Your one-stop shop for the stories, secrets and shenanigans of a popcorn-fueled theme park journalist. Join author, reporter and expert Carlye Wisel for breaking news, unexpected interviews and reported stories about Disney and Universal every week. It’s an audio theme park party — and you’re invited! Have a vacation question, Epcot comment or Galaxy’s Edge hot take your friends no longer wanna listen to? Call us at 747-CHURROS (747-248-7767) and we might play your call on a future episode!
…
continue reading
If you're reading this before January 5, do yourself a favor and get to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood and check out the Stars Hollow set!!!! it is incredible!!!!!!! look!!!!!!!: https://www.instagram.com/p/DD5LcOIzl1L/ Happy holidays see u next week for a mini-sode!!! Relevant Links… Get a FREE quote on Epic Universe vacations when you boo…
…
continue reading
I just got off the newest Disney Cruise Line ship, and let me tell you --- there is SOOOO much we gotta chat about!!! A Moana stage show, Coco-inspired restaurant, Aladdin themed interiors and one of the best meals i've ever had!? Stop reading and press play! Relevant Links… Reach out to Mouse Fan Travel to take advantage of Disney discounts! www.m…
…
continue reading
T'S HERE!!! Our MEGA guide to skipping the line on rides at Walt Disney World's four theme parks! By the end of this Walt Disney World episode, you will understand how to manage your day at the parks, maximize your time AND money, skip Disney ride lines as easily and as often as possible, and really use these products to your advantage!!!! Relevant…
…
continue reading
IT'S HERE!!! Our MEGA guide to skipping the line on rides at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure! By the end of this Disneyland episoe, you will understand how to manage your day at the parks, maximize your time AND money, skip Disney ride lines as easily and as often as possible, and really use these products to your advantage!!!! Rele…
…
continue reading
While I'm hard at work on our upcoming Lightning Lane episodes, I wanted to give you a holiday week chit-chat about some FUN Disney and Universal things we haven't chatted about in a while!!!!!! This episode wrapped riiiiiiiight before The Muppets news -- ah, the last vestige of a life before the Muppetvision 3D news -- but we will discuss next wee…
…
continue reading
Hop in the log flume, because we're talking about ALL of Tiana's Bayou Adventure — behind-the-scenes of the UNBELIEVABLE opening event! how i think its opening (positively!) changes the park! if i like this one better than Disney World's! and most importantly: how you'll even get your tush in these (wet!!) seats with the virtual queue shenanigans!!…
…
continue reading
Come pull up a chair! Let's gab about my knockout trip to Texas and Colorado and all of the fun, delightful themed pit stops I saw along the way! Like the unbelievable tourist dream that is Casa Bonita, the ONLY Rainforest Cafe with a indoor water ride, Buc-ee's, a factory tour and sooooo much more! Relevant Links… Casa Bonita! (and stream the docu…
…
continue reading
OKAY, maybe he's not a Hidden Mickey because Bret's literally...the VOICE of Mickey Mouse, but i guarantee you will discover things about this wonderfully talented actor and artist that you never knew before in this EXTREMELY fun and VERY special episode of Very Amusing! Did you know he's also a residential and interior designer? And used to work i…
…
continue reading
YESSSS, at long last, we have a "press play and enjoy" guide to all of my favorite yummies at Disneyland Resort. We're talking sweet treats, we're talking COLD WEATHER FAVORITESSS, we're even discussing my new go-to favorite snacks and the reason i may actually leave a theme park to get lunch and come back (which is weirdly more convenient too!) If…
…
continue reading
If you're curious about how one would even take a baby or toddler on a Disney Cruise vacation, consider this episode to be the travel guide you simply...cannot find anywhere else!!!! Because when I planned to bring my 18-month-old on a Disney Cruise, i could not find this level of information...anywhere. So! I sailed and researched and took extensi…
…
continue reading
Ever wanted to bring the essence of Disney theme parks inside your everyday space? Look no further!! My friend and colleague Sunny Chanel wrote a book ALL about it, and she's on the podcast this week spilling all the beans on how to channel Tomorrowland and Frontierland inside...your land! We're diving in to the exclusive house tours (omg), imagine…
…
continue reading
You called, we answered! This episode is full of delightful Disney questions, curious inquiries, travel tips and one....very lengthy response to a question as to if the Disney magic is fading. So many calls, so little time, so stop reading and get to listening! And not just because I am at Disney's Grand Californian and need to go to bed. Enjoy!!! …
