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http://www.attractionchecklist.com - In July 2025, Tom Sawyer Island in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom closed for good. Let's take one last walk around the Island before the memory fades on this episode of Attraction Checklist. Attraction audio recorded on May 21, 2025. TRANSCRIPT: This episode we're off to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom to take a stroll around Tom Sawyer Island. The Walt Disney World guide map described this attraction saying: Brave this Mark Twain-inspired hideaway. There are no age or height requirements or a thrill level listed for this attraction. Before we board a raft, here are five fast facts about Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom. 1. Tom Sawyer island opened at Magic Kingdom on May 20, 1973. 2. The Fort on the Island, Fort Langhorn, was originally called Fort Samuel Clemens, but the name was changed in 1996 in a moment of synergy with the Walt Disney Pictures film Tom & Huck. 3. The barn on the island used to have an effect that made it seem like it was on fire. Viewed primarily from the riverboat, this effect was ended in 2005. 4. In August 2024, Disney announced that Tom Sawyer Island would be closing to make way for a new Frontierland expansion themed to the Pixar movie Cars. 5. Tom Sawyer Island official closed on July 7, 2025. Bringing the 52 year life of Tom Sawyer Island to a close. Let's go explore Tom Sawyer Island. Along for the adventure, the Huck to my Tom, is John B. deHaas and after we check out the attraction we'll give you our thoughts on it. This is a binaural recording so if you have headphones, put them on now as we visit Magic Kingdom's Tom Sawyer Island for the very last time. The attraction audio recorded for this episode is available exclusively to the Saturday Morning Media Patron Patron. Support the show and get fun Bonus content over at http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia Episode edited by Stephen Staver FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/attractionchecklist/ https://www.facebook.com/attractionchecklist https://www.linkedin.com/company/saturday-morning-media http://www.youtube.com/user/SaturdayMorningMedia?sub_confirmation=1 FOLLOW GRANT http://www.MrGrant.com https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ SOURCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Sawyer_Island https://blogmickey.com/2025/06/rivers-america-tom-sawyer-island-closing-date/ https://www.disneylists.com/2024/07/9-facts-secrets-tom-sawyer-island-2-2/ Show ©2025 Saturday Morning Media/Grant Baciocco
In this show, the LTP talks about things to do in Frontierland and they discuss the possible locations of Beak and Barrel coming to Disneyland. In addition, they talk about the latest news!!!
In this week's episode, I take a look back at the movies and streaming shows I watched in Summer 2025. This coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Ghost in the Serpent, Book #1 in the Ghost Armor series, (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) at my Payhip store: FALLSERPENT50 The coupon code is valid through September 15, 2025 (please note the shorter expiration date). So if you need a new audiobook this fall, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 267 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is September 5, 2025 and today I'm doing a review roundup of the movies and streaming shows I saw in Summer 2025. Before we do that, we will have Coupon of the Week and a progress update on my current writing and audiobook projects. First up, this week's coupon code will get you 50% off the audiobook of Ghost in the Serpent, Book One in the Ghost Armor series (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) at my Payhip store. That is FALLSERPENT50. This coupon code will be valid through September 15th, 2025 (exactly one week). So if you need a new audiobook to listen to as we head into fall, we have got you covered. Now for an update on my current writing and audiobook projects. I am pleased to report that the rough draft of Blade of Flames, which will be the first book in my new Blades of Ruin epic fantasy series is finished. The rough draft came at about 90,000 words long, which was what I was aiming for. Next up, I will be writing a short story set as sort of a bonus in that plot line called Thunder Hammer and that will be the backstory of one of the characters in Blade of Flames. And when Blade of Flames comes out (which will hopefully be later this September), newsletter subscribers will get a free ebook copy of Thunder Hammer. So this is an excellent time to subscribe to my newsletter. I am also 8,000 words into Cloak of Worlds. At long last, I am coming back to the Cloak Mage series after nearly a year's absence. Longtime listeners will know the reason was that I had five unfinished series and I wanted to spend the summer of 2025 finishing the unfinished ones and focusing up so I will only have three ongoing series at any given time. I'm hoping Blade of Flames will come out before the end of September and Cloak of Worlds before the end of October, and after that I will be able to return to the Rivah series at long last. In audiobook news, recording is finished on Shield of Power. That will be excellently narrated by Brad Wills and hopefully once it gets through processing and quality assurance and everything, it should be showing up on the various audiobook stores before too much longer. Hollis McCarthy is about halfway through the recording of Ghost in the Siege, which was, as you know, the last book in the Ghost Armor series that just came out. And if all goes well, the audiobook should be coming out probably in October once everything is done with recording and quality assurance and all that. So that is where I'm at with my current writing and audiobook projects. 00:02:34 Main Topic: Summer 2025 Movie/TV Roundup So without further ado, let's head into our main topic. The end of summer is nigh, which means this time for my summer movie review roundup. As is usual for the summer, I saw a lot of movies, so this will be one of the longer episodes. For some reason I ended up watching a bunch of westerns. As always, the movies are ranked from least favorite to most favorite. The grades of course are totally subjective and based on nothing more than my own opinions, impressions, and interpretations. Now on to the movies. First up is the Austin Powers trilogy, the three movies of which came out in 1997, 1999, and 2002. The Austin Powers movies came out just as the Internet really got going in terms of mass adoption, which is likewise why so many Austin Powers and Dr. Evil memes are embedded in online culture. Despite that, I had never really seen any of them all the way through. They've been on in the background on TBS or whatever quite a bit when I visited people, but I've never seen them all. But I happened upon a DVD of the trilogy for $0.25 (USD), so I decided for 25 cents I would give it a go. I would say the movies were funny, albeit not particularly good. Obviously the Austin Powers movies are a parody of the James Bond movies. The movies kind of watch like an extended series of Saturday Night Live skits, only loosely connected, like the skit is what if Dr. Evil had a son named Scott who wasn't impressed with him or another skit was what if a British agent from the ‘60s arrives in the ‘90s and experiences culture clash? What if Dr. Evil didn't understand the concept of inflation and demanded only a million dollars from the United Nations? What if Dr. Evil was actually Austin's brother and they went to school together at Spy Academy? Michael Caine was pretty great as Austin's father. Overall, funny but fairly incoherent. Overall grade: C- Next up is Horrible Bosses, a very dark and very raunchy comedy from about 14 years ago. It came out in 2011. Interestingly, this movie reflects what I think is one of the major crises of the contemporary era, frequent failures of leadership at all levels of society. In the movie Nick, Dale, and Kurt are lifelong friends living in LA and all three of them have truly horrible bosses in their place of employment, ranging from a sociopathic finance director, the company founder's cokehead son, and a boorish dentist with a tendency to sexual harassment. At the bar, they fantasize about killing their horrible bosses and then mutually decide to do something about it. Obviously, they'd all be prime suspects in the murder of their own bosses, but if they killed each other's bosses, that would allow them to establish airtight alibis. However, since Nick, Dale and Kurt are not as bright as they think they are, it all goes hilariously wrong very quickly. Bob Hope has a hilarious cameo. If the best “crude comedies” I've seen are Anchorman, Zoolander, Tropic Thunder, and Dodgeball, and the worst one was MacGruber, I'd say Horrible Bosses lands about in the middle. Overall grade: C Next up is Cowboys and Aliens, which came out in 2011. Now I almost saw this in 2011 when it came out, but I was too busy to go to the theater in July of 2011, so I finally saw it here in 2025 and I would say this was almost a great movie, like the performances were great, the concept was great, the scenery was great, the special effects were great, and the story was packed full of really interesting ideas, but somehow they just didn't coalesce. I'm not entirely sure why. I think upon reflection, it was that the movie is just too overcrowded with too many characters and too many subplots. Anyway, Daniel Craig portrays a man who wakes up with no memory in the Old West, with a mysterious bracelet locked around his wrist. He makes his way to the town of Atonement, and promptly gets arrested because he is apparently a notorious outlaw (which he doesn't remember). While he is locked in jail, space aliens attack the town. The aliens, for unknown reasons, abduct many of the townspeople, and Daniel Craig's character, who is named Jake even if he doesn't remember it, must lead the town's effort to recover their abducted citizens. Harrison's Ford has an excellent performance as this awful cattle baron who nonetheless has virtues of courage and fortitude that you can't help but admire. An excellent performance. That said, the movie was just too packed, and I thought it would work better as a novel. After I watched the movie, it turned out that it was indeed based off a graphic novel. Novels and graphic novels allow for a far more complex story than a movie, and I don't think this movie quite managed to handle the transition from a graphic novel to a film. Overall grade: C Next up is Heads of State, which came out in 2025. This was kind of a stupid movie. However, the fundamental question of any movie, shouted to the audience by Russell Crow in Gladiator is, “are you not entertained?!?” I was thoroughly entertained watching this, so entertained I actually watched it twice. Not everything has to be Shakespeare or a profound meditation on the unresolvable conflicts inherent within human nature. Anyway, John Cena plays Will Derringer, newly elected President of the United States. Idris Elba plays Sam Clark, who has now been the UK Prime Minister for the last six years. Derringer was an action star who parleyed his celebrity into elected office (in the same way Arnold Schwarzenegger did), while Clarke is an army veteran who worked his way up through the UK's political system. Needless to say, the cheerful Derringer and the grim Clarke take an immediate dislike to each other. However, they'll have to team up when Air Force One is shot down, stranding them in eastern Europe. They'll have to make their way home while evading their enemies to unravel the conspiracy that threatens world peace. So half action thriller, half buddy road trip comedy. The premise really doesn't work if you think about it too much for more than thirty seconds, but the movie was funny and I enjoyed it. Jack Quaid really stole his scenes as a crazy but hyper-competent CIA officer. Overall grade: C+ Next up, Captain America: Brave New World, which came out in 2025 and I think this movie ended up on the good side of middling. You can definitely tell it went through a lot of reshoots and retooling, and I suspect the various film industry strikes hit it like a freight train. But we ended up with a reasonably solid superhero thriller. Sam Wilson is now Captain America. He's not superhuman the way Steve Rogers was and doesn't have magic powers or anything, so he kind of fights like the Mandalorian – a very capable fighter who relies on excellent armor. Meanwhile, in the grand American political tradition of failing upward, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who spent years persecuting The Hulk and whose meddling caused the Avengers to disband right before Thanos attacked, has now been elected President. To Wilson's surprise, Ross reaches out and wants him to restart the Avengers. But Ross (as we know) did a lot of shady black ops stuff for