Make it Magical: A Disney-centric Podcast (Emily & Clayton Sullivan )
Explore every episode of Make it Magical: A Disney-centric Podcast
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 2022 | Episode 1: Introducing Me | 00:08:50 | |
As I begin this new journey into the world of podcasting, join me in discussing all things Disney. This episode will give you a look into who I am, what this podcast is all about, and why I decided to begin this exciting adventure! | |||
| 20 Apr 2022 | Episode 2: Reasons to Love the Disney Parks | 00:36:18 | |
Today's episode is all about my love for the Disney Parks! I'll dive into my top 10 reasons for why the parks mean so much to me. Some reasons might be more obvious while others have a much deeper connection to myself. Sit back and get to know about this Disney nerd a little bit better. | |||
| 27 Apr 2022 | Episode 3: Top Disney Animated Films | 00:35:47 | |
This episode is all about the movies! Join me as I reveal my top 10 Disney animated films. There are some obvious choices, but there's also a few that will be more surprising to make it into that coveted top 10 position. I have of course saved my all time favorite movie for last! Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to Disney movies, so please share your favorites with me on my socials! | |||
| 04 May 2022 | Episode 4: CA Adventure Food and Wine Festival | 00:42:21 | |
My recurring co-ghost host husband, Clayton, makes his debut in today's episode! You'll learn his Disney story before we jump into our first experience visiting CA Adventure's Food and Wine Festival. What's included in the festival? What was our favorite snack? Would we go again? Which version of Soarin' is better?!? We'll answer all of these questions and more! | |||
| 11 May 2022 | Episode 5: All Started With a Mouse (Part 1) | 00:27:38 | |
If the title didn’t already give it away, today’s episode is all about the history of the one that started it all, Mickey Mouse! OH BOY! I’ll cover everything from Mr. Mouse’s creation to his rise in fame. This is a story that every Disney fan should hear and I guarantee you’ll learn something new! | |||
| 18 May 2022 | Episode 6: All Started With a Mouse (Part 2) | 00:29:00 | |
Today’s episode will pick up where I left off in Part 1. I’ll conclude Mickey Mouse’s history with topics including how his design/personality/voice have evolved over the years, his influence on the Disney parks, and Oswald’s reintroduction back into the Disney Company. | |||
| 25 May 2022 | Episode 7: Mistakes to Avoid in the Disney Parks | 01:03:08 | |
For today’s episode, I am once again joined by my co-ghost host husband as we discuss 10 mistakes we’ve made in both Disneyland and Disney World over the years. These are simply our opinions and may not apply to everyone. We are constantly adjusting and learning new ways to improve our trips. Hope that by sharing our experiences it’ll help make your trips even more magical! I’d love to hear about any and all mistakes you have personally made in the parks too! | |||
| 01 Jun 2022 | Episode 8: Walt Disney World Trip Report/Flower and Garden Festival (ft. special guest Taylor Lewis!!) | 00:45:44 | |
For today’s episode, I had the pleasure of being joined by Taylor Lewis from the Not So Rare Podcast. As a fellow Disney fanatic, Taylor shares her perspective of how living with a rare disease impacts her Disney parks trips. Join us as we discuss her most recent Walt Disney World trip experience utilizing Disney’s Disability Access Service program, seeing Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival for the first time, and dining at some popular locations on property. | |||
| 08 Jun 2022 | Episode 9: Overrated vs. Underrated - Disneyland and Disney World Rides | 01:11:31 | |
Extra, extra! Listen all about it! For today’s episode, my co-ghost host and I discuss which rides we consider to be overrated and underrated in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Expect lots of laughs, some disagreements, and several hot takes! This episode’s one wild ride! | |||
| 15 Jun 2022 | Episode 10: Secrets of the Disney Parks (Part 1) | 00:47:11 | |
There’s so much to unpack with secrets behind the Disney parks, so I had to break this up into 2 episodes! For part 1, I cover more general secrets applicable to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. This is the perfect introduction to park secrets for anyone or even the biggest of Disney fans! Look out for next week’s episode where I’ll discuss further secrets that are specific to each coast. | |||
| 22 Jun 2022 | Episode 11: Secrets of the Disney Parks (Part 2) | 00:51:05 | |
For this week’s episode, I’ll continue this intro into the world of Disney park secrets! My focus will shift towards secrets more specific to each coast. I’m getting much more in-depth than last week with 4 Disneyland secrets and 3 Walt Disney World secrets. Stick around until the very end to hear some exciting news about my Patreon exclusive bonus content! | |||
| 29 Jun 2022 | Episode 12: Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser | 01:05:01 | |
Now that the original hype for the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser (otherwise referred to as the Star Wars Hotel) has died down, figure this is the best time to dedicate an entire episode to it! Clayton and I discuss everything from the drama/controversy behind its opening, what’s included, strengths and weaknesses, whether we’re interested in this kind of experience, and finally we put on our Imagineering caps to propose our ideas on improving the Starcruiser. Don’t worry! This episode is SPOILER FREE! | |||
| 06 Jul 2022 | Episode 13: Tangled vs. Frozen | 01:22:46 | |
Big episode this week! Two treasured Disney animated films enter, but only one will remain victorious! That’s right, this is a showdown between which is the better movie…. Tangled or Frozen?!? Follow along as we (myself and Clayton) break down each movie into several key categories. | |||
| 13 Jul 2022 | Episode 14: Disney Park Trip Hacks | 01:00:14 | |
For this week’s episode, Clayton and I discuss all of our highly classified Disney park trip hacks. We have kept these secret until now… for all of you listeners to enjoy! Hope these can help make your next Disney trips more enjoyable! If YOU have any special trip hacks you want us to share with fellow listeners, please email or reach out on my socials (listed below). | |||
| 15 Jul 2022 | Minnie-sode #1 | 00:26:16 | |
