Disney Insights

D23 is truly right around the corner and so many have chimed in to share their hopes and expectations of what is coming. Get ready as I share my insights as to what I see is likely be announced, not just for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, but across the globe and even for the Disney Cruise Line.

I think this D23 will make us more hopeful and excited for things to come. We’ll look at the possibilities of what Imagineering will showcase in their Horizons exhibit, and how all of this will play out in th...

Almost every part of Disney California Adventure has experienced considerable change over the years. And that has happened to some degree in Grizzly Peak. But in truth, it's been very little compared to the rest of the park. And that's because this part really has held the heart of the park--and its mountainous symbol--since day one. Here we'll summarize the original Golden State and then look at Grizzly Peak Recreation Area as it is today. Of course there's attractions like Grizzly River Rapids and Redwood Creek Trail. But the highlight is Soarin'. We offer a tribute to all Soarin...

I'm way overdue for reviewing Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets--there's several reasons for that, but I'm excited to share my thoughts on this remake--not just for the coaster but for the muppets in the park. And that's not all that's going on at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Monsters Inc. is in big build mode--everything in scaffolding and iron girders going vertical. We'll talk about the approach to this land. And then I share my emotional impressions of the new Magic of Disney Animation courtyard, which now has an opening date of September 14th, 2026. All this and more, plus...

It's mid summer and the right time to take a look at what's happening at Disney Parks across the globe. More is happening than you might imagine, and we want to capture all the highlights. Our family was there for all the major Fourth of July holiday events at Walt Disney World and we'll share the Red White and Blues of all of it. We'll also look at the larger attendance trends not just at Walt Disney World but at Disneyland. Many beloved attractions have been getting attention recently, and we'll take a look at what's working and maybe...

We are here at Epcot to enter The Land Pavilion and check out the new Soarin' Across America to provide a play by play POV review of this new attraction. Note that since it has opened times can vary greatly, from 20 minutes to over 90. If you can't walk on it first thing in the morning, I recommend dinner time. If the queue is long, hover around the area doing other attractions until you see the time go down, and then scurry over. And scurry quickly because others are seeing the same. That means that while the new shake at...

The Hall of Presidents is something that goes back decades—nearly as early as Disneyland itself. We look at its original incarnations, from Liberty Street, to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, to ultimately the Hall of Presidents itself. There is much to learn and much to cherish from these attractions. We’ll look at its history, the details and insights that will truly help you to appreciate not only these shows created by Walt Disney, but better appreciate being an American. Join us as we visit Liberty Street, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and The Hall of Presidents.

B...

We imagine the excitement of heading to Florida to visit Walt Disney World, Universal, Sea World, beaches, sunshine and more. Our itineraries fill up quickly with things to do, and yet one of the most important ingredients in any vacation is where to stay. This is particularly true if you’re planning on a total holiday vacation stay, or if you are being joined with other friends and family, or if you’re looking for a truly unique experience in your accommodation. We visit with Danielle and Shane Peterson, who as Disney fans, have created some amazing vacation homes for...

So far in 2026 we’ve gone through a walk through of Disney California Adventure of when it opened, and of two projects that were considered previously in its place, WestCOT and Port Disney. Today we begin our exploration of today’s Disney California Adventure, beginning with the entrance to the park, Buena Vista Street. We look at the thinking and the design choices made by imagineers as they removed the original postcard style entry and built something more akin to what Walt Disney would have found when he first arrived in 1923. More than just a stroll down the boulevard look...

This last week Disney announced that the Carousel of Progress would be closing after July 5th to be completely refurbished. John and Sara and the family will all be part of this four act show, but it will be set in completely new eras. We showcase the news of what this show will look like, and provide insights about what it means. But we're also taking the time to step back in history to see how this show came to be legendary to millions of people around the world. Indeed its history goes back to 1958, nearly some 70 years ago...

Summer is here and several new attractions have premiered at Walt Disney World and at Disneyland. We focus on a new mission for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, one that is led by Din Dijarin, the Mandalorian, along with Grogu. We look at how this compares with the previous version of the attraction, and whether first time as well as repeat guests will enjoy this experience. And we preface all of that with the new film, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, which premiered on the same day that the new version of the attraction premiered in both parks. We...

