Now that the dust has somewhat settled, and though I have already done some very detailed announcements around Piston Peak, Imagination, Tomorrowland and Villains Land, there are so many other details from my experience at Disneyland and at the expo that I haven’t really unpacked. It’s taken me many days to get my head around everything that took place. This podcast is my effort to summarize all of that, to better get a sense of the whole of D23, not just park announcements–which I have a lot to cover–but the event itself, from D23 day at Disneyland to the Exposition floor to the Honda Center events at night. It was an incredible, but intense and intimate experience–shared with some other 100,000 people. Join me as we look at insights on D23 and the promises ahead for the Disney Parks.

This podcast is produced by myself and Performance Journeys, which offers training, development and consultant support to organizations big and small and entrepreneurs new and established. With a wide variety of resources and long-time in-the-trench experience, we offer workshops, online learning, coaching and more to organizations that want to build their teams, raise organizational excellence, improve leadership and create customer loyalty. Check us out at PerformanceJourneys.com.

As with our podcast, be sure to check out this web site, Disney Insights where we offer key points, photos, videos, links and more. In today’s discussion, we will refer to several videos found on Disney Insights YouTube page. So please subscribe to our Disney Insights YouTube page as it will be more a part of our social media strategy moving forward. We appreciate any positive ratings, reviews or referrals you make to others.

Background

• 5 Previous D23 Events Including the Original One
• Restructuring of the Last D23 Event
• Made the Reservation–But Didn’t Make Reservations
• Prefaced it with a Work Trip
• Arrived at Sheraton Garden Grove

Disneyland Resort

• Disney California Adventure
  • Focus on Getting Photos & Videos
  • Doing What I Usually Don’t
    • Guardians Mission Breakout
    • Shang Chi and Antman
    • Toy Story
    • Jessie’s Critter Carousel
    • Baymax and Hiro Hamada
    • Lamplight Lounge
    • Grizzly River Rapids
• D23 Day at Disneyland
  • Hats
  • More of What I Usually Don’t Do
    • Monte Cristo Sandwiches
    • Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge with Luke, Leia, R2D2, BDX Droids and Batuu Adventure Buddy Ewoks
    • Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln–Get there by 1
  • Churro Disappointments & Monte Cristo Sandwiches
  • D23 Blue Fairy & Merlin & Parade
  • My Souvenir–Restroom Montage

D23 Expo

• Traffic In and Out
• Costumes–Apply Months Ahead
• Archives V.I.N.C.E.N.T., Ark of the Covenant, Mary Poppins Carpet Bag
• Pirates of the Caribbean in Lego Form
• Carolwood Pacific Railroad Model Running Around Walt Disney’s Holmby Hills Home

• Imagineering Horizons–There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow
  • Piston Peak–See Video
    • Cars Ridge Run Rally–Track
    • Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin Along
    • J. Autobahn Woodlore

• Villains Land
  • Wishing Well Storyline
  • Maleficent Coaster
  • Mirror Realm Dark Ride–Queens Catacombs–Boat?

• Tropical Americas–Opening 2027 on Disney Parks Blog
  • Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto–Ride Vehicles–Casita Stairs & Kitchen
  • El Carrusel de Los Animalitos–21
  • Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent–Indy’s Likness

• Monstropolis–Coming in 2027
  • Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza
  • Monsters University Alumni Club
  • Scareporium
  • Glob Theater: Welcome to Monstropolis–Randy Newman Song Created–Animatronics–Abba Style Look

• Carousel of Progress
  • Depicted of Scene II Halloween
  • Further Depiction of Scene IV Costumes
  • Jamie Lee Curtis and Bryan Cranston

• Disneyland
  • Infinity Defense & Stark Lab Model
  • Coco–Santa Cecilia–Statue of Hector–Not de la Cruz
  • Remember…Dreams Come True, Original World of Color, and Magic Happens Returning
• Hong Kong Spiderman Tower of Terror Model
• Tokyo Disneyland
  • Space Mountain Earthrise Model & Vehicle
  • Sugar Rush–Wreck-It Ralph Attraction
• Paris Adventure Park Lion King Scene

D23 Parks Event at the Honda Center

• First Night & Celebrity Count
• Neil Patrick Harris
• Focus on Six Non-IP Attractions
  • Yeti
  • Carousel of Progress–Act I, Act 2 & Act 4 with Costumes
  • Space Mountain From the Earth to the Moon
  • New Tomorrowland for Disneyland–Ahead of Avatar Expansion
  • Journey Into Imagination
  • Spaceship Earth–From Communications to Connections

Summary

Will I do it again. The answer was no when I got on the plane. Ten days later it’s a maybe. That probably means Yes in two years.

Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization

For over a year I’ve been capturing and sharing stories of Disneyland, while creating a new online tool for you to explore all of them in one place. It’s called Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization and it’s an interactive, multimedia experience. This is truly designed for those who are seeking to find new ideas that will guide you to 

1. Provide Individual & Organizational Leadership Excellence
2. Create Employee Engagement & a Team Culture
3. Offer a Superior Customer Experience

Not only does the content through examples, stories and models play to these themes, but each section provides “Souvenirs for You and Your Organization”. They are reflective questions that may be used to better the work or operation you may be lead or be part of. And in that instance, it is more of a business focus. In fact, many may utilize funding set aside in their organization for training and development to purchase this volume.

Click here to order Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization. It’s also available on the show notes page of our podcast. Whether you’re on a comfy sofa at home or on Main Street, U.S.A. this experience allows you to navigate through all nine lands to explore some 100 locations where you can find Disney insights that will be inspire and guide you and your organization. 

Books From Your Host at Disney Insights

Also, if you’re looking to grab something today, go to Amazon where you will find four of my books available for purchase. Three explore Disney at length, and one explores world class businesses to include Disney. Check them out!

My newest book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available! 

Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You. 

Also, for those examining other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence.

Thanks for joining us for this podcast. Know that as in the title of my organization, Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about performance. Find the second star to the right, and keep going straight on till you reach it. Follow the compass of your heart, and know that with a smile and a song, a little faith, effort and pixie dust, your dreams can come true. After all, if we can dream it, we can do it. Until next time, bright suns, we’ll see you real soon!