Get ahead on theme park outlook for 2026

I think this recent Disney patent app for holographic image generation is for the Encanto ride. - Object 404 is the set of two ride vehicles - The track rail is object 408 - Construction indicates lots of 90-degree turns w/show elements in corners, as shown ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/down...

Pirates is dumping the queue.

On this week's Disney Dish: - Jim gives us the history of EPCOT's Magic Journeys 3D film - I attend the last Jollywood Nights of the year - We remember Imagineer Eddie Sotto Plus the usual nonsense. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

First stop of the day!

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

NEW: In Memoriam Part II with a look back at PizzeRizzo, Muppet*Vision 3D, Tom Sawyer Island, the Rivers of America, Imagineer Eddie Sotto and Adam the Woo. Featuring guest tributes by @alicia.social @lentesta.bsky.social @leonardkinsey.bsky.social and more. touringplans.com/blog/saturda...

There are like 10 people in the park right now. It is GLORIOUS.

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Reception to all who celebrate. youtu.be/H1l5aTUK228?...

On this week's Disney Dish: - We're joined by podcaster Sam Marriccini, just back from the Disney Destiny, who says the ship's gameplay feels very Galactic Starcruiser-y. 🤔 - Jim continues the history of Disney 3D park films. Plus the usual nonsense! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...

Anyone have a Waymo invite code for Orlando?

It’s the number one travel planning book for anyone going to Walt Disney World for a reason guys. If you order TONIGHT Amazon will have it to you by Dec 22nd with Prime. linktr.ee/litemandhide...

#Imagineering has lost one of its greatest talent with the passing of #EddieSotto, who was both a colleague and friend. We spent a night where Eddie gave his time and suggestions for #RocknRollerCoaster when it was due to open. Eddie will be missed.

Attention marketing peoples: Disney Cruise Line survey asks if you used AI for trip research. If many people say 'yes', what does that change in your marketing approach? It seems much harder to influence an AI model than Google search, or paid IG/TikTok influencers. What's the plan here?

Get yourself out of that stupid office pizza party and go to Universal. Today is your lowest projected crowd levels between now and Christmas. Also check out the cool artwork on @touringplans.com courtesy of @robyeodesign.com

Then-Pepsi CFO Hugh Johnston said in 2022 "I actually think we’re capable of taking whatever pricing we need" Then Pepsi raised prices by double-digit percentages for 7 straight quarters. Guess where he's CFO now? www.thebignewsletter.com/p/secret-doc...

On this week's Disney Dish: - @bioreconstruct.bsky.social construction photos hints at new Encanto ride features - Orange County tax rev & Port Canaveral cruise numbers remain strong in October - Jim gives us the history and future of 3-D films in the parks podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

Suppose you want to predict the *actual* wait in line at Flight of Passage @ Animal Kingom. Say the posted wait is 100 min. You know from data: 50% of the time the wait will be 90 minutes or less 75% of the time the wait will be 120 minutes or less Which number do you show users: 90 or 120?

What's Disney getting out of this? $1B in OpenAI equity is like 0.002% of the company. And you're giving up Mickey Mouse? www.cnbc.com/2025/12/11/d...

Stormtrooper VLOG is hilarious. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI2c...

I'm going to be on LIVE RADIO at 6:15 pm Eastern to answer your Disney questions: Say "Alexa, play WGHQ" -or- hvbeacon.com *My close, personal friend Mike Newell is producing the show.

On this week's Disney Dish: - We have Universal's "transportation" RFQ and see where the stops are going - Disney's 2026 announcements - Jim tells us about the Roy E. Disney building in Burbank, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Plus the usual nonsense. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...

NEW: This week the SAT SIX looks at our favorite CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS at Epic Universe. A shocking amount of holiday displays for a park that has only been open for a half a year. Come see our favorites including the "Golden Bells" of Pizza Moon! touringplans.com/blog/the-sat...

