Imagination Skyway

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is concluding a year-long update at Walt Disney World. Inspired by Disney-Pixar's Toy Story, this Magic Kingdom attraction opened in 1998. Its 2026 recharge includes new ride vehicles, enhanced gaming elements, other updates. In this episode, I interview Walt Disney Imagineers Kimberly Alison and Justin DeTolla about their work on the updated ride experience, and I chat with Drew the Disney Dude about his early preview at Magic Kingdom.

Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway.

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event takes place this August 14, 15, and 16 in Anaheim, California, just down the road from Disneyland. Today, Disney D23 announced ticket options for this event, including 1-day and 3-day options for the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center locations. D23 Gold Members can purchase tickets next week. Disney also announced details for D23 Day at Disneyland, D23 Night at Angel's Stadium, and other the Disney Legends Ceremony. This year's inductees include Bob Iger, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anne Hathaway, Susan Egan, Jerry Bruckheimer, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kim Irvine, and more.

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World of Frozen at Disney Adventure World (Disneyland Paris) opened with an Olaf autonomous robotic character. Developed by Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development in partnership with Walt Disney Animations Studios, NVIDIA, and Google DeepMind, Olaf was developed in months using Newton, an AI open-source, extensible physics engine that advances robot learning and development. In this episode, I interview Moritz Baecher about his work on this new Disney Parks robotic character inspired by Frozen, and I chat with James Grosch from Guide2WDW about his preview of World of Frozen.

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Josh D'Amaro's is now the CEO of The Walt Disney Company. In this Disney news episode, we recap his first Disney shareholder meeting (held on March 18, 2026), discuss his vision for the future alongside Dana Walden and other Disney executives, analyze how Disney Parks and Walt Disney Studios might be impacted by his tenure, and recap Bob Iger's legacy as CEO between 2005 and 2026.

Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway.

Cool Kids Summer is returning to Walt Disney World this summer from May 26 through September 8, 2026. In addition, new and refurbished attractions are opening this summer, including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Soarin' Across America, Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon, Bluey and Bingo at Conservation Station, and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live. Plus, new summer offers for resort stays, dining plans, and tickets can now be booked for summer 2026.

Pandora—The World of Avatar opened at Disney's Animal Kingdom in 2017, offering Walt Disney World guests an immersive land based on James Cameron's Avatar franchise. Designed by a team of Walt Disney Imagineers led Disney Legend Joe Rohde, Pandora takes Imagineering to a new level of immersive storytelling, engineering, and special effects. From Avatar Flight of Passage to Na'vi River Journey, Satu'li Canteen, the Floating Mountains and beyond, the land is filled with rich details that most guests will miss.

In this episode, I chat with Tatjana Lazar from WDW Magazine to discuss our favorite Imagineering details an...

Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom are seeing extensive construction updates as Disney adds new lands and experiences to its Walt Disney World theme parks. Piston Peak, Villains Land, Monsters Inc. Land, and Tropical Americas are just a few of these updates. In this Imagination Skyway news episode, we'll recap just about everything that's currently closed, under refurbishment, or under construction at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Villains Land & Piston Peak Analysis: https://www.patreon.com/posts/villains-land-151902958

Disney's Hollywood Studios Analysis (Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, The Magic of Disney Animation, Monsters...

Disney Destiny is the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, operating in the same class as the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure cruise ships. Featuring a Disney, Pixar, and Marvel hero and villains theme, the Disney Destiny features spacious state rooms, world-class entertainment (Disney Hercules stage show), legendary dining, action-packed kids clubs, daring adult escapes, and fun for the whole family.

In this episode, I chat with my travel advisor and business partner Kelly Craig about her first Disney Destiny cruise ship experience. We discuss everything you need to know about this newest Disney Cruise...

Laurent "Lolo" Guinci is a globally recognised costume designer and creative director whose career has become deeply intertwined with the legacy of the Harry Potter franchise. His remarkable journey began in the early 2000s, when he collaborated with award-winning costume designer Jany Temime on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), launching a long-standing creative relationship with Warner Bros. and the Wizarding World. His work spans iconic movie sets, large-scale theme parks, retail experiences, and museum-style exhibits.

