Author: Cameron D. Jackson
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Pumpkintown – An Interview with Don Carson
On Wednesday, May 6th at 7:00pm PST, DAPS MAGIC is proud to share an interview with theme park attraction creator and concept designer Don Carson. Mr. Carson is a veteran in the field, with numerous credits any Disney fan will instantly recognize – including the designs of Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland, and Walt Disney World’s…
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The Elias Campaign – DAPS MAGIC Plays D&D!
In my (not so) humble opinion, the best part about being a geek is the VARIETY. There are so many facets to geek culture, that it an endless, wonderful experience to discover new fandoms and (mild-to-moderate) obsessions! That’s why it gives me great joy to share one of my favorite flavors of geek with the…
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The Best Star Wars Character (…Is Not What You Think)
Star Wars fans, it it time. Time we lift the veil of uncertainty, and declare, once and for all, the best character from that galaxy far, far away. I’m talking prequels, sequels, holiday specials… The one, true, reigning greatest character. Before we get to that, though, we need to discuss why some other characters AREN’T.…
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Disney Parks Hacks : Stuff the Other Folks Won’t Tell You
Hey. HEY. You-uh, you goin’ to a Disney Park? (glances around furtively) You wanna- hey, you want the good stuff? (nods to this article) I’ve got the good stuff right here. The kinda stuff those other guys aren’t offering. Like, the good tips and tricks. The real super-secret kind. Well, not so secret. I’m gonna…
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Marvel Would You Rather…?
At this point, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is stuffed to the gills with unique and interesting characters. Without fail, every capital “g” Geek can and will find something to identify with and love. As Geeks ourselves, a favorite activity has always been a game of “who would you rather,” taking the fantastical characters from our…
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Kingdom Hearts 3: The Good & The Bad, Tips & Tricks
Happy Kingdom Heartsmas, all! After OVER A DECADE of waiting, we have the punctuation for one of the most confusing, wonderful, insane mash-ups in history. I have spent an irresponsible amount of my Tuesday playing (watching) several hours of this game, and I have opinions. First things first, I love it. There are flaws. Lots.…
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The Best (and Worst) From EVERY Star Wars Film
Star Wars fans. A unique breed of geek, capable of doing two things better than anyone else: Rapturously debating finite details about the Star Wars universe Making lightsaber wooshy noises at the drop of a hat As we’ve talked about before on our site, this fandom can get a little… intense. Sure, not every beat…
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The Halloween Tree: Hidden Disney
Spookiest greetings to all this Halloween season! A big part of our fall-time traditions on the DAPSmagic team is visiting the Disneyland Resort and enjoying the wonderful seasonal decorations and experiences. But there’s one special Halloween tradition at Disneyland we are especially fond of: The Halloween Tree! There’s a good chance you’ve seen it if…
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Who Would Win: Disney Villains Edition
It’s as old as geekdom to pit our obsessions against each other in fictional battles. Many an argument has been had, and several friendships tested. But, what if we put same against relative same? Let’s say, hypothetically, all of the best (or worst) Disney villains got in a scrap, who would win? Well, wonder no…
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Why “The Last Jedi” is the Most Star Wars Movie to Date: A Defense
Okay, first, a content warning: This write-up is 100% a direct response to the extreme outpouring of hate certain “fans” have had, and continue to have about Rian Johnson’s addition to the episodic story of Star Wars. There are numerous, caps-lock-taped-down, furious rants decrying the personal attack the movie was to their senses. I think…
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10 Even More Under-Appreciated Disney Songs
That’s right- there’s still a TON of great Disney music not getting the credit it deserves! Obscurity is one thing, but sometimes just being in proximity to other great material can make even the best music get missed. If you haven’t read (and rightly appreciated) the first two lists of songs, they can be found…
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5 Super Fan Theories About “Incredibles 2”