SURPRISE!! Welcome to the first-ever bonus Minnie-sode where I’ll be sharing stories from the listeners! That’s right, in this episode YOU are the star. Hope you enjoy and if you like these types of episodes please make sure to send in more of your stories! You can email or reach me on my socials! Looking forward to hearing from more of you soon! | |||
| 20 Jul 2022 | Episode 15: The Walt Disney Family Museum | 00:54:50 | |
We kick off this episode with a big announcement of my co-ghost host's involvement on the show. Then, Clayton and I discuss everything you could ever want to know about The Walt Disney Family Museum! We dive into the history behind its creation, our very recent visit, our favorite aspects of the museum, and the new Jungle Book exhibit! If you love Disney history, then this is an episode you won't want to miss! ENJOY! | |||
| 27 Jul 2022 | Episode 16: Song of the South | 00:59:11 | |
With news that Splash Mountain will be rethemed based off of Princess and the Frog, Clayton and I wanted to go over the history of Splash Mountain from inception to its final closure to celebrate its 30+ year run as a crowd favorite. We wanted to start this history by appropriately covering the history of Song of the South, to get a better understanding of what is driving the retheming. Song of the South, which the ride is loosely based on, was released 75 years ago was widely celebrated for its blending of live action and color animation but also widely criticized for its depiction of African Americans. We discuss the background of the movie, Walt Disney’s love for it, the criticism it received and it’s difficult legacy. | |||
| 03 Aug 2022 | Episode 17: Splash Mountain (Part 1) | 00:57:01 | |
After covering Song of the South, we begin to examine the history of Splash Mountain from concept to finished ride. What led to its creation? Why is it tied to Song of the South? What does it have to do with the movie Splash starring Tom Hanks? All this and more we cover in the first of our two part series celebrating Splash Mountain. | |||
| 10 Aug 2022 | Episode 18: Splash Mountain (Part 2) | 01:18:39 | |
In the second part of our Splash Mountain series, we look into what is unique amongst each version of Splash across the many parks and how Imagineers were able to blend it into two separate lands. Of course, we cannot talk about Splash without talking about the future retheme coming its way and we discuss some of the most common pros/cons that we have seen for it. This wouldn’t be complete without putting on our amateur imagineering hats and coming up with some ideas for what this retheme might look like before we ultimately say goodbye to what is one of our favorite rides. | |||
| 17 Aug 2022 | Episode 19: History of FastPass | 01:19:21 | |
Join us today as we try to skip the lines…as we go over the history of Fastpass. We try to keep the Genie+ takes light in this one before entering the ring with it next week. How did the idea for FastPass come about? Why was it such a good deal for park guests and Disney operations? We cover it all, setting the stage for what has come into its place now. | |||
| 19 Aug 2022 | Minnie-sode #2 | 00:25:48 | |
Welcome to another surprise bonus Minnie-sode! These episodes give me a chance to let you, the listeners, have YOUR moment to shine. I've got 3 listener stories to share with you today! Be aware that these stories contain more emotional and heavy content than what you may be used to in previous episodes. Trust me, these are ones you don't want to miss hearing! | |||
| 24 Aug 2022 | Episode 20: Genie+ | 01:50:26 | |
Make sure those lap bars are securely fastened cause today’s episode is a wild one! After covering the history of FastPass last week we step into the ring and try to keep ourselves positive, if at least for the first part to give some tips and tricks to use Genie+ on both coasts. But when we get to the elephant boneyard, we discuss in depth our many issues with the service. It’s a long one so make sure to get your favorite Disney snack and settle in! | |||
| 29 Aug 2022 | Bonus Episode: Walt Disney World Trip Update (ft. special guest Stephanie!) | 00:38:19 | |
We had the pleasure of being joined by a very special guest for this episode! Stephanie is a huge Disney fan and just came back from her Walt Disney World Trip. She acts as our intrepid field reporter and gives us the inside scoop on her experience of a split stay on property at moderate/deluxe resorts, food, festivals, Genie+, and riding the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for the first time! We discuss all of this and more with her in today's BONUS episode! ENJOY! | |||
| 31 Aug 2022 | Episode 21: Disneyland Favorites (ft. The Happiest Hour on Earth Podcast!!!!) | 01:59:40 | |
Join us for our perfect day in Disneyland with our Disney pals, Chris and Emily from the Happiest Hour on Earth Podcast! After going on their show last week to discuss our favorite refreshments, entertainment, photos and traditions in California Adventure, they come on our show to do the same as we travel around the lands of Disneyland. With so many things to do, what makes the cut for our perfect Disney day? Tune in to find out! | |||
| 07 Sep 2022 | Episode 22: Reimagining The Great Movie Ride | 01:22:28 | |
If you could imagineer your own Great Movie Ride, what movies would make the cut? We took some inspiration from the original plan to have a Great Movie Ride in most other parks and discuss how we might update the original ride as well as come up with some potential versions that could see the light of day in other Disney parks. If you want to learn more about the history of The Great Movie Ride, we have a series on our Patreon going in depth into the history of the now extinct beloved attraction. As we are in Disneyland this week, we hope you enjoy this pre-recorded episode!!! | |||
| 14 Sep 2022 | Episode 23: D23 Round-Up | 01:22:09 | |
This year's D23 Expo has come and gone and we have a glimpse on what is coming for both the Disney Parks, as well as Disney Movies/TV. We cover the updates and give our thoughts on what excites and what disappoints us. A lot of content is slated for our viewing pleasure including new Pixar movies/TV shows, and updates were given for already announced Disney/Marvel/Star Wars movies and TV shows. Not much that is new is announced for the parks, but we got some ideas as to what is coming for the 100th anniversary including new nighttime spectaculars. Were you excited/disappointed by what was announced? Listen in to our takes and let us know your feelings on the announcements. | |||
