Disney At Work Podcast

Did you know there are only two Disney intellectual properties that can be found as an attraction in every Magic Kingdom style park around the world. It's not Star Wars or Marvel. It isn't Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid or even Frozen. In fact, neither were blockbuster hits, and the one we're studying in this post and podcast failed in the box office. One is Dumbo with it's symbolic spinner style. But the other surprisingly is Alice in Wonderland. Five of the six parks have spinning cups but many of them have attractions that are beyond that. And some have multiple retail or food & beverage experiences. Parades, entertainment and other offerings showcase Alice, the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit and more. We'll get into the rabbit holes of all these places to understand this creative Disney property. We'll go across the globe to see how this unique Disney film has been retold in parks near and far. In celebration of your Un-Birthday, join us as we share Alice in Wonderland: A Disney Park Compariso

This week on Disney at Work we have the good pleasure of being joined by Kim and Mac Cantrell who works with companies and leaders in creating organizational excellence. At the heart of this has been some recent experiences of Kim and Mac at Walt Disney World. We look at the link between leadership and creating a strong customer service brand via a customer-focused culture. We discuss not only Disney, but other organizations like Chick fil-A, Ritz-Carlton, Publix and others. Join us for this insightful look at what makes organizations great! You can see more about Kim and Mac, as well as take advantage of our complimentary souvenirs for your organization when you visit the post for this podcast at Disney at Work.

On October 15th, 1971, the world saw some of the first images of Walt Disney World as they spread across the pages of Life Magazine. We provide a deep dive of those pages and show you how the Vacation Kingdom of the World was first presented in this weekly news article. Here we'll study who was present when 1,500 Cast Members gathered together in front of Cinderella Castle. We'll look at the original Disney characters and parades that appeared at the time. We'll explore the significance of attractions like The Hall of Presidents and the Country Bear Jamboree. At the center we'll also take a close look at what exactly the Magic Kingdom looked like from the air only a day or two after the park opened on October 1st. With the approaching anniversary of Walt Disney World, we examine more closely 50 years of magic. Be sure to check out the photos from Life Magazine found in our Disney at Play post.

Disneyland fans living outside the state of California have now been given the chance to come visit the "Happiest Place on Earth". We look at what that involves then turn our attention toward other magical happenings occurring at the Anaheim Resort. As Avengers Campus prepares to open we look at how players can advance their gaming success--for a price. At Snow White's newly refurbished and named Enchanted Wish, we learn of details and behind-the-scenes insights. We also learn of the Jungle Cruise new date for re-opening, and how this attraction ties-or doesn't tie-to the new film staring Dwayne Johnson. We finish off with Brandy's new single Princess hit, being launched at Disneyland as part of the Ultimate Princess Celebration. It's a big Disneyland update you won't want to miss!

When out-of staters think about visiting Orlando theme parks in the summer, they might think about hurricanes. While that's a factor in our discussion, the reality of summer is not so much your next hurricane but the daily grind of heat, humidity and thunderstorms. These factors more than any can affect the enjoyment of your next Central Florida vacation. We look at what months of the year it's hot, and what months its worse than hot. We look at practical choices you can make to get through the day, and we look at your best options for fun in the sun. With nearly 30 years of Florida living, plus a one-time career in managing water parks, let me share with you the realities and practicalities of dealing with the heat, humidity and thunder storm craziness that is Central Florida. You can find the post with this podcast as well as links, images, and more at Disney at Play.

We provide you this week a whirlwind tour of Epcot as we stroll a mask-free World Showcase. The International Flower & Garden Festival is still very much in bloom with butterflies, food & more. We check out the new Gelateria Toscana in Italy. Is it as good as L'Artisan des Glaces in France or as a sundae at Beaches & Cream? Morocco is closed or under the knife in many places. We look at what's happening and what could happen (yes, this is a pitch for Sinbad's Storybook Voyage). The Skyliner is closing in January for refurbishment, Spaceship Earth is getting lights installed and progress continues with HarmoniUS. We check out the reinstalled audio animatronics at Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros and we talk about hiring going on for Space 220. All this and much, much more on this Epcot update!

