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The Lowdown on the Plus-up - A Theme Park Podcast

The Lowdown on the Plus-up - A Theme Park Podcast

D23 Plus-Ups... Everything!

Aug 23, 2026 · 38 min · 11 segments

Send us Fan Mail D23 dropped a pile of Disney Parks news, but the most interesting story is Disney's announcements that they will finally fix the…

Send us Fan Mail D23 dropped a pile of Disney Parks news, but the most interesting story is Disney's announcements that they will finally fix the stuff that’s been broken, stale, or creatively stranded for years. We dig into what that says about the company right now: the path from surprisingly strong attendance numbers to the complicated mix of discounting and operational decisions that helped park attendance explode! Disney just went all-in with fan-service, will Kelly and Pete call their bluff? If you like smart theme park talk with strong opinions and real affection for the craft, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more park nerds can find us. Thanks for listening! We'd love it if you would give us a review on your podcast platform of choice: iTunes, Spotify, etc... They're really helpful. And get in touch and let us know about YOUR Plus-Ups for the attractions we've talked about! We'd love to tell them on the air. Come visit us on Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, or whatever social media you like. Just look up Lowdown on the Plus-Up and you'll probably find us. Or drop us a note to comments@lowdown-plus-up.com and let us know any questions or comments about how YOU would like to plus-something-up! We are a Boardwalk Times production. Boardwalk Times, https://boardwalktimes.net/ Boardwalk Times store, https://boardwalktimes.store .

Send us Fan Mail D23 dropped a pile of Disney Parks news, but the most interesting story is Disney's announcements that they will finally fix the…

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈196 followers

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Speakers: Kelly McCubbinHostPeter OverstreetHost

Top entities: The Walt Disney Company×41 Tomorrowland×22 Cars Land×3 D23×13 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad×3

Disney's Financial Breathing Room1:37 – 4:50

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:37

Sure.

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:38

I mean, the show was terrible, but the...

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:44

Sorry, Neil Patrick Harris, it's not your fault.

Peter OverstreetHost

1:45

No, you're fine.

Peter OverstreetHost

1:47

You are fine.

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:48

But what they seem to be doing is catering...

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:56

I don't want to say they're catering to fans.

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:58

It seems to be that they're starting to say, we actually do need to fix some of these things that have been around for a long

Peter OverstreetHost

2:05

time.

Peter OverstreetHost

2:07

And I'm glad for that.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:09

And I think that there's a couple of reasons for it.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:11

One is that they can say whatever they want to.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:14

They don't actually have to do it.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:17

But I think they intend to.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:18

I do.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:20

The other one is that...

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:24

They put out theme park numbers recently.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:28

Yeah.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:29

And Universal, their numbers were not good.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:32

Universal's struggling.

Peter OverstreetHost

2:33

Yeah.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:34

I mean, they'll be fine, but they're not doing well

Peter OverstreetHost

2:37

now.

Peter OverstreetHost

2:37

Sure.

Peter OverstreetHost

2:37

You know, international travel.