years, and one of his projects is coming back to haunt him. Wilson finds himself in the middle of a shadowy conspiracy, and it's up to him to figure out what's going on before it's too late. I was amused that lifelong government apparatchik Ross wanted to restart the Avengers, because when the Avengers had their biggest victory in Avengers: Endgame, they were essentially unsanctioned vigilantes bankrolled by a rogue tech billionaire. Overall grade: B- Next up is Ironheart, which came out in 2025. I'd say Ironheart was about 40% very weird and 60% quite good. It's sort of like the modern version of Dr. Faustus. The show got some flak on the Internet from the crossfire between the usual culture war people, but the key to understanding it is to realize that Riri Williams AKA Ironheart is in fact an antihero who's tottering on the edge of becoming a full-blown supervillain. Like Tony Stark, she's a once-in-a-generation scientific talent, but while she doesn't have Stark's alcohol problems, she's emotionally unstable, immature, ruthless, indifferent to collateral damage and consequences, and suffering from severe PTSD after her best friend and stepfather were killed in a drive-by shooting. This volatile mix gets her thrown out of MIT after her experiments cause too much destruction, and she has to go home to Chicago. To get the funds to keep working on her Iron Man armor, she turns to crime, and falls in with a gang of high-end thieves led by a mysterious figure named Hood. It turns out that Hood has actual magic powers, which both disturbs and fascinates Riri. However, Hood got his magic in a pact with a mysterious dark force. When a job goes bad, Riri gains the enmity of Hood and has to go on the run. It also turns out Hood's dark master has become very interested in Riri, which might be a lot more dangerous for everyone in the long run. Overall, I'd say this is about in the same vein as Agatha All Along, an interesting show constructed around a very morally questionable protagonist. Overall grade: B Next up is A Minecraft movie, which came out in 2024. I have to admit, I've never actually played Minecraft, so I know very little about the game and its ecosystem, only what I've generally absorbed by glancing at the news. That said, I think the movie held together quite well, and wasn't deserving of the general disdain it got in the press. (No doubt the $950 million box office compensated for any hurt feelings.) One of the many downsides of rapid technological change in the last fifty years is that the Boomers and Gen X and the Millennials and Gen Z and Gen Alpha have had such radically different formative experiences in childhood that it's harder to relate to each other. Growing up in the 1980s was a wildly different experience than growing up in the 2010s, and growing up in the 2010s was an even more wildly different experience than growing up in the 1960s. Smartphones and social media were dominant in 2020, barely starting in 2010, and implausible science fiction in 2000 and earlier, and so it was like the different generations grew up on different planets, because in some sense they actually did. (A five-year-old relative of mine just started school, and the descriptions of his school compared to what I remember of school really do sound like different planets entirely.) The Minecraft game and A Minecraft Movie might be one of those generation-locked experiences. Anyway, this has gotten very deep digression for what was essentially a portal-based LitRPG movie. A group of people experiencing various life difficulties in a rural Idaho town get sucked into the Minecraft world through a magic portal. There they must combine forces and learn to work together to master the Minecraft world to save it from an evil sorceress. As always, the fundamental question of any movie is the one that Russell Crowe's character shouted to the audience in Gladiator back in 2000. “Are you not entertained?” I admit I was entertained when watching A Minecraft Movie since it was funny and I recognized a lot of the video game mechanics, even though I've never actually played Minecraft. Like, Castlevania II had a night/day cycle the way Minecraft does, and Castlevania II was forty years ago. But that was another digression! I did enjoy A Minecraft Movie. It was kind of crazy, but it committed to the craziness and maintained a consistent creative vision, and I was entertained. Though I did think it was impressive how Jack Black's agent managed to insist that he sing several different times. Overall grade: B Next up is Back to School, which came out in 1986 and this is one of the better ‘80s comedies I've seen. Rodney Dangerfield plays Thornton Melon, who never went to college and is the wealthy owner of a chain of plus-sized clothing stores. His son Jason is attending Great Lakes University, and after Thornton's unfaithful gold-digging wife leaves him (Thornton is mostly relieved by this development), he decides to go visit his son. He quickly discovers that Jason is flailing at college, and decides to enroll to help out his son. Wacky adventures ensue! I quite enjoyed this. The fictional “Great Lakes University” was largely shot at UW-Madison in Wisconsin, which I found amusing because I spent a lot of time at UW-Madison several decades ago as a temporary IT employee. I liked seeing the characters walk past a place where I'd eat lunch outside when the day was nice, that kind of thing. Also, I'm very familiar with how the sausage gets made in higher ed. There's a scene where the dean is asking why Thornton is qualified to enter college, and then it cuts to the dean cheerfully overseeing the groundbreaking of the new Thornton Melon Hall which Thornton just donated, and I laughed so hard I almost hurt myself, because that is exactly how higher ed works. The movie had some pointless nudity, but it was only a few seconds and no doubt gets cut in network broadcasts. Overall grade: B Next up is Whiskey Galore, which came out in 1949 and this is a comedy set in Scotland during World War II. The villagers living on an isolated island have no whiskey due to wartime rationing. However, when a government ship carrying 50,000 cases of whiskey runs aground near the island, wacky hijinks ensue. I have to admit the first half of the movie was very slow and deliberate, gradually setting up all the pieces for later. Then, once the shipwreck happens, things pick up and the movie gets much funnier. Definitely worth watching both as a good comedy movie and an artifact of its time. A modicum of historical knowledge is required – if you don't know what the Home Guard is, you might have to do some Googling to understand the context of some of the scenes. Regrettably, the version I watched did not have captioning, so I had to pay really close attention to understand what the characters were saying, because some of the accents were very strong. Overall grade: B Next up is Happy Gilmore 2, which came out in 2025. This was dumb and overstuffed with celebrity cameos but thoroughly hilarious and I say this even though it uses one of my least favorite story tropes, namely “hero of previous movie is now a middle age loser.” However, the movie leads into it for comedy. When Happy Gilmore accidentally kills his wife with a line drive, he spirals into alcoholism and despair. But his five children still love him, and when his talented daughter needs tuition for school, Happy attempts to shake off his despair and go back to golf to win the money. But Happy soon stumbles onto a sinister conspiracy led by an evil CEO to transform the game of golf into his own personal profit center. Happy must team up with his old nemesis Shooter McGavin to save golf itself from the evil CEO. Amusingly, as I've said before, the best Adam Sandler movies are almost medieval. In medieval fables, it was common for a clever peasant to outwit pompous lords, corrupt priests, and greedy merchants. The best Adam Sandler protagonist remains an everyman who outwits the modern equivalent of pompous lords and corrupt priests, in this case an evil CEO. Overall grade: B+ Next up is Superman, which came out in 2025 and I thought this was pretty good and very funny at times. I think it caught the essential nature of Superman. Like, Superman should be a Lawful Good character. If he was a Dungeons and Dragons character, he would be a paladin. People on the Internet tend to take the characterization of superheroes seriously to perhaps an unhealthy degree, but it seems the best characterization of Superman is as an earnest, slightly dorky Boy Scout who goes around doing good deeds. The contrast of that good-hearted earnestness with his godlike abilities that would allow him to easily conquer and rule the world is what makes for an interesting character. I also appreciated how the movie dispensed with the overused trope of the Origin Story and just got down to business. In this movie, Lex Luthor is obsessed with destroying Superman and is willing to use both super-advanced technology and engineered geopolitical conflict to do it. Superman, because he's essentially a decent person, doesn't comprehend just how depraved Luthor is, and how far Luthor is willing to go out of petty spite. (Ironically, a billionaire willing to destroy the world out of petty spite is alas, quite realistic). Guy Gardener (“Jerkish Green Lantern”) and the extremely competent and the extremely exasperated Mr. Terrific definitely stole all their scenes. The director of the movie, James Gunn, was quite famously fired from Disney in 2018 for offensive jokes he had made on Twitter back when he was an edgy young filmmaker with an alcohol problem. I suppose Mr. Gunn can rest content knowing that Superman made more money than any Marvel movie released this year. Overall grade: A- Next up is Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, which came out in 1988. This was a very strange movie, but nonetheless, one with an ambitious premise, strong performances, and a strong artistic vision. It's set in post WWII Los Angeles, and “toons” (basically cartoon characters) live and work alongside humans. Private eye Eddie Valiant hates toons since one of them killed his brother five years ago. However, he's hired by the head of a studio who's having trouble with one of his toon actors, Roger Rabbit. Roger's worried his wife Jessica is having an affair, and Valiant obtains pictures of Jessica playing patty cake (not a euphemism, they actually were playing patty cake) with another man. Roger has an emotional breakdown, and soon the other man winds up dead, and Roger insists he's innocent. Valiant and Roger find themselves sucked into a dangerous conspiracy overseen by a ruthless mastermind. This movie was such an interesting cultural artifact. It perfectly follows the structure of a ‘40s film noir movie, but with cartoons, and the dissonance between film noir and the cheerfulness of the toons was embraced and used as a frequently source of comedy. In fact, when the grim and dour Valiant uses the toons' comedy techniques as a tactical improvisation in a moment of mortal peril, it's both hilarious and awesome. Christopher Lloyd's performance as the villainous Judge Doom was amazing. (I don't think it's a spoiler to say that he's villainous, because his character is named Judge Doom and he's literally wearing a black hat.) Like, his performance perfectly captures something monstrous that is trying very hard to pretend to be human and not quite getting it right. And the amount of work it must have taken to make this movie staggers the mind. Nowadays, having live actors interact with cartoon characters is expensive, but not unduly so. It's a frequent technique. You see it all the time in commercials when a housewife is smiling at an animated roll of paper towels or something, and Marvel's essentially been doing it for years. But this was 1988! Computer animation was still a ways off. They had to shoot the movie on analog film, and then hand-draw all the animation and successfully match it to the live film. It wouldn't have worked without the performance of Bob Hoskins as Eddie Valiant, who plays everything perfectly straight in the same way Michael Caine did in A Muppet Christmas Carol. So kind of a strange movie, but definitely worth watching. And it has both Disney and Warner Brothers animated characters in the same movie, which is something we will never, ever see again. Overall grade: A Next up is K-Pop Demon Hunters, which came out in 2025. Like Who framed Roger Rabbit?, this is a very strange movie, but nonetheless with a clear and focused artistic vision. It is a cultural artifact that provides a fascinating look into a world of which I have no knowledge or interest, namely K-pop bands and their dueling fandoms. Anyway, the plot is that for millennia, female Korean musicians have used the magic of their voices to keep the demons locked away in a demon world. The current incarnation is a three-woman K-Pop group called Huntrix, and they are on the verge of sealing away the demons