It's Your Fault You Now Need to Pay For Fastpass

Every year, Disney raised the prices of tickets and annual passes.  Every year you complained.

Every year, Disney slowly gutted the dining plan.  Every year you complained.

Every year, Disney slowly cut in park entertainment and amenities.  Every year you complained.

Now Disney has killed Fastpass and replaced it with a paid version.  I know your going to complain, and guess what?  It's all your fault.

You might disagree with that statement or be offended by it.  Honestly, I hope it does offend you.  

Before I go further, let me clarify who I am talking to here.  I am talking to the people who complain, but take no action.  Like a addict, they ignore quality or cost to get their fix.

I know there is another group who 100% agrees with me.  They are ones like me.  The ones, who instead of complaining, took action.

Back in 2013 I wrote a blog entry called "Taking My Ears Off."  In that post I outlined seven things that motivated me to stop giving money to Disney Parks.  They were things that transitioned Disney from an expensive, but high value vacation, to not the best value vacation anymore.   If I was to write that post today, my list would be a lot longer than seven items.

If you complained but kept giving Disney Parks your money, you did nothing but waste your time.  Why would Disney do anything differently?   Their actions were making their bottom line grow.  Until that changes, Disney will keep cutting quality, keep increasing prices, and keep finding ways to milk as much money as possible out of people.  

If you want anything to change you have to take action.  Stop giving Disney Parks your money and you might see things change.  

I haven't stepped foot in a Disney Park since 2011.  Do I miss it?  Of course I miss it.  Disney World was unlike anything else.  

If I feel that way why haven't I gone back?  Because Disney Parks are not the best value anymore.  For 60 years they were, but that is no longer the case.   The cuts have changed Disney World into a shell of what it once was. 

I know some people are going to disagree with that, and honestly I don't care.  Those people are not my peers.  They are either so addicted to Disney that they can't see the forest through the trees or are in an income bracket far above mine, and feel no impact from the price increases.

You might think I'm a Disney basher, but I'm not.  I'm still a Disney fan.  I still listen to podcasts, follow Disney news, subscribe to Disney Plus, and so on.  I simple don't give Disney Parks my money anymore, and that will continue until the parks become a good value again.

Do I think I will ever step foot in a Disney Park again?  The part of my brain that embraces fantasy says yes, but realistic side of me knows it's very unlikely.  After what people have accepted, I can't see Disney doing anything that would keep people from going to the parks. 

Disney Does It Again

It’s been a while since I did an old fashion Disney post.  Recent events have made it a prime time to do so. 

As you may have figured out, I’m not a Disney defender.  From 1985 till 2010, I was a HUGE Disney defender, but Disney managed to drive me away.

The biggest reason I turned my back on Disney wasn’t the cost, it was the value.  The value dropped off the face of the Earth, as Disney reduced the guest experience to a shell of its former self.  If my last trip in 2011 taught me anything, it was that Disney no longer cared about the guest experience.  They were solely focused on profits.

Two big stories popped up in the last week.  They go hand in hand with my biggest complaint about Disney World.  The two topics are the new pricing structure and elimination of a third of the Citizens of Hollywood.

Pricing

In a move that proved how little Disney cares for (non-affluent) families, Disney introduced a new tiered pricing structure.  Now you will pay more for busier days.  Let’s read between the lines here.  If you are locked into certain periods of time off (teachers), you are now being punished.  If you can’t pull your kids out of school (most families) you can now pay through the nose. 

Are you getting anything in return for these massive price hikes?  No.  You are actually getting less.  First, this is a MASSIVE price hike.  It’s the biggest of all time.  Disney would argue that with some political mumbo jumbo, but the fact is, this change will result in average price paid jumping to an unprecedented level.

Now, how are you getting less?

The trend of butchering the guest experience continues.   Disney has consistently reduced the value of your ticket by eliminating entertainment.  The most recent example is the elimination of a third of the Citizens of Hollywood.  In translation – one third of the best part of Disney Studios has been flushed down the toilet.  That cut seriously reduces the value of visiting Disney Studios.  If you go back over the last six years, you’ll find similar cuts all around Disney World.  The guest experience is a shadow of what it once was.

I know I walked away.  For a long time I thought I was the only one.  Recently my mother walked away.  I was stunned by that.  My mother has been a huge Disney fan since her first trip to Disney Land as a child.  We are talking about someone who has been a fan for more than five decades.  She said she’s not going back.  It’s not worth it anymore.

