Podcasts about dreamfinder

D23 just dropped a fresh wave of Disney Parks announcements, and we're talking about all of it! We chat about:Villain's Land including it's revealed back story, 2 rides announced, & morePiston Peak, including the 2 rides announced and what we're looking forward to the mostMonstropolis and SUPER SOON opening date + news about the door ride!Tropical Americas and the new rides coming to the landDisco Yeti, Dreamfinder, and Carousel of Progress (RIP, don't get Jess started)Disneyland & DCA updatesDisney Cruise line announcementsYOUR thoughts on all of it!Let us know what you're excited or NOT so excited about!Book your next trip to Disney with Tyler's expert travel agents from People Mover Travel by your side! Watch the pod on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@disneyvillepodcastFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneyvillepodcast/Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disneyvillepodcastCheck out our website: www.welcometodisneyville.comShop our MERCH: https://www.welcometodisneyville.com/shopWant to get to know Tyler and Jessica even more? Check out their YouTube channels!Jessica's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@itsjessicabraunTyler's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tylertravelstvAre you thinking of planning a Disney vacation? Tyler's amazing team of travel agents can help!  Visit the People Mover Travel website to learn how!  Get a free quote from People Mover Travel: https://www.peoplemovertravel.com

We're hashing out the updates following D23. Is Malificent's coaster safe enough for Landon? Will Piston Peak National Park have enough popcorn for Matt? Will the Monster's door ride be too high for TJ? 

Episode #458 This week we take a deep dive into Journey into Imagination, Journey into Your Imagination and Journey into Imagination with Figment.  www.thedisneycrush.com thedisneycrush@gmail.com www.patreon.com/thedisneycrush  

In this episode, Chris Cochrane guest-hosts for his brother Ray and devotes the whole show to one event: Disney’s D23 2026 fan convention in Anaheim. Friday night delivered Marvel’s new X-Men cast, Adam Driver as Mister Sinister, a fresh Avengers: Doomsday trailer, and a release date for Frozen 3. Saturday turned to the parks, with Villains Land, an Indiana Jones dark ride, the long-awaited Expedition Everest yeti repair, and a Monsters Inc land opening in 2027. – Want to start a podcast? It’s easy to get started! Sign up at Blubrry – Thinking of buying a Starlink? Use my link to support the show. Subscribe to the Newsletter. Email Chris if you want to get in touch! Like and Follow Geek News Central’s Facebook Page. Support my Show Sponsor: Best Godaddy Promo Codes Get 1Password Full Summary Chris Cochrane opens the show and explains why this episode breaks the usual format. Instead of six or eight unrelated stories, the entire episode covers Disney’s D23 convention, which he compares to Apple’s WWDC. For newcomers, he notes that D23 is Disney’s official fan club, named for the company’s founding year of 1923. This year’s event ran two nights at the Honda Center: Friday for movies and television, Saturday for the theme parks. Marvel Finally Casts the X-Men Friday’s headline was the X-Men. The Associated Press put the crowd near 12,000, and Marvel Studios used that stage to name its rebooted team. Christopher Abbott plays Professor Charles Xavier, Inde Navarrette plays Rogue, and Maya Boyd plays Storm. Adam Driver rounds out the group as the villain Mister Sinister. Meanwhile, Samara Weaving, Kit Connor, and Sadie Sink were already known as Emma Frost, Cyclops, and Jean Grey. Jake Schreier directs, and the film arrives May 5, 2028. Chris calls the lineup spot-on casting. He singles out Weaving as a perfect match for the comics, and he points out that Sink already appeared as Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Navarrette is the least established name, coming off a breakout role in an indie horror film. Boyd, meanwhile, was the name he knew least, with what he believes is a Broadway background. Above all, Chris hopes Marvel does the team justice, and he recommends the animated revival X-Men ’97 on Disney+ as the best place to start. Frozen 3 Gets a Date and a Chaotic Reveal Frozen 3 lands November 24, 2027. That is the Wednesday of Thanksgiving week, the same slot the first two films used. The story centers on Anna and Kristoff’s wedding, which a new villain, an evil Ice Queen, disrupts. Jennifer Lee returns to direct with Trent Correy, and the full voice cast is back. However, the reveal itself fell apart. Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel performed a darker arrangement of “Frozen Heart.” Meanwhile, the audio failed, the video failed, and a set of doors never opened. Menzel asked the crowd whether they should try it again, and Bell simply narrated everything that was supposed to happen. Afterward, Josh Gad sang “Oooh, Samantha,” a new love song for Olaf. Chris is here for it, since Olaf is one of the franchise’s best comic characters. Pixar, Disney Animation, and the Rest of Friday Night Pixar chief Pete Docter laid out a packed slate. Incredibles 3 hits summer 2028 and follows Violet and Dash sneaking out at night to fight crime. Chris hopes that finally shows a grown-up Jack-Jack. Coco 2 follows in November 2029 with Benjamin Bratt returning as Ernesto de la Cruz. That has fans puzzling over how a villain already in the Land of the Dead comes back. Additionally, Pixar showed an original called Ghost Market and a Venice-set cat film called Gatto. On the Disney Animation side, Zootopia 3 is confirmed. The live-action Tangled arrives March 31, 2028 with Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel. Chris considers that casting perfect after her turn in Agatha All Along. A live-action Lilo & Stitch sequel, a new Simpsons movie, a Bluey movie, and a Kingdom Hearts anime series round out the list. For Star Wars fans, Ahsoka returns January 20, 2027. Chris also offers a hot take: he prefers Rogue One to the entire sequel trilogy. Consequently, he welcomes original stories like Ryan Gosling’s upcoming Starfighter. Adam Driver Is Mister Sinister Driver appeared by video rather than in person. He told the crowd that he and Kevin Feige had talked for years about joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Then he announced he would play Magneto. After a long pause, he corrected himself to Nathaniel Milbury, which is Mister Sinister’s human alias. The gag landed because fans had floated Driver for Magneto for years. For anyone new to the comics, Chris explains that Mister Sinister is a geneticist obsessed with mutant DNA, a manipulator rather than a brawler. The cast met backstage only minutes earlier, so Chris is curious how their chemistry develops. Notably, Christopher Abbott previously worked with Driver on HBO’s Girls. The script comes from Beef creator Lee Sung Jin and The Bear co-showrunner Joanna Calo, two prestige-television names that have Chris excited. Why the X-Men Took Thirty Years to Reach the MCU A business story underlies the casting. In the 1990s, a financially struggling Marvel sold film rights to raise cash. Fox ended up with the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, and Sony took Spider-Man. As a result, Marvel Studios built its connected universe from 2008 onward without some of its most famous characters. The Hugh Jackman era of X-Men films belonged to Fox, with a separate continuity and no crossovers. That changed in 2019, when Disney closed its $71 billion purchase of 21st Century Fox’s film and television studio. Most coverage framed the deal as a streaming play, but it also brought the X-Men home. Chris sums it up neatly: Disney signed the paperwork in 2019, cast the film in 2026, and audiences see it in 2028. Ryan Gosling’s Starfighter, Ghost Rider, and VisionQuest Lucasfilm dated Star Wars: Starfighter for May 28, 2027. Gosling plays Kade Auberon, a pilot from the wrong side of the galaxy tied to the fastest starfighter ever built. Before he walked out, Disney played clips of him as a kid on The Mickey Mouse Club. Gosling said the company changed his life then and is changing it again now. He is also playing Ghost Rider in the Marvel universe. That thrills Chris, since Nicolas Cage last carried the character on the big screen. Meanwhile, the Disney+ series VisionQuest arrives October 14. Paul Bettany returns as Vision and James Spader as Ultron, and the trailer drops the two androids into oddly mundane human situations. Bettany joked that Vision has “rather inconveniently died several times.” Chris agrees the character has been through the wringer since WandaVision. The Avengers: Doomsday Trailer Avengers: Doomsday opens December 18, with Joe and Anthony Russo directing. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Hayley Atwell introduced the new footage. It offers the clearest look yet at Downey as Doctor Doom, who fights off Thor and takes his hammer. Evans appears as Captain America holding a baby, and Ian McKellen shows up as a haggard, long-haired Magneto. One quieter shot has Doom staring at a portrait of a lost wife and child. That frames him as a grieving avenger rather than a world-ender. He also commands an army of comic-accurate Sentinels. The cast pulls from the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the legacy Fox X-Men, including Patrick Stewart. Hugh Jackman also appeared on screen to say he is willing to return as Wolverine, though that was not a confirmation. Chris, a self-described Marvel nerd, closes with a theory. He suspects the MCU’s Tony Stark was actually Victor von Doom, adopted by the Starks, which would explain the Downey casting. He also predicts the Fox-era X-Men die off in this film and that Thor may be the major casualty. If it happens, he wants credit for calling it. Sponsor: GoDaddy Economy hosting $6.99/month, WordPress hosting $12.99/month, domains $11.99. Website builder trial available. Use codes at geeknewscentral.com/godaddy to support the show. Disney Parks Around the World Saturday’s Disney Experiences showcase covered parks, resorts, and cruise ships, with Neil Patrick Harris hosting. Hong Kong Disneyland gets an Avengers pavilion that reshapes its Stark Expo skyline. Shanghai Disneyland is building the first land devoted entirely to Spider-Man, complete with a new coaster. Since Spider-Man is his favorite hero, Chris hopes to visit once it opens. Closer to home, Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure is doubling in size with two rides opening in 2028. Avengers: Infinity Defense brings back Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Chris Hemsworth, and Downey, while Stark Flight Lab adds Brie Larson. A Coco boat ride into the Land of the Dead is also coming, with no height requirement. Chris admits he prefers California Adventure to Disneyland because the rides are better. Overseas, Disneyland Paris will retire its Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain overlay at the end of 2027 and restore the original Jules Verne theme. Paris also gets the first ride ever based on The Lion King. Tokyo Disneyland adds Sugar Rush: Sweet Rescue, the first Wreck-It Ralph ride, plus a Space Mountain launch sequence designed with YouTuber Mark Rober. Finally, Disney Cruise Line announced three more ships, including the Disney Believe in 2027 and an entirely new class in 2029. Back in Anaheim, Tomorrowland is getting reimagined, which Chris welcomes because the land badly needs an update. The Magic Happens parade and the Remember Dreams Come True fireworks are both returning. For the tech crowd, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run now has a Fortnite crossover, where in-game missions unlock content on the real ride. Every New Walt Disney World Ride and Land Chris ranks the Florida parks Hollywood Studios first, then Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom leads the announcements with Villains Land, now the official name. It features a Maleficent coaster through an enchanted briar and a boat ride through the Evil Queen’s catacombs. Reporting puts its scale near Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Glenn Close appeared in character as Cruella to announce it. Piston Peak, the Cars area replacing Tom Sawyer Island, adds two more rides, though their exact names remain unsettled. Additionally, the Carousel of Progress gets new scenes and a recast. Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston will voice Mom and Dad starting late spring 2027. Chris, invoking Heisenberg, calls Cranston the GOAT. At Animal Kingdom, the Indiana Jones ride now has a name: Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent. It tells an original 1950 story inside a Maya temple, and Harrison Ford personally served as the physical model for the animatronic. Nearby, the Tropical Americas land brings Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto, with more than fifty animal animatronics and no height requirement. Then comes the fix park regulars have wanted for years. The Expedition Everest yeti broke soon after the ride opened. Rather than fix it, Disney lit it with a strobe for over a decade, earning the nickname disco yeti. Now it is being repaired and returned to full motion. Chris rates Everest among his top five rides anywhere, and he suggests riding it before the fix so you can compare. Over at Epcot, Spaceship Earth gets its first major story rewrite in nearly twenty years, shifting from communication history to human connection. Dreamfinder also returns to Journey Into Imagination, and Disney Experiences chairman Thomas Mazloum introduced that news with two words: “we heard you.” Mazloum added that Disney has more projects underway than at any point in its history. After this rundown, Chris believes him. Monsters Inc Land Opens in 2027 Monstropolis begins opening at Hollywood Studios in early 2027, but in stages. The headline door coaster will not be ready on day one. It is the first suspended coaster in any Disney park. It also uses Disney’s first vertical lift, hauling riders about forty feet straight up before launching them into the door vault. Instead, the land opens with the Glob Theater’s “Welcome to Monstropolis” show and Harryhausen’s, a working sushi restaurant lifted from the first film. The stage show features an original song by Randy Newman, his first ever written for a theme park attraction. Chris also notes that the restaurant name honors stop-motion legend Ray Harryhausen. Wrapping up, Chris names the X-Men casting and the Doomsday trailer as his favorite moments of the weekend. He hopes to cover more movie news on future shows, and he plugs Dune: Part Three, which also opens December 18. Chris signs off with the usual mentions: GNC Insider at geeknewscentral.com/insider, email at geeknews@gmail.com, the newsletter, and modern podcast apps at podcastapps.com. He also thanks GoDaddy for over twenty years of support. The post Huge Announcements From D23!! #1873 appeared first on Geek News Central.

