What does a cocktail shaker and a 5-gallon canister of kerosene have to do with the Tower of Terror?

Drop in with us to the Hollywood Tower Hotel as we explore the story, mechanical design, and construction of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror! This episode of our Distory with Kate and Kirk podcast explains how the complicated ride system operates, with some unique details and information from the Imagineers who worked on the project in the 1990s. We start with a detailed telling of the attraction’s backstory before moving on to explore the history of elevators, explore some Disney “firsts” (and fact check some things that were not, in fact, “first”), and then move on to explaining how this attraction was engineered. Kirk takes us back in time, Kate takes us back to Big Thunder for a moment, and we wrap up the Tower’s construction journey with a few thoughts from Imagineers (and a hilarious story from opening day).

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

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View 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!

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Kate’s Substack

Everything you know about Sunset Boulevard is a lie. Well, maybe not ALL of it... But you probably don't know why it exists in the first place.

On this episode of Distory, we are checking into the iconic Twilight Zone Tower of Terror to explore the evolution of the attraction's concept. After discovering how the Tower was named, we visit some rare Imagineering brainstorming notes, meet some boiler ghosts, and uncover how the design of the Tower impacted the entirety of the Sunset Boulevard expansion. Kate takes us through Kevin Rafferty's pitch to Michael Eisner, Kirk talks about design elements that came from historic places, and we pick apart the architecture to figure out the hodgepodge Hollywood Tower Hotel look. As we close down this episode, we run into Richard Nixon, meet some Queen Mary ghosts, and debunk a myth with the help of some Imagineering friends, a story that has been mistaken for truth by the Disney history community for years.

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠disneycicerone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠walruscarp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Kate’s Substack

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Full Imagineering Panel Interview

The Tower of Terror was one of two major e-ticket attractions Disney considered for the Sunset Boulevard expansion. So what happened to the other one?

In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we check in to a new series exploring the details and history of the Tower of Terror, beginning with its context and backstory. We start with the history of freefall rides and how they evolved over time to set the stage for the Tower later on. Kate then takes us on a weird journey through the Twilight Zone television show before we visit the development of Disney's MGM studios (and Sunset Blvd in particular) and Disney's competition with Universal Studios Florida. We finish this episode with a discussion of a unique monster-themed attraction that never got the green light at Imagineering for this Hollywood-themed park, and highlight where you can still find some small pieces of this lost concept in the Disney parks today.

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠disneycicerone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠walruscarp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

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Kate’s Substack

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Disney almost had a Legend of Sleepy Hollow ride, in not one, but TWO different parks.

In this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk, we unearth some rare concepts for an Ichabod Crane-themed attraction by Imagineering—ideas that, much to our chagrin, never saw the light of day. We begin with a brief tour through the history of the Sleepy Hollow portion of The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, highlighting some incredible concept art by Mary Blair. From there, we head over to Walt Disney World to investigate what happened to Ichabod in both Fantasyland and Liberty Square. Along the way, we explore architectural influences rooted in literary history, uncover the origins of a classic Haunted Mansion song, and learn the backstory behind a popular invisible dog joke. Kate also shares details about a little-known, never-realized land once proposed for Disneyland. Meanwhile, Kirk terrifies us with a bizarre attraction from Hong Kong and reveals some shadowy concepts that reflect his deepest wishes for Liberty Square. We end the episode watching the Headless Horseman ride into the sunset—along with our hopes for what could have been (and may never be) when it comes to seeing this eerie attraction brought to life in the Disney parks.

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠disneycicerone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠walruscarp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

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Kate’s Substack

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What would it have looked like if Mr. Toad made a comeback in the Magic Kingdom?

In this episode of Distory, we head back to Mr. Toad's in Walt Disney World for one last ride before they demolished this beloved attraction. After finishing our detailed journey through Track B (learning about Disney's oldest criminal along the way), we have a virtual Toad-In as we protest the closure of this iconic ride. After we've accepted Toad's fate, we highlight a few places you can still visit J. Thaddeus in the park and debunk a wildly accepted Disney rumor. We wrap up this series with some incredible, rare Disney concept art featuring a modern version of Mr. Toad in the Magic Kingdom that sadly never came to pass, and we toast our hero, Mr. Toad, who will always be remembered, even if he wasn't quite as profitable as Winnie the Pooh.

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠disneycicerone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠walruscarp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

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Kate’s Substack

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What are several glaring anachronisms in Walt Disney World’s Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride?

On this episode of Distory, we motor on through the first half of Track B in the extinct Walt Disney World version of Mr. Toad, looking for the details and history that have been lost over time. After discussing some silly portraits (and a disappointing motto) in Toad Hall, we crash into the library and find some anachronistic quills, a few connections to Disneyland, and a surprising origin of a word connected to a piece of armor. We then fly out into the barnyard to explore some recycled Bruce Bushman concepts, learn about curly pig tails, and admire some eyelashes. Kirk gives us a lesson on Disney’s favorite chickens, Kate gives a rundown of some repeated audio animatronics, and we end this episode toasting Disney’s incredible illusioneer Yale Gracey, who brought us chicken mobiles, pouring tea, mylar flames. and so much more.

Join us LIVE on YouTube most Thursdays at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

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View full video versions of each episode at Disney Cicerone's YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR on the Spotify version of our podcast.

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Kate’s Substack

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What artwork appeared in WDW’s Mr. Toad that would NEVER be in a Disney ride today?

In this episode of Distory, we head back to Walt Disney World’s extinct Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride attraction to finish motoring through Track A. After going the wrong way down a one way street, we spend some time meeting the inhabitants of Town Square (and discovering some borrowed lamps along the way). Kirk teaches us how to mount a penny-farthing and Kate shares some heartwarming stories of Alice and Marc Davis before we pop on into Winky’s pub to discover some shocking artwork and a few design flaws. After discovering another Disney blunder in the Keg Room, we dash our way through the Rain Room and get hit by a train before descending into the hot place, where Kate shows some old Bruce Bushman concepts to explain a missing scene that no one ever talks about in Disney history.

Join us LIVE on YouTube every Thursday at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Kate’s Substack

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Why did Rolly Crump add a Gypsy Camp to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride?

In this episode of Distory, we continue motoring through track A of Walt Disney World’s extinct Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride attraction. As we crash through the kitchen window, we head out into the woods to explore some Rolly Crump posters foreshadowing the camp around the corner. After Kirk does some palm reading and tells Kate’s fortune, we do a deep dive into Romani culture and history in order to understand what this unique scene is all about, and why Rolly Crump chose to put it in this attraction. Kirk gets excited about some wagons, Kate teaches us about what instruments should (and should not) be in this scene, and we find a few familiar characters before coming to a screeching halt just before we slam into a sideways caravan door into next scene.

Note: We know that “Gypsy” is a derogatory term for the Romani people, but it is historically accurate to this scene as that is how it is described on the 1971 blueprints and layout. So, for the sake of historical accuracy, we do use this terminology in this episode.

Join us LIVE on YouTube every Thursday at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern for more Distory!

Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Kate’s Substack

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