The RTWJ Podcast
Join best friends John and Marcus (JAM) as they share their fresh perspectives on news, society, and culture, as well as personal stories and experiences. As a podcast hosted by members of the LGBTQ community, the RTWJ Podcast is proud to offer a platform that incorporates inclusivity and advocacy for civil rights as part of its values. New episodes are released on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. Subscribe to The RTWJ Podcast on your favorite podcast app or listen online at thertwjpodcast.buzzsprout.com. Follow us on Instagram @thertwjpodcast.
The RTWJ Podcast
Disneyland at 70: When Nostalgia Takes the Lead
In this episode, we reflect on Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration and share our thoughts on the blend of nostalgia and missed opportunities. While we genuinely enjoy the return of beloved shows like Wondrous Journeys and Paint the Night, their reuse without any new offerings created specifically for this milestone raises questions about Disney’s current creative direction. We discuss the changing park atmosphere and what this all signals for the future of Disney parks. As fans and annual passholders, we’re still invested, but wondering if the magic is keeping up with the price.
May 26, 2025
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, disney proudly presents Our spectacular nighttime pageant Of magic and imagination In millions of dazzling lights and the sounding of musical sounds. It's the pain the night.
Speaker 2:Hey, everybody, welcome back to the RTWJ podcast.
Speaker 3:Happy Memorial Day. Hopefully everyone out there you've had a chance. You know, I know some people obviously do have to work over the weekend, but hopefully you have a chance to.
Speaker 2:Oh, sorry, because Marcus is kind of yelling here. We're going to use our studio set up here, that's true. Just normal voices here, marcus, I'm trying.
Speaker 3:Sorry, I'm a little excited here. I am turned down, though, on the volume, so don't worry. Yes, we did move our studio set within our office building here, so we have a new location and our studio cat is with us.
Speaker 2:so we'll see how we do with recording with our studio cat involved right here. Okay, emily, go somewhere else. Just kidding, I love her, she's my baby girl, um, so, yes, happy memorial day. As we know, it's a federal holiday here in the us and, of course, here at jam and everyone else, we always make sure that we honor and mourn any us military personnel that died while serving in the us armed forces. So that's what today is for. Today is for that day to commemorate and, of course, honor those who gave their lives on the front lines, and we are truly, eternally grateful for all those who continue to serve and those who, of course, lost their lives. So, from all of us here at JAM, we really, really appreciate the families and everyone who continues to serve our country and to serve us in our society.
Speaker 3:Beautifully said Absolutely.
Speaker 2:As we get started, though, as Marcus said, we are kind of moving areas to record, so if you hear some little background noise, we'll work through it. Hopefully not picking up?
Speaker 2:I don't think so Hopefully we don't see anything too much. You know this episode is. You know, as we've talked about our show, politics and so forth, you know it's a today that we want to make sure that we give space to, regardless of what's happening in our society. As you know, we've shared that things are out of control and we'll have time for that, you know, and I know they're important to talk about. But today I just want to make sure that our focus is for those that have sacrificed their lives for this country and for the rights and freedoms that we have. That we sometimes take for granted. And, of course, the situations that are happening right now are making us question that, because our rights and liberties are being taken away from us. But I don't want to take away from that. So this episode today it's not going to focus on today's current events, more so on things that we've been going through.
Speaker 2:Just to make sure that we give that space for what today is and to again honor those who lost their lives in the US Armed Forces.
Speaker 3:And a quick note before we get started with our conversation. A little housekeeping is we have, if you haven't seen already on our social media, we are slightly changing our release schedule. So in the past we were doing the 1st and the 15th of the month. Now it's going to be starting today, which is the 4th Monday of the month. We're doing the 2nd and 4th Monday. We usually tend to record the show on the month. We're doing the second and fourth Monday.
Speaker 3:We usually tend to record the show on the weekend and sometimes what was happening was you have maybe the 15th, say on a Thursday or a Friday, and, as you guys know, at times we've had some challenges with keeping up. So hopefully now with this new schedule, it allows us to make sure that we have a full weekend to record each time before we release. So that should hopefully help out a little bit more with our scheduling. So now it is the second and fourth Monday of each month. So just keep that in mind. Make sure you're following us here on our Instagram at the RTWJ podcast. If you're listening on your podcast app Apple, google, iHeart, whatever it may be make sure you subscribe and that way you just simply get the alert when the episode comes out. You don't even have to worry about it. So just know that too. I just want to make sure I threw that out too, that this is our first episode on that new schedule.
