Shows / Distory with Kate & Kirk
Distory with Kate & Kirk
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.
Episodes
Distory with Kate & Kirk206. Disney History You've Never Seen: Disney’s America, Lost Attractions & Rare Imagineering Treasures (Wayback WED Recap Part 1) - Distory Nite Shift
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…
Distory with Kate & Kirk205. You’re Going to Be OK: How Imagineers Manipulate Your Feelings in the Disney Parks - Distory Nite Shift
From the moment you enter a Disney park, the Imagineers are intentionally manipulating your feelings and perspective.They compress spaces before revealing…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
204. Bombarding the Fort: Blackbeard, The Wicked Wench, & the Battle that Imagineers Commandeered - Pirates of the Caribbean Part 11
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…
Distory with Kate & Kirk203. Do We Really Go Back in Time on Pirates of the Caribbean? + Disney's Fictional Maps - Distory Nite Shift
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…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
202. Pirates of the Caribbean’s Treasure Cache: Lost Concepts, Cursed Gold & Hidden History - Pirates of the Caribbean Part 10
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…
Distory with Kate & Kirk201. D23 Through the Eyes of Disney Historians: Rare History, Hidden Gems & the Future of the Parks - Distory Nite Shift
D23 looks a little different when you’re a Disney historian.On this episode of Distory Nite Shift, Kate and Joshua take you on a historian’s walking tour…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
200. Answering Your Obscure Disney History Questions - Distory w/ Kate & Kirk 200th Episode Celebration!
We made it to 200 episodes of Distory 🎉 and we are celebrating by answering YOUR obscure Disney history questions!On this very special episode of Distory with…
Distory with Kate & Kirk199. The Evolution of Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion Facade: A Return to 1971? - Distory Nite Shift
Did Imagineering really bring the Haunted Mansion back to its 1971 roots… or is there more to the story?On this episode of Distory Nite Shift, we hop in our…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
198. Secrets of the Captain & Crew’s Quarters - Pirates of the Caribbean Part 9
The captain and crew of Pirates of the Caribbean have some secrets… but you have to know where to look to find them. On this episode of Distory with Kate &…
Distory with Kate & Kirk197. The Disney Ideas That Refused to Die & The Importance of Atmosphere - Distory Nite Shift
A good idea never goes to waste at Imagineering, even if it takes years to implement it in the Disney parks.On this episode of Distory Nite Shift, we explore…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
196. Solving The Mystery of Pirates of the Caribbean's Dead Man’s Cove - Pirates of the Caribbean Part 8
This beach is a crime scene… but thanks to Marc Davis, we have enough evidence to solve the crime. On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we slide down…
Distory with Kate & Kirk195. Disney History Everyone Gets Wrong - Distory Nite Shift
Disney people are storytellers… but sometimes they get the story wrong. On this episode of Distory Nite Shift, we walk through some popular myths in Disney…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
194. Mysteries of the Pirates of the Caribbean Bayou: The Stories Everyone Misses - Pirates of the Caribbean Part 7
What happened to the fireflies in Pirates of the Caribbean? Has the old man always lived in the bayou? And who is Charles T., anyway?On this episode of Distory…
Distory with Kate & Kirk193. Which shaped Disney history more: Pirates of the Caribbean or the Haunted Mansion? - Distory Nite Shift
Which Disney attraction had the greatest impact over time, Pirates of the Caribbean or the Haunted Mansion?On this week’s episode of Distory Nite Shift, we…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
192. Secrets of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean Queue: The Details Everyone Misses While Waiting in Line
What storytelling do most people miss in the Pirates of the Caribbean queue while they are waiting in line? And what bizarre detail dates back to Disneyland’s…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
191. The WILDEST Pirates of the Caribbean Stories: Imagineering the Characters, Script, & Song - Pirates of the Caribbean Part 5
