With the re-opening of Disneyland, it's a great time to remember what makes this flagship park so special. In this post and podcast, we look at the artistry & magic of Disneyland's Fantasyland. From art to sculpture to landscaping to characters themselves, we journey to find amazing characters and craftsmanship. Along the way we find what truly makes this the most magical of all the lands of Disneyland. Through narrative, photos and video, we invite you to take a stroll with us as we take a look at this happy place.

You can find the photos and videos that accompany this podcast at Disney at Play. 

Welcome to this Disney at Work post and podcast. It's about the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, but it's also about change in its different forms. We look at this nearly 40 year old attraction to learn how change occurs and how to best address that change. I've called this the Gran Fiasco Tour Starring the Three Cambios.

There are three places where the dynamics of change or cambios can occur:

• Unexpected Change

Looking at what is happening at Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, we're going to explore those concepts of change and how we address them. At the end, we'll offer you some souvenirs for you and your organization as you consider change and how to embrace it.

Also, if you like this podcast, we really appreciate you helping out the “littlest podcast that ever could" by visiting iTunes and giving us a positive rating and review. This helps more people find us out there.

It's Earth Day this week at Disney's Animal Kingdom. While that may not make any more sense than year long anniversaries at Disney that run 18 months, the good news is that there is time to check out all things conservation if you're near Walt Disney World. If not, then this video and/or podcast is perfect for you, as we explore a number of things associated with the messages of Earth Day to include a newly updated book for Disney, efforts to bring a love of nature to children's hospitals, baby mandrills, new 360 photos, sand sculptures and of course cupcakes. Every celebration at Disney's Animal Kingdom has cupcakes, and this one has three! You can't have a celebration at Disney's Animal Kingdom without cupcakes. Plus we check out and do a review of two trips made to Nomad Lounge. Lots to talk about this week, from Pandora to the new Festival of the Lion King as it returns next month. Join us!

April 15th was the day that every Californian could book reservations for Disneyland. But being from Florida, I had no option in joining half the state of California in booking reservations for Disneyland. Still, I knew my great friend Taleia, who has joined me in previous podcasts on what we love most about Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, would be working hard to get a reservation. I text her on the 15th to see how it was going. No response. A day later I get a text from her at mid day. It took 16 hours the first day with no luck! Then she started again at midnight and finally got them two hours later. She scored two, two-day tickets at 2 am that morning. 18 hours total! She paid $470 ($235 a piece) for those two sets of two-day tickets, which would have handled the better part of a single annual pass for her a few years ago. Is it worth it? You bet! For that reason, I'm stating 18 reasons to wait 18 hours for reservations to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. It still may be a while before I get there since I'm an out-of-stater. But I can still dream, and I'm dreaming of when I get to go back. This is that list!

This week I've been in three of the Walt Disney World parks and noticed that opportunities for purchasing food & beverage were limited due not so much to COVID, but simply poor decision making on the part of management. In the wake of this, when Disney needs to make all of the money it can to get through this once-in-a-generation moment, we have instead money being left on the table by guests who frankly are ready to spend in the parks.

In this Disney at Work podcast we look at 7 ways Disney is missing the opportunity to improve their per caps. You may not run a restaurant--that's not important here. But if you have a business, you may learn some thing about how you could be generating greater revenue than you thought possible--especially in uncertain times like these.

It's a beautiful day here at Walt Disney World as we start the morning here in the Magic Kingdom. So much to check out in this podcast and video. We start in the parking lot looking at ongoing transportation issues (could Epcot monorails be returning?) and then on to entering the park using the new facial recognition system. In Town Square we check out changes that have been made to the fire house after Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom has come to an end (and yes, a new interactive experience is underway). Cinderella Castle continues to get layered with a treatment of bunting, spiraling ribbons and baubles of jewels for Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary. We check that out and head right into Fantasyland where touches of gold have also been added to the carousel. Moving on to Storybook Circus we see that Casey Jr. is getting spiffed up, but that's nothing compared to ongoing construction of the new Tron coaster. Additional surprises await as we see the Tomorrowland Peoplemover in motion in hopes (cross your fingers) of an opening within a few days or weeks. In Adventureland we talk about changes underway on the world-famous Jungle Cruise, and some thematic details you may have never noticed at Pirates of the Caribbean. The Rivers of America look tranquil as does Liberty Square but work is being done on Peter Pan's Flight and we take notice that Be Our Guest is not open for breakfast. We finish our tour of Main Street Cinema that has temporarily become the confectionary for Main Street while the corner shop gets a major refurbishment. All this and more on this podcast and YouTube video post. Join us!

There are so many things happening around the world that are affecting Disney Parks. Look at all we have to cover:

• Epcot--New offerings coming this summer

All this and our own insights as to what is happening! Join us!

There's a favorite spiel that for many years has been heard on the Jungle Cruise towards the end:

"Now for the most dangerous part of our journey, the return to civilization".

That's what lies ahead for Disneyland as it reopens. From the Governor's office to Avengers Campus we share all of the crazy details that may result in Disneyland being back to normal in only a few more months. We look at the details involved in reopening Disneyland on April 30th. We'll look at a host of reservation issues and then turn our attention to what rides and attractions are opening--and not opening when that day arrives. Avenger's Campus has been given an opening date of June 4th, and we'll look at what's coming there when that moment unveils itself. There's a lot going on at Disneyland. So keep your hand and arms inside the boat until we are safely back at the dock.

Finally! We are long overdue for an update at Disney's Animal Kingdom and this one is packed with lots to talk about! NOTE however, that this was shot a couple of weeks ago and while references to the new Disney MagicMobile Pass, the release of Raya and the Last Dragon and to food items like St. Patrick's Day Food may seem dated, the context, stories and insights given are relevant. There is so much to this podcast from visiting the new goat farm on Kilimanjaro Safaris to end of day queuing at the end of the day at Pandora, to night time additions to the Tree of Life. So check this out as we have so much to catch up on!

You can also see the video here.

In celebrating Disney California Adventure's 20th Anniversary, we thought we would pay homage to what I think are 5 great things about the park that were there on opening day, but are no longer had among us. Disney California Adventure did not start off well. Some attractions, like Soarin', were fantastic when it opened and they are still around. Still other things that added to the experience and even to the park's soul is no longer here. We explore five of those things and what came in their wake. We look at some of the most beautiful pieces of workmanship, some fun and wonderful attractions, and a special look at phenomenal music that no longer fills the air of Disney California Adventure.