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130: Underrated WDW Experiences

Dole Whips, Fantasmic, Splash Mountain, Chef Mickey’s… Some experiences at Walt Disney World appear on about every “Must List” you’ll come across online. But that doesn’t mean they are the only things worth experiencing on a Disney vacation. This week we list some of our favorite attractions, restaurants, and other experiences that don’t quite get the attention we think they deserve. From the trails in Disney’s Animal Kingdom to hilarious performers outside the parks, we break down the most underrated experiences at Walt Disney World.

As our Munch Madness tournament heats up, we reveal which restaurants you listeners picked for the Flavorful Four. (Once you’ve listened, be sure to visit our Munch Madness page and vote for the two restaurants you’d like to see face off in the championship.)

In the game “Disney Before and After,” Matt and Jeremy try to guess the Disney mashup being described. Plus, Jeremy and Derek share their slightly different takes on the new live-action Beauty and the Beast. All that and much more awaits you on episode 130 of The Mad Chatters Podcast!

Want to connect with us? Find us on Facebook (/madchatterspodcast), Instagram (@madchatters), and Twitter (@MadChatters). Or, send your emails to comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

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128: The Music of Animal Kingdom

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Join us on our latest episode as we take a musical tour of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. From the original songs in “Finding Nemo – The Musical,” to the African street party taking place in Harambe, to the soothing sounds of nature that can be heard as you enter the park gates, we discuss the original music that creates the mood and atmosphere for Walt Disney World’s newest park.

Also on this week’s show, we reveal which restaurants are moving on to the Sweet-n-Savory Sixteen in our Munch Madness tournament. (Once you’ve listened, be sure to vote for your favorites on our Munch Madness page!) Plus, we look ahead to Walt Disney World “In the Year 2071.” Come join the fun now!

We’d love for you to connect with us online. Find us on Instagram (@madchatters), Twitter (@MadChatters), and Facebook (@madchatterspodcast). Or you can email us at comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

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125: Meeting Characters 101

You can hardly take ten steps in a Disney park without coming across a costumed character (or at least a queue of people waiting to meet one). For some, meeting characters is as much a part of a Walt Disney World vacation as seeing Cinderella Castle for the first time or riding It’s a Small World. So, what’s all the fuss about? And what do you need to know before you dive into the world of character meet and greets?

We’ve got you covered on this week’s episode, as we list the pros and cons of meeting characters, discuss our picks for the best and worst meet and greets in Walt Disney World, and even share a few of our favorite personal experiences meeting characters.

In the news, Disney has announced several opening dates of upcoming experiences. We share our thoughts on coming attractions such as Rivers of Light, Pandora, and the brand new nighttime spectacular “Happily Ever After.” Plus, Matt and Derek review two Disney Springs restaurants (Paddlefish and Boathouse), and in a Mad Chatter game, we test our knowledge of voice actors in Disney animated films. Come play along now!

Have you connected with us online? Come chat with us on Facebook (/madchatterspodcast), Instagram (@madchatters), and Twitter (@MadChatters). Or, send your emails to comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

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123: Dining at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios + A Chat With Broadway Star Kerry Butler

Continuing our series on table service restaurants throughout Walt Disney World, this week our culinary tour takes us to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where we read the menus and give our reviews of eateries such as Yak & Yeti, Tiffins, 50’s Prime Time Cafe, and more.

Over in Epcot, Broadway star Kerry Butler is currently performing at the inaugural Festival of the Arts, and on this week’s show she joins us to talk about the festival, her past Broadway roles – including Belle (Beauty and the Beast) and Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors) – and her love of all things Disney.

Plus, in another edition of The Mad Chatters Playlist, we each share three picks for Disney tunes that fit the category “Feel-Good Songs.” It all goes down on the latest episode of The Mad Chatters Podcast!

If you’ll be in Walt Disney World February 3-6, be sure to check out Kerry and actor Kevin Massey at Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts. Or, follow along with Kerry from wherever you are on Twitter (@KerryButlerNyc) and Instagram (@kerrybutler1).

To connect with us online, reach out on Twitter (@MadChatters), Facebook (/madchatterspodcast), or Instagram (@madchatters) or via email: comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

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122: What the What? – Ten “What Were They Thinking?” Moments at WDW

Not every idea is a winner – not even at Disney. Unfortunately, some of those bad ideas still made it out of the drawing room and into Walt Disney World. From bad overlays to questionable themes to impractical designs, this week we count down the top ten moments that left us asking, “What were they thinking?!”

But first, we get sentimental as we pen some “Love Letters to Disney.” Plus, Matt and Derek review breakfast and dinner at Captain’s Grille in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Come join the fun on another episode of The Mad Chatters Podcast!

Have you connected with us online? Come chat with us on Facebook (/madchatterspodcast), Instagram (@madchatters), and Twitter (@MadChatters). Or, send your emails to comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

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114: Fantasy Draft – Attraction Wait Times

If on any given Saturday you had to guess which attractions would have the longest wait times, which rides or meet-and-greets would you list? That’s our challenge this week as we each “draft” ten picks and create our teams of attractions, hoping to have the highest combined wait time based on actual numbers this past Saturday, November 26. Play along! You just might be surprised who comes away the victor.

Also on this week’s show, Derek gives a brief review of Moana and shares about his Walt Disney World audition experience, Jeremy breaks down “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration” on ABC, and we go a few rounds of 11-Second Rants. All that and more awaits you on our latest episode!

To connect with us, find us on Instagram (@madchatters), Twitter (@MadChatters), and Facebook (/madchatterspodcast). Send your emails to comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

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111: Top 5 Immersive Environments at WDW + A Chat With Voctave’s Jamey Ray

“It’s the spirit of the season. Can you feel it in the air?” Or rather, can you HEAR it? If you’re the kind of person who cranks up the Christmas tunes as soon as November rolls around, have we got a treat for you! On this week’s episode we sit down with Jamey Ray, musical arranger of the a cappella group Voctave, to chat about the group’s new Christmas album “Spirit of the Season,” their collaborations with Kirstin Maldonado and Jody McBrayer, and more. Plus, Jamey takes us inside the American Pavilion at Epcot for a closer look at Voices of Liberty and what it’s like performing at Walt Disney World.

In another Mad Chatter Top 5, we count down our favorite themed, immersive environments at Walt Disney World. Tune in now to see if your favorite spots and lands made our lists!

We’d love for you to connect with us online. Come find us on Instagram (@madchatters), Twitter (@MadChatters), and Facebook (@madchatterspodcast). Or you can email us at comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

Be sure to check out Voctave’s website, their YouTube channel, and their Christmas album, out now!

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93: Overlay or Over-nay? – Evaluating Disney’s Shoehorning Strategy

What used to be Maelstrom is now Frozen Ever After. The original show Rivers of Light has been put on hold, and a “Jungle Book” show has debuted in its place. Now, rumors are flying that attractions like Mission: SPACE and Tower of Terror will be given “Guardians of the Galaxy” overlays. Is the age of original attractions over?

On this week’s show, we dive in to the topic of Disney overlays and share our thoughts on this latest trend. Then, with our tongues firmly in our cheeks, we each give five ideas for how to either improve or ruin current Walt Disney World attractions by overlaying them with Disney films and characters.

In the segment “Munchies and Merch,” we discuss the food items and merchandise at the parks that have our attention. Plus, we play “Take 5,” a game in which we use just five words to express our feelings on categories such as the weather in July and what the Maelstrom trolls are up to now. A bit of fun and a whole bunch of silliness await on episode 93 of The Mad Chatters Podcast!

Have you reviewed us on iTunes? If not, we’d love if you would rate us and let others know about our show. It’s an easy way you can help out. We also want you to connect with us online! Find us on Instagram (@madchatters), Twitter (@MadChatters), and Facebook (@madchatterspodcast). Or you can email us at comments@madchatters.net.

Thanks for listening!

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92: What’s New at WDW or (Soarin’ Around the Galactic Frozen Friendship Spectacular)

Stage shows, nighttime spectaculars, dark rides, restaurants… All sorts of new experiences have just debuted at Walt Disney World, and on this week’s show we break it all down. Derek and guest Aaron Wallace (@aaronspod | aaronwallaceonline.com) were on the scene to see attractions like Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire, Soarin’ Around the World, and Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular premiere, and they report on what opening day was like and what they thought of these new experiences. Other new offerings such as D-Luxe Burger, Amorette’s Patisserie, and Animal Kingdom after dark also take the spotlight.

In a round of Armchair Imagineering, we present our ideas for summer-long events at Walt Disney World. Plus, Matt and Derek review lunch at Via Napoli in the segment “Eating Around the World.” Come for the reviews, stay for Jeremy’s Christoph Waltz impression. Episode 92 is online now!

If you want to connect with us online, check out our Twitter (@MadChatters), Facebook (/madchatterspodcast), and Instagram pages (@madchatters). Send emails to comments@madchatters.net. We appreciate those iTunes reviews, so keep them coming if you don’t mind taking a minute or so. Thanks for listening!

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89: Quick-Service Restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

It’s time to go menu diving once again in our continuing series on the quick-service restaurants at Walt Disney World. This time our search takes us to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where we discuss the casual offerings at places like Harambe Market, Flame Tree Barbecue, and Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe. We list every menu item and give our tips for what to try and what to pass up.

In the segment “Behind the Magic,” we turn our attention to Adventureland to discuss its backstory, theme, and details. Plus, we set our sights on the future and predict what WDW will be like “In the Year 2071.” All that and more awaits you on episode 89 of The Mad Chatters Podcast!

Have you reviewed us on iTunes? If not, we’d love if you would rate us and let others know about our show. It’s an easy way you can help out. We also want you to connect with us online! Find us on Instagram (@madchatters), Twitter (@MadChatters), and Facebook (@madchatterspodcast). Or you can email us at comments@madchatters.net.

Thanks for listening!

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