Unbuilt: An Unrealized Theme Park Podcast
100 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★ - 12 ratings"Unbuilt: An Unrealized Theme Park Podcast" is hosted by Ryan O'Reilly and Ryan Dorman as they explore attractions and rides that you have only heard existing on paper. Come aboard a journey that is only limited by your imagination!
Brand new episodes every other Friday! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
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Episodes
Fire Mountain (feat. Jaalin Harvey)
April 12, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour - 94.4 MBJaalin Harvey returns to discuss another Atlantis-themed attraction, this time the infamous Fire Mountain, a transforming coaster wrapped inside a volcano that would've towered over Adventureland. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Muppets Haunted Mansion Review
April 05, 2024 13:00 - 37 minutes - 34.9 MBThis week, the archive series continues with our Muppets Haunted Mansion review! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Memphis Pyramid Adventure
March 29, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBIn a totally not-transparent attempt to discuss the world's largest Bass Pro Shop in a pyramid, we explore an alternative plan to put a theme park in the guts of the infamous Memphis Pyramid! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
FROM THE ARCHIVES: RetroMagic 2022!
March 22, 2024 13:00 - 36 minutes - 33.5 MBThis week in our archives dive we go back to 2022 and Ryan O'Reilly tells Dorman about his trip to RetroMagic and more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
New Fantasyland 1.0
March 15, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour - 78.7 MBToday we head into the Enchanted Forest and discover Jay Rasulo's original, meet-and-greet intense version of Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland. Prepare to make a lot of birthday cards for Princess Aurora! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Building Upon #3
March 08, 2024 14:00 - 45 minutes - 42.3 MBIt's archive time again, and this is our last Building Upon episode where Dorman recounts a recent visit to both Disney World and Disneyland. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
DreamVision: The Scam Park
March 01, 2024 14:00 - 1 hour - 78 MBToday we check out Ron Logan and Rick Silanskas' "dream" park that was "funded" by con man Bryan Robinson, filled with some of the worst theme park ideas you've ever heard. Ryan Dorman also delivers some piping hot takes about his recent trip to Orlando. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Building Upon #2
February 23, 2024 14:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBOur archive series continues with this episode from August 2021 where we review season one of "Behind the Attraction"! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Fess Parker's Frontier Worlds
February 16, 2024 14:00 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBAmerica's favorite frontiersman actor tried to capitalize on his fame with an educational family fun park and failed twice! Come explore the history of Fess Parker and his wide-eyed dreams with us! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Building Upon #1
February 09, 2024 14:00 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBAs we begin our final year of Unbuilt, we are going to release our bonus material, previously paywalled, every week the podcast is off for your enjoyment. In this first archive episode from August 2021, Dorman discusses a Disney trip he's about to take. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Main Street Offshoots Part 2: International Street & Hollywoodland
February 02, 2024 14:00 - 1 hour - 62 MBWe continue on with part two of our look at Main Street offshoots, this time looking at the twisty alleyways of International Street and the unimaginable size of Hollywoodland. Plus, we talk about the closure of the original Country Bear Jamboree. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Main Street Offshoots Part 1: Edison Square & Liberty Street
January 19, 2024 14:00 - 1 hour - 85.6 MBWe're back from hiatus with a brand-new episode about two Main Street expansion both planned by Walt Disney: Edison Square, with a familiar-sounding show sponsored by General Electric and Liberty Street, featuring a wax hall of Presidents! Plus, we have some news about the future of Unbuilt. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
A Special Holiday Message from Ryan
December 22, 2023 16:25 - 4 minutes - 5.22 MBUntil the END of 2023, a brand-new bonus Christmas special-themed ep is available at our Ko-Fi for FREE: https://ko-fi.com/s/aa9ce2e2af Check it out now! After 1/1/24, the episode will still be available for $1 for non-members. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Winter Break Fun Day #3: Modern Simpsons Christmas
December 15, 2023 14:00 - 52 minutes - 49.3 MBHappy holidays! This year we look at two episodes from different eras of bad Simpsons: season 15's "Tis the Fifteenth Season" and season 31's "Bobby, It's Cold Outside". Which one is worse? Hint: it's the season 31 episode. C'mon. Duh. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Enchanted Snow Palace
December 08, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 63.9 MBWe travel into the unknown and encounter Marc Davis' Enchanted Snow Palace, a 1977 concept where guests would take an icy boat ride to meet the Snow Queen! No, not Elsa, but there are a lot of goofy snowmen who may or may not like warm hugs! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Beavis and Butthead: The Ride
