This week, Team Mousetalgia reports from the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet 2016 near Seattle, WA. Topics include the D23 mixer the night before the meet, the show floor, and personal highlights from Mousetalgia listeners and attendees to the Mouse Meet (which happened to raise $12,000 for the Seattle Children's Hospital and Ryman Arts this year). Come behind the scenes with us as we talk about set-up snafus, run-ins with Disney Legends, and super-cold Dole Whips. We also speak with meet vendors, ...
Jul 17, 2016•1 hr 14 min
Team Mousetalgia takes you on a Forbidden Journey through the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios with a very magical trip report. But first, we visit Disneyland to see the newly re-opened attractions including Soarin' Around the World, Autopia, the Matterhorn and the Jungle Cruise. Kristen offers a few tips regarding the VIP tours, and we offer an in-depth review of Soarin' - the sights, the scents, the CG. Then, we journey north to Universal Studios Hollywood to review the new...
Jul 10, 2016•1 hr 20 min
Team Mousetalgia takes you back to Arendelle - er, the Hyperion Theater, that is - as we enjoy the sounds of summer '16 at the Disneyland Resort. First, we review "Frozen - Live at the Hyperion," and offer our initial reactions to the new musical that made a splash by replacing the popular "Aladdin" stage show. Does it live up to the hype? We dissect what works for us, and what doesn't. Then, we take an audio tour of the parks and enjoy the sounds of summer, including clips of the Straw Hatters,...
Jul 03, 2016•1 hr 12 min
Team Mousetalgia celebrates the summer by welcoming Disney historian and author Jeff Kurtti back to the show today as we investigate Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. Join us on the lanai as we reminisce about the history and development of this famous attraction, from its roots as a proposed Chinese restaurant through its present day acclaim with the recent resurgence in the popularity of Polynesian culture. Kurtti, author of "Walt Disney's Imagineering Legends," talks about the early days of ...
Jun 26, 2016•1 hr 7 min
Team Mousetalgia reviews "Finding Dory" and looks back over 399 shows on this special 400th episode! First, we look back at almost 8 years of Mousetalgia and we talk about things we've learned, reminisce about awkward moments, and share a few of our favorite moments from the show. We also welcome special guest Beci Mahnken of Mouse Fan Travel to the show to help us celebrate. Then, Jeff and Kristen review "Finding Dory" and Pixar's latest short "Piper" to share our spoiler-free initial impressio...
Jun 20, 2016•1 hr 5 min
This week, the Team Mousetalgia doctor is in to dispense a little therapy related to Disney's latest crop of live action films. For various reasons, we haven't been hitting every film on opening weekend lately and we ask why. Kristen skipped Jungle Book, Jeff skipped Alice (along with most everyone else), and Becky skipped Zootopia, so we check in with each other to find out what we look for in Disney releases to give us the incentive to get to the theater. Then, Jeff reviews the forthcoming boo...
Jun 12, 2016•50 min
Team Mousetalgia talks to Disney Legend Dave Smith, the founder of the Disney Archives, about his new book, "Disney Facts Revealed." We talk about Dave's career of answering Disney fans' questions about the studio, and he discusses the easiest and hardest questions he has answered about Disney; his background as the original archivist for the Disney Studio, and stories covering everything from the Darby O'Gill banshees to Elias Disney's cache of priceless paperwork. Bonus - we host our own "Ask ...
Jun 06, 2016•1 hr 33 min
Mousetalgia reports on "Wish Upon a Star: The Art of Pinocchio," the latest special exhibition at the Walt Disney Family Museum. First, Jeff reports on a talk by animation historian John Canemaker in a presentation focusing on an analysis of two of Pinocchio's lead animators: Bill Tytla and Milt Kahl. Then, we have a review of the exhibition, and we discuss historian Robin Allan's take on the Blue Fairy. Plus, in honor of Memorial Day, we play a wartime radio speech Walt Disney gave explaining t...
May 29, 2016•1 hr 10 min
It's back to the Mousetalgia Mailbag! This week's questions include: Touring the Disneyland Reort with youngsters - how young is too young? Watching YouTube videos of Disney attractions - how much do they spoil the in-person attraction experience? Disneyland FastPass strategies - where to start, and how to maximize your experience. Plus - Disneyland Paris tips for quick trips, Walt Disney World must-dos, Disneyland snacks, a very awkward Jungle Cruise moment, celebrating a "Disneymoon" - and mor...
May 22, 2016•55 min
Dave and Becky report on their recent experience at the Disneyland Tinker Bell Half Marathon, and talk about the state of runDisney, the race experience and routes, the switch to PhotoPass for Disney's half marathon photography, and runDisney's new virtual 5K runs. Also, Van Eaton Galleries will be hosting another Disney auction, and we welcome Mike Van Eaton to the show to discuss some of the jaw-dropping items that will be featured in June's "Collecting Disney" auction. From the original score...
