Team Mousetalgia welcomes Mike Van Eaton back to the show to discuss his newest upcoming Disneyland auction featuring a controversial piece: A brownline presentation map of Disneyland hand-inked by Herb Ryman, purported to have been used by Roy Disney to sell the idea of Disneyland to ABC in 1953. While the item made national news with misleading headlines, Mike tells the story in his own words of how he came to discover this incredible piece of Disneyana. Next, we welcome author James Bohn to the show to talk about his new book, "Music in Disney's Animated Features: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to The Jungle Book." We talk about the amazing appeal of Disney songs, the theory behind the music, and some of the stories Bohn includes in his book. Finally, the Walt Disney Family Museum will open a major exhibition titled "Awaking Beauty: The Art of Eyvind Earle" this week, so we take a look at the life and career of legendary Disney artist Eyvind Earle.

D23 Expo planning - it's time to get serious! Join Team Mousetalgia as we discuss potential crowd levels, last-minute hotel plans, and our favorite Expo survival tips. We share our tips for getting into panels, exploring the floor, enjoying the cosplay, and getting free stuff. From staying fueled to maintaining focus, we share our personal success stories about navigating this massive biennial event. We complete our Expo planning show with a conversation with Michael Vargo, the head of D23 and the Walt Disney Archives. Vargo shares some of D23's plans for the upcoming Expo, increasing capacity, and a bit of his 25 year history with the Walt Disney Company. Plus - Jeff explores an amazing warehouse; Kristen reviews some books, and Dave and Becky report on Andreas Deja's current exhibition at the Walt Disney Family Museum.

With Marvel's first major Disneyland attraction about to open, Team Mousetalgia has a marvelous show in store for you this week. Fist, Funko's first Disney Treasures subscription box "Pirate's Cove" has arrived, and we review the vinyl collectibles inside. Is the subscription worth maintaining? We'll give you our two doubloons! Next, Disney Legend Lea Salonga performed in San Francisco, and Jeff was there to report on the concert; and finally, we welcome Brian Crosby, Creative Director of Themed Entertainment for Marvel Entertainment, to speak with us about Marvel's role in upcoming projects at Disney Parks and beyond. Crosby talks about how Marvel has started working its way into the parks, overcoming many fans' initial skepticism to become an integral part of the Disney experience due in part to its unique brand of storytelling. We also discuss "Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout" and talk about the design, the story development, the music, and the process of putting together a completely new experience from this irreverent franchise. Plus, Marvel meet 'n greets - we have suggestions for Disney!

Join Mousetalgia for a special Star Wars Celebration report on the sights and sounds of SWCO, courtesy of correspondent Emma Mosier. We'll discuss the atmosphere, the vendors, the cosplay, the droids, and even the photo ops. Then, 
Jeff takes his 5 year old daughter to Disneyland, and we discuss the dynamics of a family trip. Topics include whether or not to let a toddler make decisions, quick hits on the Food and Wine Festival, garlic ice cream, grey stuff, Haunted Mansion thrills, walking back to the Mickey and Friends parking structure - and more. Plus, an extended Bits and Bytes segment discussing the rise and fall of Disflix, Metal Disney, Her Universe, and the runDisney virtual running shorts.

This week, Team Mousetalgia answers your emailed questions and comments. Topics include: Must-dos for a day at Disneyland Paris - attractions, food, tips; an extreme Disneyland proposal; remembering Walt by finding Disney-themed locations worth visiting near Disneyland; a mom and daughter have a novel way to fund a Disney trip and share some magic; educator's methods of bringing Disney into the classroom; taking a safe and enjoyable "babymoon" to Disneyland; planning a summer trip to the park around the various closures; tips for taking a trip alone to Disneyland; tips on buying Disney-related wines; and what men can expect if they run the Princess or Tinker Bell races. Also - Po-Zu releases some Star Wars themed shoes; tips for getting eyewear for your vacation; and a special report on a presentation by Don Hahn on Beauty and the Beast.

Welcome to Mousetalgia's super-sized Cast Member Corner! This week, we celebrate 30 years of the Disney Store by taking a look at the past three decades of various formats for the retail destination, and we talk to two veteran Disney Store Cast Members about their time working for Disney - the training, the merchandise, and the people and guests that have made the Disney Store a shopping experience unlike any other. Then, we continue our special edition of Mousetalgia with a conversation with previous Disneyland Cast Member Deborah Breedlove, who spent many years as a lead in West Side Attractions, encompassing New Orleans Square, Bear Country, and parts of Frontierland and Adventureland. Deborah also worked at Disney University, sunk one of Tom Sawyer's Rafts loaded with guests, swam with Michael Jackson and swapped war stories (Star Wars, that is) with George Lucas. Deborah is also responsible for creating the award that is known today as the "blue badge" Disney Legacy Award at the parks.

Dave and Becky are back from two weeks at the Walt Disney World Resort and share some stories of the culture shock between west coast and east coast Disney vacationing. From underwhelming food offerings (with some stand out exceptions) to living on property and getting around the resort, we discuss some typical Walt Disney World experiences, and try to offer a Team Mousetalgia perspective on the basic Walt Disney World experience. Does renting a car ever make sense? Which resorts are worth the cost? And of course, we take another look at the attractions - which appeal to kids, which appeal to Disneylanders, and which are just overall winners? We also talk Disney Springs, haircuts on Main Street, and food options including character dining buffets (Akershus - good, Chef Mickey's - meh), Be Our Guest, 50s Prime Time Cafe, Pizzafari, and the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen. Plus - a new Pirates of the Caribbean book is on the horizon; the world's rarest Haunted Mansion poster goes up for auction, Green Army Man drills runners, and Dave reviews Moana and questions the authenticity.

This week, Team Mousetalgia hosts another Emporium of topics, including: our review of Beauty and the Beast, the latest blockbuster from Walt Disney Pictures; Disney California Adventure's Food and Wine Festival, and Kristen's take on the various offerings; Disneyland's 50th anniversary of Pirates of the Caribbean weekend celebration, with reports on the limited time food offerings, the (lack of) merchandise, and the overall pirate excitement; and our take on how Disneyland's new rules about camping out on Main Street for parade viewing are working out. Finally, Becky reports on Walt Disney World Resort's 2017 Princess Half Marathon, and talks about the course, the characters, and the culture shock. She reviews the "Race Retreat" experience, and the differences between the Florida and California runDisney events. Plus - should Carrie Fisher become a Disney Legend this year? We discuss.

Join us this week as the Lady Mousetalgia sets sail for part two of our Pirates of the Caribbean 50th anniversary celebration! This week, Imagineer Alan Coats joins us to talk about his father - Disney Legend Claude Coats - who was put in charge of the Pirates project by Walt Disney. Alan discusses Claude's plans for the original walk-through attraction below New Orleans Square, his father's contributions to the Pirates attraction, and his own work with his father on EPCOT Center's original pavilions. Then, we welcome back Disney historian Joseph Titizian to discuss Pirates past, present and future, and we offer an overview of the attraction with commentary about Yale Gracey, Marc and Alice Davis, and more. Plus, hear exclusive audio mixes from Pirates of the Caribbean history, and we discuss our favorite characters from among Disney's pirates - the saltiest mob of knaves to sail the Spanish Main!

Disney trivia champion and historian Joseph Titizian joins Team Mousetalgia this week to begin a two-week celebration of Pirates of the Caribbean's 50th anniversary. Join us as we look at the press coverage of the grand opening of Disneyland's Pirates attraction, and then trace the history of the attraction back to its initial roots as a wax museum. Then, we discuss New Orleans Square, and take a look at the Pirates Arcade Museum, the One-of-a-Kind Shop, and Walt's Royal Suite, which has also been utilized as the IPA hospitality suite, Disneyland International, the Disney Gallery, the Dream Suite, and 21 Royal Street. Joseph shares some information about 21 Royal, as well as a spoiler-free review of the exclusive dining experience currently offered at the suite. We also fondly remember Ernie McLean, a one-time fixture in New Orleans Square. Plus - Twenty Eight & Main releases new merch, Funko releases a new Disney Pirates subscription box, Lindberg announces a re-released Pirates model - and more! Also - be sure to tune in next week for part 2 of our Pirates of the Caribbean 50th anniversary celebration. Yo ho!