| 21 Sep 2022 | Episode 24: A Disneyland Year in Review | 01:26:44 | |
Our year has come to an end…our Disney year that is. We were incredibly lucky to be able to go to Disneyland 3 times in the last 12 months and today we discuss our new favorite and least favorite things in the parks. New food, drinks, lands and traditions were added to our Disneyland experience and we wanted to share them. While overall the experiences have generally been positive, we do have some not so positive things in the parks *cough, cough* Genie+, and we cover these shortly first but don’t get too into on this one. Today we are talking about the parks with rose colored glasses. | |||
| 28 Sep 2022 | Episode 25: Hocus Pocus | 01:03:36 | |
It’s another glorious Wednesday morning…makes me sick! It’s Em and Ice (AKA Clayton) today going amuck amuck amuck, discussing a cult favorite Halloween movie. Let us put a spell on you as we go digging deep into the behind the scenes trivia and facts that are surely going to want you to light the black flame candle. Just remember in the end, it's all just a bunch of Hocus Pocus! | |||
| 29 Sep 2022 | Minnie-sode #3 | 00:30:29 | |
It’s time for another bonus Minnie-sode where you are the main attraction!! For today’s episode we have 4 stories split amongst 3 stars. All of these stories were so much fun and honestly made us a little jealous but left us feeling nostalgic. We’ve got parade parties, sword in the stone wonders, and behind the scenes action in today's episode. | |||
| 05 Oct 2022 | Episode 26: Our Genie+ Experience | 01:09:55 | |
We're taking a small break in spooky season content to uncover our Genie+ experience. When we discussed Genie+ in Episode 20, we said we would test it out on our upcoming Disneyland trip. So listen in as we discuss the positives and negatives of it and try to offer some park day tips to get the most out of it whether you use the service or not. | |||
| 12 Oct 2022 | Episode 27: Halloween in the Disney Parks (ft. special guest Karrie!!) | 01:19:42 | |
This week is all about spooks, but more specifically spooks that find their way into the Disney parks!! First, we discuss everything there is to know about Halloween happenings at the Disneyland Resort. For the second part of this episode, we are pleased to welcome another friend of the pod, Karrie, to discuss the Halloween parties in the Magic Kingdom! Are you a fan of Halloween in the parks? What do you like most…the treats, the costumes, the entertainment? | |||
| 19 Oct 2022 | Episode 28: Nightmare Before Christmas (Part 1) | 00:53:28 | |
This is Halloween, this is Halloween, time to celebrate a classic tale of when two holidays collide. We kick off our finish to our spooky season celebration by honoring the cult classic, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Originally this was going to be one episode, but you can’t appreciate a classic and stop motion technical achievement in just one episode. In today’s episode, we discuss the history of the Tim Burton poem that would eventually become the heart of the movie, the making of, the amount of amazing work put into the stop motion art form, and who voiced the iconic characters. So please come with us and you will see, this, the glory of this Halloween classic. | |||
| 26 Oct 2022 | Episode 29: Nightmare Before Christmas (Part 2) | 00:48:47 | |
What’s this, what’s this?!? It’s another Nightmare Before Christmas Episode! Last week we started our celebration into this classic, and today we continue to hail to the Pumpkin King! We further go behind the scenes into what it takes to make the characters come alive on the screen, the release, the times we almost got a sequel and fun Easter eggs. While this may leave an empty place in your bones, don’t fret, we will be back next week to continue our holiday celebration! | |||
| 02 Nov 2022 | Episode 30: Nightmare Before Christmas (Part 3) | 00:56:41 | |
We’ve gone behind the scenes, now it’s time to pick the best of Nightmare Before Christmas and ask some questions that are probably unanswerable. What happens in the other holiday lands? How traumatized is the Easter Bunny? All of this and more in this week's finale of our Nightmare series! | |||
| 09 Nov 2022 | Episode 31: Genie+ Strikes Back | 01:08:29 | |
First we start off on a high note with some VERY exciting updates for us and the podcast, but then we shift gears towards some not so fun Disney news. This week in how Disney has upset its fanbase…with recent news of Genie+ price hikes and that animated movies aren’t for adults, we strap in for another round of hot takes. Brace yourself because we get brutally honest in this one! | |||
| 16 Nov 2022 | Episode 32: The Santa Clause | 01:14:55 | |
Kris Kringle…Pere Noel…Babbo Natale…he goes by many names but he is Santa Clause. In preparation for Tim Allen’s return in the red suit, we break down the Santa Clause and go behind the scenes for all the things that makes this the beloved holiday classic. We hope you grab yourself a cup of hot chocolate, shaken not stirred of course, and join us for some holiday hijinx. | |||
| 23 Nov 2022 | Episode 33: Talking With a Genie+ Expert (ft. special guest @disney_ant) | 01:20:47 | |
Big episode for us! Make it Magical is going international for this one! We had the pleasure of being joined by a UK listener and friend of the show. Ant discusses everything from Disneyland Paris, his recent Disney trip, and breaks down everything you need to know about utilizing Genie+ in Walt Disney World. This episode is packed full of helpful tips, tricks, and strategies for making the most out of Genie+ on your trip. | |||
| 22 Nov 2022 | BONUS Episode: Return of the Iger/A New Hope for Disney | 00:46:33 | |
In case you haven’t heard, Iger has returned as CEO of Disney, and fan not favorite Chapek is out. We sit down to discuss our immediate reaction and where we hope the company goes from here in this emergency bonus episode. ENJOY! | |||
| 30 Nov 2022 | Episode 34: Haunted Mansion Holiday | 01:14:15 | |
It’s finally here…the Haunted Mansion Holiday deep dive that was promised long ago has made its way to your podcast app. With Thanksgiving over, we break into Christmas and what better way to start than covering when two holidays collide at Disneyland park. We hope you enjoy this ride breakdown as we, your ghost hosts lead you through the not so jolly but quite holly halls of the Haunted Mansion when old Sandy Claws visits for this seasonal overlay. | |||