In this episode, Lolo and I chat about his career with a particular focus on his work with the Harry Pot...

Wonder Man is the newest Marvel Studios television series on Disney Plus. In this episode, I chat with Brian Gay, Co-Executive Producer of this series, about Wonder Man and about Brian's career. Brian worked alongside Kevin Feige and Marvel executives to develop Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Captain Marvel, Loki, Hawkeye, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Werewolf by Night.

As Wonder Man is described on Disney Plus, "Aspiring Hollywood actor Simon Williams is struggling to get his career off the ground. During...

Disneyland Handcrafted documentary is available to stream on Disney Plus and Disney YouTube. In this episode, we review the brand new Disneyland Handcrafted documentary by Leslie Iwerks and discuss the premiere we attended at the Walt Disney Studios Lot in Burbank.

"Disneyland Handcrafted reveals the extraordinary artistry and grit it took hundreds of craftspeople to bring Walt Disney’s impossible dream project of Disneyland to fruition – from groundbreaking to Opening Day on July 17, 1955." (Disney Plus).

Step inside Walt Disney's office at the Walt Disney Studios Lot in Burbank, California in today's special episode. Disney Parks invited me to tour the original Walt Disney Animation building and step inside Walt's office suite 3H, which he occupied from 1940 to 1966. The Walt Disney Archives carefully restored this space to look exactly as Walt left it with over ninety percent accuracy, including his original furniture, props, photos, and memorabilia.

In this episode, we'll discuss what it's like to tour Walt Disney's Office and the Walt Disney Studios Lot. 

D23 Members can take a similar t...

Disneyland Handcrafted documentary debuts January 22, 2026 on Disney Plus and Disney YouTube, and I had the extraordinary opportunity to interview filmmaker Leslie Iwerks at the Walt Disney Studios Lot in Burbank, California about her new film. "Disneyland Handcrafted reveals the extraordinary artistry and grit it took hundreds of craftspeople to bring Walt Disney’s impossible dream project of Disneyland to fruition – from groundbreaking to Opening Day on July 17, 1955." (Disney Plus).

"An Oscar and Emmy nominated filmmaker, Leslie Iwerks comes from a family steeped in Disney legacy. The granddaughter of Ub Iwerks (Walt Disney’s original animator and designer/co-cre...

Zootopia Better Zoogether opened at Disney's Animal Kingdom in November 2025. Featuring characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios' films Zootopia and Zootopia 2, the attraction invites guests to attend the Zoogether Day celebrations at a watch party happening at the Tree of Life. This show replaced the former "It's Tough to be a Bug" 4D show at the Tree of Life theater. It was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios, and it features original character voice actors Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman reprising their roles as Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.

In this episode, we...

Planning a surprise proposal at Walt Disney World? Wondering about the growing cost of a Disney vacation? Trying to plan the perfect first Disney trip for a one-year-old infant or a toddler? This podcast episode addresses listener questions about Disney travel, insights, and ideas.   To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel, voted the Top Travel Agency in Orlando in 2025 in Orlando Magazine’s annual “Best of ORL”. You can get rewarded for booking a Disney trip with KMV Travel in 2026 when you indicate that Imagination Skyway referred you.    Get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more at patreon.c...

Explore Cotino, A Storyliving by Disney Community—from its Imagineered design and Walt-inspired vision to model homes, the Artisan Club, the Parr House event space, and how to buy a home there. A complete guide to Disney’s first Storyliving neighborhood.

Take an in-depth look at Cotino, A Storyliving by Disney Community—a neighborhood blending Imagineering design, Disney storytelling, and mid-century modern living. Discover how Walt’s original vision for community and creativity inspired this desert retreat, and learn what makes it unlike any other community. In this episode, we explore the Imagineering behind Cotino’s design, the Artisa...

Dreaming of a European escape at Walt Disney World? In this episode of Imagination Skyway, we take you on an in-depth journey through Disney’s Riviera Resort, exploring everything it has to offer—from its Mediterranean-inspired art and architecture to world-class dining, Disney Skyliner access, pools, and Disney Vacation Club villa accommodations. Discover why this resort has become a fan favorite among Walt Disney World guests, what makes it stand out from other Disney Vacation Club properties, and insider tips to help you make the most of your stay. Whether you’re planning your first visit or returning for more R...

