Unlocking The Magic: Talking all things Disney Parks, Universal and Cruising

This week we're talking Disney and Universal news, including the Carousel of Progress refurbishment, Walt Disney's airplane, Disneyland's 1 billionth guest, Halloween announcements, Epic Universe after-hours events, and more.

Answering more of your questions.

Merch: www.unlockingthemagic.com/merch

The travel industry continues to evolve, and several major announcements could impact vacation planning for theme park enthusiasts. From new Universal destinations to Disney attraction updates, there is plenty happening across the travel world.

We’ve done a central florida version of this but we know many of you also travel or hope to travel to the west coast! So this episode is all about 10 things to do in Southern California…wait for it…. Besides Disneyland!

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Today is another honest and we hope fun for you episode: we are playing our Finish the sentence “Never Would I Ever…” Covering: Disney Parks, Universal Parks, Movies and General travel habits. There's not too much overthinking- And Hot takes are always welcome

After our latest trip to California, we came home with a list of things we learned about Disneyland… some good, some surprising, and a couple where we’re still not totally convinced.

Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/unlockingthemagic In this episode we are sharing our GEO82 experience, the history of the location, the drinks, food and of course, some classic UTM awkward moments.. We did god's work and ordered a bunch of stuff off the menu so we could report back to. It’s tough but someone’s gotta do it.

Join Patreon: In this fun and fast-paced episode of Unlocking The Magic, we dive into hilarious and thought-provoking Disney “Would You Rather” questions mixed with spicy hot takes from listeners. From choosing between unlimited Lightning Lanes or giving up Tonga Toast forever , to debating whether park hopping is overrated , this episode is packed with laughs, strong opinions, and real Disney str...

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What does it really take to build a creative career inside Disney? In this episode of Unlocking the Magic, we sit down with Charlie Price — writer of Me & Mickey , author of Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks , and contributor to multiple Disney Publishing projects — to talk about persistence, pitching ideas, working behind the scenes at the parks, and what it’s actually like navigating Disney’...

Have you ever had a meal at Disney that completely surprised you? Not just “that was good for theme park food” but wow, I didn’t expect that good. Today, we’re unlocking one of Walt Disney World’s most unique dining experiences  a place where you can try flavors from across Africa and maybe even spot a giraffe after dinner. We’re talking about Boma – Flavors of Africa  and whether this buffet at D...

In this last-minute but wildly honest episode of Unlocking the Magic , Connie and Bruce jump into a full-on Crush It or Flush It marathon. From Disney CEO news and nostalgic attractions to cruise lengths, fireworks, Universal food, and iconic Disney restaurants, nothing is safe.

Welcome back to the podcast! Hope you are all staying warm. We are going to take you along with us on this episode to the warm island of the Bahamas as we discuss our recent experience sailing the high seas with mama magic and family. Close your eyes and pretend it’s a balmy 80 degrees, light winds and a buffet so long you have to go back for at least seconds and thirds. That’s what cruising is li...

In this episode of Unlocking the Magic , Bruce and Connie are back after a short break with a hilarious, unscripted game of “Finish the Sentence” —covering everything from Disney attractions they’ll defend forever to Universal rides that scare them way more than they should. Whether you're planning your next theme park trip or just love listening to theme park banter, this episode is packed wi...

Happy New Year from Unlocking the Magic! In this episode, Bruce and Connie are BACK with a special “In or Out?” for all the big 2026 Disney and Universal movie releases and theme park updates. From Muppets on a roller coaster to Sadie Sink joining Spider-Man, they share their honest, hilarious takes—and yes, they go deep on Tonga Toast rules, Detroit-style pizza, and the ONLY way to do Star Wars r...

Join Bruce and Connie in this hilariously emotional episode of Unlocking the Magic as they dive deep into the infamous “UTM Curse” – where everything they hype mysteriously disappears from Disney and Universal parks! This isn’t your usual trip planning episode. It's therapy, memories, rants, laughs, and even a couple tears.

Crush it or flush it– everything we ate at Jollywood, mini review on the night and more.

Hey everyone, welcome back to Unlocking the Magic — thanks for tuning in! Today, we’re diving into the Universal Orlando Resort hotels — the pros, the cons, and which one might be the best fit for your next vacation. And fun fact to kick us off: Most people don’t realize Universal hotels are actually owned and operated by Loews Hotels — not Universal.

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We’re unlocking a little Halloween magic with a fun round of Would You Rather but halloween style in honor of –the best season–spooky season. We’re talking Movies, Disney, Universal, and everything in between. But don't worry,  we– well I promise not to frighten you prematurely…not sure about Bruce…??

Get your snack ready for this episode .. we’re diving fork-first into Universal’s brand-new Epic Universe to find out which dishes are worth the hype… and which ones belong in the trash compactor! From Crêpes oozing with sweet, magical goodness in the Wizarding World, to the Mac & Cheese Cone at Isle of Berk that’s equal parts comfort food and chaos, we’re tasted it all — and telling you what’...

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/unlockingthemagic In today’s episode  we are  going back to October 1, 1971 — the day the dream came true in Florida.”  We are also going to have some fun with opening day trivia and sharing your first visit memories.

Patreon: http://patreon.com/unlockingthemagic We just stepped off the Halloween on the High Seas cruise and also had another Royal Caribbean experience back to back , so in this episode we’re spilling it all about sailing.  Stay tuned towards the end of the show bc : We’ll also be answering some of your cruise questions at the end!