How did Disney Studios inspire a national Christmas tradition?

And when was “Mele Kalikimaka” first used?

In this episode of Distory, we discuss the history of Disney’s It’s a Small World Holiday overlay and explore the fascinating origins of many of our favorite holiday traditions! From gingerbread to pinatas, ribbon candy to poinsettias, this episode is stuffed with Christmas history facts sure to delight any Disney history fan. We also go over a hidden celebrity in some of the holiday overlays, talk about changes in the attraction over the years, see a creepy clock, sing a few festive songs, and learn the truth about some traditional British wardrobes.

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.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Distory T-shirts and Stickers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Kate's books on Amazon⁠⁠⁠

What does a lost black cat, angry neighbors, and a Supreme Court case have to do with one of Hollywood Studio's extinct attractions?

In this episode of Distory, we bring back the much-missed Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights for one more glimpse of Holiday magic. Starting with its humble beginnings of 1,000 lights in Arkansas, this spectacle had its share of growing pains (and lawsuits) before it moved to Disney-MGM Studios and became a memorable Christmas tradition every year for thousands of Disney fans. From scavenger hunts to technological advances through the years, we dig deep into the meaning of this special attraction and explain where you can still (sort of) see it today.

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.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Distory T-shirts and Stickers⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Kate's books on Amazon⁠⁠

Why do all the characters in Phantom Canyon look so familiar?

In this episode of Distory, we mosey on into the town of Phantom Canyon where playful spooks are having a (western-themed) swinging wake. As we inch through this fascinating alternative to the Haunted Mansion graveyard scene, we compare Marc Davis’s and Mary Blair’s original concept art for Western River Expedition to what made it into Phantom Manor, find some familiar faces, and discover stories from Victorian literature that inspired this spooky netherworld. After telling a few ghost stories of our own and flying through the vortex, we escape the manor only to find ourselves in Boot Hill cemetery, which has its own sordid history laced with scandal and mystery.

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.

⁠⁠⁠Distory T-shirts and Stickers⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch⁠⁠⁠

Books we mention in this episode:

⁠⁠The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic⁠⁠

⁠⁠Marc Davis in His Own Words⁠⁠

Disneyland Paris Phantom Manor Decrypted

⁠⁠Kate's books on Amazon⁠⁠

What secrets are hidden in the shadows of the Phantom Manor?

And why should you pay attention to a specific tree?

In this episode of Distory, we waltz into the ballroom of Disney’s Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris, investigating some moldy cakes, scary makeup, and a moving Phantom. We then move into Melanie Ravenswood’s boudoir, finding hidden storytelling around the room cloaked in shadow and often easily missed. We also listen to Melanie’s lament and visit the history behind her mournful song before heading out the window and down into the catacombs. After waving to a dog inspired by the US Haunted Mansions, we try to make sense of the actions of a few creepy bones and discover some missing singing busts, one of which is not quite so missing in the original versions of the Haunted Mansion.

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.

⁠⁠Distory T-shirts and Stickers⁠⁠

⁠⁠WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch⁠⁠

Books we mention in this episode:

⁠The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic⁠

⁠Marc Davis in His Own Words⁠

Disneyland Paris Phantom Manor Decrypted

⁠Kate's books on Amazon⁠

How does Disney make an old manor look new again?

And what elements did Phantom Manor borrow from the US Parks?

In this episode of Distory, we step into the decrepit halls of Phantom Manor, finding secrets, stories, and spectral beings along the way. After analyzing how the special effects are achieved in both the foyer and doorless chamber, we then take some time in the portrait gallery (both old and new), say hello to some stanchion bats, and find a connection to an old 1964 piece of concept art. We climb aboard our doom buggies for an enlightening (and frightening) trip through the endless hallway and music room, before finding some skeletal hands, demons, and dark spaces in the corridor of doors. We end this episode in Leota’s seance circle, discussing the wild differences between what we see in Paris vs the US 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, 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.

⁠Distory T-shirts and Stickers⁠

⁠WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch⁠

Books we mention in this episode:

The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic

Marc Davis in His Own Words

Disneyland Paris Phantom Manor Decrypted

Kate's books on Amazon

How are the Beatles, Michael Jackson, & Hocus Pocus connected to Disney’s Phantom Manor in Paris?

