So today, as we move toward the holidays, we have a trio of stories that are mostly gifts,

though one might be a lump of coal.

I'm getting ready to focus in on my family and friends, but also I've been to both of the

American resorts this past week.

I've experienced the brand new Polly Tower, as well as the hard ticket parties at the Magic

Kingdom at Hollywood Studios.

In California, Jack Skellington is still set up in the mansion, and Mary Blair's children

are singing Christmas carols over at It's a Small World.

In Florida, there's gingerbread houses and displays across property. Living with the land is decked out,

with a hundred thousand lights, and all across Fort Wilderness, campers have decorated their sights

with near endless rows of inflatables and lights. But in all of this there are some stories now

swirling around. So put in your earbuds and as you're out picking up the

holiday turkey or ham or as you're dashing off to work or as you're walking off

some of those Christmas cookies. I have some stories that pull apart news and new experiences at the

parks. So if you're ready, let's go.

Let's start with this, a section that to keep our holiday theme, I'll call candy

canes and coal.

For those of you hoping for a Christmas miracle to save Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom,

that's probably not a gift that you'll find under the tree, at least this year. But the story here

is more complicated than that. I can tell you that the regulatory back and forth is simply going

forward, likely leading to more regulatory back and forth over the coming months. When we last

checked in, the South Florida Water Management District reminded Disney that they had only 10 days to respond to their lengthy set of questions and requests.

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