The Mad Chatters Podcast | Walt Disney World and Around the Disney Universe

Our favorite hypothetical extravaganza is back, and this time it's all things Halloween. We try to plus Halloween Time at Walt Disney World by answering questions like, "If you could hide somewhere in Walt Disney World and scare people, where would you do it?" and, "If you had to add a fall or Halloween 'twist' to […]

With the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival in full swing, on this week's show we take a virtual tour around World Showcase and visit the various booths in order to find the five food items we most want to try. From the lamb meatballs in New Zealand to the haggis in Scotland, we discuss the […]

Which is better: Disneyland or Walt Disney World? Because we hear that question all the time, we thought we'd pit the two resorts against each other on this week's show. Comparing everything from attractions, to hotels, to weather, to elbow room, we award points to both parks depending on how they stack up in various categories. While at […]

Once again, the Disney Twitterverse has been up in arms as of late. During the past week, two specific news items have gotten our favorite Disney Tweeters talking: an increase in Annual Pass prices and big changes coming to Disneyland's Rivers of America (thanks to Star Wars Land). On this week's show, we chat about […]

We've been teasing (and boring) you for months about a Mad Chatter trip to Disneyland, and it finally happened. On this week's show, Jeremy and Derek give the lowdown on their week spent in Anaheim. Tune in as they review Disneyland's newest nighttime shows, spill the details about Club 33, talk about their experience at Napa Rose's chef's counter, and gush about all of the other exciting things h...

On this week's show we continue our series on the Disney animated films and their presence at Walt Disney World. As we venture into the 90s, we talk about the films that were part of the "renaissance" that The Little Mermaid helped launch in 1989. From hits like Aladdin and The Lion King to smaller successes […]

Our favorite roundtable hypothetical extravaganza is back! On this week's Mad Q Party, questions include "What queue would you least want to be trapped in for eight hours?" "If you could create an attraction for Toy Story Land, what would it look like?" and more! In Disney parks news, we discuss the latest Frozen addition to […]

It's all about the mountains on this week's episode of The Mad Chatters Podcast. We dig through the history books and scour the Walt Disney Archives to bring you the stories of how Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Splash Mountain came to be, as well as the never-realized attractions that were scrapped to make […]

There's a reason Cinderella Castle is one of the ten most photographed structures on earth. The Disney parks are full of picture-perfect moments and settings. This week we speak to photographer Mark Willard (@MarkWillard85 and @MWillardPhotos) about his favorite spots for taking pictures and the techniques he uses to get that perfect snapshot. After grilling him for […]

In another Mad Chatter Top 5, we count down our favorite "musical moments" at Walt Disney World—the dramatic notes, funny songs, and swelling scores that get our hearts pounding, our feet tapping, and our spirits soaring. Come for the lively conversation, and stay for the musical interludes. In The Disney Fix, Matt talks about the […]

Now that the whirlwind known as D23 Expo is over, it's time to decompress and digest all of the exciting news that came out of Anaheim. On this week's show we discuss the biggest announcements from the Expo, including upcoming films, attraction refurbishments, and entire park expansions. Get the scoop (and our unedited opinions) on […]

Disney nerds . . . Assemble! On August 14-16, the fourth D23 Expo will be held in Anaheim, featuring special speakers (John Lasseter!), celebrity guests (Ellen DeGeneres? Chris Evans? George Lucas?), anniversary celebrations (Happy 20th, A Goofy Movie!), and informative panels on everything from Disney films to Disney parks to Disney's earliest merchandise. On this week's […]

Although the films of the 1980s are poorly represented in Walt Disney World, this week we discuss what was going on at Walt Disney Animation Studios during this tumultuous decade and how these movies fared at the theater. Join us as we talk about the darker films of the 80s, such as The Fox and the Hound, The […]

Ever wondered what it's like to work at Walt Disney World? This week we chat with former Cast Member David about his internship at the parks. Learn about the audition process, hear a few funny behind-the-scenes stories, and discover why working for the Mouse is just as magical as meeting him for the first time. Also on this week's show, we share our thoughts on the latest Disney news, including th...

Want to beat the heat at Walt Disney World? You've come to the right place! On show 43, we list our favorite hints, tips, and secrets for how to make the most out of a Disney trip when you're hot, sweaty, and cranky and the temperature seems almost too much to bear. In this week's round of "Take 5," we tackle topics like The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, the final scene in Carousel of Progress, and th...

The 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration is in full swing at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, so this week we take a break from our regularly scheduled Walt Disney World programming to bring you the latest news from the original Disney park. First we discuss the many exciting things Disneyland has planned for its birthday celebration, including […]

Do you have to bite your tongue every time someone tells a first-timer, "You HAVE to eat at [fill in the blank]"? Does your jaw drop when the wait time for a ho-hum attraction reaches 100 minutes? Has the thought of a certain stage show or parade made you roll your eyes and exclaim, "Overrated"? […]

A deserted island, an overgrown water park, a former showcase of beloved attractions that's now nothing more than an exhibit hall… Walt Disney World is home to several buildings and areas that are mere shells of what they used to be. On episode 40, we do a deep dive into these all-but-abandoned parts of the parks, not to mourn what used to be, but to keep guests informed, to celebrate the past, an...

Nowadays it might be easier to spot a disco ball or jumpsuit than it is to find any signs of the Disney films of the 1970s in Walt Disney World. This week we discuss why movies like Robin Hood, The Aristocats, and The Rescuers have such little presence in the parks . . . and why the classic character […]

Ever wondered how the RunDisney races work, what perks are in store for the runners, or why on earth a person would want to run 13.1 miles while on vacation? If so, you're not alone! We invited guests Dave and Becky of Mousetalgia to give us a "rundown" of everything RunDisney. We chat about character encounters, training regimens, costumes, […]

Disney blogs were all abuzz last week regarding two major headlines. The first involved the 2014 Theme Park Attendance Annual Report, and the second had to do with an official Disney survey that had been sent to select guests, proposing the idea for a tiered ticketing system. This week we dive headfirst into those topics […]

Refurbishment, change, an overhaul, TLC… Whatever you want to call it, some attractions need a bit of love. This week we count down the five attractions at Walt Disney World that need the most attention. We don't want to see them go; we just want them to reach their potential. On the subject of refurbishments, we discuss the […]

Jeremy and Matt attended this year's 24-hour event in Magic Kingdom, which kicked off the "Coolest Summer Ever." On episode 35, they share the highs and lows of their late-night adventures in the park, and we talk about how their experience compared to that of guests who attended the same event in Disneyland. Also on this week's show, we read our […]

Let's party! It's time once again for the Mad Chatters to put on our creative caps and get hypothetical. We pose ten "what if" questions related to the Disney parks and films. On this episode we discuss the attraction vehicles we want in our homes, the Cast Member positions we would love to have, the Disney sidekicks we […]

Puppies and wizards and bears – Oh my! In continuing our series on Disney's animated films and their presence in the parks, this week we turn our eyes to the three movies of the '60s: 101 Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, and The Jungle Book. Has Disney World done these films justice? Could they […]