This week, Mousetalgia welcomes historian and author Didier Ghez back to the show to discuss "They Drew as They Pleased" Volume 3:
"The Hidden Art of Disney's Late Golden Age." Ghez takes us behind the scenes of his newest book and discusses the Character Model Department of the Disney animation studio in the '40s and discusses some of the key players, tells us why they are important, and gives some intriguing details about his latest deep dive into the history of Disney animation. Kristen also reviews "Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food" by Marcy Carriker Smothers, shares her favorite recipe, and then lets you all in on a little secret that we've been holding for the past two years. Then, in a special pre-Halloween Haunted Mansion moment, Jeff takes us back to 1921 for a shocking discovery that changes EVERYTHING - or nothing at all. Plus - some of Jeff's other recent podcast appearances, runDisney cancels all Disneyland races, a little Star Wars chit chat, a little Epcot love, and more! ALSO: The Northern California wildfires struck close to home and we ask for your help. After listening to this episode, if you'd like to help Mousetalgia listener Trish, just visit mousetalgia.com/trish for more information.

This week, Kristen takes us on her with a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland, and we talk about her experience, including: Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and other lodging options; free slippers; dining options, dim sum and restaurants; the weather and humidity, and spending time in the park. We discuss the similarities and differences between Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland in Anaheim, including how the layout and similar attractions compare to each other, the park food, the merchandise, and in depth information about Main Street, Adventureland, Mystic Point (featuring Mystic Manor), Toy Story Land, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland (featuring the Iron Man Experience) - plus a Marvel experience, and more. Also - D23 announces its event list for 2018, and we reminisce about past D23 events. Plus - here's your chance to win some Halloween slippers from the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel!

This week, Mousetalgia welcomes Oscar Martinez, Disneyland's longest tenured cast member, to the show to talk about his 60-year career at Disneyland, 50 of which he spent at Carnation Café. Oscar talks about being hired at Disneyland, his job and retirement, and the state of dining at the resort. Then, Jeff reports on Halloween Time at Disneyland, with a focus on the new happenings at Disney California Adventure, and the seasonal food offerings throughout the resort. Finally, Jeff also takes us behind the scenes of the Disneyana "Swinging Wake" dinner at the Disneyland Hotel, which featured hours of Haunted Mansion discussion, amazing sights and sounds, and the unveiling of a Haunted Mansion prop long thought lost to time. Plus - Kevin and Jody sell more goods at Pop! Comics, Kristen sticks up for a cast member and gets rewarded, Becky and Button review the Little Mermaid on stage - and more!

This week, travel with Kristen to Asia as she takes an Adventures by Disney trip to the Disney parks in both Shanghai and Hong Kong! This week, Kristen discusses Shanghai and the attractions (Tron's Lightcycles!), lodging, dining and cultural differences between that park and the experience we are used to in America. Hear the intricate details of touring with Adventures by Disney, and enjoy discovering the magic that the Disney theme parks offer in other cultures. Also, the Disney Store is rebranding as shopDisney, but what does it really mean?

This week, Mousetalgia offers an emporium of topics. First, Magical Memories in Las Vegas hosted a grand opening extravaganza with the cast and crew of the original Beauty and the Beast animated classic, and we are celebrating along with them with a recap and an extraordinary sweepstakes! Then, we share an article about unofficial Disney merchandise created by fans, and ponder Disney's response to the current surge in unofficial Disney-based merchandise that caters to the Disneybounding and Disney lifestyle fads. Jeff describes some of DoomBuggies.com's dances with Disney legal, and we consider the benefits vs. the costs of fan-produced material to the Disney Company. Then, in a cliffhanging ending to the show, Jeff talks about Sac Anime's recent convention and the appearance of John Ratzenberger, who discussed his career, his appearance in every Pixar film, and his life as an actor. Jeff talks about an awkward autograph moment, then we play some highlights of John's Q&A from the con. Plus - Disneyland Halloween Time vs. Holidays - which does Team Mousetalgia prefer?

This week, Mousetalgia starts getting spooky as Disneyland Resort begins its Halloween Time celebrating! We talk about Disneyland's expansion of Halloween to Disney California Adventure, and we discuss our favorite new features for the upcoming haunting holiday. Then, we take some time to remember Disney Legend X. Atencio, who passed away on Sept. 10 at the age of 98. We look at his early career with the Walt Disney Studio, and consider the contributions he made to company during his long and accomplished career. Finally, we talk with Sam Carter, curator for the Popzilla group art shows, about the upcoming "Foolish Mortals" show coming to Pop! Comics in Anaheim.

This week, Mousetalgia returns to the mailbag to answer your burning questions and to share your great tips. Topics include: C.V. Wood's place in Disney history; handling toddler tantrums at Disneyland; tips and tricks for touring the resort as a lone wolf; character breakfasts at the resort revisited; collecting Tsum Tsums; Disney cultural history in the collegiate setting; getting hauled off to Disneyland jail; other ways to connect with Disney fandom in southern California; taking annual photographs at Disneyland; Disneyland attraction and table service recommendations for WDW veterans; and a kid-less Disneyland trip report. Plus - if your last meal was to come from Disneyland - what would it be?

Team Mousetalgia takes you behind the scenes to the green room at the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet as we share exclusive interviews with the special guests from this year's event, hosted in Lynnwood, WA on Sept. 12, 2017. Mike Peraza is a Disney art art director, conceptual artist and layout artist for Disney animation, and worked on everything from Fox and the Hound through Beauty and the Beast and dozens of episodes of Disney Afternoon television shows. Patty Peraza was an effects animator at Disney, also starting with Fox and the Hound, who was sponsored through her art education at Cal Arts by Lilian Disney herself. Bill Rogers and Camille Dixon use their voices famously at the parks of Disneyland Resort as announcers, Bill at Disneyland and Camille at Disney California Adventure. All four guests share special recollections from their long careers with Disney, touching on memorable moments and special people that helped them along the way.

This week, Team Mousetalgia chats with WED Imagineer Rolly Crump about "It's Kind of a Cute Story," his current exhibition at the Oceanside Museum of Art. We talk about his art, his work with fellow artist Mary Blair, and his relationship with Walt Disney. Then, Kristen takes us with her on a trip to an exclusive dinner party at 21 Royal, and describes the atmosphere, the experience, the custom menu designed by Disneyland Executive Chef Andrew Sutton, and more details of this incredible dining opportunity hidden in the heart of New Orleans Square. Also, controversy over breastfeeding at Disneyland rears its head once again, and we discuss the situation. Plus - Jeff reports from the current Once Upon a Time convention tour; new Mary Blair art prints will be on exhibit at Gallery Nucleus; Star Wars VR experience gives Vault 28 and Fossil the boot out of Downtown Disney; Salt Lake Comic Con welcomes Tony Baxter, Dick Van Dyke, and other Disney luminaries this September - and an Ears to the Ground report from the opening weekend of Frozen, the Musical in Denver, CO.

This week, Team Mousetalgia reports live from the show floor of the ninth annual Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet, held on August 12 at the Lynnwood Convention Center in Washington. We describe the popular event, the vendors and the atmosphere, and bring you reports from attendees and authors that we spoke with at the show, including a report on Walt Disney's Hyperion Avenue Studio from author David Lesjak, interesting conversation about the Frito Mountain at Frontierland's Casa de Fritos, and an interview with Imagineer Charita Carter, a Senior Creative Producer who works with the Scenic Illusion Team at WDI to create cutting edge attractions for the Disney parks. Stay tuned next week for more news from the Mouse Meet and more exciting interviews.