AJ, Mike, and Chris celebrate 2 years of 90s Disney with a quintessential product of its time, DisneyQuest. Join us as we explore five floors of virtual fun inside Disney’s indoor theme park. What was once meant to be a way of bringing the Disney experience across the country became a surprisingly long lives part of Downtown Disney’s West Side along with a two year stint in downtown Chicago. Where else was DisneyQuest destined to venture? How did virtual reality work in the mid-90s? How did Mike...
Jun 01, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In a new conversation series format, AJ sits down with AJ LoCascio (I promise it's less confusing when you listen). AJ LoCascio is a voice actor who's career started with the role of Marty McFly for the Back to the Future TellTale game series. Most recently he played the role of Han Solo for the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special. It also turns out that AJ is a huge Disney fan, and grew up with the Mouse House throughout the 90s. We talk about his career, the influences Disney has had on him persona...
May 14, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 12
AJ, Mike, and Chris celebrate the 30th anniversary of a fantastic film, The Rocketeer. As on of Mike's favorite movies, we wanted to make sure we did right by the 1991 comic book adaption. To that end, Mike has a fantastic conversation with co-screenwriter Danny Bilson. It's a fantastic look into the history of the film's origins, its adaption from comic to screen, Disney's involvement with the film, and how created a unique movie world squarely set in the 1930s. We also explore Jame's Horner's ...
May 01, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 12
AJ, Mike, and Chris stay within the confines of the Universal Orlando Resort (or is it Universal Studios Escape?) to talk about some of our memories around the Universal Studios park. The park has seen tremendous change over the years, and we hope you enjoy our early recollection of some classic attractions and their successful and not so successful replacements. Want to reach out? Email us at 90sDisneyPodcast@gmail.com !...
Apr 16, 2021•52 min•Season 2Ep. 11
AJ, Mike, and Chris are gonna vacation like it's 1999 at Universal's Islands of Adventure. Yup, happy April Fools' Day! As Universal sought to become a more serious competitor to Disney, they knew that their second gate had to be the most incredible, high-tech, and lavish theme park ever built. Islands of Adventure opened with some of the most stunning attractions ever seen, and they still delight guests to this day. Learn about the park's early concept, how Universal ensured everything would wo...
Apr 01, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 11
AJ, Mike, and Chris come together to discuss some of our favorite parades throughout the Disney Parks has they have come and gone over the years. From the majesty of the Tapestry of Nations to the dazzling spectacle of Paint the Night, we share our fond memories of a great Disney Parks' tradition. Want to reach out? Email us at 90sDisneyPodcast@gmail.com !
Mar 18, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 10
AJ, Mike, and Chris revisit the classic nighttime parade from the Magic Kingdom, SpectroMagic. This even extravaganza rolled down Main Street throughout most of the 90s, dazzling guests with incredible new technologies, beloved characters, and a brilliant musical score composed by John Debney. Debuting to celebrate Walt Disney World's 20th anniversary, SpectroMagic had a brief hiatus and some updates before it prematurely concluded its run in 2010. We hope you enjoy learning about some of the sh...
Mar 01, 2021•59 min•Season 2Ep. 10
AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you journey about Spaceship Earth as it existed from 1994 - 2007. Journey back to the days of Terry-san's cool baseball plays, a virtual field trip, Edo Guidotti's haunting score, and incredible narration by the inimitable Jeremy Irons. Experience the gravitas of a voyage through time and the history of human communication on one of our personal favorite all-time Disney attractions. We explore what came before and what has come since to Epcot's signature structure, wha...
Feb 01, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 9
AJ, Mike, and Chris take virtual trip to some of our favorite bars and lounges around Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Let us tempt you to join us, just don’t get wrecked . This episode is not to be mist . Jet around our favorite spots and hear about our favorite libations. We also take your responses to discover some places we’ve never even been to! Want to reach out? Email us at 90sDisneyPodcast@gmail.com !...
Jan 20, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 8
AJ, Mike, and Chris are happy to have made it to 2021. Join us as we travel back in time to the age of the dinosaurs at the Animal Kingdom opening day attraction, Countdown to Extinction. While there's a good chance you've been on Dinosaur if you've visited Animal Kingdom in the last 20 years, Countdown to Extinction operated only from 1998 - 2000 and featured subtle differences from the attraction we all know today. Join us we have override the time coordinated for a breathtaking journey on Ani...
