Disney's Pop Century Resort offers Walt Disney World guests a charming tribute to the popular fads of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s: the catchphrases, toys, recreation, movies, and music that defined each decade. As a value resort with Disney Skyliner access, Pop Century provides guests with three pools, shopping, dining, and Skyliner access to EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and 10 additional Walt Disney World resort hotels (including Disney's Art of Animation Resort across...

Aarin Richard served as a Walt Disney Imagineer starting in the 1990s working in the music group. His projects included the first synchronized on-board audio track for Space Mountain at Disneyland and Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris, as well as the music for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Indiana Jones Adventure, and beyond. In this episode, I chat with Aarin about his early career, his work at Disney, and his favorite projects beyond Imagineering.   Get bonus content, ad-free...

Bob Weis spent his career at Walt Disney Imagineering across four decades before retiring from Disney in 2023. Beginning at WED Enterprises in 1980 right out of college, Bob worked on Tokyo Disneyland before taking a lead role on Disney-MGM Studios (now known as Disney's Hollywood Studios). Later in his career, Bob's design work extended to Tokyo DisneySea and the revitalization of Disney California Adventure. He also led the development of Shanghai Disney Resort and spent 6 years as the...

The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival blooms at Walt Disney World every spring, and this year's festival includes many fresh new offerings. With over 20 outdoor kitchens featuring hundreds of food and drink options, dozens of character topiaries and gardens, two scavenger hunts, limited-time merchandise, and the Garden Rocks Concert Series, there's a lot to discover at this annual festival.   In this two-part episode, I chat with AJ from Disney Food Blog about this year's...

Martha Blanding is the first Black Disney Parks employee inducted as a Disney Legend (2024). Starting with the company in 1971, Martha became the first ever full-time Black Tour Guide at Disneyland, the first Black female in management at Disneyland, and the co-founder of PULSE, a resource group for Black cast members. She’s also an official pioneering producer of the Official Disneyana Convention, a forerunner of today’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Tim O’Day is a producer, publicist,...

Bob Weis spent his career at Walt Disney Imagineering across four decades before retiring from Disney in 2023. Beginning at WED Enterprises in 1980 right out of college, Bob worked on Tokyo Disneyland before taking a lead role on Disney-MGM Studios (now known as Disney's Hollywood Studios). Later in his career, Bob's design work extended to Tokyo DisneySea and the revitalization of Disney California Adventure. He also led the development of Shanghai Disney Resort and spent 6 years as the...

World Showcase at EPCOT currently features eleven pavilions, representing eleven countries around the world: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, American Adventure, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada. Disney fans often speculate what could be a twelfth World Showcase pavilion at Walt Disney World. In this episode, we brainstorm new ideas for countries that could be added to EPCOT.   Get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more at patreon.com/imaginationskyway.   Book your...

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2024 raised the bar for D23 Expo in Anaheim. This year's list of announcements for the Disney Parks and Experiences (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Disney Cruise Line, and beyond) and Disney Entertainment (Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios) included some noteworthy updates. Noteworthy parks updates include the additions of a new Villains land and reimagined Frontierland at Magic Kingdom,...

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2024 raised the bar for D23 Expo in Anaheim. This year's list of announcements for the Disney Parks and Experiences (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Disney Cruise Line, and beyond) and Disney Entertainment (Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios) included some noteworthy updates. Noteworthy parks updates include the additions of a new Villains land and reimagined Frontierland at Magic Kingdom,...

Tiana's Bayou Adventure officially opened on June 28, 2024 at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World and is scheduled to open later in 2024 at Disneyland. Replacing Splash Mountain, Tiana's Bayou Adventure offers the same ride layout and system with an entirely reimagined storyline. Complete with incredible details from The Princess and the Frog, New Orleans culture, and the story of Leah Chase (the real-life inspiration for Princess Tiana), Tiana's Bayou Adventure provides a depth that takes...

Shiki-Sai opened at the EPCOT Japan pavilion in 2023 as a replacement to the former Walt Disney World dining experience, Tokyo Dining. Offering fine dining, sushi, and an authentic izakaya experience, Shiki-Sai is a culinary and cultural experience. In this episode, we review this restaurant live on location. Plus, we offer some insightful travel tips for those wanting to visit Japan.   Get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more at patreon.com/imaginationskyway.   Which World Showcase...

D23 The Official Disney Fan Club is the first official club of its kind, helping bring Disney fans closer to the magic since 2009, offering members one-of-a-kind experiences, quarterly publications, special events, unique merchandise offerings, and exclusive online content. As part of D23's biannual tentpole event, this year's D23 The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California will prove to be an even bigger and better version of D23 Expo. With Disney exhibits, panels, and showcases...