878 · D23 Disney Parks Announcements: Sightlines Into Yesterday, Tomorrow, and FantasyThe loudest cheers at D23 weren't necessarily for what Disney was building next. They were for what Disney was willing to bring back, repair, and finally acknowledge.In a presentation built on a little faith, trust, and pixie dust, Disney asked fans to believe in an ambitious future, but this time it also showed its work. Models, progress, priorities, restorations, and even the things Disney chose to address directly revealed a much bigger story than any single attraction announcement.In WDW Radio # 878, we look at the D23 2026 Disney Parks announcements through a series of "sightlines" that connect Villains Land, Piston Peak National Park, Dreamfinder, the Expedition Everest Yeti, Spaceship Earth, Tomorrowland, Monstropolis, Tropical Americas, Disney Cruise Line, and much more. And the sightlines stretch well beyond the U.S., from Disneyland Paris and the return of its Jules Verne-inspired Space Mountain to new Tomorrowland, Avengers, and Spider-Man experiences coming to Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.When you step back, it starts to look like a very Disney story of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy. Yesterday is being honored through attractions, characters, and experiences fans refused to let go of. Tomorrow is taking shape through ambitious new lands, technologies, attractions, and global expansion. And fantasy is where Disney is creating entirely new places and stories for us to step inside.We also explore what changed the perspective on some of these projects, why "no height requirement" may be one of the most important phrases of the night, why the sequence of these projects may matter as much as the projects themselves, and what Disney did not announce... and why.This isn't simply a recap of D23 2026. It's a closer look at what Disney is building, what it is preserving, what it is asking us to trust, and what all of it may mean for the way we experience the Disney Parks around the world in the years ahead.

