Disney Insights

It's a beautiful day here at Walt Disney World as we start the morning here in the Magic Kingdom. So much to check out in this podcast and video. We start in the parking lot looking at ongoing transportation issues (could Epcot monorails be returning?) and then on to entering the park using the new facial recognition system. In Town Square we check out changes that have been made to the fire house...

There are so many things happening around the world that are affecting Disney Parks. Look at all we have to cover: Epcot--New offerings coming this summer Magic Kingdom--Several changes and initiatives Disneyland announces character appearances when they open News on Tokyo Disney's newest hotel and on its new Fantasyland Theater Shanghai Disneyland celebrates its 5th anniversary Big news and const...

There's a favorite spiel that for many years has been heard on the Jungle Cruise towards the end: "Now for the most dangerous part of our journey, the return to civilization". That's what lies ahead for Disneyland as it reopens. From the Governor's office to Avengers Campus we share all of the crazy details that may result in Disneyland being back to normal in only a few more months. We look at th...

Finally! We are long overdue for an update at Disney's Animal Kingdom and this one is packed with lots to talk about! NOTE however, that this was shot a couple of weeks ago and while references to the new Disney MagicMobile Pass, the release of Raya and the Last Dragon and to food items like St. Patrick's Day Food may seem dated, the context, stories and insights given are relevant. There is so mu...

In celebrating Disney California Adventure's 20th Anniversary, we thought we would pay homage to what I think are 5 great things about the park that were there on opening day, but are no longer had among us. Disney California Adventure did not start off well. Some attractions, like Soarin', were fantastic when it opened and they are still around. Still other things that added to the experience and...

We head over to Epcot to check out all that's new to the park in the last few weeks. We take advantage of trying out some food & beverage specialties that are part of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. We showcase three things you may not have seen or were aware of in China. We embark on Spike's Pollen-Nation Exploration for 2021 and are surprised by the gift dishes at the end of th...

Despite a major pandemic, and the fact that the Disneyland Resort has not been open for over a year, Disney officials made a major announcement that could rock the entire Disneyland resort, taking it to another entirely new level. This includes massive expansions in terms of lands, rides and attractions to Disneyland and Disney California in spaces that extend away from Disneyland. It also include...

We welcome you to this Disney at Work podcast where we share best in business ideas from the Happiest Places on Earth. Disney CEO Bob Chapek, in a recent Bloomberg interview, shared the following: “Our guest satisfaction scores since we have re-opened across the world have shown that indeed, our guests are more satisfied than they were even before the pandemic.” Is this so? Is Disney’s customer sa...

Growing up, the best part of the newspaper was the comics or the "funnies" section. In today's podcast, we'll look at Disney's recent headlines on The Jungle Cruise. Changes they have announced place Alberta Falls, granddaughter of Dr. Albert Falls as the story focal point in new changes coming to this legendary attraction. We look at the origin story for Dr. Albert Falls and the waterfall's origi...

We bring you to Disney's Hollywood Studios for an update on all the magic happening at this Walt Disney World park. We walk down Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards to check out the happenings going on there. Pixar's Character Cavalcade comes by and we head over to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Show Theater to check out the new relaxation station. Passing by crowds lined up for Toy Story Mania and Slin...

This week marks the time when Disney announced the closure of both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Other international parks had already closed, but this announcement cemented the national emergency that was within U.S. borders. While the Walt Disney World parks did re-open in July, there is still so much guests still miss, while at the same time so much we've learned. I cover the key milestones...

At the start of a terrible pandemic one year ago, Bob Chapek was surprisingly placed in the difficult position of being Disney's new CEO. The year that followed has been a horrific period for businesses across the globe. Today The Walt Disney Company held their annual shareholders meeting for 2021. We look at what was announced in that meeting, as well as reflect on the events of the last year. We...

The State of California noted on Friday new guidelines for theme parks and stadiums that could conceivably offer a window for Disneyland to reopen as early as April 1st. We look at what has come down from the state, how Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock has responded, and offer insights and thoughts around when this might actually happen as well as the implications.

  We visit Epcot on a beautiful Spring day as we see blossoms and topiaries in full bloom during this year's flower & garden festival. It begins at the entrance of the park, where new flag stanchions, and a beautiful new score welcomes guests as they first enter the park. We check out flower & garden favorites such as the butterfly corner in Future World and the container gardens in Italy. We talk...

We spend an evening visiting the Magic Kingdom to check out the crowds, construction, and the latest happenings at the park. During our time we take you on a spin at the Astro Orbiter in Tomorrowland. We head over to the Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland and the Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square. We then take a look at what's happening at "it's a small world" and Mickey's PhilarMagic. We check...

More guests are deciding to return to the parks even though restrictions and restraints due to COVID-19 are still in play. With little expectation that such restrictions will change much over the remainder of the year, guests planning a visit in the months to come must make important choices as to how they dine. This is always a big part of the Disney theme park experience, but its relevance is ev...

On a very windy and rainy day we head out to Epcot to check on a number of activities going on. Before entering the park, we take a look at the new colorful Leave a Legacy display that has been added to the front entrance to the park. Inside we talk about new announcements made for Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary, to include a new light aesthetic being planned for Spaceship Earth. We check ou...

Bettina Crzeskowiak is no ordinary Disney Cast Member. Her story of seeking out an opportunity to work at Epcot in Germany is just a sampling of her tenacity. She also was part of the original team when the Disney Wonder launched. But her own life story beyond that is what really makes Bettina truly magical, as she fought poverty, abuse and other challenges only to rise to become a leader in helpi...

Some of the greatest gems in Disney's theme parks are not so easily seen or known. A term given to these treasures is "sleeper" attractions. We talk about what this term means, share an example from Epcot's Cranium Command, and then set sail across the globe to see examples of great "sleeper" attractions in Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disney, and Tokyo Disney Resort. You may h...

The Walt Disney Company held it's quarterly call for the first quarter. We take an in-depth look at the announcements and references made for its theme parks and beyond. We look specifically at The Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and all parks globally. We not only share what was stated during the quarterly call, but what has been shared by leaders elsewhere. More importantly we give f...

There is an architectural expression that "form follows function". But in our recent stay at Disney's Boardwalk & Villas, we found that the unique form that creates Boardwalk's turn-of-century charm can sometimes stand in the way or at least make one forget that function does really matter. We'll look at different elements of a stay, from arrival and check in, to rooms themselves. We'll explore re...

We are long overdue for an update at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and despite a little rain, it was a great time to be in the park. We check out what's happening in Pandora, and then passing through Africa, we talk of the good news and bad news of Festival of the Lion King returning this summer. What does it mean for all Walt Disney World shows? From there we try out what may be the best counter servi...

We stroll the Magic Kingdom on a beautiful, sunny, but cool day. The crowds are soft but the park looks great. We check out all the lands of the park, and we look at not one, but three character cavalcades as they flow through the park. We talk about changes to the Jungle Cruise, and construction on Tron. We discuss rumors and headline bating around the PeopleMover and The Hall of Presidents. We a...

Classic attractions at Disney like the World Famous Jungle Cruise are nothing to take for "granite" especially when others consider it to be sandstone. Disney has announced changes to the Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. These changes breathe new life into this venerable and popular attraction, while at the same time being thoughtful and respectful and more inclusive. We loo...

Aye, Matey, Welcome Aboard! This be Disney at Plays and I'm your host, Captain Jeff Kober. We be sailing the Seven Seas today looking at Pirates of the Caribbean the world over. Only we're not just looking at the rides themselves, we are looking at the entire lands in which they are placed in. We're taking a look at theming, entertainment, dining, shopping, additional attractions and so much more....