We are using 2026 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Disney California Adventure. And while we did an overview of this park on that anniversary date, it is nearly summer and we've yet to go into the lands of the park. In the interim we took a big left turn to talk about Westcot, which was proposed long before the concept of Disney California Adventure was created. Now we take another left turn to talk about Port Disney and DisneySea, a project proposed at the same time for Long Beach. We will look at this project, why it was proposed...

I'm so excited to talk about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which makes its return after a lengthy remodel. It has been well executed and it's as fun as ever--though perhaps in a slightly less bumpy way--at least for the moment. We will cover not only the history of this mountain but of its sister mountains at Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. My business partner, Mark David Jones, joins me to discuss the original opening of Big Thunder here at Magic Kingdom, where he was part of the opening crew. He emphasizes how the attraction was the starting point...

For years I've been trying to talk my two good friends, John and Lori Scali into taking a Disney Cruise. They finally made that happen on the Disney Wish--and in Concierge no less! They are long-term Disney fans, and they offer us a very insightful review which we recorded at the Disney Vacation Club Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Village & Bungalows, which they offer some thoughts on as well. Around the same time my wife and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary, which happens to be on May 4th--the same day Disney's Hollywood Studios would be the welcoming mat...

So many things at Walt Disney World create magic for millions of guests. And yet there are those less than magical moments. I listened to a vlogcaster go on for an hour about everything wrong at Universal and Disney. Indeed, that individual not to be named seems really negative in most of his videos. But I have to admit there are a handful of things that could be improved upon, and I'm using those things to not only highlight, but to also remind us what is working right, or what could be done easily to make it right. We...

We are behind in celebrating Disney California Adventure through its 25th year, and yet one cannot really talk about this park, without considering what was to have been created originally in its place. WestCOT may be the most popular park concept that Disney never built. A west-coast version of Epcot, this park was in many ways more ambitious than its neighbor across the promenade, Disneyland itself. We will look at this amazing design, as well as the entire proposal for what was originally intended to become The Disneyland Resort. We'll look at the whole of it, what it included...

This last week Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin formally reopened at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The attraction has long been a perfect complement to Tomorrowland, where it has recruited guests to fight the Emperor Zurg for the better part of three decades. As an attraction it has found a home at some time in all six Magic Kingdom style parks across the globe, making it one of the most commonly found attractions in any park. Moreover, it was the first Pixar based ride to be created in the theme parks. I remember being one of the...

The Disney Destiny is Disney's newest ship here in the Western hemisphere. Recently I had an opportunity to meet up with the entire Zanolla Family. I often promote the David & Leah as being the best travel agent out there--so very much because they truly know Disney near, far, and globally. I use their services not only to book our own family's trips, but a number of groups that I have hosted in the programs and workshops I deliver. Today we get insights from not just them but their three children who offer not only insightful impressions, but candid remarks...

There's been much discussion over the years about Disney's Intellectual Properties being the driver of choosing new attractions being built in the parks. And with recent openings like World of Frozen at the new Disney Adventure World there has been a lot of speculation that Disney is focused more on single IP offerings rather than "lands" as has been in the past. We study attractions previously built and those soon to come to see if "worlds" with single intellectual properties are the way of the future over lands. And then we note something we call Relations, which consist of...

This Disney Insights podcast is one of the most unique podcasts I've hosted over the hundreds I've presented over the last few years. It is about a work I have been laboring on for the better part of a year and a half, but in truth, It's the story of a lifetime of learning and understanding Disney. Indeed, it spans some five decades and its result is truly what I believe is something unique that I am introducing into the marketplace today. If you want to know the stories, the histories, the heritage that has really made Disneyland what...

We have much to share as Bob Iger steps aside and Josh D'Amaro takes reign as the new CEO of Disney. We will share some important messages he has shared in the first 24 hours as he stepped into this role and hosted the annual shareholder's meeting for The Walt Disney Company. We then will look at a number of opening dates for attractions that are coming to Walt Disney World, as well as the name for Disney Cruise Line's newest ship. With that, we'll even cover some rumors out there. So join us as we talk about Josh on...

