Cartoons to Castles: The History Behind the Mouse and Magic

Travel back in time to 1971 for the opening of Walt Disney World! The Most Magical Place on Earth is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month, so Jessica and Melanie thought it was the perfect time to dive into the park's early days. If you love classic Walt Disney World, this episode is a must-listen! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/. SOURCES: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/09/vintage-walt-disney-world-a-dedication-with-style-at-magic-kingdom-park/#:~:text=The%20dedication%20plaque%20was%20read,and%20play%20and%20learn%20together.%E2%80%9D https://www.forbes.com/sites/megandubois/2021/09/23/looking-back-at-50-years-of-walt-disney-world-history-and-business-strategy/?sh=5a816d83ff20 https://knowledgestew.com/how-walt-disney-secretly-bought-the-land-for-walt-disney-world/ https://mickeyblog.com/2020/12/04/walt-disney-world-in-1971-facts-and-figures/ https://themouselets.com/opening-day-attractions-at-walt-disney-world https://www.mouseplanet.com/9562/The_Forgotten_Brother_Who_Built_a_Magic_Kingdom https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SsEzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=izIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=7198%2C139625 https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/02/archives/disney-world-opens-without-expected-crush-disney-world-opens.html http://www.thisdayindisneyhistory.com/disneyworldgrandopening.html https://touringplans.com/magic-kingdom/attractions/opening-dates "What Would Walt Do?" The Imagineering Story. Disney+, 15 Nov. 2019. https://www.wdwmagic.com/walt-disney-world-history.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPCOT_(concept) https://youtu.be/-R_ugeGwa00 https://youtu.be/ojH7KdICUf0 https://youtu.be/sLCHg9mUBag

Take a stroll down memory lane with some of the funniest moments from the first year of the podcast! Jessica and Melanie unbox VHS tapes of Disneytoon movies, discuss "The Little Mermaid" fish nuggets, laugh at IMDB reviews of Disney Channel Original Movies, discuss "The Three Caballeros" with Jessica's daughter, break down Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary special, and more. We hope you enjoy this shenanigans-filled episode! Summer is coming to a close, so brand new episodes of "Cartoons to Castles" are on the way starting this month! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! Our new TeePublic shop is OPEN! Check it out here: https://www.teepublic.com/user/cartoons-to-castles. For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/. Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

It's the one-year anniversary of "Cartoons to Castles" and we're having a party! Special guests Tiff Mink, Sarah Sterling, Erika Kurzawa, and Tiffany Lanae Sutton join the fun for this 2-hour extravaganza! In the first hour of the episode, Tiff and Sarah dish with Jessica and Melanie about rare characters found in Disney Parks all over the world. Tune in to hear about the wacky and wonderfully weird characters that have been featured at the parks throughout their history, as well as the ladies' ultimate dream meet-and-greets. During hour two, Melanie and Erika talk about the spooktacular history of Halloween Time decor and events at Disneyland, plus share some fun facts about the Haunted Mansion Holiday ride overlay. Then Jessica and Tiffany celebrate Christmas in July by chatting about the history of Disneyland's holiday celebrations, from the first parades in the 1950s up to the recent Festival of Holidays. NOTE FROM THE CO-HOSTS: Wow, did we encounter a lot of technical issues this time around! We apologize for the occasional dip in sound quality in portions of the episode. We were also planning to include a video of our recording session to post on YouTube, but we've run into more issues with this than we can count, so TBD on if/when the video will be available. If we can make it work, it will be posted on our new YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOrYg894HuNuy2A0BOsL-VQ. We'll post updates about the video status on our social channels at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! Our TeePublic shop is OPEN! Check out our brand new "Shenanigans" shirt here: https://www.teepublic.com/user/cartoons-to-castles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/. Theme music is “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com. Select SOURCES for this episode: http://www.charactercentral.net/ https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween https://mickeyblog.com/2019/10/26/a-history-of-halloween-at-the-disney-theme-parks/ https://www.mouseplanet.com/12784/History_of_Disneyland_Halloween https://tdrplans.com/tdl/characters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFa_n3k3N2Y https://youtu.be/IXem0PBMTb0 https://youtu.be/Flt-fyTi2yc https://youtu.be/6QRVMTEhIL4 https://youtu.be/TMVdO46906I https://youtu.be/omkX2BVjpKo