What character in Pirates of the Caribbean is secretly a tribute to an Imagineer's friend? And what inspired the iconic song Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)?On…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
190. Designing Pirates of the Caribbean: Exploring Imagineering’s Models, Mockups, & Construction - Pirates of the Caribbean Part 4
What changed from Disney's original model to the final attraction? And what critical piece of Pirate culture was altered in those changes? On this episode of…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
189. Disney's Pirate Wax Museum: From the Rogues Gallery to the Pirates of the Caribbean - Pirates of the Caribbean Part 3
How did a small wax museum tucked under the Blue Bayou Mart evolve into one of Disney’s most iconic rides?On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we set…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
188. A Walk Through 1966 New Orleans Square: The Shops, Restaurants, and Lost History - Pirates of the Caribbean Part 2
Have you ever wished you could go back to 1966 and wander the original streets, shops, and restaurants of Walt Disney’s New Orleans Square?On this episode of…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
187. The Creation of New Orleans Square: Was it Really Walt's Idea? - Pirates of the Caribbean Part 1
New Orleans Square is a unique feature of Disneyland… but was it originally Walt Disney’s idea?On this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we begin our new…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
186. BONUS EPISODE: The Hardest Part of Being a Disney Creator
Being a Disney creator isn’t always easy. While there are plenty of magical and memorable moments, there are also struggles, failures, and opportunities to…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
185. 6 Springtime Disney History Stories: Rare Moments & Disney Parks Details Hidden in Plain Sight
What history is hiding in plain sight in Disneyland’s central plaza hub? And what two favorite Disney parade songs have stories behind them that you’ve likely…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
184. Is Disneyland Paris the Best Version of Peter Pan’s Flight? : Comparing Anaheim vs. Paris - Peter Pan Part 9
Disneyland Paris is known for having some of the most beautiful and elaborate attractions of any Disney park. But is that also true for Peter Pan’s Flight?On…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
183. What You Miss in the Queue of WDW's Peter Pan’s Flight: Where Imagineering Got It Right (and Wrong) - Peter Pan Part 8
The details in Disney's updated Peter Pan’s Flight queue are incredible, but most of them are overlooked by guests… and not all of them are accurate. On this…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
182. The Lost Scenes of Peter Pan’s Flight: What Imagineering Cut from the 1983 Disneyland Ride - Peter Pan Part 7
What scenes did Imagineering decide to eliminate from Peter Pan’s flight… and what characters disappeared in the process?On this episode of Distory with Kate &…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
181. Inside the Darling Nursery in Disneyland's Peter Pan's Flight: What Imagineering Included (and what they DIDN'T) - Peter Pan Part 6
The details of the Darling nursery tell a deeper story than most people realize. But what details did Imagineering decide NOT to include in this opening…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
180. When Disney Destroyed Fantasyland: The 1983 Disneyland Rebuild & New Peter Pan's Flight - Peter Pan's Flight Part 5
In the 1980s, Imagineering completely tore apart Walt Disney's original Fantasyland. But how did they decide on what should replace it? And what did they…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
179. The Overlooked Details of 1971 WDW Peter Pan's Flight: Topless Mermaids, Mistakes, & Rare Photos - Peter Pan Part 4
Why did the mermaids change in Walt Disney World’s Peter Pan’s Flight, and how is their scandalous past connected to a classic Disneyland attraction?On this…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
178. Why Peter Pan Shouldn't Exist: How the Magic Kingdom Rewrote Fantasyland - Peter Pan Part 3
Peter Pan's Flight wasn't planned to be in Walt Disney World at all... in fact, Disney's Imagineers had an entirely different Fantasyland mapped out for their…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
177. Disneyland’s Original 1955 Peter Pan’s Flight: Rare Imagineering Art & a Virtual Fly-Thru - Peter Pan Part 2
How was the ending of Peter Pan’s Flight more terrifying (and disappointing) in 1955? And what object did guests tend to tear off the attraction to keep as a…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
