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Big leadership news is shaking up the Disney universe — and we're diving straight in. Steph and Ed break down Josh D'Amaro's appointment as CEO, Dana Walden's new role, and what this means for Disney's future.

How well will the two work together?

Are Josh and Dana better suited to take over Disney than Bob Chapek?

Is Disney a content company or an experiences powerhouse? (Spoiler: it's complicated.)

Plus, we say goodbye to Anaheim's ART bus system and unpack what that means for your next Disneyland trip. It's corporate strategy, park philosophy, and transportation drama — all with pixie dust and a side of nostalgia.

⏱ Episode Timestamps

0:00 – CEO succession news breaks: Josh D'Amaro announced

3:30 – Why fans aren't surprised (and why they're excited)

6:40 – Dana Walden's new role & why it matters

10:30 – Is Disney a content company or an experiences company?

13:15 – The IP debate: Do movies have to drive the parks?

17:45 – Avatar, Avengers Campus & what makes an attraction "must-do"

20:00 – What defines a franchise? Nostalgia vs. box office

27:10 – ART bus system shutting down at Disneyland

30:45 – Why ART may really be going away (and what replaces it?)

35:50 – Tease: Our biggest Disney park mistakes (coming next episode!)

Is visiting Disney during the holidays actually worth it — or is it just crowds, chaos, and five-hour wait times?

🎄🏰 This week on Catch Us At The Castle, Steph and Ed break down what it's really like to visit Disney World and Disneyland between Thanksgiving and New Year's (without the holiday parties).

They talk holiday crowds, Lightning Lane strategy, the best times to go, and what to do when your favorite rides are totally out of reach. Plus, they share festive alternatives like gingerbread houses, resort hopping, Santa sightings, and whether they think Disneyland or Disney World is the better holiday bet.

If holiday Disney is on your wish list, this episode is all about planning smart, setting expectations, and deciding if the magic is worth the madness.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

0:00 – Why people want to visit Disney during the holidays.

1:14 – What this episode covers (and what it doesn't),

2:01 – Why holiday Disney really is more magical.

4:44 – How bad do holiday crowds actually get?

5:38 – Real wait times & what to expect for virtual queue rides.

7:17 – Lightning Lane strategy & planning pitfalls.

0:43 – What to do if you can't ride your must-dos.

13:30 – Is there a "slow" time during the holidays?

17:26 – Disneyland vs. Disney World at Christmas.

19:58 – Final verdict: is holiday Disney worth it?

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Planning your first trip to Tokyo Disney or plotting a return? Ed and Steph unpack everything they've learned from multiple visits to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea — where to stay, how the packages work, why popcorn is practically a sport, and whether this legendary destination can really be cheaper than a U.S. Disney trip. From fantasy-worthy hotels to fantasy-priced Chateau rooms, Fantasy Springs rides, and those iconic popcorn buckets, this is your starter guide to doing Tokyo Disney right.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Cold open: Snack chat, popcorn tongs, and a total brain freeze on Pascal's name

00:37 – Welcome back to the castle: Intro to the episode and today's focus on Tokyo Disney planning

01:15 – Why Tokyo Disney is its own beast: Distance from Tokyo proper, airport logistics & why staying close matters

02:30 – On-site icons: Tokyo Disneyland Hotel vs. Hotel MiraCosta, room themes, triple twin setups & fitting families in one room

05:00 – Monorail, "walk" hotels & paying to loop the bay: Toy Story Hotel, Hilton Tokyo Bay, Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay, Ambassador & Celebration Hotel

06:40 – Early entry perks: Happy Entry details, which hotels qualify, and why Tokyo DisneySea access is more restricted

09:45 – The pain of booking Disney hotels in Japan: Website woes, late-night drops & popular package dates selling out

10:56 – Packages 101: What's included, Premier Access, paper vouchers, and why packages can be big value for overseas visitors

13:30 – Premier Access vs. U.S. Lightning Lanes: Journey to the Center of the Earth, Beauty and the Beast and how "unlimited" really works

16:00 – Dining inside the package: Pre-booking restaurants, how flexible reservations really are, and picking rides as part of the deal

17:45 – Food reality check: Why table-service is "fine but not fantastic," and how packages can over-lock you into sit-down meals

18:45 – Counter-service & the mall food court: Better options for noodles, sushi, fried rice and saving some yen

20:00 – Park overview: How Tokyo Disneyland compares to the U.S. parks vs. why Tokyo DisneySea feels like a whole different world

21:30 – Journey to the Center of the Earth & immersive theming: Steam, sound design, and forgetting you're in a Disney park

22:45 – Classic rides with a twist: Indiana Jones, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mystic Manor vibes and unique attractions

23:45 – Small World with Groot?! The Groot overlay that makes even Small World feel fresh again

25:00 – The popcorn obsession: Garlic shrimp, roast beef, scallop, chocolate lines, and why buttered popcorn is the hardest to find

26:45 – Popcorn tongs & etiquette: Mickey-hand tongs, cultural norms about walking and eating, and how Ed ate a lot of weird popcorn for friends

28:30 – How many days do you need? A one-day plan for Disneyland and why Ed calls DisneySea a "two-day" park

29:30 – Non-ride ways to explore DisneySea: Boats, trains, canoeing and just wandering through next-level theming

31:00 – Fantasy Springs land overview: How it fits into DisneySea and why it still feels like its own mini-gate

31:45 – Ranking the four new Fantasy Springs rides: Rapunzel's Lantern Festival (favorite) Peter Pan's Neverland Adventure Anna and Elsa's Frozen Journey Tinker Bell's Busy Buggies (cute but skippable unless you've got little ones)

34:20 – Eating in Fantasy Springs: Snuggly Duckling, (probably) Lookout Cookout & using these spots as air-conditioned escapes

36:30 – Fantasy Springs Hotel review: Tangled rooms, limited dining, the eye-popping Chateau side & why it might be a "one and done"

38:45 – Popcorn buckets as a lifestyle: Baymax fandom, the wall of buckets, Rapunzel light-up bucket & why they're hard to pack home

41:00 – Is Tokyo Disney actually cheaper than U.S. parks? When it can be, when it isn't, and how packages, hotel choice and Fantasy Springs affect the bill

43:00 – Tokyo DisneySea as a top-tier park: Why so many fans (including Ed now) say it's their favorite park in the world

44:15 – Looking ahead: Dreaming about a future big-group trip and maybe, maybe a Chateau stay if Ed wins the lottery

44:45 – Wrap-up: Final thoughts and a reminder you can always catch us at the castle