Mousetalgia! - Your Disneyland Podcast

This week, Team Mousetalgia welcomes former Cast Member Matthew Emerson to the show, and we talk about Matt's extensive career at Disneyland, with topics including the grand opening of Star Tours, tales of being a Jungle Cruise Skipper, his time as Manager of Club 33, and celebrity encounters with Fess Parker, the Mouseketeers, Liz Taylor, and more. Then, Jeff and Kristen offer our review of and our responses to Frozen II (with spoilers). Jeff offers a few hot takes on the story, Kristen has some hot takes on the soundtrack, and we talk about the character development, the plot's twists and turns, and Elsa's hair.

This week, Jeff reviews five new Disney books, and Dave, Becky and Kristen offer trip reports covering a variety of topics, including: a rainy Thanksgiving trip including dinner at Wine Country Trattoria; Calla's first thrill rides (including the Haunted Mansion and Goofy's Sky School); food options at the Festival of Holidays; and Becky's and Button's first trip to Galaxy's Edge. Plus - a "mom fail," Jeff buys a copy of the New York Times from Nov. 13, 1940, the latest entries in the pantheon of cute Disney baby characters, Disneyland After Dark - and TWO sweepstakes!

This week on Mousetalgia, we begin with Kristen's review of a stay at TownePlace Suites by Marriott, and we weigh the pros and cons of budget lodging within a quick drive from Disneyland. Then, we share "This week in Disney history," covering topics including Tokyo Disneyland, Candlelight Processional, Britney Spears, Walt's birthday, and a Snow White preview. Then, we review a pair of Disney books useful for both holiday planning and gift giving, including "The Art of Hand Lettering: An Inspirational Workbook for Creating Beautiful Hand-Lettered Art about LOVE" by Cosimo Lorenzo Pancini, and "A Merry Christmas Cookbook" from the Disney Book Group, a book of recipes geared toward bringing families together in the kitchen. Plus, we go birthday shopping for Walt - and more.

Happy Thanksgiving! This week, Team Mousetalgia celebrates the start of the holidays at Disneyland. First, Tim Babb from the "Can't Wait For Christmas" podcast returns to share Five Golden Things about Disney and the holidays - see if you agree with his list of favorite Christmastime features and happenings. Then, Mike Van Eaton joins us to talk about the next auction at Van Eaton Galleries, "A History of Disneyland and Walt Disney World." We talk about this latest in a series of incredible Disneyland auctions, and talk about the state of theme park memorabilia collecting and some of Mike's favorite items from this latest collection of unbelievable artifacts. Next, Becky shares some insight into touring the parks during the holidays from her experience as a professional travel consultant for Mouse Fan Travel. Becky moves beyond recommending "manage your expectations" to give realistic advice and tips for surviving and enjoying a trip when the parks are crowded and busy. And finally, Jeff shares some history o

It's might be freezing around the country, but Mousetalgia keeps your toasty this week with a supersized episode! First, we speak with Mousetalgia listener Wendy Brown, who completed the monumental task of viewing every Disney theatrically released film in order. We find out some of her favorite films, some of the challenges she met while seeking out the films, and learn a little bit more about the history of the Walt Disney Studios. Then, diving further into Disney movie madness, we offer our takes on Disney+, the just-launched streaming service offered by the Walt Disney Company. We discuss the premise, review some of the original content, and welcome Tim Babb (from the "Can't Wait for Christmas" podcast) back to the show for a closer look at the channel's first original holiday film "Noelle." Finally, Jeff attends a book signing by Star Wars legend Anthony Daniels and shares some insight into the world's favorite golden droid. Plus - favorite frozen treats, and Tiny Tinsel drops by!

This week, Team Mousetalgia takes you to the floor of Mouse-con 2019, the fifth annual yearly gathering of Bay Area Disney fans hosted at the Crowne Plaza Inn in Concord, CA. We share our live recordings of some of the goings on, including discussions of our purchases, the cosplay, our presentations, and the convention itself. Plus, we feature audio from two of the special guests' presentations, including animator Willie Ito, who tells us how he got started in the field of animation and what it was like to work on the Disney Studio lot; and Disney Legend Linda Larkin, the voice of Princess Jasmine, who talks about what it was like to be a part of the original animated production of Aladdin, and her special memories of working with Robin Williams. Plus - floor interviews from convention guests, and more!

Let's dive into the mailbag! This week, listeners get philosophical, talking about the value of Fantasyland attractions, the merits of World of Color "Villainous!," girls trips to the resort, Vinylmation woes, and a special segment with listen feedback to Kristen's recent questions about Walt Disney World. Also, we take a brief look back at the production of The Black Hole and chat about this groundbreaking film. Plus - Jeff's quest for Chilling Thrilling vinyl, Kristen's tale of a lost iPad, Dave talks Disney+ - and more!

