This week, Team Mousetalgia hosts a roundtable discussion reviewing our strongest memories and opinions of Disney's past year. Topics include our favorite changes to the theme parks; the best books and purchases we've made through the year; our favorite movies from the various Disney studios in 2017; the best dining experience we've each had on a Disney property this year, our famous Oswald Award, which is awarded to events that may have missed their intended marks, and our favorite overall Disney memories from the past twelve months. So welcome to 2018, and enjoy our look back at Disney's past year in review.

Direct download: Mousetalgia_-_Episode_480.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:30am PDT
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For our special holiday episode, Mousetalgia hosted a Reddit-style AMA (Ask Mousetalgia Anything), and we have answers to your burning questions. Some of the topics include: Finding time to record shows, Cinderella's dress color, park pet peeves, favorite park eras, ABD wishes, Disney dream jobs, attraction mash-ups, ten minutes with Walt, favorite things to do at Walt Disney World, dealing with Disney burnout, Disneyland with toddlers, how Mousetalgia's team formed, what we love other than Disney, Roy O. Disney, our feelings about the future of Downtown Disney, and more!

Direct download: Mousetalgia_-_Episode_479.mp3
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This week, Mousetalgia presents an Emporium of festive fun! First, we welcome Tim Babb from the "Can't Wait for Christmas" podcast to the show to host a happy holiday roundtable discussion about everything Christmas at the Disneyland Resort. Next, Dave and Becky review the Blue Bayou and its Fantasmic dining package, and we discuss the menu, the food, and the experience of watching Fantasmic from an exceptional vantage point. Finally, Jeff takes us to the recent Heroes and Villains convention in San Jose, where he met Zachary "Flynn Rider" Levi and Ming-Na "Mulan" Wen, and shares some audio of Zachary Levi talking about his brush with the Marvel Extended Universe.

Direct download: Mousetalgia_-_Episode_478.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:30am PDT
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Welcome to Star Wars week! We spend a few moments discussing Star Wars trivia, Star Wars clothing, and the "Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire" VR experience. Next, Jeff reviews "Foolish Mortals," the Popzilla Haunted Mansion art show that was hosted at Pop! Comics in Anaheim. Then, we discuss spending four hours in Disneyland - is it worth the cost of admission? We show you how to make the most of a quick trip. Also, Jeff shares some thoughts on Coco, and briefly reviews Pixar's latest masterpiece. Plus - a Pearly Band Christmas performance, and listeners weigh in on runDisney, the late Great Movie Ride, and antenna balls.

Direct download: Mousetalgia_-_Episode_477.mp3
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Thanksgiving Dinner at the Disneyland Hotel - we review the 2017 Thanksgiving buffet and discuss the food and entertainment, and compare the overall experience with previous years. Then we discuss the Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure, and talk about some of the culinary opportunities available during the holiday season at the resort. Next, we return to the discussion about MaxPass, and add more to our ongoing review of Disneyland's new crowd management option. Plus, we discuss John Lasseter's sabbatical from Pixar due to complaints of sexual harassment, and we ponder the bigger issue and how it might affect the Walt Disney Company. Also - our favorite Disney holiday films, Jeff reviews the new Frozen short - and more.

Direct download: Mousetalgia_-_Episode_476.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:04am PDT
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It's a Mousetalgia mailbag! Topics include: DisneyLife, Disney's answer to Netflix, is launched internationally, and we have a user's review; a first trip to the Disneyland Hotel - is it worth the money? We discuss the benefits to staying on property; brief thoughts on writing Disney books; Disneyland VIP tours - the ins and outs; raising Disney kids; a listener reviews the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour, Ariel's Grotto and MaxPass; Asian culture and its impact on the Asian Disney Parks is explained by a listener; the best ways to brighten a cast member's day; Grand Californian scavenger hunts; more Disneyland trip advice - MaxPass, crowds, and what to tote around to make the day managable; navigating the parks for minimum line waits; and a WDW fan reacts to Disneyland. Plus - if we were to create a third Disney theme park for SoCal, what would it be? Westcot? Pixar Park? Or...? We share our thoughts.

