Teen Beat with Danielle Fishel

Episode: Danielle…live from Disney California Adventure Park!
Podcast: Teen Beat
Host: Danielle Fishel
Date: December 5, 2025

Episode Overview

Recorded live from Disney California Adventure Park, this episode of Teen Beat sees host Danielle Fishel—best known as Topanga Lawrence on Boy Meets World and recent Dancing with the Stars contestant—sharing her excitement about joining the Dancing with the Stars national tour and delving into the festive magic of Disneyland’s holiday celebrations. Danielle sits down with Disney Ambassador Jada to discuss the park’s enduring appeal, special holiday offerings, and the unique cultural and culinary experiences awaiting guests. The conversation bridges personal nostalgia, theme park traditions, and the inside scoop on what makes Disney's holidays so memorable.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Danielle’s Life Updates and Tour Excitement

[02:57–10:11]

• Dancing with the Stars Tour: Danielle shares her anticipation for the upcoming live tour, which begins with rehearsals and kicks off in Akron, Ohio (Jan 22).
• Role on Tour: She is eager to embrace both co-hosting and dancing, aiming to participate as fully as possible.
• Family Dynamics: Danielle discusses the logistics of being away from her two young kids for the longest stretch yet and the plan to road trip with the family for part of the tour.
• Tour Highlights: Stops in cities like New York (Radio City Music Hall), New Jersey, Texas, and Kansas spark her interest in local attractions (Sopranos tour in NJ, rodeos in Texas, T. Rex skeleton in Wichita, and Denver’s big blue bear).
• Notable Quote:

  "If you’ve gotten to know me at all…you know I like to be booked and busy, and so my plan is to tell them that I want to host as much as they will let me and to dance as much as they will let me." — Danielle Fishel [03:46]

• She humorously compares her dance-formed abs (or lack thereof) to social media personality Alex Earle, attributing any missing definition to Oreos.

2. Holiday Magic at Disneyland Resort

[14:01–26:29]

• Meet Disney Ambassador Jada:

  • Jada describes her role representing 36,000 Disneyland Resort cast members as an ambassador, an honor that involved a rigorous application and interview process.

  “We’ve acted as…the messengers of the joy, the magic of Disney into the community. And it’s been an honor.” — Jada [14:24]

• Park Traditions and the 70th Anniversary:

  • The conversation touches on the park's evolving history, focusing on what’s changed over 70 years and what’s remained—the core of “magic.”

    “That magic that Disneyland always provides…has never gone anywhere.” — Danielle [15:35]

• Holiday Shows and Parades:

  • Christmas Fantasy Parade: Celebrates 30 years, featuring characters like Santa, Mickey, Minnie, and whimsical floats along Main Street USA.

    “It’s one of my favorite shows. And I’m just so glad that it’s back again this year.” — Jada [17:14]

  • Other highlights: “Believe in Holiday Magic” fireworks, Disney Viva Navidad street party, and nightly magical snowfall at Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle.

    "80,000 shimmering lights transform the castle into a snowy, sparkling wonder." — Danielle [18:39]

• Cultural Celebrations:

  • Festival of Holidays includes foods and traditions celebrating Navidad, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and more.

    “We have marketplaces all across Disney California Adventure park where you can have different food items that celebrate different cultures.” — Jada [20:09]

3. Holiday Foods & Merch Tasting

[19:49–21:46] & [31:24–33:03]

• Danielle and Jada sample featured holiday treats:

  • Cafe de Olla cold brew: Reminiscent of horchata with a cinnamon vibe.

    “The drink is really yummy—it’s got a little bit of an horchata vibe.” — Danielle [21:13]

  • Mickey-shaped pretzel: “Seven years of magic, and the Mickey-shaped pretzel—still a favorite.” — Jada [20:39]
  • Sticky Toffee Macaron: Danielle’s first time tasting it on air:

    “It’s so cute on the inside… Wow.” — Danielle [21:57]

• Attention to Detail:

  • Discussion on how teams of cast members ideate, create, and curate food and decor for authenticity and delight.

    “We really want to make sure the detail is— it matters.” — Jada [22:47]

• Holiday Merchandise:

  • Festive ears, gold headbands, and light-up features. Danielle jokes about hiding her new Disney swag from her kids so they won’t know she visited without them.

    “I’m gonna have to hide them before I go home. Otherwise my children are gonna be like, where have you been?” — Danielle [31:34]

  • Holiday merch is available resort-wide through January 7th.

4. Disneyland as “Home” and Nostalgia

[23:26–26:29]

• Both grew up in Southern California, with Danielle sharing memories of watching Disneyland fireworks from her grandfather’s Anaheim lawn.
• They reflect on what it means for Disneyland to be a “home park” and centerpiece of family tradition.
• Jada notes the global network of Disney ambassadors and describes helping to open Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World.
• Danielle sets a goal to visit all Disney parks around the world—including Tokyo and Paris.

  “I now have a goal of going to all the different Disney resorts.” — Danielle [26:13]

5. Visiting Information and Holiday Atmosphere

[32:39–33:42]

• Jada recommends downloading the Disneyland app or visiting Disneyland.com for visitor and merchandise info.
• Danielle underscores the park’s transformational power during the holidays:

  “Nothing will kickstart it quite like Disneyland at this time of year.” — Danielle [33:13]

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I basically want to come home from tour with abs like Alex Earle, since I did not develop them while doing the show.” — Danielle [04:25]
• “We’ve acted as…the messengers of the joy, the magic of Disney into the community.” — Jada [14:24]
• “It’s crazy to me how many things have changed over the 70 years, and yet how many amazing things have stayed the same.” — Danielle [15:35]
• “Who would think it’d be snowing in Disneyland? Not me. But we make it happen because that’s what happens… holidays are about magic.” — Jada [18:56]
• “The amount of detail that goes into every single aspect… even the fact that, like, this balances out, that you have that little thing on top, that the salt is just right, that we have the décor on the food—it doesn’t just taste good, it looks good.” — Jada [22:33]
• “For me, somehow, every time I come at night, I walk in right at the right time, and it’s happening. And it’s just like the best way to start your night. You grab a hot chocolate.” — Jada [19:35]
• “If you’ve never been during the holidays, it really does completely transform and it feels… Nothing will kickstart it quite like Disneyland at this time of year.” — Danielle [33:13]

Important Timestamps

• 02:57 – Danielle’s introduction and sharing plans for the Dancing with the Stars tour
• 14:01 – Danielle introduces Disney Ambassador Jada
• 15:16 – Park’s 70th Celebration and history
• 16:31 – Holiday magic and how it transforms park atmosphere
• 17:03 – Christmas Fantasy Parade discussion
• 18:27–19:40 – Magical snowfall and castle illumination
• 19:49–21:59 – Taste test: holiday foods (Cafe de Olla, Mickey pretzel, sticky toffee macaron)
• 22:33 – Disney’s focus on detail and authenticity
• 23:59 – Cast member experiences and Disneyland as part of family tradition
• 25:12 – Danielle’s childhood Disneyland memories
• 31:24 – Discussion about holiday merchandise and where to get it
• 32:39 – Visitor information and planning a Disneyland trip
• 33:13 – Danielle’s closing reflections on Disneyland’s holiday spirit

Tone and Style

Danielle continues her trademark warm, candid, and nostalgic approach—balancing humor (especially about parenting and travel prep), genuine curiosity, and an honest appreciation for Disney history and culture. The conversation is friendly and energetic, sprinkled with personal anecdotes and playful banter—just as one would expect from two Disney fans chatting amid the holiday bustle.

In Summary

This episode will delight anyone who loves Disney, the holidays, or Danielle Fishel’s relatable personality. Listeners get behind-the-scenes insights into the Dancing with the Stars tour, a “tastemaker’s” tour of Disney’s special holiday foods, and an on-the-ground appreciation of the Disneyland Resort’s commitment to magic, inclusivity, and tradition. It’s a festive, joyful celebration that doubles as the perfect trip-planning primer for Disneyland’s most wonder-filled season.