Do you love the music of Walt Disney World? The optimistic ambience of EPCOT's World Celebration, whimsical sounds of Magic Kingdom, organic vibes at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and cinematic orchestrations of Disney's Hollywood Studios each set the tone for the theme parks, as do the music loops found at the hotels (each one carefully curated to match the theme of the resort). In this episode, we dive into our favorite background music loops at the theme parks, resorts, and beyond.

Be sure to check out ResortTV1 (thanks to Josh for joining me on this episode).

How do you capture the feeling of blasting through the cosmos on Space Mountain? In the 1990s, Imagineers Eddie Sotto and Aarin Richard were tasked with adding a synchronized on-board audio track to Space Mountain in Disneyland California and creating a synchronized on-board audio track for the brand new Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris. In this episode of Imagination Skyway, we journey into the creation of Space Mountain’s groundbreaking soundtracks for Disneyland (featuring Dick Dale) and Disneyland Paris. Join Disney Imagineers Eddie Sotto and Aarin Richard as they reveal how these iconic scores came to life—from creative expe...

In this post-Disney Magical Express world, there are many ways to get between Orlando International Airport and your Walt Disney World Resort hotel. My transportation of choice is JLS Exclusive Transportation, a small business I've been using and promoting for the last few years. Whether you're looking for an airport transfer (to anywhere in Florida) or a special night out, JLS can accommodate all your transportation needs and will coordinate everything you need before, during, and after your trip.   In this episode, I chat with Sohail from JLS about his entrepreneurial journey and about what clients can expect using his s...

Walt Disney World is unveiling new Audio-Animatronics updates across multiple attractions. Guests can meet a brand-new Benjamin Clawhauser figure in Zootopia: Better Zoogether! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, enjoy upgraded Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff figures in Frozen Ever After at EPCOT, and zoom into Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets with the first-ever Muppets Audio-Animatronics, including Scooter and more surprises.

Enjoy more Imagination Skyway News episodes like this one: https://www.patreon.com/collection/373926

The Beak & Barrel Pirates of the Caribbean tavern is the latest lounge to open at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. This immersive dining location (for all ages) brings guests into the world of Pirates of the Caribbean (the ride and the film franchise). Complete with a rowdy pirate crew, an affable parrot first mate (Rummy), story-driven details, and savory food and drink, The Beak & Barrel is an experience that will leave the whole family wanting to set sail like a true pirate of the Caribbean.   In this episode, I chat with CJ from WDW Magazine about our experience at a...

The Cake Bake Shop and GEO-82 are two new dining experiences in the EPCOT Resort Area, both opening in 2025. The Cake Bake Shop is a family-owned small business run by Gwendolyn Rogers at Disney's BoardWalk, featuring breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner at the main restaurant and baked goods at the adjacent bakery. GEO-82 is the newest adult-exclusive lounge at EPCOT (all guests must be 21 or older to enter this venue) located in the Spaceship Earth pavilion, serving cocktails and small plates immersing guests in the flavors, views, and legacy that shape modern-day EPCOT.   In this episode, I share my honest r...

Disney Destiny, the newest member of the Disney Cruise Line fleet as part of the Disney Wish class of ships (along with the Disney Treasure), sets sail on November 20, 2025. With a heroes and villains theme, the Disney Destiny will feature Disney, Pixar and Marvel characters who will spring to life as guests enjoy legendary dining, iconic entertainment, daring adult escapes, family friendly attractions, and of course spacious staterooms and suites.   In this episode, I chat with Steph and Danny from WDW Magazine about their experiences visiting the Disney Destiny under construction at the Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg Germany and e...

Destination D23 2025 took place at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World. This year's theme marked "A Journey Around the Worlds of Disney" and featured several panels, including a Walt Disney Studios Showcase, a Disney Villains presentation, a chat with Roy P. Disney (grandson of Roy O. Disney), Three Caballeros panels, an exploration of the life and career of X Atencio, a Disney 80s/90s Concert, a panel of Disney Channel celebrities (past and present), Disney Archives footage, Disney on Broadway fun, and so much more.   In this episode, I'm joined by Jack Kendall from DSNY Newscast to recap D...