Today's podcast is a busy one, because Walt Disney World is a busy place. We begin with the most popular theme park in the world as we check out construction challenges big and bigger. Disney's Hollywood Studios is in major construction mode as well, with three big construction projects and even a few minor ones. We check all of them out. And then we head to this year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. It does not disappoint. It is stunningly beautiful, with much to do. We take a look at this not only on our podcast, but we look...

If Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth, then Fantasyland is in Marty Sklar's words, "The Happiest Kingdom of Them All". He goes on to say that "Here in the 'happiest kingdom of them all,' you can journey with Snow White through the dark forest to the diamond mine of the Seven Dwarfs; flee the clutches of Mr. Smee and Captain Hook with Peter Pan; and race with Mr. Toad on his wild auto ride through the streets of old London Town.

Dumbo, the elephant with aerodynamic ears, will take you on a flight high above...

All last week you probably heard rumors about Josh D'Amaro changing out plans for Villains Land. You may have also heard that he said that he thought Millennium Falcon Smuggler's Run was good not great. We talk about this and more as we look at these issues in greater context and offer you insights that may not make enough social media hits, but will likely be closer to what is really going on at Imagineering. Yes, there are changes. Yes, there is greater transparency. But what does it mean? We'll offer you insights, and how it relates to something...

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the flagship hotel of Walt Disney World, and one of the premiere resorts among Disney owned hotels. Nearing its 40th year of operation in 2028, and having been through a number of major remodeling changes, how does this signature property compare? I've invited former Disney resort leader, Vance Morris, to spend some time with me on site where we look at the many offerings of this unique hotel, so proximate to Magic Kingdom. We take the time to consider the performance and challenges of its Cast, its grand Victorian setting, the processes which support...

It's hard for even the most devout Disney Apologist to forgive what was the original Disney's California Adventure. With a troubled budget from the start, and perhaps the wrong theme for millions of people already living in California, this failed on so many levels when it came out the gate. It certainly didn't help that it was being built across arguably the greatest park ever built. And yet in the shadows of Disneyland, there is really something magical about Disney California Adventure and with time and investment, it has come around to being the 5th most popular theme park...

In overviewing 2026 I said that the naming of a new CEO would be the most important milestone of the year for Disney. In truth, it may be the biggest moment of the decade. Today, February 3rd 2026, The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors announced that, in a unanimous vote held on Monday, it elected Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro to become Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. We look first at the context of that announcement, and the specifics behind it, to include the promotion of Dana Walden, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment into a new role. We...

Several topics have been circling around recently, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to offer some thoughts about what is going on in several Disney park realms. Anything about Villains Land has people curious as to what is happening. This includes some work being done by The Haunted Mansion. We'll explore the rumors and conjecture on how this land will be laid out. Next we talk about Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. There have been announcements of not only new additions, timelines, and offerings being added not to Disney's Hollywood Studios version of this land, but at...

Extinction is coming fast for Dinoland, so many areas have closed and the remainder will come to an end quickly. We bid our final adieu by digging for lessons to be learned from this corner of Disney's Animal Kingdom park. They serve to help us understand what worked and didn't work not just in this land, but for people trying to perhaps not build a theme park, but build organizations and take them to the next level. We may not be going back to the Cretaceous period, but we are considering how this land became what it became. And...

The Wall Street Journal this week published an article entitled, "The 3,000-Person Team Working in Secret to Create Disney Magic". This article written by Ben Fritz makes a number of claims about the challenges Walt Disney Imagineering has in being able to do massive projects on time, under budget and on benefit. We will share these claims and weave these insights with a book I use in my leadership programming--How Big Things Get Done: The Surprising Factors That Determine the Fate of Every Project. It becomes a sense by which we can better understand why Imagineering experiences the challenges...

As we enter 2026 we continue our celebration of Disneyland's 70th anniversary with a look at Mickey's Toon Town. One of the newer places on the map, this little corner beyond Fantasyland is filled with whimsy and charm. We share with you how the concept came about, due in large part to three major influences of that time--Including Snoopy! We look at the original Toon Town and compare it to how it looks today, to include the addition of Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Train. It's the same attraction as the one at Disney's Hollywood Studios, but it isn't because of...

