Meet Jesse Barrett of WDW Through Jesse's Eyes

Jesse Barrett owns and operates WDW Through Jesse's Eyes, a Disney tip blog and podcast. The content is all about Walt Disney World, and Jesse and his fellow contributors post fun and informative material. There are three people (including Jesse) who work on the site and podcast.

1. When did you first go to Walt Disney World?

I've been going to Walt Disney World since I was two years old. As a Florida resident, going to the parks with an annual pass was cheaper for my family of five than going to the movies.

2. How many times have you gone to Walt Disney World, and what keeps you going back?

I've spent over 250 days in the parks in my lifetime. I go at least once if not twice a month, and I spend about three to six days in the parks each month. By the end of this year, I will have spent 48 days in the parks in 2014. I continue to return to the parks because there's just something magical about that place. I tell my friends, "Disney is cheaper than therapy, and better than a drug addiction." Going through the turnstiles at the parks makes you forget all of your problems outside of the park. You're instantly immersed into a new world, and you're in Walt's World now...

3. How do you come up with topics/tips to cover on your site?

WDW Through Jesse's Eyes isn't just Jesse. We have Heath who also writes and cohosts the podcast and Donna who is a phenomenal writer and photographer. Heath and myself will come up with the show topics (usually we'll be in the middle of a conversation and say, "That'd make a great topic!"), or we take suggestions from our fans on Facebook. Donna's blog topics are one of two things: they’re either stories pertaining to an upcoming show topic or something new that she's recently experienced.

4. What's your best advice to someone visiting Walt Disney World for the first time?

Our first podcast episode was on this topic. I'll include the list we came up with, but I encourage everyone to download our podcast and listen for more in-depth information. (Our Podcasts are available on iTunes, Podcast Addict, and Sticher Radio.)

Here's the list:

Heath's Top 5:

• Don't Try to do Everything
• Give Yourself a Chance to Relax. Pace Yourself
• Don't Miss the End of the Night Shows
• Don't Argue, You're on Vacation
• Allow yourself to become immersed in your environment.

Jesse's Top 5:

• Learn the My Disney Experience App
• Make your Dining Reservations
• Don't Cram too much into one day
• Don't miss the end of the night shows
• Get Familiar with the Park before you go

Our Top 5:

• Don't Cram
• Relax. You're on Vacation!
• Don't Miss the End of the Night Shows! (Fantasmic is AMAZING!)
• Immerse yourself into the Fantasy of Walt Disney World
• Make your Dining Reservations before you go!

5. During the holiday season, are there special things to look out for at Walt Disney World?

There are so many fantastic things to do at Walt Disney World for the holidays! The castle is decorated with beautiful lights, and every night at dusk, Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and Christoph of Frozen fame light the castle. There's Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which is a hard-ticket event in the parks that has a special parade and its own fireworks. There's also Holidays around the World at Epcot where you can experience how Christmas is celebrated in other countries; there's the Candlelight Processional which features a full orchestra, choir, and a celebrity narrator to tell the Christmas Story; and there's "Joyful," a Gospel Christmas Celebration. All of those are available at Epcot. There's also the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios where over 100,000 lights are synchronized to music and cover two streets of buildings. My favorite thing is the Gingerbread displays at some of the resorts. You can see picture of all of these things on our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/WDWThroughJessesEyes.

Thanks, Jesse!

Intoducing FoosballTableforSale.com

Are you thinking about buying foosball table for yourself or maybe your spouse, kids, grandkids, other relatives, or friends? They are a pretty cool gift idea. If you have extra space in your basement or garage, well, it's hard to resist a foosball table. There's a new website, http://foosballtableforsale.com, which offers a rundown of useful information about the models of foosball tables available and how to get good deals on them by buying on eBay.

For example, did you know that there's a big variation in quality and price when it comes to foosball tables? On the less expensive end, you can find tables made of pressboard. Then there are more expensive models that are made from solid wood.

