272: The Wonderful World of Disney: Class of 1997

October 27, 2022dereklew

Twenty-five years ago, over a span of just two months, Disney and ABC gave us original films such as Tower of Terror, Toothless, and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. On this week’s episode, we take a closer look at these films, as well as the Elijah Wood-starring version of Oliver Twist, and we break down what we love about them, what elements do and do not hold up in 2022, our biggest nitpicks and grievances, and much more!

Plus, in another edition of “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” we share our picks for the best and worst Halloween costumes donned by characters at the Disney Parks. Come join the fun!

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!

269: Mad Chatters Potpourri

August 8, 2022dereklew

The Mad Chatters are back this week to do some mad chatting in the form of some of our favorite segments. Join us for a grab bag of games, segments, and silliness, including:

Alternate Titles (For this game, we took the names of various Walt Disney World experiences and replaced every word with a synonym for that word. Can you guess the attraction?)
Madsterpiece Theater
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (We share our picks for the best and worst walk-up windows in WDW.)
11-Second Rants
And MORE!

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

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

242: 12 Quotes We Love About the Disney Parks

April 22, 2020dereklew

What makes the Disney Parks so special? What’s the reason so many of us are longing for the day when the parks can safely reopen? On this week’s show we set out to answer those questions, but instead of expressing ourselves using our own words, we take a look at 12 quotes we love from men and women throughout history who also appreciated the magic of the Disney Parks. Come get sappy with us as we read what Walt and others had to say about the most magical places on earth and then look at those words through the lens of 2020.

Also on this week’s show, we think about the animals that still call Walt Disney World home, and we share our picks for the good, bad, and ugly animal encounters. Plus, we bring back the segment “It’s the Small Things After All,” in which we each list the small details and experiences at WDW we’d LOVE to have in our lives right now. Tune in for one of our most sentimental episodes ever!

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

233: WDW Resort Hotels – History, Theming, and More

November 13, 2019dereklew

More than 20 resort hotels sit on Walt Disney World property, and in typical Disney fashion, each resort has its own unique theme, executed with style and incredible attention to detail. On this week’s show, we take a closer look at the three hotels that have been part of Walt Disney World since the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, and then we work our way through the many more that have opened their doors in the years since, all the way to the nearly completed resort: Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge. Join us as we discuss the unique theming at each hotel, how Disney hotels have evolved over the years, and much more!

In another edition of “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” we grade the best and worst hotel entrance signs on property. Plus, we play “Cast That Celebrity” by assigning random actors and actresses the Disney roles we think they would be best at playing on potential reboots or remakes for Disney Plus. Come join the fun!

231: The Magic of Disney Streetmosphere

October 10, 2019dereklew

From a barbershop quartet to a crew of drumming janitors to a pair of Stormtroopers on patrol, characters and performers help bring magic to the streets and lands that make up Walt Disney World. On this week’s show we take a closer look at Disney “Streetmosphere,” discuss why it’s essential to the parks, and talk about our favorite acts on property.

In a special round of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, we look back at five years of The Mad Chatters Podcast and share our picks for our favorite moments as well as our lowest lows. Plus, we share stories from the Disney Skyliner, give our thoughts on Epcot Forever, and more!

223: The Attraction Vehicles of Magic Kingdom

June 12, 2019dereklew

Come with us to a magical land where you can ride a pirate ship, an elephant, a rocket, and a double-decker omnibus, all on the same day! On this week’s episode, special guest Jonathan Harvill joins us for an in-depth look at every attraction vehicle in Magic Kingdom, from its theming to its comfort to its ornate details and beyond.

Also on show 223: we play a round of Mad Chatter Jeopardy, share our picks for the good, bad, and ugly doors at Walt Disney World, and more. Come join us!

220: World of Emotion: The Fear, Disgust, Laughter, Sadness, and Joy We Experience at Walt Disney World

April 24, 2019dereklew

Anyone who has visited Walt Disney World knows that a trip to a Disney park can take you on a roller coaster of emotions. On this week’s show, special guest Vincent from Vincent Vision joins us as we each share the moments, attractions, and places that, for us, spark joy, sadness, fear, laughter, and disgust. From the highest highs to the lowest lows, we discuss the elements of the parks that stir up our emotions the most.

Also on show 220, we share our picks for the good, bad, and ugly gift shops at the Walt Disney World Resort. Plus, we put together a playlist of our favorite covers of Disney songs. Come join the fun now!

Be sure to check out Vincent Vision on YouTube and let him know you enjoyed hearing him on the show!

215: Top 15 Counter Service Restaurants in Walt Disney World

February 20, 2019dereklew

Not all theme park restaurants are created equal. One of the biggest mistakes first-time guests can make when visiting a Disney park is to stop and eat at the first place they see because they assume every restaurant will serve the same cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets. Walt Disney World actually has a large variety of counter-service options, and many of them are quite good. On this week’s show, we count down our 15 favorites across property.

In another edition of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, we share our picks for the most well designed attraction entrances, the most unattractive, and the ones that could use a bit of work. Plus, we have some fun with the hashtag #BadDisneySequels, and in another Mad Chatter game we try to guess how much certain Disney items sold on eBay. Come play along now!

The Mad Chatters

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

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