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Hei Hei Bonnie!
Welcome back to Park & Heart!
I’m so glad you’re here! If this is your first one — welcome to this happy place.
Each Sunday, I keep it short & sweet with two of my favorite things:
🏰 What’s new (and helpful) around Walt Disney World
💛 A bit of heart-level encouragement
It’s a mix of magic + meaning — the bare necessities, if you will.
No selling. No pressure. Just a weekly pause to catch your breath, stay in the loop, and smile a little.
Here we go…
🏰 PARK | Disney Updates Worth Knowing
✨ Test Track (EPCOT)
When Test Track reopens July 22, it will move to Tier 1 on the multipass system, while Soarin’ Around the World shifts to Tier 2.
✨ Rivers of America
Today is the last day to enjoy Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island & the Liberty Belle before construction begins on the new Cars attraction replacing this area.
✨ Walt Disney World Railroad
Starting Monday, the train will operate as a one-way shuttle between Main Street and Fantasyland due to Frontierland construction.
✨ Astro Orbiter
Still no official reopening date, though testing has been spotted.
✨ Tron
I rode Tron last week - the very front row. How is that the first 30 seconds of that ride can be so exhilarating??
✨ EPCOT Food & Wine | Eat to the Beat Concerts
The full concert lineup is here — highlights include The Beach Boys, MercyMe, TobyMac, and Hanson. (Pro tip: If you want to see The Beach Boys, consider booking a dining package when they go on sale July 16.)
2025 Eat to the Beat Concert Series
- Aug. 29–30 – Joey Fatone & Friends
- Aug. 31–Sept. 1 – MercyMe
- Sept. 5–6 – KT Tunstall (NEW)
- Sept. 7–8 – TobyMac
- Sept. 12–14 – STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
- Sept. 15 – Bacilos
- Sept. 19–20 – Sheila E.
- Sept. 21–22 – Ben Rector (NEW)
- Sept. 26–27 – Tiffany
- Sept. 28–29 – Jesse & Joy
- Oct. 3–4 – Baha Men
- Oct. 5–6 – TBD
- Oct. 10–11 – The Wanted 2.0 (NEW)
- Oct. 12–13 – The Fray
- Oct. 17–20 – Hanson
- Oct. 24–25 – Hoobastank
- Oct. 26–27 – Smash Mouth
- Oct. 31–Nov. 1 – Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy
- Nov. 2–3 – Boyz II Men
- Nov. 7–8 – David Archuleta
- Nov. 9–10 – Jordin Sparks (NEW)
- Nov. 14–15 – Bowling For Soup (NEW)
- Nov. 16–17 – The Beach Boys (NEW)
✨ Beach Club
The porte cochere is under heavy refurbishment and boarded up, causing a bit of chaos. It’s expected to last another 3–4 months.
🏊 My Top 5 Resorts for Summer Fun at WDW:
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Boardwalk — fun nighttime entertainment
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Yacht & Beach Club — awesome pool & big slide
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Caribbean Beach — pirate-themed pool
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Fort Wilderness — shady campsites, golf carts & grills
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Pop Century — pool party vibes
Summer’s in full swing — shade, pools, and nighttime adventures make it magical.
✨ Disney’s Lakeside Lodge (DVC)
This new resort is massive! I saw it under construction this week, and I’m hoping it features a big pool and pays tribute to River Country.
🚢 Disney Cruise Line
A six year old girl fell overboard last week. The dad jumped overboard to save her. The DCL Crew members saved them! Then social media kicked in and turned into a dark judgmental blame game. It's situations like this that make me not like social media. I'm grateful she and her dad were rescued. I'm sure DCL will figure out the rest.
💛 5 Disney Splurges That Are Totally Worth It | My Picks
I watched an Instagram Reel this week talking about Splurges at Disney and their top five. I can't remember what they were, I just know we must have different priorities. lol
Here's mine (totally my takes)
1. Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue
2. Renting a Cabana at Typhoon Lagoon
3. Halloween / Christmas / After Hours Parties
4. Character Dining
5. Spa Day
💛 HEART | This Week’s Encouragement
Were you out watching the fireworks on the 4th?
Whether you were or not, I bet you can picture it:
Everyone craning their necks, kids on shoulders, cameras ready. Then the music begins, the sky lights up… and there’s that collective gasp.
Isn’t it something how we all stop and look up when we expect something spectacular?
But here’s the thing: the sky is beautiful every night. Maybe not with fireworks, but with sunsets, stars, moonlight, even storms. We just forget to look up.
And here’s the truth — we usually find what we’re looking for.
Look for the negative? You’ll find it.
Look for beauty? You’ll find that too.
This week, maybe you’re waiting for your “fireworks moment” — that big dream to finally burst into view. But don’t miss the quiet beauty already happening all around you.
There's a quote that seems fitting here- "What you focus on expands."
Look up. Pause. Notice what God has already painted into your life.
You’re already standing in the middle of something magical.
Look for the beauty. Find the beauty.
📚 BEHIND THE CURTAIN | Book & Shop Update
I’ve finished all the story chapters of the book and decided to turn it into a 30-day devotional — a format that resonates with readers and gives more space for reflection and application. Now I’m working on the journaling and devotional sections.
On the shop side — I’ve now gone live on TikTok Shop 7 times since last Saturday! This has pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. If you read last week’s Heart section, you know: stepping into the uncomfortable is how we grow.
Also, I hired some professional copywriters and pros to implement some new email welcome flows automation sequences - and they are in the process of implementing them. It's a challenge for me to let go of control of some of these aspects of Mouse Marketplace and trust these systems with others - even though I know they know these things better than me.
I’m going to keep going. I have dreams to chase :)
Now go chase yours!
Seriously… thank you for being here.
—Bonnie
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