Starport75 - A Disney Podcast: Recent Episodes

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Join Chris and Glenn as we discuss Chris’ cruise on Disney’s newest cruise ship, the Wish—plus an aftershow discussing photography

• Released 10/26/22
• Chris and family sailed on the Disney Wish last week
• Background and history of cruising
• Booking and planning
• Itinerary
• Terminal and Embarkation
  • Dining changes
  • Safety (Muster) Drill
• Stateroom and location
• Theming and decor
• Ship layout
  • Adult areas
• Dining and restaurants
  • Breakfast Buffet - Marceline Market
  • Main Dining
  • Palo v Enchante
  • Casual options
    • Festival of Food
    • Ice Cream
• Kids clubs
  • Special needs
  • Bands
• Information, Communication, Tech
  • An app…of course.
  • Room outlets
  • Internet
• Entertainment
  • Shows
  • AquaMouse
  • Hero Zone
    • Incredicourse
      • Socks
  • Funnel Vision
• Ports of Call
  • Nassau
  • Castaway Cay
    • Weather
    • Last day
    • Towels and Drinks
• Shopping and Merchandise
• After show: Photography Talk

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• Released 4/10/22
• Bananas for Cabanas
• Animal Kingdom
  • Mobile dining
• Park Reservations
• Magic Kingdom visit
  • Want to ride rides
  • Genie Plus
    • In the technology all the time
    • Horrible User Experience
    • Peter Pan LL
    • Buzz Lightyear LL
    • Dumbo LL - didn’t use
    • Fantasyland first
    • On average, guests can enter 2 to 3 attractions or experiences per day using the Lightning Lane entrance if the first selection is made early in the day.
    • https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/genie/
  • Double gangway for ferry
  • Lunch at Columbia Harbor House

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• Recorded on 12/2/21; Released 12/5/21

• Special Guest: Casey Liss

  • Co-host of Accidental Tech Podcast (ATP) and Analog(ue)
  • Creator of the Peek-a-View iPhone app which is a read-only photo browser which was inspired by a trip to Disney World 😀
  • Disney's FastPass: A Complicated History
  • Recap of the changes since pre-pandemic times; the "changes" episode

  • What's different now than before the pandemic shutdown?

  • Disney's Magical Express

  • Face coverings indoors
  • No parades yet; will return in 2022; have cavalcades instead
    • Dragon float catches on fire during Disney World parade
  • No dining plans
  • No parking lot trams to date; announced on 12/2/21 that the trams will return this month
  • Limited character meet-and-greets
  • Resort guests get 30-minute early entry to any Walt Disney World theme park, every day; no more early or evening magic hours, and not all the attractions are open
  • Fireworks restarted in July
  • Annual Passholder discussion
  • Park reservations
    • Park hopping is limited to after 2 pm; you must go to the park where you have the reservation before park hopping
  • Technology
    • Mobile order for dining
    • Dining reservations and check in
    • online check in at resorts; use magic band or app to open your door
    • Theme park entry; use magic band or app (including Apple watch) to enter
    • Genie

      • Genie

        • Free, offers "personalized itinerary" * Genie+

        • Ride reservations and line-skipping via the Lightning Lane

        • $15 per person, per day
        • Can make first reservation starting at 7 am

        • After you use your Genie+ reservation or after two hours, you can make another reservation * Individual Lightning Lane purchases

        • Prices start at $7 per person, per attraction

        • Variable. Can go up to $15 depending on day
        • Can buy at 2 different attractions each day

        • Resort guests can start purchasing at 7 am/ day guests can start at park openingMagic Kingdom

        • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

        • Space MountainEpcot

        • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

        • Frozen Ever AfterHollywood Studios

        • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

        • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway RailwayAnimal Kingdom

        • Avatar Flight of Passage

        • Expedition Everest

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Join Chris and Glenn on our 100th episode magical celebration! There are no pink castles, but we have two (!) trip reports, including a combined report from the Magic Kingdom! Don't miss it!

• Chris' trip
• Glenn's trip
  • First times
    • Kali River Rapids
    • Skyliner
    • Oga's Cantina
    • Rose and Crown
    • Gideons
    • Everglaze
    • Blaze Pizza
• Chris' next big adventure

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• Released on 6/26/21
• News
  • Contemporary redecorating
  • https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/06/first-look-inside-a-reimagined-guest-room-at-disneys-contemporary-resort/
  • https://blogmickey.com/2021/03/incredibles-room-retheme-confirmed-for-disneys-contemporary-resort/
• Chris' trip report for DHS visit
  • Park Reservations
  • Virtual Queue system
  • The day didn't start off great even if it did start early
  • Ah....weather and crowds
  • Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Train (isn't it Goofy's runaway train?!)
    • Reflections on GMR
    • Thoughts on MMRT
    • OH: "How come they have fastpasses and we don't!?"
  • Galaxy's Edge
    • Nothing to do but I love it.
    • Should be 3x
    • Smuggler's Run broken too (60m)
  • Why is it so difficult to get to Pixarland?
    • Alien Saucers (30m)
    • Midway Mania (40m...really 30)
    • Woody's Lunchbox
  • The Disney App - Do people like it?
  • And finally.... $2.50 for a single banana?!?
  • Given all that my score for the day (out of 10) was.......
  • What does it mean for our trips in July

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• Released on 6/5/21
• Coke Corner is no more
• Things are changing in the world thanks to the Covid vaccine
  • Eliminated the 6-foot distancing rule
  • Remove mask mandate outdoors; still required inside
• Rabbit Holes:
  • Color of sidewalks in Disney Parks. What's myth and what's fact?
  • Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe - the moving stage
• Glenn has a WDW trip panned for July
  • Making dining reservations
  • Challenges getting a park reservation
    • Via Napoli in Italy
• Chris' Disney Adventures
  • Magic Kingdom visit on Mother's Day
  • PhotoPass challenges
  • FastPass+
  • Dole Whips
  • Stayed around 3-4 hours
  • Lines are long, but they move fast
• Annual Passes back on sale on August 16???
• PSA about hats in the parks
• When will the WDW Railroad open?
• Chris is pro-no fly zones over WDW

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• Recorded on 3/25/21
• Released on 3/26/21
• Chris visits Animal Kingdom
  • Three hours
  • Entrance
  • Asia
    • Animal encounter
  • Tea - Joffrey's
  • Kid adventure passport
  • Africa - Harambe
    • Gorilla Falls
  • Didn't get to see Pandora
  • Exit
• Beastly Kingdom

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• Released 3/21/21
• Coke Corner
• Disney News
  • Disneyland will open on April 30
  • Remy's Ratatouille Adventure will open on October 1
  • Harmonious barges installed in World Showcase Lagoon
  • Epcot Entrance finished
  • New Points of Light are being installed on Spaceship Earth
  • EARidescent Turrets are being repainted back to blue on Cinderella Castle
  • New spotlights bring "premier night" every night to Chinese Theater at DHS
  • FastPass signs, and our thoughts on the future of FP
• Chris will be visiting Animal Kingdom!

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• Special Guest: Casey Liss
  • Co-host of Accidental Tech Podcast (ATP) and Analog(ue)
  • Creator of the Peek-a-View iPhone app which is a read-only photo browser which was inspired by a trip to Disney World 😀
• History and Genesis of the Hall of Presidents in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
  • The first new land Walt wanted to add to Disneyland was an area devoted to America's founding principles. Plans for the land go back to 1956.
    • It was to be called "Liberty Street" and was going to be located off of Town Square on Main Street
    • The main attraction was going to be called "One Nation Under God" with its finale to be a Hall of Presidents with an animated, life sized figure of each President with Abraham Lincoln being the focus.
    • President Lincoln was one of Walt's childhood heroes
    • The technology wasn't advanced enough in 1956, and audio animatronics weren't developed by WED Enterprises (Imagineering) until 1961, and not used in an attraction until 1963 in the Enchanted Tiki Room.
  • Walt was approached to create attractions for the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair
    • Walt’s sponsors at the Fair funded the development of major technical advancements such as Audio-Animatronics technology and the PeopleMover system that he could implement at Disneyland
    • And they helped demonstrate to Walt that there was an east coast audience for his brand of themed entertainment
    • When Walt invited the head of the Fair (Robert Moses) to tour the studio, he was so impressed by the One Nation Under God concept, he insisted on including it in the Fair
    • Walt knew that he would not be able to complete the entire show within the given timeframe, and a show based on Lincoln was created for the State of Illinois pavilion.
    • During the "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" show, a seated Abraham Lincoln stands, gives a speech—made of excerpts of different Lincoln speeches—and sits back down.
    • The show was a hit. So much so, that Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opened at Disneyland on July 18, 1965, and was running on both coasts during 1965
  • When Walt Disney World was being designed, the Imagineers brought back the idea for Liberty Street and the Hall of Presidents.
  • The Hall of Presidents was an opening day attraction on October 1, 1971 and opened with audio animatronics of all 36 presidents
    • The show starts with a film presentation of the history of the US, then the screen lifts up and the Presidents are shown and introduced, with each giving a nod or wave.
    • Lincoln then stands from his chair and gives his speech from Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
    • As new presidents were elected, a new audio animatronic figure was added to the show.
    • During Bill Clinton's term, the show was changed to include a speech by Clinton, and the narration was changed slightly.
    • Each president that followed (Bush, Obama, Trump) were given a speaking role as well.
  • The show is currently closed and the official word from the Walt Disney Company is that they are going to install President Biden into the attraction
• Future status and rumors
  • Article: Hall of Presidents: We're Done Here
  • Muppets? Hamilton? Something else? Status Quo?
• Other Disney discussion
  • Annual Passes for both WDW and Disneyland
  • FastPasses
  • "Death" of the Disney Influencers
  • Haunted Mansion
    • Boundless Realm: Deep Explorations Inside Disney's Haunted Mansion by Foxx Nolte
    • Technology Connections: The Not-So-Secret Secret Elevators of the Haunted Mansion
  • Columbia Harbour House
    • The pathway room on the second floor of the restaurant
  • Friar's Nook

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• Released 12/11/20
• Getting ready to record the episode
• Episode 033 - Books about Walt Disney World and Glenn taking photos on his trip to WDW
• What's happening with Disney?
• Disneyland is still not open
• • California Adventure's Buena Vista Street is open for shopping and is part of Downtown Disney
  • Restaurants have closed again this week
• Could Disney start using robots for meet and greets? - Inside the Magic article
• • Spider-Man swinging animatronic: https://youtu.be/INFm7gYjF60
  • https://la.disneyresearch.com/
• No New Year's Eve celebrations in the theme parks
• Heavy crowds at the parks over Thanksgiving
• When do we think that the mask restriction will be lifted at WDW?
• Park Hopping returns in January
• Martin's Videos http://www.martinsvids.net/
• Candlelight Processional is on YouTube https://youtu.be/u499fuB0OGI
• Episode 012 - Candlelight Processional narrated by Roger Rabbit

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• Disney designed the Ford pavilion at the ’64 World’s Fair
• • Needed to propel a stream of vehicles along a track
  • It was achieved by vertically mounted rubber wheels spun by electric motors which pushed against a flat plate on the underside of the vehicles
  • That system was refined and used for Disneyland’s PeopleMover
  • Debuted in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland on July 2, 1967
• PeopleMover was always planned and planned to go through Space Port, and the station would be inside Space Port
• The track was originally planned to be much longer and go over the Grand Prix Raceway
• The upper concourse path was built but left empty during the building of the Magic Kingdom for the 1971 opening
• When Space Port became Space Mountain, it moved to outside the berm, so the track layout was scaled back and changed to the track today, and the station moved from Space Mountain to it’s own station in the middle of Tomorrowland and the StarJets would be placed on top, similar to Disneyland
• Space Mountain holds the garaging track and a maintenance spur The Orlando version would use something different
• • Non moving, solid state linear induction motors, which have an unlimited life expectancy
  • There are 630 Linear Induction Motors on the track, 10 feet apart, ensuring that 4 motors are always under each 5 car train
  • Each motor has a proximity sensor to tell the motor when to power on and a speed sensor to indicate how much power the motor produces
  • When a train approaches the motor turns on and pulls the steel plate under the car towards it
  • To stop the cars, the magnetic field is reversed in the motor to push against the steel plate, and why a stopping car can go backwards
  • Up to 30 5-car trains can carry 3,600 guests per hour along 4,600 feet of track
  • Each car has minimal moving parts, so they are high reliability. There are four main wheels and 8 smaller guide wheels per car. Since all drive and braking propulsion is supplied by the linear motor, there is no traction requirement between the wheels and the track. Consequently, heat, dust, wind, and moisture have no effect on the system’s operation.
  • The system can have up to 50% LIM failure at random positions and still function
  • Speeds are between 1.8 to 6.8 mph
• Progress City model
• • With the move of the Carousel of Progress to WDW, the model of Progress City would be moved to the PeopleMover track that was designed to hold a diorama
  • It would be cut down to fit the size of the diorama opening
• Construction began in early 1973
• • The Grand Prix Raceway track was closed and modified to accommodate Space Mountain. During the closure, the PeopleMover track was built over the raceway
  • It cost $10 million to build
  • The Star Jets opened 11/28/74
  • The PeopleMover opened 7/1/75 and dedicated in April 1976
  • It opened as the WEDWay PeopleMover and was an “E” Ticket attraction, but was changed to a “D” Ticket in Fall 1976
  • It was originally sponsored by the Edison Electrical Institute
• The original ride was narrated by Jack Wagner and ran from 1975 - 1985 and the Edison Electrical Institute sponsorship also ended
• • He is famous for the various announcements over the park PA, for parades, special events, etc. He also did voice work for the Walt Disney World Resort, and for the attractions themselves, including instructions, emergency precautions, and safety spiels. Because of the prevalence of his voice over the park, his nickname was "The Voice of Disneyland".
  • "Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas."
  • Jack Wagner co-arranged the updated soundtrack for the Main Street Electrical Parade, used in various iterations of the parade from 1977 to 2009.
  • Wagner was inducted as a Disney Legend posthumously in 2005.
• The narration was changed in 1985 and ran until 1994
• • It was narrated by ORAC-1, the commuter computer
• The narration was changed with the retheming of Tomorrowland in June 1994. It was narrated by Peter Renaday.
• • The name was changed to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, and it was the MetroLiner Blue Line
• The narration was changed once again in October 2, 2009 to the current spiel by Mike Brassell, which harkens back to the ORAC-1 spiel and tone
• • The lighting system was also changed to color changing LEDs
• August 5, 2010, the name changed to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• In 2013, the Progress City model was refurbished, the first time since 1975
• In February 1974, WED created the Community Transport Services division to promote the WedWay in real world situations
• • The first proposal was in 1976 for the then new WDW Village
  • A new enclosed car design would be able to travel inclines
  • It would offer on demand cars to a specified destination
  • The route would service the shopping village, the hotel plaza, and a proposed office park
  • A monorail from the Epcot area would meet an aerial station straddling Buena Vista Drive
  • The monorail would run down the central median with the WedWay crossing at a lower level
  • The multi level station would have escalator, elevator and stair access
  • From the station, the WedWay would form a continuous loop line around the WDW Village
  • Another change was this system had spur station tracks so moving cars could pass other cars parked at stops
  • The SunTrust Bank was the only part of the office plaza built and the project quietly died.
• The original plans of Epcot had WedWay in 1975 and 1976
• • Communicore was built to take an elevated Wedway track; that’s why it’s two stories tall
• In July 1979, the Houston Airport agreed to purchase a WedWay system to link the terminals and hotel
• • It opened in September, 1981
• The Community Transport Services division was sold to Bombardier
• • Bombardier installed a WedWay system that links the US Capitol to the Dirksen and Hart buildings in 1993

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• Released 10/15/20
• Contactless Security at the Disney Parks
• PeopleMover refurbishment extended again
• Disneyland is still closed
• Disney has laid off 28,000 cast members
• Chapek says that WDW parks capacity is at 25%
• Construction continues at Epcot
• • Electric Umbrella stories
• Wolfgang Puck Express closes permanently at Disney Springs
• All four Disney Cruise Line ships are in the same port for the first time ever in France https://insidethemagic.net/2020/10/france-disney-cruise-line-fleet-rwb1/
• Glenn’s Pick of the Week
• • "Boundless Realm: Deep Explorations Inside Disney's Haunted Mansion" by Foxx Nolte https://amzn.to/3j2GH5M
  • Passport to Dreams Old and New http://passport2dreams.blogspot.com/

