When Luggage Flies & Presidents Fume: Disney’s New Travel Perks and the Nixon Moment at the Contemporary (Ep. 558)

Jim Hill and Len Testa unpack Disney’s expanding multimodal transportation plans, field listener questions on “Dwarfgate” and the state of restaurant seating, and dig into the remarkable story of how Richard Nixon ended up declaring “I am not a crook” at Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort.

NEWS

• Disney expands its airport luggage transfer program to include Southwest Airlines arrivals, bringing back a little bit of that old Magical Express magic.
• A deeper look at Disney’s FY2025 earnings reveals what that surprising 4% Q4 attendance dip likely means.
• Updates on the Polynesian Tower’s Wailulu Bar & Grill and the return of the Garden View Lounge afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian.
• After 35 years, the rights to Roger Rabbit revert to creator Gary K. Wolf—sequels may be on the horizon.
• Universal explores a new 4–5 mile transportation system linking Epic Universe, CityWalk, and I-Drive.
• Listener questions on Dwarfgate, Tablegate, and how early to line up for key attractions.
• A look at why Disney still asks detailed spending questions on surveys—even when they already know many of the answers.
FEATURE
• The full story of why President Richard Nixon’s “I am not a crook” press conference happened at the Contemporary Resort, and how that moment shaped Disney’s early public image.

Full show notes available here: Show Notes

Hosts

• Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com
• Len Testa — BlueSky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | Website: touringplans.com

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Producer Credits

Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey — Strong Minded Agency

Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic, from the team at DVC Rental Store—where you can save 10% on regular and special-event Disney tickets, including Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights.

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