State of the Kingdom: Q3 2026

This fall, the ImaginIdiots are coming together for Give Kids The World Village.Give Kids The World is an 89-acre nonprofit resort in Kissimmee, Florida, providing weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families.From September 28 through November 16, our goal is to raise $1,000 to support the incredible experiences they create for wish families.In this special episode, Kaity, Stephen, and Marissa share more about the Village, why this organization feels so connected to the things we talk about every week, and what can happen when a community puts a little imagination toward doing something good together.Every donation helps, no matter the size. And if you aren’t able to donate, sharing the fundraiser helps too.💜 Donate to our Give Kids The World fundraiser here.Let’s see what the ImaginIdiots can do.Send us Fan MailDon't forget to check us out on Instagram!

One month after D23, Disney’s announced future is already starting to take clearer shape.In our Q3 State of the Kingdom, we check in on what’s opened, what’s going vertical, and what’s changed since Disney laid out its latest roadmap. From The Magic of Disney Animation and Tropical Americas to Monstropolis, Piston Peak, Space Mountain Earthrise and a newly updated Toy Story Land attraction, we’re looking at the details becoming real across the parks.Then, we turn to the technology and rumors we’re watching, including a possible helicopter tease, Disneyland’s transforming pirate, and a new patent that could change what Disney is able to put in the skies.  Which, naturally, leads us to the possibility of Kathy Copter over Piston Peak and flying presidents like George Washington taking to the skies. D23 gave us the roadmap. Now we get to watch what actually happens to it.Send us Fan MailDon't forget to check us out on Instagram!

Piston Peak surprised us.After seeing the model at D23, what stood out wasn’t just the rides. It was the place itself: the mountains, water, trails, architecture, sightlines, and the way this unlikely Cars-meets-national-parks idea suddenly felt completely believable.In this offseason conversation, Stephen and Kaity dig into why Piston Peak may be one of Imagineering’s most interesting projects in development, from how it fits inside Frontierland to the design choices helping it feel like it belongs there.We also talk Parkitecture, Magic Kingdom’s changing skyline, the role of landscape and water, Miss Fritter’s unexpected addition, the new ride system, and what makes a theme park land somewhere you actually want to spend time.Not a news recap. A deeper look at why Piston Peak works, where it could stumble, and what Imagineering seems to be trying to accomplish.Send us Fan MailDon't forget to check us out on Instagram!

D23 gave us more answers about Villains Land. Two weeks later, we’re less interested in recapping what Disney announced and more interested in what those choices actually tell us.In our first offseason episode, Stephen, Kaity, and Jenny dig into the bigger creative questions behind Magic Kingdom’s newest land: whether an IP-based project can still be truly original Imagineering, why “Villains Land” may be exactly the right name, how years of concept art and rumors shaped expectations, and why family-friendly storytelling doesn’t have to mean removing fear.We also look at the difference between a good attraction idea and the right attraction idea, how the two announced rides may solve a much bigger design problem, where the concept could still fall short, and why some of the most interesting parts of Villains Land are the pieces Disney hasn’t shown us yet.This isn’t another announcement recap. It’s the conversation underneath it.Send us Fan MailDon't forget to check us out on Instagram!

We’re coming to you from Anaheim after one of the biggest nights of D23 2026.Fresh out of the Honda Center, Stephen, Kaity, and Jenny break down everything Disney Experiences revealed during Horizons: A Carousel of Progress, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and featuring the Imagineers shaping the future of Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line, and destinations around the world.We’re talking about what the biggest announcements actually mean for the parks, the projects that surprised us, the details that have us most excited, and what this showcase tells us about where Walt Disney Imagineering is headed next.Plus, after experiencing the entire presentation live from inside the Honda Center, we share what didn’t necessarily translate through the announcements alone: the biggest reactions in the room, the moments that landed, and what it felt like to watch Disney’s next chapter unfold in real time.There’s a great big, beautiful horizon ahead. Let’s talk about it.Help shape what comes next for IGTI. Take our short, anonymous Season 5 listener survey HERE!Send us Fan MailDon't forget to check us out on Instagram!

