Distory with Kate & Kirk

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...

In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, ghosts are beginning to materialize as we enter the Grand Hall (aka The Ballroom) of the Haunted Mansion and give a detailed account of the secrets, stories, effects, and details you might have missed while flying by in your Doom Buggy. Kirk shows us a way to replicate the Pepper's Ghost effect in our very own homes, and we go a little rogue spe...

In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we dodge hot and cold running chills in the endless hallway of the Haunted Mansion before exploring the details of the Music Room and finally venturing into the mystical and magical realm of the Seance Room. We summon all our historical knowledge of Madame Leota, ectoplasm, seance circles, and MAPO devices, while also considering how the overarching...

In this episode, Kate (in Disneyland) walks us through a display of actual Haunted Mansion concept art on display while Kirk guides us through the Sinister 11. We also discuss the portrait gallery, the museum of the weird, and walk through the queue of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion together. If you'd like to watch Kirk & Kate do a side-by-side comparison of Disneyland & Disney World...

Is this Haunted Mansion series stretching (on forever), or is it just your imagination? In this episode, we finally step foot into the Haunted Mansion's foyer where we meet the secrets of the Aging Man and some wall-to-wall creeps before wandering into the history, story, and detail-rich Stretching Room. Trigger warning: Suicide/Hanging as part of the Haunted Mansion storyline Join us LIVE on...

In this episode of Distory, special guest & Musicologist Dr. Eliot Grasso joins us for an in-depth discussion of the music of the Haunted Mansion. We also explore the complicated concept background of the attraction with all of its twists and turns that inspired the version we know and love. Before we leave this episode, we pause to appreciate the intricacies of the queue as we prepare to ente...

In this Episode of Distory with your Ghost Hosts Kate and Kirk, we explore an in-depth history of the outside structure of both the Walt Disney World (Florida) and original Disneyland (California) versions of Disney's Haunted Mansion. You'll hear about the ways the design of the mansion changed, what inspired historical buildings inspired the architecture, and the significance of where eac...

In this our inaugural first-ever episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we dive deep into the history of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, sharing treasures that we've found in our research as Disney historians & creators. From early design concepts to a virtual ride-through, we compare and contrast the brilliance of the design of both the Disneyland and Disney World vers...