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It always looks so easy in those Disney films. Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother just waves her magic wand and a pumpkin immediately becomes this beautiful coach. But when it comes to removing the hundreds of jack-o-lanterns that are used to decorate the Magic Kingdom for “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween...

Still working your way through the last of the Halloween candy, eh? Well, before we all totally transition away from trick-or-treating to Turkey Time, I’ll share a Halloween Horror Night-related story that you may have missed. Copyright 2009 Universal Orlando. All Rights Reserved Do you recall the theme...

It’s been the smash hit of this year’s Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort . That Ghost Galaxy-themed redo of Space Mountain . During which Tomorrowland visitors have a far-too-close encounter with an angry spectre from outer space. Disneyland Guests have just been marveling at some of the effects...

Did you ever wonder what it might be like to be one of those scare-actors at Universal Studios Florida ? You know, one of those guys who comes lurching out of the shadows on Halloween Horror Nights and then frightens some poor unsuspecting tourist? Well, this past week, the nice folks who work in Public...

So how early do the folks at Knott’s Berry Farm start getting ready for Halloween Haunt ? Photo by Angela Ragno Well, if you take into consideration all of the costumes & sets that are kept in storage behind-the-scenes at this Buena Park theme park … Photo by Angela Ragno … not to mention all of...

Boys and girls of every age, Wouldn’t you like to see something strange … Like – say – Zero flying over Sleeping Beauty Castle . Photo by Paul Hiffmeyer. Copyright 2009 Disney. All Rights Reserved Or – better yet -- a 20-foot tall magical orb that rises 45 feet in the air behind the Castle. Which then...

Because Kermit the Frog helps hammer together the framing for a new Habitat for Humanity house, he gets to take his little nephew Robin off to Disneyland to experience “ Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride .” And because Miss Piggy muscles some plywood into place at this very same construction site, she then gets a...

Epcot has long been noted known for its mix of education and entertainment. Which is why Gary Vaynerchuk fits in perfectly at this theme park. This self-trained wine expert flew into Orlando late last week to help kick-off the 14 th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival . And in his own...

Throughout the country, people are looking forward to Labor Day. Trying to fit in the very last few moments of summer, including one last barbecue, one last dip in the pool, and those final few moments of joy, before the summer season disappears and the Fall grind of work and school arrive. But over...

The Walt Disney Company has long been an innovator when it comes to its theme parks & resorts. But that being said, that doesn’t mean that the Mouse doesn’t still keep a close eye on the competition. And when one of the other Central Florida parks introduces a service that quickly proves to be popular...

This year, there are lots of places around the country where you can go to see Fourth of July fireworks. The bank of the Charles River in Boston, South Street Seaport in NYC as well as the National Mall in my hometown of Washington DC. But what if you’re one of those “too much ain’t enough” types and...

Long before Walt Disney dreamed of turning an Anaheim orange grove into the Happiest Place on Earth , there was this berry stand in Buena Park . Courtesy of the Orange County Historical Society During the depths of the Great Depression, Walter & Cordelia Knott kept their 20-acre farm afloat by selling...

"Don't throw the past away You might need it some rainy day Dreams can come true again When everything old is new again" That Peter Allen tune kept running through my head this past Thursday night as Alice and I took part in the Summer Nightastic! press event. Where we wandered from Disneyland over to...

This past Sunday night, D23 – The Official Community for Disney Fans – had its first real event of size at The Walt Disney World Resort . With charter members invited to come on out to Epcot so they could enjoy an evening of music, munchies and munitions. So what was the verdict on the Flowers &...

Say what you will about the newest “ American Idol .” But Kris Allen is a man of his word. Just 8 days after he stood on stage at LA’s Nokia Theater and said “ I’m Going to Disney World! ” … Photo by Paul Hiffmeyer … Here Kris was. Surrounded by cheering fans as his motorcade rolled through Disney’s...

Since Epcot ’s International Flower & Garden Festival is now headed into the home stretch (this celebration of Spring in Central Florida officially wraps up on May 31st with a Flower Power Concert starring Tony Orlando ), you’d think that at least some of the blooms that are currently on display...

This past Thursday, Six Flags Over Georgia had a genuinely festive feel. A Dixieland band played while specially invited guests enjoyed a picnic lunch inside of this closed-to-the-public theme park. “And what was the special occasion?,” you ask. Well, a quick look at the centerpieces on the picnic tables...

Six Flags Over Georgia fans dodged a bullet a few months back. A speeding bullet, to be exact. Copyright Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc. All Rights Reserved Last year, Six Flags management gave some very serious thought to shutting down that theme park’s much-beloved Monster Plantation attraction. Worse...

What can one say about IAAPA 's Attractions Expo ? Let's start with Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi. Photo by Nancy Stadler The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions' annual conference & trade show is big. Scarily big. So big that it fills the entire North / South Building at the Orange County...

Yesterday was a cold, grey day in Boston. More like November than September. It was just the sort of day that the phrase "Blue Monday" was invented to describe. Photo by Jim Hill So how do you turn a day like that around? By handing out some Mickey Mouse balloons? 2500 of them, to be exact. Photo by...