Mousetalgia! - Your Disneyland Podcast

Star Wars and Wreck-It-Ralph: What will Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm mean for the future of the Star Wars franchise? No one knows for sure, but Team Mousetalgia takes a look at the purchase in a roundtable discussion, during which we share possibilities and explore the possibilities raised by the surprising announcement. Also, we review "Wreck-It-Ralph" and explore the worlds and witty storyline...

Historian J.B. Kaufman talks about Snow White and his new book, "The Fairest One of All," in this week's episode. Learn about the history of Walt Disney's first animated feature film, and its origins in mythology and fairy tales. Also, ABC's "Once Upon A Time" continues to wow critics and build an audience, and we discuss the meaning behind its success. Plus - Disney launches an adult Princess mak...

Discover the spooktacular talents of Paul Frees, the voice of the Ghost Host, on our annual Halloween Emporium! Mousetalgia talks to Fred Frees, the son of Paul Frees, who tells stories about the life of the legendary "Man of 1000 Voices." We also discuss various haunting Disneyland records, and unveil a rare Walt Disney Productions acetate of eerie sound effects. Also, Kristen delivers a top-ten...

Visit Disneyland's Tahitian Terrace with Mousetalgia! Take a trip back through time with us as we re-open the Tahitian Terrace in a special one-night-only event at Disneyland, and relive the island magic and exotic polynesian dance performances that have been missing from the park for nearly 2 decades. Team Mousetalgia takes you behind the scenes of the planning of the event, and we discuss our pa...

Visit the exotic jungles of Adventureland with Team Mousetalgia! This week, we take a look back at Walt Disney's original concept for Disneyland's proposed "True Life Adventureland," and then we examine the Jungle Cruise, one of the original Disneyland attractions. After spending some time in "de Nile," we look at some of Walt's later attractions - his Enchanted Tiki Room, and the adjoining Tahiti...

Frankenweenie's shocking box office! This week, Team Mousetalgia offers up a review and some thoughts about Frankenweenie, Tim Burton's latest stop-motion creepshow, and we worry about the empty theaters we sat in during opening weekend. We take a look at the inspiration and influences behind the film, and offer our own parental advice. Also, we talk about taking Disneyland at a different speed, d...

Get into the spooky spirit of Halloween with Team Mousetalgia! Kristen reviews Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort, covering the Big Thunder Ranch Halloween Jamboree, the latest terrorizing tastes and boo-tiful sights, and Disney California Adventure's Frankenweenie features. Not to be out-dead-dogged, the rest of Team Mousetalgia report on a Walt Disney Family Museum discussion of Old Yeller feat...

Walt's Apartment, Disneyland's Dream Suite, the Disneyland Hotel's Adventureland Suite, and "Lights, Camera, Magic!" - Becky takes us on a tour of a few rarely visited Disneyland locations, and then on an Adventures By Disney tour of Hollywood, including the Dolby Theater, the Walk of Fame, a Walt Disney Studios tour - and a Sophia Grace and Rosie sighting! Also, your emails are answered - Disney...

Becky's Resort Report: This week, Becky travels through the Disneyland Resort with a group of travel professionals to get a different perspective on the food and hotels in the area. From the Carthay Circle to the Wine Country Trattoria (and even Club 33), Becky samples numerous dishes and reports on the latest culinary offerings in the parks. She also reports on some of the Good Neighbor Hotels su...

Cars Land 5K Rally - Team Mousetalgia reports on everything you ever wanted to know about Disneyland's family-friendly fun run, plus Button runs in the kids' race, and Kristen copes with half-marathon traffic around the resort. Also - Disneyland area hotel reviews, revisiting the Storyteller Cafe brunch at the Grand Californian and the Carthay Circle Theater restaurant, another trip to the 1901 Lo...

This week, visit Walt Disney Feature Animation with Kristen as she takes us behind the scenes from day 3 of her Destination D Diamond-level experience. As part of the special package, a select group of Disney fans were taken to the studios to visit the archives with Disney Legend Dave Smith, and then on to various locations such as Walt Disney's personal screening room, the Ink and Paint departmen...

75 Years of Disney Animation: In our 200th episode, Team Mousetalgia discusses day 2 of Destination D, and covers topics including Disney's "Wild and Wacky" animation, the evolution of Disney's Tinker Bell character, and the voice artists behind some of the classic Disney animated features. In the process, you'll hear from many of the participants at the event, including Kathryn Beaumont, Margaret...