May 15, 2016•56 min
A team of Imagineers recently spoke about the ins and outs of starting a career as an Imagineer, and Jeff reports on the panel discussion. Hosted at the Walt Disney Family Museum, Imagineers Marty Sklar, Tony Baxter, Frank Stanek and Tom Morris spoke candidly about how to enter the field of theme park attraction design, including topics such as the right attitude and training, your portfolio, the best entry jobs to launch a career in Imagineering, and more. As a bonus, Sklar and Baxter offered s...
May 08, 2016•1 hr 6 min
'Tis the season to book your summer trips, so Team Mousetalgia takes our annual look at Disneyland Resort hotels and a variety of area lodging options, and we offer tips and advice to make your trip a success. First, we present the advantages as well as the disadvantages of each of the Disneyland resort hotels (Paradise Pier, The Disneyland Hotel, and the Grand Californian) and discuss amenities, food, family activities, convenience, and more. Then, we mention our top alternate hotels, and also ...
May 01, 2016•1 hr 19 min
Mousetalgia welcomes Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning composer John Debney to the show today to talk about his score for Jon Favreau's "The Jungle Book," as well as his incredible career and history with the Walt Disney Company - from his start at the studio with Buddy Baker as a mentor, to his recent collaboration with legendary songwriter Richard Sherman to work on songs for this new score. Also, Jeff discusses "The Jungle Book" and shares initial reactions to the groundbreaking ...
Apr 24, 2016•1 hr 39 min
Team Mousetalgia dives into the depths of Disney history today by welcome Disney historian Joseph Titizian back to the show to talk about studying Disney. With the changes in media over the past few years, the line between enthusiast and historian has blurred, and Titizian shares his background and journey from fan to historian; discusses how Disney helps historians with libraries and archives; explores the history of Disney history books; and offers tips for aspiring historians to make their ma...
Apr 17, 2016•59 min
It's a jam-packed Mousetalgia Emporium this week as Team Mousetalgia takes you all over the Disney galaxy! "The Force Awakens" Blu-ray finally hits the shelves, and we talk about our favorite bonus features from the loaded disc of extra content. The "Rogue One" trailer also dropped last week, and we talk about the newest stellar heroine from that galaxy far, far away. Disney's Ghost Post Haunted Mansion subscription boxes have hit the doorsteps of the lucky 999 mortals foolish enough to join the...
Apr 10, 2016•1 hr 22 min
This week, Team Mousetalgia takes you with us to the recently-held Silicon Valley Comic Con, with a focus on the Disney-related aspects of this new pop culture convention including a conversation about the showroom, Stan Lee and his Marvel-ous contributions to the current Disney media empire, and a presence we haven't felt since... well, since the last time we were in a theater to see Star Wars. The writers for The Big Bang Theory also share some moments from their own galaxy far, far away. We a...
Apr 03, 2016•1 hr 28 min
Team Mousetalgia discusses Bambi, one of Time Magazine's "Top 25 Horror Films," and we look at the life of Disney Legend Tyrus Wong. Join us and learn about Retta Scott's animation for the film, take a brief look at the production of Bambi, and listen to our talk with Academy Award-winning animator and historian John Canemaker about Wong. We learn about Tyrus's childhood and early influences, his education and interest in art history both European and Asian, and how his work was used during his ...
Mar 27, 2016•54 min
Mousetalgia reviews Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters in Dave and Becky's latest trip report. Does Luigi's character carry the day, or is this attraction too slow to impress? Other trip report topics include the amenities at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa; the Disneyland Resort Egg-stravaganza; VIP seating for the Paint the Night Parade; and the benefits of Disneyland's Signature Annual Passport. Also, Don Morin, creator of the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet, joins Mousetalgia to announce t...
Mar 21, 2016•1 hr 9 min
Come sail away with Mousetalgia! This week we welcome Beci Mahnken, CEO of Mouse Fan Travel, to the show to discuss everything you need to know about the latest offerings from the Disney Cruise Line, and how to best plan for a Disney cruise. Topics include the "Star Wars Day at Sea"; when to book for the best rates; specialty cruises including runDisney-themed sailings; how to budget for your trip; spa and shopping options; comparisons with non-Disney cruise lines; Alaska vs. the Caribbean; deal...
Mar 13, 2016•1 hr 6 min
Team Mousetalgia reviews Walt Disney Animation Studios' latest feature Zootopia on this week's episode, and we talk about the latest in a line of critically acclaimed hits from Pixar's sister studio. We'll tell you what worked and what to look for in this anthropomorphic whodunnit - all spoiler free! We also discuss Disneyland's move to tiered seasonal pricing, and what it might mean for the future. In other topics on the show, the "Small World" movie gets writers; LEGO Disney Minifigs announced...
