Theme park resort in France owned by The Walt Disney Company
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In this bonus episode, Steph and Donna answer all the questions listeners asked in Patreon about their trip to France and Disneyland Paris. We got some really great questions and are excited for you to get the answers!
Why did Disney's Tower of Terror change its design when it moved locations? And who was Buddy the Bellhop?Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into California Adventure's lost Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within its design.In this episode, we travel to Disneyland Resort to visit the California Adventure version of the Tower of Terror for the first time, covering the concept, design, changes in mechanics, and backstory of this version of the attraction. Because the Disneyland Paris version is almost identical to the one in California, we add that Tower into the mix as well on this international Disney treasure hunt. Along the way, we share some rare Imagineering documents, discuss some never-created attractions, and explore the differences between this version and the one in Disney's Hollywood Studios. Kate discusses some connections to Walt's history found in the Tower, Kirk translates some German, and we both get a little confused by the Tower's commercial mascot from 2004 that doesn't quite fit the storytelling of the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate's Youtube: @disneyciceroneYou can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.comView full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!Martin Smith Tower TributeKate's books on AmazonWalrusCarp T-shirts & MerchMOWD appDistory T-shirts and StickersKate's Substack
In deze aflevering van D-Tales bespreken we de vele bouwwerkzaamheden in Walt Disney World, hebben we meer details over de Disney Destiny en behandelen we weer een postzak vol leuke luisteraarspost. We kijken bovendien vooruit naar de bijzondere uitstapjes naar Scheveningen en Parijs die binnenkort gaan plaatsvinden en Jorn heeft dé kijktip van deze week: Hoe Disney Imagineering omgaat met het rijke audioarchief van de parken. D-Tales steunen? Wordt Donalteur! https://petjeaf.com/d-tales De D-Tales pins zijn hier te koop: https://d-tales-2.myshopify.com 00:00 Introductie en podcastoverzicht
Mitch and Caleb are back together on a recording for the first time since September? They go over Mitch's recent trip to Europe featuring World War sites, Plopsaland Belgium, and a super detailed Disneyland Paris trip report.Join the conversation on Discord: https://discord.gg/abTDb3eVavSupport the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/user?u=38631549Links to all things Cuzzies: https://www.solo.to/coastercuzzies%E2%81%A0
Graeme and Bernardo discuss the latest news and rumours including the possibility of Fantasmic coming to Disneyland Paris! Join the conversation: https://discord.gg/u26Apyrad4
On this “Off the Monorail” episode, Virginia welcomes Sav and Piff from Pixie Dust with a Twist Podcast and Olivia from Soarin' Around WDW Podcast for some roundtable fun. There are Disney favorites, hot takes, and news reactions. Recorded 10/20/25 Episode Specific Links: Olivia of Soarin' Around WDW Podcast (Instagram) Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other major podcast platform Sav and Piff of Pixie Dust with a Twist Podcast (Instagram and TikTok) Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other major podcast platform Virginia's Trip Planning Episode People mentioned in this episode: Rebecca - @90s_travel_mom (listen to Rebecca's Disneyland Paris episodes) Anj - @madeofmagicanj (listen to Anj's episode where she discusses the dining plan) Be Our Guest: Do you have an upcoming trip you'd like to share? Submit your trip information here to be considered as a podcast guest. Get in Touch: If you would like to reach out to Virginia for something other than a trip report guest submission (for that use the link above!), you may email whereilongtobepodcast@gmail.com. Follow: Instagram: @whereilongtobepodcast Facebook: @whereilongtobepodcast TikTok: @whereilongtobepodcast Website: whereilongtobepodcast.com
Flight 46: Iconic former domestic and international planning and development executive for both Disney and Universal, Frank Stanek. When you view construction photos or videos of Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Japan and other major themed entertainment projects around the globe, the focus is typically on those crazy creative folks — not the guys in the suits. But the truth is that if it weren't for the guys in the suits who secured the site and the funding, strategically planned the project, and oversaw the budgets and schedules, those crazy creative folks wouldn't have anything to design or build! Frank Stanek is probably the most famous "suit" in our industry today, having worked for Walt and Roy Disney on the New York World's Fair and Mineral King before joining WED Enterprises to oversee business planning and development. He helped to create Walt Disney World, Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris before working directly with Michael Eisner and Frank Wells as the Walt Disney Company's first Corporate Vice President of Planning. After a stint with the Japanese firm Dentsu, Frank was recruited to MCA/Universal, where he became President of International Business Development and oversaw the Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal projects in Spain, Korea, and China. Set your timepiece now and plan to join us as one of the themed entertainment industry's most storied planning and development execs shares his wisdom and tales from the trenches in what promises to be Zoomcast for the ages!
Celine revient tout droit de Shanghai Disneyland ! Alors on n'a pas pu résister, elle s'est faite MATRAQUER de questions ! Les bons plans pour y aller, est-ce que c'est facile d'ailleurs d'aller en Chine ? Et puis son avis sur le parc bien sûr, les différences majeures avec Disneyland Paris, la nouvelle version de TRON, le nouveau land sur Zootopie (ILS ONT UN LAND ZOOTOPIE PURÉE), les coups de coeur et les coups de gueule... Et on termine même en parlant du futur du resort avec une actualité toute fraiche qui nous a été amenée par Curien Du Futur Du Passé On Sait Pas ! Découvrez tout ce que notre association a à offrir et soutenez-nous sur Patreon ! TOUS les podcasts Élabète en UN SEUL podcast, c'est possible en cherchant "Élabète" dans votre appli préférée ! Ou sur http://elabete.lepodcast.fr
Deze week kijken we terug op ons theaterdebuut, bespreken we de komst van het nieuwe hotel in Shanghai, nieuwe boeken voor de fans en de aankomst van de Disney Destiny in Florida. Dat en meer in aflevering 439 van D-Tales! D-Tales steunen? Wordt Donalteur! https://petjeaf.com/d-tales 00:00 Introductie en welkomstwoorden
Doree wonders when the "All Is Lost" section of the screenplay will be over, and a listener really wants to tell us she's sorry, and we accept her apology. Another listener offers her sperm-switching success story, and Matt gives advice about Disneyland Paris.We're recapping the Great British Baking Show/Bake Off on Patreon! Support us there and get our recaps, two additional bonus episodes per month, AND ad-free episodes! Sign up at patreon.com/eggcellentadventure.Call or text us at 413-461-BABY or email us at mattanddoree@gmail.com or doreeandmatt@gmail.com. We love getting your messages! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on the Geekin' on Walt Disney World Podcast, I'm joined by our good friend and Travelin' Tiara herself — Auntie Judy!Judy and Ken joined Margita and me for an unforgettable September stay along the monorail loop — including first-time experiences at the Grand Floridian Villas, Bay Lake Tower, and the brand-new Polynesian DVC Tower! It's a fun-filled episode packed with resort-hopping stories, dining adventures, and even a wild evacuation moment on Ratatouille that only a true Geek could appreciate!
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 experimentation and studio sessions to the storytelling choices that shaped the attraction's tone and tempo. Eddie Sotto has been called “a renaissance creative” with a proven track record in entertainment design that extends far beyond Disney. As Senior Vice President of Concept Design at Walt Disney Imagineering, he led the Concept Development Studio, producing and designing major attractions including Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris and Rocket Rods. Mentored by Disney Legends Tony Baxter and Herb Ryman, Sotto went on to found SottoStudios, applying cinematic design principles to television, restaurants, hospitality, ultra-luxury interiors, and even private aviation—earning an IYAA Award for “Best Private Jet Concept.” In 2020, Blooloop named him one of the Top 50 Theme Park Influencers. Aarin Richard served as a Walt Disney Imagineer starting in the 1990s working in the music group. His projects included the first synchronized on-board audio track for Space Mountain at Disneyland and Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris, as well as the music for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Indiana Jones Adventure, and beyond. To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel. Get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more at patreon.com/imaginationskyway. Tag me and join the conversation below. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imaginationskyway Instagram: www.instagram.com/imaginationskyway Facebook Group (ImagiNation): https://www.facebook.com/groups/imaginationskyway Facebook: www.facebook.com/imaginationskyway TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@imaginationskyway Threads: https://www.threads.net/@imaginationskyway Twitter: www.twitter.com/skywaypodcast Email: matt@imagineerpodcast.com How to Support the Show Share the podcast with your friends Rate and review on iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-imagineerpodcasts-podcast/id1244558092 Join our Patreon Group - https://www.patreon.com/imaginationskyway Purchase merchandise - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/imagineer-podcast?ref_id=8929 Enjoy the show!
