Imagination Skyway

The United States of America turns 250 this July 4, 2026. In many ways, Disney embodies, reflects, and propels American culture, and Walt Disney himself was a patriotic American who volunteered in World War II, admired Abraham Lincoln, and created stories based on American lore. Today, many Disney Parks experiences celebrate various aspects of American history, geography, and psychology. For this special two-part episode, we share our favorite patriotic experiences at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, including many that might surprise you. Special thanks to Philander Butler for joining me on this episode. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes...

Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside opened as Dixie Landings at Walt Disney World in 1992 in the Disney Springs resort area, joining its sister property Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter. Celebrating the spirit of rural Louisiana, the resort includes Southern-style mansions (Magnolia Terrace) and cottages (Alligator Bayou) along the Sassagoula River, plus iconic entertainment (Yehaa Bob Jackson at River Roost), recreation, pools, and dining. Transportation includes bus service to the Walt Disney World theme parks and boat service to Disney Springs. In this episode, we discuss the resort's history and Imagineering, and we share everything you need...

Summer months at Walt Disney World can feel very hot and humid with daily thunderstorms and rain, but Disney has thoughtfully designed guest experiences to maximize your comfort and safety. In this episode, we discuss our best tips and tricks for traveling to Walt Disney World in the summer, including ways to stay cool at the parks and where to stay to maximize your fun. Special thanks to Serena from Living By Disney for joining me on this episode. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway. T...

Monstropolis: The City Frightful now has an official backstory from Walt Disney Imagineering. In this Walt Disney World news episode, we discuss the latest information from Disney about the Monsters Inc. land, the new area inspired by the animated Disney-Pixar film coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Details include the story behind the land and the attractions coming to the park, such as the suspended doors roller coaster and Harryhausen restaurant, along with my personal predictions about what we can expect. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway. To...

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets and Millennium Falcon Smuggler's Run (featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu) opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World on May 26, 2026. These new experiences include a heightened degree of Imagineering details, especially Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, which now combines the legacy Disney attraction with Muppet Vision 3D and Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. In this episode, we discuss how Disney updated these attractions in a quick period of time and the easter eggs you won't want to miss from either attraction. Plus, I interview four Walt Disney Imagineers who worked on...

Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress is getting a major update in 2027, including a new Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney and updated show scenes, plus much more. In this episode, we discuss everything Disney just announced about this classic Magic Kingdom attraction upgrade. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway. To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel.   Read Matt's Imagineering column in WDW Magazine.   Imagination Skyway is a Disney Parks and Imagineering podcast. Episodes explore attraction design, recap Disney news, and dive into the stories behind th...

Cool Kids Summer is back at Walt Disney World in 2026, and it's better than ever. On May 26, all four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom) opened new attractions to kick off the summer season. These include Jessie's Roundup, Goofycore, Soarin' Across America, Bluey's Wild World, Magic of Disney Animation (including Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live), Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster: Starring the Muppets. This is in addition to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which recently reopened with major...

Walt Disney World Resort hotels include their own medley of music loops, from the cozy acoustic sounds of Disney's Wilderness Lodge to the whimsical, Disney-inspired songs at the Disneyland Hotel. In this episode, we analyze the music loops of the Disney Resort hotels in the EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and Disneyland resort areas. We also discuss how Walt Disney Imagineering selects music to match the theme of each Disney resort hotel. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway. To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel.   V...

Walt Disney World Resort hotels include their own medley of music loops, from the African medleys of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge to the contemporary jazz played at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort. In this episode, we analyze the music loops of the Disney Resort hotels in the Disney's Animal Kingdom, ESPN Wide World of Sports, and Disney Springs resort areas. We also discuss how Walt Disney Imagineering selects music to match the theme of each Disney resort hotel. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway. To plan a trip...

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened at Magic Kingdom on May 3 with a new track, updated trains, and enhanced special effects alongside an updated story from Walt Disney Imagineering. In addition, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets go on sale May 12 (or May 5 for guests with a qualifying Walt Disney World Resort reservation) for party dates spanning August 7 through October 31. In this Disney Parks news episode, we also discuss Disney Week of Wishes, Disney Lakeshore Lodge, and a fourth Seven Seas Lagoon ferry boat launching in 2027. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon...

