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The Tomorrow Society Podcast

Dan Heatontomorrowsociety.com
Smart interviews with Imagineers and other experts about theme parks and Disney
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Episodes

250. A Glorious Podcast Finale!

It’s finally here! We have reached the grand finale of the Tomorrow Society Podcast here on Episode 250. During this podcast, I look back at the past decade of the show including my favorite moments. When I started this project in 2015, I had no idea what to expect.… Read more... The post 250. A Glorious Podcast Finale! appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Jan 27, 20252 hr 5 min

249. Universal Orlando Weekend Trip Report

It had been way too long since I’d visited the Universal Orlando resort. I finally rectified that situation with a weekend trip to both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure last week. My daughter and I experienced basically every major attraction in those parks and had a great time.… Read more... The post 249. Universal Orlando Weekend Trip Report appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Jan 18, 20251 hr 36 min

248. Previewing Universal’s Epic Universe with Seth Kubersky of the Unofficial Guide

We keep learning more details about Universal’s Epic Universe , and I can’t wait to experience this new theme park in Orlando. It opens next May, and fans can’t wait to check out its five lands. But will it draw casual guests right from the start?… Read more... The post 248. Previewing Universal’s Epic Universe with Seth Kubersky of the Unofficial Guide appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Dec 20, 202458 min

247. Tim Grassey on Universal’s Epic Universe and a Gazillion More Theme Park Topics

There’s plenty of excitement in the world of theme parks when we think about 2025 and beyond. One of the main reasons is the opening of Universal’s Epic Universe in Florida on May 22nd. The anticipation for Universal Orlando’s third theme park is off the charts.… Read more... The post 247. Tim Grassey on Universal’s Epic Universe and a Gazillion More Theme Park Topics appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Nov 25, 20241 hr 34 min

246. Ken Bruce, Author of Before the Birds Sang Words

When we think of the most influential Disneyland attractions, the first that come to mind are typically Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion. Both are iconic and deserve the attention, but others also should be part of this conversation.… Read more... The post 246. Ken Bruce, Author of Before the Birds Sang Words appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Nov 11, 20241 hr 5 min

245. Becky Gandillon, Co-author of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2025

Disney just keeps making changes to their line-skipping services, and it’s hard to keep up with everything. It’s the perfect time to talk with Becky Gandillon, who studies all the updates and how they will impact your Walt Disney World trips.… Read more... The post 245. Becky Gandillon, Co-author of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2025 appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Oct 28, 20241 hr 6 min

244. Skipper Ben Rebstock on 35 Years of the Disney/MGM Studios

It’s time to take another deep dive into what we love about Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Skipper Ben Rebstock. On his fifth appearance on the Tomorrow Society Podcast , Ben gives his thoughts on a wide range of topics about the park.… Read more... The post 244. Skipper Ben Rebstock on 35 Years of the Disney/MGM Studios appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Oct 06, 20241 hr 18 min

243. Imagineer Daniel “Rover” Singer on Beastly Kingdom, Roger Rabbit, and Indiana Jones

Daniel “Rover” Singer began his entertainment career in the theater world, and he found great success there before joining Walt Disney Imagineering. As a co-founder of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, he helped create The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) .… Read more... The post 243. Imagineer Daniel “Rover” Singer on Beastly Kingdom, Roger Rabbit, and Indiana Jones appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Sep 30, 20241 hr 5 min

242. Amy Ratcliffe on the Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Thrill Ride

If you’re immersed in Star Wars, Marvel, or many other fandoms, you’re likely familiar with Amy Ratcliffe. She’s written so many great books about these universes from a wide range of perspectives. There is far too much to cover in a single interview!… Read more... The post 242. Amy Ratcliffe on the Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Thrill Ride appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Sep 16, 20241 hr 6 min

241. Walt Disney & El Grupo in Latin America with Theodore Thomas, J.B. Kaufman, and Didier Ghez

We keep learning more about Disney history, particularly events that haven’t been covered as closely. A good example is the trip to Latin America in 1941. It was depicted in the 2009 documentary Walt & El Grupo , but we’ve since found out even more.… Read more... The post 241. Walt Disney & El Grupo in Latin America with Theodore Thomas, J.B. Kaufman, and Didier Ghez appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Sep 09, 20241 hr 4 min

