Disney At Work Podcast

Yes! We predicted yesterday that Disney was going to announce a new park in Abu Dhabi, and that announcement has come to pass! "A whole new world" is coming to this corner of the world. With over four billion guests having visited some six Disney theme park destinations around the world, let's look at this newest Disney resort in Abu Dhabi, which will be the seventh in the world. This was part of its 2025 2nd quarter presentation, and the announcement dwarfed everything else. Why build here, and exactly where is it going? What will make this different than anything ever built before? How will it be built and managed? Let's explore what's new coming to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. _________________________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting the podcast. Here we bring the best in Disney both in terms of the magic of the parks as well as the

Breaking news this morning as rumors about that Disney could be announcing a brand new theme park slated for United Arab Emirates. The possibility is that an announcement could be made Wednesday morning, May 7th, but some sources suggest this may be happening and in time with the 2nd Quarter 2025 announcements from Disney happening at the same time. Check it out! _______________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting the podcast. Here we bring the best in Disney both in terms of the magic of the parks as well as the business behind the magic! And now as part of Disneyland's 70th anniversary, we have a new interactive Disney Insight Fact Discovery, which unlocks scores of fascinating details few know about. With text, images, video and audio, we explore these realms whether you are right on the streets of the "Happiest Place on Earth" or enjoying it virtually fr

We continue our celebration of Disneyland's 70th anniversary. We started this series at Disneyland with a look at Tomorrow. We now wind the clock backwards and start at the entrance of the park. Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland is a remarkable place. It is the only land in the only park that had an apartment for Walt Disney where he stayed regularly to "walk in the shoes of his guests." That kind of immersion allowed him to see new possibilities in how to create "The Happiest Place on Earth". I have walked this street for over 60 years and I want to share just how really special it is. It is not only the red carpet to any Disney fan, but we see how these places amaze not just from the guest view, but from a leadership view point. It's a perspective that permits you to see how you can build your own employees and create a great customer experience. Join us as we "Walk Down the Middle of Main Street, U.S.A" to see how Walt Disney personally touched this park, and how its design is a message for organizations bi

While it’s been more than 5 years since Disney has opened up a brand new park in Shanghai, there is something to be said for the enormous transformation that has been underway for Disneyland Paris as a whole, and in particular, Disney Adventure World, formerly known as Walt Disney Studios Paris. Since Avengers Campus first opened, work has been spent on improving existing rides and shows, as well as creating whole new lands and attractions. Some 90% of the park’s original offerings will have been redone, and its foot prints will be nearly doubled in size. And beyond this, Disneyland Paris is very much re-shaping its resort experience and completely redefining the look and feel of its retail-dining space, Disney Village All these efforts and announcements come at a time when Universal has announced a new park in Bedfordshire, England with a targeted date of opening in 2031. _______________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Pa

Since debuting in December just a few months ago, The Disney Treasure has been the talk of the cruise line experience. Part of a new class of ships, and a sibling to the Disney Wish, this Disney Cruise Line offering has become very popular. We're fortunate to have Chris Konecny, also known as DCLCruisingDad, to share with us his family's experience aboard this eight day, seven night journey. We talk about getting there, getting on, and having a ton of fun. We discuss a little bit about its destinations to include Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Falmouth, Jamaica. But we especially talk about what makes this ship so spectacular, from food to entertainment; from decor to crew. And Chris offers some great tips for making your next trip even more enjoyable. So join us for tips and insights from Disney Cruise Line's Disney Treasure. ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with,

We visit Walt Disney World to check out Disney's Hollywood Studios and to get an update about everything going on in the park. We canvas the entire property, check out some retail plus food & beverage. Did we mention meeting up with all 7 of the Dwarfs?! Where Star Wars first showed up in this park (and it's not Star Tours)?! How about the best fried chicken in Disney's parks?! Or the cremated remains of Don Onar's Parents?! Join us as we share little known secrets about the park, and talk more about its future! ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting the podcast. Here we bring the best in Disney both in terms of the magic of the parks as well as the business behind the magic! And now as part of Disneyland's 70th anniversary, we have a new interactive Disney Insight Fact Discovery, which unlocks scores of fascinating details few know about.

