Disney California Adventure

254: 20 Years of Disney California Adventure – 10 Ways It Changed the Game for Theme Parks

On February 8, 2001, Disney’s California Adventure opened to the public as Disneyland Resort’s long-awaited second gate . . . and fell flat. However, after some initial misfires and long-lasting growing pains, the park was able to turn things around and bring us some truly original and inspired experiences. This week, on the park’s 20th anniversary, guest Guy Selga helps us count down ten ways in which Disney California Adventure changed the game for Disney theme parks. Join us as we look at ten attractions and experiences we might not have if DCA had not done them first.

Also on this week’s show, we create a Mad Chatters Playlist full of Disney songs not currently at the parks that we think would fit well in a certain area of Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Plus, we continue our Countdown to the 50th by looking at another item Walt Disney World introduced to the world when it opened in 1971, and this week we are highlighting the Transportation and Ticket Center, sharing ten facts about this parking lot that is so much more than a parking lot.

Be sure to find Guy on Twitter (@guyselga) and let him know you enjoyed hearing him on the show! Also, check out The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland for your Disneyland travel needs.

If you want to interact with us online, we’d love for you to connect 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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249: Encore! A Tour of Stage Shows Past and Present at the Disney Parks

On this week’s episode we are joined by David Alpert, host of E-Ticket to Broadway, as we take a closer look at seven live musical productions that have at one time or another graced a stage at a Disney theme park. Join us for this virtual tour of seven different live venues in Disneyland and Walt Disney World and the musical productions that once performed (or still perform) there. For this episode we have chosen one show from each theater to highlight, review, share our memories of, marvel at, and, in some cases, laugh at. The seven featured shows include:

  1. Dick Tracy Starring in Diamond Double-Cross
  2. Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage
  3. The Hunchback of Notre Dame: A Musical Adventure
  4. Animazement – A Musical
  5. Tarzan Rocks
  6. Storytelling at Royal Theatre: Tangled
  7. Frozen – Live at the Hyperion

In keeping with the theme of musical theater, we also host a miniature Broadway-themed Mad Q Party, in which we talk about the Broadway shows we’d like to see Disney bring to the big screen, the entertainment roles we’d like to have in the parks, and more. Plus, we bring back our Disney Hashtags segment with the hashtag #BroadwayButMakeItDisney. Come join the fun now!

Be sure to check out David’s podcast E-Ticket to Broadway, on which he interviews Broadway stars about their love of the Disney theme parks. You also can find him on Instagram or on his website, where you can let him know how much you enjoyed hearing him on The Mad Chatters!

If you want to interact with us online, we’d love for you to connect 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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Bonus Episode: Let’s Play “How May I Yelp? – Disneyland Edition”

We’re back with another BONUS Mad Chatter game! On this episode, we bring back one of our favorite quizzes called “How May I Yelp?” in which players must guess the Disney attraction or restaurant that is being described in various one-star Yelp reviews. For this special Disneyland edition, we’re joined by guests Jeff, Dave, Kristen, and Julia from the Mousetalgia and the Mousetalgia Minute podcasts. Come play along!

Be sure to find our guests online and follow their Disney projects!

iTunes: Mousetalgia and Mousetalgia Minute

Website: mousetalgia.com

If you want to interact with us online, we’d love for you to connect 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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221: On the Scene! Reports From Disneyland and Moonlight Magic at Epcot

This week guest Aaron Wallace joins the show to help us break down some of the Disney-Parks fun we’ve been able to experience over the last two weeks. First, he and Jeremy discuss the after-hours event Moonlight Magic, which they had the chance to attend at Epcot. Then, he and Derek report on the new attractions they experienced and the big changes they noted during their weeklong trip to Disneyland, including Galaxy’s Edge construction, Pixar Pier, a new space for Mickey’s PhilharMagic, and much more.

Also on show 221, we discuss some of the biggest news that has come from the Disney universe recently, including a new Disney Villains After Hours event, new fireworks for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary, and more. Plus, we test our knowledge of Disney villains in a new game. Come play along now!

Be sure to find Aaron on Twitter (@aaronwallace) and Instagram (@awallnotawol) and let him know you enjoyed hearing him on the show! Plus, check out his website to find out where you can get his awesome books about Walt Disney World and more.

If you want to interact with us online, we’d love for you to connect 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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203: 5 Aspects of Disney Parks Worldwide We’d Bring to Walt Disney World

This week we’re going global! On our latest episode we take a closer look at the eight Disney parks outside Florida, and we each highlight five aspects of those parks that we think could be incorporated well at Walt Disney World. Joining the discussion is guest Jeff Birou, who has had the privilege of visiting all 12 Disney parks worldwide and is able to give us the scoop on what the international parks do best.

Also on this week’s show, we showcase the career and incredible achievements of Disney Legend Mary Blair. Plus, we share our picks for the good, bad, and ugly water features in WDW, and we play our favorite game of hide and seek: Where in WDW Am I? Come play along on episode 203!

If you‘re not already following Jeff online, go let him know how much you enjoyed hearing him on the show! You can find him on Twitter and Instagram: @jeffsoubirous.

If you want to interact with us online, we’d love for you to connect 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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97: Touring Walt Disney World Solo

Party of one? No problem! On this week’s show, we break down the pros and cons of touring the Disney parks on your own. Being the frequent solo travelers we are, we also provide tips for how to get past the awkwardness, use your time wisely, and make the most of your one-man or one-woman vacation.

In this week’s Resort Roundup, we turn our attention to the three All-Star Resorts. Plus, we let off some steam in 11-Second Rants and dish on the latest Disney news, including new attractions for Guardians of the Galaxy and the Muppets. All that and more awaits you on episode 97 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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94: Mad Chatter Mishmash | Trips, Tips, and Instagram

It wouldn’t be The Mad Chatters Podcast without a bit of madness, which is why this week’s show is a grab bag of Disney tips, Disney chatter, and Disney fun.

We check in with a few listeners to get the scoop on their recent trips to the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim and the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline, Missouri. Plus, we answer one California listener’s questions about her upcoming trip to Walt Disney World, providing suggestions for how and when to start planning.

In another round of Armchair Imagineering, we tackle Disney’s latest obsession with projection mapping and throw out our own ideas for where the technology could be used next. Plus, Instagram and Pokemon Go pop up in the segment “The Disney Fix.” Episode 94 awaits!

If you haven’t connected with us online, be sure to find us on Twitter and Instagram (@madchatters), Facebook (/madchatterspodcast), or via email: comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

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90: Disneyland FAQs + A Peek at “The Further Adventures of Walt’s Frozen Head”

If Walt Disney toured Magic Kingdom today, what would he say about the current state of the park? That’s the premise of the upcoming film “The Further Adventures of Walt’s Frozen Head,” in which a low-level employee stumbles upon Walt’s head in storage and is persuaded to take him around Walt Disney World. Ben Lancaster, the man behind the film, joins us to discuss what it was like shooting in Magic Kingdom without permission, what he hopes to accomplish with the piece, and how Disney fans can get involved. Plus, he joins us for a “Price is Right”-style game, in which we try to guess the costs of various Walt Disney World items and experiences.

After that, we turn our attention to Disneyland to address a few listener questions about what it’s like vacationing at Walt’s original park. Special guest Teri, who is taking a trip to Disneyland in July, presents us with her own list of questions about what to expect, whether or not a Park Hopper is worth it, where to eat, and more.

To find out more about “The Further Adventures of Walt’s Frozen Head,” follow Ben on Twitter (@WaltsFrzenHead) and check out the film’s Kickstarter site.

You can find us online too. Check out our Twitter (@MadChatters), Instagram (@madchatters), and Facebook pages (/madchatterspodcast). Send your emails to comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

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71: Countdown to Parkstinction – Disney(‘s) California Adventure: 2001

This week we once again hop in our Time Rovers and take a trip back to the past. This time our destination is 2001, when Disney California Adventure first opened to the public. Joining us for our virtual tour of one of Disney’s most scrutinized parks is Guy Selga (@GuySelga) of Touring Plans. Together we walk the streets of DCA 1.0 and discuss extinct attractions and locations like the Sun Icon, Disney’s Eureka! A California Parade, and the infamous Superstar Limo.

Hot topics on this week’s show include one family’s suit against Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s nine Oscar nominations, and a Guardian article about the “problem” with Disney princesses. Plus, we share our ideas for the hashtag #EdibleDisneySongs. Come join the puns… Or rather, come join the fun on another episode of The Mad Chatters Podcast!

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

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68: Do This, Not That (Animal Kingdom)

This week we continue our “Do This, Not That” series, in which we share our tips for what can’t be missed at Walt Disney World . . . and what can be skipped if pressed for time. In this episode, we share our tips for the must-do restaurants, experiences, and rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as the elements of the park we’d bypass if we had a choice.

In another Mad Chatter Top 10, we count down the Top 10 Signs You’re at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2016. Plus, we discuss the latest round of closings at Disneyland, and in the Mad Chatter game, “In a World,” we guess the Disney film based on its horror-fied synopsis. Come join the discussion and the fun!

For more of the Mad Chatters, connect with us on Twitter (@MadChatters) and Facebook (/madchatterspodcast). You can also send your feedback, questions, and more to comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

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