Bob Iger’s New Book, Rumors about Changes to Park Entrances and Magicbands, & a Quick Review of Diamond Horseshoe Pop-Up Lounge – Ep 629

Zip Travel spot up top, then Jared and Jamie soak in Florida fall weather in the 70s and 80s with no humidity. Their daughter was not happy about missing Universal Nights, texted about it from her new Apple Watch, and picked a return trip to the event over Epic Universe at Christmas, so Jared is driving back to Orlando this weekend for a daddy-daughter date and driving home the same night. They also preview Jollywood Nights on November 14-15 and Jamie fighting the urge to put up Christmas decorations.

Iger's new book, One Last Time: Managing Crisis and Building Resilience at Disney, releases March 2, 2027 and picks up where The Ride of a Lifetime left off, framed as a comeback story about his return as CEO. Jared, a longtime Iger critic, predicts it will not touch Chapek's allegations, why Iger walked away in 2020, or his meddling while Chapek was CEO, and reads it as legacy shaping. Around it, Chapek's memoir is already out, and Robbie Whelan's The House of Mouse, built on internal Disney communications, lands December 1, with Disney reportedly hiring a high-powered attorney to pressure its publisher.

On GMA, which airs on ABC so they note it was a softball interview, Iger admitted to no specific mistakes, would not name which movie releases he regretted, and praised handing the company to his successor without naming D'Amaro. Jared's theory is that Disney quietly forced Iger out and let him save face with a Disney Legend award, a Main Street window, and help promoting this book. Either way, Jared will read the book, mostly for the chance to roast both Bobs.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure closes November 2 for a six week refurbishment and reopens December 18, and they doubt six weeks is enough to fix its persistent animatronic problems and question reopening a water ride in mid December instead of waiting for January. The Polynesian Village Resort refurbishment now continues into early 2027, though the roundabout road access has reopened. At Animal Kingdom, the lemur exhibit has reopened and there is a new albino joey.

Eleven party dates are sold out, including the first four in November, and the cheapest dates went first, so getting in now means paying $200 or more. They do not expect Disney to change a party that keeps selling out at the same rate every year, and they figure price increases are the only lever left. Jared's tip stands: Magic Kingdom on a party day, out by 4pm, is one of the best low crowd park days there is.

The model for Lakeshore Lodge is now on display at Walt Disney Presents in Hollywood Studios, and stays can be booked starting July 1, 2027. They like how the resort looks in the concept art, but the price is the story at roughly $600-650 a night for a deluxe studio, which is hard to justify as semi locals, and they worry about what it does to the Fort Wilderness area next door. Their plan is the usual one: get in with a dining reservation, eat, and look around.

The ABC holiday special taping runs November 10 and 11 at Magic Kingdom, with 2pm parade performances on the schedule, on non party days. Main Street viewing is mostly cast members and their guests, regular guests can watch from Frontierland, and last year's Main Street block-off routed guests through backstage areas. No performers are announced yet, which does not stop them from campaigning for Michael Bolton with Kenny G and guaranteeing John Stamos will somehow be there.

The rumor is that Disney World may replace the MagicBand touchpoint entrances with automated entry gates and facial recognition, like Disneyland got around May 2025 and like Universal Orlando already uses. One scan covers a whole group, which should cut the bottleneck behind guests fumbling with paper tickets. Disney is also surveying guests specifically about entry processes and park technology, which adds to the smoke.

Resort hotel doors, currently unlocked by Bluetooth through the My Disney Experience app when it cooperates, may move to Apple Wallet hotel keys with Express Mode tap to open, and Disney is a named partner in that program, so Jared treats that piece as a near certainty. The bigger rumor is MagicBands being phased out entirely by 2030, helped along by Disney's war on plastic, and Jared notes he has not entered a park with a band in years. A related pilot on the cruise line hands guests a returnable rubber wristband that works like a MagicBand, which could be the model if Disney World replaces the plastic ticket card.

They stayed for a roughly three hour Magic Kingdom visit in perfect 76 degree weather, with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train taking about an hour including a 10-15 minute breakdown right before boarding. Jamie bought the off-white embroidered Walt Disney World Christmas spirit jersey and shirts for the kids. Jared missed the parade on the way out because he finally went for coffee.

Wrap-up: @capthemagic on socials, Jared's daily YouTube videos as the main channel closes in on 20,000 subs, video versions of the show on the CTM Podcast YouTube channel, the Universal edition on Tuesdays and Disney World on Thursdays, and the CTM Apparel Halloween promo, 15 percent off with code HALLOWEEN and free shipping over $49.