Travel reporter for @WSJ. Formerly @MarketWatch. Alum of @TuftsUniversity & @newmarkjschool. Views are mine. He/him.
New York
Joined January 2009
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Back in September, I got the opportunity of a lifetime: The chance to interview Dolly Parton. We talked about Dollywood and her dreams. That conversation turned into this story -- give it a read!
wsj.com/business/hospitality…
Jacob Passy retweeted
Taking a phone call during a flight...straight to jail or no big deal? As inflight Wi-fi improves, the temptation to hop on a call is there. But will airplane etiquette keep up? wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/the…
Jacob Passy retweeted
NEW: Walt Disney World raised ticket prices today, October 6th, 2026.
- Holiday 2027 1-day tickets up to $229 at MK & EPCOT (+$20)
- All 4 annual passes increased; Incredi-Pass $1,749 (+$120)
- Premium tours +$10
- Parking, Memory Maker unchanged
Dates already on sale didn't change. Prices vary by date. Subject to change.
Jacob Passy retweeted
Six Flags announces it's shutting down the world-famous X2 roller coaster after CNN investigation exposed a history of brain injuries and deaths linked to the ride. cnn.it/4hUb9Aw
Jacob Passy retweeted
Per a note to Boston Globe staff today, the lesbian bar story generated 1,000 subscriptions to the paper yesterday. The Globe’s managing editor said it was “by far our best performing story of the year,” and appears to be “on pace to shatter all sorts of Globe records.”
A lesbian bar in Greenfield eased its stringent mask mandate, a decision that has splintered the queer community in the city and beyond. trib.al/FyZjBWs
Jacob Passy retweeted
NEW: Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will no longer offer a Single Rider line beginning Sept. 21.
Disney says testing of a new loading process resulted in lower average standby wait times, making the Single Rider line less useful. The change does not impact Single Rider offerings at other attractions.
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A pause in our regularly scheduled programming to announce that my first book, “The House of Mouse: Bob Iger and the War of Succession at Disney” will be published December 1.
The news:
hollywoodreporter.com/busine…
Pre-Order Link:
amazon.com/House-Mouse-Iger-…
And here’s the cover!!:
Jacob Passy retweeted
Walt Disney World will soon begin testing a new vacation planning experience on DisneyWorld.com, developed with Google Cloud and featuring AI-powered tools designed to make planning and booking a trip easier.
One of the biggest changes: Guests will be able to search by month or season instead of repeatedly checking individual dates and rates. A new pricing and availability calendar will also make it easier to see if shifting dates could save money or open up more options.
Guests can also search for specific characters, a preferred style of room, describe their ideal pool, or other specific interests to find the best resort. The AI-powered tool can then recommend resorts based on those preferences.
In one demo, a family planning their first Walt Disney World trip said their son loved The Lion King and they wanted a good pool and easy park access. The tool suggested Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and its Lion King family suites and included details about the resort, etc.
Guests will also be able to compare resorts side by side, including transportation, dining, nearby parks and resort benefits, and ask follow-up questions about things like walking access to EPCOT, dining options or how the pools compare. And if you’re comparing anything to Beach Club’s pool, sorry, there really is no comparison.
Other new features include a map showing resort locations/rates and new shareable planning links that allow someone to price a vacation and share a new trip planning link with family and friends. The tool can also indicate if a better offer is available during the booking process.
Disney says AI is being used selectively to align resort features with what guests are searching for, not throughout the entire experience. The initial beta is focused on resorts, tickets and vacation packages and will not include Lightning Lane or dining reservations.
Disney says the beta (which will be launching soon) will initially be available to a very limited number of randomly selected guests in the U.S. and Canada, with Disney planning to expand it in phases based on feedback from users.
It’s also worth noting the existing booking tool is not going away. Guests will still be able to use the regular website tools, travel agents and the call center. No changes there.
Jacob Passy retweeted
Dolly Parton's estate has announced “DollyFest: The Celebration of a Lifetime,” which is set for Nashville and London on successive weekends in 2027.
"As far as a traditional memorial goes, that is not something Dolly wanted. Instead, it feels more appropriate for us to take a beat {and] see through this festival-style concept that was truly dreamed up by Dolly. This is something that is authentic to her... something that artists and fans around the world can participate in, while also giving everyone time to grieve," says Parton's longtime business partner Danny Nozell.
Parton had been planning a multi-artist event for January 2026 to celebrate her 80th birthday, but those plans were scrapped amid her health issues.