Join us this week for episode 14 of Inside the Gates as we discuss all of the latest menu items, character meets and entertainment and this year's Jollywood Nights and some of Eurostars plans for Disneyland Paris. On top of that, we explore Universals latest ticketing options, Merlin entertainment updates and the brand new Soarin' Across America!Be sure to keep up to date with everything on our socials and keep an eye out for our question for next week's Inside the Gates.
Happy Halloween! Here is your Disney News for Friday, October 31st, 2025. - Tokyo Disneyland has transformed into a spooky wonderland with "Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare" inspired by "The Nightmare Before Christmas." - Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom introduces "Wonders of the Night," a new nighttime spectacular with fireworks and projections over Cinderella Castle. - Disneyland Paris celebrates the "Festival of the Villains" featuring a mischievous parade and villain-themed treats. - Disney+ releases "Mickey's Tale of Two Witches," a family-friendly animated special for Halloween. Have a magical and safe Halloween. Tune in tomorrow for more updates!
Here is your Daily Disney News for Thursday, October 30th, 2025 - Disneyland Tokyo transforms for Halloween with spooky parades, shows, and character costumes. Perfect for a themed visit! - Walt Disney World in Florida introduces "Journey of Water," a Moana-themed interactive attraction celebrating the ocean's magic. - Disneyland Paris prepares for Christmas with lights, decorations, and a festive parade, including Santa's rumored appearance. - Disney+ to release "The Holiday Adventures of Mickey and Friends," a heartwarming special filled with festive stories and classic charm. Have a magical day and tune in again tomorrow for more updates.
In episode 71 of Magic Key Adventures, host Steph and guest Donna delve into their eventful trip to Disneyland Paris, celebrating Donna's 60th birthday. Despite facing challenges due to a city-wide transportation strike, which led to a chaotic and prolonged journey to the park, they manage to explore Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios Park. They discuss their experiences on rides like Phantom Manor and Big Thunder Mountain, the distinct features of the parks, and their quest for Disney merchandise. The episode concludes with an intense and complex return journey to their Airbnb, offering insights and reflections on international travel logistics. Thank you to all of my listeners, friends and supporters! A special thank you to my sponsor, Arias Transportation, for supporting this podcast. Be sure to check them out at www.ariastransportation.com and download the app next time you need a ride in the LA area. Be sure to add Steph 20 in the notes for a 20% discount off your first reservation.Follow me on Instagram @Magic_Key_Adventures or use this link: https://www.instagram.com/magic_key_adventures/Feel free to email questions and comments at: magickeyadventures@yahoo.comSupport the show with a one-time donation at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/magickeyadhNew! Patreon: Join my Patreon, it's FREE!https://www.patreon.com/c/MagicKeyAdventuresSubscribe, rate and review!
This episode we welcome back Brain Crawford to share a trip report on his recent visit to Disneyland Paris. We also share a Disneyland Paris related top 10 list, and round of the episode with a report of attractions coming soon to the Parisian resort. Download (right click / save as) Visit our on-line store for exclusive Jiminy Crickets and DisneyChris Website Merch!!! https://jcpodcast.threadless.com/If you would like to help support the Jiminy Crickets podcasts and DisneyChris.com - Please consider becoming a Patreon Subscriber and receive exclusive rewards every month. https://www.patreon.com/DisneyChris THE OPTIMAL WAY TO EXPERIENCE THIS PODCAST EPISODE IS VIA YOUTUBEDateline Jiminy Crickets is first and foremost a video experience. We post an audio version for those who prefer it that way, but to get he most out of this episode, we highly recommend viewing it over on our YouTube channel, as it contains many images and other visual elements. Click the link below to view the video version....https://youtu.be/UbwIqIxJqTA?si=RmPEqLMqIq5GSWKh
Here is your Daily Disney News for Saturday, October 25th, 2025 - Disneyland Paris welcomes back the "Disney Dreams!" nighttime spectacular with dazzling scenes, magical effects, and a heartwarming soundtrack. - Tokyo Disneyland announces an Adventureland expansion featuring a new Moana-inspired ride offering thrilling ocean voyages with Moana and Maui. - Disneyland California is set for "Mickey's Winter Wonderland," a festive holiday event with enchanting decor, character meet-and-greets, and holiday entertainment. - Disney+ launches "Enchanted Kingdoms," a series exploring folklore and legends behind iconic Disney stories with captivating visuals and storytelling. Have a magical day and tune in again tomorrow for more updates.
Here is your Daily Disney News for Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 - Disneyland Tokyo is gearing up for Halloween with festive decorations, special parades, and a nighttime spooktacular with fireworks. - Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida plans to launch a conservation initiative to protect endangered species with interactive exhibits and workshops. - Disneyland Paris unveils a new stage show at Walt Disney Studios Park featuring beloved characters, live performances, and special effects. - Disney+ introduces "Pixar's Shorts Reimagined," an animated series giving classic Pixar shorts a fresh, modern twist. Have a magical day and tune in again tomorrow for more updates.
C'est la saison de toutes les peurs, et si on prend un peu de temps pour rigoler un bon coup sur LA GRANDE NOUVEAUTÉ de Disneyland Paris, deux parcs sont très en forme pour proposer des expériences à Halloween : Walibi Belgium, avec Ibilaw, et le Parc Astérix, avec Peur sur le parc. Tom a visité le premier, nagla le second, et Curien a visité les deux. Alors on fait le point sur ce qu'on en pense ! Et comme le Parc Astérix a fait sa grande conférence de presse, on ne se contente pas de relayer les actualités vous nous connaissez, mais on fait le point sur ce à quoi le Parc Astérix va ressembler dans quelques années : quelles nouveautés ? Quels progrès ? Quelles nouvelles attractions ? Et qu'est-ce qui manque encore, quelles sont les lacunes qu'on peut apercevoir ? 7:09 Salut mon Spot'15:00 Le Point Réhab'16:20 Le menu du Unlucky Nugget à Disneyland Paris27:28 Ibilaw, Halloween à Walibi Belgium1:26:36 Peur sur le parc, Halloween au Parc Astérix1:55:34 Le Parc Astérix en 2026, 2027 et 2028 Découvrez tout ce que notre association a à offrir et soutenez-nous sur Patreon ! TOUS les podcasts Élabète en UN SEUL podcast, c'est possible en cherchant "Élabète" dans votre appli préférée ! Ou sur http://elabete.lepodcast.fr
Welcome to Episode 225 of the Dedicated to Disneyland Paris Podcast. Our host Beth is back in the studio with Vanessa, but things are not exactly back to normal. After the harrowing werewolf incident of the last episode, a certain level of paranoia has set in, leading to some unconventional anti-monster preparations. Plus Beth has a startling new confession that could mean that the supernatural threats to the podcast may be far from over. Despite the spooky season chaos, Vanessa is determined to steer the ship towards actual Disneyland Paris news. They discuss some tasty new menu additions and get to the bottom of some recent peculiar happenings at Walt Disney Studios Park. There are construction "updates" about Disney Adventure World and a sighting of a returning favorite on the Rivers of the Far West. They also cover a very quick, very sold-out new event. As is often the case, there is an unforseen podcasting disaster that leads to a sudden lineup change- but no worries- Marq is on deck for a wonderful Love Our Listeners trip report, this time from friend of the show Georgina. Her adventure involves a royal quest, a touch of international drama, and a husband who is officially "Princessed Out". Finally, Beth bravely enters the Department of Corrections to address a piece of outdated advice, thanks to a helpful listener, ensuring you have the most current information for your next visit. The episode wraps up with a slightly unsettling feeling that the studio may not be as safe as they hoped….. Happy Halloween, friends ! And if you are heading to the parks, be sure to check the official DLP app for park opening times, as they can change, especially during this season.
Dans cet épisode, on discute de la saison Halloween 2025 et on remonte le temps pour découvrir comment Halloween s'est transformé à Disneyland Paris au fil des années ! De ses débuts modestes dans les années 2000 jusqu'aux célébrations spectaculaires d'aujourd'hui, plongez dans l'ambiance ensorcelante du parc pendant la saison la plus spooky de l'année.Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Get a monthly bonus episode and support the podcast at patreon.com/RisingFunPod!Tokyo Disneyland & Tokyo DisneySea were recently sold out for the first time in months, so we talk about the ludicrous wait times, comparing Tokyo Disney to Hong Kong Disneyland & Disneyland Paris and why Jordan's first rainy ride on Rapunzel's Lantern Festival was even worse than he expected.Want to bring the magical scents of your favourite rides and attractions into your home? Visit magiccandlecompany.com/risingfun and use promo code RISINGFUN to get 15% off your entire order!
