Podcasts about Universal Orlando

Now that we have gone step by step leaning how to plan a Disney World trip (with a split stay at Universal Orlando) in this episode I let you know the exact stages I take when planning a Disney World and Universal Orlando trip and the crucial booking dates you must know! I let you know the exact order I plan things to help you have a good idea of what you need to plan for a Disney World trip and when you need to plan it!I cover:Picking the time of year to visit Disney World and Universal OrlandoPricing up the best deals for your tripCreating a rough budget for your core costsBooking your hotel (on-site at Disney World or Universal or off-site in Orlando!)When and where to get Disney World and Universal Orlando ticketsGetting your ESTAWhat to consider to finding the best flight offers to OrlandoBooking extras like airport car parks and hotelsResearching what you want to do in Disney World and Universal OrlandoCreating an itinerary for your Orlando tripAdding in dining, experiences and Lightning Lanes to your itineraryPlanning your Disney World outfitsI then let you know the crucial dates you need to be aware of and the planning timeline for your Disney World and Universal trip!DISNEY TRIP PLANNING SERVICES!Feeling overwhelming planning your ultimate Disney World trip? Let me help you! If you would like help planning your best itinerary, have burning questions you would like answered or need help booking your Disney World dining reservations or Lightning Lanes check out my trip planning services!https://www.mostmagicalguides.com/trip-planningDISNEY TRIP PLANNING TEMPLATES!Get your Disney World Packing List and lots more planning templates from my website today!https://www.mostmagicalguides.com/shopMOST MAGICAL GUIDES YOUTUBE CHANNELFind lots of videos packed full of tips to help you visit Disney like a pro, and see vlogs of my own solo trips to Disney World!https://www.youtube.com/@mostmagicalguides

Pull up a chair at EPCOT's Germany pavilion because we're taking you along for a live dining review of Biergarten Restaurant and the Eat to the Beat Dining Package before seeing Hanson!We explore the Bavarian village atmosphere, explain how the dining package works, and taste our way through the buffet. From beer cheese soup, pretzel rolls, German potato salad, sausage salad, bratwurst, sauerkraut, pork schnitzel, meatballs, roasted potatoes, and chicken schnitzel to mac and cheese, apple strudel, Baumkuchen trifle, and salted caramel cheesecake, we share our honest reactions. We also reveal which dishes we would go back for, which ones we would skip, and the delicious creation built at the table: a chicken schnitzel, beer cheese, and pretzel roll slider.Of course, this was not an ordinary meal. Right in the middle of Biergarten's live entertainment, the fire alarm sounded and the entire restaurant had to evacuate. We take you outside with us as guests and Cast Members wait for the all clear, then return to our table to finish the buffet after an interruption neither of us had experienced during hundreds of Disney meals.Along the way, we talk about the atmosphere, the musicians and dancing, the service, the value of using Biergarten for a concert dining package, and whether the restaurant deserves a place in your EPCOT rotation. At $69 per person, did the combination of an all-you-care-to-enjoy German buffet and reserved seating for Hanson make this package worth the price?Join us for food, laughs, questionable German pronunciations, one runaway bratwurst, an unexpected evacuation, and our final verdict on Biergarten Restaurant at EPCOT. Whether you are planning an Eat to the Beat concert night or considering this unique World Showcase dining experience, this episode will help you decide if it belongs on your Disney dining list.

We just hit 100 episodes! To celebrate, we're sharing our favorite things at Walt Disney World! We start by ranking all four parks, and Chip and I don't agree. Then we share our top three hotels, plus the budget resorts we'd pick in each category. From there we get into the best ride queues, the resort smells we can't forget, our go-to Disney Springs stops, and the quick service meals we'd eat today if we could. We keep it honest, because a favorite isn't always the right pick for every family. My favorite resort is Riviera, but it's not where I usually stay with my kids, and I explain why. You'll also hear which queue we'd skip every time and the resort scents we can't stop thinking about. We wrap up with a Santa dinner at The Cake Bake Shop that costs a family of four over $900, plus our favorite character meals and the surprise character meets we love most. Chapters 01:15  Looking back at 100 episodes and our guests 02:07  How a paralyzed vocal cord almost stopped the show 04:35  Why these are our favorites, not your rankings 05:03  Ranking the four Walt Disney World parks 06:54  The Animal Kingdom coffee that almost made me miss my flight 09:01  Chip's top three favorite hotels 11:25  My top three favorite hotels 14:50  Our favorite hotels on a budget 16:50  How I pick budget resorts for clients 19:00  Top three ride queues and the worst queue at Disney World 22:36  Tower of Terror, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates queues 24:11  Honorable mentions: Tiana's and Tron 25:12  Our favorite Walt Disney World smells 29:33  Top three Disney Springs stops 34:51  Top three quick service meals 37:15  The most overrated snacks and meals 41:10  Hyped up things that are worth it 44:39  The $900 Santa dinner at The Cake Bake Shop 45:33  Favorite character meets and meals 49:20  Thank you for 100 episodes  

On today's episode we are talking about the food booth bites we are most excited to try this fall at Epcot's Food & Wine Festival and Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. I can't wait to try them all in less than a week! Tune in every Thursday for a new episode of Simplifying the Magic, where Megan and Jess help make planning your next Disney vacation a whole lot easier!  As premier travel agents with Fantastical Vacations, we would love to help you plan your Disney vacation, too!  Reach out to us at SimplifyingtheMagic@gmail.com. We're here to answer questions, give advice, and help you figure out what's right for your trip!Follow Simplifying the Magic::Simplifying the Magic on FacebookSimplifying the Magic on InstagramConnect with Megan:Vacations by Megan Gibson on FacebookMegan on InstagramConnect with Jess:Jess on FacebookJess on InstagramThank you so much for listening!

Join us as Bryan gets the most exciting surprise Universal gift from our listeners! And we talk to Ashley of The Nightshades, the HHN opening night band! We also review HHN foods by picture and reputation only. Visit UFpodcast.com⁠⁠ to contact us and find us on socials. Please add The Universal Family Podcast to your library wherever you listen to your podcasts. We hope you enjoy our show about all things Universal Orlando!

We're setting sail, checking in, and admitting we got one wrong! We share our private Happily Ever After fireworks cruise experience, from a scenic ride around Bay Lake and an up-close look at the Electrical Water Pageant to watching Magic Kingdom's fireworks with synchronized audio onboard. We break down the experience, the cost of splitting a boat with friends, and whether this Disney extra deserves a spot on your vacation wish list.Then, we check into Disney's Riviera Resort for our first overnight stay, and discover that visiting a resort and calling it home are two very different experiences. We cover our spacious one-bedroom villa, pool time, the resort's relaxed atmosphere, and the bathroom layout that left us wishing for a little more privacy. Plus, we revisit Riviera's Resort Wars matchup against Saratoga Springs and officially change our winner!Of course, there's plenty of food along the way, including Primo Piatto, Bar Riva, Le Petit Café, and a memorable dinner at Topolino's Terrace. From duck confit gnocchi and standout tiger shrimp to affogatos, decadent desserts, and rooftop views of Luminous, this trip gave us plenty to talk about—and a few things we're already craving again.