forever. Naturally, the Demon King doesn't like this, so one of his cleverer minions comes up with a plan. They'll start a Demon K-Pop Boy Band! Disguised as humans, the demon K-Pop group will win away Huntrix's fans, allowing them to breach the barrier and devour the world. However, one of the Huntrix musicians is half-demon, and she starts falling for the lead demon in the boy band, who is handsome and of course has a dark and troubled past. Essentially a musical K-drama follows. I have to admit I know practically nothing about K-Pop groups and their dueling fandoms, other than the fact that they exist. However, this was an interesting movie to watch. The animation was excellent, it did have a focused vision, and there were some funny bits. Overall grade: A Next up is Clarkson's Farm Season Four, which came out in 2025. A long time ago in the ‘90s, I watched the episode of Frasier where Frasier and Niles attempt to open a restaurant and it all goes horribly (yet hilariously) wrong. At the time, I had no money, but I promised myself that I would never invest in a restaurant. Nothing I have seen or learned in the subsequent thirty years has ever changed that decision. Season 4 of Clarkson's Farm is basically Jeremy Clarkson, like Frasier and Niles, attempting to open a restaurant, specifically a British pub. On paper it's a good idea, since Clarkson can provide the pub with food produced from his own farm and other local farmers. However, it's an enormous logistical nightmare, and Clarkson must deal with miles of red tape, contractors, and a ballooning budget, all while trying to keep his farm from going under. An excellent and entertaining documentary into the difficulties of both the farming life and food service. I still don't want to own a restaurant! Overall grade: A Next up is Tombstone, which came out in 1993. The Western genre of fiction is interesting because it's limited to such a very specific period of time and geographical region. Like the “Wild West” period that characterizes the Western genre really only lasted as a historical period from about 1865 to roughly 1890. The Western genre was at its most popular in movies from the 1940s and the 1960s, and I wonder if it declined because cultural and demographic changes made it unpopular to romanticize the Old West the way someone like Walt Disney did at Disneyland with “Frontierland.” Of course, the genre lives on in different forms in grittier Western movies, neo-Westerns like Yellowstone and Longmire, and a lot of the genre's conventions apply really well to science fiction. Everyone talks about Firefly being the first Space Western, but The Mandalorian was much more successful and was basically a Western in space (albeit with occasional visits from Space Wizards). Anyway! After that long-winded introduction, let's talk about Tombstone. When Val Kilmer died earlier this year, the news articles mentioned Tombstone as among his best work, so I decided to give it a watch. The plot centers around Wyatt Earp, played by Kurt Russell, who has decided to give up his career in law enforcement and move to Tombstone, Arizona, a silver mining boomtown, in hopes of making his fortune. However, Tombstone is mostly controlled by the Cowboys outlaw gang, and Earp is inevitably drawn into conflict with them. With the help of his brothers and Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer's character), Earp sets out to bring some law and order to Tombstone, whether the Cowboys like it or not. Holliday is in the process of dying from tuberculosis, which makes him a formidable fighter since he knows getting shot will be a less painful and protracted death than the one his illness will bring him. Kilmer plays him as a dissolute, scheming warrior-poet who nonetheless is a very loyal friend. Definitely a classic of the Western genre, and so worth watching. Overall grade: A Next up is Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, the eighth Mission Impossible movie. Of the eight movies, I think the sixth one was the best one, but this one comes in at a close second. It continues on from Dead Reckoning. Ethan Hunt now possesses the key that will unlock the source code of the Entity, the malicious AI (think ChatGPT, but even more obviously evil) that is actively maneuvering the world's nuclear powers into destroying each other so the Entity can rule the remnants of humanity. Unfortunately, the Entity's source code is sitting in a wrecked Russian nuclear sub at the bottom of the Bering Sea. Even more unfortunately, the Entity knows that Hunt has the key and is trying to stop him, even as the Entity's former minion and Hunt's bitter enemy Gabriel seeks to seize control of the Entity for himself. A sense of apocalyptic doom hangs over the movie, which works well to build tension. Once again, the world is doomed, unless Ethan Hunt and his allies can save the day. The tension works extremely well during the movie's underwater sequence, and the final airborne duel between Hunt and Gabriel. I don't know if they're going to make any more Mission Impossible movies after this (they are insanely expensive), but if this is the end, it is a satisfying conclusion for the character of Ethan Hunt and the Impossible Mission Force. Overall grade: A Next up is Deep Cover, which came out in 2025. This is described as a comedy thriller, and I didn't know what to expect when I watched it, but I really enjoyed it. Bryce Dallas Howard plays Kat, a struggling comedy improv teacher living in London. Her best students are Marlon (played by Orlando Bloom), a dedicated character actor who wants to portray gritty realism but keeps getting cast in tacky commercials, and Hugh (played by Nick Mohammed), an awkward IT worker with no social skills whatsoever. One day, the three of them are recruited by Detective Sergeant Billings (played by Sean Bean) of the Metropolitan Police. The Met wants to use improv comedians to do undercover work for minor busts with drug dealers. Since it plays 200 pounds a pop, the trio agrees. Of course, things rapidly spiral out of control, because Kat, Marlon, and Hugh are actually a lot better at improv than they think, and soon they find themselves negotiating with the chief criminals of the London underworld. What follows is a movie that is both very tense and very funny. Kat, Marlon, and Hugh are in way over their heads, and will have to do the best improv of their lives to escape a very grisly fate. Whether Sean Bean dies or not (as is tradition), you will just have to watch the movie and find out. Overall grade: A Next up is Puss in Boots: The Final Wish, which came out in 2022. I don't personally know much about the history of Disney as a corporation, and I don't much care, but I do have several relatives who are very interested in the history of the Disney corporation, and therefore I have picked up some by osmosis. Apparently Disney CEO Michael Eisner forcing out Jeffrey Katzenberg in the 1990s was a very serious mistake, because Katzenberg went on to co-found DreamWorks, which has been Disney's consistent rival for animation for the last thirty years. That's like “CIA Regime Change Blowback” levels of creating your own enemy. Anyway, historical ironies aside, Puss in Boots: The Final Wish was a funny and surprisingly thoughtful animated movie. Puss in Boots is a legendary outlaw and folk hero, but he has used up eight of his nine lives. An ominous bounty hunter who looks like a humanoid wolf begins pursuing him, and the Wolf is able to shrug off the best of Puss In Boots' attacks. Panicked, Puss hides in a retirement home for elderly cats, but then hears rumors of the magical Last Wish. Hoping to use it to get his lives back, Puss In Boots sets off on the quest. It was amusing how Little Jack Horner and Goldilocks and the Three Bears were rival criminal gangs seeking the Last Wish. Overall grade: A Next up is Chicken People, which came out in 2016. A good documentary film gives you a glimpse into an alien world that you would otherwise never visit. In this example, I have absolutely no interest in competitive chicken breeding and will only raise chickens in my backyard if society ever collapses to the level that it becomes necessary for survival. That said, this was a very interesting look into the work of competitive chicken breeding. Apparently, there is an official “American Standard of Perfection” for individual chicken breeds, and the winner of the yearly chicken competition gets the title “Super Grand Champion.” Not Grand Champion, Super Grand Champion! That looks impressive on a resume. It is interesting how chicken breeding is in some sense an elaborate Skinner Box – like you can deliberately set out to breed chickens with the desirable traits on the American Standard of Perfection, but until the chickens are hatched and grow up, you don't know how they're going to turn out, so you need to try again and again and again… Overall grade: A Next up is The Mask of Zoro, which came out in 1998. I saw this in the theatre when it came out 27 years ago, but that was 27 years ago, and I don't have much of a memory of it, save that I liked it. So when I had the chance to watch it again, I did! Anthony Hopkins plays Diego de la Vega, who has the secret identity of Zorro in the final days before Mexico breaks away from the Spanish Empire. With Mexico on the verge of getting its independence, Diego decides to hang up his sword and mask and focus on his beloved wife and daughter. Unfortunately, the military governor Don Montero realizes Diego is Zorro, so has him arrested, kills his wife, and steals his baby daughter to raise as his own. Twenty years later, a bandit named Alejandro loses his brother and best friends to a brutal cavalry commander. It turns out that Montero is returning to California from Spain, and plans to seize control of California as an independent republic (which, of course, will be ruled by him). In the chaos, Diego escapes from prison and encounters a drunken Alejandro, and stops him from a futile attack upon the cavalry commander. He then proposes a pact – Diego will train Alejandro as the next Zorro, and together they can take vengeance upon the men who wronged them. This was a good movie. It was good to see that my taste in movies 27 years ago wasn't terrible. It manages to cram an entire epic plot into only 2 hours and 20 minutes. In some ways it was like a throwback to a ‘40s movie but with modern (for the ‘90s) production values, and some very good swordfights. Overall grade: A Next up is Wick is Pain, which came out in 2025. I've seen all four John Wick movies and enjoyed them thoroughly, though I've never gotten around to any of the spinoffs. Wick is Pain is a documentary about how John Wick went from a doomed indie movie with a $6.5 million hole in its budget to one of the most popular action series of the last few decades. Apparently Keanu Reeves made an offhand joke about how “Wick is pain” and that became the mantra of the cast and crew, because making an action movie that intense really was a painful experience. Definitely worth watching if you enjoyed the John Wick movies or moviemaking in general. Overall grade: A The last movie I saw this summer was Game Night, which came out in 2016. It was a hilarious, if occasionally dark comedy action thriller. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams play Max and Annie Davis, a married couple who are very competitive and enjoy playing games of all kinds. Jason has an unresolved conflict with his brother Brooks, and one night Brooks invites them over for game night, which Max resents. Halfway through the evening, Brooks is kidnapped, with Max and Annie assume is part of the game. However, Brooks really is involved in something shady. Hilarity ensues, and it's up to Max and Annie to rescue Brooks and stay alive in the process. This was really funny, though a bit dark in places. That said, Max and Annie have a loving and supportive marriage, so it was nice to see something like that portrayed on the screen. Though this also leads to some hilarity, like when Annie accidentally shoots Max in the arm. No spoilers, but the punchline to that particular sequence was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Overall grade: A So no A+ movie this time around, but I still saw a bunch of solid movies I enjoyed. One final note, I have to admit, I've really come to respect Adam Sandler as an entertainer, even if his movies and comedy are not always to my taste. He makes what he wants, makes a lot of money, ensures that his friends get paid, and then occasionally takes on a serious role in someone else's movie when he wants to flex some acting muscles. I am not surprised that nearly everyone who's in the original Happy Gilmore who was still alive wanted to come back for Happy Gilmore 2. So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show enjoyable and perhaps a guide to some good movies to watch. A reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave a review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.