Mar 06, 2016•1 hr 13 min
Team Mousetalgia returns to our overflowing inbox to catch up on your burning questions, and topics include: Searching for nightlife at the Disneyland Resort; locker rentals at the park; trip budgeting; limos from LAX; the value of an Annual Passport during park construction; blu-ray storage; adult experiences at the parks; Disneyland bests and worsts; comparing the Land versus the World for first-time guests; Disneyland marriage proposals; listener trip reports; and more. Plus - Pacific Northwe...
Feb 28, 2016•1 hr 19 min
Jeff and Kristen bring you dueling trip reports on today's episode of Mousetalgia as we discuss the current Annual Passholder Days happening this month at Disneyland Park. Kristen gets adventurous while Jeff trips the park fantastic, but the rare character photo ops leave Kristen stewing and Jeff hopping. Other topics of discussion include Disneyland's new Inspired Photography, the state of Frontierland, and the parked trains and steamboat. We also do some dining reviews, and discuss the revampe...
Feb 21, 2016•1 hr 39 min
Mousetalgia celebrates Valentine's Day this year with a show all about relationships with a Disney twist, both romantic and platonic. First, we welcome Julia Locus to the show to talk about official Disneyana clubs, and how Disney fans can gather and interact with each other via this international society. Next, we welcome Jason Garrett, one of the founders of the Magic Geekdom club, to the show to talk about Disneyland social clubs, and the opportunities they present to Disney fans looking for ...
Feb 14, 2016•1 hr 7 min
Mousetalgia welcomes Ron DeFore to the show to discuss "Don DeFore's Silver Banjo Barbecue," which was located in Disneyland from 1957 through 1961. We learn about Ron's father Don, who, as an innovative live television broadcaster, caught Walt Disney's attention and became close to Walt, eventually opening his own barbecue restaurant in Frotierland at Disneyland. Ron talks about the restaurant as well as other stories about growing up with a backstage key to Walt's Magic Kingdom, including ridi...
Feb 07, 2016•1 hr 11 min
Team Mousetalgia expands our Disney library and brings you four new book reviews, including "Mickey Mouse: Emblem of the American Spirit" by Garry Apgar; "Funny: Twenty-Five Years of Laughter from the Pixar Story Room;" "Keep Moving (and Other Tips and Truths About Aging)" by Dick Van Dyke; and "The Nine Old Men" by Andreas Deja. Plus, in a Mousetalgia "Collector's Corner," Jeff talks about Star Wars cards, Mark Hamill taking on fake autographs, and Rey's Po-Zu boots; and Kristen acquires a 100-...
Jan 31, 2016•1 hr 10 min
Mousetalgia's own Dave Breiland ran the Star Wars Half Marathon at Disneyland Resort as the park finally started closing much of Frontierland in anticipation of the construction of the new Star Wars galaxy, and he reports from the event and the status of the parks. Covering everything from Elton John performing a surprise concert to some food reviews, we discuss the RunDisney Expo, skipper training at the Jungle Cruise, the race course, and more. Then, we welcome Kris Rowberry and Robert Ingle t...
Jan 24, 2016•1 hr 8 min
Team Mousetalgia goes back to the mailbag to answer your pressing questions this week, with hot topics including the edible plants of Tomorrowland; touring Disneyland with 80-year-olds; storing and displaying blu-ray discs; discussing the best place to start a day inside the park; hiring professional photographers for shoots inside the park; tips and tricks for traveling north for the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet; Disneyland's new costume rules - and more!
Jan 18, 2016•1 hr 11 min
Travel back to the New World, out to Halloween Town, and off to a galaxy far, far away this week as Mousetalgia takes you to SacAnime, a convention for anime fans held biannually in Sacramento, CA. Jeff reviews the convention and talks to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman about Star Wars, and offers excerpts of panel discussions with Chris Sarandon and Ken Page (the voices of Jack and Oogie Boogie from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas) and Irene Bedard, the voice o...
Jan 10, 2016•1 hr 32 min
Team Mousetalgia reminisces over the past year, and we share our thoughts in our annual New Year show. Topics include the best additions or changes to Disneyland; the best Disney movies (apart from Star Wars!) and our analysis (Cinderella, Inside Out, and Tomorrowland are contenders); our best theme park dining experiences (the Blue Lagoon at Disneyland Paris, Carthay Circle, Catal, and of course, Club 33); our favorite purchases (autographs, a Club 33 mug, Disneyland Paris APs and an original M...
Jan 03, 2016•1 hr 3 min
This week, Team Mousetalgia takes you on an audio tour of Disneyland during the holiday season. Join us as we listen to the festive sounds of the Buena Vista Street Community Bell Ringers, the Club 33 Carolers, Olaf's Snow Fest, Five and Dime, the Frontierland Orchestrion, and the Candlelight chorus. Next, listen to a special recording from a recent panel discussion in which Prep and Landing Co-Directors Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton talk about the origins of their popular Christmas te...
Dec 27, 2015•1 hr 4 min
