Characters

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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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117: Christmas Mad Q Party

Haul out the holly, put up the tree, and pop the bubbly (or rather, the eggnog) because it’s time for another Mad Q Party, and this week it’s all about the Christmas season! Our friends Jon and Lindsey join us on our latest show to help us answer ten hypothetical questions related to The Walt Disney Company. This week’s topics include the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Trail, a retelling of the Nativity story starring Disney characters, a new WDW treat for Christmastime, and much more.

In the latest Disney news, we chat Rogue One, the newly announced DuckTales voice cast, and the introduction of alcohol to more Magic Kingdom restaurants. Plus, we have some fun with the hashtag #DisneyfyAChristmasSong. Come join the festivities!

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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112: Games! Games! Games!

It’s not all fun and games on The Mad Chatters Podcast…

Except when it is!

This week we’ve invited former guests of the show to put on their thinking caps, bring out their best game faces, and join us for an episode filled with nothing but games. Our Mad Chatter Game Night includes Disneyfied versions of Password, Outburst, $100,000 Pyramid, and Match Game, as well as a challenging round of “Also a Disney Character,” in which we guess the Disney character based on the definition of his or her name. Here’s the best part: You can play along! Come join the fun now!

Thanks to guests Aaron Wallace, Jeff DePaoli, Ben Lancaster, Mark Willard, Brittany Maddox, and Teri Deel for helping us make this episode possible. If you’re not already following these awesome individuals online, what are you waiting for?

Aaron Wallace

Jeff DePaoli

Mark Willard

Ben Lancaster

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

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101: August Trip Report

Fresh off another trip to Walt Disney World, Derek and Matt share about new experiences like Frontera Cocina, an updated Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Preshow, changes in Tomorrowland, and lots more.

Speaking of Tomorrowland, in this week’s round of “Behind the Magic,” we dig deeper into the land in Magic Kingdom that depicts “The Tomorrow That Never Was,” focusing on attractions like Stitch’s Great Escape and Space Mountain and on the smaller details as well. Plus, we play “Where in WDW Am I?” Come join us on episode 101 now!

Thanks so much for listening to our little podcast, whether you’ve been tuning in since the beginning or you’re brand new to the show. 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.

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87: Top 5 Original Disney Park Characters

We wants the redhead! From lovable audio-animatronics to quirky on-screen personalities to the unseen voices that fill our ears, this week we count down our favorite characters that are original to the Disney parks.

Plus, as promised, Jeremy shares the five films you need to watch during Disney Channel’s epic marathon of their 51 most popular original films from days gone by. As a bonus, we’ve brought on special guest David to share his five picks as well. Then, David joins us for a Mad Chatter game, in which we determine whether or not specific celebrities ever lent their voices to animated Disney characters. The fun awaits on another episode of The Mad Chatters Podcast!

Come connect with us online! Twitter: @MadChatters | Facebook: madchatterspodcast | Instagram: @madchatters | Email: comments@madchatters.net

Thanks for listening!

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82: By Land, Sea, or Skyway: Transportation at WDW

Buses, railroads, boats, ferries, monorails… When you want to get from one place to another, Walt Disney World has you covered. This week we discuss the many wonderful forms of transportation the Vacation Kingdom of the World has to offer. We list the pros and cons of each one and share our personal tips for when to take each form of travel.

In current news, we chat about the results of the first “Disney After Hours” event, the new Mickey and Minnie meet-and-greet characters, new food kiosks in Disney Springs, and more. It’s also time for another Resort Roundup, and this time we set our sights on Pop Century Resort. Plus, we share personal stories from the parks that made us ask, “Did that just happen?” Join the conversation now!

If you want to connect with us, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@MadChatters) and Facebook (/madchatterspodcast) or send your emails to comments@madchatters.net. Look for Matt and Derek on Periscope (@MadChatters) this Friday evening (April 22) as they broadcast live from Skipper Canteen. Thanks for listening!

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61: Fantasy Thanksgiving Draft

If you could invite characters from the Disney films and from Walt Disney World to join you for Thanksgiving dinner, who would you want around the table? On this week’s episode, we “draft” our picks for the perfect Thanksgiving dinner companions.

In the new segment “Armchair Imagineering,” we create Thanksgiving experiences for the Disney parks. Plus, Jeremy reports on his recent trip to Animal Kingdom, including the tastes of Harambe Market and an update on Pandora’s construction. Come gather around the table and feast on another new episode of The Mad Chatters Podcast!

Have you connected with us online? Follow us on Twitter (@MadChatters) and Facebook (/madchatterspodcast). Send your comments and feedback (or just say hi) to comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

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25: The Five Best Foods I Ate on Disney Property

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We recommend that you eat before listening to this episode of The Mad Chatters Podcast, or at least have a snack on hand. This week we each list five food items from the Disney parks that lingered in our minds and on our hearts long after we finished them. From savory entrées to sweet treats, we talk about the foods we can’t wait to eat again.

In another round of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, we discuss the best and worst character costumes at the parks. Plus, we pen a few Love Letters to Disney and chat about current events going on in the world of Disney. (Hint: More Olaf!)

For more of The Mad Chatters, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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Face-Character Interaction: Overcoming the Awkwardness

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One of the best things about the Disney parks is that they make you feel like a kid again . . . for all the right reasons.

Not only do you oblige when an unidentified adult dressed as a duck tells you to cross your arms, stand back-to-back with him or her, and pose for a picture, but you actually enjoy it! You cheese for the camera, give Donald a grin and a handshake, and walk away admiring the memory now saved on your iPhone.

Meeting Princess Aurora inside Disneyland's main gate

Meeting Princess Aurora inside Disneyland’s main gate

But what about the face characters? How do you respond when a cute girl your age calls you a prince and asks what your favorite roller coaster is? How do you politely explain to a talkative guy sporting Thor’s helmet that Nashville is a city in a country called America when all you really want to do is take a picture and get the heck out of Asgard?

Matching muscles with Captain America

Matching muscles with Captain America

My advice? Embrace it! Enjoy yourself! Let your imagination take over for a few seconds and convince the child version of yourself that you’re actually meeting Aladdin/Gaston/Tiana/fill in the blank.

Tough guys

Tough guys

Also, have fun with them. Joke with them. See how deep into character they’ll go. You might be surprised at how enthusiastic they are about their job and how skilled they are at it. When we begrudgingly met Prince Caspian, Jeremy asked if he could borrow the prince’s sword. Caspian’s response: Are you trained in weaponry?

Posing like warriors with Mulan and our friend David

Posing like warriors with Mulan and our friend David

The Disney parks are meant to be immersive. If you want to be swept away by the magic like you’re intended to be, don’t be shy. Dive in head first and experience the parks like they are meant to be experienced, even if it means having to shake hands with a fake prince or nod and smile when a princess asks if you’re just “visiting” her kingdom.

Are you a fan of face characters, or do you shy away from them? Who’s your favorite face character to meet? What’s the best interaction you’ve had with one? Tell us in the comments!

(Editorial note: In the 20-odd years Matt has been visiting the parks, clearly the magic of face characters has worn off. I have zero pictures with him and a face character. It is hereby my goal to change that.)

– Mad Chatter Derek

Stepping in time with Mary Poppins and Bert in Disneyland

Stepping in time with Mary Poppins and Bert in Disneyland