Cartoons to Castles: The History Behind the Mouse and Magic

Travel back in time to 1971 for the opening of Walt Disney World! The Most Magical Place on Earth is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month, so Jessica and Melanie thought it was the perfect time to dive into the park's early days. If you love classic Walt Disney World, this episode is a must-listen!Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening!For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cart...

Take a stroll down memory lane with some of the funniest moments from the first year of the podcast! Jessica and Melanie unbox VHS tapes of Disneytoon movies, discuss "The Little Mermaid" fish nuggets, laugh at IMDB reviews of Disney Channel Original Movies, discuss "The Three Caballeros" with Jessica's daughter, break down Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary special, and more. We hope you enjoy this shenanigans-filled episode!Summer is coming to a close, so brand new episodes of "Cartoons t...

It's the one-year anniversary of "Cartoons to Castles" and we're having a party! Special guests Tiff Mink, Sarah Sterling, Erika Kurzawa, and Tiffany Lanae Sutton join the fun for this 2-hour extravaganza!In the first hour of the episode, Tiff and Sarah dish with Jessica and Melanie about rare characters found in Disney Parks all over the world. Tune in to hear about the wacky and wonderfully weird characters that have been featured at the parks throughout their history, as well as the ladies...

Go on a Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride as we explore the history of the 2002 Disney animated film "Lilo and Stitch." Melanie shares stories and insights about the making of this unique movie, which started out as a children's book pitch and became one of Walt Disney Animation's biggest surprise hits. Jessica talks about the film's three (!) premieres, gives a dramatic reading of Roger Ebert's review, and reveals the places you can find Stitch in Disney's theme parks worldwide. There's so much t...

Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction turns 62 years old this month, and co-hosts Jessica and Melanie set out to uncover the history of this one-of-a-kind, iconic roller coaster. From its early beginnings as a wild idea inspired by Walt Disney’s trip to Switzerland, to the current updates required to keep this groundbreaking feat of Imagineering running, the story of the Matterhorn is as full of twists and turns as the ride itself. Don’t miss this episode if you love classic Disneyland ...

What do the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Bette Midler, defunct tram tours, Michael Eisner, "Ernest Saves Christmas," Robin Williams, motorcades, and Dorothy's ruby slippers all have in common? Walt Disney World's Disney-MGM Studios! Special guest Tiffany Lanae Sutton, a Disney-MGM superfan, takes co-hosts Jessica and Melanie on a trip down memory lane to visit her favorite Disney park during its heyday when it was both a working film and animation studio AND a theme park. Known today as Disn...

Set sail on a voyage into the history of Disney Cruise Line, which is celebrating its 26th anniversary this month! To mark the occasion, co-hosts Jessica and Melanie discuss the origins of DCL, compare the four current ships, and share their thoughts on the recent Disney Cruise Line announcements for 2022 and beyond. If you love Disney cruises, or have ever daydreamed about going on one, this is the episode for you!Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd lo...

Disney Legend Kathryn Beaumont had the honor of voicing not one, but TWO iconic characters in Walt Disney Animation classics: the title role in "Alice in Wonderland" and Wendy Darling in "Peter Pan." Jessica and Melanie explore Kathryn's legacy and her childhood experiences working with Walt Disney himself, as well as behind-the-scenes stories from her time playing the live action versions of Alice and Wendy on television and in the reference films made for the animators. Jessica also talks a...

Pin pals Jessica and Melanie geek out about all things Disney Pin Trading with their special guest: vlogger and Disney superfan Sarah Sterling! Not only is Sarah a pin trading aficionado, but as a former Disneyland Resort Cast Member she had an insider look at pin trading at the parks. She shares her insights on trading etiquette, rare pins, how to spot fakes, where to find Disney pins outside of the theme parks, and more. Jess and Mel also discuss the origins of Disney Pin Trading and the ex...

"Mark well me words, mateys: Dead...men...tell...no...tales!”Hosts Jessica and Melanie set out on the high seas of Disney history by taking on one of the most beloved theme park attractions of all time: Pirates of the Caribbean! This episode focuses on the conception, construction, opening, and updates of Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean, with quotes and anecdotes from Walt Disney, Imagineers, and the opening day press. The hosts also give their personal takes on the changes the ride has...