Celebrating All Things Disney with News, Analysis & Best-in Business Ideas on Life & Work from the Happiest Places on Earth!
Episodes
Friday Mar 24, 2023
Friday Mar 24, 2023
Welcome to what is the first podcast under our new title, Disney Insights. Since there are so many new listeners, I decided that I wanted to bring my most popular podcast back for this, our first Disney Insights podcast. It will reference both Disney at Play and Disney at Work, but that's okay because Disney Insights builds on the previous podcasts and posts we have done over the years. This particular podcast celebrates Sinbad's Storybook Voyage, a remarkable gem few people know about unless they have visited Tokyo DisneySea. There are many of the things to love about this dark ride boat attraction. But threading through all of it is probably one of Alan Menken's best songs, The Compass of Your Heart. It's simply a beautiful message that gives courage to all that is wonderful about life. It is also the phase I have used at the conclusion of my podcasts. So join us as we revisit Sinbad's Storybook Voyage & The Compass of Your Heart.
Visit photos, videos and more at DisneyInsights.com.
This podcast as well as all others are brought to you by Performance Journeys, which celebrates its 20th year as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through keynotes, workshops, seminars and amazing benchmarking programs to organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors. If you are seeking to improve your customer delivery, to re-engage the morale of your workforce, or to improve the leadership of your organization, we offer not only great solutions tried and tested from our time working intimately to raise excellence in organizations big and small. At Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about the performance.
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
Last week as part of the press event for Tron, details-sparsely given-were provided on Epcot Celebration and construction at the heart of Epcot that never seems to end. Given an important image made public a few years ago, we seek to explain why this section of Epcot is going to become what it is. It also will help us to understand why the uniquely designed Festival Pavilion never got built and why we ended up with Harmonious--a show that is speculated to be worth over $100 million dollars and what appears to be completely uprooted and tossed out. Or is it? We'll go over those vague press details in an effort to understand not just what is going to happen, but what is not going to happen and why. Join us for this podcast on what's happening at Epcot.
ANNOUNCEMENT@ Join us for the same great podcasts with an all-one title! Disney Insights celebrates all things Disney with news, analysis, discoveries & best-in-Disney business ideas! Be sure to subscribe as you visit DisneyInsights.com. Expect the podcast name to change as you look for your next podcast later this week. Be sure to subscribe if you aren't already to this podcast and you'll be automatically transferred to our new one later this week.
Saturday Mar 18, 2023
Saturday Mar 18, 2023
Howdy! Welcome as we continue our series on Disneyland Paris with a left turn into Frontierland. The French love the American West and Disney delivered a version that is truly over the top. Here you get favorites like Big Thunder Mountain, but you also get Disney's version of the Haunted Mansion, known as Phantom Manor. The Rivers of the American West offers an impressive experience. And this is the only Frontierland that has not just one but two formal dining experiences. The attention to detail is no less than amazing. Indeed, some of it as we will chronicle here, constitutes a Western museum on its own merits. Join us as we explore Disneyland Paris's Frontierland. Is this the best Frontierland of all the Magic Kingdoms? Saddle on up and let's find out!
NOTE! Please join us for our next podcast when we have some exciting news to share. Meanwhile, please make sure you are subscribed to this podcast!
This podcast as well as all others are brought to you by Performance Journeys, which celebrates its 20th year as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through keynotes, workshops, seminars and amazing benchmarking programs to organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors. If you are seeking to improve your customer delivery, to re-engage the morale of your workforce, or to improve the leadership of your organization, we offer not only great solutions tried and tested from our time working intimately to raise excellence in organizations big and small. At Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about the performance.
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
This past week Disney Legend Rolly Crump passed away after having a unique career helping to build such memorable attractions as The Enchanted Tiki Room and "it's a small world". One of his first assignments was remodeling the Adventureland Bazaar. We share that story and its messages around trust. And then we head to two separate Emporiums across the globe--one at Walt Disney World and the other at Disneyland Paris. This ties into our last podcast where we toured part of Main Street, U.S.A. at that park. Here we glean additional insights from two other retail locations about the importance of organizational trust. Join us as we celebrate Rolly Crump and learn about the power of trusting others.
This podcast as well as all others are brought to you by Performance Journeys, which celebrates its 20th year as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through keynotes, workshops, seminars and amazing benchmarking programs to organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors. If you are seeking to improve your customer delivery, to re-engage the morale of your workforce, or to improve the leadership of your organization, we offer not only great solutions tried and tested from our time working intimately to raise excellence in organizations big and small. At Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about the performance.
Friday Mar 10, 2023
Friday Mar 10, 2023
We begin a multi-part series that looks at the amazing details around Disneyland Paris. Today we begin at Fantasia Gardens and the Disneyland Hotel in the front of the park. We then step down the left side of Main Street U.S.A., which seems on the surface very similar to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. But we'll look at details you'll never see in Florida as we peel back the layers to this fantastic land designed by Disney Imagineer Eddie Sotto. Not only will we go through shops and restaurants up and down the street, but we'll see some buildings you won't find in your local Town Square. Join us as we look at Disney insight on Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris. If you are even remotely considering going to Paris to see this park, this podcast series will get you to book your next trip.
