This week, author/artist/designer Chris Merritt returns to Mousetalgia to join us for an Emporium of topics. First, we return to our "high five" format to discuss a variety of topics, including the top Disney fathers, top ways to be kept out of Disneyland, top live action films; and then Chris takes us on a tour of his top five extinct Disneyland attractions. Next, Kristen consoles us for having to survive 93 days without Disneyland, and then Jeff takes us on a raft to Tom Sawyer Island to discuss the history of the attraction and fish off a pier with Tom himself. Plus - win one of 10 signed copies of Disneyland's map of Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, signed by the artist, Chris Merritt!

This week, Mousetalgia welcomes Peabody Award-winning writer, producer and director Mark Catalena to the show to talk about his role as writer and editor of "The Imagineering Story," the hit documentary now playing on Disney Plus. Mark talks about the challenges and victories he and the creative team had while developing this series, which evolved from a potential 90 minute film to the series that now exists. Mark also tells us some of the things he learned along the way, including what makes "Disney magic" so magical, and what it really means to be an Imagineer, from his experience researching the definitive history of the organization for this series. Also, we look at Disneyland in 1986 - alcohol starts appearing in the park, Disneyland's first murder is resolved, Minnie gets a total makeover... and more!

This week, Mousetalgia welcomes director, writer and producer Kirk R. Thatcher back to the show to talk everything Muppets! In anticipation of the July release of Muppets Now on Disney+, Kirk Thatcher joins us to talk not only about the show, for which he served as a director, but also his long history with Jim Henson and the Muppets, ABC's Dinosaurs, and his time at Industrial Light and Magic working on some of the most memorable films of all time. We also remember Disneyland's 79th day of closure with some fast Disney facts - and more!

This week on a supersized episode, Team Mousetalgia welcomes Josh Shipley and Brian Crosby to the show to join us for a Josh and Croz Show reunion! In a free-wheeling session, we cover topics including international Disney park attractions, Disneyland transportation vehicles, Disney songs and musicals, peanut butter in the parks, and Disneyland's live performers. We also remember the 65th anniversary of Walt Disney's "Davy Crockett - King of the Wild Frontier" by speaking with Eli Parker, the son of Disney Legend Fess Parker. Eli talks about his father's role as Davy Crockett, his life as the child of a Disney celebrity, his father's career as a winemaker, and Eli's own role in continuing the family's winemaking legacy. Plus - it's been 72 days since Disneyland closed, so Kristen talks about significant "72s" in the world of Disney.

Former Disneyland Tour Guide Cindy Carter talks to Mousetalgia this week about her career as Disneyland Tour Guide - and beyond. Cindy talks about the grand opening of the New Fantasyland, hosting the Disney family in the park, the changes to the park during the 1980s and the onset of the Annual Passholder, and celebrity stories, including moments with the Monty Python troupe and Dolly Parton. Plus - it's been 65 days since Disneyland closed, so we talk about Disneyland's 1965 Tencennial, and discuss our favorite extinct attractions!

This week, Team Mousetalgia welcomes Dan Lanigan, host of the new Disney+ series "Prop Culture", to the show. Dan joins us to talk about the new series, which talks about various Disney films from the perspective of their props, costumes, and the magic behind the movies that helps tell the stories. Dan also talks about the art of discovering props, restoring old cinema artifacts, his own views on collecting movie memorabilia, and more. Also, this week we celebrate our own "high fives" which include Haunted Mansion special effects, park music background loops, Disney wines, and Disneyland Records. Then, we recognize the past 58 days without Disneyland by celebrating Disneyland in 1958 by talking fun maps, Alice in Wonderland, the Sailing Ship Columbia, the Grand Canyon Diorama, and Disneyland guide books.

This week, celebrate Star Wars Day (May the Fourth) with Mousetalgia as we dive into the dark side! Actor, visual effects artist and animator C. Andrew Nelson joins us this week to talk about his 12-year role portraying Darth Vader for Lucasfilm. Andrew talks about the nature of Darth Vader (and we're sure we can feel the good in him!) as well as what it was like to don the suit and make dozens of public appearances as the dark lord. Andrew also talks about his time at Lucasfilm developing games for the Star Wars galaxy, and describes how he helped to evolve the concept of the lightsaber. Also, Kristen discusses the 51 days it's been since Disneyland closed, and we talk about castle sizes, Alice in Wonderland, elongated cents, Sith murder droids - and more.

This week, Team Mousetalgia celebrates Disneyland of the '70s and '80s with Disneyland Tour Guide Laurie Jerome, who talks about her years at Disneyland as a VIP Hostess and a leader of Disney University. Laurie talks about starting out as a Main Entrance ticket taker, and shares some of her experiences hosting VIPs on their trips through the park including Audrey Hepburn, John Travolta, Patrick Duffy, and Paul Anka. Plus - remembering Hal Willner, Kahoot!, Tom Sito's cookbook - and more!

This week, Mousetalgia celebrates our 600th episode with magic from coast to coast! First, we welcome Disneyland vocal artist Drew Tablak back to the show to talk about the Dapper Dans' recent at-home recording session, and the art and heart of performing live at Disneyland. Then, we welcome Tik Tok celeb Makall Lauren to the show to talk about her recent experience with the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World. Makall gives us tips for aspiring program applicants, talks about what it means to her to be on stage at a Disney park, and how she became an overnight Tik Tok sensation. Plus - 6 fast facts about Snow White, and more!

This week, Team Mousetalgia welcomes animation legend Tom Sito to the show to talk about his long career as an animator with Disney and beyond. Tom discusses his start in the animation industry, working for Disney during the renaissance in the 1980s, working with some of the greatest talents in the animation industry both inside and out of the Disney studio, reflections on Roy Disney, his time with Dreamworks and Warner Brothers, and the universal appeal of animation. Kristen also shares some fun facts about Walt Disney at the age of 30, and we wonder who we'd enjoy being sequestered with during a global crisis.