Before you point at me and say I influenced her, let me say this.  My mother has no idea that I write this blog.  She has no idea who A. Antonio or CMDTA is, nor has she ever even mentioned it.  We haven’t talked about Disney in years. 

My family is not the only one.  For the first time we are seeing longtime fans walking away.  Now is the time to fix the problem.  If Disney waits until it impacts the bottom-line it will be far too late.  They will find themselves crippled for years while Universal wipes the floor with them.

No More Books?

If you've tried to find my author page and failed, there is a reason for that.  All of my books have been taken down.  This means one of three things:

1. I finally gave up (possible)

2. Disney sued me (unlikely)

3. I got a new editor.

It's number three.  As many of you know, my books (excluding Around the World) were in terrible shape and desperately needed a good edit.  Thankfully I found someone who should be put up for sainthood.  She's blasting through World Killer and, holy crap did she ever find a ton of issues.  That's one of the reason I pulled the books.  I had no idea how bad they were, until she ripped through World Killer.

When some of the books return (some will never see the light of day again) they should be in much better shape.   I can't guarantee that all the novels will be back.  I have no idea how kind my new editor will be.

What Is Wrong With Euro Disney?

Some people were surprised by the news that Disney had to bail out Euro Disney.  Why would a company need to bail itself out?  That line of thinking exposes one of the biggest misconceptions about Euro Disney.

There are a number of reasons Disney had to bail out Euro Disney.  The first reason is simple.  Disney can’t really afford to let it fold.   They can’t let it fold because Disney does not own Euro Disney.  In reality, Disney only owns a 40% stake in Euro Disney.  If Disney wanted to fold the operation, they’d have to buy out the other 60%.  The 1.25 billion Euros is far less than the cost of buying out all of Euro Disney.  In the end, Disney could still find itself owning all of Euro Disney if investors force their hand or are willing to take pennies on the dollar to get out.

Beyond that, what is wrong with Euro Disney?  There are a number of things.

1 – The economic collapse is still crushing Euro Disney.  Their occupancy drops as low as 75%.  I wouldn’t be surprised if at times it goes even lower.  Most resorts that can only muster 75% lose money.   75% might sound like a lot, but all resorts aim for above 100%.   How do you do that?  Dual occupancy in all rooms is considered 100%.   By adding more adults or kids into a room, it pushes the occupancy beyond 100%.  That’s why a resort can hit 100% occupancy and still have rooms available.

2 – The Exchange rate.   Despite Europe’s economic woes, the Euro is still worth a good amount more than the dollar.  This results in sticker shock for Americans.   Most American’s cannot afford to go to Euro Disney.  Between the airfare and exchange rate, it’s far cheaper to go to Disney Land or Disney World. 

The exchange rate means something else too.  It means Europeans can go to Disney World for not much more than it costs them to go to Euro Disney.   That kills Euro Disney, since Disney World is a much better resort.

3 – Location – Euro Disney is roughly forty minutes outside of Paris.   That might not sound like much, but most tourists outside of France or nearby countries, are not going to drive.  This means you are facing a 40 minute bus ride, a train ride, or the large expense of renting a car, if you want to stay in Paris and visit Euro Disney.  That leads to another issue.

Unless you are fairly affluent, the odds of you being able to visit Europe on a regular basis are fairly small.  For the cost of Euro Disney vacations, you could see Paris and take the train to London to see that too.  I think it’s safe to say that a Paris / London trip is on more bucket lists than Euro Disney is.

Hopefully this gives you an idea of why Euro Disney has always had its share of economic problems.   There is no easy fix to the problems.  Even if Disney had total control and no investors to worry about, they’d still have issues.  They’d be eating more of the losses than they are now.  That would drag down their stock value.  Now maybe you see what Disney is in a catch 22 when it comes to Euro Disney.

Movies You Didn't See: The Lone Ranger

My journey of movie sadomasochism continued this week when I sat down watched The Lone Ranger.  As I did so, I tried to maintain a positive attitude.  I tried to put abominations like John Carter out of my mind.  My positive attitude lasted about two minutes.

When the credits rolled I found myself facing an enormous challenge.  How does one sum up, what is wrong with this movie?  After I few minutes it occurred to me.  This is the only way to sum up The Lone Ranger:

“Ruth Wilson was great.”

