Field Notes from Anandapur The sign warned us that we were entering part of a protected preserve. Absolutely no shooting of anything save with a camera. The Royal Anandapur Forest was once the walled hunting grounds of a maharajah. When this maharajah passed away during a hunting accident, the subsequent rulers developed the area into…
Category: Theme Parks at Walt Disney World
Everything about Animal Kingdom, Disney Studios, EPCOT and Magic Kingdom
Booking Disney Vacation Packages for a Group
Booking Vacation Packages for a Group In my previous post, I talked about how I am planning a Disney vacation for my family, my parents as well as my sister and brother-in-law. My previous post discussed how it is important it is to talk about items such as how long everyone wants to stay, when…
A Review of Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
We love Fantasmic Walt Disney World has a number of shows throughout the four main parks. From musicals that come to life such as Finding Nemo and Lion King in Animal Kingdom and stunts that leave you on the edge of your seats like Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular and Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show…
Fear Factor — Preparing for Phobias at Disneyland
Sweaty palms. Hairs standing on end. The desire to flee. Feeling dizzy. Theme park rides are designed to give us thrills, but what if the fun collides with our fears? When the cold sweat isn’t from the weather outside, know when to avoid a ride, and how to prepare traveling companions for what you might run into….
Surviving Walt Disney World with an Infant
Walt Disney World is an amazing and magical place for kids of all ages. I was fortunate enough to be able to take my daughter to Disney for the first time when she was only 4 months old, and my son when he was 7 months old. They won’t remember those trips, but my photos…
Learning Can Be Fun with the Sum of All Thrills Online Game
The Sum of All Thrills attraction in the Innoventions pavilion at Epcot gives guests the opportunity to design their own roller coaster. I have never been brave enough to try it myself, but when I heard there was an online game that went along with the attraction, I was interested and decided to try it…
Searching for Remy in the Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt
This year, Epcot is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. There are some new things happening at this year’s festival and one new addition is Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt. This sounded like a lot of fun, so while at the Food and Wine Festival, I decided…
Disney Abbreviations
Have you ever felt that Disney has its own language and you have no idea what it means. Or do you feel like people just throw random letters together and claim it means something. Have no fear we can help you become familiar with Disney’s abbreviations. Let’s start with the big picture. Each of the…
Re-rideability at Disney Parks — Can We Do It Again?
You rush to ride first thing in the morning, and also later in the day with a FastPass. If there’s a short line, you might even hop back on! What gives an attraction a high “re-rideability” score? What factors make us want to experience the same ride over and over (and maybe over) again? 1. Nighttime. An…
Book Review: Kingdom Keepers – Disney After Dark
cover art copyright Disney Hyperion Books My 9 year old daughter spied a used copy of Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark at a library used book store. I had heard of the series and let her know that it was a mystery series that takes place at Walt Disney World. She grabbed it almost as…
Disney After Dark
Carsland at night, in Disney California Adventure The Disney parks take on a very special ambiance once the sun goes down. Lights go on, the temperature gets cooler, and parents tote their exhausted toddlers back to the hotel. Even people who plan out their Disney days minute by minute often forget to look into what…
Say Cheese — Disney Family Photo Traditions
Ten years of growth and change There’s a reason we always climb the stairs to Tarzan’s Treehouse at Disneyland. It’s not the view — although it is spectacular. It’s not the characters nor the chance to “trash the camp” after we come down. We scale that set of stairs for a simple photograph, one we’ve…