Oh Boy!  It's Kyle's Official "Un-Official" Disney Page!

If you know me, you know that I LOVE Disney.  If you are reading this, you probably do, too!  There are a number of reasons we all enjoy Disney -- it provides an escape from reality, reminds of us our childhood, and gives us something special to share with family and friends. 

​While I agree that all of those things are wonderful, I really enjoy Disney because they are constantly pushing and reinventing themselves to create new stories and experiences for us to enjoy.  I've been enjoying Disney movies, shows, theme parks, and experiences since a young age, and I have yet to have the same experience twice!  I am currently on a mission to enjoy as many "Disney experiences" as I can - which are not just limited to the parks!  In fact, some of the greatest experiences can happen outside the parks... you just have to know where to look!

​For years, people have asked me what my favorite Disney experiences are and how to "do" Disney.  Below are some of my favorites that I hope you will enjoy.  Feel free to drop me a line and share your favorites, too!

KYLE'S TOP 10 DISNEY RIDES  (ALL PARKS)

​KYLE'S TOP 10 DISNEY RESTAURANTS
  1. Pirates of the Caribbean - Shanghai Disneyland, China
  2. RISE of the RESISTANCE - Disneyland & Hollywood Studios
  3. Tron - Shanghai Disneyland, China
  4. Spaceship Earth (Jeremy Irons Version) - EPCOT, Orlando
  5. People Mover - Magic Kingdom, Orlando
  6. Test Track (Original) - EPCOT, Orlando
  7. Toy Story Mania - Disneyland, Anaheim
  8. Indiana Jones - Disneyland, Anaheim​
  9. Avatar Flight of Passage - Animal Kingdom, Orlando
  10. Hall of Presidents - Magic Kingdom, Orlando

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
  1. Soarin' Over the World - California Adventure, Anaheim
  2. The Great Movie Ride - Hollywood Studios, Orlando 
  3. Ratatouille - Disneyland Paris, France
  4. Carousel of Progress - Magic Kingdom, Orlando
  1. Surf's Up Brunch Buffet - Disneyland, Anaheim
  2. Chef Mickey's - Magic Kingdom, Orlando
  3. ​Steakhouse 55 - Disneyland, Anaheim
  4. BOMA - Animal Kingdom Lodge, Orlando
  5. Be Our Guest - Shanghai Disneyland, China
  6. Inventions - Disneyland Paris, France
  7. Prime Time Café - Hollywood Studios, Orlando
  8. Trail's End Restaurant - Fort Wilderness Lodge, Orlando
  9. Italy's Via Napoli - EPCOT, Orlando
  10. Tam O'Shanter - Glendale, CA

HONORABLE MENTIONS: 
  1. Goofy's Kitchen - Disneyland, Anaheim
  2. T-REX - Downtown Disney, Orlando
  3. Germany's Biergarten - EPCOT, Orlando

KYLE'S TOP 10 DISNEY NIGHT SHOWS

  1. Wishes - Magic Kingdom, Orlando
  2. Disneyland Forever - Disneyland, Anaheim
  3. World of Color (Original) - California Adventure, Anaheim
  4. ​Paint the Night - Disneyland, Anaheim
  5. Fantasmic 2.0 - Disneyland, Anaheim
  6. Illuminations - Disneyland Paris, France
  7. SpectroMagic - Magic Kingdom, Orlando
  8. Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! - Hollywood Studios, Orlando
  9. Remember...Dreams Come True - Disneyland, Anaheim
  10. Together Forever - Pixar Fest - Disneyland, Anaheim

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
  1. ElecTRONica - California Adventure, Anaheim
  2. Fantasmic - Hollywood Studios, Orlando

KYLE'S TOP 10 DISNEY HOTELS  (that I've stayed at!)

  1. Animal Kingdom Lodge - Walt Disney World, Orlando
  2. Coronado Springs - Walt Disney World, Orlando
  3. Disneyland Hotel - Disneyland Paris, France
  4. Wilderness Lodge Cabins - Disney World, Orlando
  5. Toy Story Hotel - Shanghai Disneyland, China
  6. Grand Californian Hotel - Disneyland, Anaheim
  7. Art of Animation - Disney World, Orlando
  8. Shanghai Disneyland Hotel - Shanghai Disneyland, China
  9. Port Orleans: French Quarter - Disney World, Orlando
  10. All Star Movies - Walt Disney World, Orlando

HONORABLE MENTIONS:​
  1. Pop Century - Disney World, Orlando
  2. Port Orleans: Riverside - Disney World, Orlando

KYLE'S SHANGHAI DISNEYLAND TOP 10 LIST

  1. Experience the MAGIC that is Pirates of the Caribbean -  This attraction is the reason to go to Shanghai Disneyland. A boat ride that puts you in the middle of a battle on–and under–the pirate-infested Caribbean waters, this is a new twist on a Disney classic. If someone told me this single attraction cost 20% of the park’s $5.5 billion price tag, I’d believe it.  DO NOT MISS IT!
  2. Enter the grid on TRON: The Ride and enjoy one of the neatest thrills exclusive to Shanghai.  Make sure to ride this at night and get the front of far back row!  An absolute MUST do!
  3. Eat a Donald Waffle!  Shanghai Disneyland is the only park that offers this tasty treat!
  4. Fly like an eagle on Soarin' Over The Horizon and enjoy all the beautiful sights of China!
  5. Save the world on Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue!
  6. Prepare to have your mind blown at Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack's Stunt Spectacular!
  7. Prepare to take flight on Peter Pan's Flight - this ride is like the classic attraction you’ll find in other Disney parks, but with very significant deviations made, harnessing new technology to refresh the experience. 
  8. Explore all the wonders of Mickey Avenue - where you can shop 'til you drop!
  9. Have breakfast at the Toy Story Hotel.  Then, have breakfast the next morning at the Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel with your favorite Disney characters!  (You'll want two days in the park, trust me!)
  10. See a Broadway Show on Mickey Avenue in their Downtown district.  Even if it's in Mandarin, it'll be an experience you cherish forever.