Why is that the perfect way to sum up The Lone Ranger?  Because, it is literally the only positive thing I can say about this festering pile of monkey feces.

Trying to explain why this is such a bad movie, is like trying to explain how bright the sun it.  Unless you see it for yourself, you will never quite understand.  

I’m going to list a few of the worst aspects.  Keep in mind that what I am going to list is a minuet fraction of the actual issues this film has.

Tonto:  Tonto’s role in this movie is offensive, foolish, and discredits the original character.  The only thing more offensive than Tonto, is the fact that Johnny Depp is playing him.   Casting Depp in this role should be ranked as one of the biggest casting mistakes in the history of film. 

The Lone Ranger:  I hated this guy.  I wanted him to die so the movie could end.   Giving this guy the tile of The Lone Ranger is disgusting.   This is not the Lone Ranger!  Everything about this character was wrong.

Writing: I harp on this a lot.  There is no excuse for a story to be poorly written.  There are plenty of talented, creative writers out there who could craft an excellent and exciting plot.  I scratch my head and wonder how a plot this terrible makes it to paper.   The only explanation I could come up with was that someone with too much power, and too little talent forced his ideas through.  The plot of this movie is so bad it makes you want to cry.  I can honestly say that it was so bad I sat down and penned out an outline that would be far superior.  It took me less than five minutes.

Violence: This really angered me.  The Lone Ranger is a disgustingly violent movie.  In my opinion, it should have been rated R.  The number of people who die graphic, violent deaths in this movie is shocking.  This is without a doubt the most violent movie Disney has ever made.  If I had brought kids to this, I believe I would have walked out.  This is not a family movie my any stretch of the imagination.

Legacy: This movie has crippled the genre.  It’s a blight on anything called a Western.  It took a beloved subject and characters, and crapped all over them.

I hope The Lone Ranger serves as a lesson to all the studios out there.   Invest more in your stories.  Don’t take something from the past, throw some actors in it, and dump it on the public.  If you are going to remake anything, make sure it’s a quality product.   Thanks to Disney’s horrific efforts in this movie, The Lone Ranger is unlikely to ride again.  If he does, it’ll most likely be decades from now.  It’s going to take a long time for the stench of this movie to dissipate.

Bob Hoskins Has Died

Bob Hoskins has died.   He was 71.  Most Disney fans have fond memories of Mr. Hoskins.  His performance in Who Framed Roger Rabbit was legendary. 

Sadly there is a connection between Mr. Hoskins and the loss of another Disney Legend, Jim Henson.  Both of them died of Pneumonia.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit wasn’t the only role he was known for.  Many also remember his role in the film Hook and numerous other projects.   One of his last roles before his retirement was Snow White and the Huntsman.

Cruise Line Comparison

It’s time for the shake down!  Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival vs. NCL – Who comes out on top?

First let’s talk price.  This section is not about value, it’s about price. All considered, NCL is the cheapest of the three cruise lines.  Coming in a very second is Carnival.  It’s so close that this can change depending on the specials they are offering.  You’ll want to compare them to see who is cheaper if your main focus is finding the cheapest cruise.

In third place is Royal Caribbean.  They are not close to Carnival or NCL but they are dramatically cheaper than Disney.

Food is our next category.  Coming in first is Royal Caribbean.  They still offer high quality food outside of their specialty restaurants.  In second is Carnival.  They have decent food outside of their specialty restaurants but you will have to pay for the high quality food.  In a distant third is NCL.  Every time I cruised with them, the food was not good.  It wasn’t good in the specialty areas either.

Service is our next category.  This is not customer service / problem resolution.   This category represents the employees you’ll run into.  In first place is Royal Caribbean.  They consistently offer am acceptable to high level of service.  In second place is Carnival.  They offer okay service.  Sometimes it’s lacking but overall it isn’t bad.  In last place is NCL.  There are going to be times when you wonder if the employees are slaves or employees.

Entertainment is next.  In first place comes Royal Caribbean.  They tend to have a better selection and the quality is good.  In second place is Carnival.  Their entertainment isn’t bad but they focus too much on Vegas style entertainment.  In last is NCL. They have some entertainment (term may or may not be used loosely).

