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!

241: ‘A Goofy Movie’ 25 Years Later – With Actor Jason Marsden and Director Kevin Lima

April 7, 2020dereklew

Warm up a bowl of “Hi, Dad” Soup and grab some CHEDDAR WHIZZY, because A Goofy Movie is turning 25 years old! To celebrate the anniversary of one of our favorite Disney films, we reunited actor Jason Marsden and Director Kevin Lima and asked them to share some memories from the making of the film and talk about why the movie still strikes a chord with fans young and old today. If you’re a fan of the movie, you’ll love this fun chat about how a little film about Goofy and his son became a cult classic.

In another edition of Armchair Imagineering, guest Aaron Wallace helps us come up with ideas for what The Walt Disney Company can do with A Goofy Movie today. Plus, we share our personal experiences with and memories of the film, and we play a Mad Chatter game related to numbers. Come join the fun!

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

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!

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!

111: Top 5 Immersive Environments at WDW + A Chat With Voctave’s Jamey Ray

November 9, 2016dereklew

“It’s the spirit of the season. Can you feel it in the air?” Or rather, can you HEAR it? If you’re the kind of person who cranks up the Christmas tunes as soon as November rolls around, have we got a treat for you! On this week’s episode we sit down with Jamey Ray, musical arranger of the a cappella group Voctave, to chat about the group’s new Christmas album “Spirit of the Season,” their collaborations with Kirstin Maldonado and Jody McBrayer, and more. Plus, Jamey takes us inside the American Pavilion at Epcot for a closer look at Voices of Liberty and what it’s like performing at Walt Disney World.

In another Mad Chatter Top 5, we count down our favorite themed, immersive environments at Walt Disney World. Tune in now to see if your favorite spots and lands made our lists!

We’d love for you to connect with us online. Come find us on Instagram (@madchatters), Twitter (@MadChatters), and Facebook (@madchatterspodcast). Or you can email us at comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

Be sure to check out Voctave’s website, their YouTube channel, and their Christmas album, out now!

98: Opening Day Attractions – How Untouchable?

August 10, 2016dereklew

Now that Maelstrom has been gone for over a year, Tower of Terror is down to its final few months at Disney California Adventure, and rumors are swirling that Great Movie Ride will be no more by 2018, the question becomes: Is anything safe?

On this week’s show, we list the 16 opening day attractions that are still part of Magic Kingdom, and we rank them on a scale of 1-5 based on how crucial they are to Walt Disney World at large. Which ones are expendable, and which ones, if removed, would completely change the tone of Magic Kingdom?

In another round of Disney Debates, we argue about topics like princess medleys, undesirable jobs at WDW, and restrooms. Plus, we talk with listener Brian, who had the unique opportunity of treating both of his grandmas to a day at Disneyland. Come join the fun now!

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. To connect with us online, come find us on Instagram (@madchatters), Twitter (@MadChatters), and Facebook (@madchatterspodcast). Or you can email us at comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

78: On the Scene With First-Timers

March 23, 2016dereklew

This week we sat down with a few of our listeners who recently visited Walt Disney World for the first time, their minds full of the facts, tips, and recommendations they had heard on our show, and we talked to them about the parts that lived up to their expectations and the elements that surprised them most. While Brittany told us about her extensive planning and when it did and didn’t pay off, Dustin and Emily gave us their take on whether or not nine hours in Magic Kingdom is enough to get a real taste of Disney magic.

In a week full of curious news and crazy rumors, we also discuss some of the topics that had the Disney Twitterverse abuzz, including a fire in Animal Kingdom, a 3-hour event with a $150 price tag, and an overlay for Tower of Terror. Plus, in “Armchair Imagineering” we set our sights on Easter, and in the game “Disney Hashtags” we talk about #LiesDisneyToldMe. The ridiculousness awaits on the latest episode of The Mad Chatters Podcast!

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

44: A Chat With Former Cast Member David

July 29, 2015dereklew

Ever wondered what it’s like to work at Walt Disney World? This week we chat with former Cast Member David about his internship at the parks. Learn about the audition process, hear a few funny behind-the-scenes stories, and discover why working for the Mouse is just as magical as meeting him for the first time.

Also on this week’s show, we share our thoughts on the latest Disney news, including the huge plans for Shanghai Disneyland, the latest Frozen addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a Mad Chatter’s prediction come true, and more.

Plus, we hear from two listeners about the ups and downs of their recent trip to WDW. All that and more awaits you on episode 44, so come join the conversation now!

To connect with us, be sure to find us on Twitter (@MadChatters) and Facebook (/madchatterspodcast) or send your feedback to comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

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