Nozell added: “What Dolly started, we will ensure is brought to life. Many people behind the scenes know that DollyFest is a dream of Dolly’s that was intended to take place on her 80th birthday in Nashville. We had the venue booked and we had the announcement ready to go. And then, in August 2025, Dolly had to take a step back after her initial health challenges. A lot of people always say, WWDD (What Would Dolly Do?), and, well, at this moment, DollyFest is WDWD (What Dolly Would Do!).”
variety.com/2026/music/news/…
Jacob Passy retweeted
Dolly Parton Estate Sets Two-Day DollyFests for Nashville and London in 2027, Says These 'Parties of a Lifetime' Will Take the Place of a Public Memorial variety.com/2026/music/news/…
Jacob Passy retweeted
To say Miss Piggy is having a moment would be inaccurate. Since the mid-1970s, she’s been a cultural icon, bridging the gap between comedy and the world of fashion. She’s been dressed by Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Vivienne Westwood, and Zac Posen, among others. She has reported from New Year’s Eve ceremonies and written a best-selling book. She even appeared on the cover of our magazine in 2011.
But right now, Miss Piggy is our last woman movie star.
“She is part of a lineage that has gone dormant: larger-than-life, carefully curated personas bolstered both by their market value at the box office and by how their sheer artistry shapes the texts that end up on the silver screen,” critic Angelica Jade Bastién writes. “These are women like Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, and Mae West. During their reign in Hollywood’s Golden Age, their lives and cinematic work played out ideals about femininity and its expectations in American culture writ large. It’s a legacy Miss Piggy carries on.”
Bastién speaks with some of the people who’ve had a hand in crafting the “delightful contradictions” of Miss Piggy’s image, examines how she carries on the legacy of women like Elizabeth Taylor and Mae West, and unpacks the “bittersweet undercurrent” of her fame: nymag.visitlink.me/h2POdZ
Jacob Passy retweeted
NEW: Booking dates for Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge at Walt Disney World:
Oct. 6: Disney Vacation Club members
Oct. 7: Annual Passholders
Oct. 8: Reservations open to all guests
Note: DVC Members will be able to make points-based reservations at a later date.
Jacob Passy retweeted
NEW: Disney's Lakeshore Lodge officially opens July 1, 2027. Disney shared a first look at some of the rooms:
Jacob Passy retweeted
Here's the scene at Dolly Parton's house tonight as we and many others stopped to honor her and show our respect.
Jacob Passy retweeted
Dolly actually has a song she recorded and has it locked in a “dream box” which is not to be opened until her 100th birthday in 2046.
The song is called ‘My Place In History.’
Idk, it’s kind of a comfort that we still have music to come from her.
Jacob Passy retweeted
Dolly Parton's Dollywood Will Be Open Wednesday After Singer's Death: 'The Show Must Go On' variety.com/2026/music/news/…
Jacob Passy retweeted
This note in the final book from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library wrecked me last year when my daughter turned 5. Tearing up again reading it now.
Jacob Passy retweeted
Global icon and humanitarian, Dolly Parton, known to the world as a beloved singer, songwriter, philanthropist, actress, playwright, and author died peacefully today in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old.
Dolly is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 59 years Carl Thomas Dean (1942 – 2025), her mother Avie Lee Caroline Owens (1923 – 2003), and father, Robert Lee Parton, Sr. (1921 – 2000).
A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see, Dolly will forever stand as an inspiration not only through her timeless music and prolific songwriting, but also her wit, warmth, and kindness that made us all feel like family. Dolly Parton’s legacy is one of love, compassion, and resilience. With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans with her music and an unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact.
At Dolly’s request, a small, private service will be held for immediate family. Dolly’s fans and friends from around the world are encouraged to pay tribute to Dolly on social media by tagging @DollyParton or by leaving a message at dollyparton.com
In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at imaginationlibrary.com
Jacob Passy retweeted
Well, I just got the news that my buddy Dolly passed onto the higher and greater side.
Dolly, thank you for all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth.
Your love, your music and you gave so much with your huge huge heart.
There will never ever be another you.
We will remember and cherish every memory and every note you ever played and sang.
Thank you, Lord, for Dolly.
She’s gonna have a blast in heaven singing all her favorite songs with all her family and friends who have gone on before her.
I’ll never forget the first time I met you and I’ll never forget our last conversation. I hold it with love in my heart.
I will always love you,
Reba
