Now Is the Best Time

Every summer, Disney puts out a list of what’s new. And every summer, the coverage is pretty much the same. Here’s the new attraction. Here’s the new show. Here’s how to do it.

This is not that.

Because this summer at Walt Disney World, something different is happening. Not one new land, not one headliner pulling the weight of the entire resort. What is happening is something more distributed, more deliberate, and in many ways more impressive: every park getting meaningful upgrades at the same time. Buzz Lightyear and Big Thunder Mountain handed back to guests in Magic Kingdom better than they have been in decades. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster becoming a love letter to Muppets fans across generations. Soarin’ Across America opening in EPCOT for the 250th anniversary of the country it celebrates. The Millennium Falcon flying you into the Mandalorian universe using the same digital assets from the actual film. The Walt Disney Studios Lot transforming Animation Courtyard into a destination worth lingering in. And Bluey – and her entire world – arriving at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the first time ever.

Zoom out and it all connects. The parks and the studios and streaming are synchronized in a way that has not been true for a very long time. The flywheel is spinning. And right now, before Tropical Americas and Villains Land and Monstropolis and the next wave of massive new lands arrive, there is a window where this summer is genuinely special. And the prices to take advantage of it are the lowest Serena Lynn from Living by Disney says she has seen in her eight years covering Walt Disney World full time.

Lou was invited by Disney to Walt Disney World last week for their Summer Fun Fest – a multi-day media event that included early access to every major summer update and, perhaps most valuably, a small-group panel with Disney leadership covering park operations, Imagineering, and facilities management. What came out of that room was not a press release read out loud. It was a genuine conversation about how Disney makes decisions, how they think about guest feedback, and why everything you see this summer is the result of years of data, research, and genuine care.

This episode is the full breakdown. Park by park. Attraction by attraction. And with context you can only get when you have been in that room.

What You Will Discover in This Episode

• Why Lou believes this might be the biggest overall summer upgrade Walt Disney World has had in years – and the case for it, park by park
• What happened inside the Disney leadership panel at Summer Fun Fest – how Disney actually uses guest data, satisfaction scores, and repeat rider metrics to make decisions
• The difference between a refresh and a reconcept – and why it matters for understanding every major change this summer
• Why the loudest voices on the internet are not always the full picture – and what Disney said about how they hear and process fan feedback
• Why Disney’s flywheel is spinning right now – and why the synchronization between parks, studios, and streaming is exceptional
• Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin: the new handheld blasters with haptic feedback, the new robot character, the redesigned scoring, and why guest satisfaction jumped 15 percentage points
• What that 15-point jump tells you about the difference between the announcement reaction and the actual guest experience
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: the fully rebuilt track, new vehicles, new control systems, the Rainbow Caverns homage to Nature’s Wonderland, the Town of Tumbleweed restoration, and the lowered height requirement from 40 to 38 inches
• Soarin’ Across America: the new film, a new arrangement of the beloved theme by Bruce Broughton, the National Geographic Soarin’ Challenge queue experience, and how the film compares to the earlier versions
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring The Muppets: the full breakdown of what changed, what stayed, the first-ever audio-animatronic Muppet, the motion-captured Scooter, the Easter eggs, the music, and the Electric Mayhem live concert from the event
• The full interview with David Brescia, Story Lead at Walt Disney Imagineering, on why The Muppets fit this attraction better than you might expect, how they preserved the Muppets’ legacy, and what Muppet attraction he would build next
• Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run: the new Mandalorian and Grogu storylines, the Unreal 5 engine using the same digital assets as the film, the new engineer seat experience, Grogu Mode, and why this launched the same day as the movie
• Jesse’s Roundup at the Diamond Horseshoe in Magic Kingdom – what it is and who it is for
• Goofy Core at Communicore Hall in EPCOT – and why Communicore Hall has the best air conditioning in the park
• The Walt Disney Studios Lot in Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios – and why it became one of Lou’s favorite spaces in all of Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• What is coming to the new Animation Building later this summer – Olaf animatronic, indoor playground, character meet and greets
• Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station in Disney’s Animal Kingdom – what it is, why it is permanent, and what Serena says about the Bluey and Bingo character interaction
• Why Disney’s Animal Kingdom is entering what Lou calls a genuine transformation – and what Tropical Americas, Indiana Jones, and Encanto mean for the park’s future
• What Carousel of Progress at D23 might look like – and why Lou is already buying popcorn for the comments
• Why both Lou and Serena say the timing right now – before the next wave of new lands – is uniquely good, with the lowest discounts in years
• The one thing Serena would do or eat if she could snap her fingers right now – and why it involves a rice bowl in Animation Courtyard at night

