Disney Insights

As the holidays are upon us, it's a perfect time to celebrate Christmas at Disneyland. Even though the park will be closed for the first time in 65 years over this yuletide season, Jim Korkis joins us as we take the time to remember the traditions of the "Happiest Place on Earth". We talk about Babes in Toyland wooden soldiers, of the first Candlelight Processionals and of the Star on top of the M...

Disney provided an Investor Day presentation and many announcements were made by the company during this time. We'll look at these announcements coming from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic and LucasFilm. Over 100 titles were announced, and we did our best to capture them. While many will go to theater, much of what was discussed is coming to Disney+. Still, Hulu, ESPN and Star were also...

We're here at Epcot to dive into the Festival of the Holidays. Last time we were at Epcot, we had a sneak peek at the decorations, here we go into many of the holiday offerings and entertainment. We also check out a number of construction activities going on at Guardians of the Galaxy, Play Pavilion and Space 220. We also check out the new Mobile Checkout program being tested at MouseGears. So joi...

Breaking News! Downtown Disney and Buena Vista Street restaurants at the Disneyland Resort will be re-closed due to the pandemic. COVID-19 has impacted nearly every operation at Disney with very few exceptions. With Disneyland Resort still not opening to the public, Hong Kong Disneyland & Disneyland Paris have again closed their doors due to the pandemic. The Disney Cruise Lines have pushed back t...

The week after Thanksgiving is one of the best weeks to be visiting Walt Disney World. It's a special week for my wife and I as we visited the Magic Kingdom 32 years ago this week! I reminisce about that as we check out all things at the park from the newly painted entrance sign, to the Ticket and Transporation Center, to the monorail and though all the lands of the Magic Kingdom. We check on Chri...

With layoffs at Disney announced last month, last week and today, we look at the reality that many former Disney Cast Members may have to look for work elsewhere. If you're an employer, that may mean good news for you, as we talk about the reasons why you should hire a former Disney Cast Member. With that, we share the kinds of discussions you should host with a former Disney Cast Member to assess...

In the context of this pandemic and this holiday time of year, we are offering a new program where you have not only the opportunity to give to those in need, but to also receive. Join us as we introduce our new Patreon program, intended to give you new insights to all things Disney whether its work or play. In return, you have an opportunity to help benefit those in need during this time of year...

Did we mention crowds? Wow! We were shocked by the hundreds and hundreds of guests all coming into Disney Springs via the parking lot structures. We look at all of it and what implications there were for safety and social distancing. It was the most crowded we have seen any Disney facility since re-opening. Added to that was plenty of holiday decor with a Christmas Tree Stroll staged throughout mu...

We explore all of Epcot as it is transformed for the holiday season. From the front of the park, to the Christmas tree in the center of the park and even in front of The American Adventure, we see the holidays ramping up as we visit the World Showcase pavilions like UK, France, and Germany. Even Figment has a new holiday sweater! We see new construction underway in Italy, and we discuss the status...

We visited Disney's Hollywood Studios three times over a two day period to give you a big update of all that is happening at this park during the holidays. We check out the decor both day and night and note some of the changes that have happened that accommodate the pandemic, or that are simply new. We especially take the time to visit Rise of the Resistance twice, where we check out the effective...

Walt Disney World has announced that as a part of its phased reopening, they will bring back the Park Hopper option! Starting Jan. 1, 2021, guests who purchased a ticket or annual pass with Park Hopper benefits will be able to visit more than one park per day, with some new modifications as part of our ongoing focus on health and safety. We'll look at the details of this, and their implications fo...

November 18th marks Mickey Mouse's birthday (Minnie's too) and we're at Disney's Hollywood Studios to celebrate. We go from corner to corner of the park looking for all of the different ways Mickey is celebrated. From the parking lot to Cast Members at Galaxy's Edge, we check on all things Mickey. Make sure you check out our companion video on YouTube where you can see all of this happening as wel...

