the Official Blog of the Unofficial Guides

Mall of America in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, made headlines this autumn when the megamall announced it will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Employees and customers cheered. However, on the day after Thanksgiving (aka Black Friday), Mall of America will be open and in full swing. The day kicks off the annual holiday shopping season. Beth Blair, author of The

The Grand Floridian Exudes Turn-of-the-Century Elegance Disney’s flagship hotel is inspired by Florida’s grand Victorian seaside resorts from the turn of the last century. The Grand Floridian integrates verandas, intricate latticework, dormers, and turrets beneath a red-shingle roof to capture the most memorable elements of 19th-century ocean resort architecture. A five-story domed lobby encircled by enameled balustrades and overhung by crystal chandeliers establishes the resort’s understated opulence.

The Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage ride is based on the story line of the hit Disney-Pixar animated feature Finding Nemo. Here, you board a submarine in a loading area situated below the Disneyland monorail station in Tomorrowland. After a quick lap of the open-air lagoon, the sub passes through a waterfall and inside to follow the general Finding Nemo story.

This review of The Point Orlando Resort by Liliane Opsomer was first published on The Mouse for Less blog. The Point Orlando Resort—Paradise for Tech-Savvy Guests Tech-savvy guests will love The Point Orlando Resort near Universal Orlando. The hotel has everything you need, including flat-screen televisions with cable programming, Wi-Fi connectivity, and charging stations like I have never seen. When it comes to the rooms,

Following the shocking death of a trainer working with one of the killer whales just after a performance in February 2010, SeaWorld withdrew its orca trainers from the tanks at all of its parks. Now, no trainers will be in the water during any killer whale performances—at any SeaWorld park. Yet the theme of this show, One Ocean, which debuted