Dirk Libbey
@themeparkdirk.bsky.social
Covering the theme park industry for CinemaBlend. Film Critic. Semi-Pro Disney historian. Future Club 33 member. he/him *opinions are my own*
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Dirk Libbey
@themeparkdirk.bsky.social
· Jul 14
The animatronic Walt Disney is an incredible technical achievement and a truly special addition to Disneyland
I was able to quit the day job to begin freelancing only because my wife already made (a lot) more money, provided benefits and had as much stability as any job has in the 21st century.
Even now, with a full time staff position it would be hard to do without that support.
Even now, with a full time staff position it would be hard to do without that support.
And the folks who are actually writing full-time generally only got there after years of day jobs, family support, or both.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
The point of sharing this is not to demoralize anyone, but to let emerging writers know they're not failing if they can't make a living off writing alone. Almost no one can.
almost every novelist you read who's not from the airport fiction or bestseller sections is working a full on day job, including multi-award winners and absolute legends, or they have a spouse or trust that supports them. virtually across the board. just normalize in your mind that's how it works.
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 AM
I was able to quit the day job to begin freelancing only because my wife already made (a lot) more money, provided benefits and had as much stability as any job has in the 21st century.
Even now, with a full time staff position it would be hard to do without that support.
Even now, with a full time staff position it would be hard to do without that support.
Del Toro's At The Mountains of Madness
If you were a despotic president, what movie would you force Hollywood to make? I want to see Quentin's Star Trek movie or maybe Kill Bill Vol 3.
November 26, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Del Toro's At The Mountains of Madness
I know making a beautiful Emerald City green and colorful makes for a great shot in a movie, but I wish somebody would make a movie where, like the books, the Emerald City isn't green, it just looks that way because everybody is required to wear green-tinted glasses.
November 25, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I know making a beautiful Emerald City green and colorful makes for a great shot in a movie, but I wish somebody would make a movie where, like the books, the Emerald City isn't green, it just looks that way because everybody is required to wear green-tinted glasses.
I have never actively rooted against a movie succeeding out of pure spite, but I think I might start.
November 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I have never actively rooted against a movie succeeding out of pure spite, but I think I might start.
I wrote the original review for Zootopia for CB, and while I haven't written an actual movie review in nearly a year, I was glad I was able to write the Zootopia 2 review as well. www.cinemablend.com/movies/zooto...
Zootopia 2 Review: A Bigger City For A Smaller Story
Zootopia 2 keeps things simple, but no less fun, for another hit movie.
www.cinemablend.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I wrote the original review for Zootopia for CB, and while I haven't written an actual movie review in nearly a year, I was glad I was able to write the Zootopia 2 review as well. www.cinemablend.com/movies/zooto...
"The reason you can't buy a house is that you spend money you should be saving."
Also,
"Tech CEO's can't by a mega yacht every year if you don't buy a new device every year you fools."
Please fuck entirely off.
Also,
"Tech CEO's can't by a mega yacht every year if you don't buy a new device every year you fools."
Please fuck entirely off.
![An article with the headline "[US people] are holding onto devices longer than ever and it's costing the economy".](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jye22xkea3jqsabskhfec347/bafkreigunh6t53vvgp2sewo2fsy4xttrwgy3zrdwplje7j2qjop5jdeyxy@jpeg)
November 24, 2025 at 9:10 PM
"The reason you can't buy a house is that you spend money you should be saving."
Also,
"Tech CEO's can't by a mega yacht every year if you don't buy a new device every year you fools."
Please fuck entirely off.
Also,
"Tech CEO's can't by a mega yacht every year if you don't buy a new device every year you fools."
Please fuck entirely off.
40 years ago today my parents bought our first VCR. This was the first thing we recorded with it. i still remember being worried they wouldn't be able to get it set up in time.
40 years ago today EWOKS THE BATTLE FOR ENDOR premiered on ABC as the ABC Sunday Night Movie.
November 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
40 years ago today my parents bought our first VCR. This was the first thing we recorded with it. i still remember being worried they wouldn't be able to get it set up in time.
#Zootopia2 is a smaller story, as the film's social commentary, while still there, takes a back seat to Judy and Nick's personal arcs. That's not a bad thing. It's still fun, it's still emotional, and it's one of the best buddy cop movies ever.
November 23, 2025 at 12:02 AM
#Zootopia2 is a smaller story, as the film's social commentary, while still there, takes a back seat to Judy and Nick's personal arcs. That's not a bad thing. It's still fun, it's still emotional, and it's one of the best buddy cop movies ever.
Been looking forward to this for a while #Zootopia2
November 22, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Been looking forward to this for a while #Zootopia2
The greatest accomplishment of the original Harry Potter films is that basically the entire child cast came through it well adjusted, sober, and not completely burnt out on the industry.
Doing that twice will be the series' greatest challenge. They are not off to a good start.
Doing that twice will be the series' greatest challenge. They are not off to a good start.
Oh, good. HBO has built an industrial Child Star Tragic Future Assembly Line 🤷♂️
November 22, 2025 at 6:34 PM
The greatest accomplishment of the original Harry Potter films is that basically the entire child cast came through it well adjusted, sober, and not completely burnt out on the industry.
Doing that twice will be the series' greatest challenge. They are not off to a good start.
Doing that twice will be the series' greatest challenge. They are not off to a good start.
I knew I'd seen this somewhere before.
November 21, 2025 at 10:01 PM
I knew I'd seen this somewhere before.
Pieces I wrote when I went on the Disney Wish are getting a weird web traffic bump, maybe because of Destiny? Either way, it makes me really happy to see more eyes on it (might be more than read it initially) because I was really proud of that stuff.