Speaker 2:Oh, my cat wants to fight. Okay, she has her helicopter ears on, she's ready.
Speaker 3:There's some birds flying in those palm trees and she's very agitated right now.
Speaker 2:You said you want to get personal? You're? Yep, yes, what's been going on? Um, as you know me myself, and I am a huge fan of disneyland and the walt disney company and marcus, uh, you know, he's getting there, he's, he's slowly, uh, catching up to my craziness. I've you're you've.
Speaker 3:You've gotten me pretty good. Our studio cat is just crazy, I love it's okay, we'll talk about it though yeah, she's my friend um, as you know, right, yes, you
Speaker 3:have you have and it's now at the point. For example, lilo and stitch came out this past weekend, the live action movie. I need to get on it as soon as possible. Um, this was a busy weekend so wasn't around to be able to watch the movie, but yes, I've already been anticipating that. Um, renewed my inspire magic key, which is the highest tier that they have at Disneyland out of the four. I renewed it without second thought. Once upon a time, john, when we were starting to go to Disneyland, you were trying to convince me to get a pass right. You were kind of like you should do it, you should think about it. Now we don't even discuss it. It's like yep, I'm renewing, no questions asked. First day I could I renewed it.
Speaker 2:Done Check, no questions asked First day I could I renewed it? Done Check. As you know, that's amazing. This year July 17th 2025, will be 70 years of the Disneyland Resort opening and the first theme park that Walt Disney himself helped create, grow and saw and walked in his very own footsteps in the park, which is amazing. Walked in his very own footsteps in the park, which is amazing. To think 70 years is what has been with this park and how quickly time has passed. I love the parks I do, but I told Marcus that I do have a little critiques on the 70th anniversary.
Speaker 2:We both do, and as someone that has been going to the parks a lot for many, many years, who's been a pass holder, I'm seeing some things that I don't like and I feel like you know what the foundation of Disneyland and how nostalgic I think that. In short, I think that they really do monetize on the nostalgia. I think that they think that the movies that were hitting in the 90s and early 2000s, mid-2000s, will still carry the company into its legacy. I think that they are losing touch moving forward. I think that they're complacent, they're happy with what we did to the 90s and early 2000s, and I think that's not going to work always.
Speaker 2:Yes, these movies are great, especially for us, that are millennials, right, sure, all of these huge hit movies, lilo and Stitch, the Lion King. We have all of these movies that are nostalgic to us, that are recognizable Hercules, things that we will always recognize Tarzan, mulan, like we know these movies. And every time you go to the parks, the most effective characters and the use of these characters are characters from these nostalgic movies. Right, understandably so Mickey Mouse, donald Duck, goofy, minnie Mouse.
Speaker 3:Those are the staples, though those are the originals.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's never going to go away. I will give that and I love that.
Speaker 2:But something about the recent 70th celebration seemed lazy. So for all you know, those who have listened to the show or those who go to Disneyland, you know there's been multiple anniversaries the 50th I was a little young for that. I don't really remember a lot of specifics of the 50th, um, because I was, you know, pretty young and I just went for the park to have fun. Sure, yeah, I do remember the 60th, and now the 70th. So the 70th anniversary has a firework show and a parade.
Speaker 2:Um, they have been used before the firework show that came is a firework show that was used for the 100th anniversary of the walt disney company, and the paint the night parade is a parade that was, you know, established and created during the 60th anniversary of the disneyland resort. So I was expecting new stuff, new ideas, and I kind of was disappointed and we were there the first day.
Speaker 3:I will know we were there the first day, on the 16th of may and things have changed.
Speaker 2:as someone that's been going for a long time, like, first of all, the paintade Tonight parade is amazing. I'm not complaining about it. It's a great return of the parade, but the energy isn't there and I don't know if it's the new pass holders or the new Magic Key holders that have been coming to the parks.
