MickeyBlog, established in 2017, is the premier online news source for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Disney’s other international theme parks.
In addition, we cover breaking news and updates across film, TV, merchandise and so much more within The Walt Disney Company, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, ABC & ESPN. Our goal is to keep our readers up to date on everything happening in the world of Disney.
MickeyBlog’s content is unique and focused on providing Disney fans worldwide with the most magical content online.
MickeyBlog Staff
Greg Antonelle – Founder
Originally from New Jersey, Greg started MickeyBlog in 2017 in an effort to give Disney fans a practically perfect place to go for the latest Disney news, updates, and information. Greg has 20+ years of experience running an Executive Search firm and is also the proud co-owner of MickeyTravels, LLC.
Now living in the Orlando, FL area, Greg and his wife Elyssa have grown MickeyTravels into a recognized leader in the travel arena. They are the travel agency of choice for hundreds of thousands of Disney fans worldwide. Greg oversees the MickeyBlog site and its staff, and enjoys riding the PeopleMover in his free time.
Favorite Disney Movie: Toy Story
Favorite Disney Park Snack: Churros
Elyssa Antonelle – Co-Founder
Elyssa has been traveling to Walt Disney World since the 1970s. Her love of Disney came from her father who once met Walt Disney in Disneyland. Elyssa helps with all aspects of MickeyBlog, and she enjoys her time reporting in the Parks.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Elyssa lives in the Orlando, FL area with her husband Greg. She oversees the day-to-day operations of MickeyTravels, LLC which is one of only a few Diamond-level earmarked travel agencies in the United States. Elyssa is a big fan of Pluto and really misses The Great Movie Ride.
Favorite Disney Movie: The Little Mermaid
Favorite Disney Park Snack: Dole Whips
David Mumpower – Chief Content Officer
Living in beautiful Knoxville, Tennessee, David is an enthusiastic gamer and huge fan of the Atlanta Braves! His passion for Disney runs deep with some of his fondest memories being those of his childhood Disney family vacations. David is an admirer of Disney Imagineering and never skips a chance to ride Spaceship Earth as it exemplifies the grandeur and skill of Imagineers. His favorite time to visit Walt Disney World is Halloween through the first week of November so he can celebrate the best of both seasons in the parks!
David is the author of three Disney books; Behind the Ride: How Disney Imagineers Deliver the Magic, Disney Demystified: The Stories and Secrets Behind Disney’s Favorite Theme Park Attractions Volume 1 and Disney Demystified: The Stories and Secrets Behind Disney’s Favorite Theme Park Attractions Volume 2
Favorite Disney Movie: The Sword in the Stone
Favorite Disney Park Snack: Zebra Domes
Melissa Emery – Content Creator / Social Media
Having grown up in the beautiful Garden State, Melissa has been visiting Walt Disney World with her family since she was a baby. With their shared love of Disney, her family eventually relocated to the Sunshine State and she now lives close to the Magic in Winter Garden, Florida! Melissa is a lover of all things spooky and considers the Haunted Mansion her all time favorite attraction. Filled with deep-rooted nostalgia and storytelling, there are 999 reasons to love it! As an avid pin collector, you can catch Melissa at WDW all year round, but her favorite season is fall when she gets to enjoy the magic of Halloween in the parks.
Melissa spends her days reporting live from all four parks with special trips to the West Coast as well as Disney’s fleet of cruise ships to bring MickeyBlog readers up close content of all things new at Disney!
Favorite Disney Movie: Hercules
Favorite Disney Park Snack: Popcorn
Jess Landers – Editor
Having previously lived in Florida close to Walt Disney World, and also as a Disneyland local in California, today Jess resides with her family in charming Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Even though she is now miles away from the parks, Jess still finds daily ways to maintain her Disney joy! She keeps the Disney magic alive in her own home through her extensive Haunted Mansion collection as a tribute to her favorite attraction. It is this fascination for the Haunted Mansion that has inspired her love for all things spooky and makes Halloween one of her favorite times to visit the parks (The cooler weather is also a plus!).
Jess enjoys watching Disney movies with her kids and three crazy orange kitties and believes that spooky movies are meant to be watched all year round. Jess proudly shows off her love for all things Disney through her writing with MickeyBlog as well as with several Disney-themed tattoos.
Favorite Disney Movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Favorite Disney Park Snack: Classic Popcorn!
Kristin Sabol – Writer
A Walt Disney World local, Kristin happily lives in Ocoee, Florida. Having grown up as a dancer – Kristin graduated with a degree in dance from BGSU – she fell in love with Disney while watching the parades at Magic Kingdom while on family vacation. With dreams of performing on Main Street, Kristin got to be part of the magic as a performer for over 10 years!
These days you can catch her at Disney’s Hollywood Studios dancing the conga with Daisy in Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, or enjoying the tastes of autumn during EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival. Kristin continues to share her love of Disney with her friends and family while also traveling, exploring theme parks and trying new restaurants.
Favorite Disney Movie: Beauty and the Beast
Favorite Disney Park Snack: Anything from Karamell-Küche!
Madison Owens – Writer
A proud graduate of the University of South Carolina, Madison currently lives happily in Charlotte, North Carolina. She blames her love of all things Disney on her parents who began taking her on family vacations to Walt Disney World when she was only three years old.
Continuing to visit every few years, Madison never gets tired of her favorite attraction, Kilimanjaro Safaris in Animal Kingdom. It truly is a different experience every time! Madison loves visiting WDW anytime of year, but especially during the spring so she can enjoy all the snacks and blooms to be found at EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival. Madison is a proud Swiftie who can also recite the film ‘Hocus Pocus’ by heart.