Len Testa and Jim Hill unpack a packed slate of D23 parks announcements, from Disneyland's newly promised Tomorrowland overhaul to major additions coming to Walt Disney World. They dig into Tropical Americas, Piston Peak, Villains Land, Monstropolis, Figment and Dreamfinder's return to EPCOT, and Disney's surprising promise to finally address Expedition Everest's Yeti. Then Jim looks back at the history of Disney-MGM Studios' Ewok Village, its connection to Star Tours, and the unusual road that brought George Lucas' galaxy to a Hollywood-themed park. NEWS • Disneyland plans a Tomorrowland overhaul inspired by the land's original sense of hope and optimism. • Disney California Adventure's Pandora project moves behind Tomorrowland while Avengers Infinity Defense, Stark Flight Lab, and the Coco attraction continue taking shape. • Walt Disney World reveals new details for Tropical Americas, Piston Peak National Park, Villains Land, and the phased opening of Monstropolis. • Dreamfinder and Figment are headed back to EPCOT in a still-mysterious new “flight of fancy” into Imagination. • Disney says Expedition Everest's long-static Yeti will finally be addressed, though exactly what “fixing” the figure means remains to be seen. FEATURE • Jim traces the 1989 opening of the Ewok Village at Disney-MGM Studios, months before Florida's Star Tours began carrying guests to Endor. • Learn why Florida's Star Tours wound up at the Studios instead of Tomorrowland and how Disney tried to make George Lucas part of the park's identity. • The story explores George Lucas' inspirations for the Ewoks, the abandoned Wookiee plans for Return of the Jedi, and Disney's enthusiasm for the franchise's most marketable forest dwellers. • Plus, Jim revisits unrealized ideas including a Sci-Fi Channel UFO headquarters and the Roger Rabbit-themed Toontown Transit simulator. For this episode's full show notes, click here.HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Disney Dish News is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com, from our friends at DVCRentalStore.com. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa and Jim Hill unpack a packed slate of D23 parks announcements, from Disneyland's newly promised Tomorrowland overhaul to major additions coming to Walt Disney World. They dig into Tropical Americas, Piston Peak, Villains Land, Monstropolis, Figment and Dreamfinder's return to EPCOT, and Disney's surprising promise to finally address Expedition Everest's Yeti. Then Jim looks back at the history of Disney-MGM Studios' Ewok Village, its connection to Star Tours, and the unusual road that brought George Lucas' galaxy to a Hollywood-themed park. NEWS • Disneyland plans a Tomorrowland overhaul inspired by the land's original sense of hope and optimism. • Disney California Adventure's Pandora project moves behind Tomorrowland while Avengers Infinity Defense, Stark Flight Lab, and the Coco attraction continue taking shape. • Walt Disney World reveals new details for Tropical Americas, Piston Peak National Park, Villains Land, and the phased opening of Monstropolis. • Dreamfinder and Figment are headed back to EPCOT in a still-mysterious new “flight of fancy” into Imagination. • Disney says Expedition Everest's long-static Yeti will finally be addressed, though exactly what “fixing” the figure means remains to be seen. FEATURE • Jim traces the 1989 opening of the Ewok Village at Disney-MGM Studios, months before Florida's Star Tours began carrying guests to Endor. • Learn why Florida's Star Tours wound up at the Studios instead of Tomorrowland and how Disney tried to make George Lucas part of the park's identity. • The story explores George Lucas' inspirations for the Ewoks, the abandoned Wookiee plans for Return of the Jedi, and Disney's enthusiasm for the franchise's most marketable forest dwellers. • Plus, Jim revisits unrealized ideas including a Sci-Fi Channel UFO headquarters and the Roger Rabbit-themed Toontown Transit simulator. For this episode's full show notes, click here.HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Disney Dish News is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com, from our friends at DVCRentalStore.com. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event roundtable continues! In part two, we explore the biggest announcements from Horizons: Disney Parks and Experiences presentation, celebrate the newest Disney Legends, and show off some of our favorite merchandise from the convention. We're joined by a fantastic group of friends: Joey Pittman of the Disney Universe Podcast joins us, along with longtime Skywalkers Courtney and Kelly Turckel. We also welcome Amanda, Kevin, and Kim from Where in the Park seek-and-find game and podcast. Our friends from Where in the Park kick off a spirited discussion of Horizons: D23 Disney Experiences Showcase, featuring exciting updates from the Disney Parks. We dig into the Villains Land and Tropical Americas expansions coming to Walt Disney World, the long-awaited return of Dreamfinder and Figment to EPCOT, and the promise of a much-needed Tomorrowland overhaul! We also share our reactions to the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony where the newest honorees have made a lasting impact on Disney history. From Anne Hathaway and Lin-Manuel Miranda to Harrison Ford's surprise appearance honoring Bob Iger, there was no shortage of memorable moments. Finally, it's time for a little show-and-tell as we all reveal our favorite D23 merchandise and impulse buys. What was your favorite D23 moment and merchandise? Let us know in the comments. PODCAST SPONSORS Skywalking Through Neverland is an official Laughing Place Partner Podcast - check out laughingplace.com for Disney news and opinions. Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.

Send us Fan MailD23 2026 is in the books, and this week on The Mickeyphile Podcast, we're looking at the good, the bad, and the occasionally very awkward from Disney's biggest fan weekend.We watched D23 from Walt Disney World and came away with plenty to talk about. Disney brought portions of the event to Disney+ this year, but with dozens of panels happening throughout the weekend, why did fans at home get to see so few of them? We talk about the streaming experience, what Disney got right, and why an event billed as the ultimate Disney fan event still felt surprisingly difficult to follow from home.Then we get into the panels themselves.The 35th Anniversary of Beauty and the Beast was easily one of the highlights. Alan Menken, Susan Egan, Paige O'Hara and members of the film's creative team looked back at the making of an animated classic, the Broadway production, Howard Ashman's incredible influence, and some fascinating behind-the-scenes footage from the original recording sessions. This is Disney celebrating its history at its best.We also watched the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3 panel. We're fans of the series—or at least we were before we forgot to watch Season 2—so did the new season presentation convince us that it's time to catch up? We talk about what worked, some strange panel questions, a few production miscues, and why Percy Jackson might be exactly the kind of newer franchise D23 needs to embrace.And then there's the big one: Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase.Neil Patrick Harris hosted an evening filled with Parks announcements, musical performances, celebrity appearances…and a few moments that didn't exactly appear to go according to plan.We break down the Walt Disney World news, including:Figment and Dreamfinder returning to Journey Into ImaginationDisney finally promising to fix the Yeti at Expedition EverestNew details for Villains LandMore information about the Cars expansion at Magic KingdomMonstropolis coming to Disney's Hollywood StudiosTropical Americas and the new Indiana Jones attractionUpdates coming to Spaceship EarthCarousel of Progress and its new voicesNew Disney Cruise Line shipsThe return of The Imagineering StoryAnd a whole lot of projects we've heard about before…without nearly enough datesThere was plenty to be excited about. But after years of hearing about some of these projects, did Disney actually give fans enough new information?Plus, Sheryl Crow, Beck, Gloria Gaynor, Disney on Broadway, Neil Patrick Harris channeling the Carousel of Progress, some questionable wardrobe choices, and a presentation that occasionally left us wondering whether anyone had rehearsed.So after three days of D23, are we actually more excited about the future of Disney than we were before it started?Join Scott and Karen for Episode 262 of The Mickeyphile Podcast as we talk about what D23 2026 got right, what it got wrong, and what we're still waiting for Disney to tell us.Follow The Mickeyphile PodcastInstagram & TikTok: @mickeyphile_podcastFacebook: Search The Mickeyphile Podcast for our Page and GroupYouTube: @mickeyphilepodcastEmail: mickeyphilepodcast@gmail.comTheme song: “Cân Ddelwedd”Written and performed by Scott Daves© 2026 Scott DavesAnd remember…Stay in the dang boats!

With the recent news from the D23 Expo about fan favorites Dreamfinder and Figment returning to Walt Disney World, we thought it might be fun to take a look back at last year's shows about the History of EPCOT's Journey Into Imagination Pavilion. This podcast has all three history segments merged together, so you now have the entire Journey Into Imagination story all in one place.Links:Michael's Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited TravelWDWINFO: EPCOT's Dreamfinder & Figment Are Returning to Disney! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric and Lauren are back from Anaheim with a firsthand look at the highs, lows, long lines, virtual queues, and very passionate Disney fans of D23. They break down what worked at the convention, what frustrated attendees, and whether the experience is worth the trip. Then they turn to Disney's Parks presentation, where exciting updates involving Figment, Dreamfinder, the Expedition Everest Yeti, and more sometimes got lost inside an unusual celebrity-heavy production. From Alan Menken and Bedknobs and Broomsticks to merchandise resellers and one unforgettable Reddit discussion about convention hygiene, this is D23 from his, hers, and your perspective. HIGHLIGHTS • D23 brought together theme park fans, collectors, cosplayers, gamers, movie fans, and nearly every corner of Disney fandom. • Eric and Lauren compare the convention's virtual queues, reservation system, merchandise lines, and the planning required to get the most out of the weekend. • Resellers and professional line-waiters sparked frustration as high-demand D23 merchandise became increasingly difficult for some guests to access. • Attendees suggested fixes ranging from tighter purchase limits to badge-linked reservations and better communication. • Transportation to the Honda Center became another pain point, including reports of lengthy delays when a shuttle bus broke down. • Eric and Lauren review the D23 Parks presentation and question whether its talk-show-style production delivered enough substance for hardcore Disney fans. • Neil Patrick Harris, Sheryl Crow, Beck, Gloria Gaynor, Los Lobos, and other performers gave the presentation plenty of spectacle, though the pacing sometimes overshadowed the announcements. • The return of Dreamfinder and Figment generated excitement, but the lack of specifics left fans wondering exactly what Disney has planned. • Expedition Everest's long-broken Yeti is finally getting attention, giving longtime Disney Parks fans one particularly memorable announcement. HOSTS Eric Hersey – X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@erichersey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@erichersey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Lauren Hersey – X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurenhersey2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lauren_hersey_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW – DIS & HERS Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DisAndHers.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disandhers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disandhers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dis and Hers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dis & Hers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW – JIM HILL MEDIA Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JimHillMediaNews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JimHillMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JimHillMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/JimHillMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited & Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eric Hersey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strong Minded Agency⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠reach out today.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D23 always feels like a fireworks show for Disney fans, but we watch it with runner brains: What will all these new lands, refurbs, and construction walls mean for runDisney race weekends? Our friend Amanda from Once Upon a Marathon returns for a deep-dive recap of the D23 Parks Panel, and we do the fun thing we usually avoid: a little course speculation. We break down EPCOT's Spaceship Earth refurb talk, Animal Kingdom updates like the long-awaited Expedition Everest Yeti fix and Tropical Americas progress, and what Magic Kingdom construction could mean for how we enter and exit the park on marathon day. We also talk Villains Land scope, Hollywood Studios' Monstropolis timeline, and the Figment reimagining that brings Dreamfinder back into the spotlight.To round it out, we cover race reports from all over and spotlight Brooke's trip to Alaska for the Anchorage Half Marathon, complete with coastal trails, mountains, and a finish-line spread that will make runDisney runners laugh. Subscribe for weekly runDisney training tips, community stories, and park news through a runner's lens, then share your biggest D23 takeaway with us and leave a review.Amanda's website: Once Upon A MarathonAmanda's IG: @onceupamarathonRise and Run LinksRise and Run Podcast Facebook PageRise and Run Podcast InstagramRise and Run Podcast Website and ShopRise and Run PatreonRunningwithalysha Alysha's Run Coaching (Mention Rise And Run and get $10 off)Send us Fan MailSupport the showRise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Sponsor LinksMagic Bound Travel    Stoked Metabolic CoachingAffiliate LinksThe Start Line Co.Fluffy FizziesMona Moon Naturals Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page Kawaiian Pizza ApparelGoGuarded  

