the Official Blog of the Unofficial Guides

Parades at the Magic Kingdom are full-fledged spectaculars with dozens of Disney characters and amazing special effects. We rate the afternoon parade as outstanding and the evening parade as not to be missed. In addition to providing great entertainment, parades lure guests away from the attractions. If getting on rides appeals to you more than watching a parade, you’ll find substantially shorter lines just before and during

Mystère was the first permanent Cirque du Soleil production in Las Vegas and the one that set the standard for all that followed. It’s a far cry from a traditional circus but retains all of the fun and excitement. It is whimsical, mystical, and sophisticated, yet pleasing to all ages. The show is held at the Mystère Theater inside Treasure

Butting up against the Men in Black’s modernist architecture is Springfield U.S.A., Home of the Simpsons, the setting of the long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons. What started as just The Simpsons Ride and Kwik-E-Mart store was hugely expanded in 2013, with a fabulous re-creation of Moe’s Tavern, the Jebediah Springfield statue, and other cartoon landmarks. Springfield, which has long been

Liliane Opsomer, the coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids, gives advice on how to beat the summer heat at Walt Disney World’s water parks. Disney’s water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are both very good choices for beating the Florida heat. Blizzard Beach has a bizarre theme but delivers the best slides, while Typhoon Lagoon is home to a great

Floating Mountains, Glowing Flora, and Two New Rides Await on Pandora Pandora: The World of Avatar, now open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is Disney’s biggest expansion since the addition of New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom. A land inspired by James Cameron’s movie Avatar, Disney’s Pandora is comprised of lush flora, winding streams, and meandering paths. It’s an exotic destination that will keep you