Welcome back to Going Beyond the Castle! In Episode 40, your three favorite chaos gremlins — Fred Briley, Lori “Podcast Princess” Talamo, and Ashley “Chaos Twin #1 & #2” Rude — jump headfirst into the controversial world of Disney Hot Takes.

And listen… no one asked for these opinions, but we’re delivering them anyway.

From declaring Dinosaur a certified trash ride (Fred couldn’t even wait for the topic to start) to debating the best EPCOT starting point, the truth about Mickey pretzels, and whether rope-dropping is truly worth losing sleep over—this episode has EVERYTHING.

Plus, Disney dropped major news this week, which means we got fully distracted more than once.

🔥 In This Episode

🦖 Fred Starts Strong: Dinosaur Is Garbage

He doesn’t hold back. At all. Ashley and Lori let him get it out of his system… before reminding him he’s absolutely wrong.
(Except Lori’s daughter, who is now officially Team Fred.)

📰 This Week’s Disney News Dump

Disney decided to casually drop:

• New Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters cars

• A true first look at Beacon Barrel (we're obsessed)

• Zootopia officially opening under the Tree of Life

• Concept art for Muppets retheme of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster

• Big Thunder Mountain’s new backstory + rainbow caverns

• Disneyland 2026 packages going live

• And more surprises from a random panel no one even knew was happening

Cue chaos, excitement, and confusion about where entrances at DCA actually are.

💬 Beyond the Comments

This week’s viewer hot topics include:

• The Carnival cruise passenger furious about her guarantee cabin

• A vomit story on Stardust Racers (and the one-vomit-cleaner rule 🤢)

• People expecting Mickey to magically appear at their gender reveal

• Pop Century newbies asking for Skyliner tips and getting roasted

• Astro Orbiter trauma

• And the inevitable “vomit train” conversation

🔥 The Crew’s Disney Hot Takes

Some of the hot opinions shared:

• Mickey pretzels are overrated (Lori)

• Cosmic Ray’s isn’t bad—people just hate joy (Ashley)

• Dining Plan is not a money saver, just a convenience fee (Fred)

• KiteTails was great because chaos is entertainment (Lori… standing alone)

• Nothing needs to go under the Tree of Life (Ashley)

• The only correct way to do EPCOT is starting in Canada (Fred)

• Hidden Mickey obsession is dumb (Fred continues to choose violence)

• It’s a Small World is a must-do every trip (Lori pulls the sentimental card so no one can argue)

• Hollywood Studios can bulldoze Sunset Boulevard (Ashley fully unhinged)

• Skyliner is the best ride at Disney and it’s not even in a park (Fred speaks truth)

• Animal Kingdom is a full-day park and not a zoo (Lori, and she’s right)

• Disney adults are the ones keeping Disney alive (Fred mic drop)

✨ Final Moments

We wrap with:

• Planning next week’s cruise-episode

• Questioning where Katie disappeared to

• Fred threatening to cancel the podcast because Ashley won’t be there

• And the usual reminder that Disney adults are elite