Imagination Skyway

Bob Rogers is a former Walt Disney Imagineer and the Founder of BRC Imagination Arts,  www. BRCweb.com . He is a master storyteller, film maker, inventor and writer. In this episode, I chat with Bob about his career and about his new book, Deep Story . BRC’s work has earned over 500 international awards for creative excellence, for some of the most respected and acclaimed brand destinations in the...

The Disney Believe sets sail on its inaugural sailing in December 2027. Yesterday (October 7, 2026), Disney hosted an announcement show aboard the Disney Wish, sharing new updates about the Disney Believe, including the names of select shows and dining locations, design concepts for the ship's staterooms, and select entertainment. In this episode, we discuss what was just announced about the Disne...

Next summer, Disney's Lakeshore Lodge opens at Walt Disney World along Bay Lake, nestled between Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. This week, Disney Signature Experiences invited me and a guest to preview elements of this hotel at a New York City event. We saw new resort concept art, enjoyed a couple of Disney meet-and-greet photo opportunities, and sampled recreational elements of th...

This summer, Disneyland Park unveiled a new animatronic at Pirates of the Caribbean. This figure uses patented technology—made possible with Epic Games Unreal Engine—that projection maps onto an audio-animatronic using real-time feedback. While this addition has been met with some initial controversy online among Disney fans, I had the opportunity to see this in person this summer. In this episode...

Magic of Disney Animation is a new attraction that opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios this month. Reminiscent of both the classic Animation experience at Disney-MGM Studios and the current Walt Disney Studios Lot in Burbank California, this new Walt Disney World experience is inspired by the Once Upon A Studio animated short and the feature films from Walt Disney Animation Studios. In this episo...

Adventures by Disney offers hassle-free, guided tours of various destinations around the globe, led by knowledgeable Disney tour guides. Adventures by Disney Paris Escape is a two-night tour of Paris, France that takes guests to major landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. In this episode, we discuss this particular tour, how it's different than a traditional Adventures by Disney, a...

Swan Reserve is part of the Swan and Dolphin collection of hotels at Walt Disney World. In this episode, I review my hosted stay, sponsored by the Swan Reserve. Located steps from EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the Disney Resorts around Crescent Lake (plus the Disney Skyliner), Swan Reserve is a Marriott Autograph Collection property that shares amenities with Swan and Dolphin and offers t...

Disney's Beach Club Resort is one of the most popular Walt Disney World hotels, just steps away from EPCOT and a stroll or Friendship boat ride away from Disney's Hollywood Studios. Beach Club is also closely situated by the Disney Skyliner and has direct bus service to Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs. Alongside Disney's Yacht Club Resort, these sister properties share t...

Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life at Disney Springs represents the first collaboration between Disney and Cirque du Soleil. The show celebrates the 100-year history of Walt Disney Animation Studios, including references to Walt Disney's Nine Old Men, Disney animators, and Disney stories, characters, and musical scores. Blending acrobatics, choreography, and special effects, this show is one you will...

D23 The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 included a Disney Parks and Experiences presentation called Horizons, a showcase led by Walt Disney Imagineering and hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. In this episode, we'll recap the August 15 showcase, including updates coming to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Tokyo Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland...

Bret Iwan might be best known for his iconic voice work, but his creative endeavors extend beyond the studio. As a painter, a designer, and a restoration artist, Bret is currently pursuing several personal projects, including a ranch he's building up north (Terbeau Ranch), an historic railroad he's restoring, ongoing antique restoration, and other creative endeavors. In this episode, we discuss th...

Disney's Lakeshore Lodge opens summer 2027, and today's Disney Parks Blog article confirmed new dining and fireworks spaces coming to the resort, including a new table-service restaurant, a quick-service restaurant, a pool bar, and a terrace. Disney's Lakeshore Lodge will be inspired by Pocahontas (from Walt Disney Animation Studios) and the natural landscape surrounding Bay Lake at the Walt Disne...