In the 306th episode of The Main Street Electrical Podcast, Jenn & Dave have now watched another Disney D23 come and go, and our predictions have also succeeded and failed. Up first, Jenn getting set for her January trip, while Dave is sporting some new Star Wars Merch, and they chat about the Brightline update on a new station in Cocoa Beach. News brings another resort added to the airport transfers at Disney World... lights come up from Epcot... more trash can issues (poor MawMaw!). Then, a quick rundown of the movies and shows announced over the weekend. And then a full recap of the Parks & Experiences Panel, with world parks, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland and Disney World.  We chat - and disagree - on why the show was over 2 hours... the Dreamfinder coming back, but in what capacity... Avengers Campus... Encanto ride... the odd Timon in the Tropical Americas carousel... gutting Spaceship Earth... Monstropolis updates, and why the land will likely partially open... and Villains Land and all the scary details.

D23 2026 delivered a mountain of Disney Parks news—but how much of it is actually coming, and how much is still blue sky? On this episode of Magic Our Way, we break down the biggest reveals from the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase, including the return of Figment and Dreamfinder, changes coming to Spaceship Earth, the future of Disneyland's Tomorrowland, Villains Land, Tropical Americas, Piston Peak, Monstropolis, the Expedition Everest Yeti, and more. But rather than simply running through a list of announcements, we're asking a bigger question: When should a Disney announcement become a promise? To find out, we pull the receipts from D23 2022 and 2024. What did Disney announce? What actually got built? What changed along the way? And what can projects like Avengers: Infinity Defense and the long development of King Thanos teach us about Disney's five-, ten-, and even fifteen-year planning horizon? Was Horizons 2026 filled with blue-sky ideas, or did Disney give us a glimpse at projects sitting at very different stages of development? We discuss, debate, and decide which D23 2026 announcements we'd actually bet on becoming reality. What are your thoughts? Email us at show@magicourway.com, call or text  815-MOWICAN (669-4226), or slide into our social media DMs. Every thought and opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show 642.

D23 2026 was stacked — for the first time in a long while, Disney made major announcements for all six U.S. parks, plus Disney Cruise Line and a full lineup of movies. In this episode, Lisa, Debby, Sharpie and Steve give you the fast, fun rundown of everything that matters, with the context and honest takes you only get from planners who've actually been there. Here's what's coming to the Disney parks (and when): Magic Kingdom Villains Land — a new immersive land roughly the size of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, anchored by a Maleficent family coaster and a Magic Mirror dark ride through the Evil Queen's catacombs, starring Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Jafar, Scar and more. Shops, restaurants, and yes — a villains bar with smoky drinks. Ground is already broken. Piston Peak — Frontierland's national-park-themed expansion (replacing Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island) with a Cars-inspired E-ticket, a Mrs. Fritter spinner, and a Ranger HQ lodge with walking trails. Projected for 2027. Carousel of Progress reimagined — new decades (1960s, 1980s, the Y2K millennium, and a "possible future"), new voices from Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston, a rumored Walt Disney opening — and hopefully the same "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow." Debuting late spring 2027. Disney's Hollywood Studios Monstropolis — "the city frightful" opens in the former Muppets Courtyard (phased, starting 2027). The Globe Theatre welcome show with Mike & Sulley, Archie's Scared Pig Pizza, the Monsters University Alumni Club, Harryhausen's sushi restaurant, and the Door Coaster (a vault coaster that launches riders ~40 feet in about 4 seconds) coming in a later phase. Disney's Animal Kingdom Tropical Americas — Indiana Jones: Rise of the Jade Serpent (with a Harrison Ford animatronic), an Encanto Casita ride-through, a new carousel, and the largest quick-service restaurant on property. Plus — the Expedition Everest "Disco Yeti" is finally getting fixed. Epcot Spaceship Earth gets a "grand and miraculous" overhaul, and Dreamfinder returns to Journey Into Imagination. Disney Cruise Line First look at the Disney Believe (sailing late 2027), a Moana-and-South-Pacific-themed evolution of the Wish class — plus a new, smaller class of ships debuting 2029 built for underserved ports, growing the fleet to 13. Disneyland Resort Tomorrowland reimagining, Avengers Campus expansion and the new Stark Flight Lab, the return of the original World of Color, a new nighttime projection spectacular, and the Magic Happens parade coming back for summer 2027. At the movies: Coco 2, Frozen 3 (Anna & Kristoff finally marry — and Olaf falls in love), a new Ice Age, and Incredibles 3. Chapters 0:00 — Welcome & why D23 is the "Disney high holidays" 3:56 — Villains Land comes to Magic Kingdom 9:43 — Piston Peak replaces Rivers of America & Tom Sawyer Island 15:23 — Disney Cruise Line: first look at the Disney Believe + a new smaller ship class 22:56 — Tomorrowland reimagining at Disneyland 26:20 — Monstropolis opens at Hollywood Studios (Door Coaster, Harryhausen's) 33:34 — Carousel of Progress reimagined (Jamie Lee Curtis & Bryan Cranston) 37:57 — Movies & music: Coco 2, Frozen 3, Ice Age, Incredibles 3 40:07 — Animal Kingdom: Indiana Jones, Encanto & the Disco Yeti fix 47:05 — Epcot: Spaceship Earth overhaul + the return of Dreamfinder 54:37 — Disneyland Resort: Avengers Campus, World of Color & nighttime shows 63:00 — Wrap-up Plan your Disney vacation with us Mouse Chat is brought to you by Pixie Vacations, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner with 735+ five-star reviews. Steve is Disney College of Knowledge certified, and our planning is 100% free — Disney pays us, so you pay the same either way.

