Trammin' - A Disneyland Podcast · Christian Rainwater & Kirk Bagdasarian

Rewind Topic: We Didn't Jive with 2025

January 1, 2026·1 hr 40 min·8 clips

Kirk and Christian label Disney's Abu Dhabi theme park deal 'slaves to the almighty dollar' and draw a line at Saudi Arabia over 9/11.

1. Trammin', a Disneyland fan podcast, presents its year-in-review episode titled 'We Didn't Jive with 2025,' hosted by Kirk and Christian Rainwater. 2. Kirk is the primary host and Christian Rainwater is his co-host; no guest appears in this episode. 3. The episode's thesis is that 2025 was the worst year in Trammin's history for Disneyland news and announcements, worse even than the tram-less 2021. 4. The opening segment references Disneyland app improvements, specifically the mobile order 'order now' update that hides individual arrival time slots, which both hosts find annoying. 5. Kirk mentions that live activities for mobile orders in the iPhone Dynamic Island sometimes fail to fire or crash when the 'I'm here' button is tapped from outside the app. 6. A lengthy digression covers smartwatch choices, including the Apple Watch Ultra 2's 48-hour battery life, the CMF Nothing Watch's 14-day battery at $50, and the RingCon's no-subscription policy. 7. Kirk describes an upcoming Japan trip and the practical challenge of finding a suitable bag — neither a full backpack nor a body-hugging fanny pack — leading to a discussion of various crossbody options including a Carhartt sling. 8. The Disney Storyland Boutique in Downtown Disney is described as 'Wonderland without the art,' now focused on blind-bag merchandise, though the hosts note Wonderland itself is better as a result, functioning more like a gallery. 9. Disney Wonderful World of Sweets opened in Downtown Disney and is deemed functional but visually 'garish' and 'gaudy' — not the kitschy-good kind. 10. A 10-minute tangent on Brandy Melville's one-size retail model digresses from Disneyland content, with the hosts noting the store had a line outside days after Christmas. 11. The Galactic Star Cruiser hotel being converted to imaginary office space is called a watershed 2025 moment, with Jenny Nicholson credited by name for a four-and-a-half-hour video that the hosts say gave the creative team courage to act. 12. The Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration is described as a dud that nobody would notice if cancelled, with Walt's Chili at Aunt Cass's identified as one of the only dedicated food items. 13. Kirk watched and recommended the Jonas Brothers Christmas special at Disneyland, though it did not make Christian's cut for a segment recommendation. 14. The Walt Disney Company and Merall's announced agreement to build a theme park in Abu Dhabi, UAE is labelled 'slaves to the almighty dollar,' with both hosts expressing scepticism that the park will ever be built. 15. Christian explicitly condemns a rumoured Universal project in Saudi Arabia by name, citing the 9/11 connection, and both hosts speculate Disney may have taken an upfront fee with no intention of completing the Abu Dhabi project. 16. Pirates of the Caribbean exiting Lightning Lane is declared the single best Disneyland news of 2025 by Kirk, with Christian enthusiastically agreeing. 17. Avengers Campus construction is confirmed to be visibly advancing: cranes are on site, a structure has risen, and a sidewalk relocation is underway — the hosts describe this as the clearest positive development of the year. 18. The episode is casual and free-form, with Disneyland topics frequently interrupted by extended personal tangents on tech, travel, and retail that run 10-20 minutes. 19. Dedicated Disneyland/Disney fans who follow park news closely and enjoy conversational fan commentary. 20. Listeners wanting structured theme park analysis, ride reviews, or concise news summaries will find the digression-heavy format frustrating.

As heard by us

A blunt Disneyland year-end check-in that rewards listeners who follow the resort's inside rhythms.

The episode turns a year-end Disneyland check-in into a blunt take on 2025, with the year framed as rough for news and announcements and the resort never quite finding its footing.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a blunt Disneyland year-end lap with more receipts than optimism.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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