Because Halloween is right around a (scary, dark) corner we’re shining a flashlight on a very unique, and very popular, time at Orlando parks: The spooky season.

Jamie Biesiada, Travel Weekly's editor for content innovation and retail, earlier this fall checked out Universal Orlando Resort’s annual scare-filled Halloween Horror Nights. In this episode she and host Rebecca Tobin talk about that experience in detail, what Disney offers, the psychology of scares for fun and who travel advisors should target for a Halloween vacation. 

This episode was recorded Oct. 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises

Related links:

Dispatch, Orlando: A first time at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-first-time-at-Universal-Orlando-Halloween-Horror-Nights

Why do we love to be scared? The appeal of Halloween Horror Nights https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Appeal-of-Universal-Halloween-Horror-Nights

A celebration of 35 years of terror https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Halloween-Horror-Nights-returns-to-Universal-Orlando-Resort

A night at Disney's 'Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party' https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-night-at-Mickey-Halloween-Party

Author Coltan Scrivner's Morbid Curiosity test https://www.coltanscrivner.com/morbid-curiosity-test

 

Because Halloween is right around a (scary, dark) corner we&rsquo;re shining a flashlight on a very unique, and very popular, time at Orlando parks: The spooky season.
Jamie Biesiada, Travel Weekly's editor for content innovation and retail, earlier this fall checked out Universal Orlando Resort&rsquo;s annual scare-filled Halloween Horror Nights. In this episode she and host Rebecca Tobin talk about that experience in detail, what Disney offers, the psychology of scares for fun and who travel advisors should target for a Halloween vacation.&nbsp;
This episode was recorded Oct. 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises
Related links:
Dispatch, Orlando: A first time at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-first-time-at-Universal-Orlando-Halloween-Horror-Nights">https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-first-time-at-Universal-Orlando-Halloween-Horror-Nights</a>
Why do we love to be scared? The appeal of Halloween Horror Nights <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Appeal-of-Universal-Halloween-Horror-Nights">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Appeal-of-Universal-Halloween-Horror-Nights</a>
A celebration of 35 years of terror <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Halloween-Horror-Nights-returns-to-Universal-Orlando-Resort">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Halloween-Horror-Nights-returns-to-Universal-Orlando-Resort</a>
A night at Disney's 'Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party' <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-night-at-Mickey-Halloween-Party">https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/A-night-at-Mickey-Halloween-Party</a>
Author Coltan Scrivner's Morbid Curiosity test&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coltanscrivner.com/morbid-curiosity-test">https://www.coltanscrivner.com/morbid-curiosity-test</a>
&nbsp;

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

A spooky travel assignment: How theme parks do Halloween

River cruise lines, passengers and advisors have occasionally been vexed by Europe’s hot, dry summer, which has led to low water levels on some rivers that kept some ships from sailing their published itineraries. So what should advisors and river-bound passengers know about how lines monitor the rivers and come up with solutions? 

In this episode, river cruise editor Brinley Hineman and host Rebecca Tobin have a candid conversation with Jeremy Palmer, the president of tour company Tauck, which operates more than a dozen river ships in Europe, on how it has handled the season. Response teams, on-the-ground relationships, communication strategies and more – it’s a conversation that every river-selling advisor should listen in on.

This episode was recorded Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises https://www.oceaniacruises.com

Related links:

Climate change: Tourism's hot topic https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Climate-change-Tourisms-hot-topic

Low water, high stakes: River lines take a hit to satisfy guests https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-swallow-costs-to-move-guests

Low river waters in Europe are challenging river cruise lines and advisors https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Low-river-levels-in-Europe-challenging-lines-and-advisors

Tauck's river cruise page https://www.tauck.com/tours-and-cruises/european-river-cruises

 