We dig into news from D23 Expo for Walt Disney World including Villains Land ride details, Monstropolis opening in phases, and Figment getting a re-do. Plus, what's happening with Supercharged now that it's closed? Related Links Fast & Furious: Supercharged Closed: https://orlandoparkstop.com/news/theme-park-news/fast-furious-supercharged-closed-permanently-but-what-will-replace-it/ Animals for Carousel Tropical Americas: https://x.com/AshleyLCarter1/status/2088829782599631157?s=20 Monsters Inc Concept Art Billboard: https://x.com/DrewDisneyDude/status/2088351422362640479?s=20 Alicia Social Links: https://alicia.socialSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThemeParkStopSupport on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ThemeParkStop

The Parks & Experiences D23 presentation at the Honda Center has concluded and with it came two big pieces of news in what was literally the last two minutes of the entire program. Disneyland fans rejoice with the fantastic news that Tomorrowland is finally going to get some serious TLC as it gets set to be remodeled in time for Disneyland's 75th anniversary in four years. Meanwhile, Walt Disney World fans fave finally received huge notice that their beloved Journey Into Imagination with Figment and Dreamfinder will be completely revamped to something more like the original attraction. And then did we mention Villains Land? Yes, confirmation was given to the two E-ticket attractions that will headline this corner of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. So join us as we highlight the crazy details from this year's D23 expo. Be sure to check out my latest endeavor, Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization. __________________________________________________ Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe. DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts. My newest book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available!  Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You.  Also, for those examining other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence. _______________________________________________________ Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation!  David & Leah Zanolla ZanollaTravel.com Owner/Agents (309) 863-5469 _________________________________________________________ Performance Journeys This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level. Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench. Need Consulting? I've worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena.  Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement. Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!  

Disney's latest D23 Parks and Experiences presentation was packed with musical performances, celebrity appearances, concept art, and attraction names—but very few firm details or opening dates. That raises two questions: Can fans trust Disney's D23 announcements, and has the event become so big that Disney can no longer meet the expectations surrounding it? We examine Disney's checkered history of announced projects, the ambiguity surrounding the Yeti and Dreamfinder, what Villains Land actually revealed, and the rare moments when Disney showed enough to make its upcoming attractions feel real. Was this a disappointing presentation, or are Disney fans expecting too much from D23? Submit a question/topic for us to discuss on a future episode. Don't forget to check us out on: -Instagram -Facebook  -Youtube -Patreon Get your Enchanted Ears merch now Timestamps Has D23 Gotten Too Big? 00:00 The Production vs the Substance 04:14 Should We Believe What Disney Announces? 06:32 What Should the Parks Panel Really Be About? 14:07 Disney Doesn't Like to Deliver Bad News 18:33 Did Disney Even Really Announce Anything? 22:06 We Now Know the Attractions for Villains Land 24:49 The Best Announcements from the D23 Parks Panel 32:07 Have Fans Made D23 Impossible? 41:07 Fans Should Be Excited to Go to the Theme Parks 48:18 What Did YOU Think of the D23 Disney Parks Presentation? 55:05

D23 The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 included a Disney Parks and Experiences presentation called Horizons, a showcase led by Walt Disney Imagineering and hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. In this episode, we'll recap the August 15 showcase, including updates coming to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Tokyo Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland. Highlights include a fixed yeti animatronic at Expedition Everest, the return of Dreamfinder to Journey into Imagination at EPCOT, details about Piston Peak and Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom, details about Tropical Americas coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom, and more. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway. To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel.   Read Matt's Imagineering column in WDW Magazine.   Imagination Skyway is a Disney Parks and Imagineering podcast. Episodes explore attraction design, recap Disney news, and dive into the stories behind the magic, including interviews with Disney Imagineers, Disney Legends, and other Disney creators. Not affiliated with or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company. Disney is a trademark of The Walt Disney Company.   Tag me and join the conversation below. Instagram: www.instagram.com/imaginationskyway Facebook: www.facebook.com/imaginationskyway YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imaginationskyway Email: matthew.krul@imaginationskyway.com  How to Support the Show Share the podcast with your friends Rate and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Join our Patreon Group - https://www.patreon.com/imaginationskyway Enjoy the show!

Two years ago, Disney made us nearly 50 promises at D23 Expo 2024. This year, they have to keep them.So what will Disney actually reveal at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event?I'm going park by park, resort by resort, and all the way around the world with my predictions for the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase. Villains Land. Piston Peak. Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress. Space Mountain and Tomorrowland. Journey Into Imagination. Spaceship Earth. Monstropolis. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Tropical Americas. Expedition Everest. Avengers Campus. Pandora at Disney California Adventure. Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland Paris, Shanghai Disneyland, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Disneyland Abu Dhabi and more.I don't think this is another year of dozens of brand new promises. I think this is the year Disney has to show us what is real, what has changed, when we might actually experience it, and what may be quietly slipping away while nobody was looking.Do we finally find out what Villains Land is really going to be called? I have a theory, and it starts with a mountain. Could Figment and Dreamfinder finally return to EPCOT, and what if the answer isn't the one we've all been asking for? Is Tomorrowland quietly undergoing a complete transformation? Does Disney's Animal Kingdom finally get a nighttime spectacular? And what is the one surprise that nobody sees coming?Some of these are possible. Some are wild cards. And some are simply fun to dream about. That is part of what makes D23 so special.

Jim and Lauren dig into a surprisingly packed week of Disney merch and history, from Crocs-inspired Minnie ears to rare Figment throwbacks and a new Little Golden Book celebrating Jim Henson. Along the way, they explore the shrinking footprint of Disney Stores - and the possibility of their return. Then Jim dives deep into the moment Disney stopped trusting outside publishers, revealing how one controversial biography changed the company's approach to storytelling forever. NEWS • Disney and Crocs expand their partnership with customizable Mickey and Minnie ear headbands, featuring classic Crocs styling and interchangeable charms • A rare Disney Store outlet sighting sparks discussion about the future of retail - including rumors of immersive store experiences returning in select markets • New retro Figment and Dreamfinder shirts celebrate the original Journey Into Imagination attraction with vintage-inspired designs • A Little Golden Book biography of Jim Henson arrives May 5, introducing younger readers to the creator of the Muppets and his legacy FEATURE • How Disney originally relied on outside publishers like Western Publishing to tell its stories • The 1968 release of a controversial Walt Disney biography that damaged trust and reshaped the company's publishing strategy • Why Disney shifted to in-house publishing under Michael Eisner to control its narrative and protect Walt's legacy • The ongoing tension between historical accuracy and corporate storytelling, and how it still impacts Disney books today HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Lauren Hersey - IG: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2 FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Unlock Magic - your go-to source for discounted Disney and Universal tickets. Whether you're planning ahead for 2026 or heading to a major event like D23, Unlock Magic helps you save money and skip the stress. Visit UnlockMagic.com to start planning your next trip. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The original Dreamfinder returns!This week on The Hyperion Hub, Ron Schneider is back to share incredible stories from his time at EPCOT Center—plus some unforgettable celebrity encounters along the way.We're also diving into big news as Disney moves away from its planned partnership with OpenAI. We wrap things up with a Disney/Pixar review of Hoppers 

With one little spark of inspiration, Ron Schneider brought a whimsical and beloved Disney character to life as the very first Dreamfinder at EPCOT Center.This week on The Hyperion Hub, Ron shares stories from his journey working at Disneyland alongside Disney Legend Wally Boag in the iconic Golden Horseshoe Revue and bringing imagination to life in with his lovable companion Figment.Find Ron's book, From Dreamer to Dreamfinder: A Life and Lessons Learned in 40 Years Behind a Name Tag wherever you purchase books.Plus, we discuss the opening of the theme park Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris!Thanks for joining us at The Hyperion Hub!Hosts John Alois, Shawn Degenhart and John Redlingshafer would love to hear from you! Email or send a recorded audio message at podcast@thehyperionhub.com. Find us on social media. The Hyperion Hub is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its subsidiaries.  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100063622463796 https://www.instagram.com/hyperion_hub/ https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FHubHyperionfile:///Users/johnalois/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd/shared-pasteboard/items/ED41A3B5-68D7-49B8-AA95-EF007C05D6A4/ca88ea8e62c2560786f3f8567fd22bbc70895c35.rtfd/

In this episode, Michael and Tom join Figment and the Dreamfinder on a ride-thru of Journey Into Imagination as the story of that EPCOT pavilion continues.Links:Michael's Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited TravelSources:Websites/Articles:40 Years of Sparks - The Complete History of Journey Into Imagination by Katie Francis for WDW News Today“One Little Spark”: How Epcot's Journey into Imagination Inspired a Generation @ Park LoreBooks:The EPCOT Explorer's Encyclopedia: A Guide to Walt Disney World's Greatest Theme Park by R.A. PedersenTony Baxter: First of the Second Generation of Walt Disney Imagineers by Tim O'BrienSecret Stories of Walt Disney World by Jim KorkisExtra Secret Stories of Walt Disney World by Jim KorkisVideos:Journey Into Imagination Revisited - Full Ride Through Restored & Enhanced by RetroWDW Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we're singing our way into EPCOT history with a deep dive into the gloriously bizarre Epcot Center Grand Opening TV Special. From Danny Kaye's musical explanations to Drew Barrymore predicting high school on Mars, it's a delightful mess. We unpack Dreamfinder's magical mustache, Marie Osmond's confusing ballad, future tech that never came to be, and the weird robot musical number that somehow worked. And of course, we honor the giant golf ball in the sky: Spaceship Earth.TIMECODES00:00 Intro00:58 The Epcot Center Grand Opening TV Special39:04 Disney+ Deals at the Parks46:40 30th Anniversary of The Goofy Movie48:50 Snow Whites other story52:51 Look ahead to Star Wars Celebration55:51 Family News