The Disney College Program internship hosts thousands of Cast Members each year at Walt Disney World and Disneyland as the students participating gain experience as they progress toward a college degree. I had the privilege of being a part of the Disney College Program in 2007, working at Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom.   In this episode, I reflect on 17 years since starting the Disney College Program and share some personal experiences working at Kilimanjaro Safaris. You can...

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge offers Walt Disney World guests the enchantment of an African reserve lodge in Central Florida, with sweeping savanna views where over 30 species of African animals roam, table-service African cuisine (Sanaa, Boma, and Jiko) and quick-service offerings (The Mara), shopping, and some of the best pools on Disney property. Jambo House and Kidani Village also include Disney Vacation Club studios and villas, as well as one of the largest collections of African art...

1900 Park Fare recently reopened at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and I returned with my family to enjoy the new experience. While some elements of this Walt Disney World restaurant remain the same (Big Bertha as a centerpiece and the return of the famous strawberry soup), the venue takes on a new theme of "wish fulfillment" and some new characters to help guests cast their wishes, including Tiana (in her Tiana's Bayou Adventure attire), Cinderella, Snow White, Mirabel, and...

EPCOT is just about to complete a multiyear transformation, concluding on June 10 as the final walls of World Celebration come down to reveal CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza. With the addition of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, Connections Cafe, Connections Eatery, Creations Shop, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, the Walt Disney "Walt The Dreamer" statue, and a revitalized World Celebration at the center of the front of the park, EPCOT looks...

Disney's Hollywood Studios turns 35 at Walt Disney World this May, opening as Disney-MGM Studios in 1989. Over its 35-year history, the park has undergone a large evolution, so extensive that its five opening day attractions (including the Great Movie Ride and Backlot Studio Tour) are all no longer a part of the park. Nevertheless, this is a park that Disney fans of all ages adore, and it's full of interesting history and incredible Imagineering details worth discussing.   In this episode,...

This listener question-and-answer (Q&A) episode tackles the following many Disney-related questions, including but not limited to: Do you think the Avengers E-Ticket at Disneyland could be a roller coaster instead of a dark ride? I’m going on a solo trip in October… any tips to not feeling weird about it? What’s one restaurant recommendation you would give for each park? Do you have a favorite Disney Vacation Club Resort? If so, which one? What are your predictions for this year's D23 The...

The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival blooms at Walt Disney World every spring, and this year's festival includes many fresh new offerings. With over 20 outdoor kitchens featuring hundreds of food and drink options, dozens of character topiaries and gardens, two scavenger hunts, limited-time merchandise, and the Garden Rocks Concert Series, there's a lot to discover at this annual festival.   In this two-part episode, I chat with AJ from Disney Food Blog about this year's...

Disneyland is not only the first Disney Park created around the world. It's also the only Disney Park that Walt Disney personally visited. Walt Disney helped to develop so many specific elements of Disneyland, many of which are still visible today, and there are countless stories that describe how Walt helped to create and transform "the happiest place on earth."   In this two-part episode, I chat with Kelly Washington of Slice of Disney and Philander Butler to share some of our favorite...

Disneyland is not only the first Disney Park created around the world. It's also the only Disney Park that Walt Disney personally visited. Walt Disney helped to develop so many specific elements of Disneyland, many of which are still visible today, and there are countless stories that describe how Walt helped to create and transform "the happiest place on earth."   In this two-part episode, I chat with Kelly Washington of Slice of Disney and Philander Butler to share some of our favorite...

Walt Disney Imagineer Lanny Smoot was recently inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, the first Imagineer and the second person at Disney to ever receive this distinction (the first was Walt Disney). With over 25 years as a Disney Research Fellow and Walt Disney Imagineer, Lanny Smoot has filed over 106 patents (74 for Disney), including the technology that makes it possible for Madame Leota's head to float in the Haunted Mansion seance room and the exciting new HoloTile...

Disney Cruise Line takes the magic of a Disney vacation out to sea, providing Disney fans with the opportunity to literally travel the world while being immersed in the worlds of Disney. Disney Cruise Line offers some incredible experiences not just in port but also out at sea. With rotational dining, entertainment, on-board activities, kids clubs, pools, spas, characters, and add-on experiences, a Disney Cruise Line vacation can be both relaxing and enjoyable for the whole family, and it's...

Disney Cruise Line takes the magic of a Disney vacation out to sea, providing Disney fans with the opportunity to literally travel the world while being immersed in the worlds of Disney. Unlike a Disney Parks vacation, a trip aboard Disney Cruise Line includes some additional steps in the planning process, but it can also be a more relaxing vacation overall. In this episode, we'll discuss everything you need to know about planning a Disney Cruise Line vacation, including what makes Disney...