Fastpass to the Past: The Theme Park History Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this exclusive excerpt from our new book, discover Walt Disney's early life in Kansas City. We'll explore Walt's earliest inspiration for Disneyland, his childhood amusement park. Walk the flower-lined avenues of the lost Electric City park that continued to inspire Walt throughout his career, long after the 100,000 gleaming lights went out.

*Fastpass to the Past: The Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland * -Out Now!
Explore the fascinating history behind Disneyland – a theme park history book for kids 9 to 12.

Inspire an interest in history with this fun and immersive journey across 20th century US history through the lens of the happiest place on earth. From awful ideas left on the drawing board to actual flying (and sinking!) ships, Fastpass to the Past: A Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland is a thrilling grand circle tour of Disneyland's past and present.

In this California history book, kids will walk in the footsteps of Walt Disney before discovering the inspiring stories and hidden Disneyland secrets behind ALL of their favorite theme attractions, including The Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight, and even Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

Purchase the Book

Behind the Scenes Content

Links:

• Purchase The Book: Fastpass to the Past: The Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland — Explore the fascinating history behind Disneyland – a theme park history book for kids 9 to 12.Inspire an interest in history with this fun and immersive journey across 20th century US history through the lens of the happiest place on earth. From awful ideas left on the drawing board to actual flying (and sinking!) ships, Fastpass to the Past: A Jr. Historian’s Guide to Disneyland is a thrilling grand circle tour of Disneyland’s past and present.In this California history book, kids will walk in the footsteps of Walt Disney before discovering the inspiring stories and hidden Disneyland secrets behind ALL of their favorite theme attractions, including The Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan’s Flight, and even Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
• Behind the Scenes Content | Fastpass to the Past

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Since Disneyland's opening in 1955, every designer who has been tasked with creating a new Main Street for a new Disney park has had to live up to that first nostalgic thoroughfare, the only one Walt actually had a hand in designing, while also setting the scene for the rest of the park. For Disneyland Paris, this task fell to a young brand-new Imagineer and self-proclaimed Disneytologist, Eddie Sotto, who envisioned a very different Main Street USA.

Eddie spent over a year working on a Main Street inspired by the stories of the Roaring '20s, and the jazz, cinema, art deco, and gangsters that populated the decade. His design included a hidden restaurant in a locomotive, a speakeasy jazz club, and police raids. Unfortunately, due to creative and financial reasons, his plans never saw the light of day in Paris. In this new part of the 'Lost Lands of Disneyland' series, we go back to the drawing board, deep in the Walt Disney Company archive, to see what this Roaring 20's entrance sequence would have looked like.

Links:

• Pre-Order Our New Book! Fastpass to the Past: The Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland
• The How of Wow! | Eddie Sotto | TEDxBermuda - YouTube
• Disney and More - Main Street 1920's Early Draft
• Disney and More - The Disneyland Paris That Never Was
• Disney and More - Disneyland Paris That Never Was, Part 2
• Disney and More - Why Disneyland Paris Book Is Great
• Yesterland.com: Disneyland Paris, From Sketch To Reality
• Eddie Sotto (@boss_angeles) / Twitter
• Disney and More - Disneyland Paris That Never Was, Part 3
• The Disneyland Paris That Could Have Been: Speakeasies, Gangsters, and a 1920s Jazz Club — No time to listen? Read my article on the topic, which is filled with concept art.

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The first part of the 'Lost Lands of Disneyland' - a series of closed attractions, forgotten announcements, and especially those plans that never made it off the drawing board. Discovery Bay is one of those ill-fated plans. Not unlike the Villain theme park and such that has been making the rounds on the internet lately. However, unlike that concept fraught with uncertainties and speculation, Disneyland’s Discovery Bay was officially announced to the Disney loving-public. Why then did it never grace that elusive theme park map? Today, we’ll explore the tumultuous tale leading up to its design, what this magnificent land would’ve contained, and how it settled down in only die-hard Disney fans' memories. So… hold on tight as we uncover the sunken mysteries of Discovery Bay

Links:

• Lands That Never Were - Duchess of Disneyland
• Discovery Bay | Disney Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia
• D23 to Celebrate Discovery Bay | HuffPost
• Discovery Bay detailed at Destination D | Inside the Magic
• Disneyland Then, Now, and Forever: Tim O'Day, Bruce Gordon
• Disneyland the Nickel Tour: A Postcard Journey Through a Half Century of the Happiest Place on Earth: Bruce Gordon
• T-Shirts by Fastpass to the Past: The Theme Park History Podcast - TeePublic Store | TeePublic — Are you a theme park history expert? Show the world (world showcase that is) with these unique designs and t-shirts inspired by the Fastpass to the Past podcast.
• Pre-Order Our New Book! Fastpass to the Past: The Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland

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Widely regarded as Walt Disney World's worst attraction of all time, The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management is the catastrophic 90’s overlay of Walt Disney’s beloved Tiki Room attraction in Florida that included crude humor, Iago from Aladdin, Zazu from The Lion King, and that actually ended its run-in immersed in flames. Even if you never had the misfortune to experience Under New Management, today Austin is going to discuss just how and why such a strange overlay ended up in the middle of Disney World’s Adventureland.

