Cartoons to Castles: The History Behind the Mouse and Magic

Be prepared (haha) for a great episode all about the first Los Angeles production of "The Lion King" from one of the cast members herself: Carla Renata! You may know Carla as Janet from the NBC sitcom "Superstore," or from her YouTube channel "The Curvy Critic aka Carla Renata," but from 2000 to 2003 she also had the unique experience of playing Shenzi in the long-running hit show "The Lion King" at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Jessica and Melanie have a heartfelt, frank, and funny discussion with Carla about auditioning for the production, rehearsing at the El Capitan Theatre, the star-studded opening night, and her favorite moments as part of the original L.A. cast. Jessica also discusses the impact that "The Lion King" had on Broadway and the show's journey to becoming an international sensation, while Melanie shares details about the extensive remodel of the historic Pantages that was done to accommodate the production and bring the theatre back to its former glory.

To listen to Carla's interview with Florence Kasumba, who played Shenzi in Disney's live action film "The Lion King," go to https://youtu.be/A-gIX67lMBw. 
To find out more about Carla's work as The Curvy Film Critic, visit https://thecurvyfilmcritic.com/about-carla-renata/.
Watch the one-hour series finale of NBC's "Superstore" on March 25th at 8PM.
Carla is @TheCurvyCritic on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles.

Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles.

Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/

Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

SOURCES for this episode:

https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/visit/hollywoodpantagestheatre/aboutpantagestheatre

https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2017/12/18/the-lion-king-is-making-more-money-for-disney-than-star-wars/?sh=3faa0c311ff0

https://losangelestheatres.blogspot.com/2017/02/pantages-theatre-overview.html

https://www.playbill.com

https://thespaces.com/oscar-venues-through-the-ages/12/ 

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/10/how-the-lion-king-became-a-dollar9-billion-broadway-smash

This week Jessica and Melanie talk Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings with blogger, podcaster, and Disney weddings expert Mindy Marzec! Jessica takes you through the origins of Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings program, and Melanie discusses the additions of Disney Cruise Line and Aulani weddings to the roster, as well as the inclusion of LGBTQ ceremonies. Mindy lends her expertise to the conversation, shares details from her own Disneyland Resort wedding, and makes her predictions for the future of Disney weddings post-pandemic. And, of course, they talk Disney wedding gowns and daydream about their ideal Disney vow renewal or anniversary party locations.

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!

Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles.

For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles.

You can learn more about Disney weddings, plus Disney theme parks, travel, style, food, cocktails, and much more, on Mindy’s blog at https://thisfairytalelife.com/.

Get your copy of Mindy’s FREE e-book all about Disneyland inspired cocktails here: https://thisfairytalelife.com/disneyland-cocktail-recipes.

You can follow Mindy on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/fairytalemindy/, and follow her Disney weddings account at https://www.instagram.com/welovedisneyweddings/.

Listen to Mindy's podcast, Influencer Education, here: https://fairytalesocial.com/influencereducation/.

Cartoons to Castles logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/

Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

Select sources for this episode: 

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/07/vintage-walt-disney-world-disneys-fairy-tale-weddings-launches/

https://www.disneyweddings.com/   

https://thisfairytalelife.com/same-sex-weddings-disney/

https://people.com/celebrity/celebrity-couples-engaged-disney/

https://www.popsugar.com/love/photo-gallery/44750886/image/44754273/Disney-Moana-inspired-engagement-photos

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-disney-gaywedding/disney-opens-fairy-tale-weddings-to-gay-couples-idUSN0545360920070405 

Get a sneak peek of episode 14, available February 10th!

Plus, Jessica and Melanie discuss their recent experience (virtually) attending a complimentary preview of The Walt Disney Family Museum’s Virtual Escape Room. The ladies teamed up with other Disney podcasters and content creators over Zoom to solve riddles and clues related to the museum’s exhibits! You can learn more about how to have your own Walt Disney Family Museum Virtual Escape Room event here: https://www.waltdisney.org/virtual-experiences/virtual-group-experiences.

Jessica also provides a round-up of other virtual Disney experiences, which she details here in her own blog post: http://thehealthymouse.com/experience-disney-history-from-home/.

For even more Disney fun at home, the ladies share some of their favorite recent Disney history book finds:

“The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky” by Jeff Kurtti, Paul Wolski, and Vanessa Hunt
https://books.disney.com/book/the-disney-monorail/

“Travels with Walt Disney: A Photographic Voyage Around the World” by Jeff Kurtti
https://books.disney.com/book/travels-with-walt-disney/

“3D Disneyland: Like You’ve Never Seen It Before” by David A. Bossert
https://www.shopthelastbookstore.com/book/9781732602045

“The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company” by Robert Iger
https://www.shopthelastbookstore.com/book/9780399592096

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!

Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles.

For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles.

Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/

Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

“Exploratio Continua!” - Society of Explorers & Adventurers motto
On this week's episode, Disney superfan and vlogger Tiff Mink leads Jessica and Melanie on an expedition into the fun, fascinating world of the S.E.A. Never heard of the Society of Explorers & Adventurers? Neither had the co-hosts until their guest brought the topic to their attention! With influences clearly drawn from the Indiana Jones movies, steampunk, aviation history, the Old West, and more, this fictional organization was dreamt up by Walt Disney Imagineers and brings original Disney theme park characters together from all over the world (and across time) to create an interconnected web of stories that supports attractions in nearly every international Disney theme park.