River cruise lines, passengers and advisors have occasionally been vexed by Europe&rsquo;s hot, dry summer, which has led to low water levels on some rivers that kept some ships from sailing their published itineraries. So what should advisors and river-bound passengers know about how lines monitor the rivers and come up with solutions?&nbsp;
In this episode, river cruise editor Brinley Hineman and host Rebecca Tobin have a candid conversation with Jeremy Palmer, the president of tour company Tauck, which operates more than a dozen river ships in Europe, on how it has handled the season. Response teams, on-the-ground relationships, communication strategies and more &ndash; it&rsquo;s a conversation that every river-selling advisor should listen in on.
This episode was recorded Oct. 6 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises <a href="https://www.oceaniacruises.com">https://www.oceaniacruises.com</a>
Related links:
Climate change: Tourism's hot topic <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Climate-change-Tourisms-hot-topic">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Climate-change-Tourisms-hot-topic</a><a href="https://www.tauck.com/tours-and-cruises/european-river-cruises"></a>
Low water, high stakes: River lines take a hit to satisfy guests <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-swallow-costs-to-move-guests">https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-swallow-costs-to-move-guests</a>
Low river waters in Europe are challenging river cruise lines and advisors <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Low-river-levels-in-Europe-challenging-lines-and-advisors">https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Low-river-levels-in-Europe-challenging-lines-and-advisors</a>
Tauck's river cruise page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tauck.com/tours-and-cruises/european-river-cruises">https://www.tauck.com/tours-and-cruises/european-river-cruises</a>
&nbsp;

How one river cruise operator navigates low water in Europe

We have several exciting episodes planned for the Folo over the next month that will folo – that’s a journalism term that means to follow up with more context and reporting -- some of the biggest stories in the business. But this week, we're bringing you a bonus episode of our kick-start to the fall season: Topics we wanted to devote a little more time to.

Jamie Biesiada, our editor of content innovation and retail, had some interesting insights into her theme park coverage, so in this episode we talk about what Universal and Disney have been up to. 

And then after our second break, aviation editor Robert Silk discusses an unusual TSA test program: In certain cities, it's enabling PreCheck members to pass through security and into the terminals even if they don't have a boarding pass. 

These conversations were recorded in mid-September and have been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises https://www.oceaniacruises.com

Related links:

Disney World is testing new tools to help consumers select a hotel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-World-testing-tools-consumer-hotel-selection

Disney unveils major theme park plans at D23 event https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-announces-a-slew-of-theme-park-updates-at-D23-event

At Universal Kids Resort, the focus is on fun for younger ages https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Fun-in-small-doses-at-Universal-Kids-Resort

TSA turns back the clock on the Gateside program https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/TSA-turns-back-the-clock-with-Gateside-program

We have several exciting episodes planned for the Folo over the next month that will folo &ndash; that&rsquo;s a journalism term that means to follow up with more context and reporting -- some of the biggest stories in the business. But this week, we're bringing you a bonus episode of our kick-start to the fall season: Topics we wanted to devote a little more time to.
Jamie Biesiada, our editor of content innovation and retail, had some interesting insights into her theme park coverage, so in this episode we talk about what Universal and Disney have been up to.&nbsp;
And then after our second break, aviation editor Robert Silk discusses an unusual TSA test program: In certain cities, it's enabling PreCheck members to pass through security and into the terminals even if they don't have a boarding pass.&nbsp;
These conversations were recorded in mid-September and have been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Oceania Cruises <a href="https://www.oceaniacruises.com">https://www.oceaniacruises.com</a>
Related links:
Disney World is testing new tools to help consumers select a hotel <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-World-testing-tools-consumer-hotel-selection">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-World-testing-tools-consumer-hotel-selection</a>
Disney unveils major theme park plans at D23 event <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-announces-a-slew-of-theme-park-updates-at-D23-event">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-announces-a-slew-of-theme-park-updates-at-D23-event</a>
At Universal Kids Resort, the focus is on fun for younger ages <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Fun-in-small-doses-at-Universal-Kids-Resort">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Fun-in-small-doses-at-Universal-Kids-Resort</a>
TSA turns back the clock on the Gateside program <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/TSA-turns-back-the-clock-with-Gateside-program">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/TSA-turns-back-the-clock-with-Gateside-program</a>

Folo updates: Theme park thoughts, and a surprising TSA program

Continuing with our check-in with reporters on their top stories of the summer – and what we can expect this fall.

