The Theme Park Trader Podcast

Join us for episode 505 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Universal is coming to the UK, and the rumour mill hasn’t stopped turning since. In this episode, we go land by land through everything that’s been whispered, leaked and speculated about for the Universal United Kingdom Resort in Bedfordshire. We dig into which franchises are most likely to make the cut, which ones feel like wishful thinkin...

Join us for episode 504 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! No complaints this time — just credit. We ran through everything Walt Disney World actually got right in 2026, and the dining lineup did a lot of the heavy lifting. We work through the table-service wins — Yak & Yeti, Via Napoli, 50's Prime Time Café, Skipper Canteen, Sanaa, Space 220, and 'Ohana — plus a full Disney Springs day that to...

Join us for episode 503 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! We take the kids to Universal Orlando for the very first time, hitting Islands of Adventure and the main park through fresh, young eyes. Then Donna shares her first impressions of Epic Universe — was it worth the hype? First-time thrills, must-do rides, and honest reactions from the whole family.

We just got back from Walt Disney World, and this one's a reckoning. After years of magic, our 2026 trip left us with a lot to unpack — so we're pulling no punches. Join us for episode 502 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! In this episode we dig into everything that's slipping at the parks and resorts: a worrying lack of care around guest injuries, park operations that keep falling short, and Cast...

Join us for episode 501 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Grace is back behind the mic! A returning favourite, she joins us to spill all the details on her upcoming Orlando adventure, the parks, the plans, and everything she's counting down to. Turns out we won't be strangers in Florida either: our trips are set to overlap, so expect plenty of "we have to do that" moments as we compare itineraries...

Join us for episode 500 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Stop the press — Dan's not dead! Our original co-host rises from the podcasting grave to join us for the big 5-0-0, and he's brought Orlando stories with him. Dan and his fiancée jetted off to Florida, setting up camp at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter before crossing the road to see what Universal's been up to. We get the full lowdown...

Join us for episode 499 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! We've done something a little different this week, we've put every ride, show, restaurant and bar at EPCOT under the microscope and ranked the lot from best to worst. But we didn't just take Google's star ratings at face value. A place with a handful of reviews can look like it's beating somewhere with thousands, so we ran every score throu...

Join us for episode 498 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Our big Orlando trip is almost here, so this week on Theme Park Trader we’re joined by two very special guests — Ryan’s sister Charlotte and his nephew! With the countdown well and truly on, we chat through the plans for the trip, what everyone is most excited about, the parks and attractions at the top of the list, and all the inevitable c...

Join us for episode 497 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! We've done something a little different this week — we've put every ride, show, restaurant and bar at Disney's Hollywood Studios under the microscope and ranked the lot from best to worst. But we didn't just take Google's star ratings at face value. A place with a handful of reviews can look like it's beating somewhere with thousands, so we...

Join us for episode 496 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! This week, we’re going behind the screams as we speak directly to Universal about Halloween Horror Nights 35. In this exclusive interview, we dig into what guests can expect from this year’s event, how Universal approaches bringing HHN to life and what makes the 35th anniversary such a major moment for Halloween Horror Nights. We also uncov...

Join us for episode 495 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Guests DESTROY Beak and Barrel & BaseLine Tap House in this week's episode of Theme Park Trader! But first — is table service dining dying at Walt Disney World? With guests now dropping serious money on Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Premier Pass before they even step through the gates, more and more visitors are skipping sit-down restau...

Join us for episode 493 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! How much does it REALLY cost to build a Disney World ride? In this episode of Theme Park Trader, we rank the 10 most expensive attractions ever built at Walt Disney World — and then adjust every budget for inflation, which completely reshuffles the list. A ride from 1999 might still be the most expensive Disney has ever built. We cover the...

Join us for episode 493 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Every theme park fan has a list of petty pet peeves, and today we're airing all of ours. We count down the worst theme park icks — ranked by rage — from slow walkers and parade curb-savers to ring-light vloggers and Disney adults who can't take a single critique. Building all the way to the number one offender, everyone secretly hates. We e...