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/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles.

Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles.

Though we can't visit Disneyland right now, we CAN get a taste of the magic with Golden Malted Waffle and Pancake Flour...the same mix used to create the Mickey Mouse waffles served in Disney Parks and hotels! Golden Malted's patented ingredients and natural flavorings make the perfect crispy waffles, and they even have an entire line of syrups, mixes, and appliances so you can make Disney Parks quality waffles at home. Visit https://shop.goldenmalted.com/ and use code MOUSE20 for 20% off your order, plus free shipping for orders over $49. Thanks to Golden Malted for sponsoring this episode!

Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/

Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

Get a sneak peek of episode 13, available January 27th!

Plus, listen to a preview of our third Patreon-exclusive bonus episode, all about Disney Parks birthday celebrations! On this episode exclusively for "Cartoons to Castles" Patreon subscribers, Jessica and Melanie discuss Mickey's Birthdayland, Disneyland's 35th anniversary, Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary, and the 100 Years of Magic celebration in honor of the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth.

Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles.

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/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles.

Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/

Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

"Welcome aboard! This is Captain Rex from the cockpit. I know this is probably your first flight, and it's...mine, too! Haha!"
On their first episode of 2021, Jessica and Melanie are joined by retired Imagineer Chris Runco, who created Captain RX-24, the rookie pilot droid that took guests on a wild ride aboard the Star Speeder 3000 in the original version of Star Tours at Disney Parks. In addition to his work on Star Tours, Chris was a key player in the development of attractions for Disney California Adventure, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland during his time with Walt Disney Imagineering, where he worked as a principal concept designer. But the star subject of this episode is RX-24, a.k.a. Rex. Chris shares behind-the-scenes stories about the development of Star Tours, designing RX-24, and his reaction when he found out Rex was changing careers and being transformed into DJ R3X for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge!

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/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles.

Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles.

Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/

Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

For the last episode of 2020, Jessica and Melanie take a festive look at the making of the beloved holiday movie "The Muppet Christmas Carol." The 1992 film tells the tale of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in a uniquely Muppet fashion, with Academy Award winner Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. Jessica and Melanie reveal behind-the-scenes secrets, insightful backstories, and fun trivia about the movie, as well as share personal stories from listeners about what this classic family film has meant to them over the years. A must listen for any Muppet fan!

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/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles.

Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles.

Though we can't visit Disneyland right now, we CAN get a taste of the magic with Golden Malted Waffle and Pancake Flour...the same mix used to create the Mickey Mouse waffles served in Disney Parks and hotels! Golden Malted's patented ingredients and natural flavorings make the perfect crispy waffles, and they even have an entire line of syrups, mixes, and appliances so you can make Disney Parks-quality waffles at home. Visit https://shop.goldenmalted.com/ and use code MOUSE20 for 20% off your order, plus free shipping for orders over $49. Thanks to Golden Malted for sponsoring this episode!

Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/

Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

SOURCES for this episode: 

https://ew.com/movies/the-muppet-christmas-carol-when-love-is-gone/

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/dec/21/how-we-made-the-muppet-christmas-carol

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/19/christmas-carol-renewal-redemption-scrooge-michael-newton

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/muppet-christmas-carol-film-charles-dickens-bbc-watch-release-date-a9253626.html

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/71757/14-things-you-might-not-know-about-muppet-christmas-carol

"The Muppet Christmas Carol" DVD commentary by Brian Henson

http://stylemagazine.com/news/2014/dec/12/why-muppet-christmas-carols-deleted-song-was-cut-r/ 

https://uproxx.com/hidden/the-muppet-christmas-carol-fascinating-facts/ 

https://www.vulture.com/2017/12/the-story-behind-the-music-of-the-muppet-christmas-carol.html 

Get a sneak peek of episode 11, available December 16! Plus, listen to a preview of our second Patreon-exclusive bonus episode, all about the "Star Wars Holiday Special"! You can access this and other bonus episodes and benefits by joining our Patreon for only $3 a month. Check out the tiers and perks at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles.

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/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles.

Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/

Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

Jessica and Melanie are joined this week by Disney expert Jeff Kurtti, author of The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky. Jeff discusses the history behind the monorails at Disney's theme parks, but he focuses largely on the process of collaborating on the book with co-authors Vanessa Hunt and Paul Wolski, which involved delving into the Walt Disney Archives and talking to some of the Disney legends who worked with Walt Disney himself. Jessica and Melanie also share some personal memories about the Disneyland Monorail. Get ready for a fascinating conversation about the stories and inspirations behind one of Disney's most innovative and beloved attractions.

You can find The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky and more Disney books by Jeff Kurtti at https://books.disney.com/book-author/jeff-kurtti/.

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/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles.

Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles.

Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/

Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

Get a sneak peek of episode 10, available December 2nd! Then stick around for a special Thanksgiving message from co-hosts Jessica and Melanie.

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/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles.

Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, a private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles.

Logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/

Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com