Imagineer (33 years) Retired. Watch me on YouTube at Disney Journey with Jim Shull. Read me at jimhshull.com. Co-Host DisneyUnpacked.com.
Newhall, California
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piped.video/oJmo6h9IUxs
Its been 60 years since ‘it’s a small world’ opened at Disneyland and today there are five worldwide. In this video I explore the history of the ride and rank each one on my ‘Best’ to ‘Worst’ list.
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During my career as a creative designer at Walt Disney Imagineering I was given many name badges of which these are just a few. The ones with worn printing were my everyday badges. #Imagineering #badge
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Since Universal Studios Hollywood doesn’t offer theme park maps I was compelled to draw and paint one of my own. I own this image, so give me credit if you reuse, repost, etc. #UniversalHollywood #map #maps
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Image of me on the site of Rock n Roller Coaster during construction at the Disney MGM Studios. Image dates to 1997.
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I worked on Mickey’s Toontown and drew many of the buildings. Once an architect asked me if I really wanted what I drew or if I was just a bad artist. #DisneyJourney #Toontown
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I listened to Governor DeSantis regarding Walt Disney World and TWDC. Answering one accusation as a Imagineer I was never instructed that the company goal was to indoctrinate children in any political or social view. This is insulting to my friends and colleagues. #DeSantis
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Guests don’t care that according to the films Darth Vader is dead. They want a Instagram photo with Darth. Theme parks are follies. Places to escape the real world. And never places where guests pay to be denied what they want.
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Being the Creative Director for Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree was one of my favorite WDI projects. I had support, a decent schedule, a respectable budget, Zamperla as my ride vendor. I have a ride patent for Mater and I keep the document safe and sound. #Disneyland
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These numbers make me crazy. I expanded the queues for Space Mountain and Star Tours to handle guest demand. These numbers are the result of guests waiting outside the queue due to Genie+ which pushed people outside to wait before they wait in queue. Nuts! #Disneyland
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CARS is a franchise that either belongs in Fantasyland or in its own separate land, not Frontierland. Frontierland’s stories are grounded in reality & removing the Rivers of America reduced the overall park quality.
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Time for a rant. This is an unacceptable embarrassment as show and it is a waste of investment capital for #TWDC. When there’s no festival using the space it looks like a bus station. #BadEpcot #EmptyEpcot
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This is not journalism. This is click baiting. As I twitted I have no contact with Universal or Comcast. This is personal work not for profit and I am not a current Disney Imagineer.
Disney Imagineer Gives Universal Ideas For 'Harry Potter' Expansion. bit.ly/2UmYEoU
#WizardingWorldofHarryPotter #UniversalStudios #UniversalStudiosHollywood #Disney
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During my 40 years in theme parks as a designer I would give notes on all my projects. With #DarkUniverse I have no notes. It’s perfect. #EpicUniverse
Monstrous details released! Explore a twisted landscape where unearthly creatures roam. Dark Universe opens 2025 at Universal Epic Universe. #EpicUniverse
Visit the link to learn more: spr.ly/6018gOjQo
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#MagicKingdom remodeled store is #Disney serving guest poop and calling it chocolate. When I was an #Imagineer I had pitched this I’d be fired. Disgraceful design done on the cheap.
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This video highlights the process of track less vehicle charging at Aquatopia in Discovery Bay at Tokyo Disney Sea. The wand is the tracking antenna for each ride vehicle. Complex design for the two separate ride systems. #TokyoDisneyland
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The Tomorrowland spaceman is back. Decades later but back. Must have to do with the time warp thing shown in the new movie. #Pixar #Lightyear #Disneyland #WDW
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IMHO if Alien Encounter was located at the Disney MGM Studios the attraction would still be operating today. The idea was good. It was just located in the wrong park. #Tomorrowland
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When Fast Pass premiered in Disneyland, it was free and it offered no more than a five minute wait to board the ride vehicle. Reservation+Park Admission+Genie++Lighting Lane+=Hassle. #DisneyHassle
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This image by other is worth studying to learn how Disneyland grew and evolved. This is a history lesson in a single picture. #Disneyland
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Always amazes me how dense Tokyo Disneyland Resort is. This image documents 2 parks, monorail, retail & dining, back of house and hotels. And all on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay. If you dream it you can build it. #TokyoDisneyland
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Concept artwork for Mysterious Island at Tokyo Disneyland. All by hand using classic techniques. Lovely work. #ToykoDisneysea
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Tiana Disney+ series cancellation is an embarrassment since it was the basis for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Two rides that removed 2 rides guests loved since aren’t being maintained. I liked it better with cute animals.