Timestamps

• [00:00] – Cold open
• [00:38] – Introduction: why this summer is different
• [02:30] – Disney Summer Fun Fest: what it was and why it mattered
• [04:15] – Inside the Disney leadership panel: how decisions actually get made
• [07:00] – The facility asset management team: the most important team guests have never heard of
• [09:00] – How Disney processes guest feedback – and how they distinguish emotional reaction from actual feedback
• [13:00] – The difference between a refresh and a reconcept – Buzz Lightyear vs. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster explained
• [14:35] – The flywheel: parks, studios, and streaming synchronized at the same time
• [17:00] – The ex-girlfriend effect: why nobody rode Maelstrom until it was closing
• [19:00] – Guest satisfaction scores: what a 15-point jump actually means
• [21:00] – Do fans actually change Disney’s mind? An honest answer
• [24:00] – Why speed matters: Disney moving at the speed of culture
• [27:00] – Magic Kingdom: the two beloved attractions handed back better than they have been in decades
• [28:15] – Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin: the full breakdown
• [29:30] – New handheld blasters with haptic feedback, new robot character, redesigned scoring system
• [30:30] – What a 15-point guest satisfaction jump on a 27-year-old attraction tells you
• [31:30] – What Buzz + Toy Story 5 says about Disney’s investment in legacy IP
• [33:10] – What other attractions deserve the Buzz Lightyear treatment? Call 407-900-9391
• [34:00] – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: the full reopening breakdown
• [35:00] – Rebuilt track, new vehicles, Rainbow Caverns, Town of Tumbleweed restored
• [36:00] – Height requirement lowered to 38 inches – and why that matters more than two inches
• [38:30] – Jesse’s Roundup at the Diamond Horseshoe: what it is and who it is for
• [40:20] – Carousel of Progress: what Lou is expecting at D23 – and why he is buying popcorn
• [44:00] – EPCOT: Soarin’ Across America for the 250th anniversary
• [44:30] – New film, new Bruce Broughton arrangement of the classic theme, National Geographic challenge queue
• [50:30] – How Soarin’ Across America compares to the earlier versions – and the dialed-up scent experience
• [53:45] – If you could film a new Soarin’ film anywhere, where would it be? Call 407-900-9391
• [56:00] – Goofy Core at Communicore Hall: interactive kids’ experience, DJ Dance Pants, fried mac and cheese bites
• [58:45] – The best air conditioning in EPCOT – and the coldest spot on property (Main Street, Lou’s not telling)
• [01:01:00] – Disney’s Hollywood Studios: the biggest single-park transformation of any park this summer
• [01:01:30] – Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring The Muppets: the full breakdown
• [01:02:00] – Why Muppets fit this attraction better than you might expect at first
• [01:03:00] – The hardware has not changed. The launch is not slower. Hi internet.
• [01:03:30] – Easter eggs: the queue has over 30 minutes of original content and countless hidden details
• [01:04:00] – Scooter: the first-ever audio-animatronic Muppet character, motion-captured with David Rudman
• [01:05:40] – The chicken door: how to enjoy the full Muppets queue experience without riding
• [01:06:00] – The music: Def Leppard, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Questlove, and the Electric Mayhem
• [01:06:30] – The Electric Mayhem live concert at the Summer Fun Fest event
• [01:09:15] – Interview with David Brescia, Story Lead, Walt Disney Imagineering, begins
• [01:10:00] – Lou’s prediction: Villains Ever After closes when Villains Land opens – and that space becomes Muppetized
• [01:13:50] – Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run: the new Mandalorian and Grogu update
• [01:14:50] – First time a ride update and film debut happened on the same day
• [01:15:30] – Unreal 5 engine: the same digital assets used for The Mandalorian on Disney+
• [01:16:00] – Why the engineer seat is now the hot seat – and Grogu Mode
• [01:19:30] – What the Smugglers Run update says about the future of Galaxy’s Edge
• [01:21:00] – The Walt Disney Studios Lot: Animation Courtyard transformed
• [01:22:30] – The details: Pluto’s Corner, Silly Symphony mural, Sorcerer’s Hat, handprints, freshly recorded orchestral music
• [01:23:00] – Why this became Lou’s favorite new space at any Disney park this summer
• [01:24:10] – Serena on the new background music – freshly recorded with a full orchestra, all new arrangements
• [01:25:30] – What is still coming to the Animation Building: Olaf animatronic, indoor playground, character meet and greets
• [01:26:00] – Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live at Hollywood Studios – and why Lou almost cried when he heard the Hot Dog Dance
• [01:28:50] – Disney’s Animal Kingdom: why it is underrated, what makes it intentional, and what is coming
• [01:29:20] – Bluey’s Wild World at Conservation Station: what it is, permanent vs. seasonal, Keepy Uppy
• [01:31:00] – Why Bluey and Bingo’s arrival looked like Taylor Swift walking into the room
• [01:33:30] – New animals coming from Australia to Affection Section
• [01:34:00] – Why Disney’s Animal Kingdom is in its awkward teenage phase – and why that is exciting
• [01:35:00] – Tropical Americas, Indiana Jones, Encanto, and Animal Kingdom at night
• [01:37:40] – Zooming out: why this summer is different – the genuine convergence happening right now
• [01:40:00] – Singles and doubles matter: why it doesn’t always have to be a grand slam
• [01:41:40] – Lou’s big picture takeaways: reinvestment, stewardship, and leaving it better than you found it
• [01:43:20] – Serena’s takeaway: come now, before the next big wave – prices, energy, and the new era
• [01:44:30] – Resort discounts up to 40%, free water park on check-in day, four-day tickets around $109 per day
• [01:45:30] – Mouse Fan Travel: reaching out for help navigating all of it
• [01:47:00] – What Serena would snap her fingers and do right now: a Kusafiri rice bowl in Animation Courtyard at night
• [01:47:45] – How to connect with Serena: Living by Disney on all platforms and podcast
• [01:48:00] – Closing and call to action
• [01:48:30] – Mouse Fan Travel outro