Carrie and Fran are catching up with their friend Dustin about his adventures in Disneyland Paris. Dustin shares his highlights, the food, the challenges and of course the merch! To hear Dustin's update on Las Vegas - find it on episode 220. To hear the episodes with Terri Hardin, tune in to episodes 88 and 89. Find Dustin at Steps To Magic and on other podcast episodes like episode 167 where he shares his trip report along with his dinner at Victoria and Alberts! Find Francine and Carrie online: Website: https://PixieDustFan.com Instagram: @PixieDustFan Carrie on Instagram: @MuppetCrazy Facebook: Pixie Dust Fan Pixie Dust Fan Facebook group: PixieDustFanGroup Support Pixie Dust Fan by shopping our affiliates Find Pixie Dust Fan on YouTube: Pixie Dust Fan
In this of Magic Key Adventures, Steph delves into an update about Disneyland's rising prices, affecting tickets, parking, and merchandise. Steph also offers recommendations on where to buy Disney-themed jewelry and chats about her recent trip to Paris, including visits to renowned sites like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Saint Chappelle Church. She shares insights into navigating Paris, including metro and museum pass tips, and recounts memorable dining experiences with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Ending on a delightful note, she teases the next episode, which will cover Disneyland Paris.Thank you to all of my listeners, friends and supporters! A special thank you to my sponsor, Arias Transportation, for supporting this podcast. Be sure to check them out at www.ariastransportation.com and download the app next time you need a ride in the LA area. Be sure to add Steph 20 in the notes for a 20% discount off your first reservation.Follow me on Instagram @Magic_Key_Adventures or use this link: https://www.instagram.com/magic_key_adventures/Feel free to email questions and comments at: magickeyadventures@yahoo.comSupport the show with a one-time donation at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/magickeyadhNew! Patreon: Join my Patreon, it's FREE!https://www.patreon.com/c/MagicKeyAdventuresSubscribe, rate and review!
Join us for episode 461 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! Grace is back on the podcast and she's brought not one but two Disney trip reports with her! This week, she joins us to share all the magical highs from her adventures at both Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney World. You can find Grace on Instagram and YouTube. A reminder, if you have any questions for us, send us a message on TikTok or Instagram!
Grab your candy corn and hold onto your jack-o-lanterns, because a spooky spirit has possessed the podcast! Welcome to a very special, extra-ghoulish bonus episode of the Dedicated to DLP podcast. The Halloween season has officially descended upon Disneyland Paris, and let's just say things are a little... unhinged around the studio. Our co-host Vanessa has unfortunately fallen victim to a tragic pumpkin-spice-related incident, leaving Beth and Marq to hold down the fort. And if you think you heard some suspicious howling at the top of the show, well... so did Marq. We're blaming it on haunted airwaves. We're sinking our fangs into all the news from the Disney Halloween Festival 2025. We'll give you the full scoop on the incredible, spooky atmosphere that's casting a spell over the park. We're talking about the charmingly eerie daytime decorations and the absolutely breathtaking, ghostly projections that transform Main Street into something truly spine-tingling after dark. It's a whole new level of creepy and captivating. We're also cackling about the incredible new immersive dining experience that has taken over Frontierland. This isn't just a meal; it's a step right into a classic Disney haunting, and the attention to detail is so good it's scary. Of course, no Halloween round-up would be complete without a tour of all the characters, the cavalcade, and the spectacular villainous show that lets the bad guys take over the castle each night. Consider this your one-stop guide to all things macabre and merry. Then, we stir the cauldron and open up a tomb-full of your incredible listener mail! We're answering your burning questions to help plan your magical, and maybe a little mysterious, trips. We tackle the great on-site versus off-site hotel debate for a spectacular birthday trip all the way from Australia. We also help a first-time visitor with her strategy for fireworks, navigating a hotel with a slightly... inconvenient detour, and finding the best superhero encounters for her little ones. We even dive into the best spots in the parks to let kids run wild without a single ride queue in sight. So, whether you're heading to the parks this Halloween or just wishing you were, grab a pumpkin spice latte, check your surroundings for any stray lycanthropes, and join us for a howling good time. It's our most spooktacular episode yet!
Hey there, and a very happy Friday! This is your Disney News for Friday, October 10th, 2025. I hope you're ready to dive into some enchanting updates! - Tokyo Disneyland has unveiled a reconstructed Cinderella Castle, adorned with shimmering tiles and twinkling lights. The new nighttime light show is a must-see. - Disney World introduces new missions and storylines at the Galactic Starcruiser, immersing guests in the Star Wars universe with opportunities to be part of key saga moments. - Disneyland Paris is gearing up for a spooktacular Halloween with festive decorations, Mickey and friends in costumes, and a Halloween parade featuring Disney villains. - Disney+ premieres "Enchanted Kingdoms," a new series exploring the magical lands and stories of Disney, perfect for a cozy night in. Thanks for tuning in, and I hope you have a magical day. Remember to check in tomorrow for more Disney updates.
France may be known for its chateaux, cuisine and couture, but it is also quietly home to one of Europe's most varied amusement park industries. France has a network of theme parks – les parcs d'attractions – that in many ways reflect the country's contradictions: you've got global glamour next to local pride, high technology alongside nostalgic myth-making. Buckle up and join us on this wild ride around French amusement parks.
Dearest Listeners, Gather 'round, for your host Beth has returned from her adventures in the genteel society of Bath, her mind full of Regency decorum and an undiminished passion for all things Disneyland Paris. In this week's episode, the mailbag is overflowing with your splendid correspondence, and the news from the resort is enough to make any heart flutter. In This Episode: Beth and her co-host attend to the most urgent bulletins from the resort, including a musical revival that will have you marking your calendar for 2026, a truly masterful honour bestowed upon a legendary Imagineer, and the first-ever autumnal adornments for a certain royal residence. (Spoiler: It involves pumpkins fit for a palace). We then delve into your letters, which provide no end of amusement and thoughtful discussion. We engage in a most serious debate on the merits of staying 'in the bubble' versus the strategic use of off-site lodgings, sparked by a wonderfully detailed inquiry from a listener journeying all the way from Australia. We also share a delightful trip report from across the pond, filled with first impressions from seasoned Disney park veterans, including their thoughts on everything from the thrills of Big Thunder Mountain to the perplexing nature of the park's beignets, not forgetting the alarmingly proportioned birdlife ! Alas, our time is once again cut short by the clock, leaving letters from Nicole, James, Cassy, and Georgina for our next gathering. Fear not—we shall address them with all due haste, perhaps even in a bonus episode! Connect With Our Society: We dearly love to receive your correspondence. Send your own questions, trip reports, and Regency-era Disneybound concepts to our electronic posting address: dlp@dedicatedtodlp.com. You can follow our social promenades on Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook. If you enjoyed this assembly, we would be most obliged if you would subscribe to the show and leave a favourable review on your preferred podcatcher. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single review must be in want of many more! Until next time, we remain your devoted servants in all things DLP. Yours, Lady Beth & her Mystery Co-host
Tom and Becky complete their trilogy of 2025 Disneyland Paris episodes with a trip report from the main park, taking you through each land and their highlights and lowlights.If you're listening on Spotify, let us know in the comments if you'd like to hear us record an episode on Universal Studios in Singapore, or if you have any questions about the Paris parks.
In this next vacation episode (don't worry there are still 2 more to come,) Jacqueline and Meghan go to Disneyland Paris! There is more accidental ground food, some not so great rides, some great rides, and maybe some objectifying of superhero's. The girls ate, drank and cried through DLP and don't worry, we did just about EVERYTHING. Shoutout again to Craig and this time Zoey too for making our kitty ears Follow LTP on Social Media
On this episode Ed goes over what the fans are saying about this year Halloween Horror Nights. After that Ed talks about the changes to Remy adventure in Disneyland Paris. Later Ed goes over the wrestling news of the week. AUG 29, 2025 at the WPRK Studios in Winter Park, FL The post Ep. 477- Forbidden Food and Wine appeared first on Orlando Tourism Report .