Speaker 2:But back in 2015, when this parade debuted, it was exciting. People were excited but, most of all, people were respectful. I remember everyone followed the rules, lined up, set their spots, addressed everyone's concerns, made it friendly. This time was a little aggressive. People were kind of pushing and kind of, yes, you know, fighting for spots and and they weren't energized. They were just kind of quiet when the cast members wouldn't, you know, engage with them. I don't know. There's a lot of anger involved?
Speaker 3:yeah, just kind of a little bit of changes.
Speaker 2:Maybe that's a reflection of society right things that we're going through. But I did tell marcus that I wish there was new, new firework shows. For example, 60th anniversary had disneyland forever that when the firework show started it said over 60 years ago right. It emphasized over 60 years ago. The focus of that show was disneyland forever, right. The park celebrating the theme park that started the rest of the theme parks around the world. This firework show is wondrous journeys. This show was created for the hundredth hundredth anniversary of the walt disney company was up two years ago.
Speaker 3:Two years in 2023.
Speaker 2:So when they re-brought this show, I noticed that the show had like a narration in the beginning. Right, it narrates the show what the show is. So as the show starts, it said for over 100 years the Walt Disney Company, and that kind of bothered me. We're celebrating 70 years of the park, we could have got rid of that monologue. We could have got rid of that monologue.
Speaker 3:We could have got rid of that.
Speaker 2:And maybe added 70 years of the park. I don't know, it just seemed messy, it seemed lazy. They just kind of grabbed things together and boom, it was just recycled exactly as it was. Yeah. So what are long-term cast members saying? They're saying that this is lazy, corporate is out of touch with the parks, and it is unfortunate. Because what makes the money? Theme parks, yes, cruise lines, yes, that's what makes the money for the Walt Disney Company. But that's what I thought. I mean, I had fun. You know, I'm still a big fan of the parks. I enjoy going. There's a lot of nostalgia for me and it works effectively, especially for millennials. It's kind of what we are used to, what we attract to. We attract to nostalgia and I still like it. But just kind of those thoughts. I don't know, marcus, what you thought.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so let me give you some, I guess, some theorizing. Let's theorize a little bit about this. Here comes the analyst in me to talk about it. So it's all about demand, right, they have this assessment of what they think that their customer wants. Let me ask you, john so you're talking about the fireworks show, for example, right, and how they just basically recycled it and kind of threw it back, what they did two years ago Do you think the company thinks Sorry, it's a lot of thinking, but do you think the company thinks that people don't want the fireworks show that badly anymore? Or why would they think that's okay? Because, again, disney is a business, disney is a huge business. They have analysts, they have data, they have everything on anything.
Speaker 1:They want to make a decision about Right, so there was a smart decision about this.
Speaker 3:They made this decision to just recycle it. Why do you think that is? Why might that be Successful?
Speaker 2:I mean, the show is successful. The show is successful. The show is effective in conveying emotion and conveying feelings it captures. It's a beautiful show, like you know don't get me wrong it's probably one of my most beloved firework show that the park has ever made um again, it's, it's nostalgic okay, you know that that comfort, that we know what this show is right.
Speaker 2:Dis Disneyland Resort is so unique in many ways. It is a park that connects and attracts local visitors more than other resorts throughout the world. Very true, so Walt Disney World Resort, for example. This is called Walt Disney World because it's world right. People from all over the world come to Walt Disney World. It's a quicker access point to European countries, which is the majority of visitors that come to the Disneyland Park right or that come to Disney Parks World. It's a quicker access point to European countries, which is the majority of visitors that come to the Disneyland Park right or that come to Disney Parks as a whole.
Speaker 3:And Orlando Florida can't sustain it very much on its own. There are key holders in Orlando that are local, but they are not as large of a group as multi-million people. Southern California.
Speaker 2:Correct, because the Orlando metropolitan area is not as dense right as you know, the southern california region that we can attract tons of pass holders from this area. So they know this. They know that the biggest group of people that visit the disneyland park is effectively, in many, in many ways, magic key holders right people that are local people that know the parks, like, for example, me and you.
