Category: Op Ed/Opinion
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Thoughts on the Haunted Mansion Expansion at Disneyland
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Expanding the Queue to the Extended Queue One of the big things I’ve seen discussion about is the expansion of the queue into the area that is currently utilized as an extended queue. While on the rare occasional quiet morning in the park this area can sometimes be fairly open for photos or to just…
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As Disney and DeSantis Feud Continues in the Courts, the Battle of Public Opinion Appears to Have a Winner
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Since Disney came out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay,” law last year, it has found itself embroiled in a feud with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. This has led to Governor DeSantis making statements like “there’s a new sheriff in town” while attacking the efforts of “woke Disney.”…
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The Loss of Maleficent in Fantasmic! is More Than Just a Dragon
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On Saturday night the skies at Disneyland were aglow in a way that nobody wanted to see. Rather than fireworks brightening up the light, the Maleficent dragon in Fantasmic! caught fire and ended up burning to the ground in front of thousands of guests who were watching the second show of the night. The glow…
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For About $5,000… Thoughts on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
Since Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser first began taking guests on voyages to the stars earlier this month I have been one of the many fans ingesting as much about this new experience. I will admit to many conflicted thoughts about this, mainly coming from the price. There are also thoughts about the experience and the…
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Why is Knott’s Berry Farm a Great Value for a Theme Park?
Recently a study was published by Etias examined which theme parks were the most and least expensive per ride. What that means is, what does it cost per amusement ride based on park ticket prices? It is not too much of a surprise that a certain park in Anaheim that started it all was one…
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Why Festival of the Arts is My Favorite Festival at Epcot – According to Murray
Epcot at Walt Disney World is home to four annual festivals throughout the year. Flower and Garden, Food and Wine, and Festival of the Holidays are ones that have brought many guests to search about the park. One of them, a newer one, is my personal favorite. It’s possibly the best, and here are some…
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Disney Plus Up – Top 5 Good News Disney Stories of 2020 – #1
In the final good news story of 2020 for Disney, Disney Plus has had its first year and it was quite the year! And, yes, I might be cheating with this number one spot since it is another compilation type story. But, all roads point to Disney+. Investor Day 2020 The recent Investor Day highlighted…
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Bob Chapek, CEO – Top 5 Good News Disney Stories of 2020 – #2
We’re close to the end of the top 5 list and this one has some parts to it (as others do if you’ve been following along). This story could have been at the top, but there has been one more thing to top off the whole list. And this has been good news for the…
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Park Pass Reservations – Top 5 Good News Disney Stories of 2020 – #3
Continuing in the somewhat different top 5 Disney stories of 2020, we come to one that teeters on the edge of good news. The reason is that it, perhaps, would not have happened without the circumstances of the year. Yet, it still remained a hopeful light of a story in 2020. The Walt Disney World…
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Park Icons – Top 5 Good News Disney Stories of 2020 – #4
This year’s top 5 is looking a bit different. Where it’s usually taking a look back at the stories that topped news and social media for Disney, we’re constraining it to the more positive, hopeful stories of the year. This fourth spot is also a compilation of similar items. It’s about the parks, but the…
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Rise of the Resistance – Top 5 Good News Disney Stories of 2020 – #5
In this year’s top 5 Disney stories of the year, I’m taking a slightly different approach. It has been a hard year, as I think anyone could say. If we went straight to the top 5 stories there would be some that could dwell on the disheartening. Instead, here are the top 5 good news…
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What to Watch on Disney+ on St. Patrick’s Day!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This holiday originally came as an observance of the death of St. Patrick himself. Through the years, though, it has become a celebration of Irish culture. For many, this has meant wearing green, going to parades, drinking green beverages, going to a pub, and/or eating Irish food. This year, in particular,…
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Thoughts About Star Trek Ahead of the Return of Jean-Luc Picard
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Since the announcement that Captain (apparently now an Admiral) Picard would be returning to the small screen, I have found myself getting increasingly excited about the return of the Captain that, in many ways, I grew up with. However, if you asked a much younger Mr. DAPs who his favorite captain was growing up, Captain…
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Disney Acquires Lucasfilm and Fox – #1 of Top 5 Disney Stories of the Decade
We are at the big one of the decade for Disney. And, sure, I’m cheating a little because these took place at two different times. However, it’s generally that Disney has acquired some heavy hitters in media that have paid off for them already. Lucasfilm In 2012, Disney and George Lucas reached a deal for…
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Top 5 Disney Stories of 2019 – #1: Disney Plus and Baby Yoda
We are down to the top story of the year! I would imagine many were guessing Disney+ would be the biggest event in 2019 for Disney. It was heavily hinted at before the year began and exploded out of the gate. Yet, it didn’t really gain momentum until it got closer to the launch. Some…
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Marvel Studios Box Office – #2 of Top 5 Disney Stories of the Decade
In the countdown of the top stories of Disney in this decade, it gets harder to funnel down to what was the biggest. So, I’ll admit there is some condensing in these last two stories in order to contain the impact of them. This second place to the biggest story is one that has really…
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Top 5 Disney Stories of 2019 – #2: Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge (and Review of Rise of the Resistance)
As we continue to reflect and countdown to the top story of the year, Galaxy’s Edge at both Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a bit of a no-brainer. It had been anticipated for a few years and was teased throughout the year before its May opening. This is a highly immersive environment that has…
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Disney California Adventure is Rededicated and Redone – #3 of Top 5 Disney Stories of the Decade
It is not just the end of the year but at the end of a decade. This decade has had some monumental Disney events (as reflected in posts from the previous two days) but we are getting closer to the biggest of the decade. It’s getting harder to deduce, and this was one that was…
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Top 5 Disney Stories of 2019 – #3: Avengers Endgame
As we continue the countdown of top Disney stories of the year, this one movie is something that swept the country and lasted quite a while. Avengers: Endgame was one of the most anticipated films in history. People clamored for any preview and any indication as to what this film would bring and do to…
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Top 5 Disney Stories of 2019: #4 – Epcot Updates
With the D23 Expo having been known to be in 2019 many speculated what would be announced at the parks panel. Would it be a new Tomorrowland? Would it be something Marvel? Would it be Epcot? There had been two announcements that many figured would have more detail with the panel: Ratatouille and the Guardians…
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Top 5 Disney Stories of 2019: #5 – Walt Disney World’s Skyliner Soars
As we countdown the year’s biggest Disney stories, one of the most anticipated of the year was the opening of the Skyliner at Walt Disney World. It might not seem so, but these sky buckets were talked about throughout the year as the route took shape throughout the property. Pylons and towers started marking out…
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#5: Shanghai Disneyland – Top 5 Disney Stories of the Decade
Not only is it the end of another year, but at the end of another decade! In a grand look at what has transpired for Disney in the last ten years (and there was a lot) we begin a countdown of the top stories of the decade with the opening of a certain international park.…
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Where Can Star Wars Go After Rise of Skywalker? Here are Two Ideas
Before reading this post you need to have seen Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. If you haven’t then go get in your car or take a rideshare or bus or horse and go see it in the movie theater. Now. I’ll wait. But, for those of you who have seen it, read on. You…
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Knott’s Merry Farm Birdcage Theater Shares the Meaning of Christmas
During the Christmas season, it’s easy to get wrapped up in presents, songs, and even family. It can be a hectic time and sometimes it’s not enjoyed as it should be. Knott’s Berry Farm knows this and for the Christmas season their Knott’s Merry Farm original production, “Marley’s Wings” tackles the hard issues of the…