Disney Insights

We bring you Part III of our series where it’s 1971 and Walt Disney World is set to open. You have thousands of new Cast Members, most of whom have never seen a Disney theme park, and you need to orient them to that experience. The only problem is that the park isn’t open or ready yet either. So how do you give them that understanding? Enter a series of handbooks put out by the University of Walt...

It's been three years since the last D23 and that means that it's time to really make some major announcements on what's happening in Disney Parks worldwide. While we don't have a lot of inside scoop on what's being announced, we do have some interesting notions. Moreover, we have a wish list that would keep the Blue Fairy busy for the next 5-7 years. We'll visit Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland, T...

Welcome to Part II of our series where it’s 1971 and Walt Disney World is set to open. You have thousands of new Cast Members, most of whom have never seen a Disney theme park, and you need to orient them to the park. The only problem is that the park isn’t open or ready yet either. So how do you give them that understanding? Enter a series of handbooks put out by the University of Walt Disney Wor...

In late August 2019 Bob Chapek, then responsible for Disney Parks & Attractions, stood up in D23 and announced an enormous slate of new attractions coming not only across the globe, but specifically Walt Disney World. At the time our post showcased some 75 new attractions, restaurants, shops, entertainment, hotels and more. We'll go back in time to see what has happened, and what is still yet to h...

It's 1971 and Walt Disney World is set to open. You have thousands of new Cast Members, most of whom have never seen a Disney theme park, and you need to orient them to the park. The only problem is that the park isn't open or ready yet either. So how do you give them that understanding? Enter a series of handbooks put out by the University of Walt Disney World. In a series of handbooks, Cast Memb...

You would think that with the pandemic pretty much behind us that there everything is back to normal here at Walt Disney World. Well...not quite. We spend a fairly busy time between Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios discussing all of the attractions, entertainment stores, and restaurants and in all four parks and beyond. You may be fairly surprised buy what's happening and what has yet...

This month the new MagicBand+ was released to guests visiting Walt Disney World. Is it worth it? Anyone who has heard enough of my podcasts probably knows where I'm going to side on this product. Still, it's a good time to take another look at this very popular product so many guests utilize during their stay at Walt Disney World. We'll look at the timeline that brought us to today. We'll then ste...

This last week there has been considerable press of a park in Pennsylvania that many people didn't know about before it hit the news. Sesame Place brings Sesame Street to life in a theme park setting especially tailored for children. Or at least it should. The controversy this week centered around a walk-around character named Rosita. A family visiting the park and others have claimed the characte...

This summer marks the 50th year of the premiere of Disneyland's Main Street Electrical Parade. I saw it that first summer it came out and I've been spellbound ever since. With a timeline, we'll look at the entire history of this parade experience. The Main Street Electrical Parade is a technological pioneer and has created innovations we see in Disney parades today. We'll look at its predecessors...

Many Disney fans were stunned last week when Disney's Board of Directors announced CEO Bob Chapek's contract had been extended. While insiders expected this, many are still puzzled as to why when they see prices going up in the parks, quality going down at the movies, and politics whirling everything around in between. I wasn't in "the room where it happened" but we can look at a number of factors...

Want to get a glimpse of the Disney Wish? We welcome you to this podcast, perhaps the first to look at The Disney Cruise Line's newest ship. David, Leah and their family had the good fortune of a special complimentary preview sailing across the Atlantic Ocean as the Disney Wish left Germany and headed to Port Canaveral in Florida. While many things were still being readied for the unveiling of thi...

This July marks the 10th anniversary that a 2.0 Disney California Adventure was re-dedicated by Bob Iger. At the expense of some 1.1 billion dollars, this was at the time the most comprehensive park redo ever attempted. Still, in the first year of re-opening, park attendance went up some 23% and it became far more equal in terms of balancing out the number of guests visiting it and its sister park...