Strap on your Incredibles-themes tinfoil hats kids, because Incredibles 2 is out! As with any Pixar and/or superhero film, there are layers of meaning and PLENTY of wiggle room for fan theories and speculation. Having recently deep-dived into some of my more conspiracy-centered thoughts on the film, I thought I’d share them here. Also, fair…
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Lamplight Lounge Menu Released Ahead of Pixar Pier Opening at Disney California Adventure
With the June 23rd opening of the Disneyland Resort’s latest dining location, the Lamplight Lounge, just around the corner, we were treated to an appetizing look at their new menu! The casual dining location takes the place of the ever-popular Cove Bar and Ariel’s Grotto on the redesigned Pixar Pier in California Adventure and promises…
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Gumball Fish Tank: DAPS Crafts
Looking to geek out over a unique craft (without breaking the bank)? This fun project may be just the ticket. With limited experience necessary, you too can make this unique (and downright sweet) aquarium. Want proof? Well, a couple (semi-un-handy) folks from the DAPSmagic team (@mr_camjaxn and @mounenii) were able to make this… and quite…
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Avengers: Infinity War Review (Both Non-Spoiler and Spoiler-Heavy)
As a heads-up, the first bit of this article will be spoiler-free, with the latter section (clearly marked) full of all the juicy tidbits you DON’T WANT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU SEE THE FILM. There. You’ve been warned. #ThanosDemandsYourSilence *** Well, color me impressed. Ten years is a lot of build-up for a film. After…
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8 Best/Worst from Disney Films
Balance. It’s found everywhere, even in the Disney canon. Everything can be ranked, and as a person with strong opinions (why are some foods relegated to breakfast?! Do not stifle my culinary adventures, hollandaise sauce!) I feel uniquely qualified to find the best and worst examples in Disney lore. What follows is a dissection of…
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America’s Teaching Zoo: DAPS Travel
Here at DAPS MAGIC, we talk (a lot) about the big destinations around us, like the Disney Parks and Knott’s Berry Farm. As fantastic as these places are, we know variety is the spice of life, and enjoy exploring the unique and wonderful outside the big gates. Using our local expertise, we invite you to…
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Alfresco Tasting Terrace: Hidden Disney by Caitie & Cam
Hidden Disney is a series celebrating the lesser-known corners of the Disney Parks, written by two avid crowd-avoiders and secret-enthusiasts. We will be delving in to tips & tricks we’ve learned from personal experience frequenting Disneyland and beyond, to help guide you to a bit more magic on your next excursion. Have something for us…
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Revered Director John Musker Celebrates Retirement
After a wonderfully productive four decades, legendary animation director John Musker has taken his retirement from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Musker, most well-known for his work with fellow luminary Ron Clements, made his directorial debut on The Great Mouse Detective, and went on to lead some of the most successful titles during his tenure, including…
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Pixar Pier: Amicus Curiae
There’s been a lot of banter about the new Pixar Pier additions to Disney California Adventure, mostly of a negative, and poorly-elocuted variety. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that change is hard, and I don’t always agree with every edit the Disney parks have made over the years (I’m looking at you, closure…
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Solo Trailer: Top 5 Things You Need to Know
With any new Star Wars trailer comes a ton of new information, and we’ve been excitedly pouring over our first real look at Solo: A Star Wars Story. Here are some of our biggest takeaways! 1. A Solo Appearance We haven’t seen much at all of Alden Ehrenreich’s take on the titular character leading up…
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Top Ten Misconceptions About the Disney Parks
There’s a lot of trivia out there about the Disney parks and resorts- where the “hidden Mickey’s” are, what time to hit up Splash Mountain (hint: last), how often to eat a Dole whip before admitting you have a problem… But there’s also a lot of misinformation out there about the Disney experience. We here…
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The Last Jedi: The Good and the Bad (SPOILER HEAVY!)
All right, it’s been a bit since The Last Jedi dropped, but just in case you haven’t had the chance to see the latest Star Wars film… I want to begin by saying that I loved this film, but even the best movies aren’t without their flaws. I’d like to point out what I see…