Two Frontierland postcards for a Disneyland shop gone too soon. Turn off the regular lights and turn on the black light for this fun journey into Mineral Hall. Below are some of the regulars on Art Throw Down, Follow all of them on Instagram anyway for great art and postcards in your Instagram feed: Hipstadufus, luluvision, jlynch9923, greenmosspaper, georgemailsart, state_of_the_funyun, RussRomano2021
Frontierland has a fun snack — but is this for you? Tiana's famous beignets! In this episode, Whitney + Jordan grade this Disney World treat A–F and help you decide if it's a hit or a skip for your next trip. (What will you do!?) We cover the quick history, taste, and whether these powdered-sugar bites are worth your park time (and snack budget).Listen to Mouse Minutes Podcast for real reviews that make your Disney planning easier. Listen to this week's episode and let us know what you think! Are they really that good - er that bad?!. . .Keep up with Mouse Minutes on Instagram or follow along here: (https://www.instagram.com/mouseminutespodcast/). . .Join the official Mouse Minutes Podcast on Patreon today! $5/month gains you early access to unedited video recordings of new episodes, early access to new episodes, and a chance to win new merch through exclusive monthly drawings, and more!https://www.patreon.com/MouseMinutesPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator. . .Want to get some ears on your brand? Sponsor a future episode of the Mouse Minutes Podcast and reach Disney fans who love a good story, a good snack, and a good time. We'd love to hear what you've got in mind — reach out through email (mouseminutespodcast@gmail.com) and let's make some magic together! . . .Check out these other episodes we discussed:Beignets at French Quarter: https://open.spotify.com/episode/22xzpbx11yq8B68VbGORAC?si=42r75A_OSoam1Mq0OzLLrQ Tiana's Bayou Adventure: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6PsCqSK98VkgrRhSLaCKlV?si=ucjEUf73RGeIQ9AVga8WKg . . .Check out some of these other awesome Disney podcasts! WDW Radio, Connecting with Walt, Defunctland, Walkabout the World – A Disney Podcast, Into the Dizneyverse, Happily Ever Active
Big Thunder Topic from Trammin' Episode 276A long time ago, before we built a Galaxy's Edge Far Far away, before the big thunders of the mountain boomed, there was a simple land modeled after the wild frontier. It's King, Walt, named it Frontierland. A land of painted deserts, Indian villages, and... pack mule rides inside Disneyland? At least there was the sweet smell of maple syrup to cover that up. Join Kirk & Freddy as they step into a questionable past on a horsey new episode of Trammin' - A Disneyland Podcast!Listen to full episodes every Windsday and topic-only uploads on Big Thunder Thursdays!InstagramTrammin' - https://instagram.com/TramminPodcastChristian Rainwater - https://instagram.com/imrainwaterMusicLocal Forecast - Elevator Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Trammin' - The Disneylanders, Addy DaddyUsed with permission.Character Art & AnimationNadia Dar - https://nadsdardraws.carrd.co/Trammin.comTrammin' is written without the use of Artificial Intelligence.©Trammin' - A Disneyland Podcast
A long time ago, before we built a Galaxy's Edge Far Far away, before the big thunders of the mountain boomed, there was a simple land modeled after the wild frontier. It's King, Walt, named it Frontierland. A land of painted deserts, Indian villages, and... pack mule rides inside Disneyland? At least there was the sweet smell of maple syrup to cover that up. Join Kirk & Freddy as they step into a questionable past on a horsey new episode of Trammin' - A Disneyland Podcast!Listen to full episodes every Windsday and topic-only uploads on Big Thunder Thursdays!InstagramTrammin' - https://instagram.com/TramminPodcastChristian Rainwater - https://instagram.com/imrainwaterMusicLocal Forecast - Elevator Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Trammin' - The Disneylanders, Addy DaddyUsed with permission.Character Art & AnimationNadia Dar - https://nadsdardraws.carrd.co/Trammin.comTrammin' is written without the use of Artificial Intelligence.©Trammin' - A Disneyland Podcast
We saddle up for a journey through Disney's Frontierland, exploring its rich history, hidden details, and Western-inspired magic that can transform your next run into a frontier adventure for runDisney's Big Thunder Mountain Virtual Summer Series.• Frontierland was one of Walt's original lands when Disneyland opened in 1955, designed to transport guests back to the 1800s• The wooden fort walls at the land's entrance were made from real ponderosa pine trees• Mark Twain's riverboat was technically the first working Disneyland attraction, hosting Walt and Lillian's 30th anniversary four days before opening• Tom Sawyer Island was the only Disneyland attraction designed entirely by Walt himself• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened in 1979, replacing the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland• Look for hidden details like upside-down horseshoes in the dynamite scene representing bad luck in the "cursed" mine• Disney's Western films include classics like Davy Crockett, Old Yeller, and The Apple Dumpling Gang• Frontierland dining options include Pecos Bill's Tall Tale Inn, Golden Horseshoe Saloon, and Thunder Mesa's Cowboy Cookout• Western-themed running costume ideas include cowboy/cowgirl runner, sheriff runner, rodeo rider, and gold prospector• Our special Wild West Strides Spotify playlist is available here to keep your feet moving during your runCheck out our podcast Facebook group for themed challenges, costume ideas, and to connect with other Extraordinary Striders. Have questions or want to chat? Send me a text!Support the showJoin the newsletter list for updates, special offers, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.Join fellow pod and running enthusiasts at The Stride Collective community on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.
Dedicated to DLP Podcast – Episode 219 Show Notes Hosted by your favorite Disneyland Paris over-analyzers: Beth (professional hype-woman) & Marq (professional skeptic). In This Episode: Vanessa's Mysterious Absence Our co-host Vanessa is busy converting the masses to Disney fandom—one Pilates class at a time. Beth demands proof, and Marq delivers with an audio clip of Vanessa leading a Mickey-approved workout. Truly, she's doing Walt's work. "A Million Splashes of Colour" Returns in 2026 Dust off your neon fanny packs! The parade/show hybrid is back, now with more French-speaking characters (except Mickey, who's stubbornly Anglophone). The Thing Meet & Greet = Chaos DLP learned the hard way that dropping a superhero into a crowd without a queue is like offering free Doritos in Frontierland. Spoiler: It got clobberin' time levels of messy. Gazebo Garden's Very British Makeover As Walt Disney Studios Park transforms into Disney Adventure World,Disneyland Paris is sprinkling some very British whimsy into the new Gazebo Garden, and the Imagineers have clearly been taking notes from classic literature. The scenes include a bear wearing a shirt... but no trousers and some dogs running an unlicensed foster care center. The authorities have been contacted. Listener Mail: Your Questions, Our (Strong) Opinions Cara asks: Can you ditch your bags at Newport Bay and sprint to Versailles? (Spoiler: Yes, but maybe wear some Air Jordans!)) Tiffany shares her epic April 2025 trip report—3.5 park days, 7 people, and one toddler. What could go wrong?
http://www.attractionchecklist.com - We've drug our feet long enough. It's time to go see the Country Bear Musical Jamboree at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom on this episode of Attraction Checklist. Attraction audio recorded on May 21, 2025. TRANSCRIPT: Welcome to Attraction Checklist. This episode we visit Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom to check out the Country Bear Jamboree's new show the Country Bear Musical Jamboree. The Walt Disney World website describes this attraction saying: Head over to Frontierland for this newly reimagined show where Henry, Trixie, Big Al and their pals are playin' some of your favorite Disney songs alongside a heapin' helpin' of Southern charm. There are no age or height requirements for this attraction and, in a possible bit of foreshadowing, there is no Thrill Level listed. Before we head to Grizzly Hall, here are five fast facts about the Country Bear Musical Jamboree. 1. In September 2023, Disney announced that the Country Bear Jamboree would be retooled into a new show called the Country Bear Musical Jamboree. The edited original show that had been running closed on January 27, 2024. The new version of the show opened on July 17, 2024. 2. As part of the redesign for the new show, the lobby area of grizzly hall has been festooned with display cases filled with treasures from the history of the Country Bear Jamboree. This includes trophies of awards won by the bears, vintage costume pieces and original paw-written lyrics for songs. 3. Veteran singer, songwriter Mac McAnally was tasked with creating country versions of popular Disney songs for the show. He also provides the voice of Terrance the Shaker in the show as well. 4. The Voice competitor Emily Ann Roberts provides the voice of Trixie and Allison Russell and Chris Thile provide voices for Teddi Barra and Wendell respectively. 5. As part of the revamp, one bear got a name change. Liver Lips McGrowl is now Romeo McGrowl. Romeo is now voiced by Robert “Big Sandy” Williams. With much trepidation, it's now time to visit the Country Bear Musical Jamboree. John B. deHaas is along for the journey and after the show we'll give you our thoughts on this attraction. This is a binaural recording so if you have headphone, put them on now as we visit the Country Bear Musical Jamboree at Magic Kingdom. The attraction audio recorded for this episode is available exclusively to the Saturday Morning Media Patron Patron. Support the show and get fun Bonus content over at http://www.patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia Episode edited by Stephen Staver FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/attractionchecklist/ https://www.facebook.com/attractionchecklist https://www.linkedin.com/company/saturday-morning-media http://www.youtube.com/user/SaturdayMorningMedia?sub_confirmation=1 FOLLOW GRANT http://www.MrGrant.com https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ SOURCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Bear_Jamboree https://musicrow.com/2024/07/country-bear-jamboree-returns-to-disney-with-tunes-by-mac-mcanally-emily-ann-roberts-more/ https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/country-bear-jamboree/ Show ©2025 Saturday Morning Media/Grant Baciocco
We have some tips on how to help extend the battery life on your phone while in the parks because, let's be honest, we all know they don't last near as long inside Disneyland as they do outside! Plus we take a little look at the history of Frontierland as wear get nearer to Disneyland's 70th anniversary! Save on your next trip through our friends at Get Away Today - https://www.getawaytoday.com/tickets/disneyland-resort?referrerid=7594 Subscribe and follow us for more! Facebook - @Disneyland4Ever Instagram - @disneylnd4evr Threads - @disneylnd4evr Like what you hear? Offer your support by buying us a churro: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/disneyland4ever
While last week's post shared lament over the closing of Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, we return to Disneyland's 70th Anniversary to celebrate the heritage of Frontierland. While you might think Frontierland is a thing of the past, knowing the past of this land will give you appreciation for the remarkable role it has played in four of Disney's theme parks around the world. We'll step inside the fort entrance to hear some stories many may have never heard before about the history of Frontierland. Did you know there was at one point a big Indiana Jones attraction developed for Frontierland. We share all the Wild West with you. From the Trading Post to the Golden Horseshoe; From The Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to Big Thunder Ranch, and from the Halloween Tree to a Petrified Tree, we bring you tall and true tales of Disneyland's Frontierland. ____________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting the podcast. Here we bring the best in Disney both in terms of the magic of the parks as well as the business behind the magic! And now as part of Disneyland's 70th anniversary, we have a new interactive Disney Insight Fact Discovery, which unlocks scores of fascinating details few know about. With text, images, video and audio, we explore these realms whether you are right on the streets of the "Happiest Place on Earth" or enjoying it virtually from your own couch at home. Join today! 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. Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others. 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!
