Factor Nostalgia: a Parkcast

We finally made it to Disney Adventure World and got to see Disneyland Paris in all its Halloween… glory? Have a listen as we discuss snacks, decorations, rides, nighttime shows and how Disney Adventure World measures up to Disneyland Park.

For the 100th episode of Factor Nostalgia, we return to the place that helped inspire the podcast in the first place: Thunder Mesa. We walk through the full story of Disneyland Paris’ Frontierland, from the rise of the mining town and the Ravenswood family to lost attractions, vanished experiences and the ideas that were never built. RESOURCES & INFO Episode: ⁠⁠⁠ A Love Letter to Fort Comstock...

Where did Disney’s most iconic villains really come from? From ancient mythology and classic fairy tales to real-life performers and surprising historical connections, we trace the origins of the Evil Queen, Maleficent, Ursula, Jafar, Hades and Gaston to discover the people and stories behind the bad guys we love to hate. RESOURCES & INFO Episode: ⁠Iconic Disney Movie Moments⁠ Follow along on...

There isn’t just one Haunted Mansion. From Disneyland’s original 1969 attraction to Phantom Manor in Paris and Mystic Manor in Hong Kong, Disney has reinvented the concept again and again for different parks, stories and audiences. In this episode, we trace how the Mansion evolved around the world and what each version reveals about Disney Imagineering. RESOURCES & INFO Episode: Our Disney Cas...

Who was Anton Pieck, and how did an illustrator who initially wanted nothing to do with amusement parks help define Efteling? In this episode, we explore his partnership with inventor Peter Reijnders, the creation of the Fairytale Forest and the design principles that still shape Efteling today. RESOURCES & INFO Episode: A Historical Walk Through Efteling's Fairytale Forest Episode: E very...

Pixar is everywhere in the Disney Parks today — but it wasn't always part of the Disney family. In this episode, we trace Pixar's journey from outside collaborator to theme park powerhouse, with a particular look at how Pixar helped shape the evolution of Disneyland Paris. And with Toy Story there from the very beginning, we follow Woody and Buzz from Pixar's first feature film all the...

Three friends, way too many opinions, and thirty years of Pixar to argue about. This episode, the crew tackles the franchises that raised them: Toy Story, Cars, The Incredibles, and more — along with the non-sequel gems that might be Pixar's real best work. Add in a deep dive on the studio's streaming-era releases, a segment on the music that's stuck with everyone since childhood, and...

What if Disneyland Paris had built Discoveryland exactly as its Imagineers originally envisioned it? In this episode of Factor Nostalgia: a Parkcast , we take an imaginary walkthrough of the Discoveryland that could have been. We’ll conclude with a look ahead to the newly announced return of De la Terre à la Lune and do some armchair Imagineering of our own. Could the return of the Moon be the beg...

I went to Plopsaland Belgium for the very first time ever, and I have some thoughts... join me in discussing the good, the bad, and the straight-up abysmal that I encountered during these three days. RESOURCES & INFO Episode: ⁠Is Studio100 Europe's Answer to Disney? ​ Follow along on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @factornostalgia⁠⁠⁠⁠ ​Support the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/factornostalgia⁠⁠⁠⁠ and/or ⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Now that we've all had some time to let the D23 updates sink in, its' worth viewing them in the grand(er) scheme of things. So today wer'e doing a quick roundup of what was announced for each Disney Park/Resort, sharing some thoughts, and then doing a deeper dive into what this means for Disneyland Paris. After all, that's our home park. Wel'l ook at the immediate future as wel...

Immersive worlds, finding rare items and characters, fueling up by choosing the correct foods… videogames and theme parks have more in common that you might think. Sometimes they even overlap. That’s exactly what we’re exploring today. With special guest Bas - yes, that Bas, from the Distory Podcast - we navigate the different genres of videogames that evoke that special feeling we get when walkin...

Princess Week is coming up, so what better time than right now to figure out what the official Disney Princesses lineup was, is and should be? RESOURCES & INFO Follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram: @factornostalgia⁠⁠ ​Support the podcast on ⁠⁠Patreon.com/factornostalgia⁠⁠ and/or ⁠⁠PetjeAf.com/factornostalgia⁠⁠ ​Get in touch via ⁠⁠factornostalgia.com/contact

Fort Comstock and the Legends of the Wild West have had to endure a lot since the opening of Disneyland Paris. While earlier this year there were some mixed signals about its existence and perhaps even closure, there are now some signs of hope. Join Fort Comstock enthusiast Beth - known from D2DLP - and myself for a conversation about the attraction's past, present and future. RESOURCES &...