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To my best estimate this is a chart for the family of Disney park castles. I have both versions of the Hong Kong Disneyland castle for comparison. #TWDC #Disneyland
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I didn’t fall on my sword for everything however I did to add this shaded rest area under the Swings ride during DCA 2.0. Walt wanted areas for families to sit and enjoy the views. So do I. Guests go to Disney parks to enjoy and recharge. When going is work the goal is lost.
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If Reedy Creek is dissolved and if Bob Chapek gets hung with the blame it is unlikely he will continue as CEO of TWDC. To focus on Florida and then lose the crown jewel is…I need a word to describe this seismic element. #TWDC
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Inspired by @boss_angeles this is my concept to keep Rivers of America while adding CARS Land and a to be developed Villains Land (which is misspelled). Done for free because its fun to Imagineer. #MagicKingdom
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This image captures the roof top of the Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney MGM Studios Theme Park. Note the building theming goes all the way up the building with real roof tiles when a flat painted roof could have been installed. #WDW #Disneyland
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Your moment of charging zen at Tokyo Disney Sea. The vehicles charge as they move through the ride station. #TokyoDisneySea
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No statue of Walt will ever please everyone. The concept of Walt in Epcot is a sound idea, and this figure has been well executed. Congratulations to the team who created this moment. #Epcot
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My reaction to this newly released concept image is to question ‘why’? What problem does this change fix? Is this the entry to a major attraction? How does what’s there fix with this concept? Design is meant to solve problems and this doesn’t. #Disneyland
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Before #IslandsofAdventure opened I was invited by former Imagineering colleagues as they shared how they applied the lessons learned to the park for #Comcast. Decades later that occurred again. Disney trains people and #UniversalCreative gives them work.
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If ‘Dinosaur’ closes and is transformed into another Indiana Jones ride, I hope the original art murals that are throughout the attraction are preserved. Beautiful work by a master artist. #Dinosaur
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Disney Imagineering has the Florida office at Epcot putting the Imagineers in close actual contact with the guest experience. Important for designers and good for the parks. #WDI #Imagineers
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This image documents are good example of a folly. Here is a staircase at Tokyo Disney Sea that serves no other purpose than giving guests a place to explore. Such follies provide guest satisfaction and should count as capacity. #TokyoDisneyland
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Without revealing sources this is more than merely a rumor. #UniversalStudios #UnibersalUK
NEW VIDEO! Rumors for a new Universal theme park coming to the United Kingdom seem to be backed up by the company purchasing land in England, registering domain names, and more.
Video Version: piped.video/watch?v=XSUAgPFo…
Article Version: orlandoparkstop.com/news/the…
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The trailer for Snow White is unwatchable. Pinocchio was directly released to Disney+ and that film starred Tom Hanks. #SnowWhite
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Since paper maps are on the way to extinction I’m in the process of creating theme park ‘fun maps’. This is the one I drew for Shanghai Disneyland. Currently I’m in the process of creating a map for Disneyland Paris. #Disneyland #TWDC
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When Bob Iger looks at the WDI project menu hopefully he will cancel the brand slap Big Hero 6 of Pacific Wharf at Disney California Adventure. Money spent needs to be channeled into new marketable attractions & this doesn’t meet that measurement. A ride require 2 1/2-3 year.
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Congratulations to the WDI & WDW project team for making this bold decision to replace Rivers of America. The replacement solves several problems is a brave choice. #CARSlandMK #CARSland #RiversofAmerica
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A personal Blue Sky project was to develop a Oswald & Ortensia ride to replace Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin. Keeping the facility and ride system. Use projection mapping and painting the sets in 1920s black and white style for low cost investment to deliver a unique ride. #WDW
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Five years ago today Walt Disney Imagineering closed. Resulting in the termination of many Imagineers leaving never to return. #DisneyJourney
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The name of this Disney park may be ‘Seas’ but the depth of the water is not all that deep. #DisneySeas #TokyoDisneyland
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The failure to build the #HauntedMansion shop correctly (this is first year engineering stuff) means the fix is a big old trench drain in front of the doors. When you can’t get this civil engineering 101 correct, hire new people.