As if little announcements would keep attention away from the opening of Epic Universe, Disney keeps dropping posts and instagrams about what's on their docket in the next months to come. We'll take a look at this, and give insight to what it means. Disneyland has a big 70th anniversary coming, but what of The Walt Disney World Resort? We'll share what we've learned and what it means, especially in the context of a FastCompany article where Disney experts shared what it means to create the "Disney Bubble". Then we'll share about another time when Diagon Alley opened at Universal here in Orlando and how Disney pivoted to create a Frozen Summer. Disney needs to save summer, is this possible? We'll look at how in a matter of weeks, Disney turned around the summer of 2014 and made come alive. Join us as we look at whether the bubble can same Disney's Summer, along with Disney announcement insights. ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Soci

With a new live action film out, There is much to be said about the importance of Walt Disney’s classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Not only was the original animated Snow White successful in the box office, it has been an important part of the Disney theme park experience world-wide. Since Disneyland opened in 1955, Snow White has come alive for guests to visit and experience. Through character meet ‘n’ greets, parades, merchandise, and attractions, Snow White is a significant presence found in every Disney Magic Kingdom park. And it can be seen in nearly every other park as well in some form or another. It will surprise you some of the places Snow White shows up. So this podcast allows us to celebrate Snow White in the parks. ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting the podcast. Here we bring the best in Disney both in terms of the magic

This weekend fans said their final farewells to "It's Tough to be a Bug." This film has entertained guests since Disney's Animal Kingdom opened in 1998. It was the centerpiece of the Tree of Life, which serves as the icon to the park. We look at the origins of how the attraction came to be. We'll look at what was so great--and what was not so great about this attraction. With the official closing this week, we'll talk about the transition to the new replacement show, "Zootopia, Better Zoogether" We'll look at what has been shared to date, and project what might be the plot of this show. Then we'll close off with a little known story about Pixar when it went into crisis mode of creating A Bug's Life and Toy Story II, all within a year. It may be tough to be a bug, but at one time, it may have been tougher to be a Pixar employee. So join us as we bid adieu to It's Tough to be a Bug. ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney In

This weekend a Disney Imagineering presentation was given at the South by Southwest SXSW Conference in Austin Texas. Thinking that it was a Future of World-Building at Disney presentation given by Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro, I was surprised to see that there were several Imagineers that made up the presentation. Even more interesting was the fact that Josh was accompanied by Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman, who then brought three key studio leaders, Jon Favreau with Star Wars, Pete Docter with Pixar, and Kevin Fiege of Marvel. Together both Entertainment and Experiences partnered together to talk about major attractions coming to Disney. We bring some important insights from not only this and from other Imagineering activities going on, but we also counter it with some negativity that has been coming from former Imagineers that "The Emperors at 1401 Flower Street are butt naked and don't know it." We'll consider those opinions to better understand what is working and what is not. J

When Disneyland premiered in 1955, it was so unique above anything else that was found in the world. And yet, its roots are found in sources that are across the globe. We look at those major influences that shaped not only Walt Disney's interest in building an amusement enterprise, but in how that was actually shaped and created. These sources stem from even before his birth and can be found along his travels throughout the United States and Europe. And while his intent was to create a place that parents and children could enjoy together, the result of is a place that welcomes all who come to this happy place. Join us as we share the inspiration Walt found on the journey to Disneyland. ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting the podcast. Here we bring the best in Disney both in terms of the magic of the parks as well as the business behind the m

This month marks the 85th anniversary of The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. While Walt Disney had a couple of other smaller studio locations previously, this location has flourished for decades and has remained the headquarters of The Walt Disney Company. We'll look at how these studios came about, how it became a world-class facility, what set it apart from other movie studios in town, and why it was such an "employee-friendly" place. And we'll look at how all that still happens today! With all of this we'll share some lessons for any business location or place of business. And we'll also suggest how it contrasts with Disney's Hollywood Studios, as it points to a particular problem the Studios has that is different than the other Walt Disney World theme park experiences. So join us for the 85th anniversary of The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--Mo

Join us today as we take a look at not one, not two but three phenomenal Disney Resorts across Asia. Today we're joined by David and Leah Zanolla of Zanolla Travel. They recently hosted a group along with their family that visited Asia over the holidays. This included Hong Kong Disneyland, where the new World of Frozen premiered last year. In China, they had a chance to share their favorite moments visiting the new Zootopia attraction at Shanghai Disneyland. And then there is Tokyo Disney Resort. Here they saw not only the new Fantasy Springs attraction that included mini-lands centered around Tangled, Frozen and Peter Pan, but also the much talked about Beauty and the Beast attraction. Plus highlights of other amazing experiences during their journey. So join us for the best of Disney Parks in Asia, to includes some incredible new attractions. ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insi

