Imagination Skyway

D23 2024: Disney Parks and Experiences News and Announcements

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2024 raised the bar for D23 Expo in Anaheim. This year's list of announcements for the Disney Parks and Experiences (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Disney Cruise Line, and beyond) and Disney Entertainment (Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios) included some noteworthy updates. Noteworthy parks updates include the additions of a new Villains land and reimagined Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, Tropical Americas with Indiana Jones and Encanto at Disney's Animal Kingdom, four new Disney Cruise Line ships, expanded Avengers Campus and Coco attraction at Disney California Adventure alongside a new Avatar land, new Spider-Man attractions at Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland, and a Lion King themed area at Disneyland Paris. New films and series include Incredibles 3, Frozen 3, Toy Story 5, Elio, Hopper, Moana 2, Skeleton Crew, The Mandalorian and Grogu, Fantastic Four, Agatha All Along, and so much more.
 
In this episode, we chat through the updates from D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2024 and share our thoughts about these announcements.
 
Thanks to my special guests Brooke and Philander for joining me on this episode.
 
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Which country would you like to see added to World Showcase? Tag me and join the conversation below.
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Tiana's Bayou Adventure | Magic Kingdom

Tiana's Bayou Adventure officially opened on June 28, 2024 at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World and is scheduled to open later in 2024 at Disneyland. Replacing Splash Mountain, Tiana's Bayou Adventure offers the same ride layout and system with an entirely reimagined storyline. Complete with incredible details from The Princess and the Frog, New Orleans culture, and the story of Leah Chase (the real-life inspiration for Princess Tiana), Tiana's Bayou Adventure provides a depth that takes Walt Disney Imagineering to new heights. Between the animatronics, original music, and special effects, along with the same famous 50-foot plunge as its predecessor, Tiana's Bayou Adventure offers joyful moments and iconic thrills for the entire family. In this episode, I'm joined by Nick (The Theme Park Dad) to discuss our thoughts about riding Tiana's Bayou Adventure as well as the Imagineering details and storyline that make the attraction an incredible addition to Magic Kingdom (and Disneyland).
 
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What do you enjoy most (or are most looking forward to) about Tiana's Bayou Adventure? Tag me and join the conversation below.
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Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya | EPCOT Review | Japan Travel Advice

Shiki-Sai opened at the EPCOT Japan pavilion in 2023 as a replacement to the former Walt Disney World dining experience, Tokyo Dining. Offering fine dining, sushi, and an authentic izakaya experience, Shiki-Sai is a culinary and cultural experience. In this episode, we review this restaurant live on location. Plus, we offer some insightful travel tips for those wanting to visit Japan.
 
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Which World Showcase restaurant should we review next? Tag me and join the conversation below.
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Michael Vargo | D23 The Official Disney Fan Club

D23 The Official Disney Fan Club is the first official club of its kind, helping bring Disney fans closer to the magic since 2009, offering members one-of-a-kind experiences, quarterly publications, special events, unique merchandise offerings, and exclusive online content. As part of D23's biannual tentpole event, this year's D23 The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California will prove to be an even bigger and better version of D23 Expo. With Disney exhibits, panels, and showcases that celebrate the worlds of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, National Geographic, and beyond, Disney fans can expect to hear exciting updates about The Walt Disney Company, including updates and deep dives about the Disney Parks, movies, shows, consumer products, and more.
 
In this episode, I am joined by Michael Vargo, Vice President of D23 The Official Disney Fan Club, live from the Walt Disney World Resort, as we discuss his 32+ year career at Disney, D23 Membership, and D23 The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
 
If you're a Disney fan, definitely consider joining D23, which you can learn more about at https://d23.com/.
 
What is your favorite D23 event, experience, or member benefit? Tag me and join the conversation below.
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Disney College Program | Kilimanjaro Safaris | Reflections

The Disney College Program internship hosts thousands of Cast Members each year at Walt Disney World and Disneyland as the students participating gain experience as they progress toward a college degree. I had the privilege of being a part of the Disney College Program in 2007, working at Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
 
In this episode, I reflect on 17 years since starting the Disney College Program and share some personal experiences working at Kilimanjaro Safaris. You can learn more about the Disney College Program at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/disney-programs.
 
Which role would you want (or have you already completed) as part of the Disney College Program? Tag me and join the conversation below.
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Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge | Jambo House | Kidani Village

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge offers Walt Disney World guests the enchantment of an African reserve lodge in Central Florida, with sweeping savanna views where over 30 species of African animals roam, table-service African cuisine (Sanaa, Boma, and Jiko) and quick-service offerings (The Mara), shopping, and some of the best pools on Disney property. Jambo House and Kidani Village also include Disney Vacation Club studios and villas, as well as one of the largest collections of African art outside of Africa.
 
In this episode, we discuss everything you need to know about staying at this deluxe-level resort, share reasons why you might want to stay here, and offer suggestions about how to decide between Jambo House and Kidani Village.
 
To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel.
 
Which Disney resort should we discuss next? Tag me and join the conversation below.
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1900 Park Fare Dining Review | Disney's Grand Floridian

1900 Park Fare recently reopened at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and I returned with my family to enjoy the new experience. While some elements of this Walt Disney World restaurant remain the same (Big Bertha as a centerpiece and the return of the famous strawberry soup), the venue takes on a new theme of "wish fulfillment" and some new characters to help guests cast their wishes, including Tiana (in her Tiana's Bayou Adventure attire), Cinderella, Snow White, Mirabel, and Aladdin (as Prince Ali). 
 
In this episode, enjoy our live dining review at 1900 Park Fare, where we discuss the food, chat about the theme and atmosphere, and converse with some favorite Disney characters.
 
What do you love most about 1900 Park Fare at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa? Tag me and join the conversation below.
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EPCOT: Reflections on an Updated Park

EPCOT is just about to complete a multiyear transformation, concluding on June 10 as the final walls of World Celebration come down to reveal CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza. With the addition of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, Connections Cafe, Connections Eatery, Creations Shop, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, the Walt Disney "Walt The Dreamer" statue, and a revitalized World Celebration at the center of the front of the park, EPCOT looks transformed from a decade ago and continues to evolve from its opening day.
 
In this episode, we chat live from World Celebration to reflect on EPCOT as it has been transformed from its early days to today, discussing our earliest memories from the 1980s and 1990s, our recent memories from the 2000s, and our thoughts on the 2024 experience at the park.
 
What are your thoughts about EPCOT's transformation? Tag me and join the conversation below.
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