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• Released on 10/4/20
• Glenn’s Trip to WDW
• • DHS
  • • Parking Toll booth
    • Rise of the Resistance boarding group
    • Lunch at Ronto Roasters ($12.95/roaster, $4/coke) $72
    • RotR
    • Mickey’s Runaway Railway
    • Blue milk vs green milk ($34)
    • Slinky Dog Dash
    • Also: Star Tours, RnRC, ToT
  • MK
  • • Castle color
    • Cavalcades
    • • Boo to you
      • Villains
      • Princesses
      • Nightmare Before Christmas
      • Cadaver Dans
    • SM, Buzz, HM, Splash, Tiki, Pecos Bills ($63), BTMRR, CBJ, Dole Whip ($22) Emporium, Peter Pan, Mad Tea, Carousel of Progress, SM
  • Cost:
  • • Two day tickets with no park hopping: $1004
    • Hotel: $320 + $97 = $415 for three nights
    • Parking = $50
    • Souvenirs = $289
    • Disney meals = $191
    • Other Meals = $80
    • Trip total = $2029

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• Released on 8/20/20
• School is starting!
• Cherry Coke Energy drink
• • Coke + Coffee drink coming out
  • Will Club Cool be replaced at Epcot?
• Epcot
• • A new Monorail Mark X attraction in the new Play Pavilion???
  • • New Monorail book is being released: "The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky" https://amzn.to/32cHvyl
    • Imaginerding’s review: http://www.imaginerding.com/2020/08/12/disney-monorail-book-preview/
    • Tom Bricker’s post: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-world-news-monorail-attraction-plummeting-numbers-dining-changes/
  • Installation of new Pylons at the Epcot main entrance!
• Chris started watching “Hamilton”…and hasn’t finished watching it yet. He’s exhausted from watching Act I.
• Show recommendations:
• • "High Score" on Netflix
  • “The Speed Cubers” also on Netflix
  • “Mr. Robot” - excellent show, but Glenn didn’t like the ending. Somebody please explain it to him...
• Why does Disney keep the Pixar brand? Why not fold it into WD Animation?
• Chris has a surprise history topic to cover…Magic Shops at Disney Parks!
• • Original Magic Shop
  • • Disneyland opening day
    • Merlin’s Magic Shop in Fantasyland
    • Taylor & Hume
    • Merv Taylor worked with cutting edge materials and had an interest in Magic
    • Opened a shop in Hollywood
    • Merv Taylor was asked by Walt Disney
    • Steve Martin worked in the shop for 3 years
    • http://www.charactercentral.net/L996_DisneyCharacters_DisneylandResort_Disneyland_MainStreetMagicShop.aspx#
  • Moved to Main Street - Main Street Magic Shop
  • • 1957
    • Original stayed open until Merlin’s closed in 1983
    • Where the confectionary is at WDW.
    • Same cast member demonstrations.
    • The July 28, 1977 issue of the Disneyland Line employee newsletter described the “quaint, cozy specialty shop” where “Shelf upon mysterious shelf filled with such oddities as joy buzzers, garlic taffy, dribble glasses and rubber masks attract the wandering eyes of visitors to the shop
    • 2009 takeover by Houdini’s Magic Shop (private operator)
    • • Chain
      • Vegas
  • WDW - House of Magic
  • • 1971
    • As its Disneyland precursor had, the House of Magic sold cards, hand tricks, masks, puzzles, and “gags.” Cast members bantered as they performed various hand magic and demonstrated products for sale.
    • Closed 1995.
    • 2017 returned to original facade.
  • Tokyo
  • • Part of World Bazaar
  • Disneyland Paris
  • • https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-us/shops/disneyland-park/merlin-l-enchanteur/?CMP=ILC-DPFY20Q1wo1107190053A
    • is Merlin l’Enchanteur
    • Tucked away in Sleeping Beauty Castle
    • Magic themed but not magic tricks.
  • Hong Kong
  • • Similar to DLP
    • “Merlin’s Treasures”

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• Released on 7/9/20
• New Cinderella Castle color
• Disney World started Cast Member previews on 7/7
• • Starting to see photos and videos of what it’s going to be like at the parks
  • Resuming 2020 ticket and resort sales on 7/9
  • Some changes: need reservation to enter park with ticket, no park hopping, no FastPass+, no dining plans
  • No more manual bag check; will be done by walking through a new AI security screening system https://blogmickey.com/2020/07/massive-changes-coming-to-disney-world-theme-park-bag-check-experience/
• College Program has been suspended indefinitely
• NBA and MLS will play remainder of seasons at Disney World
• • How will the other sports fare this fall? Baseball and Football
  • Auto racing is back!
• Off Disney: talking about school for kids this fall
• • https://nyti.ms/3ggPKir
• Thoughts about Disney World opening right now
• Watch “Hamilton!” 🙂

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• Released on 6/20/20
• A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow?
• WDW’s 25th Anniversary
• • A little personal history from each of us related to the 1996-1997 timeline
  • 25th Anniversary Celebration on 10/1/96
  • • Including Michael Eisner, Roy E Disney, and First Lady Hillary Clinton
  • — Coke Corner interlude — Brought to you by Coke Energy…with caffeine, B-vitamins and the most guarana ever!
  • Castle cake
  • • Disney Magazine Fall 1996 description
  • Remember the Magic parade
  • • 1st disney parade that stopped and had guests join the dancing
  • Illuminations 25
  • 25th Anniversary Banners
  • Disney’s Music from the Park
  • Books
  • • How the World Began
    • Imagineers
  • WDW Explorer CD
  • What will 50th Celebration be like?
  • • Thoughts on the logo
  • Per Chris, MK was open until Midnight every night during the 25th Anniversary
  • • Per the 1997 Official Guide to WDW, “The Magic Kingdom keeps later hours through the end of 1997 to honor Walt Disney World’s 25th anniversary.” - myth confirmed!
  • The poor paint jobs on Cinderella Castle
  • • https://attractionsmagazine.com/cinderella-castle-rose-gold-update-nearly-complete-magic-kingdom/
  • Ticket price comparison between 1996 and today

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• Recorded on 5/27/20
• Chris’ office organization
• Coke Energy
• WDW Opening
• • July 11 - MK and AK
  • July 15 - EP and DHS
  • I Hanker for a Hunka Cheese commercial https://youtu.be/4xRv9ZQOCPo
  • Chuck Wagon commercial https://youtu.be/TTx_fwP1-pw

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• Recorded on 5/1/20
• Special Guest Casey Liss
• • Co-host of Accidental Tech Podcast https://atp.fm/
  • Co-host of Analog(ue) https://www.relay.fm/analogue/
  • iOS App Developer of Vignette https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vignette-update-contact-pics/id1455924925
  • Website https://www.caseyliss.com/
• Casey joins us to speculate about when Walt Disney World might open
• • Stories referenced during the discussion:
  • • https://www.disneytouristblog.com/wdw-reopening-update-orange-county-defers-to-disney-florida-announces-phase-1/ - a good summary of the current situation
    • https://wdwnt.com/2020/04/orange-county-task-force-establishes-initial-guidelines-for-walt-disney-world-reopening-guest-spacing-wiping-vehicles-etc-mayor-believes-june-reopening-realistic/ - a little more detail of orange county's guidelines
    • https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2020/04/28/southwest-airlines-ceo-travel-wont-resume-until-country-reopens/3038342001/ - comments from Southwest Airlines CEO
    • https://www.marketwatch.com/story/disney-is-in-the-eye-of-the-storm-analyst-warns-parks-may-not-open-until-january-2020-04-20 - UBS analyst John Hodulik's prediction that the parks won't open until 2021
    • https://thedisneyblog.com/2020/04/30/new-opinion-poll-spells-trouble-for-disneys-business-model/?platform=hootsuite - poll on the public's willingness to get back out in public before a vaccine is available.
    • https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/disney-world-disneyland-reopening-outlook-pandemic-trnd/index.html What will reopened parks look like?
    • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-disney-focus/long-lines-lots-of-kids-and-plenty-to-touch-how-does-disney-reopen-its-parks-idUSKBN22D53X - more on the reopening projection
    • https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/houston-billionaire-rockets-fertitta-coronavirus-15235646.php - Interview with Landry's Restaurants CEO about opening up with just a fraction of the customers.
    • https://people.com/health/air-conditioning-coronavirus-spreader-9-people-infected-at-restaurant/ - air conditioner spreading Coronavirus
• Questions for Casey:
• • If you had an hour to spend in the park right now, what would you do?
  • Coke or Pepsi?
• Casey’s questions for Glenn and Chris
• • What is the most overrated restaurant in WDW?
  • • https://threekidsthreecatsandahusband.com/best-restaurants-disney-world/

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• Released on 4/26/20
• Coke
• • Coke Energy
  • Photo of Chris as a kid dressed in Coke material
• Questions
• • How much would you pay?
  • You’re allowed 1 hour in any Disney park you choose while it’s shut down. You can stand or sit in any specific location but no attractions or stores are open. Where would you pick and why.
• VR as an option?

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• Released 3/11/20
• A review of Glenn’s trip on the Disney Wonder out of the Port of New Orleans with a stop in Cozumel, Mexico.
• Photo Album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dizwiz/albums/72157713453718381
• Bonus post-show photography discussion

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• Recorded on 2/4/20
• Special Guest Andrew
• How did Andrew become a Disney theme park fan?
• Glenn’s Trip report
• • Magic Kingdom After Hours
  • Epcot
  • Disney Skyliner
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Andrew met up with Chris and Glenn at DHS to visit Galaxy’s Edge together
• • Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run
  • Blue Milk
• Guest Experience Team

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• Recorded on 1/20/20
• Special Guest Casey Liss
• • Co-host of Accidental Tech Podcast https://atp.fm/
  • Co-host of Analog(ue) https://www.relay.fm/analogue/
  • iOS App Developer of Vignette https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vignette-update-contact-pics/id1455924925
  • Website https://www.caseyliss.com/
• How were we lucky enough to get Casey to join the show
• How did Casey become a Disney theme park fan?
• • First visit when he was four years old
  • Multiple visits after that; each was unique and hold a special place in Casey’s memory
  • The first text message Casey remembers sending was at WDW
  • Honeymooned at Disney
  • Most recent trip was October 2019
  • • First visit to the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot
• Disney Meal Plan discussion
• Rewind to talk about the Treehouses Casey stayed in
• • 2719 Hyperion post: https://2719hyperion.blogspot.com/2010/03/lake-buena-vista-story-part-one-1969.html
  • The current Treehouse Villa at Saratoga Springs (no spiral staircase anymore, unfortunately): https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/saratoga-springs-resort-and-spa/rates-rooms/
• Recap of Casey’s past trips
• • Unfortunately, Casey doesn’t remember his first trip other than the spiral staircase
  • Casey’s children may not remember this past trip, but it was fulfilling for Casey, especially when his son got to meet Mickey Mouse
  • It’s a different experience visiting without kids vs with kids
• Taking photos during the trip
• Documenting the trip - recommendations from Casey
• • Memory Maker/PhotoPass https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/memory-maker/
  • Day One app https://dayoneapp.com/ - can print out a book of the trip
• Star Wars Galaxy Edge
• • Spoiler! Diagram of how Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run works https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsLeaks/comments/bem0od/smugglers_run_how_the_loadunload_works/
• October Trip report
• • Casey’s blog post about Leave a Legacy: https://www.caseyliss.com/2015/7/8/legacy
  • DVC Rental https://dvcrequest.com/
  • • Garden Grocer: https://gardengrocer.com/
    • Orlando Stroller Rental: https://www.orlandostrollerrentals.com/
• Future trips
• • Casey’s been to Disneyland before; would rather go to WDW
  • Disney Cruise Line is a possibility; Casey hasn’t been on before
  • • Good for all age groups
• Inside the Disney Fan’s Studio questions and answers (have to listen to hear the answers 🙂)
• • What is your favorite attraction?
  • What is your least favorite attraction?
  • What makes you happy at Disney?
  • What ruins the magic at Disney?
  • What is your favorite ride or background music from the parks?
  • Who is your favorite Disney character?
  • If you could ride one past attraction that doesn't exist now, which one would it be?
• How Disney’s Tower of Terror Works https://youtu.be/7iGZuA_LSk8

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• Released on 12/16/19
• Happy Holidays!
• • Steve Martin’s Christmas Wish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPVuHP3OXk0
  • "The Wonderful World of Disney Magical Holiday Celebration" on Disney+
• Thoughts about Disney+
• • Surpassed 10 million subscribers on the first day; projected 10-18 million during the first year
  • What’s missing that we want?
  • "The Mandalorian"
  • "The Imagineering Story"
  • “The Simpsons” display ratio
  • Change made to Han/Greedo scene in Star Wars A New Hope - George Lucas’s change?
• WDW getting new monorails?
• Construction
• • Demo of Communicore West in Epcot
  • The new Epcot guide map lists opening dates
  • Removal of accents on the PeopleMover track in the Magic Kingdom
  • Tron track is completed
• Guests climb on stage during Disney's Carousel of Progress
• • https://insidethemagic.net/2019/12/disney-carousel-of-progress-incident-bd1/?utm_content=buffer2c5c5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
• Disney's Bob Iger named Time's businessperson of the year
• Opening of “Rise of the Resistance” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Glenn made final payment for the February Disney Cruise

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• Released on 11/10/19
• Still no viewing of Epcot Forever by Chris
• Time change this past weekend - the good time change
• • Echo wall clock, which Glenn gives five stars https://amzn.to/2pZmZCq
• It is now Christmas time in WDW!
• • Nov 8 is the first Very Merry Christmas Party; Nov 1 was the last Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
  • Chris is going to visit Santa at Disney Springs
  • Disney will have two new AP magnets for Christmas - available at Epcot
  • • Chris completed the F&WF magnets and got the wooden coasters
  • Still upset about the Lights of Winter not being there in Epcot
• New paint job and installation of the new logo on the arch in Hollywood Studios
• • https://wdwnt.com/2019/11/photos-new-park-logo-sign-makes-its-debut-on-animation-courtyard-arch-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/
• Epcot Construction
• • Removal of the Fountain of Nations https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/fountain-of-nations/news/05nov2019-photos---aerial-view-of-the-fountain-of-nations-demolition-site.htm
  • New fountain construction at the entrance https://wdwnt.com/2019/11/photos-more-construction-work-on-the-reimagined-world-celebration-entrance-and-fountain-11-3-19/
• Fuel Rod swapping controversy
• Disney+ debuts next Tuesday, 11/12!