240. Fantasy Springs and Tokyo Disneyland Trip Report with Shane Bettenhausen

It’s been a quieter year for Disney’s U.S. parks beyond the arrival of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. We’ve seen a lot more action overseas with the opening of the massive Fantasy Springs addition at Tokyo DisneySea. The park’s largest expansion includes three new lands with four attractions themed to Peter Pan , Frozen , and Tangled .… Read more... The post 240. Fantasy Springs and Tokyo Disneyland Trip Report with Shane Bettenhausen appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Aug 26, 20241 hr 6 min

239.5. Losing the Rivers of America

On Saturday night, Josh D’Amaro revealed so many cool attractions that will be opening at Disney’s theme parks in the next few years and beyond. I ranked all the announcements during Episode 239 of the Tomorrow Society Podcast and felt great about most of the news.… Read more... The post 239.5. Losing the Rivers of America appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Aug 13, 202420 min

239. Ranking All of Disney’s D23 2024 Parks and Experiences Announcements

Wow, what a night! Josh D’Amaro and many special guests appeared on stage for several hours on Saturday night’s energetic D23 Disney Experiences Showcase. He promised lots of announcements, and Disney delivered in spades on that front. Now that we know about what’s coming to Disney’s parks and beyond in the near (and far) future, it’s time for the fun part.… Read more... The post 239. Ranking All of Disney’s D23 2024 Parks and Experiences Announcements appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Aug 12, 20241 hr 24 min

238. Lost Island Themepark Trip Report

It’s rare to see a new theme park open in the United States, especially one not connected to Universal or Disney. A cool exception is Lost Island Themepark , which opened in June 2022 in Waterloo, Iowa. Owned by the Bertch family (who also own the Lost Island Waterpark), it uses original IP and feels different from your typical regional park.… Read more... The post 238. Lost Island Themepark Trip Report appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Aug 05, 20241 hr 23 min

237. Lou Mongello of WDW Radio on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and What’s Next at Walt Disney World

It’s an interesting time for Disney with a lot happening especially at Walt Disney World. We’ve had several attractions open, and more could be on the way in the future. This is the perfect time for me to speak again with Lou Mongello on the Tomorrow Society Podcast .… Read more... The post 237. Lou Mongello of WDW Radio on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and What’s Next at Walt Disney World appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Jul 22, 202452 min

236. Five Things I Like and Dislike About Disney’s New Lightning Lane Multipass Service

A few weeks ago, Disney announced a major course correction to Disney Genie Plus, their paid line-skipping system. That service is being renamed as Lightning Lane Multipass and will allow reservations up to seven days in advance (for Disney Resort guests).… Read more... The post 236. Five Things I Like and Dislike About Disney’s New Lightning Lane Multipass Service appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Jul 08, 202439 min

235. Imagineer Joe Garlington on Creating Interactive Disney Attractions

During the late ’90s and early 2000s, we saw a wave of interactive attractions that went beyond just shooting games. Along with separate destinations like DisneyQuest , a new take on interactivity arrived with Turtle Talk with Crush; Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor; and more.… Read more... The post 235. Imagineer Joe Garlington on Creating Interactive Disney Attractions appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Jul 01, 202450 min

234. Fire in the Hole 2.0 Review and Silver Dollar City Trip Report

Fire in the Hole was the first coaster at Silver Dollar City in 1972 and operated for more than 50 years. When the park finally decided to replace it, they made such an interesting choice. Also named Fire in the Hole , this updated version brings modern effects and a smoother ride to the original model.… Read more... The post 234. Fire in the Hole 2.0 Review and Silver Dollar City Trip Report appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Jun 17, 20241 hr 7 min

233. Updating Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in May and August of 2019, Star Wars fans were thrilled at the chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon, escape from the First Order, and interact with Stormtroopers on Batuu. Five years later, both lands are still popular and draw big lines for the two attractions.… Read more... The post 233. Updating Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Jun 03, 20241 hr 30 min

232. Ron Fish on Creating Music for Theme Parks and Video Games

It’s easy to overlook how important sound design is to the success of theme parks. Music in particular lifts our experience beyond what we see on the attractions. Composer Ron Fish worked closely at Walt Disney Imagineering for eight years on many classic rides and shows.… Read more... The post 232. Ron Fish on Creating Music for Theme Parks and Video Games appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

