Hotels on Top of Attractions, Muppets at 60 MPH, and the Return of Deluxe Dining (Ep. 580)

About this episode

Len Testa and Jim Hill discuss recent Disney and Universal news, including dining plans and attraction updates.

Len Testa and Jim Hill sprint through a packed week of Disney and Universal news, from Rock 'n' Roller Coaster's Muppets makeover to the return of Walt Disney World's deluxe dining plan. Along the way, they dig into Universal's new day-of Express offering, answer listener questions about everything from BioReconstruct to Main Street nostalgia, and somehow still find room for pistachio-based trauma. In the main segment, Jim continues the fascinating story of Disney's ambitious "Live the Dream" concept for Disneyland's second gate, including the idea of building hotels directly on top of attractions. NEWS • Disney has officially brought back the deluxe dining plan for 2027, adding a higher-end option as the company looks for new ways to fill table-service restaurants. • Rock 'n' Roller Coaster reopens on May 26, 2026, with the Electric Mayhem taking over the ride and a set list that mixes classic rock with a few curveballs. • Celebrity cameos for the reimagined coaster include Awkwafina, John Stamos, Neil Patrick Harris, Wayne Brady, Travis Barker, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Trejo, Darren Criss, and Weird Al Yankovic. • A rumor out of Adventureland suggests that completing A…

People in this episode

Host: Jim Hill

Guest: Len Testa

Topics covered

• Disney news
• Universal news
• Dining plans
• Attraction updates
• Listener questions

Keywords

• Disney
• Universal
• dining plan
• Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
• Muppets
• Express Now
• A Pirate's Adventure

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Disney, Universal Orlando

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