The best Disney attraction was one that was never built, but did leave pieces of its legacy in almost all of the Disney Parks.

In this episode of Distory, we discover the planned (but never created) Western River Expedition and its heartbreakingly incredible home of Thunder Mesa, the missing mountain of Frontierland in Disney World's Magic Kingdom. We'll walk step-by-step though Marc Davis's concept for this ride, as well as where some of those concepts ended up when the attraction was scrapped.

Kate's new bookA Glimpse of the Magic: Finding Ourselves in the Disney Storyis now available on AmazonHERE!

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, and atdisneycicerone.com &walruscarp.com

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Books we reference in this episode:

Marc Davis: In His Own Words

Why did Walt Disney create Disneyland?

We've all heard the Walt-on-a-bench-in-Griffith-Park origin story of Disneyland, and while that wasone of the influences behind Walt's decision to make Disneyland, it wasn't the only one. In this episode of Distory, we dig deep into the history of the many influences in Walt's life and travels that impacted the design of this iconic theme park, exploring where the major themes and ideas came from that created the magical park we know and love today. 

Kate's new bookA Glimpse of the Magic: Finding Ourselves in the Disney Storyis now available on AmazonHERE!

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, and atdisneycicerone.com &walruscarp.com

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Books we reference in this episode:

Walt Disney Imagineering 

The Imagineering Story

The Disneyland Story

Walt Disney: An American Original

Walt's Disneyland

The hitchhiking ghosts take a hike for Disneyland's Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay in favor of Oogie Boogie... right? 

Well, not quite.

In this episode of Distory, we return to the Haunted Mansion for a look at the making of the Nightmare before Christmas & some other mansion overlay possibilities that never came to pass. We then hop in our dark carriages and go on a hunt in every nightmarish scene in the mansion for an (unofficial) mascot and explore some unique connections to Disney parks history tied into the overlay at both Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland.

Note: Somehow we both managed to forget to include the fact that Madame Leota for this overlay is Kim Irvine, who just so happens to be the daughter of Leota Toombs (the original Madame Leota). We were so delighted by Kirk singing the 13 days of Christmas that it must have dematerialized out of our minds. You have our apologies. 

If you're looking for Kate's bookA Glimpse of the Magic: Finding Ourselves in the Disney Storythat we mention in this episode, it'sHERE!

And you can get your own WalrusCarp Madame Leota "Making Spirits Bright" shirtHERE!

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, and atdisneycicerone.com &walruscarp.com

Viewfull video versions of each episodeHERE

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Books/websites we reference in this episode:

Full Haunted Mansion Holiday Script

The Haunted Mansion:Imagineering a Disney Classic by Jason Surrell

A Glimpse of the Magic: Finding Ourselves in the Disney Story by Kate Grasso

Were Doritosreallyinvented in Disneyland?

Well, sort of. Kinda. Mostly. 

In this episode of Distory, we make our home in Casa de Fritos for a salty journey through the history of golden corn chips in the Disney parks. After learning about how the golden chips of corn got their start, we talk taco prices in 1955, meet a lost mascot who delivered fresh snacks via a fancy vending machine, and discover that Doritos may not be the only food item invented at Casa de Fritos. 

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, and atdisneycicerone.com &walruscarp.com

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Do you remember when Mickey Bars had a face? 

On this episode of Distory, we treat ourselves to the history of Disney's iconic snack foods, including churros, Mickey ice cream bars, and turkey legs. We time travel back to the 90s when Chip n' Dale used to have a starring role as a frozen treat, and find out how a popular Disneyland dance club inspired one of the most beloved Disney snacks of all time. There *may* also be some speculationabout what foods Gaston would actually want to have in his tavern as we talk turkey (legs) and cinnamon rolls. 

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, and atdisneycicerone.com &walruscarp.com

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How did Walt Disney steer his curved-dash runabout in parades without a steering wheel? What was the proper protocol for honking the horn on horseless carriages in 1966? And what was the only classic Disney vehicle that was NOT Walt's idea? 

Take a relaxing surrey ride with us down Main Street USA as we explore the fascinating history of Disneyland & Disney World's Main Street Vehicles. We talk about "vintage" Gurrmobiles, horses named after accountants, and some extinct vehicles that you can no longer find in the Disney parks. 

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, and atdisneycicerone.com &walruscarp.com

Viewfull video versions of each episodeHERE

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Cast Member Guide we refer to in this episode:

Main Street Vehicles Handbook

Marching toy soldiers and dancing reindeer weren't around when Disneyland had its first Christmas parade in 1955. In fact, the parade barely hinted at the holidays, and instead was a promotional event for something quite different indeed. In this episode of Distory, we walk through the history of Disneyland's Christmas parades, discovering a few unexpected surprises and mishaps along the way.

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, and atdisneycicerone.com &walruscarp.com

Viewfull video versions of each episodeHERE

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Episode Resources:

Full Broadcast -Holiday Time at Disneyland - 1962

Was Michael Eisner good or bad for Disney? In this special episode of Distory, we debate Michael Eisner's influence and how his decisions shaped the landscape of Disney as a company, both in positive and negative ways. We walk through "The Disney Decade" step by step and unravel how this powerful CEO went from leading a Disney Renaissance to crashing and burning at the end of his tenure at Disney.

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, and atdisneycicerone.com &walruscarp.com

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The scenes in Pinocchio's Daring Journey each have their own story and a moral lesson. But the ride often flies by so fast we can't take in the full depth of what the intentional design is communicating both emotionally and psychologically. In this episode of Distory, we go behind the scenes of this 1980s Disneyland dark ride and discuss how it was the first Disney attraction ever to use a unique special effect, what the original WED work notes said about each scene, and what is hidden in the last scene that ties the whole story together. We also get a *little* off-topic and debate the name of a significant character in Snow White.

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, and atdisneycicerone.com &walruscarp.com

Viewfull video versions of each episodeHERE

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Resource Links

Disney Documents:https://www.disneydocs.net/disneyland

Disney Historical photos:https://davelandweb.com/disneyland/

In the 1980s, the Imagineers at WED completely redesigned Fantasyland. But was it made into what Walt always wanted, or is there more to the story?

In this episode of Distory, we travel back in time to explore the origins of the dark ride before discussing Tony Baxter's perspective of the Fantasyland remodel and sharing details from historic internal WED work documents regarding Pinocchio's design and story. We also wax philosophical about the themes in Pinocchio and have a lively debate, which Kirk *probably* wins. 

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, and atdisneycicerone.com &walruscarp.com

Viewfull video versions of each episodeHERE

100 Disney Adventures of a Lifetime Book Giveaway

Distory T-shirts and Stickers

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Books we reference in this episode:

The Disneyland Story by Sam Genneway