Welcome to a corner of the Happiest Place on Earth where we take a look at a big set of changes to come to Disneyland. Tiana's Bayou Adventure opened recently and with it a new land, Bayou Country, which replaces the old Critter Country. We see all of Tiana's from front to back, from queue to ride--and it's a wet one! We also check out Louis' Critter Club and Ray's Beret's--new retail locations at Bayou Country--plus another Tiana themed retail location most people never pass by. We then stop to...
Dec 17, 2024•36 min•Ep. 531
Back from Disneyland and we have so much to share! First, we'll talk about announcements that are happening here at Walt Disney World. Then as our main feature, we'll canvas changes to the Haunted Mansion, from Magnolia Gardens to the new extended queue system, to the new store at the exit of the attraction, Madame Leota's Somewhere From Beyond. In the process we'll see there's a lot of really great stuff happening--and some real misses as well. Join us as we look at new bookends being made to o...
Dec 11, 2024•36 min•Ep. 530
It's Thanksgiving week and I wanted to share my thanks on this 501st podcast to all of you my listeners with a special podcast and an opportunity that focuses on Mystic Manor in Hong Kong Disneyland. But we preface all this with new announcements made in the parks including the location of Monster's Inc. at Disney's Hollywood Studios and what will happen to the Muppets. It's a busy podcast for sure, made bigger by my offering to you that I will announce at the end of this podcast. So Join us For...
Nov 27, 2024•56 min•Ep. 529
We have arrived at this milestone of having delivered 500 podcasts! As I have canvased these many podcasts since 2017, I have found an entire history of Disney milestones mixed with life itself. We will walk through many of those moments, share the emotion of those experiences and see how it has brought us to the present. More than an opportunity to reflect, it's really a celebration of how so much has happened in these last number of years. I also want to make some announcements of what lies ah...
Nov 20, 2024•55 min•Ep. 528
We have more insights to what's coming to Walt Disney World as we share news that came out of D23 in Brazil. No it wasn't a new World Showcase pavilion, but it along with other insights help us understand what lays ahead for this resort. Then we turn our attention toward the holiday season as we go around the four parks at Walt Disney World to share what's happening in the weeks ahead, to include a look at Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas Parade, plus hotels, parties, lights and more. So join us o...
Nov 13, 2024•53 min•Ep. 527
After speaking up about lack of transparency on what the new Frontierland additions would be coming to Walt Disney World, I've settled down emotionally, and decided to give insight to what I think this land is all about. After all, this is Disney Insights. There is a lot of cool stuff here, but it's a different Frontierland, and we need to define it. It is about Cars, but not as in the original movie, as some have supposed. It's really coming more from very different animated source. We talk abo...
Oct 29, 2024•49 min•Ep. 526
Announcements were made last week that better clarify the beginning of the end for Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. It is time to give some retrospective to this love it or hate it land. We offer memories of what I love so much about Dinoland. And we'll also share some things I definitely won't miss after its departure. Join us for 7 Things to miss at Dinoland U.S.A. ________________________________________________________ My new book, A Century of Powerful Disney...
Oct 23, 2024•53 min•Ep. 525
This podcast which features the joy of being near Walt Disney World and so many wonderful aspects of life in Florida gives context today to the recent hurricanes, their impact on the community, and how individuals come together in their wake. Stay tuned! More podcasts to come shortly in the next day or so! ________________________________________________ My new book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available! Also, check out my two of...
Oct 21, 2024•29 min•Ep. 524
Forgive me for not being out of the gate on the International Food & Wine event at Epcot this year. Honestly, I chose to take my time sampling from the menu rather than indulging all on one weekend. I also have tired of just doing food reviews for that alone. But I wanted to give some context to this year's review, and not simply do a quick food review--though there is still plenty of that for those wanting it. We look at how this lines up with the festival ten years ago, as well as last yea...
Oct 04, 2024•47 min•Ep. 523
So I'm late with this podcast. I'd like to blame Hurricane Helene, but in truth it really just brought things to a standstill, without even really touching the greater Orlando area. But it did give me a chance to cuddle up to my new favorite book Dream Chasing: My Four Decades of Success and Failure with Walt Disney Imagineering by Bob Weis and foreword by Bob Iger. This is an amazing book, and I wanted to draw from it and a few other resources to share the experience of bringing Tokyo Disney to...
Sep 27, 2024•39 min•Ep. 522
By 1970, Disneyland was not just a unique theme park business, but a well running piece of machinery. But now they had to replicate that kind of thinking to a larger stage as they opened up Walt Disney World. To better prepare for that, they had to educate everyone on how Disneyland worked. To that end, Van France, who originally created along with Dick Nunis the Disney University, wrote Art and Management of the Theme Show. This document, written originally in 1970 and then updated three years ...
Sep 17, 2024•49 min•Ep. 521
Perhaps no set of theme park experiences has been more beloved and yet more controversial than SeaWorld, which commemorates its 60th anniversary this year. Visited by millions of people, we look at what has resonated with so many over the decades. We also look at how the disputed care of its orcas has in many ways led to greater understanding of these mammals and even protections. We talk about each of these parks, their offerings and how they have evolved. I also share my memories of visiting t...
Sep 12, 2024•52 min•Ep. 520
I had the great opportunity to meet up with David Zanolla of Zanolla Travel to chat about his recent visit to Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. This Disney Cruise destination offers a new stop for guests looking for a catered Disney experience. We'll discuss the beaches, activities, entertainment as well as the food & beverage. We'll also take time to talk about a lot of new announcements by Disney Cruise Line to include four new ships, another new ship in collaboration with Oriental Land Com...
Sep 04, 2024•42 min•Ep. 519
A long-time favorite event at Walt Disney World is the annual Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Many of you have been at one time or another. Some of you have never been. While I've been many times, I've never actually done a recording since starting this podcast. So we have lots to talk about! We'll discuss the parade, the castle show, the fireworks, other entertainment, food, beverage, character meet 'n' greets and especially, the Headless Horseman. Moreover, I'll talk about this experien...
Aug 28, 2024•53 min•Ep. 518
In my last podcast I noted an incredible array of projects that were announced at this year's D23 event. These projects which included a Cars set of attractions at Magic Kingdom that were presented before a paid audience were all encompassing, and were impressive examples of what Imagineering can potentially do. I then expressed frustration at the end of my podcast at how two days later, a graphic was shown illustrating where the Cars attractions was really going. After the podcast I wondered wh...
Aug 20, 2024•32 min•Ep. 517
With a full orchestra, and a grand and colorful stage, the arena was set for announcements at this year's D23 presentation and spectacle. We're here to share that information and give insight to these new announcements that share what's happening in Disney Parks, Resorts and Cruise Line globally. Josh D' Amaro led this event, noting from the start that "nothing was blue sky" and that everything shared was in development. The theme was Horizons and the opening number underscored not only the lege...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 516
This upcoming week is D23 and there is heightened expectation around what we'll be shared by the Disney Experiences group led by Josh D' Amaro. Called Horizons a D23 Disney Experience Showcase, Disney fans are in great anticipation of what will be announced. We go across the globe to all Disney Resorts as well as the Disney Cruise Line. We discuss what details we think will, could and should be presented at D23. Note: Since recording this, permits were being pulled for Reflections, a DVC resort ...
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 515
Most of the listeners on this podcast were probably not born much less visited the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. Yet perhaps no project outside the Disney Parks has had more influence on the Disney Parks themselves than the New York World's Fair. So many attractions that we know and love like Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, and the Peoplemover have their roots in the four exhibits done by the creativity and imagination of Walt Disney and his team of Imagineers for th...
Jul 30, 2024•32 min•Ep. 514
It's the middle of summer and it's time for a big update on what's going on with the parks. We take on three of them, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. We check out what's new in all three of these parks. We take a look at some things that really seem cool, and yet some things are very much out of order. From The Land to Pixar Plaza to Rafiki's Planet Watch, we've got lots to cover. And we examine some really great details that speak to the quality of the Disney the...
Jul 23, 2024•54 min•Ep. 513
Howdy folks! And welcome to the one and only original Disney Insights! The Country Bear Musical Jamboree has opened and we bring to you a review of the entire experience. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much happening at Magic Kingdom and we want to cover all of it. From the new stores of Tiana's Bayou Adventure to Smellephants on Parade, we'll check it out all out. We'll visit each land, discuss various attractions, eateries, stores and entertainment where change is happeni...
