Park Adventurers Club

Rob Whiteside
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Places & Travel
  • Daily

Join us on our journey through the magical worlds of Disney and Universal Parks, diving into Disney+ with thoughtful reviews of the newest releases, classic favorites, as well as exclusive content and more!

  1. Oct 23

    How to Do Universal Orlando with Little Kids 2 Moms' Game Plan Parks News

    Too small for the big rides? Here's how to do Universal Orlando with little kids, straight from two moms who've done it. Join Rob Whiteside and a panel of theme park fans as we break down the latest attractions, debate the best dining spots, and share insider tips to elevate your next park experience. Whether you're a seasoned annual passholder or planning your first family vacation, our panel of park enthusiasts brings you the perfect blend of nostalgic favorites and exciting new developments from across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, and beyond. Welcome back to Park Adventurers Club! Tonight Stephanie, a mom of 5, and Nicki, a mom of 3 boys and a Universal Orlando travel agent, join Rob for a family game plan for Universal with kids 8 and under. First, the week's biggest parks news. WEEKLY NEWS ROUNDUP ✅ Six Flags Goliath tragedy and the state of coaster safety ✅ Disney Imagination named, Disney Believe maiden voyage sells out ✅ Disney's AI PhotoPass patent ✅ Facial recognition rumored for Walt Disney World ✅ Epic Universe's first holidays in Super Nintendo World and Isle of Berk Then we dive into the main topic: HOW TO DO UNIVERSAL ORLANDO WITH LITTLE KIDS Universal has a reputation as the thrill ride resort, but plenty of families with toddlers and young kids have a great time there. Stephanie and Nicki share what works, what to skip, and how to keep everyone happy when not everyone is tall enough. 🎢 WHAT WE'RE COVERING TONIGHT: MEASURING UP Height requirements across Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe Why 40" and 48" are the big milestones Child Swap: how it works, the pros and the cons THE SPOOKY STUFF Rides that can catch little ones off guard Prepping kids ahead of time and knowing when to walk away Visiting during Halloween Horror Nights season LITTLE-KID WINS The best lands and rides for kids 8 and under in each park Character meet-and-greets from Shrek and Minions to Mario and Toothless SNACKS AND RESETS Kid-friendly food and character dining Where to take a midday break BEYOND THE BIG THREE Volcano Bay with little ones Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas Every family is different, and the right plan depends on your kids, not just their height. What's the one tip you'd give a family taking little kids to Universal for the first time? Let us know in the comments! 👇 🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the bell! CONNECT WITH US: @ParkAdvClub on all social media

  2. Oct 21

    How The Electric Mayhem Got Their Own Show Jeff Yorkes Interview - The Muppets Mayhem

    "There's nothing like hearing a Muppet say your name to you." - Jeff Yorkes On A Look On the Plus Side, we pull a different movie or TV show each week, tell you the history and details, give our review, and discuss its connections to the theme parks we love! A special episode with the co-creator of The Muppets Mayhem! 🎸 This week is a big one. I sat down with Jeff Yorkes, co-creator, executive producer, and writer of Disney+'s The Muppets Mayhem, to talk about how Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem finally got a show of their own. Jeff started out as an intern at The Jim Henson Company and ended up making a show with the Muppets he grew up loving. He told me how the series was pitched to Disney over Zoom, with the Muppets themselves crashing the call, plus stories about the cameos, the hidden easter eggs, and the music. And with Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets now running at Disney's Hollywood Studios, it's the perfect time to revisit the band's first starring role. What we cover: JEFF'S ROAD TO THE MUPPETS: ✅ Interning at The Jim Henson Company in New York while at NYU ✅ Working as a PA on Muppets Tonight with Statler and Waldorf in Times Square ✅ Watching Dave Goelz and Jerry Nelson perform up close ✅ A career cutting pitch trailers for shows like Cobra Kai and The Goldbergs THE SHOW (THE MUPPETS MAYHEM, 2023): ✅ How Jeff, Adam F. Goldberg, and Bill Barretta came together on the idea ✅ The Zoom pitch where the Muppets crashed the meeting ✅ How Disney accidentally spoiled the greenlight ✅ The music, including "Gonna Get There," co-written by Jeff with Linda Perry ✅ Why every episode is named after a classic song (with one exception) ✅ Easter eggs you probably missed, from Doc Hopper's Frog Legs to The Great Muppet Caper ✅ Cameo stories: Morgan Freeman, Kesha, Kevin Smith, Peter Jackson, and Ben Schwartz ✅ The score by Mick Giacchino, with Michael Giacchino as music supervisor ✅ Baby Animal and the show's big emotional moments ✅ Winning at the Children's & Family Emmys ✅ Premiering during the 2023 writers' strike THE MUPPETS AT DISNEY PARKS: ✅ Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets at Disney's Hollywood Studios (opened May 26, 2026) ✅ Jeff's memories of visiting Disney-MGM Studios as a kid ✅ Why his favorite attraction is the original Star Tours BEYOND THE MUPPETS: ✅ How Jeff's family name ended up in Marvel's Runaways ✅ Editing Drew: The Man Behind the Poster ✅ Rapid fire: his favorite Muppet, meeting Frank Oz, and Star Wars vs. Star Trek Whether you binged The Muppets Mayhem the day it dropped, you just rode the new Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, or you've loved The Electric Mayhem since the Muppet Show days, join us for the premiere and hang out in the chat! Who's your favorite member of The Electric Mayhem? Did you catch any of these easter eggs the first time? Have you ridden Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets yet? Tell us in the premiere chat! 🔔 Subscribe for more film reviews and Disney Parks deep dives! 📱 Follow us everywhere: @ParkAdvClub

