Disney Insights

A Very Personal Disneyland Journey with My Son

I just spent a week at Disneyland. I don't know that this is a trip report. If it is, it's one of the most unusual chronologies that you may ever heard. At the heart of this four day journey is an opportunity to celebrate my autistic son's 21st birthday with my wife and daughter. It's hard to imagine any day that wouldn't be nearly perfect at Disneyland. But this one is a roller coaster of expectations, emotions and joys. And there's a little bit of a twist at the end of it all that asks the question, "Why do we love Disney?" We will talk in an upcoming podcast about all that is happening at Disneyland to include the 100th anniversary. But allow me in this podcast to open up a little of my heart as I share the experience of personally taking my family to Disneyland. Join us on our Disneyland journey.

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.

Bob Iger’s Contract Extends to 2026--His Insights on the Company Moving Forward

In the last 24 hours a number of insights have surfaced. It began with an announcement that the Disney board has voted in favor of Bob Iger's contract being extended as CEO through 2026. CNBC's David Faber asked some real questions on what's working and what's not. This includes selling cable networks such as ABC; putting ESPN into streaming mode; and buying Hulu from Comcast. He then defends the attendance slump at Walt Disney World, which was the headline on CNN today. Finally, Iger discusses the impact that Governor DeSantis is having on the company and why Disney has filed a lawsuit around 1st amendment rights in court. Join us as we detail these many announcements and insights happening around the Walt Disney Company.

Disney Wonder Alaskan Excursions: Part II

Our tenth Disney cruise took us to the waters off Alaska where we spent 7 nights on board the Disney Wonder. Our last podcast told you about the experience onboard the ship and our efforts to make this cruise happen. Sailing mostly in the waters of the Bahamas and the Caribbean, taking a cruise with Disney is usually more about the experience of being on board the ship and less about different excursions. But Alaska is so much more. Our excursions were for the most part amazing and became very much the centerpiece of our experience. We will take you through those ports of call to include Sawyer Glacier, Icy Point with an outstanding whale watching event, Juneau along with Mendenhall Glacier, and Ketchikan. For us, each of these were unique in and of themselves and made the entire experience one to remember. Join us for Part II of our Disney cruise to Alaska.

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.

Photos, videos and links are available at our post on Disney Insights.

Onboard the Disney Wonder for Alaska: Part I

There are many reasons for going on a Disney Cruise, and for many, visiting Alaska is a big bucket list item. Combine the two and you make for a wondrous journey. Join us as we take in the Alaskan waters on board the Disney Wonder for an 8-day, 7-night journey. We discuss the many decisions one has to make in determining if, when and how to take this cruise. We talk about the opportunities and issues around boarding in Vancouver. And then we talk in detail about being on a Disney cruise ship not in Bahamian, Caribbean waters, but in the cold realms of Canada and Alaska. We'll talk about the accommodations, dining, entertainment, recreation and other amenities of this ship, and what's it like to be on the Wonder for such a long trip. Join us for the first part of our voyage as we go onboard the Disney Wonder for Alaska.

For show notes, images and videos, please visit DisneyInsights.com

Jim Korkis Needs Your Help!

The 72-year-old, internationally-respected Disney historian who has authored thousands of articles and dozens of books about all things Disney. He has also been a guest on several Disney Insight Podcasts. Moreover, he’s been a friend for years. Jim is now struggling with a series of major medical issues and is in need of financial help to pay his bills. We invite you to help!

There are three ways you can support Jim with any or all of the following:

1. Go to Go Fund Me and make a direct contribution to Jim Korkis.
2. Join our Patreon Group, the Wayfinder Society at any level and all 2023 donations will be contributed to supporting Jim.
3. Be among the first 100 people to do the following and we’ll make a $3 contribution each to supporting Jim:
   • Subscribe to DisneyInsights.com
   • Subscribe to Disney Insights on YouTube and Share a Video.
   • Join our Disney Insights Facebook Group Page and Share with Others.

