Disney Insights

Universal has taken a step to showcase its upcoming new park, Epic Universe. While many have known much about what was going into the parks, official status was given to the different lands and key attractions. In particular, details were given around the centerpiece land, Celestial Park, which serves as an entrance and hub to four other lands, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magi...

My recent visit dining at Disney's Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World made me realize that this is a great place for Magic Kingdom guests who are looking for a place to get away during the craziness of being in the park. There are three particular dining experiences that caters to many tastes and makes it easy to enjoy a finer dining experience than you might get at Magic Kingdom. David Zano...

It's January and that means Epcot's International Festival of the Arts--which really looks more like Epcot's Annual Figment Festival. Figment is everywhere--except in a well-designed attraction. Still, it is the most popular non IP Disney character in any North American Park (Duffy holds reign in Asia) and like the original attraction, it represents creativity and the arts--and that's what's alway...

Disney has announced this week that the Country Bear Jamboree will be closing on January 27th of this year, with a promise of re-opening as the Country Bear Musical Jamboree "later this summer". We talk about Disney's news and the new upcoming show. And then we talk about why we love the Country Bears and their significance to the park and to the original heritage of Walt Disney World. Disney has...

Greetings and Happy New Year! As we embark on 2024 I wanted to bring to you a conversation I had with Betsy Jordyn, a former Disney Cast Member and organizational development leader. She works with consultants now, but she speaks of a time when the internal organizational development was almost an outside consulting group to getting Disney’s organization to the next level. The research she and her...

Having touched on 2023 last week in review, let's see what 2024 has in store. It's going to be a unique year, and I don't think with new attractions/offerings being announced just last week, that even we have seen all that will still come to guests in this upcoming calendar year. Still, we'll share what we know as we go across Disney parks worldwide to see what's happening with over 30 new attract...

2023 has been unlike any other. But it has been a busy one. There is much to review as we look back at what has been happening in Disney's parks world-wide over the last twelve months. We check out not only the U.S. parks of Walt Disney World and Disneyland, but also international parks around the world. We'll look at what's happened at both parks and resorts and how they have taken the theme park...

Other than Walt Disney himself, there is in my mind no other individual who has made such a dent on what people know as the Disney theme park experience than Dick Nunis, whose passing has been made public today, December 13th, 2023. He is a Disney legend, and without his leadership, projects like Magic Kingdom and Epcot and Typhoon Lagoon would have never gotten to the finish line. His leadership...

Finally! After what has been years of waiting, the center piece of what was formerly Future World is reopening as World Celebration in Epcot. We cover the opening day and what this central promenade looks like during the day time and night. It's like a brand new hub--only for Epcot and not Magic Kingdom. We also take the opportunity to see the premiere of Luminous on its first night as a replaceme...

35 years ago my wife and I came to Walt Disney World for the first time. It was 1988 and I had big bucket dreams of visiting since opening in 1971. We were finally established with our first child and a new one on the way. We set a course for Florida. Disney’s Hollywood Studios was still a year away, but Epcot was something totally unlike anything I had seen in my years at Disneyland, and the Magi...

Happy Thanksgiving! The season has arrived with Black Friday and a lot of holiday shopping ahead. No doubt, if you are a Disney fan, something on your list to Santa includes something Disney. There are so many retail choices when it comes to buying your favorite Disney merchandise, but all of that had a beginning. From my newest book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, we'll share with you tha...

I was asked recently by a listener which resort hotels should they stay at when visiting the Disney Parks in Asia. This is a great question, as huge new attractions and lands are opening in all three parks in the days and months to come. If you've never been before, or if you are thinking of doing it again, this is the time to start planning--especially in the wake of these offerings opening up. W...

In this episode we'll celebrate a personal milestone for myself. Then we'll visit two fountains at Disney's Hollywood Studios and at Disney California Adventure. These fountains anonymously acknowledge William Mulholland and his contribution to bringing water to the state of California. He was a key figure in Golden Dreams, an early Disney California Adventure presentation that celebrated the heri...

So thrilled to have Rick and Sherri Williams--great friends of mine and advid Disney enthusiasts. They live in Orlando, so they're in the parks all the time. But they had never done a Disney cruise. And their first one ended up being The Disney Wish. This gives us a view of how this ship feels to a Disney fan who doesn't have the assumptions that come from voyaging on the other previous four ships...

I am sharing this podcast on the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. Founded on October 16th, 1923, Walt and Roy agreed to produce a series of Alice cartoon shorts. It was a start that was clouded by bankruptcy, unemployment and illness. But that start has endured and is now one of the most successful--if not the most successful--entertainment companies in the world. We celebrate the ann...

I'm pleased to announce that my newest book, "A Century of Powerful Disney Insights" is now available on Amazon . This book is tied to the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company being commemorated this month. Volume 1 shares the Walt and Roy Disney years from 1923 through 1973. In introducing this book, I've invited my son, Cameron Kober, to interview me and discuss the book. Very much like...

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party is synonymous with Halloween at Walt Disney World. But that event is now sold out. Are there other options? Absolutely! There is so much to see and do--and eat. We'll canvas the whole of it at Walt Disney World to include some fun and scary things you can do, activities you can be involved in, food, beverage, photos and more. From Magic Kingdom through the oth...

Previews are well underway for Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana. But it’s also inspired by Epcot! This is really what Epcot was always about–learning and interacting and inspiring and entertaining all at one time. In a simple, but not simplistic manner this walk-through experience does all this and more. We look at the various elements of this new attraction and how it truly complements this ne...

Destination D23 had considerable publicity around that, with social media agents blogging, vlogging tweeting and podcasting the highlights to fans the world over--but mostly at Walt Disney World. We'll cover some additional details and aftermath of that. We'll consider some additional thoughts on what was announced there. But almost under the radar this week was an entirely different presentation...

Josh D'Amaro hosted a major presentation at Destination D23 where many new and newly revised attractions were announced as well as the details of many attractions already announced. We go into detail and study each of them. We also talk about attractions and other offerings not mentioned at all, yet still very much in the works. And we talk about projects announced only a year go that seem to have...

Disney Cruise Line announced the inaugural sailings for the Disney Treasure, as well as many of the details about their newest ship. Joining me is David Zanolla of Zanolla Travel, who will help me to study the details of this announcement, and how it compares to the more recent Disney Wish. We will look at the itineraries, the overall design, new dining and lounge concepts, entertainment, stateroo...

Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant or Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris is perhaps one of the most beautiful buildings Disney has ever created in its empire of themed attractions. This podcast takes you inside and out, down to the dragon and up to the spires, and then even beyond to the courtyard. Three shops compliment the castle experience, and a wonderful princess dining experience...

This week we met up with a light saber celebration to commemorate the opening of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge in Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. This greatest addition to the Studios park came with enormous anticipation. We'll dial back the clock to commemorate those moments and talk about the most galactic memories I've had experiencing this corner of the cosmos. We'll also go through...

We podcast directly from Epcot where we seek out some cozy and quiet corners around Epcot. As we move through the park we discuss happenings around property, from the new Moana attractions coming to the resort; from a new Figment meet 'n' greet; Construction on CommuniCore; Reedy Creek employees losing Disney park pass benefits and the lack of attendance in the parks. And we sample new offerings a...

Welcome Foolish Mortals! The Haunted Mansion is one of the most beloved attractions ever created for a Disney theme park. It has entertained millions since its original opening in 1969 at Disneyland and has been in one form or another in Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. What makes this attraction work is the creative compromise that Disney Imagineers sought to put into it over...