Walt Disney World just released four different discounts for 2027—but the biggest advertised number may not deliver the lowest total vacation price. In this Travel With Milford update, Milford breaks down Disney's new package, room-only, Disney Visa, and Annual Passholder offers. You'll also hear about The Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios, confirmed 2027 EPCOT festival dates, Disney After Hours tickets, and current refurbishment closures. Plus, get quick updates on Virgin Voyages promotions, Disney Cruise Line savings, and what Halloween Horror Nights means for fall Universal Orlando itineraries. Before booking, let Travel With Milford compare the complete vacation price, restrictions, and actual value. Topics include: • Walt Disney World 2027 discounts • The Magic of Disney Animation • EPCOT festival dates • Disney After Hours • Typhoon Lagoon and Coral Reef closures • Virgin Voyages offers • Disney Cruise Line discounts • Universal Orlando and Halloween Horror Nights Ready to plan? Send Travel With Milford your dates and let's find the deal that genuinely saves you the most.

Duck and Jess are back from a weekend at Universal Orlando Resort, including a full day at Epic Universe and a night at Halloween Horror Nights 2026! And even after nearly a decade of visiting HHN and multiple trips to Epic Universe, they STILL learned some new things.In this trip recap, we're talking about the biggest lessons from this Universal Orlando trip, including:

Len Testa and Jim Hill are back with Disney news, listener questions, and the conclusion of Jim's history of Disney family suites. They check out the latest Walt Disney World updates, from Magic of Disney Animation previews and EPCOT festival dates to Jollywood Nights demand and new vacation discounts. Then Jim traces how a stalled Pop Century expansion, the success of Nickelodeon Family Suites, and Disney's experiments at All-Star Music ultimately led to Art of Animation. Plus, the guys look at Disney Cruise Line's intriguing adults-only survey and wonder what an expanded Skyliner network might have looked like. NEWS • Magic of Disney Animation previews reveal Olaf Draws, Off the Page, Once Upon a Studio Theater, and the colorful Drawn to Wonderland play area. • EPCOT sets dates for Festival of the Arts and Flower & Garden while Coral Reef prepares to reopen ahead of the holiday season. • Strong Jollywood Nights sales could point toward an even larger role for the after-hours event in future holiday seasons. • Universal Orlando rolls out an aggressive Florida resident ticket offer covering Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe. • Disney Cruise Line surveys guests about adults-only sailings, while dozens of upcoming cruises receive special offers and discounted fares. FEATURE • Jim finishes the story of Disney's family suites, beginning with Pop Century's ambitious original plans and the unfinished Legendary Years section. • The surprising success of Nickelodeon Family Suites helped convince Disney that larger family accommodations could be a major draw. • All-Star Music became Disney's testing ground before the company transformed Pop Century's abandoned expansion into Disney's Art of Animation Resort. • Jim explains how Art of Animation's opening was strategically paired with New Fantasyland - and how the Skyliner later transformed the appeal of Disney's value and moderate resorts. For this episode's full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR The Disney Dish News is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com. If the back-to-school rush has already worn you out, the team can help you plan some much-needed rest and relaxation at Walt Disney World. Our friends at DVCRentalStore.com can also help you explore Disney Vacation Club rental options for your next stay. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa and Jim Hill are back with Disney news, listener questions, and the conclusion of Jim's history of Disney family suites. They check out the latest Walt Disney World updates, from Magic of Disney Animation previews and EPCOT festival dates to Jollywood Nights demand and new vacation discounts. Then Jim traces how a stalled Pop Century expansion, the success of Nickelodeon Family Suites, and Disney's experiments at All-Star Music ultimately led to Art of Animation. Plus, the guys look at Disney Cruise Line's intriguing adults-only survey and wonder what an expanded Skyliner network might have looked like. NEWS • Magic of Disney Animation previews reveal Olaf Draws, Off the Page, Once Upon a Studio Theater, and the colorful Drawn to Wonderland play area. • EPCOT sets dates for Festival of the Arts and Flower & Garden while Coral Reef prepares to reopen ahead of the holiday season. • Strong Jollywood Nights sales could point toward an even larger role for the after-hours event in future holiday seasons. • Universal Orlando rolls out an aggressive Florida resident ticket offer covering Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe. • Disney Cruise Line surveys guests about adults-only sailings, while dozens of upcoming cruises receive special offers and discounted fares. FEATURE • Jim finishes the story of Disney's family suites, beginning with Pop Century's ambitious original plans and the unfinished Legendary Years section. • The surprising success of Nickelodeon Family Suites helped convince Disney that larger family accommodations could be a major draw. • All-Star Music became Disney's testing ground before the company transformed Pop Century's abandoned expansion into Disney's Art of Animation Resort. • Jim explains how Art of Animation's opening was strategically paired with New Fantasyland - and how the Skyliner later transformed the appeal of Disney's value and moderate resorts. For this episode's full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR The Disney Dish News is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com. If the back-to-school rush has already worn you out, the team can help you plan some much-needed rest and relaxation at Walt Disney World. Our friends at DVCRentalStore.com can also help you explore Disney Vacation Club rental options for your next stay. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caitlyn is back from maternity leave (welcome, baby Clara!) and Steve and Lisa are just home from their annual Labor Day weekend at Universal Orlando, this year with a new addition: a full day at Epic Universe before Halloween Horror Nights. First up, an honest Epic Universe review now that the park has had time to settle in. Is Express Pass worth it? (Short version: if you're only there for one day, yes, and note that Epic's Express is a separate ticket that isn't included with the Universal hotel unlimited Express perk.) We talk about the jaw-dropping walk into Super Nintendo World, why Mine-Cart Madness and Ministry of Magic were down until the afternoon and what a Universal team member told us about ride safety sensors and reset times, how long the Express lines really were, and the difference between Stardust Racers green and yellow (think Slinky Dog on overdrive versus a lap-bar coaster that's more intense than VelociCoaster). Plus the food finds: the DK Crush float in the Donkey Kong barrel mug, pumpkin juice and quiche for breakfast in the Wizarding World, a hidden German restaurant down a back alley in Paris, and Burning Blade Tavern. And a warning about the stairs. So many stairs. Then it's on to Halloween Horror Nights: how the new Stay and Scream wristband setup works, why the gates opened late, whether HHN Express is worth paying more than the admission ticket (we did all 10 houses in about four hours), and our picks for the best houses this year, including the Ozzy Osbourne tribute, Sinners, Hellraiser, Stranger Things, Jack and Oddfellow, Madlands, and the delightfully corny H.R. Bloodengutz house. We also cover the scare zones (the Fortnite zone got so packed security was routing people around it), the improved food booths, the all-new closing show, and the annual tradition of buying $100 worth of Universal umbrellas. We wrap up with a surprise reunion with Bob from the original Mouse Chat crew and a story about the time Disney gave us a real recording studio to tape an episode. Mouse Chat is sponsored by Pixie Vacations. Ready to plan your Universal Orlando, Epic Universe, or Disney World vacation? Our agents plan it for free at PixieVacations.com. Questions or comments for the show? Email us at comments@mousechat.net.

Join us for episode 503 of the Theme Park Trader Podcast! We take the kids to Universal Orlando for the very first time, hitting Islands of Adventure and the main park through fresh, young eyes. Then Donna shares her first impressions of Epic Universe — was it worth the hype? First-time thrills, must-do rides, and honest reactions from the whole family.

