We decided to try a near impossible task. We rank the top 20 things at Disneyland park. We consider rides, food, places, and more. Tough decisions are made, battles are fought and won, and tears are shed. Let us know if we got it right or missed your favorite.00:00 Bonus Episode Kickoff01:08 Top 20 Disneyland Rules02:06 Mark Twain Riverboat Love03:09 Main Street Corn Dog Debate05:10 Indiana Jones Adventure Pick06:40 Big Thunder Mountain Praise08:14 Small World Facade Vibes10:13 Oga's Cantina Immersion14:11 Churros and Snack Rankings15:02 Matterhorn Night Ride Talk17:21 Tiki Room Nostalgia18:53 Dole Whip Hideaway Showdown22:09 Mint Julep Beignets Mess25:16 Pirates Classic Upgrade25:52 Pirates Ranking Debate27:09 List Recap and Reset27:35 Millennium Falcon Love30:25 Falcon Placement Fight31:23 Fantasmic! Logistics34:29 Disneyland Railroad Chill Ride36:42 Rise vs. Indy Showdown42:17 Lincoln and Haunted Mansion46:08 Space Mountain Soundtrack48:54 Monorail and Mr. Toad51:52 Star Tours Debate53:34 Alice Dark Ride Ranking54:25 Wondrous Journeys Fireworks57:41 Runaway Railway Shuffle59:45 Food and Street Acts01:03:47 Jungle Cruise Realization01:08:42 Final Top 20 Reveal01:10:07 Listener Mailbag Stories01:17:23 Next Episodes and SignoffFollow Us⁠Blue Sky⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]

AJ, Mike, and Chris take a trip down to Disney's BoardWalk. Join us as we explore its earliest origins as an expansion to DVC, a standalone entertainment district, and even a mini amusement park. We talk about the changes over the years, and our own trips and memories.00:00 Podcast Intro01:17 Mission Space Debate01:49 Ranking The Simulator02:26 Guardians Versus Orange03:01 BoardWalk Resort Intro03:13 1996 Pop Culture Check04:50 Early DVC Expansion Plans08:04 BoardWalk Entertainment Vision18:53 Stern Design Philosophy21:55 DVC Timeline And Hilton Head24:54 Vero Beach And Bad Googling25:28 Vero Beach Surprise25:48 BoardWalk Room Counts27:08 Convention Space Talk28:00 Why Visit BoardWalk30:54 Opening Day Brochure31:21 Clown Slide Debate33:30 Atlantic Dance Hall34:51 Jellyrolls Memories35:58 Big River Brewery36:18 Flying Fish Favorite37:59 Spoodles And Zoop39:43 ESPN Club Glory Days42:51 Closures And Replacements45:27 Abracadabar And Trader Sams48:25 Streetmosphere and Midway49:22 Snacks on the Boardwalk49:56 First Stay Memories52:07 Recent Trips and Skyliner53:35 Lobby Oddities and Nooks55:04 Crescent Lake vs MK Area56:33 Random Boardwalk Stories57:37 Listener Comments and Emails58:13 Disney Store Comeback59:49 Theme Park Documentaries01:02:44 Disneyland Trip Highlights01:08:22 Upcoming Trips and Dinosaurs01:11:15 Wrap Up and Sign OffFollow UsBlue Sky | Facebook | Threads | InstagramEmail: [email protected]

