Imagineer Podcast

When I first created the Imagineer Podcast, I wanted to pay homage to Walt Disney Imagineers, the creative geniuses who design and create the Disney Parks & Resorts. That's why I'm incredibly proud to be able to share an interview I had with a retired Engineer, Guy Spagnoli, who knows a thing or two about Walt Disney Imagineering. Guy is not only a gifted and experienced Engineer; he's also a caring Cast Member even to this day (years after officially retiring from the Walt Disney Company). In today's episode, Guy and I chat about his experiences working for the Walt Disney Company and his outlook on what it takes and what it truly means to be a Cast Member for Disney. I think you'll find Guy's story and perspective on life and work to be incredibly inspirational. What do you find to be most inspirational from Guy's story? What is your dream job at the Walt Disney Company or elsewhere? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I

As the Disney Parks continue to evolve, there are times when attractions we love must sadly close to be replaced by another. One of those attractions at the Magic Kingdom was The Timekeeper, a show that existed in Tomorrowland between 1994 and 2006 (and at Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland in the late 1990's and early 2000's). In today's episode, we'll step into our "podcast time machine" to experience Timekeeper at Walt Disney World. We'll also discuss a few fun details and facts that you might not have known about this experience. Did you get the chance to experience Timekeeper at Magic Kingdom (or even Disneyland Paris or Tokyo Disneyland)? If so, what did you think of the attraction? If you did not get the chance to experience it in person, what do you think of Timekeeper after listening to this episode? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/Imaginee

When you visit Walt Disney World, one of the most important decisions is deciding which attraction to visit first. At Disney's Animal Kingdom, I usually recommend that you head straight to Flight of Passage first thing in the morning (unless you are able to get a FastPass+). In fact, it's usually best to show up at least 30 minutes before the park opens in order to reduce your wait time in the standby queue. In this bonus episode, I'll take you with me for a full ride through Flight of Passage at rope drop. We'll enjoy the ambiant sounds as you walk with me through the queue and then hop on the back of an Ikran (aka a banshee) and take an exhilarating flight through the Valley of Moara in Pandora, the World of Avatar. Want to skip the line? Skip ahead to 42 minutes. When you visit Disney's Animal Kingdom or the other Disney Parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, or even Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park), what are the attractions you like to head to first? Send me your feedbac

Throughout the last few decades and especially in the last 15 years, The Walt Disney Company has engaged in several licensing partnerships and a handful of major acquisitions. Most notably, the last two decades have brought us Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel and now Fox, providing so many new opportunities for experiences in the Disney Parks. In this Imagineer Podcast episode, we discuss the significance of these partnerships and acquisitions when it comes to visiting Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the other international Disney Parks. What are your thoughts and opinions about these acquisitions and partnerships? Which Pixar, Lucasfilm, or Marvel experience is your favorite at the Disney Parks and Resorts, and what might you expect to see from the acquisition of Fox? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerP

One of the most intense attractions at Walt Disney World is Mission: SPACE, located in Future World at Epcot. In its current version, Mission: SPACE offers two experiences, Orange Team (the original attraction that takes Guests to Mars on a centrifugal simulator) and Green Team (a tamer version of the attraction that takes Guests on an orbit around the Earth). In today's episode, we'll explore the history and fun facts of this attraction, and we'll also take a ride on Mission: SPACE together (Green team). Which version of Mission: SPACE do you prefer? How does this attraction rank on your list of favorites at Walt Disney World? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio Please also join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ and

Epcot has so many attractions, yet most Guests tend to spend a majority of their time in Future World. When it comes to World Showcase, many skip over the "smaller" attractions, which include Reflections of China and Impressions de France. In today's episode, we'll unwind in World Showcase together and experience these two attractions in binaural audio. Grab your favorite snack or beverage from the China or France pavilion and enjoy the experience! Which pavilion in World Showcase is your favorite? Which attractions are on your must-do list? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio Please also join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ and invite your friends to join as well. I encourage you to leave your thoughts and questio

