How many ideas for Big Thunder Mountain are simply recycled old ones?

In this episode of Distory, we keep chugging along in our Big Thunder Mountain series as we start by saying goodbye to Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland (but not before we learn a few lost concepts in an attempt to save it, some of which we see today in the current Big Thunder). After tearing down Cascade Peak and mentioning where a few of the animals made a new home, we hop over to Walt Disney World to learn about the largest never-built show structure in Disney’s history, Thunder Mesa. After some twists and turns on a (boring?) version of a runaway mine train, we roll to a stop as Tony Baxter takes the reins from Marc Davis and sketches the first concepts for the Big Thunder we know it today (well, before it was shelved and then built elsewhere). We take a rabbit trail to Pirates to debate what park wears it best, and Kirk derails Kate’s transitions as he recovers from climbing Everest on the Swiss Family Treehouse.

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

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What was the most successful (and disastrous) animatronic that Disney ever made?

In this episode of DIstory, we once again hop aboard Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland in Disneyland as we continue this series about the origins of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. After rounding Cascade Peak and learning about a significant waterfall, we head into bear country to spy some itchy bears, piston fish, and a scary trestle. After hearing an incredibly offensive joke near the Olympic Elk and spending way too long trying to find a red-tailed hawk, we move along to the Living Desert, where Kirk is scared by snakes and Kate gets schooled about Peccaries. Through it all, we point out some pieces of this classic attraction that still exist today that you can look for the next time you’re in Disneyland.

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Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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How are the animals of Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland significant to Disney's history?And why did Disney paint the mine train yellow?In this episode of DIstory, we explore the history of Nature's Wonderland in Disneyland as we chug along in this series about the origins of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. We begin with the transition from Rainbow Caverns Mine Train, discussing some technological improvements (including a few from NASA) that had a massive impact on the attraction's additions. After a brief visit to Rainbow Ridge, we hop aboard our yellow train and head to Beaver Valley, where we meet some friendly beavers and learn how they came to life. After laughing way too much at beaver's antics, we learn the price of a raccoon, hear about Walt's marmot grooming preferences, and hear a joke that made the women on the mine train blush.

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

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

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What inspired the little mining town of Rainbow Ridge? 

On this episode of Distory, we hold on (loosely?) to our hats and glasses as we embark on the slow-moving Rainbow Cavern’s Mine Train, one of the predecessors of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Along the way, we point out some of our favorite sights in the painted desert, including a bizarre group of 7 Dwarfs, a teeny tiny cabin, dangerous rock formations, miniature pueblos, and, of course, the famous Rainbow Caverns themselves. Kirk also loses it over the sound of a “magical” instrument, and Kate points out the origin of a famous Walt quote and also where we get a well-known sign in Radiator Springs.

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

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What mistake did Disney make that changed their plans for Frontierland?

On this episode of Distory, we get ready for the wildest ride in the wilderness as we start a new series all about the history of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. But the runaway mine train we all know and love is only part of the story when it comes to Big Thunder. We start our journey at the very beginning in Disneyland’s early Frontierland, taking a ride on some mules, stagecoaches, and (many) wagons before rolling to a stop at the beginning of Rainbow Caverns Mine Train. Kate gets on a few soapboxes about her home state and something people often mix up when talking about the mine train, Kirk won’t stop talking about wagons, and a good time is had by all as we begin to excavate the rich history of this iconic ride.

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

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Even if you think you’ve heard it all about Disneyland, you’ve probably NEVER heard about this.

In the Distorian's Lounge with Kate this week, we do a deep dive into the history of Disneyland’s abandoned Chinatown concept, exploring how it impacted some of the most iconic attractions in Disney history. Along the way we meet an animatronic you’ve likely never heard of, sit down for a meal in a unique (and sometimes offensive) Chinese restaurant, and learn a little bit of philosophy. We also dig into some history of Los Angeles for context and find an extremely rare never-built Anaheim theme park.

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Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

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What if Disney animation didn’t start with a mouse, but something else entirely?

In this episode of Distory, we couldn’t agree on what Disney history to talk about, so we decided to each bring three of our favorite holiday-themed stories to share with you as this Christmas season comes to a close. From a very important pair of boots to some odd-looking costumes, a missing star to the origins of a beloved Christmas party, this episode has all the laughs, the feels, and some deep thoughts that might just change the way you view Main Street USA.

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Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

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What remnants from the Jingle Cruise can you still find in Disneyland?

In this episode of Distory, we wrap our Jingle Cruise series with some festive stories of the origins of Christmas traditions that the skippers have carried on in the jungle. After visiting some beribboned snakes, new years babies, and festive headhunters in Disneyland, we sail on over to Disney World where we talk eggnog, wassailing, Santa hats, reindeer, and many more details you won’t want to miss the next time you embark on your holiday tour with the Jungle Navigation Company.

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Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

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What secrets are hidden in the fruitcake of the Jingle Cruise?

In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we go a wasSAILing into the festive waters of Disneyland’s Jingle Cruise history. Along the way, we find some unique period staging, a VERY long naughty list, some changing boat names, and a few mischievous baboons. This episode is also stuffed full of fruitcake facts you never knew you needed, some stories from Imagineers who created the overlay, and all the details you might have missed in this fun adventurous holiday overlay (that we all miss dearly).

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

Kate’s YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

⁠Skipper Kevin's Etsy Shop⁠

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What do pigeons, gingerbread, aliens, ghosts, snoap, & rotting fish all have to do with each other?

Well, not much, except for the fact that they all have their place in Disney history.

In this madcap ride of a Distory episode, we celebrate Thanksgiving by taking a journey through Disney history, sampling a few of our favorite stories along the way. From pigeon mishaps to the origins of snoap, we’ve hand-selected six obscure Disney topics that we are thankful for to share. Along the way we encounter some oddly shaped gingerbread, a 12-year-old boy who spent his days on Tom Sawyer Islandm and remember one of the most terrifying rides in Disney history.

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, Facebook, and at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠disneycicerone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠walruscarp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

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