Mike Carlson from Podcast: The Ride, and a close, personal friend who smells wonderful up close, as if a Diptyque candle and questionable life choices had a love child, is doing a standup show in Glendale tomorrow: www.eventbrite.com/e/improv-bea...

My most-played song was rediscovered through The Muppets.

Phenomenal deal on Don Hahn and @cdylanm.bsky.social's Disneyland 70th book. $32.50! amzn.to/4pLdyid

Happy 32nd anniversary to the oldest online post of mine I can find. From rec.arts.disney on November 29, 1993. There are earlier BBS posts that I assume are lost. I think I got my first modem in ... 1985?

On this week's Disney Dish: - A round of self-congratulations: We said in Dec 2024 that Disney was working on domestic dynamic pricing - Zootopia 2's box office and what it means for the parks - Jim finally makes it inside Trader Sam's Plus the usual nonsense. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

NEW: The 12th annual Theme Park Turkey of the Year Awards are here! We look back at the wildest stories from the past year: The Paddlefish robbery, AI slop, pizza box drama, EPCOT lighting issues, Schmoofy finally getting his "boneless waffle" in & MORE! LINK: touringplans.com/blog/saturda...

really went dark for the sequel

youtu.be/dKkuh0_PdLM Explore the IAAPA Expo 2025 show floor in Orlando, discover the newest ride systems, vendor innovations, and hear behind-the-scenes stories that fuel the future of themed entertainment. See the surprises at every booth. #IAAPA #IAAPA2025 #TEA #TEAaward #TEAawards #Dollywood

The five of us reading a Thanksgiving cake label that says "serves 12 to 16"

Thank you to @wucf.bsky.social!! www.instagram.com/reel/DRhkw-H...

So you made a robot stand up and talk... now what? In this over 4-hour journey, Kevin follows the promise of Disney's Living Character Initiative, an effort to populate Disney theme parks with free-roaming, interactive beings. It was touted as the future. How's it going? Watch here: bit.ly/49C6vng

How is mobile order 2.7 HOURS from now??

#Zampera showcased this family ride at #IAPPA. Riders flap their arms to rise. More on YouTube.com/jimhshull

I wrote on @boingboing.net about Disney losing the rights to Roger Rabbit - they reverted to the author of the original novel boingboing.net/2025/11/17/d...

Here's your chance! Christopher Eliopoulos will draw a custom watercolor portrait of you and your family in the style of his New York Times bestselling children’s book series Ordinary People. ebay.us/m/56dx76

On this week's Disney Dish: - The case of the missing dwarf - Disney's luggage service expands - What's up with table service availability? - and Nixon's "I am not a crook" speech at the Contemporary Resort podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

EPCOT's Coral Reef restaurant might be getting ride of lunch service after January 3, 2026 based on dining reservation availability: touringplans.com/blog/is-cora...

Donated to a good cause. I'm the one with the note that says "It's @derekburgan.bsky.social's fault. I don't know what or how, but I know who."

The detail in Derek's post is only topped by the detail in the land.

Universal Orlando's looking to build a dedicated transportation network that ... might involve tunnels? h/t @parkscopejoe.bsky.social www.wftv.com/news/9invest...

WHY IS IT DARK AT THREE THIRTY IN THE AFTERNOON

On this week's Disney Dish podcast: - We review Zootopia: Better Zoogether - "No Negative November" continues with a review of upcoming holiday events - Jim gives us the history of Disneyland's "Murderhorn" ... I mean "Matterhorn" ride podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...

Aerial photo of show building construction for the Encanto ride in Animal Kingdom. Freshly poured concrete in bottom left.

I'm doing a Disney trip planning Q&A with the Washington Post at noon Eastern today. Link below. If you'd like to direct a question to me specifically, maybe put my name first, like this: "Len: What the hell is wrong with you?" www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2025/...

Pants I ordered from ProperCloth.com have been stuck in Cincinnati since Oct 26 due to ... the US Fish and Wildlife Service??!? There's a joke in here somewhere, I just know it. ProperCloth are awesome, btw.