Monday, February 27, 2017

Tips for Dinner and a Show at Disneyland the Easy Way

By Carey & George Kiraly




The Disneyland Dining Dilemma. It’s something every person has to face if they want to have a nice, sit-down meal in the Parks. With all the excitement surrounding you, the last thing on your mind is food. A quick churro here or there, and you’re fine, right? Boy, could that be any more wrong! Don’t get me wrong, who doesn't love churros, but if you want the stamina to catch all the shows and use all your FastPasses, you’d better plan your meals in advance. Join us in today's new article for some helpful tips for dinner and a show at Disneyland the easy way...

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Rare Footage of Japan's Emperor Hirohito Visiting Disneyland (1975)

By Keith Mahne




During his reign, the Japanese hardly ever got to see Emperor Hirohito. It was only about 15 times a year that the gates of his Imperial Palace in central Tokyo would open and a custom Nissan Royal limousine would roll across the moat to carry the Emperor and his ceremonial sword and stone toward some ritual of life on the throne: the opening of parliament, the viewing of a sumo wrestling match, the greeting of a state visitor. But in 1975, just like other imperial visitors before them, including Ethiopia's late Emperor Haile Selassie and the Shah of Iran, Japan's Emperor Hirohito and his wife Empress Nagako paid a visit to the most magical kingdom of them all, Walt Disney's very own Disneyland. Join us in today's new article as we return to Disneyland of 1975 during the Emperor's visit to Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom...

Friday, February 17, 2017

Time and Again: Walt Disney World (Video)

By Keith Mahne




Time and Again was a retrospective television series that aired on MSNBC from 1996 until 2000. The show, hosted by Jane Pauley, ran 60 minutes and its format consisted of showing clips from NBC News archives throughout the years, revolving around historical events or groundbreaking pop culture icons. In this episode of Time and Again, which originally aired in 2000, the show covers news events that focused on Walt Disney, the creation of Disneyland, the creation of Walt Disney World, interviews with people like George Lucas and how he brought Star Wars and Indiana Jones to the Parks, the controversy around EuroDisney and the infamous theme park that Michael Eisner tried to build in Virginia called Disney's America. This is truly a unique look at the history of the Disney Company and it also contains one of the most fascinating segments around how Walt Disney World came to be...

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Secrets of the Kingdom - Exploring the Magic in the Details

By Patricia Bednarofsky




There are so many wonderful and immersive experiences at Walt Disney World which include 4 theme parks, 2 water parks and the newly refurbished Disney Springs, formerly known as Downtown Disney. Not to mention, the ever evolving and expanding lands that keep us coming back for more year after year. The entire Walt Disney World Resort complex is brimming with activities to entice and delight any age. Disney has gone to great lengths to ensure when on Disney property at any given time you are transported away to another world. Disney takes you away from the woes of everyday life and into a land of pure Disney bliss. Underneath that beautiful façade is a deep rich history; each curve in the pavement and every color variation has a story. One magical place that particularly sticks out in my mind is the Magic Kingdom. Every window, building and sound has a specific purpose and meaning behind it. Even the juxtaposition of the lands within the Magic Kingdom are planned in a specific way to tell a story. And oh, what a fabulous story it is. Join us as we discuss the secrets of the Magic Kingdom and explore the magic in the details in today's new article...

Sunday, February 12, 2017

A Rare Look Inside WED Before and After Walt Disney’s Death

By Ted Linhart




When an eponymous corporation loses its founder, especially if he/she is still in charge at the time, that company is challenged with finding a new leadership team while still maintaining that person’s vision and continuing business as usual for the sake of its employees. The Walt Disney Company went through such an ordeal when Walt died on December 15, 1966. This article looks at a remarkable “Six-Month Report For WED Enterprises” that covers a unique time frame -  the three months before and after Walt's death when multiple, iconic Disney Park creations were coming to life. The copy of this report that you are about to see was sent to Roy O. Disney, Walt’s brother, and creates an extraordinary look at the DNA of Disney theme parks. Join us as we take a peak inside WED Enterprises during one of its most challenging and yet inspirational eras of its history...

Saturday, February 4, 2017

The Time Walt Disney Passed The Peace Pipe To His Brother Roy

By Keith Mahne




The basic difference between Walt and Roy Disney was Walt's readiness and willingness to jump off and follow his dreams, while his brother Roy preferred a grounded approach to things that were a bit more solid. Since the two brothers were children of a working class family who had to count every penny to get by, Roy's somewhat conservative attitude is easy to understand, but Walt's seemingly boundless enthusiasm and confidence is not. Both were extremely talented and creative men, and both had great heads for business. Roy's somewhat cautious nature served as a perfect counterpoint to Walt's flamboyance, and that one characteristic strengthened the company. However, these differences between the two brother's way of thinking would sometimes cause them to clash just as they did in the early 1960s over the sale of Walt’s company WED Enterprises and all of its holdings. Join us as we return to Walt and Roy's negotiation over the sale of WED and learn what caused Walt to eventually pass the peace pipe to his brother Roy in today's new article...

Thursday, February 2, 2017

The Tiger in the Room: How Joe Rohde Pitched Animal Kingdom

By Brittany Bell




Animal Kingdom is irrefutably one of the most creative and unique Disney theme parks ever created. It’s immersiveness truly brings guests to a far-away land, one of adventure, mystery, and mystique. And, with Pandora opening this year, Animal Kingdom is about to get a whole new level of inspiring and educational entertainment. Interestingly enough, behind the complex theme park that is Disney’s Animal Kingdom is an equally amusing story about how the Park came to fruition. Joe Rohde, one of Disney’s top Imagineers and the man behind Animal Kingdom, had to put his imagination to the test when he pitched the idea of an “animal park” to the former Walt Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner. Learn the amazing story of how Animal Kingdom got the green light in today's new article…