Celebrations Disney Podcast

What if you could go back in time and experience some of your favorite long-gone Disney attractions again? Better still, what if you could visit a park that was filled with those very same attractions? Well, you can't! But that's not going to stop us from dreaming of what could be… So sit back, relax, and join us as we share our wish list for a Retro Disney Park!

We usually focus all the magic to be found at Walt Disney World, but as we all know there are other Disney parks around the globe. Our good friend Jonathan Goodman just returned from a trip to Tokyo Disney, a place that I confess I've never been. I for one can't wait to hear about all the magical surprises that can be found there… So sit back, relax, and join us for a virtual tour of Tokyo Disney!

Every year, as Spring heads into Summer, we celebrate the wonders of nature on Earth Day, an event so important that the Animal Kingdom itself opened on this very day back in 1998. But the home of Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris isn't the only place you can celebrate nature in Walt Disney World… So sit back, relax, and joins us for our special Disney Earth Day Celebration!

There are many emotions we feel when we visit Disney: the joy of watching a Main Street parade or anxiety as we wait for our Tower of Terror elevator to fall. But the most powerful emotions that we experience involve tears….those indescribable moments when are touched by the true magic of Disney. So sit back, relax, get out those hankies, and joins us as we talk about our favorite Disney Crying Moments!

When we think about the reasons why we love visiting the Disney parks, one idea that often comes up is that it's an escape from the everyday world. It's a chance to lose ourselves in classic Disney stories and faraway lands, but how exactly does this happen? Well sit back, relax and join us, as we talk about how the Imagineers create those immersive experiences in Walt Disney World!

We all have them. Those experiences that are always on our list of things to do at Disney. The attractions we always have to visit. That one snack that we always have to have. That one special thing that we always do, without which our Walt Disney World trip just isn't complete.  So sit back, relax and join us, as we talk about our favorite Disney Must-Dos!

The Disney universe is filled with memorable quotes, many by Walt Disney of course (including the one you hear in our opening theme!). But there are hundreds, no, make that thousands more from our favorite characters, songs, and attractions. Some are funny, some are inspirational, but they are all memorable. So sit back, relax and join us, as we talk about our favorite Disney Quotes!

In our last episode, we talked about all the wonderful things that you could see by simply looking up. And as we did so, you may have found yourself wondering, would the opposite be true? Well of course it would be true, would the Imagineers miss an opportunity like that?  So sit back, relax and join us, as we Look Down to see what we can discover in Walt Disney World!

We often lament that it's nearly impossible to see everything when you visit Walt Disney World, but we usually mean attractions. However, that goes for all those little details we see throughout the parks. We often find ourselves looking left, right, forward, backward, even down at our feet. But what about above our heads? Well sit back, relax and join us, as we Look Up in Walt Disney World!

If you've ever visited the Animation Academy to learn how to draw your favorite Disney character, you may recall that you started out with simple shapes. Circles, ovals, triangles. From these basic beginnings, we can see how animators and Imagineers have created amazing things both on-screen and in the parks. So sit back, relax and join us, as we talk about shapes at Walt Disney World!

As we celebrate the arrival of 2025, this is when we make those all-important New Years resolutions. But let's do it Disney style! From attractions we keep meaning to visit, to those movies that we just haven't seen yet, this is the year we're going to make it all happen. So sit back, relax and join us, as we share with you, our New Year's Disney Resolutions!

This is the time of year when the North Pole is flooded with letters to Santa. Besides the usual “Here's what I want for Christmas,” Santa gets all kinds of questions. How do reindeer fly? What is your favorite cookie? We hear that Mickey and his friends also get asked many Christmas-related questions…. So sit back relax and join us as we dive into our Disney Christmas Letter Bag!

With visions of turkey and pumpkin pie replaced by sugar plums and holiday lights, the Christmas season is now upon us. This will be the first of two yuletide shows that we'll be sharing with you before Santa's big day, and we'll kick things off by Imagineering our own ideas for holiday festivities in the parks. So sit back relax and join us as we come up with our own version of a Very Merry Disney Christmas!

We all have our preferences when it comes to Disney. Which parks we prefer, which movies we like. Even little things like which snack is our go-to choice, and what's our favorite way to get to the parks. We thought we would have some fun by posing a series of no-thought-required questions which all come down to deciding which option you prefer. So sit back relax and join us as we play a game of Which One…with a special Disney twist.

