For almost a century, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been the unofficial start of the holiday season. But tucked inside the floats, balloons, music, and magic is a story many people have never heard: the long historical connection between Disney and the biggest parade on Earth.

In this episode, we dig into Disney’s earliest balloon appearances, the engineering breakthroughs that shaped modern parade balloons, the rise of Disney’s live performances, and the massive behind-the-scenes effort that brings characters to life on Thanksgiving morning. From Mickey’s debut in 1934 to the return of a newly engineered Buzz Lightyear balloon in 2025 for Toy Story’s 30th anniversary, this is the full story of how Disney became a holiday tradition for millions.

Make your own stories and I’ll see you on Main Street.