Speaker 2:We go to the parks three, two, three hours. It's easy I know that exists in walt disney world, but it takes a long time trams connections, parkings. I mean for us, good days, 10 minutes, yes, from entry to go into the park. We're in, we're done, we set up it's over, um. So, yes, that's kind of what I think is is what, you know, the, I guess, foundation of why they did this. Of course, me and marcus are just, you know, fans. We're not, you know, like he said, an analyst that works for the walt disney company. So I'm sure they have plenty of data that has been collected to ensure that this is the reason why they bring this. You know, shows back, paint the night parade, absolutely effective. Yes, great, great choice, highly successful. It's modern. It's a really, really good modern touch over the electrical parade.
Speaker 3:But you know, it's just kind of like again, we're just bringing stuff back well too, and my other problem is that I told you this and this is how I know I I can get very superficial, but I've talked about this before on the show. I love, for example, for example, the food and drinks at Disney. There's our studio cat, isn't she great? But I love the food and drinks. I honestly go to the resort for two things entertainment and eating. That's it. I don't necessarily love riding. Many of the attractions you know I have. You know, for example, roller co coasters are not my thing. I don't like the sensation of them. So the incredible coaster you're never going to find me on, you know, dead or alive, I'm not going to touch it. So I really focus on that stuff. And, for example, ice cream sundaes. Okay, there's two places in the parks that you can get an ice cream sundae, one at each. So on main street in disneyland it's gibson girl. Oh, our studio cat's really going for it today sorry, it's okay, I'm playing with her in the background.
Speaker 3:Maybe I shouldn't have done so she can calm down. Yeah, she's a little crazy. So gibson girl right is on main street and disneyland, halloween, christmas usually in the summer too there's always a themed sunday. Sometimes there's a special bucket or container that the Sunday is served in Nothing, nothing for the 70th, no special variety, no container to collect. It was kind of like, hey, that's an opportunity they use in other times of the year, other celebrations. It wasn't used, and there are many. That's just one that's prominent for me because that's what I love going, I love seeing the Sundays and collecting the buckets. Many areas in the park where there were opportunities to do special collectibles, special flavorings, offerings, they kind of just. There's a lot of moments that could have been taken advantage of that weren't, and that was something that I definitely took away. That night was like, okay, there's. So between that, recycling, a lot of the entertainment. So, for example, like you just mentioned, wondrous Journeys, a lot of recycling, not a lot of new concepts. There's merchandise.
Speaker 2:Well, the color was new. That's true.
Speaker 3:The world of color is new but other opportunities where they should have and they do like, for the holidays for example use they didn't use. For this there are a lot of missing spaces.
Speaker 2:I guess you could say and I mean, could it be that the fact that the 75th year of the parks is coming up soon and kind of you know they want to maximize that, could it be?
Speaker 3:but that's a question. Sorry, I want to interject in that. Do they tend to do mid-decade celebrations? Don't? Don't they focus on decades?
Speaker 2:75 is a pretty good number if you think about it. 75, right, that's. That's like a pretty, like you're 25 away from 100.
Speaker 1:I don't know, it just feels like that's more impactful to me.
Speaker 2:But see, we share all these things because my concern is that Disney parks and Disney products have always been known to do one thing, and one thing good is to provide an experience yes we go to these parks for experiences, right, if I want to go for roller coasters and fun make my stomach feel good and you know adrenaline rush stuff like that I go to theme parks.
Speaker 2:Six flags, knott's berry farm yes cedar, you know point, all these amusement parks that are made for that get you in, get you out, get your you know blood rushing, get your adrenaline going, get your excitement, get the endorphins going. I love that and I love that. I love Six Flags. I have a season pass for it. I love those theme parks because they effectively do what they do. It's just to kind of get you onto attractions, rides, get your blood rushing, stuff like that. Disney parks have always been known for what Entertainment experience? Right, live entertainment, particularly Recently. Over the years, disneyland Resort has really dropped down as live entertainment A lot, especially when you talk about your Walt Disney World trip and what you shared with me.
Speaker 3:The comparison A lot of unused spaces.
Speaker 2:That's my concern Is what are we doing? People are paying for experiences. They come to Disney parks for experiences, for visuals, for shows, for attractions. Look how crazy the Paint the Night Parade crowds have been.
Speaker 1:Yes, People want that, yes, fireworks.
Speaker 2:People want that you don't go to Six Flags for fireworks or parades.
Speaker 3:No.
