Jeff DePaoli

I am not a roller coaster fan. There, I said it. I know this may upset some of you, but this doesn’t mean that I don’t like certain roller coasters. I’m just missing the gene that gets excited when you see those steel tubes intertwining in the air.

During the 2000 holiday season, the much-anticipated movie “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” starring Jim Carrey hit the big screen and became an immediate holiday tradition for many. As part of the promotion for the film, Universal Studios Hollywood threw their first ever Grinchmas.

Earlier this year, Disney announced they would be retiring Disney’s Magical Express in 2022. When I heard the news, I felt a mix of emotions. Part of me was extremely sad, but part of me was expecting it as well. Due to that fact, it wasn’t shocking news to me, but it does feel like a bit more of that undeniably wonderful customer service that sets Disney apart is being stripped away.

Thirty years ago, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) launched, and it hasn’t stopped construction since. I think when a lot of people initially hear about DVC, they likely imagine that it’s simply vacation opportunities at the Disney Parks around the world, but it’s so much more.

Recently, Disneyland Resort sent shockwaves through the Disney fan community when they announced that their Annual Passport program would be discontinued. At first, I was surprised like most, but after taking a moment to think about it, it makes complete sense.

The Walt Disney Company has mentioned over and over again (and seems proud of the fact) that when guests are surveyed, character interactions in the parks are always among the top-rated aspects of a Disney vacation. Whether it’s seeing your favorite characters in a parade, show or for a meet and greet, this is always a delight for many Disney fans. That’s why it’s so baffling when we hear of Disney projects where classic characters won’t be found. (I’m looking at you early-years Epcot and Disney California Adventure.)

The Hall of Presidents. All you need to do is utter those words to a Walt Disney World fan and they’ll probably have strong opinions about it. Some love this opening-day attraction and never want it to go away, while others find it to be too controversial and would love to see its demise. Regardless of where you land on that spectrum, one thing is for certain: political opinions in the U.S. are at an all-time high, causing this attraction to be problematic in current times.

When I think of New Year’s Eve and Disney, my mind immediately goes to Pleasure Island. No, not the Pleasure Island from the Walt Disney animated feature, “Pinocchio;” rather, the Pleasure Island that was once part of the former Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World (now Disney Springs). I never experienced Pleasure Island much, other than walking through parts of it, but I look back now and wish I was able to experience more before its demise.

As the saying goes, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” So, of course there are many people who wish that the holidays were available year-round. In the case of Orlando’s theme parks, there are some options where you can experience Christmas all year long. As we head toward the end of 2020, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can continue celebrating throughout 2021. Keep in mind that some of these offerings may not currently be available due to temporary closures..

“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens is one of my favorite stories of all time. I’ve seen countless theatrical productions of this classic tale and have enjoyed various movie versions throughout the years. But did you know that there have been touches of “A Christmas Carol” found in the Disney Parks along with some unrealized concepts that never came to fruition?