Magic Our Way - Artistic Buffs Talkin' Disney Stuff

On this show, we review Lilo & Stitch, the 2025 live-action remake of their 2002 animated film. This is Walt Disney Pictures' latest offering for the 2025 summer blockbuster movie season, whose official date of release in the United States was on Friday, May 23, 2025. We present our review in two parts: non-spoiler and spoiler-filled, and give you ample warning before going into the spoiler-filled part. What do you think of this movie? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com or call at 815-669-4226, or slide into our social media DMs. Every thought and opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #578.

Rachel had the opportunity to visit Universal Epic Universe with her family during the travel agent previews at the end of April 2025. This is part 3 of 3 episodes discussing her first-hand experience in Universal's new park. In this episode, we discuss the world of Dark Universe! Check out show #575 to hear about Super Nintendo World, and show #576 to hear all about Dark Universe. What questions do you have about Universal Epic Universe? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com or call at 815-669-4226 or slide into our social media DMs. Every thought and opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #577.

Rachel had the opportunity to visit Universal Epic Universe with her family during the travel agent previews at the end of April 2025. This is part 2 of 3 episodes discussing her first-hand experience in Universal's new park. In this episode, we discuss the world of Dark Universe! Check out show #575 to hear about Super Nintendo World and show #577 to hear about How To Train Your Dragon and The Battle at the Ministry. What questions do you have about Dark Universe? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com or call at 815-669-4226 or slide into our social media DMs. Every thought and opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #576.

Rachel had the opportunity to visit Universal Epic Universe with her family during the travel agent previews at the end of April 2025. This is part 1 of 3 episodes discussing her first-hand experience in Universal's new park. In this episode, we discuss the unfortunate state of the older Universal Florida parks, the logistics to consider when going to Epic Universe, and their experiences in Super Nintendo World, including a lesson you may benefit from. The following two episodes will address the rest of the worlds of Universal Epic Universe. What do you think of these stories of bad behavior? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com or call at 815-669-4226 or slide into our social media DMs. Every thought and opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #575.

It's time for another episode about bad behavior in the Disney Parks. We were planning to discuss any Disney news that might have taken place in the past couple of weeks during which we covered Universal Epic Universe, but there was absolutely nothing of significance to report…outside of these stories of people being bad in the most magical and the happiest places on Earth. What do you think of these stories of bad behavior? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com or call at 815-669-4226 or slide into our social media DMs. Every thought and opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #574.

Well, it is confirmed: the Magic Our Way podcast will be traveling to Florida at the end of April and the beginning of June. In both cases, we have the opportunity to visit Universal Epic Universe for the first time. Last week (Show #572), we conducted some initial planning to determine what we wanted to see. On this episode, we discuss our favorite topic: FOOD! Not everything will be discussed, as Universal has not released any official menus; however, we do see influencers posting about various foods they have tried. What are some food things you want to try for your first trip to Universal Epic Universe? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com or call at 815-669-4226 or slide into our social media DMs. Every thought and opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #573.

Well, it is confirmed: the Magic Our Way podcast will be traveling to Florida at the end of April and the beginning of June. In both cases, we have the opportunity to visit Universal Epic Universe for the first time. Understanding that there is a possibility that we may not see everything in one day, Rachel takes us through an exercise she conducts with clients to help us prioritize what we would like to experience in each world of Epic Universe. What is one thing you would want to prioritize for your first trip to Universal Epic Universe? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com or call at 815-669-4226 or slide into our social media DMs. Every thought and opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #572.

For this show, we discuss which attractions would benefit significantly if audio-animatronics were added. We each pick an attraction and present our high-level ideas of what that would look like. Plus, we go off on some tangents, including exploring which live-action Spider-Man is the best and male anatomy. Which attraction would benefit from added audio-animatronics? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com or call at 815-669-4226 or slide into our social media DMs. Every thought and opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #571.

Planning to visit the theme parks sometime during 2025? When Rachel helps you plan for your next Florida theme park vacation, here are some things to consider. We discuss ways to save money with new promotions; let you know of new attractions, shows, and lounges; and make you aware of new Universal Epic Universe options. What do you think of all this stuff? Do you have any travel questions for Rachel? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com or call at 815-669-4226 or slide into our social media DMs. Every thought and opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #570.

Magic Our Way is a podcast that welcomes all thoughts and opinions. In this episode, we respond to all of our listener communication from various platforms. We have voicemails, emails, and text messages to respond to, plus we have some listeners that slide into our DMs. We may not make it through all of them, but we hope you enjoy our attempt to catch up. Do you have a thought or opinion for us? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com or call at 815-669-4226 or slide into any of our social media DMs. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #569.