In previous episodes we've talked about the rain and sun and, yes, even the snow at Walt Disney World. But tonight we're going to get a little more basic, a little more fundamental, in short, a little more elemental. So sit back relax and join us as we talk about our favorite Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water moments at Walt Disney World.

The Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, and Pirates of the Caribbean make for a perfectly chilling Halloween trio. But what if these attractions followed a different development path? What might they have been like? Tonight we're going to explore this very question… So sit back, relax, and join us for some ghoulishly delightful Halloween reimagineering!

Now that the calendar is turning to October, everyone is getting ready for the spooky season. At Celebrations, we're busy getting ready for our big Halloween show coming up in just a few weeks. But why wait until then? We thought we'd kick off this month of frights by going back in the Celebrations vault and revisiting our very first Halloween episode that we recorded many years ago. So climb aboard those Doom Buggies and join us as we revisit those happy haunts of old…

This year‘s D23 Expo was filled with amazing announcements; everything from a Monsters, Inc. roller coaster to a new Cars-themed land. But it's safe to say that, for most people, the most exciting announcement was that of a new land coming to the Magic Kingdom, a Villains Land. However, apart from some concept art, very few details were actually revealed. Not to fear though! Tonight, we're going to fill in some of those blanks as best as we can, so sit back, relax, and join us as we talk about our wish list for the upcoming Villains Land.

The end of summer can only mean one thing. Pumpkins. Autumn leaves. Jack-o'-lantern's a-plenty. OK, it means several things. But one thing it also means is the annual announcement of all the wonderful additions coming to Disney parks around the world, specifically those coming to Walt Disney World in Florida. There's lots to talk about… So sit back, relax, and join us as we recap the incredible announcements that Disney shared at D23!

Tonight, we're going to leave the familiar surroundings of Florida and make our way across the Atlantic, courtesy of the most magical cruise ever to take place on the Seven Seas. No, we're not talking about “it's a small world.” Instead, our very own Rachel Comande will be sharing all her magical moments from her recent trip aboard the Disney Cruise Line!  So sit back, relax and join us, as we set out on the open seas, Disney style.

One of the great things about riding a Disney attraction or watching a Disney film is the moment when we're surprised. Sometimes it's with an unexpected twist, or in a fun detail that we notice for the first time. And sometimes it's the appearance of a familiar face, from another time, or another place… So sit back, relax, and join us, as explore the cameos of Disney!

With Inside Out 2 grabbing all the well-deserved headlines these days, we thought we would take a trip back in time to the original film, and explore the parks with the help of five special friends who will help us experience Disney through all the highs and the lows and everything in between… So sit back, relax, and join us, as we take Riley's Emotions to Walt Disney World!

“Let's go upstairs” might not be the first phrase that comes to mind when you think about Disney, but surprisingly, there's quite a bit of magic to be found by taking the stairs, the escalator, or the elevator up to the next floor. But what will we find? Tonight, we're going to find out… So sit back, relax, and join us as we explore the second floors of Walt Disney World.

In our last episode, we began a journey of exploration, to discover those little sparks of imagination that can be found throughout the parks, inspired by Figment and Dreamfinder. Tonight, we carry on with part two of our imaginative adventure, beginning with the Performing Arts…  So sit back, relax, and join us as we continue our tour of Walt Disney World, inspired by Journey Into Imagination.

We're always looking for that "One Little Spark," that one moment of inspiration that sets us on a path to discover something new, or to create that magical piece of art. But where do we find them? How do we tap into them? Thankfully, I know a pair who specialize in this sort of thing… So sit back, relax, and join us (and Dreamfinder and Figment!) as we take a tour around Walt Disney World, inspired by Journey Into Imagination.

One of the great things about Disney is that there is so much to do, it's nearly impossible to do everything in one trip, let alone a lifetime. Even after years and years of trips, it continually amazes us just how many things there are that we haven't done yet…for a variety of reasons which we'll explore tonight. So sit back, relax, and join us as we talk about: Walt Disney World Experiences That We Haven't Done

There are many components that go into bringing a land to life. It could be the background music, or larger-than-life props. It might be sounds, or colors, or architecture. But there's another special tool that Imagineers can use, one that can bring a refreshing sense of tranquility to an otherwise ordinary setting. So sit back, relax, and join us as we talk about: Our Favorite Water Features at Walt Disney World!