Customer Service / Problem Resolution, is our last category, before we talk about value.  I’ll be blunt.  Two of these companies rank as poor and the other one is abysmal.  Royal Caribbean and NCL tie for first, but keep in mind they are both poor and need to improve.  In some ways NCL beats RC but it’s very close.  NCL was apathetic when I ran into an issue.  Royal Caribbean didn’t offer anything in the way of a solution to my problem when I brought it up. Carnival is just awful.  I had two major issues I presented to them and they blew off both of them.  If I had to give a letter grade to the three it would be: NCL = D, RC = D-, Carnival = F.

Now how does all that boil down to value? Royal Caribbean, even though it’s the most expensive, offers the most bang for your buck.  Carnival is a distant second.  NCL, even though they are the cheapest, comes in last.

Now for the most important question – Would I cruise on them again?

Royal Caribbean – Yes.  However, I am neutral towards them right now.  I would not recommend them and I would not tell someone not to cruise on them.

Carnival – No. I would not recommend them either. The only way you could get me back on Carnival, would be to give me a free cruise in a category equal to last one I paid for aka a Vista Suite.

NCL – No. The answer is just no.  I can’t imagine a scenario where I’d cruise them again. Even if it was free, I wouldn’t want to waste my vacation time on them.

Slacking

I've been slacking really bad in regards to this blog.  I am going to be giving it more attention in the next few months since Around the World has made it to the editing stage.  I won't be starting Imagineered Death until Around the World has been released so that gives me a little time.

Here are a few things and changes coming to the blog:
1 - Review of the Crystal Caves in Bermuda

2 - Overall review of Royal Caribbean.

3 - Photo of the Week will no longer focus on Disney.  The main reason for this is simple.  I haven't been to Disney in years and have no plans to return.

4 - This change already happened but, this blog is now focused on travel.  It's secondary focus is Disney in general followed by Disney World.

5 - Some Vegas stuff will start showing up in about a month.  I know there will be a review of Aureole.  There might be a few other tidbits too.  Don't expect too much.  I hate Vegas.  I don't go there for pleasure.

6 - Re-release of World Killer.  It's 55% of the way through a massive grammar overhaul. It will also have a slightly different cover.

7 - Re-release of Twisted Disney. Massive grammar overhaul and a very different cover.

8 - Re-release of CMDTA's Pictorial Guide to Disney World.  Massive grammar overhaul.

9 - Release of Around the World.

10 - Imagineered Death kickoff.

11 - The announcement of the fourth and final book in the DW mysteries.

That's it for now.  I'm hoping World Killer is ready for re-release by the end of the month.  It all depends on my editor.

1st Draft of Around the "World" Is Complete

The first draft of Around the "World" (the sequel to "World" Killer) is complete.  However, it will not be released anytime soon.

Why?

Let me put it this way.  My editor is currently cleaning up "World" Killer.  After that Twisted Disney is getting a, desperately needed, overhaul.  After Twisted Disney is done, CMDTA's Pictorial Guide to Disney World is getting updated.  Granted, Twisted Disney and the Pictorial Guide will go much faster than World Killer.

I can say this.  World Killer was a fast read. It came in at around 63,500 words which is roughly a 250 page book.  Around the World is bigger in everyway.  The first draft came in at 91,500 words and that's after I bumped two events to the next book.

The story in World Killer was dark, and did not end on a happy note.  Around the World picks up the story a year later.  As you read, you will find out what happened to everyone from the first book.

I'm hoping that by the fall it will be fully edited and ready for release.

The Official CMDTA Store Is Now Open

The CMDTA store is now up and running!

I put a selection of different stuff on there.  There are the normal T-Shirts but there are also some harder to find stuff.  For example you get can a CMDTA watch or an approved CMTDA messenger bag which is perfect for your day in the parks.

Most of the t-shirts are themed around being a Deek.  Everything from "Think Deek" to "Deek In Training" (for kids).

All items can be customized.  You can make it any size or color.  You can also adjust  the color of the font.

You can see the store here.

Book Review: From Dreamer to Dreamfinder

Books written by former Disney cast members are everywhere.  Sometimes it seems like every former employee either wrote a book, is writing a book, or thinking about writing a book.  Most of those books are made up stories so similar that if you've read one of them you'll get little to nothing out of reading another.

If you want something different then look no further than "From Dreamer to Dreamfinder" by Ron Schneider. This book is different because it's not another cast member memoir.  This book is less about Disney and more about a career working as a theme park actor / writer.

