statesville Regional Airport. The air is usually crisp and clear in the middle of October, a great time for a balloon festival.

Balloon Launch from Statesville Regional Airport © Katrena

The 2013 Carolina BalloonFest runs October 18, 19, and 20 and benefits the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Statesville. Balloon launches are scheduled for dusk on all three days and also at dawn on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday evening, the crews return to set up for a balloon glow after dark. The balloon launches and glow are dependent on weather conditions.

NC Balloon Festival in October © Katrena

This event attracts large crowds, so arriving early is a must in order to fully enjoy the event and avoid long wait times to get in. Ticket prices and a schedule of events are offered on the Carolina BalloonFest web site. Prices are lower on Friday and Sunday, but the Night Glow is only offered on Saturday evening.

Fun Things to do in Statesville © Katrena

Those traveling to the Statesville Regional Airport for the Carolina BalloonFest are treated to live entertainment sponsored by Wells Fargo in 2013 and a nice variety of foods and drinks. Wine Maestro is offering "A Taste of Wine & More" for the adults.

Fun Family Activities in Iredell County © Katrena

Kids will be thrilled with a great variety of fun games, including a bounce house, inflatable slides, and games. The event also offers ticketed activities for the kids like a bungee jump, laser tag, and double zip line. Kids also find ways to entertain themselves, like the ones who are thrilled to run or roll up and down the hill that flanks the launch area.

Carolina BalloonFest on October 18, 19, 20, 2013 © Katrena

The three-day event, celebrating its 40th year in 2013, draws thousands of families and photographers from near and far every year. You might get a little exercise at the event by running....not running after the balloons but running with the balloons in their first 5K or Fun Run offered on Sunday, October 20, 2013.

See Balloon Crews up Close © Katrena

Those who wish to take to the sky and see the event from above can sign up to take a ride with a balloon team. Tethered balloon rides are also offered for those who would like the thrill of a shorter balloon ride that is anchored to the ground.

Tips for Seeing Carolina BalloonFest © Katrena

Many folks bring a blanket or chairs to sit on the lawn to watch the balloon crews at work. Some crews work quickly in an effort to rise to the skies first while others take their time and savor the moment. Photographers love having the opportunity to get up close and enjoy a wealth of opportunities as envelopes are unfolded and begin to take a life of their own before rising high in the sky.

Hot Air Balloon Rides in NC © Katrena

My family loves to get close to the action and watch as each crew works together to get their colors up and flying. The balloons take on a nice variety of shapes and colors. We try to guess which one will go up first and which will go the highest. Many of the balloons flew directly over our heads this year!

Fun Fall Activities for the Family in October © Katrena

Some of the balloons have character shapes while others advertise for a variety of businesses. We saw American flags, stripes, stars, birds, horses, a van, and chuckled at the black and white Sparky and a Purple People Eater in 2013.

Things to do at the Statesville Balloon Festival © Katrena

Many balloon crews participate in the event every year while families may make this an annual tradition. Children age 12 and under are offered free admission on Friday. Military veterans can enter for free on Sunday.

2013 Hot Air Balloon Launch in Statesville © Katrena

My family has enjoyed this event several times. Would we do it again? Absolutely! Looking for more of Katrena's articles about balloons or fun things to do in Statesville?

Fun and Memorable Family Activities in Piedmont NC © Katrena

Find additional family-friendly tips, articles, and pictures at the Love 2 Travel with Kids site map.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

2013 Tanglewood Festival of Lights Show Dates, Rates & Times

Tanglewood Festival of Lights in North Carolina © Katrena

Many folks in or near the Piedmont area of North Carolina enjoy visiting the Festival of Lights, a huge drive-through light show near Winston-Salem that attracts nearly a quarter million people each year. Some of the lights are animated and a few are set to music. Visitors may park and go in the Holiday Gift Village to find locally made Christmas gifts, roast marshmallows or pose for a picture with Santa while traveling through the Festival of Lights.

The Festival of Lights will be open every evening from November 23, 2013 through January 1, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. If you are interested in getting a photo with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, they will be available until 9:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays or until closing on Fridays and Saturdays.