Go on a Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride as we explore the history of the 2002 Disney animated film "Lilo and Stitch." Melanie shares stories and insights about the making of this unique movie, which started out as a children's book pitch and became one of Walt Disney Animation's biggest surprise hits. Jessica talks about the film's three (!) premieres, gives a dramatic reading of Roger Ebert's review, and reveals the places you can find Stitch in Disney's theme parks worldwide. There's so much to discuss when it comes to one of our all-time favorite Disney movies, and we invite you to join our podcast Ohana and check out this episode, just in time for 626 Day! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com SOURCES for the episode: https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3898508801/ https://thedisinsider.com/2021/05/29/upcoming-disney-live-action-remakes-adaptations/ https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/06/19/a-look-inside-the-creation-of-lilo-and-stitch https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275847/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/attractions/2018/10/10/leaked-images-reportedly-show-dismantled-animatronics-from-stitch-s-great-escape- https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/lilo-and-stitch-2002 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilo_%26_Stitch “The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents Aloha E Komo Mai at Tokyo Disneyland” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIxe_85hNSg “How 9/11 changed Disney’s Lilo & Stitch” https://youtu.be/F2uJvwiSZAQ “Lilo & Stitch Intro/Theme [HQ]” https://youtu.be/WREobnmYO4M “The Story Room: The Making of Lilo and Stitch (Full Documentary)” https://youtu.be/4YKrFytA4Zg ”Yesterworld: The Tragic Fate of Stitch’s Great Escape - Disney’s Most Divisive Attraction" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6wB6r9LBwo

Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction turns 62 years old this month, and co-hosts Jessica and Melanie set out to uncover the history of this one-of-a-kind, iconic roller coaster. From its early beginnings as a wild idea inspired by Walt Disney’s trip to Switzerland, to the current updates required to keep this groundbreaking feat of Imagineering running, the story of the Matterhorn is as full of twists and turns as the ride itself. Don’t miss this episode if you love classic Disneyland attractions! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/. Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com SOURCES for this episode: https://davelandblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/whatever-happened-to-xmas-star.html https://thedisinsider.com/2021/04/22/exclusive-disney-developing-matterhorn-bobsleds-based-feature-film-for-disney/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exclusive-disney-developing-matterhorn-bobsleds-based-feature-film-for-disney https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Matterhorn_Bobsleds "The Happiest Place on Earth." The Imagineering Story, season 1, episode 1, 12 Nov 2019, Disney Plus. No Doubt. "Tragic Kingdom." Tragic Kingdom, Trauma Records, Interscope Records, 1995. Apple Music, https://music.apple.com/us/album/tragic-kingdom/1440845400?i=1440845596 https://www.sfgate.com/disneyland/article/Disneyland-repair-crumbling-Matterhorn-16194831.php Snow, Richard. Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World. Scribner, 2019. https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/new-heights-matterhorn-anaheim-alps https://www.yesterland.com/oldmatterhorn.html "Goofy Scream - The Art of Skiing" https://youtu.be/bJGFfd6P-pk "Kodak Presents Disneyland '59 - DisneyAvenue.com" https://youtu.be/Xu7xDIA0zeU "Matterhorn Bobsleds - Safety Spiel" https://youtu.be/yGZ9JrbFY7k "The Theme Park History of the Matterhorn Bobsleds (Disneyland)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-lScMcgwwg “Toy Story 2 - Tour guide Barbie” https://youtu.be/kX4ABefuIQ

What do the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Bette Midler, defunct tram tours, Michael Eisner, "Ernest Saves Christmas," Robin Williams, motorcades, and Dorothy's ruby slippers all have in common? Walt Disney World's Disney-MGM Studios! Special guest Tiffany Lanae Sutton, a Disney-MGM superfan, takes co-hosts Jessica and Melanie on a trip down memory lane to visit her favorite Disney park during its heyday when it was both a working film and animation studio AND a theme park. Known today as Disney's Hollywood Studios, it's now home to several new lands and attractions, including Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, and Toy Story Land. But will Tiffany ever return to the park that broke her heart? Listen to find out, and stay for the 90s shenanigans! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Follow Tiffany at https://www.instagram.com/followtheyellowbrickgirl/. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com SOURCES for the episode: https://allears.net/2020/04/05/the-history-of-disneys-most-changed-park-hollywood-studios/ https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Disney%27s_Hollywood_Studios#Former_Attractions_and_Entertainment https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/disney-mgm-studios-becomes-disneys-hollywood-studios https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1989/05/14/whose-idea-was-it-anyway/57f52ce1-de8e-418c-9df1-2550983ca887/?utm_term=.04d435e8acb5&noredirect=on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaOha3o5l3c&list=PLo04SYdextI36ohI8eL_p2r0v3Ixlit1T&index=8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL8tP5TYeuQ https://youtu.be/pR6FUGuosQI https://youtu.be/0TXOUAeWUrY https://youtu.be/4WZ9jEi4c_w https://youtu.be/8S9x9JT34-4 https://youtu.be/xyvtBJCwaJc https://youtu.be/rRSuDjC8i9s https://youtu.be/MdKHrnY7Cyk https://youtu.be/5SAKnPpREU0 https://youtu.be/ji5jqwsnkGY