It's a red, white, and blue week at the parks! Sam and Greg are back for the July 9, 2025, episode of This Week at Walt Disney World with fireworks, construction walls, holiday announcements, and a farewell to two Magic Kingdom classics. https://youtu.be/YZEvNV0IKVw July 2025 Disney World Closures: Liberty Belle & Tom Sawyer Island Two longtime staples of Magic Kingdom have officially taken their final voyages. The Liberty Belle Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island are now closed to make way for Walt Disney World's newest expansion: Piston Peak and Villains Land. Construction walls have gone up across Frontierland, and if you're riding the monorail, keep your eyes open—early staging work has already begun and is visible. Thanks to @bioreconstruct, we even have aerial images that show the impressive scale of what's coming next. As these classic experiences fade into the past, guests have been spotting a few mysterious new doors around the construction zone. Are they functional? Themed? Or just a bit of Disney magic teasing what's to come? Time will tell. Fourth of July in the Parks No better time to be at Walt Disney World than Independence Day weekend, and Sam and Greg celebrated in true patriotic fashion. https://youtu.be/MPBbbC3hUTM July 2025 Disney World Holiday Season Preview Walt Disney World has released full details for the upcoming 2025 holiday season. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party returns to Magic Kingdom with festive overlays and new entertainment. EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays is also back, bringing seasonal flavors and the Candlelight Processional to World Showcase from November 28 to December 30, 2025. And at Hollywood Studios, Disney Jollywood Nights continues its new holiday tradition with glitz, glam, and retro-inspired fun. Ticket sale dates and event specifics were announced, providing planners with ample time to prepare for the season. Haunted Mansion Merch & Small World Update at Disney World New Haunted Mansion merchandise has materialized across the parks, with spooky styles perfect for any foolish mortal. These items are arriving just in time to celebrate Halloween-in-July vibes, offering apparel, accessories, and collectibles inspired by everyone's favorite ghostly retreat. And starting July 17, 2025, It's a Small World will debut its emotional final verse. Originally penned by the late Richard Sherman as his last gift to Disney, the verse will premiere as part of Disneyland's 70th celebration and will also be added to the Walt Disney World version of the attraction. Railroad Shuttle & Monsters Inc. Land Construction at Disney World A new phrase is circulating—literally. Guests have begun to notice a "shuttle" operating on the Walt Disney World Railroad. This temporary change allows continued access while construction expands around the train's path, particularly as work intensifies in Frontierland. Over at Hollywood Studios, the staging work for the long-rumored Monsters Inc. Land is moving fast—and it's massive. Cranes and steel are already visible behind the current Pixar Place area, giving us a peek at what might be the next big immersive land. And Don't Forget… The new gold medallions at the Transportation and Ticket Center have caught our eye, adding another small touch of Disney detail. And speaking of touches, the Muppets 70th celebration continues—with even more collectible magnets now available across the parks. It's been a huge week, and we're just getting started. Be sure to catch the full video episode of This Week at Walt Disney World for all the photos, footage, and fun—only on SamsDisneyDiary! Catch the full show here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPa1qDh-69k&t=10s
Send us a text Join Louis, Sam, Kevin, and Amanda as we honor the incredible legacy of Harper Goff, the creative force behind everything from the Jungle Cruise to the original design of Disneyland itself. We'll dive into his impact on the parks, his cinematic contributions, and how his fingerprints can still be found across Disney history. Then, it's time for another Imagineering Armchair session—this time dreaming up ways to enhance Frontierland, inspired by Goff's adventurous spirit. We invite you to become Armchair Imagineers with us! Share your thoughts and join the conversation about this episode and more on our Discord!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 magicThe Themepark Scavenger Hunt Game - Where In The Parkhttps://shop.whereinthepark.com/?ref=waltsaptpodcastCheck 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
On this episode, we face off two lands from Magic Kingdom to see which one is better, Fantasyland or Frontierland! https://buymeacoffee.com/disneymywayDMW Merch: https://disney-my-way.myspreadshop.com/Contact Myra today for help with your next magical vacation! https://poplme.co/XuzEhO6C/shareHead to https://magiccandlecompany.com/disneymyway today and use the code DMW at checkout for 15% off your order! AD Music: Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/cherry-blossomLicense code: DDSXEAOAMIO3D1PWIntro Music: Music from #Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/jonny-boyle/happy-like-larryLicense code: Q11OWGJSLNZ7HH4ESend us a textSupport the showHey Wayfinders! Follow along with our adventures and interact with us! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dismywayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneymywaypodcast/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl2ArfGNas_algRQmnppUhA
Sam and Greg are back, and it's July 2, 2025—just in time for the Independence Day crowds! News and a Flashback. Test Track Previews Begin—Greg Was First in Line! After months of anticipation, Test Track previews have officially launched at Epcot. Greg was among the first to experience the reimagined attraction. This new version features updated ride systems and a fresh storyline, honoring the attraction's legacy while pushing forward with bold innovation. Hall of Presidents and Astro Orbiter Reopen Just in time for the Fourth of July, two Magic Kingdom staples are back. The Hall of Presidents has reopened with updated technology and refreshed show elements. Meanwhile, Astro Orbiter is once again spinning above Tomorrowland following its recent refurbishment. Big Thunder Mountain Surprise Entertainment Guests visiting Frontierland this week were treated to an unexpected entertainment moment near Big Thunder Mountain. Disney Live Entertainment is keeping the details under wraps, but it's clear something new and interactive is on the way. Stay tuned! Hitchhiking Ghosts Join Build-Your-Own Mickey Ears In an exciting Haunted Mansion update, the Hitchhiking Ghosts have been added to the Build-Your-Own Mickey Ear lineup. These new custom options let you bring a ghostly flair to your headgear—just in time for the spooky season to begin. Lilo & Stitch 2 Announced on 626 Day In animation news, Disney confirmed the development of Lilo & Stitch 2 on June 26, or “626 Day.” A teaser featured Stitch causing chaos at Walt Disney Studios, and fans are already speculating on what adventures are next for the beloved blue alien. Eat to the Beat 2025 Lineup Revealed This week also brought news from Epcot's Food & Wine Festival, including the first wave of Eat to the Beat concert lineup announcements. Disney confirmed the return of fan-favorite events like Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt and Pluto's Pumpkin Pursuit, bringing even more reasons to visit this fall. Flashback: 1988's First-Ever Televised Fireworks To celebrate Independence Day, Sam and Greg revisit a piece of Disney Parks history: the first-ever televised Fourth of July fireworks at Walt Disney World in 1988. The patriotic broadcast set the stage for future celebrations and remains a nostalgic gem for longtime fans. Don't Miss the Show Catch the full replay of This Week at Walt Disney World LIVE with Sam and Greg for even more updates, commentary, and behind-the-scenes magic. Whether you're planning a visit this weekend or just love staying in the loop, we've got you covered every step of the way. Full Video Show here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfGfuphusk8
It's been nearly a year since the wake of D23 where we learned that the Rivers of America, the Liberty Belle, and Tom Sawyer Island would be changed out into a new off road Cars experience. The way we learned that news was troublesome--hiding it from the official D23 presentation. But even if they had been more transparent about it, it would still be hard to lose. I've come to terms as I've shared in previous podcasts what's working about what lies ahead for the Rivers of America. I think ultimately it will be a well-received set of experiences when it all comes together. But I couldn't help but be really melancholy about saying goodbye to the river for the last time. I'll share with you what went through my mind, and some of the really wonderful--even sweet memories I have from these attractions. I'll talk about what else is happening currently in both Liberty Square and Frontierland, particularly with the soft reopening of Hall of Presidents, and then I'll end with suggestions of where you can still find the spirit of this experience elsewhere--and it isn't at Disneyland. So stay with us as we bid adieu to The Rivers of America, the Liberty Belle and Tom Sawyer Island.
Hello Travelers! This week join host Jay as we say goodbye to Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America aboard the Liberty Belle. First, climb aboard the Walt Disney World Railroad from Main Street USA to Frontierland Station before hopping a raft over to Tom's Landing where you'll take in some of Tom Sawyer Island. Then enjoy Frontierland ambiance before walking over to Liberty Square for a ride aboard the Liberty Belle. If you like what we do, consider joining our crew on Patreon. These wonderful people help us keep the microphones crisp and the servers warm at night. Visit us a walkabouttheworld.com - find links to all the things - attraction episodes, Insta accounts of all the hosts, and even how to buy your own Walkabout shirt! Look us up at @WalkaboutWDW on Instagram and drop us a note to say hi. 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. Please consider giving us a rating and review wherever you listen - it really helps. 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.