    How The Electric Mayhem Got Their Own Show Jeff Yorkes Interview - The Muppets Mayhem

  3. Oct 20

    The Real Hocus Pocus Locations! Movie Review + Magic Kingdom Show!

    "It's just a bunch of hocus pocus!" On A Look On the Plus Side, we pull a different movie or TV show each week, tell you the history and details, give our review, and discuss its connections to the theme parks we love! From the streets of Salem to the stage in front of Cinderella Castle, the Sanderson Sisters are back! 🧙‍♀️ Join us LIVE as Rob sits down with Ron, who lives just outside Salem, Massachusetts, to review Disney's Hocus Pocus. It hit theaters in July 1993, didn't exactly set the box office on fire, and somehow became the Halloween movie for an entire generation. How does it hold up 33 years later? We're talking Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, the sequel, the 25th anniversary special, and the news that Hocus Pocus 3 is officially happening. Rob is also sharing his own photos and stories from the real filming locations, and Ron gives us the local's view of what Salem is like when the whole world shows up every October. Then we head to Magic Kingdom, where the Sanderson Sisters have been throwing their own party since 2015. What we cover: THE FILM (HOCUS POCUS, 1993): ✅ Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson Sisters ✅ "I Put a Spell on You" and why that scene still works ✅ Thackery Binx, Max, Dani and Allison ✅ Kenny Ortega's direction ✅ The July release and the slow climb to cult classic status ✅ Does it hold up, or is it pure nostalgia? THE REAL SALEM: FILMING LOCATIONS ✅ Pioneer Village, home of Thackery Binx and the opening scenes ✅ Old Town Hall, where the Halloween party was filmed ✅ The Ropes Mansion on Essex Street, Allison's house ✅ Max and Dani's house on Ocean Avenue ✅ The old Phillips School building used for the high school ✅ Old Burial Hill in nearby Marblehead, the cemetery scene ✅ Rob's photos and stories from visiting the locations ✅ What October in Salem is actually like, from someone who lives there THE SANDERSON SISTERS RETURN: ✅ The Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash (Freeform, 2018) ✅ Hocus Pocus 2 (Disney+, 2022) and how it compares to the original ✅ Hocus Pocus 3 officially in development with all three sisters returning HOCUS POCUS IN DISNEY PARKS Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular (Magic Kingdom): ✅ Debuted in 2015 at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ✅ The Sanderson Sisters team up with Disney villains to brew the Hocus Pocus Party Potion ✅ Dr. Facilier, Oogie Boogie, Maleficent and more ✅ Why it's still the must-see show of the party ✅ Minnie, Daisy & Clarabelle as the Sanderson Sisters! Whether you've watched Hocus Pocus every October since the VHS days, you've stood in front of the castle for the Spelltacular, or you've walked the streets of Salem yourself, join us LIVE as we review the film and visit the places that made it! What did YOU think of Hocus Pocus? Have you seen the Villain Spelltacular? Have you ever visited Salem? Join the LIVE chat! 🔔 Subscribe for more film reviews and Disney Parks deep dives!  📱 Follow us everywhere: @ParkAdvClub

    The Real Hocus Pocus Locations! Movie Review + Magic Kingdom Show!

  4. Oct 16

    Howl-O-Scream 2026 Guide What We Saw at 3 Different Parks Plus Latest Theme Park News

    Thinking about Howl-O-Scream this year? We went to three of them so you know what to expect. Join Rob Whiteside and a panel of theme park fans as we break down the latest attractions, debate the best dining spots, and share insider tips to elevate your next park experience. Whether you're a seasoned annual passholder or planning your first family vacation, our panel of park enthusiasts brings you the perfect blend of nostalgic favorites and exciting new developments from across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, and beyond. Welcome back to Park Adventurers Club! Tonight Rob is joined by Charly and Annie, and between the three of us we covered Howl-O-Scream on both coasts this year: SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Williamsburg. WEEKLY NEWS ROUNDUP ✅ Disney raises ticket, Lightning Lane and Annual Pass prices ✅ Disneyland drops the Magic Key no-show penalty ✅ Holiday overlays, Jollywood Nights lounge, Candlelight narrators and Santa's Holiday Grove ✅ Monstropolis concept art and first look at the food ✅ Universal Orlando refurb updates: Jurassic Park River Adventure delayed, Horror Make-Up Show adds Blumhouse Then we dive into the main topic: HOWL-O-SCREAM 2026: YOUR GUIDE FROM 3 PARKS Howl-O-Scream has been scaring guests since 1999, and every park puts its own spin on it. One is included with park admission, one hides speakeasies inside its haunted houses, and two of them share the same brand-new house. Whether you're a first-timer or a regular, here's what each park is bringing this year. 🎢 WHAT WE'RE COVERING TONIGHT: HOWL-O-SCREAM 101 Where it runs, how it started, and what's changed since 1999 How tickets work at each park, and who the event is for PARK BY PARK San Diego: Area 64: MOTHERSHIP, 8 scare zones and 5 hidden speakeasies Orlando: four new houses and the new icon, Pestilence Williamsburg: Anaconda: Dead on Arrival, Fright at the Museum and the Terror-tories SAME HOUSE, TWO PARKS I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Final Catch in San Diego and Orlando TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT Best nights to go, ticket strategy and what to know before your first scare Our overall grade for each park's 2026 event Every park runs it a little differently, and each one has something worth the trip. Which Howl-O-Scream have you been to, and what should first-timers know? Let us know in the comments! 👇 🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the bell!  CONNECT WITH US: @ParkAdvClub on all social media

    Howl-O-Scream 2026 Guide What We Saw at 3 Different Parks Plus Latest Theme Park News

  5. Oct 15

    Did Pixar Make a Horror Movie Toy Story of Terror Review + Toy Story Land

    "Combat Carl never gives up. Combat Carl finds a way." On A Look On the Plus Side, we pull a different movie or TV show each week, tell you the history and details, give our review, and discuss its connections to the theme parks we love! The Toy Story Halloween special that turned Jessie into a horror movie hero! 🎃 Join us LIVE as we review Toy Story of Terror!, the 2013 ABC Halloween special from Pixar. Bonnie's toys get stranded at a creepy roadside motel, and one by one they start disappearing. Does a 21-minute special hold up next to the feature films? Does it work as a real horror parody for kids, or just a cute Halloween bonus? And with Toy Story 5 now streaming on Disney+, we're taking a look at where Toy Story stands in Disney Parks today, from Toy Story Land to the Toy Story hotels overseas (way nicer than the Sleep Well motel). What we cover: THE SPECIAL (TOY STORY OF TERROR!, 2013): ✅ Premiered October 16, 2013 on ABC ✅ Directed by Angus MacLane, score by Michael Giacchino ✅ Jessie takes the lead, plus her claustrophobia from years in storage ✅ Mr. Pricklepants as the horror movie expert narrating every trope ✅ Carl Weathers as Combat Carl ✅ Ron the motel manager, Mr. Jones the iguana, and the toy-selling scheme ✅ Won 3 Annie Awards, including directing for Angus MacLane ✅ Hit Disney+ on October 23, 2020 ✅ Does it belong in your yearly Halloween rotation? TOY STORY IN DISNEY PARKS Toy Story Land (Disney's Hollywood Studios): ✅ Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania!, and Alien Swirling Saucers ✅ Woody's Lunch Box and Roundup Rodeo BBQ (opened March 23, 2026) ✅ Lilypad from Toy Story 5 heading to Alien Swirling Saucers Jessie in the Parks: ✅ Jessie's Critter Carousel at Pixar Pier (Disney California Adventure) ✅ Jessie's Roundup: A Rip-Roarin' Revue at Magic Kingdom (summer 2026) Toy Story Hotels: ✅ Toy Story Hotel at Shanghai Disney Resort ✅ Toy Story Hotel at Tokyo Disney Resort THE BROADER TOY STORY WORLD: ✅ Toy Story 5 (June 19, 2026), now streaming on Disney+ ✅ Toy Story That Time Forgot, the follow-up holiday special Whether you've watched this every October since 2013, caught it for the first time on Disney+, or just need a Toy Story fix after Toy Story 5, join us LIVE for a spooky night with Bonnie's toys! Did YOU know Toy Story had a Halloween special? Who's the real MVP, Jessie or Combat Carl? What's your favorite Toy Story attraction? Join the LIVE chat! 🔔 Subscribe for more film reviews and Disney Parks deep dives! 📱 Follow us everywhere: @ParkAdvClub

  6. Oct 13

    Raised on Disney Our Kids Get Honest | Disney World Turns 55

    Were they ever too cool for Disney? Tonight my kids go on the record about growing up in a Disney family. Join Rob Whiteside and a panel of theme park fans as we break down the latest attractions, debate the best dining spots, and share insider tips to elevate your next park experience. Whether you're a seasoned annual passholder or planning your first family vacation, our panel of park enthusiasts brings you the perfect blend of nostalgic favorites and exciting new developments from across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, and beyond. Welcome back to Park Adventurers Club! It's a family episode tonight. Adam and Ashley join me for the week's biggest parks news, then I turn the questions on them to find out what it was really like growing up with a Disney dad. WEEKLY NEWS ROUNDUP ✅ Walt Disney World celebrates its 55th anniversary ✅ Lakeshore Lodge reveals its Branch & Brush lounge as booking opens ✅ A new Dapper Mickey magnet for renewing Annual Passholders ✅ Guests spot a trimmed Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind preshow ✅ Disney buys the former Yamaha campus near Disneyland for $115 million Then we dive into the main topic: GROWING UP DISNEY I grew up going to Walt Disney World. My dad took us to the preview center, we went the opening year of EPCOT, and I ended up working there after college. Then I raised two kids the same way. Tonight Adam and Ashley tell us how that actually went: the best memories, the funniest moments, and the stuff they only did because Dad wanted to. 🎢 WHAT WE'RE COVERING TONIGHT: WHERE IT STARTED First Disney memories The funniest moments from our family trips THE FAMILY PLAYBOOK We stay late and never stop. Should we have spent more time at the hotel? The Disney hacks they still use on trips without us BEING THE DISNEY KID What their friends thought Were they ever too cool for Disney? LIGHTNING ROUND Test Track 1, 2 or 3, old or new Country Bears, and their favorite park Where they want to go on their next Disney adventure No wrong answers tonight, just honest ones. Even the ones Dad doesn't want to hear. Did you grow up in a Disney family, or are you raising one now? What's the one family Disney tradition you'll never skip? Let us know in the comments! 👇 🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the bell! CONNECT WITH US: @ParkAdvClub on all social media

    Raised on Disney Our Kids Get Honest | Disney World Turns 55

  7. Oct 12

    How a Postcard From Walt Built Disneyland's Matterhorn Third Man on the Mountain Review

    "Build this." On A Look On the Plus Side, we pull a different movie or TV show each week, tell you the history and details, give our review, and discuss its connections to the theme parks we love! The Disney movie that's the entire reason the Matterhorn exists! 🏔️ Join us for the PREMIERE of our review of Third Man on the Mountain, the 1959 adventure film that sent Walt Disney to Switzerland and came back with the idea for Disneyland's first thrill ride. We're breaking down the cast, the shockingly dangerous production, and whether the movie itself holds up. Then Shannon joins us for trivia before we dig into the wild true story of how this one film turned into the Matterhorn Bobsleds. What we cover: THE FILM (THIRD MAN ON THE MOUNTAIN, 1959): ✅ James MacArthur as Rudi Matt, Michael Rennie as Captain Winter, and the rest of the cast ✅ The story: a young Swiss dishwasher chasing the mountain that killed his father ✅ Based on the novel Banner in the Sky, and the real 1865 first ascent of the Matterhorn it's drawn from ✅ Filming on location in Zermatt, Switzerland, on the actual Matterhorn ✅ The genuinely dangerous shoot, including cast and crew injuries ✅ Critical reception and how it holds up today ✅ Is it worth watching now? THIRD MAN ON THE MOUNTAIN AT DISNEY PARKS: Matterhorn Bobsleds (Disneyland): ✅ Opened June 14, 1959, the same year as the film ✅ Walt's postcard to Imagineer Vic Greene that started it all: "Build this." ✅ The first tubular steel roller coaster ever built ✅ Disneyland's first thrill ride ✅ 147 feet tall, exactly 1/100th the size of the real Matterhorn ✅ The 1978 refurb that added the Yeti (his name is Harold) ✅ Why it's the one Disney attraction you can only find at Disneyland Whether you've seen Third Man on the Mountain a dozen times or you're only familiar with it through the ride it inspired, join us for the premiere as we review the film and dig into its theme park legacy! Have you ridden the Matterhorn? Did you know it started with a Disney movie? Join the chat during the premiere! 🔔 Subscribe for more film reviews and Disney Parks deep dives! 📱 Follow us everywhere: @ParkAdvClub

    How a Postcard From Walt Built Disneyland's Matterhorn Third Man on the Mountain Review

  8. Oct 10

    Let's Talk EPCOT Its Past, Present and Future! (with Guest Scott Gustin)

    Scott Gustin joins us for a full hour on EPCOT: the city Walt never got to build, the park we actually got instead, and what's coming for its 45th anniversary. Join Rob Whiteside and a panel of theme park fans as we break down the latest attractions, debate the best dining spots, and share insider tips to elevate your next park experience. Whether you're a seasoned annual passholder or planning your first family vacation, our panel of park enthusiasts brings you the perfect blend of nostalgic favorites and exciting new developments from across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, and beyond. Welcome back to Park Adventurers Club! Tonight's a different kind of show. We're setting aside the usual news roundup for a full hour on one topic, EPCOT, with special guest Scott Gustin, timed right up against EPCOT's anniversary on October 1st. EPCOT: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE EPCOT turns 44 this October, and the big one, 45, is right around the corner in 2027. So we're using the hour to walk through the whole story: the city Walt Disney actually wanted to build, the park Disney built instead, everything promised back at D23 Expo 2019, what COVID knocked off the table, and what Disney just confirmed at D23 2026 for where EPCOT goes from here. 🎢 WHAT WE'RE COVERING TONIGHT: THE PAST Walt's original EPCOT wasn't a theme park, it was a planned city for 20,000 people Opening day, October 1, 1982: the six original Future World pavilions and nine World Showcase countries Why there were no characters or thrill rides at first, and what fans still miss from that era THE PRESENT Everything Disney promised for Future World back at D23 Expo 2019 What actually got built, what got quietly cancelled, and what got scaled back after COVID hit How EPCOT became the festival park, and whether that was the plan all along or a happy accident THE FUTURE What D23 2026 just confirmed, including a reimagined Spaceship Earth and Dreamfinder's return to Journey Into Imagination What else could be next for EPCOT heading into its 45th anniversary in 2027 This one's part history lesson, part debate, so expect Scott and Rob to disagree on a few of these. What's the one classic EPCOT attraction you wish Disney would bring back? Let us know in the comments! 👇 🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the bell! CONNECT WITH US: @ParkAdvClub on all social media

    Let's Talk EPCOT Its Past, Present and Future! (with Guest Scott Gustin)
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Join us on our journey through the magical worlds of Disney and Universal Parks, diving into Disney+ with thoughtful reviews of the newest releases, classic favorites, as well as exclusive content and more!

Information

  • Creator
    Rob Whiteside
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Rob Whiteside
  • Show Website
    Park Adventurers Club

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