Season 4 comes to an end with our darkest challenge yet.Before Disney reveals more about Villains Land at D23, we wanted one final opportunity to imagine it ourselves.In this special season finale, three Idiots go head-to-head by designing different experiences for Disney's newest announced land. One will create a brand-new attraction, another a themed dining experience, and another a live entertainment spectacular. But only one project will earn a place in our version of Villains Land.Using our internal Imagineering evaluation system, Stephen and Amanda judge each concept on whether it is Fun, Understandable, Creative, and Thoughtful and ultimately greenlight just one winning project.Along the way, we also look back on the biggest season in Idiot's Guide to Imagineering history, celebrate three incredible years of the podcast, reflect on our favorite projects from Season 4, and share what you can expect from us after D23 and beyond.Join us for one final Imagineering challenge before the future of Villains Land is officially revealed.Send us Fan MailDon't forget to check us out on Instagram!

Disney recently announced the biggest overhaul to Carousel of Progress in decades… but how do you modernize one of Walt Disney’s most personal attractions without losing the heart that made it special?For our 100th original Imagineering project, we’re taking on that challenge with a concept built around one simple idea: progress doesn’t require replacing the past. It should build upon it.In this milestone episode, we imagine the Carousel of Preservation, a new pre-show experience that celebrates the attraction’s history while preparing guests for its future. We explore how Disney could preserve beloved elements of the original show, improve guest flow, honor Walt’s optimistic vision, and create a new chapter for one of Magic Kingdom’s most iconic attractions.Plus, we look back at the evolution of Idiot’s Guide to Imagineering across four seasons, celebrate 100 original projects with the ImaginIdiot community, and discuss how even the song “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” could evolve for a new generation.It’s a celebration of where we’ve been, where we’re going, and the future we’re excited to imagine together.Send us Fan MailDon't forget to check us out on Instagram!

The biggest Disney Parks event of the year is almost here, and the Idiots are making their predictions.In this special D23 2026 Predictions episode, Stephen, Kaity, and Jenny break down what they expect (and hope) Disney will reveal during the Disney Experiences Showcase. From Tropical Americas and Piston Peak to Monstropolis, Villains Land, international park expansions, Disney Cruise Line, and the projects that could completely surprise everyone, we’re separating the locks from the long shots.With D23 just weeks away, we’re looking at construction progress, past announcements, Imagineering trends, and Disney’s current strategy to predict what could be coming next for the parks.Plus, we share our plans for covering D23 live from Anaheim, what we’re hoping to experience at the event, and why this year’s showcase could give us our biggest glimpse yet at the future of Disney Imagineering.What will Disney announce? Which predictions will age well? And which ones will end up in the “what were these Idiots thinking?” category?Only one way to find out...Send us Fan MailDon't forget to check us out on Instagram!

Cars Land is already one of the most beloved and immersive themed lands Disney has ever built. So what happens when you try to improve something that's already great?This week, the Idiots head back to Disney California Adventure to tackle one of the most difficult Imagineering challenges we've faced all season: plussing a near-perfect land. After examining the history of Luigi's attraction and the role it plays within Radiator Springs, we propose a bold replacement: Luigi's Pit Crew Dash, a new family launch coaster that expands the story of Cars Land in a way no current attraction does.Guests become the test drivers for Luigi and Guido's newest pit crew recruits, racing through a high-speed training course complete with synchronized pit stop sequences, live evaluations, and a final public demonstration right in the heart of Radiator Springs.Along the way, we explore a bigger question about the future of themed entertainment: should attractions simply tell contained stories, or should they function as living parts of the worlds they inhabit?Send us Fan MailDon't forget to check us out on Instagram!

Tomorrowland is supposed to represent the future… so what happens when one of its oldest attractions starts feeling stuck in the past?This week, Kaity takes on one of Magic Kingdom’s most debated pieces of real estate: Tomorrowland Speedway. We explore replacing the opening-day attraction with Final Frontier with WALL•E & EVE, a new E-ticket space adventure that brings guests to the year 3505 for humanity’s next great expedition beyond Earth.At the McCrea Center for Space Research, guests join WALL•E and EVE aboard a KUKA-powered rocket pod as they travel through the cosmos, explore the moon, and help discover what the future of responsible space exploration could look like.Along the way, we discuss the challenge of adding another space-themed attraction to Disney parks, how WALL•E can expand beyond its original story, and why keeping Tomorrowland moving forward may require leaving parts of its past behind.Listen now and let us know: should Tomorrowland Speedway make way for the future?Send us Fan MailDon't forget to check us out on Instagram!