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• Do you like Pumpkin Spice flavored items?
• Starbucks and Joffrey’s in the parks
• • The joy of coffee mugs
  • Having to reinforce shelves
• Merchandise and the WDW 50th birthday
• Another visit to Epcot by Chris!
• • Epcot Experience
  • Food and Wine Festival
  • New Frozen Coke booth where the Cool Wash was by Test Track and new Donut Box vendor
  • Instagram photos
  • No viewing of Epcot Forever yet
• Disney Skyliner
• • We discuss the incident opening week
  • It’s open again
• New Epcot merchandise

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• Released 10/8/19
• Happy Birthday to WDW and Epcot!
• Chris’ last visit to Illuminations: Reflections of Earth on 9/29/19
• Mostly spoiler free discussion about Epcot Forever which started on 10/1
• Opening of the Skyliner on 9/29
• Disney ending some live entertainment acts because of low attendance
• Glenn rants on the direction that Disney is taking
• Epcot Experience Center in the Odyssey opened on 10/1

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• Released 9/11/19
• Chris’ trip to Epcot
• • Last trip before the closing of Club Cool and the Future World Fountain
  • Played Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Game
• Glenn’s family drove to Orlando to visit Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge during opening weekend
• • Met up with Chris
  • Our tour through the land
  • Our thoughts about the land

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• Released 9/7/19
• New Details Shared on Highly Anticipated Experiences Coming to Walt Disney World Resort https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/08/new-details-shared-on-highly-anticipated-experiences-coming-to-walt-disney-world-resort/
• • Mickey’s Runaway Train - display of ride vehicle
  • Star Wars Hotel
  • Tron Lightcycle Run - display of ride vehicle
  • Cirque du Soleil - new show premiers on 4/17/20
  • No new nighttime parade at the MK
  • Disney Cruise Line: the next ship will be named the “Wish"
  • Epcot
  • • New logo for Epcot!!!
    • Future World is eliminated and World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature replace it
    • A new pavilion at World Celebration will be the home base for Epcot’s signature festivals
    • The new Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana”
    • Spaceship Earth will be “transformed"
    • The Land pavilion’s new film “Awesome Planet”
    • New Mary Poppins attraction in the UK
    • Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will open in 2020
    • A new “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” in January 2020 in France
    • The film “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” will debut in January 2020
    • In the China pavilion, “Wondrous China” will have a seamless 360 degree format
    • A new nighttime spectacular called “HarmonioUS" will debut in 2020
    • You’ll be able to visualize these exciting plans for Epcot when doors open Oct. 1, 2019, for Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion
    • No new pavilion announced for World Showcase (Brazil)

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• Released 8/9/19
• Glenn’s Houston Trip Report
• • Johnson Space Center
  • • Restored Mission Control
    • Apollo 17 Commond Module
    • Shuttle carrier aircraft
  • Astros game
  • Tour of Minute Maid Park

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• Released 7/15/19
• Tropical Storm Barry
• News
• • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opening dates announced
  • Disney Skyliner will open next month
  • Monorail Improvements - Monorail Silver
  • Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort opened this week
  • Tomorrowland Marquee sign taken down; will be replaced
  • New water bottle refill stations installed at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
  • Liberty Inn Restaurant at the American Adventure is closed; will reopen as a BBQ restaurant
  • The Rainbow Tunnel from Journey Into Imagination will return in the Odyssey later this year
  • Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Series Coming to Disney+

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• Released 7/8/19
• Welcome, Sean!
• • https://www.instagram.com/spanselphoto/
  • https://www.flickr.com/photos/nola2t/
  • We found Sean through his photography posts on Instagram and Flickr
• General Info
• • Tell us a little about you
  • How did your interest in Disney begin?
  • How long have you been a photographer?
  • • Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera Reprint Edition by Bryan Peterson https://amzn.to/2LzmozO
  • How would you describe your style?
• Mechanicals
• • Post-shoot workflow?
  • When you visit the Disney parks, how do you juggle taking photos with your family?
  • What do you take with you on a typical visit to the parks? (full load out? specific lenses only?)
  • • Platypod https://amzn.to/2xtGbIG
  • What equipment do you use?
  • • Sony a7III https://amzn.to/2RYiSA1
    • Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 https://amzn.to/2LFYhzi
  • Also does other photography: portraits, products, landscapes; not weddings
  • Do you go with a “shot list” or just shoot what you see?
  • What's the shot you most want to get but haven't yet? And what are our shots?
• Advice
• • With so many people covering Disney Parks....how does one get a unique image? Is there a point where there's no.....point to shoot them anymore?
  • Do you have any specific photography idols or people you go to the parks with?
  • • Tom Bricker https://www.instagram.com/tom_bricker/
    • Sarah Bricker https://www.instagram.com/sarahbricker/
    • Matthew Cooper https://www.instagram.com/matthewcooperphoto/
    • Matt Stemerman https://www.instagram.com/imaginography71/
    • Judd Helms https://www.instagram.com/juddhelms/
    • Cliff Wang https://www.instagram.com/whoiscliffwang/
    • Doug Does Disney https://www.instagram.com/dougdoesdisney/
  • Any tips for budding photographers?

Glenn’s Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dizwiz/albums Chris’ Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/digichrome64/albums

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• Released 6/28/19
• Musings about Instagram and Disney updates on IG
• Toy Story 4
• Chris’ Magic Kingdom trip report

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• Released 6/16/19
• Rumor: New Brazil pavilion at Epcot
• • Carnival parade like Tapestry of Nations at Epcot???
• Disney Skyliner - testing
• • State of the monorail
• Leave a Legacy is being removed
• Tron construction has gone vertical
• • redecorating Tomorrowland
• New DCL ships will have home port at Port Canaveral
• D23 Convention - Parks and Resorts presentation on 8/25
• Opening of Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland on 5/31
• • Limited to resort guests until 6/23
  • Chris isn’t too excited for it right now
  • Build your own lightsaber
  • Blue milk and Green milk
  • Galaxy’s Edge soundtrack
  • WDW’s Galaxy Edge is opening on 8/29

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• Released 4/16/19
• https://youtu.be/duE5SRDA2Fs
• Get in line now for Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge!
• Different kind of episode - focused on Photography
• New camera for both of us: Nikon Z6 https://amzn.to/2XiXR4q
• Glenn’s insane devotion to Disney sponsors
• Glenn’s Photo 365 Project https://www.flickr.com/photos/dizwiz/albums/72157677377160097
• Picks of the week:
• • Chris:
  • • Rogue Photographic Design Flash Gels Color Correction Filter Kit https://amzn.to/2Zc0maJ
    • Godox TT685N TTL 2.4GHz GN60 HSS High-Speed Sync 1/8000s Flash Speedlite Light https://amzn.to/2XlDbsP
• Have pictures? Share them with us!

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• Released 3/21/19
• How you doin’? https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/07/stop-asking-how-are-you-harvard-researchers-say-this-is-how-successful-people-make-small-talk.html
• The agony of Daylight Saving Time
• • Standard Time FTW!
  • Hi, Andrew!
  • Timing of fireworks at the parks
• Disney News - Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/hollywood-studios/star-wars-galaxys-edge/
• • Opening dates announced: Disneyland = 5/31/19; Walt Disney World = 8/29/19
  • Both will open with just Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run; Rise of the Resistance will open later in the year
  • • Know before you go https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/hollywood-studios/star-wars-galaxys-edge/#drawer-card-7-3
  • When will Chris make it out to Galaxy’s Edge?
  • • Glenn says January
    • Chris thinks September
  • To get into the land:
  • • At Disneyland: guests will need to make a reservation to get in; resort hotel guests will get a reservation
    • At WDW: No reservations; first come, first serve; extra magic hours for resort guests
  • No Fastpass+ offered for either attraction at Galaxy’s Edge
  • Stores and restaurants in the land
• Chris’ Disney Adventures
• • Chris visited Epcot for the first weekend of Flower and Garden Festival
  • If anyone has a Nikon or Kodak Photo Spot sign, send a tweet to @cbgrey
  • Handicapped parking challenges
  • New Coco show at Mexico pavilion
  • Bad interactions with others in the park
  • Chris got bad pizza from Electric Umbrella; in the future, he will go to Via Napoli in Italy to get good pizza
• Picks of the week
• • Glenn: Three books for Galaxy’s Edge
  • • Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire https://amzn.to/2TBYR6h
    • Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge A Crash of Fate https://amzn.to/2TAS795
    • Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Cookbook https://amzn.to/2UBVIA3
  • Chris: Downie https://setapp.com/apps/downie within Setapp https://setapp.com/ for Mac

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• Released on 3/13/19
• Ringtones from Epoct Legacy http://www.epcotlegacy.com/news/2018/6/17/signals-for-the-information-age.html
• Chris visits Epcot during the last weekend of the International’s Festival of the Arts
• • Favorite Epcot Festival
  • Chris attended “The Art of Disney Fonts, Lettering & Signage” by Richard Terpstra
  • Disney Princess Half Marathon; lots of traffic
  • Adventures with PhotoPass
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster show building
  • Odyssey Pavilion - flat and no character is beautiful!
  • Family Play Zone
  • Riding different attractions
  • Festival of the Arts merchandise

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• Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’s Historic Transformation https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/02/first-of-its-kind-play-pavilion-new-park-entrance-part-of-epcots-historic-transformation/
• Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is coming to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter https://www.pottermore.com/news/hagrid-magical-creatures-motorbike-adventure-is-coming-to-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral
• • Spoiler video https://youtu.be/6w07BvAeiIY
• New 270-Acre Solar Facility Now Online https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/02/major-new-270-acre-solar-facility-now-online-providing-clean-energy-to-walt-disney-world-resort/

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• Released 2/18/19
• Opened one year after Epcot on 10/1/83
• Sponsored by General Electric for the first 10 years
• The one pavilion that combined all of the themes of Epcot Center together: technology, transportation, communication, food, health, energy, living in future habitats on the land, undersea and in space
• Unofficially, it was seen by GE and Disney as a sequel to the Carousel of Progress
• • The characters have grown up and moved out
  • When proposing ideas for New Tomorrowland in Disneyland in 1990, Imagineering prepared a proposal to essentially combine CoP and Horizons
  • The show’s theaters would present the concept of the “great, big beautiful tomorrow” starting with “Looking Back at Tomorrow” from the Horizons pavilion at EPCOT Center and continuing through an “1890s Victorian style American living room;” “the kitchen of a 1940s modern home;” “a vacation villa circa 1990;” “an undersea research station;” “a space station orbiting the Earth;” and conclude with the “urban habitat…desert habitat…and space scene” from Horizons. http://auction.howardlowery.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail&Auction_uid1=5322846
• Design
• • 1979 was a look at the history of technology and a large exhibit space for GE of today and tomorrow
  • Jack Welch became chairman of GE and he didn’t think the pavilion was futuristic enough
  • The name changed in 1980 to “Century 3” and the design was changed to focus on living in the future with technology
  • GE signed for sponsorship in October 1980 and changed the name again to “Futureprobe”
  • The building was designed to look like a spaceship
  • • The rear of the building was “show ready” to be seen from the proposed LVB Monorail
  • By the groundbreaking in February 1982, the pavilion was named Horizons
• Ride
• • Guests would load in a transport terminal of the future
  • guests would board a car that seated four people and faced left of forward motion
  • The ride started by looking back at dreams of the future over the centuries
  • • Included looks at Jules Verne’s idea of a flight to the moon
    • A future look at Paris from 1920s
    • “Easy living” with the robot butler, which was the ‘80s as seen from the ‘30s
    • looking back at tomorrow with movies and television specials of yesteryear
    • The future from the ‘50s where the future was “kinda fun”
  • Then head into bringing our dreams to life: “If we can dream it, we can do it” - the transition between past and future. Two Omnimax theaters that showed images of the space shuttle liftoff, landsat photography of earth, microprocessor, crystals for use in microelectronics, liquid space (underwater), DNA chain, the sun
  • 21st Century living - An “achievable Future” of 2086 (When Disneyland opened, Tomorrowland represented the future in the year 1986)
  • • Meet the narrators at their futuristic home
    • • Dad is playing a futuristic piano
      • Mom is chatting with her daughter on a holophone
    • Head to the agricultural engineer daughter’s home on the farm in the desert
    • • The daughter is overseeing the harvest of l’orange (half lime, half orange)
      • Head into the house where her husband and son making a birthday cake
      • then to the den where the daughter is talking to her boyfriend who is working on his submarine
    • Then go to the maintenance bay where the boyfriend is working on the submarine
    • Continue on to the underwater city where children are getting ready to go deep sea diving
    • Then head to space where we see a space colony where the son and his family live
    • • A family just arriving from the shuttle
      • Crystals growing in space
      • Join the family in singing birthday to the grandson via hologram
    • Then it’s time to head back home: you got to vote on the flight path back to FuturePort
    • • Space: Omega Centauri
      • Land: Mesa Verde
      • Sea: Sea Castle Resort
• Additional history
• • Closed in December 1994
  • Reopened in December 1995 because Universe of Energy and World of Motion were both closed
  • Closed permanently on 1/9/99, 20 years ago

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• Released 2/8/19
• Chris can’t hear the WDW Railroad trains anymore!
• Disney News
• • Maleficent Dragon Float returns to the Festival of Fantasy Parade from her “Malefi-Fire” last May
  • Fixes to Splash Mountain come in wake of the maintenance list on WDWNT.com; are they related?
  • Elimination of plastic bags in the parks, and new, reusable bags are now available for purchase
  • Testing has started for the Disney Skyliner Gondolas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGUsuKLFZGY
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster ride building is MASSIVE
  • Change in policy: FastPass Reservations Will Be Deleted Upon Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Reservation Cancelation to Stop Guest Abuse
  • Disney says streaming is now it’s number one priority
• Picks of the week
• • Chris: Mission Moon 3-D: A New Perspective on the Space Race https://amzn.to/2HZosAX
  • Glenn: Another Musical Souvenir of Walt Disney World https://passport2dreams.blogspot.com/2014/12/another-musical-souvenir-of-walt-disney.html

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• Opened January 15, 1975
• Was the first Space Mountain to open, although it was originally planed for Disneyland as "Space Port”
• • Designing started in 1964, but Space Port was stopped because of Disney’s death
  • It was revived because of the popularity of WDW with teens and young adults; the Magic Kingdom needed a thrill ride
• Disney Artist John Hench drew the original concept art of the SM exterior
• It was Walt who wanted the roller coaster to be in the dark so he could have precise control of the lighting and to project images on the interior walls.
• Selling RCA on an attraction to spend $10 million sponsoring the attraction was key to the project
• • In the book “The Disney Mountains” author Jason Surrell writes about Marty Sklar’s efforts to sell the idea to RCA
  • • Disney had an agreement with RCA in 1970 to do all the infrastructure communications for WDW
    • The contract stipulated that if Disney could come up with an attraction RCA would be willing to spend $10 million dollars
    • The original pitch was a new version of Mission to Mars that took people inside a computer
    • The meeting with the RCA CEO, Robert Sarnoff went horribly. Sarnoff sat at the head of a long conference table, and couldn’t hear the presentation and couldn’t see the materials. He asked his staff “who are these guys?"
    • That’s when Marty and John Hench regrouped and moved forward with the Space Mountain plans
    • The pitch for SM, Sklar brought Card Walker, Disney’s CEO to the meeting, as he and Sarnoff knew each other. They also insisted that Sarnoff sit in the middle of the table so he could see and hear.
    • The story for the SM presentation focused on communication, as RCA had pulled out of the computer business shortly after the first presentation. The attraction would still consist of a rocket ride through space, but guests would see RCA satellites orbiting in space and after the ride, guests would visit the Home of Future Living which showed off the latest RCA home entertainment products, and some future products, and the last thing guest would see before exiting was themselves on color TV
• RCA approved the sponsorship, and the project started
• • The project was lead by John Hench and Marty Sklar, and George McGinnis and Claude Coats - of pirates of the Caribbean and haunted mansion fame— were on the team
  • Former astronaut Gordon Cooper, commander of Mercury 9 and Gemini 5, became a member of the Disney team and provided personal consultation to help insure the authenticity of Space Mountain.
• The roller coaster was developed by Arrow (who built the Matterhorn) and Disney
• • It’s made up of 2 tracks: Alpha (to the left) and Omega. Alpha is 3,196 feet long while Omega is 10 feet shorter.
  • Top speed is between 28 - 35 mph
  • Ride duration 2 minutes, 30 seconds
  • It’s a pure gravity ride with no boosters or retarders; there are only braking zones. If the ride stops, the brakes are simply released and the trains coast back to the station
  • There are 30 trains (15 for each side), with two cars per train, with 3 people per car (although originally, the cars sat 4 people per car; this was changed in 1989)
• The exit was the Home of Future Living from 1975 - 1985 and pretty much included everything that was presented to RCA during the pitch meeting:
• • featured the theme song "Here's to the Future"
  • Guests stepped onto the Goodyear Speedramp and went past scenes of the Home of Future Living (from Widen Your World)
  • • Started outside on the patio with the father on a lounge chair looking at a briefcase size TV screen on a business video call
    • Then, inside the rooms were a series of white hexagonal modules with white, yellow, orange, and brown decor
    • First, the nursery where a toy clown held a camera pointed at the baby; the camera signal was sent to the other screens so the family could monitor the baby
    • Next, the family room shows the grandmother taking a two way TV pottery lesson
    • Then, the Rec room, where a teenage boy took in some snow skiing on a SelectaVision simulator while the younger brother assembled a model rocket via televised instructions
    • Back outside, a boy is at the front door, talking to the mother inside via camera
    • Again inside, the kitchen shows the mother and a neighbor sitting in front of a large TV wall unit reviewing an online catalog system, along with a picture in picture of the boy at the door
    • Then, the teenage daughter’s bedroom watching a SelectaVision videodisc movie on a large screen
    • Finally, was the entertainment center where a young girl and boy watched a football game on a wall-sized screen
    • Then, you travelled under the train tracks on the speed ramp until you reached the incline and the TVs where you could see yourself
• In 1985, it was changed to RYCA-1 which showed what life might be like living in a space colony on another planet; the sets are pretty much the same as they are today. They were changed to reflect sending packages across spatial distances using teleportation when FedEx took over sponsorship in 1994. And during the 2009 refurbishment, it was changed to the current design of Starport 75 and promoting different destinations around the universe to which Space Mountain's rockets could take them
• FedEx added TVs to the waiting area inside and played SMTV which had news clips from around the galaxy
• Sponsors: RCA: 1975-1993 (19); FedEx: 1994 - 2004 (11); sponsorless: 2005 - now (14)