For many Disney fans, choosing a trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland often comes down to proximity—travelers on the east coast default to Walt Disney World, and west-coasters often select Disneyland—but there are numerous advantages to vacationing at the resort farther from your home. Removing the distance factor from our travel plans, we compare what it's like to vacation at Walt Disney World...

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is the flagship hotel of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Opening in 2001, Grand Californian is the closest hotel to a Disney theme park, just steps away from Disney California Adventure Park and Downtown Disney District, or a brief walk to Disneyland Park. Inspired by the craftsmanship of California architecture and the natural beauty of the g...

D23 The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 is happening in Anaheim, California—just next door to the Disneyland Resort—on August 14, 15, and 16. The schedule for this D23 Expo was just announced. In this episode, I'll highlight the panels and events you won't want to miss, and I'll share my predictions for the Disney Experiences Showcase, which will include announcements for the Disney Parks from Walt...

In this listener question-and-answer episode, we discuss our thoughts about the latest changes to Walt Disney World bus transportation and removal of the Grand Floridian ginger bread house, new resort hotels, annual pass breakeven points, how Disney transitions guests between lands, what we would want to take Roy Disney to see, and more listener questions. Thanks to Carly Caramanna for joining me...

The United States of America turns 250 this July 4, 2026. In many ways, Disney embodies, reflects, and propels American culture, and Walt Disney himself was a patriotic American who volunteered in World War II, admired Abraham Lincoln, and created stories based on American lore. Today, many Disney Parks experiences celebrate various aspects of American history, geography, and psychology. For this...

Disney's BoardWalk is getting new experiences starting this summer 2026 (plus a quick-service location to be announced later this summer). Disney Lakeshore Lodge (opening 2027) has a confirmed recreation area called The Wetlands with views of Magic Kingdom fireworks. Disney Transportation bus and ferry boat departures from Disney Springs will be limited to those with specific reservations beginnin...

The United States of America turns 250 this July 4, 2026. In many ways, Disney embodies, reflects, and propels American culture, and Walt Disney himself was a patriotic American who volunteered in World War II, admired Abraham Lincoln, and created stories based on American lore. Today, many Disney Parks experiences celebrate various aspects of American history, geography, and psychology. For this...

Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside opened as Dixie Landings at Walt Disney World in 1992 in the Disney Springs resort area, joining its sister property Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter. Celebrating the spirit of rural Louisiana, the resort includes Southern-style mansions (Magnolia Terrace) and cottages (Alligator Bayou) along the Sassagoula River, plus iconic entertainment (Yeh...

Summer months at Walt Disney World can feel very hot and humid with daily thunderstorms and rain, but Disney has thoughtfully designed guest experiences to maximize your comfort and safety. In this episode, we discuss our best tips and tricks for traveling to Walt Disney World in the summer, including ways to stay cool at the parks and where to stay to maximize your fun. Special thanks to Serena f...

Monstropolis: The City Frightful now has an official backstory from Walt Disney Imagineering. In this Walt Disney World news episode, we discuss the latest information from Disney about the Monsters Inc. land, the new area inspired by the animated Disney-Pixar film coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Details include the story behind the land and the attractions coming to the park, such as the su...

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets and Millennium Falcon Smuggler's Run (featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu) opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World on May 26, 2026. These new experiences include a heightened degree of Imagineering details, especially Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, which now combines the legacy Disney attraction with Muppet Vision 3D and Dr. Teeth and the El...

Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress is getting a major update in 2027, including a new Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney and updated show scenes, plus much more. In this episode, we discuss everything Disney just announced about this classic Magic Kingdom attraction upgrade. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway . To plan a...

Cool Kids Summer is back at Walt Disney World in 2026, and it's better than ever. On May 26, all four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom) opened new attractions to kick off the summer season. These include Jessie's Roundup, Goofycore, Soarin' Across America, Bluey's Wild World, Magic of Disney Animation (including Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Club...