The Swan and Dolphin are Marriott Bonvoy properties that have been at Walt Disney World since 1990 (their sister Marriott property, Swan Reserve, opened in 2021), and they hosted my family for a two-night stay at the Swan on a recent trip to Central Florida. As a good neighbor hotel officially with Disney Deluxe Resort benefits, the Swan is located in the EPCOT Crescent Lake resort area with easy walking distance (or Friendship boat) access to EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's BoardWalk, and Disney's Yacht & Beach Club resorts, plus bus service to Magic Kingdom (via Transportation and Ticket Center), Disney's Animal Kingdom...

Disneyland Hotel was the first hotel or resort to feature the Disney name. Opened by Jack Wrather in partnership with Walt Disney, the Disneyland Hotel was not officially owned by The Walt Disney Company until Michael Eisner's Disney tenure, but it has been delighting Disneyland guests with Disney-themed spaces since October 1955. Today, the Disneyland Hotel includes four towers (Adventure Tower, Discovery Tower, Fantasy Tower, and Frontier Tower), six dining spaces (Goofy's Kitchen, Tangaroa Terrace, Trader Sam's and more), a monorail-themed E-Ticket pool, Disney shopping, and walking-distance proximity to Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney.   In this episode, we d...

Disney Adults have an affinity for Disney Parks, Disney Animation, Disney Consumer Products, and other Disney Experiences. They make frequent visits to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, or any other Disney Destination. They prioritize Disney movies and watch Disney shows. They decorate their home with Disney designs, and they yearn for more Disney experiences.   In this episode, I chat with AJ Wolfe of Disney Food Blog about this very topic, exploring what it means to be a Disney Adult and discussing AJ's new book: Disney Adults: Exploring (And Falling In Love With) A Magical Subculture, available on August 5.   Ge...

Walt Disney Imagineering invited me on a very special and exclusive tour of their headquarters at 1401 Flower Street in Glendale, California. This tour gave me the chance to chat with Imagineers, visit multiple Imagineering departments (model shop, sculpting, sound, animation, and R&D), attend demonstrations and presentations, and experiment with some innovative Imagineering technology. I got to power on a realistic Star Wars lightsaber, play with the lovable BDX droids from Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (Disneyland and Walt Disney World), and touch and feel silicone samples from Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure (Shanghai Disneyland), just to...

Walt Disney—A Magical Life opened at Disneyland on July 17, 2025 (the 70th anniversary of Disneyland) in the Main Street Opera House (to be rotated with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln). With Walt Disney One Man's Dream as the opening sequence, this new attraction features the first-ever Audio-Animatronic figure to depict Walt Disney. On July 15, I had the honor of attending a special media preview of this brand new show with the opportunity to view the show twice plus hear from the Imagineers (Tom Fitzgerald and Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz) and Walt Disney Family Museum representatives (Kristen Komoroske) who worked on this new ex...

Walt Disney Imagineering invited me on a very special and exclusive tour of their headquarters at 1401 Flower Street in Glendale, California. This tour gave me the chance to chat with Imagineers, visit multiple Imagineering departments (model shop, sculpting, sound, animation, and R&D), attend demonstrations and presentations, and experiment with some innovative Imagineering technology. I got to power on a realistic Star Wars lightsaber, play with the lovable BDX droids from Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (Disneyland and Walt Disney World), and touch and feel silicone samples from Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure (Shanghai Disneyland), just to...

Disneyland Park is celebrating its 70th (platinum) anniversary this year. Over the next year, guests who visit the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California will get to enjoy a new "Celebrate Happy" anniversary song recorded by the Jonas Brothers, special entertainment, anniversary decor and merchandise, festive food and drink, attraction updates, and unique experiences. World of Color Happiness, Paint the Night, Wondrous Journeys, updates to "it's a small world" and Toy Story Midway Mania, and a brand new show featuring the first ever Walt Disney audio-animatronic figure are just a few of the experiences guests can enjoy at Disneyland Park, Disney...