The Full Breakdown – Park by Park

Before We Get Into What Changed: How Disney Decides to Change Anything

Before riding a single attraction or seeing a single update, Lou and Serena were put in a room with Disney leadership. Not just one executive with a prepared deck – but people from park operations, Imagineering, and facilities management, in a genuinely open Q&A format. What came out of that conversation sets the context for everything else.

Disney is not making decisions by reading the comments. But they are reading the comments. All of it is data. Every survey, every guest satisfaction score, every piece of online feedback is tracked and categorized. The distinction they draw is an important one: the emotional reaction to an announcement is not the same as feedback. The first wave is fast, loud, often negative, and does not represent the full guest population. The real feedback is what guests say after they experience the thing. Do satisfaction scores move? Do the skeptics change their minds once they ride it?

Lou pointed out the pattern he calls the ex-girlfriend effect. Nobody rode Maelstrom until it was being closed. Everybody loved Horizons after it closed. It is not unique to Disney – it is human nature. But Disney has learned to distinguish between the noise and the signal, and to trust the data when the data and the reaction diverge.

One of the most important frameworks they discussed: the difference between a refresh and a reconcept. A refresh means the bones are right. The story and the experience still resonate. Something just needs updating – technology, gameplay, a layer of new IP to keep it relevant for the next generation. A reconcept means something more fundamental has changed. The attraction needs a new identity in order to stay relevant. Buzz Lightyear is a refresh. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a reconcept. Both are valid. Both require different thinking. And both, Disney emphasized, happen on a timeline that is much longer than the news cycle.