| 07 Dec 2022 | Episode 35: Main Street Secrets | 01:23:02 | |
Today we talk all things Main Street and all the secrets that go into making it the gateway into your park day. We feel that after you listen to this episode you are going to have so much more appreciation for all the unsaid features that go into opening your Disney day. Get ready cause this episode is packed with tons of secrets, stories, facts, and Main Street history! | |||
| 14 Dec 2022 | Episode 36: Clayton Watches Treasure Planet | 01:04:07 | |
Clayton has a bit of a confession to make, even as a Disney podcaster he hasn’t seen close to half of the Disney animated movies 😱. This new series is going to be geared towards us correcting that so he can keep his Disney podcaster badge. We figured what better place to start than Treasure Planet, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary. Join us as Clayton watches it and digs deep into the not much talked about movie and its place in Disney animation. | |||
| 21 Dec 2022 | Episode 37: Christmastime in Walt Disney World (ft. special guest Jyll!!) | 00:59:01 | |
This episode is a merry one! We are joined by Jyll this week talking her recent trip to Walt Disney World for an adults only holiday visit. She goes over her experience at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party as well as strolling through Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays. You won’t want to miss this one as she gives excellent advice on what is a hit and what you might want to skip in a holiday visit at the parks. | |||
| 28 Dec 2022 | Episode 38: Encanto vs Coco | 01:31:54 | |
Today we are breaking down and pitting Encanto and Coco against each other to see who comes out on top as the best movie. This one was brought to us by you, the listeners, as you chose our movies as well as our categories! Recording this was tons of fun as we found out that these two movies have a lot in common with each other and it wasn't as clear cut a victor as you might think, but no spoilers, you will have to listen in to see who is crowned champion! | |||
| 04 Jan 2023 | Episode 39: The Pixar Story | 00:49:51 | |
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| 11 Jan 2023 | Episode 40: Pixar Shorts 101 | 01:39:10 | |
Ok this is turning into a bit of a series. Today we are taking you to class on Pixar shorts. After setting the base knowledge needed to understand the history of the Pixar company, this week we give a run down on all of the 20 Pixar shorts we will be throwing down next week. This one is a lot of fun as we dive into facts about each short, which sets the stage perfectly for next week's ultimate showdown. | |||
| 18 Jan 2023 | Episode 41: Pixar Shorts Throwdown | 01:24:21 | |
The thunderdome, Highlander, March Madness…they all pale in comparison to what we do today. Today there can be only one…best Pixar short! Is it a Cinderella story in the making for one, or will the top seeds make it all the way to the end? This one is a lot of fun, so listen in and let’s get ready to RUMBLE!!! | |||
| 25 Jan 2023 | Episode 42: Main Street Secrets (Part 2) | 01:19:34 | |
We hope you liked the Pixar series, but now we go back to some Main Street secrets! This is part 2 of our Main Street secrets and today’s episode focuses more on the Magic Kingdom than Disneyland. But while we were doing more research we found some that are applicable for both parks so we hope you enjoy another deep dive into secrets of Main Street. | |||
| 01 Feb 2023 | Episode 43: What's Coming in 2023? | 01:12:55 | |
It’s the end of January so of course that means it’s not too late to look ahead for 2023 to see what is coming in the world of Disney. We've got you covered with what to look ahead to as well as what we are most excited for this year both in content and the parks! | |||
| 08 Feb 2023 | Episode 44: Which 50th Celebration Did it Better? DL or WDW? | 01:35:15 | |
With Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration shortly coming to an end, we thought it would be an interesting discussion to compare it against Disneyland’s own 50th celebration. Walt Disney World’s celebration has been criticized by some but how does it stack up against Disneyland’s that was celebrated close to 20 years ago? Listen in to find out! | |||
| 15 Feb 2023 | Episode 45: Unpopular Disney Opinions (ft. The DMSW Podcast!!!!) | 01:34:35 | |
Get ready for some hot takes as we tackle some of our unpopular Disney opinions. But we aren’t doing this alone, Johnny J from The DMSW Podcast joins in to slam down his hot take button!! We hope you forgive us if we take down one of your Disney favorites…just remember that this is all in good fun. | |||
| 01 Mar 2023 | Episode 46: Disneyland Trip Report (ft. my Mom!!!) | 01:08:39 | |
Today is a special one, we are talking a Disneyland trip report with a very special guest, my Mom and Clayton's Mother-in-law, Lori. This was a very important trip for her being able to go to the park for the first time in several years. We talk about her experience as well as the use of Disney's Disability Access Service (DAS). Disclaimer: In this episode, we will be discussing some serious matters surrounding health diagnosis, but promise that it all ties into Disney and results in a very positive and uplifting message. | |||
| 08 Mar 2023 | Episode 47: History of the PeopleMover (Part 1) | 01:21:51 | |
This week Clayton complains about Tomorrowland a lot…what brought him to do this? We are talking about an extinct attraction in Disneyland while it still remains in WDW. We can be talking about none other than the PeopleMover. We dive into everything around the conception, creation, and implementation of this classic into Disneyland. How can such a simple attraction elicit such a response? You’ll just have to listen to find out. Look out for Part 2 next week where we'll cover its history in WDW's Magic Kingdom. This episode topic is credited to our Patreon supporter Jared, as he requested it as part of our new perks. | |||
| 15 Mar 2023 | Episode 48: History of the PeopleMover (Part 2) | 01:04:40 | |
A little less complaining today as we get to talk about the non-extinct version of the PeopleMover. Today we mainly focus on the history of Walt Disney World's PeopleMover and cover all the changes since its debut in the 70s. Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow! | |||
| 22 Mar 2023 | Episode 49: What Haven't We Done in Disneyland? | 01:00:08 | |