It's officially halfway to the holidays, and the summer season is heating up across the Walt Disney World Resort. From new characters and construction updates to seasonal food events and even some big infrastructure news, a lot is happening this week. Let's dig in. Create your own Christmas Tree Returns to Walt Disney World Coolest Summer Ever Brings New Surprises The Cool Kids Summer campaign is in full swing, and Frontierland is abuzz with activity. We spotted new characters joining the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade, including rare appearances that surprised even longtime parkgoers. Over in Toy Story Land, guests will be glad to see new shade structures finally added near Andy's Lunch Box — a much-needed relief in the Florida heat. Meanwhile, Magic Kingdom Updates Tomorrowland Astro Orbiter is nearing completion. Flavors of Florida Kicks Off with a Culinary Preview Flavors of Florida is back at Disney Springs, and the 2025 edition kicked off with a flavorful media preview. We had a chance to check out offerings from The Edison, Terralina, and House of Blues — including new dishes and seasonal cocktails inspired by Florida's fresh ingredients. If you're planning to visit, keep an eye out for the new Shrimp & Grits, Pizza alla Vodka, and a colorful gator-themed beverage that's already creating buzz. Big Thunder Rumblings and D23 Archives Celebration Over at Magic Kingdom, train cars were spotted on the Big Thunder Mountain tracks, fueling speculation about ride testing or possibly preparation for refurbishment. While Disney hasn't confirmed anything officially, it's a sign that more activity is happening behind the scenes. At Disney Studios, we got a sneak peek into Disney's past as the Walt Disney Archives celebrated its 55th anniversary. The Archives team released a fantastical short film honoring the legacy of Walt's vision and the importance of preserving Disney history. We even spotted a familiar face — Gongos Mickey, from the Muppet*Vision 3D pre-show — as part of the anniversary display. Major Road Projects Could Shape Disney's Future Perhaps the biggest long-term news this week didn't come from inside the parks but just outside them. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has officially opened bidding for two major infrastructure projects: the Western Way road expansion and a full redesign of the Buena Vista Drive interchange. These fully funded initiatives are designed to ease traffic flow into the resort's western entrance — but they could also mean something much bigger. Could this signal a future park expansion or new resort area? Disney owns 160 acres nearby with improved access underway. Speculation is growing about long-term plans, especially as road work begins. Sam analyzed access ramps and project maps, even comparing them to satellite images. The results are intriguing and raise many questions. While Disney has made no announcements, these upgrades could open the door to major development. Video Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m_wRuGK8g0
This week on Hangin' at the Hangar Bar, Scott grabs his metaphorical saddlebag (and his very real AI co-host, Dusty Trails Bot) for a solo deep dive into the dusty, disappearing corners of Frontierland at Walt Disney World.We're talkin' Big Thunder Mountain, Country Bear Jamboree, the now-closed Tom Sawyer Island, and the retired Liberty Belle Riverboat—each with its own story, legacy, and charm. But it's not all just frontier nostalgia—Scott also explores what's replacing these classics, including the controversial addition of Piston Peak National Park, inspired by Planes: Fire & Rescue. Yes, really.Expect laughs, lore, a little light grumbling about IP choices, and a heartfelt look at how storytelling is changing inside the most iconic theme park in the world.If you're a fan of goats with dynamite, bears who sing showtunes, or just wondering what happens when you give aviator goggles to a national park… this is the episode for you.
Send us a textWhat happens when moonshine meets the Magic Kingdom? We're sipping on authentic moonshine margaritas from Disney's Fort Wilderness while dreaming up the most exclusive—and eccentric—club Disney has never seen.Prepare yourself for a wild journey as we craft "Hillbilly Club 33" from the ground up. This fictional collaboration between the Clampett family (yes, of Beverly Hillbillies fame) and the Disney empire reimagines luxury through Appalachian eyes. Picture a double-wide trailer perched above Frontierland's Golden Horseshoe, complete with taxidermy, toll paintings, and a grand chandelier made of deer antlers and gold-plated mason jars.The dress code? Semi-clean overalls and straw hats only, please—no ball caps allowed at this highfalutin establishment. Membership costs range from delightfully peculiar (payment in homemade preserves) to outlandishly specific (one pound of meth or 100 squirrels for the kitchen). Perks include private ride entrances disguised as barn doors, exclusive access to front porches on Main Street, and birthday announcements in Jed Clampett's voice over park loudspeakers.We've developed an entire menu of signature moonshine cocktails, from the Backwoods Mule to the Possum Punch, alongside culinary innovations like caviar grits, trailer park nachos, and Moon Pie Mountain dessert. Each menu item balances the line between parody and genuine intrigue—much like our entire concept.This episode captures the joy of reimagining Disney's exclusive experiences through a different cultural lens, asking what happens when backwoods meets VIP status. Listen in and let your imagination run wild with us—just don't forget your flask of shine and straw hat!Here's who we are and what is in store for you
Hey Howdy Hey! Welcome to episode 272 of Disney Assembled!!!Walt Disney World has begun two big changes: Monsters, Inc. replacing Muppet Vision 3D and Cars coming to Frontierland. In this episode, we talk about what we know and how we feel about these changes.If you enjoy the show,...Subscribe to the show on your podcast player of choice. If you are able, consider giving us a 5-star rating and review.Buy us a Dole Whip!Become a member and get extra content on Patreon.Find and subscribe to our YouTube channel.Visit our Disney Assembled store to purchase some excellent Disney Assembled merch.Follow and shoot us a message on our socials: @DisneyAssembled on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky, and TikTok or email us at disneyassembled@gmail.com.Be sure to check out our Spotify Playlist, "Disney Assembled's Favorites" - click here to listen.You can find links to all of the above, as well as links to where you can subscribe to the show, on our website: disneyassembled.comSee you real soon!Troy & Mimi :)
Join Attractions Magazine contributing writers and correspondents as they bring you news and discussion about all things themed entertainment and parks, including Disney, Universal Studios and beyond on The Attractions Podcast. Topics of conversation on this week's episode of The Attractions Podcast: M3GAN now dancing at Universal Orlando in flash mob | Full video Disney Villains go kiddie in new show at Hollywood Studios | Review Disney Imagineers share 3 focuses for new Frontierland attractions at Magic Kingdom Dollywood 40th anniversary documentary now streaming Ride vehicle revealed for ‘Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift' coaster opening in 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood The Attractions Podcast is brought to you by MEI-Travel and Mouse Fan Travel. They provide premium service and expert advice to get the most for your vacation time and dollars. Visit them at mei-travel.com. We welcome your suggestions and want you to be a part of the discussion. Please send your comments to info@attractionsmagazine.com with the subject line “The Attractions Podcast.” Statements or opinions herein are those of the hosts and advertisers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the producers, Dream Together Media LLC, or staff.
What's up, dudes? It's the 1985 Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade, broadcast live on National TV! Disney connoisseurs Tim Babb from Can't Wait for Christmas and Charlie Ague from Closer to Christmas and Ague Designs are here with me to break it down!Joan Lunden and Ben Vereen host this Christmas parade with narration written by Doug Cody. The production was directed by Chico Fernandez. After some confusion with decorations, Mickey and the gang are ready to begin! Tinkerbell opened the show, and Cinderella and her entourage processed down Main Street USA. The Dumbo and the Jungle Book crews followed right behind her.The Herbie the Love Bug performers come next, and Robin Hood and his Merry Men succeeded him. Regis Philbin took us through the Living Seas, and that segment was followed by the Pinocchio float series. Subsequently, Ben showed us a behind the scenes preview of “Captain EO” with Michael Jackson, George Lucas, and Francis Ford Coppola.After Cruella de Vil drove down, Mary Poppins and the Alice in Wonderland players glide down Main Street. Then Ben gave a stirring performance in Frontierland. The toy soldiers from “Babes in Toyland” march along, and Mickey and Minnie ride a coach behind them. The Gummi Bears, Goofy, and Donald follow on floats, accompanied by characters from Peter Pan, Chip and Dale, and the Hundred Acre Wood. Finally, Santa Claus himself flew in to close out the celebration.Steamboat musical number? Check. Ads for “Superman II”? Yep. Endless commercials from Eckerd and Gaines? Definitely! So grab your an scarf and top hat, hop on a float, and ride down Main Street USA to this episode all about the 1985 Very Merry Christmas Parade!Can't Wait for Christmas FB: @CantWaitForChristmasPodIG: @cantwaitforchristmaspodTwitter: @ChristmasPodCloser to ChristmasTwitter: @closertoxmas IG: @closertoxmasAgue DesignsIG: @aguedesignsGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, dudes!
Disney Parks Podcast Show #875- Disney New For The Week Of June 09, 2025 In today's show, we have news about Future Expansion Plans for Disneyland Resort, news about Piston Peak National Park Builds on the Story of Frontierland, and so much more on today's Disney Parks Podcast. The post Disney Parks Podcast Show #875- Disney New For The Week Of June 09, 2025 appeared first on Disney Parks Podcast.
In just under a month, Tom Sawyer Island will officially close to make way for an all-new attraction at Walt Disney World.It's one of several controversial closures tied to the resort's upcoming expansions — but was this island escape ever really worth the trek? Should we be mourning the end of this quiet corner of Frontierland, or is it time to move on?Whitney + Jordan dive into the nostalgia, the quirks, and the question: was/is Tom Sawyer Island a hidden gem or an easy skip?Tune in for their grades and thoughts, and let us know where you stand on this closing chapter!(Final day to experience Tom Sawyer Island is July 6, 2025). . .Check out Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom.. . .Keep up with Mouse Minutes on Instagram or follow along here: https://www.instagram.com/mouseminutespodcast/. . .Join the official Mouse Minutes Podcast on Patreon today! $5/month gains you early access to unedited video recordings of new episodes, early access to new episodes, and a chance to win new merch through exclusive monthly drawings, and more!https://www.patreon.com/MouseMinutesPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator. . .Want to get some ears on your brand? Sponsor a future episode of the Mouse Minutes Podcast and reach Disney fans who love a good story, a good snack, and a good time. We'd love to hear what you've got in mind — reach out and let's make some magic together! mouseminutespodcast@gmail.com. . .Check out some of these other awesome Disney podcasts! WDW Radio, Connecting with Walt, Defunctland, Walkabout the World – A Disney Podcast, Into the Dizneyverse, Happily Ever Active
Disney Parks Podcast Show #875- Disney New For The Week Of June 09, 2025 In today's show, we have news about Future Expansion Plans for Disneyland Resort, news about Piston Peak National Park Builds on the Story of Frontierland, and so much more on today's Disney Parks Podcast. The post Disney Parks Podcast Show #875- Disney New For The Week Of June 09, 2025 appeared first on Disney Parks Podcast.
We're back from our quick 48 hour trip to Walt Disney World to experience MuppetVision 3-D one last time. We'll share our experience with you and also talk about the debut of the new nighttime parade of Disney Starlight coming in July, and more details about Piston Peak National Park coming to Frontierland in the […]
Podketeers - A Disney-inspired podcast about art, music, food, tech, and more!