In this episode of Skip the Queue, Andy Povey sits down with Jérôme Giacomoni, co-founder and Chairman of AEROPHILE, the world leader in tethered gas balloons and immersive aerial experiences. Jérôme shares the story of how AEROPHILE began with a simple idea, to “make everybody fly” and grew into a global company operating in multiple countries, including France and the U.S.Tune in to hear about the company's signature attractions, including tethered balloon flights, the innovative Aerobar concept, and high-profile projects such as how you can experience flying the Olympic cauldron in Paris. Jérôme also shares how AEROPHILE has leveraged its unique platform to explore scientific initiatives like air-quality and climate-change monitoring and how he Integrates unique revenue streams from sponsorship and advertising.Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden, with co host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn. Show references: https://www.aerophile.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerome-giacomoni-3074b7/Jérôme Giacomoni is co-founder of Groupe AEROPHILE and Chairman of AEROPHILE SAS. Since 1993, he has led the company to become the world leader in tethered gas balloons and balloon flights, operating iconic sites in France, the U.S., and Cambodia, and flying over 500,000 passengers annually. He also pioneered “flying food-tainment” with the Aerophare and Aerobar. Jérôme is a member of IAAPA, serves on the board of SNELAC, and is a Team France Export ambassador, earning multiple awards for entrepreneurship and innovation. Plus, live from the Day 2 of the IAAPA Expo Europe show floor, we catch up with:Rheanna Sorby –Marketing & Creative Director, The Seasonal Grouphttps://theseasonalgroup.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rheanna-sorby-seasonal/Sohret Pakis – Polin Waterparkshttps://www.polin.com.tr/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohretpakis/Thomas Collin – Sales Manager, VEX Solutionshttps://www.vex-solutions.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-collin-18a476110/Peter Cliff – CEO // Founder, Conductr.https://conductr.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cliff/Laura Baxter – Founder, Your CMOhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-baxter-4a756466/Josh Haywood – Resort Director, Crealy Theme Park & Resorthttps://www.crealy.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-haywood-68463630/ Transcriptions: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast about the world's best attractions and the people that work in them. I'm your host Paul Marden, and with my co-host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival, we're here at IAAPA Expo Europe. In today's episode, I go on a trip on Santa's Enchanted Elevator with the Seasonal Group, and Claire meets Peter Cliff from Conductr. But before all that, let's head over to Andy.Andy Povey: Good morning, everybody. I'm joined today by Jerome Giacomoni from AEROPHILE for our French listeners. I hope I've got that right. Jerome is the chief exec of AEROPHILE and has been the co-founder and president of AEROPHILE. And AEROPHILE supply helium-based balloon observation opportunities. I probably got the marketing on that completely wrong, Jerome. So please, can you share with our listeners what AEROPHILE is all about?Jerome Giacomoni: So AEROPHILE is a company I created with Mathieu Gobbi, my partner, 32 years ago, with a very simple idea, make everybody fly, you know, and we use a balloon to fly. So we have a tethered balloon. We have a huge, big balloon inflated with helium, a gas lighter than air. And we go up to more or less 150 meters high. up to 30 passengers. So we are linked to the ground with a cable, and the cable is linked to a winch. So you have to imagine that you have a winch that— when we go up—pulls when we go down. This is the exact opposite of an elevator because the balloon wants to go higher and higher. We have a lifting force of four tons.Andy Povey:Wow.Jerome Giacomoni:Yes, it's a big one. And so we need a cable to keep it. And thanks to this lifting force, we can fight against the wind.Jerome Giacomoni: And so the balloon can swing when you have some wind because the balloon is just pulled by the cable itself.Andy Povey: And trust me, listeners, they look absolutely spectacular. Just before we started recording, I was admitting to Jerome that I'm scared of heights. So I've stood and watched. The dining balloon, Futuroscope, never managed to pluck up the courage to try it myself.Jerome Giacomoni: This is another concept, Andy. So we have built two concepts. One is a tethered balloon, a real one with helium, with a cable, with a winch, and we fly by ourselves. The balloon flies by itself, okay? We did another concept 20 years after we created our company, so 10 years before now, in 2013, which is what we call the aero bar. It's a flying bar, and you have an inflatable balloon. to cover the gondola, but it's a fake. This is a real elevator, and you have a gondola with some winches and a metallic structure, and you go up and down. So what you saw in Futuroscope is not a balloon. It's a real elevator.Jerome Giacomoni: And the one you can see in Disneyland Paris, Disney World, Orlando or San Diego Zoo are a real balloon named a tethered balloon. So I'm glad you fell down into the trick. You caught me. Yes, I'm glad about that. But we have really two different concepts.Andy Povey: But the concept, the thing that the guest is experiencing, isn't really related to whether it's a balloon or a lift.Jerome Giacomoni: No. i think it's very different okay i think the aerobar is fun and you have the feet in the sky you feel the thrill of height and everything but you stop at 35 meters it's it's quite high for a ride but it's not a real flight And I think the balloon is a real flight. We have a balloon in Paris. We have a balloon in Budapest, Berlin. And you see the city from the sky at 150 meters high, which is very high. So you really experience a flight. With the aerobar, you have a ride, okay? So both of them are related to the sky, are related to the view, but one is really a flight, the other one is really a ride.Andy Povey: That makes absolute sense.Andy Povey: It doesn't reassure me on my fear of heights anymore, that I would like to go up three times, four times taller, higher than the one I saw first. Very interesting. So, listeners, we're often talking about technology and attractions. There's a huge amount of talk about augmented reality, about AI, about motion simulators. The reason, Jerome, we asked you to come and talk to us is because you don't do any of that. No—your experience is fantastic and it's new and it's unique, but there's no technology or very little obvious technology.Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, quite little. You know, it's amazing because we do this for now 32 years, as I told you. The first balloon was inflated in 1994. We have sold 120 balloons in more than 40 countries. And each time with the balloon, you have a magical effect, you know, because the balloon itself is very nice— because the balloon itself is a show from people looking at it from the ground. And because... The flight experience is amazing because you are really in the sky. You are really looking at the ground, at the landscape. You have no noise, you know, when you take a helicopter or plane. You have a lot of noise. You are in an enclosed airplane or helicopter. Here you are outside. You are on a balcony flying at 150 meters. And wherever we are, always we have like a magical effect of the flight. And with the flying bar, we decided to do something different— where we say, 'Why drink on ground where you can drink in the sky?'Jerome Giacomoni: So we add the drink to the ride, you know. So you are on a table and you have what we say in French conviviality. So we share a drink. We go at 35 meters and you have the thrill of the view of the height and also the conviviality of drinking. So this is another concept, but both of them are universal. And wherever we do it, we have sold 20 aero bars worldwide.Jerome Giacomoni: Everybody is very happy to have this kind of ride. I would say we are on the side of the main market. You know, we have two niche products. The balloon is a niche product. And the AeroBar is a niche product where we have another experience than a normal ride, like a roller coaster or a flume or a spinning coaster.Andy Povey: You say you're a nice product, but the balloon in Paris for the Olympics, where you lifted the cauldron, had phenomenal numbers of visitors watching. That wasn't something you could go on.Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, it was an amazing opportunity. You know, sometimes life gives you some presents.Jerome Giacomoni: And imagine that we were contacted by the Olympic Organisation Committee one day, and we believed it was a joke. And they said, 'We need to talk to you.' And then we discovered that instead of flying humans, they asked us to fly a cauldron. So the Olympic cauldron. And we have like one year and a half of design and manufacturing.Jerome Giacomoni: And then, at 11 pm, 25, the balloon has to fly in front of everybody. I can tell you it was a very stressful time. But so nice and so amazing to have experiences. So, yes, the balloon suddenly was visible by everybody. And that's back now in Paris, isn't it? Yes. First of all, the balloon has to stay only twice— 15 days. You know, you have the Olympics and the Paralympics. So we were open only 30 days in total. And the success was so huge that every night, you have dozens of thousands of people coming to look at it. That's why the mayor of Paris and the French president decided to keep it.Jerome Giacomoni: And just after the deflation of the balloon, they call us back and say, 'Jerome and Mathieu, we would like to have the balloon back.' So we work again with the city of Paris and the French presidency, and we agreed to put the balloon.Jerome Giacomoni: Three times, three months. So from June 21st, in France, this is a music event, you know, the Day of Music. To September 14th, which is a day of sport. So every year until the Olympic game of LA, we will operate the balloon for three months in the summertime. Fantastic.Andy Povey: So, Jerome, you operate in lots and lots of different countries all over the world. I think it's 14 countries that you've been.Jerome Giacomoni: No, we sold, but we operate only in the US and in France.Andy Povey: Ah, okay. Interesting.Jerome Giacomoni: We own ourselves, we operate ourselves, six balloons in the 120 we have sold. So we operate three in Paris region. One, the Parc André Citroën, where we have the Generali balloon since 1999. One in Disneyland Paris since 2005. So we are in Disneyland Paris for now 20 years. Time is flying. And the last one, the Cold Run, which is a very specific event that we operate now for one year and for the next two years. And in the US, we operate Disney World Orlando in Disney Spring since 2009, and San Diego Zoo Safari Park since 2005, and Irvine. South of LA since 2007. So we operate now six balloons for a long, long time, except the cold run. And we keep selling balloons.Jerome Giacomoni: We sell more or less five to six balloons every year.Andy Povey: And how do you find the differences between the French culture and you're on either side of America, so the differences between the different coasts of America and France?Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, we... We are in the US, but we are also in Mexico, in a lot of countries in Asia. In the Middle East, we have a beautiful balloon in Dubai. We have a beautiful balloon in Seoul. So we work a lot with very different cultures. You know, it's very interesting to sell the same product to different cultures. So I would say... The main difference probably lies in the contract. It's very funny when you make the contract. I would say a 'yes' is not the same 'yes' depending on the culture. But everybody is, you know, you... You love people when you work worldwide. You learn a lot, you discover a lot. You have to learn with different cultures. And I have the chance in my professional life to experience that and to meet people from all over the world. And, you know, my job is to go on site, and discuss with someone, and see if it's possible or not to have a balloon at this place.Jerome Giacomoni: So it's always a beautiful job because I travel in a lot of countries in beautiful spots.Jerome Giacomoni: We don't succeed a lot because, if not, I would have sold thousands of balloons. We have always constraints with local authority, with food traffic, etc. But always, it's a pleasure to meet people. And once... The balloon is accepted by the local authority when the customer has a finance for it. Then start more or less a one-year work together between installation, work on site, inflation, and training of the team. And after... They fly with their own wings, even if we have no wings with our balloons.Andy Povey: Very good. And I imagine that you don't put balloons into ugly places.Jerome Giacomoni: We did, sometimes for specific contracts. Ugly, I won't use this name, but not very obvious, logical site. But it has happened. Sometimes we do for small events or for specific needs.Jerome Giacomoni: But yes, most of the time, the sites are very interesting.Andy Povey: So there are other things you're doing with the balloons. So the air quality messaging that you have above Paris. Tell us more about your opportunities to influence in other areas.Jerome Giacomoni: Yes, you know, the balloon is not only a ride, a passenger ride, but it's also an amazing opportunity for communication and for advertisement. So in the city center, like Paris, Berlin, or Seoul, the balloon is used also as a giant advertising billboard. So you have two revenues. You have the revenue of the passenger, but you have also the sponsor revenue.Jerome Giacomoni: When we started the balloon in Paris, it was extremely difficult to get the authorisation to have a balloon in Paris centre. We are two kilometres south of the Eiffel Tower. But you remember, we had the famous Millennium, the Y2K. uh and and so the mayor faris was looking for a new idea and we propose a balloon And they gave us only a one year and a half contract. And the investment was quite huge. And we told him, OK, we can do it, but we cannot do it for only one year and a half. Except if you accept that we have a name on the balloon, a naming and a sponsor on the balloon. And the mayor say yes. And we start another business where we put sponsor on the balloon. And this is a very good business because it makes a... activity immediately profitable so we did that in Paris in 1999 and in 2008 the balloon was like 10 years old because when you fly you have your the balloon is huge we talk about a 32 meters high balloon we talk about like a 12-story building.Jerome Giacomoni: So everybody knows the balloon in Paris. Everybody can see it. And so, when we fly, we have 400,000 people who immediately see us. So we decided to give citizen aspect. And we start— pour changer le couleur de la balle selon la qualité de l'air. C'était en 2008. Et parce que nous l'avons fait, nous avons des scientifiques... coming to us and say, 'Hey, this balloon is a wonderful platform to measure air quality because you make like a carrot of the air from zero to 150 meters. Jerome Giacomoni: Can we bring some scientist instrument on the gondola? And we say yes. And then we start to make science. And then we start to make scientific publications, scientific publications. And then we start a new business where the balloon is not only a tethered gas balloon for passenger, it's only... advertising billboard and now it's only a scientific platform and so this is very interesting and the last things we have done in 2024 no this year in 2025 is to use the balloon for global climate change. As you know, we have two main gas pollutants for the climate change, CO2 and CH4. And the balloon is a perfect platform to measure evolution on CO2 and CH4. So we are working with a European group named ICOS. gathering all the best laboratories in Europe, who are making a huge study on how CO2 and CH4 how they are in each city.Jerome Giacomoni: And Paris has been chosen as a pilot city. So we are very glad to work with them. And so now the Balloon is also working on climate change. And we will have big, big, big LED screen. So we make some technology sometime, as you said, to inform people on the temperature elevation in Europe and in the world. And the news are very bad, as everybody knows.Andy Povey: But that's fascinating. I love the integration you've been able to take from this unique proposition and apply it to different markets, different problems.Jerome Giacomoni: You know, Andy, I think we have to exit from the box. My message to... all people who are listening to us.Jerome Giacomoni: Okay, passenger rides is very important. It's a key market for many of us. But sometimes we can use... another way to find new flow of revenue, like advertising, and we can be also helpful to our other citizens, like working freely for scientists to make measurements on pollutants of the air. This helps with both air quality and also climate change.Andy Povey: It's a beautiful concept, Jerome. I love it. Love it.Andy Povey: So, final question. Your experiences are obviously very unique. What advice would you have for a venue and possibly a smaller venue that doesn't have the resources to be able to build something 150 metres high or put something 150 metres into the air? What advice would you give them on how to make a compelling experience for visitors?Jerome Giacomoni: I really believe that you have to stick on your roots, okay? I mean that people want authenticity.Jerome Giacomoni: And as you know, we are very keen on balloons, as you can imagine. So we make in our, you know, Paris, it's in Paris where you have the first flight. Yeah. In 1783. Montgolfier, brothers. Yes, with the Montgolfier brothers, with Charles, the scientist. So we really stick on our roots. And I think where you are in Brittany, where you are in Japan, you have to follow your own road and your own path. By feeling what could be the good idea, but also what is your feeling inside you. You need to have something different that you feel very confident with.Andy Povey: Beautiful final thought, Jerome, I like it a lot. So listeners, stay authentic and be passionate.Jerome Giacomoni: Exactly, the right word is passionate.Paul Marden: Next up, let's get some soundbites from the show floor.Rheanna Sorby: My name's Rheanna. I'm Marketing and Creative Director for the Seasonal Group. We are curators of Christmas magic all year round. Wow, wow.Paul Marden: So you make Christmas special?Rheanna Sorby: We're the Christmas elves.Paul Marden: Awesome, awesome. I can see you've got such a great set of stands. What have you got here that you're exhibiting for the first time?Rheanna Sorby: We have Santa's Enchanted Express, which is a three-minute experience that transports customers and guests from a very festive train station to the North Pole in just under three minutes. So it's quite a Christmas miracle. And it also transports on nine pallets. So it's a great return on investment for customers there if it's 24 people on. We also have our elevator experience, which went viral last year. And then we have VR, animatronics, and a lot of our famous items, like the snowman here, just dressed as a little, it's some sort of operator.Paul Marden: Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. So we don't have a lot of luck with lifts at the moment because the team got stuck in a lift yesterday for about 45 minutes. Stop it. We got rescued by the... Well, I didn't get in the lift. I walked because there wasn't enough room. But two of them had to be rescued by the fire brigadeRheanna Sorby: Okay, so this might be triggering. Well, you know.Paul Marden: Oh, no, I found it hilarious.Paul Marden: I was hugely supportive on the outside, yelling into them.Paul Marden: But Santa won't let me get stuck in a lift today, will he? Absolutely not.Rheanna Sorby: No, there's an emergency exit. Excellent.Paul Marden: So what's new and innovative then about the Santa Express? What are you bringing to market?Rheanna Sorby: So a lot of our clients, we sell business to business. They're struggling to get people into shopping centres and we're finding that we need to create retail theatre. So that is something I see as a massive trend moving forward. People want nostalgia. They want an experience, something memorable. But also our customers need a way to return investment as well. So they hopefully will spend something with us and then ticket the experience. So that's something that we're pivoting our business towards. Trying to create a brand new experience every year. A lot of people are struggling nowadays, cost of living.Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely.Rheanna Sorby: It's difficult, so we're trying to find a way that brings the Christmas magic to people's doors.Paul Marden: We are, where are we at the moment? We're in September, so we've still got a couple of months left before Christmas 2025, but that must be over for you.Rheanna Sorby: No, the quality of the street is on the shelves. It's already happening. The install season starts literally on Monday for us. Really? Yes. When we get back, we land and then we start installing.Paul Marden: And so this is the busy time. So let's talk about Christmas 2026. What are the trends that you see coming along at that point?Rheanna Sorby: Whimsical, whimsical. So we've got Wicked number two coming out. And we've also had all like the Whoville, that sort of style, the Grinch. So imagine pastels, furry trees, things that don't quite make sense, a lot of whimsical wonderland, I would say, trend-wise. But equally immersive experiences and how we can bring magic to you.Paul Marden: Wonderful, wonderful. Thank you ever so much. Rheanna, it's been lovely to meet you. Thank you for coming on the podcast. And let's go and visit Santa in his lift, shall we? Yeah, excellent.Paul Marden: And here it is. So we are surrounded by suites in an old-fashioned lift. And there's our doors closed.Paul Marden: Oh, how amazing is this? We're going up.Paul Marden: Ice like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Great Glass Elevator. This is amazing. We're up over the clouds. Just stunning. There's a train there. I think we're going to follow into the tunnel after the train. Yes.Paul Marden: Got cold, now we're underground. Now we're in the tunnel.Paul Marden: And I think this might be Santa's factory.Paul Marden: Let's get ready.Paul Marden: Merry Christmas. The big man's chair as well. Can I take a seat in the big man's chair? Ho, ho, ho.Sohret Pakis: Hi, Paul. My name is Shorhet Pakis. I'm the brand ambassador for Polin Waterparks.Paul Marden: What are you launching this year at IAAPA? What's new for you?Sohret Pakis:Last year, we have won two big awards for a themed water slide, which is... Stingray it was in Nantes in France and it was something big because you know it was like Europeans best water slide number one and I have a brass ring award winner about two million number one but last night in Porta Ventura Stingray has won the second time best water slide of Europe award. But we have something new about it. Last year when I was telling about Stingray, it was an eight-person slide. This year we have something new. Now the capacity went up to 10, especially when we're talking about all these queue management issues. So that's something wonderful. And also, you ask, what is new? This year, we have something very exciting. A parrot-themed stingray. It's the same slide, but it's parrot-themed.Sohret Pakis: It's coming to Dubai by January. It's going to be open.Paul Marden: So can I ask you, what makes that innovative? What's new about that?Sohret Pakis: Actually, it's a very specifically themed waterslide. You know that POLIN has been pioneer in RTM manufacturing and U-texture. It's kind of a composite material technology which we can make waterslides look. Look like a character, actually. We are the company who did this first because we said that storytelling is very important. Yes, but you know, slides are just slides. So we just wanted the slides look like the characters in that story. Of course, behind that, there is huge material technology, composites technology, design technologies. Actually, that's the time when we introduced King Cobra years ago. And now with Stingray, we took it much further. So actually, the team looks perfectly like a Stingray, but at the same time, it's a water slide with so many features. It has two big towers and between the towers, there's a bridge. From each tower, two slides start with a very special mist roofing and very special bridge where you can just see what's happening all over the slide.Paul Marden: So the queuing experience is enriched so it doesn't feel quite so long and boring because you can watch what everyone is doing.Sohret Pakis: It is, yes.Paul Marden: Super impressive. So we have been asking everybody to think about what are their predictions for 2026?Sohret Pakis: Everybody is talking about AI. Everybody is talking about immersive. So AI, of course, will make a huge difference in operation, especially.Paul Marden: In what way?Sohret Pakis: Actually, in guest satisfaction, because personalisation is very important in our industry. Whoever comes to the park, they are the heroes at the park. And so actually, if the park can make them feel that they are the heroes, truly— if that's their birthday, if that's their wedding anniversary, so whatever. If the park can make you feel that you're special, and thanks to technology, now it's possible.Paul Marden: Absolutely. That's so interesting. Thank you so much for your insights and for joining us on Skip the Queue. Thank you.Thomas Collin: I'm Thomas, I'm from VEX Solutions, so we are a VR company at the start, and now we're going to the arcade with mixed reality as well. Okay, so that's a nice link. What are you launching here at IAFA? So here for the first time we are introducing VEX Party Dash. The Party Dash is a mixed reality arcade machine. So automated, people can go on it, play on it. You have two huge screens that are really highly interactive. You can walk on the screen, you can touch the screen. The goal is really to make you moving. So that's what we want to do with the Dash.Paul Marden: That's amazing, isn't it? So we're watching people at the moment. You can see lights up on the floor that they're stepping on and on the wall.Thomas Collin: What is really the key aspect of this product is that it's highly attractive. People, they just go around, they stop by it, they want to try it. Actually, we can say, 'Hey, come and try it,' because we watch you, we see you. So we can say, 'Hey, come and try it.' And people stop by, they play it. It's highly immersive, but also highly active. Yes. You're just not standing on an arcade, sitting down. No, you're really moving around. So, this is really good for kids and families. Absolutely. That's what we see.Paul Marden: So, where do you see this being used? What sort of attractions will take this?Thomas Collin: Actually, with this product, it can go either in the attraction side or either at the arcade side. So, you can play it as one game, and you can play a three-minute game like an arcade, or you can actually book for 15 minutes. Since there is not a single game, but multiple games, you can play different games, you can play different levels inside the main gate. So you have a high replayability. Because we want you to come back, we want to attract the gamers, and then make them come back.Paul Marden: 15 minutes with this much activity sounds like quite a tall order. It's a workout.Thomas Collin: It's a workout. It's a workout. Yeah, yeah, yeah.Peter Cliff: Hi, my name is Pete Cliff. I'm from Conductr. We're here in Barcelona and it's so exciting to be back at IAAPA. Now, what we're super excited about this year is talking about our collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Lines on Great Stirrup Cay. It's their new water park. It's a great project. We're excited to talk to people about it. It's also lovely to be back in Barcelona. It's been, I think, about six years since we were last back here, and it's always one of my favourite European cities for IAPA. It's great to meet with people from the industry, reconnect with old colleagues and friends, and really see what's happening. There's a huge amount of innovation and special projects that are launching all over the show floor. So yeah, great to be back, and can't wait to see what the future of the themed entertainment industry has to offer.Laura Baxter: My name is Laura Baxter. You may know me as the girl with the purple jumpsuit on LinkedIn. I am the head of marketing for Black Gang Shine, but have most recently just announced that I've gone into freelancing and I've launched your CMO.Paul Marden: And I have to say, the jumpsuits work because I was about 50 metres behind you earlier on and I spotted the Your CMO logo on the back of the jumpsuit, so well done for that. We've talked to a lot of suppliers with stands that are exhibiting. From your perspective, this is your first time stepping over to the dark side and coming to an IAPA. What's the experience like for you? What are you here to get out of the show?Laura Baxter: I'd say it's twofold. Mainly it is for networking. Obviously anybody who's anyone in the industry is here. But also, it's inspiration because I want to be able to talk about new and exciting stuff with... Potential clients that I may have and ideas still for Black Gang as well. So, when you walk around show floor, which is just so vibrant and there's so much going on everywhere—you turn, you can draw inspiration from so many of the suppliers here.Paul Marden: What have you seen that's innovative?Laura Baxter: There's a huge amount of stuff being done with tech and it's very interesting because I think that's where a lot of people are going to think that they need to go, because that's the way of the world now, and the next generation don't know life off of a screen and they're expecting to have these incredible digital experiences.Laura Baxter: I'm not convinced that is the way to go. But yes, it's still impressive tech. So for me, there are things that I stand back out and look at and I'm like, 'Whoa, that's really, really cool.'Laura Baxter: I'm not so sure it's potentially what consumers want, though, controversially.Paul Marden: It's really hard, isn't it? Because as a parent