The Walt Disney CompanyTheater GroupMedia company
99%41 mentions
TomorrowlandTourist AttractionTheme park area
98%22 mentions
Cars LandTourist AttractionTheme park in Anaheim, California
97%3 mentions
D23Movie TheaterFan club
96%13 mentions
Big Thunder Mountain RailroadTourist AttractionAmusement park ride in Bay Lake, Florida
95%3 mentions
YetiEntityMythical creature
94%9 mentions
Harrison FordPersonAmerican actor
93%3 mentions
Spaceship EarthTourist AttractionAmusement park ride in Bay Lake, Florida
92%3 mentions
GodEntitySupreme being
91%4 mentions
Star ToursEntityAmusement park ride in Anaheim, California
89%4 mentions
MonstropolisEntity
88%5 mentions
The LowdownTV SeriesComedy-drama series
87%4 mentions
DisneylandTourist AttractionTheme park in Anaheim, California
86%12 mentions
iTunesSoftware ApplicationMedia player
85%2 mentions
Space MountainTourist Attraction
84%4 mentions
Indiana JonesEntityIndiana Jones character
83%9 mentions
FloridaAdministrative AreaUS state
82%4 mentions
Walt Disney's Carousel of ProgressTourist Attraction
81%5 mentions
ParisCityCapital of France
79%4 mentions
Walt DisneyPersonAmerican animation film producer and voice actor
78%1 mention
Ray HarryhausenPersonAmerican animator
77%3 mentions
Len TestaPersonAuthor
76%1 mention
Expedition EverestTourist AttractionRoller coaster
75%4 mentions
Star WarsEntity
74%4 mentions
San Fernando ValleyPlaceArea in Los Angeles County, California
73%1 mention
Dr. FacilierEntityMovie character
72%2 mentions
Neil Patrick HarrisPersonAmerican actor and singer
71%2 mentions
MetaCompanyTechnology company
69%1 mention
CocoMovie2017 film
68%2 mentions
Piston Peak National ParkEntity
67%6 mentions
Walter WhiteEntityFictional character
66%5 mentions
A Trip to the MoonMovie1902 film
65%1 mention
1964 New York World's FairEventEvent
64%1 mention
Ranger J. Audubon WoodloreEntityCartoon character
63%1 mention
CarEntityMode of transport
62%2 mentions
Journey into Imagination with FigmentTourist AttractionAmusement ride
61%3 mentions
AppleCompanyTechnology company
59%1 mention
Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer IslandTourist AttractionTourist attraction in Anaheim, California
58%3 mentions
Avengers: DoomsdayMovie2026 film
57%3 mentions
Brad BirdPersonAmerican filmmaker and animator
56%3 mentions
SpotifyCompanyCompany
55%1 mention
BlueskySoftware ApplicationSocial media service
53%2 mentions
InstagramSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
53%2 mentions
Kevin MacLeodPersonAmerican composer and music producer
52%3 mentions
Walt Disney World ResortTourist AttractionTheme park in Florida
51%5 mentions
HeinzLandmarkFood company
49%5 mentions
Disney's Animal KingdomEntityZoological park in Bay Lake, Florida
48%6 mentions
The AvengersMovie2012 film
47%2 mentions
Jules VernePersonFrench novelist and poet
46%2 mentions
CaliforniaAdministrative AreaUS state
45%2 mentions

AttendanceEntertainment > Theme Parks > Universal
PerformanceEntertainment > Theme Parks > Universal > Attendance
New AttractionsEntertainment > Theme Parks > Disney > Character Integration
AttractionsEntertainment > Theme Parks > Disney
Theme ParksEntertainment
Visitor ExperienceEntertainment > Theme Parks > Disney
Future DevelopmentsEntertainment > Theme Parks > Disney
Character IntegrationEntertainment > Theme Parks > Disney
Attraction UpdatesEntertainment > Theme Parks > Disney > Future Developments
ChangesEntertainment > Theme Parks > Disney > Attractions
DisneyEntertainment > Theme Parks
UniversalEntertainment > Theme Parks
AccessibilityEntertainment > Theme Parks > Disney > Visitor Experience
Entertainment

Disney's Financial Breathing Room1:37 – 4:50

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:37

Sure.

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:38

I mean, the show was terrible, but the...

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:44

Sorry, Neil Patrick Harris, it's not your fault.

Peter OverstreetHost

1:45

No, you're fine.

Peter OverstreetHost

1:47

You are fine.

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:48

But what they seem to be doing is catering...

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:56

I don't want to say they're catering to fans.

Kelly McCubbinHost

1:58

It seems to be that they're starting to say, we actually do need to fix some of these things that have been around for a long

Peter OverstreetHost

2:05

time.

Peter OverstreetHost

2:07

And I'm glad for that.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:09

And I think that there's a couple of reasons for it.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:11

One is that they can say whatever they want to.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:14

They don't actually have to do it.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:17

But I think they intend to.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:18

I do.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:20

The other one is that...

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:24

They put out theme park numbers recently.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:28

Yeah.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:29

And Universal, their numbers were not good.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:32

Universal's struggling.

Peter OverstreetHost

2:33

Yeah.

Kelly McCubbinHost

2:34

I mean, they'll be fine, but they're not doing well

Peter OverstreetHost

2:37

now.

Peter OverstreetHost

2:37

Sure.

Peter OverstreetHost

2:37

You know, international travel.

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