InsideTheMagic

About Me

Welcome, Foolish Mortals! I'm Ricky and I'm thrilled to be a part of the first group of Disney Parks InsidEARS, looking forward to opening up my Disney knowledge-packed brain to the world. I've been a lifelong theme park fan, first brought to Walt Disney World by my parents when I was stroller-age and more recently using my Disney enthusiasm to start the Inside the Magic podcast and web site at http://www.InsideTheMagic.net. That was back in April 2005 and I haven't missed a week of producing the online show since, today also sharing daily articles and video summaries of everything that's new and exciting around Disney's many theme parks. But long before all that, my earliest Disney memory was seeing the thousands of sparkling lights of the Main Street Electrical Parade as it made its way past of Cinderella Castle. I was transfixed. Today, my enjoyment of Disney magic is still just as strong and I spend as much time in the parks as I can! Life's too short not to have fun and there's no reason to ever completely "grow up."

About My Family

I'm lucky to be married to my wonderful wife, Michelle, who shares many of the same passion I do. No one else on this planet would ever put up with (and often even encourage) my ever-growing collections of toys scattered throughout our house. Of course, she has her own collections too, mostly centering around Disney favorites like Alice in Wonderland and Sleeping Beauty. We often head to Disney theme parks together, particularly enjoying the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival each year. We don't have any kids, which allows us plenty of freedom to hit the parks on a whim or even travel across the country to Disneyland a few times each year! Though, we do have a cat, Haley, who's never thrilled to see us go and is quick to greet us with a few days' worth of non-stop meowing whenever we return from a trip. She's definitely part of the family.

My Favorite Disney Parks Memory

The Haunted Mansion is the quintessential Disney Parks attraction, featuring a completely immersive themed experience that stars an exciting cast of creepy characters, fun and unique special effects (both effective old ones and state-of-the-art new ones), and an incredible musical soundtrack. It's easily my favorite, not only because it transports guests into a grim grinning world of playful spooks and happy haunts, but also because some of my earliest Disney theme park memories include visiting this attraction. When I was very young, the foreboding facade of the ominous Mansion combined with echoing sounds of the howling ghost dog frightened me. My dad tried to convince me to enter the spooky manor by telling me it was Cinderella's castle. I didn't buy it - but I cautiously agreed to step inside. Upon bursting out of the entrance doors, a butler exclaimed, "We want live bodies... not dead bodies." Or, at least, that's how my dad and I remembered it, and that line became a running joke between us for years to come. That cemented my fascination for The Haunted Mansion, which is my number one must-visit attraction today.

My Favorite Disney Parks Attraction

In the decades I've been visiting Disney theme parks, it's quite difficult to choose one moment in particular as my favorite, as there have been so many magical memories. From attending major attraction openings to celebrity encounters, special events have provided some my favorite happenings at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Some of the most recent exciting memories include attending the recent premiere events for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue on both coasts, as well as World of Color and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure at Disneyland. But even in attending these big events, my favorite Disney Parks memories date back to my childhood, as I think back on riding classic Disney attractions like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. While gone from the parks today, these attractions will always live on in my memories, as they sparked the passion and excitement that I have today for Disney theme parks.

My Favorite Disney Parks Resort Hotel

At Walt Disney World, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is easily my favorite, offering a warm and cozy feel on a grand scale. From the moment you step inside its massive Jambo House, you're welcomed to a home away from home that's as far from regular life as a hotel can be. It helps that this hotel also contains Boma, my favorite Walt Disney World restaurant, where there's truly something to eat for everyone. And I always leave having consumed my fair share of Bobotie and Zebra Domes.

Number of times I’ve been to Disney Parks

25+