Theme Park Tourist

Mickey Mouse has evolved significantly since he joined Walt Disney for the opening day of Disneyland in 1955. Take a look back at Mickey’s many forms… When Disneyland opened in 1955, it was in many ways very similar to its current incarnation. Indeed, many of the rides that opened that day are still in place….

What’s the perfect recipe for Universal’s emerging success in Orlando? It all starts in the 1980s, so be sure to catch up on Part One of this feature if you haven’t already. Then, flash forward to the end of the 20th century. After decades of being the underdog to the impenetrable Walt Disney World, Universal was…

Throughout Walt Disney World, heritage is a big focus for many guests and Cast Members. The Jungle Cruise is one of those rare attractions that carries both a rich history and a certain level of prestige for the lucky Cast Members who work here. Back in 1955, the Jungle Cruise was an opening day attraction…

This is the weekly rumor and refurbishment update for Orlando-area theme parks for the week of November 24, 2013. Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom: New bus stops at the Magic Kingdom opened on November 24, 2013, bringing the total to thirty-four stops. The new bus stops are replacing the ones currently used at the Transportation…

Check out this week’s news, thoughts, and stories! With Youtube recently switching its comment system to rely on Google+ profiles, there’s no better time than now to take a look at the left-behind social network. And more and more, we’re finding Google+ to be a fun new way to share and collect stories that go…

Welcome to the November edition of the “Australian Theme Park Roundup”, provided exclusively to Theme Park Tourist readers by AusParks.com.au. For more Australian theme park news, please visit AusParks.com.au. Mega three-park resort planned for Sydney Just a few months ago, Sydney-based real estate developer Ammar Khan announced that he was planning to rebuild Sydney’s iconic…

In the previous installment of our series looking at unusual and amazing experiences at Disney theme park resorts, we suggested heading underground at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Now, why not soar above the resort? It’s possible to take an aerial tour over Walt Disney World, as well as many other Orlando-area attractions. One of…

The centerpiece of Disney’s Animal Kingdom was originally due to be a unique carousel ride. Let’s take a look at the plans… Disney’s theme parks always have an iconic structure at their center, and at Animal Kingdom that role is fulfilled by the enormous Tree of Life. It also hosts an attraction, It’s Tough to…

The holiday season is in full swing at Walt Disney World…here’s a complete guide to the festive happenings. Walt Disney World doesn’t embrace Christmas in quite the same way as the Disneyland Resort, which gives many of its attractions “holiday makeovers” for the season. Still, there are a host of special events on offer at…