This August, our family got an exciting invite to head up to Vancouver Canada. We have never been to Canada, so that was exciting in itself. But not only did we get a chance to explore this amazingly family-friendly city in British Columbia, but also to attend the launch party of the new Disney Descendants 3 in Vancouver AR Adventure App! This was all in celebration of the new release of Disney’s Descendants 3!

All three of the Disney’s Descendants movies were filmed Vancouver and Vancouver Island, so this new app is a really fun and exciting way for both Disney’s Descendants fans and those visiting Vancouver and Vancouver Island to see spots where the movies were filmed. Once at the locations, the app creates a Disney’s Descendants Adventure for you to play.

Each filming site features adventures such as – augmented reality, scavenger hunt-style missions, trivia, geocaching, movie clips and photo opps where you can take AR photos of the characters. Fans can immerse themselves fully into Descendants 3 with a tourism twist!

Disney Descendants 3 in Vancouver AR Adventure app first-of-its-kind self-guided adventure. Created by Vancouver-based QuestUpon, it’s now available for free download on App Store and Google Play. The itinerary takes you to key spots in the Descendants films, and requires you to traverse the waters between two distinctive yet equally visit-worthy cities: Vancouver and Vancouver Island. We were lucky enough to visit both of these cities on our trip, and highly recommend both as family vacations.

Some of the location included on the app are Britannia Mine Museum, Lynn Canyon, UBC, Rogers Sugar, BC Parliament Buildings, Hatley Castle and Woodwinds Estate. There are 37 Mission in all!

At select points in the Disney’s Descendants adventure, users can snap selfies with lifelike avatars of some fan favorite characters like Mal, Evie, Uma and Audrey.

At the Disney Descendants 3 in Vancouver AR Adventure Launch Party, we had the opportunity to try out the app, enjoy some Descendant’s themed food, do crafts, and also watch Descendants 3! Dani and Vann dressed up for the part and we enjoyed trying it out a mini version of the app. We answered trivia, found Descendants 3 characters and took selfie photos with them.

Here are some photos from our evening spent with Disney Descendants 3 in Vancouver.

Once the reception was over, we headed up to the screening room to watch the new Disney Descendants 3. Check out how they set up the screening room. The decorations were amazing – all the details were perfectly themed to Disney Descendants. There was also fog and twinkle lights.

We loved the movie so much – it was SO GOOD!!! My kids and I loved it, especially Dani and Vann. And since we had just visited Victoria B.C. Canada, it was exciting to recognize some of the places we visited in the movie. Vancouver and Victoria are so beautiful, they made the perfect backdrops to film the Disney Descendants movies.

So first watch Disney’s Descendants 3, then, grab your selfie stick and dive into the world of Descendants 3! To watch this itinerary come to life, download the free Disney Descendants 3 in Vancouver AR Adventure, housed on the QuestUpon app (available on App Store and Google Play). Make sure to share on social media using #DisneyDescendants3inVancouver. Such a fun app to play whether you live in Vancouver, Vancouver Island, or just visiting. Time for an AR adventure!!!

{Disclosure: We we invited guests of the Vancouver Tourism Board. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.}

Did you know that next year will be Knott’s Berry Farm’s 100th Anniversary?!!! 2020 is Knott’s 100th Birthday. It’s pretty spectacular that Knott’s is actually the oldest theme park in America. I am so proud and excited that I have been able to share and continue to share my joy for Knott’s with you! And I truly believe that you can love it as much as I do.

The best way to enjoy all of the fun offered during the 100^th anniversary celebration at Knott’s along with all of the other exciting Seasons of Fun events is with a 2020 Season Pass.

Why You Need A Knott’s Season Pass for 2020

If there is one year that you need to get a Knott’s Berry Farm Season Pass, then next year is the year! Besides the Peanuts Festival, Boysenberry Festival, Ghost Town Alive! Spooky Farm and Merry Farm, Knott’s will will present “A Knott’s Family Reunion!” A summer-long event paying tribute to Knott’s history and legacy of family fun.  Guests can join in a once-in-a-lifetime celebration featuring festive park décor, themed food items, entertainment, exclusive merchandise and special surprises along the way, all paying homage to the historic nostalgia of Knott’s. More details about the exciting 100^th anniversary celebration coming soon!

When you buy a Knott’s Season Pass, you get a year full of fun for the entire family. There are different seasons celebrated at Knott’s, so you get to enjoy different experiences throughout the year. Each one unique and special. Some of our favorites are…

The Peanuts Celebration

The Boysenberry Festival

Ghost Town Alive!

Knott’s Spooky Farm

and Knott’s Merry Farm

And this coming year, we will add Knott’s Family Reunion to the list!

What you get in 2019 when you buy your 2020 Knott’s Season Pass Now

If you do not have a 2019 Knott’s Season Pass – when you purchase a 2020 Knott’s Season Pass, you will get a FREE visit in 2019 any day between September 7 through December 31, 2019. Plus, you can get unlimited visits for $14.99.