What can be more fun than getting into a box and shaking around while watching a movie screen? We're ranking every simulator attraction at the US based Disney and Universal parks. Find out where your favorite ranks!00:00 Intro01:44 Rules and Park Plan02:28 Epcot Body Wars04:16 Soarin Counts as Simulator05:52 Soarin Versions Ranked08:01 Journey to Jerusalem Deep Cut09:19 What Counts as Simulator10:00 Hollywood Studios Star Tours11:30 Smugglers Run Debate13:40 Flight of Passage17:12 Universal Enters the Chat17:23 Hanna-Barbera Classic20:34 Nicktoon Blast Era21:55 Minion Mayhem Today23:04 Minions Ride Talk23:40 Jimmy Fallon Debate26:10 Back to the Future Love27:54 Simpsons Ride Rankings29:37 What Counts as Simulator33:58 Final Ranking Readout34:45 Fast and Furious Sidebar36:54 Listener Mailbag42:18 Disney Park Outfit Memories44:47 Wrap Up and AnniversaryFollow UsBlue Sky | Facebook | Threads | InstagramEmail: [email protected]

Lightspeed for the Moon of Endor as AJ, Mike, and Chris welcome you aboard Star Tours! This classic Disney attraction brought George Lucas's Star Wars universe to the Disney parks around the world in a big way, and its legacy continues today. Learn how motion simulators were first planned for Disneyland, the initial ideas for Star Wars attractions, and how this journey continues today.00:00 May the Fourth Banter01:44 Why Star Tours Now02:25 1987 Pop Culture Time Capsule03:39 Origins of Simulator Rides08:30 Eisner Pushes New IP09:59 Early Star Wars Ride Concepts12:34 Lucas Partnership and Tech15:06 Building the Ride Film18:11 From Inner Space to Star Tours19:25 Grand Opening Hype20:38 Queue Storytelling Begins25:18 Droids and Maintenance Bay27:27 Safety Video and Loading29:28 Boarding the Star Speeder30:46 Cast Member Comedy31:33 Rex Animatronic Reveal32:24 Maintenance Bay Drop33:30 Lightspeed and Comets35:36 Death Star Trench Run37:12 Canon Timeline Debate38:38 Landing and Exit Music39:59 Star Tours Goes Global42:31 Florida Endor Exterior46:04 Star Tours 2.0 Announced48:09 3D And CG Changes49:19 Shutdown and Last Flights51:10 New Scenes and Rebel Spy53:16 DJ Rex Lives On54:50 Personal Ride Memories57:51 Queue Gags and Sponsors59:35 Best Seats and Ride Feel01:00:01 Old Camcorder Disneyland Memory01:00:28 Star Tours 2.0 vs 1.001:01:31 Favorite Adventure Sequences01:02:41 Galaxy's Edge and Star Tours Future01:05:01 Simulators and Theme Park Tech01:06:40 Listener Mail and Weenies01:08:24 Disney Outside Disney Ideas01:11:19 Ride Ads and Merch Splurges01:15:30 Show WrapFollow UsBlue Sky | Facebook | Threads | InstagramEmail: [email protected]

AJ is joined by Jeff Blyth, the director of The Timekeeper! Jeff discusses his early film career working as a helicopter cinematographer, his first time working with Circle-Vision, and the development of The Timekeeper. We debunk a long standing myth, uncover previously unknown details about the cast, and learn more about the challenges of filming in 360 degrees. You won't want to miss this!00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:28 Early Filmmaking Roots02:31 Helicopter Work on The Shining04:29 Wonders of China for Epcot08:40 Learning Circle-Vision Basics13:17 Hiding the Crew in 36017:58 Pushing Tech and Complexity26:47 Timekeeper Development and Eisner Notes30:26 Building Nine Eye for the Mirror31:53 International Cuts and Missing Scenes32:25 Japan Version Effects34:28 International Cut Decisions35:46 Directing Voice Talent37:15 Nerd Vision Scrutiny40:52 Robin Williams Myth47:54 French Timekeeper Debate49:38 Can Timekeeper Return52:05 Alex Mack Adventures55:58 Future of Circle Vision57:11 Book Plug & FarewellFollow UsBlue Sky | Facebook | Threads | InstagramEmail: [email protected]

Join AJ, Mike, and Chris as we travel back in time to 1994 to visit the Timekeeper. This beloved Circle-Vision 360 attraction revolutionized the format with innovative film techniques, special in-theater effects, and elaborate audio-animatronics. With memorable performances from the likes of Robin Williams and Jeremy Irons, this global attraction delighted guests in France, Florida, and Tokyo. We'd love to take the time to take you through time, so join us!00:00 Podcast Welcome02:03 1994 Pop Culture Check03:08 Circle Vision Explained05:03 From Travelogue to Story05:51 Creative Team Spotlight06:35 The Cast09:07 International Versions14:20 Animatronics in 36015:07 Origins Paris and Tokyo19:34 Almost Came to Disneyland20:45 Plot Walkthrough Begins22:16 Time Travel Misadventures24:30 Jules Verne in Present25:37 Modern World Montage26:54 Future Paris Finale27:24 Production Challenges30:03 Mozart Scene Secrets33:38 Train and Car Stunts36:36 Underwater Camera Rig37:47 Underwater Close Call38:46 Future Paris Effects40:26 Ray Harryhausen Encounter42:04 Cut Moscow Balloon Scene44:46 New York Replacement Footage47:17 Canceled Astronomers Club48:23 Closures and Replacements53:09 Tributes and Memories59:09 Jeff Blythe Interview Tease01:00:17 Listener Mail and WrapFollow UsBlue Sky | Facebook | Threads | InstagramEmail: [email protected]

For this bonus episode of 90s Disney, we rank theme park weenies! From castles to golf balls and ski jumps, we decide which park icons look the best.00:00 Intro00:32 What Is a Park Weenie01:48 Cinderella Castle04:04 Spaceship Earth07:06 Animal Kingdom Tree of Life09:55 Other Animal Kingdom Weenies11:54 Hollywood Studios Weenie Fight16:14 Disney World Rankings Recap16:45 Water Parks Icons19:52 Universal Orlando Icons24:47 Volcano Bay and Epic Universe29:39 California Parks Begin30:01 Castle Icon Debate30:50 Ranking the Castle32:31 California Adventure Icon Hunt35:28 Mickey Wheel Verdict39:22 Universal Globe Showdown40:12 Final Weenie Rankings41:55 Mailbag44:30 Bread Service46:19 Coaster Fear Tips47:29 Villains Land Reactions49:37 Off Brand Park Shirts51:49 Trip Report Highlights54:43 Live Chat Food Questions56:30 Bat Versus Knife Debate58:24 Next Episode Teaser01:00:34 Wrap Up and FarewellFollow Us⁠Blue Sky⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Threads⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠Email: ⁠[email protected]

AJ, Mike, and Chris Minotti celebrate Cinderella Castle's return to its classic grey and blue color scheme by exploring the history of the 25th Anniversary Cinderella Castle Cake. We reveal the creators behind this architectural confection, the surprising building materials utilized, and the one brand name of candy that was allowed to be included. While it was polarizing during its 15 month run, we always had a sweet spot for this special bit of Disney magic. Did the castle cake ruin your wedding photos or disrupt your Walt Disney World vacation?00:00 Introduction00:41 Why the Cake Castle01:27 1996 Pop Culture Check03:05 Designing Cinderella Castle05:05 Myths Materials and Scale11:43 Other Disney Castles13:00 Epcot Icon Idea Scrapped15:48 Eisner Goes Full Cake19:58 Candy Design Challenges23:08 Building with Balloons28:43 Cake Castle Stats Timeline29:55 Love It or Hate It32:14 50th Anniversary Critique33:08 Happily Ever After Projections34:12 Millennium Wand and Epcot Decor35:41 Studios Icons and Sorcerer Hat38:20 Projection Mapping Evolution39:14 Do Celebrations Still Matter40:23 Castle Colors and Nostalgia42:41 Listener Comments and Drinks43:34 Villains Land Rumor Talk47:46 Coaster Speed Debate Game51:10 Trip Prep Media Rituals52:29 Planning Universal Plus Disney57:20 Wrap Up and Next Episode