Monday, December 19, 2022

The Sweep Spot Ep. #349 - Walt Disney’s Disneyland with Jim Korkis

We welcome back author, historian, and special guest Jim Korkis to talk about Disneyland as it was under the direct supervision of Walt Disney.

The Sweep Spot is a weekly podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record Current Events episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot..
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Friday, December 09, 2022

The Sweep Spot - Disneyland Current Events as of December 9, 2022

We catch up on the latest at the Disneyland Resort. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record these episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot. Our supporters join us this time to chat about Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Genie Plus changes, and more!

The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts.
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Friday, December 02, 2022

The Sweep Spot Ep. #348 - Disneyland 1992

We chat about what Disneyland was like in 1992, when both of us were working there. It was the year of the debut of the original Fantasmic! Mickey's Toontown was preparing to open, and there was so much more happening.

The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record Current Events episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot..
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

The Sweep Spot - Disneyland Current Events as of November 22, 2022

We catch up on the latest at the Disneyland Resort. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record these episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot. Author Russell Flores joins us this time to chat about the return of CEO Bob Iger, Mickey’s Toontown, and more!

The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts.
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Friday, November 18, 2022

The Sweep Spot Ep. #347 - Disneyland 1982 with Michael Crawford

We chat about what Disneyland was like in 1982, with Progress City Radio Hour’s Michael Crawford. It was a year of change as Fantasyland went under construction, while the company was focused on opening EPCOT Center and building Tokyo Disneyland. Michael is the author of the Progress City Primer.


The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record Current Events episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot..
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Monday, November 14, 2022

The Sweep Spot - Disneyland Current Events as of November 11, 2022

We catch up on the latest at the Disneyland Resort. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record these episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot. Our Patreon supporters join us this time to chat about the Adventureland Treehouse announcement, enhancements to It’s A Small World, and more!

The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts.
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Wednesday, November 09, 2022

I Recommend You Watch Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Here are my overdue thoughts about "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story."

It's very well done. Four Brooms(TM)

Daniel Radcliffe did an excellent job. You'd never know this is the same guy who was Harry Potter. That's a sign of a good actor.

Of course, I'm a huge "Weird Al" fan, but people can like this movie even if they haven't followed his career or cared much about him one way or the other. That being said, the people who will enjoy this movie the most are Weird Al fans and/or people who've watched other movies about musical acts, including, but not limited to, "This Is Spinal Tap," "Purple Rain," "The Doors," "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Rocketman," "A Star is Born," etc. There are "Easter eggs" throughout; just about anything seen, said, or done is a shout out to Weird Al fans or a callback to other movies.

I had an experience watching this movie that I haven't had with any other movie. It's a bit of spoiler, so I will put a jump below just in case you haven't seen the movie or don't know much about it and want to see it. You really should see it. It is currently running for free on the Roku Channel (supported by advertisements, so there are ad breaks). You don't have to have Roku. You can view it using a web browser.

Potential mild spoiler below...

Monday, November 07, 2022

The Sweep Spot Ep. #346 - Disneyland Musician and Band Leader Kurt Curtis

Kurt Curtis, a Disneyland musician for almost 40 years, chats about playing live music at the Disneyland Resort, starting with the Make Believe Brass for the 1983 New Fantasyland!

The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record Current Events episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot..
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Friday, October 28, 2022

The Sweep Spot - Disneyland Current Events as of October 28, 2022

We catch up on the latest at the Disneyland Resort. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record these episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot. We chat about the holiday celebrations coming to the Resort, MagicBand+, and more!

The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts.
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Monday, October 24, 2022

What Should a Third Disney Theme Park Resort in the USA Have?


This depends on many different factors, including where it is built. If it is built close to the coast in Texas it might have certain things, but if it is built in an area of Colorado where there is typically snow skiing for a good portion of the year, it is likely to have certain other things. A resort in Colorado might redeem some of the the concepts from the "Mineral King" project Disney considered for California.

Previously, I wrote about why there needs to be a third Disney theme park resort in the USA, and where it should be.

Specifics of what would be there will depend on location (due to weather and local competition) and what the Company sees as enduring in popularity to the point it gets people to want to enjoy the experiences and buy the associated food and merchandise. So not all specifics would be pinned down before the land is acquired and the necessary investment and approvals are lined up so that construction would be begin soon.

However, there are some overall principles that should be almost certain.

1. It would be meant to be a place people would be willing to travel to, stay overnight, and spend a day or two when it is first opened, and several days after more is added.

2. It would draw from what the Company owns and sees as successful and continuing to be compelling. For example, the Disney Princesses.

3. It would have a large variety of experiences, including diverse rides, shows, spectaculars, character encounters, dining, shopping, and lodging.

