Mousetalgia! - Your Disneyland Podcast

This week, Mousetalgia welcomes Paul Briggs, Disney Animation Director of the upcoming feature "Raya and the Last Dragon," to the show to talk with us about the storytelling process at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Briggs, who was the Story Department Supervisor before directing "Raya," talks about finding the core emotions behind a film, and stretching the boundaries of imagination. Paul shares...

Happy Thanksgiving! On this week's super-sized holiday episode, Jeffrey Epstein and Candice Valdez from the D23 Inside Disney podcast join us to give us the inside scoop on the official Disney podcast, and they share behind-the-scenes stories of the show, which they publish weekly along with their third co-host Sheri Alzeerah . We talk about the state of Disney fandom, the variety of Disney proper...

This week, Mousetalgia takes a look back at the '70s with Cast Member Tricia Ciaccio, who worked at Disneyland as a tour guide under the guidance of Disney Legend Cicely Rigdon. Tricia talks about her time at the park as a tour guide, with stories about Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, and the Mercury 7, alongside other memories of the Magic Kingdom. Also, Kristen Carr reports on Mickey and Minnie's bi...

This week, we've decided to share some reviews of the things we've started watching, listening to and reading over the past month. First, we discuss the return of "The Mandalorian" to Disney+, and discuss the season two debut. Kristen gives a brief review of "The Right Stuff," and then Jeff and Kristen review a few albums that have recently started streaming ("My First Disney Jazz;" "Disney Meets...

This week, Mousetalgia welcomes Disney fan-favorite (and Tinker Bell reference model) Margaret Kerry to the show to talk about her recent life experiences and to reminisce about her career as a member of the Disney community. If you haven't heard much about Margaret's life since she turned 90, you won't want to miss this inspirational episode. Plus - Becky lists acceptable losses that will lead to...

This week, get spooky with Mousetalgia as we take a look back at the darker side of Disneyland! From Ken Anderson's scary dark rides from the '50s to today's death-defying adventures throughout the park, we take a look at just how dark the park can get. We also present a schedule of online events that you can utilize to enjoy a spook-tacular virtual Halloween weekend. We also talk about the recent...

This week, we're thinking Tink! You may have thought you knew all there was to know about Tinker Bell, but Mousetalgia dives in and considers the flight of everyone's favorite fairy by looking at some interesting angles. First, we talk to aerialist Gina Rock, who flew across the sky in Disneyland as the fireworks lit up the night. Gina talks about her background as a gymnast, and the experience of...

This week, the Disney community is reeling in the wake of tens of thousands of layoffs, which were made necessary due to the COVID-19 outbreak and complications from the California state government, according to Josh D'Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks. Team Mousetalgia recognizes that it is the uniqueness of the Disney Cast Member that gives Disneyland its magic, so in this episode, we recognize an...

This week, Mousetalgia looks for some levity in this era of heavy news - so we are returning to the Mousetalgia High Five! Jeff shares five Halloween Time highlights from past years; Kristen shares her top five Disneyland '80s memories; special guest Tim Babb shares five shows missing from Disney+ (calling Dick Tracy!); and Dave hisses his way through Disney's top five slithering snakes. Plus - we...

This week, Team Mousetalgia welcomes Disney historian Joseph Titizian back to the show to talk with us about Disneyland icons. In a time when so many people are longing for a chance to return to the happiest place on earth, we've decided to go back and look at some of the most iconic elements to a day at Disneyland - including that famous Disneyland logo "D", churros, the Disneyland Railroad, the...

This week, Disney historian and author Jeff Kurtti joins Mousetalgia to discuss his latest book, "The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky." Kurtti talks about the genesis of the project and his perspective on writing the book; his relationship with coauthors Vanessa Hunt and Paul Wolski; and talks about how he made a book that tells the story of the famed Monorail with new art and i...

This week, Mousetalgia welcomes our alien overlords as we discuss the new Disney+ series "Earth to Ned" with executive producers Joe Freed of Marwar Junction productions and Vince Raisa of the Jim Henson Company. Joe and Vince explain the genesis of the show, talk about the series' special guests, and tell some behind-the-scenes stories about the production of this innovative new talk show which i...