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• Released 1/17/19
• First episode of the new year!
• Follow Up
• • Disney introduces logo for Hollywood Studios' 30th anniversary https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-et-disney-hollywood-studios-logo-30th-20190102-story.html
• Chris’ Disney Adventures
• • Chris' thoughts about the Grand Floridian on Christmas Eve
• News
• • It was crazy crowded over the Christmas/New Year’s Eve holiday
  • Slinky Dog Dash Coaster Train Tails Removed Due To Safety Concerns https://wdwnt.com/2019/01/breaking-slinky-dog-dash-coaster-train-tails-removed-due-to-safety-concerns-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/
  • Walt Disney World Maintenance Report https://wdwnt.com/2019/01/introducing-the-walt-disney-world-maintenance-report-a-running-list-of-broken-effects-damaged-items-and-more-from-the-parks/
  • Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge news from Destination D https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/11/exciting-star-wars-galaxys-edge-news-from-destination-d/
  • • Disneyland raises ticket prices in anticipation of the opening of Galaxy’s Edge https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disneyland-ticket-price-increase-star-wars-galaxys-edge/
• Picks of the show
• • Parental controls in iOS on the iPad

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• Released on 12/27/18
• It’s been a while… Sorry everyone!
• Disney News
  • New Space Mountain Exit Opens, Speedramps Removed at the Magic Kingdom https://wdwnt.com/2018/11/photos-video-new-space-mountain-exit-opens-speedramps-removed-at-the-magic-kingdom/
  • New signage in Tomorrowland for Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor https://wdwnt.com/2018/12/photos-new-monsters-inc-laugh-floor-sign-arrives-in-tomorrowland/
  • Nikon Learn and Explore Disney Parks page https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/disney-parks/index.page
  • Automated PhotoPass coming to select character greeting locations
  • Rumor: Disney's Hollywood Studios to mark its 30th year with new logo
  • Disney Skyliner Gondolas Will NOT Have Air Conditioning, Only Passive Ventilation
  • Kingdom Hearts at Disney Springs https://wdwnt.com/2018/12/photos-kingdom-hearts-iii-pop-up-experience-opens-at-disney-springs/
  • Disney Parks Brings Star-Studded Celebrations to ABC and Disney Channel This Holiday Season
• Picks of the week
  • Chris: Prep and Landing https://movies.disney.com/prep-and-landing
  • Glenn: The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix
  • Chris: Anker Powerline II 3-in-1 Cable https://amzn.to/2s0uG8A
  • Glenn: From All of Us to All of You The Disney Christmas Card https://amzn.to/2SqEPqU

View Details

• Recorded - 11/7/18
• Trip report from Chris - Disney Springs
  • World of Disney reopening
  • Chris’ mishap with a Coke bottle in WoD
• Maleficent float is returning to the Festival of Fantasy Parade in the Magic Kingdom
• Disney bought Lucasfilm six years ago today and has already recouped its $4 billion investment
• New Entrance for Autos at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Opens Nov. 8
• Gondolas discussion
• Lyft billboards
• Picks of the week:
  • Glenn: AdoramaPix https://www.adoramapix.com/
  • Chris: nixplay digital photo frame https://www.nixplay.com/edge-frames/

View Details

• Recorded on 10/17/18
• Released on 10/29/18
• Early Morning Magic program for Disney's Hollywood Studios
• • 90 minutes of access to Toy Story Land before the park opens
• Annual Pass cost increase
• Disney Video Games
• • Specifically Disney Park video games
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Disney_video_games#Walt_Disney_parks_and_resorts_games
  • Glenn: Adventures in the Magic Kingdom (1990) and Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour (2000)
  • Chris: Walt Disney World Explorer (1996) and Kingdom Hearts (2002)

View Details

• Released on 10/17/18
• Disney Cruise Line follow up
• • Glenn booked a cruise out of New Orleans!
• Spaceship Earth Will Close for Over Two Years, Part of Massive Overhaul of Epcot’s Future World
• Tomorrowland Speedway closing for 5 months to re-route track around Tron
• Fountain & Bottled Drink, Popcorn, Pretzel, and Other Snack Item Prices Increased

View Details

• Released on 10/8/18
• Rumor Show!
  • Rumored opening dates for new attractions
  • Skyliner Gondolas will not have A/C
  • India Pavilion Coming to Epcot’s World Showcase with Massive Jungle Book Ride
  • Is PizzeRizzo at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Getting Ready to Close?
  • 3rd Hotel to join Swan and Dolphin
  • Magic Kingdom’s Club 33 location (Captain's Quarters) is out from behind construction walls

View Details

• Recorded 9/27/18
• Released 9/28/18
• Disney Cruise Line will sail out of New Orleans in February, 2020! During Mardi Gras!

View Details

• Released 9/27/18
• Chris is remembering his Cruise
• • Some feedback from disboards.com
  • Follow up: Captain Tom is now Commodore Tom
• Disney News
• • 19 Magical New and Limited-Time Experiences Coming to Walt Disney World Resort in 2019
  • Disney Has Announced End Date and Replacement of IllumiNations at Epcot
  • Rafiki’s Planet Watch, including the Conservation Station, are closing to the public
  • Walt Disney World Switching to Date-Based Ticket Prices, Including Multi-Day Tickets
  • Park attendance showing softness going into Fall
• Update on Chris’ visit to Epcot and the Food and Wine Festival
• Disney News continued
• • New Candlelight Processional Narrators, Food & Merchandise Set for 2018 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays

View Details

• Released 9/17/18
• Chris and family went on a Disney Cruise Line vacation
• • Fantasy ship
  • Western Caribbean cruise
• DCL History
• • Disney Magic - The Launching of a Dream by John Heminway
• Chris has been on nine DCL cruises
• Halloween decorations were up on the ship as of the 9/1 sailing
• DCL Innovations
• • Split bathrooms - like
  • Rotational dining - dislike
• Make special requests the day you get on the ship
• Tipping on the cruise
• Water Slides on the ship
• Excursions
• The ship is spectacular and well maintained
• Castaway Cay
• • Paradise on earth
• Kids club
• Chris’s photos from the trip
• • http://bit.ly/starportdcl
• Thoughts about length of cruise

View Details

• Released 9/7/18
• Remember the Magic - Mission to Mars
• • Chris never experienced the attraction - it’s a regret
• History
• • 1955: Rocket to the Moon at Disneyland
  • • No space travel in 1955
    • Circular theater with three levels of seats: 162 seats total
    • Screen in the floor and ceiling in the middle of the theater
    • Seats had pneumatic controls and would raise and lower
    • Was a D-Ticket attraction
    • • Discussion about ticket levels
    • Building was demolished in 1966
    • • The TWA rocket was moved to the TWA Corporate Headquarters building in Kansas City, MO
    • Rebuilt within a year
  • 1967: Flight to the Moon at Disneyland and WDW (1971)
  • • Introduced audio animatronics in the preshow, including Mr. Tom Morrow
  • 1975: Mission to Mars at Disneyland and WDW
  • • Changed Mr. Tom Morrow to Mr. Johnson from Space Control and added female AAs
    • Sponsored by McDonnell-Douglas
    • Closed in 1992 in Disneyland and 1993 in WDW
  • 2003: Mission:Space at Epcot
  • • The spiritual successor to MtM
• Martin’s tribute video https://youtu.be/jPT3JoFFc1c
• Yesterland https://www.yesterland.com/moonrocket.html

View Details

• Released 8/27/18
• Feedback on new formats
• • What Glenn had for dinner
  • Glenn visits Orlando to see Chris at least once a year; Chris has been to NOLA once since 2007
• Disney News
• • Shop Disney Parks app
  • Because of the Tron Coaster construction, the WDW Railroad will be stopped
• Chris Visits Disney
• • Magic Kingdom visit
  • Halloween decorations are up!
  • Scrims on Main Street USA
  • Jungle Cruise
  • • Shrunken Ned’s Junior Jungle Boats - Closed on 8/21/12
  • Family had no interest in seeing the Country Bear Jamboree
  • Ate at Casey’s Corner
  • • Ketchup conundrum
  • No visit to Tomorrowland
  • Starbucks in the park
  • • Outside vendors in the park ~50:00
• Picks of the Week
• • Chris:
  • • Flash Diffuser Reflector Kit https://amzn.to/2LxPgoa
    • Flash Diffuser Light Softbox https://amzn.to/2wsh482
    • Wireless Speedlite Flash https://amzn.to/2LylCzj

View Details

• Recorded 8/8/18
• Remember the Magic - The Country Bear Jamboree
• History
• • December 1965, Walt Disney was pressing forward with Mineral King, a ski resort in the Sierra Nevada mountains
  • As part of the evening entertainment, an animatronic show was being developed
  • The project was assigned to Marc Davis
  • • One day Davis was working on drawings of the characters in his office. Walt Disney walked in and saw the drawings and laughed because he loved the characters. On Disney's way out he turned to Marc Davis and said good-bye, which he was known never to say. That was the last time Davis saw Disney, who died a few days later.
  • With ski resort progress slow, the show was refined and designed to be a unique attraction at the then still being planned Walt Disney World Resort
  • Frontierland would receive a much needed marquee attraction
  • A 15 minute dance hall style show was designed
  • Imagineer X Atencio (Yo-Ho & Grim Grinning Ghosts) and musical director George Bruns created songs for the bears to sing
  • 24 animatronic figures were built, plus another three for outside the theater
  • The show opened on October 1, 1971 and was a huge draw in an otherwise sparsely populated corner of the park
  • • Shootin’ Arcade, Tom Sawyer Island, WDW Railroad
  • Shares a building with the Enchanted Tiki Room
  • Theater exits into the “Mile Long Bar’ instead of a gift shop, where three stars from the show would hold their own mini show
  • Pepsi and Frito Lay were the original sponsors from 1971 - 1981 (Pepsi was available at Pecos Bill’s until 1990)
  • It closed in August 2012 for a refurb; when it reopened in October 2012, it was shortened by 4 1/2 minutes.
  • • Introduction was shortened, and some dialogue throughout the show was cut, along with two songs: "Pretty Little Devilish Mary" and "Fractured Folk Song"
  • In the MLB, Max, Melvin, and Buff animatronics were hanging and would talk and sing to the guests as they left the theater
  • From May 1986 through February 1992, the show was replaced by the Country Bear Vacation Hoedown
  • November 1984, the Country Bear Christmas Special was introduced for the holiday season and ran every year through 2005
  • • Took 4-6 days to install and remove
    • Was the first attraction to change for the holidays
  • There was a CBJ in Disneyland From 1972-2001 (replaced by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh)
  • • It was the first WDW attraction to be replicated at Disneyland
    • Because of the popularity of the show in Florida, two theaters were built at Disneyland
    • From 1986-2001, it was the CBVH
  • Tokyo Disneyland’s opened with the park and still operates. It’s the same as WDW’s version, except the animatronics are more modern and look more real, and like at Disneyland, was built with two theaters
  • • Tokyo still has all three versions of the show at different times of the year
• Attraction
• • Bears (18): Henry, Liver Lips McGrowl, Wendell, Teddi Berra, Ernest, Terrence, Trixie, Big Al, Sun Bonnet Trio (Bunny, Bubbles, Beulah), Gomer, The Five Bear Rugs (Zeke, Zeb, Ted, Fred, Tennessee), Baby Oscar
  • Show
  • • The show is basically a continuous string of short country songs sung by the various bears. As each bear sings their song, a curtain opens to reveal them, except in the case of Wendell, Gomer, and the Sun Bonnet Trio (all of whom rise from the center stage), and Teddi Barra (who descends from the ceiling).
    • The show begins with Max, Buff, and Melvin telling Henry to get on with the show. Henry then asks Gomer to give him a "little intro", and the jamboree begins.
  • Songs
  • • Current Disney World version:
    • "Pianjo" (Don Robertson) – Gomer and Henry
    • "Bear Band Serenade" (Lyrics: Xavier Atencio, Music: George Bruns) – The Five Bear Rugs, Gomer, and Henry
    • "If You Can't Bite, Don't Growl" (Tommy Collins) – Ernest and the Five Bear Rugs
    • "My Woman Ain't Pretty (But She Don't Swear None)" (Frankie Starr & Paul E. Miller) – Liver Lips McGrowl
    • "Mama, Don't Whip Little Buford" (Burns & Haynes) – Henry and Wendell
    • "Tears Will Be the Chaser For Your Wine" (Dale Davis & Leroy Goates) – Trixie
    • "How Long Will My Baby Be Gone" (Buck Owens) – Terrence
    • "All the Guys That Turn Me On Turn Me Down" (Plott & Powell) – The Sun Bonnet Trio
    • "Heart, We Did All That We Could" (Ned Miller) – Teddi Barra
    • "Blood on the Saddle" (Everett Cheetham) – Big Al
    • "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" (Tom Blackburn and George Bruns) – Henry and Sammy
    • "Ole Slew Foot" (Howard Hausey) – Cast (minus Ernest and Trixie, who do not appear onstage, and Big Al, who reprises "Blood on the Saddle")
    • "Come Again" (Tom Adair & George Bruns) – Henry, Sammy, Max, Buff, and Melvin
• Country Bear Vacation Hoedown
• • Show
  • • This special variation of the classic show features the Country Bears celebrating the many joys of summer and the great outdoors. Its opening is different from the other shows because Max, Buff, and Melvin do not talk at the beginning Instead, the five Bear Rugs can be heard tuning up their instruments. Zeke calls for Rufus to turn on the lights, and then the show begins with "The Great Outdoors". In the Japanese version however, instead of hearing the five Bear Rugs tune up, Max, Buff & Melvin continue the trend of having the first bit of dialogue (although it's in Japanese)
  • Songs
  • • "The Great Outdoors" - The 5 Bear Rugs and Henry
    • "Life's No Picnic Without You" - Trixie
    • "On the Road Again" - Wendell
    • "We Can Make It To the Top" - Liver Lips McGrowl
    • "California Bears" - The Sun Bonnets, Gomer, Max, Buff, and Melvin
    • "Two Different Worlds" - Terrence the Shaker (with Dolores the octopus)
    • "Rocky Top" - The 5 Bear Rugs
    • "Nature" - Ernest the Dude
    • "Singin' In the Rain" - Teddi Barra and Henry
    • "Ghost Riders In the Sky" - The 5 Bear Rugs
    • "On My Way To Your Heart" - Big Al
    • "Thank God I'm a Country Bear" - Cast
• Christmas Show:
• • Show
  • • The show includes many different traditional Christmas carols, more modern songs, along with some original Christmas "bear-ols" all sung by the bears in a country twang. The show begins as always with Melvin, Buff, and Max. As the three argued over who gets to sing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", Henry appears onstage and starts the show.
  • Songs
  • • "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Melvin
    • "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" - Henry and Gomer
    • "Tracks in the Snow" - The 5 Bear Rugs and Henry
    • "12 Days of Christmas (Oh What a Christmas)" - Wendell
    • "The Hibernating Blues" - Trixie
    • "Deck the Halls" - The 5 Bear Rugs
    • "Rock and Roll Santa" - Liver Lips McGrowl and Gomer
    • "Blue Christmas" - Terrence (with his penguin)
    • "Sleigh Ride" - The Sun Bonnets, Melvin, Buff, and Max
    • "Hungry as a Bear" - Ernest and The 5 Bear Rugs
    • "The Christmas Song" - Henry and Teddi Barra
    • "Another New Year" - Big Al
    • "Let It Snow/Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/Winter Wonderland" - Cast

