It's the last weekend for this year's EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, and since I wasn't able to make it there to see it in person this time around, here's a throwback photo of the Donald Duck topiary I saw during the 2024 festival.

Happy Opening Day to Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Staring The Muppets! This Animal appeared alongside statues of the Electric Mayhem's other members in the queue for Here Comes The Muppets, Disney's Hollywood Studios' first Muppet attraction, and later inside Muppet Courtyard's Stage 1 Company Store.

It's #ThrowbackThursday again, so let's go back to the time I saw the Star Wars BDX Droids at Disney's Hollywood Studios last summer. These free-roaming animatronics will be making their big screen debut this weekend in The Mandalorian and Grogu.

A walk in the woods

Universal Orlando confirmed today that big changes will be coming to Islands of Adventure over the next few years, including the closure of the Mythos restaurant along with what's left of the mythology-inspired Lost Continent area of the park. What would you like to see take its place?

May the 4th be with you! Does anyone else miss seeing all the Star Wars characters during the Galaxy Far Far Away show that use to be at Disney's Hollywood Studios?

Happy 37th Anniversary to Disney's Hollywood Studios! Minnie Mouse is always dressed for a big Hollywood premier at over at Red Carpet Dreams!

Looking across EPCOT's World Showcase Lagoon to see the Germany, Italy, and American Adventure Pavilions from a different angle.

Happy Earth Day (and a Happy 28th anniversary to Disney's Animal Kingdom)!

Watching the river flow...

Happy National Siblings Day!

Happy Easter!

Have a Happy Easter Weekend! How many Disney characters do you recognize on this chocolate Easter egg that I saw on display at Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian Resort last year?

Happy Birthday Chip 'N' Dale! Disney's mischievous chipmunk duo made their debut in the animated short 'Private Pluto' on this date in 1943.

While the newest iteration of the Frozen Ever After attraction opened today at the newly renamed Disney Adventure World in Paris, the original version of the ride can still be found here at EPCOT's Norway Pavilion.

Remembering Disney Legend Ub Iwerks on the 125th anniversary of his birth. Iwerks designed and was the first to animate both Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse before later becoming the studio's special effects genius. This poster on Magic Kingdom's Main Street USA pays tribute to his legacy.

Happy Spring Equinox! Feels like a perfect day to share this photo of the Spike the Bee topiary I saw when I visited last year's EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.

A new era for Disney begins today with Josh D'Amaro officially taking over as CEO and Dana Walden becoming the company's new President and Chief Creative Officer. While I have mixed feelings about D'Amaro's tenure as head of the Disney Parks, here's wishing this new leadership team the best of luck.

"Away we go! It’s a Festival of Fantasy!" #MagicKingdom

So long, Aerosmith, and see you soon, Muppets! Not much of a roller coaster person these days, but it'll be nice to have a Muppet attraction at Walt Disney World again when Rock N Roller Coaster reopens this summer (though I'd be even happier if they just brought back MuppetVision 3D instead).

After taking a break last month (and most of this month) I have finally published a new article about nushi, the spirits of ponds, lakes and rivers in #JapaneseFolklore. I've included several folktales, some yokai, and plenty of #JapaneseArt. I hope you enjoy it. open.substack.com/pub/curiouso...

New piece, in which I’m tracing the origins of the little people and tiny worlds tradition back to the early modern period (with Tolkien’s “On Fairy-stories as a touchstone) dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/little-peo... @tolkiensociety.org @folkloresociety.bsky.social

A group of dead farmers regularly meet at a crossroads near Mettmann in order to continue their bowling games as they did in life. And since they lack proper bowling gear, they use their own bones instead. #mythologymonday https://wiki.sunkencastles.com/wiki/The_Bowling_Farmers

Ready for spring🍃 🎨Chris Dunn

Today is the final day for The Animation Experience at Conservation Station, but there's no need to be too gloomy. A similar drawing class is expected to open later this year at Disney's Hollywood Studios while Bluey experiences will arrive at this corner of Disney's Animal Kingdom over the summer.

