Celebrating Season One of the planDisney Podcast

And that’s a wrap! Season One of the planDisney Podcast has come to an end. We’ve planned the perfect spring break vacation, dined with grim grinning ghosts in the Haunted Mansion Ballroom, saved the galaxy, set sail on the Disney Wish, and so much more. The panelists loved sharing their helpful tips, heartfelt advice, and unique insights with other guests in a new and exciting way this past year. And the podcast is not going anywhere just yet…

We are so excited to announce that Season Two of the planDisney Podcast begins tomorrow, January 18^th, 2023! Before we kick off an exciting new season, let’s celebrate some of the highlights from Season One:

On the very first episode of the planDisney Podcast, panelists Mandy, Bryanna, and Doug made a splash with host Amiyrah Martin at Typhoon Lagoon. The panelists shared top tips for making the most of your spring break vacation at a Disney Destination with springtime experiences that go beyond the theme parks. We also heard from Brandon, a Walt Disney Imagineer, who shared the story behind Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park.

Episode 2 was a deep dive on all things Disneyland Resort. Whether you are visiting Disneyland Resort for the first time, returning with little ones, or looking for expert advice, panelists Kristin and Kamini have it covered! Listeners were in for a real treat when Veronica Horton, senior manager of Disneyland Entertainment, joined the podcast to share the inside scoop on the brand-new grand finale of the Main Street Electrical parade.  

This special episode was filmed at the Holo-Chess Table aboard the Millennium Falcon in honor of May the 4^th. Amiyrah and panelists Adrianna and Michelle shared insights on where to eat in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, what to expect when flying aboard the Millennium Falcon, the best spots for galactic photo ops, and more. In an exclusive interview with Walt Disney Imagineer Scott Trowbridge, we uncover some hidden details on Batuu that you might not have noticed.

On Episode 3, we celebrated Halfway to Holidays inside the Haunted Mansion Ballroom. Our host (or should I say ghost host?) joined panelists Jin, Jennifer, and Adrianna to share tips on celebrating Halloween and Holidays at Disney destinations. John Gritz from Walt Disney Imagineering shared a behind-the-scenes look at recent home improvements to the Haunted Mansion. It was a foolishly good episode!

Panelists Mike, Ana Paula, and Diana celebrated the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Walt Disney World Resort on Episode 4 of the podcast. After saving the galaxy a couple of times, the panelists shared what to expect, fun facts about the attraction, and how you can experience it for yourself – through Virtual Queue or Individual Lightning Lane.

Amiyrah checked in with Beth Clapperton, Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering and a member of the team bringing Avengers Campus to life at Disneyland Paris. In this bonus interview, we got to hear what Beth was most excited to share with guests.

On Episode 5, we packed our bags and checked in to Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, where Amiyrah, Amy, and Julie gathered to share tips for selecting a Disney resort. The panelists discussed the benefits of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort hotel and broke down the unique offerings on each coast. We were also lucky enough to hear from Chef Christine, a Culinary Director of Resorts, to learn what goes into creating diverse and flavorful menus for dining experiences. Bon Appetit!

Over the summer, our panelists were some of the first guests to embark on the Disney Wish. Amiyrah joined Adrianna and Andrew to share top tips on dining, entertainment, and one-of-a-kind experiences aboard the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. We even had the chance to hear from Walt Disney Imagineering to learn how the Disney Wish evolved from an idea on paper to a ship sailing the high seas!

Lisa, Raquel, and Ryan joined Amiyrah to break the news of the 2023 planDisney Search and shared heartfelt stories about their journeys to becoming planDisney panelists. We learned about the responsibilities of being a planDisney panelist, what the Search process entails, how to prepare for application season, and top tips for applying. 

On Episode 7, the panelists gathered at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to celebrate Good Neighbor Month! Carrie, Nick, and Ariane joined Amiyrah to share how Disney destinations around the globe are taking action to support a healthier planet for people and wildlife. We learned about getting involved in these initiatives through interactive experiences at Disney Destinations and heard from a Keeper and an Aquarist on Disney’s Animal Care Team.

This special episode was dedicated to maximizing your visit to Walt Disney World Resort during the holiday season. Greg, Tammy, and Taylor joined Amiyrah to discuss their favorite yuletide entertainment offerings, holiday décor, and Santa-approved snacks! 

We called in our technology experts, Tony, Alyssa, and Eean, for Episode 8 Both first-timers and seasoned guests loved hearing our panelists’ tips on all the latest and greatest technology solutions available to guests visiting the Disney theme parks. Amiyrah got to chat with Gina McCarter, a Product Management Director on the Digital Experience Team, to learn what it took to bring MagicBand+ to life.

If you’re a last-minute shopper like I am, Episode 9 came in handy this holiday season. Amiyrah sat down with Cindy, Anna, and Ashley P. to share advice on what to gift the Disney fan in your life. In an interview with Janice Prados, Manager of Disney Floral and Gifts, we learned how to enhance a stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel with an in-room gift or floral arrangement. 

To conclude Season One of the planDisney Podcast, Doug, Ashley R., and Cathy shared insights on some magical vacation offerings beyond the theme parks, including Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, and Aulani. Amiyrah dove a little deeper into Adventures by Disney in an interview with Adventures & Expeditions Destination Manager Jennae Champeau where we learned how Disney service is infused into itineraries worldwide.

Thank you to our panelists, and to our host Amiyrah Martin for all your hard work on Season One. A huge thank you to our sponsor, State Farm, for continuing to sponsor our podcast as we head into Season Two! 

You can listen to new episodes of the planDisney podcast every third Wednesday of the month on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join the panelists on location and watch it on the Disney Parks YouTube channel.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for more Disney travel tips, follow planDisney on Instagram and Twitter, or ask your planning questions at planDisney.com. 

Panelists receive compensation for their participation on planDisney.