View Details

• Recorded 8/8/18
• Chris’ ISP issues
• Disney News
• • Attendance, spending are up again at the Disney theme parks https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201808/6223/
  • Disney Provides More Details About Streaming Service, Will Debut in Late 2019 https://wdwnt.com/2018/08/disney-provides-more-details-about-streaming-service-will-debut-in-late-2019/
  • Disney’s Upcoming ‘Star Wars’ Series Will Be One of the Most Expensive TV Shows of All Time https://wdwnt.com/2018/08/disneys-upcoming-star-wars-series-will-be-one-of-the-most-expensive-tv-shows-of-all-time/
  • First look and taste at Chicken Guy! Disney Springs https://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/chicken-guy/news/01aug2018-photos---first-look-and-taste-at-chicken-guy!-disney-springs.htm
• Disney Rumors
• • Disney is rumored to be spending $450 million on a new Epcot pavilion https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/08/06/disney-is-rumored-to-be-spending-450-million-on-a-new-epcot-pavilion
• Picks of the Week:
• • Glenn: Christopher Robin https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4575576/
  • Chris: Hydro Flask Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle/Travel Coffee Mug https://amzn.to/2OX7pij

View Details

• Recorded 7/26/18
• Apology from Chris
• News
• • Fastpass Available To Purchase During New Test In Disneyland Paris https://wdwnt.com/2018/07/fastpass-available-to-purchase-during-new-test-in-disneyland-paris/
  • Disneyland to put new limits on park visits for some annual passholders https://www.ocregister.com/2018/06/02/disneyland-to-put-new-limits-on-park-visits-for-some-annual-passholders/
  • DHS Extra, Extra Magic Hours
  • • Disney After Dark
  • Walt Disney World takes Lost and Found online https://www.wftv.com/news/local/walt-disney-world-takes-lost-and-found-online/755000700
  • Spaceship Earth LEGO Idea https://wdwnt.com/2018/06/this-spaceship-earth-lego-idea-is-every-epcot-fans-dream-come-true/
  • 1970s 16mm promo film https://www.retrowdw.com/imageworks/films/rare-walt-disney-world-16mm-promotional-film/
  • • Resort channel from 1979: https://youtu.be/owEVio2VUD8
• Chris’ Disney Adventures
• • 'Ohana Character Breakfast (pagers, characters)
  • • Ziploc is the new sponsor for Kidcot and Splash Mountain
    • Disney will remove plastic straws at their theme parks
• Picks of the week
• • Chris: New microphone and preamp:
  • • Rode NT1A Anniversary Vocal Condenser Microphone Package https://amzn.to/2mLzPie
    • Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First https://amzn.to/2uXFc2m
  • Glenn: Obama: An Intimate Portrait by Pete Souza https://amzn.to/2K1MHtO
  • And, don’t forget to download ParkLeap! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/parkleap/id1325751992?mt=8

View Details

• Recorded on 7/11/18
• Disney News
• • Maleficent is breathing fire again in Disneyland Paris—will we see the float and will it breathe fire again at Disney World?
  • Toy Story Land opened on June 30
  • • Tim Allen was at the grand opening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdXM20rMv5U
    • John Ratzenberger has been in every Pixar movie https://video.disney.com/watch/john-ratzenberger-in-every-single-disney-pixar-film-52242f14d6c1d299907e6983
    • Pixar Place is now closed
  • Star Wars Hotel Layout and Connections to Disney’s Hollywood Studios revealed https://wdwnt.com/2018/07/breaking-star-wars-hotel-layout-and-connections-to-disneys-hollywood-studios-revealed/
  • Walt Disney World introduces new annual pass for Florida Residents https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passes/
  • ParkLeap update (open link on iPhone) https://itune.apple.com/us/app/parkleap/id1325751992?mt=8
  • Chris is getting the itch to go to Universal Studios Orlando
• Picks of the week
• • Chris: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Illustrated [Kindle in Motion] https://amzn.to/2NScXKf
  • Glenn: “The Toys That Made Us” on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/title/80161497

View Details

• Recorded 6/27/18
• Disney News
• • Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Adds New Experiences for Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and More https://wdwnt.com/2018/06/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party-adds-new-experiences-for-space-mountain-pirates-of-the-caribbean-and-more/
  • First Disney Skyliner Gondola Car Arrives at Walt Disney World https://wdwnt.com/2018/06/breaking-first-disney-skyliner-gondola-car-arrives-at-walt-disney-world/
  • Fox Has Accepted an Improved Bid from Disney, Dealing a Blow to Comcast and wins antitrust approval https://wdwnt.com/2018/06/breaking-fox-has-accepted-an-improved-bid-from-disney-dealing-a-blow-to-comcast/ http://money.cnn.com/2018/06/27/media/disney-fox-antitrust/index.html
  • 2019 Packages are available
  • Solo: A Star Wars Story discussion
• Disney Rumors
• • New leaks give surprising details on Disney's massive Tomorrowland redo https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/06/26/new-leaks-give-surprising-details-on-disneys-massive-tomorrowland-redo
  • WDW & DL AP changes? RUMOR https://twitter.com/Epcyclopedia/status/1011729702049009670
• Chris visits Epcot
• ParkLeap - big update is coming, including mapping and location indicators!
• Picks of the week
• • Glenn: Takeya Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker https://amzn.to/2KCau4J
  • Chris: Nomatic backpack followup https://www.nomatic.com/

View Details

• Recorded 6/6/18
• Follow-up: Any updates on the Malefifire?
• News
• • Disney Skyliner progress https://www.wdwmagic.com/transportation/walt-disney-world-gondola-system/news/24may2018-photos---disney-skyliner-views-from-the-air.htm
  • • Map of the route https://wdwnt.com/2017/04/confirmed-disney-officially-building-gondola-system-epcot-hollywood-studios-resorts/
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster Building https://wdwnt.com/2018/05/photos-guardians-of-the-galaxy-roller-coaster-building-ramps-up-construction-at-epcot-visible-inside-park/
  • Disney's Animal Kingdom tests a new stroller parking system
• Glenn’s trip to WDW
• • Hated
  • • Transportation
    • Availability of Flower and Garden Merchandise
    • Lotus Blossom dinner
    • Prices
  • Loved
  • • Spending time with the family and seeing friends
    • How awesome the attractions still are
    • Trying new shots setups with my camera - 18-105mm, fisheye, 12mm
  • Surprised
  • • Rain
    • Pin trading
    • Disney Springs difference between day and night
  • Other
  • • POTC Changes
    • PhotoPass
    • Speciality drinks - Purple Wall Slushy and Mission to Smores
    • Lines
• Chris obtains a copy of the Walt Disney World Explorer software https://youtu.be/CnPd3Q9KcK8
• Picks of the week
• • Chris: Nomatic Backpack https://www.nomatic.com/
  • Glenn: Bill Nye Saves the World https://www.netflix.com/title/80117748

View Details

• Recorded 5/23/18
• Annual Pass magnets
• What bugs Chris about Hollywood Studios?
• The name of our audience? The Rocketeers!
• Follow up
• • Maleficent fire
  • Length of Stay tickets
• The Purple Wall and purple wall shake https://wdwnt.com/2018/05/review-purple-wall-slushy-lands-at-tomorrowland-terrace-in-magic-kingdom/
• Magic Kingdom After Fireworks party http://www.kennythepirate.com/2018/05/18/after-fireworks-dessert-party-coming-to-magic-kingdom/
• Other treats at WDW
• Theme Park attendance for 2017 was released http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_268_653730_180517.pdf
• • Animal Kingdom is now the 2nd most visited WDW theme park
• Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opening time frames announced https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/05/opening-season-just-announced-for-star-wars-galaxys-edge/
• Are cell phones ruining theme parks https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/theme-parks-smartphones/index.html
• Picks of the week:
• • Chris - Dream Afar New Tab Chrome Extension https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/dream-afar-new-tab/henmfoppjjkcencpbjaigfahdjlgpegn?hl=en
  • Glenn - Chinook Seedery Premium Sunflower Seeds https://amzn.to/2IIWmK5

View Details

• Recorded 5/16/18
• Glenn’s Disney trip planning
• • FastPass+ Reservations
  • Was it better before FP, in the olden days?

• ParkLeap update

• • Updates coming
  • Chris needs more feedback about the app to help continue to make it even better

• Disney News and Chris’ Disney Adventures

• • Maleficent catches on fire during the Festival of Fantasy while Chris was visiting the Magic Kingdom https://youtu.be/6MS2WDmFo5Y
  • Hall of Presidents new poster under the Train Station
  • Country Bear Jamboree
  • No More Ketchup! Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge No Longer Partaking In Shenanigans https://wdwnt.com/2018/05/no-more-ketchup-whispering-canyon-cafe-at-disneys-wilderness-lodge-no-longer-partaking-in-shenanigans/
• Rumor
• • New hotel at the entrance of Epcot (the monorail station area or behind the Living Seas) https://wdwnt.com/2018/05/breaking-work-to-begin-soon-on-new-future-world-hotel-at-the-entrance-of-epcot/
  • New Magic Kingdom area hotel (north of TTC or behind Adventureland or new DVC tower at the Contemporary or DVC at River Country) https://wdwnt.com/2018/05/rumor-preparations-underway-for-new-magic-kingdom-area-hotels/

• Picks of the Week:

• • Glenn: OontZ Angle 3 Portable Bluetooth Speaker https://amzn.to/2GxvxCV

• Chris: Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet https://amzn.to/2rVSDO5

• Chris’ tip: Notifications on iPhone - setting by app

View Details

• Recorded 5/1/18
• Six Flags parks
• • Jazzland/Six Flags New Orleans photos http://www.lovethesepics.com/2011/05/creepy-crusty-crumbling-illegal-tour-of-abandoned-six-flags-new-orleans-75-pics/
• Disney Hollywood Studios 29th Birthday!
• Disney News
• • Bob Gurr confirms new Monorails coming to WDW http://blogmickey.com/2018/04/breaking-bob-gurr-confirms-new-monorails-coming-to-walt-disney-world/
  • Minnie Vans service now available at all resorts
  • New Annual Passholder exclusive Tervis tumbler and baseball cap https://wdwnt.com/2018/05/photos-new-annual-passholder-exclusive-tervis-tumbler-and-baseball-cap-available-at-walt-disney-world/
  • Disney Force Jackets - VR https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/04/26/disney-unveils-a-prototype-virtual-reality-jacket-to-simulate-hugs-punches-and-a-snake-gas-powered-vibrations/
  • Any Disney-related Alexa skills?
  • “Avengers: Infinity War’ - biggest movie opening in history
• Picks of the week:
• • Glenn - 47 Brand hats https://www.47brand.com/
  • Chris - Peloton https://www.onepeloton.com/
• And, don’t forget to download ParkLeap! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/parkleap/id1325751992?mt=8

View Details

• Recorded 4/18/18
• ParkLeap
• News
• • FastPass+ for Toy Story Land Opens to Walt Disney World Resort Hotel Guests
  • All-New Play Disney Parks App Coming to Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort This Summer
  • Funko Dorbz Ridez Series Released at Disney Parks
  • Merchandise for 20th Anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom
  • New Starbucks ‘You Are Here’ Adventureland Mug Released at Disneyland
  • First Disney Skyliner tower now in place at Epcot
  • Crossroads Shopping Center by Disney World to Close for I-4 Right of Way
• Rumors
• • New Monorail Fleet Has Been Ordered For Walt Disney World
  • Walt Disney World Bus Wait Times Coming to My Disney Experience App
  • Universal acquires more property for expansion
• Picks of the Week
• • Glenn - Rokinon 12mm F2.0 NCS CS Ultra Wide Angle Lens Sony E-Mount https://amzn.to/2K24v9v
  • Chris - Yilador T1 Laptop Camera Cover https://amzn.to/2Hiq4oN

View Details

• Recorded on 4/4/18
• ParkLeap app!!! Get it!!! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/parkleap/id1325751992?mt=8
• News
• • New Digital Key Feature Coming Soon to My Disney Experience App
  • Tomorrowland repainting and land clearing underway for Tron
• Rumors
• • Illuminations replacement
  • Wonders of Life building activity
  • Coco redo of gran Fiesta Tour is still possible but not certain
  • Mary Poppins attraction at the UK in Epcot
  • DVC at Fort Wilderness
• Picks of the week
• • Glenn - Travelpro FlightCrew5 http://www.flightattendantshop.com/travelpro-flightcrew5-22-expandable-pilot-rollaboard/
  • Chris - Playstation Vue https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/vue/?emcid=pa-vu-111688

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• Recorded 3/20/18
• News
• • Texas Children's Hospital launches $100M initiative with Walt Disney Company http://houston.culturemap.com/news/innovation/03-09-18-walt-disney-company-to-launch-100m-initiative-starting-at-texas-childrens-hospital/?lipi=urn:li:page:d_flagship3_feed;CFLvlZGPQRuQIwrljtQxlA==
  • Disney Announces Paid Overnight Parking at Resort Hotels https://wdwnt.com/2018/03/confirmed-disney-announces-paid-overnight-parking-at-resort-hotels-prices-revealed/
  • New “Politically Correct” Redhead Scene Debuts in Pirates of the Caribbean at Walt Disney World https://wdwnt.com/2018/03/photos-video-new-politically-correct-redhead-scene-debuts-in-pirates-of-the-caribbean-at-walt-disney-world/
  • March Magic
• Chris’ Disney Adventures
• • Early arrival
  • First haircut
• Disney Tip
• • FastPass+ has a buffer: 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after
• Picks of the week
• • Chris - No pick (want to try out Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW before recommending it) http://amzn.to/2u6Md33
  • Glenn - Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuff http://amzn.to/2IG6Oyx
• Aftershow
• • Ginger Beer/Ginger Ale

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• Recorded 3/7/18
• We’re back!
• • Catchup discussion
• Disney News
• • McDonald's reunites with Disney on Happy Meals after more than a decade apart
  • Explore 11 Areas in the Disney Parks with Google Maps Street View
  • Opening of Toy Story Land on June 30, 2018
  • Wait Times
• Trip Report - Glenn’s trip to WDW
• • Where did Glenn stay?
  • What you miss out on by not staying on property
  • Animal Kingdom discussion
  • Daily schedule; no relaxing
  • Epcot International Festival of the Arts
  • • Disney on Broadway
    • Lunch at the Garden Grill restaurant
  • Souvenirs
  • • Autographs: to personalize or not?
  • Highlights and lowlights
• Chris booked DCL vacation
• • Excitement of an upcoming vacation
  • Need to do a trip to LA/Disneyland with both families
  • Walt Disney Family Museum trip?

