Together… As One: Reflecting on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser After Its Permanent Closure

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Today — Saturday, September 30, 2023 — marks the end of one of the most significant developments in themed entertainment history. The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has seen its final guests, and the Halcyon ship has been retired from service.  I’m not going to sit here and wax poetic about why the Galactic Starcruiser “failed,” … Read more

Disney CEO Bob Chapek Says They ‘Ought to Listen’ to Audience, So Why Aren’t They?

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Things aren’t looking great from where Disney CEO Bob Chapek stands. Despite $82 billion in revenue for fiscal 2022, investors are balking, and stock prices are down. Highly respected financial analysts are calling for him to be fired. What’s a beleaguered executive of one of the world’s largest conglomerates to do? Apparently, he cuts jobs … Read more

When Lightning Doesn’t Strike: Three Lightning Lane Purchases You Should Never Make at Walt Disney World

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Genie+ and Lightning Lane have recently launched at Walt Disney World and we have tried them all. After skipping the wait at multiple rides and watching the standby wait versus the Lightning Lane for several days now, we have come to the conclusion that while some of the paid Fastpass options might be worth the … Read more

EDITORIAL: What Disney Has Taught Us About Surviving a Pandemic

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Disney always holds the promise and potential of perfection, but often, it’s our resourcefulness in the face of the unexpected that helps us achieve the desired result. Now that we’re living through an unprecedented time of unanticipated circumstances, we’re finding ourselves applying many of the lessons we’ve learned from trying to make the best of … Read more

EDITORIAL: EPCOT’s Festivals and Hope for the Future

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EPCOT is probably my favorite Disney Park, maybe even my favorite place I’ve ever visited. I’ve always loved its celebration of humanity, both in our diverse cultures and our imagination to solve the challenges of tomorrow. I always leave there feeling better about my place in the world than when I go in. Most of … Read more

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Celebrate the Park’s 37th Anniversary with 37 Unique Things About Tokyo Disneyland

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It’s Tokyo Disneyland’s 37th birthday! As they say in Japanese, otanjoubi omedetou! For many of you, you may have never been to Tokyo Disneyland. So when Tom or I hype it up, you might ask “what’s all the fuss about?” Or you might have been before and wish you could be there right now. So how about … Read more

Orlando Sentinel Editorial Predicts “Devastating” Economic Future for Central Florida Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

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Though things may seem uncertain now, eventually Walt Disney World will reopen… but according to the Orlando Sentinel‘s Scott Maxwell, some things will be very different for the resort, and Orlando and Central Florida in general, when it does. In an editorial, Maxwell predicts that the coming economic recession posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic … Read more

EDITORIAL: Where (and When) To Catch Some Zzz’s While You’re on the Move at Disney Parks

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Where to Give in When Your Body Is Giving Out In honor of February 28th being National Public Sleeping Day, it seemed a perfect time to remind everyone of all the ample opportunities available within any Disney park for catching a few needed zzzz’s.  After all, when there’s no parent or guardian to hold you … Read more

EDITORIAL: The Rise of the Resistance Boarding Pass System Has Failed, Here’s Some Better Ideas

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Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WDWNT LLC. Last week marked my second experience with the virtual queue boarding group process for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. My first encounter was back in December, under … Read more

Romantic Disney: Annual Passes and Justifying Your Disney Commitment

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Is an Annual Passport really worth the money? Fact: Loving Disney is an expensive hobby. When we tell people we’re off to spend the night at the Disneyland Resort or, say, 10 days at the Walt Disney World Resort, the very first reaction we get isn’t a shared excitement over the fun we’re going to … Read more

Romantic Disney: How Disney Souvenirs Improve the Quality of Life

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No kidding, Disney merch is hard to pass up. After all, there’s always something for everyone… along with something for every room, every season, every holiday… every occasion, hobby, interest, sport, smartphone… the list never ends. On our last trip to Walt Disney World, the Magic Kingdom shot glass we brought from home (as part … Read more

EDITORIAL: The Long-Lasting Legacy of The Adventurers Club

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Editor’s Note: During WDWNT’s Stage 89 event celebrating the 30th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year, we had the pleasure of meeting Rain Blanken, the “frying pan-wielding” content editor at WDW Magazine. She had the brilliant idea of pitching an Adventurers Club piece after getting to meet some of the original cast during our … Read more

Romantic Disney: When Your Window Opens, Take A Chance On Those Disney World Reservations

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We’ve often joked that our annual Walt Disney World vacation is our Olympic event, and we train like athletes going for the gold! Only, truth be told, it’s no joke. Just getting there requires strategy, endurance, solid preparation, and the right gear. It’s as much a mental game as it is physical, and just the … Read more

EDITORIAL: Spider-Man and The MCU No More: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

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Well, it was fun while it lasted… Spider-Man leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of those examples of how sometimes, nothing lasts forever. Is it completely over for Spider-Man and the MCU? Heck no! As long as Disney has oodles of cash, expect to see Spider-Man back in the MCU at some point again. … Read more

Road to the Ride: The Resurrection of The Haunted Mansion’s Bride

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Editor’s Note: “Road to the Ride” was a column that focused on the background and development of Disney attractions, including all the twists and turns a project takes as it goes from original concept, to theme park attraction, and beyond. This article was originally published on October 14th, 2018, but we’d figured we’d bring it back … Read more

ROMANTIC DISNEY: For the Love of Epcot’s World Showcase—It’s Not Just a Shopping Mall!

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My husband and I were at a holiday party when word got out of our love of Disney. Within minutes, we were on the hot seat as a couple spared no expense in expressing their disappointment in Epcot after their recent vacation. We were instantly taken aback, as the wife had been a character at … Read more