Out of the Park

Why Should I Worry?

The 1988 classic Oliver & Company is covered in this episode, as Matt welcomes in long-time friend and Billy Joel fan, Jason, to discuss Disney's interpretation of Oliver Twist - "It's Oliver Twist with dogs". We discuss the story in depth, how the film lightened up some of the darker tones of the novel, how the voice acting for the film was packed with celebrities, the soundtrack and use of pop artists before the Disney - Broadway relationship really took over, and of course, how we'd incorporate the film into the parks.

I Want Candy

This episode covers the beloved 90's classic, Heavyweights, as Matt and Ryan discuss the movie that launched numerous careers in the comedy scene. We break down the film and plot points, the actors who went on to significant success after release of the movie, the numerous villains who exist, how the film holds up, if it would be released in modern times, and how we would incorporate it into the US Parks.

Make Dreams Come True

Matt and Lauren return for a new episode discussing a show that has made an impact on both childhood and parenthood. Spawning from a dream sequence in the 1984 film "Muppets Take Manhattan" the world was introduced to the Muppet babies and endless hours of family friendly entertainment followed. On this episode, we discuss both the 1984 original series as well as the 2018 reboot, how it made an impact on us as children as part of the Saturday morning cartoon lineup, and how it continues to play a role in our lives as a show our daughter embraced. We discuss the characters, the voice actors, some of the memorable storylines (and songs) and of course, how we would introduce the show to the US-based theme parks.

Feel the Rhythm

This episode, the focus is on everyone's favorite movie about bobsledding, as Earnest "EJ" Christian joins the show to discuss "Cool Runnings" and how the film holds up as it nears the 33rd anniversary of its release. We discuss the storyline of the film, how the movie stayed true to the real-life team and how Disney took some creative liberties to make it the feel-good film it became. We also explore the characters, the "villains" of the film and if they are really deserving of the title, and how it ranks along other Disney sports films. Finally, we discuss the ways we would incorporate the movie into the Florida or California parks - from attractions, to dining options, to potential hotel theming.

I Have the High Ground

On this special Star Wars edition of Out of the Park, Matt and Lauren do a deep dive into the Disney+ original series, Obi Wan Kenobi. Breaking down the story, the returning cast, the new characters, the new villains, and how this story does in bridging the storyline gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, we cover all topics on one of the more anticipated series that has been released. We also explore Obi Wan as the character, how he holds up with other beloved characters from the franchise, and what we would do to incorporate the show and the character into the US Disney Parks.