The holidays are one of our favorite times to visit Walt Disney World—from festive decorations and special characters to holiday treats and even snow on Main Street!

A few weeks ago, we headed to Florida to experience two after-hours holiday events: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom and Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios.

In this episode, we break down what each party does best—and where they fall short.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Highlights from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 🎅
• What makes Jollywood Nights unique (and very different) 🎶
• Holiday characters, food, entertainment, and atmosphere at each event
• Which party surprised us the most
• And ultimately… which one is our favorite 👀

If you’re trying to decide which Disney holiday party is right for you, this episode will help you plan the perfect festive night.

Submit a question/topic for us to discuss on a future episode.

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Missing the smell of the parks? Check out Magic Candle Company and use code ENCHANTED at checkout to save 15% off your next order.

Timestamps

Welcome 00:00

Taking a Different Approach to the Christmas Parties 01:22

Why You HAVE TO Ride Space Mountain During the Party 09:27

Is This the Best Version of the Disney Parks? 11:43

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade 15:44

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Offerings 18:48

Meeting Jack and Sally 25:05

Jollywood Nights 31:44

Getting Stuck on Rise of the Resistance 34:14

The Difference Between Jollywood and Very Merry 41:02

All the Character Meet and Greets at Jollywood Nights 44:19

The Entertainment Options at Jollywood Nights 46:11

Disney’s Holiday in Hollywood Show 53:06

Which Party Should You Go To? 58:48

What’s Your Favorite After Hours Disney Event? 1:06:23

Big news from Disney! This week, Disney dropped major updates about all the new attractions coming to Walt Disney World in 2026, and we’re breaking down everything you can look forward to next year.

From flying the Millennium Falcon with Grogu to rocking out with the Muppets, there’s a lot of new magic on the horizon for Disney fans and theme park lovers alike.

In this episode, we cover:

• Every confirmed attraction coming to Disney World in 2026 🎢
• What’s next for Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom
• Our reactions and predictions for how these updates could change the parks
• Which projects we’re most excited to see come to life

It’s an exciting time to be a Disney fan—so grab your Mickey ears and get ready for a sneak peek at the future of the parks!

Submit a question/topic for us to discuss on a future episode.

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Missing the smell of the parks? Check out Magic Candle Company and use code ENCHANTED at checkout to save 15% off your next order.

Timestamps

Welcome 00:00

Disney Announced a Lot This Week 00:37

Updates to Frozen Ever After 02:58

Everything New in Spring 2026 05:07

Bluey is Coming to Animal Kingdom?!? 15:34

Muppets Taking Over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster 22:36

What Are We Most Excited For? 24:14

Early Predictions for D23 Announcements 31:33

What Are You Most Excited For? 38:30

Today we’re heading to paradise—Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawai‘i! It’s one of only three standalone Disney resorts in the world and a masterclass in immersive theming and storytelling.

We’ll explore the fascinating history behind Aulani, from its cultural inspiration to how Imagineers infused Hawaiian traditions with Disney magic. Then we’re joined by Becky from Disney in Your Day, who shares first-hand details from her recent stay.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Becky’s first impressions of Aulani 🏝️
• Whether the resort is just for Disney fans or for anyone who loves Hawai‘i
• How Aulani compares to the theme-park experience
• Why it might deserve a spot on your Disney bucket list ✨

If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Aulani—or just want a virtual escape to paradise—this episode will take you there.

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Looking to book a Disney trip with Becky? Reach out to Beckyg@castledreamstravel.com for a free quote.

Timestamps

Welcome 00:00

History of Aulani

Welcome Back Becky! 07:43

First Impressions of Aulani 10:05

Is the Resort TOO Disney? 11:55

Things to Do Around the Resort 12:37

Why Planning is More Difficult 17:32

Off Property Activities 21:24

Becky’s Aulani Food Review 23:30

How Does Aulani Compare to the Theme Parks? 29:12

What Would You Do Differently? 30:56

Should Aulani Be on Your Bucket List? 33:14

Race in Every State 34:26

Final Planning Tips 36:21

Let Us Know if You’ve Been to Aulani? 38:28

⚡️ Lightning Lane, Standby, or Skip? It’s the ultimate Disney attraction showdown!

In this episode, we play a brand-new game where we take groups of three Disney rides and decide which one deserves a Lightning Lane, which we’d wait in standby, and which we’d skip altogether (sorry, not everything’s a must-do!).

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Our picks for the must-ride attractions worth a Lightning Lane 💥
• Which rides are fine to wait for in standby 🎢
• The controversial skips that might shock Disney fans 😬
• Heated debates and surprising choices from all four parks

So grab your park map and play along—tell us your Lightning Lane, Standby, or Skip lineup!

Submit a question/topic for us to discuss on a future episode.

Don’t forget to check us out on:

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Missing the smell of the parks? Check out Magic Candle Company and use code ENCHANTED at checkout to save 15% off your next order.

Timestamps

Welcome 00:00

Classic Dark Rides 01:41

EPCOT 06:47

Become an Enchanted Ears Insiders for Bonus Episodes 14:20

Toy Story Land 14:44

Rides That Could Use an Update 20:03

Animal Kingdom 26:43

Tell Us Your Picks 32:06

From dishwasher at Disneyland to legendary Disney Imagineer. In this episode, Kevin Rafferty shares how a last-minute choice launched his Imagineering career and the storytelling secrets behind some of Disney’s most iconic attractions.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• How a spur-of-the-moment decision kick-started Kevin’s Imagineering journey
• The original concept for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• What it was like collaborating with Aerosmith on Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster
• The step-by-step process of developing Cars Land—from blue-sky to grand opening

If you love Imagineering history, creative process deep dives, and behind-the-scenes Disney stories, this one’s pure pixie dust.