 

Busy Disney Update for June 2023

When added up, it's been a busy June at both Walt Disney World and at Disneyland. We'll cover some important headlines--from Disney dealing with governors in Florida and California, to changes in the Genie+ program; to new shows and lands coming to Disneyland; to new attractions and holiday parties here in Walt Disney World. Join us for this June Disney update!Special Announcement!

Jim Korkis needs your help! The 72-year-old, internationally-respected Disney historian who has authored thousands of articles and dozens of books about all things Disney. He has also been a guest on several Disney Insight Podcasts. Moreover, he's been a friend for years. Jim is now struggling with a series of major medical issues and is in need of financial help to pay his bills. We invite you to help!

Photos, videos and links can be found on Disney Insights!

There are three ways you can support Jim with any or all of the following:

1. Go to Go Fund Me and make a direct contribution to Jim Korkis.
2. Join our Patreon Group, the Wayfinder Society at any level and all 2023 donations will be contributed to supporting Jim.
3. Be among the first 100 people to do the following and we'll make a $3 contribution each to supporting Jim:
   • Subscribe to DisneyInsights.com
   • Subscribe to Disney Insights on YouTube and Share a Video.
   • Join our Disney Insights Facebook Group Page and Share with Others.

Celebrating 60 Years of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Sixty years of the Enchanted Tiki Room doesn't just mean a lot of decades of bird shows, although that number is enormous. Opened on June 23rd of 1963, The Enchanted Tiki Room represents Walt Disney's first foray into Audio-Animatronics, a new "space age" technology that allowed inanimate characters to perform on cue--and even talk. Six decades of Abraham Lincoln, swashbuckling pirates, singing dolls, Big Al, Dinosaurs, Mark Twain, Figment, Extraterrestrial Aliens, Avatar Shamans and Dancing Baby Groots all take their roots from a thatched hut. We pay homage to this amazing attraction--Simple in concept but never simplistic in execution. We see how this attraction has played out for generations of audiences over the years, and has evolved into entire resorts like Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and Disney's Aulani. Join Jose, Fritz, Michael, Pierre and more as we celebrate one of only two attractions that carries the name of its founder, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.

Lots of photos, videos and links supporting this podcast at Disney Insights.

Special Announcement!

Jim Korkis needs your help! The 72-year-old, internationally-respected Disney historian who has authored thousands of articles and dozens of books about all things Disney. He has also been a guest on several Disney Insight Podcasts. Moreover, he's been a friend for years. Jim is now struggling with a series of major medical issues and is in need of financial help to pay his bills. We invite you to help!

There are three ways you can support Jim with any or all of the following:

1. Go to Go Fund Me and make a direct contribution to Jim Korkis.
2. Join our Patreon Group, the Wayfinder Society at any level and all 2023 donations will be contributed to supporting Jim.
3. Be among the first 100 people to do the following and we'll make a $3 contribution each to supporting Jim:
   • Subscribe to DisneyInsights.com
   • Subscribe to Disney Insights on YouTube and Share a Video.
   • Join our Disney Insights Facebook Group Page and Share with Others.

New Park Attendance Numbers Around the Globe! What Do They Mean?

You see it all the time, headlines that say attendance is down at Walt Disney World or Universal's Epic Universe is going to take away all the business from Disney. Well, is it? We have a strong sense of how parks are faring after the pandemic, now that TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) and AECOM (Architecture, Engineering ,Construction, Operations and Management) has released its Global Attraction Attendance Report for 2022. From this we can begin to read the TEA leaves (get it?) as to how these parks are faring. There are a number of surprises, not just among parks in Florida, but in California and internationally. Plus we look at astonishing numbers for water parks--especially at Disney. Join us as we examine the theme index report of 2022 to see how theme parks are really faring, and where they are going to in 2023 and ahead in 2024.

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.

Lots of photos, videos and links supporting this podcast at DisneyInsights.com

Special Announcement!