And one more thing that came out of that room: nobody at Disney is making these calls in isolation. Facility asset management – the team of 4,000 engineers, architects, and construction managers responsible for 30,000 acres, more than 100 attractions, and 29,000 hotel rooms – is in concert with executive leadership and park operations every single day. Their success, as one leader put it, is when guests don’t notice them. They fail when guests do. Every day at Walt Disney World is designed to feel like opening day to every guest who walks through the gate.

That is who is making these decisions. That is the scale of what it takes to make a day at Walt Disney World feel effortless.

Magic Kingdom: Two Beloved Attractions Back and Better Than They Have Been in Decades

Magic Kingdom is where Walt Disney World starts. It is the first park most guests visit, the one they come back to most, and this summer it has handed two of its most beloved classic attractions back to guests in better shape than they have been in a very long time.

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin opened in 1998 as the first Buzz attraction anywhere in the world. Every other version – Shanghai, Tokyo, Paris – came after this one. Disney chose to reinvest in it rather than replace it, and the result is an attraction that feels genuinely new while keeping everything guests loved.

The blasters are no longer bolted to the car. The new handheld blasters have a laser sight and haptic feedback, and actually feel like you are in a mission against Zerg rather than poking at targets. There is a new retro-futuristic robot character that adds a layer of fun and personality. The tunnel scene has new projections. The scoring system is deeper and gives guests more to work toward beyond Galactic Hero. And the synergy with Toy Story 5 – opening in theaters just weeks after the refresh – is not accidental.

The number that tells the real story: guest satisfaction on this attraction jumped 15 percentage points after the reopening. On an attraction that has been running essentially unchanged since 1998. The loudest voices online said it did not need fixing. The guests walking off it say otherwise.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Big Thunder Mountain closed for about sixteen months – a long time, and a period of real anxiety among Disney fans. What are they going to do to the wildest ride in the wilderness? Is it still going to feel like Big Thunder? Is the roughness going to be gone?

The answer: yes, it still feels like Big Thunder. The track was completely rebuilt from the ground up. New vehicles, new control systems. What used to rattle and shake in ways that were more accidental than intentional now rattles and shakes in ways that are completely deliberate. Guests do not see what happened underneath, but they feel it.

And then there are the additions. Rainbow Caverns – a very deliberate homage to the Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland at Disneyland, the attraction that came before Big Thunder. For Disney fans and history nerds, this is a deeply satisfying nod. The bobcat on the cactus came directly from the same source. The Town of Tumbleweed is fully restored. And in the finale, you finally see the gold motherlode – the thing the queue and the story have always been building toward. Now you get to see it.

The height requirement has been lowered from 40 to 38 inches. Two inches does not sound like much. But two inches is the difference between a family riding together and a child standing at the height tester in tears while their siblings get in line without them.

Jesse’s Roundup at the Diamond Horseshoe

Quietly flying under the radar is a new experience in Frontierland, timed to Toy Story 5’s summer release. Jesse’s Roundup at the Diamond Horseshoe is an air-conditioned, family-friendly hoedown with dancing, crafts, character interactions including Bullseye, and all the things that make parents happy: shade, cool air, and kids having something to do with their hands. It is not an e-ticket attraction. It does not need to be. If you have young kids, put this on your day.

Carousel of Progress: Coming at D23

Lou addressed it because it is the one that is going to generate the most conversation: Carousel of Progress is getting an update with Walt coming in. Details are still coming at D23. Lou’s prediction: the reaction when it is announced is going to make Big Thunder look quiet. But his expectation, given the pattern of this summer, is that the result is going to earn the right to have happened.

EPCOT: Soarin’ Across America and the 250th

EPCOT’s big summer story is Soarin’ Across America, an entirely new film timed to America’s 250th anniversary. More than a dozen locations across the country – Grand Canyon, New England lighthouses, Alaska, Hawaii, landscapes that represent the full breadth of a very large and very diverse nation. The beloved Soarin’ theme is back, in a new arrangement by composer Bruce Broughton. And the queue now features a Soarin’ Challenge developed with National Geographic that turns what was a passive wait into something guests actually want to arrive early for.

