funny snaketiptip

This episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast includes a detailed trip report about my two-day, one-night visit to Walt Disney World. I reached all four parks during two days and experienced several attractions for the first time, including Flight of Passage. My total time at the resort was only 30 hours, and I packed a lot into both days; I’m still recovering from the limited sleep and countless steps. Even so, I had a great time enjoying old favorites and making new ones.

This podcast includes the following topics from my whirlwind tour of the parks:

*How did I enjoy Galaxy’s Edge and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run?
*Was Oga’s Cantina worth the advance reservation and pricey drinks?
*Did Flight of Passage and Slinky Dog Dash live up to their popularity?
*How was my one-night stay in a remodeled room at the All-Star Movies resort?
*What are some positive and negative aspects of a solo trip to Walt Disney World?
*How did Disney’s Magical Express and the on-site bus service impact my trip?

More info and show notes at: https://tomorrowsociety.com/galaxys-e...

My guest on this episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast is Steve Alcorn, who worked as an engineering consultant for Disney in 1982. His primary assignment was The American Adventure, which used an extremely complex show system unlike anything ever built. Steve has remarkable stories about the chaos of the construction during that time period. The young team dealt with huge odds against them and succeeded despite the challenges. Steve also worked on the Imagination pavilion and Horizons prior to their openings in 1983.

Steve is also the CEO of Alcorn McBride Inc., which has provided video, audio, and show control systems at theme parks for more than 30 years. Our fun conversation includes a discussion of these topics:

* How did Steve get started in theme parks and working at Disney?
* Why was The American Adventure such a complicated system to develop?
* How chaotic was the EPCOT Center construction site in the summer of 1982?
* What was the big challenge in making the Journey Into Imagination ride work?
* How has the theme park industry changed in the past 30 years?
* What are the ways to keep screen-based attractions from becoming obsolete?

More info and show notes at: https://tomorrowsociety.com/steve-alc...

This episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast includes five rookie mistakes that I made before and during this trip. The issues were minor, but a Disney World fan’s mind is obsessive. I discuss seven highlights from our trip, including Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. That show was one of my favorite moments, which might surprise you based on the lukewarm reaction from many fans. We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for six nights and had another great experience at the beautiful resort. This trip report also covers why that resort works so well.

More info and show notes at: https://tomorrowsociety.com/disney-wo...

My guest for the latest episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast is Doug Barnes, who started The Season Pass in 2007 with little idea of what it would become. Eight years later, it remains the place where the big names from the past and present of theme parks tell their stories. Doug talks about the origins of his fandom and the evolution of The Season Pass into an industry giant. Once Brent Young joined as co-host and they discovered the right format, high-profile guests became the norm on the show. Doug also recounts what it was like to interview legends of Imagineering like Tony Baxter (at his house!).

More info and show notes at: https://tomorrowsociety.com/doug-barn...

Jim Sarno is my guest on this episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about the Land Pavilion Fountain and his many other projects for Disney. He started at the Model Shop in 1979 and worked closely on memorable parts of EPCOT Center. Sarno also created the model for SMRT-1, the talking robot in the CommuniCore pavilion. Located in the Computer Central area, SMRT-1 played games and understood our voices while answering questions. A key part of the robot was its friendly look, which Sarno designed at the direction of George McGinnis.

During this episode, Sarno and I also talk about his relationships with legendary Imagineers that worked directly with Walt. He became friends with Peregoy and Harriet Burns and has great stories about fun times in the Model Shop. Sarno offers a peek at the enjoyable atmosphere while under the tight deadlines for EPCOT Center. He also worked on scenes for Spaceship Earth and Journey Into Imagination plus other non-Disney projects like Treasure Island in Las Vegas. I really enjoyed the change to learn more about Sarno’s time at Disney and stories beyond that era.

More info and show notes at: https://tomorrowsociety.com/jim-sarno...

Brian Jay Jones is my guest on this episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about his background and provide insights on Henson and Lucas. Both men have connections to Disney and theme parks, and we discuss attractions like Star Tours, Captain EO, and Muppet Vision 3D that arose from those relationships. Brian also wrote a biography of Washington Irving, who also has a Disney connection through The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. We cover that book and why Irving isn’t such a household name. Finally, we dive into Brian’s upcoming book Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination.

It was great to talk with Brian and learn more about what interested him about his subjects. I couldn’t resist asking Brian about Star Wars topics like the prequels, the recent films, and the upcoming Galaxy’s Edge lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. There’s so much to cover from the careers of artists like Henson and Lucas.

More info and show notes at: https://tomorrowsociety.com/brian-jay...