Insider Secrets No Secret To Disney World Cast Members

by Chris Owen on

Frankly, the best insider secret on how to get the most out of a visit to Walt Disney World is to go with a Disney cast member. They know exactly where to be at any given time for no wait on the best rides. They know what venues have the best food and, if something special is going on, when to be where for that. If a Disney cast member in your back pocket is not in the cards, Disney Insider offers the next best thing.

“Comfy sneakers, sunscreen, and jackets (for chilly nights) are must-haves, but before heading to Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, you can learn the ropes from experienced Theme Park-goers – especially for first-time visits,” says Disney Insider and their tips ring true.

Giving details on what time of the day to go (afternoon on the weekends) and even which months are best to avoid crowds (October), Disney Insider tells how to get the most out of Extra Magic Hours, Disney’s FastPass service and more.Offering tips on everything from where to find recipes for Disney Gumbo, Mint Juleps or Walt’s Favorite Chili to what time is best to gather for Character Meet and Greets, Disney Insider is available by email subscription, RSS feed and Facebook.

Helping make the most of every magical moment, Disney Insider has the most current information. Almost as current as having a Disney cast member along for the ride.

Did you know that pin collectors can trade with any cast member as long as they don’t already have the same pin? See this new video for more:




Flickr photo by Christian Lambert (DVCphoto92)

Facebook Announces The World’s Most Social Landmarks

by Jessica Festa on

For those looking to meet others and make connections when traveling, Facebook has named the 25 most social landmarks in the world. To collect data, the social network looked at user check-ins across 25 cities around the world, to determine which sites were the most communal. They found that parks, shopping centers and gardens attracted the most people, although in Norway the popular hangout seems to be T.G.I. Friday’s.

The top 25 attractions in the world, in alphabetical order by country, were found to be:

1. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Unicenter (shopping center)
2. Melbourne, Australia: Crown Casino
3. São Paulo, Brazil: Parque de Ibirapuera (park)
4. Toronto, Canada: Rogers Centre (sports stadium)
5. Copenhagen, Denmark: Copenhagen Tivoli Gardens (cultural center)
6. Paris, France: Avenue de Champs-Èlysèe (iconic neighborhood)
7. Berlin, Germany: Kurfürstendamm (iconic neighborhood)
8. New Delhi, India: Gurudwara Bangla Sahib (house of worship)
9. Dublin, Ireland: The O2 Dublin (concert arena)
10. Rome, Italy: Colosseum (historic landmark)11. Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo Dome (baseball stadium)
12. Mexico City, Mexico: Centro Historico de la Ciudad de Mexico (historical area)
13. Aukland, New Zealand: Eden Park (park)
14. Oslo, Norway: T.G.I. Friday’s Aker Brygge (restaurant)
15. Moscow, Russia: Propoganda Nightclub (nightclub)
16. Singapore: Singapore Universal Studios (amusement park)
17. Johannesburg, South Africa: Montecasino (casino)
18. Seoul, South Korea: Lotte World (amusement park)
19. Barcelona, Spain: Camp Nou (soccer stadium)
20. Stockholm, Sweden: Gröna Lund (amusement park)
21. London, United Kingdom: The O2 (concert arena)
22. Chicago, United States: Wrigley Field (sports stadium)
23. San Francisco, United States: AT&T Park (park)
24. New York, United States: Times Square (entertainment district)
25. Los Angeles, United States: Staples Center (sports arena)

What’s your favorite place to meet people when traveling?

Play The Stock Market At The Waldorf-Astoria

by McLean Robbins on

As the Facebook stock continues to end the day in the red, summer bar goers can take advantage of betting against the social network in NYC. The Waldorf-Astoria’s Bull & Bear Steakhouse is now offering cocktail discounts based on the stock’s performance that day.

How does this work? Basically, the worse the stock does, the better for your drink prices. A one to five percent drop in stock means $1 off $5 off your evening drink, cocktails like Strawberry Caipirinhas and the Old “Waldorf” Fashioned. For example: a 1.25 percent drop in stock that day means a $1.25 discount on cocktails. Of course, there’s a catch. To take advantage of the offer, patrons also must show they “Like” the Bull & Bear Facebook page.

Known as one of the leaders in New York’s cocktail culture, The Waldorf-Astoria and Bull & Bear’s mixologists offer an array of signature drinks including the Strawberry Caipirinha, Silver Coin Margarita and the Old “Waldorf” Fashioned.

Looks like this is a time to bet against Facebook – assuming you don’t own stock, that is.

Traveling Cat Back On The Road, With Friends

by Chris Owen on

Traveling across the United States, Canada and Mexico, Ted Brady is raising money to support local animal shelters. Biking through a variety of terrains and weather conditions along with his cat, he stays with families or camps along the way. Already traveling more than 1,000 miles through a variety of conditions, happy times and disappointments, the journey is far from over.

The cross-country cycling trip started last October in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to raise money and awareness for the ASPCA and local shelters. Ted bikes, while his cat Pikachu (“Pika” to his friends) rides behind in a covered, secure cat shelter. The pair travels, meets people and engages a growing online following, posting videos of their adventure as it unfolds.




Last December, when Pika went missing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, followers and local residents joined in the search, eventually finding Pika and reuniting the two weeks later.

“He’s my best buddy and we go everywhere together. The bond that you share with your pet, it’s more than just a pet. It’s your best friend,” Brady told LifeWithCats at the time.

Back on the road this month, Ted and Pika will make their way with the help of friends, old and new. Just a few days ago via Instagram, Ted posted a map and an upbeat plea for shelter on the road. “Do you know anyone along this route? This is the path I’m taking north into Colorado, if you know anyone I could stay with on the way, hit me up!”


Follow Ted and Pika on their journey via Facebook, Instagram or on their website The Traveling Kitty.

[Photo and videos by Ted Brady]

Party On A Private Plane With AirAsiaX’s New Facebook Campaign

by McLean Robbins on

One lucky fan of AirAsiaX’s Facebook page will win the trip of a lifetime – a private plane ride from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur on an Airbus A330 for themselves and 302 of their Facebook friends, plus three nights of free accommodations.

The contest is being held in celebration of the airline’s new Sydney to Kuala Lumpur route, which launched earlier this month. The trip will take place November 2-5.

“Our bold move is part of our social media promotion drive offering our awesome guests a little X-citement, while testing our social media strength and influence. We believe that the idea will also lift our brand further in Australia and the surrounding region,” said AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani (pictured below).

To enter, fans can use a specially designed app to “fill the plane” (manually or automatically).

What we really wonder – do most people have enough Facebook friends to fill a plane? And do you really want to fly with all of those people? And which 11 friends will you choose to join you in first class?

Just one little side note – amenities on the plane, like booze and food, aren’t included.