Favorite Disney Movie: The Princess Diaries
Favorite Disney Park Snack: A classic Pineapple Dole Whip
Justin Hermes – Writer
While Justin may live over 1000 miles away in the great state of Illinois, he considers himself a passionate Disney fan from a young age. Justin’s visits to the resort with his family and grandparents sparked a lifelong love of all things Disney, but particularly the parks. As an escape from the snowy mid-west, Justin loves to visit Walt Disney World in the early spring to enjoy the perfect weather and offerings from EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival.
While enjoying all the snacks and topiaries, Justin always makes sure to take a ride on Spaceship Earth for its combination of history and Disney storytelling. Now that wedding planning is done – Justin is recently married(!!) – Justin enjoys spending his free time watching baseball and updating The Mickey Wiki: An online Walt Disney World Encyclopedia.
Favorite Disney Movie: A 90’s classic – A Goofy Movie
Favorite Disney Park Snack: The cinnamon rolls at Gaston’s Tavern!
Tori Carle Emerson – Writer
While she currently lives close to her family in North Carolina, Tori is no stranger to central Florida! Not only did she first visit Walt Disney World at the young age of seven, but during college Tori participated in the Disney College Program where she went on to land her dream role as a Wilderness Explorer Troop Leader at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Through this experience Tori had the joy of helping guests discover the magic of nature and adventure as well as discover her favorite attraction – The lesser-known trails at Animal Kingdom (Pangani Forest, Maharajah Jungle Trek, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch). They are a great way to see tons of amazing animals and experience a more peaceful part of the parks
Tori loves writing for MickeyBlog as she gets to share her insider tips, updates, and stories with Disney fans everywhere. Not only that, but Tori continues to share her passion for Disney and help families create unforgettable memories as a travel agent with MickeyTravels.
Favorite Disney Movie: Lilo and Stitch. At a tough point in my life, it reminded me that even though families might be small, and broken, they are still good
Favorite Disney Park Snack: Dole Whip!
Allison Fricker – Writer
A lover of books from all genres, Allison currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and kids. Having fallen in love with Disney as a child herself, she now loves visiting Walt Disney World with her family and getting the opportunity to experience the magic as an adult, but through the eyes of her own children.
You can often catch Allison and her family visiting WDW in the Spring for EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival where they enjoy the gorgeous weather and tasty snacks. For Allison no trip would be complete without some thrill rides and while she’s at EPCOT she is sure to not miss a chance to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Favorite Disney Movie: Tangled
Favorite Disney Park Snack: It’s ALL about the Werther’s Original Caramel Gingerbread Cookie Sandwich from Karamell-Küche!
Madeline Lily – Writer
Located all the way over on the other side of the Atlantic, Madeline lives with her cat Bisc in Manchester, UK. She credits her amazing parents for her love of Disney and has wonderful memories of their first family vacation to Walt Disney World. On that trip Madeline was crowned Viking of the Day at the EPCOT Norway Pavilion! While as a toddler she didn’t find this very impressive, it did cement her and her family’s love for Disney and the Magic of the Parks. Madeline considers herself very lucky to have taken many family vacations to WDW and as an adult loves it more than ever.
Madeline’s deep-rooted love for Disney Parks is never more obvious than when she is asked to name her favorite attraction and is unable to narrow it down to just one! She loves the masterpiece that is Happily Ever After (Magic Kingdom), the swell of emotions she feels when riding Soarin’ (EPCOT), the childhood nostalgia from the wave pool (Typhoon Lagoon), and the magic of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris.
Favorite Disney Movie: Moana
Favorite Disney Park Snack: The Mickey Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Sandwiches always make me smile!
Cassie Agundes – Writer
Cassie grew up in California and her family fell in love with Disney during their many family vacations to Disneyland. Despite having grown up and moving away from one another, they continue to come together at least once a year to experience the magic at Disneyland which they lovingly refer to as “Our Place”.
Cassie is a lover of the holidays at Disneyland – including both Christmas and Halloween but also loves to visit during DCA’s Food and Wine Festival. Her favorite attraction is Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure thanks to its incredibly immersive theming that, as a child, had her believing the attraction was real! Today she knows better, but still considers the attraction one of Disney’s best thanks to its incredible effects. As a frequent visitor, Cassie considers herself very lucky to have been able to snag a visit to the highly coveted Club 33 and looks forward to many more magical park days with her family.
Favorite Disney Movie: Currently Princess and the Frog, but it frequently changes. Lottie and Tiana’s friendship is so important for young girls to see
Favorite Disney Park Snack: A Mickey Pretzel
Franky Hogan – Writer
Having once worked at Disney World, Frankly currently resides in St. Charles, Missouri. Her love of Disney started at a very young age through watching and rewatching the Disney classic movies with her mom. Her family first took her to visit Disney World at the age of five and year after year they have gone back to experience the magic!
Franky’s favorite time to visit the parks is late fall so she can celebrate Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween party as well as enjoy EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival. While there, she is sure to not miss taking a ride on her favorite attraction – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Favorite Disney Movie: Princess and the Frog
Favorite Disney Park Snack: Cheeseburger Spring Rolls
Greg and Elyssa Antonelle and MickeyBlog have been featured in top-tier news publications such as The New York Times, Newsweek, Orlando Sentinel, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Travel Weekly and The Washington Post.
Thank you for visiting MickeyBlog!