Set sail on a voyage into the history of Disney Cruise Line, which is celebrating its 26th anniversary this month! To mark the occasion, co-hosts Jessica and Melanie discuss the origins of DCL, compare the four current ships, and share their thoughts on the recent Disney Cruise Line announcements for 2022 and beyond. If you love Disney cruises, or have ever daydreamed about going on one, this is the episode for you! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com Select sources for this episode: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships/ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/01/godmother-jennifer-hudson-christens-new-cruise-ship-with-disney-dreams-in-spectacular-ceremony/ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2017/07/disney-planning-not-two-but-three-new-ships/ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/08/disney-cruise-line-new-island-destination-will-celebrate-the-culture-of-the-bahamas/ "Hit or Miss." The Imagineering Story, created by Leslie Iwerks, season 1, episode 4, Iwerks & Co., 2019. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/disney-fantasy-christening_n_1314323 https://lighthousepointbahamas.com/ https://traveltips.usatoday.com/disney-cruises-started-17319.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140129072351/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/16/garden/now-it-s-heigh-ho-off-to-sea-we-go.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm https://web.archive.org/web/20140124131918/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/04/travel/fall-and-winter-cruises-a-family-size-mouseboat.html https://web.archive.org/web/20070928112020/http://www.dclnews.com/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PressReleaseID=106126 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpXJJQe1HQo https://youtu.be/JJ0CEN-hoj0 https://youtu.be/aQDGG51Qq3I

Disney Legend Kathryn Beaumont had the honor of voicing not one, but TWO iconic characters in Walt Disney Animation classics: the title role in "Alice in Wonderland" and Wendy Darling in "Peter Pan." Jessica and Melanie explore Kathryn's legacy and her childhood experiences working with Walt Disney himself, as well as behind-the-scenes stories from her time playing the live action versions of Alice and Wendy on television and in the reference films made for the animators. Jessica also talks about the day she got to interview Kathryn Beaumont in person! Enhanced with audio clips of Kathryn's work, this episode will be a trip down memory lane for listeners who grew up loving these classic Disney animated films. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com SOURCES for this episode: https://animatedviews.com/2007/beaumont-and-kerry-leading-ladies/ https://d23.com/walt-disney-legend/kathryn-beaumont/ http://www.filmreference.com/film/48/Kathryn-Beaumont.html http://thehealthymouse.com/walt-disneys-office/ Kothenschulte, Daniel. "The Walt Disney Film Archives: The Animated Movies 1921-1968." Taschen, 2020. https://news.disney.com/kathryn-beaumont-interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di9tYGToHR0&t=101s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8iV6r9ujqQ https://youtu.be/B2RSOWlHmsk https://youtu.be/RMcVfqRCNNc https://youtu.be/UHpJRSXbEU8 https://youtu.be/5O7CyopIPD0 https://youtu.be/hS_AdC3APac https://youtu.be/_idexXEht4s https://youtu.be/8JZmU5jwPIk