D23 is coming up on August 14th, 15th and 16th and rumors about possible park announcements have been everywhere. I round up my favorite ones, and supplement that with my own predictions and perhaps some things I wish they'd announce... RESOURCES & INFO Episode: What's Next for Disney Adventure World? Follow along on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram: @factornostalgia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠...

Today we have an Efteling-focused episode, diving into the numbers and benefits of my annual pass. Did I get my money's worth and is it worth renewing? Also, let's discuss some of Efteling's new food options while we're at it. RESOURCES & INFO Episode: Can Efteling Still Grow? Episode: Live from Efteling with Kiki Episode: Trip Report: A Stay at the Efteling Grand Hotel ​Follow...

Disney merch can be dizzying. What are Spirit Jerseys? Is a Loungefly backpack different from any other Disney backpack? And should you even try your hand at pin trading? This week we cover all of this and more. What’s your favorite type of Disney souvenir? RESOURCES & INFO Follow along on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram: @factornostalgia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Patreon.com/factornostalgia⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠...

Summer is here and these kids need to be entertained - and we want to have a good time, too. So I've compiled a list of some Dutch - with some honorable Belgian mentions - theme parks that are suitable for (very) young kids. Did I miss your favorite? RESOURCES & INFO Episode: The Rise and Rise of Toverland Follow along on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram: @factornostalgia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ​Support the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

What's the difference between an inverted and a suspended coaster? What and why is rope-dropping? And who are you calling a weenie?! Join us today for a first exploration into theme park terminology, to make it easier for all of us to know what we mean. RESOURCES & INFO: Episode: Queueing Systems: How Wait Times Work Follow along on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: @factornostalgia⁠⁠⁠⁠ ​Support the podcast...

We’ve talked about Disney Adults. We know how people feel about them. We know whether or not we identify as one. But what about celebrities? Are they as devoted to the Mouse as some of us mortals? And if so, do the same rules apply to them? Let’s get into it on today’s episode. RESOURCES & INFO ​Episode: Disney Adults: Where Do We Draw the Line? ​Episode: Disney’s Most Exclusive Membership: Cl...

The story of Toverland is one of ambition. In honor of this year being its 25th anniversary we’re going back to see how the park grew to what it is today. We’ll also talk about whether the comparison to Efteling is justified... RESOURCES & INFO ​Episode: Can Efteling Still Grow? Follow along on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram: @factornostalgia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ​Support the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Patreon.com/factornostalgia⁠ ⁠...

Disney has a lot of parks, and is planning for more. But is it even worth the trouble of trying to visit all of them? We’re evaluating all of them, from the reason why the park was opened to what makes it unique and worth visiting… or not. RESOURCES & INFO ​Episode: The History and Future of Disneyland Paris ​Episode: The Disney Decade ​Episode: Disney’s Space Mountain: Past, Present & Fut...

Getting to Disneyland Paris via plane, train or car can be pretty straightforward... if you know these little things. RESOURCES & INFO Emission sticker for France: Crit'Air Cheaper Eurostar tickets: Snap ​Follow along on ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram: @factornostalgia⁠⁠⁠⁠ ​Support the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Patreon.com/factornostalgia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and/or ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠PetjeAf.com/factornostalgia⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Get in touch via ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠fact...

Studio100 has grown into a regional powerhouse owning a bunch of different branches of its own entertainment, including theme parks. Some have suggested it could become Europe's answer to The Walt Disney Company. On this episode we'll dive into how the company developed into what it is today and where the similarities with Disney lie... but also where they differ. As always, share your tho...

Come with me and explore all the reasons Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland Paris) is the best Disney castle of all! Or is it…? RESOURCES & INFO ​Follow along on ⁠⁠Instagram: @factornostalgia⁠⁠ ​Support the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/factornostalgia⁠⁠⁠ and/or ⁠⁠⁠PetjeAf.com/factornostalgia⁠⁠⁠ ​Get in touch via ⁠⁠⁠factornostalgia.com/contact⁠⁠

We’ve all heard about the obvious tips on how to spend responsibly on your theme park trip. But once you’re in the door, these parks throw everything but the kitchen sink at you to get you to spend on snacks and merch. Here are my tips on how to deal with that. RESOURCES & INFO ​Podcast: Eating and Drinking Around the World ​Follow along on ⁠⁠ Instagram: @factornostalgia⁠⁠ ​Support the podcast on...