Jan 01, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 8
AJ, Mike, and Chris explore the fabled 1991 promotion VHS holiday extravaganza, The Magic of Christmas at Walt Disney World. This month we decided to try something new and record a watch-along commentary. We give you the countdown to push play so you can watch along with us. Or just listen as a normal podcast (though it’ll help if you’ve watched the special before). Here’s the link to view the version we watched online together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ver8qiUDVU&t We hope you have ...
Dec 20, 2020•40 min•Season 2Ep. 7
AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to step through the door into the Halloween door to the incredible world of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Join us as we explore how and where this landmark film was created. How a fired Disney animator rose to filmmaking prominence and was welcomed back to bring his original vision to life. Danny Elfman's incredible music weaves the tale of what happens when two holidays met by mistake. And as the years have gone on, the Walt Disney Company has made ...
Dec 01, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Join AJ, Mike, and Chris as we put on makeup and dress up right in order to explore one of our all-time favorite attractions, Muppet*Vision 3D! We explore how the Muppets first came to Disney Parks, how the Muppets almost got an entire themed land at Disney MGM Studios, and details of this special production that would turn out to be Jim Henson’s final Muppet project before his untimely death. Come along to a very moving moment created just an hour away from Pittsburgh. At no point will we be st...
Nov 01, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 6
AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to join us at one of Walt Disney World’s premier dining experiences, California Grill. From its beginnings as the Top of the World, to its transformation into a truly unique restaurant, we bring you the story of the people who made California Grill one of the most popular dining destinations in the entire resort. Enjoy the views, pop a bottle of wine, and don’t listen hungry. Vintage Walt Disney World: California Grill Through The Years https://disneyparks.disney.g...
Oct 01, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 5
We don’t mean to get too negative, but AJ, Mike, and Chris thought it would be fun to share our least favorite Disney attractions. Let us know what we got wrong. Did we pick on your favorite or miss any stinkers?
Sep 16, 2020•38 min•Season 2Ep. 4
AJ, Mike, and Chris are ready to ride one of the most infamous Disneyland attractions ever created, Rocket Rods. Go back to the beginning as we uncover the origins of the Ford's Magic Skyway, its evolution into the Peoplemover for 1967's New Tomorrowland, and that ride's transformation into Rocket Rods, the thrill ride anchor to 1998's New Tomorrowland. Get ready to accelerate to 38 mph and then quickly slow down again. Mind the turns. They're flat. LOOK OUT! IT'S ANOTHER ROCKET RO- Oh, it's a m...
Sep 02, 2020•58 min•Season 2Ep. 4
AJ, Mike, and Chris discuss attractions that never were. If we could wave our magic Imagineering wand, what rides and experiences would we make a reality? It's fun to think about how different the Disney parks would be today if there were more Muppets, cowboys, mountains, and Atlantis.
Aug 21, 2020•48 min•Season 2Ep. 3
AJ, Mike, and Chris travel back to the days of tuning in to the Disney Afternoon after the school day for a look back at the history of Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Discover the show's origins of a spinoff of the Walt Disney animated feature The Rescuers. Explore the ways the show adapted two relatively obscure characters from the 50s into a crime-solving team. Who sang that epic theme song? How much did we fight while playing the NES games? How many songs from the show does AJ know by heart? A...
Aug 01, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 3
AJ is very pleased to bring you this exclusive interview with the man who conceptualized Blizzard Beach, Marshall Monroe. We discuss the considerations that went into the park's design, the selection and prep for its location, and the lessons learned from other Disney water parks. Find out about the remarkable connection between Blizzard Beach and the Grand Californian Resort at Disneyland, why the wave pool filled with mud one day near the opening, and the reason that Summit Plummet was 5 meter...
Jul 08, 2020•36 min•Season 2Ep. 2
AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to chill at Disney's coolest water park, Blizzard Beach! We dug deep to uncover the history of this one of a kind water park. Learn about the Imagineers that brought the park to life, the back story of that fateful snowstorm, and who helped build some of the most incredible water slides ever seen on a melting ski resort. Grab yourself a Blue Blizzard Margarita (if you're of age of course), pull up a lounge chair, and enjoy our latest show! Blizzard Beach At Walt Di...
Jul 01, 2020•51 min•Season 2Ep. 2
AJ, Mike, and Chris continue our journey onto Indiana Jones Adventure to discuss the wide world of what we call Super Dark Rides. We venture outside of Disney to discuss favorites such as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal, rides from the international Disney parks, and a few more wild cards. We'll discuss what qualifies as a Super Dark Ride, what are our favorite elements, and which Super Dark Ride reigns supreme. Keep all arms and legs ...
Jun 23, 2020•56 min•Season 2Ep. 1
AJ, Mike, and Chris kick off year 2 of 90s Disney with our first trip to Disneyland to experience one of the greatest attractions ever conceived by Walt Disney Imagineering, Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye. Join us as we uncover the history, technology, and people behind this one of a kind attraction nestled in the heart of Adventureland. We talk about the effects that have been removed, modified, and updated since the attraction's opening in 1995. So board your EMV, choose ...
Jun 10, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 1
AJ, Mike, and Chris thought it would be fun to talk about many of the resorts around Walt Disney Worlds. We talk about our favorites, least favorites, places we'd like to stay, and what we like to do at many of the resorts. Thrill to stories of 30-year-old Scotch, elevator rides with Winnie the Pooh, and carrying strollers up two flights of stairs. We hope you enjoy this bonus episode!
May 19, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 11
AJ, Mike, and Chris take you back to the beginnings of the Disney Decade expansion and two of the first new deluxe resorts on property, the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. Nestled on the shores of the newly created Crescent Lake, these two sister resorts offer laid back elegance and fun. We learn about the architects behind their design, the fantastic dining options, the best resort pool in all of Walt Disney World, and the one room on the entire property that is the closest you can stay to a them...
May 01, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 11
It's our first bonus episode! AJ was very fortunate to chat up the co-director of Atlantis: The Lost Empire and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Kirk Wise! Learn about how the world of Atlantis was created, discover how Hellfire made it into the film, and find the answer to a nearly 19 year long grudge. Kirk and AJ spend over an hour diving deep into how animation is brought to life in two of Disney's most unique and groundbreaking animated films of the 90s(ish).
Apr 17, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 10
AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to take a deep dive (pun intended) into one of AJ's all-time favorite movies, Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Released in 2001 (April Fool's!), this film moved away from musicals and into an exciting journey filled with action, adventure, swash-buckling, and mythology. And who better to tell the tale than the film's screenwriter, Tab Murphy? Tab joins us once again to talk about how the idea for Atlantis came to be, what he did to research Atlantis in the real world, ho...
Apr 02, 2020•1 hr 39 min•Season 1Ep. 10
AJ, Mike, and Chris guarantee you will never hear a more lively conversation about the creation, implementation, and existence of the FastPass system used across all Disney theme parks. Introduced in 1999 (or was it?), the FastPass system allowed guests to stay out of the line and in the parks. We learn about the father of the FastPass, Greg Hale, and his journey from curious interviewee to the current day VP and Chief Safety Officer. We investigate when the fist tests were done, how the system ...
Mar 06, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 9
AJ, Mike, and Chris are back after an unplanned holiday break to kick off 2020 with an in-depth look at the flagship attraction of Disney's Animal Kingdom, Kilimanjaro Safaris. Join us as we spend two weeks exploring the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. We discuss how the attraction has changed over the years, some of our favorite animal encounters, and learn how this massive theme park attraction operates. From jambo to kwaherini, you won't want to miss this wild ride! Ride from 1998 https://www.youtu...
Feb 02, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 8
AJ, Mike, and Chris ring in the holiday season with our deep dive into the 1992 holiday classic, The Muppet Christmas Carol. Join us as we discuss the production of the first Muppet movie created without Jim Henson, how the classic holiday story of redemption was adapted to work with a... whatever Gonzo is, and how Michael Caine became the first human to hold the leading role in a Muppet film. So relive the music, the memories, and the mayhem that only the Muppets can create as we count the days...
Dec 01, 2019•48 min•Season 1Ep. 7
AJ, Mike, and Chris take one final look at Epcot's long running nighttime spectacular, Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. Debuting in 1999 as Illuminations 2000: Reflections of Earth, this symphony of music, fireworks, lasers, lights, and imagery delighted park guests until September of 2019. Join us as we explore the history of shows featured around World Showcase Lagoon, the development of RoE, and the people who brought the show to life. We uncover the state-of-the-art technology and engine...
Nov 14, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 6
