Mousetalgia! - Your Disneyland Podcast

Disney author and historian Jeff Kurtti joins Team Mousetalgia to talk about a very Disney Christmas this week. Sit down and enjoy our fireside chat with Jeff to learn how Walt and his studio celebrated Christmas with Silly Symphonies, company Christmas cards, Disneyland parades and decor, and numerous holiday films and cartoons. Also, we share our favorite holiday treats at Disneyland Resort, and take a look at the creation of Disneyland's infamous candy canes. Plus, a book giveaway - and more!

Celebrate the 111th anniversary of Walt Disney's birthday with Mousetalgia as we present an overview of Walt's life and his contributions to popular culture, as well as a retrospective glimpse at the man who changed Hollywood as reported in a 1938 newspaper. Also, Dave and Becky have a number of Thanksgiving feasts at the Disneyland Resort and report back on the holiday dinner at the Disneyland Hotel, Sunday brunch at Club 33, and breakfast at the new Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney. Plus - vintage holiday decor, Disney's robot research, Jeff waxes poetic... and more!

Walt Disney's inspirations for Snow White were the focus of a recent panel discussion at the Walt Disney Family Museum, and Mousetalgia brings you a special report. Led by historian J.B. Kaufman and exhibition curator Lella Smith, this event featured discussion about the fairy tales, plays, and film that most directly influenced Walt Disney in the creation of his first animated feature. Also, Mousetalgia talks Disney shopping for the holidays, and we look at some of the lesser-traveled roads to finding the perfect gift. We also talk about Barney's Electric Holiday, and try to get past the hype. Plus - Jeff Kurtti on the art of Disneyland, Tony Baxter's gold, Donkey gets mauled - and more!

Imagineer Brian "Croz" Crosby joins Mousetalgia to talk about the Artist in Residence program at the Wonderground Gallery in Downtown Disney, where he is appearing throughout the month of November. Learn about the program and the gallery, as well as the various works of art Crosby has created for sale at Disneyland's Disney Gallery and the Bat's Day Black Market. Plus, we go back to the mailbag to answer your questions. More Disneyland/WDW comparisons, attraction music thoughts, Disneyland haters, DVC, a winner of the One More Disney Day Sweepstakes checks in, and a Halloween Time report. Also, Alan Menken performs in Seattle - and more!

Star Wars and Wreck-It-Ralph: What will Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm mean for the future of the Star Wars franchise? No one knows for sure, but Team Mousetalgia takes a look at the purchase in a roundtable discussion, during which we share possibilities and explore the possibilities raised by the surprising announcement. Also, we review "Wreck-It-Ralph" and explore the worlds and witty storyline of Disney's latest animated hit. We also look at some of director Rich Moore's "Ask Me Anything" replies to fans' questions, and discuss initial impressions of Tom Hanks as Walt Disney.

Historian J.B. Kaufman talks about Snow White and his new book, "The Fairest One of All," in this week's episode. Learn about the history of Walt Disney's first animated feature film, and its origins in mythology and fairy tales. Also, ABC's "Once Upon A Time" continues to wow critics and build an audience, and we discuss the meaning behind its success. Plus - Disney launches an adult Princess makeup line, a review of Disney on Ice, Vader goes to Broadway - and more!

Discover the spooktacular talents of Paul Frees, the voice of the Ghost Host, on our annual Halloween Emporium! Mousetalgia talks to Fred Frees, the son of Paul Frees, who tells stories about the life of the legendary "Man of 1000 Voices." We also discuss various haunting Disneyland records, and unveil a rare Walt Disney Productions acetate of eerie sound effects. Also, Kristen delivers a top-ten list of Disney Halloween songs, and Jeff reports on a Walt Disney Family Museum-hosted panel of legendary stop-motion animators. Plus - an exclusive report from an Art of Frankenweenie panel discussion, Haunted Mansion moments - and more!