of young kids, you want them off the tech as much as you possibly can. But you need a hook. To be able to attract them, don't you? So there's been some amazing stuff here that bridges that gap between the real world and the tech world. So, summer season 2025 is over. What are your predictions about summer 26 and what operators should be thinking about right now?Laura Baxter: It's a really tough market, we all know that. Budgets are tight for households, so there is an awful lot more thought going into their spending and what they're doing and where they're choosing to take that little bit of disposable money that they do have. Therefore actually I don't think next year operators should be thinking about huge innovations or new attractions. I think they need to strip back to basics and nail their customer service. I think guest expectations now are so high. because they're parting with money that is a little bit more precious to them than perhaps if they don't leave at the end of that day having had a good experience they feel ripped off they're going to go straight to review platforms they're going to let it all out and actually you need to be focusing on making sure that every single touch point with that customer is bang on and we're talking pre-visit as well from the your website journey to buying it to the follow-up emails to the pre-visit emails to that first person they meet on front of house to the ride operators to the events team if you have that kind of entertainment on park if you are not nailing your experienceLaura Baxter: You are going to lose out well.Paul Marden: I think we should end it right there. That there is a nugget of gold.Paul Marden: So I am here with co-host Andy Povey and our good friend Josh Haywood from Crealy down in Devon.Josh Haywood: Hello.Paul Marden: It's the end of day two. What have you seen, Josh? What's blown your socks off?Josh Haywood: Good couple of days so far. We're probably into 40,000 steps, which is great. I think technology is the thing that struck me this week so far. Just the small changes that some of the operators and some of the manufacturers are putting into their existing kits. So, for example, I attended a seminar this morning about bowling. and normally temping bowling is temping bowling. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But now there's augmented reality, and they've got features on the lanes, and it's not about just taking all the pins down, it's taking pin one and six out, and all those things they're trying to do to reinvent older, more traditional attractions, which I think I find really interesting. Yeah. I think some of the seasonality stuff, the Christmas and Halloween stuff has been really good. We sat on a train and went on a journey and the seats rumbled and the sound and the visual effects, they were great.Paul Marden: I saw that. There was no room for me to go and sit on that train. It was amazing.Josh Haywood: I thought that was really good. And, you know, I've been really impressed with generally the show. I think you can get around it all as well. It feels really friendly. I think the sun shining always helps as well. It's not too tough, is it?Paul Marden: I mean, the last time we were in Barcelona, we were all wearing face masks. Absolutely, yes. So it's really refreshing to be back here. And not have that.Josh Haywood: Absolutely. And not have to queue to get in as well. I think that was interesting on the first day.Paul Marden: Oh, did they see you and then just wave you through?Josh Haywood: Red carpet was up for, of course, award-winning theme park and resort. Paul Marden: Mr. Hayward. Did you say award? Winnie and obviously you're on the back of your two awards in the theme park awards last week. How was that? And then we've got some really exciting news from Creeley.Josh Haywood: I saw it at the press this morning. Yes, so a couple of things happened last week. So first of all, we had our anniversary 25 years of Maximus the Coaster. The Vekoma Coaster, 25 years. The first coaster in Devon. It was Devon's first coaster, over half a million riders later. It's done 2 million miles around the track. It's great. So we did a sort of event for that, and we used it to sort of make some announcements about future attractions, which I'll tell you about in a minute. But then we went to the Theme Park Awards last week at Wickste Park, where... We've been the recipients of a few bronze and silvers, and we go being little old us and hope for the best. And then the award I really wanted to win was one of two: the best for families and the best for value. And when the family award came up, they said, 'In bronze is such and such, in silver.' And I was like, 'Well, there you go.' That's all that's left for another year. And then when they said the win at gold was cruelly for best for families, we were delighted. I got a bit emotional about it. I think we would just work so hard over the years to be the best in the Southwest, certainly. And certainly since we put Sootyland in as well. We won the award for Toddlers.Josh Haywood: So it was a double wham. And within 10 minutes as well. It wasn't separated. Within 10 minutes, I just got my breath back from the first one. And then we were up on stage again taking that second award. Oh, it's tough, isn't it? Which was great, yeah. Multi-award winning. Multi-award winning theme parking resort. Devon's finest. Most right in Devon. We're just going to... absolutely bleep the hell out of this for the next 12 months because who knows we may not win it again so we'll just shout from the treetops about this and then we also won thanks to martin rose and rose events uh silver for best entertainment event for the city show It's still very popular, the legacy brand. People love the Sooty show. And as I said at the awards, we sell loads of those puppets. People love a Sooty and a Sweep. So it's been a really good collaboration for us.Paul Marden: We were at our first away day for our Merak team back a few months ago down at Creeley, and I found a little sooty puppet underneath the lectern. I was absolutely chuffed to bits. And there he was, just sitting at the front of the away day, watching everything going on with Sue next to him.Josh Haywood: He's still popular. We understood when we put Cityland in, it wasn't going to be Peppa Pig. world and we didn't think for a minute we'd even sort of get to those heights of Thomas Land at Drayton Manor but it certainly hit a chord with the older market certainly the nannies and the granddads who remember such from when they were kids and you know it's a legacy brand and it works but what we have done really well is sort of corner that market for younger children and toddlers and we Sort of took some comments over the last 12 to 18 months that we may be missing the mark when it comes to the 8 to 12-year-olds, which we were pretty good at five or six years ago. So we've decided this year that we're going to invest in some thrill attractions. So we've just launched news that we've got two new rides going in next year. One, I can't tell you exactly because we're still going under. Got some planning issues, but we're going to have the Southwest tallest ride and the Southwest first inverted ride. So a multi-million pound investment going in and hopefully that will give us another boost that we need to kick on again. We've still got new accommodation going in. We'll still be doing new events and shows for next year.Josh Haywood: So it's going to be a bumper year for Crealy. Absolutely. I really look forward to that.Paul Marden: I look forward to you being on the launch ride.Paul Marden: Me down on the ground watching and videoing.Josh Haywood: What they have said, which is really interesting, we spoke to an operator, there's only one other ride like it in the UK, and that operator said, whatever you do, make sure when you put the ride in, you fit a hose pipe and a tap right in. Because you may be washing the seats down more than you would usually on your current ride. So, yeah, it certainly will add that next level of ride experience to our family market.Paul Marden: Yeah, I think that's super important, isn't it? Mr. Povey, what have you seen today that has blown your socks off?Andy Povey: I'm really looking for the place to go and get some more soft, comfortable socks. I've walked so much. I've stood around and listened to so many fantastic talks, had so many brilliant conversations. I'm done. My feet hurt. I need to sit down and have a beer.Paul Marden: Well, I hate to break it to you, but there's another day left. And there's still more interviews to do. Still more opportunities for us to get some interesting stories on Skip the Queue.Andy Povey: Look forward to that.Paul Marden: Gentlemen, I think we're about done. So thank you ever so much. It has been a joy. And Mr. Povey, see you back here tomorrow. Josh, wonderful as always.Josh Haywood: Maybe see you at OrlandoPaul Marden: Oh. Absolutely, yeah.Josh Haywood: We'll do it againPaul Marden: Thanks for listening to today's episode. If you liked it, leave a comment in Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you didn't, let us know on hello@skipthequeue.fm. Today's episode was a team effort for Sami and Emily from Plaster, Steve from Folland Co., as well as Claire and Wenalyn from Skip the Queue HQ. We're back again tomorrow for more fun from IAAPA, including Andreas Andersen from Liseberg, one of Scandinavia's most visited parks. See you all tomorrow. The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report
Here is your Disney News for Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025 - Disneyland Tokyo set to unveil a thrilling new Star Wars attraction next month. - Disneyland Paris gears up for Halloween with a 'Villains Unleashed' theme, featuring spooky parades and an interactive villain experience. - Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Disney World, Florida, blooms from March 1st to June 30th with stunning topiaries and garden-fresh cuisine. - Disney+ announces a new docuseries, "Behind the Magic: The Making of Disney's Greatest Attractions," offering insights into the creation of iconic rides and shows. Have a magical day and tune in again tomorrow for more updates.