Speaker 2:You go for fun, excitement, rush. You go to Disneyland for shows, nostalgia for shows, nostalgia, experience right john makes fun of me, you do.
Speaker 3:You make fun of me, um, but there is a large audience I I stand by this of those of us that don't really do the attractions but do other things merchandise. There are accounts on tiktok, instagram, everywhere. These people spend hours and every visit doing one thing looking for merchandise. They don't do a single other thing. You're right I'm saying it in support of you to say that people show up for other reasons than just attractions. They want this entertainment. I'm one of them. I want the entertainment. That's my number one thing.
Speaker 3:So when it's a slow night, when they cancel shows shows don't really have much in the first place it's like, okay, come on, guys, I. I get disappointed, right. Same thing with the if the food menu, if things are a little slow, it's kind of just, oh, it's a off-season time of year. I'm a little kind of, oh, I wish they did more. I start kind of feeling a little bit, not that I don't love it, but it's like I wish they could do more and I know they could do more. You start feeling that a little bit and it's true, it comes down of course.
Speaker 2:You know they're a business. What's the point? Maximize profits right, but let's get into experiences, right. How do businesses function? How do they last long? How do they go into the future, how do they reach new endeavors, right? You have a theme park that was new, that was announced in the Middle East Great New theme park Always exciting. But looking at the parks here in the States, when I went to Walt Disney World, it could use some refurbishment. Sure, a lot of the park is really, really, really, really put into wear and tear. I mean, you can see that park is being used.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You can see Walt Disney World more than Disneyland Resort. We talked about this a few episodes ago. When I went to disneyland, walt disney world, we said could it be the weather that plays a fact in it? You know it could be. It's very humid. It's a very tropical environment salty air right it could be.
Speaker 2:But I will say, you know, as someone from came to came and has grown up with the disneyland resort, you know, disneyland resort, being 70 years old, looks a lot better than Walt Disney World. You know, and it's like we need to focus our you know, our future on investing in parks here in the States, where the majority of the visitors come to right. Let's make this a good, effective experience for people that come here and, you know, enjoy the parks. That's all I want, absolutely.
Speaker 3:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we're going to see how this continues to play out. We hope that in the future, the park invests more time and more money in experiences for all of us, because that's essentially what I want. Absolutely right, we'll see. Well, as we said, it's just kind of our experience that we've had and we want to make sure that we address it and we talk about it, because Marcus and I are very, very passionate about experiences, especially considering that we're dropping almost $2,000 a year to visit these parks Just to visit.
Speaker 3:And then let's not forget how they sucker us each time we go.
Speaker 2:What is my thing? One piece of item every time I go, and you're a little behind too you need to catch up, you have credits.
Speaker 3:You have quote credits to get merchandise, but then again.
Speaker 2:that's not good either. I get it. You're right, you know, not buying merchandise capitalism at its finest, whatever you want to call it. But see, get me into that. You want to make money with me. You want to make money with me. You want me to come and spend money in your parks, your resorts, your attractions, your things. Get me stuff that I want to buy, get me stuff that excites me. Okay, let's go Put the function of capitalistic society. I will go, I will buy stuff.
Speaker 3:I will go watch shows oh, hello, I will.
Speaker 2:But get me to want to do that.
Speaker 3:That's what I want, agreed. And if anybody's listening from disney, can we customize more of our food items? I'll be really happy. But that's that's dreaming, and I understand. I understand why they can't do that. It production wise. It would just be a nightmare to have to make custom orders on all the food. They have kitchens the size of, like you know, mobile homes.
Speaker 2:It's just inside of my house, right, yeah?
Speaker 3:they got one little stove yes four burners. We saw that in the food and wine festival.
Speaker 2:One fryer for all the fried chicken they cook at Plaza.
Speaker 3:Inn. Some of these places like literally seem to be that way, so it's like, yeah, they can't, they have no capacity to do anything.
Speaker 2:But but yeah, okay, well, for all of us here on the RTWJ podcast.
Speaker 3:I'm John on the second Monday of June. Don't ask me right now what day of the week that is. I think it's the 15th.
Speaker 2:I don't know.
Speaker 3:All we know is the second Monday of June. Second Monday of June. We'll be back and we'll catch you guys on that next episode. Sounds good. Take care ¶¶. Some imagination, huh.
