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Episode 70: Hidden Gems at Walt Disney World
Episode 68: Do This, Not That (Animal Kingdom)
Episode 67: Looking Ahead to 2016
Episode 66: The 2015 Chatties
Episode 65: Mad Q Party
Episode 70: Hidden Gems at WDW
Attraction Vehicles: The Good
Matt: Expedition Everest
Derek: Peter Pan’s Flight
Jeremy: Kilimanjaro Safaris
Attraction Vehicles: The Bad
Matt: Pirates of the Caribbean
Jeremy: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Derek: Haunted Mansion
Attraction Vehicles: The Ugly
Derek: Pirates of the Caribbean
Matt: TriceraTop Spin
Jeremy: Spaceship Earth
We mentioned lots of our favorite hidden gems and Easter eggs at Walt Disney World. Here are snapshots of just a few of the details we mentioned.
Themed Trash Cans
Nods to Former Attractions
Fiber Optic Sidewalks in Epcot
Fiber Optic Lights in the Sidewalks of Future World at Epcot (photo by Todd Hurley)
Forced Perspective
What Used to Be Roger Rabbit’s Outline
References to the Fake Land of Anandapur
Episode 68: Do This, Not That (Animal Kingdom)
Do This:
Discovery Island
Discovery Island Trails: Get close-up looks at the carvings in the Tree of Life
Flame Tree Barbecue
It’s Tough to Be a Bug
Africa
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Festival of the Lion King (say Derek and Jeremy)
Harambe Market
Asia
Kali River Rapids (says Matthew)
Expedition Everest
Maharajah Jungle Trek
Dinoland U.S.A.
Dinosaur
Primeval Whirl and the street entertainment in Chester and Hester’s
Finding Nemo – The Musical
Miscellaneous
Explore the trails
Take in and appreciate the details/theming around the park
Take advantage of the unique character experiences
Don’t Do This:
Discovery Island
Wilderness Explorers
It’s Tough to Be a Bug FastPasses
Pizzafari
Africa
Festival of the Lion King (says Matt)
Wildlife Express to Rafiki’s Planet Watch
Do everything! (Says Jeremy)
Asia
Kali River Rapids (says Jeremy)
Yak & Yeti Restaurant (says Matt)
Flights of Wonder
Dinoland U.S.A.
The Boneyard
Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama (says Matthew)
Churros at Dino-Bite Snacks
Miscellaneous
Conservation Station at Rafiki’s Planet Watch
Rainforest Cafe
The nature trail in Dinoland, U.S.A.
Episode 67: Looking Ahead to 2016
It’s the Small Things, After All
Jeremy: The two guys at the controls on Space Mountain
Matt: The lighting below the palm trees across WDW
Derek: The Adventureland bridge (when coming from the hub)
Coming Attractions
Films
The Finest Hours (January 29)
Zootopia (March 4)
The Jungle Book (April 15)
Captain America: Civil War (May 6)
Alice Through the Looking Glass (Ma7 27)
Finding Dory (June 17)
The BFG (July 1)
Pete’s Dragon (August 12)
Doctor Strange (November 4)
Moana (November 23)
Rogue One (December 16)
Merchandise
Ceramic figurines of Big Al, Figment, and more
Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Battleship
Disney Park trash can ornaments
Attractions
Rivers of Light and Sunset Kilimanjaro Safaris (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
Tiffins (restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
Soarin’ Around the World (Epcot)
Frozen Ever After and Royal Sommerhaus (Epcot)
Pizza Planet refurbishment (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Club Villain (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Shanghai Disneyland (June 16)
Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters (Disney California Adventure)
Frozen – A Musical (Disney California Adventure)
Episode 66: The 2015 Chatties
Best Addition to WDW
Harambe Market (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
New restaurants in Disney Springs
Hub expansion (Magic Kingdom)
Worst Addition to WDW
Club Disney (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
“We Love Disney” behind-the-scenes preview (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
Metal detectors
Biggest Surprise
The addition of the Three Caballeros audio-animatronics to Gran Fiesta Tour
The addition of Skipper Canteen, a new table service restaurant in Magic Kingdom
The addition of Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar to Disney Springs
The “Reached Its Expiration Date” Award
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth
In Memoriam
Sorcerer Mickey’s Hat
Tomorrowland Arcade
The Rose Garden
Innoventions West
“Match the Species” dung treats
Cheese sauce on condiment bars
The use of selfie sticks
Bill Cosby’s bust
The Magic of Disney Animation
Animation Academy
Mulch, Sweat, & Shears
Downtown Disney
Duffy meet and greet
Captain EO
The Canadian Lumberjacks
Star Wars Weekends
Best Announcement for the Future
Star Wars Land
Soarin’ Around the World (and a third theater)
Toy Story Land
Worst Announcement for the Future
The end of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
The lack of news concerning Lights, Motors, Action!
