So, it looks like you just booked your first ever trip to Walt Disney World, a theme park that is all of four theme parks put together. Things might seem a little bit intimidating at the moment, especially if you’re trying to figure out what you should do while you are there. Now, there are plenty of TV specials and websites that can help you out on just this subject but usually life gets in the way and you don’t have time to sit down and study up. However, there is another alternative to becoming well versed in making a Disney trip bucket list, and that is with listening to Disney fan created podcasts. By listening to these podcasts on your phone you’ll able to take notes on what’s best for your trip without even having to sit down and concentrate. These are great podcasts to get info from because they are created by huge park fanatics who have been to the parks many times and can even let you in on the smaller/more magical entertainments of Walt Disney World for your first trip. They definitely helped me prepare for my six month adventure when I joined the Disney College Program in Walt Disney World.
(All of these podcasts can be found on most podcasts apps for smartphones, but I've also linked up the titlesif you want to listen to any now!)
1. Passporter’s Disney Every Week!
This is an absolutely useful podcast for any first time families going to the parks. It’s a podcasts for moms created by moms, who always do know what is best. They give out very insightful information on how to ensure your trip is as meltdown free as possible and to make sure that everyone in the family is having fun. Not to mention that these two ladies sound like you could easily be best friends with them.
2. Creepy Kingdom - A Creepy Disney Podcast!
A podcast for any thrill seekers out there that enjoy the eerie side of things. These guys mostly dabble in the subject of the spooky, but still fun, side of Disney such as “Mansion Crawling” (being one of the last groups of people on the Haunted Mansion so you can quote it all word for word), debunk any parks myths you may have heard of (such as It’s A Small World being haunted by tormented souls inside the childlike animatronics you see on the ride), and provide up to date news on any new additions to the parks. It’s a fun podcast to listen to plus these people really crack me up with their humorous banter with each other!
3. Disney Dream Girls - An Unofficial Disney Podcast
The tagline for this one is “by women for everyone” not to mention they have a super catchy theme song that sounds strangely familiar yet I still can’t quite put my finger on where I have heard it before. This is another family based parks podcast with the added bonus that these ladies have awesome British accents and a great taste in food. Honestly when I was listening to this, their food suggestions took up a good majority of my Disney bucket list, a good example being the School Bread from Norway in Epcot (cue choir of angels here please). It’s the perfect podcast for anyone who is curious about the cuisine they serve at the parks and also provides perfect ideas for guests who are traveling across the pond that want to get the most out of their parks vacation.
4. Popstuff: Walt Disney World’s 40th Birthday
Now even though we have just met, dear people of the internet, and this is my first article for The Odyssey, which by the way woohoo for that, I can tell you that I am an avid Disney fan myself and when you listen to one of the ladies on this podcast, named Holly, I am 100% sure she is future me doing a podcast. So trust me when I say this is a podcast you want to listen to. This episode is a bit more geared towards adults who love Disney but also wanna indulge in some of Disney’s alcoholic beverages, i.e. the Rum Pineapple Dole Whip you can find in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It also does provide a small history lesson on Walt Disney World itself. However, don’t just stick around for the episode this podcast has is great series all about different subjects in pop culture.
5. Stuff You Missed in History Class: Building Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion
Ok I’m not going to lie this podcast won’t really help you out with planning your trip but it will give you a bit trivia to have up your sleeve. Professor Snape from Harry Potter might not enjoy insufferable know it alls but I think it is perfectly ok to be one, especially when it comes to Disney. If you are going to study up on your trivia why not start with one of Walt Disney’s most popular attractions The Haunted Mansion. This episode goes into such deep details about the attraction and it’s history behind it, in fact it has so much history that it’s a two part episode. This podcast is also done by the same ladies who work with Popstuff and just like that series this one is also a great series you will want to stick around for and dive into. My personal favorites are The Fox Sisters, Jane Austen, Who was the Real Sherlock Holmes?, and Giacomo Casanova.