November 21, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Pieces I wrote when I went on the Disney Wish are getting a weird web traffic bump, maybe because of Destiny? Either way, it makes me really happy to see more eyes on it (might be more than read it initially) because I was really proud of that stuff.
I am terrified to watch this and yet humbled that Lindsay Ellis made a video about me.
November 21, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I am terrified to watch this and yet humbled that Lindsay Ellis made a video about me.
One of the best theme park experiences of my life happened at a Disneyland After Dark event, and I'm worried it might not be back next year.
cinemablend.com/theme-parks/one-my-favorite-disneyland-events-coming-back-terrified-favorite-part-gone#mrfhud=true
cinemablend.com/theme-parks/one-my-favorite-disneyland-events-coming-back-terrified-favorite-part-gone#mrfhud=true
One Of My Favorite Disneyland Events Is Coming Back, But I'm Terrified My Favorite Part Might Be Gone
One of my favorite theme park experiences ever happened at this Disneyland event.
cinemablend.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:09 PM
One of the best theme park experiences of my life happened at a Disneyland After Dark event, and I'm worried it might not be back next year.
cinemablend.com/theme-parks/one-my-favorite-disneyland-events-coming-back-terrified-favorite-part-gone#mrfhud=true
cinemablend.com/theme-parks/one-my-favorite-disneyland-events-coming-back-terrified-favorite-part-gone#mrfhud=true
Trying to have a real conversation with somebody whose job requires them to only communicate in PR-speak, especially over email, is rough.
November 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Trying to have a real conversation with somebody whose job requires them to only communicate in PR-speak, especially over email, is rough.
We used to be a proper country.
This isn't a meme, I'm saying literally we used to know how to handle people like this.
This isn't a meme, I'm saying literally we used to know how to handle people like this.
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
November 20, 2025 at 5:49 PM
We used to be a proper country.
This isn't a meme, I'm saying literally we used to know how to handle people like this.
This isn't a meme, I'm saying literally we used to know how to handle people like this.
If social media is worth anything we need to get the whole country shouting "Bitches, I got a new scooter" at ICE agents.
I love him. “The first time I caught up to [ICE], I could tell that they already knew who I was. They had seen me before, so they thought they were just going to speed away. I was like, ‘Ha ha, bitches, I got a new scooter!’”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Clifford “Buzz” Grambo patrols the streets of Baltimore to keep his neighbors safe—and make federal agents uncomfortable.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
If social media is worth anything we need to get the whole country shouting "Bitches, I got a new scooter" at ICE agents.
Apparently when I clean up these days I look like Tom Lehrer
November 20, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Apparently when I clean up these days I look like Tom Lehrer
Ahead of Season 2, Disney+ is running a special called: Phineas and Ferb Recap: Percy Jackson, which feels like something in the vein of those Olaf Presents shorts, and I cannot wait.
November 19, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Ahead of Season 2, Disney+ is running a special called: Phineas and Ferb Recap: Percy Jackson, which feels like something in the vein of those Olaf Presents shorts, and I cannot wait.
This is a great movie and you should go see it if you haven't already. And if you have, go see it again.
Tonight’s the night! See “Stolen Kingdom” in Tampa at the Sun-Ray Cinema at 7pm. You’ll see me as a talking head in the movie and then live in person answering questions with director Josh Bailey. See you there! #waltdisneyworld #buzzy
November 19, 2025 at 8:04 PM
This is a great movie and you should go see it if you haven't already. And if you have, go see it again.
You regular reminder that Ben Shapiro is a failed screenwriter and is still angry he was rejected and is desperate to get Hollywood to accept him so he can go to the cool parties.
Ben Shapiro is spending a lot of $$$ trying to win the inaugural Best Podcast award at the Golden Globes.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/ben-shapir...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/ben-shapir...
Shapiro's Golden Spending Spree
Ben Shapiro is mounting an aggressive Golden Globes campaign, buying billboard space in Times Square and within Jay Penske’s media empire in a bid to win the inaugural Best Podcast award.
www.status.news
November 19, 2025 at 5:58 PM
You regular reminder that Ben Shapiro is a failed screenwriter and is still angry he was rejected and is desperate to get Hollywood to accept him so he can go to the cool parties.
Taking bets on whether one of these water parks opens before the Arizona theme park
Mattel has announced plans to develop indoor water parks at five locations, with Orlando targeted as first for this new concept.
Each Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark will feature attractions themed to different Mattel brands such as Barbie and Hot Wheels.
Each Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark will feature attractions themed to different Mattel brands such as Barbie and Hot Wheels.
November 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Taking bets on whether one of these water parks opens before the Arizona theme park
Based on my entirely unscientific method of judging a film's box office success based on how much of a mad house the screening is, this movie is about to make ALL OF THE MONEY.
November 19, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Based on my entirely unscientific method of judging a film's box office success based on how much of a mad house the screening is, this movie is about to make ALL OF THE MONEY.
The weather was rough for the first day of Disneyland's holiday celebration, but that's actually what I loved about it. www.cinemablend.com/theme-parks/...
Disneyland's Holiday Celebration Showed Me That Even In The Worst Weather, You Can Still Have The Best Day
Visiting Disneyland in the rain may have actually enhanced my recent experience.
www.cinemablend.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The weather was rough for the first day of Disneyland's holiday celebration, but that's actually what I loved about it. www.cinemablend.com/theme-parks/...
It's weird that tonight I'm going to see a movie that is based on a stage musical I have seen, which is based on a book I have read, and if you put a gun to my head, I couldn't tell you anything that happens in it.
November 18, 2025 at 4:53 PM
It's weird that tonight I'm going to see a movie that is based on a stage musical I have seen, which is based on a book I have read, and if you put a gun to my head, I couldn't tell you anything that happens in it.