Slice of Disney

Taking a step aside from our usual format, this episode of Slice of Disney, we're remembering Disney Legend Rolly Crump! He has always been one of our favorite imagineers to cover, with a quirky artistic style and humble personality, we know you love him too. Rest in Peace, Rolly, you are missed!

On this episode, we're discussing the development, creation and evolution of a crowd favorite - the PeopleMover! From it's origin back in the 60's, to the updates our favorite CEO tried to make popular, to our favorite segment, Disney on Yelp - this one has it all!

On the morning of this years college championship football game, we're bringing you a Slice of Disney on ESPN's Wide World of Sports! Why did this complex end up in the court system? Who's to blame? And how did it save sports during the pandemic? All this, plus a hearty helping of sports talk! Also, just for Kelly, everyone should pull for Georgia tonight in the championship game - Go Dawgs!

We're thrilled to be talking with game designer Sean Fletcher this week, all about Disney Sorcerer's Arena: Epic Alliances! We learn about what it takes to create a game with Disney IP, what makes it so replayable, and about the exciting tournament announced today! It's a really fun episode that crosses over between Kelly and Will's obsession, so they both get to geek out a little.  For more information on the road to GenCon tournament series, check out their page here!

On this episode of Slice of Disney we talk Dapper Day with Match Accessories! Jeremy and Sam talk to us about their Disney style romance, the origins of Dapper Day, and how you can participate the next time you're around. Plus they share their love of making accessories - and how they gained a following of their own!  Be sure to go to https://matchaccessories.com/ to pick up your own stylish accessories, and use discount code SLICE fpr 25% off - while it lasts!

On this episode of Slice of Disney, we're back to Kelly's favorite - The Haunted Mansion! Get back in your Doom Buggy as we walk you through the last years of Walt's life, his influences on the attraction, how Rolly Crump continued to design out-of-this-world scenes - and the real way to pronounce Rolly. 

Have you ever dreamed of driving to Disneyland and then driving inside the parks? Do you obsess over cars and the evolution of them? Have you dreamed of the classic Honda color blue? If so, we've got the podcast episode for you! This week on Slice of Disney, we break down the iconic Autopia, all the places it's been, and perhaps the best Disney on Yelp to date!

This episode of Slice of Disney is a Will Takeover! We are joined by long time editor and storyteller of the series Survivor. From how the show - and the editors - changed reality television, to just how real the craziest moments are, Ivan breaks it down. Truly a pleasure of an interview, and an episode even the non-Survivor fans will love. 

We're talking an all time classic, The Great Movie Ride! From the raininy streets of Hollywood, to the intergalactic frights of the USS Nostromo, we take a tour through the silver screen. Brought to us by one of our favorite CEO's, and a littany of litigation, this classic has quite the tale behind it. Listen and find out why!

On today's episode of Slice of Disney, we welcome guest Haley Clair - true Disney royalty! The granddaughter of Disney Legend Harriet Burns shares with us what it's like growing up with someone who helped make the parks, all the fun behind the scenes mementos, and even shares some of Harriets favorite Walt stories. Trust us, you don't want to miss it! You can find more of Haley here, check out her music video here, or learn more about Harriet Burns here. 

This episode on Slice of Disney, we talk through the darker side of Splash Mountain - from some stories you've heard of, to others that have been forgotten - to, surprisingly, six flags in the 60's! Content warning: This episode deals with conversations around addiction, drug use and racism.

This episode, we finally tackle an attraction we've had on our radar since the beginning - Splash Mountain! In part 1, we detail the history of the development, the strike that coincided with construction, and how Michael Eisner almost saved it from controversy.  For more reading on the problematic nature ofSplash Mountain and Song of the South, you can find that at Screen Crush or Frommer's.

To kick off 2022, we wanted to do something a little different! We got together with our friends David and Zac with the Franchise Unpacked podcast, and debated TO THE DEATH the best disney movies of all time. And after you listen to this Slice of Disney? Head on over to their feed to hear the top five worst! You can find them here! And as always, check out our website and patreon here!

This week on Slice of Disney, we're talking the Country Bear Jamboree! A weird, delightful artifact from an attempt to make a Disney Ski Resort? It's a doozy, but honestly might be Will's new favorite attraction. Listen to find out why!