This is Halloween, which means it's time for Team Mousetalgia's annual treat! This year, we welcome New York Times Bestselling Author Matthew Reinhart back to the show to discuss his latest book "Star Wars: The Ultimate Pop-up Galaxy." Matthew discusses the challenge of creating more innovative and transformational pop-up paper designs, and we do a little nerdy Star Wars talk as well. Then, Jeff talks about a few of Marc Davis' ideas for the Haunted Mansion storyline, and we celebrate the plethora of revelations made by the Disney Company in the attraction's 50th anniversary year. Plus - we share our latest Disney tricks and treats!

This week, Steve Cantafio from MEI-Travel joins Team Mousetalgia to share tips and tricks for Walt Disney World fans making the trek out west to the Disneyland Resort. Steve shares some of his own advice that comes from his own recent trip planning for a trip to Disneyland, and compares and contrasts the experience with his expertise with the Walt Disney World Resort. Then, Julia joins us to talk about her recent Castle to Chateau Challenge at Disneyland Paris, and the Halloween season at the Paris resort. Julia compares running at Walt Disney World with the course at Disneyland Paris and offers tips for runners who may be interested in participating in the challenge next year. She also talks about the start of the Halloween decorating at the park, and describes some of the spooky adventures that the park has to offer. Plus - Jeff on supporting indy artists, Kristen on Haunted Mansion dioramas, Becky talks Descendants and Dave shares a curious Halloween tale.

It's spooking season, and Team Mousetalgia talks Halloween fun and food at the Disneyland Resort! Experience the fun eats and treats throughout the resort with Kristen as she eats her way through Halloween Time -  including a report on the Haunted Mansion Tea Party experience at the Disneyland Hotel, and the seasonal offerings at Club 33. Finally, Kristen reports on the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure, describing the treat trails, the entertainment, the characters, Villains Grotto, the party's new walk-through feature, and World of Color - Villainous!

This week, Team Mousetalgia offers a cornucopia of topics in a monster-sized episode to welcome October! First, Kristen celebrates 70 years of Mr. Toad with a smattering of trivia - guess the answers along with us! Then, Becky helps Kristen plan a Walt Disney World vacation, and we cover the topics that every West Coast native should know when planning a trip to Florida. Next, Jeff reviews more Disney books - "Entertaining with Disney" and "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook." Learn how to throw the perfect Disney party, or make out-of-this-world blue noodles! Finally, we talk about even more new Haunted Mansion merch and wonder if Disney is going to ever jump the proverbial shark with the flood of merchandise being offered in honor of the old house. Plus - best/worst Disney songs, and listeners review Freeform's Halloween House in Hollywood!

This week. we explore many facets of the current state of Haunted Mansion fandom by looking at three separate current events. First, we welcome Skywalking Through Neverland back to the show to tell us all about the taping of this year's "31 Nights of Halloween Fanfest," which took place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and will debut on Freeform Oct. 5. Richard and Sarah tell us about the special guests, the deep nostalgia behind this year's show, and then give us a shocking revelation about the lineup. Next, Walt Gorecki speaks with us about "The Haunted 2: Welcome Foolish Mortals," his Haunted Mansion-inspired art show materializing this weekend at The Hive Gallery in Los Angeles. Walt shares some thoughts about why the Haunted Mansion inspires so many artists, and then goes on the describe some of the features visitors can expect when visiting his unique installation. And finally, we have a Mousetalgia roundtable discussion about Funko's ongoing Haunted Mansion merchandise release which has likely reached

This week, Team Mousetalgia offers an Emporium of topics, featuring an interview with Gerald Hudson, who began working for Disneyland as the captain of a Jungle River Boat in 1958 and went on to work for the park in many capacities through the 1960s. Hudson shares many fascinating memories, including a moving account of working at the park the day Walt Disney passed away. Then, Jeff reviews two new books: Jeff Kurtti's "The Art of Disney Costuming: Heroes, Villains and Spaces Between," and Brad Meltzer's "I Am Walt Disney," a children's book in the "Ordinary People Change the World" series. Finally, we share some listener emails, and we also have a special report from "The Lion King and Jungle Festival" in Disneyland Paris.

