Joan Ryan

Joan Ryan is the author of two books: Little Girls in Pretty Boxes: The Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters and Shooting From the Outside: How a Coach and Her Olympic Team Transformed Women's Basketball. Writing about Disney's new theme park in Anaheim, California Adventure, was a natural for Ryan. She lived in Florida for 13 years and has visited Disney World enough times to know to arrive early and head directly to the far end of the park and work your way back, avoiding the pack of amateurs who clog Main Street and Cinderella's castle. She has also spent time at Disneyland and EuroDisney. When she's not riding Space Mountain, she writes a syndicated news column for the San Francisco Chronicle.