Jul 17, 2024•57 min•Ep. 512
Starting July 24th a new virtual queue system will be put in place. Building off of both the Genie+ system and the earlier FastPass+ system, Walt Disney World will now offer Multi & Single Pass Lightning Lane experiences. I've invited David Zanolla of Zanolla Travel, to help me make sense of it all. We'll review what has happened over the last 25 years beginning with FastPass, followed by FastPass+, Genie+ and now Lightning Lane. And we'll answer a number of questions that will help you know...
Jul 09, 2024•43 min•Ep. 511
Well, Humunga Kowabunga! Typhoon Lagoon is 35 years old this year. We've had the opportunity to celebrate the 35th anniversary of several Walt Disney World attractions, and we would be remiss if we didn't take the plunge on this one as well. We'll dive in on the history of this water park and how it came to be. We'll also look at how it compares attendance wise to parks across the globe. Then we'll cover 10 tips for how to best enjoy your day at the park without getting burned--sun burned at lea...
Jul 03, 2024•42 min•Ep. 510
This week we had a chance to visit and experience Tiana's Bayou Adventure in a set of five visits. Our previous podcast was an in-depth look at why Splash Mountain ended and why Tiana's replaced it. This podcast goes into big details as to how this entire experience plays out from arrival, through exterior/interior queues, the entire ride, and afterwards. This is a major spoiler alert, and we think you should listen. Most will only have one opportunity to visit in their upcoming visit. The logs ...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 509
With previews well underway on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, and before I spend the time giving insight to what works and doesn’t work on this attraction, now is the time to understand why this attraction has been built, and why it has replaced the enormously beloved Splash Mountain. Critics abound and some have a point to be made. But it makes no sense to criticize if you don’t understand the reason and the why. We will look at how we got to this point, whic...
Jun 18, 2024•40 min•Ep. 508
This week the Vice President of Epcot, Kartika Rodriguez, announced that “after years of creative vision, innovation and dedicated work, I’m thrilled to share that the historic transformation of our park is complete.” We will look at this final puzzle piece of this important transformation. CommuniCore is a complex which includes food and beverage, meet ‘n’ greets, indoor and outdoor event space, and a great new show. We look at the original proposal for not just all of Epcot, but specifically f...
Jun 10, 2024•52 min•Ep. 507
Last week we shared how the better part of 7 decades took George Lucas as a child from the Disneyland Park gates in 1955 through to creating the cinematic masterpiece Star Wars to working with Disney to build Star Tours the attraction to even selling Lucasfilm to The Walt Disney Company. Today we step off from that point to see how Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge came to be. We’ll share the moment it was announced through development and construction. Remember Seasons of the Force and Star Wars Launch B...
Jun 04, 2024•52 min•Ep. 506
The story of how Star Wars Galaxy's Edge came to be is one that goes back nearly 7 decades. It is a story that circles back around to Disney’s own history again and again. This presentation showcases those milestone moments that paved the way for this attraction to occur. It is the story of George Lucas and how he created one of the most beloved film franchises, one that truly seemed like it was something from the Disney Studios. It moves forward through the development of Star Tours and ultimat...
May 29, 2024•33 min•Ep. 505
Like Disney-MGM Studios, Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World opened up 35 years ago. Also like Disney's Hollywood Studios, it morphed over time. Unlike the studios however, it's gone--with only a few remnants reminding us of that strangely unusual "outside the brand" creation. We consider each of the clubs, plus restaurants, stores and more. We look at how it got started, and how it met its demise. And I share my own personal stories of interacting with this unique entertainment offering and it...
May 21, 2024•47 min•Ep. 504
Last week we spoke about new announcements at Disneyland Paris and their implications for American Parks. This last week news and video has been coming out about the new Fantasy Springs that is beginning to open at Tokyo Disney Sea. Plus news of Disneyland Forward being approved by the Anaheim City Council means that work can commence on a future Disneyland that has many more possibilities than ever before. Add new attractions coming to Walt Disney World "Beyond Big Thunder" and elsewhere, and w...
May 14, 2024•37 min•Ep. 503
Big new announcements have been made at Disneyland Paris and whole new lands and experiences are opening at Tokyo Disney Resort. We not only look at some very new ideas for what could be in a Disney theme park, but we see how some of this could be coming to Disneyland or Walt Disney World here in the United States. Perhaps not the show, but the concepts, the intellectual properties, special technologies and ride vehicles. We'll look at resorts here at Disneyland Paris, happenings at Disney Villa...
May 08, 2024•53 min•Ep. 502
