The Tomorrow Society Podcast

It's finally here! We have reached the grand finale of the Tomorrow Society Podcast here on Episode 250. During this podcast, I look back at the past decade of the show including my favorite moments. When I started this project in 2015, I had no idea what to expect.… Read more... The post 250. A Glorious Podcast Finale! appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It had been way too long since I'd visited the Universal Orlando resort. I finally rectified that situation with a weekend trip to both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure last week. My daughter and I experienced basically every major attraction in those parks and had a great time.… Read more... The post 249. Universal Orlando Weekend Trip Report appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We keep learning more details about Universal's Epic Universe, and I can't wait to experience this new theme park in Orlando. It opens next May, and fans can't wait to check out its five lands. But will it draw casual guests right from the start?… Read more... The post 248. Previewing Universal's Epic Universe with Seth Kubersky of the Unofficial Guide appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

There's plenty of excitement in the world of theme parks when we think about 2025 and beyond. One of the main reasons is the opening of Universal's Epic Universe in Florida on May 22nd. The anticipation for Universal Orlando's third theme park is off the charts.… Read more... The post 247. Tim Grassey on Universal's Epic Universe and a Gazillion More Theme Park Topics appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When we think of the most influential Disneyland attractions, the first that come to mind are typically Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion. Both are iconic and deserve the attention, but others also should be part of this conversation.… Read more... The post 246. Ken Bruce, Author of Before the Birds Sang Words appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Disney just keeps making changes to their line-skipping services, and it's hard to keep up with everything. It's the perfect time to talk with Becky Gandillon, who studies all the updates and how they will impact your Walt Disney World trips.… Read more... The post 245. Becky Gandillon, Co-author of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2025 appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It's time to take another deep dive into what we love about Disney's Hollywood Studios with Skipper Ben Rebstock. On his fifth appearance on the Tomorrow Society Podcast, Ben gives his thoughts on a wide range of topics about the park.… Read more... The post 244. Skipper Ben Rebstock on 35 Years of the Disney/MGM Studios appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Daniel “Rover” Singer began his entertainment career in the theater world, and he found great success there before joining Walt Disney Imagineering. As a co-founder of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, he helped create The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).… Read more... The post 243. Imagineer Daniel “Rover” Singer on Beastly Kingdom, Roger Rabbit, and Indiana Jones appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

If you're immersed in Star Wars, Marvel, or many other fandoms, you're likely familiar with Amy Ratcliffe. She's written so many great books about these universes from a wide range of perspectives. There is far too much to cover in a single interview!… Read more... The post 242. Amy Ratcliffe on the Art of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Thrill Ride appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We keep learning more about Disney history, particularly events that haven't been covered as closely. A good example is the trip to Latin America in 1941. It was depicted in the 2009 documentary Walt & El Grupo, but we've since found out even more.… Read more... The post 241. Walt Disney & El Grupo in Latin America with Theodore Thomas, J.B. Kaufman, and Didier Ghez appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It's been a quieter year for Disney's U.S. parks beyond the arrival of Tiana's Bayou Adventure. We've seen a lot more action overseas with the opening of the massive Fantasy Springs addition at Tokyo DisneySea. The park's largest expansion includes three new lands with four attractions themed to Peter Pan, Frozen, and Tangled.… Read more... The post 240. Fantasy Springs and Tokyo Disneyland Trip Report with Shane Bettenhausen appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

On Saturday night, Josh D'Amaro revealed so many cool attractions that will be opening at Disney's theme parks in the next few years and beyond. I ranked all the announcements during Episode 239 of the Tomorrow Society Podcast and felt great about most of the news.… Read more... The post 239.5. Losing the Rivers of America appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Wow, what a night! Josh D'Amaro and many special guests appeared on stage for several hours on Saturday night's energetic D23 Disney Experiences Showcase. He promised lots of announcements, and Disney delivered in spades on that front. Now that we know about what's coming to Disney's parks and beyond in the near (and far) future, it's time for the fun part.… Read more... The post 239. Ranking All of Disney's D23 2024 Parks and Experiences Announcements appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It's rare to see a new theme park open in the United States, especially one not connected to Universal or Disney. A cool exception is Lost Island Themepark, which opened in June 2022 in Waterloo, Iowa. Owned by the Bertch family (who also own the Lost Island Waterpark), it uses original IP and feels different from your typical regional park.… Read more... The post 238. Lost Island Themepark Trip Report appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It's an interesting time for Disney with a lot happening especially at Walt Disney World. We've had several attractions open, and more could be on the way in the future. This is the perfect time for me to speak again with Lou Mongello on the Tomorrow Society Podcast.… Read more... The post 237. Lou Mongello of WDW Radio on Tiana's Bayou Adventure and What's Next at Walt Disney World appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