With our upcoming Disneyland trip, we thought it would be cool to go over the stuff that we have never done or been able to achieve in the parks. That’s right even after all these years of going to the parks, there is still stuff that we haven’t done and there's more being added all the time. The Disney Parks are always growing and changing and this was a core idea of Walt’s visions for them, so join us as we discuss what has eluded our activity lists in the parks. | |||
| 29 Mar 2023 | Episode 50: Building Disneyland (Part 1) - The Inspiration | 01:06:25 | |
It’s Episode 50, a big big deal for us and we want to celebrate it by telling a story, a story very dear to us…the building of Disneyland. We want to go through all the inspiration, thoughts and struggles that it took to make the park a reality. Today we start with the inspiration and while most have heard a story of a park bench, that is only one piece of the puzzle. Follow along as we go through all it took to build the Happiest Place on Earth! Don't forget to enter our giveaway! Deadline is Aug 29th, 2023 11:59PM PST. Here's your ways to enter: 1) Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (take a screenshot of your review and message it to us) or remind us if you've previously left us a review. 2) Tell us what have been your favorite episodes of the show. 3) Give us requests for future episodes. 4) Share our podcast with your friends on IG (don't forget to tag us). P.S. All Patreon members will get an immediate bonus entry into our giveaway as a thank you for all the support! | |||
| 05 Apr 2023 | Episode 51: Building Disneyland (Part 2) - A Train Ride to Mickey Mouse Park | 01:12:19 | |
Previously on Make it Magical…Emily and Dole Whip Daddy (AKA Clayton) started to tell the Disneyland story starting with the inspiration of what would become the resort. This week we continue this story by covering in more detail how Walt’s love of trains would further inspire him to start the initial plannings of his theme park…Mickey Mouse Park, but we leave it there for a bit of a cliffhanger. 1) Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (take a screenshot of your review and message it to us) or remind us if you've previously left us a review. 2) Tell us what have been your favorite episodes of the show. 3) Give us requests for future episodes. 4) Share our podcast with your friends on IG (don't forget to tag us). P.S. All Patreon members will get an immediate bonus entry into our giveaway as a thank you for all the support! | |||
| 12 Apr 2023 | Episode 52: Building Disneyland (Part 3) - Now that we've got ideas, how do we pay for this? | 01:08:27 | |
Previously on the Make it Magical Podcast…we talked all things trains, but today things are getting a little bit more serious for the idea of Disneyland. We cover the headwinds Walt experienced in simply getting the idea of the park going. This includes having to convince his own family this was a good idea to finding people that would believe in his dream enough to invest. Things are really starting to build up in this journey! 1) Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (take a screenshot of your review and message it to us) or remind us if you've previously left us a review. 2) Tell us what have been your favorite episodes of the show. 3) Give us requests for future episodes. 4) Share our podcast with your friends on IG (don't forget to tag us). P.S. All Patreon members will get an immediate bonus entry into our giveaway as a thank you for all the support! | |||
| 19 Apr 2023 | Episode 53: Get to Know Your Ghost Hosts | 01:11:28 | |
It’s been 1 whole year since the podcast was launched and we are in Disneyland this week, so what better way to celebrate than getting to know your ghost hosts and reminiscing about the past year. It has been a fantastic year and we are so glad to have you as listeners of the podcast, so check this one out and get to know us a bit better. Spoiler: this one gets emotional! 1) Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (take a screenshot of your review and message it to us) or remind us if you've previously left us a review. 2) Tell us what have been your favorite episodes of the show. 3) Give us requests for future episodes. 4) Share our podcast with your friends on IG (don't forget to tag us). P.S. All Patreon members will get an immediate bonus entry into our giveaway as a thank you for all the support! | |||
| 26 Apr 2023 | Episode 54: Disneyland Trip Report (April 2023) | 01:32:51 | |
We just came back from Disneyland, which means we get to talk about all the new things that came to the parks and we got to experience. It was a big trip for us for a number of reasons, Punish the Podcaster for Magic, our podiversary, the Disney100 celebrations and the new shows!! Of course with this comes all the fun little stories and interactions which made our trip memorable. Don’t worry about Disney100 show spoilers if you are avoiding them, this episode is completely spoiler free! We are instead going to give a bonus episode where we break them all the way down for you based on our thoughts (look out for that this week)! 1) Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts (take a screenshot of your review and message it to us) or remind us if you've previously left us a review. 2) Tell us what have been your favorite episodes of the show. 3) Give us requests for future episodes. 4) Share our podcast with your friends on IG (don't forget to tag us). P.S. All Patreon members will get an immediate bonus entry into our giveaway as a thank you for all the support! | |||
| 29 Apr 2023 | BONUS Episode: Disney100 Entertainment In-Depth Review (SPOILER HEAVY!) | 00:58:10 | |
You have been warned! SPOILERS GALORE! The Disney 100 celebration shows, Wondrous Journeys and World of Color One, what can we say but wow! Even though we have a few minor criticisms, we both feel that Disney knocked it out of the park with both of these shows. We wanted to break them down for those looking to hear an in-depth review, so we decided a bonus episode made the most sense to keep spoilers clear from our regular weekly episode. Enjoy this detailed look into our thoughts on both of these very special shows! | |||
| 03 May 2023 | Episode 55: Rant Corner | 01:13:38 | |
Today we get a little feisty discussing some things that we are not the biggest fans of as it pertains to the current running on both the parks as well as the content sides of the Disney brand. This is just the way we feel about these things, and if you have a different opinion let us know. Let the hot takes fly! | |||
