Meet the OPEN News Desk
Our dedicated team of analysts, editors, and theme park veterans tracking the operational reality of Central Florida’s tourism hubs.
Paul Wilson
Managing EditorPaul oversees the OPEN news desk, ensuring our structural tracking matrices and resort updates are flawlessly accurate. When he isn’t analyzing digital strategy or building out new portal feeds, he’s usually planning his next Disney Cruise Line voyage or hunting for the perfect espresso pull at Disney Springs.
- Favorite Park Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Favorite Ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Favorite Orlando Activity Anything with A/C, because Florida is hot.
Maya Sterling
Lead Analyst, Expansions & PermitsMaya translates complex municipal zoning changes and water management filings into exciting Disney and Universal expansion updates. She is the ultimate rope-dropper who always knows exactly which Magic Kingdom land is secretly getting an infrastructure upgrade.
- Favorite Park Magic Kingdom
- Favorite Ride Haunted Mansion
- Favorite Orlando Activity Monorail resort hopping to check out the latest construction walls
Julian Brooks
Editor, Attractions & Ride MechanicsJulian tracks daily ride downtime, vehicle cycles, and technical upgrades so you know exactly how the major E-ticket attractions are running. He’s our resident coaster nerd who is constantly watching for the next major Disney Imagineering breakthrough.
- Favorite Park Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Favorite Ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Favorite Orlando Activity Closing out the parks at night when the crowds finally clear
Carter Hayes
Editor, Crowd Logistics & Wait TimesCarter analyzes digital wait-time matrices and park capacity trends to help you avoid the gridlock. His ultimate goal is to make sure your park days are perfectly optimized, whether you’re navigating a packed EPCOT festival or a busy holiday weekend.
- Favorite Park Universal’s Islands of Adventure
- Favorite Ride Jurassic World VelociCoaster
- Favorite Orlando Activity Finding the quiet, air-conditioned corners of the parks during peak afternoon hours
April
Trusted Media PartnerApril is a digital content creator, theme park veteran, and the host of A Bouncin Journey. She brings our data to life through on-the-ground video coverage, offering the real-world visual context you need to plan your next Disney vacation.
- Favorite Park Magic Kingdom
- Favorite Ride The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Favorite Orlando Activity The beach (even though it’s a short 45-minute drive from Orlando!)
Learn more about how we verify our data on our Editorial Standards & Transparency page.
