Disney At Work Podcast

At the start of a terrible pandemic one year ago, Bob Chapek was surprisingly placed in the difficult position of being Disney's new CEO. The year that followed has been a horrific period for businesses across the globe. Today The Walt Disney Company held their annual shareholders meeting for 2021. We look at what was announced in that meeting, as well as reflect on the events of the last year. We make a case that Bob Chapek has done some heavy lifting in keeping this company not only alive, but in making it agile and even innovative. While his performance isn't perfect, the period of his tenure has been remarkable given such difficult times. We look at why people throw criticism at Bob Chapek, particularly petty, personal comments that have nothing to do with performance. We look at how that is reflected in most workplaces, as too often the boss at the top becomes the shared enemy that unifies others. We look at why that's unproductive, and why Chapek's own performance as CEO has merit.

The State of California noted on Friday new guidelines for theme parks and stadiums that could conceivably offer a window for Disneyland to reopen as early as April 1st. We look at what has come down from the state, how Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock has responded, and offer insights and thoughts around when this might actually happen as well as the implications.

  We visit Epcot on a beautiful Spring day as we see blossoms and topiaries in full bloom during this year's flower & garden festival. It begins at the entrance of the park, where new flag stanchions, and a beautiful new score welcomes guests as they first enter the park. We check out flower & garden favorites such as the butterfly corner in Future World and the container gardens in Italy. We talk not only about what is unique during the festival, but what things you can see all year around such as the rooftop plantings in Norway and the train Garden in Germany. And did we mention topiaries? Lots of beautiful topiaries can be found throughout. We also check out several eateries during the festival, offering reviews of the food and visiting World Showplace. The new "Stargate" has been placed into World Showcase Lagoon, and we offer thoughts and insights as well as discussing the openings of the new gelato location in Italy and Space 220 in Future World. We cap off the experience as we see the new ligh

We spend an evening visiting the Magic Kingdom to check out the crowds, construction, and the latest happenings at the park. During our time we take you on a spin at the Astro Orbiter in Tomorrowland. We head over to the Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland and the Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square. We then take a look at what's happening at "it's a small world" and Mickey's PhilarMagic. We check out construction at Cinderella Castle as it takes on the next phase of preparations for Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary. We consider how Disney responds when an attraction like Pirates of the Caribbean goes completely down with no hope of being back in operation that same day. All this and an update discussion about eating in safe places during this COVID time.

More guests are deciding to return to the parks even though restrictions and restraints due to COVID-19 are still in play. With little expectation that such restrictions will change much over the remainder of the year, guests planning a visit in the months to come must make important choices as to how they dine. This is always a big part of the Disney theme park experience, but its relevance is even greater during this pandemic. Just which restaurants are your better choices during this period. Having been in the park nearly 75 times since re-opening, we look at those issues that guests struggle with, and offer insights as to what choices might be best whether its counter service or full-scale dining at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios or Disney's Animal Kingdom. Red, Yellow and Green scores with comments and insights will help you as a guest determine your best culinary choices for your upcoming visit. We are offering a new program where you have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive offerings

On a very windy and rainy day we head out to Epcot to check on a number of activities going on. Before entering the park, we take a look at the new colorful Leave a Legacy display that has been added to the front entrance to the park. Inside we talk about new announcements made for Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary, to include a new light aesthetic being planned for Spaceship Earth. We check out construction on Guardians of the Galaxy, MouseGear, Ratatouille and the new gelato location in Italy. We see some of the preparations underway for the upcoming Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, and also take in the Voices of Liberty as they perform Disney Songbook at the American Adventure Gardens Theater. All this and a little barbecue across the way in this update to Epcot at Walt Disney World. Be sure to also check out our new Disney Wayfinder Society, a Patreon group with the Disney fan in mind. Check it out!

Bettina Crzeskowiak is no ordinary Disney Cast Member. Her story of seeking out an opportunity to work at Epcot in Germany is just a sampling of her tenacity. She also was part of the original team when the Disney Wonder launched. But her own life story beyond that is what really makes Bettina truly magical, as she fought poverty, abuse and other challenges only to rise to become a leader in helping homeless people in the shadows of Walt Disney World. This is her story, and how she came to create Embrace Celebration. You'll hear her vision for helping others, and you'll be invited in how you can help for as little as $5 a month while receiving amazing interactive tools and multimedia showcasing all things Disney through the Wayfinder's Society, our new Patreon Group. Check it out! Bettina's story is an amazing journey. To know more about the Wayfinder Society, click here. To know more about Embrace Celebration, click here.

Some of the greatest gems in Disney's theme parks are not so easily seen or known. A term given to these treasures is "sleeper" attractions. We talk about what this term means, share an example from Epcot's Cranium Command, and then set sail across the globe to see examples of great "sleeper" attractions in Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disney, and Tokyo Disney Resort. You may have never heard about these attractions before, but once you become familiar with them, you may never want to visit these parks without checking them out.

The Walt Disney Company held it's quarterly call for the first quarter. We take an in-depth look at the announcements and references made for its theme parks and beyond. We look specifically at The Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and all parks globally. We not only share what was stated during the quarterly call, but what has been shared by leaders elsewhere. More importantly we give further insight to those announcements, and then talk about what hasn't been shared. It's a full podcast with much insights as to how Disney is coping during this pandemic in the theme parks. All of it lends itself to the question, when do you want to go back to Disney?  

