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Welcome back to Park & Heart!
Happy Sunday morning to you. Welcome back! Each Sunday, I keep it short & sweet with two of my favorite things:
🏰 What’s new or what's old (and helpful) around Walt Disney World
💛 A bit of heart-level encouragement
No selling. No pressure. Just a weekly pause because we all need a little positivity in our lives
There is not much in new Disney parks news this week, so there may be more "heart" than "park" this week.
🏰 PARK | Disney Updates Worth Knowing
✨ Low Crowds|All Four Parks
Crowds are thin right now and wait times are low. This does not mean the parks are empty - but the crowd level is certainly low.
✨Halloween Decor| Magic Kingdom
We have two weeks before the first Halloween Party. My gut feeling tells me that Disney will begin adding the Fall decor next week. From the first Halloween party on, it's officially the Holiday Season at Disney.
✨ Holiday Parties|Magic Kingdom & Hollywood Studios
If you're planning on attending the Holiday Parties, please keep in mind that both the Halloween & Christmas parties always seem to sale out -more sold out nights were announced this week.
✨ Spaceship Earth|Epcot
On Wednesday my friend Steve is riding Spaceship Earth ALL DAY LONG (for his birthday) to raise awareness & money for Give Kids The World. Historically, the Mouse Marketplace community has been his biggest supporter for this fundraiser. I plan to ride along with him a few times - and will give our group the opportunity to help once again.
Each year we participate in fundraisers for Give Kids The World and the Snowball Express (the Gary Sinese Foundation). Both are great works and are tied closely to Disney.
✨ Lobby Refresh | Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
The lobby of Disney's Grand Floridian is currently a mad house. Dropping off a basket there Friday the sounds of jack hammers, saws, air guns and general construction sounds have totally replaced the soft classic music we love. Construction will continue into 2026. There is a LOT going on at Grand Floridian right now.
✨ Construction Update | Disney's Lakeshore Lodge
While over at Fort Wilderness last week I took the opportunity to be nosey to see what all I could see at Lakeshore Lodge. This place looks so much bigger than what I was expecting! Lots of A frame cabins and several large buildings. It feels like it's going up FAST.
✨ Dining Reservations | Disney Springs
If you are having a difficult time getting dining reservations at Disney Springs through the Disney app, download the app "Open Table" - you can typically find reservations on that platform even if they're not available on the My Disney Experience App
💛 7 Disney Springs Restaurants to notice | My two cents
If you’re planning to go to Disney Springs, it's FULL of great restaurants. Places like The Boathouse and Homecoming typically get all the attention, but here are 7 restaurants that should be on your radar:
✅ The Edison
✅ Enzo's Hideaway
✅ The Polite Pig (always top honors in my opinion)
✅ Summerhouse
✅ Splitsville
✅ House of Blues
✅ Raglan Road
🍔 My Top 5 Best Resorts to Resort Hop To at Walt Disney World
In no particular order (because they’re all so awesome). I did leave off Grand Floridian Resort because of the current construction. I'll do another list specifically for Christmas too.
1️⃣ Riviera – Check out the art work and listen for the background music
2️⃣ Polynesian– It has all the vibes! Grab some Dole Whip!
3️⃣ Yacht & Beach Clue – It's seriously so beautiful!
4️⃣ Boardwalk – Visit here at night!
5️⃣ Animal Kingdom Lodge – they have giraffes!
💛 HEART | This Week’s Encouragement
I was at Pecos Bill yesterday when I saw an older woman in a wheelchair struggling to navigate through a tight cluster of tables and chairs. She was trying to make her way through, carefully inching forward — clearly having a hard time.
I made a step toward her...
Then I saw a boy — maybe 10 years old — get up from his table. He wasn’t asked. No one pointed it out. He just noticed.
I stopped so I could see what he would do.
He quietly walked over and started moving the chairs out of her way. One by one. Clearing the path so she could get through.
The woman looked up and smiled. And the boy just nodded and went back to his seat. No fanfare. No praise. Just a small moment of kindness — but I noticed and it made me smile.
He saw a need… and he stepped in.
And it made me wonder: how many times do I walk right past someone else’s struggle without noticing? Not because I don’t care — but because I’m distracted. Rushing. Focused on something else.
This week, what if we slowed down just enough to look around?
To notice someone who needs a little help — and step in quietly.
Hold the door. Pick up what’s dropped. Offer the smile. Clear the path.
Because kindness doesn’t always require a big moment — sometimes it looks like a kid quietly moving chairs in a crowded restaurant.
Let’s be the ones who notice.
Let’s be the ones who help.
📚 BEHIND THE CURTAIN | Book & Shop Update
Tina has been in town for a week, helping here as Justin is on an Alaskan Cruise (my bucket list cruise!). In addition to doing all she typically does and lots of what Justin does, she and Serena also put together tonight's LIVE SALE. It has been super amazing having her in town. I can't brag on her enough (or the rest of my team for that matter)!
Justin returns Monday and Tina leaves Tuesday (she live in Tennessee).
I *think* I'm still on track for a September book launch - though right now that feels impossible to actually pull off! I'll feel much better once the book is formatted and uploaded to the printer. It's time to move some mountains!
Wishing you the most amazing week.
—Bonnie
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