This book goes far beyond Disney.  You get stories from multiple theme parks, restaurants, and events.  The stories came in rapid fire succession with no one section dominating another. Some of the stories are funny, some are sad and some make you want to grind your teeth along with the author.

One thing about this book that is very enjoyable is the fact that it give you a glimpse into world few of us will ever experience.  If you've ever wondered what it's like to be an actor for a living you'll get an idea by reading this book.  I think anyone who wants to be an actor should read this book.  Through his career Ron took jobs that some "actors" would have laughed off as something a serious actor wouldn't do.  How did it turn out?   Ron has a book full of fun stories.  Since he was willing take some odd jobs he ended up working with a lion, harassing kids as character who can't stand kids, and working with some people that became his friends for life.

As you read through the book you realize that Ron touched the lives of a lot of people through the years.  I have proof too.  Back in the 80's I found myself in Epcot.  Where a certain cast member was playing Dreamfinder. Here is the only known photo of Ron Schneider and The Cousin Mickey Doesn't Talk About. Enjoy it because the odds of our paths crossing again are not good.

From left to right, CMDTA, Ron Schneider, Figment, Ellen Walker

Overall this book is worth a read. Most people will enjoy this book. You might not enjoy all the stories but you will find something that puts a smile on your face.



You can get a copy of the book here.

Disney Legend Annette Funicello Has Died

Disney legend Annette Funicello has died at age 70, The Walt Disney Company confirmed in a statement Monday. Funicello "died peacefully from complications due to multiple sclerosis, a disease she battled for over 25 years," the company said. Funicello died at Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield, Calif.

"Annette was and always will be a cherished member of the Disney family, synonymous with the word Mouseketeer, and a true Disney legend," said Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger in a statement. "She will forever hold a place in our hearts as one of Walt Disney's brightest stars, delighting an entire generation of baby boomers with her jubilant personality and endless talent.

She was arguably the most famous member of the Mickey Mouse Club ever. She also starred in numerous TV shows and movies over her career.  The “Beach” series of films she starred in could be credited as starting their own category of Americana.

As a one of the biggest Disney legends of all time references to her can be found throughout the Disney Parks.  One of  the most famous (and humorous) is the “Net Full of Jello” found at the Muppet 3D movie at Disney Hollywood Studios.

More Executive Changes

Last week Disney shook things up and moved a number of their executives around the company.  They continued this week with even more changes.  As usual Disney is trying to get their executives some diversified experience to strengthen the company as a whole. 

Here are some of the new changes:

Head of PR: Grumpy Dwarf

Head of Accident Prevention: Goofy

VP of Human Resources:  Uncle Remus

Head of Onsite Childcare: The Big Bad Wolf

VP of Training: Dopey Dwarf

Manager of the Land Pavilion: Ariel

Manager of the Seas Pavilion: Madame Medusa (She’s from The Rescuers)

VP of Brooms and Buckets: Mickey Mouse

Head of Horticulture: Ursula

Head of Social Networking: Eyeore

Head of Bus Driver Training: Mr. Toad

Anti-Smoking Liaison: Baby Herman

Manager of Wardrobe: Tarzan

Head of Security: Sleepy Dwarf

The changes are expected to take place within the next two weeks.  

The Avengers Blu-Ray Review

I'm not going to do a review of the Avengers movie. If you want that there are about a thousand websites you can go to that say more than I ever could. This review is about the five combo blu-ray package.

Extras / Behind the scenes:

The extras in this package are decent. If you watch all of them they will keep you distracted for quite a while. The deleted scenes are fun but in the end you know why they ended up being deleted. There are a couple of exceptions.

DVD:

This is a nice to have but not a need to have. This is a nice addition if you have a friend you want to lend this movie too.

Blu-Ray:

The quality of this blu-ray is not notch. Sometimes you'll get a blu-ray that just doesn't seem right. The picture quality might be off or the sound isn't what you would expect. This one lives up to Disney Standards it's the best you can get.

Blu-Ray 3D:

I guess this is nice to have but i don't have 3D TV so I can't eally comment on it.

Digital Copy:

What can I say...AWESOME! I say this because Disney acctually gives you a digital copy! A real copy you can put into iTunes or your other media server. This is not that horrific piece of trash known as "Ultra Violet" that some other studios give you. Thank you Disney for not going that route.

