The Main Entrance Cast: An Attraction and Theme Park Podcast

Golden Dream: 50 Years of Walt Disney World

Greetings Adventurers and welcome to our salute to all things attractions, but mostly theme parks. We're dropping in quick from our hiatus to cover a topic near and dear to our hearts, Walt Disney World! In honor of WDW's 50th anniversary, we're looking at the five full decades the Florida Project has been open and determining what was the best decade for Walt Disney World.

About this Episode

Of the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and 10s, what was the best decade in Walt Disney World's history. Was it the new ground of the 1970s, or the fast paced construction of the 90's? Cohosts Nick and Katie have some strong opinions on the matter, so tune in and find out what they think!

Last Episode's Trivia Question: What was the original name of Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside at Walt Disney World Resort?

Answer: Dixie Landings

This week's Trivia Question: The Amateur Athletic Union building on Hotel Plaza Boulevard, near Disney Springs at WDW, was originally built for what purpose?

If you think you know the answer, let us know at [email protected].

Thanks for listening, see you next time!

Greetings Adventurers and welcome to our salute to all things attractions, but mostly theme parks. Co-host Katie is one lucky duck and this week is heading to sunny Hawaii to experience the amazing Aulani Disney resort. While host Teknikipedia is certainly jealous, we're taking the opporunity to discuss some of the most magical places to spend a night, the Disney Resorts!

About this Episode

Join us as we talk through the Disney resort experience and what makes it so special. We then look at our picks for the best and honorable mentions of Disney resorts in the US. So, if you want to hear what two seasoned resort-goers have to say about places to stay at the happiest and most magical places on Earth, check out the following:

Value Resort (28:55)

Moderate Resort (36:56)

Deluxe Resort (48:00)

Deluxe Villa Resort (59:22)

Best Standalone Resort Experience (1:10:34)

Last Episode's Trivia Question: In this episode, we mention the Walt Disney-created show “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” that was built for the 1964 New York World's Fair. What pavilion was this show created for?

Answer: Illinois Pavilion

This week's Trivia Question: What was the original name of Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside at Walt Disney World Resort?

If you think you know the answer, let us know at [email protected].

Thanks for listening, see you next time!

Greetings Adventurers and welcome to our salute to all things attractions, but mostly theme parks. In this episode, we're tackling a topic that is definitely not without controversy: What place does history have in theme parks and attractions?

About this Episode

There's been some interesting updates coming out of the world of theme parks as of late. Not only are there plans in the works to replace the theme of Splash Mountain, but just recently Disney announced changes coming to the classic Jungle Cruise. Also, in Orlando, the inauguration of a new President of the United States means updates coming to the Walt Disney World original Hall of Presidents. Given that the hall has had an interesting time in the past few years, it brings up the question of whether the Hall should continue in its current form, or is it time to retire this tribute and give it to the annals of history.

Tune in and hear hosts Nick and Katie discuss these specific examples as well as a few more from past and present. We ask that you listen with an open mind, but if you have a different opinion or just want to let us know your thoughts, feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected].

Trivia

Last Episode's Trivia Question: In this episode, we mentioned Universal’s prized themed snack Butterbeer. In how many different ways can you enjoy a Butterbeer at Universal theme parks?

Answer: 6, or 7 if you count pre-packaged Ice Cream

This week's Trivia Question: In this episode, we mention the Walt Disney-created show “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” that was built for the 1964 New York World's Fair. What pavilion was this show created for?

If you think you know the answer, let us know at [email protected].

Thanks for listening, see you next time!

Greetings Adventurers and welcome to our salute to all things attractions, but mostly theme parks. This is our first episode of 2021, and it's only fitting that this is episode 21! In this week's episode, Katie and Nick are once again talking about food. But this time, they're heading to the big spinning globe of Universal Parks and Resorts to look at their most treasured tasty treats.

Join our hosts as they dive in to their top choices in Universal theme park cuisine, as well as, once again, the food they feel may be a bit overrated. In this episode, we're covering our favorite foods (and honorable mentions) in the following categories:

Theme Park Snack (24:50)

Themed, Seasonal, or "Authentic" Foods (34:52)

Quick Service Restaurant (43:40)

Table Service Restaurant (53:52)

Overrated Offering (59:30)

Last Episode's Trivia Question: One of the most cherished Disney holiday traditions is the Candlelight Processionals at Disneyland and Epcot. What year did the Candlelight Processional debut at Epcot?

Answer: 1994

This week's Trivia Question: In this episode, we mentioned Universal’s prized themed snack Butterbeer. In how many different ways can you enjoy a Butterbeer at Universal theme parks?

If you think you know the answer, let us know at [email protected].

Thanks for listening, see you next time!

Greetings Adventurers and welcome to our salute to all things location-based entertainment, but mostly theme parks.

In this week's episode, we have a little something different, but it all revolves around a very festive theme, the holidays! We start with a couple quick trip reports from The Festival of the Holidays at Epcot and "I Love Christmas Movies" at the Gaylord Resorts. Next, we chat about what makes holidays at attractions so special.

Last Episode's Trivia Question: In the late 80’s to mid 90’s, Disney featured a special food offering described as the “sandwich of the future”. What was the name of this treat?

Answer: The Handwich!

This week's Trivia Question: One of the most cherished Disney holiday traditions is the Candlelight Processionals at Disneyland and Epcot. What year did the Candlelight Processional debut at Epcot?