Two events occurred this last week that gives us important insights as to how the Disney parks are doing world-wide. Last week Disney CEO shared insights and fielded questions around the previous quarterly report. Then, this week Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products provided a state-the-parks address at IAAPA in a virtual conference presentation. From new construction,...

We hit the trail at Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World to see the park both during the day and night. Beginning and ending at the Christmas Tree in the front of the park, it's a chance to check out all of the holiday decorations found in Discovery Island, DinoLand, Asia, Africa, and Pandora: The World of Avatar. We not only check out the decorations but holiday foods currently offered an...

Join author Jim Korkis and I as we visit the Magic Kingdom and talk about some of the extinct Magic Kingdom attractions you can't find any more. We talk about major attractions such as Flight to the Moon, the Diamond Horseshoe, and RCA's Space Mountain exhibit. But we also talk about lesser known attractions such as Sword in the Stone Ceremony, Safari Club, West Center Street and the Flower Market...

With an U.S. election in arrears, President-elect Joe Biden appears to be heading not just toward the White House, but the Hall of Presidents at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. We offer two very different takes on changing the Hall of Presidents. We take a quick look at the history of this attraction, consider the challenges that came as a result of President Trump's addition, and then con...

A full slate of Christmas decorations are now throughout the entire Magic Kingdom. We go through the park to not only check out the holiday look, but to see what else is going on. From continued work on the exterior canopy of Tron, to attractions and offerings that are still not operating; the new "Now" feature on Disney Dining reservations that allow you to see what is available dining wise in th...

The CDC allowed the ban on cruise ship suspensions to expire, but has identified standards in order to resume cruising. Most of the cruise ship industry announced a day or so later that they would not be cruising until after the first of the year. Then Disney announced that it would not provide any cruises in 2020. We look at this news, as well as explore what will a Disney cruise experience look...

We offer a big look at what's going on at Epcot as we visit Halloween day, 2020. We check out changes to the front of the park; take a ride on Soarin'; check out the Waffle kiosk for Epcot's food & wine; Take a boat across World Showcase Lagoon to Morocco; discuss changes in management to the Morocco pavilion; enjoy a stroll through Japan; Check out the Annual Passholder store in Germany; Visit th...

With all of the painful news of Disneyland's ongoing closure, it's time to celebrate something wonderful. And this time of year is the time to do that. Join us as we visit both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure to recall the magic and festivities of Halloween. We see Main Street, U.S.A. all decked out, a unique pumpkin way finding experience in the central hub; visit the pumpkin tree in F...

Over the last 24 hours informal news came over social media that many of the performers for the great entertainment and shows at Walt Disney World had been let go. Many took to Facebook and elsewhere to let fans know of their being laid off, and of the bittersweet pain they were feeling, disappointed by the announcement while reflecting on years of being able to perform in what could be considered...

We visit Disney's Hollywood Studios for a Tour and Update. On our tour we check out the ABC Commissary, Star Tours, and Star Wars Galaxy's Edge with its merchandise and character meet 'n' greets. We take check out the Ronto Wrap at Docking Bay 7, how it compares to the version at Ronto Roasters. We visit Toy Story Land at twilight and the new barbecue restaurant under construction there. After vis...

It's Halloween, but any time of the year is a great time to celebrate the infamous Haunted Mansion. We are fortunate to have Jason Surrell, Disney Imagineer and author of The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic. We take the time to talk about those Imagineering pioneers who made the mansion a possibility, from Marc Davis, Claude Coates and Rolly Crump, to Ken Anderson, X Attencio, and t...

After stalling for months, The State of California has finally created new conditions for theme parks, to include Disneyland to reopen. Those criteria if played out, will probably mean that Disneyland will not reopen this year, possibly not for many more months to come. We look at these new requirements and conditions. We identify their implications and look at how the State of California may have...

It's a jungle out there, and we look to not only explore it but to relish it, as the weather is really great, and it's a great time to relax and enjoy. We canvas the entire park, checking out the crowds, what's open and closed, and what the total experience is like. Plus we highlight eight wonderful little nooks to sit back and enjoy the park by. And did we mention Flame Tree Barbecue, and perhaps...