During this 50th anniversary of the Walt Disney Resort, I would be amiss if I didn't pay homage to great attractions that have come and gone from the original park, Magic Kingdom. I celebrate my top 10 favorite and now forgotten attractions that I miss--and include in that number a few that I never had the chance to see. Are there attractions and rides that you miss? Compare your list to mine as w...

Welcome to this Disneyland Paris trip report My wife and I had an incredible opportunity to spend time in London during the Queen's Jubilee, in far away places in England, and in Paris as well. But we also spent several days in Disneyland Paris and I can't wait to share! There were many fantastic moments along the way as well as some wonderful surprises at both the Disneyland Parc and the Walt Dis...

As May comes to a close and summer starts up in June, we're here to update you on all the greatest Disney happenings here and afar. We'll start at the Walt Disney World Resort, where the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has officially opened. We'll update you on the latest with that, and then merge those issues with new Genie+ changes that have come about in the last month. From there we...

Not a rumor here, or even an attempt at click bait This is simply conjecture. But I believe and give evidence that the best thing Disney could do in the upcoming D23 conference in Anaheim is announce a new 5th theme park for Walt Disney World. We'll share with you why that makes sense--and even seems plausible. Of course, we can't discuss a potential theme park without supposing some lands for suc...

In almost two weeks my wife and I will be heading to Europe. For my wife this is her first trip as we see the United Kingdom and France. For me it is a returning trip, but as it relates to visiting Disneyland Paris, it has been some 17 years since I last visited. I'm anticipating this trip and excited to not only take in all that is precious and beautiful about this park, but to be able to see thi...

I was fortunate to experience Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind during previews at Epcot, and so I'm excited to share the entire experience with you. We'll go in depth on the entire layout of this attraction, and without really sharing too many details of the story, what you'll experience as you move throughout. This has an impressive queue, but nothing holds a light when it comes to the ride...

The press event for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was held this week. As part of that event, announcements were made about World Celebration & Discovery. Want to know what all that construction was about in the center of former Future World at Epcot? Well, despite ambiguous imagery, it appears we've been given a clearer view of what is coming to the heart of this Walt Disney World Resort....

A centerpiece dining experience has been unveiled at Epcot this last week. Connections, located next to Creations (the gift shop), sits in what is ultimately to become World Celebration. This is the former Electric Umbrella, and before the Stargate Restaurant. But now it's much bigger, brighter, and fortunately tastier. It is two sided with one side dedicated to being a counter service restaurant,...

Resort with his wife and child. What makes this Disneyland trip review interesting is that while Cameron grew up on in the shadows of Walt Disney World, it had been over 20 years since he went to Disneyland for the first and only time. It was only months after Disney California Adventure first opened. He shares his Walt Disney World experience, recalls his first memories of the Disneyland Resort,...

In recent days and weeks the Florida state legislature led by Governor Ron DeSantis has sought to end the Reedy Creek Improvement District, an independent governing body that provides regulatory control and support to The Walt Disney World Resort. Currently, the elephant does not seem afraid of the mouse, and it's looking to stomp on it if possible. There are many people chiming in and various rep...

Diabetes is a real challenge for millions of people, and yet, how do you make it workable at the happiest places on earth? We are joined by David Zanolla who shares with us the challenges that Diabetics face when they are in the Disney Parks. We look at how he and others have taken that issue and made the experience not only workable, but as a place to enjoy. Where to go, what to eat, and how to m...

In 2014 I penned a post on Disney at Work about the 10 things I love about Disney's Hollywood Studios. At the time, the park was celebrating its 25th anniversary. I cover that original list and explain what I was feeling at that time during that major milestone event. But much has happened in the eight years since, and I'm here with a new list that has some old favorites and new delights. How do t...

In our last Disney at Play podcast we spoke of Pleasure Island and it's offerings. We talked about the clubs, the food & beverage, retail and other entertainment. And we spoke about how it came to be and how it competed against Orlando's Church Street Station. In this podcast we look at how well the concept was accepted, and how initially the nighttime venue failed to deliver. We talk about how Mi...