Packing for Disney World and Universal Orlando is a key part of the planning process, so today I am going to let you know the ultimate Disney World packing list (with a split stay at Universal Orlando!)In this episode I breakdown:What clothes you need for a summer visit to Disney WorldWhat to be aware of if you are planning on Disney boundingWhat to pack for a winter visit to OrlandoThe best way to pack toiletries to save money and spaceMedication information you need to know when visiting the USWhat shoes to take to Disney World and Universal OrlandoThe essential tech you will need when visiting the theme parksThe must have items you cannot forgot to packExtras that make your Disney World trip easierWhat to pack in your Disney park bag (and why it is different at Universal Orlando!)Packing Tips for Disney and Orlando!Get your Disney World Packing List and planning template from my website today!https://www.mostmagicalguides.com/shopMOST MAGICAL GUIDES YOUTUBE CHANNELFind lots of videos packed full of tips to help you visit Disney like a pro, and see vlogs of my own solo trips to Disney World!https://www.youtube.com/@mostmagicalguidesDISNEY TRIP PLANNING SERVICES!Feeling overwhelming planning your ultimate Disney World trip? Let me help you! If you would like help planning your best itinerary, have burning questions you would like answered or need help booking your Disney World dining reservations or Lightning Lanes check out my trip planning services!https://www.mostmagicalguides.com/trip-planning

Join us at our table as we taste The Plaza's limited-time Halloween offerings, starting with the delightfully creepy Skull Meatloaf. This thick, skull-shaped meatloaf is served over creamy red-skin mashed potatoes with seasonal green beans, crispy onions, and a Caribbean-style glaze. It may look a little frightening when it arrives, but does the flavor bring it back from the dead? We discuss the portion size, seasoning, crispy edges, and why serving the sauce around the plate may be the secret to making this meatloaf work.Next up is the Devilish Crispy Chicken Sandwich, featuring a generously sized piece of fried chicken topped with ghoulish spiced mayonnaise, red cabbage, and Fresno peppers, all served on a wonderfully soft black kaiser roll. The heat starts gently, but it doesn't stay that way! We talk about the sandwich's slow-building spice, super-crispy chicken, tangy cabbage, and whether this Halloween creation crosses the line from “Disney spicy” into genuinely spicy territory.Of course, no Halloween meal is complete without dessert. We finish our lunch with the limited-time caramel pecan cheesecake, a layered treat with a chocolate cookie crust, vanilla cheesecake, caramel pecan cheesecake, chopped pecans, and plenty of caramel and chocolate on the plate. Even a diner who normally wouldn't choose a pecan dessert finds this one dangerously close to plate-licking territory.Along the way, we discuss The Plaza's reliably good food and service, where it ranks among Magic Kingdom's table-service restaurants, and whether the chicken sandwich or skull meatloaf would be our first choice on a return visit. We also break down the final bill, marvel at the surprisingly reasonable cheesecake price, question the wisdom of paying $4.99 for a Sprite, and perform a little classic Disney math.Are these Halloween offerings worth adding to your Magic Kingdom plans? Pull up a chair and find out in this lively, honest, and occasionally noisy restaurant review recorded right from the heart of the park!

Chip and I opened up the listener inbox for Episode 99 and answered 7 of your Walt Disney World planning questions. We cover long trips, overhyped dining, strollers, and more. Plus, we share news about our Episode 100 listener giveaway. In this episode, we cover: How to plan a long Walt Disney World vacation in the 8 to 14 day range, and why I raise my resort budget when we stay longer. Whether you should still buy Lightning Lane Multi Pass on a long Disney trip Why Disney World ticket prices drop per day on longer trips, and when a relaxed park day without Multi Pass makes sense. Why I cringe when people say you don't "need" Lightning Lane. Split stays with Universal and things to do in Orlando outside of Disney, from SeaWorld to an Orlando Magic game. The most overhyped Disney World restaurants right now, including The Cake Bake Shop, Topolino's Terrace for dinner, 'Ohana, and Regal Eagle Smokehouse. Summer House on the Lake cookies vs. Gideon's Bakehouse, plus Chip's worry about churro waffles and spring rolls. Whether Tusker House still lives up to the hype after we felt rushed through our last character breakfast. What we'd never buy again at Disney World Is Park Hopper worth it with little kids? Why it's now the first thing I suggest cutting from a Disney budget. Disney travel protection, and what it does and doesn't cover. How to plan Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando in one trip, and what one day at Epic Universe with Express Pass would have cost my family. What age kids stop using a stroller at Disney World, and what a double jogging stroller rental costs. Whether it's okay to split up as a family in the parks Should you surprise your kids with a Disney trip or tell them early? Chapters 01:51  How do you plan a longer Disney vacation? 03:54  Why the resort matters more on an 8 to 14 day trip 04:48  Should you still buy Lightning Lane on a long trip? 06:08  Relaxed park days and cheaper daily tickets 07:24  Rope drop, the time change, and the word "need" 08:10  Split stays and fun outside of Disney 09:27  What Disney World dining is overhyped right now? 11:31  Why I'm tired of The Cake Bake Shop 12:14  Summer House on the Lake cookies vs. Gideon's 12:56  Will churro waffles and spring rolls slip? 13:43  Is Tusker House rushing families? 14:39  Regal Eagle and the turkey leg baguette hack 15:49  What we'd never buy again at Disney 16:56  Why Park Hopper is the first thing I cut 18:01  My take on travel protection 20:16  Planning Disney and Universal in one trip 22:24  When do you retire the stroller? 24:46  Is it okay to split up in the parks? 28:11  Surprise the kids or tell them early?  

Join Tayan and Zene as they play the Ride Trip Playlist game Laura and Bryan made for them, all based on Universal Orlando rides! Listen as Tayan and Zene try to figure out where their parents' heads were at when they put this playlist together.Visit UFpodcast.com⁠⁠ to contact us and find us on socials. Please add The Universal Family Podcast to your library wherever you listen to your podcasts. We hope you enjoy our show about all things Universal Orlando!

Remy and Mike are back at the Roundtable with a jam-packed episode covering the latest news, updates, attractions, food, and entertainment from Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando!The guys kick things off with the **latest Disney and Universal theme park news**, including the reopening of **Coral Reef**, new character statues coming to Hollywood Studios, upcoming attraction and transportation refurbishments, the future **Disney Lakeshore Lodge**, updates to the Disney College Program, and new special event dates at **Epic Universe**. Plus, they discuss the upcoming closures of **Toon Lagoon** and **Animal Actors on Location** at Universal Orlando.The episode also takes a look beyond the theme parks as Remy and Mike discuss **Frontier Developments' upcoming collaboration with Disney on a new theme park video game** and the latest changes to Xbox cloud gaming.###

Level 99 has taken over the old DisneyQuest and NBA Experience building at Disney Springs, and it's exactly Lisa's kind of place. This week Steve and Lisa are joined by special guest Laura from Game Masters Escapes, who has designed 21 escape rooms, runs 14 of them (plus three holiday rooms) in Canada, and has installed rooms everywhere from the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas to Mexico City. Laura walks us through what makes Level 99 such a smart addition to Disney Springs, why interactive entertainment is so good for families (grandparents, parents, and kids all playing on the same team), and what goes on behind the scenes of an escape room: how designers balance "too easy" and "too hard," why the game master wants you to win in the last five minutes, the room that makes you dance and chant, the props guests accidentally destroy, and the one leg lamp that has survived seven years of players. We also get into which cruise lines have escape rooms (Royal Caribbean and Norwegian do; Disney doesn't yet), why Disney resorts like the Polynesian or Wilderness Lodge would be perfect spots for one, tips for anyone nervous about trying their first escape room, and what's next for the industry, from projection mapping to Activate-style physical games. Thinking about owning your own escape room business, or want one at your hotel or resort? Visit GameMastersEscapes.com. Mouse Chat is sponsored by Pixie Vacations. Ready to plan your Disney World, Universal Orlando, or cruise vacation? Our agents plan it for free at PixieVacations.com. Questions or comments for the show? Email us at comments@mousechat.net.