…
continue reading
We're recapping my trip to Walt Disney World — Magic Kingdom! Lightning Lane surprises! The spiciest dish I've ever had!? — and talking allll about booking my Disney hotel stay at Bay Lake Tower with Disney Vacation Club...even though i'm not a member! Relevant Links… David's Vacation Club Rentals! Spend more time with Carlye Wisel on... Instagram!…
…
continue reading
I sailed on the Disney Magic to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, their brand new island destination! Now, I've gotten *a lot* of questions about it, and this episode should answer aLL of it. (And if you're wondering how it stacks up against Castway Cay, we get into that too!) Stick around for details of all the meals and food I ate aboard th…
…
continue reading
This week, we're spilling tea on Disney Channel's heyday with Ashley Spencer, author of the incredible new book, DISNEY HIGH. Ever wanted to know never-before-reported details on High School Musical, Hannah Montana, Lizzie McGuire and more? Tune in for our chat with Ashley! Relevant Links… Buy DISNEY HIGH! Spend more time with Carlye Wisel on... In…
…
continue reading
It's time to discuss my favorite tips and tricks for visiting Disneyland AND Disney World!! From parking must-knows and crowd insights to many, MANY ways to get that *coveted* Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique reservation, we have jam-packed this one with worthy theme park advice!! Special thanks to… 'NayNay!: https://www.instagram.com/withnaynay/?hl=en Ali…
…
continue reading
IT'S HERE! The second installment in our Disneyland guide for visiting the California parks with a baby or toddler has landed. This week, we're getting into *successfully* tackling your Disney day. Rides you gotta go on (and rides you should NOT go on), the best place for kids to crawl and run around to get those wiggles out, character meet recomme…
…
continue reading
IT'S HERE! Our long-awaited Disneyland guide to visiting the California parks with a tiny child has arrived. All the tips, tricks and lessons i've learned the hard way (eek!) with taking a young kid to Disneyland will be covered in depth in this very special 2-part episode. Have a burning bb question you need answered before part two? Call 747-Chur…
…
continue reading
There's one restaurant aboard Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, a big new fancy cruise ship, that's different from most others. That's because Royal Railway Utopia Station is a high-end restaurant, live show and themed attraction all in one. Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean’s chief product innovation officer, stopped by Very Amusing to tell us al…
…
continue reading
There was SO MUCH DISNEY PARKS NEWS from the D23 Disney fan convention this past weekend, and we are getting into ALL of it. From Avengers rides to a Monsters, Inc. land to FOUR NEW CRUISE SHIPS (?!?!), we're chatting about every aspect of this past weekend's bonanza, including my thoughts on the Disney Expo as a whole!! Spend more time with Carlye…
…
continue reading
It's that time of year again!!! If you, like me, are anxiously awaiting all the Disney theme park news coming outta this year's D23 fan convention, it can be tricky to remember just what's at stake this weekend. Let's take a look back at what's actually come to fruition, what hasn't, and have a VERY honest conversation about the three MAJOR announc…
…
continue reading
Ah, Gilroy Gardens. A regional amusement park celebrating...garlic?! fruits and vegetables!? the charming nature of, well, nature?! This enchanting escape makes for the perfect pit stop on any of your California road trips — and if you're lucky, you'll also get to meet Gil!!!! Spend more time with Carlye Wisel on... Instagram! Twitter! TikTok! Face…
…
continue reading
Coffee! Neighborhood! Unique Restaurant! Ice Cream!! Fresh off two trips back to my former home, I'm giving you my New York City travel tips all about my favorite things to do in New York, places to go and sights to see!!! (and yes, it's only Manhattan but...this podcast would have been 12 hours long otherwise!!) Spend more time with Carlye Wisel o…
…
continue reading
For years we've gotten calls asking what to do in Los Angeles while on a lil' California vacation, and this week, we're delivering!!! From my favorite pizza and puppets to unique sights, ideal sightseeing moments and even a little Disney shenanigans!! Spend more time with Carlye Wisel on... Instagram! Twitter! TikTok! Facebook! Her Website! and wea…
…
continue reading