176. Peter Pan Stories You’ve Never Heard: The Hidden History of Disney's Peter Pan Animated Film - Peter Pan Part 1
What bizarre technique did Disney's artists use to make Tinker Bell glow? And what disturbing story elements did Disney change from the original novel when…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
175. Distorian's Lounge - Two Imagineers, One Love Story: The Beautiful Dance of Marc & Alice Davis
Marc and Alice Davis’s love story is one for the ages, intertwined as it is with Disney history. But they also loved us through their imaginative, creative…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
174. What the Tower of Terror Borrowed from the Haunted Mansion: The Lost Concepts That Changed the Ride - DCA & DLP Tower of Terror - Part 29
How did lost concepts from the Haunted Mansion inspire the Tower of Terror?Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
173. Horrifying Storytelling in the Tower of Terror Boiler Room: The Man Disney Left to Burn - DCA & DLP Tower of Terror - Part 28
There were hidden secrets in the Boiler Room of the DCA Tower of Terror that made it the most TERRIFYING version of all, but most people walked right past them…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
172. How Disney Rewrote the Tower of Terror Library - True Confessions, Monarchs, & Lost Artifacts in the DCA & DLP Libraries - Tower of Terror - Part 27
How did the Imagineers alter the storytelling of the Tower of Terror libraries for the California and Paris versions?Drop in with us on this episode of Distory…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
171. BONUS EPISODE - The Christmas Disney Doesn’t Talk About: Six Forgotten Stories from Disney’s Holiday Past
Christmastime in the Disney parks is a wonder to behold, but its history is something even more magical than snow falling on Main Street. But there are a few…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
170. The Lost Secrets in DCA's Tower of Terror Lobby: Creepy Dolls, Hidden Relics, & 1939 Hollywood Mysteries
A doll, brochure, and magazine in the DCA Tower of Terror Lobby were all telling a story, but no one has ever fully understood their significance... until now…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
169. The REAL Reason the Tower of Terror Felt So Creepy: The Disturbing Inspirations Behind DCA & DLP's Tower Lobbies - Tower of Terror Part 25
What is the REAL reason the DCA version of the Hollywood Tower Hotel used to feel so creepy when you stepped inside?Drop in with us on this episode of Distory…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
168. Designing a Cheaper Tower of Terror: Changing Disney's Iconic Attraction - DCA & DLP's Tower - ToT - Part 24
Why did Disney’s Tower of Terror change its design when it moved locations? And who was Buddy the Bellhop?Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
167. Behind the Locked Door: What Actually Disappeared from the Tower of Terror's Exit - Tower of Terror - Part 23
Picture if you will a most unusual attraction exit, as the Tower of Terror’s final scenes hold controversy, history, and a mystery we still have yet to solve…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
166. 6 Untold Stories from the Haunted Mansion (Bonus Halloween Special)
What roles were women not allowed to do in the Haunted Mansion in 1975? And why was Imagineer Dorothea Redmond once forced to work alone in a walled-off…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
165. Secrets Hidden in the Tower of Terror Exit: Clues, Crates, & Connections After the Drop - Tower of Terror Part 22
What hidden ties to both Disneyland and Epcot are found in the exit of the Tower of Terror?Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
164. Creepy Things to Find in the Dark on the Tower of Terror: Imagineering Storyboards & Secrets in the Drop Shaft and Unload Area - Tower of Terror Part 21
There are more details in the dark in the Tower of Terror’s drop than you've likely ever noticed before... but once you see them, the ride will never be the…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
163. Imagineering the Tower of Terror's Fifth Dimension: Unseen Concept Art & Rare Storyboards - Tower of Terror Part 20
There was another Hollywood Hotel designed before the Tower of Terror that inspired most of the corridor and fifth dimension scenes, but hardly anyone has ever…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
162. Imagineering the Tower of Terror Boiler Room - Part 2: Props, Poetry, & Impending Peril - Tower of Terror Part 19
The Imagineers tucked hidden messages of danger in the Tower of Terror Boiler Room that most guests miss… but we are finding them, one prop at a time. Drop in…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
161. Imagineering the Tower of Terror Boiler Room : Warnings, Furnaces, & Foreshadowing - Tower of Terror Part 18
The Boiler Room of Disney’s Tower of Terror is holding more danger than it appears on the surface… but only if you know where to look.Drop in with us on this…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
160. Secrets in the Shadows of the Library - Foxtrot Library Part 2 - Tower of Terror Part 17
The props tucked inside the shadowed corners of the Tower of Terror library have an ominous meaning most people miss. Drop in with us on this episode of…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
159. Scavenger Hunting in the Tower of Terror Library: Strange Props & Hidden Meanings - Tower of Terror Part 16
What unique themes are hidden in the dark corners of the libraries of the Tower of Terror?Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we…
- Distory with Kate & Kirk
158. The Untold Stories of the Tower of Terror Antiques: References, History, & Symbolism in the Library - Tower of Terror Part 15
Are the antiques in the Tower of Terror just a bunch of old junk, or are they actually telling a story you haven’t noticed before?Drop in with us on this…
Distory with Kate & Kirk157. What You Missed in the Tower of Terror Echo Library: Twilight Zone Clues Hidden in Plain Sight - Tower of Terror Part 14
How many references to the Twilight Zone can you find in the library of the Hollywood Tower Hotel?Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk…
Distory with Kate & Kirk156. A Scarier Tower of Terror: How Imagineers Rewrote the Preshow Story - Tower of Terror Part 13
There are details of the Hollywood Tower Hotel story that even the most seasoned Tower fans miss, but the key to understanding them is all hidden within the…
Distory with Kate & Kirk155. Imagineering the Library's Threshold Inside the Tower of Terror - Tower of Terror Part 12
What questionable (and triggering) statues were once proposed for the lobby of a version of the Tower of Terror?Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with…
Distory with Kate & Kirk154. A Warning at Check-In: The Tower of Terror Lobby Prop That Predicts Your Fate - Tower of Terror Part 11
What seemingly innocuous prop in the Hollywood Tower Hotel lobby is actually foreshadowing our future in the Tower of Terror?On this episode of Distory with…
Distory with Kate & Kirk153. Finding Walt’s Legacy in the Tower of Terror Lobby: Secrets of the Ceiling, Centerpiece, and Couple’s Table - Tower of Terror - Part 10
How are some of the lobby props in the Hollywood Tower Hotel connected to an iconic Walt Disney show from the 1950s?In this episode of Distory with Kate &…
Distory with Kate & Kirk152. Secrets of the Bellhops: The Art of Disney's Creepy Cast Members - Tower of Terror - Part 9
It’s no secret that Cast Members are the heart and soul of Disney’s attractions, and the Hollywood Tower Hotel Bellhops are no exception. But how does their…
Distory with Kate & Kirk151. What the Concierge Desk is Hiding in the Lobby of the Tower of Terror - Tower of Terror Part 8
Hidden under layers of dust and cobwebs, the objects on the Concierge Desk of the Tower of Terror have their secrets, scandals, and connections to the Twilight…
Distory with Kate & Kirk150. Spilling the Tea at the Tower of Terror's Mahjong Table - Tower of Terror Part 7
Theft, true crime, and unbelievably expensive antiques… the lobby of the Hollywood Tower Hotel holds more incredible stories than are evident on the surface…
Distory with Kate & Kirk149. The Tower of Terror Patio & Verandah Secrets You Walked Right Past - Tower of Terror Part 6
The Hollywood Tower Hotel has a few secrets on its verandah, and odds are you’ve walked by them without even knowing they were there. Drop in with us to the…
Distory with Kate & Kirk148. BONUS EPISODE: The Truth About Being a Disney Creator: The Distory Behind Your Distorian Hosts
Being a Disney content creator is a profession that might look fun from the outside... but what is it REALLY like?On this special bonus episode of Distory with…
Distory with Kate & Kirk147. Secrets Growing Outside the Tower of Terror: Hidden Storytelling in the Exterior Queue - Tower of Terror Part 5
Creepy clues are hiding in the landscaping of the Tower of Terror’s exterior queue…. but only if you know what to look for. Drop in with us to the Hollywood…