Did Disney Hide Tomorrowland’s Future in a Hotel Tower? (Ep. 604)

Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into Disney’s newly released Monstropolis concept art, Lakeshore Lodge details, a new Kilimanjaro Safaris patent, and some revealing Disney vacation-planning surveys. They also tackle listener questions about Haunted Mansion plumbing, Fantasmic crowds, pricing psychology, and the upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie set at Walt Disney World. Then Jim begins the story of Disney Vacation Club’s long road to Disneyland, including abandoned plans for resorts in Colorado, Times Square, and Newport Beach - and why Disneyland’s Discovery Tower might hint at the future of Tomorrowland.

NEWS
• New Monstropolis concept art offers a closer look at the Globe Theater, Harryhausen’s, and what may be a new 3D Monsters, Inc. attraction.
• Disney reveals additional Lakeshore Lodge artwork, including its expansive lobby and the colorful Branch and Bush Lounge.
• Disneyland tests a grab-and-go approach at Rancho del Zocalo.
• New Disney surveys may reveal how guest preferences could shape AI-powered vacation planning.
• A Disney patent explores notifying guests when animals are especially active on Kilimanjaro Safaris.

FEATURE
• Jim traces Disney Vacation Club from Old Key West to the company’s early plans for resorts far beyond Walt Disney World.
• Disney once considered major DVC properties in Colorado, Times Square, and Newport Beach before changing course in the 1990s.
• The disappointing early response to Vero Beach and Hilton Head helped push Disney toward adding more vacation-club inventory at its theme park resorts.
• Could Disneyland Hotel’s Discovery Tower be a clue to a future “Discoveryland” reimagining of Tomorrowland?

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com

FOLLOW
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• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com

SPONSOR
Planning a Walt Disney World vacation? Get started with BeOurGuestVacations.com.

Jim and Len explore new Disney parks developments before tracing the surprising, decades-long path that finally brought Disney Vacation Club to Disneyland.

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