As you may have heard, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes are being replaced by an all-new system, Multi Pass and Single Pass starting July 24, 2024. It's kinda like FastPass Plus (and kinda like Genie Plus) and kinda like a brand new system you are required to learn...plus. ALSO: IN THIS ENTIRE EPISODE I SAY JULY 28. IT'S JULY 24. MY BRAIN WAS …
…
continue reading
Headed to Los Angeles and curious to see what the Warner Brothers Studio Tour is all about? Curious about Paramount Pictures or Sony Pictures Studio Tours?! Wanna see if Universal Studios Hollywood's tram tour is worth the price of admission -- or if you should splurge on their VIP version? Smash that play button, because we're discussing ALL of th…
…
continue reading
This week, I fill you in on my recent trips to Goofy's Kitchen, Disneyland, Universal Studios, and I even take a gigantic L for not knowing about some MAJOR issues with taking a baby to a theme park. (Oof. Oof!) (We'll talk about food and rides and playgrounds and so much more but NOT, unfortunately, the Fastpass like changes coming to Disney World…
…
continue reading
Fresh off my trip to Walt Disney World, we are back and chatting all things Tiana's Bayou Adventure (yay!), Communicore Hall (yikes!) and more!!! Relevant Links… Eater Story! Spend more time with Carlye Wisel on... Instagram! Twitter! TikTok! Facebook! Her Website! and wear your VERY AMUSING pride on your sleeve in our SHOP! Don't forget to call us…
…
continue reading
We're taking your calls about Disney World planning, Disneyland Paris thoughts, cursed hotel lobbies, summer theme park survival tips, first Disney trips with a baby and so much more! Spend more time with Carlye Wisel on... Instagram! Twitter! TikTok! Facebook! Her Website! and wear your VERY AMUSING pride on your sleeve in our SHOP! Don't forget t…
…
continue reading
a mega trip means a mega recap! come along with me to Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, more hotels, Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood...and more!! Spend more time with Carlye Wisel on... Instagram! Twitter! TikTok! Facebook! Her Website! and wear your VERY AMUSING pride on your sleeve in our SHOP! Don't forget to call us at…
…
continue reading
oh yeah, this is gonna be a multi-parter!!! in today's episode, we talk about my journey to Orlando with a wee babe, why a Disney hotel I never thought of staying at suddenly became a front-runner for my favorite, and what a Magic Kingdom milestone is really like! Spend more time with Carlye Wisel on... Instagram! Twitter! TikTok! Facebook! Her Web…
…
continue reading
As we inch closer towards D23, it's time to start preparing ourselves for what’s next, starting with how you approach your 2024 Walt Disney World trip. With 121 days to go until Disney's fan convention and a ton of news this week, some big announcements are on the way — and often, when some wonderful new experiences come in, others are likely to ch…
…
continue reading
Got a little mini episode this week with some chit-chat about Epic Universe — and why Universal's new developments will upend the way you visit Florida theme parks — as well as what we want to see (and NEED to see!) at D23, the Disney fan event coming to Anaheim this August. *a small note*: In our short discussion about Marvel coming to Tokyo Disne…
…
continue reading
Say hello to the themed restaurant of your dreams — where the seats are trackless ride vehicles (!!) and the walls make the food taste better. (Seriously.) Eatrenalin, located at Germany's Europa Park, blends cutting-edge ride technology, immersive design and haute cuisine for an experience unlike anything else. We're joined by Eatrenalin co-founde…
…
continue reading
I attended the 30th annual THEA awards for excellence in themed entertainment, and I’m taking you inside the hallowed affair to discuss all the big winners! Come for the allure of the big night and stay for the black tie gowns AND EVEN a special appearance by the biggest celebrity in theme parks…or not?? listen to find out more!! Relevant Links... …
…
continue reading
This week, we're discussing my recently updated Disneyland food guide for Eater — classic can't miss items, the treats and eats I recommend on your next trip to the parks and the reasons why i included each dish! Relevant Links… Eater guide to Disneyland Spend more time with Carlye Wisel on... Instagram! Twitter! TikTok! Facebook! Her Website! and …
…
continue reading
no, it's not me yelling “i wont eat blue!” throughout the entirety of the podcast — these are the rides, events, experiences and theme park things i've decided i will no longer do! there are even some trip planning tips hidden in these choices — like why i'm looking at hotels differently, and have nearly figured out the ideal Disneyland parking sit…
…
continue reading