This week we are thrilled to be joined by former cast member Victoria! She shares some of the strangest guest relations complaints, what it's like to go to the Disney college program, and the perks (and guests) behind the pricey VIP Tours. All that, and the strange circumstances that brought Kelly and Victoria together, this week on Slice of Disney! -- Slice of Disney is hosted by Kelly Washington, co-hosted and edited by Will Lentz. To find more, visit www.sliceofdisney.com 

We're back for the final part of our Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration! After the tragic passing of Walt Disney himself, would the company find a way to make his dream come true? Who would step up and make it happen? Just how much money did tickets cost back then compared to now? And what exactly is an E Ticket? All this and more on this week's Slice of Disney! -- Slice of Disney is hosted by Kelly Washington, co-hosted and edited by Will Lentz. To find more, visit www.sliceofdisney.com 

This episode we are joined by the founder of doombuggies.com, author of The Unauthorized Story of Walt Disney's Haunted Mansion, podcaster, collector and all around great guy, Jeff Baham! He sheds a light on what the imagineers say about working on Haunted Mansion, why it might've ended up in the parks in the fist place, and if it's time to make some changes to the content!

For the 50th anniversary, we're breaking down the beginning of The Magic Kingdom and Walt Disney World! There was so much to pack into this episode, we called an audible on air and broke it into two. For part 1, we talk about the decision to go to Florida, how Disney purchased the land while staying incognito, and how Walt's visions for Epcot kept him going, until he tragically passed at the age of 65. -- Slice of Disney is hosted by Kelly Washington, co-hosted and edited by Will Lentz. To find more, visit www.sliceofdisney.com 

This week on Slice of Disney, we're talking the 90's hit attraction Test Track! From it's origin at the world's fair, to the latest updates, we cover the span of more than fifty years! And also really struggle with doing mental math. It's a really fun episode, for a really fun attraction - enjoy! Slice of Disney is hosted by: Kelly Washington Co-hosted and edited by: Will Lentz To find more, visit www.sliceofdisney.com 

This week we were thrilled to be joined by The Disney Gays! They talk to us about how to best enjoy the parks, even when everything isn't going perfectly - as well as their journey to becoming Disney content creators, and the progress the company has made towards important social issues. Plus they're super fun to talk to! Get to know them more here! Or check out all their links here!

We're back for another Kelly Washington birthday! This time, we're on part three of the Haunted Mansion. It was an attraction Walt knew he wanted, but for years could never crack - and in this episode, we're taking you deep into the team of imagineers tasked with bringing the iconic attraction to life.  Special note for Kelly: Happy birthday! Everyone go to instagram and wish her happy birthday! For as much grief as I give her on the show, she's truly a treasure to work - and be friends - with. Thanks for another year of SoD!

We're taking a step outside of the Disney parks this episode (but not for too long, we're in Disney too!) and we bring in the heavy hitters - we were thrilled to be joined by Ryan and Isabelle from For the Love of Theme Parks! We discuss the undisputed best dessert at Disney, the fastpass hamburger theory, and Kelly makes a reluctant admission about Universal... at least, I think she does? To see the Hamburger theory, check out their tiktok! Go here to see all the rest of their content, but first check out their video tasting *all* of the drinks from Harry Potter World!

We're going on a safari! On this episode of Slice of Disney, we dive deep into Disney's Animal Kingdom. Not only are there real, living breathing lions in the park, there's over 2 million plants, 1.5 million cubic yards of dirt, and even some poachers! At least at one point there was. Find out what's changed this week on Slice of Disney!

Slice of Disney is joined today by Disney meme creator Branden Harris! They talk about the challenge around making content about something you love, what working as a cast member was like, and Disney cruises! Branden is a wonderful mix of Will and Kelly, and has a ton of cool perspectives on the parks - you're going to love it! To find his content, check out his instagram here! https://www.instagram.com/allidoisdisney/

Happy birthday Will! On this years birthday episode, we are breaking down the scariest attraction to ever live in Magic Kingdom - the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter! How did a horror ride end up in the happiest place on earth? Is it obvious that Michael Eisner was behind it? And which one of our hosts went on it and which one was too scared? Listen and find out!

This week the Avengers assembled at Disneyland, and Kelly got to go experience it! There were a lot of cool touches, but honestly, a lot of misses too. Hear Kelly dip into the disappointed side, as she utters some of her harshest words yet about a Disney ride (comparing it to a... Universal attraction?) but also about all the cool characters you can run into, and the vibe in general.