This week, Jeff recalls some of the action from the latest Van Eaton Galleries auction, titled "Disneyland: The First 65 Years." What did Jeff win at the latest Van Eaton auction? You'll find out - plus get our tips and tricks for success at online bidding for collectibles. Then, Kristen shares some Disney history about America on Parade, the Submarine Voyage, Circlevision, Country Bear Jamboree,...

Today, go cruisin' through the Southland with Mousetalgia as we take you on a whirlwind road trip! First, enjoy our conversation with marketing genius Pat Pattison (former VP of Creative Services with the Disney Company), as he talks to us about his work creating products and promotions for the studio and the Disney parks - including the story about how he created the Mickey Antenna Ball. Then, jo...

Today, go cruisin' through the Southland with Mousetalgia as we take you on a whirlwind road trip! First, enjoy our conversation with marketing genius Pat Pattison (former VP of Creative Services with the Disney Company), as he talks to us about his work creating products and promotions for the studio and the Disney parks - including the story about how he created the Mickey Antenna Ball. Then, jo...

Today, go cruisin' through the Southland with Mousetalgia as we take you on a whirlwind road trip! First, enjoy our conversation with marketing genius Pat Pattison (former VP of Creative Services with the Disney Company), as he talks to us about his work creating products and promotions for the studio and the Disney parks - including the story about how he created the Mickey Antenna Ball. Then, jo...

Today, go cruisin' through the Southland with Mousetalgia as we take you on a whirlwind road trip! First, enjoy our conversation with marketing genius Pat Pattison (former VP of Creative Services with the Disney Company), as he talks to us about his work creating products and promotions for the studio and the Disney parks - including the story about how he created the Mickey Antenna Ball. Then, jo...

This week, Mousetalgia welcomes author/historian Didier Ghez to the show to talk about his new book, "They Drew as they Pleased: The Hidden Art of Disney's New Golden Age." Didier explains Disney's "New Golden Age" of animation, contrasting it with the studio's productions before and after Walt's death. He also talks about his search for art and material to include in the book, his process for res...

This week, join Mousetalgia as we speak with Disney producer and filmmaker Don Hahn in a conversation about Howard, his documentary about legendary lyricist Howard Ashman. Hahn joins us to speak about the journey he has made with the film in the two years since it first premiered, and talks about the man who "gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul." Then, Jeff and Kristen report on a fundra...

This week, celebrate the Haunted Mansion's 51st anniversary with Mousetalgia as we welcome Jeremy Marx from the Disney History Institute to the show to discuss Imagineer Ken Anderson's role in developing Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. From Anderson's start in the Disney animation department through his leadership in developing the Fantasyland dark rides, we discuss his unique role in the design and...

This week, get radical with Mousetalgia as we take a look back at Disneyland in the '70s and '80s with former Disneyland Ambassador Willie Vander Zwaag Burckle. Willie served as a Tour Guide in the '70s and Goodwill Ambassador to the World in 1981, taking guests and VIPs on tours through Disneyland, and she shares stories from moments in her career, such as touring the park with the King of Jordan...

This week, we take a look at Disneyland through the years from two different perspectives. First, we welcome Mike Van Eaton back to Mousetalgia to talk about the next in his series of Disneyland memorabilia auctions. "Disneyland: The First 65 Years" will be held on August 15 and 16, and Mike describes some of the highlights from this upcoming auction - including an actual tombstone from the Haunte...

Kristen Carr joins Mousetalgia to discuss the re-opening of the Walt Disney World Resort, and gives us a trip report about her visit to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks. She talks about the experience booking the trip and making reservations, what to expect regarding masks and social distancing, the dining experience, and her own reactions to re-experiencing the resort, which she hasn't...

Happy 65th birthday, Disneyland! This week, Mousetalgia has the privilege of speaking with former Disneyland Ambassador Connie Lane, the last Disneyland Ambassador who was personally selected by Walt Disney to represent Disneyland to the world. Connie shares with us her memories of being at Disneyland during many pivotal moments, including the opening of iconic attractions like Pirates of the Cari...

This week, Mousetalgia welcomes Doug Lipp and Pam Lipp to the show to talk about their individual extensive careers with the Disney Company. First, we talk to Doug Lipp, the author of "Disney U: How Disney University Develops the World's Most Engaged, Loyal, and Customer-Centric Employees." Doug discusses Disney University, learning from Van France and Jim Cora, opening Tokyo Disneyland, the cast...