Several announcements have occurred in recent days regarding attractions closing to make way for upcoming construction activity at Walt Disney World. That information (and the lack of other information) is starting to tell us much about how attractions are going to come on board in the years to come, and even in the months to come. We look at what attraction building criteria is driving those dates, then take a new look at the calendar extending all the way up to 2030. We look closely at some possibilities with new projects named such as Bluey, and the theater in Monstropolis. And we offer some smart low-hanging potential projects Disney could take advantage of to fill its attraction roster. So join us for Disney Insights on construction calendars for new and upcoming Walt Disney World projects. ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting the podcas

Welcome aboard, mateys! We set sail to Disneyland Paris to take a pirate's plunge of Adventureland. Here we experience a unique version of Pirates of the Caribbean, where a very different approach to the narrative has been taken. With it lies not just an amazing gift shop at the exit, but a tropical restaurant that rivals the very popular Blue Bayou. We also maroon ourselves on Adventure Isle, home to the stories of Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, and Peter Pan. We climb treehouses, explore caves, board ships and swing across bridges. All of this is brought to life for you via our Disney Insights Pirates of the Caribbean Interactive Journey, which I'll not only share some backstory on, but share with you how you can have a 7 Day Free Trial. So join us for Disneyland Paris: A New Take on Pirates. ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! The Wayfinder Society--Disney Insights Patreon Page--More Disney Insights to interact with, while supporting th

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts gives us an opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney on Broadway. We'll look at the history of this amazing theatrical portfolio, which began with a "Tale as Old as Time" whose roots were more than 30 years ago at what was then Disney-MGM Studios. Today there are over two dozen major shows that have played on Broadway, The West End, and across the globe. I'll share with you some of my favorites and why--along with some stories you may not have heard about these phenomenal shows. And we'll step over to Epcot to talk about a new exhibit that has just opened up at CommuniCore in World Celebration. It's just one component of a very popular time of year in this park. Join us as we celebrate 30 years of Disney on Broadway at Epcot's International Festival of the Arts. ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe. DisneyInsights.com--So many resourc

Ever go into a place of business only to leave asking yourself, "What are they thinking?" How could they be so blind when it comes to how they do business? It's a fair question asked often. We speak of emotional intelligence when it comes to individuals and how they relate with others 1:1 or perhaps in small groups, but we really don't talk about it in the context of how we interact with customers, much less approach that relationship strategically. Today we look at The Emotionally Intelligent Customer Experience, where we see how it plays out both tactically and strategically. We look at examples from Disney as to what they do, good and bad, in addressing that customer experience. And we consider how this plays out in your organization, big or small, whether in the public, private or non-profit realm. Join us as we consider the Emotionally Intelligent Customer Experience: Disney Insights for Any Organization. ________________________________________________________ More Disney Insights can be found below! Di

Welcome to 2025. As promised, my expose and focus on Disneyland's 70th anniversary is a key part of my podcasts, videos and Patreon experiences this year. To that end, I thought to start out on Main Street, U.S.A. But since we're starting a new year, why not look at the future? So our first podcast of 2025 is on Disneyland's Tomorrowland. There have been several version of this and they add up to not only why guests love Tomorrowland, but why it really matters in a world like ours. This one however, is the original, and speaks not only to those that followed, but to Epcot as well. We'll look at the history, and then take a ride on the old PeopleMover to consider the attractions that once were and continue to be part of this land. We'll then come back to Why Tomorrowland Matters and some thoughts about what the future might behold. Join us for Disneyland's Tomorrowland: Vistas of the Future. ________________________________________________________ My new book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 19

We are ringing out the old year and ringing in the new year as we review 2024 and give a preview of 2025. I'll cover all of the key moments of last year, as well as what's going on next year, both in the parks here in the U.S. as well as internationally. And then John Frost of The Disney Blog will join me as we give some critical thought as to all that is going on as well as what's on the horizon. So join us for this Disney Insights podcast. We especially thank John Frost of The Disney Blog for joining us on this podcast! ________________________________________________________ My new book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available!  Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You. Also, for those examining = other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence. ___________________________________

Seasons Greetings! Last week we took a look at how the holiday season unfolds at Disneyland during the day with attraction overlays, holiday shows and festive decorations. We now look at how the Disneyland Resort comes to life in even brighter and more amazing ways at night. At Disneyland we check out how Sleeping Beauty's Castle transforms into winter enchantment. We check out the Christmas Fantasy Parade, as well as holiday shows at "it's a small world" and in Tomorrowland. Fireworks and snowflakes on Main Street? We'll see, but we'll also go to Disney California Adventure and see the holiday decor there, attraction overlays and a big finale in World of Color: Season of Light Holiday show. There is so much to Christmas nighttime magic at Disneyland. Join us for this seasonal celebration. ________________________________________________________ My new book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available!  Also, check out my two of my other books, The W