This week, host Rebecca Tobin talks with hospitality editor Christina Jelski, who provides an update on hotel news: The demand picture, whether Canadians are returning to the U.S., Mexico’s struggles and more.

Then, cruise editor Teri West talks about new directions in rate and the launch of the third Icon-class ship. 

And river cruise and tours editor Brinley Hineman returns to recap this summer’s low-water levels for river cruising.

These conversations were recorded throughout September and have been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor: 

This episode was sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com

Stay on at the end of the Folo for a sponsored interview with Christine Peruccio, Travel Insured's AVP of sales and account management support, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing and brand partnerships for Northstar Travel Group.

Related links: 

U.S. hotel forecast gets another bump after 'record' room sales https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/US-hotels-performing-well-in-2026-reforecast-costar-tourism-economics

How AI data centers are fueling the U.S. hospitality boom https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Strong-year-US-hotels-with-AI-data-center-building-boom

Checking in column: Tourism is taking a stand in the U.S.-Canada feud https://www.travelweekly.com/Christina-Jelski/Tourism-industry-taking-a-stand-in-U-S-Canada-feud

The Mexican sargassum surge sparks new strategies and investments https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Sargassum-surge-sparks-new-strategies-and-investments

Cruise sellers are onboard with NCL's pricing strategy https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-sellers-on-board-with-NCL-change-pricing-strategy

Cruising on Royal Caribbean's newest Icon class ship https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruising-on-Royal-Caribbean-new-Legend-of-the-Seas

Low water, high stakes: River lines take a hit to satisfy guests https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-swallow-costs-to-move-guests

Continuing with our check-in with reporters on their top stories of the summer &ndash; and what we can expect this fall.
This week, host Rebecca Tobin talks with hospitality editor Christina Jelski, who provides an update on hotel news: The demand picture, whether Canadians are returning to the U.S., Mexico&rsquo;s struggles and more.
Then, cruise editor Teri West talks about new directions in rate and the launch of the third Icon-class ship.&nbsp;
And river cruise and tours editor Brinley Hineman returns to recap this summer&rsquo;s low-water levels for river cruising.
These conversations were recorded throughout September and have been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:&nbsp;
This episode was sponsored by Travel Insured International <a href="https://www.travelinsured.com">https://www.travelinsured.com</a>
Stay on at the end of the Folo for a sponsored interview with Christine Peruccio, Travel Insured's AVP of sales and account management support, and Mary Pat Sullivan, the executive vice president of marketing and brand partnerships for Northstar Travel Group.
Related links:&nbsp;
U.S. hotel forecast gets another bump after 'record' room sales <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/US-hotels-performing-well-in-2026-reforecast-costar-tourism-economics">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/US-hotels-performing-well-in-2026-reforecast-costar-tourism-economics</a>
How AI data centers are fueling the U.S. hospitality boom&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Strong-year-US-hotels-with-AI-data-center-building-boom">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Strong-year-US-hotels-with-AI-data-center-building-boom</a>
Checking in column: Tourism is taking a stand in the U.S.-Canada feud&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Christina-Jelski/Tourism-industry-taking-a-stand-in-U-S-Canada-feud">https://www.travelweekly.com/Christina-Jelski/Tourism-industry-taking-a-stand-in-U-S-Canada-feud</a>
The Mexican sargassum surge sparks new strategies and investments <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Sargassum-surge-sparks-new-strategies-and-investments">https://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Sargassum-surge-sparks-new-strategies-and-investments</a>
Cruise sellers are onboard with NCL's pricing strategy <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-sellers-on-board-with-NCL-change-pricing-strategy">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruise-sellers-on-board-with-NCL-change-pricing-strategy</a>
Cruising on Royal Caribbean's newest Icon class ship <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruising-on-Royal-Caribbean-new-Legend-of-the-Seas">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Cruising-on-Royal-Caribbean-new-Legend-of-the-Seas</a>
Low water, high stakes: River lines take a hit to satisfy guests <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-swallow-costs-to-move-guests">https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-swallow-costs-to-move-guests</a>

A spooky travel assignment: How theme parks do Halloween

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