The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

Inside IAAPA 2025: Big Rides, Bold Tech, and the Industry’s Next Moves (Ep. 559)

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Len Testa, Jim Hill, and veteran Imagineer Jim Shull hit the IAAPA Expo show floor in Orlando, exploring the newest ride systems, vendor innovations, and behind-the-scenes stories fueling the future of themed entertainment.

NEWS

  • A look at how IAAPA blends professional showcase, industry reunion, and pop-up amusement park—complete with traffic, parking challenges, and surprises at every booth.
  • Zamperla’s full-size demo of its new interactive “flap-to-fly” ride, where sensors track arm movements to lift riders higher.
  • The stacked-track, heart-shaped family coaster concept designed to fit high-capacity thrills into a tiny footprint.
  • Mack Rides’ water-coaster hybrid for Dollywood: a tracked boat that transitions between basins, rapids, and coaster moments.
  • The debut of brand-new industry tech, including an AI park-operations platform launched just two weeks earlier—so new the vendor couldn’t answer most questions yet.
  • Why Imagineers were quietly examining faux-fossil rockwork in a small booth—possible clues to future projects.
  • A vendor’s dramatic countdown-clock presentation that fell apart when no one realized the microphone was dead.
  • The team’s ongoing quest for pickle-flavored cotton candy and other baffling IAAPA food innovations.
  • Len’s impromptu pitch to Doppelmayr about Universal’s transportation RFQ—and the unexpectedly enthusiastic response.
  • Why IAAPA acts as “old home week” for themed entertainment pros, with surprise run-ins, backstage conversations, and stories that won’t be public for years.

    • Full show notes available here: Show Notes

    Hosts

    Len Testa — BlueSky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | Website: touringplans.com
    Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com
    Jim Shull (Veteran Imagineer) — X/Twitter: @JimShull | YouTube: @jimhshull | Website: jimhshull.com

    Patreon

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      • Producer Credits

      Edited by Dave Grey

      Produced by Eric Hersey — Strong Minded Agency
      https://strongmindedagency.com

      Sponsor

      This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic, from the team at DVC Rental Store — offering discounted Disney theme park tickets, including special events. Save on your next trip with

      Unlocked Magic.

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