Direct download: Mousetalgia_-_Episode_475.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:30am PDT
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This week, Team Mousetalgia welcomes Disney historian and author Jeff Kurtti back to the show to help us celebrate Mickey Mouse's 89th birthday by sharing some stories about his good friend Wayne Allwine, who was the voice of Mickey Mouse for many years. Jeff talks about how Mickey Mouse's voice progressed through the years, and shares about how Wayne's connection with the character developed over time. Jeff also talks about the creation story of Mickey Mouse, and we discuss the legendary tale told over the generations, and see how it compares with the likely true history of the Mouse's genesis. Then, we share some of our experiences from the recent Mouse-con convention held in South San Francisco, and recount our first Mousetalgia Disneyland history slide show. Also: our favorite Disney animal moments, Tiny Tinsel checks in - and more.

Direct download: Mousetalgia_-_Episode_474.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:30am PDT
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This week, travel to China with Mousetalgia as Kristen concludes her series of reports from Asia with an overview of the Adventures of Disney tour experience. Joined by Mouse Fan Travel CEO Beci Mahnken, Kristen and Beci discuss Beijing, Hong Kong, the airports, the tour groups, the value of the experience, the elite ABD guides, and some all-time highlights from various Adventures by Disney excursions. As a bonus, they also review a dining experience in Club 33 in Shanghai Disneyland! Next, we preview Pixar's upcoming film "Coco." Director Lee Unkrich, Co-director Adrian Molina and producer Darla Anderson share some secrets from the making of Coco, recorded live at Pixar Day at AT&T Park in San Francisco on September 17. The filmmaking trio talk about the inspiration for the film, the characters and what to watch for, and some of the hidden secrets inside the film. Plus - we discuss our bucket-list Disney destinations, Tiny Tinsel returns - and more!

Direct download: Mousetalgia_-_Episode_473.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:30am PDT
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Oscar-winning director and producer team Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera came to the Walt Disney Family Museum to share their secret stories from the making of "Inside Out," and Jeff reports on the event. The duo shared many secrets and their own personal photos and videos from behind the scenes while they were making the film, and they discuss how they developed the concept for the film which has become near and dear to the hearts of many people who either struggle with their feelings or know others who do. Then, we welcome Academy Award-nominated producer, author and filmmaker Don Hahn to the show to talk about mid-century modern design at the Walt Disney Studios, and how Walt and his team of artists adapted, reflected, implemented and even developed design trends and traits which were common in the middle of the last century. Also - we talk news: Pixar is coming to the resorts in a big way, the Disneyland Resort announces a new four diamond hotel and abandons the Eastern Gateway project, and we share some of our thoughts and reactions to these developments.

Direct download: Mousetalgia_-_Episode_472.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:46pm PDT
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Welcome to Mousetalgia's Halloween Specter-tacular! This year, we have a bountiful boo-tique of freaky features to make your Halloween a ghast - er, a gas! First, Jeff recounts the DoomBuggies 20th anniversary party held at the Winchester Mystery House on Friday, October 13th (with a special guest appearance by Ghost Host Peter Renaday... bwahaHA!) Then, Kristen takes us back to Hong Kong where she celebrated Halloween in China with a scary twist. Hear about the seasonal parade, the special events, and the haunting Maze of Madness, where Disney characters turn murderous, you party in hell, and the whole experience mystifies Kristen. Finally, author Jim Fanning joins us to discuss "Trick or Treat," the fabulous Disney animated short from 1952 staring Donald Duck. We talk a little history, share a little behind the scenes info, and celebrate that famous song. Plus - a listener's review of Disneyland's new Happiest Haunts tour, and we share our scariest moments in Disney parks.

Direct download: Mousetalgia_-_Episode_471.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:30am PDT
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