Distory with Kate & Kirk

What if Disney animation didn’t start with a mouse, but something else entirely? In this episode of Distory, we couldn’t agree on what Disney history to talk about, so we decided to each bring three of our favorite holiday-themed stories to share with you as this Christmas season comes to a close. From a very important pair of boots to some odd-looking costumes, a missing star to the origins of a...

What remnants from the Jingle Cruise can you still find in Disneyland? In this episode of Distory, we wrap our Jingle Cruise series with some festive stories of the origins of Christmas traditions that the skippers have carried on in the jungle. After visiting some beribboned snakes, new years babies, and festive headhunters in Disneyland, we sail on over to Disney World where we talk eggnog, wass...

What secrets are hidden in the fruitcake of the Jingle Cruise? In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we go a wasSAILing into the festive waters of Disneyland’s Jingle Cruise history. Along the way, we find some unique period staging, a VERY long naughty list, some changing boat names, and a few mischievous baboons. This episode is also stuffed full of fruitcake facts you never knew you...

What do pigeons, gingerbread, aliens, ghosts, snoap, & rotting fish all have to do with each other? Well, not much, except for the fact that they all have their place in Disney history. In this madcap ride of a Distory episode, we celebrate Thanksgiving by taking a journey through Disney history, sampling a few of our favorite stories along the way. From pigeon mishaps to the origins of snoap,...

How did Disney Studios inspire a national Christmas tradition? And when was “Mele Kalikimaka” first used? In this episode of Distory, we discuss the history of Disney’s It’s a Small World Holiday overlay and explore the fascinating origins of many of our favorite holiday traditions! From gingerbread to pinatas, ribbon candy to poinsettias, this episode is stuffed with Christmas history facts sure...

What does a lost black cat, angry neighbors, and a Supreme Court case have to do with one of Hollywood Studio's extinct attractions? In this episode of Distory, we bring back the much-missed Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights for one more glimpse of Holiday magic. Starting with its humble beginnings of 1,000 lights in Arkansas, this spectacle had its share of growing pains (and lawsuits) befo...

Why do all the characters in Phantom Canyon look so familiar? In this episode of Distory, we mosey on into the town of Phantom Canyon where playful spooks are having a (western-themed) swinging wake. As we inch through this fascinating alternative to the Haunted Mansion graveyard scene, we compare Marc Davis’s and Mary Blair’s original concept art for Western River Expedition to what made it into...

What secrets are hidden in the shadows of the Phantom Manor? And why should you pay attention to a specific tree? In this episode of Distory, we waltz into the ballroom of Disney’s Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris, investigating some moldy cakes, scary makeup, and a moving Phantom. We then move into Melanie Ravenswood’s boudoir, finding hidden storytelling around the room cloaked in shadow and of...

How does Disney make an old manor look new again? And what elements did Phantom Manor borrow from the US Parks? In this episode of Distory, we step into the decrepit halls of Phantom Manor, finding secrets, stories, and spectral beings along the way. After analyzing how the special effects are achieved in both the foyer and doorless chamber, we then take some time in the portrait gallery (both old...

How are the Beatles, Michael Jackson, & Hocus Pocus connected to Disney’s Phantom Manor in Paris? Welcome back, foolish mortals, for a journey into the complicated backstory and history of Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris! In this episode of Distory, we discuss the concepts, story, music, narration, inspiration, and origins of this iconic spooky attraction. We also dig deep into the backgroun...

Why did Disney make a ride so bad that it didn’t even last a year? Buckle up for a cruise down the streets of Hollywood as we explore the history of Disney California Adventure’s Superstar Limo! If you’re confused (and horrified) by this short-lived Disney attraction, you’re not alone. We attempt to explain why how this ride came to be, including some budget cuts, drastic changes, and what it coul...

Is everything at Disney actually fake? Or is there more to the story? In this episode of Distory, we hop into the Distorian's Lounge with Kate the Disney Cicerone to chat about five things in the Disney parks that used to be real but have been altered from their original state into something a little less so. We spend some time knocking on lampposts and carousel horses, find out how an antique...

Why was Tony Baxter so disappointed in Alice in Wonderland as a child? In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we say farewell to our Alice in Wonderland series (and make it go out with a bang!). After learning what delayed Alice from opening with New Fantasyland in 1983, we compare the enhancements with the original 1958 version, hear about Tony Baxter's vision for the updates, disco...

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...