After more than a year of being closed to the public, the most favorite entertainment show at Walt Disney World has reopened. Yes! The King has Returned! We look at the reopening of Festival of the Lion King to understand what is different about this revised show while exploring what has made it so special from the beginning. Along the way, we note the absence of the guest participation scenes (it's alright, you should already know what sound a giraffe makes by now) as well as the missing monkeys. Plus changes in choreography, especially in the romantic ballad, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". Still, there's plenty of color, music, dance and spectacles as this Disney Animal Kingdom favorite returns. You can also see the show completely without commentary The reopening of the Festival of the Lion King.

We are at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World on the first day that masks are no longer required while outside on the streets of the park. We are here to capture that experience and show you what it looks like when boarding resort transportation, visiting attractions and experiencing retail. We'll take you through the queue of Big Thunder Mountain as well as Peter Pan's Flight, where we will mask up to take a ride through Neverland. All this plus lots of insights about what is happening currently in the parks. Join us for this visit through the Magic Kingdom!

We bring you sudden breaking news from Disney today that Masks are no longer required--or are at least optional--throughout all of Walt Disney World including the theme parks and Disney Springs. We also share that Disney has added additional reservation slots for those staying at select hotels and those purchasing theme park tickets. We cover these two announcements and the context behind them. Join us! This builds on our previous podcast, so check that out as well as it suggests what implications may be in store with these announcements.

In the last 24 hours sweeping news was announced by the CDC that profoundly impacts the path for completely removing all COVID restraints in Disney Parks and the Disney Cruise Line. To that end, Bob Chapek in the quarterly report call yesterday made significant comments that suggested that masks might be removed at Walt Disney World by summer. While news continues to evolve rapidly, we examine what's going on and what's behind these announcements. We project what it means and how you may want to consider your next trip to Disney. We offer the most comprehensive coverage possible on all of this, so join us for this milestone podcast.

We canvas every corner of Disney's Hollywood Studios in this week's update where we see how this Walt Disney World park is still very much under the influence of a pandemic. From attractions and entertainment; from dining to shops to even park services we look at some 40 offerings that are still closed to guests. This is why guest crowds look as large as they do when in truth the attendance is still hovering around 35%. You can see it as we start in the parking lot how many empty spaces there are, and with those lower crowds, operations has suspended a large part of its operation. What do you still miss at Disney's Hollywood Studios? Are you ready to come back, when the park has not completely re-opened? While there are fantastic attractions--and even new lands and experiences ahead for guests, we explore what is still missing in action. You can see our YouTube video of this on our channel J. Jeff Kober. A complete list and more can be found on our Disney at Play website.

Are you ready to return to Disneyland? After observing the first week of Disneyland's reopening, we offer ten smart tips for how to manage your next visit to Disneyland. These insights will help you to not only navigate your stay at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, but will offer you thoughts on when you may want to pull the lever and head to Anaheim. These same principles are also important ones to remember as well if visiting Walt Disney World or any other Disney theme park in the months to come as COVID comes to a close. Get ready to relive the magic of visiting the "Happiest Place on Earth" as we share 10 tips for returning to Disneyland.

Starting from the Ticket and Transportation Center we share news about all things happening at the parks, especially here at the Magic Kingdom. To dropping fever checks to new paint and final touches, the Magic Kingdom is preparing for its 50th anniversary. We hear from the Dapper Dans and check out Mickey in his character cavalcade in front of Cinderella Castle, where all the finishing touches have been placed. We check out the new mobile ordering at Aloha Isle, Friar Tucks and Sleepy Hollow, plus talk about upcoming Halloween announcements. We visit Pinocchio's Village Haus with new food items and then take in "it's a small world" where we share little known facts about this attraction. Of course no update would be complete without a check on Tron construction and our ever popular PeopleMover. There's a lot being covered in today's update, come join us!

News came out on May the 4th be with you regarding the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser that will give people a chance to live out their Star Wars stories. Only this isn't story telling, according to Disney. It's Story Living. Here you’ll be plunged into a Star Wars story where your decisions and actions – or even the casual conversations you may have – determine how your personal journey unfolds. Theoretically, this experience will be so immersive that you will feel like you are living in the Star Wars universe. This podcast peels back much of what has been shared about this experience and projects what guests might encounter as they take on this one-of-a-kind vacation now set to premiere in 2022. That may mean spoilers, so beware. But we'll look at all of it, and then also ask the question, will it be worth it?  You can find photos, videos and more at our post on Disney at Play.