Walt Disney Imagineers create lands and attractions that often represent real places. From the bustling streets of Harambe to the colorful gardens of the France Pavilion, Walt Disney World offers guests the chance to experience and learn about other parts of the globe. While our discussion isn’t collectively exhaustive, we discuss some of our favorite examples of the ways in which the Imagineers transport us to global destinations without leaving Central Florida.   Create your own Disney travel memories with our sponsor KMV Travel.   Get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more at patreon.com/imaginationskyway.   Subscribe to WDW Magazine and recei...

Walt Disney Imagineers create lands and attractions that often represent real places. From the bustling streets of Harambe to the colorful gardens of the France Pavilion, Walt Disney World offers guests the chance to experience and learn about other parts of the globe. While our discussion isn’t collectively exhaustive, we discuss some of our favorite examples of the ways in which the Imagineers transport us to global destinations without leaving Central Florida.   Create your own Disney travel memories with our sponsor KMV Travel.   Get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more at patreon.com/imaginationskyway.   Subscribe to WDW Magazine and recei...

Magic Kingdom includes some of the most iconic Disney songs of all time. From "it's a small world" to Grim Grinning Ghosts, Yo, Ho! (A Pirate's Life for Me), The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room and beyond, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World includes music that spans generation of Disney fans. Meanwhile, newer musical scores and area music loops, including the soundtracks to TRON Lightcycle Run and Country Bear Musical Jamboree, keep the park updated for modern Disney fans and park visitors.   In this two-part episode, we discuss the background music, soundtracks, and scores across the six themed lands of Magic K...

Magic Kingdom includes some of the most iconic Disney songs of all time. From "it's a small world" to Grim Grinning Ghosts, Yo, Ho! (A Pirate's Life for Me), The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room and beyond, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World includes music that spans generation of Disney fans. Meanwhile, newer musical scores and area music loops, including the soundtracks to TRON Lightcycle Run and Country Bear Musical Jamboree, keep the park updated for modern Disney fans and park visitors.   In this two-part episode, we discuss the background music, soundtracks, and scores across the six themed lands of Magic K...

Disney Imagineer Tom Mulally supported the media and video production team as a Principal Media Designer between 1991 and 2016. Installing media at Tower of Terror, Spaceship Earth, Star Tours, Conservation Station, Rafiki's Planet Watch, Enchanted Books of Mystery, and various projects at Disneyland, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Shanghai Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Walt Disney World, Tom helped bring these projects to life. In this episode, we chat about Tom's career at Walt Disney Imagineering and his advice for aspiring Imagineers.   Create your own Disney travel memories with our sponsor KMV Travel.   Get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more at patreon.com/imaginationskyway.   Tag...

Disney's BoardWalk (Inn and Villas) opened in the EPCOT Resort area in 1996 and remains one of the most highly-coveted deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World. With its convenient access via Friendship boat, walkway, and Disney Skyliner to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios (buses are offered to Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs), Disney's BoardWalk is perfect for EPCOT festivals and beyond. From standard resort rooms to garden room suites and grand villas, the resort offers accommodations for families of all sizes, and its promenade provides a wide range of dining and shopping options, plus daily entertainment and recreation.   I...

The Disney Wish set sail with Disney Cruise Line in 2022 and became the largest ship in the fleet (the same size as its 2024 sister ship the Disney Treasure and soon the 2025 Disney Destiny). With spaces dedicated to the fantastic worlds of Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar, this ship offers Disney's signature service experience, luxurious amenities, spacious staterooms, and delectable dining. Whether you're dining in the enchanting Kingdom of Arendelle, sipping on a beverage in the Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge, retreating to the Senses Spa, having your young kids enjoy the action-packed Kids Club, viewing Disney's Aladdin - A Musical...

Island Tower opened at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows on December 17, 2024. As a modern addition to Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and the newest Disney Vacation Club property at Walt Disney World, Island Tower brings the adventurous spirit of Polynesia to life with some of the best views available of Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom.   In this episode, we discuss everything you need to know about staying at this Disney Vacation Club resort, reveal Imagineering details that make this property worth visiting, share reasons why you might want to stay here, and offer suggestions about how to make the most o...