This week we talk about hotdogs and dancing bananas, shows for your DoorDash drivers, getting your LEGO build wrong, we finally know the name of the new Cars area coming to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom and we finally have more information on the Disneyland Forward gateway initiative and the Avatar and Coco areas coming to California Adventure but it's coming at the cost of a beloved attraction. Listen now at: https://www.podketeers.com/572 or watch this episode at: YouTube.com/Podketeers Our most frequently requested links can be found at: https://www.podketeers.com/links/ Help us make a difference! Teamboat Willie is the official charity team of the Podketeers Podcast. For more information on the charity that we're currently supporting, head to: http://www.teamboatwillie.com Check out our series of Armchair Imagineering episodes here: https://www.podketeers.com/armchair-imagineering/ --- Join the FGP Squad Family! Support for Podkeeters is provided by listeners and viewers like you! We like to call our supporters our Fairy Godparents (they call themselves the FGP Squad). You can find more info on how to become part of the FGP Squad family by going to: https://www.podketeers.com/fgp --- We're on Discord! Join other members of our community and us on our Discord server! Use the invite link below to join us: https://discord.gg/gG8kJ2a ---
Episode #414 - Cat Arcori, Kristen Hoetzel, and Aljon Go, talk about Piston Peak overhaul on Frontierland, Disneyland's 70th retro menu, Disney Springs Flavors of Florida details, new merch, PLUS the latest travel deal!Book your vacation today! Email: kristen@magicaljourneysvacations.com !SOCIAL MEDIA: https://facebook.com/diningatdisneypodcast |https://instagram.com/diningatdisney |https://twitter.com/DiningatDisney |https://youtube.com/diningatdisneyKristen Hoetzel http://www.instagram.com/diningatdisney/ - Cat Arcori -http://www.instagram.com/cat_astrophe/ - Producer - Aljon Go http://www.instagram.com/aljongo/ - Intro - World Map by Jason Farnham. Photos courtesy of Disney Parks. AFFILIATE LINKS: Stitch In Time offers t-shirts, magnets, and more! Use promo code DiningatDisney to save 10% off your order - Dining at Disney Podcast is powered by RIVERSIDE.FM - GATOR FRAMEWORKS https://gatorframeworks.com/ - KINGDOM STROLLERS ORLANDO - https://www.kingdomstrollers.com/?ref=kristenhoetzelgo - AMAZON - https://amzn.to/3HKYfQm - DISNEY STORE -https://bit.ly/3t3joRT - GARDEN GROCER -https://bit.ly/3JQC5yj - http://diningatdisney.com/
Send us a textIn this jam-packed episode, we're covering all the major updates and conversations happening across the Universal and Disney universes- and even diving into the dark depths of SeaWorld San Diego! We break down the latest Disney Vacation Club (DVC) news, take a closer look at the Disneyland Forward breaking news, and share the latest buzz about what's coming to the Frontierland expansion. Then, we shift gears and head to San Diego to talk about thrills of a different kind with the return of Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld. Join the Conversation: Tell us your thoughts! Are you excited about Disneyland Forward? Considering DVC? Surviving Howl-O-Scream? Hit us up on socials or leave us a message in discord!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 magicThe Themepark Scavenger Hunt Game - Where In The Parkhttps://shop.whereinthepark.com/?ref=waltsaptpodcastCheck 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/DisneyPodcastFamilyVolleybird Subscription BoxesVolleybird.shop for curated pickleball subscription boxes delivered every 8 weeks
Big changes are coming to Walt Disney World! In this week's live show, Ben dives into the latest Disney news, including the official Rivers of America closing date, the end of Tom Sawyer Island, and the exciting reveal of Piston Peak — a brand-new Cars-themed expansion coming to Magic Kingdom.We also cover other key updates from WDW, Frontierland, and Universal Orlando, plus your reactions and what this means for the future of the parks!
In this episode of The Adventures of a Disney Dad podcast, hosts Matt and Chip dive into a plethora of updates from Walt Disney World, including a new discount for Disney Cruise Line and upcoming changes in the parks. They discuss a range of topics like the new Starlight Parade at Magic Kingdom, construction updates for Cars Land in Frontierland, and the closure of Muppet Courtyard and Rivers of America. They also share insights on the park's new relaxation lounge Geo 82 at Epcot and the current trends in crowd levels at Epic Universe. Additionally, Matt offers travel planning tips and highlights the importance of not over-planning your Disney vacation. 01:24 Disney Cruise Line Deals and Offers 05:23 Universal's Rumored Cruise Line 06:32 Galveston and Fort Lauderdale Ports 08:49 New Nighttime Parade: Starlight 14:47 Cars Land Construction Begins 17:19 Discussing Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion Changes 17:50 Villains Land and Concept Art Insights 20:28 Geo 82: The New Lounge at Epcot 22:37 Comparing Theme Park and Event Prices 25:45 Planning Your First Walt Disney World Trip 32:16 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up Looking for a free Travel Agent to plan your next trip? Want to plan with us? Fill our a quote form at https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote
News this week and last has broken out about happenings at the Magic Kingdom, and they include some very important dates. Last week was an announcement of Disney Starlight Parade's opening date. Plus they showcased the finale as well as the order of the parade floats. We'll talk about that and the implications of this date to its nightly schedule and what it means to thousands of pass holders who will want to go to the Magic Kingdom alongside all other tourists. But first we look at some big announcements that came about from around Frontierland as well this week. At the top of those announcements comes the fact that the Rivers of America, Liberty Belle and Tom Sawyer's Island will close in a few weeks on July 7th. We'll explore some very cool details that will come to this new mini-land within Frontierland. ____________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting the podcast. Here we bring the best in Disney both in terms of the magic of the parks as well as the business behind the magic! And now as part of Disneyland's 70th anniversary, we have a new interactive Disney Insight Fact Discovery, which unlocks scores of fascinating details few know about. With text, images, video and audio, we explore these realms whether you are right on the streets of the "Happiest Place on Earth" or enjoying it virtually from your own couch at home. Join today! 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. Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others. 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!
Matt shares his quick thoughts on the Vegas Sphere U2 show. We cover the light news (D'Amaro as President?) and get to more Frontierland thoughts.Send us a textTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle
Is Disney demolishing Frontierland in Magic Kingdom for Cars or not? It turns out the answer is a mixed bag. Watch this podcast episode on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify. CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles. D/REZZED News covers Pixels, Pop Culture, and the Paranormal! We're an independent, opinionated entertainment news blog covering Video Games, Tech, Comics, Movies, Anime, High Strangeness, and more. As part of Clownfish TV, we strive to be balanced, based, and apolitical. Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://news.clownfishtv.com/ On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTV On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvg On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629
Shaun joins Matt and we chat about updated news on the Frontierland plans. Water features everywhere!Send us a textTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle
Is Disney demolishing Frontierland in Magic Kingdom for Cars or not? It turns out the answer is a mixed bag.Watch this podcast episode on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify.CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles.D/REZZED News covers Pixels, Pop Culture, and the Paranormal! We're an independent, opinionated entertainment news blog covering Video Games, Tech, Comics, Movies, Anime, High Strangeness, and more. As part of Clownfish TV, we strive to be balanced, based, and apolitical. Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://news.clownfishtv.com/On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTVOn Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvgOn Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629
This week, Stitch has landed seemingly everywhere, a PhotoPass option has returned, music changes to the esplanade, construction continues around the resort, The Little Man of Disneyland goes on the road, we visit Producer James to play some games, and more! Please support the show if you can by going to https://www.dlweekly.net/support/. Check out all of our current partners and exclusive discounts at https://www.dlweekly.net/promos. News: With the new Lilo & Stitch movie debuting to record numbers, there is a bit more Stitch around than usual. A new Stitch sipper is available at the Galactic Grill for $25.99, which comes with a fountain drink of choice. New Magic Shots featuring Stitch photobombing you at the Main Entrance, and near Sleeping Beauty Castle. In Disney California Adventure, you can be photobombed on Buena Vista Street, the Cloud Wall on the Pixar Pier bridge, and near the waterfall by Grizzly Peak. Finally, there is a chalk mural by artist Pei Jun Tang in Downtown Disney. – https://www.micechat.com/416185-disneyland-update-parades-parties-patriotism-as-summer-starts/ Stitch isn't the only character at Disneyland that is new. Phineas and Pherb are meeting and greeting in the Hollywood Backlot. Agent P joins them on Saturdays only. This is part of the new season premiere on Disney+ and Disney Channel June 5th. – https://www.micechat.com/416185-disneyland-update-parades-parties-patriotism-as-summer-starts/ Last year a new PhotoPass experience premiered at the resort. PhotoPass Excursions are back again! The excursions are 8-15 minute private photo shoots with PhotoPass photographers in Adventureland, Frontierland, Main Street, and Fantasyland. Magic Key Holders with free PhotoPass, guests with Lightning Lane, or with the daily PhotoPass are able to take part. – https://www.micechat.com/416185-disneyland-update-parades-parties-patriotism-as-summer-starts/ Last week, we reported on the music box-style music in the esplanade to go along with the sculpture. This week, the slower music box music has been replaced with a mix of classic Disneyland music, and vocal tracks from the Disneyland 70th celebration. The music box music isn't completely gone though – it plays each night at 10pm as a post-fireworks “kiss goodnight.” – https://www.micechat.com/416185-disneyland-update-parades-parties-patriotism-as-summer-starts/ Even with the Disneyland 70th in nearly full swing, there are still some construction projects happening around the resort. Matterhorn Mountain is getting some pretty extensive track and rock work completed, the Enchanted Tiki Room, along with the Tiki Juice Bar are both behind walls for refurbishment. Mendocino Terrace in Disney California Adventure is still being worked on, while outside in Downtown Disney, Earl of Sandwich is coming along quickly now, and the old Tortilla Jo's is all but leveled. – https://www.micechat.com/416185-disneyland-update-parades-parties-patriotism-as-summer-starts/ The Little Man of Disneyland, Patrick Begorra, is setting off to another land in the park. Patrick is being celebrated at Club 33 with his own menu. He is going on a “Royal Adventure” to New Orleans Square where the menu features cocktails representing the five original lands. The Watchlight, and the Strawberry Streetcar for Main Street, Flights of Enchantment for Fantasyland, Amber Waves of Tea for Frontierland, Neverending Tomorrow for Tomorrowland, and Uncharted Nature for Adventureland. There are also some food options for each of the lands as part of the 70th celebration. All the details are linked in the show notes. – https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2025/05/23/secret-menu-alert-disney-fans-are-gonna-love-this-exclusive-new-addition/#more-1036451 For Memorial Day in the United States, Disneyland had a few ways to honor the people who gave their lives in service to the country. Tables have been setup around the resort for fallen soldiers, with an empty place setting, reminding guests of the soldiers who did not make it home. The Flag Retreat ceremony in Town Square was larger then usual to honor the day. The Navy's 32nd Street Brass Band performed at Disney California Adventure on the Hollywood Pictures Backlot stage last week to round out the holiday. – https://www.micechat.com/416185-disneyland-update-parades-parties-patriotism-as-summer-starts/ SnackChat: 13 banana bites (new treats added for Savannah Banana Day) – https://disneyparksblog.com/dlr/disney-eats-13-banana-bites-to-celebrate-savannah-bananas-at-disneyland/ Discussion Topic: Games with Producer James
Hold onto your Mickey ears, folks, because Marq and Beth are taking you on a thrill ride through the latest Disneyland Paris developments, World Premieres (yes, plural) questionable naming choices, and Beth's emotional breakdown over some shocking attraction news (RIP, old friend). Here's what to expect: * Abu Dhabi has joined the chat: Disney's Big Royal Expansion. There's a whole new world rising in the United Arab Emirates, a Disney Adventure made for and paid by actual Princes and, we assume, princesses. Somewhere in the world where they don't cry over spirit jersey prices. Beth and Marq debate: Is this Bob Iger's final genius move before handing over the keys to the Kingdom? *Studio One's Grand Reopening: Now with More… Confusing Music? Back in our humble expansion park, Studio One has reopened—but now it's called « World Premiere » (because Disney loves a rebrand). Visitors are loving the glow-up, but the music playlist? A bit baffling, not that we are hating on John Williams. Is it Hollywood glam or an overly modern muddle? You decide. * Hollywood Gardens: Great Vibes, Meh Menu The atmosphere? Chef's kiss ! The food? The chef is not ready to kiss anybody quite yet. Beth and Marq discuss why this spot nails the aesthetic but fumbles the food variety. This place deserves more than fish burgers and star nuggets. But the dessert do look sweet! * Disney's Naming Conventions: What's in a wor(l)d? Park terminology. We've discussed this before, but why does Disney have to reuse the same three words in every park name? Like, do you need a Premier Access to have a World Premiere Adventure? Send help ! *
Send us a textIn this episode of Imagine That!, we saddle up and set out to reimagine Frontierland at both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom! From bringing back the petting zoo to expanding the lore of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.), we brainstorm ways to give the land a more unified story, more interactive experiences for families, and a whole new sense of purpose. Tune in as we dream up live entertainment, immersive gameplay, and a fresh new take on Big Thunder Mountain!Check 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 magicThe Themepark Scavenger Hunt Game - Where In The Parkhttps://shop.whereinthepark.com/?ref=waltsaptpodcastCheck Out Sunken City Designs - from the mind of Louis MedinaWe are proud to be part of the Disney Podcast Family , checkout all the other great shows below https://linktr.ee/DisneyPodcastFamily
Magic Kingdom includes some of the most iconic Disney songs of all time. From "it's a small world" to Grim Grinning Ghosts, Yo, Ho! (A Pirate's Life for Me), The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room and beyond, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World includes music that spans generation of Disney fans. Meanwhile, newer musical scores and area music loops, including the soundtracks to TRON Lightcycle Run and Country Bear Musical Jamboree, keep the park updated for modern Disney fans and park visitors. In this two-part episode, we discuss the background music, soundtracks, and scores across the six themed lands of Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World. 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!