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• Recorded - 1/31/18
• Minnie Van service
• • Expands to two new resorts
  • Offers rides for Disney Resort Club Level guests to airport for $150
• Atlanta Braves are leaving WWOS after 2019 Spring Training
• Rumors - http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/disney-rumor-round-up-january-2018/
• • Talking Mickey will be replaced with non-talking Mickey at Town Square Theater
  • MNSSHP will start on August 24
  • Tomorrowland will receive updates for WDW’s 50th celebration
  • Site clearing for a Brazil pavilion will start this year and open in 2022
  • The UK pavilion will get a Mary Poppins attraction and open in 2021
  • Major remodel of Future World will be pushed back with a finish date in 2022
  • Change in entrance for Toy Story Mania
  • Skyliner will be open in 2019
  • Disney is meeting with companies to discuss building new monorail trains (thank goodness!)
  • Rename of Disney Hollywood Studios to Cinemagine
• Festival of the Arts
• Glenn’s upcoming trip to WDW
• • What planning is done for the trip?
• Picks of the week
• • Chris: Bloxels http://home.bloxelsbuilder.com/
  • Glenn: Widen Your World http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/wyw.htm

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• Recorded 1/9/18
• Disney Conversation
• • Disney/Fox merger
  • Star Wars The Last Jedi
• Disney News
• • Attraction closings
  • • Circle of Life in the Land pavilion
    • Stitch’s Great Escape — but maybe not…
  • Epcot International Festival of the Arts starts this weekend
  • • Disney on Broadway
    • Will Gay https://wgart.com/
  • New restaurants opening at Disney Springs
  • • Pizza Ponte, The Edison, Maria & Enzo's, and Enzo's Hideaway
  • Annual Passholder dining discount drops to 10% for 2018, but it’s expanding to all Walt Disney run table service restaurant
  • RUMOR: Club Level Walt Disney World Guests will be able to buy three additional FastPasses
  • Temporary store to open during a major update to World of Disney at Disney Springs
  • Door on Monorail Red opens during trip from TTC to Epcot
  • Pixar’s Coco
• Remember the Magic
• • EPCOT Center logos
• Picks of the week
• • Glenn: Tech Armor Ballistic Glass Screen Protector http://amzn.to/2COEpD0
  • Chris: Think Tank Retrospective 10 Shoulder Bag http://amzn.to/2CNVtJa

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• Recorded November 29, 2017
• News
  • Hall of Presidents will open before Christmas
    • Chris watched The Muppets Present Great Moments in American History during his trip over the weekend
  • Avengers Infinity War trailer was released
    • Why does DC stink so bad at their comic book movies (excluding Wonder Woman, of course)
  • Star Wars VIII is released in just over two weeks; we both have tickets for the first weekend
  • Other news bits: Bob Iger will run for President, and Bob Chapek will take over as CEO
• Chris’ Disney Adventures
  • MK TTC Overpass construction
  • MVMCP ranting
  • Christmas Eve tradition for Chris
  • Other Christmas decorations at WDW
  • Osbourne lights
• Remember the Magic
  • Main Street, U.S.A. - History and differences between the Disney Castle parks
• Tip: BACKUP YOUR COMPUTERS and have redundant and offsite backups!!!
• Picks of the Week
  • Chris: Apple AirPods
  • Glenn: Yesterday's Tomorrow: Disney's Magical Mid-Century by Don Hahn
  • If you wish to be a beta tester for a project that Chris is working on, contact us on Twitter @starport75

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• Redesign/rename recap
• Book Club - The Halloween Tree
• • Discussions of the book
  • Cartoon for the Cartoon Network in 1996
• Disney News
• • TSA Precheck-like system for Annual Passholders
  • House of Magic Facade Returns to Main Street USA http://blogmickey.com/2017/11/photos-house-magic-facade-returns-main-street-usa/
• Chris’ Adventures at Disney
• • Disney Cruise
  • Ambient recording https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3jxY6YMQmVF84Xx1S2u0iQ
• Pick of the Week
• • Chris: Ovalware Airtight Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker (& Iced Tea Maker) with Spout http://amzn.to/2AwIvi9
  • Glenn: The President's Photographer: Fifty Years Inside the Oval Office http://amzn.to/2yotUUI

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• Recorded on 10/17/17
• Changing the name of the podcast to Starport75
• Disney News
• • New Dog Policy at four WDW resorts
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi Trailer and name for the Han Solo Movie
  • BaseLine Tap House and Grand Avenue open at DHS
  • Filming schedule for the upcoming ABC Holiday Specials at WDW
  • 2017 Candlelight Processional narrator line-up now complete
• Chris’ Adventures at Disney
• • Chris visited Epcot on 10/17 for Food and Wine
• Remember the Magic
• • Proposed and canceled River Ride in Germany
• Disney Tips
• • Buy cheap ponchos before a trip to WDW
• Pick of the week
• • Chris: Streaks - app for iPhones
  • Glenn: Avantree 40 hr Wireless / Wired Bluetooth 4.0 Over-the-Ear Headphones / Headset with Mic

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• Recorded 9/27/17
• Annual Passholder lines
• • Colors of the entrance turnstiles
  • Magic Bands
  • Tip from Chris: wear your Magic Band on your left arm and put your finger on the fingerprint reader at the same time you put your Magic Band up to the reader
• Chris’ trip report - Magic Kingdom on 9/23
• • Dole Whip - online ordering troubles
  • • Pineapple Dole Whip vs Pineapple/Vanilla Swirl
    • Pineapple rules!!! Survey: https://twitter.com/tron_fm/status/914286643485528064
  • Interactive queue at Dumbo
  • Casey’s Corner
  • • Disappointment in the value and seating for Casey’s Corner
    • Was originally called the “Refreshment Corner” until Spring, 1995
    • Piano Player - Jim Omohundro started on 11/27/83 - almost 34 years ago
• Fastpass
• • Hello Internet podcast
  • They thought it was an express/VIP pass to get to the front of the line
  • Planning for FP+
• Epcot’s 35th
• • Event
  • Merchandise
  • Illuminations - History of nighttime shows:
  • • Carnival de Lumiere - 10/23/82 - 1983
    • A New World Fantasy - 1983 - 6/8/84
    • Laserphonic Fantasy - 6/9/84 - 1/29/88
    • IllumiNations - 1/30/88 - 9/20/96
    • IllumiNations 25 - 9/21/96 - 5/18/97
    • IllumiNations 98 - 2/1/98 - 9/21/99
    • IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth - 9/23/99 - Present
• Stump Glenn
• • Epcot Trivia
  • Glenn got 13 out of 15 (87%)
• Book Club
• • The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
  • We’ll discuss on 10/24
  • Disneyland has a Halloween Tree
  • Dedicated on 10/31/07
• Pick of the week
• • Chris: Rollercoaster Tycoon Touch
  • Glenn: Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food

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• Hurricane Irma
• • Chris’ experience
• Disney’s prep for the hurricane
• • Learned from last year’s Hurricane Matthew
  • Kristen Bell is awesome
• Evacuation of WDW for 9/11/01
• Solar power at Disney
• Chris’ trip to Epcot last week - First weekend of Food and Wine Festival
• Stalking Dick Nunis
• J.J. Abrams to Replace Colin Trevorrow as Director of ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’
• Legendary Disney Animator and Imagineer Francis Xavier “X” Atencio Passes Away at Age 98
• Picks of the week:
• • Glenn - Incase DSLR Pro Pack Nylon Black CL58068
  • Chris - R2-D2 App-Enabled Droid by Sphero

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• Recorded 8/30/17
• We’re old, but mentally young
• Wanting to go to other Disney Parks around the world
• California Adventure - old version vs new version
• • Superstar Limo
  • No weenie
• Disneyland vs. WDW
• Would like to visit other parks around the world
• What one Disney movie would you save if they were all going to be erased?
• Rename of Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party started on 8/25
• • Hocus Pocus merchandise is gone
• Flamingo Crossings will finally be built out in 2018
• Development behind the MK
• Will the parks be crowded for Labor Day weekend?
• Chris will do the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom next time he goes there and will report back
• Picks of the week:
• • Glenn: Birnbaum's 2018 Walt Disney World: The Official Guide
  • Chris: Head’s Up
• Hurricane Harvey help: Donate to the Red Cross

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• Recorded August 17, 2017
• Advertisements for Walt Disney World
• • First ad in 1985
  • John Moschitta was the fast talking FedEx and Micro Machines actor
• Discussion about the future of Epcot, which leads to…
• Frozen in the parks
• • Epcot ride is pretty good, but it overtook Norway
  • Sing along show at Hollywood Studios
• Books about Walt Disney World - Glenn’s recommendations
• • Since the World Began: Walt Disney World - The First 25 Years
  • Walt Disney's Epcot Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow
  • The Story of Walt Disney World
  • Walt Disney Imagineering - First Version
  • Walt Disney Imagineering - Second Version
  • Building a Company: Roy O. Disney and the Creation of an Entertainment Empire
• Other books - Fiction:
• • Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom or Free ebook
  • Our Kingdom of Dust
  • Hollow World
  • Habst and the Disney Saboteurs
• Other books - Nonfiction:
• • Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World
  • Project Future: The Inside Story Behind the Creation of Disney World
  • Four Decades of Magic: Celebrating the First Forty Years of Disney World
  • Poster Art of the Disney Parks
• Marty Sklar
• • One Little Spark!: Mickey's Ten Commandments and the Road to Imagineering
  • Dream It! Do It!: My Half-Century Creating Disney's Magic Kingdoms
• Discussion about taking photos during Glenn’s trip to Disney
• • Glenn rented the Sony a6500 for the week
  • Glenn owns the Sony a6000
  • Glenn’s lenses (in order of use):
  • • Sony SEL1018 10-18mmn F4 Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
    • Rokinon 8mm F2.8 UMC Fisheye II
    • Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens
    • Sony SELP18105G E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS
  • Glenn’s photos from the trip:
  • • Day 1
    • Day 2
    • Day 3
    • Day 4
    • Day 5
    • Day 6
    • Day 7
    • Day 8
  • Chris wants to try the Samsung Gear 360 Degree Cam Spherical Camera
• Picks of the week:
• • Chris: PhotInfo - Glenn: WD 4TB Black My Passport Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0

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• All Star Music Resort
• Went to WDW parks 7 days; KSC one day
• KSC - Great attraction, made greater with the Atlantis exhibit
• Became an Annual Passholder (again)
• Tried some new things: mobile ordering for food, new bag check at MK, Pandora at AK and Na'vi River Journey, Frozen Ride, Be Our Guest
• Experienced new attractions with kids: Rock n Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, Jungle Cruise
• Said goodbye to the Great Movie Ride and Universe of Energy
• Disney Transportation
• Disney Springs

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• Immersive Super Hero Experience Coming to Disney California Adventure Park
• Disney Planning Not Two, But Three New Ships
• New Pixar Pier to Bring Favorite Pixar Stories to Life at Disney California Adventure Park; Limited-Time Pixar Fest Celebration Coming Throughout Disneyland Resort
• Toy Story Land to Open at Walt Disney World Resort in Summer 2018
• New Theater Inspired By Kansas City’s Willis Wood Theater To Debut at Walt Disney World Resort
• Disney Skyliner, New Minnie Vehicles to Transport Guests Around Walt Disney World Resort
• Plans Unveiled for Star Wars-Inspired Themed Resort at Walt Disney World
• • Survey
• Disneyland Paris Brings Favorite Marvel Characters to Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel
• First Look: New Space Restaurant to Offer ‘Out-of-this-World’ Dining Experience at Epcot
• New Tron Attraction Coming to Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort
• ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ & ‘Ratatouille’ Attractions Coming to Epcot
• First Mickey-Themed Ride-Through Attraction, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Announced as Name for Star Wars Lands at Disney Parks
• Other announcements
• Future World overhaul
• • Concept art: Inventions buildings are gone
• New Adventures Begin at Mission: SPACE in August at Epcot
• New Film at China Pavilion in Epcot will Feature New Technology
• New Disney Riviera Resort hotel announced for Walt Disney World to connect to Disney Skyliner
• Picks of the week:
• • Chris CHOETECH USB Type C Male to USB 3.0 Type A Female Adapter
  • Glenn: Voices of Disney Parks FULL PANEL from D23 Expo 2017

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• Recorded 7/4/17
• Happy Independence Day
• • Liberty Bell
  • Replica Liberty Bell in Liberty Square
• News
• • Siemens Ending Their Sponsorship with Disney Parks
  • Changes coming to Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland
  • Closing of DisneyQuest
  • Permit filed for Epcot’s backstage area possibly for a Ratatouille attraction
  • 2018 Disney Dining Plan will include specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Chris' trip to the Magic Kingdom
• • Started in Adventureland and went clockwise
  • Ate lunch at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe - it was miserable
  • Went on many different attractions, including the Enchanted Tiki Room!
• Remember the Magic corner: The Enchanted Tiki Room/Tropical Serenade
• Picks of the week
• • Chris: ShareX
  • Glenn: Anker SoundBuds Slim Wireless Headphones

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• News
• • New Photo Capture Coming to Pirates of Caribbean at Magic Kingdom Park on June 19
  • Mobile Order coming soon to five Magic Kingdom restaurants
  • ‘A Galaxy of Stories’ Coming to D23 Expo
  • Walt Disney Company completes take-over of Disneyland Paris Resort
  • Disney sues over property assessments for Magic Kingdom, other properties
  • Disney Looks to Block 3-D Printed Duplicates of Their Figurines
  • You can now rent tiny Cinderella strollers at Walt Disney World
• Remember the Magic corner: Swan and Dolphin
• • Building a Dream: The Art of Disney Architecture by Beth Dunlop
• Chris picks things that aren’t the picks
• • EA Play to Give
• Picks of the week
• • Glenn: LEGO Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V
  • Chris: {Snap Circuits Arcade Electronics Discovery Kit](http://amzn.to/2sIOTBA)

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• Recorded on 5/31/17
• News
• • Preferred parking at Disney Springs
  • New Wolfgang Puck restaurant and Jaleo will take the current Wolfgang Puck space
  • Disney Movie Magic debuts at Disney Hollywood Studios
• Chris’ visit to Epcot
• • Racing on Memorial Day weekend
  • Chris was at a tech conference last week that was at the Swan
  • Flower and Garden Festival was still going on
  • FastPass+ selection is never great for short notice visits
  • • Epcot has tiers
    • Don’t really need FP for the tier 2 attractions
    • Got Frozen Ever After FP for 8 p.m. Friday
  • Universe of Energy - it was empty
  • Mousegear
  • The Land and dinner options
  • Frozen Ever After
  • Illuminations
  • “The BEST night ever!”
• Opening of Pandora in Animal Kingdom
• • Saturday: Flight of Passage had a 250 minute wait, 195 minute wait for Na’vi River Journey
  • Two camps: People either love or hate the idea of Pandora at AK
• Glenn made the FP+ reservations for his family’s July trip
• • Glenn’s frustrations about the My Disney Experience website
  • Discussion about FP limits
• People doing good things
• • Nothing specific. Just don’t be a jerk. Let’s be civil to everyone, OK?
• Picks of the week:
• • Chris: Table Top Racing on the Xbox One
  • Glenn: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Deluxe Edition)

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• Recorded 5/16/17
• Follow up
• • Water Sprites vs. Water Mouse
  • Glenn was incorrect; they were called Water Mouse for six years
  • Breakdown:
  • • Water Sprites - 27 years (59%)
    • Water Mouse - 6 years (13%) (’98 - ’04 - The “slap a Mickey on it” years)
    • Sea Raycers - 13 (and counting) years (28%)
• Pirates of the Caribbean movie was…pirated
• Update to My Disney Experience app
• • Can now order food at counter service restaurants
  • Only at Animal Kingdom now
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 - Chris went to see it and enjoyed it
• • Chris’ adventure at the movies
• New fireworks show at the MK: Happily Ever After
• • Glenn watched the livestream
  • Chris has watched it from his house and has seen photos, but hasn’t watched the livestream
  • Glenn is excited for it; Chris isn’t sure
• Pandora - Avatarland
• • Glenn needs to make Fastpass reservations
  • Two new attractions; need to figure out which one to get the FP for
• Tickets for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are on sale
• • In October and December, the cost is $100 per person
• People doing good things:
• • Volunteer Match
• Picks of the week:
• • Chris: Marvel Unlimited‎
  • Glenn: Backblaze

View Details

• Recorded 5/2/17
• Hall of Presidents - what’s happening with it?
• • Hat toss game
• Countdown to Glenn’s WDW trip
• • Chris created a countdown app in the ‘90s - first one ever!!!
  • Postcard-ware
  • Glenn is counting down on dry erase calendars - 81 days to go!
  • Disney Cruise app
  • Glenn and family can’t wait
  • • Kids are even going to ride Expedition Everest
• Accidental Tech Podcast talks about Disney
• Chris visits Disney Springs, and Chris has complaints (no, really!)
• • Orange vs. Lime parking garages
  • Key lime pie vs. lemon meringue pie
  • The garage itself is great (wow! a compliment!)
  • Disorientation
  • Why go to Disney Springs? Why do people like it?
  • Used to have a different, slower vibe to it
  • Cars at the Boathouse restaurant - $125 for 20 minutes
  • Renting Water Sprites/Water Mice
  • • Were they ever officially called Water Mice? Glenn doesn’t think so.
    • Send a message to @tron_fm to let us know what you call them
• Automated cars at WDW
• • Used first in Cast Member areas only
  • Benefits to introducing automated cars to the public at WDW and will help adoption
• Changes to the Jungle Cruise
• • Dwayne Johnson (the Rock) is making a JC movie
  • Announced that he was working with Imagineers on changes to the JC
  • It was officially denied by Disney
  • Glenn’s Dad didn’t like the JC; affected Glenn’s view of it. Glenn likes it
  • He also didn’t like 20K Under the Sea, and he was right on that one
  • Chris never got to ride 20K; he didn’t miss anything according to Glenn
• Disney Emoji Blitz
• • Special Event: Main Street Electrical Parade emoji
  • Still frustrating; Glenn is quitting again
• People doing good things
• • Barefoot College
• Picks of the week:
• • Glenn: Undercover Tourist; future guest?
  • Chris: Reversing a pick - Tiko 3D Printer; they’re out of business now.
  • Chris’s actual pick: Simplify 3D
• Aftershow
• • Would you be POTUS?
  • Rolex 24 renewal
  • Need guest for next show
  • Crossing guard on road behind WDW
  • All-boys and all-girls high schools in New Orleans (Go Raiders!)
  • How to pronounce “Louisiana”
  • Pirates of the Caribbean movie and Johnny Depp appearing in POTC in Disneyland

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A podcast (mostly) about Disney, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland but honestly, we nerd out on anything--tech, photography, cars, books, music, etc. Have a listen.