One of the things that makes a visit to Walt Disney World extra magical is staying at one of the many Resorts on property. With a wide selection of Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Disney Vacation Club Resorts, Walt Disney World offers an array of hotel experiences. In this episode, we'll explore some of our favorite places to stay, as well as the parts of the Resorts that we love most. Which Resort at Walt Disney World is your favorite? What do you love most about staying at Disney? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio Please also join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ and invite your friends to join as well. I encourage you to leave your thoughts and questions in the group (I'm happy to address them on Facebook or over

World of Color has been delighting Guests at Disney California Adventure Park since June 11, 2010. With over 1,200 dancing foutains and incredible special effects, it's one of the most impressive nighttime shows ever designed. World of Color Celebrate was a special overlay during Disneyland's 60th Anniversary (2015) that paid tribute to Walt Disney himself. In today's episode, we discuss World of Color and World of Color Celebrate in greater detail. Which nighttime show is your favorite at Walt Disney World or Disneyland? What do you love most about World of Color? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio Please also join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ and invite your friends to join as well. I encourage you to leave y

Walt Disney World features some of the best dining opportunities at any major theme park, and that includes the Quick-Service locations. In this podcast episode, we'll uncover our favorite places to eat for a quick bite at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom. We'll also discuss our favorite places for a quick meal outside the parks including Disney Springs and the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. What are your favorite Quick-Service locations across Walt Disney World? Send me your answers and feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio Please also join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ and invite your friends to join as well. I encourage you to leave your thoughts and questions in the group (I

Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain has been delighting Guests at Disney's Animal Kingdom since 2006. As the premier roller coaster at the park, this attraction features so many incredible details and quite a rich backstory. In this bonus episode, we'll uncover the full story of the attraction, details, engineering and more fun facts. What do you love most about Expedition Everest? What is your favorite fun fact from this episode? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio Please also join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ and invite your friends to join as well. I encourage you to leave your thoughts and questions in the group (I'm happy to address them on Facebook or over the air), as well as your vacatio

"If you can dream it, you can do it!" I sign off every podcast episode with this philosophy, and Horizons at Epcot was the attraction that brought this mantra to life. Although this attraction has been extinct since 1999, it has won over the hearts and imaginations of millions of Guests around the world, and its optimism and spirit are still celebrated today. In this episode, we dive into the history and facts of this classic attraction, as well as an on-ride experience of this famous omnimover. What are your thoughts about this attraction? Did you have the chance to ride Horizons when it was open? I would love to hear your thoughts! Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio Please also join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcas

If you're traveling to Walt Disney World in the summer, it's important to prepare for the heat and humidity. Central Florida between late May and early October can get incredibly hot, especially during the peak times in July and August when the parks are the most crowded. Knowing how to stay cool can make your vacation more enjoyable and help you feel your best each day. On today's episode, we sit down to explore the best ways to cool off at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom, plus some other ways to keep cool when you're not visiting the parks. Special thanks to Chris and Joanna for lending their voices and tips on this episode! How do you stay cool in the parks? What tips would you have for Guests (especially first-timers) visiting Walt Disney World in the summer? I would love to hear your thoughts! Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Face

Whether your first trip to Walt Disney World was 1971 or 2001, there are attractions that have come and gone throughout the course of the park's history. As Walt Disney once said, "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world." While the changes made are often for the best (and the new attractions are ones that we grow to love), there is always a part of us that misses our old favorites. In today's episode, we explore that very topic to identify the extinct attractions at Disney that we miss or missed. Special thanks to John and Ann Marie for lending their voices and opinions to this show! You can learn more about their podcast (Central Florida Sights and Sounds) by visiting http://www.cfsas.com. Which of Disney's extinct attractions do you miss the most? Which did you never get to experience that you wish you could today? I would love to hear your thoughts! Send me your feedback via email or through direct message at any of the following and

One of the many reasons we love Disney movies is the amazing soundtracks that countless artists, musicians, producers and composers work so hard to create. The music of the Disney movies helps to capture the emotions we feel while watching our favorite films, sometimes without even a single lyric. In this podcast episode, a small group of us sit around the table to chat about our top 10 Disney soundtracks, including music from Disney's animated and live action films, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. Some choices might even surprise you. Special thanks to Joanna, Jenn and Sara for lending their voices and opinions. What are your favorite Disney soundtracks? I would love to hear your thoughts! Send me your feedback via email or through direct message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio Please also join our Facebook Group ht