May 20, 20241 hr 2 min

231. My Theme Park Summer Plus Universal Orlando News

It’s hard to believe it, but we’re nearing the summer season at theme parks. Last year, I had a great time visiting Kings Island and Silver Dollar City along with Disneyland and Universal Hollywood . What’s next for 2024? On this episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast , I dive into the parks that I hope to visit this summer and beyond.… Read more... The post 231. My Theme Park Summer Plus Universal Orlando News appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

May 06, 202447 min

230. Eric Baker on Designing Props for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We’ve entered a new world of immersive theme park lands that just keep getting more detailed every time. It’s easy to forget that expansions on this scale basically started with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Opening in 2010 at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Hogsmeade set the standard.… Read more... The post 230. Eric Baker on Designing Props for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Apr 22, 202458 min

229. Beignets, Buses, and More: A Walt Disney World Trip Report (Part 2)

We’re back for Part 2 of my Walt Disney World trip report, and there’s still a lot more to cover! This episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast finishes up my park days and then looks at other aspects of our Spring Break vacation.… Read more... The post 229. Beignets, Buses, and More: A Walt Disney World Trip Report (Part 2) appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Apr 08, 20241 hr 24 min

228. TRON, Guardians, and More: A Walt Disney World Trip Report (Part 1)

It’s been about two years since I visited Walt Disney World, so a return trip was long overdue. It finally happened a few weeks ago during my daughter’s Spring Break. I expected the huge crowds we typically see this time of year, but the result was a big surprise.… Read more... The post 228. TRON, Guardians, and More: A Walt Disney World Trip Report (Part 1) appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Apr 01, 20241 hr 17 min

227. Trevor Bryant on Horizons, Binaural Audio, and Test Track

Horizons remains my all-time favorite attraction despite closing more than 24 years ago. It combined everything that I loved about EPCOT Center during the ’80s and ’90s. Trevor Bryant joined WED Enterprises in 1979 and quickly started on Horizons. He worked closely on this pavilion throughout its creation including at the installation in Florida.… Read more... The post 227. Trevor Bryant on Horizons, Binaural Audio, and Test Track appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Mar 25, 20241 hr 9 min

226. Bob Holland on Constructing EPCOT Center, the Grand Floridian, and Disney Cruise Line

An unappreciated reason for the success of Disney’s theme parks and resorts is the brilliant architecture. It creates that feeling of reassurance and immersion that keeps us coming back every year. Imagineer Bob Holland worked closely on a wide range of projects as an architect, project manager, and executive during a period of rapid growth.… Read more... The post 226. Bob Holland on Constructing EPCOT Center, the Grand Floridian, and Disney Cruise Line appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Mar 18, 20241 hr 4 min

225. Walt Disney World 2024 Trip Preview

I’m going to Walt Disney World! It’s been two years since our last Florida trip, and we’ll be returning during Spring Break this year. I’m sure it will be packed like usual at this time of year, but we’re limited to when my daughter is out of school.… Read more... The post 225. Walt Disney World 2024 Trip Preview appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Mar 11, 202446 min

224. Susan Bonds on the Indiana Jones Adventure, Alien Encounter, and Mission: Space

It’s amazing to look back at how much growth happened at Disney’s theme parks under Michael Eisner and Frank Wells. During the “Disney Decade”, they added new attractions that have become classics. Imagineer Susan Bonds worked in the middle of this exciting and busy time period.… Read more... The post 224. Susan Bonds on the Indiana Jones Adventure, Alien Encounter, and Mission: Space appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Mar 04, 20241 hr 5 min

223. Spotlight on Indiana Jones with Brandon Kleyla

With the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny last year, the popular franchise has concluded with Harrison Ford donning his trademark hat for the last time. This feels like the perfect time to discuss everything Indy for Disney’s theme parks.… Read more... The post 223. Spotlight on Indiana Jones with Brandon Kleyla appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Feb 26, 202459 min

222. Rope Drop Radio’s Doug McKnight and Derek Sasman

There’s so much to learn when planning a Walt Disney World trip, particularly if you’re not a frequent guest. It’s not easy to explain the complexities of that visit to people that aren’t experts. A solid resource to help is Rope Drop Radio , a weekly podcast from two guys that regularly travel to the parks.… Read more... The post 222. Rope Drop Radio’s Doug McKnight and Derek Sasman appeared first on Tomorrow Society ....

Feb 19, 20241 hr 8 min
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