Links:

• The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management at the Magic Kingdom - YouTube
• Tokyo Disneyland: The Enchanted Tiki Room Get the Fever! - YouTube
• The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents Aloha E Komo Mai at Tokyo Disneyland - YouTube
• Tropical Serenade - WDW Original Tiki Room Attraction
• Dog Days? Not! In the Tiki Room, Every Bird Has Its Say | Disney Parks Blog
• Small fire doused at Disney's Magic Kingdom Tiki Room attraction - Orlando Sentinel
• This Attraction Was So Bad Disney Fans Cheered When it Closed Forever | Theme Park Tourist
• Yesterland.com: The Enchanted Tiki Room—Under New Management
• The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) - Wikipedia
• Disney World’s Enchanted Tiki Room will reopen Aug. 15 with Vintage Show | The AtomicGrog.com Blog
• The World of Forgotten Disney - The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management - Wattpad
• What was so wrong with The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management? | The DIS Disney Discussion Forums - DISboards.com
• 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
• The Enchanted Tiki Room -- Under New Management Reviews
• Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management | Extinct Disney
• T-Shirts by Fastpass to the Past: The Theme Park History Podcast - TeePublic Store | TeePublic — Are you a theme park history expert? Show the world (world showcase that is) with these unique designs and t-shirts inspired by the Fastpass to the Past podcast.
• Pre-Order Our New Book! Fastpass to the Past: The Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland

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In this two-part episode, Austin will discuss one of most innovative and expensive opening day attractions ever to grace a theme park map, Universal Orlando’s Jaws, and how it was the result of the one of theme park history’s darkest and yet most inspiring period – the “arms race for Orlando” between The Walt Disney Company and Universal Studios Hollywood in the 1970’s.

Links:

• Pre-Order Our New Book! Fastpass to the Past: The Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland
• Design: Just for Fun: Bob Gurr, Martin A. Sklar
• History of Universal Orlando
• Jaws - theStudioTour.com
• Jaws: The Ride - theStudioTour.com
• 1990 Universal Studios Florida - The ORIGINAL JAWS RIDE Training Video! - YouTube
• Jaws: How Universal’s Shark Ride Turned into a Real-Life Disaster | Theme Park Tourist
• JAWS: The Ride | Universal Studios ORLANDO
• The Last Ride Ever on Jaws at Universal Studios Orlando - YouTube
• T-Shirts by Fastpass to the Past: The Theme Park History Podcast - TeePublic Store | TeePublic — Are you a theme park history expert? Show the world (world showcase that is) with these unique designs and t-shirts inspired by the Fastpass to the Past podcast.

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In this two-part episode, Austin will discuss one of most innovative and expensive opening day attractions ever to grace a theme park map, Universal Orlando’s Jaws, and how it was the result of the one of theme park history’s darkest and yet most inspiring period – the “arms race for Orlando” between The Walt Disney Company and Universal Studios Hollywood in the 1970’s.

Links:

• Pre-Order Our New Book! Fastpass to the Past: The Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland
• Design: Just for Fun: Bob Gurr, Martin A. Skla
• History of Universal Orlando | OrlandoVacation.com
• 1990 Universal Studios Florida - The ORIGINAL JAWS RIDE Training Video! - YouTube
• JAWS: The Ride | Universal Studios Orlando
• Jaws: The Ride - theStudioTour.com
• Jaws - theStudioTour.com
• Jaws: How Universal’s Shark Ride Turned into a Real-Life Disaster | Theme Park Tourist
• T-Shirts by Fastpass to the Past: The Theme Park History Podcast - TeePublic Store | TeePublic — Are you a theme park history expert? Show the world (world showcase that is) with these unique designs and t-shirts inspired by the Fastpass to the Past podcast.

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In this episode, Austin will be taking a deep dive into the history behind a relatively recent addition to the Disneyland and Disney World Resorts - Trader Sam's. Tune in to learn about the origin, design, and tiki inspiration behind one of Disney's most elaborate attractions - and it isn't even technically in a theme park!

