All Ears® Guest Blog

DISNEYLAND AT 70: Bob Gurr Couldn’t Steer Clear of Disaster When Autopia Opened

April 21, 2025 by Chuck Schmidt

Perhaps the most popular attraction when Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, was the Autopia cars. Perhaps the most problematic attraction when Disneyland opened was the Autopia cars.

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A Secret Sale Is Happening On Vera Bradleys At Target Now

April 9, 2025 by Emma Kenner

There are so many great deals during Target's secret online sale!

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Disney’s True-Life Adventures: A Springboard To Disney’s Conservation Efforts

April 7, 2025 by Chuck Schmidt

When you think about it, animals have been the backbone of the Walt Disney Company ever since Walt came up with the idea of a cartoon mouse named Mickey. But in 1947, Walt decided to step away from animated animals. He gave the green light on a project that would ultimately offer rare insight into the heretofore largely ignored world of wild animals.

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Experiencing Disneyland and Walt Disney World, One Week Apart

March 25, 2025 by Chuck Schmidt

This past January, I accomplished something I had never done before. I conquered a coast-to-coast, “six Disney parks in 16 days” adventure. Talk about an E-ticket ride!

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Reliving Disneyland Memories…and Creating New Ones With My Friend Kevin Rafferty

March 10, 2025 by Chuck Schmidt

Disneyland is more than a place where parents and children can have fun together, as its creator, Walt Disney, intended. It’s also a place where precious memories reside.

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Disney Dollars Were The Brainchild Of Disney Marketing Guru Jack Lindquist

February 24, 2025 by Chuck Schmidt

The Disney Dollars initiative was the brainchild of Disney Legend Jack Lindquist, who was among other things, a marketing genius. He joined the Disney fold in 1955, working in Disneyland’s marketing department, where he dreamed up some of the park’s most famous promotions, including Grad Nites, Vacationland Magazine, The Magic Kingdom Club and the Disneyland Ambassador Program. “I got the idea for Disney Dollars by reading the financial pages,” Lindquist said. "It dawned on me that Disneyland was big enough to have its own currency."

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To Quote Marty Sklar: The Walt Disney Family Museum Is ‘A Real Gem’

February 10, 2025 by Chuck Schmidt

“It means a lot to me to preserve Walt's legacy,” Marty Sklar said. “Diane (Disney Miller) was always intent on doing just that. I've always appreciated what she tried to do ... to focus on Walt the man, and what he accomplished. That was always her goal" in creating the Walt Disney Family Museum.

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Four Walt Disney World Attractions We Miss The Most

January 27, 2025 by Chuck Schmidt

During Walt Disney World's existence, many park attractions have come and gone, sadly sinking into the dust bin of Disney lore, replaced by newer rides using more advanced technology and different storylines. Some attractions became tired and outdated but were spared demolition with upgrades and refurbishments. Here are the four attractions from each Walt Disney World park we miss the most.

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runDisney’s 2025 Dopey Challenge: On The Outside Looking In And Loving Every Minute Of It

January 16, 2025 by Chuck Schmidt

It was during this time that I began yearning to be out there with the other competitors. I missed the camaraderie shared among runners, the thrill of hearing people cheering for you along the course, and the adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment you get when crossing the finish line. But knee replacement surgery in February of 2024 had me sidelined. For the first time, I was on the outside looking in … and loving every minute of it. I couldn't have been more proud of my daughter.

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The DVC Cabins At Fort Wilderness: Nice, If Rustic And Rural Is Your Thing

January 6, 2025 by Chuck Schmidt

In 2024, the Disney Vacation Club joined the Fort Wilderness Campground fold with the introduction of its highly anticipated cabins Adding the cabins to DVC’s inventory was, shall we say, an interesting choice. For folks used to staying at some of DVC’s high-end properties (Bay Lake Tower, the Grand Floridian or the Animal Kingdom Lodge come to mind), the cabins take some getting used to.

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