November 24, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 74.9 MBThis ride would've been FIRE! We travel back to the 90s and take a look at a pitch from MTVN Recreation involving a portable Beavis and Butthead simulator. You can find the glossary materials here: https://www.mediafire.com/file/x1h7646y12peoyz/Beavis_and_Butt-Head_-_The_Ride.pdf/file --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Beastly Kingdom
November 10, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 109 MBOur longest episode yet! We roar into Animal Kingdom with a look at Joe Rohde's Fantasyland, that of Beastly Kingdom where we search for unicorns, glide to classical music and face off against a fire-breathing dragon! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Mel Brooks' Hollywood Horror Hotel
October 27, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 60.3 MBWe take a peek into the possibility of Mel Brooks running the Hollywood Tower Hotel with this early iteration where comedy ruled instead of screams! Hop on an elevator and catch a movie monster or two as we see what happens when Michael Eisner tries to ensnare the master of parody with a semi-spooky E-ticket attraction! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Casper's Whipstaff Manor
October 13, 2023 11:45 - 1 hour - 80.2 MBWe visit Casper the Friendly Ghost and his uncles the Ghostly Trio to check out Universal's unbuilt Whipstaff Manor dark ride based on the 1995 Casper film, where guests could ride on beds and choose their own route! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
BONUS PREVIEW: TRON Review!
October 06, 2023 13:00 - 12 minutes - 12.3 MBWe will be BACK from hiatus next week, but for now here is a preview of a bonus episode we did where you can hear my trip report from the past two weeks where I went to Walt Disney World, cruised on the Carnival Mardi Gras and attended RetroMagic! As a taste, here is my review of TRON Lightcycle Run! You can find the full episode for $1 or included with other bonus episodes at one of our membership tiers here: https://ko-fi.com/s/0c4132606f --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spo...
BONUS PREVIEW: Dorman Hates Encanto! (in Animal Kingdom)
September 22, 2023 13:00 - 10 minutes - 10.8 MBHiatus! Ryan O'Reilly is on vacation, and Unbuilt will be back with new episodes in mid-October! For now, please enjoy this preview of this recent bonus episode that can be found at our Ko-Fi where we cover the recent Destination D23 announcements! Here, Dorman explains why he vehemently dislikes the possibility of Encanto in Animal Kingdom. You can find this episode and more available for $1 or on our bonus tiers at this link: https://ko-fi.com/unbuiltpod --- Support this podcast: htt...
Mary Poppins (feat. Tony Goldmark)
September 15, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 81.5 MBThe east winds take us to a lovely London town and along with us we encounter Tony Goldmark of Escape from Vault Disney! In today's ep, we examine the various unbuilt Mary Poppins attractions in Disney history from Tony Baxter's Jolly Holiday ride to EPCOT's cancelled UK pavilion expansion! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Paramount Park Spain
September 01, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBWe journey to Murcia, Spain and examine an unbuilt bottom-up Paramount theme park with attractions based on movies you've heard of like Mission Impossible and Grease, and also based on films you've never heard of like Stardust and FairyTale! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
The Disney Cancellation Special
August 18, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 84.5 MBIn our fiftieth episode, we take a look at a myriad of Disney World projects that were never meant to be, but still announced by the company. Topics include: the Main Street Theatre, the Epcot Festival Center, Hyperion Wharf, Pop Century's Legendary Years, Reflections A Lakeside Lodge, the Play Pavilion and Spaceship Earth's most recent tabled redo! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Garfield's American Adventure Theme Park (feat. Ryan Estrada)
August 04, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 61 MBWe are joined with Garfield cartoonist and expert Ryan Estrada to explore a never-made Indiana theme park called Garfield's American Adventure! Does the fat cat get represented well or should this be shipped in a box to Abu Dhabi? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Garfield's Theme Park (feat. Ryan Estrada)
August 04, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 61 MBWe are joined with Garfield cartoonist and expert Ryan Estrada to explore a never-made Indiana theme park called Garfield's American Adventure! Does the fat cat get represented well or should this be shipped in a box to Abu Dhabi? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Christmas in July #2: Eraserhead
July 25, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 50.8 MBMerry Julymas! Once again we let Ryan Dorman chose a film for us to discuss, and this year he has chosen David Lynch's 1977 surrealist body horror Eraserhead! How much about parenting will we learn? Find out today! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Disney's Wizarding World of Harry Potter
July 21, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 61.6 MBToday we look at Disney's attempt to create a Harry Potter land, filled with completely underwhelming rides and attractions! Also we check out Universal's Villain Con: Minion Blast! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
The American Adventure Ride
July 07, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBThis Fourth of July week we take a look at Marc Davis' original 1975/1976 concepts for The American Adventure, including an omnimover ride with an original song! To purchase bonus episodes or gain early access to episodes, check out our Ko-Fi page: https://ko-fi.com/unbuiltpod --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
BONUS PREVIEW: Dorman Reviews Tokyo DisneySea!