In this episode, we discuss all the Disney Live Entertainment spectaculars coming to the Disney Parks in Summer 2025. We are getting parades, water shows, projection shows, cavalcades, and fireworks…some new ones and some returning old ones. We discussed World of Color Happiness, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, Paint the Night, and much, much more! Are any of these spectaculars enough to make you book a Disney vacation for this summer? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #568.

On Saturday, March 8th, 2025, the Disney Experiences and Disney Entertainment divisions co-presented at the 2025 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference in Austin, Texas. In this presentation, Disney discussed the ongoing collaboration of those divisions where Disney film/television/gaming inspire experiences in the Disney Parks and vice versa. The topics discussed focused mainly on the Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar properties. What did you think about Disney's presentation? What did you like? What were you hoping for? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #567.

Throughout history, there have been several instances in which professional wrestling and Disney have crossed paths. We explore four such instances in the Disney Parks, from attractions to film and television. Hear about Hulk Hogan's short acting career and one wrestler's phallic gimmick. Catch the first two stories on show #565. What wrestling and Disney memories can you recall? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #566.

Throughout history, there have been several instances in which professional wrestling and Disney have crossed paths. We explore four such instances in the Disney Parks, from attractions to film and television. Hear about a grandma who is a wrestling fan and about when wrestling was an “attraction.” What wresting and Disney memories can you recall? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #565.

With all the recent closures at Walt Disney World, we take a second to discuss which departing attractions we will miss the most. We choose from a curated list of closures from 2024 through 2025 into 2026: Frontierland Shooting Arcade, MuppetVision 3D, It's Tough To Be A Bug, The Boneyard, Dinosaur, and Tom Sawyer's Island. Which closure from recent times will you miss the most? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #564.

Magic Our Way presents the fictional, or creative, backstory of Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney's Animal Kingdom over in Walt Disney World. This is not the real history of the design and development of this land but rather the fictional story created by the Imagineers to tie everything together. You'll hear about Dr. Dunn, Chester and Hester Diggs, and Dr. Helen Marsh. The backstory is forever preserved in this podcast. What do you think about this backstory? How do you feel about the closing of Chester and Hester's Dino-Rama? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #563.

In this episode, we discuss the closure of Jellyrolls at Disney's Boardwalk and what it could mean for that area. Plus, Rachel provides us with some tips for touring the Disney Parks during those cold weather days. What cold weather tips do you have? How do you feel about the closing of Jellyrolls? We would love to hear from you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #562.

For the first time in 2025, we present the first of several episodes of Bad Behavior in Disney, tales of shenanigans from the House of Mouse. In this episode, we present the Menu Hacker, the Skyliner Flasher, and the Angry Nurse. What do you think of these stories? We would love to hear from you if you. Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #562.

The Disneyland Resort in California reopened its Haunted Mansion attraction with new features. We focus on the new bride in the attic and much more. What do you think of the new Haunted Mansion bride? We would love to hear from you if you have witnessed all the new things. Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #560.

It is time for Ask A Travel Agent, the segment where your travel planning questions are answered. Fully aware that vacation planning for 2025 is upon us, Rachel presents some frequently asked questions from her clients and answers questions submitted by our listeners. What questions do you have for our travel agent? What answers do you have for some of the questions? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #559.

This episode presents five reasons to consider visiting Walt Disney World over Universal Epic Universe in 2025. Sure, you may think, “oh, a Disney-fan podcast telling us to go to Disney instead of Universal. Surprise, surprise!” We acknowledge that 2025 is the year of Universal Epic Universe and are excited to see that park. However, one should consider waiting a little while before venturing to Epic Universe. These are our top 5 reasons to wait. What did you think of our discussion? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #558.

Happy New Year 2025 to all! For our first release for 2025, we present our first annual Magic Our Way MOWrockin' Eve. We discuss past New Year's celebrations in the Disney Parks: Pleasure Island, Baby New Year & the Matterhorn, an Adventurers Club reunion, and swanky California Grill festivities. Have you ever been to the Disney Parks for New Year's? We want to know how it went. Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #557.

For our final release for 2024, we present our Disney Naughty or Nice Lists, our version of a year, or ear, in review show. In the spirit of Tally the Elf, we reflect on the year Disney has had to determine if they belong on our naughty or nice list for 2024. We reflect on everything from theme parks to movies and people. How do you think Disney did for 2024? What items are on your naughty or nice lists? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #556.

