Imagination Skyway

Splash Mountain, which first opened at Disneyland Park in 1989, then at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland in 1992, has been an iconic part of the Magic Kingdom mountain range for decades. Conceived by Disney Legend Tony Baxter, Splash Mountain takes guests into the colorful animated world of Song of the South, featuring characters like Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, and Brer Fox, and including songs...

Pandora – The World of Avatar raised the bar for immersive themed lands when it opened at Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in 2017. Between Avatar Flight of Passage, Na'vi River Journey, Satu'li Canteen, Pongu Pongu, and of course the land itself, travelers visiting the Valley of Mo'ara (courtesy of Alpha Centauri Expeditions, per the story) are transported to an alien world that feels...

Pandora – The World of Avatar raised the bar for immersive themed lands when it opened at Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in 2017. Between Avatar Flight of Passage, Na'vi River Journey, Satu'li Canteen, Pongu Pongu, and of course the land itself, travelers visiting the Valley of Mo'ara (courtesy of Alpha Centauri Expeditions, per the story) are transported to an alien world that feels...

Mary Blair is an iconic Walt Disney Imagineer and Disney Animator, a prolific artist, and a celebrated fashionista. Starting at Disney in 1940, Mary worked on iconic films like Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland. She also created the unique look of "it's a small world" for the 1964 World's Fair in New York (later moved to Disneyland) and designed the Grand Canyon Concourse mural at Dis...

Lou Mongello has set the gold standard for Disney podcasts. He is not only a podcast host but also an author, entrepreneur, speaker, and lifelong Disney fan. His wildly popular show, WDW Radio , is not only well-known in the Disney community but has also been named the Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years. Lou’s audio tours, Walt Disney World Trivia Book, 102 Ways to Save Money for and at W...

"As a former Walt Disney Imagineer, Brian helped create the magic for some of the world’s most beloved  attractions. At other times in his career, he has produced work for a who’s-who list of corporations, as well as small entrepreneurial ventures. A passionate educator, Brian has served on the faculty of several schools. His deep understanding of new and emerging technologies and, most importantl...

In this round table episode, we'll answer some clever and challenging questions that merge the Star Wars and Marvel universes. For example, we'll kick things off by asking if a lightsaber could cut through Captain America's shield. With about a dozen questions to answer, we'll put our Star Wars and Marvel knowledge to the test, and I have the perfect group of friends to help me answer them all. Ho...

Disney vacations in my family are a tradition, a legacy that began long before I was born. Since the time my parents were young children, they have been visiting Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and even the 1964 World's Fair. After I was born, my family continued the tradition of visiting the Disney Parks and Resorts, which inevitably led to my love for all things Disney, my decision to become a Di...

If you've been to any Disney Park or Resort, you know that Disney Cast Members are the ones who truly make the magic. From designing and building the places we know and love to operating and maintaining those Disney places on a daily basis, both on stage interacting with Guests and behind the scenes, Cast Members are the fuel that keeps the Disney magic alive. This year more than ever, I felt that...

Rolly Crump is a retired Walt Disney Imagineer, Disney Animator, and Disney Legend who began at The Walt Disney Studios in 1952. After working on classic films like Peter Pan, 101 Dalmatians, and Sleeping Beauty, Rolly was recruited by Walt Disney to join WED Enterprises (now called Walt Disney Imagineering). From 1959 until the early 1970's, Rolly worked on projects for the 1964 World's Fair (mos...

The most terrifying attraction to ever be constructed at the Disney Parks, and perhaps the most controversial, was the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. Replacing Mission to Mars at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Alien Encounter had a soft opening in December 1994 and officially opened in June 1995. For the next 8 years, Alien Encounter grew a cult following with many Disney fans, espec...

In 1964, Progressland debuted at the New York World's Fair. The original concept dated back to the 1950's, and new technologies allowed Walt and his Imagineers to finally bring the idea to life. Sponsored by General Electrical, Progressland (which later became known as the Carousel of Progress) was an instant hit and saw waits of around an hour at the fair despite an hourly ride capacity of 3,000...