July 05, 2023 13:45 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBToday we have a treat: a 14-minute chunk of our 2 1/2 hour PLUS discussion about Ryan Dorman's recent trip to Japan, including his thoughts on Tokyo DisneySea! The full episode is available now for just $1, or through one of our tiers at https://ko-fi.com/unbuiltpod! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Atlantean Encounter
June 30, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 80.3 MBWe dive in to Atlantis as we look at the proposed thrilling redo of Disneyland's Submarine Voyage: the Atlantean Encounter, based on 2001's Atlantis the Lost Empire. Will thrill-seekers escape the clutches of the Leviathan? Will we address the recent Titan Submersible incident? Well, the answer for that last one is no since the episode was recorded several weeks prior. That we just call bad timing! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Lost Continent's Lost Replacements
June 09, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 73.2 MBWe chopper back over to Islands of Adventure to take a look at the many possible replacements for the public domain land The Lost Continent! Could it be Rudolph, Harry Potter or even Willy Wonka? Thanks to Alicia Stella of OrlandoParkStop.com for the information for today's show. You can check out her original article here: https://orlandoparkstop.com/feature/unbuilt-attractions/5-never-built-replacements-for-the-lost-continent-at-islands-of-adventure/ Orlando ParkStop is currently runnin...
Disney's America - Part Two (feat. Jaalin Harvey)
May 26, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 73.3 MBIt's the epic conclusion to our episode on Disney's America! Jaalin Harvey from A Podcast For All Things, But Mostly Disney continues to join us as we discuss why the history theme park was never built, the political controversy and fallout, as well as imagining the alternate reality where it came to be. Also announcing our Ko-Fi "Unbuilt Unlimited", where you can enjoy bonus episodes and other exclusive content such as early access to episodes. Check it out here: https://ko-fi.com/unbuiltp...
Disney's America - Part One (feat. Jaalin Harvey)
May 19, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 91.2 MBIt's an EPIC, slightly, kind-of patriotic two-parter as Jaalin Harvey from A Podcast For All Things, But Mostly Disney joins us to talk Disney's America! In the first half of the episode, we discuss how Disney's America, a failed Virginia history-based theme park, came about and what was to be included in it. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
LucasPort
May 04, 2023 07:43 - 1 hour - 76.9 MBWhat happens when George Lucas is on top of the world? He gets his own enormous fully-indoor multi-level theme park expansion, that's what! Crystalline domes, rocket jets, many girders and beams, Alien Encounter and a massive Star Wars roller coaster with multiple tracks?! Celebrate Star Wars Day with this look at a project that could only exist in the 1980s! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Cancelled Dubai Parks: Volume Two
April 14, 2023 18:31 - 1 hour - 69.7 MBWe return to Dubai and take a look at several parks that were going to be a part of Dubailand, including an F1-themed park, a Marvel Superheroes park and even... Waterpark City?! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Unrealized Vegas Theme Resorts
March 31, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 64.5 MBWe drive from Hollywood to Sin City as we return to Las Vegas to check out some never-built resort oddities such as a tacky recreation of the Titanic, a hotel shaped like cowboy boots, various cities and even the Moon! It's an insane grab-bag of bizarre ways to ensnare your wallet! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
BONUS: Super Nintendo World Trip Report (and more!)
March 24, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 78 MBWe'll be back with a brand-new full episode next week, but for now enjoy this trip report where Ryan O'Reilly takes us on a California road trip and visits the Warner Brothers Studio Tour, Universal Studios Hollywood (with Super Nintendo World) and the Disneyland Resort! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Disney-MGM Studios Europe
March 10, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 71 MBWe conclude "Hooray for Hollywood" with a look at the original plans for EuroDisneyland's second gate, Disney-MGM Studios Europe! Today a dumpster fire sits on what was planned to be more akin to a grander, more fulfilling vision of Hollywood excess, but French! Plus: we discuss the recent Haunted Mansion movie teaser and stick around to the end for some bonus Star Wars chatter! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
OUTTAKES: Tron, TikTok, PrimeTime & More!