Submit a question/topic for us to discuss on a future episode.

Don’t forget to check us out on:

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Missing the smell of the parks? Check out Magic Candle Company and use code ENCHANTED at checkout to save 15% off your next order.

Check out Kevin's book here

Timestamps

Welcome 00:00

Kevin’s Go To Karaoke Song 02:12

The Start of an Incredible Career 04:19

Learning from the Original Imagineers 15:00

Becoming a Show Writer 17:44

Kevin’s Potential Second Career 22:30

Bringing Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway to Life 23:26

How Do Story and Ride Mechanics Work Together? 33:07

Kevin’s Favorite Easter Egg 37:59

Kevin’s Disney Favorites 40:42

A Disneyland Love Story 44:30

Working with Jim Henson on MuppetVision 3D 47:22

Celebrity Stories from Imagineering 50:22

Creating Cars Land 56:58

Looking to the Movies for Inspiration 1:07:07

Was There an Attraction Kevin Wanted to Build? 1:11:32

Adding Walt to Carousel of Progress 1:13:48

Kevin’s Favorite Attraction He Worked On 1:16:49

Kevin’s Advice to Future Imagineers 1:23:02

Have you ever wondered how your favorite movies are made? Today, we’re going behind the scenes of the VFX process with Eric Kimelton, a visual effects supervisor who’s helped bring countless on-screen worlds to life.

In this episode, Eric breaks down:

• How VFX artists help directors visualize every shot before filming even begins
• What goes into building digital environments you see on screen
• How advancements in technology are transforming visual effects
• Why collaboration between artists, directors, and editors is the key to movie magic ✨

If you love learning how film magic is made—or just want to better appreciate the work behind your favorite Disney, Marvel, or blockbuster movies—this is a fascinating deep dive into the world of VFX.

Submit a question/topic for us to discuss on a future episode.

Don’t forget to check us out on:

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Missing the smell of the parks? Check out Magic Candle Company and use code ENCHANTED at checkout to save 15% off your next order.

Timestamps

Welcome 00:00

Welcome Back Eric 03:08

How Eric Got Started in Visual Effects 05:11

How Movies are Made Completely Digitally First 9:42

Live Action vs. Animated Movies 17:47

The Benefits of Motion Capture Performances 22:31

The Production Process 26:40

Designing Characters 32:27

Creating the Final Scene 36:53

Editing Up To the Last Minute 47:12

The Impact of Reshoots on the Visual Effects Process 48:58

The Impact of Technology and AI 50:56

How to Start in the VFX Industry 53:38

Who Should We Interview Next? 59:49

From zombies to werewolves to aliens, the Zombies franchise just kept getting bigger, bolder, and more fun. But how do you build a world that wild—and still make it relatable?

This week, we’re joined by Paul Hoen, the director behind Disney’s Zombies films, to pull back the curtain on how it all came together.

In this episode, Paul shares:

• How he landed the director’s chair for the first Zombies movie 🎬
• The creative process behind shaping Seabrook’s colorful world
• What it takes to bring those massive musical numbers to life
• The deeper themes that connect the entire franchise
• And yes, we had to ask… could there be a Zombies 5? 👀

Whether you’re team zombie, team werewolf, team alien, or team cheerleader, this is a must-listen for any Disney fan who loves learning what happens behind the camera.

Submit a question/topic for us to discuss on a future episode.

Don’t forget to check us out on:

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Missing the smell of the parks? Check out Magic Candle Company and use code ENCHANTED at checkout to save 15% off your next order.

Timestamps

Welcome 00:00

How Paul’s Career Got Started 03:22

Making Movies That Resonate 07:03

The Themes of the Zombies Franchise 12:30

Planning a Trilogy? 17:23

What’s Up with Addison’s Hair? 18:22

Keeping Zombies Fresh in a World of Musicals 21:51

Finding the Cast 24:29

Behind the Scenes of Making the Movies 28:09

Paul’s Favorite Moment 40:37

Pitching Our Favorite Zombies Theories 42:51

Is All of This Just Happening in Seabrook? 51:27

Cut Storylines 52:32

Will There Be a Zombies 5? 55:48

What’s Your Favorite Zombies Movie? 1:00:19

Everyone knows going to Disney World is expensive—but how expensive depends on how you plan. In this episode, we explore what different Disney trips look like at four very different budgets: $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Is it possible to take your family to Disney World for under $1,000?
• What do you gain (and what do you lose) with a $5,000 trip?
• What does a $25,000 “ultimate Disney vacation” actually look like?
• How much of your budget goes to tickets, Lightning Lanes, food, hotels, and merch
• Tips for setting realistic expectations for your own Disney trip

Whether you’re planning on a tight budget or dreaming big, this episode will help you see the magic in every kind of Disney vacation.

Submit a question/topic for us to discuss on a future episode.

Don’t forget to check us out on:

-Instagram

-Facebook

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Missing the smell of the parks? Check out Magic Candle Company and use code ENCHANTED at checkout to save 15% off your next order.

Timestamps

Welcome 00:00

Pricing Out Your Disney World Vacation 01:19

$1,000 Trip 03:38

$5,000 Disney Vacation 11:51

$10,000 Family Vacation 17:31

Disney World Park Refresh Rotation 24:52

Trip Add Ons 30:52

$25,000 Once in a Lifetime Disney World Vacation 34:08

Go To Restaurants 42:36

Can You Have Too Much Disney? 46:35