Hello, humans!
Rain Blanken is a writer, editor, and creative leader. She specializes in SEO wizardry and coaching happy teams.
In addition to my duties as the Editorial Director for WDW Magazine, I authored numerous articles for our monthly print publication. The following samples represent an incredibly fun era of researching little-known facts about Disney Parks, interviewing Disney executives and Imagineers, and writing comedic pieces to excite and inform readers for their next Disney Parks vacation.
Disney Parks History Pieces
Interviews with Imagineers and Magic Makers
Disney Date Nights and Tourism Features
WDW Magazine | March 2021
KUNGALOOSH at the Adventurers Club
For this piece about a bygone attraction with a cult following, I attended a special gathering of fans, got inducted into the club, and interviewed the former Cast Members and avid fans who keep this delightful fever dream alive. Click to read PDF version of this article…
WDW Magazine | June 2021
The Life and Times of River Country
In this look back on Walt Disney World’s only defunct park, I wanted to clear away recent visions of vines overgrown on abandoned waterslides and remind readers of the beloved sunshine-soaked days in the river. For this piece, I obtained the rights to personal photos and little-seen promotional materials for the park. Click to read PDF version of this article…
WDW Magazine | April 2021
Behind the Scenes with Dr. Mark Penning
In this cover story, I interviewed Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President of Animals, Science and Environment for Disney Parks, giving our animal-loving readers a behind-the-scenes view of the care and conservation taking place across Disney Parks. Click to read a PDF version of this article…
WDW Magazine | 2020 Monthly Column
Style Squad
During the tumultuous year of 2020, I produced a series featuring content creators who dedicated their fashion plates to Disney, with an emphasis on giving a voice to people who are otherwise marginalized in the fashion community. The result was a full calendar year of celebrating diversity among Disney fans and fashionistas. Click to view PDF samples of this series…
WDW Magazine | January 2022
We Tracked Down a Guy Who Helped Design THAT Castle Cake
The inflatable pink cake overlay on Cinderella’s Castle has long been a polarizing topic among Magic Kingdom fans. I found one of the designers and kindly asked him to explain himself. Jokes aside, I worked with Mike Conrad to publish, for the first time, the sketches and stories that brought this feat to life. Click to read a PDF version of this article…
WDW Magazine | August 2019
An Ideal (and Messy) Date at Typhoon Lagoon
My husband and I visited Typhoon Lagoon on assignment to see if this notoriously adventurous waterpark at Walt Disney World could be a romantic destination. A candid look at waterlogged love ensues. Click to read a PDF version of this article…
WDW Magazine | November 2019
Character Greeting Fails (and How Not To)
In this cautionary tale, I invited readers to my woeful lifelong journey in an attempt to post effectively with Disney characters. Between fangirling and blinking for the shutter, there’s lots of advice here on what not to do. Click to read a PDF version of this article…
Additional samples are available upon request. Here are a few more examples of the type of articles I authored for WDW Magazine: