Disney Destiny’s “Meet-and-Play” Feels Very Starcruiser-ish (Ep. 563)

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Places & Travel, Leisure, Society & Culture

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 December 2025

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Sam from Sam’s Disney Diary joins Len and Jim to spill the (highly theatrical) tea on Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Destiny - where character “meet-and-greets” have evolved into full-on, semi-improvised encounters that can follow you across the voyage. Then Jim heads back to where Disney’s in-park 3D film history really begins, from the 1950s 3D Jamboree at Disneyland to the studio’s eternal talent for repurposing anything that is not nailed down. NEWS • Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour costumes will stay on display at Walt Disney Presents: One Man’s Dream through January 23, 2026 • Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith plays its final riff on March 1, 2026 - with a “summer” reopen that is, as always, Disney-flexible • The Muppet Show special with Sabrina Carpenter hits Disney+ on February 4 - and may be a stealth pilot for a bigger revival • The Boathouse at Disney Springs lands as one of America’s top-grossing independent restaurants - fueled by sheer, glorious volume • A reported FTC allegation about Pepsi + Walmart “pricing power” takes an extra twist once Len connects the dots to Disney’s current CFO talk about dynamic pricing FEATURE • Sam breaks down how Disney Destiny’s characters run “meet-and-play” moments - Pirates pub invites, Cruella’s improv songwriting, and other “be here later” surprises • The ship’s hero-vs-villain throughline (hello, Loki) and why it feels like Disney quietly recycled some Galactic Starcruiser know-how • The Haunted Mansion parlor sticks around - now with an in-app AR hunt to round up “escaped” ghosts • Jim rewinds to Disney’s earliest 3D experiments, including Disneyland’s 1956-era 3D Jamboree and the studio’s short-lived 1950s 3D flirtation For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Len Testa - IG: @len.testa | Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Website: TouringPlans.com GUEST • Sam Marraccini - IG: @samsdisneydaily | X: @SamsDisneyDiary | Website: SamsDisneyDiary.com Sam's Disney Diary+2X (formerly Twitter)+2 FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic - visit UnlockedMagic.com for special discounts on Disney theme park tickets for 2026. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This festive season of McDonald's get...
0:02.0	Grinched deals every day.
0:03.0	Okay, okay. With a sausage sandwich for just... Let's see, 9 an ampee. Six chigger mcnuggets for just... Nine and api. Fine. Get Grinch deals every day in the McDonald's app. 18 plus app only ends 24th of December. One use per offer. Fee's apply to delivery. Participation varies. Season. Welcome back to another edition of the Disney Dish podcast with Jim Hill. It's me, Lentesta.
0:25.2	And this is our show for the week of Schmurs Day, December 22nd, 2025 on the show today.
0:31.1	In news, we talk about grocery store pricing power. In surveys, is ET about to phone home?
0:36.9	Plus, special guest Sam Maricini
0:38.5	gives us some interesting tips on role-playing games on the Disney Destiny. Then in our main
0:43.6	segment, Jim continues the history and future of Disney's 3D movies in the parks. Let's get
0:49.3	started by bringing in the man who was visited last night by the spirit of his younger self
0:53.6	with a ghostly guide screeching,
0:55.8	and this is your fate if you don't heed my words.
0:59.2	It's Mr. Jim Hill. Jim, how's he going?
1:02.0	Basically, well, you know, again, I'm sorry, I mistook this guy as the Amazon delivery guy and then began complaining about, you're leaving the packages at the bottom of the driveway.
1:14.8	Would it kill you to bring them up to the house?
1:17.6	You know, just, you know, on reflection, probably a poor choice on my part.
1:23.5	Did you throw him a few coins and ask him to buy the biggest turkey that Whole Foods had?
1:28.5	Actually, to be honest, I sent him to Aldi's, but that's another thing. Okay.
1:32.6	Aldi's, there's good. Also with us, Sam Miracini from C.M's Disney Diary, who was recently on the Disney Destiny. How's it going, Sam?
1:41.0	It is amazing, absolutely incredible to be here with the two of you, Jim and Len. Come on. I'm excited to have you, man. There's some quotes that I would love to throw back at you guys, but thank you for having. Thanks for coming on. All right, before we get started, because I want to hear all about Sam's trip on the destiny, let's do a quick shoutout to our subscribers. Thanks to all of our subscribers over at patreon.com slash Gmail media, including
2:04.4	Anastasia Z, Dave DeMore, Father Christopher, Joshua Moniz, Carrie Etheridge, and Mother of Kitty's.
2:11.9	Jim and Sam, these are Typhoon Lagoon's nautical engineers who've started work on removing the
2:17.0	Miss Tilly
	...

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