Just sixty days into his tenure as the ninth CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Josh DโAmaro has traded the “Magic Maker” persona of his theme park days for that of a wartime leader. As of May 9, 2026, the Disney-Burbank offices have become a legal command center as the Trump Administration doubles down on its regulatory assault against the ...
Read More »Author Archives: Rick Lye
“Not on Our Property”: The Groundbreaking Move to Stop Disneyโs Favorite Third-Party Partner
For decades, the “Disney Bubble” has been a carefully curated illusion. When you dine at the Italy Pavilion in EPCOT or grab a burger at Disney Springs, youโre greeted by the same smiles and the same “magic” youโd find at a Disney-owned resort. But behind the kitchen doors, a different reality has taken holdโand as of May 7, 2026, the ...
Read More »16 Months for This? The Fire and 5-Hour Shutdowns Plaguing Big Thunder Mountainโs First Week Back
When Big Thunder Mountain Railroad officially shuttered for a massive 16-month refurbishment, Disney fans were told to be patient. The goal was to take the 46-year-old classic and give it a “once-in-a-generation” overhaul, complete with new track and a high-tech finale. Credit: Disney But as of May 8, 2026, the “Magic” seems to have missed the memo. One week into ...
Read More »BoardWalk Skeletons: Inside the Massive, Multi-Storefront Demolition Redefining Crescent Lake
If youโve taken a stroll along the wooden planks of Disneyโs BoardWalk Resort lately, youโve likely noticed that the air smells less like saltwater taffy and more like sawdust and structural demolition. As of May 7, 2026, the western end of the promenade has been transformed into a sprawling construction zone, and the “mystery project” that began as a few ...
Read More »Strollers vs. Tequila: Why Families and Disney Adults Are at War in the World Showcase
It is May 2026, and EPCOT is in the midst of its vibrant Flower & Garden Festival. The topiaries are blooming, and the “Beacon of Magic” is shining on Spaceship Earth. But as the sun sets, a different kind of energy takes over the World Showcaseโone that has nothing to do with gardening and everything to do with a 15% ...
Read More »Shrinking Crowds, Swelling Profits: Inside Disneyโs New High-Margin Math
For decades, the health of the Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts was measured by a simple metric: the turnstile. If the parks were shoulder-to-shoulder and the wait times were astronomical, Disney was winning. But as the financial results for the second quarter of 2026 have just revealed, that old-school philosophy has been officially retired. Credit: Disney In a move ...
Read More »Playing with Fire: Did Disneyโs No-Soft-Opening Gamble Break Big Thunder Mountain?
The “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” certainly lived up to its name yesterday, but not in the way Disneyโs PR team intended. On May 3, 2026, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened after a record-breaking 16-month refurbishment. While the morning was defined by a “sea of people” and a staggering 120-minute wait, the evening was defined by something much more alarming: ...
Read More »The End of an Era? Why Disneyโs New Ferryboat Signals a Massive Monorail Shutdown
If youโve visited the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) lately, you might have noticed something a bit “extra” bobbing in the Seven Seas Lagoon. This week, Disney officially confirmed the addition of a fourth ferryboat to its Magic Kingdom fleet. While a new boat sounds like a win for summer capacity, the Disney community is buzzing with a much more ...
Read More »Banned for Life: How a Repeat Trespasser Ended Up in Handcuffs at the Magic Kingdom Entrance
The “Most Magical Place on Earth” is famous for many things: the towering spires of Cinderella Castle, the smell of fresh churros on Main Street, U.S.A., and the promise of a world where worries disappear. However, for a small percentage of the millions who visit annually, the music stops abruptly at the security gates. For one 42-year-old woman, the dream ...
Read More »Banned and Booked: Why Trying to Sneak Back Into the Magic Kingdom is a One-Way Trip to Jail
Itโs a beautiful Saturday, and the monorails are gliding over a sun-drenched Seven Seas Lagoon. For most guests, the biggest worry is the wait time for TRON Lightcycle / Run. But for a 42-year-old woman attempting to enter the Magic Kingdom this week, the “Most Magical Place on Earth” delivered a very different kind of experience: a pair of handcuffs ...
Read More »