Pin pals Jessica and Melanie geek out about all things Disney Pin Trading with their special guest: vlogger and Disney superfan Sarah Sterling! Not only is Sarah a pin trading aficionado, but as a former Disneyland Resort Cast Member she had an insider look at pin trading at the parks. She shares her insights on trading etiquette, rare pins, how to spot fakes, where to find Disney pins outside of the theme parks, and more. Jess and Mel also discuss the origins of Disney Pin Trading and the expansion of the phenomenon across the globe over the program's 20-year history. Plus, why was pin trading banned at Tokyo Disney Resort? Listen to find out! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Check out Sarah Sterling's Disney history vlog, "Down to Disness," here. You can follow Sarah on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sarahsterling/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SarahSterling_. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com SOURCES for this episode: https://www.disboards.com/threads/pin-trading-to-end-in-tokyo-feb-28th.157742/ https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Disney_Pin_Trading https://disney.go.com/eventservices/whatispintrading.html https://disneynerds.com/2019/06/29/places-to-trade-and-collect-pins/ https://disneynerds.com/2017/07/25/pin-trading-201-aloha-aulani-with-pins/ https://disneypinsblog.com/pin-trading-fun-day-2020-pin-releases-at-shanghai-disneyland/ https://www.disneytouristblog.com/pin-trading/comment-page-5/ https://medium.com/@chipanddalepins/disney-pin-trading-in-tokyo-4f962c1b19a https://www.pintrader.club/articles/8-tips-for-pin-trading-at-disneyland-paris/#:~:text=You%20can%20trade%20pins%20with,offering%20is%20very%20obviously%20fake http://onceuponacruise.net/7-pin-trading-tips-disney-cruise-line/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKvPEeXlew8

"Mark well me words, mateys: Dead...men...tell...no...tales!” Hosts Jessica and Melanie set out on the high seas of Disney history by taking on one of the most beloved theme park attractions of all time: Pirates of the Caribbean! This episode focuses on the conception, construction, opening, and updates of Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean, with quotes and anecdotes from Walt Disney, Imagineers, and the opening day press. The hosts also give their personal takes on the changes the ride has gone through since it first opened on March 18, 1967, and explore some urban legends about the ride. Can't get enough of those swashbuckling buccaneers? Then this is the episode for you! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com Select SOURCES for this episode: https://d23.com/walt-disney-legend/x-atencio/ https://www.disneyparkscripts.com/pirates-of-the-caribbean-disneyland/ https://justdisney.co/jean-lafitte-pirates-catacombs-and-a-legend/ https://www.mouseplanet.com/11700/Disneyland_1967_Part_One_Pirates_of_the_Caribbean http://musicbehindthescreen.blogspot.com/2019/07/music-behind-ride-pirates-of-caribbean.html https://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/14/5-behind-the-scenes-stories-youve-probably-never-heard-about-the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-ride-at-disneyland/ Surrell, Jason. Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies. Disney Editions, November 2005. https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/early-days-audio-animatronics https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/marty-sklar-x-atencio-and-bob-gurr-talk-pirates https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/walts-last-adventure-50th-anniversary-pirates-caribbean https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/09/12/x-atencio-the-disney-legend-behind-pirates-and-haunted-mansion-attractions-dies-at-98/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pT36SYP5T4

Be prepared (haha) for a great episode all about the first Los Angeles production of "The Lion King" from one of the cast members herself: Carla Renata! You may know Carla as Janet from the NBC sitcom "Superstore," or from her YouTube channel "The Curvy Critic aka Carla Renata," but from 2000 to 2003 she also had the unique experience of playing Shenzi in the long-running hit show "The Lion King" at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Jessica and Melanie have a heartfelt, frank, and funny discussion with Carla about auditioning for the production, rehearsing at the El Capitan Theatre, the star-studded opening night, and her favorite moments as part of the original L.A. cast. Jessica also discusses the impact that "The Lion King" had on Broadway and the show's journey to becoming an international sensation, while Melanie shares details about the extensive remodel of the historic Pantages that was done to accommodate the production and bring the theatre back to its former glory. To listen to Carla's interview with Florence Kasumba, who played Shenzi in Disney's live action film "The Lion King," go to https://youtu.be/A-gIX67lMBw. To find out more about Carla's work as The Curvy Film Critic, visit https://thecurvyfilmcritic.com/about-carla-renata/. Watch the one-hour series finale of NBC's "Superstore" on March 25th at 8PM. Carla is @TheCurvyCritic on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date, and if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com SOURCES for this episode: https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/visit/hollywoodpantagestheatre/aboutpantagestheatre https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2017/12/18/the-lion-king-is-making-more-money-for-disney-than-star-wars/?sh=3faa0c311ff0 https://losangelestheatres.blogspot.com/2017/02/pantages-theatre-overview.html https://www.playbill.com https://thespaces.com/oscar-venues-through-the-ages/12/ https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/10/how-the-lion-king-became-a-dollar9-billion-broadway-smash

This week Jessica and Melanie talk Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings with blogger, podcaster, and Disney weddings expert Mindy Marzec! Jessica takes you through the origins of Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings program, and Melanie discusses the additions of Disney Cruise Line and Aulani weddings to the roster, as well as the inclusion of LGBTQ ceremonies. Mindy lends her expertise to the conversation, shares details from her own Disneyland Resort wedding, and makes her predictions for the future of Disney weddings post-pandemic. And, of course, they talk Disney wedding gowns and daydream about their ideal Disney vow renewal or anniversary party locations. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. You can learn more about Disney weddings, plus Disney theme parks, travel, style, food, cocktails, and much more, on Mindy’s blog at https://thisfairytalelife.com/. Get your copy of Mindy’s FREE e-book all about Disneyland inspired cocktails here: https://thisfairytalelife.com/disneyland-cocktail-recipes. You can follow Mindy on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/fairytalemindy/, and follow her Disney weddings account at https://www.instagram.com/welovedisneyweddings/. Listen to Mindy's podcast, Influencer Education, here: https://fairytalesocial.com/influencereducation/. Cartoons to Castles logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com Select sources for this episode: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/07/vintage-walt-disney-world-disneys-fairy-tale-weddings-launches/ https://www.disneyweddings.com/ https://thisfairytalelife.com/same-sex-weddings-disney/ https://people.com/celebrity/celebrity-couples-engaged-disney/ https://www.popsugar.com/love/photo-gallery/44750886/image/44754273/Disney-Moana-inspired-engagement-photos https://www.reuters.com/article/us-disney-gaywedding/disney-opens-fairy-tale-weddings-to-gay-couples-idUSN0545360920070405

Get a sneak peek of episode 14, available February 10th! Plus, Jessica and Melanie discuss their recent experience (virtually) attending a complimentary preview of The Walt Disney Family Museum’s Virtual Escape Room. The ladies teamed up with other Disney podcasters and content creators over Zoom to solve riddles and clues related to the museum’s exhibits! You can learn more about how to have your own Walt Disney Family Museum Virtual Escape Room event here: https://www.waltdisney.org/virtual-experiences/virtual-group-experiences. Jessica also provides a round-up of other virtual Disney experiences, which she details here in her own blog post: http://thehealthymouse.com/experience-disney-history-from-home/. For even more Disney fun at home, the ladies share some of their favorite recent Disney history book finds: “The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky” by Jeff Kurtti, Paul Wolski, and Vanessa Hunt https://books.disney.com/book/the-disney-monorail/ “Travels with Walt Disney: A Photographic Voyage Around the World” by Jeff Kurtti https://books.disney.com/book/travels-with-walt-disney/ “3D Disneyland: Like You’ve Never Seen It Before” by David A. Bossert https://www.shopthelastbookstore.com/book/9781732602045 “The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company” by Robert Iger https://www.shopthelastbookstore.com/book/9780399592096 Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

“Exploratio Continua!” - Society of Explorers & Adventurers motto On this week's episode, Disney superfan and vlogger Tiff Mink leads Jessica and Melanie on an expedition into the fun, fascinating world of the S.E.A. Never heard of the Society of Explorers & Adventurers? Neither had the co-hosts until their guest brought the topic to their attention! With influences clearly drawn from the Indiana Jones movies, steampunk, aviation history, the Old West, and more, this fictional organization was dreamt up by Walt Disney Imagineers and brings original Disney theme park characters together from all over the world (and across time) to create an interconnected web of stories that supports attractions in nearly every international Disney theme park. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Though we can't visit Disneyland right now, we CAN get a taste of the magic with Golden Malted Waffle and Pancake Flour...the same mix used to create the Mickey Mouse waffles served in Disney Parks and hotels! Golden Malted's patented ingredients and natural flavorings make the perfect crispy waffles, and they even have an entire line of syrups, mixes, and appliances so you can make Disney Parks quality waffles at home. Visit https://shop.goldenmalted.com/ and use code MOUSE20 for 20% off your order, plus free shipping for orders over $49. Thanks to Golden Malted for sponsoring this episode! Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

Get a sneak peek of episode 13, available January 27th! Plus, listen to a preview of our third Patreon-exclusive bonus episode, all about Disney Parks birthday celebrations! On this episode exclusively for "Cartoons to Castles" Patreon subscribers, Jessica and Melanie discuss Mickey's Birthdayland, Disneyland's 35th anniversary, Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary, and the 100 Years of Magic celebration in honor of the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

"Welcome aboard! This is Captain Rex from the cockpit. I know this is probably your first flight, and it's...mine, too! Haha!" On their first episode of 2021, Jessica and Melanie are joined by retired Imagineer Chris Runco, who created Captain RX-24, the rookie pilot droid that took guests on a wild ride aboard the Star Speeder 3000 in the original version of Star Tours at Disney Parks. In addition to his work on Star Tours, Chris was a key player in the development of attractions for Disney California Adventure, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland during his time with Walt Disney Imagineering, where he worked as a principal concept designer. But the star subject of this episode is RX-24, a.k.a. Rex. Chris shares behind-the-scenes stories about the development of Star Tours, designing RX-24, and his reaction when he found out Rex was changing careers and being transformed into DJ R3X for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

For the last episode of 2020, Jessica and Melanie take a festive look at the making of the beloved holiday movie "The Muppet Christmas Carol." The 1992 film tells the tale of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in a uniquely Muppet fashion, with Academy Award winner Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. Jessica and Melanie reveal behind-the-scenes secrets, insightful backstories, and fun trivia about the movie, as well as share personal stories from listeners about what this classic family film has meant to them over the years. A must listen for any Muppet fan! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Though we can't visit Disneyland right now, we CAN get a taste of the magic with Golden Malted Waffle and Pancake Flour...the same mix used to create the Mickey Mouse waffles served in Disney Parks and hotels! Golden Malted's patented ingredients and natural flavorings make the perfect crispy waffles, and they even have an entire line of syrups, mixes, and appliances so you can make Disney Parks-quality waffles at home. Visit https://shop.goldenmalted.com/ and use code MOUSE20 for 20% off your order, plus free shipping for orders over $49. Thanks to Golden Malted for sponsoring this episode! Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com SOURCES for this episode: https://ew.com/movies/the-muppet-christmas-carol-when-love-is-gone/ https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/dec/21/how-we-made-the-muppet-christmas-carol https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/19/christmas-carol-renewal-redemption-scrooge-michael-newton https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/muppet-christmas-carol-film-charles-dickens-bbc-watch-release-date-a9253626.html https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/71757/14-things-you-might-not-know-about-muppet-christmas-carol "The Muppet Christmas Carol" DVD commentary by Brian Henson http://stylemagazine.com/news/2014/dec/12/why-muppet-christmas-carols-deleted-song-was-cut-r/ https://uproxx.com/hidden/the-muppet-christmas-carol-fascinating-facts/ https://www.vulture.com/2017/12/the-story-behind-the-music-of-the-muppet-christmas-carol.html

Get a sneak peek of episode 11, available December 16! Plus, listen to a preview of our second Patreon-exclusive bonus episode, all about the "Star Wars Holiday Special"! You can access this and other bonus episodes and benefits by joining our Patreon for only $3 a month. Check out the tiers and perks at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

Jessica and Melanie are joined this week by Disney expert Jeff Kurtti, author of The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky. Jeff discusses the history behind the monorails at Disney's theme parks, but he focuses largely on the process of collaborating on the book with co-authors Vanessa Hunt and Paul Wolski, which involved delving into the Walt Disney Archives and talking to some of the Disney legends who worked with Walt Disney himself. Jessica and Melanie also share some personal memories about the Disneyland Monorail. Get ready for a fascinating conversation about the stories and inspirations behind one of Disney's most innovative and beloved attractions. You can find The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky and more Disney books by Jeff Kurtti at https://books.disney.com/book-author/jeff-kurtti/. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, our private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Podcast logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com

Get a sneak peek of episode 10, available December 2nd! Then stick around for a special Thanksgiving message from co-hosts Jessica and Melanie. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date. And if you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you'd RATE or REVIEW. Thanks for listening! For bonus content, visit us at https://www.instagram.com/cartoonstocastles/ and https://twitter.com/CartoonsCastles. Starting at just $3 a month, you can join our Patreon and get access to monthly bonus episodes, a private Facebook group, e-newsletter, and more. Check out the benefits and tiers at https://www.patreon.com/cartoonstocastles. Logo designed by Ashley Taylor - https://loveashleydesigns.tumblr.com/ Theme music: “Taste of the French Quarter” by Rob Khurana via Storyblocks.com