Nomad Lounge Discounts and Changes, Cake Bake Shop Social Hour, & Magic of Animation Shines in Hollywood Studios – Ep 628

Zip Travel spot up top, then Jared explains finally replacing the aging laptop the show was recorded on with a pre-built PC from Costco after prices for building his own went up. He calls the delay an expensive lesson, jokes about keeping drinks far away from the new machine, and previews a show packed with small news stories plus Jamie's Magic of Animation review.

Three changes at the Animal Kingdom lounge: a passholder dine-in deal running October 20 to December 18 (two small plates and two specialty drinks for $49, from 3pm to close), reservations opening for seatings starting November 8 after years as walk-up only, and mobile ordering now live for the churros to go. Jared and Jamie read the deal as a push to draw guests into Animal Kingdom later in the day.

Both the dining room and the pub at the Epcot UK pavilion spot close in January and reopen sometime later in 2027. Their guess is the lengthy closure could finally mean a bigger pub, since the current one is always packed, though neither of them drinks there often given how many other options Epcot has.

A small mystery project is underway in the old Indiana Jones hat and merchandise area in front of Backlot Express, across from the Olaf meet and greet. The early speculation is a kids playground, but the poles going up make Jared think a meet and greet backdrop is just as likely. Either way, an Indiana Jones flavor would suit the spot.

A new permit names a playground manufacturer for the Monstropolis land, and the concept art shows the familiar shaded structures over a play area. They like the move: the land leans nostalgic for millennials, and a playground gives younger kids something that is actually for them. Their one design ask is a single entrance and exit so parents can relax.

Disney will report its fiscal Q4 2026 results on a November 17 webcast. Jared expects attendance to come in flat to slightly down after a soft summer, notes Disney took victory laps after the last report, and says the current calls are at least easier to listen to than the Iger-era ones. Coverage will follow on the show and the main channel.

The BoardWalk restaurant's new Cake Bake Social runs Monday to Thursday, 2 to 5pm, in the bar and lounge: three signature cocktails at $13, wines at $10, fries with signature sauces for $11, pimento burger sliders for $16, and a rotating cake shake for $10. Jared calls the discounts modest for the venue, which sends them into a tangent praising Summer House at Disney Springs and its martini hour instead, plus a plan for a Disney Springs happy hour crawl episode.

Mando and Grogu are done roaming and now meet guests at a set location with a queue in front of the Millennium Falcon, where Chewie used to meet. Jared is fine with the change but uses it to vent that Disney World still has none of Disneyland's original-trilogy characters or even the John Williams score playing in the land.

A granted Disney patent describes a system that segments a photo, maps depth for each person and object, identifies the intended group, and removes or replaces everyone else. Jared and Jamie call it a genuinely good use of the technology, while noting the patent never names PhotoPass outright, even if that is clearly where it points.

Character.AI has filed for bankruptcy, and Disney is the lead bidder in its asset sale at a $20 million floor, not long after hiring the company's former CEO to run AI at Disney and after a past cease and desist against the service. They talk through what Disney might want it for, from character chat to guest-facing robots, and close with Bruce Vaughn's comments about Imagineering leaning hard into AI.

The November 7 Jollywood Nights date has sold out, earlier in the season than last year. They are going to the second night, expect some but not all dates to sell out, and think the party keeps improving as Disney adds to it, with prices likely to keep climbing toward regular day-ticket levels.

Epcot's France pavilion has a new burger, Le Croissant du Boucher: Angus beef, alpine cheese, onion confit, and mustard aioli on a croissant bun for $29.95. Jared rants that burgers have lost their way, that a French fine-dining room is the wrong place for one, and that the best burgers still come from a grumpy short-order cook at a hole-in-the-wall diner.

The newest Wish-class ship, Disney Believe, was revealed last week with a lot carried over from the Wish, including a Frozen-themed restaurant and an Encanto show. Its maiden voyage on December 18, 2027 sold out before bookings even reached the public, gone by the Gold Castaway Club tier. Also noted: Disney Imagination, the Oriental Land Company ship for Japan, starts sailings in 2029.

Jared passes along what he has heard: a major Space Mountain refurbishment is still in the works, likely around two years long, probably timed for when Piston Peak or Villains Land is close to opening. At 50 years old and rough next to Tron, he argues the ride cannot keep going as is for another decade.

Wrap-up: socials and daily videos at @capthemagic, Tuesday's Theme Parkin' livestream covered the Six Flags coaster tragedy with Vash Sky and Alan from All Mighty Coasters, video versions of the show on the CTM Podcast YouTube channel, and the CTM Apparel Halloween promo (15% off with code HALLOWEEN, free shipping over $49).