Distory with Kate & Kirk

The original version of Alice in Wonderland looked a little... different. In this episode of Distory, we continue our Alice in Wonderland series by heading down, down, down the rabbit hole into the original 1958 version of this iconic Disney attraction. Along the way, we encounter some terrifying early Disney costumes, some new (at the time) technology, a few missing main characters, and some room...

Was Alice really going to have a fish shack, a slide, and a glass maze? In this episode of Distory, we celebrate our unbirthdays together as we begin our three-part series on the history of Alice in Wonderland. After discussing some oddities of Lewis Carroll's classic literary work, we walk with Walt through his early years with Alice, culminating in what he felt was a massive failure. But pas...

What if Disney had a mobile, floating theme park? Well, it almost did. In this episode of Distory, we navigate through the origins of Disney's cruise line, starting with Walt Disney's voyages in the 1930s and 40s. After discussing the Jack Wrather Disneyland Hotel fiasco and taking a quick jaunt on the RMS Queen Mary and the Spruce Goose, we set sail on a "magical" Big Red Boat,...

Why was Body Wars so nauseating? And what was Disney's Self-Care Carousel? In this episode of Distory, we live our best life revisiting Epcot's extinct attraction called Body Wars which once resided in the Wonders of Life pavilion. We dig deep into the 1978 roller coaster concepts by Rolly Crump before shrinking ourselves down to explore the inner workings of Epcot's first-ever thrill...

What did this failed attraction give us in the Disney parks? And what was it going to be before it became Rocket Rods? In this episode of Distory, we rev up (and then suddenly slow down, again... and again...) as we navigate the ride that replaced a beloved Tomorrowland classic in Disneyland. To understand its checkered past, we dig deep into the history of the Rocket Rods, learning its former nam...

Are there really pieces of an extinct attraction hidden in Epcot? And how did a disastrous Imagineering programming fail become an iconic part of Food Rocks? In this episode of Distory, we revisit two former edutainment shows of the Land pavilion in Epcot, Kitchen Kabaret and Food Rocks. After identifying the colorful cast of characters in the kitchen, we try to hold it together (and sing a few fo...

What countries were considered for Epcot's world showcase? And what country do you *actually* start in to go around the world? In this episode of Distory, we explore the 18 (19? 20?) lost countries of Epcot's world showcase. From roller coasters to restaurants and LEGO boat rides, many concepts through the years were considered but few made it to the finish line. We also discover some idea...

When is an omnimover not an omnimover? And what is a Doom Buggy, really? In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we move through the invention and evolution of Disney's unique ride vehicle, the Omnimover. From its humble beginnings in the Ford Magic Skyway to its current iterations in the Disney parks, we debate what really makes an omnimover an omnimover, dig up a few fascinating obs...

What is the best barker bird in all of Disney History? This episode of Distory is truly for the birds, but we have no egrets when it comes to choosing our favorite Disney barker bird of all time. Kate defends Juan, the Tiki Room barker bird, while Kirk is on team Peg Leg Pete from the Pirates of the Caribbean. As we fly through this episode, we find some hidden secrets in their punny scripts and d...

Disney history. Hilarious puns. Hidden tributes. This library has them ALL.In this final episode in our Jungle Cruise series, we spend some time browsing the bookshelves in the Jungle Navigation Co. LTD. Skipper Canteen with former Imagineer Skipper Kevin Lively as our guide. Not only are these books filled with jokes and references to Disney history & Imagineers, but they also hold many meani...

What is a Runconocerus and why is it in the Skipper Canteen's secret meeting room? In this episode of Distory, we continue to explore all the nooks and crannies of The Jungle Cruise Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. We start our tour in the Falls family parlor with an artifact from a lost attraction, a nod to the Macaudios on the ceiling, some unfortunate maca...

What remnants from Adventureland Veranda still exist in the Skipper Canteen? And what hidden secrets are tucked in the corners of the crew's mess hall? In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we cruise on into the Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen for part one of exploring this unique space in the Magic Kingdom. After discussing the history of Adventureland Veranda, we check o...