Join us for episode 492 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! In this episode of Theme Park Trader, we’re talking through our upcoming Orlando plans, from where we’re staying and what parks we’re hoping to hit, to the food, attractions, and chaos we’re already overthinking. We also get into the latest Disney transport restrictions at Walt Disney World, what they could mean for guests, and whether Disn...

Join us for episode 491 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! This week, we’re heading over to Universal as we share some of our favourite memories from the parks. From recording Theme Park Trader at Halloween Horror Nights , to seeing Hogwarts for the first time, staying at Hard Rock Hotel, stepping into Seuss Landing, and revisiting classics like Jaws, Spider-Man and The Hulk, this episode is packed...

Join us for episode 490 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! This week we’re getting properly nostalgic as we share some of our favourite memories from the Disney parks. From unforgettable attraction moments and family trips to unexpected laughs, emotional memories, and the kind of chaos only a Disney day can deliver, we’re looking back at the experiences that have stuck with us the most over the yea...

Join us for episode 489 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! We’re officially off the rails. What started as a constructive conversation about the new Muppet-themed Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster quickly devolved into a complete, unscripted mess. In this episode of Theme Park Trader, we attempt to map out the perfect "Muppet Land" and brainstorm which classic attractions deserve the Muppet treatment. Howeve...

Join us for episode 488 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Grab your winter coats and your park bags! This week on Theme Park Trader, we are joined by our fantastic friend Carly, who just stepped straight into Arendelle. Carly gives us the ultimate, unfiltered breakdown of her recent trip to the newly rebranded Disney Adventure World and its highly anticipated crown jewel: The World of Frozen. If y...

  Is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party still worth the $119-$229 price tag? Or has Disney’s premier spooky event become a "copy-paste" experience that’s coasting on nostalgia? In this episode of Theme Park Trader, we’re getting brutally honest about the state of MNSSHP. With Tom Sawyer Island gone and the massive Villains Land construction taking over the Rivers of America, the 2026 season is...

Join us for episode 486 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Disney World is a playground, not your private film set. Today we’re tackling the "Main Character Syndrome" currently infecting our favorite theme parks. We’ve all been there: You’ve spent thousands on a family vacation, only to have your child’s core memories interrupted by a ring light, a gimbal, and a 30-year-old man screaming at his "ch...

Join us for episode 485 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! "Jambo, everyone! Today on Theme Park Trader, we are going off-road into the 110-acre savanna of Disney’s Animal Kingdom to uncover the secrets of Kilimanjaro Safaris. Most guests see a peaceful photo safari, but the history of this attraction is wilder than the animals themselves. We’re talking about the original "dark" storyline involving...

Join us for episode 484 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Disney’s Hollywood Studios is having a massive identity crisis. Is it a tribute to the Golden Age of Cinema, or just a parking lot for Star Wars and Toy Story? Disney’s Hollywood Studios is in the middle of a massive identity crisis. Is it a park about the magic of movies, or has it just become a storage locker for big franchises? On this e...

Join us for episode 483 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Is Disney’s 2027 Free Dining offer really as good as it sounds… or is it just clever marketing? In this episode of the Theme Park Trader Podcast, we break down everything you need to know about the latest Walt Disney World Free Dining deal for 2027 — including who it benefits, who it doesn’t, and whether it’s actually worth booking. Before...

Join us for episode 482 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Are you even doing Magic Kingdom right… or are you just eating overpriced rubbish? In this episode of Theme Park Trader, we’re putting Walt Disney World’s most iconic park snacks to the ultimate test in our very own Magic Kingdom Snack Games. From the legendary Dole Whip to the controversial Mickey Pretzel, we’ve taken some of the most popu...

Join us for episode 481 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! This week, we're welcoming Disney's newest theme park, Disney Adventure World! We chat through the opening, what's next, and read out some of the worst reviews for Walt Disney Studios! A reminder, if you have any questions for us, send us a message on TikTok or Instagram. Also, check out our guide to the DDP in 2026 .