243: 10 Muppetational Moments at Walt Disney World + A Chat With ‘Jim Henson’ Biographer Brian Jay Jones

May 13, 2020dereklew

It’s time to play the music, light the lights, and raise the curtain on our most celebrational, Muppetational episode ever! Join us and guest Jeff DePaoli as we look back at ten big moments the Muppets have had at Walt Disney World, from extinct attractions to long-lived shows to restaurants and more. And here’s a special bonus: This episode is one half of the very first Mad Chatters/Dizney Coast to Coast crossover event! Currently on Jeff’s podcast you can hear Jeff and Jeremy discuss in depth the TV special “The Muppets at Walt Disney World,” which aired on NBC on May 6, 1990, and which kicks off our list of 10 Muppetational Moments.

The Muppet fun doesn’t stop there. Also joining us on this week’s show is biographer Brian Jay Jones, who shares highlights from his book “Jim Henson: The Biography” and talks to us about what it was like researching Jim’s life, reading his journals, and speaking to his family and friends. As we honor the 30th anniversary of Jim’s passing and celebrate the 65th birthday of Kermit the Frog, come soak in all the Muppety goodness now!

Brian Jay Jones Interview: 16:45

10 Muppetational Moments at WDW: 58:52

Be sure to find Jeff and Brian online and follow their projects:

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

Brian Jay Jones: Twitter: @brianjayjones | Website: brianjayjones.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!

238: Chatting Runaway Railway With Composer Chris Willis + A ‘Rise of the Resistance’ Deep Dive

February 18, 2020dereklew

We’re back! And so is composer Christopher Willis, who created the soundtrack and the original song for the upcoming attraction Mickey and Minnie‘s Runaway Railway. Now that the ride is just weeks away from opening, we checked back in with Chris to hear more about the Imagineering process, the new Mickey cartoon coming to the Mickey Shorts Theater in Hollywood Studios, and more!

Also on this episode, guest Teri Deel helps us break down Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance with a spoiler-filled review of the groundbreaking attraction. We nerd out about the amazing details, our favorite moments, and more. Plus, we talk about the three new films at Epcot and we compete in a Mad Chatter game by trying to guess what a number of Disney items have in common. Come join the fun NOW!

237: 2020 Coming Attractions – What’s Ahead for Disney

January 17, 2020dereklew

On our first show of the new decade, we look ahead to what The Walt Disney Company has in store for 2020. From upcoming films like Mulan, Black Widow, and Onward, to exciting attractions and experiences debuting at the parks such as Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Regal Eagle Smokehouse, to the original content premiering on Disney+, we do a deep dive into the many exciting things coming from Disney in the coming year. Plus, we share our spoiler-filled thoughts on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

235: Disney and the 2010s – From A to Z

December 18, 2019dereklew

Blockbuster franchises, immersive theme park expansions, revolutionary nighttime spectaculars, an all-access magic bracelet — the 2010s gave us all of these and more. On this week’s episode, special guest Courtney Guth helps us look back at the biggest moments, themes, and cultural shifts that defined The Walt Disney Company over the past ten years. As we close out another decade, join us for this nostalgic journey through the most iconic news items of the 2010s!

In another edition of The Disney Fix, we chat about Bob Iger’s new book, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and a noteworthy souvenir from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Plus, we have some festive fun with the hashtag #DisneyChristmasMashups. Tune in today!

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

217: Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 30 Years, 30 Properties

March 20, 2019dereklew

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is turning 30! And if the new logo and the new parking signs are any indication, then characters from Frozen, Toy Story, and Star Wars are to be the official faces of the park, moving forward. But these are just the latest franchises to join the park’s deep well of past properties and characters, and on this week’s show we’re looking back at all of them! Join us and special guest Marshal Knight for a deep dive into 30 properties that have had a presence at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since the park first opened. Think of it as a DHS yearbook…

In another Mad Chatter game, we test our knowledge of which celebrities have handprints in front of the Chinese Theater, and which do not. Plus, Jeremy shares about a park scavenger hunt he hosted, and we discuss the latest Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge news.

Be sure to find Marshal on Twitter (@Marshal_Knight) and Instagram (@marshalknight) and let him know you enjoyed hearing him on the show!

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

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!

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!

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!

The Mad Chatters

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

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