Walt Disney once said, “I love the nostalgic myself. I hope we never lose some of the things of the past.” While it's always exciting to hear about the changes that are always coming to Disney, sometimes it's just as much fun to look back with a touch of nostalgia. To remember those special moments that made us fall in love with Disney in the first place.  So sit back, relax, and join us, as we take a look back at some of our all-time favorite attractions at Walt Disney World!

How often has this happened to you? You're all set to take a leisurely journey through an exotic landscape, a scenic trip back through time, or a casual jaunt to a nearby alien world. Suddenly, the warning sirens blare, we come to a sudden halt, and we realize that those Imagineers have tricked us again.  So sit back, relax, and join us as we get ready to share some good old Disney magic. What could possibly go wrong?

The month of April may be well-known for bringing us those Spring showers that lead to May flowers, but there is something else that it brings…that one day a year where we are allowed, nay encouraged, to make jokes, and to revel in the delights of just having some good, clean fun.  So sit back, relax, and join us as we celebrate April Fool's Day – Disney style!

In our last episode, we began our 2024 March Madness Disney Tournament, in which we assembled a field of 64 classic films and put them head-to-head to see which one would emerge as the true champion. Now it's time to see what movies made it to our Final Four, and ultimately, which one would win. We also thought it would be fun to hold a second tournament…and for this one we decided to invite a special guest. We'll save that surprise for the second half of our show, but suffice it say it will involve Hidden Mickeys…   So sit back, relax, and join us as we continue on with the second and final part of our March Madness Disney Tournament!

March means that the Flower & Garden Festival is underway, which also means that spring is just around the corner. But in the world of college sports, it also means March Madness, the tournament of 64 where a new champion is crowned. Well, we're going to bring your our very own Disney version of this tradition,  So sit back, relax, and join us as we begin our two-part March Madness Disney Tournament!

A quick look at the calendar tells us that this is the year 2024, and those of you with a mathematical mind will notice that 2024 is divisible by four. Why is that so significant? That makes this year a leap year, which means we get an extra day of Disney Magic, which we will commemorate in our own, unusual way. So sit back, relax, and join us as we celebrate a Disney Leap Year!

There's no better way to come up with a question we've never been asked before then by leaving those questions up to chance. Inspired by a recent trip to Journey Into Imagination, and specifically Figment's slot machine in the Smell Lab, we've come up our own device that will determine the questions that we will answer tonight. But just how will we do? What will those mysterious questions be? It's time to find out…. So sit back, relax, and join us for a fun-filled spin on the Wheel of Disney Magic!

One of the most beloved attractions in all of Walt Disney World can be found in the heart of Adventureland, where unsuspecting Guests set sail through a dank and musty cave in search of gold doubloons, silver chalices, Aztec gold, and other assorted treasures. Are you ready for that horizon? Then sit back, relax, sing a chorus of “Yo Ho, Yo Ho” and join us as we talk about: Pirates of the Caribbean!

With this year's Festival of the Arts underway in EPCOT, we thought we would talk about that most basic of artistic concepts…color. Many of our favorite characters and attractions have strong associations with color, though often times we take that association for granted. But not tonight!   So sit back, relax and join us as we talk about the Wonderful World of Disney color!

As we say goodbye to 2023 and begin the New Year, this is the time when we all make those New Year's Resolutions. We will do just that tonight, Disney style of course, but we also wanted to talk about beginnings, both old and new…again, with that magical Disney Twist. So sit back, relax, and join us as we talk about: Our Favorite Disney Beginnings!

The holiday season brings with it many beloved traditions. From family get-togethers and festive dinners to snowball fights and neighborhood caroling, there's lots to keep us busy until Santa arrives. But there's one tradition that we can all enjoy from the comfort of our living room chairs…Tonight we'll talk about our favorites, our surprise entries, and even our ideas for Christmas movies we think they should make, inspired by our favorite films or Disney attractions. Now I was just handed a report that Santa's sleigh was seen flying over Nova Scotia, so we'd better get started.  So sit back, relax and join us as we talk about our Favorite Christmas Movies!!

Far from the nostalgic charm of Main Street U.S.A. and the futuristic landscapes of Tomorrowland, there lies a land filled with exotic destinations, mysterious jungles, and the sweet scent of pineapple wafting through the air. I can almost hear those distant drums beating now…  So sit back, relax and join us as we take a magical tour through Adventureland!

