Imagination Skyway

Planning a surprise proposal at Walt Disney World? Wondering about the growing cost of a Disney vacation? Trying to plan the perfect first Disney trip for a one-year-old infant or a toddler? This podcast episode addresses listener questions about Disney travel, insights, and ideas.   To plan a trip, be sure to work with KMV Travel, voted the Top Travel Agency in Orlando in 2025 in Orlando Magazine’s annual “Best of ORL”. You can g...

Explore Cotino, A Storyliving by Disney Community—from its Imagineered design and Walt-inspired vision to model homes, the Artisan Club, the Parr House event space, and how to buy a home there. A complete guide to Disney’s first Storyliving neighborhood.

Take an in-depth look at Cotino, A Storyliving by Disney Community—a neighborhood blending Imagineering design, Disney storytelling, and mid-century modern living. Discover how W...

Dreaming of a European escape at Walt Disney World? In this episode of Imagination Skyway, we take you on an in-depth journey through Disney’s Riviera Resort, exploring everything it has to offer—from its Mediterranean-inspired art and architecture to world-class dining, Disney Skyliner access, pools, and Disney Vacation Club villa accommodations. Discover why this resort has become a fan favorite among Walt Disney World guests, ...

Do you love the music of Walt Disney World? The optimistic ambience of EPCOT's World Celebration, whimsical sounds of Magic Kingdom, organic vibes at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and cinematic orchestrations of Disney's Hollywood Studios each set the tone for the theme parks, as do the music loops found at the hotels (each one carefully curated to match the theme of the resort). In this episode, we dive into our favorite background m...

How do you capture the feeling of blasting through the cosmos on Space Mountain? In the 1990s, Imagineers Eddie Sotto and Aarin Richard were tasked with adding a synchronized on-board audio track to Space Mountain in Disneyland California and creating a synchronized on-board audio track for the brand new Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris. In this episode of Imagination Skyway, we journey into the creation of Space Mountain’s gro...

In this post-Disney Magical Express world, there are many ways to get between Orlando International Airport and your Walt Disney World Resort hotel. My transportation of choice is JLS Exclusive Transportation, a small business I've been using and promoting for the last few years. Whether you're looking for an airport transfer (to anywhere in Florida) or a special night out, JLS can accommodate all your transportation needs and wil...

Walt Disney World is unveiling new Audio-Animatronics updates across multiple attractions. Guests can meet a brand-new Benjamin Clawhauser figure in Zootopia: Better Zoogether! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, enjoy upgraded Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff figures in Frozen Ever After at EPCOT, and zoom into Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets with the first-ever Muppets Audio-Animatronics, including Scooter and more surprises.

Enjo...

The Beak & Barrel Pirates of the Caribbean tavern is the latest lounge to open at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. This immersive dining location (for all ages) brings guests into the world of Pirates of the Caribbean (the ride and the film franchise). Complete with a rowdy pirate crew, an affable parrot first mate (Rummy), story-driven details, and savory food and drink, The Beak & Barrel is an experience that will lea...

The Cake Bake Shop and GEO-82 are two new dining experiences in the EPCOT Resort Area, both opening in 2025. The Cake Bake Shop is a family-owned small business run by Gwendolyn Rogers at Disney's BoardWalk, featuring breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner at the main restaurant and baked goods at the adjacent bakery. GEO-82 is the newest adult-exclusive lounge at EPCOT (all guests must be 21 or older to enter this venue) located in...

Disney Destiny, the newest member of the Disney Cruise Line fleet as part of the Disney Wish class of ships (along with the Disney Treasure), sets sail on November 20, 2025. With a heroes and villains theme, the Disney Destiny will feature Disney, Pixar and Marvel characters who will spring to life as guests enjoy legendary dining, iconic entertainment, daring adult escapes, family friendly attractions, and of course spacious stat...

Destination D23 2025 took place at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World. This year's theme marked "A Journey Around the Worlds of Disney" and featured several panels, including a Walt Disney Studios Showcase, a Disney Villains presentation, a chat with Roy P. Disney (grandson of Roy O. Disney), Three Caballeros panels, an exploration of the life and career of X Atencio, a Disney 80s/90s Concert, a panel of Disney ...

The Swan and Dolphin are Marriott Bonvoy properties that have been at Walt Disney World since 1990 (their sister Marriott property, Swan Reserve, opened in 2021), and they hosted my family for a two-night stay at the Swan on a recent trip to Central Florida. As a good neighbor hotel officially with Disney Deluxe Resort benefits, the Swan is located in the EPCOT Crescent Lake resort area with easy walking distance (or Friendship bo...

Disneyland Hotel was the first hotel or resort to feature the Disney name. Opened by Jack Wrather in partnership with Walt Disney, the Disneyland Hotel was not officially owned by The Walt Disney Company until Michael Eisner's Disney tenure, but it has been delighting Disneyland guests with Disney-themed spaces since October 1955. Today, the Disneyland Hotel includes four towers (Adventure Tower, Discovery Tower, Fantasy Tower, an...

Disney Adults have an affinity for Disney Parks, Disney Animation, Disney Consumer Products, and other Disney Experiences. They make frequent visits to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, or any other Disney Destination. They prioritize Disney movies and watch Disney shows. They decorate their home with Disney designs, and they yearn for more Disney experiences.   In this episode, I chat with AJ Wolfe of Disney Food...

Walt Disney Imagineering invited me on a very special and exclusive tour of their headquarters at 1401 Flower Street in Glendale, California. This tour gave me the chance to chat with Imagineers, visit multiple Imagineering departments (model shop, sculpting, sound, animation, and R&D), attend demonstrations and presentations, and experiment with some innovative Imagineering technology. I got to power on a realistic Star Wars ...

Walt Disney—A Magical Life opened at Disneyland on July 17, 2025 (the 70th anniversary of Disneyland) in the Main Street Opera House (to be rotated with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln). With Walt Disney One Man's Dream as the opening sequence, this new attraction features the first-ever Audio-Animatronic figure to depict Walt Disney. On July 15, I had the honor of attending a special media preview of this brand new show with the o...

Walt Disney Imagineering invited me on a very special and exclusive tour of their headquarters at 1401 Flower Street in Glendale, California. This tour gave me the chance to chat with Imagineers, visit multiple Imagineering departments (model shop, sculpting, sound, animation, and R&D), attend demonstrations and presentations, and experiment with some innovative Imagineering technology. I got to power on a realistic Star Wars ...

Disneyland Park is celebrating its 70th (platinum) anniversary this year. Over the next year, guests who visit the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California will get to enjoy a new "Celebrate Happy" anniversary song recorded by the Jonas Brothers, special entertainment, anniversary decor and merchandise, festive food and drink, attraction updates, and unique experiences. World of Color Happiness, Paint the Night, Wondrous Journeys,...

Walt Disney Imagineers create lands and attractions that often represent real places. From the bustling streets of Harambe to the colorful gardens of the France Pavilion, Walt Disney World offers guests the chance to experience and learn about other parts of the globe. While our discussion isn’t collectively exhaustive, we discuss some of our favorite examples of the ways in which the Imagineers transport us to global destinations...