4. It would have to be different enough from the Company's other domestic resorts to encourage people to who have visited the others to visit this one, and vice-versa.

5. It would have enough "castle park" elements to help satisfy the domestic demand for those theme parks, which are the most popular.

There needn't be a traditional gated Magic Kingdom that's 70-100 acres in size. If the Company determines that is what would be best, sure, but I'd like to see concepts at least explored that organize a entire resort as a cohesive whole that integrates everything instead of separating the elements. Imagine, for example, fully integrating the hotels into the "park" so that what results is more like a small city with parks in it, rather than a mere park, with transportation that is true transportation, rather than merely a ride for amusement. Perhaps there would be shows that would be "feature length," like Broadway-style. The iconic castle itself could be a large hotel, complete with dining, shopping, show elements, even ballroom dancing. Certain things would need to be addressed with such an approach, such as the traditional gate revenue and security.

The point is to make money, give more children the opportunity go visit a "Disney castle park," entertain people of all ages, but not be redundant to the existing domestic resorts.

Depending on which location would be picked, it might have much more indoors than the existing domestic castle parks, which were built before massive malls and other developments that proved Americans would enjoy and spend money in such massive indoor places, and that such places could effectively handle crowds.

I realize that the financing and cooperation needed for a project like this is why it hasn't been done already. Instead, the Company has taken advantage of interest and support in foreign markets.

As I said, the specifics of what would actually be there wouldn't be pinned down until the project is already going forward, and every armchair Imagineer out there would have their own ideas. The Company has an entire subsidiary dedicated to making these decisions. But if you're interested, I discuss some elements below.

The Sweep Spot Ep. #345 - Disneyland Roles with Nathan Eick

Nathan Eick, a Disneyland Cast Member from December 2000 to January 2022, chats about his various roles, including staffing the Disney Gallery, being a Tour Guide, vetting prospects in Live Entertainment, and more!

The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record Current Events episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot..
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Friday, October 14, 2022

The Sweep Spot - Disneyland Current Events as of October 14, 2022

We catch up on the latest at the Disneyland Resort. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record these episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot. Our Patreon supporters join us for this episode. We chat about Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Disney100, price increases, MagicBand+, and more!

The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts.
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Where Should the Third Disney Theme Park Resort in the USA Be?

I previously explained why there is a need for a third Disney theme park resort in the USA.

But where should it be?

Disneyland and Walt Disney World were built where the weather makes year-round outdoor activities easy and common with little hassle or preparation. Yes, sunblock, shade, and air conditioning have been musts. But guest never need a parka. Walt Disney World gets frequent rain, and Disneyland has, over the years, become more and more tolerant of rain instead of needing to close early. Plastic ponchos are a big help.

This is one of several reasons I have long thought of Texas as ideal for a third Disney theme park resort in the USA. But there are other possibilities.

Since the the first two, Disney theme park resorts have been built in places that regularly have an annual season that incudes snow. Tokyo gets a little snow. Paris gets a lot. Hong Kong usually doesn't. Shanghai gets a little. So, "It gets cold there" or "It snows there" isn't a reason to rule out a location as a possibility. Disney parks can function with snow. Some people would say regular snowfall can be used to the Resort's benefit. Consider the project Walt Disney had proposed that never came to be, Mineral King. Also, the Company did consider Virginia for the Disney's America project.

So, in addition to Texas, where else should the Company consider as a possible location?

Discussing this on Twitter, Rod Trett mentioned Branson, Missouri and Kirk Hanson mentioned a few places, including the state of Colorado. I think both could be great possibilities.

I know Branson has been mentioned over the years by people who want to see the Company have additional theme park resorts in the USA. It does seem like a good idea based on it already being a family entertainment draw. Geographically, it is roughly near the center of the contiguous 48 states, and not close to either Disneyland or Walt Disney World, which is my original goal: have a third resort that makes it easier for more people to have visit to a Disney theme park.

Colorado could mean a significant change in overall design to capitalize on snow, rather than merely deal with it. And again, it's very roughly central in location.

There are professional agencies which can explore the feasibility of these three options (somewhere in Texas, somewhere in Colorado, or in or around Branson, Missouri). Among other things, studies of this sort consider the business climate, where enough suitable contiguous land can be purchased for prices that make it worthwhile, likely customers within the right distance, local workforce (there's a reason WDW relies so heavily on the College Program and staffing World Showcase with people from the countries represented), infrastructure and supply chains, competing and complimenting businesses nearby. Some people say it isn't feasible to build another site in the USA. Maybe they're right, maybe they're not. After all, it was already a major undertaking to acquire the land for Disneyland and then later Walt Disney World, and that was half a century ago. Things have only gotten more formidable since. But the resorts seem to be a a major gold mine.

