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Distory with Kate & Kirk
Distory with Kate & Kirk
Author: Kate (Disney Cicerone) & Kirk (Walrus Carp)
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© Kate (Disney Cicerone) & Kirk (Walrus Carp)
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Exploring the history of the Disney Parks (with a dash of the ridiculous!), Distory with Kate and Kirk is an adventure into the fascinatingly obscure details that have made the Disney parks what they are today.
205 Episodes
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Some of the most fascinating Disney history comes from the things that almost happened, and the lessons the Imagineers learned along the way. What if Disney had built an entirely different kind of theme park? What if one of Magic Kingdom’s most iconic attractions had been replaced? And what can a few boxes of old papers, photographs, and sketches tell us about the Imagineers who helped shape the Disney parks?In this episode of Distory Nite Shift, we share some of the incredible stories and rare historical treasures we encountered at Wayback WED, including artwork, photographs, and Imagineering history we’d never seen or heard before (even after a combined 55 years of studying Disney history!).From never-built attractions and surprising Imagineering decisions to previously unseen concept art and fascinating discoveries in Marty Sklar’s personal archives, we’re digging into some Disney history that will delight even the most knowledgeable Disney history aficionados. Along the way, we’ll explore how some of Disney’s biggest disappointments led to unexpected opportunities, and how the ideas that never made it off the drawing board sometimes found their way into other parks in surprising ways.So join us for another late-night conversation full of obscure Disney history, fascinating Imagineering stories, and plenty of rabbit trails as we discover a few new pieces to the ever-unfolding Distory puzzle.Resources referenced in this episode:1983 Disney Halloween Special https://www.jlhomnimedia.com/disneyhalloween1983Recommended Disney History Book Listhttps://a.co/d/0epcOFKeKate's books & Substackhttps://disneycicerone.com/E82 Disney Parks Soundtrackshttps://www.epcotlegacy.com/musicJoin us LIVE on YouTube every week for Distory! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: @disneyciceroneYou can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter X, and also at disneycicerone.com & epcotlegacy.comView full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.Joshua’s resources:E82 | The Epcot LegacyJLH OmniMediaKate’s resources:Kate’s BooksKate’s SubstackShow MerchDistory T-shirts and StickersKirk’s appMOWD app
From the moment you enter a Disney park, the Imagineers are intentionally manipulating your feelings and perspective.They compress spaces before revealing enormous vistas, control what you can and can’t see, carefully transition you from one environment into another, alter architectural scale, and use visual order to influence how you experience the world around you.Tonight on Distory Nite Shift, Kate and Joshua explore the psychology and perspective tricks hiding throughout the Disney parks through the ideas of Imagineers including Claude Coats, Joe Rohde, and John Hench.We’ll explore Disney’s famous “Christmas Morning” views and how Imagineers use this technique in many of their most popular attractions across all the Disney parks. Then we’re heading to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to examine Joe Rohde’s fascinating explanation of how Imagineers intentionally move guests from geometric, human-controlled environments into increasingly natural spaces, and what feelings they wanted to evoke in the process.Finally, we’ll dig into Imagineer John Hench’s psychological interpretation of Disneyland including visual cohesion, elements designed to make you feel safe, and more. Clock in for another Distory Nite Shift as we follow some Imagineering rabbit trails and explore how Disney uses architecture, storytelling, psychology, scale, perspective, and carefully controlled reveals to influence not only what we see, but how we feel as we step into the Disney parks. Resources referenced in this episode:John Hench's Psychological Interpretation of Disneyland:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yykXGfS8GbE&t=3sKate's books & Substackhttps://disneycicerone.com/E82 Disney Parks Soundtrackshttps://www.epcotlegacy.com/musicDistory Nite Shift is a conversation between two Disney historians who have a combined 55 years of Disney history knowledge. The “after-show” of Distory with Kate & Kirk, this late-nite conversation for Disney history lovers is hosted by Kate the Disney Cicerone and Joshua of E82 | The Epcot Legacy.Nite Shift is broadcast every other week, opposite of Distory with Kate & Kirk. Join us LIVE on YouTube every week for Distory! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: @disneyciceroneYou can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter X, and also at disneycicerone.com & epcotlegacy.comView full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.Joshua’s resources:E82 | The Epcot LegacyJLH OmniMediaKate’s resources:Kate’s BooksKate’s SubstackShow MerchDistory T-shirts and Stickers
It’s one of the most breathtaking and iconic scenes of any Disney attraction. But how did the Imagineers ACTUALLY come up with the idea for bombarding the fort in Pirates of the Caribbean? In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we buckle our swashes and explore the history, design, technology, and possible inspirations behind Disneyland’s famous Bombarding the Fort scene.We’ll trace the battle from early Marc Davis, Claude Coats, Bruce Bushman, and Colin Campbell artwork through models, construction photographs, rare footage, and the finished 1967 attraction. Along the way, we’ll investigate a fascinating possible connection to a 1935 film and how it may have inspired the Imagineers to create this scene.Then we’re climbing aboard the Wicked Wench to uncover the history of the legendary pirate ship, and what it was called before the attraction opened. As we pillage and plunder our way through this Pirate scene, we also investigate a mysterious coat of arms, meet the original Blackbeard-inspired pirate captain, explore pirate codes and superstitions, and look at how Captain Barbossa eventually took command of the Wicked Wench.Across the harbor, we’ll examine Puerto Dorado, the soldiers defending it, and some Imagineering effects that make the entire battle come alive. So climb aboard as we duck under flying cannonballs and uncover the obscure history hiding inside this incredible scene in Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean.Resource links:Kate's books & Substackhttps://disneycicerone.com/WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merchhttps://walruscarp.com/MOWD apphttps://mowd.io/Wayback WED Disney History Fan Eventhttps://waybackwed.com/Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: @disneyciceroneYou can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.comView full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!Distory T-shirts and StickersKate’s Substack
Do we actually travel back in time on Pirates of the Caribbean?Tonight on Distory Nite Shift, Kate and Joshua head back to Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean to investigate the Captain and Crew’s Quarters, search for more possible real pirates hiding in the attraction, and follow a few very Disney history rabbit trails along the way.After recently uncovering evidence that some real-life pirates may be represented among the pirates of Dead Man’s Cove, we’re asking an even bigger question: Did Marc Davis really abandon his historical research, or could there be more real pirates hiding throughout the attraction?We’ll also share the surprisingly poignant story behind the Pirates parrot created while Walt Disney was ill, then leave the Caribbean entirely to explore some of the fascinating fictional maps hidden throughout Disney attractions, from Big Thunder Mountain and Indiana Jones Adventure to DisneySea, Pandora, Mission: SPACE and more.After that, we debate one of our favorite Pirates questions:Do we actually travel back in time?So clock in for another Distory Nite Shift as we chase some rabbit trails and try to untangle some of the Disney stories that may or may not have historical evidence backing them up. Resources referenced in this episode:United Tech Prologuehttps://www.epcotlegacy.com/history/ut-seasprologueKate's books & Substackhttps://disneycicerone.com/Wayback WED Disney History Fan Eventhttps://waybackwed.com/E82 Living Seas Merch https://epcotlegacy-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/sea-life--Distory Nite Shift is a newer addition to the Distory Podcast! 🌙 Nite Shift is a conversation between two Disney historians who have a combined 55 years of Disney history knowledge. The “after-show” of Distory with Kate & Kirk, this late-night conversation for Disney history lovers is hosted by Kate the Disney Cicerone, and Joshua of E82 | The Epcot Legacy.Distory Nite Shift is broadcast every other week, opposite of Distory with Kate & Kirk. Join us LIVE on YouTube every week for Distory! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s YouTube: @disneyciceroneYou can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter X, and also at disneycicerone.com & epcotlegacy.comView full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.Joshua’s resources:E82 | The Epcot LegacyJLH OmniMediaKate’s resources:Kate’s BooksKate’s SubstackShow MerchDistory T-shirts and StickersKirk’s appMOWD app
The REAL treasures in Pirates of the Caribbean’s treasure cache are easy to miss… unless you know where to look.On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we continue our journey through Pirates of the Caribbean by digging into the history, details, and changing story of the attraction’s legendary treasure room. Starting with a 1963 continuity script as well as early Marc Davis concepts, we uncover a version of the scene featuring chained alligators and an enterprising pirate salesman, plus deleted Paul Frees narration warning guests that the glittering hoard might not be quite as harmless as it appears.As we sift through the treasure itself, we examine real antiques, weapons, and religious objects, hundreds of thousands of coins, hidden Imagineer details, props rescued from the original attraction, and even a few objects that probably make considerably less historical sense than Imagineering intended. We’ll also explore additions from the Pirates of the Caribbean films and some former hidden surprises you can’t actually see in this space anymore.Along the way, we look at how the room has changed and become surprisingly less valuable over the decades, and discuss the unexpected return of a familiar Redhead portrait during D23 weekend in 2026.Finally, we follow the cursed treasure into the transition tunnel and ask one of the bigger questions of the entire attraction: What story is Pirates of the Caribbean actually telling? Grab your treasure map and join us as we dig through nearly 60 years of Imagineering history hidden inside one of the richest scenes in Pirates of the Caribbean.Resource links:Wayback WED Disney History Fan Eventhttps://waybackwed.com/Kate's books & Substackhttps://disneycicerone.com/WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merchhttps://walruscarp.com/MOWD apphttps://mowd.io/Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s YouTube: @disneyciceroneYou can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at disneycicerone.com & walruscarp.comView full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel HERE OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.Many thanks to Disney historian Joshua at E82 | The Epcot Legacy for contributing resources for this episode!Kate’s BooksWalrusCarp T-shirts & MerchMOWD appDistory T-shirts and StickersKate’s Substack






