Christmas looms large at Walt Disney World, with decorations, events, parades, seasonal overlays, and an endless array of merchandise dedicated to the popular holiday. But it’s not the only holiday that comes at this time of year. This is also the season of Hanukkah, the festival of lights commemorating the victory of the Maccabees (a group of Jewish warriors) over ...
Read More »Author Archives: Andrew Friedenthal
The Must-Own Disney Parks Books For the Fan in Your Life
It’s not an easy job looking for a special present for a Disney Parks fan. With so many bits of merchandise out there – ranging from apparel to Funko Pop!s, pins, puzzles and beyond – it can be an arduous task to surreptitiously discover what somebody owns, what they might want, and what they have no interest in. However, if ...
Read More »Read The Original 1964 New York World’s Fair Description of Classic Disney Attractions
The New York World’s Fair of 1964/1965, held in Flushing Meadows park in New York City, looms large in the history of the Walt Disney Company and the Disney Parks. It’s there that, after opening Disneyland and successfully operating it for the better part of a decade, Walt Disney and his hand-picked team of Imagineers set their sites on the ...
Read More »Rating The Good, Good Dogs of the Magic Kingdom
While we may often associate the Walt Disney Company more closely with mice and ducks, the company also has a long history of some pretty fantastic dogs, from Old Yeller to Dug to all 101 dalmatians! But we’re not here to talk about just any Disney dogs. Oh, no. What we’re about to list for you is the top ten ...
Read More »The Story and History of Disney Springs
If you’re traveling to Walt Disney World for more than just a few days, then chances are that at one point or another you’re going to check out Disney Springs. Labeled by the Walt Disney World Resort as “an eclectic mix of unique shops, one-of-a-kind restaurants and lively entertainment” – all under the tagline “Happily Whatever You’re After” – the ...
Read More »The New Renaissance of Disney Parks Little Golden Books
If you have a young child – or you’re just young at heart! – and a fan of the Walt Disney Parks, then you’re probably already aware that we’ve entered a new golden age when it comes to Disney Parks Little Golden Books! The past several years have seen a plethora of new Little Golden Books (plus one re-release) that ...
Read More »Are You A Wader, Swimmer, or Diver? The Three Types of Theme Park Guests Explained
When you hear the phrase “waders, swimmers, and divers” you likely imagine a body of water – perhaps the ocean surf, or a placid swimming pool. But if you’re a theme park designer, you almost certainly start to think about audience/Guest reactions to the stories you’ve put thousands of hours of work into. For designers of theme parks and themed ...
Read More »The Latest Theme Park Innovations From IAAPA Expo 2022
The biggest trade show in the theme park, amusement park, and general themed entertainment world just wrapped, and IAAPA Expo 2022 (IAAPA being short for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) at the Orange County Convention Center was no disappointment when it came to exciting news about what might soon be coming to a Disney, Universal, or other ...
Read More »What Would A Disney Villains Land Look Like?
Amongst the Blue Sky concepts presented by Chairperson of Disney Parks and Resorts Josh D’Amaro at this year’s D23 expo, none ignited the imaginations of Disney Parks fans like the announcement of a potential Disney Villains Land at the Disneyland resort and/or the Walt Disney World resort. For decades now the Disney Villains have been a popular brand for Disney, ...
Read More »Which Attractions Should Be Made Into Disney Parks Movies Next?
With the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and of the Dwayne Johnson/Emily Blunt-starring Jungle Cruise, there’s been a lot of noise lately about which attractions will be made into Disney Parks movies next (and that’s not even mentioning the unsuccessful ones like The Country Bears and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride!). RELATED: EPCOT’s Figment… The Movie? We Aren’t ...
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