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Journey Into Imagination has been one of the most visited, mentioned, and missed Epcot attractions since it opened 40 years ago this week. We look at what this entire corner of the park was really all about and specifically what the attraction Journey Into Imagination really was. Because the original attraction was significantly gutted and changed back in 1999, many guests simply don't know what the ride is about other than this purple dragon called Figment. Taking segments from two previous podcasts we bring you not only an overview of the entire pavilion, but what the 14 minute Journey Into Imagination the ride was actually like. We'll also hear from former Disney Imagineer Tom Morris, who was responsible for arranging the layout of the original attraction. I'll then some important lessons learned from this attraction, from its creator Imagineer Tony Baxter, and its sponsor host, Kodak. Join us as we celebrate 40 years of Figment.
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Taking photos and making memories through them are such a big part of the Disney experience, no matter which Disney resort you may visit. And yet we've never really taken the time to discuss how to best capture the magic through photos. So today I have the privilege of Ryan Crane joining us to share his insights on just that. If you are like me, you're always looking for that ideal way of capturing that perfect moment. We'll talk about things you should and shouldn't do, and how the simplest steps can make a good photo great. Join us as we find new ways to capture the Disney magic through photography.
This podcast as well as all others are brought to you by Performance Journeys, which celebrates its 20th year as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through keynotes, workshops, seminars and amazing benchmarking programs to organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors. If you are seeking to improve your customer delivery, to re-engage the morale of your workforce, or to improve the leadership of your organization, we offer not only great solutions tried and tested from our time working intimately to raise excellence in organizations big and small. At Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about the performance.
Ryan Crane is an artist, designer, photographer and cancer survivor. Ryan has a Master's degree in Business Administration. Prior to being diagnosed with cancer Ryan was an accomplished photographer, and had a website designed to teach photography to beginners. Ryan's photography career began after a family trip to Walt Disney World. He had shared some of his photos from the trip and people wanted to buy them. The rest is history, as they say. He attributes the popularity of his Disney photography to being quite a Disney fan and his perception of the world of Disney. Ryan is an avid car guy and enjoys customizing his and his son's cars on days he feels able. This past Spring, he received the great news that he is Cancer FREE! Unfortunately, he is still unable to work due to complications and other medical challenges. Rather than letting his new challenges bring him down, thanks to Squarespace, he created RyanCranePhotography.com as a way to get back on his feet and offer his artwork to you so that it may bring you joy in your own home.
You can see photos discussed in this podcast at Disney at Play.
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Yesterday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law legislation that puts the State of Florida in charge of a reconstituted body known The Reedy Creek Improvement District. Positioned at a firehouse down the way from Disney Springs, the governor put into law this legislation. It occurs on the same day his new book came out, The Courage to Be Free, Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival. Now called the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, it still functions like a county government and takes care of things like roads, construction permits, fire services, building codes, water and waste collection, among other infrastructure concerns. But in this instance it will be led by individuals the governor has chosen to put in place rather than those elected by its district, namely the Walt Disney World Company. Why does this matter, and what are the consequences? Moreover, what messages is it sending to Disney, its fans, and importantly, the citizens of the state of Florida? We will look at how all this came to be, and importantly, why the State of Florida should probably not be in charge of Reedy Creek.
Note: I mention Walt Disney's concern about spending $100K on building out Walt Disney World. I meant to say $100 million.
Friday Feb 24, 2023
Friday Feb 24, 2023
Let's walk around the World! It may be the annual Walt Disney World Princess Marathon this weekend but don't worry if you've missed it! Don't even worry if you don't run! In one day you can do a thirty mile walking marathon that covers not only all four Disney Parks: Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios--but Walt Disney World Resorts and Disney Springs. My friend Rick Williams has walked through Walt Disney World many times, but this time he spends over twelve hours walking through almost all of it! We join him along the way to learn his approach and strategy as well as just enjoy the ambience that makes this a very walkable experience. Whether you are young or young at heart, you can walk right through the magic of Walt Disney World.
See our show notes, photos, video and more at DisneyatPlay.com
Visit our Patreon group at Wayfinder Society for a free sample of interactive Disney magic and insights you can have when you join!
Monday Feb 20, 2023
Monday Feb 20, 2023
We have entered into a new portal of Disney magic and we want to invite you to learn all about it. Join me, my daughter Jennica and my son-in-law Jason as we share with you our first impressions of experiencing TRON for the first time here at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. We'll look at the queue, the ride and the challenges of embracing this new high octane thrill ride that goes up to 60 miles an hour. I'll also discuss how this attraction compares to its sister portal in Shanghai Disneyland and how the whole of this attraction fills a major need here in Tomorrowland. Whether or not you are a TRON fan or you've even seen the movies, you will be after this ride. Join us as we take on one of the most comprehensive reviews available on TRON Lightcycle Run at Walt Disney World.
This podcast as well as all others are brought to you by Performance Journeys, which celebrates its 20th year as a training and development group bringing best in business ideas through keynotes, workshops, seminars and amazing benchmarking programs to organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors. If you are seeking to improve your customer delivery, to re-engage the morale of your workforce, or to improve the leadership of your organization, we offer not only great solutions tried and tested from our time working intimately to raise excellence in organizations big and small. At Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about the performance.
See our show notes, photos, video and more at DisneyatPlay.com
Visit our Patreon group at Wayfinder Society