Sound Track:

This is another thing Disney has been doing lately. The Muppets Blu-Ray also did this. You can download the sound track for free. In most cases these are not songs I would have bought but this is a nice touch. It really ends up adding value to the whole package.

Comic Book:

You get a free digital avengers comic book. That's not too shaby.

Poster:

You can also get an Avengers poster at no charge. It's not that nice but it's still a nice overall addition.

Packaging:

This is the only hit or miss part of this package. The hologram on the front is cool even if it makes your eyes hurt. The part that isn't cool is how the dics are found. Most of the time each dics has it's own snap in. In this package the DVD and digital copy are stacked on top of each other (on the same snap) and the Blu-Ray and 3D are stacked on top of each other. That just seems kind of cheap.

Price:

Right now you can get this for 19.99. WOW! If a family of four went to see this in the moives you paid a lot more than that. In many cases a family of two paid more than that if they saw the 3D version. This is a real bargin.

Disney's 5.6 Billion Dollar Gamble

5.6 billion dollars.  It’s hard to wrap your head around a figure that large.  You could arguably build one major new theme park for that about of money but that isn’t what Disney is doing with it.

ESPN extended its contract for Major League Baseball through the 2021 season for 5.6 Billion Dollars.  That’s by no means a safe bet. 

Baseball isn’t what it was in the 90’s when ESPN first signed on to televise baseball.  Back then baseball was still arguably the most popular sport in the US.  Today many kids are looking to other sports.  That’s an important fact when you are making an investment that covers a vast majority of the next ten years.

Granted ESPN has been one of the most reliable of Disney’s holdings over the last ten years.  It’s consistently grown and has been a money maker.  You’d have to believe that they would have done their homework and have a decent idea as to how much of a draw baseball will have over the next few years.  Still it’s a massive investment that may or may not pan out.

Movie Review: The Avengers

The Avengers hit this weekend and shattered the opening weekend record.  Last figure I saw had it making over 200 million in the US on the opened weekend.  With a figure like that some people would assume that it must be a good movie but is it?

I want to start by saying that I am not a comic book fan but I can enjoy the movies.

When it comes to any movie I judge how good it was by whether or not I’d buy the Blu-Ray / DVD when it came out.  Considering that the only comic book movie I really enjoyed recently was the Dark Knight.

The Avengers starts off in a decent manner.  It’s a fairly action packed beginning that sets the tone for the movie but I have to warn people.  If you have not seen Captain America and Thor you might be a little confused about what is going on.  The Avengers is actually part three of a three part story.

The next hour or so is decent but it can be boring at times.  The story just seems to stall out for a while.  It really made me wonder if some of the scenes could have been removed or shortened.

Once the end starts it goes non-stop.  It’s an action festival.  If you like fights, explosions, and utter chaos then you will love the end of this movie.

I have to say the best thing in the Avengers is the humor.  Throughout the entire film they placed some really funny moments that make you laugh.  Such things as seeing the Hulk sucker punch Thor give the movie some welcomed breaks from the intense scenes.

The characters as a whole are fun to watch. The casting for all of the characters is excellent.  Captain America is a great fit.  Robert Downey Jr. is to Iron Man what Johnny Depp is to Captain Jack Sparrow.  Thor is a little pretty for the character but he still does a good job.

It would be very hard to find a better fit for Black Widow than Scarlet Johanson but when it comes to her and Hawkeye I couldn't help but wonder what we were missing.  I think both of these characters would have their own movies if done correctly.

That brings us to the Hulk.  After a some really poor movies I really thought no one would be able to do a good movie with the Hulk in it.  However,  they pulled it off.  The Hulk is the real highlight of the movie.  He is just fun.

I’m not sure if I’d buy The Avengers on Blu-Ray or not.  The main draw of the movie was the action and it does that well.  However the story wasn’t compelling enough to really draw me in.

Overall The Avengers is a fun movie that is worth seeing at least once.

Photo of the Week: Where Am I?

Do you know where this photo is from?

If you are a fan of the parks you can figure it out through a process of elimination.   I'll give you a few hints.

1 - You can see this attraction from two different parks.

2 - This statue can be found in the queue of the attraction.

3 - The color of the building is the same shade of red that you see directly behind the statue.

4 - This statue is found about half way through the queue.

5 - The attraction is in Disney Hollywood Studios.

6 - The attraction is at the end of Sunset Blvd.

If you haven't figured it out already this statue can be found in the queue of the Tower of Terror.  It's on the left hand side as you get close to the building.