• Recorded on 4/19/17
• Picking blueberries
• Star Wars Celebration 2017
• • Star Wars convention
  • Chris and his family attended on Friday
  • It’s the 3rd one that Chris has attended
  • No more Star Wars Weekends at Disney Hollywood Studios; 2015 was the last SWW
  • R2 Builders - Chris is a member and is building his own R2 unit
• Survey on boutique Star Wars Resort
• • Two day experience for $900 - $1,000 per person
• Club 33 is coming to all four Walt Disney World theme parks
• • Brief history of Club 33
• Gondola is coming to WDW
• Disney is building their own “Uber”-like service; the “Duber” service
• Burying the lede: Glenn is planning a Disney trip for July!
• • Have hotel reservations
  • Started making dining reservations
  • Built out a spreadsheet with crowd info from touringplans.com
  • Podcast meet up!
• People doing good things
• • http://www.211.org/ from United Way
• Picks of the week
• • Chris: Minisuit Apple Pencil Case
  • Glenn: Arlo Pro Security System
  • Bonus pick from Chris: Ring Video Doorbell Pro

View Details

• A podcast (mostly) about Disney, Walt Disney World, and Disneyland but honestly, we nerd out on anything--tech, photography, cars, books, music, etc. Have a listen.
• Follow up of Chris' “is Belle from France” question
• News
• • New security checkpoints for the Magic Kingdom
  • FastPass+ is now available for Pandora at Animal Kingdom
  • ‘The Music of Pixar Live!’ will debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this Summer
  • ASIMO has been added to Autopia in Disneyland
  • Portobello Country Italian Trattoria at Disney Springs closing soon for major refurbishment
  • Construction about to begin on third Disney Springs parking garage
  • Mission SPACE closing for lengthy refurbishment this summer - rumor: random adventures
  • • Thoughts on Mission: Space
    • Child died after riding on M:S on 6/13/05; M:S opened on 8/15/03
    • Chris hasn’t taken photos on M:S
  • March Magic - 2017 winner is the PeopleMover!!!
• Rumor: Apple May Be Looking to Buy the Walt Disney Company
• Why isn’t there a walkway from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom?
• • Glenn doesn’t like the GF
• Silent, sassy Princesses
• Photopass data
• • For Magic Shots, there are actually humans who place the graphic on the photos
  • Number of Photopass photos taken at WDW in one day: 600K - 900K
  • Ride videos
• Things That Do Good Things
• • White Helmets
• Picks of the week:
• • Glenn - Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation
  • Chris - Music to work by: The Race For Space by Public Service Broadcasting
  • • Also good: Tron Legacy by Daft Punk
    • The Social Network by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
    • Ghosts I-IV by Nine Inch Nails
    • The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
    • Steve Jobs by Daniel Pemberton
    • Sweet Nasty by Earphunk
    • Music to Code By by Carl Franklin
• Tags: disney, disneyland, disneyworld, geek, nerd, tech, photography, photos, theme park, walt disney world, disney world

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• Recorded on 3/15/17 and 3/19/17
• Disney News
• • Ground clearing underway around the TTC as redevelopment of World Drive begins
  • Typhoon Lagoon's Miss Adventure Falls is open
• Walk Around the World bricks - will they ever be taken up?
• • Chris and Glenn both own a brick; Glenn also bought a brick at Disneyland and a Leave a Legacy tile
• Is Belle French?
• • It takes place in France
  • Emma Watson is British
  • It’s an American accent in the animated movie—they all have an American accents
• Photos of a cubicle decorated with Theme Park posters
• • Glenn has a screensaver with copies of all of the theme park posters
• D23
• • Glenn is a member; Chris is not
  • The “Twenty Three” magazine is the reason Glenn subscribed
  • Chris and Glenn both were members of The Walt Disney Classics Collection
• Photography 101 - organizing your photos
• • We both use Adobe Lightroom as part of the Creative Cloud Photography plan
• Things that do good things spot
• • Amazon Smile
• Picks of the week
• • Glenn: Amazon Paperwhite Kindle
  • Chris: Slime Rancher video game
• Aftershow
• • Food discussion - Brussels sprouts, lima beans, asparagus, avocados, fresh eggs

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• Recorded on 3/7/17
• Disney News
• • La Nouba ending run at Disney Springs on 12/31/17
  • Epcot International Festival of the Arts will return in 2018
  • New Joffrey’s Coffee location opened on 3/7/17 in Tomorrowland
  • Construction at the Caribbean Beach Resort; would it stop you from staying there?
  • DVC at Wilderness Lodge going on sale; opening in summer
  • Star Wars Rogue One on Blu Ray and DVD 4/4; available on digital on 3/24
  • More research on Joffrey’s Coffee by Chris
• Moana
• • Discussion about the movie
• Beauty and the Beast and all live action remakes
• • Discussion
• New animated series
• • Tangled on Disney Channel
  • Ducktales on Disney XD
• Pick of the week
• • Chris - Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling
  • Glenn - TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Earbuds

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• Recorded on 2/22/17
• Mardi Gras in New Orleans
• Disney News
• • Disney creates wireless power source, able to charge a mobile phone anywhere in a room
  • BB-8 will start greeting guests at DHS
  • Rivers of Light at Animal Kingdom started last weekend
  • Atlanta Braves Celebrate 20 Years of Spring Training at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
  • More Guest Experiences and Dining Options Coming to Disney’s Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach Resorts
  • Possible New Gondola Transportation
  • Disney Raises Price On Express Transportation
• Photography - Lenses
• • Glenn’s camera and lenses
  • • Camera: Sony a6000
    • Lenses: Sony 18-105mm F4, Sony 10-18mm F4, Sony 35mm F1.8, Rokinon 8mm F3.5 Fisheye
    • Why Glenn uses wide angle lenses most
  • Chris’ camera and lenses
  • • Camera: Sony a7R II
    • Lenses: Sony 24-70mm F4, Sony 35mm, Sony 55mm F1.8, Sony 70-200mm F4, Sony 90mm F2.8
  • Composition and understanding photography
• Non-profit highlight
• • Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Picks of the week:
• • Chris: Bryan Peterson's Understanding Composition Field Guide: How to See and Photograph Images with Impact
  • Glenn: Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
• Aftershow
• • Benefits of renting lenses
  • Mardi Gras (again)
  • • doubloons

View Details

• Recorded on 2/15/17
• Valentine’s Day
• Engagement stories - both Glenn and Chris got engaged at the Magic Kingdom
• Photography at Disney
• • Tomorrowland
  • • Entrance
    • Space Mountain - night shot
    • Peoplemover - motion
    • Types of photos we take now that we have kids vs. before we had kids
    • Carousel of Progress - fisheye lens
• Charity Pick
• • Consumer Reports: Best charities for your donations
• Picks of the week:
• • Glenn: Leeo Smart Alert Smoke/CO Remote Alarm Monitor
  • Kinja Deals
  • Chris: Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse
• Aftershow - Glenn may be incorrect about his statement about the CGI use in the new Soarin’ movie

View Details

• Recorded on 2/7/17
• Follow Up
• • Number of photos at Disney needs to include the on-ride photos
  • Glenn’s trip report - Glenn picked up the moonshine jug for the Country Bear Jamboree from Pecos Bill’s Cafe
• News
• • 1st Quarter Earnings call
  • • Revenue down a bit
    • Attendance is down
    • Has Disney finally reached their limit on what they can charge for vacations?
    • We want Disney to be fighters instead of resting on their laurels
    • Side discussion: Hall of Presidents - should Trump speak or not?
    • No successor for Bob Iger; he’s open to staying on longer if needed
    • Iger is warning against a trade war with China, or it would damage Disney’s business; he’s also against the travel restrictions
    • Steve Jobs’ widow has sold off half of her shares and owns 4% of the company now
    • Star Wars lands in Disneyland and Disney World will open in 2019
    • Pandora will open on 5/27/17
  • Transportation: New tram tractors and trams will be repainted in monorail colors; buses get updated GPS; monorails are being updated to make them more automated
  • Starring Rolls Cafe closed on 2/5/17; nothing else announced for this location
  • Super Bowl LI halftime show used “twins” of the drones used at Disney Springs for Christmas
  • Port Orleans Riverside celebrated its 25th birthday on 2/2/17
  • Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour; $199 for a four hour tour to experience 10 rides plus admission cost
  • • Contact us on Twitter at @tron_fm to let us know if you do this
  • Flower & Garden Festival entertainment list
  • Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando entertainment list
  • The Nerdist - Disney Animation Research Library
  • Bonus: Carousel of Progress trivia - The Father is played by Jean Sheapard, who is most famous and beloved for his role as the narrator in “A Christmas Story"
• Chris Visits Disney Corner
• • Need intro music
  • Arrived in early afternoon
  • Fastpasses - Soarin’, Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth
  • Festival of the Arts
  • Soarin’
  • • Ride mechanism (future blog post)
    • The new movie is CGI now - Chris’ opinion
    • Baby Swap
  • Ate at Sunshine Seasons
• Charity Pick
• • American Heart Association
• Picks of the week
• • Not Chris’ specific pick, but… Covears
  • Chris: Logitech Harmony Home Hub
  • Glenn: Orbitkey 2.0

View Details

• Recorded 1/31/17
• Chris had a houseguest: Glenn!
• History of Hubig’s Pies and Hand Pies
• Glenn’s visit to Disney!
• • Photo walk
  • Disney Springs
  • • Started on the West Side
    • Ate at D-Luxe Burger
    • Didn’t have the Donkey Sauce
    • Disney Co-Op
    • Once Upon a Toy
  • Headed to the Polynesian Village Resort to get to the TTC
  • Epcot
  • • Time lapse of the monorail ride to Epcot
    • International Art Festival
    • Odyssey - Herb Ryman and Mary Blair concept art
  • Express Bus
  • Magic Kingdom
  • • Casey’s Corner for dinner
    • Freezing? No. According to Accuweather, the high for 1/27/17 was 69, while the low was 54. Very pleasant night for January.
    • Walked around and took night photos
• Link to Glenn’s photos from WDW
• Link to Glenn’s photos from the Rolex 24
• Link to Chris’ photos from the Rolex 24
• Charity Pick
• • Together We Rise
• Picks of the week:
• • Glenn: New York Times, Washington Post, local newspaper - The Times-Picayune in NOLA, Orlando Sentinel in Orlando
  • Chris: Tiko 3D Printer

View Details

• Recorded 1/24/17
• Chris has some bad news: we actually have some listeners
• Revamped tron.fm
• Original Mickey Mouse comic strip redrawn in real time by Disney artist Floyd Norman
• Epcot International Festival of the Arts reviews
• • Herb Ryman and Mary Blair artwork is being displayed
• Photography segment
• • Glenn is visiting Chris this weekend for our annual trip to the Rolex 24 in Daytona
  • Going to WDW to take photos
  • A little history of Chris and Glenn’s photography skills
  • Glenn’s photos on Flickr
• Plans filed for expansion at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort - DVC
• Disney Springs now offers Personal Shopping Services
• New look Characters in Flight balloon takes to the skies above Disney Springs
• • Tinkerbell’s view right before takeoff
• Charity Pick
• • Habitat for Humanity
• Picks of the week:
• • Chris: BUBM Double Layer Travel Gear Organizer / Electronics Accessories Bag
  • Glenn: Finally! Terrific Recordings of Nothing podcast SWAG! Visit Redbubble

View Details

• Recorded 1/10/17
• Amazon Echo
• News
• • New security measures at the MK
  • Hall of Presidents is closing 1/17/17 through 6/29/17
  • The Muppet hot air balloon on top of MuppetVision 3D is coming down permanently in the next couple of weeks
  • Discussion about DHS park icon
• 17 Reasons to Visit Walt Disney World Resort in 2017
• Review of Disney’s movies that will be released in 2017
• Charity Pick
• • American Diabetes Association
• Picks of the week
• • Chris: Rocketbook
  • Glenn: Manny Randazzo King Cakes
• Aftershow - Rolex 24
• • Are we going to record during the race?
  • Getting exciting for the race

View Details

• Recorded on 1/4/17
• Listener questions
• • Question about Disney’s use of Eminent Domain
  • • It might come into play regarding Crossroads Shopping Center as the plans for I-4 expansion are finalized
  • Has Disney run afoul of the Secret Service because of Disney Dollars?
  • • Magic Bands can’t be used for purchases by Annual Passholders
    • What is the window for Fastpasses?
• Charity pick
• • American Heart Association
• Rogue One discussion
• Picks of the week
• • Glenn: The Anova Precision Cooker - Sous Vide Device For The Home‎
  • Chris: Disney Wooden Nickels from the Grand Floridian and Star Wars Art: Ralph McQuarrie

View Details

• Recorded on 12/20/16
• Minecraft
• • Special guest: Megan
  • Explanation of what Minecraft is
  • MCMagic server
  • • WDW is built within Minecraft
    • You can visit and walk around, ride rides
    • The detail is fairly amazing because it’s so accurate
• Disney Emoji Blitz Corner
• • Christmas Emojis are out
  • It’s still frustrating
  • Guess the Downloads game
  • Between 1-5 million downloads on Google’s Play store
  • Need tron.fm emoji blitz
• Chris Visits Disney Corner
• • Chris went to the MK on Friday with his family
  • Much better experience than last time
  • Arrived around 1 p.m. and it started to get crowded around 4 p.m.
  • Clearing the park of non-MVMCP guests
  • Got to see the Castle lighting before leaving at 7 p.m.
  • Ate at Columbia Harbour House while there (because it’s the best restaurant)
  • Discussion of Pinocchio’s Village Haus and Be Our Guest Restaurants
  • Alcohol at the Magic Kingdom
  • • It doesn’t bother Glenn; Chris likes that there was a ban in place for such a long time and now it’s being lifted
    • Did Walt drink?
  • Photopass is part of the Annual Pass now, and it’s a great feature
  • • Magic shots
  • Annual Passholder only entrance
  • Benefits of being a Passholder
  • Security is necessary, but it needs to be rethought so it flows better
• Charity Pick
• • stopbullying.gov
• Picks of the week
• • Glenn: Bill Gates’ Reddit Secret Santa story
  • Chris: Walt Disney World - The First Decade
• The Simpsons - Itchy & Scratchy Land (1994-S06 E04)
• • Helicopter Pilot: We are now approaching our final destination, Itchy and Scratchy Land. The amusement park of the future where nothing can "possa-bly" go wrong. Uh, possibly go wrong. That's the first thing that's ever gone wrong.

