In 1993, when Disney Vacation Club announced plans to build a time-share resort in Vero Beach, Florida, about 100 miles southeast of the Walt Disney World resort, the question on many people’s minds was: Why would Disney build a resort so far from its central Florida theme parks? After spending a few days at the idyllic DVC property just steps from the Atlantic Ocean, it became obvious why that decision was made.
Making Sense of Things That Don’t Make Sense at Walt Disney World
Posted onTaking a deeper dive into why there aren't any more pavilions in World Showcase and why Pandora: The World of Avatar was placed in Animal Kingdom.
After Nearly Two Decades, Pixar Animation Finally Made It Into Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Posted onThe addition of scenes from the movie "Coco" into Mickey's PhilharMagic --now a Disney Animation AND Pixar production -- have given the show a fresh vibe.
The Long and Winding Road of Disney’s PeopleMover
Posted onWhen it comes to low-tech, low-speed attractions at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, there’s one ride that is sure to fulfill one's desire to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery: The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.
New Book Helps Shine Light on Career of Disney Background Specialist Claude Coats
Posted onWith the recent release of David A. Bossert’s Claude Coats: Walt Disney’s Imagineer—The Making of Disneyland: From Toad Hall to the Haunted Mansion and Beyond [The Old Mill Press, 264 Pages, $65] the world will learn about Claude Coats – through indepth text and stunning archival photos – and his amazingly productive career with the Walt Disney Company.
Zinger at the End of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway’s Was Imagineer’s Way to ‘Leave ‘Em Laughin’’
Posted onIt turns out that the gentle nudge at the end of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway wasn’t in the original plans for the ride. After years of meticulous planning down to the smallest detail, Kevin Rafferty admits he was winging it for that last surprise ... a trademark of the now-retired Disney Imagineer.
That Sinking Feeling: How a Keel Boat Skipper Kept His Wobbly Boat Afloat
Posted onRemember the Mike Fink keel boats? You know, those top-heavy, low-capacity vessels that used to navigate the waters around Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Frontierland in Disneyland Paris?
Returning To The High Seas Aboard the Disney Fantasy
Posted onOn Saturday, September 25th, we left the cozy confines of the Old Key West Resort on Walt Disney World property, bound for Port Canaveral and a four-night cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy. Once onboard, we found that safety protocols abounded.
Expect Ratatouille: The Adventure to Take Zany to the Next Level
Posted onFor fans of the Disney-Pixar movie Ratatouille, the wait is nearly over. On Oct. 1 – the day Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration begins – Ratatouille: The Adventure will officially open to guests in World Showcase at EPCOT.
The Disney Store as We’ve Known it for 34 Years is No More
Posted onThe recent announcement that the mostly mall-based retail wing of the Walt Disney Company will be pared down to just 25 stores around the United States came as no surprise: Just a few months ago, the company shuttered a large percentage of its stores around the country … with the promise that more closings would follow.

