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Visited WDW once a week over four years (2000-2004). Three out of every four visits were to Epcot. Was on first-name basis with ladies in coffee shop. They generally had my “usual” ready by the time I got to the counter. Collected ceramic mugs from the parks and resorts. I have more than 100.

Not just Disney, but pretty much all theme parks are becoming coaster parks. Basically, fans enter, ride the coasters several times and that’s about it for them. You gotta go bigger and better in the coaster department if you want them to keep them coming back. IMO it’s a shame, because Disney...

I was a newspaper reporter whose beat included WDW for four years. Outside of one junket a year when press from all over the world was invited to scripted events, we accepted nothing in the way of park admissions, housing, meals or gifts from WDW, always paying our own way (to be compensated...

In the 40-plus years we’ve been visiting Disney World, people have always complained that it’s geating too expensive for many visitors. Yet they keep coming by the tens of thousands. Cognitive dissonance?

Recharge time might be problematic, whether the vehicles’ batteries could run for 12 hours a day on an overnight charge. Under-floor contactless chargers? Actually, I think WDW would like to reclaim that valuable inside-the-park real estate for another rollercoaster rather than renew the Grand...

AK is easily our second-favorite park after Epcot. Having been to East Africa, I have to say the theming in that part of AK is on target, pretty much. The Maharaja Jungle Trek is one of the best built, best themed areas in any of the four parks — the vegetation is mature, dense, beautiful and...

Operating a large machine that removes chewing gum from the sidewalks, or is intended to. Still no replacement for the ordinary putty knife. This job very long and you’ll understand why WDW doesn’t sell gum in the parks.

Went to a couple private nighttime events at AK — cocktails, dinner and desserts in three locations, with live music at each. It was really beautiful — and quite dark in some areas. We were escorted from place to place by CMs with flashlights.

Looking at the pure idea of each park, and not at the condition all are currently or recently operating in, Epcot is it. Epcot was total original Imagineering. None of its attractions existed in any other Disney park; no off-the-shelf carnival rides with Disney IP wraps. No old-movie-themed or...

Wearing masks in public is quite normal behavior in the Eastern-Pacific nations, both for respiratory illness protection and as a barrier to street-level air pollution like dust and auto exhaust. I think a lot of Americans will have picked up the habit even after Covid-19 is past, and will...

Some years ago we had three busloads of middle schoolers parked outside Epcot at closing. One of the students sneaked off her bus and re-entered the park through an unmanned gate. She wasn’t missed until the buses arrived back at their school two hours later because her name had been checked off...

The most swearing I‘ve heard in the parks is during the cheerleader weeks. The larger the group, the louder the swearing. Smoking, too, when that was allowed.

Floridians, we live a 2-hour drive away. We have been visiting about four times a year, for 2- to 3-night stays. Last trip was in December 2019. We may try to squeeze in one more trip before the APs expire in April, but, because of the significant loss of value to AP’s, we do not plan to renew...

Very cool. I remember when it was a bus driver training course.

I think the addition may be a small attempt to explain that the film is 40 years old. It’s also possible that when they remastered the movie from analog film to digital, probably going back to the master print to do so, it just picked up a small bit of dialog that was trimmed out of the...

I miss the international cast members at Epcot. I enjoyed trying out my rusty Italian and French with the guys and girls in those pavilions, asking about their home towns, and generally having a good time. It was a little shock last month being greeted by a big non-Oriental guy at the entrance...

All this Epcot fooferaw sounds like a plotline from Ridley Pearson’s Kingdom Keepers novels. Are the Overtakers back?

Dinoland rides like Primeval were pretty much off-the-shelf carnival factory products that, now that they’re fully depreciated, Disney can probably sell on the used-ride market and recoup some of their expenses. Comes a point where growing maintenance costs vs. rider usage no longer justifies...

Been to eight of the 11; lived in Italy for some years. Norway used to be interesting but was pretty much canceled by Frozen. I enjoy practicing my Italian and French language skills with the international cast members. Italy dining has gotten much better and more authentic in the last few...

Oh yes, especially from cheerleader groups in the parks —. while they’re smoking.