In this episode, Rachel talks about the rest of her adults-only vacation to Walt Disney World. This is what she did outside of Jollywood Nights. If you want to hear more about Jollywood Nights, check out episode #551. Hear about her old-fashioned escapades and their tasty treats at the 2024 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. We got all the ups and downs of this trip. What do you think? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #555.

There are new food and drink offerings at Oga's Cantina at the Black Spire Outpost in Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. Hear our thoughts on these new offerings and whether this is enough to get us back in there. Also, we beta-test a game on this show: Disney Password. What do you think about the new Oga's Cantina offerings? Also, would you like to play our version of the Disney Password game? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #554.

We discuss Moana 2, the Walt Disney Animations Studios offering for the 2024 holiday season, whose official release in the United States was on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. As always, we present our review in two parts: non-spoiler and spoiler-filled. We give you ample warning before going into the spoiler-filled part to give you a chance to hit pause and go see the movie. Then, come back and finish the show to hear the rest of our thoughts. What did you think about Moana 2? What did we nail? What did we miss? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #553.

MuppetVision 3D is closing to make way for Monsters Inc. Land. Plus, Aerosmith is moving out of Rockin' Roller Coaster, and the Muppets are moving in. Disney dropped a bombshell the weekend before Thanksgiving in the USA, and we present our thoughts and opinions on these matters. What do you think about all of this? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #552.

It's Disney Jollywood Nights' second year, and Rachel gives us 5+2 highlights from her recent experience. Hear about the improvements made to this after-hours party event and see if it is worth the visit. What are your thoughts about Jollywood Nights? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #551.

We discuss Disney news on this episode. We first discuss Tiana's $799 New Year's Eve Adventure and what to expect - food and all. Then, with Trump expected to win, we once again discuss the implications on the Hall of Presidents. Lastly, we discuss the announcement of another Star Wars trilogy, this time by Simon Kinberg. What are your thoughts on any of these subjects? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #550.

It's part 2 of our 2024 Halloween show! This year, we armchair Imagineer a restaurant and an attraction for Villians Land in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. This show is in two parts. For Part 1, Eli and Rachel present their plan.s. For Part 2, Danny and Kevin present their plans. What do you think about our creations? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #549.

It's time for our 2024 Halloween show! This year, we armchair imagineer a restaurant and an attraction for Villians Land in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. This show is in two parts. For Part 1, Eli and Rachel present their plans. For Part 2, Danny and Kevin present their plans. What do you think about our creations? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #548.

We discuss the reality of the Lightning Lane Premier Pass two weeks after releasing a show discussing the rumor of this new line bypass system. It is real! The rumors have come true! Learn what this bypass system is about, see if our speculations were accurate, and find out what we think. What are your thoughts on the Lightning Lane Premier Pass? Are you buying this? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #547.

We have a “showgasbord” for you on this episode: emails, news articles, and Magical a-Musings. We discuss the meal prep kit sold to guests of Walt Disney World during Hurricane Milton and examine the prices to be found at The Cake Bake Shop, which is opening soon at WDW. Plus, we respond to listener emails, give shout-outs, and wonder which Disney snack is the most overrated and which Disney Resort hotel we would never stay. What are your thoughts on anything we have discussed? Are you going to the Cake Bake Shop? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #546.

We present another episode of our series called “Am I The Bad Guy?” WHICH, as you might tell, is similar to the various posts labeled AITA (look it up). However, since this is a Disney-fan podcast, we are concentrating on Disney stories and posts that ask AITA, or AITBD. On this show, we respond to the feedback from our first show in this series and present the queries posed by the Magic Our Way hosts. What is your verdict on these stories? Are they the bad guy? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #545.

We explore the rumor about Disney's Lightning Lane Premier Pass system, which may resemble Universal's Express Pass system. Plus, reflect on line bypass history by checking out features of previous line bypass systems such as Fastpass, Fastpass+, and Genie+ to see how it has evolved. What memories do you have of these line bypass systems? Would you like to see Disney's version of Universal's Express Pass? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #544.

We present a new show series called “am I the bad guy?” WHICH, as you might tell is similar in nature to the various posts labeled AITA (look it up). However, since this is a Disney-fan podcast, we are concentrating on Disney stories and posts that ask, AITA, or AITBD in our case. To begin this series, we are answer the queries posed by people on the internet. What is your verdict on these stories? Are they the bad guy? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #543.