One of Disney's most beloved icons has a fascinating history… and it all began with one little spark of imagination! In this episode, Morgan covers the development of Figment, Dreamfinder, Journey Into Imagination, and more! Listen along and join the Dis-cussion on social media @neverlandnavco

In this episode, I am joined by Emilie Buckley to talk about research she has done on the use of nostalgia, and in particular the characters of Figment and Dreamfinder by Disney to engage with consumer and commoditize the fan experience. Video of this visit is available at https://youtu.be/G-X-99TVtMw. You can engage with Emilie on Blue Sky @helloemi. I hope you enjoy and thank you! Being a Fan of Disney: The Book is available on Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, and Hardback versions, with an Audible version forthcoming. The book is available at ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM427LF3/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1698697971&sr=8-1⁠. This has been a passion project of mine for a long time and I am very happy it is available to fellow Disney fans! I hope you enjoy and please engage with the book and activities on www.SharedPerspectives.org.  The Perspectives Files, about two teenagers that learn they are part of an organization charged with protecting the world's future by monitoring and learning from people's decisions, will be available through Amazon soon.   You can follow along with the class, podcast, Take 1 episodes, and interviews/visits by subscribing to the show wherever you get your podcasts, following me on Twitter/X @chavardphd, joining the Facebook public group @BeingaFanofDisney, and by visiting www.SharedPerspectives.org.  Thank you for listening and please let me know your thoughts on this and other shows. And... Please come along with us on our adventure!  

In our last episode, we began a journey of exploration, to discover those little sparks of imagination that can be found throughout the parks, inspired by Figment and Dreamfinder. Tonight, we carry on with part two of our imaginative adventure, beginning with the Performing Arts…  So sit back, relax, and join us as we continue our tour of Walt Disney World, inspired by Journey Into Imagination.

We're always looking for that "One Little Spark," that one moment of inspiration that sets us on a path to discover something new, or to create that magical piece of art. But where do we find them? How do we tap into them? Thankfully, I know a pair who specialize in this sort of thing… So sit back, relax, and join us (and Dreamfinder and Figment!) as we take a tour around Walt Disney World, inspired by Journey Into Imagination.

In this Take 1 episode, I preview Chapter 6 from Being a Fan of Disney: The Book titled 'Lunch with the Dreamfinder' about meeting and learning from Ron Schneider, the original walk around Dreamfinder at Epcot. This project has been a passion project for me for a long time and I am very happy that it will be available for fellow Disney fans! Please enjoy the audio from Chapter 6! You can follow with the class, podcast, Take 1 episodes, and interviews/visits by following me on Twitter/X @chavardphd. You can keep up with the class by joining the Facebook public group @BeingaFanofDisney and by visiting www.SharedPerspectives.org. Being a Fan of Disney: The Book will be available October 26th, 2023 in Kindle, Paperback, Hardback, and Audible versions. Thank you for listening and please let me know your thoughts on this and other shows. And... Please come along with us on our adventure!

Welcome to the 90s Disney Podcast! Join your hosts AJ, Mike, and Chris Minotti as they embark on a journey into the past to explore the history, evolution, and mixed legacy of the classic Disney attraction, "Journey Into Your Imagination." Get ready to travel back to October 1, 1999, a time when "Stuart Little" was the number one movie, "Smooth" by Santana featuring Rob Thomas ruled the charts, and J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" had captivated readers' imaginations. The Early History Uncover the origins of "Journey into Your Imagination," which can be traced back to Disneyland's never-built Discovery Bay and a unique audio-animatronic show called "Professor Marvel's Gallery of Illusion." Learn about the original concept and how it evolved into the beloved attraction we remember. The Original Take a ride through the original "Journey into Imagination" attraction, where you boarded purple omnimover vehicles and explored scenes related to art, literature, performing arts, and science. Discover the magic of the Kodak ImageWorks and the innovative design of the ride. Necessary Updates Explore the reasons behind the need for updates to Disney attractions, including the pressure sponsors felt to keep rides fresh. Dive into the challenges faced by Kodak and Eisner's desire to rework the attraction. Learn how these factors influenced the changes made to "Journey into Your Imagination." Your Imagination Join the hosts on a virtual ride-through of "Journey into Your Imagination," where you'll experience the revamped attraction as it appeared in its new iteration. Discover the reworked storyline, characters, and effects introduced during this era. The Reaction Learn about the mixed reception that "Journey into Your Imagination" received from fans and park-goers. Understand why many were disappointed with the changes and the absence of Dreamfinder and Figment. Explore how this iteration of the attraction failed to capture the imagination of its audience. With Figment! Discover the rebirth of the attraction as "Journey into Imagination with Figment." Follow the hosts as they recount the reintroduction of Figment, the mischievous purple dragon, and his interactions with Dr. Nigel Channing. Explore the new sensory labs and the return of the beloved "One Little Spark" song. Legacy Today Explore the enduring popularity of Figment and Dreamfinder, despite the changes to the attraction. Dive into the character's appearances in various forms of Disney media and the continued fan appreciation for the original version of the ride. Our Memories Join the hosts as they share their personal memories and experiences related to "Journey into Your Imagination" and its various iterations. Discover the impact this attraction had on their Disney journeys. Where to Find Us Connect with the 90s Disney Podcast and share your own memories and thoughts on the show. Send your questions and comments to ⁠90sdisneypodcast@gmail.com⁠ and stay updated on the latest episodes and Disney nostalgia. Outro Thank you for joining us on this journey into the world of Disney's imagination. Stay tuned for more magical adventures and memories from the 90s Disney era! Links Explore more about the history of "Journey Into Your Imagination" and its legacy: ⁠Theme Park Tourist - Journey Into Your Imagination⁠ ⁠Theme Park Tourist - Journey Into Imagination: A Timeless Tale of Disney's Lost Attraction Masterpiece⁠ ⁠WDWNT - The Complete History of Journey Into Imagination⁠ ⁠Wikipedia - Journey Into Imagination with Figment⁠ ⁠YouTube - Journey Into Imagination with Figment Ride-Through⁠ Listen to this episode and more on your favorite podcast platform! Imagination is the key to a world of wonder.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/90sdisney/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/90sdisney/support

Join Sheila and Steve as they welcome their special guest, Ron Schneider, who is an entertainer, actor, and author of the book “From Dreamer to Dreamfinder.” Listen in as Ron shares some of his achievements over the years that included working at the Golden Horseshoe at Disneyland, becoming the original Dreamfinder for Journey into Imagination at Epcot, and playing the role of Walt's head in the film “The Further Adventures Of Walt's Frozen Head”  To connect with Ron on facebook  https://www.facebook.com/ron.schneider.777 For the film “The Further Adventures Of Walt's Frozen Head”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj0qwTmn0Ic To order the book “From Dreamer to Dreamfinder” https://www.amazon.com/Dreamer-Dreamfinder-Lessons-Learned-Behind/dp/0985470615/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ATAO5Q6HKKS8&keywords=ron+schneider&qid=1691431497&s=books&sprefix=ron+scheider%2Cstripbooks%2C106&sr=1-1 You can leave us a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/MonorailTales   You can find us on the web at www.monorailtales.com   Find us on Facebook and like our page and join our fun Disney group!   You can also find us on Twitter and Instagram   If you a show idea or would like to be on the show, email sheila@monorailtales.com   For the best deals on DVC Resale contracts and DVC rentals, check out our sponsor DVC Shop at DVCShop.com

