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.

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

Don’t forget to check us out on:

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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:

-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.

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:

-Instagram

-Facebook

-Youtube

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:

-Instagram

-Facebook

-Youtube

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

-Youtube

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

The Enchanted Tiki Room didn’t just add charm to Adventureland—it changed Disney history forever. In this episode, we explore how Walt Disney and Imagineers used groundbreaking technology to bring the first audio-animatronics to life, paving the way for Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and beyond.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Walt’s original idea for the Enchanted Tiki Room
• Why the Tiki Room is the foundation of Disney Parks
• How NASA technology helped make the Tiki Birds possible

If you’re a Disney adult who loves Imagineering stories, this is one you won’t want to miss.

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

Don’t forget to check us out on:

-Instagram

-Facebook

-Youtube

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

The Origins of Audio Animatronics 01:58

The Start of the Enchanted Tiki Room 08:11

How NASA Made it All Possible 11:04

The Problem with a Dinner Show 18:46

Writing the Songs 22:03

Remnants of the Tea Room 23:54

Opening Day Success 26:37

Dole Sponsorship 30:18

Fun Facts 35:17

Other Versions of the Tiki Room 39:12

Trader Sam’s 48:46

What Attraction Should We Cover Next? 51:09

You know him for his iconic Evolution of Disney Costume videos, but today we’re flipping the script and looking back at the evolution of Disney Dan himself.

In this episode, we talk with Dan about:

• His early YouTube days creating Disney Infinity unboxings
• How he launched the Distory series and built a community
• Why he stepped out from behind the camera to share his wild Disney adventures
• A sneak peek at the live shows he’s developing
• A tease of what may be his biggest adventure yet

Whether you’re a longtime Disney Dan fan or just discovering his work, this is a fun look at a creator who’s turned his Disney passion into a career.

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

Don’t forget to check us out on:

-Instagram

-Facebook

-Youtube

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

Help Us Reach the Top 100 on Apple Podcasts! 02:38

Welcome Disney Dan! 03:45

Dan’s Origin on YouTube 05:26

The Invention of Distory 11:13

Evolution of Disney Costumes 16:19

How Dan Does His Research 24:27

Favorite Character Dan Has Covered 28:01

I Guess We’re RunDisney Freaks Now 34:01

KiteTails-Forever in Our Hearts 37:00

Moving to Adventure Style Vlogs 40:55

Favorite Disney Memorabilia 50:07

Where Dan Stores All His Costumes 54:01

The Best McDonald’s Lifehack 57:07

Meeting Lin Manuel-Miranda 1:00:23

Dan’s Next Adventure 01:10:17