A few weeks ago, Disney announced a major course correction to Disney Genie Plus, their paid line-skipping system. That service is being renamed as Lightning Lane Multipass and will allow reservations up to seven days in advance (for Disney Resort guests).… Read more... The post 236. Five Things I Like and Dislike About Disney's New Lightning Lane Multipass Service appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

During the late '90s and early 2000s, we saw a wave of interactive attractions that went beyond just shooting games. Along with separate destinations like DisneyQuest, a new take on interactivity arrived with Turtle Talk with Crush; Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor; and more.… Read more... The post 235. Imagineer Joe Garlington on Creating Interactive Disney Attractions appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Fire in the Hole was the first coaster at Silver Dollar City in 1972 and operated for more than 50 years. When the park finally decided to replace it, they made such an interesting choice. Also named Fire in the Hole, this updated version brings modern effects and a smoother ride to the original model.… Read more... The post 234. Fire in the Hole 2.0 Review and Silver Dollar City Trip Report appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opened in May and August of 2019, Star Wars fans were thrilled at the chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon, escape from the First Order, and interact with Stormtroopers on Batuu. Five years later, both lands are still popular and draw big lines for the two attractions.… Read more... The post 233. Updating Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It's easy to overlook how important sound design is to the success of theme parks. Music in particular lifts our experience beyond what we see on the attractions. Composer Ron Fish worked closely at Walt Disney Imagineering for eight years on many classic rides and shows.… Read more... The post 232. Ron Fish on Creating Music for Theme Parks and Video Games appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It's hard to believe it, but we're nearing the summer season at theme parks. Last year, I had a great time visiting Kings Island and Silver Dollar City along with Disneyland and Universal Hollywood. What's next for 2024? On this episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast, I dive into the parks that I hope to visit this summer and beyond.… Read more... The post 231. My Theme Park Summer Plus Universal Orlando News appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We've entered a new world of immersive theme park lands that just keep getting more detailed every time. It's easy to forget that expansions on this scale basically started with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Opening in 2010 at Universal's Islands of Adventure, Hogsmeade set the standard.… Read more... The post 230. Eric Baker on Designing Props for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We're back for Part 2 of my Walt Disney World trip report, and there's still a lot more to cover! This episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast finishes up my park days and then looks at other aspects of our Spring Break vacation.… Read more... The post 229. Beignets, Buses, and More: A Walt Disney World Trip Report (Part 2) appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It's been about two years since I visited Walt Disney World, so a return trip was long overdue. It finally happened a few weeks ago during my daughter's Spring Break. I expected the huge crowds we typically see this time of year, but the result was a big surprise.… Read more... The post 228. TRON, Guardians, and More: A Walt Disney World Trip Report (Part 1) appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Horizons remains my all-time favorite attraction despite closing more than 24 years ago. It combined everything that I loved about EPCOT Center during the '80s and '90s. Trevor Bryant joined WED Enterprises in 1979 and quickly started on Horizons. He worked closely on this pavilion throughout its creation including at the installation in Florida.… Read more... The post 227. Trevor Bryant on Horizons, Binaural Audio, and Test Track appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

An unappreciated reason for the success of Disney's theme parks and resorts is the brilliant architecture. It creates that feeling of reassurance and immersion that keeps us coming back every year. Imagineer Bob Holland worked closely on a wide range of projects as an architect, project manager, and executive during a period of rapid growth.… Read more... The post 226. Bob Holland on Constructing EPCOT Center, the Grand Floridian, and Disney Cruise Line appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

