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

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Is Salem, Massachusetts actually worth visiting?We spent the day exploring Witch City to find out what’s actually worth seeing, eating and doing in Salem.We visit some of Salem’s historic landmarks, including the House of the Seven Gables, check out shops and witchy attractions, try candy from America’s oldest candy company, grab coffee, pizza and cookies, and even stop by the historic Hawthorne Hotel.But Salem is an interesting mix. There’s the very real and sometimes dark history of the Salem Witch Trials, mixed with the spooky Halloween side of the city, tourist attractions, shops an...

We’re ranking everything from Disney and Universal resorts to cruise lines, restaurants, theme park food and travel destinations.

Courtney gets three choices in each category and has to rank them first, second and third. Some are easy. Others lead to plenty of debate.

How would you rank them? Play along and let us know where we got it completely wrong.

Today, we are doing a special episode. We are Unlocking Dollywood! We will discuss our experience at the Smoky Mountain theme park and determine if it’s really as good as everyone says, from the attractions to the food, and more food, plus, of course, all things Dolly Parton.

We are Unlocking Dollywood for you to see if there’s magic.

Today  we’re taking you on a magical stroll right down Main Street, U.S.A. and beyond to explore Walt Disney and YOUR Disneyland sharing secrets of this special place along the way..

Remember Walts infamous words, Disneyland is YOUR land..

Btw if  you know these secrets and want to share more , send us a dm on instagram!

Announcements and updates from the weekend #D23:

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What was your favorite part of Spider-Man: Homecoming?

We hope you like it.

Today we're talking about something I think every traveler or Disney fan experiences, especially if you've been visiting the parks for years. The more trips you take, the more your opinions evolve. Things you swore you'd never do... suddenly become your favorite part of the vacation. And things you couldn't live without? Well... maybe not so much anymore.

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.

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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.

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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 strategy talk.

We also get into Disney Cruise ship debates, snack showdowns like Dole Whip vs Mickey Bar, resort hot takes, and whether free Disney food for a day beats skipping every line...

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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’s creative machine.

From working security during the opening of Disney California Adventure to writing 130+ episodes of Mickey content, Charlie shares the real story behind building a creative career inside one of t...

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 Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a hidden gem… or just another overhyped Disney dining reservation.

Let’s dig in.

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 like. 

If you’re like me, on the ship its now 10pm you’re snuggled up in THE most...

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 with laughs, bold takes, and relatable moments.

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 rides right.

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’s a Crush and what’s a Flush.

So grab your napkins, loosen your lanyard, and join us as we begin unlocking the flavors, the...

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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.

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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!

Get ready for a golden-age adventure as we finally step into the iconic Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney's Hollywood Studios. From its glamorous old-Hollywood roots to our surprisingly satisfying Cobb salad experience, this episode covers it all — the good, the expensive, and even a few awkward moments.

Whether you’ve walked past this restaurant a hundred times or you’re just hearing about it now, we’ll share everything you need to know before you drop serious cash here. From the rich history of this LA-inspired landmark to the bread rolls Taylor Lautner loved, this episode is packed w...

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Welcome back to Unlocking the Magic! In episode 516, we're unlocking the inbox and answering all your burning Disney questions — from cast member magic to solo resort-hopping strategies, what park we’d choose if we could only visit one, and even our favorite snacks and secret experiences.

Whether you're planning your first Disney vacation or you're a seasoned park-goer, this is a fun, heartfelt, and info-packed episode you're going to love.

📧 Got a question? Send it in to: info@unlockingthemagic.com
📷 Follow us on Instagram: @unlockingthemagicpodcast

Food and wine menu:

https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/disney-eats-epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival-foodie-guide-2025/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/unlockingthemagic

And today we’re talking about that sweet middle spot in Walt Disney World hotels , the moderate resorts.  They’re not as pricey as the deluxes, but they give you more amenities and theming than the values.