If you think you know the answer, let us know at [email protected].

To give us a little more time to prep for the new year, and to spend quality time with our loved ones, this will be the last episode of 2020. We're not sad to see this year go, that's for sure. Happy Holidays to you, and thanks for listening, we'll see you in early 2021. TTFN!

Greetings Adventurers and welcome to our salute to all things location-based entertainment, but mostly theme parks.

In this week's episode, Katie and Nick are talking food. Yep, food. Specifically, Disney Parks and Resorts food. Join our hosts as they dive in to their top choices in theme park cuisine, as well as the food they feel may be a bit overrated. In this episode, we're covering our favorite foods (and honorable mentions) in the following categories:

Theme Park Snack (19:00)

Themed, Seasonal, or "Authentic" Foods (34:55)

Quick Service Restaurant (53:25)

Table Service Restaurant (1:07:30)

Overrated Offering (1:21:40)

Bonus! (1:34:45)

In a future episode we'll be looking at what foods we love (or are overrated) at Universal, as well as other favorite parks!

Last Episode's Trivia Question: This year, Disney opened Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As part of this attraction, a special theme song was written. What is the name of the song?

Answer: Nothing Can Stop Us Now

This week's Trivia Question: In the late 80’s to mid 90’s, Disney featured a special food offering described as the “sandwich of the future”. What was the name of this treat?

If you think you know the answer, let us know at [email protected].

Thanks for listening, see you next week!

Greetings Adventurers and welcome to our salute to all things location-based entertainment, but mostly theme parks.

In this week's episode, Katie and Nick are finishing up their look at one of their absolute favorite things in the world, theme park music. To finish this up, they're looking at Shows!

In this episode, we're covering our favorite songs (and honorable mentions) in the following music categories:

Pre-Show Music

Atmosphere Entertainment

Shows Using Existing Intellectual Properties - Follow the Original Story

Shows Using Existing Intellectual Properties - Create a New Story

Original Shows (or Original Music)

We hope you enjoyed this look at our favorite pieces of Theme Park music!

Last Episode's Trivia Question: In what year did FastPass debut at the Walt Disney World Resort?

Answer: 1999

This week's Trivia Question: This year (2020), Disney opened Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As part of this attraction, a special theme song was written. What is the name of the song?

If you think you know the answer, let us know at [email protected].

Thanks for listening, see you next week!

Greetings Adventurers and welcome to our salute to all things location-based entertainment, but mostly theme parks.

We're back from our Thanksgiving break, and in this week's episode Katie and Nick are talking about the pandemic. Suffice it to say the pandemic has had numerous effects, both negative and even a few positives, on the theme park industry. Although, let's be honest, it's mostly negative. Katie, being a Central Florida resident, tells us all about her experiences in the parks and how things have changed.

Last Episode's Trivia Question: In the queue for the original Test Track, there were a group of crash test dummies located just outside the original briefing rooms, and in that group, there was a baby dummy. What was the baby’s name?

Answer: CRABI

Correct Answerers: None this week.

This week's Trivia Question: In what year was FastPass introduced at the Walt Disney World Resort?

If you think you know the answer, let us know at [email protected].

Thanks for listening, TTFN!

Greetings Adventurers, and welcome to Episode 16 of the Main Entrance Cast!

Cars, no matter your own thoughts on automobiles, they have made an incalcuable impact on the world we know today, and their impacts on entertainment design are just as gargantuan. From car rides and roller coasters to drive ins and Stranger Things, cars are still helping us get out to have fun, just sometimes in a more literal way.

Join host Teknikipedia in this week's segments:

Variations on a Theme: Cars in Theme Parks (1:43)

HistoriScope: Six Flags Autoworld (17:35)

CreatiCore: Cars as Entertainment (27:32)

Spotlight on the World: Ferrari World (40:31)

Where in the World is Nick?: BMW Welt (52:15)

Last Week's Trivia Question: At what theme park can you find the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure?

Last Week's Answer: Universal Studios Singapore

Correct Answers: Lee

This Week's Trivia Question: In the Queue for the original Test Track, there were a group of crash test dummies located just outside the original briefing rooms, and in that group, there was a baby dummy. What was the baby’s name?

If you know the answer, let us know at [email protected].

As always, if you’re looking for a new best friend, adopt, don’t shop, and always make time to explore your world.

Thanks for listening!

Greetings Adventurers, and welcome to a very special episode of the Main Entrance Cast. Thanks to a special break in the space-time continuum, the MEC has gotten its hands on a park review from an alternate dimension, a dimension where Jurassic Park, the famous dinosaur theme park, is real.

Join Teknikipedia's alter ego, NikiCarta, as he and his lovely wife make a special visit to the place where prehistoric dreams come true. Remember, it was all started by a mosquito!

Last Week's Trivia Question: What cocktail, which some have claimed originated in Juarez, Mexico, traditionally features tequila, lime, and triple sec, and can be served either on the rocks or blended?

Last Week's Answer: Margarita

Correct Answers: Lee, Teresa, Jackie, Katie, Sonya, and Cody

This Week's Trivia Question: At what theme park can you find the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure?

If you know the answer, let us know at [email protected]

 

As always, if you’re looking for a new best friend, adopt, don’t shop, and always make time to explore your world. Thanks for listening!