View Details

• Recorded 12/14/16
• Emoji Blitz Corner
• • Hi, Sean!
  • Availability of Christmas emoji
• The majesty of the Christmas season
• • Advent calendars, including Lego Advent calendars
  • R2-D2 Advent calendar
• Chris Visits Disney Corner
• • Chris visited the Magic Kingdom on 12/10/16
  • The signs were there that Chris should just turn around and go home
  • It was very crowded at the Magic Kingdom
  • Chris visits the Cabanas!
• What did Glenn do last weekend?
• • Played handyman
  • Helped with computer problems
• Listener email
• • Email from Sean
  • Question about quality of the parks and movies
  • We attempt an answer
• Pick of the week
• • Chris - The Trackr

View Details

• Recorded December 6, 2016
• Emoji Blitz Corner (not really)
• • Somehow, the conversation quickly devolves into Moana...
  • And what kind of VHS we had growing up...
  • And Glenn recording the resort channels at WDW…
  • And back to Moana (and Hawaii Five-O).
  • Come back for Chris’ Review Corner...
  • And Chris’ Reading Corner where he reads The Princess and the Frog Little Golden Book
• Livestream of Spaceship Earth transforming into Death Star
• • Needed some practice for the livestream
  • The best part was the laser
  • Express bus transportation is being charged for
• Candlelight Processional
• • Began in 1958 at Disneyland on Main Street
  • The living Christmas Tree was added in 1960 and was formed by the Western High School A’Capella Choir. The choir director retired in 1981 and in 1982 the Disney Employee Choir filled their place, and hold it to the present time
  • Celebrity narrators were added in 1961 and Dennis Morgan was the first narrator, and was the narrator through 1964. Dick Van Dyke was the narrator in 1965 (which would end up being the last that Walt attended), and it changed each year after that, with some repeats.
  • WDW has always had a celebrity narrator. Rock Hudson was the first WDW narrator in 1971.
  • It performed for two nights only in Disneyland and WDW.
  • In 1993, because of guest demand, WDW’s was moved to Epcot and ran two shows each night for 15 nights. It was so successful that in 1994, it was expanded to 30 nights with two performances each night.
  • The Disneyland Candlelight Procession and Ceremony moved to a new home at the Fantasyland Theater in 1998, returning to Main Street in 2003, and beginning in 2012 it was presented multiple nights.
  • It’s a presentation of the Christmas story in readings by a celebrity narrator and music by a Mass choir and 50-piece orchestra
  • It’s pure Christmas; the story of the birth of Christ
  • Current music set list for Epcot’s presentation:
  • • Candlelight Carillon (Processional)
    • O Little Town of Bethlehem
    • Hark The Herald Angels Sing
    • God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
    • Shout for Joy
    • O Come All Ye Faithful
    • Away in a Manger
    • O Holy Night
    • Angels from the Realms of Glory
    • Il Est Ne
    • Rejoice with Exceeding Great Joy (Glenn’s favorite!)
    • What Child is This
    • Do You Hear What I Hear
    • Silent Night
    • Joy to the World
    • Hallelujah
    • The Wonderful World of Christmas (recessional)
  • We listen to the music during the Christmas season since we can’t be there, and we watched a livestream of a production last week with Neil Patrick Harris
  • Celebrity narrators

• Special Guest to talk about the Candlelight Processional - Tammy! @missdiz

• • Had to practice at least 10 times to be in the choir
  • First year was 2000
  • Celebrity guests
  • • couldn’t really meet them, but Gary Sinese shook everyone’s hand
  • Get ready behind the American Adventure
  • Procession - tree fills in first, then the school choirs
  • What it’s like when you’re standing on stage
  • We enjoying seeing it as a family when we go on vacation
• Live Action/Animated films
• • Chris hates them with a white-hot passion
  • Chris doesn’t like Roger Rabbit or Mary Poppins
  • The Polar Express freaks Glenn out
  • Chris thinks the Rankin-Bass specials should be made so they’re more interesting to younger audiences
• Charity Pick
• • Wikipedia
• Picks of the week
• • Glenn: Designated Survivor on ABC
  • Chris: Spacecraft Films

View Details

• Recorded on 11/29/16
• Follow Up
• • Glenn clarifies his stance on the Cabanas at the Magic Kingdom…kinda.
  • Christmas Drones at Disney Springs
• Minecraft
• • MCMagic
  • WDW built in Minecraft
• NintendoLand at Universal Theme Parks
• • Orlando, Hollywood, and Japan
  • Universal is creating some great things
  • Future of IP at Disney and Universal
• Charity Spot
• • ASPCA
• Highway in the Sky Dine-Around
• • Glenn thinks it’s an OK idea; Chris doesn’t
  • Tangent into Disney using Food & Beverage revenue instead of building new attractions/experiences
  • Chris wants dinner on the monorail
• Snacks at WDW
• • Dole Whip, Citrus Swirl
  • Popcorn
  • Coke and Frozen Cokes
  • Turkey Legs - Chris likes, Glenn doesn't
  • Handwiches - old school
  • Chicken and Waffles at Backlot Express at DHS with Darth Vader waffles
  • Podcast topic idea: Weird food at Disney in the past
  • Ice cream; specifically ice cream cookie sandwiches
• Pick of the week
• • Glenn - anti-pick: Newly released Prince CD 4Ever; don’t buy it if you’re already a Prince fan and have most of his music already. Instead, get The Hits/The B-Sides
  • Chris - From the Earth to the Moon DVD set and A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts by Andrew Chaikin
• Aftershow
• • Positivity!

View Details

• Recorded on 11/22/16
• Thanksgiving week
• Emoji Blitz Corner
• • Psych! (Well, about a minute of discussion)
  • Waiting for the Christmas emojis to be released
  • Glenn is playing Clash Royale again
  • Chris wants to get Glenn to play Tetris; Glenn will become obsessed with it if he starts playing it again
  • Future episodes: Retro video games and Walt Disney World Explorer
• Chris’ visit to DHS and his review of Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! - AKA "Chris Visits Disney" Corner
• • Star Tours
  • • First ride on ST for Chris’ son
  • Great Movie Ride
  • Star Wars Launch Bay
  • Stormtrooper march
  • Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!
  • • Chris enjoyed it
    • Gives it about an 8.5 out of 10
    • Prep and Landing is great
  • Other Christmas offerings that Chris is going to try to attend
  • • Drones at Disney Springs
    • Maybe other things, but probably not
  • Chris’ Disney Adventure is the best segment
• Magic Bands 2
• • Disney is trying to save expenses by not having to permanently have the RFID chip in every band
  • Will they pass the savings along to the guest?
  • Can put the pebble in other items
  • The data that comes from the Magic Bands must be incredible
  • Magic Band technology hasn’t made it to Disneyland yet
  • Why can’t Magic Bands for AP’ers be used for charging?
• Pandora - The World of AVATAR
• • Opening Summer 2017
  • Showed a clip of one of the AAs
  • Opinions:
  • • Glenn couldn’t care less about Avatar; should have spent the money on original IP
    • Chris: theming is a waste of talent for the Imagineers; does not agree with using Avatar
  • Our opinions aside: the AA looks fantastic
  • It’s a shame that technology isn’t being used on something with Disney theming
• Cabanas in the Magic Kingdom
• • Glenn thinks it’s a huge money grab by the Walt Disney Company
  • Chris plays Devil’s Advocate and makes a case for it…and makes good points
  • It’s mainly the presentation of the current test of the cabanas in Tomorrowland that’s bugging Glenn
  • If they were themed and out of the way, it wouldn’t be bad
• Charity Pick
• • Goodwill
• Epcot is the next park to be overhauled
• • Finally!
  • It could be really cool or really awful
  • More show material! Yay!
• A new festival at Epcot
• • Festival of the Arts
  • Extending the number of festivals at Epcot
  • A scrappy little company trying to make their way in the world
• Picks of the week
• • Chris - The Tetris Effect: The Game that Hypnotized the World by Dan Ackerman
  • Glenn - Walt Disney's Epcot Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow by Richard R. Beard

View Details

• Recorded 11/15/16
• First showing of Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! was on 11/14
• • Coverage of new Disney events by the Disney blogging community
  • Usenet groups/forums - old school
  • Tom Bricker’s review
  • The technology is pretty cool
  • Not a true replacement for the Osbourne lights
  • Chris will check it out
• Disney’s Christmas preparations
• • We’re both OK with Christmas decorations going up before Thanksgiving
  • A long time ago, Disney put up Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving
  • Glenn is in full-on Christmas mood
• Disney Springs Starbright Holidays
• • No-fly zone over WDW; but it doesn’t cover Disney Springs
  • Disney received a waiver from the FAA
  • Partnership with Intel
  • Chris is going to see the show
  • It’s over the lagoon
  • Could this be the “replacement” for the Osbourne lights? Glenn thinks the bean counters at Disney think this is the replacement; Chris isn’t so sure
• Charity Pick
• • Salvation Army
• Kennedy Space Center
• • New attraction - Heros and Legends
  • Incorporates the US Astronaut Hall of Fame
  • KSC has become a great attraction
  • Includes the Space Shuttle Atlantis
  • Need to try to incorporate into a Disney trip
• Picks of the week
• • Chris - Wink home automation
  • Glenn - Retro Disney World podcast
• Aftershow
• • Hallmark Channel
  • Christmas movies from early November until January 1
  • Glenn is getting sucked in thanks to his wife
  • All of the movies are the same!
  • Next podcast: Photography discussion!!!

View Details

• Recorded 11/1/16
• An election is coming up
  • Chris is voting early tomorrow
  • Chris is taking a field trip to the Crayola Experience in the Florida Mall on Election Day
• Hall of Presidents
  • History
    • ’64-’65 World’s Fair - Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln
    • Moved to Disneyland
    • When WDW was being designed, they didn’t want another New Orleans Square because of the proximity of NOLA to Orlando
    • Imagineers reviewed plans for Liberty Street from Disneyland and decided on Liberty Square
    • Created the Hall of Presidents for WDW
    • Starting with Bill Clinton, the sitting President gives a speech
    • With Barack Obama, the HoP was redone with the version that is there today
  • Opinions
    • Glenn has liked every version of the HoP
    • Chris hasn’t been in a while; he’s going to go before it changes
  • How much cooperation do they need from the President?
    • Video from the White House
• The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History
  • The beauty of Liberty Square
  • It’s an underrated land
  • The Muppets are a good addition
  • We want to see it in person; we’ve watched a video of it and it looks fun
  • Little gems of WDW
• Charity Pick
  • How to find a charity
  • Guidestar
  • Better Business Bureau
• PizzeRizzo
  • Opens 11/18/16
  • Pizza Planet pizza was horrible
    • Not as good as Lombardi’s in New York; America’s First Pizzeria!
  • Looking forward to this opening
  • Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano
    • Glenn has never eaten there
    • Chris ate there with his friend Sean
    • Chris didn’t have a great meal there, although Sean really enjoys it
  • A little background on Sean - a future guest on the podcast
• Construction at the Magic Kingdom for new security checkpoints
  • Report on WDWMagic
  • Security for each separate type of transportation to try to speed up getting through security
  • There’s a need for security, but anything that can help will be welcome
  • Chris gets picked every time to go through the metal detector
  • The security checkpoints should be blended in better
• Rumors of Guardians of the Galaxy attraction
  • Rumors of GotG replacing Universe of Energy have been squashed
  • New rumor: GotG overlay at Tower of Terror in DHS
  • It doesn’t fit the theme of Hollywood and Sunset Blvd
  • Glenn thinks the GotG overlay is OK in DCA, but not DHS
  • However, if Glenn had to choose between it going in Epcot or DHS, Glenn picks DHS
• Pick of the week
  • Chris - WaterField Designs the Bolt briefcase
  • Glenn - Peak Design the Slide and the Clutch straps for cameras

View Details

• Recorded 10/25/16
• Chris’ visit to Epcot on Sunday
  • It was crowded, but no long waits for attractions or food
• Sponsor message
• CommuniCore discussion
  • SMRT-1
  • Martin’s Video
  • Possibilities for CommuniCore
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Maker Movement
  • Just another park
  • Future World needs help
  • Glenn goes crazy and defends Eisner
  • If we were in charge...
• Charity spotlight
  • United Way
• Pick of the week
  • Glenn - Art of Atari
  • Glenn - Follow up on last week’s pick - Toshiba Canvio AeroCast 1TB Wireless Hard Drive
  • Chris - Raspberry Pi
• Aftershow
  • Listener question
  • Benefits of iPhone 7 Plus

View Details

• Recorded 10/19/16
• Children are wonderful...but exhausting
• The infamous Disney Emoji Blitz
  • Glenn and Chris are done with the game
  • It’s so frustrating
  • We’re so sorry we’re talking about this. It’s so embarrassing. This is it though. Well, at least until the special Christmas emojis are released...
• New Christmas offering at Disney Hollywood Studio
  • Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam!
  • Glenn’s opinion: Good effort, but not a replacement for Osbourne Lights
  • Chris is looking forward to seeing it. It may be a new tradition for them.
  • Epcot should be the center of Disney’s Christmas effort. Decorate World Showcase with the Osbourne lights.
• Annual Passes
  • Chris just renewed his. The “Disney Tax” in October
  • Should Glenn buy Annual Passes? There’s a special deal if you purchase before 1/3/17: get 13 months for the price of 12
  • Disney is turning the dials to try to increase attendance without diminishing the profit margin that they’ve been making
  • Parking is included, as is PhotoPass, and those are huge benefits
• Maps of the Disney Parks book
  • Beautiful book
  • Chris’ unboxing of the book from Amazon
  • Covers all the theme parks
  • Glenn points out the two map posters he had on his wall when he was growing up
• Charity spotlight
  • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• 2017 Disney Parks Poster Calendar
  • Glenn ordered his through the Shop Disney app
  • It’s a great calendar, and Glenn’s thrilled that they keep making them
• Giveaway!!!
  • Glenn is giving away a 1979 Winter Disney News magazine
  • Send an email to show@tron.fm, or follow us on Twitter, or Facebook, or leave a review on iTunes
  • Deadline is midnight EDT on 10/31/16
• Pick of the week
  • Glenn: Toshiba Canvio AeroCast 1TB Wireless Hard Drive
  • Chris: "Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow?” by Brian Fies

View Details

• Follow Up - Last running of the MSEP on 10/9
  • Remembering WDW’s version vs. DL’s version
  • No nighttime parade at WDW now
• Robin Hood - the Disney animated feature
  • Glenn hasn’t watched it in a long time
  • Glenn and family watched Alice in Wonderland last weekend - woof!
  • Robin Hood has a big place in Chris’ heart
    • He used to listen to the LP when he was a kid
    • The music was classic
• Hurricane Matthew
  • Very stressful for people in the track
  • Disney closed the parks on Friday 10/7
  • Food at Port Orleans French Quarter
    • Oni Hartstein’s story and photos
    • $12.99 or a DDP credit for a box lunch with a sandwich, apple, cookie, and bag of pretzels
    • What should Disney do?
    • We are going to try to find out if this was a unique situation, or commonplace. We couldn’t find any other reports similar to this at time of recording.
  • Orlando lucked out with the track of the hurricane
  • Disney Operations preparations
• Promotion: Red Cross
  • Please consider donating to the Red Cross
  • Mobile phone apps
  • Donate
• Refresh of Tomorrowland
  • New paint color on the rocks at the entrance
  • New paint and design on Carousel of Progress
  • New LED lighting on Space Mountain
  • New sign at Carousel of Progress
  • Glenn wants to go and photograph
  • Tomorrowland background music
• Sponsor message
• Book review - “Bloodline - Star Wars” by Claudia Gray
  • Neither one of us love any other Star Wars novels, but this one is excellent
  • This is mostly from a female viewpoint
  • A lot of depth not found in other SW novels
  • Fills in the story between Ep 6 and Ep 7
  • Post on starwars.com
  • Discussion of reading vs. listening to books
  • Recommendation for other books
    • Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
    • Remade also by Neal Stephenson
• Episodes 1-5 of Terrific Recordings of Nothing are now posted for download

View Details

• Recorded 10/2/16
• Disney Emoji Blitz
  • Chris discovered it and is trying to catch up to Glenn
  • What characters do we have?
• Happy 45th Birthday to Walt Disney World!
  • Giveaways: guide map and button
    • Guide map book is being released on 10/18
    • Review the book after it comes out
    • Our love of maps
  • Castle show
  • Merchandise for sale
  • Celebrations for the 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th were big; the rest have just been merchandise release
  • Hoping the 50th is a huge blowout
  • The Disney fan community seems to be celebrating it more than Disney is
  • Remembering Epcot’s 25th celebration display in Innoventions
  • One Man’s Dream has less and less
• Disney has disabled the MagicBand interactivity
  • News article from WDW News Today
  • Some people complained or didn’t like it
  • One of the biggest selling points of the MagicBand technology
• Stitch’s Great Escape to operate seasonally
  • News article from WDW News Today
  • Great news!!!
  • Should be closing for good soon
  • “Wreck It Ralph” attraction will be going there
    • Not really Tomorrowland, but it doesn’t seem to matter
    • "Alien Encounter”
      • Glenn liked AE from a risk taking perspective
      • It was original and not tied to existing Disney IP
      • Chris didn’t like it because it was pessimistic
      • "Timekeeper"
        • Robin Williams’ fallout with Disney
        • News article
• Chris’ life has become the final scene in “Carousel of Progress"
  • Home automation
  • Learning from TV/YouTube
  • Final scene needs to be updated, since it’s current now
  • It would be nice to have it completely redone by doing every 50 years (1900s, 1950s, 2000s, 2050s)
  • Or replace it with the original from the ’64/’65 World’s Fair
  • We can’t talk about the CoP, or they’ll just close it
  • “That guy” that’s our hero at Disney and is keeping it open
  • Other plans for the CoP
• Disney Emoji Blitz. Again. (Sorry about this.)
  • With iOS 10, you can have them as stickers
  • Buying character emojis
  • The game has so many “gotchas"
  • The reason we had no agenda for this podcast. Sorry again, everyone.