A big part of visiting a Disney theme park is the anticipation that goes with it. In my youth, once you arrived at Disneyland, the anticipation was fed in the form of poster art that would adorn the monorail berms and as you went underneath the train tracks toward Main Street, U.S.A. These weren't just inspiration. These were intended for many years to sell you on the idea of buying additional tickets to go on the rides. So they met a very real business need in the same way a promotional poster as you entered a movie theater got you excited about the next flick coming to town. We look at my top 10 favorite pieces of Disney poster art. Be sure to check out Disney at Play where we illustrate these pieces and offer so much more.

One of the most timeless classics at the Disney parks is Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. It is one of the only attractions within the parks that carry's Walt's name. And yet, as venerable as this attraction is, it offers many insights into change management. One might not think of change. and the Tiki Room in the same sentence. But alas, there is quite a lot in terms of change to learn. We look not only at those changes, but what we can learn about the phases of change, and how they relate to your own organization. Change happens everywhere and that includes your workplace. Understanding that change helps us to better embrace the future, even if the Enchanted Tiki Room seems like the most unfuturistic attraction of all.

In this very busy Disney News on Parade we cover the following:

• Disney executives urge Governor Newsome to provide guidelines so theme parks can reopen.

Follow us on DisneyatPlay.com where we have notes, photos, videos and links.

One of the most beloved keepsakes of any Disney visit are the park guide books or guide maps. These navigational and instructional tools have been showing guests where to go since the early days of Disneyland. Though they have evolved over the years, they have been a touchpoint for experiencing the Disney magic. But are they in jeopardy of being replaced eventually by the My Disney Experience app? This post and podcast looks at signs of expiration for the legacy of Disney guidebooks, guide maps old and current, and what the future may hold. Be sure to check out our accompanying post with photos and links at Disney at Work.

Almost every Disney fan can name an attraction in the parks that they wish they had a chance to experience but never did. It may be Horizons or Adventure Through Inner Space or even something as recent as The Great Movie Ride. I've had the great blessing on experiencing a great number of attractions over the years, but there are a few that I've missed. I've dedicated this podcast to sharing the top 7 attractions I wish I could go back and experience. Some you may have never heard about (think Horned King from The Black Cauldron). Check out our notes page on Disney at Play where we include photos, links and videos of these beloved attractions. Also, share with us on Facebook rides and attractions you wish you could have seen before they went away.

Fall is upon us and at the Magic Kingdom, that usually means a big salute to Halloween. In the absence of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, we cover what Disney has tried to do to make the holiday succeed during this pandemic. We look at decorations, character cavalcades, food, and merchandise. We also pay homage to those missing pieces this year. All this and more on this Disney at Play post & podcast. Make sure you check out our photos, videos and links on Disney at Play.

In our previous post & podcast, we had a chance to take a look at the retail magic found in Shanghai Disneyland. We had a chance to move up the right side of Mickey Avenue, head over to Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove, and then continue counter-clockwise around to Fantasyland. Today we're going to continue that direction, finishing out Fantasyland, move through Toy Story Land, Tomorrowland, and then finish out in Avenue M Arcade. We finish off at World of Disney at Disney Town. Be sure to check out the photos and more on our post at Disney at Work.

Most who have visited Shanghai Disneyland have referenced the wealth of thematic detail played out throughout the park. Every Disney park has so many details within, many of which are found in the attractions and in the general park ambience. But much of it can be found in the retail areas, and that's especially true here at Disney's newest park. Let's look at the many stores at Shanghai Disneyland and see some of those details played out. We might even look at some of the merchandise. Not everything is perfect, but there's a lot to admire about the work that has been done here. Be sure to check out our photos and notes page on DisneyatWork.com.

Walt Disney World has announced its offerings for the holiday period. We look at what's coming and what's not. There are significant pieces that are missing, but it still feels like the holidays. We also consider the real reason why Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is making such a substantial closure over such a long period of time. It's not about Moana. We have good and bad news around re-opening the Disneyland Resort. That's added to promising news out of Hong Kong Disneyland and the Tokyo Disney Resort. And Disney Studios Paris? We'll look at that rumor too in this very busy Disney News on Parade for September 8th, 2020.

We compare all the Tom Sawyer Islands found in Disney parks around the world. This podcast talks about forts, caves, treehouses, bridges and more as we look at the original Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and then back to what it is at Disneyland today. This article builds off of other podcasts we've done, including those comparing park castles around the world and "it's a small world" at parks across the globe. It's all part of our Disney Distinction Series. Be sure to check out our notes page where we show not only maps and photos, but offer a big chart comparing all of the different islands. Hop on a raft and join us for this unique podcast!