I have to admit that this year has flown by quickly. Full of highlights, but still Spring became summer, and summer went right into Thanksgiving, and the next thing you knew the year was closing. On many levels I have enjoyed the parks perhaps more days in the year than in previous years. Unless I'm out of town I'm there once a week at least, but lately, I've found myself easily there 2-3 days out of seven. And it's been wonderful. Just during the Christmas season we have had some really wonderful visits. We'll discuss new attractions that have...

Seasons Greetings! Happy Holidays! This has been a wonderful year in many ways, but it has also been a year of tremendous lost to myself and many who knew Judy Perry Daley. Judy was the first female manager in operations at Walt Disney World, and had a tremendous work experience, hosting presidents and princesses, rock stars and movie stars. She truly was one of the most remarkable leaders of Walt Disney World. Together my friend Joseph Gardner, and my long time friend and my business partner Mark David Jones meet with Danni Mikler, who was Judi's best friend at...

Bright Suns! Throughout this year we have celebrated Disneyland's 70th Anniversary by looking at the nine lands of the park. And as the celebration continues in Anaheim, we continue our celebration here on Disney Insights. Today we look at Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. This is perfect because this land especially references the last three film series in the larger trilogy. This week Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out ten years ago into the movie theaters. So much of that film and the two others that fall after it tie into the Black Spire Outpost of Star Wars Galaxy's...

Everyone knows that the minute Halloween is over the Disney Parks ready themselves for the Christmas holidays. Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom seem to up and ready overnight, and in the first week or so of November we were able to see the joy of these parks during this time of year. Epcot, on the other hand, waits patiently until its International Food & Wine Festival is over. Then it readies everything for the holidays right before Thanksgiving.

Last week I had the chance to spend not one day, not two days, but three...

Disney has announced that Disney Adventure World is opening in Paris on March 29th, 2026. This is one of Disney’s biggest remakes of a theme park, one that has had troubled origins and is now just emerging into its own. This park, opened in 2002 as Walt Disney Studios Paris, was hardly a shadow of its sister, Disneyland Paris, and it has gone through decades of struggle to get to this point. With some 2 billion euros invested, it now transforms into a much bigger footprint with some 90% of the original park completely reimagined. This transformation is huge with new lands, at...

Last week we took a look at the original Disney Magic Cruise ship and shared our four night experience from Port Canaveral to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Day 3 of that experience was visiting Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. There is so much to talk about here that I chose to use it as a separate podcast. We had a review from David Zanolla last year, but everything at that time was brand new and really just getting underway. This was an opportunity to see it about a year and a half later, and for me, I was surprised...

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to book a really good 5 day/4 night Disney Cruise Line deal that ultimately led to a remarkably great experience on The original Disney Magic. It's a trip where we left from Port Canaveral, visited Nassau and the new Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and then disembarked after a day at sea in San Juan Puerto Rico. Our experience gave us great insights to new experiences as well as provided us a chance to revisit the original Disney Cruise Line ship. While we are saving Lookout Cay for our next podcast...

No parcel of land at Disneyland has had more title changes than this little wedge of Disneyland. It's perhaps the smallest land in Disneyland, but it has a history that goes back to nearly the beginning. And it's a history few know much about. Most know it as Bayou Country today, and many know it as Critter Country, home to Splash Mountain. But before that it was Bear Country, and before that it went for some time not as Indian Country but as the Indian Village. We look at all four eras which include many well-known attractions, shops and...

As 2025 comes to hurling toward an end a new attraction arrives at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Zootopia Better Zoogether is now in the Tree of Life Theater and offers something new for this park which begs for more guests. And at a great time to do so, as this time of year is the best time of year to visit the park, which is free of heat, humidity and exhaustion. The new show replaces "It's Tough to Be a Bug" which premiered with the park, and was based on "It's a Bug's Life", the second film created by Pixar after...

Welcome! In this podcast, I read three quotes which share two things in common. First, they speak of low attendance in the park and how empty things are. Second, they were all written in 2024. I could share with you several statements like these that emphasize how empty the parks are. To many it sounds like statements heard these last couple of months around both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. But statements like these are actually from 2024. Were they true? Well, the TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) shared their annual Global Experience Index for 2024. We'll look at what it has to...