Pop Culture Passport - Exploring Quirky & Cool Travel Destinations in the USA
Pop Culture Passport is your guide to quirky, cool, and nostalgic travel across the U.S.—from movie filming locations and theme parks to roadside attractions and pop culture museums.
If you'd happily add 60 minutes to your trip to visit a filming location, the Jell-O Museum, or a roadside diner from your favorite TV show, this podcast is for you.
Every other week, I’ll take you behind the scenes of iconic and offbeat destinations, sharing their history, stories, and the fun details. Along the way, we’ll dive into theme parks, explore quirky museums, and uncover the real places behind your favorite movies and shows.
I'm Beth Schillaci—aka the Roaming Yeti. I’m a travel content creator, pop culture nerd, and obsessive road trip planner who somehow turns an 8-hour drive into a 21-stop itinerary (because you never know what you’ll find). I’m also the creator of the Quirky & Cool Travel Guide, a curated directory of unique U.S. destinations, and I share even more travel stories and pop culture finds on The Roaming Yeti Blog.
Think of this as traveling with your slightly nerdy, sort-of-cool friend who thrives on deep dives, unique finds, and laughter-filled road trips.
Grab your Pop Culture Passport—let’s roam.
Pop Culture Passport - Exploring Quirky & Cool Travel Destinations in the USA
The Origin of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Part 1 – Vision, Controversy, and Conservation
Episode 106
What does it take to build a Disney park with no castle, no parade, and nature as the main character?
In this episode of Pop Culture Passport, we’re heading back to the early 1990s to explore the origin story of Disney’s boldest—and most misunderstood—theme park: Animal Kingdom. From Joe Rohde’s 400-page pitch to internal battles over dragons versus dinosaurs, this story is full of vision, risk, and a deep love for the natural world.
Here’s what you’ll discover in Part 1:
- The big idea behind Walt Disney World's fourth theme park
- How Imagineer Joe Rohde sold the concept with art, anthropology, and bold design choices
- The conservation mission that’s been part of the park from the very beginning
- What Dr. Jane Goodall personally requested for the Tree of Life
Animal Kingdom officially opened on Earth Day 1998, but its story starts long before that—and it’s just as wild as the park itself.
Next week in Part 2: We’ll explore how the park evolved—from the arrival of Asia and Expedition Everest to the wild success of Pandora and the struggles with nighttime shows.
You ready? Let’s roam.
Get the free Roaming Yeti Bingo Card!
Connect with me on social: Facebook or Instagram.
Like this episode? Share it in your stories and tag me @the_roaming_yeti
Love the show? Leave a 5-star review, and let me know where you'd like us to roam next.
Ready for more from The Roaming Yeti now? Visit our website.