Lou rode it before the official opening and came home smiling the entire time. Serena noted that visually it feels closer to the original California film than Soarin’ Around the World did – more realistic, more grounded, less digitally smoothed. And the scents are noticeably more prominent in certain scenes. The fresh cut grass scene. The ocean. They are dialed up in a way that makes the 4D experience feel more complete.

Is there anything that might divide audiences? The music. Some guests have noted that the big, sweeping musical reveals that made certain moments in previous versions feel cinematic are not quite as pronounced here. Lou acknowledged it – and then acknowledged that Disney cannot make everyone happy, and that Soarin’ Across America made him smile from the first frame to the last, which is the indicator that matters.

Also at EPCOT: Goofy Core at Communicore Hall. An interactive play experience and dance party led by Goofy and DJ Dance Pants – Serena’s high school DJ name, she has confirmed – with Goofy’s game machine, loopy limbo, parachutes, and a grab-and-goof kiosk outside with fried mac and cheese bites, pepperoni pizza ravioli, and a blue raspberry lemonade with strawberry pearls. For families with young kids, this is a win. And as Serena pointed out: Communicore Hall has the best air conditioning in EPCOT.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios: The Biggest Single-Park Transformation of Any Park This Summer

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is having a summer. It is not just one attraction getting attention. It is the Muppets and Mando and Galaxy’s Edge feeling more complete and an entirely transformed courtyard all happening at the same time. Lou called it the park that surprised him most this summer, and it is easy to understand why.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets

The hardware has not changed. The launch speed has not changed. Hi, internet.

What has changed is everything you see, hear, and experience from the moment you step into the queue to the moment you walk out the other side. G Force Records is still G Force Records – but now it has been taken over and managed by The Muppets. Electric Mayhem is in the recording studio. Penguins are the audio engineers. Scooter is getting the band out the door for the concert. Your job – via LIMO, the Lengthy Immediate Motion Object, built by Muppet Labs – is to get the band to the show.

The queue is an event in itself. Over 30 minutes of original content. Countless Easter eggs. Characters in places you would never expect. PA announcements from Muppet characters as you move through the building. Different characters running the safety spiel each time. A pre-show with Scooter – the first-ever audio-animatronic Muppet character – who was motion-captured from a performance by David Rudman, his longtime puppeteer, using a technique that has never been done before for a Disney attraction. The result is a Scooter who moves exactly like the Scooter guests have known for decades. The little wrist movements. The expressiveness. It is remarkable.

The music is a collaboration of classic rock energy and Muppet chaos. Def Leppard hits the original rollercoaster spirit. Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson bring enormous energy. Questlove adds a drumming track. And the Electric Mayhem-only tracks include chickens singing choruses and Animal yelling incoherently, which is exactly right.

Serena called it better than she expected. Lou says it is making an attraction that has been around for years more attractive to a wider audience than it has ever had. If you love Muppets, it works. If you love music, it works. If you love Easter eggs, it works. If you love celebrity cameos, it works. And if you are not sure about the rollercoaster itself – you do not have to ride it. The chicken door lets you enjoy the full queue experience and exit to the gift shop. The gift shop also has Easter eggs.

The Walt Disney Imagineering interview is in the episode in full – David Brescia, Story Lead, on why The Muppets fit this attraction, how Scooter was built, what the music philosophy was, and if he could Muppetize one other attraction at Walt Disney World, what he would pick.

The answer involves a safari and Animal. It is not what anyone expected.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – The Mandalorian and Grogu Update

The 2019 problem with Smugglers Run was not the hardware – which was and remains extraordinary – it was the re-rideability factor, especially in the engineer seat, which often felt underutilized. Guests were pushing buttons without feeling like they were really in the mission. Disney heard that.

The update launched on May 22nd – the same day Mandalorian and Grogu hit theaters. Lou pointed out this might be the first time in Disney history that a ride update and a film debut happened simultaneously, and it is not a coincidence.

The new storylines send the Falcon to destinations including Tatooine, Coruscant, and the moon of Endor with the wrecked Death Star. The engineer seat is now the hot seat – Grogu is specifically interacting with the engineer, getting into mischief, and making the engineer’s position the most sought after in the cockpit. Grogu Mode, unlocked via certain button sequences, adds additional Easter eggs and special effects that reward guests who are paying attention.

The technology is what elevates this from a content update to something more significant. The Unreal 5 engine powering the new visuals is the same platform used to create the visual effects on The Mandalorian on Disney+. The Imagineers worked with the film crew and used the same ship models, the same planet textures, the same digital assets from the movie. What guests see in the cockpit window is not an approximation of the Star Wars universe. It is the Star Wars universe.

The Walt Disney Studios Lot – Animation Courtyard Transformed

And then there is the thing Lou said surprised him most of all. The thing he was not expecting to become one of his favorite spaces in all of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Animation Courtyard – the area that was honestly a corridor to other things, a place you passed through on the way to Star Wars Launch Bay or the restrooms – has been transformed into the Walt Disney Studios Lot. Mature trees and benches everywhere. A park-like shaded space that immediately became a destination. The Sorcerer’s Hat reimagined. Pluto’s Corner Street sign. A Silly Symphony mural. Character handprints in the pavement. Details in every direction.

And the music. Serena flagged this specifically: freshly recorded by a full orchestra, all new arrangements of classic Disney music, created specifically for this courtyard. It is beautiful. You want to sit on a bench, listen, and not leave.

The Animation Building itself is not fully open yet – coming later this summer with an Olaf animatronic, an indoor playground, character meet and greets, and a full story experience designed to feel like walking through the Disney animation studios. Even without it, the courtyard immediately became what it was always supposed to be.

Also at Hollywood Studios: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live, an interactive 20-minute audience participation show that Lou says makes him weepy because his kids are in their 20s and the Hot Dog Dance does things to him. If you have young kids, this is the one.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom: A Little Blue Dog and a Genuine Transformation

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has always been the most intentional park at Walt Disney World. Every tree, every stone, every animal habitat, every detail placed with a purpose. Lou and Serena talked about it as a park in its awkward teenage phase – between what it was and what it is becoming, with Tropical Americas on the horizon.

This summer it gets its biggest character addition in years.

Bluey’s Wild World

Bluey’s Wild World is permanent. Not a seasonal overlay, not a test run. Disney is clearly investing in this character and this world in a lasting way.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch was closed in February. Affection Section – now renamed Jump and Junction – reopened on May 26th as Bluey’s Wild World. It is only accessible by the Wildlife Express Train. Bluey and Bingo are there in an interactive format – not a stand-here-take-your-picture meet-and-greet, but genuinely interactive experiences including Keepy Uppy and games from the show. When Bluey and Bingo appeared at the media preview event, Serena said, it looked like Taylor Swift walking into the room.

If you have not watched Bluey, Lou acknowledges he is behind on this himself, but every description he has heard of it lines up perfectly with what Disney’s Animal Kingdom is: family, imagination, play, warmth, the way children experience the world. It is perfectly Disney. And it is bringing new animals from Australia to the expanded Affection Section as part of the park’s broader conservation mission.

Lou’s take on the bigger picture: Disney’s Animal Kingdom is at the beginning of a genuine transformation. Bluey is here now. Tropical Americas and the first-ever Encanto attraction are coming. Indiana Jones is coming. And the park that has always been the most stunning at night is finally being positioned to actually be open and active at night – with bioluminescent Pandora and Encanto and Indiana Jones potentially glowing in the dark.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Summer Is Different

Lou and Serena both zoomed out in the final stretch of the episode to make a point that is worth sitting with.

This summer is not about one grand slam. It is about singles and doubles. Disney leadership used that phrase in the panel – singles and doubles matter. Not every investment needs to be a Villains Land or a Tropical Americas or a fifth gate. Sometimes it is a refreshed attraction and improved gameplay and new entertainment and upgraded food and more character interactions and shade and trees and nighttime atmosphere. Those things, spread across every park, create a feeling that is very hard to describe with a headline but is very easy to feel when you are standing in it.