We're back at the 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival with more bites, sips, surprises, and completely unfiltered reactions in Part 2 of our live review.This time, we try an elevated brisket Sloppy Joe from Hops & Barley, spicy tuna and Wagyu beef hand rolls in Japan, a chicken gyro from Greece, flavorful hummus bowls at Tangierine Café, plant-based mushroom chili, beef bourguignon, Brazilian shrimp, a cookie butter Belgian waffle, Korean-inspired poutine, and plenty of festival desserts.Along the way, we discover some unexpected favorites, debate which items are worth their price, and finish tasting all the festival's new dishes before sharing our biggest hits and misses.This episode features audio edited down from our full video reviews. To watch every review and see the food and reactions for yourself, visit WonderlandCrew.com. You can join the Wonderland Crew for full access or purchase individual videos.

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: Universal Orlando's Animal Actors On Location! to close in November Dollywood announces Dolly Parton tributes: New character, chapel area and exhibit Hurly-Burly, Disney's new BoardWalk venue, is unlike anything that's been there before Gary De'Snake and Gazelle make their Disney On Ice debut ArieForce One is going to Six Flags — but which park fits it best? House rankings for Halloween Horror Nights 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood (California) Exciting Harry Potter announcements from the Back to Hogwarts 2026 showcase 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.

46 NEW Disney World treats and drinks are coming this fall—and some of these flavors are seriously wild!Email kristen@magicaljourneystravel.com to book your Disney, Universal Orlando, or ANY cruise line vacation today! Sign up for our newsletter and receive my 10 Must-Know Disney Dining Tips! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4rlOrDY⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon. Sign up for as little as $1 a month and get The Ultimate Disney Dining Strategy Guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/diningatdisney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://diningatdisney.com/⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dining at Disney - YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- https://www.facebook.com/diningatdisneypodcast/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/diningatdisney/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dining at Disney (@DiningatDisney) / X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email - info@diningatdisney.comAFFILIATE LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Booking Magician - Dining Alerts for Theme Parks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Promo Code "DININGATDISNEY" - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardengrocer.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dining at Disney's Amazon Affiliate Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KingdomStrollers.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stitchintime- Etsy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Promo Code DININGATDISNEY - Photo Disclaimer: Some photo assets featured in this video are the property of Disney. All Disney images are used for informational and editorial purposes only. Dining at Disney is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company or any of its affiliates.

On this episode of the Most Magical Podcast I let you know about the 40 magical things for my 40th birthday challenge!I am going to be spending my 40th birthday in Disney World and Universal Orlando and wanted to make it super special! So I have set myself a Universal and Disney Challenge, of 40 things to do to make my trip super memorable!Find out the 40 things I have picked, including many free options in Disney World and Universal Orlando, and let me know anything you think I should do!I hope this list can also give some inspiration of extra fun things you can do in Disney and Universal to add to your own trip!MOST MAGICAL GUIDES YOUTUBE CHANNELFind lots of videos packed full of tips to help you visit Disney like a pro, and see vlogs of my own solo trips to Disney World!https://www.youtube.com/@mostmagicalguidesDISNEY TRIP PLANNING SERVICES!Feeling overwhelming planning your ultimate Disney World trip? Let me help you! If you would like help planning your best itinerary, have burning questions you would like answered or need help booking your Disney World dining reservations or Lightning Lanes check out my trip planning services!https://www.mostmagicalguides.com/trip-planning

We're eating our way around the 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and sharing our completely unfiltered reactions as each dish hits the table, or more accurately, the nearest Disney trash can. In Part 1 of our two-part live review, we try everything from basil pesto chicken dumplings and Buffalo dill pickle wings to tempura shrimp tacos, Norwegian caramel cream bread, a Dubai-style chocolate pistachio cookie, pumpkin pie funnel cake, and plenty more. Some dishes absolutely wow us, while others leave us wondering how they escaped the kitchen. Our friend and fellow food reporter Jon Self joins the fun as we discuss festival favorites, disappointing bites, value, portion sizes, and whether Italy may finally be turning things around. These reactions were captured live while filming our festival videos, so you're hearing our honest opinions before we've had time to reconsider—or recover from eating quite so much. This episode features edited audio from our original video reviews. To watch the complete videos and see all the dishes and reactions for yourself, visit WonderlandCrew.com. You can join the Wonderland Crew for full access or purchase the individual videos you'd like to watch.

This week on Wander With Milford, we break down the travel news that actually matters when planning your next vacation. The biggest update comes from Disney Cruise Line, which has announced new fall 2027 and spring 2028 itineraries. Milford covers the Disney Wish's return to New York City, new sailings from San Juan, long Panama Canal cruises, changes coming to Port Canaveral, Bermuda itineraries, West Coast departures, holiday cruises, and Disney's expanding lineup from Florida, Texas, California, and Puerto Rico. You'll also hear why travelers should look beyond the headline when evaluating Virgin Voyages promotions, including how advertised discounts and complimentary balcony upgrades may actually be calculated. At Walt Disney World, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is underway, with global marketplaces and Eat to the Beat concerts continuing through November 21. Finally, Milford shares practical planning advice for Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights, including separate admission requirements, early park closures, Express Pass options, RIP Tours, and strategies for guests who are not attending the event. Disney Cruise Line general booking opens September 8, 2026. Travelers interested in New York, Bermuda, San Juan, Panama Canal, Galveston, San Diego, or Florida departures should begin planning now. Visit WanderWithMilford.com to request a no-obligation vacation quote.

FRIDAY HR 1 Monsters LIVE at Universal Orlando! HHN 35 Angel gave Angelique the wrong info. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ingressos, Hotel, Chip, Seguro, Carro >> md1 travelBaixe o App Grátis>> APP MD1Neste episódio do Além dos Parques, Kiko e Francine entram no clima de Halloween em Orlando para falar das principais experiências da temporada nos parques!O destaque é o SeaWorld Spooktacular, o evento de Halloween gratuito e já incluído no ingresso regular do SeaWorld, com doces, personagens e muita diversão para toda a família.Também falamos sobre o lado mais assustador da temporada, com um pouco do Howl-O-Scream, no SeaWorld, e do tradicional Halloween Horror Nights, da Universal Orlando.E tem novidade: contamos também sobre o novo Halloween Monster Breakfast, o café da manhã temático do SeaWorld com personagens e monstros em clima de Halloween.Um episódio para entender as diferentes opções de Halloween em Orlando — desde as experiências para crianças e famílias até os eventos de terror para quem gosta de sustos de verdade.

