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As Walt Disney World Nears Its 50th Anniversary, We Thought It Might Be Fun to Look Back

January 6, 2020 by Chuck Schmidt

For those folks who haven’t visited Walt Disney World in a while, you’d be surprised at how things have changed over the past few years. Actually, stunned might be a better word. With that in mind, we figured it might be fun to take a look back to the way things used to be a few decades ago in Walt Disney World.

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Disney’s New Skyliner Has an Unlikely Height-Challenged Fan

December 23, 2019 by Chuck Schmidt

I’ve never been a fan of heights. Put me anywhere that’s 20 feet or more above terra firma and little beads of sweat start forming on my forehead. Unfortunately for me, fear of heights has come into play over the years on a number of popular attractions at Walt Disney World. Imagine how thrilled I was when the Disney Skyliner opened. But after one ride on the transportation system, I'm hooked.

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Imagineer Kevin Rafferty Talks Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, on Track for March 4 Opening

December 9, 2019 by Chuck Schmidt

Walt Disney Imagineering creative director Kevin Rafferty calls it the favorite Disney attraction he's ever worked on. It's called Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway and its on track to open in early 2020.

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Disney Attractions, Films Feature Flocks of Fine-Feathered Friends

November 4, 2019 by Chuck Schmidt

Watching the opening scene of "Cinderella" got me to thinking: How prominent are birds throughout The Walt Disney Company’s long and storied history? As it turns out, very prominent.

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Relics of the Past: 14 Things Disney Repurposed From Its Old Attractions

October 25, 2019 by Janelle Sheetz

We're looking at several pieces of Disney history that have been reused (or refreshed) in the Parks!

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The Wonderful World of Disney Has a Long History With the Wonderful World of Oz

October 22, 2019 by Chuck Schmidt

The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939 and became one of MGM Studios most profitable ventures. The movie was based on the literary works of L. Frank Baum. Two years before the release of The Wizard of Oz, Walt Disney expressed interest in purchasing the rights to Baum’s stories. But with work on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio occupying all of his studio’s attention, Walt passed on pursuing Baum’s works until 1954.

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Disney History: The Unbuilt Resort Hotels of Walt Disney World

October 17, 2019 by Brian Delpozo

Over the years, Walt Disney World has planned numerous Resorts around the Seven Seas Lagoon that remain unbuilt. We're bringing you the intriguing details!

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Like a Freak Snow Storm, the Incredible Success of ‘Frozen’ Caught Disney Off-Guard

October 7, 2019 by Chuck Schmidt

You’d be surprised to learn that even the creative minds at Disney can be caught off-guard at times. The first inkling I got of that phenomenon came with the unexpected success of the Turtle Talk with Crush attraction in The Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion at Epcot. The Nemo-themed show, which features live interaction with lovable turtle dude named Crush, was – and still is – a big hit. Another “Don’t look now, but we have a big hit on our hands” moment came in the weeks after the movie "Frozen" was released in late 2013.

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