Jim Korkis needs your help! The 72-year-old, internationally-respected Disney historian who has authored thousands of articles and dozens of books about all things Disney. He has also been a guest on several Disney Insight Podcasts. Moreover, he's been a friend for years. Jim is now struggling with a series of major medical issues and is in need of financial help to pay his bills. We invite you to help!

There are three ways you can support Jim with any or all of the following:

1. Go to Go Fund Me and make a direct contribution to Jim Korkis.
2. Join our Patreon Group, the Wayfinder Society at any level and all 2023 donations will be contributed to supporting Jim.
3. Be among the first 100 people to do the following and we'll make a $3 contribution each to supporting Jim:
   • Subscribe to DisneyInsights.com
   • Subscribe to Disney Insights on YouTube and Share a Video.
   • Join our Disney Insights Facebook Group Page and Share with Others.

 

Right Down Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Paris & Special Announcement!

When we started this podcast series examining the lands of Disneyland Park in the Disneyland Paris Resort, we began our first focused podcast with Fantasia Gardens, moved past the Disneyland Hotel, and down the left side of Main Street U.S.A., to include the Liberty arcade. We have then moved through Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland. Now we will return to Main Street and move down the right side toward the castle. One might think this is a lot of podcast for what is a lot of shops and eateries but I hold that this is perhaps the best designed retail and dining experience in the world. Even better than any of the other Main Streets found in parks world-wide. The attention Imagineers put toward the design of this street is unparalleled in terms of attention to detail, especially for something that is not really about rides and attractions (though we will talk about the Disneyland Railroad). In fact, we will consider this as to whether this is the best combined indoor/outdoor entertainment/retail/dining mall-style experience across the globe. Join us as we continue our series of celebrating the many lands of Disneyland Park in Disneyland Paris.

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.

Lots of photos, videos and links supporting this podcast at DisneyInsights.com

Special Announcement!

Jim Korkis needs your help! The 72-year-old, internationally-respected Disney historian who has authored thousands of articles and dozens of books about all things Disney. He has also been a guest on several Disney Insight Podcasts. Moreover, he's been a friend for years. Jim is now struggling with a series of major medical issues and is in need of financial help to pay his bills. We invite you to help!

There are three ways you can support Jim with any or all of the following:

1. Go to Go Fund Me and make a direct contribution to Jim Korkis.
2. Join our Patreon Group, the Wayfinder Society at any level and all 2023 donations will be contributed to supporting Jim.
3. Be among the first 100 people to do the following and we'll make a $3 contribution each to supporting Jim:
   • Subscribe to DisneyInsights.com
   • Subscribe to Disney Insights on YouTube and Share a Video.
   • Join our Disney Insights Facebook Group Page and Share with Others.

Comparing Toy Story Lands--Which is Best?

The success of Pixar's Toy Story and its sequels have given way to a number of park attractions and offerings in Disney parks around the world. The biggest compilation of these has been in creating Toy Story Lands in Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Orlando. The premise of these lands is the idea that Andy has created his own playground with his Toy Story pals in his back yard. We look at all of these lands with their attractions, food & beverage and retail offerings. We'll compare all these lands, talk about how they fit into their respective parks and ask the question, which of these is the best of the best? Join us for this podcast as we compare Toy Story Lands.

Disney, Apple Vision Pro & the Metaverse

Today Apple made a big announcement. The tech giant announced a new platform, in the same scale as the iPhone, iPad, and the Apple Watch. Apple Vision Pro and its headset is Apple's way of embarking in a major way into virtual reality. It offers many benefits and creates an experience that may be unlike any other platform they have previously sold. To that end, moments later Disney CEO Bob Iger presented on stage at this conference to share that Disney will be making its Disney+ content available on the new platform on Day 1 when this device is sold at the Apple Store. But there is much more to this in terms of what could be offered. All the while, this foray into partnering with Apple is juxtaposition to Disney's recent decision to layoff many of the people involved with developing product for the Metaverse. So is Disney moving into artificial reality? We'll consider that question along with whether Disney's involvement suggests that Apple and Disney may merge as one corporation.