Cinderella CastleIf we’re going to go on this journey together I think that I need to introduce myself. I’m Paula, and I’m obsessed with theme parks. I grew up in Western Massachusetts, and my family and I would head to Riverside (now Six Flags New England) several times each summer. Those are some of my happiest childhood memories. When I was nine we traveled to California and spent a day at Disneyland. This was back in the days of the old system with the A, B, C, D, and E tickets. Looking back, that was my favorite family vacation. In my memories it was perfect.
After I grew up I was offered a job in Virginia. There I got married and started a family. The best part of where we lived was that we could easily take a day trip to either Kings Dominion or Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I even worked at Kings Dominion one summer, mostly because I liked being surrounded by the atmosphere.
In 2010 my family and I realized that it was time for a change in location. Our jobs at the time weren’t location based, so the whole country was open before us. We had visited Walt Disney World and loved the area, so we decided to move to Central Florida. Yes, we moved to Florida mostly to be close to all things Disney. The winter weather was the other major factor. Having grown up in New England I’ve had my fill of snow.
After living in Florida for almost two years my husband was offered a position in a different state. We made the difficult decision to leave. We returned often, we were on the road so much that I kept a suitcase packed. We even kept a car in Florida to make it easier. My husband’s company soon offered him an opportunity to transfer back to the Orlando area, and we didn’t have to think long about it. We’re here to stay, he’s made sure that he won’t be transferred again.
It did not take long for Florida to truly become our home. Our house is located just a few miles from Walt Disney World, because we wanted to live in the middle of the magic. Our adult daughter also lives in Florida, and I have passed on my theme park obsession to her.
Walt Disney World is my favorite, but we also frequent Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando. We will sometimes venture out to Busch Gardens Tampa as well. We have annual passes to all of these, I told you I’m obsessed with theme parks.
One of the things that I love about this area is that there is always something to do. That is part of what this website is all about. Although the main focus is Walt Disney World, I hope to let you know about other local happenings, especially at the theme parks. I can also offer some advice on traveling, since my family and I have spent more time on the road than I care to think about.
I am really excited about the changes that are taking place at Walt Disney World, especially at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Toy Story Land is scheduled to open on June 30, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will open next year. I am a huge Star Wars fan, I was hooked the moment I first saw it back in 1977. I’ll admit it, I cried when I learned that Star Wars Weekends were over, but I’m really looking forward to experiencing an entire land based on the franchise.
I’ve been writing about Walt Disney World for years now. I am also the coauthor of the book Dining at Walt Disney World: The Definitive Guide, a publication that started in 2014. We’ve updated it annually ever since. The book is packed full of useful information to help you make the most of your dining experiences while at Walt Disney World, as well a descriptions of all of the restaurants. The book is a labor of love, and I’m thankful that so many people have found it helpful.
I am a firm believer that age is a state of mind. When someone asks me how old I am I’ll usually answer “29” and I don’t even blink when I say it. Lots of people believe me, unless they know that I have a daughter who is in her mid-20’s. I don’t think that I’m too old for Disney, and fortunately my daughter Tricia doesn’t think that she is either. We can be found together in the parks all the time. She’ll be helping me out here with videos. Subscribe to her channel, it’s going to be awesome.
That’s me in a nutshell. It’s my goal to be able to help you here on this website. Since I live near Walt Disney World and have been writing about it for a long time, I want to use my knowledge to help others, especially those who are 50 and older. Who knows, maybe you’ll decide to take the same step and also move here. It’s a great place to retire, and there’s a house down the street that’s for sale…