Opinion Line Producer Paul Byrne was up early this morning to join the kids of the CUH Childrens Club as they left Cork at 4am on a trip to Disneyland Paris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
PJ finds out the detection of Bird Flu in The Lough, hears from Opinion Line Producer Paul Byrne about the CUH Kids taking a special trip to Disneyland Paris, talks about dads and Palestine to Donncha O'Callaghan. And more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Send us a textJoin us this week as we explore the dazzling debut of what will become Disney's brand-new castle in Abu Dhabi, dive into all the frightful fun and magical moments of the Halloween season at Disneyland Paris, and get an insider trip review from Courtney on her spook-tacular experience at Oogie Boogie Bash. From glittering turrets to haunted streets and villainous encounters, this episode is packed with fresh Disney magic, festive tips, and first-hand stories that will transport you right into the heart of the celebration.Join us in our completely free Discord https://discord.gg/4nAvKTgcRnCheck out all of our amazing sponsors!Getaway Todayhttps://www.getawaytoday.com/?referrerid=8636If you want to book a Disney Vacation, please use our friends at Getaway Today. Also, if you call 855-GET-AWAY and mention Walt's Apartment, you will get a special dose of magic Where In The Park The Podcast-“Discover the history behind the details of Disney parks and more on the Where In The Park podcast”https://whereinthepark.comCheck Out Sunken City Designs - from the mind of Louis Medinahttps://sunkencitydesigns.bigcartel.comWe are proud to be part of the Disney Podcast Family , checkout all the other great shows below https://linktr.ee/DisneyPodcastFamily
In this weeks episode, Jacqueline and Meghan discuss their “pla” for their 11 day trip! Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and “regular” Paris all in one trip. There will be snacks, rides, shows, characters, and all the spreadsheets. Follow LTP on Social Media
Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey return with a jam-packed episode of I Want That Too, covering the latest Disney merch, clever marketing strategies, and holiday surprises. The rise of popcorn buckets in parks and movie theaters – from talking Mickey to mummy Stitch to a Tron lightcycle How Disney uses psychology to nudge us into spending more, from limited releases to sneaky menu tricks Nightmare Before Christmas merch expansions, books, and light trails around the globe Early Christmas décor spotted at Disneyland Paris – and why Disney (and retailers) get a head start on the holidays The surprising history of Winnie the Pooh at Disney, including cereal crossovers and rare collectibles From ghost Mickey buckets to glow-in-the-dark villain sneakers, Jim and Lauren unpack the ways Disney keeps fans coming back for “just one more thing.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Len Testa and Jim Hill return with a Disney Dish full of hard-hitting questions like: is a popcorn bucket a collectible, a food container, or proof of life's absurdity? Along the way, they tackle Disney's latest surveys, new overlays, and a franchise that almost stalled out before becoming a billion-dollar juggernaut. Disney sets the closing date for Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom and spruces up Carousel of Progress with a new Walt Disney animatronic Tron Lightcycle Run trades neon blue for Nine Inch Nails red in a Tron: Ares overlay Disneyland Paris ticket pricing hints at when World of Frozen may open in 2026 Universal ponders the true meaning of souvenir popcorn buckets, from Aristotle to social media influencers Jim explains how Pixar's Cars almost didn't get made — and how Radiator Springs ended up saving Disney California Adventure From castle cake flashbacks to Schrödinger's popcorn, this episode mixes history, news, and a little bit of existential dread — all with the usual Testa-Hill banter. SHOW NOTES Support Our Sponsors Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Len Testa and Jim Hill return with a Disney Dish full of hard-hitting questions like: is a popcorn bucket a collectible, a food container, or proof of life's absurdity? Along the way, they tackle Disney's latest surveys, new overlays, and a franchise that almost stalled out before becoming a billion-dollar juggernaut. Disney sets the closing date for Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom and spruces up Carousel of Progress with a new Walt Disney animatronic Tron Lightcycle Run trades neon blue for Nine Inch Nails red in a Tron: Ares overlay Disneyland Paris ticket pricing hints at when World of Frozen may open in 2026 Universal ponders the true meaning of souvenir popcorn buckets, from Aristotle to social media influencers Jim explains how Pixar's Cars almost didn't get made — and how Radiator Springs ended up saving Disney California Adventure From castle cake flashbacks to Schrödinger's popcorn, this episode mixes history, news, and a little bit of existential dread — all with the usual Testa-Hill banter. SHOW NOTES Support Our Sponsors Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Portuguese officials investigating Wednesday's deadly funicular crash in Lisbon, which killed 16 people, say a cable snapped, but the rest of the mechanism was functioning properly. They added that the brakeman tried to apply emergency brakes but failed to prevent the derailment. Also: the US Navy Seal operation which it's claimed failed and ended up killing North Korea civilians, and why Disneyland Paris is being accused of racism.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk
Jen an Frank record the 400th episode of the most listened to and downloaded siblings podcast saluting all theme parks but mostly Walt Disney World dropping Thursday from that magical place we call Long Island... Theme Park Thursday with Dillo's Diz! On this episode…
Send us a textThe 2025 Destination D23 event is wrapped up, and we have big news announcements to share! Join us this week, along with special guest Kristin Petersen, as we discuss the upcoming projects coming to Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland Paris, and Walt Disney World!
Behind the scenes at Disney, it's leadership that truly runs the show. In this episode, Lee Cockerell shares the surprising leadership secrets that helped him oversee 40,000 cast members as the former VP of Operations for Walt Disney World Resort. From his time at Hilton, Marriott, and Disney, he breaks down the habits and leadership principles that helped him become one of the industry's most respected leaders. You'll learn what it takes to be successful in any role, why routines matter more than you think, and how to become the kind of leader people want to work with. Topics discussed: How Lee built his career with no college degree What he learned working at Hilton and Marriott Why some leaders fail How his leadership style has evolved The habits and mindset that made him successful The legacy of his book, Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney Resources: Mitlin Financial: https://www.mitlinfinancial.com/ The JOY and Productivity Journal by Lawrence Sprung: https://www.amazon.com/JOY-Productivity-Journal-brought-mindset/dp/B0CYQFYW54/ Download Your Free Copy of the Couple's JOYful Money Guide: https://mitlin.us/CouplesJOY Connect with Larry Sprung: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencesprung/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larry_sprung/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceDSprung/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/Lawrence_Sprung Connect with Lee Cockerell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/LeeCockerell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecockerellmagic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Lee-Cockerell-100070689116367/ Creating Disney Magic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createmagic/ Personal Website: https://www.leecockerell.com/ Cockerell Academy Website: https://www.cockerellacademy.com/ About our Guest: Lee Cockerell retired as the Executive Vice President of Operations for the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, a position he held for ten years. His responsibilities encompassed a diverse mix of operations, which included 20 resort hotels with over 24,000 Guest rooms, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, 5 golf courses, a shopping village & nighttime entertainment complex, the ESPN Sports Complex and the ancillary operations support functions. Lee joined the Disney organization in July 1990 as Director of Food and Beverage and Quality Assurance for the Disneyland Paris hotels. Prior to joining the Walt Disney World Co., he spent seventeen years in various executive positions with the Marriott Corporation and eight years with Hilton Hotels. Lee is the best-selling author of four books on leadership, management and world class customer service: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney is now available in 21 languages. The Customer Rules: The 39 Essential Rules for Delivering Sensational Service is currently available in 15 languages. Time Management Magic: How to Get More Done Every Day Career Magic: How to Stay on Track to Achieve a Stellar Career Lee and his wife Priscilla reside in Orlando, Florida. Lee enjoys teaching leadership, management and service excellence seminars, traveling, dining out and most of all spending time with his three grandchildren, Jullian, Margot, and Tristan. Disclosure: Guests on the Mitlin Money Mindset are not affiliated with CWM, LLC, and opinions expressed herein may not be representative of CWM, LLC. CWM, LLC is not responsible for the guest's content linked on this site. This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com
ForceCast Network: Star Wars News and Commentary (All Shows)
This episode we have Karen Allen direct from Official indyCast correspondent Mitch Hallock's Terrificon in a fascinating hour long panel, Indyfans magazine creator Junior Jones is interviewed in IJ in the UK, Indiana Mic has a quick Indy Outfit shout out and we have an Indy update from Disneyland Paris!
Safari Mike and Christina talk about their trip to Disneyland Paris, and what they'd like to take back to Disney's Animal Kingdom from the park. Help support conservation and check out our merch store! All profits go to conservation programs, currently Atlantic White shark Conservancy. Follow this like to access the store. https://www.teepublic.com/user/radioharambe