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Welcome back to Park & Heart! i hope you're having a beautiful Sunday so far!
If this is your first Park & Heart, welcom to this happy place! Each Sunday, I keep it short & sweet with two of my favorite things:
🏰 What’s new (or possibly old, but helpful) around Walt Disney World
💛 A bit of heart-level encouragement
No selling. No pressure. Just a weekly pause to catch your breath, stay in the loop, and hopefully find a little encouragement too.
Let's drive in!
🏰 PARK | Disney Updates Worth Knowing
✨ Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin | Magic Kingdom
Closed for refurbishment — Disney says it’s getting a new laser + target system. Fingers crossed I can still be a Galactic Hero when it reopens in 2026.
✨ Halloween Party | Magic Kingdom
And just like that…the Holiday Season has begun! 🎃 Friday was the first Halloween Party of the year. From now through New Year’s, it’s one big festive stretch at Disney World.
✨ Party Days = Low Crowds | Magic Kingdom
On party days, the park closes at 6pm for non-party guests. That means many visitors head elsewhere, leaving Magic Kingdom with low crowds + short waits during the day. (Pro tip: party days are great for rides!)
✨ Finding Nemo Magic Shot | Animal Kingdom
A new Nemo-themed Magic Shot just dropped, and it’s on my must-do list. PhotoPass keeps outdoing itself with these.
✨ Minnie Van Airport Pickup | Deluxe Resorts
Minnie Vans are back for airport runs — but now open to all Deluxe Resort guests, not just Club Level. As a former Minnie Van driver, this was always one of my favorite assignments, so I love seeing it return!
🚢 Disney Cruise Line
Lower-than-normal deposits are available right now! If you’re curious about our group cruise to Alaska (2026) or the September sailing + WDW meet-up, head to bookthemagic.com and join the fun.
🍳 Top 5 Breakfast Spots Before Park Hopping
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Olivia’s Café (Old Key West) → Omelets worth waking up for.
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Steakhouse 71 (Contemporary) → Steak + eggs = perfection.
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Whispering Canyon (Wilderness Lodge) → Big portions + plenty of laughs.
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Chef Mickey’s (Contemporary) → Breakfast with Mickey, then hop the monorail.
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Primo Piatto (Riviera) → Quick service, but seriously good.
🎃 Top 5 Halloween Party Must-Dos
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Parade → Catch the 2nd for easier spots (but it’s worth seeing twice).
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Cadaver Dans → The Dapper Dans with a spooky twist.
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Fireworks → A Halloween highlight.
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Rare Character Meet & Greets → Only here can you see so many special characters.
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Costumes & People-Watching → Whether you dress up or not, the creativity is incredible.
💛 HEART | This Week’s Encouragement
I’ve been thinking a lot about courage lately. Not the kind where you run into burning buildings or ride Tower of Terror without blinking — but the quieter, everyday kind.
For me right now, courage looks like finishing (and publishing) a book I’ve been writing and preparing to share it with the world. I’ll be honest: now that I’m down to the final steps, it makes me nervous. Putting your words - and really, your heart - on paper and then handing it over for others to read (and review) feels… scary.
What if people don’t connect with it? What if it’s not “good enough”? What if I accidentally take a verse out of context? How will I handle the not-so-kind reviews?
But here’s the thing: courage isn’t about not being afraid. It’s about moving forward even when you are.
Deep down, I believe the message in my book is one people need and will be encouraged by. I believe it will change some lives. And that belief is what helps me keep taking the next step forward - even with the butterflies in my stomach.
Maybe you’re facing something similar. A project, a change, a new kid at school or an empty house for the first time. Or maybe just speaking up when you’d rather stay quiet.
It might not feel like a “big” act of bravery, but it is. Courage shows up in these small, everyday ways. And those little acts of courage? They add up to something much bigger.
So this week, let’s give ourselves a little credit for the quiet ways we choose courage - and keep going, butterflies and all.
“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
📚 BEHIND THE CURTAIN | Book & Shop Update
Big progress this week on the book! I approved a cover concept and the interior formatting — both should be back in my hands soon. The deeper I get into this process, the more I realize just how many little details there are to publishing a book.
I’m excited to share the message, but I’ll admit - I’m no Max Lucado, John Grisham, John Maxwell, or Mary Higgins Clark. (Though it feels fun to be in their company for a sentence!)
Speaking of John Maxwell, I signed up for a leadership seminar he’s doing here in Orlando next week. The speaker I’m most excited to hear other than him - the owner of the Savannah Bananas Baseball Team, who’s sharing on “How to Wow Your Customers.” I seriously look for any ways I can to make Mouse Marketplace the best that it can be!
It’s shaping up to be a great week. And when you spot someone who isn’t having one, maybe offer a little encouragement. It might pull you out of your comfort zone, but it could mean the world to them.
-Bonnie
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