Mousetalgia! - Your Disneyland Podcast

A Touch of Disney, part two: This week, Jeff reports on a second trip to DCA and "A Touch of Disney" to look at some of the human/character interactions, and what it might mean for the imminent reopening of the resort. Kristen Carr also checks in with a countdown to Disneyland's reopening, describing the process of getting reservations, what to look forward to eating in the parks' first days of reopening, and a hotel review. Also - Team Mousetalgia remembers the 64-65 New York World's Fair, as we discuss attractions we wish we could have experienced. Plus: Carthay Circle's al fresco menu, Photopass opportunities, and more.

This week in Disney history - This week, we discuss a variety of topics, including: the world premiere of The Avengers, Euro Disneyland opens, Glen Keane's birth and Tutti Camarata's passing, Disney story artist Sylvia Holland (with special guest Didier Ghez); Tokyo Disneyland's opening, and Charlie Chaplin's influence on Walt Disney. Also - in honor of the anniversary of the opening of Disneyland's The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, we look to the future and decide what attraction will someday replace Pooh as inauspiciously as Pooh replaced the County Bears. Plus: Want to get your tickets to Disneyland? Kristen Carr breaks down the process and options.

This week, Jeff reports on "A Touch of Disney," and takes us along as he visits Disney California Adventure to try some familiar foods, walking along familiar avenues, in a familiar heatwave. We discuss the eating options, the shopping experience, and Jeff's overall impression of the soft-reopening of the Disneyland Resort. Also: We list our top five Disney film/series trailers; top five ways to relax with Disney, and Dave's top five Disney bars... er, bears. Plus, Kristen Carr keeps you in the know with her Mousetalgia FastPass report - and more.

This week, we present a Mousetalgia Emporium. First, we offer our impressions of the Raya and the Last Dragon, and host a brief discussion of the artistry, the music and the film's ideas of trust and friendship. We also talk to Michael Vargo, Vice President of D23, about the 2021 Gold Member Collector Set, and we discuss the contributions of Kevin and Jody to the set (which features 50 years of Walt Disney World) and the nature of collectibles. Next, we discuss the first episode of DisneyPlus' Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and we compare the series with WandaVision, discuss Kristen's commitment to the MCU, and wonder what happened to Steve Rogers. Also - Kristen Carr discusses the latest health guidance as it relates to Disneyland's parks and she outlines the recent Disneyland Forward expansion proposal - and finally, we profile some important women from the history of the Disney Company.

This week, Team Mousetalgia welcomes Beci Mahnken (CEO, MEI/Mouse Fan Travel) back to the show to talk about what we can expect as COVID-19 restrictions begin to loosen around the country and people start to plan to take their first post-pandemic Disney vacations. We talk Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruises, Aulani and Adventures by Disney, and help you figure out the ins and outs of booking future travel. Plus, don't miss Kristen Carr's opening day trip report from "A Touch of Disney," the dining event happening now at Disney California Adventure. Kristen shares important tips and tricks with event ticket-holders for making the most of your trip to the almost-opened Disney resort.

What can happen in a year? Disneyland has been dark for over 365 days, but the Walt Disney Company has done remarkable things in the span of a year. Kristen takes us on a tour of Disney history in year-long segments, with topics including Walt's Alice comedies, the Wonderful World of Disney on TV, the construction of Disneyland, the studio's post-Walt era, and finally we discuss the year since Disneyland closed, and consider what to expect as the park begins to prepare to reopen. We also compare expectations from a post-pandemic trip to Walt Disney World vs. a reduced-capacity Disneyland, and try to draw some conclusions about planning upcoming family vacations.

This week, we discuss collecting Disneyana during a pandemic, and we talk about what has changed and what has remained the same for memorabilia collectors as the world shut down for a year. Jeff talks about his own recent collecting, and we mention trading cards, autographs and virtual conventions, upcoming online Disneyana auctions, and our ongoing conversation about eBay tips and tricks. Then, Kristen Carr joins us for a conversation about Disney California Adventure's upcoming "A Touch of Disney" events, and we talk about the registration process and what to expect from the experiences. Plus - Disney Stores are closing so we reminisce about the history of Disney's brick and mortar stores, Haunted Mansion as a lifestyle - and more!

TG-it's-Mousetalgia! Today, get prehistoric with us as we go back to the '90s and discuss the conceptualization and development of ABC's "Dinosaurs," a puppet-based sitcom from ABC's popular TGIF line-up that has just been released on Disney+. Returning to the show is Emmy award-winning writer/producer Kirk Thatcher, who designed most of the characters after working directly with his mentor Jim Henson. Learn the fascinating history of this fun (and at times controversial) puppet series. Plus - Kristen Carr checks in with the latest resort news, Jeff talks tea sets, Kristen subscribes to Tokyo, and Dave discusses Native Shoes.

This week, Mousetalgia talks about the variety of fine art at Disneyland, both on display and for sale. We're joined by special guest Eric Robison, who talks about his history as a Disney artist, including his work as a show designer with Imagineering and his journey to becoming a beloved character artist with works sold through the Disney Gallery. Robison talks about taking inspiration from the Imagineers who came before him, his time meeting fans at the Disney Gallery signings, and his groundbreaking style that turned traditional Disney character art on its head and launched a new market. Plus - remembering Disneyland artist Charles Boyer, and Kristen Carr takes us to a galaxy far, far away.

This week, we honor the legacy of one of our country's greatest presidents by taking a closer look at Walt Disney's Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction, and we are joined by two Imagineers who had instrumental roles in its history. Disney Legend Bob Gurr was the Imagineer responsible for designing the original Audio-Animatronic Lincoln figure for the 1964 World's Fair, and Josh Shipley was the Art Director for the 2009 version of the attraction, which still exists today. Join us on an emotional, introspective tour of the history of the development of the show, the challenges of presenting an introspective attraction to modern audiences, and the continuing influence the attraction has on people today. Plus - Kristen Carr updates us on the latest resort news, and we discuss the changes heading for the Jungle Cruise attraction.

This week, we celebrate two decades of fun in the sun as we look back at the design and development of Disney California Adventure in the week of its 20th anniversary with former Imagineer Tim Delaney, who was creative director and show producer for Paradise Pier and the main entrance of the park. Tim shares many stories from his career with WED Enterprises and Imagineering, including his time working on EPCOT Center, working for the company when Michael Eisner became CEO of the Walt Disney Company, and his work on Disney's California Adventure Park. We look at an overview of the park and discuss the budgeting challenges Imagineering faced, the theming of the park, the design of the entrance plaza and California Screamin', and the changes that have happened at the Disneyland Resort over the years.

This week, we present part two of our recent Ask Mousetalgia Anything special! Among the topics we discuss are our "favorites," including karaoke songs, attractions and dining options, interviews, podcasts, churro flavors, collectibles, park memories, and more. We also discuss Charles Addams and the Haunted Mansion, Rise of the Resistance, returning to Disneyland post-pandemic, films going straight to streaming, Disney characters we relate to, podcast editing secrets, Inner Space vs. Peoplemover, Super Nintendo World, inventing Mousetalgialand, and first Disneyland memories. Join us (and a particularly disgruntled baby) for a journey into the mind of Mousetalgia!

This week, Mousetalgia welcomes Disney Legend Tom Nabbe to the show. From his career as a young newsie on Disneyland's Main Street USA in 1955 all the way to helping to open EuroDisneyland, Tom shares with some highlights from his storied career with us, including his time in charge of the Monorail at Walt Disney World, and his teenage years appearing as Tom Sawyer on Disneyland's Tom Sawyer Island. Plus - our favorite moments from the original Muppet Show, and Kristen Carr delivers the latest news.

This week, Team Mousetalgia discusses the recent news that Disneyland is cancelling its annual passholder program. In the wake of the park's unprecedented shutdown due to the global pandemic, APs are no more, and we discuss the emotional impact of the end of the program, and future possibilities for the park's superfans. Then, Tim Babb joins the show as we discuss our top 5 favorite Disney songs, and we come up with some surprising lists of memorable music. We also stop to take a moment to remember Disney Legend Ron "Mr. Disneyland" Dominguez who passed away on Jan. 1. Finally, we welcome Joseph Titizian (Project Manager, Disney Experiences and Parks) back to the show to talk about some upcoming exclusive merchandise which will appeal to Disney history fans.

This week, Mousetalgia is celebrating a Disney Legend who left a remarkable legacy due to her work with Disneyland. Cicely Rigdon, who started her career at the park as a ticket taker in 1957, quickly had an impact on Disneyland even as she began working in a ticket booth, and soon found herself working for the Tour Guide Department, eventually becoming the supervisor of Guest Relations, and then developing and leading the Disneyland Ambassador Program. Today we speak with Barbara Brock, a former Disneyland Tour Guide who knew Cicely, and Cicely's daughters Penny and Pamela, who share special memories of their mom. We also speak with an array of people who knew and worked with Cicely, and welcome Kristen Carr back to the show to deliver the latest Disney news.

Happy New Year! This week, Team Mousetalgia answer your questions about just about everything in our annual end-of-the-year AMAs. We get personal and talk shop about the podcast, discuss our feelings about the parks, and share trivia about this and that in part one of a to-be-continued list of excellent questions submitted by you, our amazing listening audience. Grab a warm cup of your favorite beverage and start your year off by spending an hour with your friends at Mousetalgia!

This week, Team Mousetalgia celebrates the release of Pixar's latest movie. Pixar artist Josh Holtsclaw joins us to talk about the design of Soul, Pixar's 23rd feature film. Josh talks to us about the role of graphics in a Pixar production, using art to create the atmosphere of New York City for the film, and his personal feelings about working on a film that will cap such a tumultuous year with such a thought-provoking movie. Then, Jeff and Kristen provide a spoiler-free review of the film, and we discuss Soul's music, the meaning of life, and ponder what big questions Pixar might tackle next.

This week, Mousetalgia hosts our annual "Best of" episode - but since 'Twenty was such a dumpster fire, we've decided to share our bests of a lifetime of Disney fandom. Topics include favorite movies (Parent Trap? The Haunted Mansion?), and our favorite television shows (The Mandalorian, Wonderful World of Disney). We also discuss our favorite merch, including items from Disneyland's 50th anniversary and the Tronorail. Of course, we discuss favorite Disney foods, including mentions of Club 33, Blue Bayou, Napa Rose, and 21 Royal. Also, our favorite books, our top experiences with our Disney fandom, our awkward "Oswald" moments - and more.

This week, Kristen takes us through a week in Disney history, and we go though our sack of listener emails! Calla reviews The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, useful Disney books and their uses, music reviews, a look at the relationship between the light and the dark, finding Disneyland sounds, an it's-a-small-world-of-color mystery, the origins of Walt Disney's studio signature, the march of the Matts - and more!

This week, Rebecca Cline, Director of the Walt Disney Archives, talks about the development of her newest book "Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks." Becky tells us about the decade-long development of the book, and shares some behind-the-scenes stories of the making of the book, the photography, and the incredible details included inside of this huge book. Then, Mousetalgia listeners share their particularly moving holiday stories, and Jeff remembers Dave Prowse, the man who personified the Dark Lord of the Sith. Plus - Jeff does some Sith-mas shopping; Kristen talks about new D23 membership options; Becky hearts Kingdom Hearts, and Dave has LEGOs on his mind.