Scheduling notice: Because of some podcast travel, we're going to be bringing you two episodes in the next two weeks - the 8th *and* 15th - but wanted to give you a little something to start your June off with! So here are a few of our favorite Urban Legends from the Disney parks - the full episode can be found on our Patreon! If you want to hear the full ep, you can find that along with our back exclusive eps at www.patreon.com/sliceofdisney - come join the family!

This week we are going back in time and taking you on a journey to the wild west! What was frontier town like before Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? Did Walt straight up steal the idea from a boysenberry farm? What was the big deal with the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland? And how many colors were in the rainbow in the 1960's? Find out all this and more on Slice of Disney! 

We're talking Star Wars this week with super fan and science fiction writer Andrew Godoski! Kelly and Andrew walk us through the fan experience at Galaxy's Edge, what it's like to build a lightsaber and droid, and what you can expect if you find yourself on Batuu. We'll be spending plenty of time in future eps dissecting the development of the land, but today is all about the fan experience. 

We are opening our grab bag this week and catching up on one year of podcasting together - recording this time in person! We talk about our highlights from the year, our lowlights, big changes coming to Disney and Kelly's trip to Touch of Disney - and tease our special episode coming for May the Fourth.  It's really nice to be back together, even if we have to record from a closet!

What happens when you mix a bunch of inside jokes, a real life tragedy, and Cher? You get the worst attraction in Disney history! This week we are thrilled to discuss the hidden gem 'Superstar Limo'! How did it go from a pretty solid sounding ride to an attraction that didn't last a year? Could it come back? And is there a yelp page? All this and more, on this weeks Slice of Disney!

She's coming home! This week on Slice of Disney, Kelly gives us the run down on her trip to Disney World. How safe did it feel? What can you expect to be different? And what should *you* do differently to make sure it's the best trip it can be, even with the current restrictions?  All this, plus a very unusual Tower of Terror experience!

This week on Slice of Disney, we are thrilled to be joined by Chef Lora Peñaloza! Chef Lora worked in the kitchen at the Blue Bayou, the highly in demand restaurant located in the Pirates of the Caribbean show room. She shares with us what it was like working in such a fast paced environment, the special perks afforded to cast members, and what her favorite thing to eat in the parks was. Plus, she guest judges our holiday bake off! If you want to judge it, check it out on our Instagram here!

Pack your adventuring gear, this week we're going to Trader Sam's! An interactive Tiki Bar and restaurant, this spot is a hidden gem - and it is full of hidden gems of its own. We talk you through the evolution of cocktails and tiki culture, before diving into the story of Trader Sam - the Forrest Gump of Disney IP! He's traveled with the likes of Indiana Jones, Jack Sparrow, and even one US President - it's a story you'll have to hear to believe!

Welcome to the Wildest Podcast Episode in the Wilderness! This week on Slice of Disney we dive into Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. An attraction with a secretly 'scary' story, a development process that ignited an imagineer rivalry, and a goat chewing on dynamite - what more could you ask for?

This week we are thrilled to be joined by former animal keeper and cast member, Rachael Figueroa! We talk to her about how you get to take care of animals all day, what's different about working for Disney compared to other Zoo's, and just what it is about Giraffe's that makes them so dang Charismatic. Rachael is a wealth of knowledge and has wit to boot, you're going to love her!

This week on Slice of Disney, we're talking about our first defunct ride, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience! Inspired by the 1980's surprise hit Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, it features a lot of the original cast and the illustrious Eric Idle. How did Eric get involved? Will they ever bring it back? And did the audience ever get un-shrunk? All this and more on this weeks episode!

Happy Presidents Day! We're bringing you the second and final installment of our Hall of Presidents episodes. This week, we talk about the controversies the attraction generated, why it took two acts of congress to complete it, and what the future might hold in store - beyond a Joe Biden animatronic. All this, and the wildest Disney on Yelp yet!

Slice of Disney now has a Patreon! Our first Patreon episode is coming to you free, here, on the Slice of Disney feed.  On this episode, we crown the winner of our Disney Thrill Ride Bracket! What's the one thrill ride a first time visitor *has* to go on their first time to Disneyland and California Adventure? Which Mountain lasts the longest? Is Star Wars having 3 rides in the bracket an unfair advantage? And will our hosts get in a fight over Incredicoaster? See the full bracket here! To become a Patreon for future episodes and additional content, go here: https://www.patreon.com/sliceofdisney

This week we are bringing you a different type of episode! We've been talking with Cast Members and guests to get the scoop on how Disney has handled the pandemic, what it's like to visit, and talk about whether or not we would go with the current restrictions (and honestly, the answers weren't what I was expecting). If you've been, reach out and share your experience with us, we would love to know! Also, to support cast members, check out the facebook group "Ear for Each Other" to see how!

This week we open the pages of old stories and tour the scenes in our canal boats! Storybook Land Canal Boats brings your favorite Disney tales to life as you glide by and see intricate recreations of iconic settings - from Mr. Toad all the way to Frozen's Arendelle.  What makes this ride the most romantic in the parks? Does Walt actually love miniatures? And how did it become known as 'the mud slide ride'? Find out on this weeks Slice of Disney!

For our fortieth (!!) episode, we welcome Garytt Poirier fromt he DplusCAST to talk through his relationship to the parks, how Disney Plus came to dominate the streaming landscape, and what to expect from the platform in 2021. We also get into some of our favorite rewatchables on the platform, what's going to happen with the park annual passes, and if any of the Disney live action remakes are worth it. 

In recognition of Inauguration Day we are talking the history Hall of Presidents! This audio animatronic show was conceptualized before the parks ever opened, but what took it so long to come to fruition? How were they planning on incorporating 'smell-o-vision'? All this, and you hear the grossest fun fact on Slice of Disney yet!

We are kicking off 2021 in style! This week, we travel to outer space and get a private tour of the Collector's Collection - including five new exhibits, the Guardians of the Galaxy. But before we do, we honor imagineering legend Joe Rohde, learn about what other Marvel enterprises could've taken over the Tower of Terror, and comb through the easter eggs you won't want to miss.  Buckle up, grab your tunes, and let's break out!

On this special year end review episode, Kelly and Will talk about their favorite memories of 2020! It's been a tough year for many, but we're staying positive and talking about our favorite episodes from the year, the best memories we made on and off air, and what we are looking forward to the most in 2021.

Make your cocoa and bake your cookies, this week we are walking through a winter wonderland and exploring the holiday season at The Magic Kingdom! From stunning castle overlays to cheesy attraction changes, the Walt Disney Holiday Services team works year round to bring an overwhelming experience to guests. We also share our holiday traditions and start a new one - a Disney treat bake-off challenge. 

We are so excited to talk this week with Mark Silverman, the voice of Rod Serling! How did he find himself in such an iconic role? Where else in the park can you hear him? And what is it like to be part of the Disney family? Mark walks us through all of this, and treats us to a few incredible voices along the way.  Hear more of Mark, below! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyKjlzmRl54 https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=wtwvsKs06LM

It's time to build a snowman! On this week's episode, we bundle up, make some hot cocoa and travel to the icy world of Arendelle - just in time to celebrate a 'summer snow day'. Why wasn't this attraction ready to go when the film released? How did it end up replacing a classic in the Norway Pavilion at Epcot? And is it worth the *five* hour wait? All this and more, on this weeks Slice of Disney!

What better way to celebrate our 33rd episode - we are ringing the secret doorbell of Club 33! What has become one of the most well known exclusive perks of Disneyland gets the Slice of Disney treatment this week, as we learn about why it was created, how you can get access, and who you might know that has been there. 

It started as a partnership with General Electric, but how long can two companies work towards the same goal? On this week's episode of Slice of Disney, we take a look into another attraction designed for the 1964 World's Fair - the Carousel of Progress. Hear about all the changes made throughout the years, the changes that still *really* need to happen, and which Disney animatronic is basically inspired by Will. 2020 has been a rough one, everybody - but we can always look towards a great big beautiful tomorrow!

In our final episode from Marceline, Missouri, we talk all about the places you must go when you visit - specifically, we're diving deep into Walt's barn and the Walt Disney Hometown Museum! In the second half of the episode, we are joined by the museum's creative director, Peter Whitehead, to talk about what makes this town so special and what you can expect when you make the trip to the museum. Plus, we get a special interruption from Walt's favorite form of travel, a train!