Halloween Horror Nights 35 has officially begun, we have entered the Odd-verse, went back to Hawkins for the final time and so much more. Join us as we give you a complete spoiler-free review of HHN35 and then we let the spoilers fly and tell you all about our rankings of everything at the event, haunted houses, scarezones, shows, food and drinks. Want to be on the show? Leave us a voicemail! (407) 906-4134 Follow HHN 365 on social media: Instagram HHN365 Twitter @HHN365 TikTok: @HHN365pod Join our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/jUD9nZav2U Merch: HHN365.com Featured audio is courtesy of White Bat Audio

In the 307th episode of The Main Street Electrical Podcast, Jenn & Dave grab their CEO badges again - after taking the reigns Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Disney Springs, now they look down the interstate to the other parks - Universal Orlando. First, a little catching up with prepping for a Disney trip and knocking out a final Disney 5K, then news with lots of refurbishment windows for the Railroad and Art of Animation, 2027–2028 Skyliner downtime to note on your planning calendars, dwindling Halloween party tickets, the new flat-rate resort shipping policy, and the upcoming Hurly Burly lounge on the BoardWalk. Then, what we would do if were in charge. We address the transportation needs - and why a monorail ain't gonna happen, nor will the two parts of land ever connect.  Our disdain for 3D rides, dynamic pricing spikes, and what to put in the expansion areas at Epic Universe - plus Legend of Zelda! Express Passes! The return of the Jaws ride! A massive arcade! And more!  Welcome, Parisian Breakfast Plans & runDisney Virtual 5K Wrap-Up Disney News: Coral Reef & Art of Animation Refurbishment Schedules Skyliner Planned Maintenance Windows (2027–2028) & Tiana's Bayou Adventure Walt Disney World Railroad Closure & Halloween Party Ticket Availability Disney BoardWalk: "The Hurly Burly" Lounge Replaces Jellyrolls New Disney Resort Flat-Rate Package Shipping via Ricoh Universal CEO Challenge: Epic Universe Transit Realities & Lockheed Martin Land Helios Grand Hotel & The Express Pass Problem Curbing 3D Screen Fatigue in Favor of Physical Sets Resort-to-Resort Luggage Transfers & Eliminating Dynamic Pricing Universal Expansion Dreams: "Retroville" & Zelda Sit-Down Dining Upgrades & The Desperate Need for Queue Shade Outro & Socials

Most Disney planning advice is a list of things you should do. This week Chip and I flipped it. We sat down and talked through the things we will not do at Walt Disney World anymore, no matter what. If you are planning your first trip and you keep hearing that everything at Disney is worth it, this one is going to save you money, time, and a whole lot of frustration.   Chapters 00:00  The Things We Will Not Do at Walt Disney World 00:36  Chip's Rule: No National Chains at Disney Springs 01:15  T-Rex and Rainforest Cafe Are a Hard No 05:11  Why We Will Not Stay Off Property for a Park Trip 07:01  How an Airbnb Wrecks Your Booking Windows 07:52  The Hidden Costs That Erase Your Savings 09:04  The One Time Chip Stays Off Property 10:44  No Lightning Lanes, No Trip 11:10  The 45 Minute Wait Rule and Where It Came From 12:27  What Lightning Lane Costs a Family of Four 13:15  What We Cut From the Budget Instead 14:13  Chip Is Done Driving to the TTC 15:26  We Will Not Ignore the Resort 17:09  Pools, Table Service, and What Value Resorts Lack 18:38  Matching Families to the Right Disney Resort 21:11  Never Leave Your Kids Out of the Planning 23:36  We Will Never Skip the Midday Break 24:49  Two Table Service Meals in One Day 26:03  The One Exception: A Full Princess Day 27:16  We Will Not Rope Drop Every Single Day  

This week Laura and Bryan are on the road, and they made a playlist for Tayan and Zene, all based on Universal Orlando rides! Listen as we come up with this game for Tayan and Zene to play next week. **If you'd like to play along, don't listen to this one--listen next week to play along with T&Z**Visit UFpodcast.com⁠⁠ to contact us and find us on socials. Please add The Universal Family Podcast to your library wherever you listen to your podcasts. We hope you enjoy our show about all things Universal Orlando!

Nine hundred episodes. That's a whole lot of Disney opinions, vacation planning, restaurant debates, resort stays, questionable decisions, and unforgettable moments—and somehow, we've made it this far without completely losing control. Until now. For this very special milestone episode, Sean from But Mostly Disney takes over the host's chair and puts us through five rounds of questions, games, debates, and a few mildly uncomfortable moments. With Sean running the show, neither of us knows exactly what is coming next—and that is where the fun begins. We start with a rapid-fire game of “Finish the Sentence,” covering everything from the most unnecessarily stressful parts of a Disney vacation to overrated attractions, misunderstood Disney foods, and the little things we do that drive each other crazy. We also answer the same questions separately to see how closely our answers match after 900 episodes together. Next, Sean tests how well we really know one another in the Main Street Magic Newlywed Game. Can Jeremy identify Rhonda's ideal Walt Disney World resort? Does Rhonda know Jeremy's most predictable Disney food order? If one of us disappeared inside a Disney park for several hours, would the other know where to start looking? We're about to find out. Then it is time for “Keep It, Fix It, Kill It.” Sean gives us 20 Disney attractions, restaurants, resorts, experiences, and Disney Cruise Line offerings, and we must decide whether each one should remain exactly as it is, receive a much-needed update, or disappear forever. From Tomorrowland Speedway and Journey Into Imagination with Figment to the Disney Dining Plan, Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Pirate Night, and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, no Disney favorite is safe. The conversation gets a little more personal during the 900th Episode Hot Seat as Sean asks us questions we do not hear every day. We reflect on what each of us brings to Main Street Magic, what we have learned from one another, how this incredible community has changed us, and what we never want the podcast to become. Finally, Sean closes with one question that brings our entire 900-episode journey into focus: When someone eventually listens to their final episode of Main Street Magic, what do we hope they gained from the time they spent with us? This episode is funny, honest, occasionally chaotic, and filled with the kind of friendly Disney disagreements you would expect when we hand control of the show to Sean.

This week, Mike and EB pay tribute to Dolly Parton, reflecting on a career and a spirit that somehow united an entire divided country in genuine admiration — from her decades of quiet, unpublicized generosity to the way Dollywood itself became an extension of who she was rather than a monument built in her name. In Quick Hits, the guys cover a CNN investigation into a string of serious injuries on X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain, including a wrongful death settlement tied to a 2022 incident, and talk honestly about whether this ride will ever run again. There's also news on expansion plans spotted near Monsters Unchained at Universal's Epic Universe, and Six Flags St. Louis's rebrand to Mid-America Adventure under new ownership. After the break, a Kings Island trip report on the reimagined dark ride Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare, plus the Coaster Radio mailbag packed with rare international park maps. Then Emmy-winning WGN-TV Chicago anchor and longtime friend of the show Marcus Leshock returns for the first time in over a decade to talk about his own personal history with Dolly Parton — including firsthand stories from spending time with her both on and off camera — and shares his take on this year's Halloween Horror Nights lineup at Universal Orlando, from the scale of the original haunted house concepts to what changes as the season progresses.

Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into the long road that eventually led Disney to build Art of Animation Resort, from an abandoned Toontown-inspired family suites hotel near the Contemporary to the unfinished half of Pop Century. Along the way, they explore how the success of Nickelodeon's family-suite hotel caught Disney's attention, why Bob Iger brought Steve Jobs into the evaluation process, and how Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid became the resort's defining themes. Plus, Len and Jim discuss Lakeshore Lodge, Disney's latest premium credit card survey, potential Epic Universe annual pass perks, and listener questions about fireworks, cruise ports, Star Tours, and monorail capacity. NEWS • Disney reveals new Lakeshore Lodge room categories ahead of its July 1, 2027 opening. • A Disney credit card survey tests premium perks including Lightning Lane access, resort benefits, complimentary park tickets, and club-level access. • Universal Orlando surveys guests about Epic Universe annual passes, reservations, Express benefits, parking, and Halloween Horror Nights perks. • Epcot adjusts opening hours for select RunDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend dates. • Universal Orlando debuts the new Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir show for Halloween Horror Nights. FEATURE • Disney once considered a highly exclusive Toontown-inspired family suites hotel beside the Contemporary Resort. • The financial troubles surrounding Disneyland Paris helped derail Disney's early family-suite plans. • The success of Nickelodeon's all-suite Orlando hotel convinced Disney there was significant demand for larger themed accommodations. • Disney transformed the long-abandoned Legendary Years section of Pop Century into Art of Animation Resort. • Bob Iger invited Steve Jobs to review prototype Art of Animation rooms before Disney committed to the project. For this episode's full show notes, click here.HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Disney Dish news is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com, helping guests plan their next Disney vacation. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into the long road that eventually led Disney to build Art of Animation Resort, from an abandoned Toontown-inspired family suites hotel near the Contemporary to the unfinished half of Pop Century. Along the way, they explore how the success of Nickelodeon's family-suite hotel caught Disney's attention, why Bob Iger brought Steve Jobs into the evaluation process, and how Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid became the resort's defining themes. Plus, Len and Jim discuss Lakeshore Lodge, Disney's latest premium credit card survey, potential Epic Universe annual pass perks, and listener questions about fireworks, cruise ports, Star Tours, and monorail capacity. NEWS • Disney reveals new Lakeshore Lodge room categories ahead of its July 1, 2027 opening. • A Disney credit card survey tests premium perks including Lightning Lane access, resort benefits, complimentary park tickets, and club-level access. • Universal Orlando surveys guests about Epic Universe annual passes, reservations, Express benefits, parking, and Halloween Horror Nights perks. • Epcot adjusts opening hours for select RunDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend dates. • Universal Orlando debuts the new Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir show for Halloween Horror Nights. FEATURE • Disney once considered a highly exclusive Toontown-inspired family suites hotel beside the Contemporary Resort. • The financial troubles surrounding Disneyland Paris helped derail Disney's early family-suite plans. • The success of Nickelodeon's all-suite Orlando hotel convinced Disney there was significant demand for larger themed accommodations. • Disney transformed the long-abandoned Legendary Years section of Pop Century into Art of Animation Resort. • Bob Iger invited Steve Jobs to review prototype Art of Animation rooms before Disney committed to the project. For this episode's full show notes, click here.HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Disney Dish news is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com, helping guests plan their next Disney vacation. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Halloween has taken over Disneyland, and we're diving into the rest of the seasonal food, drinks, and festivities you need to know about! Plus, we're covering menu changes at Disney World, the reopening of Yachtsman Steakhouse, and what's changing at Olivia's Cafe. Email kristen@magicaljourneystravel.com to book your Disney, Universal Orlando, or ANY cruise line vacation today! Sign up for our newsletter and receive my 10 Must-Know Disney Dining Tips! ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4rlOrDY⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon. Sign up for as little as $1 a month and get The Ultimate Disney Dining Strategy Guide. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/diningatdisney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit ⁠⁠⁠https://diningatdisney.com/⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dining at Disney - YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- https://www.facebook.com/diningatdisneypodcast/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/diningatdisney/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dining at Disney (@DiningatDisney) / X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email - info@diningatdisney.comAFFILIATE LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Booking Magician - Dining Alerts for Theme Parks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Promo Code "DININGATDISNEY" - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gardengrocer.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dining at Disney's Amazon Affiliate Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KingdomStrollers.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stitchintime- Etsy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Promo Code DININGATDISNEY - Photo Disclaimer: Some photo assets featured in this video are the property of Disney. All Disney images are used for informational and editorial purposes only. Dining at Disney is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company or any of its affiliates.

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey round up the latest Universal news, including Halloween Horror Nights rehearsals, Hamikuma's arrival in Orlando, Dufftoberfest in Springfield, and new developments tied to Fast & Furious on both coasts. They also look at Universal Studios Hollywood's new backlot photo experience and what may be ahead for The Simpsons during Halloween Horror Nights. Then Jim remembers Tim Curry with the story behind Ridley Scott's Legend, from its Disney-inspired origins to Curry's demanding transformation into the Lord of Darkness. NEWS • Halloween Horror Nights rehearsals suggest Sinners and Stranger Things could be among the event's biggest draws. • Hamikuma, Universal Japan's zombie bear mascot, makes his way to Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando. • The Deathly Afraid necklace returns for HHN 2026 with a 35th anniversary design. • Dufftoberfest brings seasonal Duff Beer back to Springfield, U.S.A., while Simpsons Halloween offerings hint at more to come. • Universal continues work on Fast & Furious attractions while Hollywood adds a new backlot photo experience. FEATURE • Jim looks back at Tim Curry's performance as Darkness in Ridley Scott's 1986 fantasy Legend. • Scott originally envisioned the film as an elaborate live-action fantasy inspired by the mood and imagery of classic Disney animation. • Curry's Darkness makeup involved extensive prosthetics, massive horns, stilts, and hours in the makeup chair each day. • The production went through multiple cuts and different musical scores before developing a cult following in the years after its release. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Plan your next Universal vacation with Be Our Guest Vacations. Their travel professionals provide personalized concierge service for resort stays, theme park tickets, and special extras throughout Universal Orlando. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com and mention the Epic Universal Podcast. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Resort Wars: Showdown rolls on, and this time two very different Deluxe Villa resorts are stepping into the ring as Disney's Riviera Resort takes on Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa! We're putting these two resorts head-to-head across seven rounds, comparing them in theming and atmosphere, rooms and comfort, dining and drinks, transportation and location, recreation and amenities, value for money, and of course, listener intel. Riviera brings an upscale European-inspired atmosphere, a compact and easy-to-navigate layout, one of the strongest resort dining lineups at Walt Disney World, and the huge transportation advantage of the Disney Skyliner. But is all of that enough to justify the premium price? Saratoga Springs counters with a completely different experience. It's sprawling, peaceful, packed with recreation, offers everything from Deluxe Studios to the unique Treehouse Villas, and puts Disney Springs within walking or boating distance. It may not have the same polished feel as Riviera, but does its space, versatility, location, and value make it the better overall resort? We'll debate each category, award a point round by round, bring in your listener votes and comments, and make our final arguments before crowning a winner. Only one can advance in Resort Wars: Showdown. Will it be Riviera or Saratoga Springs?

