Episodes

Monday Jul 08, 2024
Monday Jul 08, 2024
Starting July 24th a new virtual queue system will be put in place. Building off of both the Genie+ system and the earlier FastPass+ system, Walt Disney World will now offer Multi & Single Pass Lightning Lane experiences. I've invited David Zanolla of Zanolla Travel, to help me make sense of it all. We'll review what has happened over the last 25 years beginning with FastPass, followed by FastPass+, Genie+ and now Lightning Lane. And we'll answer a number of questions that will help you know how to best make the right choices when it comes to planning your next Walt Disney World vacation. So join us, and let us get you the insights you need on this new virtual system.
__________________________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________
More Disney Insights can be found below!
Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe.
DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts.
Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others.
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!
________________________________________________________
Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation!
David & Leah Zanolla
ZanollaTravel.com
Owner/Agents
(309) 863-5469
________________________________________________________
Performance Journeys
This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.
Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.
Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena.
Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement.
Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!

Wednesday Jul 03, 2024
Humunga Kowabunga! Typhoon Lagoon at 35: The History, The Tips, & The Joy
Wednesday Jul 03, 2024
Wednesday Jul 03, 2024
Well, Humunga Kowabunga! Typhoon Lagoon is 35 years old this year. We've had the opportunity to celebrate the 35th anniversary of several Walt Disney World attractions, and we would be remiss if we didn't take the plunge on this one as well. We'll dive in on the history of this water park and how it came to be. We'll also look at how it compares attendance wise to parks across the globe. Then we'll cover 10 tips for how to best enjoy your day at the park without getting burned--sun burned at least. Finally, we'll rewind the clock and share a conversation of why Typhoon Lagoon is such a joy to visit. So join us as we commemorate Typhoon Lagoon's 35th anniversary.
__________________________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________
More Disney Insights can be found below!
Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe.
DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts.
Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others.
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!
________________________________________________________
Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation!
David & Leah Zanolla
ZanollaTravel.com
Owner/Agents
(309) 863-5469
________________________________________________________
Performance Journeys
This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.
Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.
Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena.
Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement.
Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!

Monday Jun 24, 2024
Monday Jun 24, 2024
This week we had a chance to visit and experience Tiana's Bayou Adventure in a set of five visits. Our previous podcast was an in-depth look at why Splash Mountain ended and why Tiana's replaced it. This podcast goes into big details as to how this entire experience plays out from arrival, through exterior/interior queues, the entire ride, and afterwards. This is a major spoiler alert, and we think you should listen. Most will only have one opportunity to visit in their upcoming visit. The logs move down the river quickly, and you will miss the chance to see all of these details come to life. This expose helps you be able to capture it all. Accompanying this podcast is an extensive set of photos and videos that support these details. We also have a complete grid which details a scene-by-scene comparison of what Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom had compared to what Tiana's now shares. Join us for the details of Tiana's Bayou Adventure.
__________________________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________
More Disney Insights can be found below!
Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe.
DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts.
Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others.
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!
________________________________________________________
Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation!
David & Leah Zanolla
ZanollaTravel.com
Owner/Agents
(309) 863-5469
________________________________________________________
Performance Journeys
This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.
Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.
Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena.
Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement.
Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!

Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
Why Splash Mountain Went Away and Why Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Got Built
Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
Tuesday Jun 18, 2024
With previews well underway on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, and before I spend the time giving insight to what works and doesn’t work on this attraction, now is the time to understand why this attraction has been built, and why it has replaced the enormously beloved Splash Mountain. Critics abound and some have a point to be made. But it makes no sense to criticize if you don’t understand the reason and the why. We will look at how we got to this point, which began back park-wide decades ago and has had its own storied past, for both guests and Cast Members. In the end we’ll see that there is not only a need to create stories that others can see themselves in, but to know that there were some legitimate operational issues that needed to be addressed. All of this comes together in one pivotal moment in time and has now resulted in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
__________________________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________
More Disney Insights can be found below!
Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe.
DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts.
Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others.
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!
________________________________________________________
Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation!
David & Leah Zanolla
ZanollaTravel.com
Owner/Agents
(309) 863-5469
________________________________________________________
Performance Journeys
This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.
Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.
Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena.
Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement.
Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!

