All Ears® Guest Blog

The Evolution Of Disneyland Paris: 30 Years of Twists, Turns And Unlimited Potential

June 5, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

In the 1980s, when the Walt Disney Company decided to build a theme park in France, they expected to receive the kind of reception Allied troops were afforded in 1945 when they liberated the country at the end of World War II. What Disney got was a not-so-polite thanks, but no thanks from many people in France.

No Comments

Re-Imagined Walt Disney Studios Park Still Has A Way To Go

May 22, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

When the Walt Disney Studios opened in 2002 as a companion to Disneyland Park, it had the look and feel of the Disney/MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, right down to the Mickey Mouse-themed Earffel Tower near the entrance and a host of copy-cat attractions. And much like the Disney/MGM Studios, the Walt Disney Studios Park got off to a slow start.

No Comments

Disneyland Paris: A Beautiful Place, Save For The Duct Tape, Broken Glass, Barricades and Line Cutters

May 8, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

We arrived here in Disneyland Paris on April 30 with lofty expectations. After all, the resort is in the middle of its 30th anniversary celebration. What we found was a resort awash in construction projects, with more areas boarded off for our “future enjoyment” than we cared to count. What was even more disturbing was a seeming lack of care when it came to general upkeep.

10 Comments

Snow White’s Grotto At Disneyland: The Gift That Keeps On Giving

April 24, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

The resounding success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – the first full-length animated feature film – in 1939 helped pave the way for all that has followed in the wonderful world of Disney ... including an anonymous gift from Italy in 1961 which became the Snow White Grotto in Disneyland.

No Comments

‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ and ‘The Harvey Girls’ Have Unmistakable Disney Connections

April 17, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

There are Disney movie, and then there are movies that have the look, feel and sound of a Disney movie … but aren’t. "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "The Harvey Girls" have unmistakable Disney connections.

2 Comments

Inside Look at WonderCon 2023

April 15, 2023 by Jeanine Yamanaka

See what WonderCon was like in 2023!

No Comments

So You Want to Be A Travel Agent? Here Are Five Things You Need to Know!

April 3, 2023 by Sara Varney

Here are five things you need to know about being a travel advisor!

No Comments

These Vintage Photos Celebrate Disney On Land, Sea And Air

March 27, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

The first installment of Disney Vintage Photos for 2023 features photos depicting scenes on land, sea and air. Most originated from Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. In general, most of these photos have a “celebration” theme … birthdays, anniversaries, maiden voyages and just good times in general.

No Comments

RETURN TO DISNEYLAND, PART 3: From The Matterhorn Bobsleds to a Runaway Railway: Doing The Impossible, Six Decades Apart

March 13, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

Over the years, members of Disney’s creative team have, on occasion, been asked to do the impossible. And most often than not, they have accomplished the task ... with spectacular results. "One heck of an assignment," is how Disney Legend Bob Gurr described his work on the Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction at Disneyland. "Like fitting a ship in a bottle," was Kevin Rafferty's way of describing his work on Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway in the Chinese Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

No Comments

RETURN TO DISNEYLAND: California Adventure has finally hit its stride

February 27, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

Funny thing about Disney theme parks: Historically, it takes a bit of time before they catch on with the public. Disney’s California Adventure, which opened in February of 2001 across a newly constructed esplanade from Disneyland Park, was no stranger to this phenomenon. After a massive overhaul, DCA has finally hit its stride.

No Comments