| 10 May 2023 | Episode 56: Disney With a Food Allergy (ft. Market House Podcast!) | 01:20:35 | |
We had the great pleasure of having our friends Caleb and Caitlyn from the Market House Podcast on this week to get to know them as well as discuss a very important parks topic, navigating Disney experiences when you have a food allergy. Caleb has Celiac Disease, meaning he is gluten intolerant, so we discuss what it is like to manage this within the parks and how Disney overall is so accommodating for any type of food allergy. It was a blast to have them on and we are so thankful to have gotten close to them as a part of this podcast journey! | |||
| 17 May 2023 | Episode 57: Building Disneyland (Part 4) - Finding the Perfect Location | 00:53:38 | |
We’re back to our building Disneyland series this week. Today we continue the discussion on how Walt attempted to find and finance the park as well as a very exciting topic, finding the right place for where the park will be built! (Spoiler alert, it’s located in Anaheim) | |||
| 24 May 2023 | Episode 58: Building Disneyland (Part 5) - The First Drawing | 00:57:53 | |
Today we discuss a big big moment in the building Disneyland series. The land has been acquired in sleepy Anaheim, but how are we going to pay to build it? An idea that has proven difficult to sell, so Walt needed something to show others what Disneyland would become. Today we cover the first drawing of Disneyland that would go on to help be the basis for what the park would later look like! Spoiler alert, it’s not too far off of what we have today! | |||
| 31 May 2023 | Episode 59: Building Disneyland (Part 6) - The Disneyland TV Show | 01:01:04 | |
This week on our Building Disneyland series, we take a deep dive look at the first Disneyland drawing going over in detail the lands that were first imagined for the park. Then, we cover what we actually did with this Drawing and how it helped Roy secure the much needed construction funds to help build the park. A well known broadcasting company today would be the solution to finding the funding that would help make the park a reality. We cover all that and more including a little peek into what the Disneyland Tv show was actually like, covering its premiere episode which aired in 1954, some ten months before the park would officially open. Take a look at the first drawing/map of Disneyland here: https://i.redd.it/mcb6gu87dzwy.png The Disneyland Tv Show, Episode #1: Check out our official website: https://www.makeitmagicalpodcast.com | |||
| 07 Jun 2023 | Episode 60: Building Disneyland (Part 7) - Prepping the Park | 00:54:45 | |
Today we finish the second segment of our Building Disneyland series. We’ve talked through how we got the funding to build the park and we are ready to start building with just months ahead of when the park would open. But before we go into the actual building, we wanted to tie up some loose ends and set the foundation for when we get into the actual construction. Today we finish off funding, with what sponsors would come to the park and discuss the early work that went into training Disney cast members to make guests trips truly magical. Tony Baxter Narration of Disneyland Timelapse Construction (YouTube Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvmAkATbP8Y | |||
| 14 Jun 2023 | Episode 61: Clayton Watches Brother Bear | 01:09:32 | |
This week, Clayton Watches returns where we try to see Brother Bear through another’s eye. Brother Bear was the 44th Disney Animation film and has a very interesting backstory all the way from inception through release and legacy. This movie also shares a few unique distinctions when it comes to not only Disney Animation, but animation as a whole. We guarantee that after you listen to this episode, you will have a whole new view on Brother Bear! | |||
| 21 Jun 2023 | Episode 62: Walt's Weenies | 01:04:29 | |
Welcome to the Weenie Awards! This week we talk all things weenies, the visual magnets that draw us to the various parts of the Disney parks. What’s the worst weenie? What’s the most technical weenie? But most importantly, what are our top 5 favorite Disney weenies? We somehow manage to make it through this episode with minimal giggling. Hallelujah for that! | |||
| 28 Jun 2023 | Episode 63: Ranking Disney Renaissance Songs | 00:57:42 | |
Colors of the Wind, Go the Distance, Beauty and the Beast, Friend Like Me…there's too many to possibly pick from during the glorious musical years of the Disney Renaissance, but that is what we are doing today! We undergo the challenging process of picking our top 10 Disney Renaissance songs. Out of such a jammed packed decade of excellent music, this is a tough, nail-biting experience so we hope you like it! | |||
| 03 Jul 2023 | BONUS Episode: Oogie Boogie Bash Rant | 00:38:04 | |
You asked and we deliver. Here’s a BONUS episode talking or should we say ranting all about the recent Oogie Boogie Bash catastrophe. We recap how the events of the ticket drop day unfolded and why Emily now refuses to look Oogie Boogie in the eye. We make our feelings very clear on this one and don’t hold back. Listen in to hear all about it! | |||
| 05 Jul 2023 | Episode 64: Building Disneyland (Part 8) - Breaking Ground | 01:04:59 | |
All the work of this series now kicks into overdrive. There is less than a year till opening day, and construction has started. We cover the foundational parts of construction today like sewage and water, trees and landscaping, and some unique approaches they had to some problems during construction. But most of all we talk about Walt’s attention to detail through all of it. There wasn’t a stone that would be out of place (quite literally) in his perfect park. | |||
| 12 Jul 2023 | Episode 65: Building Disneyland (Part 9) - Building the Lands | 01:13:15 | |
Construction is swinging into full gear today as we talk about building the opening day lands, Main Street, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland and Frontierland. They got creative during construction trying to stretch every dollar as far as it could go, labeling weeds with latin names or reusing old walnut trees. But at the utmost importance to Walt was that it was done right! Listen in to learn the full story! | |||
| 19 Jul 2023 | Episode 66: Behind The Imagineering Story (A Talk From Leslie Iwerks) | 00:58:19 | |