On this show, we go on a quest to find out which WDW monorail resort is the best: The Contemporary, The Polynesian Village, or The Grand Floridian.We first explored this a long time ago on show #095, and we thought that this was worth a revisit given the numerous changes that have take place since then. On show #095, The Grand Floridian won. Will it take the top spot again on show #542? Listen to find out. Which monorail resort do you think is the best and why? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #542.

Rachel discusses 5+2 highlights and lowlights from her most recent Disney Cruise Line vacation aboard the OG ship, the Disney Magic. On this cruise, she was able to visit the new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point and relays her first-time experience on Disney's new private area in the Bahamas. Rachel even compares and contrasts Lookout Cay and Castaway Cay. Have you been to Lookout Cay? When is your next Disney Cruise Line vacation? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #541.

Kevin discusses 5+2 highlights from his May 2024 Walt Disney World vacation: everything from Dreams That Soar to the Western Style Benedict at Whispering Canyon to the Journey of Water to the La Cava Avocado.This isn't a play-by-play; it's 7 highlights from his trip. Which things form his list will you try on your next WDW vacation? When is your next trip? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #540.

The 2024 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival begins on Thursday, August 29, 2024. We discuss the new food options one can find at the country-related booths in World Showcase. Then, via a Final Four style bracket, we determine which country has the best booth for 2024. Check out our social media for our discussion on other food booths not included in this bracket. What did you think of our findings? Did you arrive with the same winner? When are you booking a trip to attend the festival? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #539.

Two weeks after the 2024 D23 Expo, Disney fans continue to discuss the ramifications of the announcements, especially when Disney releases further details after the fact. We examine the concept art Disney released the Monday after D23 which shows the Cars attractions taking over the land currently occupied by Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America. Plus, we discuss Universal's recently released dining promotion for the first part of 2025. What do think about these topics? Where are you booking a trip? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #538.

The 2024 D23 Expo took place and it revealed a lot of plans. For this episode, we discuss the plans for the Domestic Disney Parks, Walt Disney World and Disneyland. We discuss the Cars plans, Avengers Campus plans, Monsters Inc, Tropical Americas, and so much more. What do think about these annoucements? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #537.

This is a seriously packed episode! First, we discuss the official details released for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at Universal Epic Universe. Then, we discuss what announcements we hope to hear at the 2024 D23 Expo. After that, we respond to a listener text message. And lastly, we discuss the MOWican Fantasy Football Leagues. What do think about any of this? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #536.

It's time for a movie review! We discuss the next installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Deadpool & Wolverine, Disney Marvel's offering for the 2024 summer season. It is great that we can review a Deadpool movie confidently as a part of the Disney universe.What did you think of the movie? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #535.

We present a new show type we call, Our Disney Playlist, where we choose a Disney song for each criterion of that episode's theme. For this episode, we match a Disney song for those special moments in life, such as our wedding dance song, our workout playlist, and even our WWE entrance song. What songs would you choose for each of these special life moments? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #534.

On this episode, we discuss our thoughts about the reopening of the Country Bear Jamboree in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. What do you think about the new iteration of this show? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #533.

On this episode, we discuss the holiday parties coming later this year at Walt Disney World, present a new idea for doing a Disney vacation, and discuss the rumors of Universal Epic Universe's ticketing policy. Plus, we answer a couple of listener communications in our Guest Serices segment. What do you think about all of this? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #532.

On July 24, 2024, Disney is replacing Genie+ with the new Lightning Lane system: multipass and single pass. Rachel gives us a rundown of what to expect with this new queue system and we present our reaction to this abrupt change. What do you think about the new Lightning Lane system? Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World this year? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast. This is show #531. 

On this episode, we discuss a lot of theme park news. To start, we look at the openings and closings taking place in Walt Disney World for the rest of 2024. Then, we examine the newly released details about Universal Epic Universe's Dark Universe and investigate its impact on Disney. What do you think about our discussion? Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World this year? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast.

For this episode, we discuss Inside Out 2, the sequel to the 2015 Pixar film, Inside Out. This is Disney Pixar's offering for the 2024 summer season whose official date of release in the United States was on Friday, June 14, 2024. We present our review in two parts: non-spoiler and spoiler-filled. As always, we will give you ample warning before going into the spoiler-filled part. What do you think about our discussion? How did you feel about this movie? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast.

For this episode, we discuss the fallout from the cast member previews of Tiana's Bayou Adventure including all the praise and criticism that came with it. Are the claims warranted? Are they ridiculous? Listen in to hear a different twist on this. What do you think about our discussion? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Every opinion will forever be welcome on this Disney fan podcast.