Distory with Kate & Kirk

In this episode of Distory, we’re floating by the iconic Well Scene of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean and finding some lost history along the way. While everyone knows Carlos (and his wife in the upper window), there’s much more storytelling in this scene than meets the eye… and even more that’s been lost since 1967. From fascinating details in Marc Davis’s original concept art to clever st...

Some of the most fascinating Disney history comes from the things that almost happened, and the lessons the Imagineers learned along the way. What if Disney had built an entirely different kind of theme park? What if one of Magic Kingdom’s most iconic attractions had been replaced? And what can a few boxes of old papers, photographs, and sketches tell us about the Imagineers who helped shape the D...

From the moment you enter a Disney park, the Imagineers are intentionally manipulating your feelings and perspective. They compress spaces before revealing enormous vistas, control what you can and can’t see, carefully transition you from one environment into another, alter architectural scale, and use visual order to influence how you experience the world around you. Tonight on Distory Nite Shift...

It’s one of the most breathtaking and iconic scenes of any Disney attraction. But how did the Imagineers ACTUALLY come up with the idea for bombarding the fort in Pirates of the Caribbean?  In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk , we buckle our swashes and explore the history, design, technology, and possible inspirations behind Disneyland’s famous Bombarding the Fort scene. We’ll trace t...

Do we actually travel back in time on Pirates of the Caribbean? Tonight on Distory Nite Shift , Kate and Joshua head back to Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean to investigate the Captain and Crew’s Quarters, search for more possible real pirates hiding in the attraction, and follow a few very Disney history rabbit trails along the way. After recently uncovering evidence that some real-life pira...

The REAL treasures in Pirates of the Caribbean’s treasure cache are easy to miss… unless you know where to look. On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we continue our journey through Pirates of the Caribbean by digging into the history, details, and changing story of the attraction’s legendary treasure room. Starting with a 1963 continuity script as well as early Marc Davis concepts, we...

D23 looks a little different when you’re a Disney historian. On this episode of Distory Nite Shift, Kate and Joshua take you on a historian’s walking tour through D23 2026, sharing the rare artifacts, hidden details, incredible stories, and historical moments that made their historian hearts happy. From Walt Disney’s homes and Carolwood Pacific Railroad to Haunted Mansion history, forgotten edutai...

We made it to 200 episodes of Distory 🎉 and we are celebrating by answering YOUR obscure Disney history questions! On this very special episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we’re celebrating five years of Disney history rabbit holes by turning the show over to all of you. Listeners from around the world sent us their biggest Disney history questions, and we’re digging into everything from for...

Did Imagineering really bring the Haunted Mansion back to its 1971 roots… or is there more to the story? On this episode of Distory Nite Shift, we hop in our doom buggy and head to Walt Disney World’s Haunted Mansion to trace the fascinating evolution of its architecture, landscaping, and changing appearance from the earliest concept art through today. Along the way, we explore rare Imagineering a...

The captain and crew of Pirates of the Caribbean have some secrets… but you have to know where to look to find them.  On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we explore the incredible details of the Crew & Captain’s quarters of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean. Along the way we dig up some historic recordings, concept art, and Imagineering documents that tell a bigger story than...

A good idea never goes to waste at Imagineering, even if it takes years to implement it in the Disney parks. On this episode of Distory Nite Shift, we explore some rare Disney concepts that evolved into pieces of the parks we know and love today. After giving our thoughts about the musical score in the caverns, we explore some hidden remnants of Disney history that are still found in the parks tod...

This beach is a crime scene… but thanks to Marc Davis, we have enough evidence to solve the crime.  On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we slide down into the ghostly grotto to explore Dead Man's Cove and Hurricane scenes in depth. Along the way, we take the microscope to the history of this iconic scene to explain what actually happened to the pirates, identify some sea critters...

Disney people are storytellers… but sometimes they get the story wrong.  On this episode of Distory Nite Shift, we walk through some popular myths in Disney history, including what Walt actually said about Disneyland’s museum status, the origins of Walt Disney World’s (theoretical) weather-controlling dome, and a resident of the Haunted Mansion who isn’t who everyone thinks he is. We also discuss...

What happened to the fireflies in Pirates of the Caribbean? Has the old man always lived in the bayou? And who is Charles T., anyway? On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we enter the doors of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean and head into the bayou to find some lost history of this iconic attraction.  Along the way, we discover the origins (and changes) of the buried treasure tab...

Which Disney attraction had the greatest impact over time, Pirates of the Caribbean or the Haunted Mansion? On this week’s episode of Distory Nite Shift, we meet our newest addition to our Distory co-host team before diving into the design philosophy and creation of Pirates of the Caribbean and New Orleans Square, all leading to a question that has sparked debate among Disney history fans for deca...

What storytelling do most people miss in the Pirates of the Caribbean queue while they are waiting in line? And what bizarre detail dates back to Disneyland’s opening day? On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we examine the history of the exterior facade and queue for Disneyland’s iconic Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Along the way, we find some history that most people overlook,...

What character in Pirates of the Caribbean is secretly a tribute to an Imagineer's friend? And what inspired the iconic song Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)? On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we watch the creative process unfold as the figures in Pirates of the Caribbean are shaped, dressed, and animated to create life-like scenes in this iconic attraction.  Along the way, we...

What changed from Disney's original model to the final attraction? And what critical piece of Pirate culture was altered in those changes? On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we explore the fascinating creation process of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean. Along the way, we hear from Arrow Dynamics about their bateaux design, visit the original model to see some significant ch...

How did a small wax museum tucked under the Blue Bayou Mart evolve into one of Disney’s most iconic rides? On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk , we set sail for adventure as we uncover the fascinating origins of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. Beginning before Disneyland even opened and continuing throughout the 1950s and 60s, we explore rare early concepts for the Rogues Gallery Wa...

Have you ever wished you could go back to 1966 and wander the original streets, shops, and restaurants of Walt Disney’s New Orleans Square? On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk , we continue our new Pirates of the Caribbean series with a visit to a nostalgic version of New Orleans Square in Disneyland. Along the way, we take a historical walking tour through the quaint shops and fabulou...

New Orleans Square is a unique feature of Disneyland… but was it originally Walt Disney’s idea? On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we begin our new Pirates of the Caribbean series with a visit to Walt Disney’s original 1966 New Orleans Square in Disneyland. Along the way, we take a historical walking tour through Imagineering’s early concepts, design, and the evolution of this exquis...

Being a Disney creator isn’t always easy. While there are plenty of magical and memorable moments, there are also struggles, failures, and opportunities to grow, many of which happen behind the scenes and go unseen by our audience. On this special bonus episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk , we share a deeper look into our lives as Disney podcasters, creators, app developers, and authors. We ta...

What history is hiding in plain sight in Disneyland’s central plaza hub? And what two favorite Disney parade songs have stories behind them that you’ve likely never heard before? On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we explore 6 unique springtime stories throughout Disney history. Kate heads to Disneyland and takes a seat in the central plaza to observe some historic details you may no...

Disneyland Paris is known for having some of the most beautiful and elaborate attractions of any Disney park. But is that also true for Peter Pan’s Flight? On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk , we fly across the pond to explore the Disneyland Paris version of Peter Pan’s Flight. Using historic photos, Imagineering design concepts, and primary source documents, we uncover how this attra...

The details in Disney's updated Peter Pan’s Flight queue are incredible, but most of them are overlooked by guests… and not all of them are accurate.  On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk , we explore the queue of the Walt Disney World version of Peter Pan’s Flight. Using rare Imagineering documents and attraction photos, we break down the history, artistry, and design of this uniqu...