Best Change at WDW
The return of Hollywood Boulevard to its original state (no hat)
The changes to The Great Movie Ride (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)
The Polynesian Village Resort lobby refurbishment
Worst Change at WDW
The Polynesian Village Resort lobby refurbishment
The introduction of trendy songs to Voices of Liberty’s line-up
The ticket/annual pass price changes
Best “Foreign” Disney Moment
The addition of the Hatbox Ghost to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion
The announcement and concept art of what’s coming to Shanghai Disneyland, specifically Roaring Rapids
Episode 65: Mad Q Party
If you could build a new deluxe resort, what would be its theme and name?
Matt: Sunshine Seasons Resort & Spa, highlighting all parts of Florida
Jeremy: Grand Peruvian Resort, celebrating the culture and food of Peru
Derek: Hollywood Grand Hotel, themed to 1950s Hollywood
What film that bombed do you wish was represented at Walt Disney World in some capacity?
Matt and Jeremy: The Lone Ranger
Derek: A Goofy Movie
If you could open a new restaurant in Walt Disney World themed to a Disney attraction, what would you do?
Matt and Jeremy: A restaurant themed to the Tower of Terror will be reminiscent of a 20s-style Hollywood big-band club.
Derek: The Great Movie Restaurant, themed to The Great Movie Ride, will have a different dining room for each film genre.
If you could create a hard-ticketed event at Walt Disney World with a Christmas theme, what would you do?
Matt: In Disney’s Animal Kingdom, offer traditional African Christmas foods and celebrations.
Jeremy: A Victorian Christmas celebration featuring the Voices of Liberty
Derek: A private Voices of Liberty concert, followed by refreshments and meet-and-greets with Christmas characters such as Scrooge McDuck and Jack Skellington
If you could add a specialized refreshment cart anywhere in Walt Disney World, where would you put it and what would you sell?
Matt: A dim sum cart in World Showcase
Jeremy: A Dippin’ Dots stand in Tomorrowland
Derek: Iced Coffee carts all over Magic Kingdom, including mini donuts
If someone asked for advice on the best make-out spot in Walt Disney World, where would you direct them?
Matt: The walkway between Storybook Circus and Tomorrowland
Jeremy: The descent in Spaceship Earth
Derek: The PeopleMover
If you could create live entertainment for any pavilion in World Showcase, what would it look like?
Matt: A lifelike reenactment of World War II, spreading across all countries involved
Jeremy: Gregorian-chanting monks in Italy
Derek: A pantomime-style show near the U.K. pavilion, featuring over-the-top retellings of classic stories, including audience participation
If you could transform your living room into a scene from a Walt Disney World attraction (or simply theme it to an attraction), what attraction would you choose?
Matt: Pirates of the Caribbean
Jeremy: Spaceship Earth (the moon landing scene)
Derek: It’s a Small World
If you could add a minimum age requirement to any part of Walt Disney World, where would it be?
Matt: World Showcase, a few nights a week from 9-11 p.m.
Jeremy: An entire park (a different one each day)
Derek: ‘Ohana at dinner
If you could wrap up anything at Walt Disney World and give it as a gift to your fellow Mad Chatters, what would you give each of them?
Matt: To Jeremy, a working Jose audio-animatronic from Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room; to Derek, any snack of his choosing
Jeremy: A pass that is good for one free meal per day at any restaurant
Derek: To Matt, the swing near Polynesian Village Resort where he proposed to his wife, plus two tiki torches; to Jeremy, the concrete square from Hollywood Studios where Rue McClanahan placed her hands
The Mad Chatters 