2013 Rates for the Tanglewood Festival of lights are:

Vehicle Type	Monday-Thursday excluding Holidays & Eves	Friday-Sunday and Holidays & Eves
Family (car, truck, van)	$10	$15
Commercial (van, limo, mini-bus)	$20	$25
Motorcoach/Bus	$90	$90

Four throwback nights are offered for 2013. These are themed nights in which people are encouraged to dress the part for a little fun! The 2013 Throwback nights and themes are:

November 25 & November 26: Wear your favorite sports team paraphernalia
December 2 and December 3: Wear Santa hats

Discounts are offered on the Throwback Nights, so this is a great option for those on a tight budget. Admission price for Throwback nights at the Festival of Lights are:

Family (car, truck, van)	$5
Commercial (van, limo, mini-bus)	$15
Motorcoach/Bus	$65

If you have a flexible schedule, I'd highly recommend visiting the Festival of Lights early in the season on a Monday through Thursday. The rates are higher and wait times can exceed two hours on Friday through Sunday and on holidays and eves. The Christmas spirit might elude you while packed into a car with whining kids as you wait two hours, especially if one of them suddenly announces the need to use the restroom. Just sayin'....

If you with to learn more about Tanglewood Festival of Lights, here are some of Katrena's articles:

Visit the Love 2 Travel With Kids site map to find additional family-friendly activities, travel reviews, and more.

Dates, times, and prices obtained from the Forsyth County web site accessed on 10/2/2013.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Carowinds Planet Snoopy Rides – How to Get the Most Out of the Day

Tips for Visiting Carowinds with a Family © Katrena

Looking for tips for shorter wait times at Carowinds? These travel tips may help you to enjoy more ride time and less waiting.

The amusement park is generally less crowded on weekdays. Holidays, weekends, and special events tend to draw higher numbers. Arriving at Carowinds as the gate opens leaves one with an opportunity to ride significantly more rides. Choosing rides early that tend to have notoriously long wait times will give you the opportunity to skip those as the crowds increase while you enjoy the rides with faster moving lines later in the day.

If you've never been to Carowinds, it helps to visit the official web site and study the map before visiting the park. The amusement park looks sort of like a big circle that lies on the North Carolina and South Carolina border with the front gate at one end and the water park at the opposite end. Those who are unfamiliar with the park can easily get turned around and end up wandering for quite a while to find a desired ride. While looking at the web site, determine which rides look most appealing to the kids and try to ride those early in the day.

Get the children's height measured just inside the front gate on the left. Maps are also located in that area. If lots of people are waiting for height bands, grab a map and get the kids' height measured in the Baby Care Center behind the carousel in Planet Snoopy. If you are traveling with older and younger kids, you might consider having one adult hit the larger rides with the older children while another adult heads to Planet Snoopy with the smaller children.

If you have small kids, you will probably spend most of your day in Planet Snoopy, which is located on the SC side on the left after entering the front gate. The Intimidator Roller Coaster runs beside Planet Snoopy. If a child in your party is shorter than 46 inches, ride choices outside of Planet Snoopy and the water park are limited to:

Carolina Skytower (nice view and easy place to meet others in the group)
The Scrambler (be careful if anyone in the group tends to get sick on spinning rides)
Boo Blasters (smaller kids and some older ones may be scared on this one)

Any ride involving small kids will take extra time due to seat belt checks. Some rides that allow only small kids may need to be stopped if a child is doing something unsafe or is starting to panic. Some kids might enjoy the shows, the food, or cooling off in the water park when Boomerang Bay is open.

Rides to hit early in Planet Snoopy are:

Flying Ace Aerial Chase (this is to the right as you enter Planet Snoopy - fun coaster for the taller kids)
Woodstock Gliders (fun ride that even the adults may like - requires some skill to swing high on this one)
Woodstock's Whirlybirds (slow load time as each helicopter is small and the ride gets hot later in the day)
Snoopy's Yacht Club (this ride tends to get hot later in the day due to no shade)
Flying Ace Balloon Race (beware of this ride if you tend to develop motion sickness but this is another one that tends to have a higher thrill factor and is pretty popular)

The two roller coasters inside Planet Snoopy (Lucy's Crabby Cabbie and Woodstock Express, formerly known as the Fairly Oddcoaster or the Scooby Doo roller coaster) tend to load fairly quickly. Adults ride with the smaller kids, so the ride is less likely to be stopped once it is cleared to start. Smaller children that like roller coasters will probably enjoy these, and it is a good idea to ride these early if there is even a hint of rain or possible thunderstorms later in the day.