This website has a particular emphasis on a brand of table called KICK, and they look really nice. The components are made in the USA of high-quality materials. And the founder of KICK is a foosball player himself who brings his own interest, knowledge, and enthusiasm to the products the company produces.

Whether it's for recreational or competitive play, you can pick up some ideas on buying a foosball table on this new site.

Meet Chris Yeung of Vimbly

Chris Yeung is the Chief Technology Officer of Vimbly, an online booking platform that allows users to find things to do in New York City. Before Vimbly, Chris was a Vice President at BlackRock. He founded Vimbly after being frustrated at how difficult it was to find and book activities online.

1. What makes you so passionate about Vimbly?

When my partner, Sam, first came to me with the idea for Vimbly, I honestly couldn't believe that something like this didn't already exist. I felt that this was a product that people really need and that I would genuinely love to use. There have been so many times when I've thought about taking a cooking class with my girlfriend or trying to do some fun, out-of-the-box activity in New York, but given up on the idea because it simply took too much time and effort to decide, plan, and execute. 

More generally, I believe that life should be exciting. Too often, I feel that people get stuck in ruts and daily routines where they are rarely trying new things or trying to live a thrilling life. I believe that a good life is a life lived in a creative, human, and expansive way. Every day should be new. Youth and age are only concepts. The reason why I love Vimbly so much is that it facilitates this process of bringing more fun, excitement and novelty to one's daily life, which is without a doubt something vital but too often ignored. 

2. How does your background in technology come into play in your current position?

My background in technology comes into play constantly in this role. I am in charge of Vimbly's technological infrastructure and I make sure that everything about our site runs smoothly. You can always find me making improvements and implementing features to our website so that it can be the best it can be. 

3. With all the activities happening all the time in NYC, how do you choose the ones to feature on your site?

First of all, we have to make sure that we here at Vimbly would all actually use and enjoy anything that we feature. We try to test every activity ourselves before we put it on our site so that we can be sure that our customers are signing up for activities that will be both quality and enjoyable experiences. We also try to have a diverse selection of activities so that there is something for everyone. We want our customers to be able to find something they want to do on our site no matter what they are interested in; whether they are artistic, athletic, or adventurous, there is something that Vimbly has to offer for each and every one of them. That being said, we are constantly adding new activities to feature on our site. 

4. What are some of the most interesting (and unusual?) classes that people are finding and signing up for with the help of your site?

We have tons of interesting and unusual activities bookable through Vimbly. In fact, we have a whole section on our site called "Make Me Interesting" featuring captivating and unconventional activities. Some noteworthy ones are tandem hand gliding and Accomplice, an immersive scavenger hunt-come-show around New York City (which I will personally vouch for because I think it was one of the most fun and unique things I've ever done). 

5. Are there some activities and/or classes you've discovered through Vimbly and participated in yourself?

Tons! I wouldn't even be able to count how many activities/classes offered through Vimbly that I have participated in over the years. I make a point to try at least two of our activities a month and I always make sure to bring along friends or family because I know it'll always be a good time. Some of my favorites have been whitewater rafting, the French macaron workshop, and the dream car tour (though I'll admit I was sad I couldn't take any of the cars home with me!)

Thanks, Chris! 

Relaxation with Cal Spas Hot Tubs

There's a blog about everything you want to know about in this world, including Cal Spas hot tubs. Friends who have had hot tubs have talked about the therapeutic physical benefits of a personal spa, not to mention the mental relaxation. Cal Spas runs a lot of contests and promos, and this info is available on their blog.

It's easy enough to think about how relaxing a Cal Spa might be, but how to choose one of their many models of hot tubs? Here's a review of their Aqua Select AS-730L which fits six people and has 30 jets. Another popular model is the Genesis GR510, which the reviewer describes as "nothing but awesomeness." How to argue with that?

On the practical side, Cal Spas also come with a warranty for everything from structural aspects to plumbing, and owners say that a hot tub only results in a small monthly increase of their electric bills.