Articles

Theme Park

Article / Passportable

Flyers Pretend to Eat to Avoid Masking Up, So United Changed the Rules

One thing that has been unmasked in recent months is just how sneaky Americans are willing to be to get around the rules for face coverings. The issue came to the fore in July when…

Article / Slideshows

The Disney Monorail: The Amazing True Story of the "Highway in the Sky"

Walt Disney is renowned as a cartoonist, filmmaker, showman, and entertainment icon. But he was also a farsighted futurist, a transportation buff with practical roots in the past—and a…

Article / Slideshows

America's Rarest Old-Fashioned Amusement Rides

For well over a century, Americans have had a tireless love affair with amusement rides, from New York's Coney Island to the piers of Southern California. Few things seem to affirm the…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Buyer Beware: Theme Parks Are Cutting Experiences but Not Prices

Despite headlines declaring that major theme parks have "reopened," that doesn't mean everything inside them has. We get it—some people would rather eat glass slippers than step foot…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Disney and Hotel Chains Are Enforcing Mask Rules—Why Can't the Government?

As government leaders at the state and federal levels continue to send mixed and misleading messages about mask usage—we’re looking at you (but not only you), Georgia Gov. Brian…

Article / Health, Insurance, Security

Coronavirus Brings Touchless Security Screening, But Watch for Privacy Worries

Covid-19 has pushed high-traffic tourist attractions to adopt fast, no-contact security inspections and temperature checks. Could facial recognition become part of the package?

Article / Passportable

WATCH: Hilarious Video on How to Ride a Japanese Roller Coaster Without Screaming

Back in May, when amusement parks began reopening in Japan following coronavirus closures, owners imposed a widely reported ban on screaming while riding roller coasters. Letting out…

Article / Passportable

Disneyland Plans to Reopen in July on Its 65th Birthday

Update, June 24: Disneyland Resort has postponed the planned July 17 reopening for its two theme parks, and it has not yet set a new date. “The State of California has now indicated…

Article / Passportable

Meet Orlando’s New Safety Mascot: Social Distancing Skunk Ape at Gatorland

Orlando's Gatorland, a wildlife park and venerable locus of Florida kitsch, reopened to visitors on May 23, getting the jump on the region's larger, younger, slicker family-friendly…

Article / Passportable

Walt Disney World Parks Plan to Return July 11 with New Rules

Walt Disney World near Orlando has presented its reopening plan to local authorities, revealing an intention to reopen in stages beginning Saturday, July 11. The gradual process begins…

Article / Passportable

Universal Orlando's Theme Parks Reopen June 5 with Strict New Rules

Universal Orlando Resort is bringing Harry Potter back. The resort's post-coronavirus operating plan received government approval this week, so Universal's two theme parks, Universal…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

Portugal Reopens to Tourism June 6, but with an Odd Twist

Update, June 30: Portugal has updated its policy to conform to recommendations by the European Union. Americans are no longer welcomed. For complete information, see our feature about…

Article / Passportable

The First Disney Park to Reopen Returns May 11 with Special Rules

One of the first Disney theme parks to close, Shanghai Disneyland, ceased operations in January. It is now scheduled to reopen on May 11, and its operational changes will inform how…

Article / Road Trips

6 Strategies for Road-Tripping in a Pandemic

Yes, driving trips are still possible, but the road rules are a little different for now.

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

How the Major Theme Parks Might Reopen

On Monday, the respected site Theme Park Insider published a story that reportedly came from an inside tip. The site claims that Walt Disney World in Orlando is considering reopening…

Article / Slideshows

You Can Show Kids the World: A Disney+ Animation Watchlist for Travelers

Think about it: Many children get their very first exposure to international cultures through the movies they watch—and they watch Disney movies more than any other kind. Now that the…

Article / Theme Park

Ride Disney Attractions Without Leaving Home With These POV Videos

With our collection of theme park ride videos shot from the passenger's point of view, a trip to Disney is as close as your remote control.

Article / Theme Park

Looking for the Forgotten Historic Artifacts Hidden Around Disneyland

From the day Disneyland opened in July of 1955, the Southern California theme park has inspired a fervent following that has only grown over time. Attendance at Disney theme parks is…

Article / Passportable

Trainers Will Stop Riding Dolphins at SeaWorld

SeaWorld shows featuring trainers riding or standing on dolphins are now a thing of the past. In a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, SeaWorld Entertainment…

Article / Arthur Frommer Online

The Rules for Planning an Affordable, Fun Spring Break in 2020

The breaking travel news right now? That would be spring break, which is just around the corner. And then around the corner again. And again. That’s because this popular holiday period…

Article / Passportable

High-Speed Trains to Connect Miami's Cruise Port and Orlando

The possibility of a car-free Florida vacation just rolled a little closer to reality.Brightline, which currently operates high-speed rail service connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale,…

Article / Travelers with Disabilities

Traveling With Autism

Travel can be stressful for kids on the autism spectrum. But there are steps that parents of children with autism can take to create a great vacation experience, and a growing number…

Article / Passportable

Nickelodeon's New Indoor Theme Park Is the Biggest in the U.S.

The biggest indoor theme park in the United States opens in New Jersey this week. Nickelodeon Universe spreads across 8.5 acres and 35 rides and attractions, all related to the popular…

Article / Slideshows

The Best Vacations to Take with Grandkids

One of the hottest travel trends is grandparents vacationing with their grandkids and leaving the middle generation—the parents—at home. About one-third of grandparents have taken such…

Article / Slideshows

12 Ways to Find Discounts for Disney

Updated August 26, 2019 Disney parks don't grant many discounts. They don't need to—they're packed year-round. There aren't even reduced prices for senior citizens, and children are…