In our third and final guide to Tokyo Disney Resort, we are discussing…everything else you need to know about visiting Japan! Airport transportation, subway tips, what stores you can't miss, my favorite restaurants (and my beloved $1 breakfast) and even the theme park we HAVEN'T YET TALKED ABOUT YET -- and no! that's not even Universal Studios Japa…
…
continue reading
It's part TWO of our Tokyo Disney guide, and we're getting INTO it this week. Today, we're discussing rides, attractions, shows, nighttime entertainment, dining and shopping, and recommending what you absolutely cannot miss, from attractions to food and beyond. And on top of all that, we’re gonna give you a sample 1-day itinerary, give you my tips …
…
continue reading
It's here! Our three-part guide to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea! This week we’re focusing on the planning, logistics and bookings you need to know for visiting Tokyo Disney Resort. Hotels! Tickets! Credit card issues! — we’re getting into ALL of it. Tune into part two next week when we discuss everything you can do in the parks, what to eat…
…
continue reading
Consider this your cheat sheet for everything you need to know about visiting Disney World this year. The essential changes for 2024 you need to know, how to use Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane to get on the Disney rides you want, Virtual Queue procedures now that park hopping has shifted — whether it’s your first trip or just your first trip …
…
continue reading
It's...the most wonderful time of year at Disney California Adventure! I just got back from the best festival they've got — Lunar New Year — and I'm sharing all the reasons why you can't snooze on this one. From a big ol' fish to the first-ever appearance of characters from Turning Red, there's so much to see and do at this one. (and that's not eve…
…
continue reading
I went back to Disneyland Resort for the first time in a *while* and it was glorious! Low crowds?! Short waits!? A new favorite restaurant!? Tune in for Toontown thoughts, insider-y parking tips and my very first...well, i won't spoil the surprise just yet ◡̈ Spend more time with Carlye Wisel on... Instagram! Twitter! TikTok! Facebook! Her Website!…
…
continue reading
Luna Luna was the world's first art amusement park — and now, after a long and unexpected journey, this unbelievable, historic display is finally on display for the public once again. Whether you've spotted it on TikTok, heard rumblings in the theme park community or have no idea what we're talking about (which is ok!!), we're walking you through t…
…
continue reading
tips! tricks! advice! and emphatic encouragement to visit Walt Disney World with your baby, even if it seems stressful! We're discussing how to plan, survive and thrive (!) at Walt Disney World on your infant's first trip. There is SO much more to visiting with kids that I can't wait to explore firsthand, but if you have any questions, dial up the …
…
continue reading
On this very special holiday week episode, we're discussing all of the theme park restaurants and dining i delved into while at Walt Disney World earlier this month. Is it brutally honest? kinda!! Some old favorites have fallen out of favor while some newer (and new-to-me!) table-service restaurants and quick-service spots wowed me. Come for my una…
…
continue reading
This week is a thrill because we are going inside Shanghai Disneyland's new Zootopia inspired land WITH the people who created it! All four of our special guests — four!!! — worked on Zootopia and are sharing details about the ride, entertainment, merchandise, decor and characters that you won't hear anywhere else! Thanks to our special guests... B…
…
continue reading
Rememberhow one lucky winner got to stay in that AirBnb of Shrek's Swamp? WELL, we tracked down that big winner, and she's on the show today to tell us everything!!! Happy SHREKCEMBER!!!! Thanks to our special guests… Amy McIlhenny! Relevant Links... Shrek's Swamp AirBnb Spend more time with Carlye Wisel on... Instagram! Twitter! TikTok! Facebook! …
…
continue reading
We're heading to Hong Kong Disneyland this week with our very special guest, freelance travel writer and theme park pro Valerie Marino, who just returned from the grand opening of their new World of Frozen themed land! Arendelle is real and she saw it all first hand, sharing details of the surprising (!) new meet-and-greet, the food fountain that w…
…
continue reading
We're taking you on a world tour to Disney Parks — and answering all of your questions on the way! This week, we've got dining suggestions for Disneyland Paris — and details on how to navigate Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios Park — along with travel advice for Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland, what you must see while in Tokyo Disney …
…
continue reading