Visit Disneyland's Tahitian Terrace with Mousetalgia! Take a trip back through time with us as we re-open the Tahitian Terrace in a special one-night-only event at Disneyland, and relive the island magic and exotic polynesian dance performances that have been missing from the park for nearly 2 decades. Team Mousetalgia takes you behind the scenes of the planning of the event, and we discuss our panel discussion, featuring stories from Disney Legend Rolly Crump, who worked for Walt Disney on attractions such as the Enchanted Tiki Room, the Haunted Mansion, and many others. Plus - special appearances by Bob Gurr and Tony Baxter! Also, we talk CHOC Walk, Mickey's Halloween Party - and more!

Visit the exotic jungles of Adventureland with Team Mousetalgia! This week, we take a look back at Walt Disney's original concept for Disneyland's proposed "True Life Adventureland," and then we examine the Jungle Cruise, one of the original Disneyland attractions. After spending some time in "de Nile," we look at some of Walt's later attractions - his Enchanted Tiki Room, and the adjoining Tahitian Terrace Restaurant, which celebrated America's post-war love of the Polynesian culture. Finally, we take a close look at the Randotti Company, maker of some of Adventureland's most popular souvenirs, including plaster skulls, tikis, and totems. Programming note: Tune in next week for a full report on Mousetalgia's "Evening at the Tahitian Terrace" event!

Frankenweenie's shocking box office! This week, Team Mousetalgia offers up a review and some thoughts about Frankenweenie, Tim Burton's latest stop-motion creepshow, and we worry about the empty theaters we sat in during opening weekend. We take a look at the inspiration and influences behind the film, and offer our own parental advice. Also, we talk about taking Disneyland at a different speed, discussing traveling to the park with folks with disabilities, touring with people that would rather not be there, and visiting the park with toddlers in tow. Plus, a lego-fueled Haunted Mansion moment - and more!

Get into the spooky spirit of Halloween with Team Mousetalgia! Kristen reviews Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort, covering the Big Thunder Ranch Halloween Jamboree, the latest terrorizing tastes and boo-tiful sights, and Disney California Adventure's Frankenweenie features. Not to be out-dead-dogged, the rest of Team Mousetalgia report on a Walt Disney Family Museum discussion of Old Yeller featuring Disney Legend Kevin Corcoran. Also - Haunted Mansion-style changing portraits, Paperman's director speaks out, Mousetalgia is named "best" - and more!

Walt's Apartment, Disneyland's Dream Suite, the Disneyland Hotel's Adventureland Suite, and "Lights, Camera, Magic!" - Becky takes us on a tour of a few rarely visited Disneyland locations, and then on an Adventures By Disney tour of Hollywood, including the Dolby Theater, the Walk of Fame, a Walt Disney Studios tour - and a Sophia Grace and Rosie sighting! Also, your emails are answered - Disney decorating, Disney collectibles, getting into Club 33, and choosing a day at the Disney Expo... plus more! SPECIAL NOTE: This is the final week to buy tickets to our Tahitian Terrace event at Disneyland in October. The deadline to buy tickets is Oct. 3 - so visit www.mousetalgiastore.com to reserve your space today!

Becky's Resort Report: This week, Becky travels through the Disneyland Resort with a group of travel professionals to get a different perspective on the food and hotels in the area. From the Carthay Circle to the Wine Country Trattoria (and even Club 33), Becky samples numerous dishes and reports on the latest culinary offerings in the parks. She also reports on some of the Good Neighbor Hotels surrounding the park. Also, Jeff reports on a recent Variety article discussing Disney's use of cultural history in developing programming for ABC Television. Plus - Wonderground Gallery, the Grand Californian Spa... and more! Special note: There is less than 2 weeks left to buy your tickets to our "Evening At The Tahitian Terrace" event in Disneyland Park! For more information, visit www.mousetalgiastore.com.

Cars Land 5K Rally - Team Mousetalgia reports on everything you ever wanted to know about Disneyland's family-friendly fun run, plus Button runs in the kids' race, and Kristen copes with half-marathon traffic around the resort. Also - Disneyland area hotel reviews, revisiting the Storyteller Cafe brunch at the Grand Californian and the Carthay Circle Theater restaurant, another trip to the 1901 Lounge, and the new sodas of Disneyland (Peanut Butter and Jelly?) Plus - Charles Phoenix' "Anaheimland," WDW's Fantasmic, and Kristen's Disneyland injuries!

This week, visit Walt Disney Feature Animation with Kristen as she takes us behind the scenes from day 3 of her Destination D Diamond-level experience. As part of the special package, a select group of Disney fans were taken to the studios to visit the archives with Disney Legend Dave Smith, and then on to various locations such as Walt Disney's personal screening room, the Ink and Paint department (which is still going strong), and the Roy E. Disney Animation Building, where working animators demonstrated secrets and techniques behind the creation of Wreck-It Ralph, Disney's next animated feature. Also, Jeff and Kristen report from Club 1901, the private lounge for Club 33 members located inside of the Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure. Plus - Becky visits the Minnie and Friends Character Breakfast, Dave goes behind the scenes of Soarin' - and more!

75 Years of Disney Animation: In our 200th episode, Team Mousetalgia discusses day 2 of Destination D, and covers topics including Disney's "Wild and Wacky" animation, the evolution of Disney's Tinker Bell character, and the voice artists behind some of the classic Disney animated features. In the process, you'll hear from many of the participants at the event, including Kathryn Beaumont, Margaret Kerry, Bill Farmer, Mae Whitman, and others. We also discuss the event's salute to "Snow White," and we review "An Evening with Alan Menken," the incredible conclusion to the weekend. Plus - to celebrate 200 episodes, Team Mousetalgia takes a look back, reminiscing about our favorite guests, events and episodes over the past four years.

Mousetalgia reports from D23's Destination D in this first part of our coverage of the event, which focused on Disney's 75 years of feature animation. Highlights from the report include a discussion about Walt's "Nine Old Men," and a conversation with animators Burny Mattinson and Joe Hale about the studio's first golden age of animation; a look at the life of Roy E. Disney and his work establishing a new golden age of animation for the studio; and a look at how animation has influenced the Disney theme parks. Also - Dick Van Dyke and his a capella group bring down the house - and more! Plus - don't forget to buy your tickets to "An Evening at the Tahitian Terrace" now at www.mousetalgiastore.com!

Tony Baxter, Marty Sklar and Paige O'Hara spend time with Mousetalgia at the fourth annual Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet, and we bring you the highlights! This week, Mousetalgia reports from Seattle and takes you behind the scenes of the PNWMM. In our exclusive interviews, Tony Baxter talks to us about the business side of creativity, the Tahitian Terrace and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad; Marty Sklar tells us about writing under Walt's name and finding the proper voice; and Paige O'Hara talks to us about being Belle, continuing to perform and discovering her inner artist. Plus, watching home movies with the 'Stache, a report on Pixar in Concert in Hollywood - and more!

Little Mermaid, Pixar, Tahitian Terrace: In this week's jam-packed show, we cover a number of recent live events on the west coast. First, Jeff reviews the west coast premiere of The Little Mermaid staring Vicki Lewis, which played a brief run at Sacramento's Music Circus theater in the round. Next, a listener reports on the recent "Be Our Guest" Disney Legends dinner at the Disneyland Hotel. Jeff continues the reviews with a report on the San Francisco Symphony's "Pixar in Concert," which was hosted by Academy Award winning Pixar director Pete Docter, and finally, the team officially announces "An Evening in the Tahitian Terrace." All this, and much more!

We answer your emails! Topics include an alternate view of Disney's Alaskan cruise, autograph collecting tips, imaginging a Disney bio film, another look at the Carthay Circle Restaurant, and a review of Disneyland's new "Cultivating the Magic" tour. Also - DCA versus WDW's Hollywood Studios... can't we all just get along? Plus - the Seattle Symphony does Disney, Perry gets wet, and Christian Bale talks Newsies! (Well, sort of.) And a Mousetalgia meet-up schedule!