Advertise on podcast: Connecting with Walt - A look into the history of the man behind Mickey Mouse, Disneyland and Walt Disney World

In this episode, Michael and Tom are joined by Michael Campbell, author of "Walt Disney's Trains: A Grand Circle Tour Through His Life and Legacy," to discuss Walt Disney's lifelong passion for trains. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inspired by a listener suggestion, Michael, Tom, and special guest Mary Jo talk about how Disney parks immerse guests in the storytelling by engaging their senses, sometimes without them even knowing it. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honor of Women's History Month, Michael shares with Tom a look at a group of artists whose contributions to Disney animation have often been overlooked. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Sources: Books: Before the Animation Begins: The Art and Lives of Disney Inspirational Sketch Artists by John CanemakerWalt Disney Imagineering Legends and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park by Jeff KurttiWalt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real by The ImagineersThe Art and Flair of Mary Blair by John CanemakerMagic Color Flair: The World of Mary Blair by John Canemaker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael and Tom explore the idea that Walt Disney quietly designed Disneyland to be a classrom where people could learn without ever feeling like they were being taught. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael shares with Tom information from two recent talks he attended at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. The first presentation was "Memories of Mary Blair" with historian John Canemaker and Blair's niece Maggie Richardson. Next, Gregg Sherman, son of composer Richard M. Sherman, presented "Walking with Giants: The Untold Story of Mary Poppins." Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael continues his look at Woolie Reitherman as he and Tom discuss how one of Walt's Nine Old Men stepped into a leadership role during a transitional period at The Walt Disney Studios. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Sources: Books: Walt Disney's Nine Old Men & The Art of Animation by John CanemakerWalt Disney's Nine Old Men: Masters of Animation by Don HahnThe Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney's Great Animators by Andreas Dejas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael continues his series on Walt Disney's Nine Old Men as he and Tom discuss animator, director, and producer Woolie Reitherman and his contributions to the Walt Disney Studio. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Sources: Books: Walt Disney's Nine Old Men & The Art of Animation by John CanemakerWalt Disney's Nine Old Men: Masters of Animation by Don HahnThe Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney's Great Animators by Andreas Dejas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael takes Tom on a deep dive into the Carousel of Progress, not just as an attraction, but as Walt Disney's mission statement. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, producer/director Don Hahn joins Michael and Tom to discuss his newest book "The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney's Disneyland," the companion exhibit at the Walt Disney Family Museum, and his involvement in the Disney+ documentary "Disney Handcrafted". Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode, Michael and Tom sit down with producer Don Hahn to discuss the life and legacy of director Roger Allers, who passed away recently. Allers co-directed Disney's The Lion King (which Hahn produced) and co-wrote the Broadway adaptation of the film. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael and Tom discuss how Walt Disney's optimism shaped the course of his life and kept him moving forward. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael and Tom welcome historian and author J.B. Kaufman who delves into his newest book, Worlds to Conquer: The Art and Making of Walt Disney's Fantasia. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael and Tom begin the new year by sharing inspirational quotes by Walt Disney or from films of his era that you might be able to relate to. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael and Tom chat with author Todd James Pierce about his book Making Mary Poppins: The Sherman Brothers, Walt Disney, and the Creation of the Classic Film, which delves into the creative process and production of the classic 1964 film. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael and Tom wrap up the history of the 1942 classic Saludos Amigos by covering how the film finally made it to the big screen and discussing their favorite sequences. Links: Michael’s Disneyland History SegmentsImportant DIS links and more information!Connecting with Walt on TwitterDreams Unlimited Travel Sources: Websites/Articles: The Good Neighbor Films – Saludos Amigos, The Three Caballeros, maketheswitch.comA Walt Disney Production: “Saludos Amigos” by Mary MckeonSaludos Amigos (film), D23.comThe Persistence of Disney, Part 6: Saludos Amigos (1942) by Jerry Roberts for Armchair Cinema.comSaludos Amigos Holds its World Premiere in Rio de Janeiro, Walt Disney ArchivesThe Great Disney Movie Ride: Saludos Amigos (1943) Books: South of the Border with Disney: Walt Disney and the Good Neighbor Program, 1941-1948 by J.B. Kaufman Videos: Walt & El Grupo documentary directed by Theodore Thomas (available on Disney+) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.