For Gary’s 2012 birthday we decided to return to Disney World and take in some of the parks we weren’t able to visit when we were there earlier that year for Nicole’s birthday. Over at Disney Hollywood Studios we couldn’t get enough of the Star Tours ride, but did stop long enough to grab some footage of the Jedi Academy and the padawan training. Typically sixteen or more children are picked from the audience to participate. We however were sad that it’s only open to kids as I’m sure we’re …

The lagoon which was originally incorporated into the Studios design to form one of the ears in the enormous Hidden Mickey that the park was initially intended to resemble, is now surrounded by numerous attractions and services themed to the “California Craze” from Hollywood’s Golden Age and even has an Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza displaying busts of past and present television icons.

The nearby pavilion is also where you can find the events being staged during the Star Wars Weekends held annually since 2003 …

I’ve been getting back into my Japanese groove a little in the last week or so – I spent much of my time at York University very interested in the language and culture, and when I left school, I suppose it felt ‘easier’ to distance myself from it a little. Recent conversations have made me realize how much I miss it, and how long the twelve years since I’ve been now feel.
In a neat little parallel with our recent Disney obsession, I came across this amazing ad for Tokyo Disneyland …

Designed on the same principle as Main Street U.S.A the Hollywood Boulevard serves as the park’s main entrance lined with 1930s and ‘40s inspired venues selling Disney merchandise and food. And like the Celebration Parade that winds its way down the Magic Kingdom’s main street, Disney Hollywood Studios has the Pixar Block Party Bash that makes it way daily down the Boulevard and the adjoining Echo Lake area. This is also a great area to take in other live entertainment provided by fun cover bands like the Mulch, Sweat, and …

When we visited the Magic Kingdom back in April a lot of this area was still behind scaffolding and very much under construction. Storybook Circus for example had already relocated the Dumbo ride and repurposed Goofy’s Barnstormer, but were still working on opening large parts of the Circus, while the Enchanted Forest attractions were still well under constructed. Luckily the week before our arrival the third and final phase was completed with the opening of Pete’s Silly Sideshow and the Big Top Souvenirs shop on October 4th, and the following …

Originally when we’d planned on our trip in October it had been to see the park done up for Halloween. But when we learned that it also happened to coincide with Epcot’s 17th annual Food & Wine Festival (being held until November 12th) we knew we had to go. Unfortunately even trying to book things over a month out from our reservation proved fruitless as the festival has proven to be hugely popular with amateur and professional foodies alike since it was first started in 1995. The festival we learned …

After we went down in April for Nicole’s birthday we agreed to come back in October for mine to see Disney World done up for Halloween. And because we were coming back specifically for this, it only made sense for us to get tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (being held until November 2nd) and do a little trick-or-treating ourselves – a map for which can be found at the following link detailing the eleven locations scattered around the park that candy is available at. Embracing a pirate-theme we came …

If you’re able to make it to the Magic Kingdom for their Not-so-Scary Halloween Party (being held until November 2nd) those playing the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom interactive card game are in for a treat. Stop by the Firehouse during the Halloween hours and instead of your regular booster of five cards you will get a Chip and Dale Halloween promo. The animation sequence is short but cute Halloween inspired effect that looks like it packs a powerful punch.

For my 2012 birthday we decided to go back to Disney World and take advantage of both the Not-so-Scary Halloween being held at the park for the month of October, and the International Wine & Food Festival that’s currently over at Epcot’s World Showcase, but in true Disney fashion while we were visiting the Magic Kingdom on my actual birthday the new Fantasyland expansion opened with a dress rehearsal.

Despite the sign to the contrary – the Journey of the Little Mermaid having been shut down due to “rough seas” – …

Opened in October 1, 1971 the Magic Kingdom is the first of the four theme parks to be built so far at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. While the park started off with a modest two hotels and twenty-three attractions, it has grown to be the most visited theme park in the world with approximately seventeen million visitors in 2011. Similar in design to the Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California the Magic Kingdom further built upon Walt Disney’s vision of the fully immersive visitor experience, making use …