Distory with Kate & Kirk

How did Walt Disney steer his curved-dash runabout in parades without a steering wheel? What was the proper protocol for honking the horn on horseless carriages in 1966? And what was the only classic Disney vehicle that was NOT Walt's idea?  Take a relaxing surrey ride with us down Main Street USA as we explore the fascinating history of Disneyland & Disney World's Main Street Vehicles...

Marching toy soldiers and dancing reindeer weren't around when Disneyland had its first Christmas parade in 1955. In fact, the parade barely hinted at the holidays, and instead was a promotional event for something quite different indeed. In this episode of Distory, we walk through the history of Disneyland's Christmas parades, discovering a few unexpected surprises and mishaps along the w...

Was Michael Eisner good or bad for Disney? In this special episode of Distory, we debate Michael Eisner's influence and how his decisions shaped the landscape of Disney as a company, both in positive and negative ways. We walk through "The Disney Decade" step by step and unravel how this powerful CEO went from leading a Disney Renaissance to crashing and burning at the end of his ten...

The scenes in Pinocchio's Daring Journey each have their own story and a moral lesson. But the ride often flies by so fast we can't take in the full depth of what the intentional design is communicating both emotionally and psychologically. In this episode of Distory, we go behind the scenes of this 1980s Disneyland dark ride and discuss how it was the first Disney attraction ever to use a...

In the 1980s, the Imagineers at WED completely redesigned Fantasyland. But was it made into what Walt always wanted, or is there more to the story? In this episode of Distory, we travel back in time to explore the origins of the dark ride before discussing Tony Baxter's perspective of the Fantasyland remodel and sharing details from historic internal WED work documents regarding Pinocchio'...

We like to think of Pinocchio as a happy, easily-persuaded little puppet who just couldn't help but lie and get into trouble even though he was accompanied by Jiminy, his faithful conscience. But that's not who they originally were (not even close!). In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we discover where Disney found the story of Pinocchio, how they altered the story and the ch...

Despite common belief, Dole Whips were not actually invented for Disneyland, and their history is not as old as you might think it is.  On this episode of Distory, we explore the secretive past of the Dole Whip and why this simple treat has become so iconic in Disney culture. We then fly south to make friends with the Orange Bird and learn why he is always thinking orange, and also how his story h...

"It’s a whole new world so you better get hip or your audience will disappear." Those famous, cringy words of Iago from the largely unpopular Under New Management version of the Enchanted Tiki Room are the ironic premonition of the fate of this famous fever dream of a Walt Disney World Attraction. On this episode of Distory, we travel back in time to Disney World's original Enchanted...

Have you heard the lost song of the Tiki Room? In this episode of Distory, we talk about the origins of all the music in the Enchanted Tiki Room, including the title song composed by the Sherman Brothers and some of the songs that were repurposed from previous Disney projects. We also have a chat with the Birdbrain brothers, learn more about the four emcee macaws, and listen to vintage audio from...

Stand back! This episode of Distory is filled with the fascinating history of the lanai tikis of the Tiki Room, the original 1960s concept art for the attraction, and even a discussion about a goddess who used to have a prominent role in the preshow and who has been missing for years. We also discuss how the Imagineers influenced each other in design, discover how a previously unused concept was r...

Pay attention, it's showtime! In this episode of Distory, we ruffle a few feathers as we discuss the origins of the Tiki Room and where you can still see evidence of an abandoned concept in the attraction today. We also fly over the history of audio-animatronics and explore how military technology aided the creation of our fine feathered friends.  Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:3...

Dumbo the Flying Elephant seems like a simple off-the-shelf spinner ride, but its unique history is filled with frustrations, malfunctions, and design alterations. In this episode, we talk about the economical production process of Disney's Dumbo that didn't go over well with some animators, and how the creation of the attraction for the Disney parks echoed the animated film's hardship...

