Ask any diehard Disney park fan, and most likely one thing on their bucket list would be to stay in a park overnight. This year, they can cross that wish off their list – and you can, too!

That’s because for the first time ever, both Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will stay open for guests for a full 24 hours.

Taking advantage of the fact that 2012 is a leap year, with an extra day on the calendar, Disney has chosen February 29 as the date this special promotion will take place. From 6am on that day through 6am on March 1, local time, each of the two parks will be open non-stop.

That means if you want to ride Splash Mountain at 3am, you can finally do it.

To make things even better, this is not a special ticket event like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Regular park admission, from single park tickets to annual passes, will get you in.

I’m super excited about this and am already planning with friends to do an overnight at Florida’s Magic Kingdom. I can’t wait to see the sun rise on the castle. How about you? Will you be taking advantage of this rare opportunity to stay in the park all night?

[Image courtesy of Walt Disney World]

Nickelodeon Hotel, Let It Snow Holiday

Nightlife is not just for adults anymore. Or at least it’s not if you have the chance to take your kids out for the weekend to Nickelodeon Suites Resort in Orlando. From November 11th through January 2nd, Nick Hotel is hosting a Let It Snow experience nightly where it will snow in Florida!

The main pool at the resort will be taken over with dancing lights, music, and hot chocolate by the pool. The 80-foot-long pool at the water park will be turned into an “ice” slide for kids to soar down into the always heated, 84º pool. Snow will fall from the sky over Nick Hotel each night with a special SpongeBob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer interactive show just for the winter wonderland.

Throughout the holiday season, the entire Nick Hotel resort will be turned over to the elves and decorated with a festive Candy Cane Stroll through the resort. The kids can sing along with their favorite Nickelodeon characters at the Holiday Karaoke stage. The kids-only night continues with Nick After Dark Snowy Nights with winter-themed shows in the winter-themed workshop.

Book now for the Let It Snow nighttime experiences at Nickelodeon Suites Resort in Orlando.

image credit NickHotel.com

You’ve either packed your day full of rides and character visits and shows or you’ve spent your vacation relaxing by the pool and at the spa. Chances are, you’ll want to do something at Disney World once the sun goes down. Whether or not you have kids with you, there is plenty to do at Disney World after dinner.

Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade at Magic Kingdom

Main Street Electrical Parade – Magic Kingdom
This is my all-time must-do favorite thing to experience at Disney World. It doesn’t happen every night, so make sure you check the calendar for when you’re in town to make sure you get to see the parade. Thousands of LED lights dot the parade floats and special effects enhance the music and story of the parade. For optimum viewing, make sure you stake out a place along the parade route well in advance of the start time. The parade is one of the most popular entertainment features in all of Disney World and it’s a MUST see.

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth – Epcot
The nightly fireworks spectacular takes place at and above the World Showcase Lagoon. The 3-act, 14-minute show with fireworks, laser lights, water features, and lively music celebrates the diversity of the nations at Epcot. Good viewing spots are at a premium around the lagoon, so you may want to find your place on the lake at least an hour before showtime.

Fork & Screen Theatres at AMC Downtown Disney 24 – Downtown Disney, West Side
Catch a movie and dinner at the newly renovated AMC Downtown Disney 24 Fork & Screen Theatres. The over-sized chairs and personal tables in front of your seat makes for a fun evening of movie-going on a date or with the family. And as a extra bonus, a full bar located inside the movie theater can be served while you’re relaxing during your movie.

image credit Angie Lynch

As if  walking through the swamp at night wasn’t scary enough, you can go on a night walk through the Central Florida swamp THAT HAS BEEN HAUNTED for Halloween.

Color me not going.

The Enzian’s Eden Bar in Maitland just outside of Orlando is hosting it’s third annual Haunted Swamp: Walk of Terror “with a petrifying path fully stocked with frights that include a new ‘flying monster.’”

Haunted Swamps Around Orlando

A. Flying. Monster.

A flying monster. I don’t enjoy things flying above me, and combine monsters flying above my head at night in a swamp that has been haunted? I’m not game.

But if you like that sort of thing, you can check it out Fridays and Saturdays from 8pm-12am through October 31st.

Say you DO like walking in outdoor spaces in the dark with the purpose of being scared. You’re in luck because there’s A Petrified Forest just up the road from The Enzian.

Located in Altamonte Springs, A Petrified Forest will scare the bejeesus out of you from the the start with their website’s preview video. If that gives me an idea of what to expect at the haunted “forest,” I’ll be staying home with my DVR and Kit Kats. But hey, if you like being scared walking through a haunted trail OUTSIDE, have at it.

For more information about the Haunted Swamp; Walk of Terror, contact the Enzian at 407.629.1088 or visit the Enzian.org site. Tickets are $10 advance, $15 at the door, and $25 for VIP passes.

A Petrified Forest tickets start at $10 with discounts available on their Facebook page.

source Orlando Sentinel, Enzian.com, A Petrified Forest

image source Angie Lynch