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa opened at Walt Disney World in 1988 in the Magic Kingdom resort area. As the flagship hotel on property, Grand Floridian boasts luxurious accommodations, modern amenities, a full-service spa and health club, and a wide range of dining options. The hotel is a monorail or boat stop away from Magic Kingdom and is inspired by luxury beach hotels of the early twentieth century. In this episode, we discuss the resort's history and Imagineering, and we share everything you need to know for your next Grand Floridian stay. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes...

The Garden View Lounge afternoon tea room at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa reopened in March 2026. In partnership with Twinings, Disney's culinary team created a dining experience inspired by the Alice in Wonderland tea party scene. In this episode, we review the Garden View Lounge afternoon tea service live from this Walt Disney World restaurant. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway. To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel.   View virtual room tours of Aulani: https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/destinations/list/us-hawaii/a...

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets will open May 26, 2026 at Disney's Hollywood Studios. In this episode, we discuss the details about the Imagineering and story for the new attraction, which is replacing Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (closed March 2026). We also share our initial reactions to hearing the first two source audio soundtracks at a Disney Parks media event. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway. To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel.   Read Matt's Imagineering column in WDW Magazine.   Imagination Skyway is...

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa opened in 2011 on the island of Oahu, bringing the magic of Disney to this tropical Hawaiian paradise. With an array of hotel rooms, Disney Vacation Club studios and villas, amenities, pools, restaurants, shops, and a private beachfront lagoon, Aulani is one of the best Disney experiences you can share with your family away from the theme parks and a top-rated family hotel in Hawai'i. In our conversation, we’ll share everything you need to know about Aulani, offer advice for your next stay, and discuss all the reasons to add this location to your Di...

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is concluding a year-long update at Walt Disney World. Inspired by Disney-Pixar's Toy Story, this Magic Kingdom attraction opened in 1998. Its 2026 recharge includes new ride vehicles, enhanced gaming elements, other updates. In this episode, I interview Walt Disney Imagineers Kimberly Alison and Justin DeTolla about their work on the updated ride experience, and I chat with Drew the Disney Dude about his early preview at Magic Kingdom. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway. To plan a trip, be sure to work with...

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event takes place this August 14, 15, and 16 in Anaheim, California, just down the road from Disneyland. Today, Disney D23 announced ticket options for this event, including 1-day and 3-day options for the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center locations. D23 Gold Members can purchase tickets next week. Disney also announced details for D23 Day at Disneyland, D23 Night at Angel's Stadium, and other the Disney Legends Ceremony. This year's inductees include Bob Iger, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anne Hathaway, Susan Egan, Jerry Bruckheimer, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kim Irvine, and more. Get ad-free episodes, bonus...

World of Frozen at Disney Adventure World (Disneyland Paris) opened with an Olaf autonomous robotic character. Developed by Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development in partnership with Walt Disney Animations Studios, NVIDIA, and Google DeepMind, Olaf was developed in months using Newton, an AI open-source, extensible physics engine that advances robot learning and development. In this episode, I interview Moritz Baecher about his work on this new Disney Parks robotic character inspired by Frozen, and I chat with James Grosch from Guide2WDW about his preview of World of Frozen. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news...

Josh D'Amaro's is now the CEO of The Walt Disney Company. In this Disney news episode, we recap his first Disney shareholder meeting (held on March 18, 2026), discuss his vision for the future alongside Dana Walden and other Disney executives, analyze how Disney Parks and Walt Disney Studios might be impacted by his tenure, and recap Bob Iger's legacy as CEO between 2005 and 2026. Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium content at patreon.com/imaginationskyway. To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel.   Read Matt's Imagineering column in WDW Magazine.   Imagination Sk...

Cool Kids Summer is returning to Walt Disney World this summer from May 26 through September 8, 2026. In addition, new and refurbished attractions are opening this summer, including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Soarin' Across America, Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon, Bluey and Bingo at Conservation Station, and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live. Plus, new summer offers for resort stays, dining plans, and tickets can now be booked for summer 2026. To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel.   Get ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, in-depth news analysis, and premium c...

Pandora—The World of Avatar opened at Disney's Animal Kingdom in 2017, offering Walt Disney World guests an immersive land based on James Cameron's Avatar franchise. Designed by a team of Walt Disney Imagineers led Disney Legend Joe Rohde, Pandora takes Imagineering to a new level of immersive storytelling, engineering, and special effects. From Avatar Flight of Passage to Na'vi River Journey, Satu'li Canteen, the Floating Mountains and beyond, the land is filled with rich details that most guests will miss. In this episode, I chat with Tatjana Lazar from WDW Magazine to discuss our favorite Imagineering details an...