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Disney Wharf was a project imagined for Sydney Harbor, Australia. Located on a site designed to lift the area it was to be a mixed use project. Not a theme park but more than a retail and entertainment project, Disney has tried this several times with mixed results. #Disney
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A few of my name tags given to cast members at TWDC. They are given to celebrate events but everyone receives every tag. My Shanghai tag was given me because I worked on Shanghai Disneyland. #nametag
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I had a special pleasure closing a career chapter of built projects at Walt Disney Imagineering to create ideation, show and prop drawings, plus historical details for the queue show at Mickey's Runaway Railway. I worked on the original Toontown and now Toontown 2.0. #disneyland
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There’s a story here. When I was designing Rock n’ Roller Coaster I pitched a set of 4 ‘maps’ showing over decades how the land in Hollywood turned from citrus to city including the Hollywood Hotel. I was told I had too much time on my hands. #WDW
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With #EpicUniverse weeks from opening I look back at this view from my car in the lot toward #UniversalStudiosFlorida when it opened. Much has changed.
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Rock n Roller Coaster was constructed in a parking lot used by the team working at Disney Feature Animation Florida. This is a view of the future Gower Street with the Tower or Terror behind. #WDW #Disneyland
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The Fire and Water effects for this coaster continue to operate as designed years after the ride opened. This is the standard that all Disney rides, shows and attractions should achieve. #Epcotlights
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Classic #Epcot will always be carpet, wood rails and indoor planters. And a space warmed by televisions.
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Space Mountain interior Tuesday. Arrow points at how close track comes to the dome edge. Second image arrow points to helix spanning the yet to be enclosed queue. #DisneylandParis #Space mountain#DisneylandParis #Spacemountain
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Forget about booking a front tower room at the #TowerofTerror because it’s a fake front masking the drop shaft. The lower vent panels are visable allow compressed air to escape. #DisneyHollywoodStudios
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Although this animated figure is impressive in its movements I have zero idea who it is or why it is important. Good storytelling requires fore knowledge of stories and characters for a ride or experience to succeed. #StarWars
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Fast Pass was touted as a guest service which if used would ensure they would wait no more than five minutes. For a free reservation service. This is not that. #WDW #longqueues
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Could the Tomorrowland in California simply be restored to a modern version of the mid century modern vision of the future? The style is classic California. It doesn’t date. It is unquestionably unique. It is flexible. It is popular. #Disneyland #midcentury
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Image taken in 1995 at the opening of Indiana Jones at DLR. No guest seemed to mind the wait in queue. There were no smart phones for entertainment or paying $20 each for priority so everyone was equal and all managed. #Disneyland #IndianaJones
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Congratulations to the team at Universal Creative who with their partners designed and delivered Universal Studios Beijing! Being part of opening Euro Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland I attest the long days and great effort it takes to open a resort of the scale of USB.
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Before Tokyo Disney Sea there was proposed for the site a studio inspirited theme park, along the lines of the Disney MGM Studios Theme Park. This released image captures the look & feel combining familiar & new attractions. #TokyoDisneyland #Disney
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This looks like the Oklahoma service stop I went recently. Main Street followed the design, so the soda machine must be around the corner. Do the executives ever look at the designs anymore or is it all only money? #DisneyParksfail
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Report of a permit for Walt Disney World to build a 10 story hotel at Fort Wilderness is a sign that there are no designers left at WDI overseeing hotel work. Sad state of affairs. #Fortwilderness Expect to see the building painted ‘wood brown’.
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Viewing this image reported to be guests waiting in the Lighting Lane line, I am reminded of when Fast Pass was available for free with the promise that guests with Fast Pass would wait no more than five minutes before boarding a ride. Fast Pass was meant to remove queue lines.
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Today's news release for the Spider-man launched coaster at Shanghai Disneyland will bring the most popular character in the MCU to China. On small land comes great responsible. #SpiderMan #ShanghaiDisneyland
Community note
The first image is a fan-made concept art made by X user @ImaginatyM using AI.