With Halloween safely behind us and the promise of yuletide joy beckoning us just a few short weeks away, there's another holiday that we don't want to overlook, and that's Thanksgiving. No, there's no “Mickey's-Pass-the-Turkey-Thanksgiving-Party” to go to, but that doesn't mean we still can't celebrate this festive time of year in true Disney fashion. As we're all recovering from our turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie, we thought we would extend the Thanksgiving festivities a little while longer by going around the podcast table and talking about the things that WE at Celebrations are most thankful for, with a Disney twist of course.   So sit back, relax and join us as we celebrate a Disney Thanksgiving!

This is part three of our 100 Year Celebration series, during which we've travelled through time to explore the significant moments and magical milestones of Disney's first century. In our last episode we talked about the opening of Walt Disney World, which now leads us into the 1980s and a new park… So sit back, relax and join us as we wrap up our Disney 100 celebration!

We're going to take a slight detour from our 100 Year Celebration series for a Very Special (and Spooky!) Halloween episode. When you think of Halloween and Disney, naturally your thoughts go to two legendary and scary attractions. They are both frighteningly fantastic of course, but which is the true Halloween champ? Tonight we're going to try and find out… So sit back, relax (as best you can) and join us as we try to settle the score, the Haunted Mansion or the Tower of Terror!

In our previous episode, which was part one of our special 100th Anniversary celebration, we explored Disney's earliest years, beginning with the story of two brothers, a little girl named Alice, a rabbit of good fortune named Oswald, and, of course, a rather famous mouse. Tonight, we pick up our journey with the dawning of the 1950s, so sit back, relax, and join us as we continue our celebration of Disney's first 100 years!

This month marks Disney's 100th year of making magic. The celebrations are under way at Disney parks around the world, and in this special two-part episode, we're going to hop in our way back machines and take a look at all those milestones in Disney history, decade by decade, beginning with two brothers and a tiny cartoon studio.  In Part One of this special episode, we'll being our journey in the 1920s, so sit back, relax, and join us as we celebrate “100 Years of Disney Magic!”

Our inspiration for this show comes from Disney's famous Fab Five: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. We thought it might be fun to take this idea and take it beyond the classic animated characters. There are plenty of other Disney categories that lend themselves to a “best of the best' type of list, and we thought we'd gather around the table and come up with a few. So sit back, relax, and join us as we come up with our Disney Fab Five Lists!

There are all sorts of fun activities you can do in the resorts and parks, from games and scavenger hunts to fun-filled interactive adventures. You can even enjoy that Disney gaming magic in the comfort of your own home. Tonight, we're going to talk about some of our favorites... So sit back, relax and join us as we talk about Fun and Games at Walt Disney World!

Every Disney resort, restaurant, and shop is themed to the max, from the Victorian splendor of the Grand Floridian to the Outer Rim trappings of Tatooine Traders. But did you ever stop to wonder if you could do better? Tonight, we're going to put on our interior decorating hats and talk about the ways in which WE would renovate, refurbish and redesign our favorite Disney attractions and resorts. So let's pull out those design dream boards, get out our tool boxes, and roll up our sleeves as we share our favorite Disney Makeover ideas!

When you head out for your Disney Day, there's lots of things you usually check. The weather. Those dining reservations. What time are my Lightning Lane passes? But as Edna Mode would tell is, the most important thing about planning our outing is that we need to look good! Tonight, we're going to explore the world of Disney fashion, from the costumes worn by our favorite characters to the whimsical outfits WE might wear as we head out for our day in the parks. So sit back, relax and join us as we talk about: Our Favorite Disney Fashions!

Over the course of our previous 92 shows, we've sometimes run out of time to answer all of our questions. But just like with Disney Imagineering, no good idea here gets discarded, it just gets set aside for future consideration. And that future, is tonight! As we continue to prepare for our upcoming two-part Disney100 anniversary shows in October, we thought we would take the opportunity to clean the slate of those unanswered questions, and see if can get them all answered in one fell swoop. So sit back, relax and join us as we round up 20 Questions about all things Disney!

It's so easy to talk about those favorite Disney attractions and restaurants, after all there's a seemingly endless list to choose from. But Walt Disney World is also filled with buried treasures…the ones that deserve just as much fanfare as their more famous counterparts.  So sit back, relax and join us as we talk about our Favorite Under Appreciated Disney Experiences!

When we talk about Disney touring tips, one of our first topics is usually how to keep cool. But it occurs to us that this is Florida, and Florida does offer up lots of sunshine. With that in mind, tonight we're going to celebrate that shining globe of warmth and golden goodness….  So sit back, relax and join us as we talk about our Favorite Fun in the Sun Disney Moments!