Disney FC: "Welcome to Wrexham"’s Most Magical Episode Yet
FX’s Welcome to Wrexham leans into its Disney connection in Season 4, Episode 3, cheekily titled “Disney FC." Now streaming on Hulu, the episode fully embraces Disney movie tropes—complete with mascots, training montages, and a fairy tale ending. And yes, even this gritty underdog docuseries gets its own “Disney night," laced with nods to Disney Parks and Wonderful World of Color nostalgia.
Co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds kick things off by addressing the episode’s title. Some fans refer to Wrexham AFC as “Disney FC" because the series streams internationally on Disney+, and both owners have strong Disney ties. McElhenney stars in FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, while Reynolds rose to fame on ABC’s Two Guys and a Girl and leads Marvel’s Deadpool franchise.
The duo draw playful comparisons between Wrexham AFC and Disneyland: both have parades, mascots, and devoted fans. McElhenney shares that visiting the parks is his birthday tradition, showing a censored photo of himself with his wife and kids (who, humorously, appear unblurred later in the episode). Meanwhile, Reynolds jokes about avoiding Disneyland due to his mega-celebrity status and the attention he draws in public.
The Episode as a Disney Movie
Despite the playful theme, “Disney FC" still delivers on the sports doc front, using classic Disney movie tropes to frame Welcome to Wrexham Mickeythe club’s journey:
- Early Tragedy: Much like the emotional openings of Bambi or The Lion King, Wrexham loses its star goalkeeper, Arthur Okonkwo, to a major injury in November 2024.
- Hero’s Training Montage: Club director Humphrey Ker continues preparing for a charity marathon in a humorous montage worthy of Mulan or Hercules.
- Midpoint Ally Arrival: Just when all hope seems lost, a new goalkeeper, Callum Burton, enters the story—Moana meets Maui-style.
- All Is Lost: Burton is injured, leaving the team without a reliable goalie once again.
- Triumphant Ending: The episode culminates in a surprise win, capped off with animated fireworks and an emotional payoff worthy of any Disney finale.
- The Song: Having earned their happy ending, Rob and Ryan claim they’ve earned the right to play “When You Wish Upon a Star."
Behind the Pixie Dust: Disney Connections Abound
A more subtle Disney nod comes via the introduction of Cosm, an immersive experience company offering fans lifelike game simulations. It’s exactly the kind of tech-forward storytelling Walt Disney loved to showcase on Disneyland and The Wonderful World of Color. McElhenney even attends a Cosm-hosted Wrexham match in Los Angeles, joined by several of his Always Sunny co-stars—some of whom boast Disney credits:
- Kaitlin Olson, McElhenney’s wife, stars in ABC’s High Potential and voiced Destiny in Finding Dory.
- Charlie Day voiced Art in Monsters University.
- Danny DeVito has an impressive Disney résumé, from Phil in Hercules to roles in Dumbo (2019) and Haunted Mansion (2023).
Also making a rare cameo in the crowd is FX Chairman John Landgraf.
The Wonderful World of Wrexham
Perhaps the most magical moment is a scrapped segment in which Rob and Ryan channel Walt Disney’s TV persona to introduce “The Wonderful World of Wrexham." Just like vintage episodes of The Wonderful World of Disney, the episode closes with a sprinkle of pixie dust courtesy of Tinker Bell, who waves her wand over the STōK Racecourse to end the story.
Rob McElhenney sums it up best: “Wrexham is just magic."
Welcome to Wrexham airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on FX, with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.