In this episode of "Cast Conversations," we sit down with Ana, a former cast member who worked at the beloved attraction, Journey Into Imagination. Join us as we hear firsthand stories from Ana about what it was like to work at this classic Epcot ride, including the challenges and rewards of operating the attraction on a daily basis. We'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the ride and hear about some of the fun and quirky elements that make it so unique. From the iconic Figment character to the memorable Dreamfinder, we'll explore the ride's history and what makes it a fan favorite. So sit back, relax, and let your imagination run wild with Ana in this special episode of "Cast Conversations." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/castconversations/message

On this episode Kurt and I discuss things we are excited for at Disney World. This includes announcements about new character meets, rides, restaurants, shows, and more.This episode was made possible by sponsorship from Siera Duiser with Destinations in Florida Travel. She is the only travel agent I work with for my Disney World Vacations. Get your FREE no obligation Disney World vacation quote today!ResourcesPhotos discussed in the showVideo of the old Dreamfinder and Figment meet and greetAfter Hours reviewMickey's Not So Scary Halloween PartyMickey's Very Merry Christmas PartyFood and Wine FestivalFestival of the HolidaysLearn about virtual ride queues hereDo you want to be a guest and share your trip report?Never miss an episodeSubscribe on iTunesJoin Julie's newsletterHelp the show. Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings & reviews help, and I read each one because I love your input!Subscribe on iTunesWhat's Julie up to?Follow on InstagramFollow on YouTubeLike on FacebookLet's connectDo you have tips you want to share with other listeners?Do you want to be a guest and share your Disney expertise?Do you want to be a guest and share your trip report?Contact me! I'd love to hear from you.Plan Your Best Disney World Trip EverGet Julie's FREE Email Course

WDW Radio # 712 - Interview with Former Imagineer Steve Kirk - From the WDW Radio Archives After visiting EPCOT this past week, and in thinking about the future of that park, specifically the Imagination pavilion, I went way back into the WDW Radio Archives to being you one of my earliest interviews. Let's go back to 2007 and Show # 30, when, as part of my Legends of Disney Imagineering feature, I shared my conversation with former Imagineer Steve Kirk. Steve helped come up with the initial concepts for Figment and the Dreamfinder, as well as the Journey Into Imagination attraction, and also helped develop some of Disney's most memorable characters, attractions, pavilions, and even complete theme parks, including being the creative leader of Tokyo DisneySea. We also talk about Epcot, the Studios and so much more. I would later come to interview his brother, Tim Kirk about his work at Imagineering, specifically at the Disney-MGM Studios, but that is another trip to the archives for another day. For now, sit back, relax, and enjoy my conversation (and forgive my voice), with the fascinating and talented Steve Kirk.   ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com- Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello

WDW Radio # 712 - Interview with Former Imagineer Steve Kirk - From the WDW Radio Archives After visiting EPCOT this past week, and in thinking about the future of that park, specifically the Imagination pavilion, I went way back into the WDW Radio Archives to being you one of my earliest interviews. Let's go back to 2007 and Show # 30, when, as part of my Legends of Disney Imagineering feature, I shared my conversation with former Imagineer Steve Kirk. Steve helped come up with the initial concepts for Figment and the Dreamfinder, as well as the Journey Into Imagination attraction, and also helped develop some of Disney's most memorable characters, attractions, pavilions, and even complete theme parks, including being the creative leader of Tokyo DisneySea. We also talk about Epcot, the Studios and so much more. I would later come to interview his brother, Tim Kirk about his work at Imagineering, specifically at the Disney-MGM Studios, but that is another trip to the archives for another day. For now, sit back, relax, and enjoy my conversation (and forgive my voice), with the fascinating and talented Steve Kirk. ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com- Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello

Hello travelers! On today's Walkabout, join cohost Producer Josh, his wife Tif, and cohost Pete on a chilly evening at EPCOT's International Festival of the Arts at Walt Disney World. You'll catch a live performance featuring music from Disney's Broadway musical ‘Newsies', some World Showcase ambience, and end with a few of the Beacons of Magic light shows including the Festival exclusive that features music from the original Journey Into Imagination with Figment and Dreamfinder.   As always, use good listening devices as we always record in 4 channel surround sound. We hope you enjoy the episode and thanks so much for following along!    Look us up at @WalkaboutWDW on Instagram and drop us a note to say hi! Find our producer Josh also on Instagram at @TheSteele. Say hi to our west coast correspondent Ric at @opticaljedi. Lastly give a shout to our Orlando correspondent Pete at @neverlandlocal.   You can now also drop us at line at contact@walkabouttheworld.com. Say hi, tell us how you found us, and give us some suggestions on things you'd love to hear.   Walkabout The World is a weekly Disney podcast, always recorded on property at Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort with the simple goal of making you feel like you are in the middle of the magic. 

Do you have to love Figment to be considered a Disney fan? Why do people love Figment? We continue a discussion of a question posed by Lee in the Magic Our Way Facebook group. We discuss our love for Figment and whether that love is a necessary criterion for being a Disney fan. Thoughts? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Your opinions are always welcome in our show. Seriously, every opinion is welcome.

Join your tour guides Stan Solo, Jason Thomason and Justin Clark as they discuss and share what they think and hope will be announced at this year's D23.  Plus the S.E.A. needs more representation in the Parks, why is Aeromsith in the 1940's, Disneyland's Tomorrowland is Yesterland, Mary Poppins NEEDS an attraction, Dreamfinder and Figment should be reunited and more! The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates. As to Disney artwork/properties: © Disney. Disclosure | Privacy Policy

Join your tour guides Stan Solo, Jason Thomason and Justin Clark as they discuss and share what they think and hope will be announced at this year's D23. Plus the S.E.A. needs more representation in the Parks, why is Aeromsith in the 1940's, Disneyland's Tomorrowland is Yesterland, Mary Poppins NEEDS an attraction, Dreamfinder and Figment should be reunited and more! The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates. As to Disney artwork/properties: © Disney. Disclosure | Privacy Policy

Journey Into Imagination opened at EPCOT in 1983 and has been a part of Walt Disney World ever since. As part of the Imagination Pavilion conceived by Walt Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter, Journey Into Imagination took guests aboard a whimsical flight into the imagination, with Dreamfinder and Figment reminding guests that "One Little Spark" (a song written by Richard and Robert Sherman) can lead to an unlimited number of ideas. In this podcast episode, we discuss the history of Journey Into Imagination, including its replacements, Journey Into Your Imagination and (currently) Journey Into Imagination with Figment, along with some speculation as to what might be in store for this attraction's future. This episode includes fun facts and some audio recordings of the attraction. What do you love most about Journey Into Imagination with Figment? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/imagineerpodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Facebook Group (ImagiNation): https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@imagineerpodcast  Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerNews Email: matt@imagineerpodcast.com  Sponsors and Partners: Magical Park Vacations: plan a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani, or any other Disney (or Universal) destination. These services are complimentary. WDW Park Planners: work with a concierge vacation planner to create a personalized Disney itinerary for you and your family. Magical Park Tours: hire an in-person guide to help your family navigate the parks and mitigate crowds. Get Bonus Content If you want to take your love of Imagineer Podcast to the next level and help support the show, definitely consider joining us on Patreon for virtual events, bonus content and episodes, exclusive access to our private Passholder communities and more.  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/imagineerpodcast Purchase merchandise - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/imagineer-podcast?ref_id=8929 Special thanks to our Deluxe Passholder Patreon members! Thomas N Devan L Katelyn F Jason K Jordan J Dani S Enjoy the show!

Ron Schneider joins us in this episode to discuss his long career in themed entertainment, including being the original Dreamfinder when EPCOT Center opened and some of the iconic roles he has played such as Walt Disney. He also shares his views on the future of Figment, Dreamfinder, the Imagination Pavilion, and EPCOT! This was a blast as always! Video of this visit is available at https://youtu.be/l9ygS71zHPg. You can engage with Ron on Facebook @RonSchneider. You can follow along with the class, podcast, Take 1 episodes, and interviews/visits by following me on Twitter @chavardphd. You can keep up with the class by joining the Facebook public group @BeingaFanofDisney. Thank you for listening and please let me know your thoughts on this and other shows. And... Please come along with us on our adventure!