​KYLE'S DISNEYLAND PARIS TOP 10 LIST

  1. Be sure to see the INCREDIBLE show, Mickey and the Magician.  It's at the top of my list for a good reason!  A beautiful blend of American (English) and French thespianship and some amazing, toe tapping tunes!
  2. Stay at the park until the end of the night to be dazzled by the Illuminations Fireworks Show!
  3. Eat at Inventions - inside the Disneyland Hotel
  4. Enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean - the only ride at every Disney park worldwide!
  5. Take a spin on Ratatouille: The Ride and let your senses ignite!
  6. Visit the Dragon under the Castle!
  7. Rack up a high score on Buzz Lightyear: Star Command.
  8. Find all of the "happy haunts" on Phantom Manor.
  9. Ride It's A Small World and behold the only version where Los Angeles and New York are prominent scenes of the ride!
  10. Get blown away by the Lights Motors Action stunt show!

KYLE'S DISNEY BUCKET LIST

I've done a lot of Disney, but I still haven't hit everything there is to do in the Disney universe -- but I am working on it!  Here's my bucket / wish list!  If you can help me check one of these off, I'd be happy to help you check something off your Disney bucket list, too!  :)
  1. Have a voice over in a Disney animated movie  (I'll take a cameo!)
  2. Visit Club 33 at Disneyland 
  3. Visit Hong Kong Disneyland
  4. Visit Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea
  5. Visit Walt's Office @ the Disney Studios  (I've been to the studios - just not there!)
  6. Eat at the Blue Bayou at Disneyland
  7. Stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite or Cinderella Castle Suite ​
  8. Take the "Keys to the Kingdom" Tour at Disney World
  9. Watch the "Kiss Goodnight" show at Magic Kingdom​
  10. Experience New Year's Eve in a Disney Park
  11. Stay at Disney's Contemporary Resort 
  12. Enjoy the "Behind the Seeds" Tour at EPCOT
  13. Visit a Disney Water Park
  14. Stay at Disney's Polynesian Resort
  15. Visit the Walt Disney Birthplace Home in Chicago, IL
  16. Enjoy a Fireworks Boat Cruise at Disney World​
  17. Participate in the Indiana Jones Stunt Show at Hollywood Studios
  18. See Magic Kingdom's 4th of July Fireworks Show
  19. Visit Flushing Meadows, NY - home to the World's Fair!
  20. Participate in a Disney 5K Event
  21. Create an AVATAR action figure at Animal Kingdom
  22. See the most special Hidden Mickey of them all on November 18th - the only day it's visible!
  23. Visit the Stanley Ranch in Orange County
  24. Take a tour of Smoke Tree Ranch
  25. Enjoy The Hall of Presidents with a President ;) ... I know this one is a long shot!

KYLE'S FAVORITE DISNEY EXPERIENCES (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)

I've been lucky enough to do some pretty neat things over the years in the Disney universe -- here are just a few of the highlights. 
(I'm sure I'm forgetting so many!)

  • Participating in the 2004 AMC NYFA Disney "Boot Camp" at MGM Studios
  • Visiting "Walt's Apartment" at Disneyland
  • Flying a helicopter over Disneyland during the COVID-19 shutdown
  • Touring Brian Henson's office and the historic Muppet Studios
  • Seeing "Drawn to Life" at Disney Springs
  • Attending the Inaugural D23 Convention in Anaheim, California
  • Celebrating at the Disney Studio's Holiday Party - 2017 and 2018
  • Visiting the VanEaten Gallery's Sherman Oaks Disneyana Display
  • Signing my name on the highest beam of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
  • Visiting the Emeryville Pixar Campus
  • Working the premiere launch of Guardians: Mission Breakout!
  • Enjoying El Capitan experiences - like Organ Night & screenings of "Wall-E" and "A Goofy Movie" 
  • Meeting THE MUPPETS! 
  • Taking an exclusive tour of Disney's Animation Building 
  • Working the grand opening of Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland
  • Celebrating countless birthdays at Disneyland and Walt Disney World
  • Viewing a Thanksgiving Day screening of Mary Poppins Returns on the Disney Lot
  • Creating my very own Lightsaber at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge!
  • Working the premiere of Pixar Pier at Disney's California Adventure
  • Enjoying a private Q&A with Disney Legend Dave Smith
  • Visiting Marceline, Missouri and tracing Walt's footsteps 
  • Working the Disneyland 60th Diamond Celebration
  • Joining fellow Disney fans for an unforgettable day in LA on Bob Gurr's "Walt Land" Tour
  • Working on one of the flagship Disney+ shows - Encore! 
  • Attending Bob Iger's "Live Talk" at the Alex Theater in Glendale
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