Storybook Radio

In our Haunted Mansion conclusion, we will tour The Haunted Mansion scene by scene, taking a look at all of its residents and secrets. We will also hear some of the myths, legends and stories of the famous attraction, as well as the movies it has inspired.

This week, we're heading BACK to The Haunted Mansion for Part 3 of the history of this chilling attraction! We'll do some globetrotting this week, and we'll check out the different versions of The Haunted Mansion that have opened in Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong, as well as the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay at Disneyland, and the opening of Memento Mori in Walt Disney World in 2014. Don't miss The Haunted Mansion conclusion next week!

Welcome BACK, Foolish Mortals! Our tour continues in 1964, with the New York World's Fair! The opening of The Haunted Mansion is still five years away, but the gears are turning! In this chilling episode, I will recount the evolution of the home of 999 happy haunts from the walk-through illusion factory of Yale Gracey and Rolly Crump, to the ride-through omnimover collection of gags and ghosts brought to us by Marc Davis and Claude Coats. This chapter of The Haunted Mansion takes us to 1971, and the opening of the attraction in Walt Disney World! Part 3 continues next Wednesday!

Welcome, Foolish Mortals, to the Haunted Mansion! Step all the way in please... our tour begins here, in 1951, when the original Imagineer, Harper Goff, was tasked with designing a haunted house for Walt Disney! I follow the history of the Haunted Mansion through the next thirteen years, up until the 1964 New York World's Fair, in Part 1 of this series of the history of The Haunted Mansion.

Make sure to join me on Saturday, October 31, Halloween, for the continuation of this eerie tale. Cue cadaverous pallor!

This week, I look at the history and differences between Walt Disney World's Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights.

And, since October 21 is Back to the Future Day, I take you back in time(!) to Back to the Future: The Ride at Universal Studios. Great Scott!

I went to Walt Disney World two weeks ago! Here's a full trip report of my 8 days in Orlando, including thoughts about beer flights, slow times of year, breakfast in Fantasyland, and free funnel cakes! Plus, a sentimental message about those of us lucky enough to get to go to Walt Disney World that you won't want to miss.

It's all about the Muppets this week on Storybook Radio! The story of the Muppets and Disney is nearly 30 years old, and there have been many bumps and much sadness along the way. This week, we'll look at the history of the Muppets and Disney, where their relationship eventually went, and what could have been at Disney's Hollywood Studios. And of course, there will be some cheap 3D tricks!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me! This week, in honour of International Talk Like a Pirate Day (arrr...), we're going to look at the history and stories of how Pirates of the Caribbean came to be, at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. So, keep yer arms and legs in the boat at all times please me mateys, as we hop aboard the Wicked Wench and sack the Spanish Main!

This week, we'll help E.T., a lost alien, get back to his home planet to save it from dying. We'll look at the movie, the Universal Studios attraction, and why it means so much to me.