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

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

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

Fire in the Hole was the first coaster at Silver Dollar City in 1972 and operated for more than 50 years. When the park finally decided to replace it, they made such an interesting choice. Also named Fire in the Hole, this updated version brings modern effects and a smoother ride to the original model.… Read more... The post 234. Fire in the Hole 2…

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

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

It’s hard to believe it, but we’re nearing the summer season at theme parks. Last year, I had a great time visiting Kings Island and Silver Dollar City along with Disneyland and Universal Hollywood. What’s next for 2024? On this episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast, I dive into the parks that I hope to visit this summer and beyond.… Read more...…

We’ve entered a new world of immersive theme park lands that just keep getting more detailed every time. It’s easy to forget that expansions on this scale basically started with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Opening in 2010 at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Hogsmeade set the standard.… Read more... The post 230. Eric Baker on Designing Pr…

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

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

Horizons remains my all-time favorite attraction despite closing more than 24 years ago. It combined everything that I loved about EPCOT Center during the ’80s and ’90s. Trevor Bryant joined WED Enterprises in 1979 and quickly started on Horizons. He worked closely on this pavilion throughout its creation including at the installation in Florida.… …

An unappreciated reason for the success of Disney’s theme parks and resorts is the brilliant architecture. It creates that feeling of reassurance and immersion that keeps us coming back every year. Imagineer Bob Holland worked closely on a wide range of projects as an architect, project manager, and executive during a period of rapid growth.… Read …

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EPCOT’s major transformation is finally completed! Well, it’s mostly finished. The construction walls are finally down, and we can see Disney’s vision for Walt Disney’s World second park. How does it all look today? Tim Grassey just visited the parks in December and saw the latest nighttime spectacular, Luminous: The Symphony of Us.… Read more... T…

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

When you think about projects from Disney history that never happened, Mineral King is one of the most interesting examples. The concepts for this California ski resort were a serious dream for Walt Disney in the 1960s. Those plans ultimately led to a conflict with environmentalists in the Sierra Club who had concerns with developing the pristine l…

We’ve all heard the stories about Walt Disney’s original ideas for EPCOT the city and how they evolved into EPCOT Center. But how much do we really know about that process following Walt’s passing? We might enjoy a straightforward documentary about those 16 years with talking heads explaining the milestones.… Read more... The post 215. Kevin Perjur…

There’s a lot happening at the Disneyland Resort, especially as Disney prepares for major investments in their parks in the next decade. They just added the Adventureland Treehouse, which takes a classic approach to the longtime attraction. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure should open next year to replace Splash Mountain, and plenty more changes are on the …

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

Photo by Jackie Ogden Jackie Ogden, PhD, played a key role in the development and evolution of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Her educational background in psychology and animal behavior made her the right choice to work on this complicated new park. She joined Disney in 1997 just eight months prior to opening and became the Curator for Conservation Stat…

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

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

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

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

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

Walt Disney Imagineering draws the most attention from its big theme park attractions, but there’s a lot more happening beyond the headliners. For example, they have worked closely with educational institutions and industry organizations on research and many other activities. Imagineer Mk Haley worked at the center of many of these projects during …

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

Photo by Kevin Sherbrooke It’s easy to forget how much goes into every aspect of theme parks. The work involved moves well beyond concept art. The design and construction require intricate planning including the restrooms, trash cans, and building layouts. Kevin Sherbrooke has worked closely on a wide range of theme park projects for Walt Disney Im…

I recently learned the sad news that Disney Imagineer Glenn Barker passed away several weeks ago. Glenn had an incredible career as a sound designer for Disney’s theme parks for more than 45 years. Beyond his career accomplishments, he was also a genuine and friendly man who downplayed his success.… Read more... The post REBROADCAST: 84. Glenn Bark…

Photo by the National Museum of American History Disney’s parks and films have played an important role in how we consider American history and our culture. They’re more than just casual entertainment and have connected with our core identities. In her book Disney Theme Parks and America’s National Narratives, Bethanee Bemis explores Disney’s impac…

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

Following three days at the Disneyland resort over Memorial Day weekend, we couldn’t leave California without one more theme park stop. Our trip concluded with a fun day at a very busy Universal Studios Hollywood. Super Nintendo World was a major draw, but that was only part of what interested me about this evolving park.… Read more... The post 201…

There’s so much to cover from even a few days at the Disneyland resort. This helps explain why this episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast is easily the longest in the show’s existence. My family recently spent four nights and three days in Anaheim enjoying Disney’s California parks.… Read more... The post 200. The Big Disneyland Resort Trip Repor…

Disneyland is nearing the park’s 70th anniversary, which will occur on July 17th, 2025. So much has changed during its history, and it’s easy to focus on a small fraction of that background. The official company stories typically fall into the same buckets and don’t veer beyond regular narratives.… Read more... The post 199. Archivist Jason Schultz…

Mike Schwalm was obsessed with Disneyland and theme parks from a young age. He even built a Jurassic Park-themed attraction for a swim team event after The Lost World premiered. This interest led him to study set design in college and work on developing his illustration and design skills.… Read more... The post 198. Mike Schwalm on Pandora: The Wor…

There are so many different ways to showcase our fandom for Disney and theme parks. We host podcasts, connect with other fans, and sing attraction songs. Tammy Tuckey has been doing all these activities plus a lot more. She has interviewed guests on her podcast since 2011 and has performed at several RetroMagic events.… Read more... The post 197. T…

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has become a popular theme park due to headliners like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Most of us remember its early days as the Disney/MGM Studios, but we typically focus on classics like the Great Movie Ride and Studio Backlot Tour.… Read more... The post 196.…

My appreciation for Silver Dollar City just keeps growing with each visit. I had a great time on our last trip to this wonderful regional park back in 2019. Located near Branson, Missouri, it provides thrills for coaster lovers mixed in with small-town charm.… Read more... The post 195. Return to Silver Dollar City Trip Report appeared first on Tom…

When Steve Tatham arrived at Walt Disney Imagineering in 1987, the Disney Decade was ramping up following the arrival of Michael Eisner. Expansion happened constantly during that time, and Disney added new theme parks, resorts, and massive attractions. He has faced a similar situation after joining Universal Creative in 2015.… Read more... The post…

I’m fascinated to learn more about the development of Disney’s Animal Kingdom during the 1990s. Joe Rohde and his team built concepts that would ultimately lead to Walt Disney World’s fourth theme park. This year represents the park’s 25th anniversary, and it’s the perfect time to speak with Imagineers from that group.… Read more... The post 193. T…

There’s so much potential in themed entertainment to change minds and influence our world. A perfect example is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which encourages conservation while also providing great entertainment. The art of Morgan Lee Richardson takes a similar approach and gives a positive view of wildlife and the natural environment.… Read more... Th…

If you’ve enjoyed nighttime entertainment at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, there’s a good chance that Don Dorsey helped create it. During more than 45 years working with Disney and other companies, he has played a key role in shaping parades and fireworks shows at theme parks and beyond.… Read more... The post 191. Don Dorsey on the Main Street …

It’s an exciting and surprising time in the world of theme parks, which typically starts the new year at a slow pace. Instead, both Universal and Disney just keep announcing major changes. Disney has been consistently making updates ever since Bob Iger returned as CEO.… Read more... The post 190. Tim Grassey on EPCOT’s Transformation and a Crazy We…

Few theme parks existed in West Germany when Alexander Bresinsky grew up during the ’80s. An interest in technology and engineering led him to an industry that was just getting started. He formed his first company Lichtwerk in 1986 for laser show technology, and that was just the beginning.… Read more... The post 189. Alexander Bresinsky on Buildin…