107 - The Before and After with Shaun!

For the Season 1 finale, Matt closes things out with a Seinfeld-style ending full of familiar voices, surprise check-ins, Disney conversations, and one last bit of Season 1 chaos.The episode touches on D23, Disney friends, door coaster schematics, Disneyland love, outsider takes, and the bigger question of where the show goes from here.Then Matt wraps up the season by looking ahead to what’s next for his journey.Guests:Steve PetolicchioMike HannaJason Dodge from Dads Plan DisneyPhil Schoen from Dads Plan DisneyTommy Hawkins from eTicket Report and SubstackDrew Smith known as "Drew the Disney Dude" from YouTube.Send us Fan MailTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle 

Matt introduces the Contino Meter — a completely unscientific but highly accurate way to measure how much a Disney announcement actually matters to your own Disney life.Not every piece of Disney news hits the same. Some announcements feel massive online but barely affect your next trip, while others may not dominate the headlines but completely change how you experience the parks. In this episode, Matt talks through the difference between Disney news that is interesting, Disney news that is exciting, and Disney news that actually moves the needle.From Storyliving, overseas parks, boutique experiences, Disney Springs updates, and announcements that feel far away, to the things that really get Matt’s attention — Villains Land, transportation, nighttime entertainment, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, resort changes, and the Disney Bubble — this episode is part personal relevance scale, part Disney therapy, and part reminder that it is okay to care about what actually affects the way you do Disney.It is not about whether an announcement is objectively good or bad. It is about whether it makes you say, “Now we’re talking.”Send us Fan MailTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle 

Matt and Shaun are joined by our favorite Disney theme park news journalist Scott Gustin for a rapid-fire True or False preview of D23.Over 100+ questions covering Walt Disney World, Disneyland and more; we get Scott's insight on realistic possibilities from fan-fueled chaos.It is part prediction show, part Disney therapy session, and part reminder that sometimes the best D23 announcements are the ones Disney probably should have saved for the stage.Follow Scott Gustin and subscribe to his substack.Send us Fan MailTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle 

Matt is joined by Shaun for a Disney Before/After game built around Walt Disney World, Disney history, attractions, resorts, restaurants, entertainment, and plenty of random Disney chaos.The rules are simple: Matt gives Shaun a Disney-related statement, and Shaun has to decide whether it happened before or after another Disney milestone. Some are easy, some are tricky, and some exist purely to expose how strange Disney timelines can be when you really start comparing them.It is part trivia game, part nostalgia trip, and part excuse for Matt and Shaun to laugh through the topics.Send us Fan MailTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle 

Matt digs into one of the biggest reasons Walt Disney World became more than just a theme park destination: the Disney Bubble.This episode looks at what the Bubble actually means, why it matters, and how transportation, resorts, convenience, immersion, entertainment, service, and little touches all work together to make a Disney trip feel different from a normal vacation. But it also asks the harder question: has the Bubble lost some of its power?From the loss of Magical Express to the rise of paid add-ons, changing resort perks, transportation gaps, and a more complicated guest experience, Matt talks through what still feels special, what has faded, and what Disney could do to make the Bubble feel stronger again.Send us Fan MailTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle 

Matt takes a step back from the big headline attractions and looks at the operational side of Walt Disney World — the things that can quietly make or break a trip.From capacity and entertainment to transportation, park flow, resort logistics, staffing, crowd management, and the overall guest experience, this episode looks at where Disney seems to be improving, where problems still remain, and what needs to happen next as Walt Disney World heads into its next major era.It is not just about what Disney is building. It is about how Disney is going to handle the crowds, the demand, the expectations, and the pressure that comes with new lands, new shows, new resorts, and a more competitive Orlando market.Send us Fan MailTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle 

Tis' the season for Christmas party debates.  Matt compares two of Walt Disney World’s biggest holiday events: Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom.Which one feels more fun? Which one gives you better entertainment? Which one is better for families, food, characters, atmosphere, fireworks, rare offerings, and overall holiday vibes? This episode breaks down where each party shines, where each one falls short, and why the “better” event may depend on what kind of Disney night you are looking for.It is part review, part comparison, and part holiday planning conversation — with Matt looking at whether Jollywood has found its footing, whether Very Merry still feels like the classic choice, and how both events fit into a Walt Disney World Christmas trip.Send us Fan MailTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle 

Matt takes a look at some of the newer experiences around Walt Disney World and asks a simple question: what actually feels worth your time?From updated entertainment and refreshed offerings to newer additions across the parks, this episode is about separating the things that add real value from the things that just sound good in a Disney Parks Blog headline. Matt talks through what has improved the guest experience, what still feels a little undercooked, and where Walt Disney World seems to be putting its energy right now.It is a mix of review, reaction, and bigger-picture Disney conversation — looking at how these newer experiences fit into the current state of the parks, whether they make trips feel fresher, and what they say about the direction Disney is heading.Send us Fan MailTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle 

Matt recaps his first visit to Universal’s Epic Universe and breaks down what worked, what surprised him, and where the park still has room to grow.From the lands and attractions to the overall design, operations, food, crowds, and nighttime atmosphere, this episode looks at Epic Universe as both a brand-new theme park and as Universal’s biggest swing yet in Orlando. Matt shares what impressed him most, what did not fully land, and how Epic changes the larger Central Florida theme park conversation.It is not just a ride-by-ride recap. It is a first-reaction look at whether Epic Universe feels like the next great Orlando park, what Disney fans should pay attention to, and whether Universal really delivered on the hype.Send us Fan MailTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle 

Matt gets into his thoughts and attractions/experiences that are stock up and stock down.Send us Fan MailTwitter/X Handles:Dizhappenings: https://twitter.com/dizhappeningsShaun: https://twitter.com/rankingthemouseMatt: https://twitter.com/mattpetoBefore/After Watch Music in Dizhappenings copyrighted by Audio Jungle