There is an architectural expression that "form follows function". But in our recent stay at Disney's Boardwalk & Villas, we found that the unique form that creates Boardwalk's turn-of-century charm can sometimes stand in the way or at least make one forget that function does really matter. We'll look at different elements of a stay, from arrival and check in, to rooms themselves. We'll explore restaurants, shopping and entertainment along the boardwalk. And we'll look at transportation issues, meetings & conventions, and its position inside the entire Walt Disney World complex. Join us as we review Disney's Boardwalk Resort & Villas.

We are long overdue for an update at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and despite a little rain, it was a great time to be in the park. We check out what's happening in Pandora, and then passing through Africa, we talk of the good news and bad news of Festival of the Lion King returning this summer. What does it mean for all Walt Disney World shows? From there we try out what may be the best counter service cheeseburger in the Walt Disney World parks (Hint: It isn't a restaurant ran by Disney) and then we head through Dinoland to discuss changes going on there. Did you know that Disneyland originally had real alligators? We'll talk about all that, as well as my observations as Disney handled a difficult guest who wasn't willing to keep his facial covering on. All this and so much more in this update at Disney's Animal Kingdom for February 6th, 2021!

We stroll the Magic Kingdom on a beautiful, sunny, but cool day. The crowds are soft but the park looks great. We check out all the lands of the park, and we look at not one, but three character cavalcades as they flow through the park. We talk about changes to the Jungle Cruise, and construction on Tron. We discuss rumors and headline bating around the PeopleMover and The Hall of Presidents. We also check out the menu at the Tomorrowland Terrance, to include an amazing Minnie Mouse chocolate lava cookie. All this and more on this park update for January 30th, 2021.

Classic attractions at Disney like the World Famous Jungle Cruise are nothing to take for "granite" especially when others consider it to be sandstone. Disney has announced changes to the Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. These changes breathe new life into this venerable and popular attraction, while at the same time being thoughtful and respectful and more inclusive. We look at the announcements made, and the context behind all of it. We also throw in our thoughts as to what's still missing in these announcements.

Aye, Matey, Welcome Aboard! This be Disney at Plays and I'm your host, Captain Jeff Kober. We be sailing the Seven Seas today looking at Pirates of the Caribbean the world over. Only we're not just looking at the rides themselves, we are looking at the entire lands in which they are placed in. We're taking a look at theming, entertainment, dining, shopping, additional attractions and so much more. This is a Disney comparison podcast, and we are going to share with you insights from Pirates of the Caribbean as seen from five different Magic Kingdom-style theme parks. So steady as she goes! There be fierce comparisons ahead! For more Pirate treasure, please join our Disney Wayfinder Society where you'll find interactive maps, guides, media and more. It's the best Patreon group you'll ever join! Find us here to learn more!

We have a big update from Epcot as the gates to the new section of France where the Ratatouille attraction will be has now opened. With the ride waiting to open shortly, we check out the path leading to this new corner of Epcot. We also find Elsa making outdoor meet 'n' greet experiences in Norway. Lots of discoveries are made as we visit the Epcot International Festival of the Arts to include testing out the kiosk at Japan. A new barge appears in World Showcase Lagoon for HarmoniUS, and we set sail on the Gran Fiesta Tour to find Donald Duck, whose animatronic is not in a good place. All this and more as we check out Epcot at Walt Disney World in this Disney at Play podcast. 

We are promptly at Disney's Hollywood Studios at its official opening time of 9:00 am to check out the park. We usually suggest getting earlier, but we decide to see what the park is like right at opening. Our first hour we are able to do Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway as well as Rise of the Resistance. We check out the construction on the new Toy Story Barbecue Restaurant, and look at new merchandise in Mickey's of Hollywood. All this and much more in this Disney at Play podcast as we enjoy a morning at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World.

If there weren't enough major announcements coming out of Disney Parks this week, it has now been announced that Disneyland is ending its annual pass program. We'll study the announcement, study the response that has been made by Disneyland fans, look at the ramifications of this announcement as well as the solutions for moving forward. I'll also share my personal experience with Disneyland's annual pass and how it's been a part of my life since the 1980's.

Walt Disney World made two major announcements that affect not only guests staying on property but also annual pass holders. It was announced that Disney's Magical Express providing complimentary airport transportation to and from The Walt Disney World Resort will be discontinued in 2022. Also announced was Early Theme Park Entry that will replace Extra Magic Hours that provided exclusive resort entry into the parks at designated times both before and after you enter the park. John and Lori Scali join me as we look carefully at both of these announcements, and discuss their implications. Moreover, we'll look at how these events speak to the way you provide your customer experience.

Our family visits Epcot on a cold but sunny start to its annual International Festival of the Arts. We check out the new fountain outside Spaceship earth, plus construction on Innoventions West and Guardians of the Galaxy, which is taking over the Universe of Energy. Then its on to Epcot's Taste of International Festival of the Arts, where we check out activities, booths, food, entertainment and more. Plus we take a look at the new barge for HarmoniUS and its moving arm being tested for the first time. There's lots to see and do during this Epcot festival, join us as we canvas the entire park.

As we experience difficult and heavy news and current events, I think the timing of this podcast is really needed. Jacob and Jonah bring our fourth Kingdom for Kids podcast focusing on Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. These boys have done a wonderful job of articulating their love of this park, and their coverage is both fun and insightful. This podcast is a spoonful of sugar for swallowing the medicine of these hard times. Take a break and enjoy this podcast! It's a podcast by kids for kids, but if you're a kid at heart, you'll love this park review.