Inside the Magic

After discussion of Walt Disney World testing the Fastpass of the future and announcing a new Pirates attraction, Ricky reviews Marvel’s The Avengers as it smashes box office records. Then we welcome Imagineer Jonathan Ackley back to the show along with Imagineer Matt Beiler to discuss Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure, coming soon to Epcot, as well as Splitsville co-founder Mark Gibson to discuss the new entertainment concept restaurant coming to Downtown Disney. Read More

Beyond news of upcoming Disneyland D23 events and newly-announced films, Ricky talks Test Track with Walt Disney Imagineers to learn the details of the ongoing ride update to take guests into the digital realm of automotive design. Then we learn more details and opening dates for New Fantasyland attractions as Walt Disney Imagineer Chris Beatty leads us on a tour through Storybook Circus and behind the construction wall to take an inside look at The Little Mermaid and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train rides as well as the Beauty and the Beast area. Read More

It’s been a BIG Disney news week and we cover it all including the D23 tweet-up marking the return of the Little Orange Bird to the Magic Kingdom, the debut of the new Vision House exhibit at Epcot’s Innoventions, the massive ElecTRONica finale dance party at Disney California Adventure, and Rich Ross’ departure as chairman of the Walt Disney Studios. Plus we hear Kirk Douglas give a surprising performance at a recent 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea screening in Hollywood. And we take a trip to the Magic Kingdom and back listening to the new monorail narration that debuted this week, plus dive into monorail history in To Disney and Beyond with Adam Alcantara. Read More

Today marks the end of two popular Disney attractions, ElecTRONica at Disney California Adventure and Test Track at Epcot. In addition to news surrounding these and other closings as well as upcoming grand openings and more, we take final trip to ride Test Track with binaural audio, from the queue to the pre-show to the ride itself. Read More

Details of exciting Destination D concerts and Star Wars Weekends celebrities along with other upcoming theme park events fill this week’s news. Then we welcome Adam Alcantara to discuss whether the Disney Vacation Club is right for you. We conclude with listener feedback, not only from e-mails but also fielding live questions from the chat room. Read More

No April Fool’s joke – The Avengers take over a Walt Disney World monorail this week, among other big Disney news. Then we head back to the new Disney Fantasy cruise ship for an in-depth look at the Muppets Adventure Game, part of the Midship Detective Agency. And after some listener feedback, we jump to Disneyland Paris to share the full debut performance of the new Disney Dreams nighttime spectacular. Read More

After exciting news about upcoming Disney hotels, attractions, and video games, we offer a complete report from the new Disney Fantasy cruise ship Inaugural preview. Aboard the new Disney Cruise Line ship, we cover everything from new features like the AquaLab, Satellite Falls, Muppets Adventure Game, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and Europa to restaurant and show reviews along with a few surprises. Read More

We take a trip inside Storybook Circus as it opens as the first phase of the New Fantasyland expansion at the Magic Kingdom with the new Dumbo, Barnstormer, and Fantasyland Train Station. Hollywood Drive-In Golf also opened this week at Universal Orlando, with two uniquely fun miniature golf courses. And Ricky reviews the new Blu-ray release of The Muppets. Read More

This week’s news includes the announcements of the Cars Land grand opening and 2013 D23 Expo and dates, among many other big stories. Ricky reviews the surprisingly good sci-fi movie, John Carter. Then we head to Universal Orlando Islands of Adventure for interviews with Universal Creative designers Eric Parr and Thierry Coup about the reopening of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride. Finally, new contributor Maggie Cambron offers tips for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. Read More

News this week includes the D23 announcement of Fanniversary event details. We also head to New York for the Christening of the new Disney Fantasy cruise ship featuring Neil Patrick Harris and the ship’s fairy godmother Mariah Carey. Then we bring you to One More Disney Day with reports from the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Park for 24 hours of excitement, including binaural audio from our own Inside the Magic meet-up. Read More

Surprising news this week includes Walt Disney World announcing attraction closings and openings. Ricky shares thoughts and a scene from the newly-updated Blue Man Group show at Universal Orlando. Then we are joined by Walt Disney Imagineer Jonathan Ackley to discuss the creation of the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom role-playing game. Finally, Ricky answers your questions in Listener Feedback. Read More

One More Disney Day plans begin to surface along with other Disney and theme park news. Then we take a retro-style trip to Disney California Adventure for the new Minnie’s Fly Girls Charter Airlines show. From MegaCon 2012 in Orlando, TRON stories are shared in a panel discussion featuring Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan, and Peter Jurasik. Read More

With no one single stand-out story this week, Ricky explores each of many smaller Disney and theme park news stories in detail, adding a few thoughts and opinions along the way. Changes to FastPass rules, Kilimanjaro Safari and it’s a small world, sound bites from this week’s Walt Disney World visits from First Lady Michelle Obama and Super Bowl 46 MVP Eli Manning, Disney Cruise Line excitement, and much more. Plus, your questions are answered in Listener Feedback. Read More

After discussing rumored attraction opening dates and other theme park news, Ricky reviews the new Lady and the Tramp Diamond Edition release to Blu-ray. Then we take a trip to the Magic Kingdom for the new romantic version of The Magic, the Memories, and You! And following last week’s Disneyland Hotel review, Ricky offers a trip report from the rest of the Disneyland Resort, including the new Main Street USA music, Jolly Holiday Bakery, Lunar New Year Celebration, Disney Gallery, New Orleans Square band, and changes at Disney California Adventure. Then we end we a special Super Bowl 34 halftime performance by Disney. Read More

In addition to a few Disney surprises, we run through all the new experiences announced for Universal Orlando in 2012, including the Cinematic Spectacular and Superstar Parade. Then we head west to Disneyland as Ricky reviews the newly-renovated Disneyland Hotel, including an in-depth discussion of its towers, rooms, restaurants, and pools. Read More