Blaine Gibson was a Disney Legend who worked both at the Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering (then known as WED Enterprises). As an animator, Blaine worked on classic projects that included Bambi, Fantasia, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Recognizing Blaine's remarkable talent for sculpting, Walt then asked Blaine to join WED Enterp...

George Wilkins is a retired Walt Disney Imagineer who composed a large number of classic songs and area music loops for the Disney Parks and Resorts, especially Epcot. Working alongside iconic Imagineers and composers like Marty Sklar, Kevin Rafferty and the Sherman Brothers, George helped to bring the music to life for Horizons, Journey Into Imagination, Sonny Eclipse (at Cosmic Ray's Starlight C...

From the very beginning, Walt Disney always aimed to raise the bar in movies, shows, and family entertainment. With the Disney Parks, that meant creating a tradition of innovation at WED Enterprises and Walt Disney Imagineering (to "plus" an attraction, as Walt would say). Today, the Disney Parks around the world are full of incredible illusions and special effects that blur the lines of fantasy a...

From the very beginning, Walt Disney always aimed to raise the bar in movies, shows, and family entertainment. With the Disney Parks, that meant creating a tradition of innovation at WED Enterprises and Walt Disney Imagineering (to "plus" an attraction, as Walt would say). Today, the Disney Parks around the world are full of incredible illusions and special effects that blur the lines of fantasy a...

Disney Vacation Club has been creating "vacations you never outgrow" since 1991. Breaking all the rules of traditional timeshare, Disney created a vacation ownership program with an unprecedented amount of flexibility coupled with their world-class Cast Member service. Originally, Disney Vacation Club just had one resort: Disney's Old Key West Resort (then called "Disney Vacation Club Resort"). To...

Floyd Norman is an icon in the world of animation. Beginning with the Walt Disney Studios in 1956, Floyd worked as an animator on films like Sleeping Beauty (1959), The Sword in the Stone (1963), and The Jungle Book (1967). After Walt's death in 1966, Floyd left Disney to co-found his own animation company, and he continued to work on projects for Disney and Pixar throughout his career, including ...

Dan Cockerell is a former executive at The Walt Disney Company who served a number of leadership roles at Walt Disney World, including the Vice President of the Magic Kingdom, Vice President of Epcot, Vice President of Disney's Hollywood Studios, General Manager of Disney's All Star Resort, General Manager of Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Campground, and more. Starting in the Walt...

Russell Brower is a three-time Emmy Award winner, Composer, Musical Director and Conductor. For over a decade, Brower was the Senior Director of Audio and Lead Composer at Blizzard Entertainment, developer and publisher of the World of Warcraft, Diablo III, StarCraft II, Overwatch and Hearthstone franchises. Previously, Brower served as a Principal Media Designer and Music Director at Walt Disney...

[Part 3 of 3]: This two-hour tour of Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World (Orlando, Florida) includes in-depth analysis and history of this historic land at Disney. In this entertaining and informative tour, we discuss the history of Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom, the design of Main Street USA, hidden details you might not have noticed in the parks, and the stories o...

When you visit Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or any other Disney destination, it's important to remember to make healthy choices to maximize not only your health but also your happiness at the most magical place on earth. This extends not only to the food that you eat but so much more. In fact, food only makes up a small part of this conversation. In this episode, I'll chat with The Kingdom Insid...

[Part 2 of 3]: This two-hour tour of Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World (Orlando, Florida) includes in-depth analysis and history of this historic land at Disney. In this entertaining and informative tour, we discuss the history of Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom, the design of Main Street USA, hidden details you might not have noticed in the parks, and the stories o...

One of the most premium experiences available at the Disney Parks and Resorts is taking a VIP Tour with a Guest Relations Cast Member. VIP Tours at Walt Disney World and Disneyland come with an array of benefits, including having your day planned out by an expert Cast Member; having someone physically walk you around the parks, discuss the history and stories of your favorite attractions, and expe...

Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout opened at Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort in May 2017. While many thought the new attraction would be a simple retheming of Tower of Terror, which had lived at the park since 2004, Joe Rohde and his team of Walt Disney Imagineers thought about the new experience on a much deeper level, creating a ride that most Anaheim locals and...