Monday Jun 10, 2024
Monday Jun 10, 2024
This week the Vice President of Epcot, Kartika Rodriguez, announced that “after years of creative vision, innovation and dedicated work, I’m thrilled to share that the historic transformation of our park is complete.” We will look at this final puzzle piece of this important transformation. CommuniCore is a complex which includes food and beverage, meet ‘n’ greets, indoor and outdoor event space, and a great new show. We look at the original proposal for not just all of Epcot, but specifically for what is now CommuniCore. The soul of this place is the ¡Celebración Encanto! This show is hot, and the theater much hotter–literally. I review all of this in detail. We talk in memoriam about what is missing as this transformation comes to an end. And we talk about new attractions that are just around the corner at Walt Disney World.
__________________________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________
More Disney Insights can be found below!
Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe.
DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts.
Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others.
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!
________________________________________________________
Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation!
David & Leah Zanolla
ZanollaTravel.com
Owner/Agents
(309) 863-5469
________________________________________________________
Performance Journeys
This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.
Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.
Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena.
Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement.
Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!

Tuesday Jun 04, 2024
Tuesday Jun 04, 2024
Last week we shared how the better part of 7 decades took George Lucas as a child from the Disneyland Park gates in 1955 through to creating the cinematic masterpiece Star Wars to working with Disney to build Star Tours the attraction to even selling Lucasfilm to The Walt Disney Company. Today we step off from that point to see how Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge came to be. We’ll share the moment it was announced through development and construction. Remember Seasons of the Force and Star Wars Launch Bay? We’ll talk about that. I’ll share my feelings entering Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge during the first week of operation at Disneyland, and the subsequent chaos of Disney’s Hollywood Studios opening. And then there is Rise of the Resistance, followed by Rise of the COVID-19. Join us for some remarkable insights on the creation, opening and operation of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, all on the 5th anniversary of this attraction.
__________________________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________
More Disney Insights can be found below!
Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe.
DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts.
Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others.
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!
________________________________________________________
Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation!
David & Leah Zanolla
ZanollaTravel.com
Owner/Agents
(309) 863-5469
________________________________________________________
Performance Journeys
This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.
Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.
Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena.
Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement.
Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!

Wednesday May 29, 2024
Wednesday May 29, 2024
The story of how Star Wars Galaxy's Edge came to be is one that goes back nearly 7 decades. It is a story that circles back around to Disney’s own history again and again. This presentation showcases those milestone moments that paved the way for this attraction to occur. It is the story of George Lucas and how he created one of the most beloved film franchises, one that truly seemed like it was something from the Disney Studios. It moves forward through the development of Star Tours and ultimately the purchase of Lucasfilm. Join us for Part I as we celebrate the 5th anniversary of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge with this historical timeline.
__________________________________________________
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.
________________________________________________________
More Disney Insights can be found below!
Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe.
DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts.
Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others.
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!
________________________________________________________
Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation!
David & Leah Zanolla
ZanollaTravel.com
Owner/Agents
(309) 863-5469
________________________________________________________
Performance Journeys
This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.
Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.
Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena.
Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement.
Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!

