Queens in the Kingdom

USA Today recently interviewed the authors of a new gay-persons guide to the Disney Theme Parks, called Queens in the Kingdom.

Jeffrey Epstein and Eddie Shapiro talk about Disney’s recent announcement that they’ll allow “Fairy Tale” weddings for same-sex couples. (Actually, since California and Florida don’t allow actual weddings for same-sex couples, they’ll be “commitment ceremonies.”)

They also hit upon their favorite park locales, including Ellen DeGeneres’ Energy Adventure and Honey I Shrunk the Audience. They should know, they’ve been to the parks 784,012 times.

Disney World in Two Days?

I’m visiting Disney World this weekend. Since I’m leaving this afternoon and will return on Monday, I will only have a little over two days to see the entire theme park. I’d love to say that I’m going to buy a Park Hopping pass and set some kind of speed record racing through all four themed areas — Magic Kingdom*, Epcot*, Disney-MGM Studios*, Disney’s Animal Kingdom* — but I’m not. Sorry.

I’ve written down a few things I’d like to do, but I think I need more ideas:

  • Ride Space Mountain,
  • See the fireworks display,
  • Find out why The Little Mermaid hasn’t been replying to my letters.

If you only had two days to see Disney World, where would you go?
Are there any rides you’d have to do? Spaceship Earth? The Haunted Mansion? Tower of Terror?

Is there a Disney hotel that’s your favorite? (I tried to get reservations for the Animal Kingdom Lodge*, but it was completely booked.)

* This is a Disney site with an annoying background soundtrack that starts automatically. Turn your speakers down!

Photo of the Day (12/30/06)

Now that Christmas has come and past and with New Year’s only two days away it felt natural picking this shot of the ever-so-famous Mickey Mouse head. Why? I don’t know. Maybe someone out there put a trip to Disney World in Orlando or Tokyo on their 2007 vacation list. Sure it’s cluttered with tourists, but the mouse man has always been popular with the kiddies and the kid at heart. The fireworks show around the holidays is said to be an extra special site to see, so I’m told.

Anyhow, today’s POTD goes to vyxle. Taken on some type of Disney train in Tokyo, I wonder what puzzles the woman.

Roller Coasters, Theme Parks, Cultures & More

Call me out of touch with the whole
amusement park business, but "Dude! Where’s My
Passport?! 2005"
doesn’t strike me as a likely film title for theme park reviews. Am I alone on this one?
The new DVD by Don Garrison and Monica Jack showcases 15 parks across Europe like Thrope Park in England, Vidampark in
Hungary and Alpine Coasters out of Austria. Thrill Network does an amazing job
describing each segment of the DVD
and as a whole offers this for any interested other, um, coaster ‘tools’ out there:

"These DVD’s
include amazing footage of not just roller coasters, but cities around Europe. From Thrope Park to Parc Asterix and
back again, these tools are in for a world of fun. From being crazy "gangsta" to touring Europe, Don has a
few run-ins with a certain trampoline that will have you laughing when the trampoline actually beats him!"

Wait  – crazy gangsta? Since when did ‘crazy gangsta’ and theme parks become almost one-in-one? Last time I
went to Disney World or Knotts
Berry Farm
I don’t remember Mickey or Snoopy being crazy gangsta. Perhaps I was at the wrong park? If you’re a lover
of coasters worldwide I suggest checking out the DVD.
Furthermore, I welcome you to come back and make some sense of all this for me. I may not know which ride your passport
flew off on, but Dude, I’m sure feeling like I need to trade mine for a lesson in Roller Coaster Cool 101.

To
order the DVD or find out more visit Theme Park Review.