Disney is aggressively reinvesting in existing experiences. Using guest data to make things better and responding faster than they ever have before. Adding more family entertainment at every age level. Creating more reasons to stay on property. Improving guest flow and capacity. And most importantly – making the things guests already love even better.

Walt Disney World is enormous. Even if they never added another thing for ten years, you could visit every day and find something new. But right now, before the next wave of massive new lands arrives, there is a window where the parks feel complete, the prices are the lowest they have been in years, and the investment and care are genuinely visible everywhere you look.

Serena’s word for it: we are entering a new era. And now is the time to come and be part of it.

Lou’s closing image: a bench under a tree in the Walt Disney Studios Lot at night, listening to a freshly recorded orchestra playing arrangements of songs you have loved your whole life. A Kusafiri rice bowl from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The sounds of Pandora in the distance.

Now is the time. Now is the best time.

The David Brescia Interview

Lou sat down with David Brescia, Story Lead at Walt Disney Imagineering, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during Summer Fun Fest to talk about Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets.

On why The Muppets fit this attraction better than you might expect: “The Muppets have over 70 years of history now. And they do have this built-in rock band with the Electric Mayhem. So once we started getting into it, we realized it was a better fit than you might think at first blush. We’re really just infusing this amazing foundation of this super exciting rollercoaster with that different kind of flavor and the energy of The Muppets.”

On the responsibility of the Muppets legacy: “We were certainly aware of that. Part of our goal was bringing the legacy and spirit of The Muppets forward into this attraction so that Muppet fans do have something that they’ll discover and enjoy throughout the building. Even bringing over the portrait of the Muppeteers, Jim Henson, that’s kind of looking over the exit – it’s details like that that I hope people really appreciate, that we did bring a lot of care and heart to this.”

On the first-ever audio-animatronic Muppet: “Working so closely with the Muppet studio and the Muppet performers, we decided to try this approach that I don’t think has ever been done before, where David Rudman, the character’s performer, performs the pre-show to the track. They took that data and transferred it into the character in a novel way. And you see all the little intricacies of movements – you see the wrist in there – and it really works out amazing.”

On the music philosophy: “It really came down to what sounded best on the ride. What fit the ride itself and the energy of the ride. What fit the Electric Mayhem and their voices. I feel like Def Leppard hits that classic rock-and-roller-coaster feel. Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson bring so much energy. And then the tracks that don’t have guest stars – there’s chickens singing the chorus on one of them. Animal just yelling incoherently. I love where they landed.”

On what he would Muppetize if he could pick any attraction: David Brescia would Muppetize Kilimanjaro Safaris. His reasoning: having worked with the Muppet performers and seen the way they view the world, he thinks their observations on a safari would be a blast – and Animal would absolutely try to get involved.

Join the Conversation

Now I want to hear from you.

What do you think is the best new addition to Walt Disney World this summer? Which attraction do you think deserves the Buzz Lightyear treatment next? And what is your one must-do on your next Walt Disney World visit?

Call the voicemail and tell Lou about it. He wants to hear about your kid’s face when they meet Bluey. He wants to know your Buzz Lightyear score. He wants to know if Soarin’ got you. And he wants to know what your favorite food is at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The arepas are the correct answer.

Thanks again to Serena from Living by Disney for joining me this week!

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I want to share your stories on the show. Because every wish starts with someone believing that magic matters. And so does every dollar the Dream Team Project has ever raised. That is you. And you deserve to be celebrated.

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I’m talking about our next WDW Radio Group Cruise – seven nights aboard my absolute favorite ship, the Disney Wonder, sailing May 10th through the 17th, 2027, roundtrip from Vancouver, British Columbia (one of my favorite cities).

This is my favorite cruise itinerary in the world. Glaciers. Bald eagles. Humpback whales. The gold rush history of Skagway, the stunning capital city of Juneau, and the totem poles and fjords of Ketchikan, PLUS a glacier viewing day, and two days at sea – all wrapped in the magic that only the Disney Wonder can deliver.

And here’s what makes a WDW Radio group cruise different: it’s not just a cruise. It’s our cruise. It’s experiencing all of this – together, as a community and a family. That’s something you simply can’t recreate on your own.

The best part? Joining our group costs you nothing extra. You pay for your cruise – and everything that comes with sailing on the Disney Wonder – and you’re part of it.

And if you’ve sailed with us before, you already know – we always have a few surprises up our sleeves. There is so much that we experience and share together onboard, and everyone who joins us gets some exclusive surprises just for being part of our group. We’re talking contests, giveaways… and honestly, there’s more that I’m just not ready to share yet. You’ll have to trust me on that one.

But here’s what I need you to know: space is limited, and this ship will fill up fast. And the sooner you book, the lower your rate – prices only go up from here.

All bookings must go through our exclusive travel partner, Mouse Fan Travel. Head to WDWRadio.com/Alaska2027 right now for a free, no-obligation quote. It takes just a minute, and it could be the start of the adventure of a lifetime.

I’ll see you in Alaska.

Links and Resources

• 💙 Join the Clubhouse: WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse
• 📰 Get the Newsletter + Free Gift: WDWRadio.com/Newsletter
• 🎟️ Plan Your Trip: MouseFanTravel.com
• 📞 Leave a Voicemail: 407-900-9391
• 📱 Follow Lou on Social: @LouMongello
• Related posts and episodes:
  • WDW Radio #811 – Muppets, Monsters, and Lakeshore Lodge LIVE
  • The Muppets in Walt Disney World That Never Were
  • Disney Announces Muppets Takeover of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

🙏 Book Your Vacation with Mouse Fan Travel!

Thanks to Beci Mahnken and our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. If you’re planning your own Disney (or global) vacation, I cannot recommend them enough.

🎟️ Visit MouseFanTravel.com for free, no-obligation quotes from people who live and love Disney like you do.

🚀 Work With Lou

At LouMongello.com, Lou helps creators, entrepreneurs, and organizations discover how to build better businesses and stronger communities through the power of story, service, and purpose.

As a keynote speaker, Lou delivers inspiring and actionable presentations that teach how to create unforgettable experiences, deepen relationships, and drive results. His signature talks include:

• The Disney Difference: Lessons in Customer Service and Experience
• Leadership Lessons from Walt Disney
• Building Community the Disney Way
• Creating Magic: The Power of Storytelling, Service, and Purpose

Through his Momentum series of events, retreats, workshops, and mastermind programs, Lou helps solopreneurs and creators turn what they love into what they do by gaining clarity, confidence, and connection.

He also offers 1:1 coaching and mentoring for individuals who want practical and personalized guidance to grow their brand, audience, and revenue while staying true to their values.

Lou’s content, podcasts, live shows, and community reach hundreds of thousands of passionate Disney fans and entrepreneurs every month. His unique approach blends decades of business experience, the timeless wisdom of Walt Disney, and proven strategies for building lasting relationships, customer loyalty, and brand trust.

Whether speaking on stage, teaching at Momentum, or coaching one-on-one, Lou’s mission is simple: to help you create magic in your business, your content, and your life.

✨ Learn more at LouMongello.com

💙 Become Part of the WDW Radio Nation & Make a Difference!

Help support the show AND help make children’s wishes come true through our Dream Team Project! 🔗 Join the Nation Today → WDWRadioNation.com

📬 Stay Connected!

• Sign up for our free weekly newsletter for Disney news, exclusive content, and a free copy of 102 Things to Do at Least Once in Walt Disney World.
• Follow me on social @LouMongello for more fun, live broadcasts, and behind-the-scenes looks.
• Join us at WDWRadio.com/Events for upcoming meetups, group cruises, and adventures!

🙏 Thank You!

Thank you, as always, for being part of the WDW Radio family. Remember to choose the good, be kind, and stay hungry! Until next time – See ya real soon!

Listen to this week’s show and use the form below to enter our weekly trivia contest for a chance to WIN a Disney Prize Package!

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