Disney Insights

One of the most beloved keepsakes of any Disney visit are the park guide books or guide maps. These navigational and instructional tools have been showing guests where to go since the early days of Disneyland. Though they have evolved over the years, they have been a touchpoint for experiencing the Disney magic. But are they in jeopardy of being replaced eventually by the My Disney Experience app?...

Almost every Disney fan can name an attraction in the parks that they wish they had a chance to experience but never did. It may be Horizons or Adventure Through Inner Space or even something as recent as The Great Movie Ride. I've had the great blessing on experiencing a great number of attractions over the years, but there are a few that I've missed. I've dedicated this podcast to sharing the to...

Fall is upon us and at the Magic Kingdom, that usually means a big salute to Halloween. In the absence of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, we cover what Disney has tried to do to make the holiday succeed during this pandemic. We look at decorations, character cavalcades, food, and merchandise. We also pay homage to those missing pieces this year. All this and more on this Disney at Play post...

In our previous post & podcast , we had a chance to take a look at the retail magic found in Shanghai Disneyland. We had a chance to move up the right side of Mickey Avenue, head over to Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove, and then continue counter-clockwise around to Fantasyland. Today we're going to continue that direction, finishing out Fantasyland, move through Toy Story Land, Tomorrowland, and the...

Most who have visited Shanghai Disneyland have referenced the wealth of thematic detail played out throughout the park. Every Disney park has so many details within, many of which are found in the attractions and in the general park ambience. But much of it can be found in the retail areas, and that's especially true here at Disney's newest park. Let's look at the many stores at Shanghai Disneylan...

Walt Disney World has announced its offerings for the holiday period. We look at what's coming and what's not. There are significant pieces that are missing, but it still feels like the holidays. We also consider the real reason why Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is making such a substantial closure over such a long period of time. It's not about Moana. We have good and bad news around re-open...

We compare all the Tom Sawyer Islands found in Disney parks around the world. This podcast talks about forts, caves, treehouses, bridges and more as we look at the original Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and then back to what it is at Disneyland today. This article builds off of other podcasts we've done, including those comparing park castles around the world and "it's a small w...

In honor of the passing of Judson Green this week, we look not just at his contribution to the Walt Disney Company, but the standard of leadership ideals he sought to put in place. An accomplished jazz musician and composer, he knew as more about the "show" in show business than most any Disney executive. He led an organization to accomplish great things in building out the Disney Decade in the pa...

The Walt Disney Company announced its decision to release their new live action film Mulan on its new Disney + premium service. Both Disney+ and Mulan represent two ends of a spectrum where one initiates change and where one is dictated by change. We look at the decision behind both the streaming service and the choice to release the film as a premium pay option. While both are examples of outside...

There are many differences guests are facing as they return to the parks during this COVID-careful period. But there are some unique circumstances that make visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios even more challenging. We're here to offer the best unofficial guide to Disney's Hollywood Studios now that the park has re-opened. This especially includes how to get a boarding pass to Rise of the Resistan...

Welcome to our Disney at Work podcast, where we talk about best in business practices from the "Happiest Places on Earth!" In our last Disney News on Parade, we spoke of an interview Josh D'Amaro made with the CEO of the U.S. Travel Association Roger Dow. We're going to dissect his conversation about brand trust at Disney, and we'll look at what it means to your organization, especially during thi...

We cover a range of topics today from Bob Iger's comments on CDC while reinstalling wages at the Disney executive level. Cast Member furloughs to continue and NBA makes a protest inside the Disney bubble about tragic events occurring outside. A security guard gets attacked for asking a guest to wear his mask, and Disneyland is poised to reopen. All this and the best part--Halloween news at Walt Di...

In the course of two back-to-back visits I had the opportunity to really canvas all that is going on at Epcot. Construction at this park is the highest since the park opened nearly 40 years ago. We go above the fence to check it out, from the front of the park all the way to the back. On the way we experience five really great World Showcase Discoveries--magical moments that sparkle even during th...

We welcome you to what we believe to be a 7 part series on Disney Springs. We bring to you the first in the series, a focus on The Marketplace. Here we look at its history since opening in 1975 as the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village. We compare the Walt Disney World Village of the 1980's with the Marketplace of today. And we share historic insights going back to California harbor shopping all th...

It's been a few weeks since we really checked out what's going on at Disney Springs. With it comes big news of the re-opening of AMC Movie Theater, a new opening date for Cirque du Soleil--Drawn to Life, new retail and eateries, plus so much more. It's Disney News on Parade dedicated to Disney Springs for August 19, 2020.

David & Leah's boys provide the latest podcast one the best in attractions, shows, and especially food as Kingdom for Kids presents Epcot. Support these boys by checking out this short, but charming podcast. Photos available on Disney at Play.

Is now the time to pull the lever on coming back to Orlando? Should you reconsider going to Walt Disney World? David Zanolla hosts this episode of Disney at Play by discussing several concerns travelers are weighing at this point. In this Q&A, Jeff Kober offers several points of view and issues that should be addressed in deciding about your next trip. Is it for you? As a fan, the timing may be ri...

Lots of news this week as Disney makes way for testing to occur on Disney property. Actor's Equity has allowed Disney to go back to work. We look at new upcoming hours at the parks, issues facing annual passholders, and even new taste tests at Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival. Then we go around the globe to see some important happenings going on at Shanghai Disney, Hong Kong Disney and D...

With so little word about the Disneyland Resort in recent weeks, we wondered about a big project that was underway at Disney's California Adventure. It is the Avengers Campus. We want to share in detail what is planned for this entirely new land, it's attractions, restaurants, retail and more. When will it finally be constructed and will it help save the resort's attendance when it finally opens?...

No, this is not sensationalized podcasting! Rather, sharing three little-known tales from Disney's legacy. In this Disney at Work podcast, we share Imagineering experiences that can be applied to your own organization. Here we talk about the challenges of building three very unique projects during completely different decades. You'll find lessons of courage and determination. It's about working an...

What do neon barbershop trailers at Disney's Grand Floridan Resort, sunken Splash Mountain logs, and toy barbecue restaurants have in common? It means another episode of Disney News on Parade, where we're covering all that's happening throughout Walt Disney World. We're showcasing everything from empty cantinas to empty stores to empty campgrounds. From Food & Wine additions to Fort Wilderness add...

Disney had probably its most difficult investor moment as it announced its earnings for what has been the worst quarter in any year of the company's history. It's important to know what went on and what it means going forward. We will share the highlights, the questions and concerns, as well as the hopes for going forward. Make sure you check out the key points in our post on Disney at Work.

A review of Disney's Wilderness Lodge--Perhaps Walt Disney World's best destination resort hotels. We look at the total resort experience during a COVID-19 stay. The hotel is based on the U.S. National Park Inns found in Yellowstone and elsewhere. We compare the experience to that, we look at some of the ambience of the hotels. We specifically review the Deluxe Studio Villa we had at Boulder Ridge...

This week's Disney News on Parade covers three stories around Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. First, it explores a new cantina being introduced in a virtual game by ILMXLAB. Next we look at changes to the boarding pass policy to Rise of the Resistance. And finally, we cap it off with a look at the TEA/AECOM annual theme park attendance report, and what impact--or lack thereof--Galaxy's Edge played on att...

Disney has done a huge job trying to create the most COVID-19 free experience possible. Still, there are some things that could really improve the park experience--not so much to make it safer, but to make the experience better for guests visiting during this period. Join J. Jeff Kober as we explore 5 park fixes that are needed. You can also find these listed over at Disney at Play.