How many obscure references are hidden in Disney's tiki bars? And what was the original tiki bar on Disney property? In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we return to civilization and exit the Jungle Cruise attraction, pausing for a moment to analyze some unique features in the signs and props on our way out. We then reward ourselves for making it 18 episodes into this series by go...

Is Little Red the elephant actually in the Jungle Cruise? And why are there so many cameras in Trader Sam's Gift Shop? In this special episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, former Imagineer Kevin Lively joins our chat to share with us some secrets & stories you probably have never heard before about Trader Sam's Gift Shop! We also find out the fate of the original Jungle Cruise gori...

Why was the python scene a disappointment for Marc Davis? And why are the chimps staged differently in Disneyland vs Disney World? In this episode of Distory, Kirk gets mad at Kate for continuously misidentifying primates as we take a look at the intricate details of the newly-added chimpanzee scenes. We also explain why the piranha and water buffalo are our FAVORITE Adventureland mascots, find an...

Why were headhunters in the Jungle Cruise? (And why did they love Disco so much?)In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we float through the perilous (and oft-times controversial) history of Disney's Jungle Cruise. Wading into the deepest part of the Rivers of Romance, we explore the mechanics of the hippos, the real-life animals that inspired them, and how they were actually a compr...

What is a myrmecoleon and how is it connected with the Jungle Cruise's Trapped Safari? On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we appreciate the history and nuance of the first gag ever to appear in a Disney attraction (that was, of course, never intended to be IN the ride at all). The trapped (lost?) safari has gone through some changes over the years, but the humor remains. After ex...

Is the plane from Casablanca really in the Jungle Cruise? And what does the zebra's mane have to do with Roy Disney? In this episode of Distory, we visit the downed plane, chatting about its controversial historical connections to Casablanca and its current ties to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. We then journey into the African Veldt to discuss the (sometimes gory) details of this i...

What happened to the punching gorilla, and why did he never make it into the Jungle Cruise? In this episode of Distory, we travel into the heart of the Congo on the Jungle Cruise, exploring the history of the canoe scene and the ransacked safari camp. Along the way, we tell a few bonus jokes, find some spare piranha that Kirk didn't know existed, and hear a little jungle fashion history. We fi...

Which Jungle Cruise elephant was inspired by Walt Disney? In this episode of Distory, we head into the waters of the sacred elephant bathing pool. Along the way, we find an elephant that started as another animal, hear Blaine Gibson's unfiltered thoughts about the first generation of sculpted elephants, and learn about how some of the elephants were going to have more animation (and why they n...

What hard lesson did Marc Davis learn when he designed the Cambodian Temple of the Jungle Cruise? In this episode of Distory, we dive deep into the history and secrets of the Jungle Cruise's Cambodian Temple. Along the way, we discover how the Imagineers "borrowed" some designs from actual temples in Cambodia, discuss the meaning of the statues, and encounter all kinds of monkeys fro...

What were the singing waterfalls of the Jungle Cruise? And what happened to the giant frogs and hornbill? Kungaloosh! In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we continue our epic journey by moving scene-by-scene through the history of the Jungle Cruise. We discuss why Marc Davis was brought on the project, the birthplace of the concept of "plussing", and the first laugh ever in...

The backside of water Jungle Cruise joke is not as old as you think, and neither are many other "classic" skipper jokes! In this episode of Distory, we finish our walkthrough of the history of the Jungle Cruise script, comparing how the jokes evolved over the decades. We uncover some problematic jokes that have been (thankfully) retired, relive the glory days of the 1990s, and end our to...

The Jungle Cruise has always been funny... right? Well, not exactly. In this episode of Distory, we walk through the history of the Jungle Cruise script from dry & educational to nothing but jokes! As we journey through the official scripts and spiels throughout the decades, we discover how some fan-favorite jokes evolved over time, and unearth some lines of script that definitely wouldn't...

What Jungle Cruise crew would you want to be sorted into? And who are the talking logs? In this episode of Distory, we adventure into the complicated and detailed history of Walt Disney World's Jungle Cruise queue. Along the way, we find artifacts from the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, vibe to some Albert AWOL radio, make a connection to the Haunted Mansion, and find an original piece...