Welcome to the Theme Park Trader podcast. Your weekly dose of theme park news from around the world!
Episodes
Monday Aug 29, 2016
Monday Aug 29, 2016
Join us for episode 29 of the Theme Park Trader podcast!
This week Ryan and Dan are joined by guest Emily who discusses her Disneyland Paris trips, the guest post she wrote for us on Star Wars and joins us for this weeks news!
We also cover the news this week which includes:
- Universal files new patent that could be the beginning of a new Harry Potter attraction
- Rumour on Universal replacing Dragon Challenge at Islands of Adventure
- Toothsome soft opening at Universal's CityWalk
- New Planet Hollywood Burger and Sandwich menu
- Wreck-It Ralph replacing Stitch's Great Escape rumours
Monday Aug 22, 2016
Monday Aug 22, 2016
Join us for episode 28 of the Theme Park Trader podcast!
This week Ryan and Dan are joined by guest Anaïs who discusses her park experiences at Disneyland Paris, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.
We also cover the news this week which includes:
- Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster coming to Epcot rumour
- Disney files patent for realistic Lightsaber at its theme parks
- Animal Kingdom reduces nighttime park hours
- American Horror Story coming to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights
- Disney working on the second generation of MagicBands
Monday Aug 15, 2016
Monday Aug 15, 2016
Join us for episode 27 of the Theme Park Trader podcast!
This week Ryan runs through his full October Orlando trip plan including what days he is spending in each park, which FastPasses he has chosen and where he is eating!
News stories we cover include:
- Disney park attendance has dropped over the summer, we discuss our thoughts on why
- Main Street Electrical Parade closing at WDW. Our reactions and thoughts as to what is next
- Paint the Night leaving Disneyland... or is it?
- New restaurants added to Tables in Wonderland at WDW
Monday Aug 08, 2016
Monday Aug 08, 2016
Join us for episode 26 of the Theme Park Trader podcast!
This week we are joined by Karyn Locke from Sandandorsnow.com. Her and her family love visiting Disney World and we all discuss our weekly news stories, as well as all of our favourite events at Walt Disney World. We also ask Karyn her favourite attraction from each of the WDW Parks and there's lots of chat in-between!
News stories we cover include:
- Disney files new patent to track shoe movement
- New (and expensive) Star Wars augmented reality game at Disney Parks
- Disney removes handles from resort mugs
- Details on a brand new attraction coming to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon
Monday Aug 01, 2016
Monday Aug 01, 2016
Join us for episode 25 of the Theme Park Trader podcast!
This week we play catch-up on all the latest news from theme parks around the world including a brand new Muppets show that is coming to the Magic Kingdom this October and a complete run through of the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival booth menus.
Other stories we discuss this week include:
- Our thoughts on Sunshine Seasons not serving breakfast anymore
- Freddy Vs Jason maze at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights 2016
- When key attractions will be opening again at Disneyland (including Fantasmic and the Railroad)
- Disneyland Paris Inaugural runDisney event and the medal designs
- Why putting calories on menus at Walt Disney World is a bad idea!
Monday Jul 25, 2016
Monday Jul 25, 2016
Join us for episode 24 of the Theme Park Trader podcast!
This week we play catch-up on all the latest news from theme parks around the world including confirmation that Guardians of the Galaxy are taking over Tower of Terror at Disney's California Adventure park! Yes, Dan and I kick start the podcast by discussing this news and chatting about what this means for Disney Parks as a whole if Disney are prepared to replace such a beloved attraction.
Other stories we discuss this week include:
- The Pokemon Go craze (with a bit of theme park talk)
- Abracadbar at Disney's Boardwalk Resort
- Living with the Land becoming a Tier 2 FastPass at Epcot
- Bubbleworks closing at Chessington World of Adventures after 26 years
- The Polite Pig and Homecoming restaurant details at Disney Springs and PizzeRizzo at Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Early Morning Magic at Disney's Hollywood Studios
Monday Jul 18, 2016
Monday Jul 18, 2016
Join us for episode 23 of the Theme Park Trader podcast!
We are absolutely delighted to be joined on the podcast this week by RJ and Suzanne Ogren who worked at Walt Disney World during the 70s, 80s and 90s.
We talk to them both about just some of their memories of their times working at the parks, specifically The Magic Kingdom and they tell us a couple of their favourite stories from their book, Together In The Dream.
RJ was one of the four original management artists in charge of creative control at The Magic Kingdom in the 1970s and worked under the guidance of Disney Legends that include Marc Davis and Leota Toombs.
Suzanne worked as a monorail pilot as well as a costumed character and then moved into entertainment management at Walt Disney World.
You can purchase their book, Together In The Dream here and find out more on their website at Rjogren.com.
Monday Jul 11, 2016
Monday Jul 11, 2016
Join us for episode 22 of the Theme Park Trader podcast!
We kick things off by chatting about the return of Michael Myers at Universals Halloween Horror Nights before chatting about the new Tiffins Restaurant lunchtime menu at Disney's Animal Kingdom and the recently announced Frozen Castle Projection Show at Tokyo Disneyland.
Rant of the week makes its return this week where we discuss cast members that interrupt you during your day at the parks to take part in tasks you aren't interested in such as fairground type games and Disney Vacation Club.
We end this weeks podcast by discussing new menus at Taste Track at Epcot and Tomorrowland Terrace at the Magic Kingdom as well as chatting through the new Coca Cola store at Disney Springs!
Monday Jul 04, 2016
Monday Jul 04, 2016
Join us for episode 21 of the Theme Park Trader podcast!
This week we chat about popcorn deals, Pete's Dragon previews and Star Wars dessert party at Walt Disney World before discussing the horrific crash that occurred at theme park in Scotland last week.
Dan and I then discuss the new Walking Dead attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood before talking about the rumour that Ellen's Energy Adventure is going to turned into a Guardians of the Galaxy attraction.
We end this weeks podcast by chatting through our top 3 and worst 3 attractions at Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando.
Monday Jun 27, 2016
Monday Jun 27, 2016
Join us for episode 20 of the Theme Park Trader podcast!
We can't believe it, our 20th episode already! Thanks so much for all of you that continue to listen to us, we really appreciate it! To celebrate we recorded our longest podcast to date and also discussed our top 3 and worst 3 attractions at my (Ryan's) favourite park, Epcot!
This week we kick things off by discussing the reopening of beaches at Walt Disney World following on from the tragic alligator attack that occurred. We chat through the new rules that Disney are putting in place on the beaches and what our thoughts on these new rules are.
Dan and I then discuss two Universal Studios stories with the first one in Hollywood and confirmation that they will be expanding once again over a period of 5 years. We chat about what they could do with the space and what attractions are most likely. We then chat through the first details of Volcano Bay at Universal Orlando and the confirmed list of attractions set to open in 2017.
Frozen Ever After had to be discussed this week and Dan and I do just that by talking through some of the great animatronics in play as well as the five hour wait time that happened on opening day! With that came more information that the Mexican Pavilion at Epcot would also be opening at 9am (on top of the Norwegian Pavilion) and we chat through the new Breakfast offering at La Cantina de San Angel.
Contining on from the trend last week, Dan and I end this podcast by discussing our favourite and least favourite attractions at Epcot.