Our theme parks reporter Jamie Biesiada was at Walt Disney World twice in May, and host Rebecca Tobin cruised on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish -- making it the perfect time to dig in on theme park changes, additions, Cool Kid Summer and our own personal recent experiences, from rides to resort restaurants. Plus an update on Universal. 

Summer Series 

This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published June 8 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor

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

Related reports

Disney aims to simplify trip planning with tech updates https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-simplifying-the-guest-experience-for-planning-trips

Dispatch, Disney World: Park offerings for preschoolers https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Disney-World-park-offerings-for-preschoolers

Behind the magic: Maintaining Disney World's iconic landscapes https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/The-team-behind-Disney-World-maintenance-and-makeovers Something for all ages on the Disney Wish (September 2022) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Something-for-kids-of-all-ages-on-the-Disney-Wish

Our theme parks reporter Jamie Biesiada was at Walt Disney World twice in May, and host Rebecca Tobin cruised on Disney Cruise Line's Disney Wish -- making it the perfect time to dig in on theme park changes, additions, Cool Kid Summer and our own personal recent experiences, from rides to resort restaurants. Plus an update on Universal.&nbsp;
Summer Series 
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published June 8 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International <a href="https://www.travelinsured.com">https://www.travelinsured.com</a>
Related reports
Disney aims to simplify trip planning with tech updates <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-simplifying-the-guest-experience-for-planning-trips">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-simplifying-the-guest-experience-for-planning-trips</a>
Dispatch, Disney World: Park offerings for preschoolers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Disney-World-park-offerings-for-preschoolers">https://www.travelweekly.com/Blogs/Dispatch/Disney-World-park-offerings-for-preschoolers</a>
Behind the magic: Maintaining Disney World's iconic landscapes https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/The-team-behind-Disney-World-maintenance-and-makeovers Something for all ages on the Disney Wish (September 2022) https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Something-for-kids-of-all-ages-on-the-Disney-Wish

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 theme park summer with Disney, Universal and more -- A Summer Series episode

For a long time travel sites have tried to mimic how travel advisors qualify clients: How to present travel options and ideas to people who don’t know when or where they want to go -- often with varying results. But now some sites are now able to facilitate a conversation about travel inspiration thanks to generative AI. 

In this episode, Saad Saeed, the CEO of Layla, a generative AI travel search interface, talks with editor at large Robert Silk and host Rebecca Tobin about how Layla works and what Saeed's team has uncovered about consumer habits -- and how people research travel differently when using AI instead of talking to a human.

Summer Series 

This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published April 27 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor 

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

Related links 

AI tools are changing how travelers research vacation options

https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/AI-tools-changing-how-travelers-research-vacation-options

For a long time travel sites have tried to mimic how travel advisors qualify clients: How to present travel options and ideas to people who don&rsquo;t know when or where they want to go -- often with varying results. But now some sites are now able to facilitate a conversation about travel inspiration thanks to generative AI.&nbsp;
In this episode, Saad Saeed, the CEO of Layla, a generative AI travel search interface, talks with editor at large Robert Silk and host Rebecca Tobin about how Layla works and what Saeed's team has uncovered about consumer habits -- and how people research travel differently when using AI instead of talking to a human.
Summer Series 
This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was originally published April 27 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor 
This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelinsured.com">https://www.travelinsured.com</a>
Related links&nbsp;
AI tools are changing how travelers research vacation options
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/AI-tools-changing-how-travelers-research-vacation-options">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/AI-tools-changing-how-travelers-research-vacation-options</a>

AI is changing how consumers research travel: A Summer Series episode

With Europe summer travel in full swing, it’s a good time to talk about building a river cruise vacation. Whether you’re an advisor with river-bound clients, or if you’re a traveler yourself, the cruise is likely is just part of a multicomponent trip with pre- and post-cruise tours or city stays known as extensions.

The extensions business is getting more and more complex, with travelers adding on not just more extensive options from the river cruise lines but tours from third-party operators or a bespoke land trip. And while we’re at it, the in-cruise experience is getting more bespoke, too. 

In this episode tours and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman and Angela Hughes, CEO of Trips & Ships Luxury Travel in Winter Garden, Fla., talk about the options and where river-bound travelers are headed, whether it’s better to add a pre- or post-trip tour and how to position a longer European vacation.

This episode was recorded June 26 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions https://www.expeditions.com

Related reports

River cruise lines add full land tours to create longer vacations https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-add-full-land-tours

A real win-win for river cruising: Land-based extensions https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/benefits-for-selling-pre-and-post-river-cruise-land-tours

 

With Europe summer travel in full swing, it&rsquo;s a good time to talk about building a river cruise vacation. Whether you&rsquo;re an advisor with river-bound clients, or if you&rsquo;re a traveler yourself, the cruise is likely is just part of a multicomponent trip with pre- and post-cruise tours or city stays known as extensions.
The extensions business is getting more and more complex, with travelers adding on not just more extensive options from the river cruise lines but tours from third-party operators or a bespoke land trip. And while we&rsquo;re at it, the in-cruise experience is getting more bespoke, too.&nbsp;
In this episode tours and river cruise editor Brinley Hineman and Angela Hughes, <a href="https://www.tripsandships.com/about-angela-hughes">CEO of Trips &amp; Ships Luxury Travel</a> in Winter Garden, Fla., talk about the options and where river-bound travelers are headed, whether it&rsquo;s better to add a pre- or post-trip tour and how to position a longer European vacation.
This episode was recorded June 26 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions <a href="https://www.expeditions.com">https://www.expeditions.com</a>
Related reports
River cruise lines add full land tours to create longer vacations <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-add-full-land-tours">https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/River-cruise-lines-add-full-land-tours</a>
A real win-win for river cruising: Land-based extensions&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/benefits-for-selling-pre-and-post-river-cruise-land-tours">https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/benefits-for-selling-pre-and-post-river-cruise-land-tours</a>
&nbsp;

River cruise passengers are adding on extensive land trips

In June, Carnival Cruise Line held an event in New Orleans called The Next Course, where it introduced new restaurants and menus on its upcoming ship, the Carnival Festivale, and showcased its partnership with superstar chef Emeril Lagasse, the line’s chief culinary officer. It also served as a chance to talk about the latest in foodie trends, and how those trends are showing up on Carnival’s ships.

In this episode we take that conversation even further with Carnival’s vice president of food and beverage Juan Fernandez and cruise editor Teri West. We talk about changes in dining hours, dining styles, drinks and more and how those changes dovetail or diverge with how consumers eat and drink on land. Plus: How Carnival developed its relationship with Lagasse and the new restaurants on the Festivale. 

This conversation was recorded July 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions https://www.expeditions.com

Related links:

Carnival and Emeril Lagasse embrace the latest culinary trends https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-embrace-the-latest-culinary-trends

Carnival introduces new culinary concepts for upcoming ships https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-Lagasse-introduce-new-culinary-concepts

Reservations are open for the Carnival Festivale https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Reservations-open-for-Carnival-Festivale

How weight-loss meds are changing travel https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/weight-loss-meds-changing-travel

Focus on culinary travel: Savoring the experience https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Focus-on-culinary-travel-Savoring-the-experience

In June, Carnival Cruise Line held an event in New Orleans called The Next Course, where it introduced new restaurants and menus on its upcoming ship, the Carnival Festivale, and showcased its partnership with superstar chef Emeril Lagasse, the line&rsquo;s chief culinary officer. It also served as a chance to talk about the latest in foodie trends, and how those trends are showing up on Carnival&rsquo;s ships.
In this episode we take that conversation even further with Carnival&rsquo;s vice president of food and beverage Juan Fernandez and cruise editor Teri West. We talk about changes in dining hours, dining styles, drinks and more and how those changes dovetail or diverge with how consumers eat and drink on land. Plus: How Carnival developed its relationship with Lagasse and the new restaurants on the Festivale.&nbsp;
This conversation was recorded July 9 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions <a href="https://www.expeditions.com">https://www.expeditions.com</a>
Related links:
Carnival and Emeril Lagasse embrace the latest culinary trends&nbsp;<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-embrace-the-latest-culinary-trends">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-embrace-the-latest-culinary-trends</a>
Carnival introduces new culinary concepts for upcoming ships <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-Lagasse-introduce-new-culinary-concepts">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-and-Emeril-Lagasse-introduce-new-culinary-concepts</a>
Reservations are open for the Carnival Festivale <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Reservations-open-for-Carnival-Festivale">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Reservations-open-for-Carnival-Festivale</a>
How weight-loss meds are changing travel <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/weight-loss-meds-changing-travel">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/weight-loss-meds-changing-travel</a>
Focus on culinary travel: Savoring the experience <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Focus-on-culinary-travel-Savoring-the-experience">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Focus-on-culinary-travel-Savoring-the-experience</a>

A theme park summer with Disney, Universal and more -- A Summer Series episode

In 1 playlist(s)

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips