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

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!

252: It’s Good to Be Bad – The Best Disney Villains Onscreen and at Walt Disney World

October 26, 2020dereklew

They’re rascals and scoundrels. They’re villains and knaves. They’re devils and black sheep. They’re really bad eggs. They’re the infamous crew of misfits and evildoers known as the DISNEY VILLAINS! On this week’s show, guest Marshal Knight helps us take a closer look at the deep well of villains in Disney’s catalog, from the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the can-you-believe-they’re-actually-the-villains of so many of the Disney films of the 2010s. On this episode we discuss what makes a great Disney villain, how the Disney villain has evolved over time, which Disney villains get the best representation at Walt Disney World, and which villainous moments at Walt Disney World are our favorites.

Plus, Marshal and Derek compete in a villain-themed game, and in another edition of “The Windows of Main Street, U.S.A.” we put the spotlight on Imagineer Yale Gracey, who contributed special effects to both Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. Come join the villainous fun now!

Be sure to find Marshal on Twitter (@Marshal_Knight) and Instagram (@marshalknight) and let him know you enjoyed hearing him on the show! And if you want more Marshal material, check out his blog, “Um, Sure?” and its affiliated Instagram page.

239: Director Ron Clements Chats ‘Mermaid’ Memories, ‘Treasure Planet’ Woes, and More

March 4, 2020dereklew

We’re joined by seven-time director Ron Clements as he shares stories from his time at Walt Disney Animation Studios creating films like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Moana, and more. Tune in to hear Ron recount the highs and lows of working at the studios in the 80s and 90s, the pressures of creating the first African-American Disney Princess, the joys of working with Lin-Manuel Miranda, and much more!

Also on this week’s show, we discuss Disney’s CEO shakeup and take a closer look at one of the names etched on a Main Street window: Donn Tatum, the first Disney CEO who was not part of the Disney family. Plus, we go “Behind the Magic” by chatting all things Jungle Cruise. Lots of fun awaits. Tune in now!

226: Space Travel and The Walt Disney Company

July 24, 2019dereklew

50 years ago a manned space shuttle touched down on the moon for the first time. But 15 years before that giant leap for mankind, Walt Disney was already working with scientists and engineers in order to communicate to the general public that space travel was not just science fiction; it was a possible reality. On this week’s episode we trace The Walt Disney Company’s connections with space travel, beginning with three documentary shorts produced by the company in the 50s, and ending with a closer look at the many space-themed attractions that have made their way to the Disney parks over the years. Plus, in a round of Armchair Imagineering we share our own ideas for how space can play a role at the parks moving forward.

In another edition of The Windows of Main Street, U.S.A., we look at the contributions of John Hench, who designed a lot of opening-day Tomorrowland at Disneyland. We also share a few bizarre stories from our adventures in WDW in the segment “Did That Just Happen?” Tune in now!

216: Heads Up: Our Favorite Overhead Details in Walt Disney World

March 6, 2019dereklew

Sometimes the best details and an entirely different perspective are awaiting you overhead, and all you have to do to see them is look up. On this week’s show, guest Jeff Birou joins us for a tour of Walt Disney World, in which we stop in each park to share our favorite architectural details, beautiful artwork, and other features that are above eye level.

In another edition of “The Windows of Main Street, U.S.A.” we pay homage to the late Ron Miller, Walt’s son-in-law who made great contributions to The Walt Disney Company in the 70s and 80s. Plus, we play another round of “Where in WDW Am I?” and we provide our own suggestions for which bands we think should appear at the Garden Rocks concert series in Epcot. Come join the fun!

Be sure to find Jeff on Twitter or Instagram (@jeffsoubirous) and let him know you enjoyed hearing him on the show!

203: 5 Aspects of Disney Parks Worldwide We’d Bring to Walt Disney World

September 12, 2018dereklew

This week we’re going global! On our latest episode we take a closer look at the eight Disney parks outside Florida, and we each highlight five aspects of those parks that we think could be incorporated well at Walt Disney World. Joining the discussion is guest Jeff Birou, who has had the privilege of visiting all 12 Disney parks worldwide and is able to give us the scoop on what the international parks do best.

Also on this week’s show, we showcase the career and incredible achievements of Disney Legend Mary Blair. Plus, we share our picks for the good, bad, and ugly water features in WDW, and we play our favorite game of hide and seek: Where in WDW Am I? Come play along on episode 203!

If you‘re not already following Jeff online, go let him know how much you enjoyed hearing him on the show! You can find him on Twitter and Instagram: @jeffsoubirous.

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!

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!

184: Mad Q Party

April 11, 2018dereklew

Our favorite Q&A is back! Special guest Courtney Guth joins us for another Mad Q Party to help us answer ten ridiculous questions centered on all things Disney. In this week’s edition of the wacky questionnaire, we share our ideal Disney lands, the Disney families we’d love to be part of, the characters we want to meet at Walt Disney World, and more.

In another round of The Windows of Main Street, U.S.A., we pay tribute to E Cardon Walker, former president of The Walt Disney Company and man behind the wheel of such projects as EPCOT Center and The Disney Channel. Plus, Derek reviews Frozen: The Musical, which he recently got to see in New York City. Come join the fun!

Be sure to connect with Courtney online and tell her how much you enjoyed having her on the show! You can follow her on Twitter (@Courtney_Guth) and Instagram (@greatguthsby).

And you can always connect with us as well. Find us on Facebook (/madchatterspodcast), Instagram (@madchatters), and Twitter (@MadChatters). Or, send your emails to comments@madchatters.net. Thanks for listening!

177: Political Incorrectness and The Walt Disney Company

February 21, 2018dereklew

Remember that time Disney came under attack for something it had produced that was considered culturally insensitive? In truth, Disney has had to address this issue many, MANY times over the last several decades. When you’ve been around for as long as The Walt Disney Company has, it’s almost inevitable that you will run into these kinds of problems as times change and people evolve.

On this week’s episode, we look back at the instances when Disney addressed issues of political incorrectness by changing or removing elements in their properties, including films like Song of the South and Fantasia, as well as attractions at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. We also discuss examples of scenes in Disney movies and rides that are still considered by many to be insensitive, even though they remain unchanged to this day.

In another round of The Disney Fix, we chat about Black Panther, Disney scents in your home, and a BuzzFeed article about outrageous moments that have happened in a Disney park. Plus, in the segment “The Windows of Main Street, U.S.A.,” we take a closer look at Walt’s dad Elias. All that and more on episode 177. Tune in now!

164: Making Music for Mickey – An Interview With Composer Christopher Willis

November 15, 2017dereklew

Walt famously said, “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing — that it was all started by a mouse.” On this week’s show, that mouse takes center stage as we celebrate Mickey‘s 89th birthday!

We are thrilled to welcome to the show special guest Christopher Willis, who provides the music for Mickey Mouse, the series of cartoon shorts that airs on The Disney Channel. On this episode Chris takes us through the process of scoring a Mickey cartoon and gives us an inside look at the upcoming attraction Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, for which he is providing the soundtrack.

In this week’s edition of The Windows of Main Street, U.S.A., we put the spotlight on Ub Iwerks, who played a large role in the creation of Mickey Mouse. Plus, we bring back the wacky segment Take Five, in which we use just five words to express our feelings on various categories. Episode 164 includes all of that, Disney news, and much more. Tune in now!

The Mad Chatters

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

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