Disney Loosens Mask Restrictions, Park Capacity Increased & The Amazing Chinese Disneylands

Episode Description On this week's episode we go over Shawn's recent trip to Disneyland including how it felt almost like "normal" without many of the restrictions we've seen during Covid. Plus we make a big announcement about the future of the show and talk about what we think the future holds for the Disney company and its projects coming out of Covid. Episode Notes 2:05 - SoCal Theme park Covid update 4:37 - What the Disneyland experience is like now - Less masks and no capacity restrictions 8:30 - Disneyland without Fastpass 11:10 Impressed with Disneyland cast friendliness 14:35 Disneyland fireworks are back & quick tip for watching 16:40 Big announcement about the future of  the Disney Hacks podcast 19:10 Our Disney predictions for the next year and beyond 22:30 The competition for Disney is still strong Subscribe, Share & Review! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Episode Description On this week's episode Gregg and Shawn take a look at the history behind Disney's worst park: Disney Studios Paris. There's also a ton of news to catch up on including fireworks returning to the US parks, new rooms at the Contemporary, Bob Chapek having no idea when Splash Mountain was built and a whole lot more!  Episode Notes 7:35 - Chapek on Splash Mountain 10:44 - New fireworks shows planned at Disney World 13:00 - Single rider lines return 14:14 - Disney hiring issues 17:53 - Incredibles themed rooms at the Contemporary 20:21 - Ohana redecorating 22:40 - Fireworks are returning! 24:14 - Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway updates 26:31 - Three minute tips: Disney transportation 29:32 - Disney Studios Paris early history 36:52 - Future expansions and improvements to Disney Studios Paris Subscribe, Share & Review! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Episode Description On this week's show we talk all about the recent opening of Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure. Gregg was there on opening day and he'll share what the brand new land is like, what he liked and how the park experience was in California. He'll also talk about being back at Disneyland including how the queues are being handled and how wait times are at Walt's original Magic Kingdom. We'll also head out to the East Coast for some Walt Disney World news including an opening timeframe for Space 2020, a new castle show for Magic Kingdom and another Skyliner crash! Episode Notes 4:41 - A new castle projection show for the 50th anniversary? 6:16 - Transportation updates at Disney World 8:16 - Space 220, is it finally happening!? 11:03 - Club level returns to Disney hotels 13:51 - Gregg goes back to Disneyland! 18:38 - A unique experience at the Haunted Mansion 21:17 - Checking out Splash Mountain 23:24 - Rise of the Resistance 27:44 - Virtual queues, how do they work? 33:22 - WEB Slingers 39:32 - Avengers Campus impressions 50:12 - Hilton Anaheim Subscribe, Share & Review! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Episode Description On this week's show we dive deep into the history of one of Disney's most storied park. No park has transformed more in its life than Disney California Adventure. We go over what it was like on launch day, how it had the worst ever Disney attraction and how it evolved into something much better today. Plus we'll discuss Disneyland news including when they will allow non-California residents, how the Disneyland Hotel is coming back with a refresh and when the Jungle Cruise returning. Plus Joe talks about Universal's mask rules and Disney indicates park pass reservations and virtual queues are here to stay.  Episode Notes 4:07 - Avengers CAmpus 8:53 - Jungle Cruise updates 10:11 - Disneyland Hotel refurbishment 12:32 - Disney World social distancing changes 18:36 - Universal's updated mask policy 21:29 - Disneyland Paris updates 22:59 - The history of Disney's California Adventure 33:22 - Hollywood Pictures Backlot 37:26 - Condor Flats 42:30 - Paradise Pier 47:40 - Updating the park 52:09 - The California Adventure makeover! Subscribe, Share & Review! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Episode Description Disney World has changed up some of their policies around masks and physical distancing, so we discuss and speculate on how capacity might be changing. Plus, we start a series about all the Disney parks around the world in Asia with Shanghai and Hong Kong Disneyland! Episode Notes 3:21 - Disneyland updates 5:50 - Park capacity increasing? 9:38 - Three minute tips: new mask rules at Disney World 12:20 - A deep dive into Shanghai Disneyland 27:20 - A deep dive into Hong Kong Disneyland Subscribe, Share & Review! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Episode Description Disneyland's open so we discuss what changes have happened and all the exciting news. Plus, Disney released exciting information about their newest cruise ship the Disney Wish - it looks beautiful. We also chat about details regarding the Galactic Starcruiser restaurant and the reopening of the Peoplemover. Good news for Disney fans all around! Episode Notes 3:29 - Visiting Six Flags Magic Mountain 5:43 - Disneyland is open! 15:07 - The Disney Wish looks amazing 19:50 - Disneyland Hotel Paris room refurbishment 22:00 - Galactic Starcruiser restaurant details 23:46 - Ideas for other IP-themed lands 25:17 - Peoplemover! Subscribe, Share & Review! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Episode Description Disneyland is marching towards re-opening at the end of April and we have all of the info you need to book your tickets and navigate their new reservations system. Gregg is heading to both parks at Disneyland Resort for the opening of Avengers Campus on June 4 and Shawn is waiting for out of state guests to be allowed. Meanwhile across the Pacific Shanghai Disneyland debuted their new nighttime spectacular that is nothing short of amazing. We also learned even more about Tokyo DisneySea's Fantasy Springs expansion. This is a land you'll want to visit! Finally we update some quick stories at Walt Disney World including the impressive Moana rooms, Epcot's new shop name and how Shawn was wrong about the new lights being installed on Spaceship Earth! Episode Notes 2:04 - Disneyland ticketing problems 10:12 - Avengers Campus is opening 12:23 - What's opening with Disneyland 14:43 - New/updated experiences 18:46 - Three minute tip: Mobile ordering at Disney World 21:58 - Fantasy Springs extension in Tokyo DisneySea 26:48 - Illuminate nighttime spectacular at Shanghai Disneyland 28:40 - Spaceship Earth lighting package 29:46 - Updates to the "Disney look" 33:03 - Polynesian Moana room update 36:38 - Creations Shop at Epcot Subscribe, Share & Review! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Welcome to the Disney Hacks Podcast where we show you how to save time & money on Disney. Episode Description Disneyland is marching closer to reopening but they aren't the only ones. Parks across California are ramping up and we'll discuss what it is like to visit them. Gregg went to Magic Mountain on opening day and he'll also discuss what it was like visiting Disney's "A Touch of Disney" food festival. We also discuss Shawn's experience at Legoland and Seaworld over in Florida. On the trip planning side Joe Cheung joins in to talk a bit about Walt Disney World tickets and we also discuss how your smartphone will soon be your ticket. Speaking of Disney World, Florida is releasing a limited edition Disney plate that is beautiful and we also learned more about the upcoming changes to Jungle Cruise and some of the characters being added. Lots of stuff. Enjoy and don't forget to leave us a review! Episode Notes 3:02 - Disneyland reopening updates 5:40 - Gregg's experience at a Touch of Disney 11:30 - Jungle Cruise announcements 13:44 - New Magic Mobile Band! 16:52 - Disney World 50th Anniversary License Plates 18:39 - Disney World Tickets (Three minute tips) 21:40 - Back in the theme parks! Seaworld San Diego 23:59 - Seaworld Orlando and Legoland Florida on the ground experience 32:18 - Southern California's first major park reopens and what it is like Subscribe, Share & Review! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Welcome to the Disney Hacks Podcast where we show you how to save time & money on Disney. Episode Description We now know a lot more about the re-opening of Disneyland and other California amusement parks. We'll go over exactly what we know including which parks are going to open on April 1 and when Disneyland will open its doors again. How much will Disneyland cost? Until they re-open many of the Southern California parks are running food festivals as well. Gregg is going to many of them and he recaps the Boysenberry Festival at Knott's which sounds quite delicious! Boysenberry funnel cake. It's been too long. We also catch up with the latest Disney World fan controversy. EPCOT seems to be triggering a lot of people lately. Thankfully the new concept art for Magic Kingdom's Cinderella Castle is stunning and you'll want to see it. Finally, with the Happiest Place on Earth (Disneyland) finally coming back Gregg and Shawn discuss what they are most looking forward to in the park/resort. Where are we running to first when inside the gates? Episode Notes 1:59 - Taste of Boysenberry 4:24 - California theme parks reopening! 6:01 - Disneyland reopening details! 15:14 - Spaceship Earth lighting package 18:49 - Cool Disney World castle concept 20:36 - Remy's Ratatouille adventure opening date 24:46 - What we're most looking forward to at Disneyland Subscribe, Share & Review! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!

Welcome to the Disney Hacks Podcast where we show you how to save time & money on Disney. Episode Description Disneyland and other California theme parks will be able to re-open as soon as April 1. The bombshell news dropped recently and while we aren't sure the parks will be open on exactly that date, we should be seeing them come back to life very soon. And speaking of back to life, before they are able to re-open with rides, many of the Southern California parks including Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios and Disney California Adventure are having food festivals. Are they worth the cost? We also discuss Walt Disney World news including the brand new lighting package installed at Epcot's entrance. It is beautiful. On the flip side Harmonious continues to be installed and its set pieces are ugly and off center. Is this a huge Imagineering blunder? Speaking of those we finish the show with a look at some of Disney's biggest mistakes. Which parks/rides/experiences were so bad that Disney had to immediately fix them. Some of them are so bad, but can't be fixed. Our picks might surprise you! Episode Notes 3:03 - Disneyland reopening? 11:35 - Touch of Disney at Disney's California Adventure 16:31 - Food festivals at other theme parks 20:13 - Epcot monstrosity 23:27 - Epcot's slick new entrance 25:32 - New Moana themed Polynesian rooms 28:26 - Shawn's going to Orlando? 32:23 - Disney Imagineering blunders Subscribe, Share & Review! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at [email protected].  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Sticher, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!