Have you ever wondered why the teacups at Disney are so hard to spin? Well, they weren't always that way. In this episode of Distory, we move down through the history of the Mad Tea Party and go a little mad explaining the backstory, concept art, design challenges, and multiple changes that have made this iconic ride what it is today.   Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific...

How does the way Disney designed their parks influence how we experience them? In this episode of Distory, we talk about how Disney has masterfully crafted our perspective and perception within each one to keep us in the story and encourage forward motion. We also have some fun discussing a few forced perspective design fails and how we wish one particular land in a galaxy far, far away looked mor...

How does Disney's use of color affect our experience of the parks? In this episode of Distory, we go beyond Go Away Green and Blending Blue to explore how the Imagineers influence our guest experience through the use of specific colors. We also chat about how one of our favorite characters wasn't always the color he is now, and why dining in Disney is designed to make us hungrier than ever...

As we near the end of our Haunted Mansion odyssey, our journey would not be complete without a stop in the gift shop! In this episode, we walk through the oddities and history of Momento Mori before traveling over to Disneyland to talk about a secret tunnel (that never was) and how Pirates & the Mansion have been interwoven in design from the very beginning.  Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thurs...

You may think that the tombs at the exit of the Haunted Mansion are just simple, funny puns, but a few of them hold hidden meanings buried beneath their lighthearted facades. In this episode, we unveil the secrets of the crypts and pay a visit to the pet cemetery to say hello to our dearly departed furry friends whose epitaphs hold secrets of their own.  (Please note: Because this episode was reco...

Who is Little Leota? Is she a bride? A mourner? A hostess? And why is she the last ghostly figure we see on our way out of the Haunted Mansion? In this episode of Distory with Kate and Kirk, we dig deeper into the history of the mansions "Ghostess" and also discuss a surprising connection between Beauty and the Beast and the Haunted Mansion. And as we finally step back out into the light...

In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, three ghosts follow us on our way out of the mansion as we explore the fascinating backstories and development of the Haunted Mansion's hitchhiking ghosts Ezra Beane, Professor Phineas Plump, and Gus. We also go behind the scenes of the doom buggy ghost effect and discuss how it is the perfect culmination of many of the mansion's overarching...

In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we focus on the often-overlooked trio of happy haunts at the very end of the Haunted Mansion's graveyard: The knight, the prisoner, & the executioner. After losing our heads over the vast history of the decapitated knight, we explore the evolution of the prisoner and executioner concept art before ending our time in the graveyard with a ghos...

In this episode of Distory with Kate and Kirk, we make our way (albeit slowly) through the graveyard of the Haunted Mansion, this time focusing on the fascinating history of the mummy and the deaf man trying to hear him. After a detour discussing the obelisks of Disney, we wave hi to the Mickey-bar whispy ghost before singing some crazy opera and sharing some excitement about our upcoming Keys to...

In this episode of Distory, we continue to creep through the graveyard of the Haunted Mansion beginning with the history of the singing busts before having a drink with the couple at the picnic table, toasting the arm coming out of the crypt, learning the origins of the phantom coachman, and making time for tea with a trio of grim grinning ghosts.  We also uncover some ways that Disney "borro...

In this episode of Distory, we finally arrive in the graveyard just in time to celebrate the swinging wake with the Phantom Five! And they might not necessarily be who you think they are because of an all-too-common mistake. As we roll on in our doom buggies, we explore the origins of the ghost drummer, hear about the background of the tune Grim Grinning Ghosts, hang out with royalty on the see-sa...

On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we make our descent from the attic of the Haunted Mansion, taking in every detail and historic feature along the way. We wrestle with that question that has plagued Disney fans for ages... do we fall, jump, or did someone push us out the window? And do we survive the journey? We also discuss the influences of other Disney park attractions and movies...

Have you ever wondered why the Haunted Mansion's attic feels so much creepier than the rest of the mansion? In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we attempt to keep our heads as we explore the Beating Heart Bride's grim history, the Hatbox Ghost's disappearance and reappearance, cobwebs in the mansion, and why the layout of the attic was a significant part of the story (that...