Commentary Archives - Disney Tourist Blog

Why It’s Time to Bring Back the Disney Store for Real.

Tom Bricker — Sat, 23 May 2026 02:08:34 +0000

Few things excited me as a kid like my family’s pilgrimages to the mall. We’d pile into my grandparents’ Bronco, and head to Woodland Mall with a long list of different destinations that everyone wanted to explore. These trips were a chance for the pages of catalogs I’d browsed to come to life. I’d inspect...

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Disney World Reveals Cinderella Castle Makeover is “Almost Complete”

Tom Bricker — Wed, 20 May 2026 10:37:39 +0000

Majestic. Regal. Stately. Magnificent. Royal. Tasteful. Elegant. Restrained. Sophisticated. Refined. Classy. These are all words I’d use to describe the new-look Cinderella Castle. And not every recent repainting at Walt Disney World has been an unequivocal triumph, so we wanted to take a look at what a home run this project has been. As of...

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It’s Time for Disney World to Bring Back the Little-Known, But Fan-Favorite Kiss Goodnight

Tom Bricker — Mon, 18 May 2026 14:21:27 +0000

There are few Walt Disney World experiences as special to us as closing out Magic Kingdom at the end of a long and satisfying day. Standing in front of Cinderella Castle on a nearly empty Main Street is nothing short of magical. The icing on the proverbial cake used to come once “When You Wish...

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Housekeeping “Hassles” at Disney World

Tom Bricker — Sun, 17 May 2026 12:49:02 +0000

We’ve previously addressed Walt Disney World housekeeper shortages in What’s Up with Mousekeeping? That prompted a lot of questions about security checks and other policies. This takes a deeper dive into concerns about hassles and horror stories guests have had in resort rooms. Unsurprisingly, there are also many fans who are skeptical of these claims, sharing...

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Epic Universe Testing Free Celestial Park Access

Tom Bricker — Sun, 17 May 2026 10:03:20 +0000

Universal Orlando has been testing its ‘Effortless Entry’ facial recognition technology, enabling Epic Universe to restrict access to specific lands. There are a number of explanations for this, but the big open is the ‘open hub’ finally becoming a reality and select guests gaining access to Celestial Park for free. Let’s start with the latest...

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Disney’s CFO Claims the Parks Are Full. Disney World Attendance, Wait Times & Deals Suggest Otherwise.

Tom Bricker — Fri, 15 May 2026 15:39:52 +0000

Disney CFO Hugh Johnston appeared at the 2026 MoffettNathanson Media, Internet & Communications Conference, and asserted that Walt Disney World cannot increase attendance because the parks are already “filled up.” This post covers his comments, the parallels to past statements by company leadership, and what he gets right and what’s mere puffery. For starters, Johnston...

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