A trip to theme parks — Walt Disney World and Universal Florida — is a holiday for most people, but this destination for a field study is important for cultural and economic reasons and is worthy of reporting. 

Media outlets cover theme park tourism because of its news value, opportunities for strong reporting, critical writing and compelling visuals, and intersection with issues such as the economy. You can’t cover theme parks from afar but must be on site in Central Florida to conduct and produce credible, quality reporting. 

The theme parks’ food scene is a focus of coverage because it provides an entry point for any student, not just journalism majors, to produce critical writing and compelling visuals for digital audiences. 

The 2026 Maymester offered by the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication will be a real reporting class that places students in the middle of the action with on-the-ground experiences. The program will be 100% in Orlando. 

My goal is to create a rewarding, fun experience for students that would combine academic rigor with experiential learning for a meaningful (and magical) Maymester.

Find out more FAQs about the program here.

This ride ended up having two reviews. Find out why.

I'm back from an exploratory study away trip to Disney. Here's a By the Numbers look at what I experienced and saw in May 2025.

Check out what I'm hearing and looking forward to seeing at the new park.