This week, Mousetalgia welcomes author/historian J B Kaufman from the Hyperion Historical Alliance back to the show to discuss his first book for the organization, "The Making of Walt Disney's Fun and Fancy Free." In this first publication from the group's academic monograph series, Kaufman explores little known facts and shares never before seen images from the making of "Fun and Fancy Free," one of Walt Disney's most-loved package films from the 40s. Then, Kristen reports on a live event hosted by Micechat called "The 55ers: The Pioneers Who Founded Disneyland." This event, hosted by David Koenig, who also authored a book on the subject, introduced insiders who were with Disneyland during its opening days, including Mouseketeer Bobby Burgess and Disney Legend Bob Gurr. As a bonus, hear Bob's thoughts concerning Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. And finally, Kristen reports from Batuu! How did Star Wars Land fare with a girl who THINKS - but is not certain - that she's seen all the Star Wars films? Listen in and fin

This week, Kristen returns for a roundtable discussion on the variety of challenges and successes the Disney D23 Expo posed this year as Team Mousetalgia recaps our experiences throughout the entire Expo process, from registration through experiencing the event firsthand. We describe and consider some of the problems we experienced with panel pre-registration; discuss the security and queueing changes this year, and share some of our favorite unforgettable moments from the show floor. Also - you might win a spectacular Expo prize package - details in this episode!

Disney+ unleashed! Star Wars "hotel" announced! Movie news, parks news, and so much more was introduced or explained at the 2019 D23 Expo, and Mousetalgia hosts Jeff and Dave cover part one of our exclusive coverage of the huge biannual Disney fan event. We break down some of our favorite news items and talk about topics including Disney+; "One Day at Disney,", a new documentary series; Avengers Campus, coming soon to DCA; Galaxy's Edge news - and much more. Plus, we discuss the archives exhibit of Disney costumes, and break down some of the Haunted Mansion panels that filled the Expo. As a special treat, we were able to sit down with Imagineer Chris Merritt and Pixar COO Pete Docter to speak about their new set of books titled "Marc Davis In His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks," and we get even more insight into the artist Walt Disney called his "renaissance man," Marc Davis. Listen to this week's episode for your chance to win a signed copy of the 2 volume set! And stay tuned - next week we w

Imagineer memoirs and more fill this special "Expo recuperation" episode of Mousetalgia! First, Jeff and Kristen review two books previewed at the 2019 D23 Expo, beginning with late Disney Legend Marty Sklar's final book, "Travels with Figment: On the Road in Search of Disney Dreams." Then, Jeff reviews Imagineer Kevin Rafferty's new book "Magic Journey: My Fantastical Walt Disney Imagineering Career." Jeff and Kristen compare and contrast the content of the two memoirs, and then we share some of our own personal memories of time spend with Marty Sklar before he passed away just days after the last D23 Expo. Then, we answer more listener emails about touring the parks and more.

This week, Team Mousetalgia continues to celebrate the spookiest semicentennial of them all - 50 years of the Haunted Mansion. Jeff takes us along to Disneyland to party like the dead at "The Haunted Mansion: Celebrating 50 Years of Retirement Unliving" after hours event on August 9, and we talk merch, characters, the event itself - and that $300 price tag. Then, we go behind the scenes for DoomBuggies.com and Disney By the Bay's "Soiree from Regions Beyond," and discuss another Haunted Mansion party hosted by Jeff and Dateline Mousetalgia's Jenn Diz. Dramatic readings, amazing magic and the WED Imagineering legacy of the Haunted Mansion were just a few of the highlights from the evening, which drew guests from 18 states. Finally, we welcome 1969 Disneyland Ambassador Shari Bescos Koch to the show to reminisce about her year as Ambassador, and the night of the Haunted Mansion's grand opening. Plus - our last minute tips for the D23 Expo, a list of the Haunted Mansion-related Expo panels and presentations, and

This week, it's Expo-mania time as Team Mousetalgia look forward to the upcoming D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. We spend a little time reminiscing about favorite memories from past Expos, and then dive into our expectations and hopes for this year's event, which promises many new procedures, experiences and events. We offer a few tips, and then Michael Vargo, the Head of D23, joins us to share some of his thoughts, tips and advice as Expo weekend nears. Also: Disney announces a panel on an unknown topic, and we take stabs at guessing what it might be! SPECIAL NOTE: Don't miss the Mousetalgia Meet-up at the Expo, which will be Saturday night near the fountain outside of the Anaheim Convention Center entrance after the last panel ends. Watch our Twitter account for updated scheduling information, and we'll see you there!

Welcome, foolish listeners, to an entire Mousetalgia episode devoted to the home of 999 happy haunts, The Haunted Mansion. This week, Jeff answers questions and tells stories about the history of Walt's storied dark ride in honor of its 50th anniversary on August 9. First, Kristen asks Jeff some Haunted Mansion questions for which she needs answers, then Jeff goes back for the five decades BEFORE the Haunted Mansion's opening to search for possible influences and cultural moments that may have moved Walt as he conceptualized the Haunted Mansion attraction. Plus - we add our own characters to the Haunted Mansion, and Jeff and Kristen announce upcoming Haunted Mansion-related events.