Very Amusing with Carlye Wisel - A Theme Park Podcast

No WAY we got the New York Times bestselling author of books like "One Italian Summer" and "In Five Years" to come on the podcast and yap about Disney and motherhood and sitcoms and her personal connection to Gilmore Girls and SO MUCH FREAKING MORE!!!

This may be our most high energy episode in a while (!!!) which friends, you know is saying a LOT. I adore Rebecca Serle and her new book "Once and Again" drops...

Jenny Weinbloom is the coolest Disney executive around — there, I said it! — and this week, she's on Very Amusing!

Our interview aboard the Disney Destiny REALLY feels like peeking behind the curtain of how Disney Cruise Line decides what experiences to bring us. (And even better -- we got to chat in the suite! the suite!!!)

I'm blown away by her career and how she's brought New York's best theatrical e...

Oh yeah dude, we have SO much to catch up on so let's gab about Disneyland! and Lunar New Year! and life! and scheduling! and shopping! and television! and sitcoms! and so much more!!!!!!

Book your next Disney trip with MEI-MouseFan Travel!! They'll give you expert advice AND save you money while doing it all for FREE! (They support Very Amusing and we are so beyond grateful if you choose to book with them!) Save money on yo...

HOW DID WALT DO IT?!! That's right we're talking about Disneyland Handcrafted, the new mind-boggling film documenting the year (THE SINGLE! YEAR!) it took to build Disneyland. As you'll soon hear me yell about at length, director Leslie Iwerks' film is an absolutely stunning look at the process, complete with archival footage that, oh ya know, had no sound until it was added to this film. It's out January 22, bu...

We are back for the second year with our bucket list travel episode (!) featuring seven INCREDIBLE sights you (and I!) both need to see. They're theme park-y enough to give you an absolute thrill but also all domestic (WHEE!) which means it's easier than ever to cross one of these off your list. (even if I wanna cross 'em ALL off because miniatures, audio-animatronics AND indoor cities!? this one's got it all!

Releva...

okay in fairness it's not entirely holiday themed, but it is our final episode (!!!) of 2025 (!!!) so embrace the virtual icicle lights and gingerbread lattes and enjoy our 747-Churros Q&A!

~my voice is not one hundred percent back, but I recorded this over multiple days so it should sound good!!!~

have a happy holidays and happy new year, everyone! We are off 12/31 and will be back with our first episode of the year on 1/7!!...

Writer, director, comedian and friend of the pod Julia Prescott trekked to FAR, FAR AWAY — both literally and figuratively — to experience the SHREK themed land at Universal Studios Singapore!

Julia wrote one of The Simpsons' most-praised episodes, runs a brilliant screenwriting class and clocked in as Very Amusing's International Shrek Correspondent. WHAT CAN'T SHE DO!!!!

She's here to discuss her WILD AND WHIMSICAL...

OH? An absolute GET for our first episode of SHREKCEMBER 2025?! YOU BET!!!

Mike Mitchell — director of "Shrek Forever After", "Trolls" and "Kung Fu Panda 4" —is an absolute legend who spilled sO MANY INCREDIBLE STORIES ON THE PODCAST THIS WEEK!

Stop reading and just listen...this is one of the best ones we've ever done!!!

Thanks to our special guest…

Mike Mitchell! (go see his movies!)

Relevant Links…

Book you...

It's the most wonderful time of the year…and no, not because of the holidays or whatever. Because the set of "Gilmore Girls" is ALMOST HERE! 

If you've ever wanted to know how an entire city is created on a backlot and then *whoosh!* removed just 18 days later, prepare to have your mind blown!

During Holidays Made Here, the *super special* version of Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood that lastsfrom Decem...

I went on Disney Cruise Line's NEWEST cruise ship and have SO much to tell you about it!!!! The Heroes & Villains theme sets this ship apart from the others...and what I have to say about it is not at all what I expected I would!!!!! (The main thing I'm raving about....oh my gosh?!?!!

It's got a Hercules stage show, a Lion King restaurant, character meets up the wazoo, an adults-only Marvel show, a Cruella De Vil-the...

Listen, not only do we have the gift of EXTREME Tokyo Disney Resort TEA, but we also have the glorious gift of having my dear friend Brandon on the pod!! You may recognize Brandon or 'NayNay from his appearances on the Park Stop Podcast, or even from our ~shenanigans~ as friends who love, well, ~shenanigans~, but 'NayNay just got back from Tokyo Disney and, y'all, the things he is saying about Vacation Packages NEED to ...

Did I have too much caffeine before recording this one? Was that breakfast Butterfinger a bad idea? Is it possible I mistakenly took a double-dose of my medication so I was a little more scatterbrained than usual? ALL OF THE ABOVE may be true, but you're in for a super chaotic, somewhat unexpectedly long-winded gab sesh episode today!

We're catching up on Halloween happenings, closet conundrums (wearing my $0 shorts as we sp...

this one is a doozy! Norway, Japan, UK, France, Morocco, Italy, Mexico, China, Germany, Canada, and the American Adventure all battle it out for top ranking as the best World Showcase pavilion at Epcot! (some of these rankings are brutal but I'LL ALLOW IT!!!)

Support our silly little podcast by booking your next Disney trip with Mouse Fan Travel! They will book your entire trip and answer any Disney questions for free! (We thank...

yeah, I don't quite know how it happened either BUT I am taking you along on our whirlwind unexpected chaotic girl's trip to Walt Disney World!!!!! (Only without the flight delays, the lack of cinnamon bread and the hilarious suede and fringe outfits that we wound up in Orlando with!)

What was truly a travel Hail Mary became the wildest DISNEY WORLD trip I've had in a while. To show up in Orlando with truly — TRULY — no ...

Consider this our one-stop shop (heh) for EVERYTHING you need to know about Disneyland’s two theme parks here in California. My favorite foods to eat, can’t miss rides, essential information and most importantly — my best advice for doing it all (which you WON’T hear about anywhere else!)

Long story short? Don’t go to Disneyland without listening to this first!!!!

We’re starting off a new foot forward, which will make it EASIER to pl...

Y'ALL!! I flew to Florida and jammed in everything I wanted to do at Disney AND Universal during a wild three nights at Caribe Royale Orlando hotel! 70 hours?!?!!? and this much wackiness?!?! Come for the shenanigans, stay for the...my mom having a crush on an Epic Universe character!!!! (And no, it's not even Ygor!!!) This one is WILD, enjoy!!!!

Support our silly little theme park podcast by booking your next Disney, Univer...

BUT JUST THE AMERICAN PARKS!!!

(yes, that is a Muppets Present Great Moments In History pun IYKYK!!!)

Anywhoooo, buckle up for some CHAOS because we are ranking ALL of Disney's American theme parks in a throw-down battle of food, rides and vibes!!!

Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom are facing off for the ultimate title of Best Disney Park...

Our “How Things Work” series is BACK! This week we’re talking to Raymond Kinman, Master Woodcarver and Former Disney Imagineer! Ray is the artistic force behind SO many things you have seen inside Disney theme parks because…his work is often the first thing you’ll see! Ride marquee signs for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, restaurants like Rancho Del Zocalo and even…one of Disney’s most famous thrill rides!

Hear all about ho...

If this episode doesn’t feel like a 73 minute voice note from your friend, I have failed!!! We're keeping it loosey goosey today, talking ALL about my favorite new TV show (she's got a new obsession y'all!!), my MANY thoughts on Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, and we even answer a few bonus Churros Calls!

Honestly?? This one is just pure theme park fun, even if you're not an HHN person — take ...