For this episode of DisneySpace, Jeff and Mark invite RetroWDW's and DisTwitter-notable How Bowers along for a visit into EPCOT's brand new World Celebration (or World Nature?) as we reimagine the Journey into Imagination with Figment pavilion into something new, and something old - made new. Jeff plays the role of our Master of Ceremonies “Shark Tank” co-host and weighs How's idea of a completely reimagined space against Mark's idea of a next-generation Figment and Dreamfinder attraction. Get ready for a show full of extraordinary surprises and journey with us as we reimagine! Follow How Bowers on Twitter @GoAwayGreen Follow RetroWDW on Twitter @RetroWDW and @RetroWDWphotos Subscribe to and listen to the RetroWDW podcast and enjoy all of their amazing shows of Walt Disney World in those treasured yesteryears. RetroWDW will be hosting RetroMagic at the Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World in April of 2022. https://www.retrowdw.com/events/retromagic-50/ Follow How's YouTube channel Liquid Luau for learning how to make your very own special mixed drinks https://youtube.com/c/LiquidLuau Follow Jeff on Twitter @WDWscope And WDWScope on Instagram Follow Mark on Twitter @6MilesTall Check out every old video of Journey into Imagination at SixMileTall's YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeCDRk6O2hhP_5mzvcFE1IwrkYCa8rhNI See all of EPCOT in its original 1980's glory at this day-long YouTube playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeCDRk6O2hhM3PRv-xXhIGRQ7_FBBrI73 Playlist of EPCOT's Entrance Plaza music on Apple Music (credit Blog Mickey) https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/new-epcot-entrance-loop/pl.u-xRjrkFlm87A On Spotify (credit Schmooferino) https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4sAQbdOzlS8XBUiARsdb7h?si=OM-bk6VyQma19uZz8GTQUg YouTube playlist of music used in Sparks of Imagination https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeCDRk6O2hhNtkGlEBNgw1jBgxfcnr-Yj Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore https://museum.red-dot.sg Disney's Planes - Teaser Trailer https://youtu.be/bssstn218EA Disney's Planes 2 - Teaser Trailer https://youtu.be/9XMJ1D7AXYQ Peter Pan's Flight Shanghai Disneyland https://youtu.be/0CBtwwCX4Wc EPCOT 1966 showing Progress City and the Tower https://youtu.be/UEm-09B0px8

Walt Disney World attraction stars Ron Schneider, David Danipour, and Kat Cressida delve into the world of Imagination, Flight of Passage, and the Haunted Mansion on today's show!Checkout all things Horrific Networkhttps://linktr.ee/TheHorrificNetwork

In this, our very first episode, Julia and Jin discuss the turbulant history of everyone's favorite Epcot attraction: Journey Into Imagination With Figment! We discuss all three incarnations of the ride and dutifully try our best to honor Figment as the cultural and religious icon that he is.

WDW Radio # 605 - The Original Dreamfinder, Ron Schneider As we celebrated Walt Disney World's 49th birthday on October 1, I wanted to look back at not just one of the resort's most popular attractions, but characters as well. The Dreamfinder (and good right arm, Figment) were created for the new Journey Into Imagination attraction in Epcot in 1983, and ushered in a sense of wonder and fun the likes of which the park had never seen before. And helping to create that spark of imagination was Ron Schneider, the original Dreamfinder. Ron joined me live in Magic Kingdom for the anniversary, and shares stories that paint a colorful picture tracing the origins of the attraction and character, as well as his years in the parks, to working with Tony Baxter, and the day that Michael Jackson asked to meet Dreamfinder. We also discuss the future of the attraction, characters, and EPCOT, Walt, and so much more.

When Walt Disney World's newest theme park, Epcot Center opened in 1982, there were only two characters present. These characters, the charming and whimsical Dreamfinder and the curious purple dragon, Figment, were both originally portrayed in the park by the same man. This week we talk with that man on Episode 78: A Chat With Epcot's Original Dreamfinder, Ron Schneider. Ron Schneider has worked in theme parks for more than 40 years in many different roles. Disney fans will instantly recognize him as the face and voice of the original Dreamfinder.

Len Testa and Jim Hill examine the projects, controversies, and blue-sky concepts being considered for EPCOT in 2012. Their tour of potential changes ranges from the troubled Habit Heroes exhibit and a possible Dreamfinder revival to new Soarin' films, expanded dining in World Showcase, and a major rethink of Illuminations. Along the way, Jim explains how sponsorships, merchandise sales, intellectual property, and operational realities influence which ambitious Disney ideas make it into the parks. HIGHLIGHTS • Why the Habit Heroes exhibit was quickly closed after criticism of its weight-related superhero storyline. • How sponsor involvement complicated Disney's efforts to rewrite and reopen the controversial Innoventions experience. • The possibility of replacing Captain EO with a new Dreamfinder and Figment attraction using interactive theatrical effects. • Why Figment's enduring merchandise sales made removing the character from EPCOT a costly mistake. • How Agent P's World Showcase Adventure replaced Kim Possible with a franchise Disney was still actively supporting. • Plans for new Soarin' films, including abandoned Disney fantasy concepts and a proposed flight over China. • A Snow White-inspired martial arts film that could have introduced new characters and entertainment to the China pavilion. • Why Disney considered expanding Japan's sake service into a larger waterfront restaurant and nighttime-show dining package. • The challenge of adding new construction without disrupting the Japan pavilion's famous view across World Showcase Lagoon. • How revenue goals, national sensitivities, sponsorships, and sightlines shaped development decisions around the lagoon. • Early discussions about replacing or transforming Illuminations with technology inspired by World of Color. • The complicated logistics of building a new nighttime spectacular while continuing to present Illuminations each evening. HOSTS • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa and Jim Hill take listeners on a real-time stroll through Epcot during the 2011 Food & Wine Festival, offering an on-the-ground snapshot of Future World before many of its biggest changes. Along the way, they discuss everything from the controversial Leave A Legacy monoliths and the challenges of corporate sponsorships to lost attraction concepts, abandoned pavilion ideas, and the evolving identity of Epcot itself. The episode captures a fascinating moment in Disney Parks history, with candid commentary about attractions like Journey Into Imagination, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Mission: SPACE, and Universe of Energy just years before major overhauls began reshaping the park. It's part park tour, part Imagineering history lesson, and part time capsule from a very different era of Walt Disney World. Original Air Date: December 19, 2011 Original Title: A Live Walk Through Epcot HIGHLIGHTS Jim and Len debate the infamous Leave A Legacy monoliths and why Disney quickly realized the project wasn't working visually. Stories from Epcot's early sponsorship struggles, including how difficult it was to convince major corporations to back Future World pavilions. Behind-the-scenes discussion of abandoned concepts for The Living Seas, including a massive Poseidon animatronic and underwater ride-through experience. The duo explores Innoventions and discusses why keeping Future World exhibits fresh became such a financial challenge for sponsors. Details about Project Gemini, including canceled plans for rainforest coasters, Time Racers inside Spaceship Earth, and major pavilion overhauls. Jim shares stories about Dreamfinder, Figment, Kodak's ownership stake in the characters, and failed celebrity-driven Journey Into Imagination concepts. Conversations about early rumors surrounding Finding Nemo sequels and Ellen DeGeneres potentially helping refresh Universe of Energy. Discussion of Mission: SPACE's original concept, the evolution of Test Track technology, and how Disney hoped certain ride systems would spread worldwide. A pavilion-by-pavilion walking tour through Future World circa 2011, capturing attractions, exhibits, and design philosophies that no longer exist today. Jim shares Imagineering stories about Epcot's original sponsorship model and how Walt Disney's absence fundamentally changed corporate negotiations. Detailed observations about the state of Innoventions, ImageWorks, Living with the Land, and other attractions during a transitional era for the park. A fascinating historical snapshot of Epcot before the massive redevelopment projects that would eventually transform Future World into World Celebration, World Nature, and World Discovery. View transcript here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: ⁠@JimHillMedia⁠ | X: ⁠@JimHillMedia⁠ | Website: ⁠JimHillMedia.com⁠ • Len Testa - Bluesky: ⁠@lentesta.bsky.social⁠ | Instagram: ⁠@len.testa⁠ | Website: ⁠touringplans.com⁠ FOLLOW • Facebook: ⁠JimHillMediaNews⁠ • Instagram: ⁠JimHillMedia⁠ • TikTok: ⁠JimHillMedia⁠ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at ⁠Patreon.com/JimHillMedia⁠. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, ⁠reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices