Distory with Kate & Kirk

Everything you know about Sunset Boulevard is a lie. Well, maybe not ALL of it... But you probably don't know why it exists in the first place.  On this episode of Distory, we are checking into the iconic Twilight Zone Tower of Terror to explore the evolution of the attraction's concept. After discovering how the Tower was named, we visit some rare Imagineering brainstorming notes, meet so...

The Tower of Terror was one of two major e-ticket attractions Disney considered for the Sunset Boulevard expansion. So what happened to the other one? In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we check in to a new series exploring the details and history of the Tower of Terror, beginning with its context and backstory. We start with the history of freefall rides and how they evolved over ti...

Disney almost had a Legend of Sleepy Hollow ride, in not one, but TWO different parks.  In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk , we unearth some rare concepts for an Ichabod Crane-themed attraction by Imagineering—ideas that, much to our chagrin, never saw the light of day. We begin with a brief tour through the history of the Sleepy Hollow portion of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toa...

What would it have looked like if Mr. Toad made a comeback in the Magic Kingdom? In this episode of Distory, we head back to Mr. Toad's in Walt Disney World for one last ride before they demolished this beloved attraction. After finishing our detailed journey through Track B (learning about Disney's oldest criminal along the way), we have a virtual Toad-In as we protest the closure of this...

What are several glaring anachronisms in Walt Disney World’s Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride? On this episode of Distory, we motor on through the first half of Track B in the extinct Walt Disney World version of Mr. Toad, looking for the details and history that have been lost over time. After discussing some silly portraits (and a disappointing motto) in Toad Hall, we crash into the library and find some an...

What artwork appeared in WDW’s Mr. Toad that would NEVER be in a Disney ride today? In this episode of Distory, we head back to Walt Disney World’s extinct Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride attraction to finish motoring through Track A. After going the wrong way down a one way street, we spend some time meeting the inhabitants of Town Square (and discovering some borrowed lamps along the way). Kirk teaches us...

Why did Rolly Crump add a Gypsy Camp to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride? In this episode of Distory, we continue motoring through track A of Walt Disney World’s extinct Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride attraction. As we crash through the kitchen window, we head out into the woods to explore some Rolly Crump posters foreshadowing the camp around the corner. After Kirk does some palm reading and tells Kate’s fortune,...

Did Disney World's Mr. Toad steal design elements from another popular Disney attraction? On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we head back to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom to motor our way through Track A of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. But we don't get very far on this madcap adventure, since there are so many details to see in Toad's abode. We start by exploring som...

Mr. Toad moved to Florida for the opening of Walt Disney World... but he was never meant to be there.  In this episode of Distory, we hop on over to the Magic Kingdom and explore the history behind why Mr. Toad became part of (yet another) Fantasyland. Along the way, we discuss Rolly Crump (the lead Imagineer of this version) and hear his take on the design of the Magic Kingdom and life in general...

Why does Mr. Toad end up in a very hot place at the end of his ride when he doesn't go there in the book or the movie? In this episode of Distory, we wrap up the Disneyland part of our Mr. Toad's Wild Ride series exploring the history & Imagineering that created this classic Disney attraction. Along the way, we explore secrets in dark prison corners, find a connection to a few famous d...

What subtle signs of judgment are often overlooked in Mr. Toad's London Square scene? In this episode of Distory, we hop back in our motorcar to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in Disneyland for a deep dive into the history and symbolism found in the London Square and Law Court scenes. Along the way, we hear some often-missed audio, discuss the origins of Lady Justice, and notice some signs that are...

These three things do NOT belong inside Winky's Pub (but we kinda get why they're there.) On this episode of Distory, we pause on our journey to nowhere in particular in Mr. Toad's Wild Ride to have a pint in the pub with Mr. Winky (or is it Winkie...or Winkey?). Before we drive right in and pull up to the bar, we discover Winky's full name (and what it means in context of English history). Kate d...

There are a few things everyone seems to believe about the layout of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride--but none of them are true.  On this episode of Distory, we're merrily on our way to nowhere in particular  to understand the English countryside in Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in a greater historical context. After we encounter a few bobbies (and discuss their manners and wardrobe), we dig deep into the con...

Even if you’ve been on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride a thousand times, we guarantee you’ve missed at least one of these details. In this episode of Distory, we slow down our motorcar to a snail’s pace to analyze all of the elements inside Toad Hall in Disneyland’s Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. After looking over the toadally fun bookshelf puns, we speed away into the attraction, pausing to look at the decorations,...

What do priest holes, artichokes, and old grape vines have to do with the current version of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride? On this episode of Distory, we drive along down the road to the 1983 remodel of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in Disneyland. Along the way, we take a detour to Storybookland Canal Boats, learn about the design influences of Toad Hall, and discover some details that many people miss in the newl...

With teetering tea trays, lazy signalmen, and dangerous rogue props, the first version of Disney's Mr. Toad was a wild ride, indeed. In this episode of Distory, we continue merrily on our way to somewhere in particular, and that would be 1955 to take a ride on Disney’s original version of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. As we hop in a hot rod and speed our way through Toad Hall, we discover through some...

Mr. Toad’s ending wasn’t always as shocking as the one we know today. In this episode of Distory, we continue merrily on our way through this series featuring Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. We start off by highlighting Mr. Toad’s first pre-opening appearance in a 1954 Disneyland prospectus, before exploring a rare early Bruce Bushman “Motor Mania” concept that heavily influenced the original Mr. Toad. Kirk...

What do gremlins, sweet potatoes, rivets, and Sherlock Holmes have to do with Mr. Toad? In this episode, we find ourselves merrily on our way to a new series featuring Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride as we dive into our fourth season of Distory! In order to fully understand the only “Mister” in Disneyland, we begin with exploring the making of the package film that started it all: The Adventures of Ichabod a...

Why are there so many random lawn ornaments in the new Haunted Mansion queue? On this episode of Distory, we use our knowledge of the history of the Haunted Mansion to try to make sense of the new expanded queue in Disneyland. We start with some discussion about why Disneyland’s queue is so drastically different than Disney World’s interactive one before inching our way past each gargoyle, owl, fa...

There’s more to the new Haunted Mansion extended queue than meets the eye.  In this episode of Distory, we return to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion to find some hidden secrets and stories woven throughout the new extended queue area. We wind through this area one small step at a time to analyze each detail, including meaningful foxes, menacing cats, watchful ravens, spooky owls, repurposed props, an...

What do oscilloscopes, Swiss cheese, and Barack Obama have to do with Disney’s defunct Skyway ride? On this episode of Distory, we fly up above the Disney parks like a tea-tray in the sky as we board a bucket for the Skyway in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. This gondola ride not only provided a picture-perfect view of the parks, it carried history with it from some unique places in Europe...

When it comes to obscure Disney history, there is so much to be thankful for. From tiny pants to exploding sewer pipes, this episode truly has it all. In this episode of Distory, we each bring three unique stories from Disney history that people rarely talk about but we are thankful for. Kate kicks it off with what Lillian Disney thought of Walt’s food habits. Kirk then discusses a bizarre wardrob...

How did Epcot evolve from an experimental prototype community to a theme park with an identity crisis? In this episode of Distory, we wrap up our exploration of the evolution of EPCOT by discovering what happened to Walt’s concept of a futuristic community after he passed away. To get some context of how the team was trying to make it happen despite the loss, we review some rare WED 1973 inter-off...

Why did Walt Disney have Herb Ryman's E.P.C.O.T.'s concept art altered from the original version? In this episode of Distory, we go back in time to explore the E.P.C.O.T. that never was, Walt Disney's original vision for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. After exploring the influence of Victor Gruen on Walt's plans, we move through the city step-by-step, finding noo...

How did Walt’s past impact his decision to create an experimental community of tomorrow? In this episode of Distory, we begin a new series exploring the origins of EPCOT, beginning with Walt Disney’s Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. But before we dive into the details of this utopian city, we have to give some context behind WHY Walt would want to create a city when he had spent most...