Kindness is like snow. It beautifies everything it covers. ~Kahlil Gibran 🎨Jane Crowther

🖼️ Ida Rentoul Outhwaite #FrogForFriday #FaerieFriday

A kelpie of Barra turned into a man to seduce a young lass, but she took off his silver necklace, turning him back into his horse form. For a year the kelpie worked her father's land, and at a year she returned the necklace and they married. #FolkloreThursday 🖼️: J. Egrekrans

Once a Selkie finds its skin again, neither chains of steel nor chains of love can keep her from the sea. ~Rosalie K. Fry art by Tristan Elwell #FolkloreThursday #BookologyThursday

The ceffyl dŵr is a Welsh fairy horse that inhabits mountain pools and waterfalls. In south Wales, it is often benevolent. However, in north Wales, this horse likes to get someone to ride it, fly into the air, and then become mist, so that the rider falls to their death. #FolkloreThursday

The Irish alp-luachra - Joint Eater - preys on weary travellers sleeping beside streams or rivers. This newt-like fairy spirit slips down the throat and settles in the stomach, eating any food that enters while the unsuspecting host slowly wastes away. #FolkloreThursday (Image: John Horner)

Scottish water-sprite Shellycoat is covered in shells that clatter as it moves. Often more mischievous than deadly, it once fooled two travellers into thinking it was drowning; as they followed the river to help, they heard the Shellycoat laugh and burst into applause...! #FolkloreThursday 🎨Alan Lee

Kappa are reptilian yokai from Japanese folklore that dwell in rivers and lakes. While they can sometimes be friendly (especially if given an offering of cucumber, their favorite food), there are also tales of them drowning and even eating humans who enter their aquatic homes. #FolkloreThursday

Happy Fat Tuesday! For those of us who can't make it to New Orleans for the big day, Nola and the Eighth Notes Band brings the sounds of Mardi Gras to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom all year round.

"And they lived happily ever after..." Happy Valentines Day! Seems like a good day to share this decoration from the Prince Charming Regal Carousel at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

The Muppet Show has returned with a new special featuring Sabrina Carpenter! Watch it now on Disney+ or tonight at 9pm on ABC! To celebrate this momentous occasion, here's a #throwback to the Great Moments in American History show The Muppets use to put on at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

Happy 40th Anniversary, Pixar! The groundbreaking computer animation studios behind Toy Story and so many other classic animated features and shorts was founded on this date in 1986.

Soon the only way to experience DinoLand USA will be to invent a real-life time rover because what's left of this Disney's Animal Kingdom land, including the Dinosaur attraction, is set to close permanently at the end of the day. Farewell, DinoLand!

Only a few more days until what's left of DinoLand USA permanently closes at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The land featured so many quirky dino-inspired details, and while I'm looking forward to the Tropical Americas area that'll replace it, DinoLand's kitschy charm will be missed.

A cautious meerkat peeks up from their hole for a look around in the recently-refurbished meerkat exhibit at Busch Gardens.

The final photo I took of the PizzeRizzo sign prior to its recent removal. I'll miss your rat pizza, Rizzo.

“Trolls simply detest the very sight of dwarves (uncooked).” 📚 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, or There and Back Again 🖼️ T. Kittelsen, The Troll Who Wonders… #BookWormSat #fantasy

🎶💚🎶"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." 📖J R R Tolkien #HappyBirthdayTolkien #BookWormSat

"Do we walk in legends or on the green earth in the daylight?" "A man may do both," said Aragorn. "For not we but those who come after will make the legends of our time." - J.R.R. Tolkien, 'The Two Towers' Happy Birthday, Professor Tolkien! #BookWormSat

The Future has arrived... or at least 2026 has arrived. Happy New Year!

While visiting Belle at EPCOT earlier this Holiday Season, she wanted to show off the giant golden bow on the back of her Christmas dress, so here it is! #EpcotHolidays

Moosweibchen, the moss people, are gentle folk from the forests in the heart of Europe. But the Wild Hunt is out to get them. And the Wild Hunt rides tonight. Read what happens to a group of Moosweibchen in our 26th #yulefolklore tale below. 🎨 Brian Froud

Merry Christmas!🎄

Have a Merry One More Sleep 'til Christmas! What better day to admire Gonzo's Charles Dickens costume from The Muppet Christmas Carol, which is currently on display at Disney's Hollywood Studios as part of a special seasonal exhibit inside Walt Disney Presents? #ChristmasEve

"Show me how your 2025 went."