Welcome back, foolish mortals, for a journey into the complicated backstory and history of Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris! In this episode of Distory, we discuss the concepts, story, music, narration, inspiration, and origins of this iconic spooky attraction. We also dig deep into the background of Walt Disney World’s Thunder Mesa (and Marc Davis’s disappointments) and how it influenced the design of Frontierland for the Imagineers. Along the way, we experience a vibraslap, drum up some sympathy for the various suitors for Melanie Ravenswood (with hilarious names), and discuss the irreplaceable (yet replaced) Vincent Price, who felt right at home in the Phantom Manor. Well, most of the time.

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 at⁠disneycicerone.com⁠ &⁠walruscarp.com⁠

Viewfull video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel⁠HERE ⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

⁠Distory T-shirts and Stickers⁠

⁠WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch⁠

Books we mention in this episode:

The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic

Marc Davis in His Own Words

Disneyland Paris Phantom Manor Decrypted

Kate's books on Amazon

Why did Disney make a ride so bad that it didn’t even last a year?

Buckle up for a cruise down the streets of Hollywood as we explore the history of Disney California Adventure’s Superstar Limo! If you’re confused (and horrified) by this short-lived Disney attraction, you’re not alone. We attempt to explain why how this ride came to be, including some budget cuts, drastic changes, and what it could have been after they closed it in less than a year. We also laugh hysterically as we try to mimic the smarmy agent puppet Swifty La Rue, pose like the creepy “minimatronics,” and try to find a context in which we would use the phrase “big boffo.” Our Eisner rivalry is also alive and well as we continue to debate his positive and negative influences 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, Facebook, and at ⁠⁠⁠disneycicerone.com⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠walruscarp.com⁠⁠⁠

See more Distory with Kate & Kirk episodes here (earlier episodes available at ⁠⁠⁠@WalrusCarp⁠⁠⁠  )

⁠⁠⁠Kate's books on Amazon⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch⁠⁠

Is everything at Disney actually fake? Or is there more to the story?

In this episode of Distory, we hop into the Distorian's Lounge with Kate the Disney Cicerone to chat about five things in the Disney parks that used to be real but have been altered from their original state into something a little less so. We spend some time knocking on lampposts and carousel horses, find out how an antique movie prop got a prominent place on Main Street USA, and talk about the miniature horse corral in Frontierland and why its wooden posts were so important. We also tell a few stories about Walt & Lillian, chat about Bellamy Eagle conspiracy theories, and laugh along with our live audience as we share dad jokes and a few extra Disney stories in the Distorian's Lounge.

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

See more Distory with Kate & Kirk episodes here (earlier episodes available at ⁠@WalrusCarp⁠  )

⁠Kate's books on Amazon⁠

⁠⁠WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch⁠⁠

Why was Tony Baxter so disappointed in Alice in Wonderland as a child?

In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we say farewell to our Alice in Wonderland series (and make it go out with a bang!). After learning what delayed Alice from opening with New Fantasyland in 1983, we compare the enhancements with the original 1958 version, hear about Tony Baxter's vision for the updates, discover a ridiculous reason for a tree, and find a long-lost Alice figurine from Walt Disney World. We also talk about the vine railing debacle, and what updates have been made to the ride since the 1980s.

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

See more Distory with Kate & Kirk episodes here (earlier episodes available at ⁠⁠@WalrusCarp⁠⁠  )

⁠⁠Kate's books on Amazon⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch⁠⁠

The original version of Alice in Wonderland looked a little... different.

In this episode of Distory, we continue our Alice in Wonderland series by heading down, down, down the rabbit hole into the original 1958 version of this iconic Disney attraction. Along the way, we encounter some terrifying early Disney costumes, some new (at the time) technology, a few missing main characters, and some rooms that don't exist anymore. We also discuss the (very tall) Claude Coat's influence on the attraction and his legacy as an Imagineer.

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

See more Distory with Kate & Kirk episodes here (earlier episodes available at ⁠@WalrusCarp⁠  )

⁠Kate's books on Amazon⁠

⁠⁠WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch⁠⁠

Resources we mention in this episode:Don Carson Virtual Ride Through