199: The Magic of Audio-Animatronics: From the Dancing Man to the Shaman

July 25, 2018dereklew

Audio-animatronics have been a staple of Disney parks for over five decades. But what many guests might not realize is that “Audio-Animatronics” is a registered trademark because Walt Disney and his team of Imagineers were actually responsible for inventing the technology! On this week’s show we trace the history of audio-animatronics, stopping along the way to discuss some of the biggest milestones and our personal favorite audio-animatronics, including Abraham Lincoln, the Tiki Room birds, Hopper, and much more.

Also on this week’s episode, Jeremy and Matt discuss their recent adventures in Walt Disney World and share their thoughts on the World of Disney’s new look, Toy Story Land, and more. Plus, we play another round of Take 5 by sharing our thoughts on various Disney topics using only five words. Tune in now!

Are you on social media? 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!

197: A Star Is Born – 11 Times Alan Menken Made Disney Magic

July 11, 2018dereklew

Back in 1989, composer Alan Menken made his Disney debut with the majestic score and the memorable songs featured in The Little Mermaid. The film not only launched the famous Disney Renaissance of the 1990s, but it also marked the start of a beautiful partnership between Disney and Menken, who ended up creating music for classics such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Hercules, and more.

On this week’s show we take a closer look at 11 Disney projects for which Menken provided the music, and we share our picks for the most essential Menken tunes.

Also on this week’s episode, we highlight the good, bad, and ugly interiors of quick service restaurants at Walt Disney World. Check it out on show 197!

196: News, Rumors, and Coming Attractions

July 4, 2018dereklew

Now that 2018 is halfway over, we want to take a step back and look at where the Disney parks are and where they are headed. In this week’s show, we discuss some of the latest new offerings at Disney parks, including Toy Story Land and Pixar Pier, and we dive in to the latest news and rumors regarding upcoming attractions.

In honor of America’s Independence Day, we go “Behind the Magic” of one of the best patriotic attractions at Walt Disney World: The American Adventure in Epcot. Plus, we address a few questions from listeners concerning our favorite Disney sources and our recommendations for what to do at WDW when you’re flying solo. It’s all happening now on show 196!

195: Mad Q Party

June 27, 2018dereklew

Our favorite Disney questionnaire is BACK! For this week’s Mad Q Party, friend of the show Jonathan Harvill joins the discussion as we answer ten questions related to all things Disney. Some of this week’s questions include:

What’s a panel you’d like to see take place at next year’s D23 Expo?
Name something from a Disney movie that you wish were real so you could own it or use it.

And more!

Also on episode 195, Jeremy and Jonathan go head to head in the game “The Common Dis-nominator,” in which they must figure out what a list of clues have in common. Plus, we get a bit silly with the hashtag #BoringDisneyAttractions. Come join the madness!

Be sure to find Jonathan online (@jonathanharvill) and let him know how much you enjoyed hearing him on the show!

We’d love for you to connect with us too! Find us on Facebook (/madchatterspodcast), Instagram (@madchatters), and Twitter (@MadChatters). Or, send your emails to comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

194: Disney Game Night!

June 20, 2018dereklew

Disney Game Night is back! And this time it’s bigger than ever. On episode 194, a slew of special guests and friends of the podcast join us to play some of our favorite game shows with a Disney twist, including Family Feud, Match Game, and more! Play along as we test our knowledge of Disney trivia and compete our way through one Disney game after another.

A HUGE thank you to our guests for coming out to play on this week’s show! Be sure to find them all online and let them know how much you enjoyed hearing them on The Mad Chatters Podcast:

Jeff Birou: @jeffsoubirous on Twitter and on Instagram

Jeff DePaoli: @JeffDePaoli on Twitter | Host of Dizney Coast to Coast (@DizneyCTC on Twitter and Instagram)

Teri Deel: @terideel on Twitter

Courtney Guth: @Courtney_Guth on Twitter | Host of Book of the Mouse Club (@BookOfTheMouse on Twitter)

Matt Parrish: @Thirty20Eight on Twitter | Host of The 3028

Guy Selga: @GuySelga on Twitter | Writer for The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland and contributor for TouringPlans

Aaron Wallace: @aaronwallace on Twitter | Host of Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Pod | Find his books at aaronwallaceonline.com.

Mark Willard: @MarkWillard85 on Twitter | @markwillardphotography on Instagram

193: Mulan, 20 Years Later – An Interview With Directors Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook

June 13, 2018dereklew

Can you believe it’s been 20 years since Mulan was first released in theaters? To celebrate this milestone, we’ve asked the film’s directors, Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, to take us behind the scenes of the making of the film and talk to us about the legacy the movie has built over the last two decades. Tune in to hear Tony and Barry share stories of working at the animation studio that used to be part of Disney-MGM Studios, and get an inside scoop on the film’s hidden Easter eggs, how the final film differed slightly from their original vision, and more!

Also on this week’s show, we give our take on Solo: A Star Wars Story and the latest trailer for Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet. Plus, we play another wacky round of Mad Chatter Jeopardy. Tune in now!

If you want to follow along with Tony and Barry’s other projects, you can find Tony on Twitter (pumbaaguy1) and Instagram (@pumbaaguy). And be sure to check out Barry’s new short film, Blinker: https://youtu.be/VVf9GHIBNjs

192: The Walt Disney World That Never Was – 12 Projects Disney Abandoned

June 6, 2018dereklew

Oh, what could have been! This week we dig through Imagineering history to discover more details about 12 projects that were discussed for Walt Disney World but ultimately were never built. We mourn the loss of Beastly Kingdom, chat about what a thrill Western River Expedition would have been, and look more closely at the other fascinating concepts Disney abandoned.

In another edition of The Windows of Main Street, U.S.A., we highlight the life and achievements of Frank Wells, former COO of The Walt Disney Company. Plus, we create another Mad Chatter Playlist featuring our favorite film scores and instrumentals. Come join the madness!

191: Quick-Service Dining at Disney Springs

May 30, 2018dereklew

In this week’s culinary tour of Walt Disney World we turn our attention to the counter service restaurants in Disney Springs. We browse the menus at places like The Daily Poutine and Earl of Sandwich, and we share our own thoughts on the offerings at D-Luxe Burger, Cookes of Dublin, and much more!

In another round of “Where in WDW Am I?” we are given 20 questions to help us find where our fellow chatters are “hiding” in Walt Disney World. Plus, we discuss the cast member positions we’d most like to have for a day. Come join the discussion!

190: 47 Years of Magic Kingdom Fireworks

May 23, 2018dereklew

The most magical day at a Disney park deserves the most magical finale, and we can’t think of a better conclusion than a Disney fireworks spectacular. This week we look back at the numerous fireworks shows that have been part of the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, from Fantasy in the Sky, to Happily Ever After, to some of the limited-time shows that have graced the skies over Cinderella Castle. Join us for this blast of a retrospective!

In another Mad Chatter game, we try to guess the attraction based on its official description on the Disney website. Plus, we introduce the hashtag #DisneyBands and have some fun creating our own ridiculous bands with a Disney twist. Come join the fun!

189: Fun Facts and Easter Eggs at Walt Disney World

May 16, 2018dereklew

“Did you know?” Those three words, when overheard at Walt Disney World, always pull us in. We either want to learn something new, or we want to be able to debunk whatever kind of nonsense we’re about to hear. While many Disney fans have heard just about every “fun fact” there is to know about the Vacation Kingdom of the World, some facts and hidden Easter eggs really are “fun,” especially when you discover them for the first time. For this week’s show, we’ve each compiled a list of our favorite facts and tidbits we’ve heard over the years about Walt Disney World, including details to look for, backstories of attractions, and much more.

In the segment “Behind the Magic,” we put the spotlight on the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. Plus, Derek reviews his dinner at Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante in Disney Springs, we discuss some tough losses for WDW fans, and much more. Tune in!

The Mad Chatters

Your very important date with the happenings at Walt Disney World and around the Disney universe

Menu

Widgets

Search

Disney Podcast