Twisted Disney Breaks the Top Ten!

Earlier this morning "Twisted Disney" broke into the top ten books in the travel category on Amazon.com. It also broke into the top 40 in the humor category.

You can get a FREE copy of "Twisted Disney" until Monday night. Grab yours while you can!

Disney Changes Security Policies After Pepper Spray Incident

After last month’s incident near the Tower of Terror in Disney’s California Adventure in which a belligerent, violent drunk was pepper sprayed in an effort to keep him from hurting other people, Disney has decided to review its security policies.

After reviewing its policies and after considering the outcry that came from the many people who viewed the YouTube video and declared themselves experts on what transpired, Disney has officially made changes to how they will hand such situations in the future.

As of March 1^st, 2012 Disney stopped equipping their security with pepper spray.  Instead they will now carry bamboo canes. 

Bamboo canes have been shown effective in other countries as a way to punish those who transgress the laws.  In fact Disney is simply joining a long held tradition in some Asian countries where people convicted of minor crimes are severely beaten with canes. 

To ensure there is no misunderstanding Disney has determined that thorough beating with a cane is acceptable in the following situations.

·         When a drunk starts beating people up.

·         Anyone who records an incident while turning the cameras to themselves for stupid comments no one wants to hear.

·         Anyone who repeatedly yells “There are kids here!” or a similar comment instead of removing their kids from the area.

·         When a flock of teens are harassing families.

·         When someone is inappropriately dressed and it offends other people.

·         When one person holds a place in line for a group of other people.

·         When a person is caught cutting in line.

·         When a person is caught passing gas in a crowd and the said person just doesn’t care.

·         Anyone who is abusing a cast member over a minor issue in and effort to obtain free services or a refund.

·         Anyone caught stopping in the middle of a walkway for no apparent reason.

·         Anyone who does not control their children and allows them to touch or harass other people.

·         People caught exhibiting excessive displays of affection in public.

Anyone who rides Stitch’s Great Escape will also be beaten with a cane but not as a form of discipline.  The beating will be issued to help distract them from the pain that is inflicted from that ride.

Many experts agree that this move will greatly reduce the unwanted shenanigans that often plague the Disney theme parks.   Theme park operators across the globe are paying close attention to the impact of this new policy and are expected to adopt similar policies in the near future.

If you could not tell this is a piece of satire.  The above post is a joke based on recent events.

Why WDW Today Is Ending After 1000 Episodes

Many people have bought into the rumor that WDW Today is ending after their 1000th episode.  The truth is it's not a rumor but a fact.  However, the members of WDW Today have not been honest about why they are ending the podcast.  In fact each member has their own reason for ending the show.  I know why.

Extensive research and hacking into each members personal computer has allowed me to bring you this ground breaking information.

Len Testa:  Len Testa is returning to his home planet where he is accepting a position with the Intergalactic Federation.  His primary job will be the spreading tequila throughout the universe.

Matt Hochberg:  Matt Hochberg will be focusing on his family.  His goal is to have at least 15 children in an effort to score a reality TV show.  It is unknown if his wife is on board with this plan or not.  If his wife decides against this plan Matt will just clone himself 14 times.

Mike Scopa:  Mike will be going back to crime fighting.  Instead of a cop he is going to become a vigilante super hero.  He will punish criminals by making them run until they pass out.  Then he will place them at Gospel Brunch in Disney World to teach them some morals.

Mike Newell:  Mike Newell is going back to the drawing board and will be working to make Mouse World Radio more addictive before the feds catch on and outlaw it. If they catch on he already has his house wired to explode but not until he and Mary escape in his home made hot air balloon.

Annette Owens:  Annette will be organizing her army and taking over a yet to be named third world country in South America.  Once she takes it over she will install herself as a ruthless dictator who makes everyone wear high heels.

Fred Hazelton:  Fred will pursue his life long goal of escaping Canada.

Deb Wills: Deb will be returning to her previous life (see How Does Deb Wills Do It).


A.J. From the Food Blog: AJ is planing on eating around the world.  This will most likely prove fatal as we have seen from Sip Snack and Sic.

Henry Work: As many people know Henry got a job at Disney.  What he doesn't know is that they are going to scan him, dispose of him, and create a new AI Animatronic.  No one will be able to tell the difference because most people confuse Henry for an animatronic anyways.