Disney never released any concept art for this attraction.
nitter.app/imaginatym/sta…
nitter.app/imaginatym/sta
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Once upon a time when Typhoon Lagoon opened guests would swim in this pool with fish and harmless sharks. Guests could watch from inside the rusty ship hull. The hull ramped downward and was dark. Unique experience and now closed. #TyphoonLagoon #WDW
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Five years ago first Disneyland and then WDI shut down. Both would reopen but they would never be the same. #Covideffect
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This art released by Tokyo Disneyland shows proposed changes to Fantasyland. A theater replaced Small World that would have moved to be replaced with Pixie Hollow. #TokyoDisneyland #Fantasyland
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The Walt Disney Company has a decision to make after the election to keep or close the Hall of Presidents. There is no good outcome whatever decision the #MagicKingdom makes.
Community note
The illustration picture displays "The American Adventure" pavillon, which is located at EPCOT, and not the "Hall of Presidents" show building.
disneyworld.eu/attractions/ep
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As a history buff I wish that Disney’s America had been built. Americans need to learn the history of the country and Disney’s America would have delivered on the promise. #Disney
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Impressive by the smoke effects rising from the faux ‘Neverland’ mountains in Fantasy Springs. OLC which owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort continues to be the gold standard among all Disney Parks worldwide. #FantasySprings #TokyoDisneyland
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Hear me out. What if Hall of Presidents closes and is replaced by a Muppets history of America show when Kermit the frog interviews President Harris? #Muppets #HallofPresidents
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Most of the coaster track for Everest at Animal Kingdom is on top of or outside the mountain structure. Cost savings while maintaining show. #WDW
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When the Norway ride changed to Frozen this rock opening was closed removing the ‘weenie’. The attraction ‘pull’ was lost lessening the design impact. #Epcot #DisneyJourney A brand deduction for those keeping score.
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Within WDI we spoke of tribal knowledge that was passed between generations. In 2020 that connection was severed with the result Disney guests are seeing today. As the ship goes down I’ll have a beverage. #DisneyJourney
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Continuing my quest discovering what's in the cloud while goggling I found these early sketches of the Tower of Terror. The search took five minutes of asking the correct questions. Amazing! #TowerofTerror #DisneylandParis #WDW
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Gadget Go Coaster opened in Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland 28 years ago. I enjoyed providing creative direction and artwork for the junior coaster ride. This is the ‘fun map’ I drew to sell the concept to management.
#Toontown
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Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Disneyland Paris with this image documenting me painting the exit mural in the Aladdin walk through. Working on additional capacity for EDL and several DSP projects were a high line of my Disney career. #DLP
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Rethinking 'California Screaming'/'Incredible Coaster' led to a version of the coaster themed as the Disney villain coaster. Sketch shown is Maleficent at the end of the launch. Inspiration came from classic pier dark rides and fun houses. #DCA
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Channeling Disney Legend John Hench, I liked the dirt track better as the Rivers of America. #DisneyJourney
Real-world engineering meets Disney magic. 🚙✨ Walt Disney Imagineering shares a behind-the-scenes look at off-road testing for the new Cars attraction coming to the Magic Kingdom at @WaltDisneyWorld. di.sn/6011LhRJz #SXSW
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Disney offered me a big California home with all I had in Los Angeles, or this. I picked this. #apartment #Disney
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Reusing the same vehicle design developed for Shanghai Disneyland fitted for Chinese body types was not the very best of ideas. Americans and especially the Disney guests in the U. S. do not match Chinese body types. Expect increase in number of GWD vehicles replacing bikes.
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Back to the Future marketed the ride’s opening in 1991 at Universal Studios Orlando with signs (see arrow) and a countdown clock. #BackToTheFuture #universalstudios
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The ghosts appear after the scene where Madam Leota summons them. The hall box ghost belongs in the attic scene because it’s after Madam Leota. Changing the order is like starting dinner with desert. #HauntedMansion
Later this year at @WaltDisneyWorld, one of our most iconic specters will set up residence in the Haunted Mansion of Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom Park. The Hatbox Ghost will appear to guests as they pass the Endless Hallway. 🕯🕸 di.sn/6010PXUii
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June 12th. 5 years ago was the final day of trial operations for the Shanghai Disney Resort. Congratulations to my colleagues who spent years dreaming and delivering this world class theme park in China. #Disney
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33 years ago the first attraction I worked on opened in Epcot. Wonders of Life was a different model with a thrill ride, a show with a animated character, a sex film, interactive locations, cafe, live entertainment. But it didn’t last. #Epcot
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The Genie+ rules are costing guests money and just as important to guests time. Guests may pay money in exchange for services but not time. Asking them to stay up until midnight to log in and then wake up at 6am is not happening. #WDW
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