March 03, 2023 15:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MBWe'll conclude our Hooray for Hollywood miniseries next week, but today enjoy a couple of hilarious outtakes from our last few episodes! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Copperfield Magic Underground
February 24, 2023 15:00 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBIllusions abound as David Copperfield teams with Michael Eisner to create a magic-themed restaurant on the border of Disney-MGM Studios as we continue our Hooray for Hollywood series! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Mickey's Movieland
February 10, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBNothing can stop us now! We continue to proclaim Hooray for Hollywood as we check out another unbuilt Disney-MGM Studio attraction, "Mickey's Movieland", where guests got to experience the making of a Mickey cartoon. Interactive exhibits, museum pieces and a bizarre dark ride along with a complete recreation of Disney's old Hyperion studio were the highlights! Plus: we discuss the recent opening of Disneyland's version of Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway! --- Support this podcast: ht...
Roger Rabbit's Hollywood
January 27, 2023 14:00 - 1 hour - 92.4 MBHooray for Hollywood continues as we drive thru the tunnel into Toontown with a proposed Roger Rabbit expansion to Disney-MGM Studios! Rideable trolley cars, a wild motion simulator bus ride, a Baby Herman dark ride, roller coasters, bars, clubs, mallets, weasels, toons, Jessica Rabbit and more! We also talk about the recent closures at Universal parks! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
OUTTAKE: Dorman's Web Slingers PSA
January 17, 2023 14:00 - 6 minutes - 6.4 MBWe have a bonus outtake from yesterday's episode with a five-minute discussion about Ryan Dorman's recent Disneyland visit, and a surprising take on a divisive attraction! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
Burbank's Disney-MGM Studio Backlot
January 16, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 84 MBHooray for Hollywood! We begin a brand-new series of episode dedicated to all things Disney-MGM Studios and what could've been! Today we explore the never-realized concept for taking a Burbank mall and turning it into a colossally insane film-themed headache with streetmosphere, E-ticket rides, underwater steer and over-the-top nightclubs alongside your standard Gap and Hot Topic. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
BONUS: Unbuilt LIVE in Las Vegas!
January 06, 2023 17:10 - 1 hour - 79.7 MBOriginally we were going to be on break, but instead we were able to conjure up some LIVE magic as our co-hosts met in person for the first time and recorded an 87-minute long conversation about Las Vegas in the 90s, Avatar 2 and Disneyland trip planning! We'll be back next week with our first installment of Hooray for Hollywood, a brand-new series about unbuilt Disney-MGM Studios-related attractions! NOTE: please be aware that we were using new audio equipment and dealing with the unique c...
Winter Break Fun Day #2: "Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas"
December 16, 2022 15:45 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBHappy Holidays! It's our last episode of the year, and we roll out the CRT into the classroom once again before our winter break! This year we tune into "Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas", where all our "favorite" prehistoric "friends" make us "laugh" with their "hysterical" Christmassy "hijinks" guest-starring some unfortunate people! It's an animated Scrat-astrophe! WINTER BREAK FUN DAY SONG Music and Lyrics by: Ryan O'Reilly Produced and Arranged by: Bing Glenn --- Support this podcast: ht...
The Grinch's Sleigh Ride
December 09, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBIt's the holiday season, so this year we're heading over to Universal's Islands of Adventure to examine an unbuilt roller coaster based on How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Get ready to careen down Mount Crumpit with the-the-the... THE GRINCH! Also, Dorman tries to steal the MCU, it's a whole thing. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
SpongeBob's Bikini Bottom
November 25, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 84.9 MBWHO LIVES IN A PINEAPPLE UNDER THE SEA?! We could've, if only Universal Studios Beijing went with their plan to construct an indoor SpongeBob land! We discuss this idea, plus IAPPA and wrestling with the very idea whether or not Bikini Bottom is somewhere one would want to visit! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support
U.S.S. Enterprise Las Vegas (feat. Chandler Desrochers)
November 11, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBLive long and prosper with this brand-new episode of Unbuilt where we are joined by Chandler Desrochers from Podcast Without a Cool Acronym discussing Landmark and Downtown Las Vegas' crazy plan to construct a LIFE-SIZED Starship Enterprise! Guests would've climbed aboard and live their Star Trek adventure in a mighty monument to nerdiness. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ryan-oreilly0/support