Rides in Planet Snoopy that tend to have moderate wait times are:

Gr8 Sk8 (for taller kids, nice view - probably not one to hit right after eating lunch)
Peanuts Pirates (fun if you have several in your group and are riding in adjacent ships)
Charlie Brown's Windup (tiny swings that spin...if all of the kids are sitting in the seats)
Snoopy's Space Race (bring ear plugs if all the kids find the buzzer)
Snoopy vs. Red Baron (show younger ones what to do in order to get the plane to rise when loading)

Rides in Planet Snoopy that tend to have shorter wait times are:

Character Carousel (avoid inner horses if your child wishes to go up and down - loads large numbers at a time and the whole family can ride)
Snoopy's Junction (fun music - good choice if everyone has a full stomach, not much to see on the ride but loads fairly large numbers and the whole family can ride together)

Find additional Carowinds articles:

Carowinds – Practical Tips for Enjoying NC/SC Amusement Park with Kids

Favorite Family Rides at Carowinds – Top 5 Picks

How Tall Do You Have to be to Ride the Intimidator?

Roller Coasters for Kids at Planet Snoopy

Visit the Love 2 Travel With Kids site map for additional tips and ideas for fun things to do with children.

Monday, September 2, 2013

2013 SCarowinds Dates at Carowinds

As the days grow cooler and the nights stretch longer in the Southeast, many people are looking for some frightful fun after dark with mazes, rides, scare zones, and shows at Carowinds. The amusement park on the North Carolina and South Carolina border offers spooky fun for those who like to be scared by more than roller coasters...but then again, many of the coasters at Carowinds give folks quite a ride as they sit, stand, or even lie down while heading down the track.

Carowinds provides a nice variety of roller coasters, and riding them after dark can offer a whole new fear factor to the experience. If you thought riding the Intimidator was rough when you could see each of those huge stomach-catching hills, try riding this 3 minute 33 second thriller after dark...if you dare.

Here are the dates for SCarowinds Halloween Haunt for 2013:

September 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
October 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

People who do not hold gold or platinum season passes must purchase a separate SCarowinds ticket. Those who have Gold or Platinum Passes may bring up to 6 friends/pass for $24.99 each on any of the September SCarowinds dates. Gold or Platinum Pass holders may bring up to 6 friends/pass for $29.99 each on October Friday or Sunday SCarowinds dates. Carowinds does not offer SCarowinds Bring-a-Friend Saturday dates in October.

Hours for the haunted attractions include:

Fridays	7 p.m. - Midnight
Saturdays	7 p.m. - Midnight (open until 1 a.m. on 10/19 and 10/26)
Sundays	7 p.m. - Midnight

Carowinds also offers fun for the whole family during daytime hours in September and October, 2013. Small children and some older children and adults may be frightened by the nighttime SCarowinds events, and I would not recommend this activity for them. However, they might enjoy the rides and fun during the day when the temperatures are cooler. Daytime lines for rides in September and October may be shorter than lines during summer weekends. Boomerang Bay, the water park inside of Carowinds, closes for the season after Labor Day, 2013.

Here are the daytime hours for Carowinds in September and October for 2013:

September 2, 7	10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
September 8, 15, 22, 29	12 noon - 8 p.m.
September 14, 21, 28	10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
October 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27	10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

These dates and times are based on the official Carowinds web site as of September 2, 2013. Feel free to check the official Carowinds web site for additional information and details.

I'd be thrilled if you'd like to read my other Carowinds articles with more of my pictures as well!

Find additional travel ideas at Katrena's Travel NC With Kids and Love 2 Travel With Kids.