Mousetalgia reports from D23's Destination D in this first part of our coverage of the event, which focused on Disney's 75 years of feature animation. Highlights from the report include a discussion about Walt's "Nine Old Men," and a conversation with animators Burny Mattinson and Joe Hale about the studio's first golden age of animation; a look at the life of Roy E. Disney and his work establishi...

Tony Baxter, Marty Sklar and Paige O'Hara spend time with Mousetalgia at the fourth annual Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet, and we bring you the highlights! This week, Mousetalgia reports from Seattle and takes you behind the scenes of the PNWMM. In our exclusive interviews, Tony Baxter talks to us about the business side of creativity, the Tahitian Terrace and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad; Marty Sk...

Little Mermaid, Pixar, Tahitian Terrace: In this week's jam-packed show, we cover a number of recent live events on the west coast. First, Jeff reviews the west coast premiere of The Little Mermaid staring Vicki Lewis, which played a brief run at Sacramento's Music Circus theater in the round. Next, a listener reports on the recent "Be Our Guest" Disney Legends dinner at the Disneyland Hotel. Jeff...

We answer your emails! Topics include an alternate view of Disney's Alaskan cruise, autograph collecting tips, imaginging a Disney bio film, another look at the Carthay Circle Restaurant, and a review of Disneyland's new "Cultivating the Magic" tour. Also - DCA versus WDW's Hollywood Studios... can't we all just get along? Plus - the Seattle Symphony does Disney, Perry gets wet, and Christian Bale...

It's an Emporium! Jeff Reitz and Tonya Mickesh are over halfway through their goal of visiting Disneyland 366 days in a row, and we check in with them and learn more about their ambitious goal. Also, Kristen visits the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives at the Ronald Reagan Library and files a comprehensive report. Next, Jeff reports on the recent "Glow with the Show" AP event, and we debate th...

Disney Cruising - Kristen reports from the inaugural Seattle-to-Alaska cruise on the Disney Wonder. With information on everything from dining options to enduring the arctic temperatures, Kristen dissects the various features, opportunities, and adventures that await future cruisers. Hear about the variety shows, fine restaurants, and the Toy Story musical, and discover the adult activities availa...

Buena Vista Street - Take a stroll down Disney California Adventure's main drag as we inspect the recently-opened Buena Vista Street! Visit the shops, sip some Starbucks, ride the Red Car Trolley, enjoy the entertainment and performances, and listen to our reviews of the various merchandise and eats along the way. Also - reviews of D23's "50 and Fabulous" screening of "In Search of the Castaways,"...

This week, Team Mousetalgia celebrates Independence Day by sharing the music of the Voices of Liberty ensemble, an Epcot staple recently introduced to the Disneyland Resort. We also take a walk down Main Street and discuss the new additions to Disneyland, including the Carnation Cafe's bad coffee and amazing apple-granola pancakes, the penniless arcade, new candy offerings and some Dapper delights...

Our Radiator Springs Roundup! This week, Team Mousetalgia talks everything Cars Land. With reports from the Press Preview as well as opening weekend, we bring you our opinions of every aspect of the new land in Disney California Adventure, including our thoughts on the atmosphere, the attractions, dining options, shopping locations and merchandise, and the special entertainment appearing exclusive...

Cars Land preview - Jeff and Dave report from the Cars Land preview for Annual Pass holders, and describe the scenery and attractions in this new area of Disney California Adventure. From the thrills of Radiator Springs Racers, to the sighs while waiting for Luigi's Flying Tires, to the humor of Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, Team Mousetalgia deliver initial impressions and tips to help you enjoy Cars...

Vinylmation 101: Explore the world of Vinylmation as we talk with Tina Biles, collector and hobbyist. Tina describes the various offerings, sets, and experiences associated with collecting Vinylmation figures, Disney's latest collectible craze. Also, we talk to Disney artist Eric Robison, creative director for Crazy Shirts, about the new Disney-themed lined of shirts from the venerable Hawaiian co...

Disneyland before the storm: Lightning (McQueen) is about to strike DCA, but Dave and Becky offer a trip report from just prior to the opening of Cars Land to remind you of the resort's other offerings. Topics include reviews of the Napa Rose Chef's Table and Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree, and Main Street and Lego Store re-openings. Also - Robert Downey Jr. in Esquir...

A trek to the Walt Disney Family Museum: Team Mousetalgia reports from a recent special trip to the Walt Disney Family Museum that was hosted by author Jeff Kurtti and Don Morin from the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet. We revisit and rediscover the museum exhibits, add some insider secrets, and report on a special presentation about Walt Disney's public persona, developed by Jeff Kurtti for this gat...