As I was writing this, the Company boosted prices yet again at the domestic theme parks. Supply and demand. The demand is there. It would be great to have more supply.

The Sweep Spot Ep. #344 - Disneyland Haunted Mansion with Jeff Baham

Author Jeff Baham of DoomBuggies.com joins the show to talk about Disneyland Haunted Mansion merchandise, books, and collecting.

The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record Current Events episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot..
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Friday, September 30, 2022

The Sweep Spot - Disneyland Current Events as of September 30, 2022

We catch up on the latest at the Disneyland Resort. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record these episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot. MagicBand+ is coming and we also discuss hotel changes, and more!
The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts.
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Why There Should be a Third Disney Theme Park Resort in the USA



Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort keep raising their prices.

People keep showing up.

"Supply and demand" means that The Walt Disney Company can keep raising prices. And they will. Even with slightly lower attendance (due to caps and requiring reservations) than their peak, they are making more money due to things like "Lightning Lane."

Making more money while having to serve fewer customers sounds great.

But there's a catch.

The fewer children, especially ages about six or seven through twelve, who have memorable visits or vacations to a Disney theme park or theme park resort, the fewer adults, including parents and grandparents, there will be in the future who have a special place in their heart for these venues, or the Disney name in general. 

These trips cost a lot of money. A lot. It's a hassle for parents. A significant motivator for the parents and grandparents of today to spend that money and go through that effort is that they remember visits from their childhood.

This is why it would benefit The Walt Disney Company to build a third theme park resort in the USA. It will allow more people to visit a Disney theme park, form those special memories, and grow up to be "Disney adults," or, at least, adults who want to take their own children to a Disney park, on a Disney cruise, buy Disney merchandise, and consume Disney media. 

The USA is overdue for a third Disney theme park resort. The original Disneyland opened in 1955. Walt Disney World opened in 1971. The population of the USA has grown significantly since then, and while the original Anaheim location now has a second park and Walt Disney World has four (plus two water parks), that's not enough. There needs to be a third Disney "castle park" in the USA. China got two in relatively recently history.  Japan got one in in 1983 (albeit financed, owned, and operated by another company), and France got one in 1992.

A new development in the USA would make money. So why hasn't it happened? Because it takes billions of dollars and a lot of work. Getting suitable land, getting the necessary approvals, getting participants, financing the project, designing and engineering,  building, then staffing and operating such a massive venue takes a lot of work. Like so much of corporate America, the people making these decisions don't expect to be in the same position in five years. They think there is a good chance they'll be working for another company in five years. So why would they care that fifteen or twenty years from now fewer people will feel motivated to go to a Disney theme park? In the mean time, they can keep raising prices at the existing venues. Even new capital investments at the existing locations are easier than building a whole new resort. 

I wish The Walt Disney Company would go ahead and do it. The existing venues only have so much capacity, and that itself is limiting how many children get to visit, and the rising prices because of that limited supply is further limiting how many children get to visit, and thus reducing the future adults who'll have an emotional, sentimental, nostalgic connection to a Disney theme park visit.

I could write extensively on what this Third American Disney Resort should look like, but I'm not going to do that in this post, other than to say yes, it should be a "castle park." Those are the most popular. Disneyland Park gets more people than its companion park, Disney California Adventure, and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World gets more people than visit the other three theme parks there. However, what a new "castle park" actually looks like can end up being very different the the first two the Company ever built. In addition, I'd think it would be a good idea for the Company to have another location for animals than "just" their Animal Kingdom park at Walt Disney World. 

Taking available land, population, business climate, and weather into consideration, along with where Disneyland and Walt Disney World are, I'd think the best location would be somewhere in Texas.

Even if the project were undertaken now, it would be many years before it would open.

So get on it, Disney!

Monday, September 26, 2022

The Sweep Spot Ep. #343 - Disneyland Jungle Cruise Skipper Roundtable Discussion Part 2

A group of former Disneyland Jungle Cruise Skippers join us to chat about their time with the backside of water, the movie based on the attraction, and how being a skipper has stayed with them in the rest of life. This is Part 2. Part 1 is here.

The Sweep Spot is a podcast focusing on the Disneyland Resort, now weekly, with a Topical Episode every two weeks, alternating with a Current Events Episode the other weeks.
Lynn Barron and Ken Pellman, former Disneyland Day Custodial Foremen, are your hosts. Once per month, you can join a live chat as we record Current Events episodes by joining the Patreon for The Sweep Spot..
For more information and to order books, visit our official website: 
http://www.TheSweepSpot.com

There are many easy and free ways to listen to The Sweep Spot in addition to clicking below.