Writing the Unofficial Guide: Magic Kingdom and Epcot in 2015 (Ep. 81)

Jim Hill and Len Testa pull back the curtain on the conversations that became anecdotes in the 2016 Unofficial Guide. In this extended first installment, they work through Magic Kingdom and Epcot attraction by attraction, discussing projects, operational challenges, and ideas being considered in 2015. It is a snapshot of the parks at that moment, including predictions and proposals whose outcomes were still uncertain.

Original Air Date: June 15, 2015 (estimated)
Original Title: Anecdotes for the 2016 Unofficial Guide

HIGHLIGHTS

• How New Fantasyland’s larger crowds affected restaurants, restrooms, stroller parking, and the Magic Kingdom hub.
• Plans for the Jungle Cruise restaurant and the backstage kitchen supporting several dining locations.
• Interactive queues, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, and ideas tied to Disney’s movie slate.
• Character greetings, live entertainment, and the anticipated move of Anna and Elsa to Epcot.
• Proposed changes to the Hall of Presidents, Carousel of Progress, and Magic Kingdom’s nighttime entertainment.
• Frozen’s Norway attraction and meet-and-greet, plus Soarin’s additional theater and digital projection.
• Possible drone elements for nighttime shows and the operational challenges behind them.
• Epcot dining, Innoventions, and ideas for the future of the Imagination pavilion.

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.
View transcript here.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill: X and Instagram @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Len Testa: Bluesky @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram @len.testa | touringplans.com

FOLLOW

• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• X and Instagram: @JimHillMedia
• YouTube and TikTok: @jimhillmedia

SUPPORT

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

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/

Jim and Len build the 2016 Unofficial Guide’s stories, exploring Magic Kingdom crowd flow, dining changes, character plans, and Epcot’s next chapter.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices