Mega-theme park operators Disney and Universal are making moves to improve and change their experiences, but they’re taking two separate approaches: Universal is going ahead with a new park and smaller, regional parks, while Disney is making targeted improvements within its existing park structure.

In this episode, retail editor Jamie Biesiada and Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider, explore why Universal and Disney chose these routes and how external forces -- construction delays, DeSantis, space constraints -- play a role. What might we expect from the theme-park experience in the near future? And what might Disney do with the Galactic Starcruiser, aka the Star Wars hotel?

This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was originally published June 19 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations https://www.algvacations.com

Related links:

Theme Park Insider https://themeparkinsider.com/ 

A thrilling time for theme parks https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Thrilling-time-for-theme-parks 

Why Disney’s Star Wars hotel didn’t take off https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Why-Star-Wars-hotel-failed 

Disney pulls the plug on Lake Nona project https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-pulls-plug-on-Lake-Nona-project

Mega-theme park operators Disney and Universal are making moves to improve and change their experiences, but they’re taking two separate approaches: Universal is going ahead with a new park and smaller, regional parks, while Disney is making targeted improvements within its existing park structure.
In this episode, retail editor Jamie Biesiada and Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider, explore why Universal and Disney chose these routes and how external forces -- construction delays, DeSantis, space constraints -- play a role. What might we expect from the theme-park experience in the near future? And what might Disney do with the Galactic Starcruiser, aka the Star Wars hotel?
This episode is part of our summer series featuring some of our most memorable recent episodes. This episode was originally published June 19 and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by ALG Vacations <a href="https://www.algvacations.com">https://www.algvacations.com</a>
Related links:
Theme Park Insider <a href="https://themeparkinsider.com/">https://themeparkinsider.com/ </a>
A thrilling time for theme parks <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Thrilling-time-for-theme-parks">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Thrilling-time-for-theme-parks </a>
Why Disney’s Star Wars hotel didn’t take off <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Why-Star-Wars-hotel-failed">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Why-Star-Wars-hotel-failed </a>
Disney pulls the plug on Lake Nona project <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-pulls-plug-on-Lake-Nona-project">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Disney-pulls-plug-on-Lake-Nona-project</a>

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.

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