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  • Blog Post: From concerts to cels, attraction openings to book signings, there's a mighty busy Mouse-related week coming up

    Never mind March coming in like a lion. This month is really more a mouse, given all of the Disney-related events that are going to be happening all over the country in the coming week. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved Like what? Well, for starters, today through Monday, March 11th...
  • Blog Post: Leonard Kinsey's "Our Kingdom of Dust" is "Valley of the Dolls" done Disney-style

    It's kind of a summer tradition here in the States that -- before you head out for the beach -- you stuff something trashy to read in your tote. Jacqueline Susann (AKA the author of " Valley of the Dolls ," which sold 30 million copies back in the 1960s) used to specialize in these sorts...
  • Blog Post: Epcot brightens up its International Food & Wine Festival by bogging down

    It's once again Food & Wine time at the Walt Disney World Resort . Photo by Angela Ragno Now in its 16 th year, Epcot 's International Food & Wine Festival is in full swing. For the next five weeks, foodies will eagerly be eating their way around World Showcase, sampling cuisine from...
  • Blog Post: Why For aren't more Disney World attractions cloned for Disneyland?

    Maddy Mouse wrote in to say: I have kind of a weird question for you to answer. I notice that Walt Disney World has lots of rides, shows and attractions that the Imagineers originally designed for Disneyland . But when it comes to rides, shows and attractions that the Imagineers originally designed for...
  • Blog Post: Could WDW's New Year's Eve events possibly include a party inside of DisneyQuest?

    Look. I know. Hanukkah ended on the 9th. And Christmas and Kwanzaa are just around the corner. So the last thing that you probably want to hear about at this point is another holiday. But given that a lot of you like spending New Year's Eve at Walt Disney World but don't necessarily enjoy the...
  • Blog Post: Trip the light fantastic with Walt Disney World’s new “Summer Nightastic!” program

    Okay. I know. The news coming out of Orlando these days all seems to be about a certain boy wizard (As well it should be. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter really is spectacular. The next time you’re in O-Town, you should definitely make a point of swinging by Islands of Adventure and checking this...
  • Blog Post: Monday Mouse Watch: Disney World uses coupons to promote off-peak dining & shopping

    Maybe you’ve heard about this coupon that Cast Members have been handing out at WDW ’s Magic Kingdom ? The one that gets Guests 20% off on all food that they purchase at Columbia Harbour House, Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, Pinocchio Village Haus and Tomorrowland Terrace...
  • Blog Post: Spring brings fun & excitement to Walt Disney World

    Okay. I know. It’s been a particularly brutal winter for most of the country this year. But if you can hang in there just a few more days, Spring officially arrives this Saturday! Mind you, Walt Disney World didn’t wait for the vernal equinox (which officially occurs on March 20 th at 1:32 p.m. EDT)...
  • Blog Post: Florida’s frosts fail to stop Disney World’s annual Flower & Garden Festival

    By now, you’ve probably heard about the freakishly cold weather that the Sunshine State experienced back in January. Where temperatures actually dipped down into the 20s in the Central Florida area. Well, it wasn’t just the state’s fruit & vegetable crop that got whomped by these...
  • Blog Post: Gary Vaynerchuk wants you to think outside of the box wine

    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...
  • Blog Post: Mickey varies the menu at Walt Disney World

    Once upon a time, if you wanted to get away from the crowds at the Magic Kingdom , you hopped on a bus and then headed over to the Lake Buena Vista Village. Where – if you could find a seat by the window – you could then kick back a cocktail or two at Cap’n Jacks Oyster Bar and watch...
  • Blog Post: When it comes to fun Fourth of July festivities, O-town is the “Oooh” & “Aaah” capital of the USA

    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...
  • Blog Post: D23 members enjoy an exclusive Epcot experience at Sunday's Flowers & Fireworks Celebration

    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 &...
  • Blog Post: Just how spectacular was WDW's Bicentennial spectacular?

    Bradley R. writes in to ask: Jim -- I was just down at Disney World and I have to admit that the Magic Kingdom's "Celebrate America! -- A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky" show was pretty spectacular. But as good as those fireworks were, they got me thinking. Has Disney World ever staged a bigger display...
  • Blog Post: "We're rollin' on the Mickey's Birthdayland Express"

    Today's lesson: Sometimes our Disney fan obsessions do pay off. When EPCOT Center opened in 1982, Steve Hansen was already an accomplished puppeteer and performer, working as the PuppetMan in World Showcase. Someone as talented & versatile as Steve was bound to go far in the Walt Disney world. In...
  • Blog Post: Monday Mouse Watch : Down Under Disney Style

    Now that the Walt Disney Company has grown comfortable with the idea of allowing outside firms to operate eateries inside of its theme parks (Witness the Tutto Italia Ristorante that the Patina Group just opened in the exact same space that Epcot 's L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante used to occupy...
  • Blog Post: Why For aren't there more countries in Epcot's World Showcase area?

    Kathy T. writes in to say: In honor of the upcoming 25th anniversary of Epcot , I was wondering if you could share some stories about how that theme park actually came into being. Well, one part of the Epcot Center story that has (in my opinion, anyway) been woefully under-reported was all the wheeling...