I'm going to Walt Disney World! It's been two years since our last Florida trip, and we'll be returning during Spring Break this year. I'm sure it will be packed like usual at this time of year, but we're limited to when my daughter is out of school.… Read more... The post 225. Walt Disney World 2024 Trip Preview appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It's amazing to look back at how much growth happened at Disney's theme parks under Michael Eisner and Frank Wells. During the “Disney Decade”, they added new attractions that have become classics. Imagineer Susan Bonds worked in the middle of this exciting and busy time period.… Read more... The post 224. Susan Bonds on the Indiana Jones Adventure, Alien Encounter, and Mission: Space appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

With the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny last year, the popular franchise has concluded with Harrison Ford donning his trademark hat for the last time. This feels like the perfect time to discuss everything Indy for Disney's theme parks.… Read more... The post 223. Spotlight on Indiana Jones with Brandon Kleyla appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

There's so much to learn when planning a Walt Disney World trip, particularly if you're not a frequent guest. It's not easy to explain the complexities of that visit to people that aren't experts. A solid resource to help is Rope Drop Radio, a weekly podcast from two guys that regularly travel to the parks.… Read more... The post 222. Rope Drop Radio's Doug McKnight and Derek Sasman appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When I think about which past versions of lands that I'd love to visit in Disneyland, early Tomorrowland is near the top of that list. Despite lacking the high-tech headliners, the mix of weirdness and ambitious visions of the future in the '50s and '60s are fascinating.… Read more... The post 221. Disneyland's House of the Future with Author Dave Bossert appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Holiday crowds are no joke at theme parks, and many fans avoid them completely in late December. That wasn't the case for Jessica Liese, who visited both Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood before and after Christmas, respectively. She still had a great time and checked out nearly all the big attractions at the two parks.… Read more... The post 220. Jessica Liese's Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood Holiday Trip appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We've all marveled at audio-animatronic technology at Disney's theme parks, particularly at the original EPCOT Center. But we rarely think about how much work it took to bring them to life. Davy Feiten was a key part of animating figures around the world for Walt Disney Imagineering.… Read more... The post 219. Davy Feiten on Animating Figures for Attractions at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and More appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

EPCOT's major transformation is finally completed! Well, it's mostly finished. The construction walls are finally down, and we can see Disney's vision for Walt Disney's World second park. How does it all look today? Tim Grassey just visited the parks in December and saw the latest nighttime spectacular, Luminous: The Symphony of Us.… Read more... The post 218. Tim Grassey on Luminous, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, and What's Next for Disney appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It's an interesting time in the world of theme parks as we look to 2024. Major attractions and a new Universal theme park are opening in 2025 and beyond, so it's easy to look ahead. This feels like a transition year that will set the stage for larger projects down the road.… Read more... The post 217. What's New for 2024 with Arthur Levine appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When you think about projects from Disney history that never happened, Mineral King is one of the most interesting examples. The concepts for this California ski resort were a serious dream for Walt Disney in the 1960s. Those plans ultimately led to a conflict with environmentalists in the Sierra Club who had concerns with developing the pristine land.… Read more... The post 216. Kathryn Mayer and Greg Glasgow on Disneyland on the Mountain appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We've all heard the stories about Walt Disney's original ideas for EPCOT the city and how they evolved into EPCOT Center. But how much do we really know about that process following Walt's passing? We might enjoy a straightforward documentary about those 16 years with talking heads explaining the milestones.… Read more... The post 215. Kevin Perjurer of Defunctland on Journey to EPCOT Center: A Symphonic History appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

There's a lot happening at the Disneyland Resort, especially as Disney prepares for major investments in their parks in the next decade. They just added the Adventureland Treehouse, which takes a classic approach to the longtime attraction. Tiana's Bayou Adventure should open next year to replace Splash Mountain, and plenty more changes are on the way.… Read more... The post 214. Seth Kubersky on the Unofficial Guide to Disneyland and World of Frozen appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It seems nearly impossible to sum up 50 years of Walt Disney Company history in a single book, yet J. Jeff Kober has looked to do just that in his new book. A Century of Powerful Disney Insights: Volume 1 focuses on 1923-1973 with takeaways for inspiration.… Read more... The post 213. J. Jeff Kober on A Century of Powerful Disney Insights appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Photo by Jackie Ogden Jackie Ogden, PhD, played a key role in the development and evolution of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Her educational background in psychology and animal behavior made her the right choice to work on this complicated new park. She joined Disney in 1997 just eight months prior to opening and became the Curator for Conservation Station.… Read more... The post 212. Dr. Jackie Ogden on Disney's Animal Kingdom, Conservation, and the Seas appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg continues to evolve as a regional park with a solid ride lineup. It became a full-day park in January 2021 and has added several new attractions in the past few years. The highly anticipated Pantheon coaster finally opened last spring after delays from the pandemic.… Read more... The post 211. Mary Kwiatkowski on the DarKoaster and Curse of DarKastle at Busch Gardens Williamsburg appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Disney has invested quite a bit in transforming EPCOT into a modern park, but they haven't focused on updating the classic pavilions. A perfect example is Spaceship Earth, which looks great on the outside and has an awesome lighting package.… Read more... The post 210. Updating Spaceship Earth appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

About 14 years ago after my daughter was born, I developed a strong desire to check out more coaster parks near St. Louis. I wrote down a short list of places that I hoped to visit in the next few years.… Read more... The post 209. My First Visit to Kings Island Trip Report appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When Greg Combs was studying Theatre in college in the early 1980s, he could not have predicted his ultimate destination at Walt Disney Imagineering. After moving to California, he took a temporary job at Disney as a Show Set Designer and stayed there for more than 30 years.… Read more... The post 208. Imagineer Greg Combs on Indiana Jones, Tower of Terror, and Tokyo DisneySea appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

After so much speculation, Disney has finally released their vision for the future at the Destination D23 event. A lot of the news was expected, but there were still a few big surprises after Josh D'Amaro took the stage. On this episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast, I sum up my five takeaways from Disney's announcements this past weekend at Destination D23.… Read more... The post 207. Five Takeaways from Disney's Destination D23 Announcements appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Walt Disney Imagineering draws the most attention from its big theme park attractions, but there's a lot more happening beyond the headliners. For example, they have worked closely with educational institutions and industry organizations on research and many other activities. Imagineer Mk Haley worked at the center of many of these projects during more than 25 years at Imagineering.… Read more... The post 206. Imagineer Mk Haley on the Power of Disney Research and Educating the Next Generation appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

My bucket list of new parks and roller coasters from around the world just keeps expanding. The reason is a group of great YouTube channels that provide lots of info and reviews of such cool rides. A perfect example is Coaster 365, which includes a new coaster review every day in 2023.… Read more... The post 205. Reviewing a Coaster a Day with Bryant Olivera of Coaster 365 appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Photo by Kevin Sherbrooke It's easy to forget how much goes into every aspect of theme parks. The work involved moves well beyond concept art. The design and construction require intricate planning including the restrooms, trash cans, and building layouts. Kevin Sherbrooke has worked closely on a wide range of theme park projects for Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, and more.… Read more... The post 204. Kevin Sherbrooke on Innoventions, Tokyo DisneySea, and Islands of Adventure appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

I recently learned the sad news that Disney Imagineer Glenn Barker passed away several weeks ago. Glenn had an incredible career as a sound designer for Disney's theme parks for more than 45 years. Beyond his career accomplishments, he was also a genuine and friendly man who downplayed his success.… Read more... The post REBROADCAST: 84. Glenn Barker on Creating Sound at Walt Disney Imagineering for More Than 45 Years appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Photo by the National Museum of American History Disney's parks and films have played an important role in how we consider American history and our culture. They're more than just casual entertainment and have connected with our core identities. In her book Disney Theme Parks and America's National Narratives, Bethanee Bemis explores Disney's impact on this country's stories going back to Mickey Mouse and the opening of Disneyland.… Read more... The post 203. Bethanee Bemis on Disney Theme Parks and America's National Narratives appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When Eli Erlandson joined WED Enterprises in 1975, it was a different place from the Walt Disney Imagineering we know today. Iconic figures like Marc Davis and Harper Goff worked alongside young designers on the next phase for Disney's theme parks.… Read more... The post 202. Eli Erlandson on EPCOT Center, Disneyland Paris, and Disney's Animal Kingdom appeared first on Tomorrow Society.