Tuesday May 21, 2024
Putting the Fun in Funmeister: Insights on Pleasure Island--35 Years Ago
Tuesday May 21, 2024
Tuesday May 21, 2024
Like Disney-MGM Studios, Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World opened up 35 years ago. Also like Disney's Hollywood Studios, it morphed over time. Unlike the studios however, it's gone--with only a few remnants reminding us of that strangely unusual "outside the brand" creation. We consider each of the clubs, plus restaurants, stores and more. We look at how it got started, and how it met its demise. And I share my own personal stories of interacting with this unique entertainment offering and its incredibly talented Cast, all the while staying sober. Join us as we find insights from Walt Disney World's Pleasure Island.
__________________________________________________
My new book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights is available! Now available on Amazon!
Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You.
________________________________________________________
More Disney Insights can be found below!
Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe.
DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts.
Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others.
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!
________________________________________________________
Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation!
David & Leah Zanolla
ZanollaTravel.com
Owner/Agents
(309) 863-5469
________________________________________________________
Performance Journeys
This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.
Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.
Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena.
Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement.
Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!

Tuesday May 14, 2024
New Tokyo Disney Attractions--Implications for American Parks!
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Last week we spoke about new announcements at Disneyland Paris and their implications for American Parks. This last week news and video has been coming out about the new Fantasy Springs that is beginning to open at Tokyo Disney Sea. Plus news of Disneyland Forward being approved by the Anaheim City Council means that work can commence on a future Disneyland that has many more possibilities than ever before. Add new attractions coming to Walt Disney World "Beyond Big Thunder" and elsewhere, and we have one amazing podcast. We'll talk about Tokyo attractions based Frozen, Peter Pan, Rapunzel, Beauty & the Beast, Space Mountain, Toy Story, Wreck-It-Ralph and more, and how they may impact attractions coming to you based on Cars, Moana, Zootopia, Encanto, Coco, Indiana Jones, Pandora, Marvel, Star Wars and more. This is a big podcast, so join us as we look at how new Tokyo Disney attractions just may have implications for the American Parks!
__________________________________________________
My new book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights is available! Now available on Amazon!
Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You.
________________________________________________________
More Disney Insights can be found below!
Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe.
DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts.
Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others.
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!
________________________________________________________
Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation!
David & Leah Zanolla
ZanollaTravel.com
Owner/Agents
(309) 863-5469
________________________________________________________
Performance Journeys
This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.
Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.
Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena.
Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement.
Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!

Wednesday May 08, 2024
Disneyland Paris Announcements--Implications for American Parks
Wednesday May 08, 2024
Wednesday May 08, 2024
Big new announcements have been made at Disneyland Paris and whole new lands and experiences are opening at Tokyo Disney Resort. We not only look at some very new ideas for what could be in a Disney theme park, but we see how some of this could be coming to Disneyland or Walt Disney World here in the United States. Perhaps not the show, but the concepts, the intellectual properties, special technologies and ride vehicles. We'll look at resorts here at Disneyland Paris, happenings at Disney Village and the Disneyland Paris Park, and then go over to The Walt Disney Studios Paris park for what are massive and major changes. Lots of implications for the American parks, so join us for this Disneyland Paris announcements.
__________________________________________________
My new book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights is available! Now available on Amazon!
Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You.
________________________________________________________
More Disney Insights can be found below!
Disney Insights YouTube Page--Check it out and subscribe.
DisneyInsights.com--So many resources at our home site. Be sure to subscribe to receive notice of upcoming podcasts.
Disney Insights Facebook Page--Come join and interact in conversation with others.
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!
________________________________________________________
Check out Zanolla Travel to book your next vacation!
David & Leah Zanolla
ZanollaTravel.com
Owner/Agents
(309) 863-5469
________________________________________________________
Performance Journeys
This podcast and post is provided by J. Jeff Kober and Performance Journeys, which celebrates more than 20 years as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through books, keynotes, workshops, seminars and online tools to help you take your organization to the next level.
Want a Keynote Speaker? More than just nice stories, I offer proven insight and solutions having worked in the trench.
Need Consulting? I’ve worked for decades across the public, private and non-profit arena.
Need Support? We offer so many classroom, online, and other resources to help you improve your customer service delivery, leadership excellence, and employee engagement.
Contact us today, and let us help you on your Performance Journey!