Send us a textWhat if Adventureland was completely reimagined for a new era of exploration? Using the Imagineering Pyramid as our guide, we explore how the land could evolve with immersive storytelling, S.E.A. connections, new attractions, and better transitions. From bold ideas to detailed theming, we're dreaming big—come explore the possibilities with us! Join the conversation and share your thoughts in our free-to-join Discord community!Check 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 magicThe Themepark Scavenger Hunt Game - Where In The Parkhttps://shop.whereinthepark.com/?ref=waltsaptpodcastCheck 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
Permits have been filed for project offices to overhaul RoA to the Cars expansion at MK. Matt shares a rant.Send us a textTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle
It's the 12th of April 2025 and that means Disneyland Paris is celebrating its 33rd Anniversary! To mark the occasion DLP invited InsidEars members to a special presentation with various announcements, as well as a tour of select World Premiere and Disney Adventure World construction sites. We were not there in person but recorded this episode on the day with all the information we could gather from our friends of the show, socials and Discord to bring you the Mufasa Shortbread Biscuit of news that is this episode. Yum. We also have a Love Our Listeners letter from Brian who had a five star experience, and we look ahead to what the rest of 2025 has on offer. Thanks for listening!
Get ready for a jam-packed episode of The Disney DNA Podcast! Trent and Jeni are diving into all the latest Disney World updates and summer savings you can't miss. In this episode, we cover: Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin Upgrade: New show scene, updated ride vehicles, handheld blasters, and interactive targets! Magic Kingdom Rope Drop Changes: How early entry gives you a head start on Tron Lightcycle Run. McKim's Mile House Lounge: A cozy new retreat for DVC members in Frontierland. Coco Sequel Confirmed: What we know so far about the long-awaited follow-up to Pixar's hit. Disneyland Paris Lion King Attraction: A log flume ride that brings Simba's journey to life. Zootopia Show at Animal Kingdom: Replacing “It's Tough to Be a Bug” in 2025. Summer 2025 Deals: 50% off kids' tickets, free dining plans, discounted resort stays, and more! Plus, we'll share details on EPCOT's new adults-only lounge (GEO82) and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort transformation. Whether you're planning your next Disney trip or just dreaming of magic, this episode is packed with tips, insights, and excitement! Don't forget to subscribe for more magical updates every week! Connect with Trent and Jeni: Website: disneydnapodcast.com The Disney DNA Podcast Instagram The Disney DNA Podcast Facebook Page Help support the Podcast - Patreon Page
This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill break down new details about the Indiana Jones ride at Animal Kingdom, explore the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster ride system, and take a deep dive into how Disney's concept art often differs from reality—sometimes dramatically. Monsters Inc. Door Coaster – Disney shares the latest look at this first-of-its-kind suspended coaster at South by Southwest. Disney Concept Art vs. Reality – The long history of Disney's over-promising concept art, from Snow White's Scary Adventures to Cars Road Rally. Frontierland's Future at Magic Kingdom – With Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Cars Road Rally, will Frontierland and Liberty Square still exist in their current form? Mandalorian Missions at Smuggler's Run – New destinations and gameplay elements are coming in 2026. Universal's Epic Universe Updates – The latest on character meet-and-greets and interactive elements in Universal's upcoming park. Join Len and Jim as they separate theme park concept art fantasy from reality, uncover new attraction details, and discuss how Disney and Universal are evolving their parks for the future. SHOW NOTES Support Our Sponsors DVC Resale Market Thinking about joining Disney Vacation Club or selling your contract? DVC Resale Market is the leader in the secondary market, with over 70,000 satisfied DVC members. Their expert team of 21 former DVC Cast Members brings unparalleled knowledge and experience to every transaction, making buying or selling DVC simple and stress-free. Learn More DVC Rental Store Dreaming of deluxe Disney accommodations at a fraction of the cost? The DVC Rental Store connects guests with incredible savings on Disney Vacation Club resorts. Whether you're a DVC member looking to rent your points or a guest looking to stay in style, the DVC Rental Store offers a seamless process for both. Don't forget—they also offer exciting point swaps for unforgettable experiences like cruises and adventures! Learn More Be Our Guest Vacations Planning your next Disney vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is a Platinum-level Earmarked travel agency with concierge-level service to make every trip magical. Their team of expert agents plans vacations across the globe, from Disney and Universal to cruises and adventures, ensuring you have the best possible experience without the stress. Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill, joined by former Imagineer Jim Shull, dive into the fascinating history of Buffalo Junction, the resort Disney almost built between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge. Inspired by Disneyland Paris, this Wild West-themed destination was set to include a working railroad, frontier town-style hotel, and a live Buffalo Bill Wild West show—so what happened? Buffalo Junction: The Resort That Never Was – Disney's ambitious plan for an Old West town complete with a steam train and dinner show. How Disneyland Paris Inspired This Resort – The success of Frontierland and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show nearly brought the idea stateside. The End of the Fort Wilderness Railroad – Why Disney abandoned steam trains at Fort Wilderness and how they almost made a comeback. Universal's Year-Round Halloween Horror Nights – Details on Universal Horror Unleashed, opening in Las Vegas this summer. Virtual Queues Ending at Disney Parks – Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind drop their virtual queues—what it means for guests. Join Len, Jim, and Jim Shull for a deep dive into Disney's lost resort projects, Fort Wilderness expansion plans, and how theme park design continues to evolve. SHOW NOTES Support Our Sponsors DVC Resale Market Thinking about joining Disney Vacation Club or selling your contract? DVC Resale Market is the leader in the secondary market, with over 70,000 satisfied DVC members. Their expert team of 21 former DVC Cast Members brings unparalleled knowledge and experience to every transaction, making buying or selling DVC simple and stress-free. Learn More DVC Rental Store Dreaming of deluxe Disney accommodations at a fraction of the cost? The DVC Rental Store connects guests with incredible savings on Disney Vacation Club resorts. Whether you're a DVC member looking to rent your points or a guest looking to stay in style, the DVC Rental Store offers a seamless process for both. Don't forget—they also offer exciting point swaps for unforgettable experiences like cruises and adventures! Learn More Be Our Guest Vacations Planning your next Disney vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is a Platinum-level Earmarked travel agency with concierge-level service to make every trip magical. Their team of expert agents plans vacations across the globe, from Disney and Universal to cruises and adventures, ensuring you have the best possible experience without the stress. Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill, joined by former Imagineer Jim Shull, dive into the fascinating history of Buffalo Junction, the resort Disney almost built between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge. Inspired by Disneyland Paris, this Wild West-themed destination was set to include a working railroad, frontier town-style hotel, and a live Buffalo Bill Wild West show—so what happened? Buffalo Junction: The Resort That Never Was – Disney's ambitious plan for an Old West town complete with a steam train and dinner show. How Disneyland Paris Inspired This Resort – The success of Frontierland and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show nearly brought the idea stateside. The End of the Fort Wilderness Railroad – Why Disney abandoned steam trains at Fort Wilderness and how they almost made a comeback. Universal's Year-Round Halloween Horror Nights – Details on Universal Horror Unleashed, opening in Las Vegas this summer. Virtual Queues Ending at Disney Parks – Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind drop their virtual queues—what it means for guests. Join Len, Jim, and Jim Shull for a deep dive into Disney's lost resort projects, Fort Wilderness expansion plans, and how theme park design continues to evolve. SHOW NOTES Support Our Sponsors DVC Resale Market Thinking about joining Disney Vacation Club or selling your contract? DVC Resale Market is the leader in the secondary market, with over 70,000 satisfied DVC members. Their expert team of 21 former DVC Cast Members brings unparalleled knowledge and experience to every transaction, making buying or selling DVC simple and stress-free. Learn More DVC Rental Store Dreaming of deluxe Disney accommodations at a fraction of the cost? The DVC Rental Store connects guests with incredible savings on Disney Vacation Club resorts. Whether you're a DVC member looking to rent your points or a guest looking to stay in style, the DVC Rental Store offers a seamless process for both. Don't forget—they also offer exciting point swaps for unforgettable experiences like cruises and adventures! Learn More Be Our Guest Vacations Planning your next Disney vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is a Platinum-level Earmarked travel agency with concierge-level service to make every trip magical. Their team of expert agents plans vacations across the globe, from Disney and Universal to cruises and adventures, ensuring you have the best possible experience without the stress. Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices