263: Disney Game Night V

September 28, 2021dereklew

Sixteen players… Six Disney games… Immeasurable fun… Our fifth GAME NIGHT episode is here! Grab a snack, put on your thinking hat, and play along as Jeremy, Derek, and a ton of special guests compete in Disney-themed games like Password, Match Game, “Which Disney Character Said It?”, Before & After, and more!

Our “Game Night” episodes would not be possible without our INCREDIBLE guests. Here is where you can find each of them online. Go check out the awesome projects they are part of and let them know you enjoyed hearing them on the show!

Jonathan Harvill: Twitter: @jonathanharvill | Letterboxd: @jonathanharvill

David Alpert: Podcast: E-Ticket to Broadway | Twitter: @directfromdavid

Courtney Guth: Podcast: Book of the Mouse Club | Twitter: @Courtney_Guth | Instagram: @greatguthsby

Emily McDermott: Podcast: Book of the Mouse Club | Instagram: @emily_mickde | Twitter: @emily_mickde

J.T. Landry: Podcast: The Disney Buzz | Instagram: @jtishere

Melanie McBurney: Podcast: The Disney Buzz | Instagram: @mrs.melanie23 | @disbuzz

Aaron Wallace: Website: aaronwallaceonline.com | Latest Book: The Thinking Fan’s Guide to Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom 2020 | Twitter: @aaronwallace | Instagram: @aaronhwallace

Reuben Gutierrez: LEGO Instagram: @wibblywobblylegowego | Amorette’s Patisserie chef

Blake Taylor: Disney Podcast: Park People | Disney Instagram: @parkpeoplepod | Twitter: @blake_242

Teri Deel: Twitter: @terideel

Jeff DePaoli: Podcast: Dizney Coast to Coast | Online Podcasting Course: YouCanPodcastNow.net | Twitter: @JeffDePaoli (personal) @DizneyCTC (podcast) | Instagram: @disneyctc

Marshal Knight: Instagram: @marshalknight | Twitter: @Marshal_Knight | Podcast/Blog: Um, Sure?

Guy Selga: Book: Unofficial Guide to Disneyland | Twitter: @guyselga

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!

262: 5 Things We Love at Universal Studios That You Can’t Get at Walt Disney World

September 6, 2021dereklew

Halloween Horror Nights, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar — Some of Orlando’s best theme park offerings are actually found outside the boundaries of Walt Disney World and instead are part of Universal Orlando Resort. On this week’s show, we discuss some of our favorite attractions, restaurants, procedures, and other elements of Universal Studios that don’t have an equivalent at a Disney park. Should Disney bring these ideas to its parks? If so, how could Disney take these ideas and make them better? These are just some of the questions we try to answer on this episode (56:38).

In our continuing Countdown to the 50th, we highlight the Orange Bird, a beloved character who was part of Magic Kingdom on opening day, disappeared for a few decades, and then made a grand return, bringing endless opportunities for merchandise with him (01:04). Plus, in a round of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly we talk about the best and worst spots in Walt Disney World to visit after dark (24:15). Come join the fun!

Be sure to find our guest Jonathan Harvill on Twitter and on Letterboxd: @jonathanharvill

261: The Future of Disney Vacations

August 25, 2021dereklew

Will Walt Disney World ever see a nighttime parade again? Will Disney Genie+ be embraced by guests as a worthy replacement for FastPass? How much longer will we have to wait for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?

On this episode we take a broader look at Walt Disney World to talk about which areas of the parks have not yet gone back to the way they were before the resort closed in 2020—and whether or not we think they ever will. Tune in as we share our thoughts on Genie+, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, the future of daytime entertainment, and more (33:01)!

As we continue to count down to the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World, we shine a spotlight on the opening-day attraction The Hall of Presidents and share a list of ten facts about the classic show (2:44). Plus, we put on our poets’ hats with another edition of MADsterpiece Theater (30:28). Come join the fun!

260: Dreaming Up Future World Showcase Pavilions by Studying Disney’s Past

May 12, 2021dereklew

In Epcot’s nearly 40 years of existence, there have been countless rumors and speculations about additional nations being introduced to World Showcase. But in reality, we haven’t seen a new country join the loop since Norway was completed in 1988.

Enter the Mad Chatters. On this week’s episode, guest Courtney Guth helps us dig through The Walt Disney Company’s rich past and its deep ties to other nations of the world as we search for candidates for the next World Showcase pavilion. In the end, we present a list of more than ten nations to which Disney already has a connection, whether that’s because Walt himself visited and fell in love with the country, or it’s because more than one Disney film is set in the country, or it’s because that nation was already conceived as an Epcot pavilion before Imagineers scrapped the idea. Tune in to hear us make a case for each of these countries and present our own ideas for what the pavilion could look like and what rides and/or restaurants could go there.

In another edition of Armchair Imagineering, we shine a spotlight on The Muppets and present our own ideas for who should play Jim Henson in the upcoming biopic, as well as what Disney theme park attraction The Muppets should parody next, after this fall’s highly anticipated special “Muppets Haunted Mansion.”

Plus, we bring back the segment “The Windows of Main Street, U.S.A.” in order to showcase the career of Chuck Boyajian, the very first Manager of Custodial Operations at Disneyland.

Be sure to find Courtney online and let her know you enjoyed hearing her on the show!

Podcast: Book of the Mouse Club | Twitter: @Courtney_Guth | Instagram: @greatguthsby

259: Objects in Disney Movies That We Wish Were Real

April 13, 2021dereklew

If you’ve ever wanted a bottomless carpetbag like Mary Poppins or dreamed of rubbing a magic lamp and having three wishes of your own, have we got the episode for you! Tune in as guest Jeff DePaoli helps us list fantastical objects, magical places, and just plain practical items from Disney movies that we wish existed in real life.

Also in this episode, we play a virtual game of hide and seek with a round of “Where in Walt Disney World Am I?” Plus, in our continuing countdown to WDW’s 50th anniversary, we shine a spotlight on the Electrical Water Pageant, an underrated but always delightful hidden gem.

Be sure to find Jeff online and follow his Disney projects:

Podcast: Dizney Coast to Coast | Attractions Magazine Column: DePaoli on DeParks | Twitter: @JeffDePaoli (personal) @DizneyCTC (podcast) | Instagram: @disneyctc

258: Sitcoms at the Disney Parks – Part 2

March 28, 2021dereklew

The show must go on, as they say. And that is why we are BACK this week to close out our two-part series on the ABC sitcoms that filmed episodes at the Disney Parks. This week we kick things off with the 1998 episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch that coincided with the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and we make our way all the way to 2019, when The Goldbergs spoofed National Lampoon’s Vacation with an episode that followed the family on their cross-country trip to Disneyland in the late 80s. Join us as we talk about the best hidden gems, the most magical moments, and the most laughable, that-would-never-happen goofs from shows like Modern Family, Black-ish, and more!

Also on this episode, guest Blake Taylor joins us for the game “Before and After,” in which he and Jeremy compete to see who can guess the Disney-related mashup first. Plus, as part of our continuing countdown to Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary, we play a round of “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” in which we share our picks for the best and worst elements of Magic Kingdom on its opening day. It’s all happening now on The Mad Chatters Podcast. Tune in!

Be sure to find Blake online and follow his Disney projects!

Disney Podcast: Park People | Disney Instagram: @parkpeoplepod | Twitter: @blake_242

257: 90s Sitcoms at the Disney Parks

March 16, 2021dereklew

Has there ever been a more magical example of corporate synergy than when our favorite ABC sitcoms filmed episodes at the Disney Parks? On this week’s episode we travel back to the 90s—before DVR and streaming were part of everyone’s vocabulary—and we talk about six episodes of classic 90s sitcoms that take place in Disneyland or Walt Disney World. Join us and our guest Teri Deel as we catch up with Cory and Topanga at The Living Seas, check out Steve Urkel’s latest gadget at Innoventions, watch Danny Tanner get spit on during Aladdin’s Royal Caravan, and much more (0:31:48)!

In this week’s edition of our Countdown to the 50th, we showcase Liberty Square, a land that is unique to Magic Kingdom and that opened just five years before America’s Bicentennial (0:01:50). Plus, we show off our poetry skills in the new segment Madsterpiece Theater (0:29:00)!

If you would like to find and stream the six television episodes we discuss on this show, here is a handy list:

Blossom
“The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men”
Season 3, Episode 19

Full House
“The House Meets the Mouse”
Season 6, Episodes 23-24

Family Matters
“We’re Going to Disney World”
Season 6, Episodes 22-23

Roseanne
“We’re Going to Disney World”/”Disney World War II”
Season 8, Episodes 17-18

Step by Step
“We’re Going to Disney World”: Parts 1 & 2
Season 5, Episodes 22-23

Boy Meets World
“The Happiest Show on Earth”
Season 3, Episode 21

256: It’s Time for an Upgrade – 10 WDW Experiences We’d Love to See Updated or Enhanced

March 2, 2021dereklew

In light of the recent news that Jungle Cruise is about to be enhanced, we thought we’d take this opportunity to highlight other attractions and experiences at Walt Disney World that we think could use some TLC. From stale rides to dated resorts to embarrassing uses of technology, we each talk about ten areas we’d most love to see get updates and enhancements (1:02:33).

In this week’s Countdown to the 50th, we share ten facts about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, one of three resort hotels that opened with Magic Kingdom in 1971 (0:00:50). Plus, we test our Muppets and Disney Channel knowledge in a new game (0:30:10), AND we bring back the segment Mad Chatter Jeopardy, in which we respond to dumb answers by providing even dumber questions (0:57:18). Come join the fun!

255: The Music of Disney’s Hollywood Studios

February 14, 2021dereklew

Join us for a musical tour of the Hollywood that never was and always will be: Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Years ago, we launched a series in which we discussed the background music and the original songs that play in each Walt Disney World park. At the time, Disney’s Hollywood Studios was mostly a construction zone, but now that the park has completed its glow-up, we figured it was high time we close out that series and talk about the background loops and original songs in areas like Sunset Boulevard, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and more!

If you missed our other “The Music of…” episodes, you can find them here:

Show 103: The Music of Magic Kingdom

Show 128: The Music of Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Show 166: The Music of Epcot

Also on this week’s show, Jonathan Harvill joins us for a round of Disney Hashtags, in which we access our most juvenile, immature inner selves with the hashtag #MiddleSchoolDisney. Plus, in our Countdown to the 50th, we highlight the WDW opening-day attraction Country Bear Jamboree.

Be sure to find Jonathan online and let him know you enjoyed hearing him on the show! Twitter: @jonathanharvill

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

February 1, 2021dereklew

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.

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