It is finally that time of year! We reveal our hype list for houses, zones, and shows for Halloween Horror Nights 35 at Universal Studios Florida. Sinners and Stranger Things may be the headliner IP's but will they comes anywhere close to the top of our hype lists? Want to be on the show? Leave us a voicemail! (407) 906-4134 Follow HHN 365 on social media: Instagram HHN365 Twitter @HHN365 TikTok: @HHN365pod Join our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/jUD9nZav2U Merch: HHN365.com Featured audio is courtesy of White Bat Audio

Universal Orlando holds the first of its two 2026 Premium Scream Nights on August 27, followed by the regular Halloween Horror Nights event opening on August 28 - and this week's Thursday Thrills goes inside the architecture of fear. Rather than rank haunted houses before they open, Henrique Couto asks what a walk-through attraction can do to our bodies and imaginations that a horror movie cannot.The answer begins inside a real haunted-house experiment, where visitors wore heart-rate monitors while researchers studied the strange overlap between fear and enjoyment. Their findings showed a group-level inverted-U association across three recorded scare points: moderate fear ratings tended to accompany greater enjoyment than very low or very high ratings. Other studies examined links among unexpected attacks, complete darkness, and social context; they did not establish that these factors always increase subjective fear or enjoyment.Then we enter the announced 2026 haunt season. Universal Orlando's thirty-fifth-anniversary lineup comprises ten houses spanning Stranger Things 5, Sinners, Hellraiser, Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness, Evil Dead Burn, and five original concepts. Universal Studios Hollywood has announced a Terror Tram starring Art the Clown, KILLceañera: Music by SLASH, and its first Unmasking the Horror Tour Add-On. Knott's Scary Farm brings two new park-created stories to a ten-maze lineup, while Six Flags Great America plans to send guests through the near-total darkness of Blair Witch: No Signal.Henrique examines the filmmaker's tools hiding inside every maze: forced attention, negative space, sound cues, misdirection, familiar images, live performers, and the unpredictable pace of a moving crowd. It is a spooky-season tour for fans of Halloween podcasts, haunted attractions, horror filmmaking, theme parks, scary stories, and the wonderfully strange reason we pay to be frightened.The episode also asks whether the scariest design is the monster audiences already recognize or the unmarked door hiding a story they have never encountered. The answer lives somewhere between expectation and surprise - and changes with every group that enters.All 2026 attraction details discussed were announced as of August 25 and remain subject to change.

Join your tour guides Holly Crawford, Dan Hansen, Jason Thomason and Cody Havard as they discuss Dan's recent ten day trip to Orlando, visiting both WDW and Universal Orlando during the hot August heat. Plus not getting up at the crack of dawn, 82 attractions, wave pool concussions, Blur is the only correct answer, and more! Follow us on Facebook at Disney Friends of the Grand Circle Tour Podcast for live shows every Thursday night, on Instagram at @grandcircletourpodcast  and on YouTube at @grandcircletour Brought to you by https://celebratingflorida.com/  and https://mei-travel.com/ The Grand Circle Tour Podcast is in no way part of, endorsed or authorized by, or affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or its affiliates. As to Disney artwork/properties: © Disney. Disclosure | Privacy Policy

Today we're tierlisting Universal's restaurant façades at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, AND Epic Universe. To be clear, we're not tiering the menu, or the inside vibe--just the façade. Visit UFpodcast.com⁠⁠ to contact us and find us on socials. Please add The Universal Family Podcast to your library wherever you listen to your podcasts. We hope you enjoy our show about all things Universal Orlando!

Is This Food & Booze Worth It? | Halloween Horror Nights 35, 2026   Simon and Phil are BACK!

Tokyo DisneySea is routinely voted the best theme park in the world — and it's not even the most iconic Disney park internationally. This week, Ryan and Julie continue their international Disney series with Tokyo and Paris, two parks that couldn't be more different from each other.Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Tokyo Disneyland was Disney's first international park, and it shows — hub-and-spoke layout, familiar lands, even upgraded versions of classics like Winnie the Pooh (the first trackless ride in any Disney park) and Beauty and the Beast. But the real draw is Tokyo DisneySea: a separate, water-themed park with lands found nowhere else on earth, including the flagship Journey to the Center of the Earth and a Tower of Terror with an entirely different storyline. Expect at least three park days, incredible food, and a serious crowd-planning strategy — skip weekends entirely.Disneyland Paris Built in 1992 on a notoriously tight budget, Disneyland Paris has since grown into two parks: Disneyland Paris (with a pink castle hiding a walk-through dragon's lair) and the newly opened Disney Adventure World, home to Avengers Campus, the World of Frozen, and Pixar-themed lands. It's also the most accessible international park from the US — and pairs easily with a London or Paris city stay.Where in the World? This week's spotlight: a family heading to Universal Orlando and Discovery Cove this September, timed around a son's sixth birthday so he can swim with dolphins the day after he turns six.Next week: tips and tricks for your next road trip. Ready to add Tokyo or Paris to your Disney bucket list? Hit play to hear exactly how Ryan and Julie would plan it — and head to wonderandbeyondtravel.com when you're ready to start.Support the showLove the podcast? Help us continue to create great travel content by supporting the show. You can do that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1197029/supporters/newReady to plan your vacation?  Most families are confused and overwhelmed when planning a vacation. We work with you to plan a trip perfect for your family. Saving you time, money, and stress! Visit our website www.allthingstravelpodcast.com and click on "Plan Your Next Vacation"Join the travel conversations and the fun in our Facebook Page and Instagram Page!Please share the show with your travel buddies!!  Click this link and share the show!Never miss an episode and help us take you to the top with us by following and leaving a 5-Star review on your favorite podcasting app!

Fine Tooning is back with a packed post-D23 week of animation news, as Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into fresh trailers, release dates, box-office milestones, and one potentially very big Disney revival. The conversation ranges from Laika's long-awaited Wildwood and Warner Bros. Animation's Margie Claus to Blue Eye Samurai, LEGO Star Wars, and the remarkable theatrical run of Toy Story 5. Jim and Drew also discuss Brent Spiner's unexpected suggestion that a new Gargoyles series may be headed to Disney+, and remember Hayden Panettiere and her early voice work as Princess Dot in A Bug's Life. HIGHLIGHTS • Brent Spiner may have accidentally revealed that a Gargoyles revival is in development for Disney+. • Laika unveils the first trailer for Wildwood ahead of its October 23 theatrical release. • Margie Claus sets a November 12, 2027 release date with Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Octavia Spencer, and Andrew Scott. • Blue Eye Samurai previews Season 2 while Netflix announces a third and final season for 2028. • Jim and Drew look at the latest animation-related box-office numbers, including Toy Story 5 and Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie. • Jim remembers Hayden Panettiere and her performance as Princess Dot in Pixar's A Bug's Life. • Panettiere's memoir offers a revealing look at the demanding voice-recording process behind the Pixar film. • Drew reflects on Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and the continuing legacy of Light the Fuse. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | drewtaylor.work FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Planning a fall getaway to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando? Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and the details that can make an Orlando vacation easier to manage. Their vacation-planning services come at no additional cost to you. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com to start planning.If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're putting our Disney planning opinions, habits, strategies, and questionable decisions to the test with a brand-new round of Truth or Dare! We're taking turns choosing between Truth or Dare and randomly pulling from a collection of questions and challenges covering Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and general vacation planning. But which ones did we actually pull? You'll have to listen to find out. The possible Truths could have us confessing our biggest Disney planning mistakes, admitting which advice we don't always follow ourselves, revealing what guests spend way too much time worrying about, deciding which experiences aren't worth rearranging an entire day for, or exposing the planning decisions where we are most likely to disagree. And then there are the possible Dares. We could be forced to choose between giving up park hopping or Lightning Lane, pick one Walt Disney World resort to stay at for our next five trips, visit only two parks on our next vacation, choose between three nights at a Deluxe resort or seven nights at a Value, or plan a trip with some of our favorite options completely taken away. Disney Cruise Line could bring tough decisions involving staterooms, itineraries, excursions, dining, and onboard experiences. Disneyland could force us to rethink how we plan a completely different kind of Disney vacation. And the general vacation questions might reveal just how much control we're actually willing to surrender when somebody else is involved in the planning. Those are just some of the Truths and Dares waiting in the pile. Which ones did we draw? Which choices caused the biggest arguments? And what did we reveal that we probably would have preferred to keep to ourselves? There's only one way to find out. It's Disney Planning Truth or Dare!