If you are renewing your 2019 Knott’s Season Pass for a 2020 Season Pass – you will get one FREE Bring-A-Friend ticket valid any day between September 7 through December 31, 2019. Plus, when you renew online, you will receive a $10 discount!

How Much are Knott’s Season Passes

Right now is the cheapest you will be able to get a 2020 Knott’s Season pass. The price actually goes up during the year, and passed are only good per calendar year. All passes include unlimited admission in 2020 to Knott’s Berry Farm with no blackout dates.

Regular Season Pass is $99 – Is just eleven easy payments of $8.00 after an initial payment of $11.

Gold Season Pass is $120 – It also includes unlimited admission to Knott’s Soak City Waterpark. Is just eleven easy payments of just $9.50 after an initial payment of $15.50.

Platinum Season Pass is $197 – It also includes unlimited admission to Knott’s Soak City Waterpark and all Cedar Fairs Parks. Is just eleven easy payments of just $16 after an initial payment of $21.

These offers end on October 27, 2019. Applicable taxes and fees apply. Payment plans are only available at knotts.com.

Season Pass Add-ons

Knott’s has a bunch of great add-ons for your Season Pass that can help you save money!

All-Season Parking – $75

Regular and Gold Passholders can add the All Season Parking Pass to their 2020 Season Pass.

2020 All-Season Dining – $115 for Purple & Gold Passes, $130 for Platinum

For one low price, enjoy lunch and dinner every time you visit all season long. Regular Passholders may dine at up to 14 locations in Knott’s Berry Farm, and Gold and Platinum Passholders may dine at 2 additional locations at Knott’s Soak City Waterpark. It pays for itself in just four visits!

2020 All-Season Drink Refills – $31.99

Choose between the All Season Souvenir Bottle or bottle free Season Pass Drink Plan and refresh every visit in 2020 with unlimited drink refills. Enjoy Coca-Cola beverages throughout Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Waterpark.

2020 All-Season Unlimited Digital Photos – $49.99

Buy today and start capturing your photos immediately! Your 2020 All Season FunPix can be used for the rest of the 2019 season. Capture a season of memories when you add FunPix to your 2020 Season Pass and get unlimited digital photos from select rides and Peanuts Meet & Greets.

2020 All-Season Unlimited Locker Rentals – $150

Keep your valuables secured all season in 2020 when you add All Season Locker Rentals to your 2020 Season Pass.

My family and I will definitely be a Knott’s Berry Farm next year. It brings my family so much joy and we love spending time there as a family or with friends. Hopefully I will see you there…and if you do spot us, don’t be shy. Come say “Hi!”

You can also follow our Knott’s Berry Farm adventures, on instagram @Popsicleblog.

All summer, my boys have been anxiously waiting to go to Universal Studios Hollywood. We love it there, and were especially excited to go on the all-new Jurassic World – the Ride! Last week, the boy’s summer wish finally came true. We headed to the park to enjoy a day full of fun…and to spend time with some dinosaurs!

What we love most about Universal Studios Hollywood is the magical way they bring to life the movies. Everywhere you look, it practically looks like a scene out of a film or television show. You could spend all day taking pictures of the park and never ever go on a ride if you felt like it. From the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Simpson’s Land to Minion Land to the Studio Tour tram ride, you never feel like you are in reality.

Our day started with heading down to Jurassic World – the Ride. We just couldn’t wait any longer. The Jurassic Park Ride was our favorite, so we were excited to see how changed and was made into the Jurassic World version.

We weren’t dissappointed! Jurassic World – the Ride is still AWESOME! Riders are able to feel like they have entered into Jurassic World and is brought to life with the addition of iconic dinosaurs from the movie, including the colossal Indominus rex and the magnificent aquatic Mosasaurus.

Of course, they just couldn’t get rid of the AWESOME drop at the end of the ride. It’s still there, so don’t worry! We LOVED it and you’re going to love it too.

Dani was to short to ride Jurassic World – the Ride, so luckily we were able to utilize rider switch. This is where your party can wait in line as usual, but when you get off the ride, you can ask for a rider switch pass for two people. That the person who has stayed off the ride watching the little ones can then ride it without having to wait in the long line again. The psss is good for 2 people, and they can enter the express lane to ride.

While the big boys rode Jurassic World – the Ride first, Dani and I had a great time exploring the newly renovated Dino Play area for kids. They added so much to this area. This new interactive area has been designed to inspire children of all ages to explore and excavate giant dinosaur fossils. They have added musical instruments, rope bridges, and climbing areas. They have included lots of fun facts around the play structures that can help teach kids and adults about dinosaurs.

The boys and I switched places so that I could ride Jurassic World – the Ride….so good! And then we headed to lunch at the Jurassic Café. Their new menu includes Costa Rican-inspired cuisine and flavorful Tiki cocktails. Our top choices were the guacamole with plantain chips and the butter cake. YUM!

You can also check out the all-new tropical Isla Nu-bar with Jurassic drinks to cool you down. Or head to the Jurassic Outfitters store and see an array of souvenir limited edition and one-of-a-kind dimensional dinosaur sculptures.

The final experience in the Jurassic World area of Universal Studios is the elaborately themed “Raptor Encounter”. We loved this…as it seems so real! Owen makes an appearance with Blue, the beloved Velociraptor from the JURASSIC WORLD movies. Guests get to have a daring face-to-face encounter with her. Plus, they have adde the addition of two new dinosaurs – a Baby Raptor with her Raptor Handler and a life-size Triceratops. You can find this experience just outside the “Jurassic World—The Ride” entrance.

After all the Jurassic World fun, we headed over to one of our favorite attractions, the Studio Tour. This is where you take a tram and head down to the Universal Studios Backlot where they film movies and television shows. It also have a couple of ride experiences such at King Kong Skull Island, Earthquake and Fast and Furious. The great thing about the Studio Tram Tour is that it is never the same. Since they are always changing the sets for movies and filming in different locations, they have to switch it up. Plus you get a different tour guide each time.

Everyone can go on the Studio Tour so this is a great ride to go on when everyone needs to rest their feet and cool down. Our favorite part has to be JAWS. I still remember this part from when I was little.

What to Do with Toddlers at Universal Studios Hollywood

It is true that there aren’t many rides for toddlers at Universal Studios Hollywood. You must be 40 inches tall to ride most everything. So if you child loves rides, you may want to wait to go to Universal until they reach this height requirement. However, I have taken my toddler many times and haver still had a lot of fun.

After we when on the Studio Tour, the boys wanted to go on the rest of the rides that Dani wasn’t tall enough for. We could have opted to use “rider switch,” but I thought the best thing would be for the boys to ride rides, and I take Dani around to do other things. Toddlers can go on the Studio Tour, Kung Fu Panda Adventure, Super Swirly Fun Ride, all the great shows, and the Minion Land Water Park. Plus there is so much to see, you could just wonder around the park and still never get board.

It was hot, so we opted to play in the fountains in the middle of the Universal Studios Plaza. We also checked out the water area in Minion Land. Luckily I remembered a swimsuit and towel. Plus, kids need to be wearing shoes at all times. So I suggest bringing waterproofs shoes to use.

Did I mention that the Dreamworks Trolls have come to Universal Studios Hollywood? We got to meet Poppy, Branch and Guy Diamond. They dance, and greet guests and even fart glitter LOL.

The last thing on our list for the day was going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The kids have wands, so they were excited to see if they could still cast those spells around the land. Honeydukes Candy Store is always a hit and we definitely wanted some frozen butter beer. We stayed until DARK!

We ended the day watching the return of the Hogwartz Dark Arts show. It illuminates the evening sky with nightly shows featuring lights, music and special effects. It was AWESOME!

What a spectacular day! We always love our visits to Universal Studios Hollywood. It’s clean, fun and there is so much to do. If you live in Southern California or are just visiting, I highly recommend putting it on your list of things to do.

{Disclosure: We were invited guest of Universal Studios, however, we would go regardless. We love it there! All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.}

I had fun setting up a backyard movie party for the kids the other night in celebration of UglyDolls the Movie coming out on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand this week. Of course we had to have an UglyDolls party. We made popcorn with gumdrops and strawberry lemonade. We also brought out blankets and pillows to lay out on the grass. Movies under the stars are so much fun! Plus, included with the movie, is an all-new sing-along edition that is stuffed with fun bonus features.

UglyDolls, is a fun and quirky animated musical centered around the unique town of Uglyville. It is inspired by the global plush phenomenon and based on the UglyDoll characters created by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim, UglyDollsis filled with colorful and adorable characters and packed with powerful messages of inclusion and empowerment.

The best part is that UglyDolls features a star-studded voice cast including Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe, Blake Shelton, Pitbull, Wanda Sykes and Gabriel Iglesias. This talented cast brought their characters to life!

In Uglyville, weird is celebrated, strange is special and beauty is embraced as more than simply meets the eye. When Moxy (The voice of Kelly Clarkson) and the UglyDolls discover Perfection, a town where dolls are seen through a strict model of attractiveness, they confront what it means to be different, struggle with their desire to be loved, and ultimately discover that you don’t have to be perfect to be amazing.

The humorous and heartwarming film comes home with vibrant bonus content such as featurettes that reveal how the talented cast brought their characters to life, hilarious games with the cast and a sneak peek of the exclusive sing-along edition’s interactive entertainment. Plus, there is also an exclusive, all-new sing-along edition and stuffed with exciting bonus features allowing fans everywhere to dive deeper into the world of Uglyville.

We loved the message of of inclusion and empowerment that UglyDolls shared. It was the perfect movie to watch this summer at our backyard movie party. We hope you too can grab a couple of huggable UglyDolls to cuddle up with and have your own UglyDolls Party. Since it’s out on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand now, you can watch it as much as you’d like!

{Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. We were given the Ugly Dolls DVD and party supplies. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own!}