This was a fun one! We got to sit in a room and listen to the director of The Imagineering Story, Leslie Iwerks. This past weekend she gave a talk at the Walt Disney Family Museum going behind the scenes of what it took to make the magic that is this 6 part miniseries and the book that would follow. This was such an amazing experience and today we talk all about our experience and the highlights of this presentation. | |||
| 26 Jul 2023 | Episode 67: Myth or Fact #1 | 00:55:19 | |
Welcome to Make it Magical Believe it or Not where today we take on Disney urban legends to find what is true and what is myth. From babies being born in the parks and lip licking Frito animatronics to actual skeletons being used in Disneyland Pirates and the origin of the words Imagineering. We have ten fun legends today that we see if Clayton can correctly guess whether or not they are true or legend. | |||
| 02 Aug 2023 | Episode 68: Origins of the Fab Five | 01:05:42 | |
Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy. The fabulous five, some of the most iconic characters to grace the silver screen! Today we go back in time to discuss each character’s humble beginnings before they launched into super stardom and the lovable characters we know today! | |||
| 09 Aug 2023 | Episode 69: Building Disneyland (Part 10) - A Race to the Finish | 00:46:38 | |
We are getting all so close to the closure of our building Disneyland series and the opening of the park, but first we need to finish covering some last minute details around the park and construction! There have been so many different times when it looked bleak that the park would open on time, no more so than weeks before when construction was at a breakneck pace. However, once Walt showed the park to his closest friends and family and he saw the joy it would bring people, he knew all the struggle to get to this point was worth it. Today we cover a variety of last minute stories that bring us to the opening of Disneyland! Check out our guest spot on The DMSW Podcast: | |||
| 16 Aug 2023 | Episode 70: Building Disneyland (Part 11) - Black Sunday | 01:05:12 | |
It is finally here…Opening day for Disneyland, a day that will go down in history for so many reasons. It was here that Walt’s dream that he had been pursuing for so long would finally materialize and would prove to everyone that it was all he had ever promised it would be, but the opening day wouldn’t be without its struggles. Black Sunday as it is known, would see the park at nearly double the capacity they expected with chaotic ride breakdowns and lack of water and food. But through all of it, the park would shine and it would be the start of all the magic we experience in the parks! | |||
| 23 Aug 2023 | Episode 71: Building Disneyland (Part 12) - The Final Chapter | 01:08:43 | |
12 parts later and we are closing the book on the Building Disneyland series. The full journey is complete as we cover the aftermath of Black Sunday, day 2 of park operation, and the lasting legacy of Disneyland. Don’t worry there is plenty of emotional talk this week, as we admire all it took to build Disneyland from dream, to concept, to construction and opening! This was such an amazing journey and we are so glad you followed along with us for all of it! | |||
| 30 Aug 2023 | Episode 72: Our Upcoming WDW Trip | 00:54:01 | |
We’re on a jet plane which means only one thing, we’re on vacation but not just any vacation as a magical trip to Walt Disney World awaits us. It’s been over 4 years now since we’ve last been so we go over all the new exciting things that have come to the park as well as our older favorites that we are most looking forward to this trip! | |||
| 06 Sep 2023 | Episode 73: The Legacy and Making of Tron | 01:06:53 | |
Welcome to the grid, here is your light cycle to aid you in the battle against the Master Control Program. That’s right this week in celebration of us being able to ride Tron Lightcycle Run, we dig deep into the Tron movies and what makes the original so great! | |||
| 13 Sep 2023 | Episode 74: Walt Disney World Trip Recap (Part 1) | 01:02:50 | |
We are back, and now it is time to talk about our Walt Disney World Trip!!! We spent six fun filled days at The Walt Disney World Resort and today we start our trip recap! There was so much that we got done that it looks like this is going to be a multi-parter! Today we go over our Orlando arrival and our Beach Club resort day and our first day in the parks, starting at EPCOT, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow! Listen in as we go over all the things we got done and all that we experienced during our trip! | |||
| 20 Sep 2023 | Episode 75: Walt Disney World Trip Recap (Part 2) | 01:17:04 | |
It’s time for part two of our Disney World trip recap as we head to both Magic Kingdom and Animal kingdom on day three and four! These days were jammed packed with all sorts of fun and we can’t wait to tell you about it today! | |||
| 27 Sep 2023 | Episode 76: Walt Disney World Trip Recap (Part 3) | 01:14:00 | |
The third and final part of our Walt Disney World Trip recap is here covering our last two days in the parks at Hollywood Studios and a second day at Epcot. There is still so much to share that made our trip memorable so we hope you enjoy the conclusion to our trip recap! | |||
| 04 Oct 2023 | Episode 77: Halloween at the Disney Parks | 01:15:16 | |
With the first day of Oct come and gone, it is time to ramp up the spooky season content! This one is a Patreon request so settle in and learn all about the Halloween season at the Disney Parks! Its a spoooktacular good time! | |||
| 11 Oct 2023 | Episode 78: Comparing Disneyland and Walt Disney World Rides | 01:29:24 | |
The moment you all have been waiting for, the definitive and **cough cough** completely unbiased comparison of Disneyland and Walt Disney World rides! Just remember that these are our opinions and please don't get your pitchforks out. | |||
| 18 Oct 2023 | Episode 79: Our Halloween Favorites | 00:52:36 | |
Come join us this week as we discuss our Halloween favorites! This week was super hectic for us so we keep it casual with a chat about our favorite Halloween movies, memories and more! | |||
| 25 Oct 2023 | Episode 80: Cruising on the Disney Wish (with special guest Bailey!) | 01:17:15 | |
Today we answer the question, what is it like cruising on Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, the Wish! We are joined by special guest and friend of the pod, Bailey (@disneybestiebailey) who as a first time cruiser recently experienced the Disney Wish! | |||
| 27 Oct 2023 | Bonus: Once Upon a Studio Breakdown and Deep Dive | 01:00:06 | |