Fine Tooning is back with a packed post-D23 week of animation news, as Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into fresh trailers, release dates, box-office milestones, and one potentially very big Disney revival. The conversation ranges from Laika's long-awaited Wildwood and Warner Bros. Animation's Margie Claus to Blue Eye Samurai, LEGO Star Wars, and the remarkable theatrical run of Toy Story 5. Jim and Drew also discuss Brent Spiner's unexpected suggestion that a new Gargoyles series may be headed to Disney+, and remember Hayden Panettiere and her early voice work as Princess Dot in A Bug's Life. HIGHLIGHTS • Brent Spiner may have accidentally revealed that a Gargoyles revival is in development for Disney+. • Laika unveils the first trailer for Wildwood ahead of its October 23 theatrical release. • Margie Claus sets a November 12, 2027 release date with Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Octavia Spencer, and Andrew Scott. • Blue Eye Samurai previews Season 2 while Netflix announces a third and final season for 2028. • Jim and Drew look at the latest animation-related box-office numbers, including Toy Story 5 and Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie. • Jim remembers Hayden Panettiere and her performance as Princess Dot in Pixar's A Bug's Life. • Panettiere's memoir offers a revealing look at the demanding voice-recording process behind the Pixar film. • Drew reflects on Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and the continuing legacy of Light the Fuse. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | drewtaylor.work FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Planning a fall getaway to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando? Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and the details that can make an Orlando vacation easier to manage. Their vacation-planning services come at no additional cost to you. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com to start planning.If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next weekend is the grand opening of Universal Orlando Resort’s annual scary event – Halloween Horror Nights. For the 35th anniversary, we have so many amazing things to get excited for. From incredible IPs like Sinners, Hellraiser, and Stranger Things, to returning icons Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow. This year has incredible entertainment as well from a high-octane stage performance and lagoon show to the Dead Coconut Club and Club Horror. Today, we are giving you all of the details, how to make the most of the event, and our biggest tips and tricks if you’ve never been. Will you be there for opening weekend? Enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Fantastical Vacations. For free concierge vacation planning, specializing in Disney and Universal Vacations, visit https://www.fantasticalvacations.com We would love you to join us on Patreon! Thanks so much for supporting the show. We also have Addicted to the Mouse Merchandise! You can check it out at https://addictedtothemerch.com Thanks so much for listening! If you like what you hear, please subscribe and catch us every Sunday for the podcast. Join us every Sunday and Wednesday evening as we take you to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, on Disney Cruise Line, Universal Studios and everywhere in between! We can be found at www.addictedtothemouse.com and be reached at danandleslie@addictedtothemouse.com Please also connect with us here: Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/addictedtothemouse Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/@AddictedtotheMouse Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AddictedtotheMouse/ Instagram – https://instagram.com/addictedtothemouse/ The post Halloween Horror Nights 35: The Ultimate Universal Orlando Survival Guide for 2026 appeared first on Addicted to the Mouse.

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey trace the unlikely journey of Stranger Things from the Duffer Brothers' rejected pitch to one of Netflix's defining franchises - and a recurring Halloween Horror Nights favorite. They revisit how Universal translated Hawkins and the Upside Down into elaborate haunted houses, why the creative partnership worked so well, and how those early attractions helped prove that fans wanted to physically step inside Netflix's worlds. Then Jim and Eric bring the story up to the present with Netflix House in Philadelphia and the latest Stranger Things experience headed to Halloween Horror Nights 35. FEATURE • How Matt and Ross Duffer turned their original Montauk concept into Stranger Things after a string of network rejections. • Why the show's mix of Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, 1980s nostalgia, and breakout young performers became a cultural phenomenon. • How Stranger Things first came to Halloween Horror Nights in 2018, with the Duffer Brothers giving Universal extensive creative access. • The painstaking work behind recreating Hawkins, the Byers house, the Upside Down, and the Demogorgon for Universal Orlando and Hollywood. • Why the 2019 and 2023 Stranger Things houses evolved differently on each coast rather than becoming simple clones. • Jim and Eric's visit to Netflix House at King of Prussia and its immersive Stranger Things experience. • How Netflix expanded Stranger Things into touring experiences, live theater, permanent attractions, and other extensions beyond the streaming series. • What Halloween Horror Nights 35 could represent as one of the final major theme park celebrations of Hawkins and its characters. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com• Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews• YouTube: @jimhillmedia• TikTok: @jimhillmedia• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Planning a Universal Orlando Resort vacation? The travel professionals at BeOurGuestVacations.com offer personalized concierge service to help with resort stays, theme park tickets, and special extras for your Universal adventure. Be sure to mention that the Epic Universal Podcast sent you.If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're heading outside the Disney bubble for a full Universal Orlando trip report! On this episode, we're recapping our recent stay and everything we experienced across Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, including 18 attractions, plenty of snacks, some seriously wet water rides, and one of the biggest questions we had going into the trip: just how valuable is Universal Express Pass? We worked our way through nine attractions at each park, from The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Jurassic World VelociCoaster to Revenge of the Mummy, E.T. Adventure, MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack, and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. Along the way, we tracked the posted standby wait for every attraction and compared it with how long we actually waited using Express. And the results were pretty eye-opening. We also talk about our stay at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, transportation, park entry, and some of the food and snacks we tried along the way, including Butterbeer, a Honeydukes pumpkin pastry, and the wonderfully strange Pizza Dog. Then we wrap everything up by looking at the actual cost of Unlimited Express during our visit and answering if would we pay for it separately? Does staying at a Signature Universal resort where Express is included completely change the value equation? And beyond simply saving time, did Express make the entire Universal experience better?

We're coming to you live from Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar at Disney Springs with our good friends Jon and Susan to try almost the entire new Halloween seasonal menu—and as usual, Jock Lindsey's absolutely brings it when it comes to presentation. We work our way through five of the seasonal offerings, skipping only the returning Alien Invader Sliders. On the table are the Candelabra Eggs, topped with crispy fried chicken and sweet charred pepper sauce; the Dark Forest Dip, featuring creamy hummus and a seriously impressive black cat presentation; the Skull of the Dead Dip, loaded with barbacoa, cheese, fried onions, and plantain chips; the Bone Kabobs, featuring pork and beef served on some of the coolest skewers we've seen; and the Midnight Mayhem Popcorn Chicken, complete with buffalo sauce, candied bacon, nuts, and plenty of Halloween flair. We also try the very sweet, very colorful Viper's Nest non-alcoholic drink and spend probably way too much time trying to figure out where Jock Lindsey's finds all of these incredible Halloween serving pieces. But underneath all the skulls, coffins, bones, cats, and spooky presentation, how does the food actually taste? Along with Jon and Susan, we break down which dishes impressed us most, which were simply solid bar food, whether the plantain chips were the right choice, why “creamy tomato sauce” may be playing a little fast and loose with the word creamy, and whether these small plates justify Disney Springs prices. Plus, we talk about what makes Jock Lindsey's such a fun seasonal stop, why you probably shouldn't order five appetizers at once on one tiny table, and whether this Halloween lineup is worth adding to your next Disney Springs visit. Grab a seat at the table—it's time for a spooky live dining review!