Welcome to this Disney at Work podcast. Walt's opening words when he dedicated Disneyland was: "To all who come to this happy place...Welcome!" Welcoming guests is a hallmark of the total Disney experience. One of the four Disney keys is Courtesy. A critical customer service behavior expected of all Disney Cast Members is that they greet, welcome, and thank all guests. I saw much of that when guests first pored into Disneyland last week as the gates finally reopened after a long hiatus. I myself felt very welcomed when I first came down Main Street U.S.A. as I entered the Magic Kingdom on Day 1 when it reopened last July. But how do you make it happen every day and in every Guest interaction? That's what we'll address in this Disney at Work podcast. We'll talk about the concept of "assertive" friendliness. We'll showcase different approaches for making people welcomed, and we'll offer you complimentary souvenirs that you can apply back in your own organization. Welcome to this podcast on welcoming others!

Disney Cruise Line made major announcements regarding the Wish, to include when reservations are open. We will look at signature features of this new ship, the first of the Triton class of three ships to be built. We'll look at the top deck with all of its pools and water features. We will check out all the hangouts for kids. We'll overview entertainment and look at the different staterooms being offered. And finally, we'll check out the cuisine being offered. This is not just a remodeled ship like the Dream and Fantasy. While the exterior follows the familiar design of the previous two, major changes have been made throughout the ship in where all of its features are going. Plus, a heavy dose of Disney Magic attends to all of it. We'll look not only at the ship from stem to stern, but also discuss when Disney is opening up reservations and discuss the progress of reopening the entire fleet. Check the accompanying post with charts, photos, links and more at Disney at Play.

Let's take a ride on the PeopleMover. This week the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover reopens. Disney fans rejoiced as they waited in what appeared to be long lines to experience the PeopleMover. This is an attraction embraced by so many. Why? What is the appeal of the PeopleMover? We look at the attraction at re-opening, experience the attraction first-hand, and then seek to understand why the PeopleMover matters. There is an emotional connection many have to this attraction. We want to explore that connection, what it means, and how it applies to you. You can find the accompanying post with videos, photos and additional links here at Disney at Play.

With the re-opening of Disneyland, it's a great time to remember what makes this flagship park so special. In this post and podcast, we look at the artistry & magic of Disneyland's Fantasyland. From art to sculpture to landscaping to characters themselves, we journey to find amazing characters and craftsmanship. Along the way we find what truly makes this the most magical of all the lands of Disneyland. Through narrative, photos and video, we invite you to take a stroll with us as we take a look at this happy place. You can find the photos and videos that accompany this podcast at Disney at Play. 

Welcome to this Disney at Work post and podcast. It's about the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, but it's also about change in its different forms. We look at this nearly 40 year old attraction to learn how change occurs and how to best address that change. I've called this the Gran Fiasco Tour Starring the Three Cambios. There are three places where the dynamics of change or cambios can occur: Unexpected Change Continuous Improvement and Change Anticipated Change Looking at what is happening at Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, we're going to explore those concepts of change and how we address them. At the end, we'll offer you some souvenirs for you and your organization as you consider change and how to embrace it. Also, if you like this podcast, we really appreciate you helping out the “littlest podcast that ever could" by visiting iTunes and giving us a positive rating and review. This helps more people find us out there.

It's Earth Day this week at Disney's Animal Kingdom. While that may not make any more sense than year long anniversaries at Disney that run 18 months, the good news is that there is time to check out all things conservation if you're near Walt Disney World. If not, then this video and/or podcast is perfect for you, as we explore a number of things associated with the messages of Earth Day to include a newly updated book for Disney, efforts to bring a love of nature to children's hospitals, baby mandrills, new 360 photos, sand sculptures and of course cupcakes. Every celebration at Disney's Animal Kingdom has cupcakes, and this one has three! You can't have a celebration at Disney's Animal Kingdom without cupcakes. Plus we check out and do a review of two trips made to Nomad Lounge. Lots to talk about this week, from Pandora to the new Festival of the Lion King as it returns next month. Join us!