SURPRISE! We’ve got a mega bonus episode for you this week! This is a special one that we felt deserved an entire episode to shine as the center spotlight. We’re talking about the absolute MOUSE-terpiece that is… Once Upon a Studio! This is Disney’s latest short film celebrating their 100 year anniversary as a company. Highly recommend you watch this phenomenal short before listening to this episode. Join us for this fun-filled chat as we dive into behind the scenes magic, fun facts, and dissect just why we love everything about Once Upon a Studio! Amazing job Disney! Keep that creativity going! | |||
| 01 Nov 2023 | Episode 81: Transitions of Disneyland | 01:00:23 | |
Get ready to learn all about the ways Disney tricks our brains! Brought to you by request of a Patreon member, we’re analyzing the clever techniques in which Disneyland transitions its guests between the lands and throughout the park. Stick around to the very end to hear which transitions we consider to be the very best and worst executed. Prepare yourself, I’m sure a Tomorrowland rant somehow works its way into this episode. | |||
| 08 Nov 2023 | Episode 82: Robin Hood 50th Anniversary | 01:34:01 | |
Happy Birthday Robin! Today we celebrate your 50th anniversary on the day of your release Nov 8th, 1973, with a deep dive into all it took to make one of our very own Ghost Host's favorite Disney animated movies! From conception, origins, production and its unique place in Disney animation history, we cover it all today! https://youtu.be/Uf9PMbpH_j8?si=CYkR-aLC4WA_e4Kp Alternate Ending Sequence: https://youtu.be/tA-ZeYxCJPM?si=DiKF3EEnJ1X8JHhL
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| 15 Nov 2023 | Episode 83: Our Favorite Things About Disney Cruise Line | 01:10:13 | |
We are going on a cruise in a little over two weeks and we wanted to share why we have become big fans of Disney Cruise Line! Today we have our top 5 reasons why we love cruising with DCL and why you might want to book one as your next Disney vacation! | |||
| 22 Nov 2023 | Episode 84: Interviewing a Disney Inspired Small Business - Lost Weekend Co!!!! | 00:51:20 | |
We had the distinct pleasure of being joined by a very special guest for today’s episode. Drumroll please….. Kelsey, the founder of Lost Weekend Co! With the launch of her 2024 planners fast approaching, we asked her on the show to tell us all about what it’s like running her own Disney inspired small shop. We chat about everything from her inspiring story, to behind the scenes of her business, and (of course) our love for all things Disney history. Buckle up for a very fun episode filled with tons of laughs! | |||
| 29 Nov 2023 | Episode 85: Uncovering Dapper Day (w/ special guest Christiana!!!) | 00:55:18 | |
Join us as we uncover everything there is to know about the unofficial Disney event called Dapper Day. Have you ever wondered what it’s like participating in Dapper Day? What even is Dapper Day and how has it transformed into this huge event for Disney fans? Well, we had to bring on a very special guest and close friend of the pod, Christiana (@cmdisney_darling), to answer all of these questions and more for today’s episode. Christiana shares all the ins and outs of what it’s like to experience Dapper Day firsthand and may just convince you by the end of this episode to attend one of these events for yourself. | |||
| 06 Dec 2023 | Episode 86: Disney Cruise Trip Recap (Part 1) | 01:02:50 | |
Ahoy mateys! We’re back from sailing on Disney’s first vessel ever built, the Disney Magic, and are so excited to share all about our high seas adventures with you. Join us as we relive the first half of our Disney Cruise Line voyage and go in-depth on all the fun experiences our ship had to offer. We talk dining, entertainment, activities, and even special holiday offerings since this was a Very Merrytime cruise. This is only the beginning, so be sure to tune in next week to get the scoop on the second half of our trip! | |||
| 13 Dec 2023 | Episode 87: Disney Cruise Trip Recap (Part 2) | 01:06:47 | |
We're back on the seven seas this week finishing our recap of our Disney Cruise aboard the Disney Magic! This week we cover our day at Ensenada which also happened to be Pirate Night (arrrr) as well as our only day at sea! Avast me matey's and listen to this week's episode! | |||
| 20 Dec 2023 | Episode 88: Disneyland Holiday Trip Recap | 01:38:22 | |
A very special trip for Emily and Clayton this week as they got to go to Disneyland for the holiday season for the first time in close to a decade! Our first trip to Disneyland ever was during the holiday season, and being able to relive the magic of the holiday season at Disneyland was absolutely magical. This will go down as one of our best trips ever for so many reasons and we are excited to share it with you this week! | |||
| 27 Dec 2023 | Episode 89: The Sword in the Stone 60th Anniversary | 01:24:58 | |
Higitus Figitus! Today’s episode is a medieval-sized celebration of a movie well deserving of all the praise and hitting a huge 60th anniversary milestone…. The Sword in the Stone! We’re diving extra deep today and looking back on the history and production behind this classic Disney animated film! Just as Merlin taught Arthur, it’s time for us to give you a proper education on everything you’ll ever need to know about Disney’s the Sword in the Stone. | |||
| 03 Jan 2024 | Episode 90: Clayton Watches The Rescuers | 01:18:05 | |
The return of Clayton Watches, where this week we have our hands held high to touch the sky and give aid where needed as Clayton watches The Rescuers for the very first time! We dive into the history and production of this highly underrated film and give our thoughts on this forgotten classic. Check out our official website: https://www.makeitmagicalpodcast.com | |||
| 10 Jan 2024 | Episode 91: The Ultimate Disney Song Showdown - Part 1 | 01:15:51 | |
This week we start an impossible task...to determine the best Disney animated movie song of all time. Hundreds will try but only one can be the best! To start us off we look at the Golden through Silver ages of Disney animation, with heavyweights such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan and so many more. The top 4 of this round, will be transported to go up against other Disney decades like the Renaissance and Revival time-periods! | |||
| 17 Jan 2024 | Episode 92: The Ultimate Disney Song Showdown - Part 2 | 01:15:31 | |
The Golden-Silver ages have been settled, so we turn our attention to what is probably the best decade for Disney music...the Renaissance! | |||