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the Imagineer Podcast proudly presents a spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination. Learn the history and details of the Main Street Electrical Parade, the longest parade to ever run at the Disney Parks and Resorts from Disneyland to Walt Disney World and even across the globe (Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris). What is your earliest memory of the Main Street Electrical Parade? If you haven't seen it, which Disney parade is most nostalgic for you? Send me your feedback via email or through direct message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show:   Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio Please also join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ and invite your friends to join as well. I encourage you to leave your thoughts and questions in the group (I'm happy to addre

Sit back and "be our guest" in this podcast episode as we discuss our favorite full-service restaurants across the Walt Disney World Resort, from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and more. We share our favorite restaurants for food, ambiance, characters, and all-you-care-to-eat fare, plus our favorite moments and experiences dining across Walt Disney World. We may even sneak a quick-service location or two as honorable mentions. What are some of your favorite full-service restaurants across Walt Disney World, Disneyland, the Disney Cruise Line, and the international Disney Parks and Resorts? Let me know through an email or a private or public message on any of the following channels and I may read them on the air in a future episode:   Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio Please also join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.c

One of the best part's of any trip to Walt Disney World (if you fly into Orlando International Airport) is boarding Disney's Magical Express, a complimentary service that Disney offers to Guests staying at a participating Walt Disney World Resort hotels.   In this podcast episode, we hop aboard Disney's Magical Express for a trip from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Disney's Pop Century Resort. I also share a few additional pieces of information about this service.   Have you ever used Disney's Magical Express? What do you think about the service? I want to hear from you! Reach out to me by emailing imagineerpodcast@gmail.com or messaging/commenting in one of our social media channels: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio   Also, please join our BRAND NEW Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/. I encourage you to leave your thoughts and questions in the group (I'm happy to

Jambo, everyone! On this episode of the Imagineer Podcast, we head over to Disney's Animal Kingdom to take a ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris, the cornerstone attraction at the park that opened on April 22, 1998. In a rather special episode, I'll take you back 11 years ago to ride on one of my last safaris working as a Cast Member on the Disney College Program at Kilimanjaro Safaris in 2007. Special thanks to my good friend John Corigliano of the Central Florida Sights and Sounds Podcast for recording this audio in December 2007 as a way to preserve this memory for me. (Shameless plug for John and Ann Marie's podcast... it's amazing! Be sure to subscribe to their channel!) What is your favorite animal on Kilimanjaro Safaris? Do you have a favorite experience or story from this attraction? Send me an email for the chance to have your feedback read on a future episode! Send me an email at imagineerpodcast@gmail.com and remember to connect with the Imagineer Podcast on all of our social media channels (follow and e

Ka Chow! In today's podcast episode, we head over to Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort to enjoy a 360-degree binaural audio ridethrough of this attraction, plus a few pieces of trivia you might not have known about Cars Land and Radiator Springs Racers. What are your thoughts about Radiator Springs Racers and Cars Land? How does this attraction rank on your list of favorites? What's your win/lose ratio? Reach out and let me know for a chance to have your comments and questions mentioned on the air! Send me an email at imagineerpodcast@gmail.com and remember to connect with the Imagineer Podcast on all of our social media channels (follow and engage with us): Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerAudio Be sure to check out our sponsor WDW Magazine, the premier magazine focused on Walt Disney World, available in print or digital. Thank you for listening and enjoy the show!

Hey howdy hey! In today's podcast episode, our group discusses our favorite Disney-Pixar movies from Toy Story to Coco (and everything in between). We sort what we believe ranks on the A list, B list, and C list for Pixar, talk about our favorite Pixar characters, and share some of our favorite Pixar easter eggs and moments.   Which Pixar movies rank highest on your list? What falls within your A list, B list or C list? What's your favorite Pixar character, easter egg or moment? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or email!   Follow us on social media: www.facebook.com/imagineerpodcast www.instagram.com/imagineerpodcast www.twitter.com/imagineeraudio   You can also send me an email at imagineerpodcast@gmail.com. Be sure to check out our sponsor WDW Magazine, the premier magazine focused on Walt Disney World, available in print or digital. Subscribe, rate, and share the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Thanks for listening!