Links:

• Pre-Order Our New Book! Fastpass to the Past: The Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland
• The ART(ifacts) of Trader Sam’s – EndorExpress — An Interview with Brandon Kleyla (Lead Set Decorator)
• Kevin Kidney: Trader Sam's Tiki Bar — Blog Post by Trader Sam's Set Decorator Kevin Kidney
• The Explorium - The Sublimity of Trader Sam’s
• Trader Sam's Backstory & Details - Disney Tourist Blog
• Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto design | The AtomicGrog.com Blog
• Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar in Anaheim, CA | Critiki
• Complete Guide to Trader Sam's Grog Grotto Tiki Mugs
• Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar Has a Tiki Track of Mind | OC Weekly
• Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar: Drinking at Disneyland, A Dispatch | L.A. Weekly
• Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar - Wikipedia
• Tiki VIP #26 Brandon Kleyla (The Man Behind Trader Sam’s) - Tiki with Ray
• T-Shirts by Fastpass to the Past: The Theme Park History Podcast - TeePublic Store | TeePublic — Are you a theme park history expert? Show the world (world showcase that is) with these unique designs and t-shirts inspired by the Fastpass to the Past podcast.

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In this episode, Austin and special guest, Carolyn, discuss (and debate) 3 of the most dangerous rides The Walt Disney Company has ever seen and, yes, one is actually still in operation. Tune in to learn about attractions and incidents that inspired modern-day theme park safety mechanisms and that may or may not be responsible for shuttering the queues of some of Disneyland's most beloved and deadly attractions.

Links:

• Pre-Order Our New Book! Fastpass to the Past: The Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland
• Mouse Tales: A Behind-The-Ears Look at Disneyland: David Koenig (Book)
• Incidents at Disneyland Resort
• Abandoned: Why One of Disney's Best Ever Attractions is Rotting in Plain Sight- Theme Park Tourist
• Disneyland Skyway Death
• T-Shirts by Fastpass to the Past: The Theme Park History Podcast - TeePublic Store | TeePublic — Are you a theme park history expert? Show the world (world showcase that is) with these unique designs and t-shirts inspired by the Fastpass to the Past podcast.

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In this episode, Austin will be talking about the origin and eventual demise of all four(!) defunct boat rides of Disneyland. Tune in to learn about The Phantom Boats, the Mike Fink Knell Boats, The Canal Boats Around the World, and the Motor Boat Cruise. All attractions that have been lost to the past (and one that sunk to the bottom of the river).

Links:

• Pre-Order Our New Book! Fastpass to the Past: The Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland
• Canal Boats Of The World - Duchess of Disneyland — Fantasyland – The Canal Boats of the World were located in the rear of Fantasyland, between Tomorrowland and the Autopia track. It’s re-themed replacement, the Storybook Land Canal Boats, occupies the exact same location today.
• Disney Afternoon Avenue at Yesterland — Take the Motor Boat Cruise to Gummi Glen to learn how Gummi Berry juice is made.
• Mike Fink Keelboats — Article on the Walt Disney World attraction.
• Mike Fink's Gullywhumper - Disneyland Facts & History — All about the Gullywhumper.
• (1) Mike Fink Keel Boats--Disneyland History--1950's--TMS-489 - YouTube — Based on the Davy Crockett television series, guests ride around the river aboard the "Gullywhumper" or the "Bertha Mae."
• Mike Fink Keel Boats
• Mike Fink Keel Boats - Duchess of Disneyland
• Mike Fink Keel Boats at Yesterland
• Phantom Boats! - Disney History Institute — The boats in Tomorrowland were the first attraction to be removed from Disneyland.  To put this in perspective, another troublesome Tomorrowland attraction, the Rocket Rods lasted nearly three years.  The Phantom Boats lasted just one. 
• Tomorrowland Phantom Boats - Duchess of Disneyland — The “Tomorrowland Boats” debuted on Opening Day, as one of the land’s main attractions.
• An Abandoned Disneyland Attraction - Forgotten History! - YouTube
• Extinct Attractions: Disneyland's Motor Boat Cruise Documentary with David Oneal - YouTube
• Motor Boat Cruise at Yesterland — Have a seat in a genuine motorboat.
• Aquatopia Day Time POV Tokyo DisneySea Japan On-Ride - YouTube
• T-Shirts by Fastpass to the Past: The Theme Park History Podcast - TeePublic Store | TeePublic — Are you a theme park history expert? Show the world (world showcase that is) with these unique designs and t-shirts inspired by the Fastpass to the Past podcast.

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In this episode, Austin will tell the origin story and explain the legacy of America's First Theme Park - Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA. The tale of Walter Knott, a poor berry farmer, who lifted his family out of poverty and the Great Depression through ingenuity and an unbelievable work ethic is a great one. Their roadside berry stands quickly evolved to a full-scale chicken restaurant and later into a theme park in its own right. Austin will also discuss Walter Knott's tumultuous friendship with Walt Disney, that later descended into a rivalry with the opening of Disneyland, which was just a couple miles away. Check out the show notes on themeparkhistorypodcast.com for more information, fun facts, and resources!

Links:

• Historic Knott's Berry Farm — A few relics of Knott's earliest days still survive - if you know where to look for them.
• Knott’s Preserved Book — A great book for everything you ever wanted to know about Knott's Berry Farms and more.
• Knott's Preserved — Photos of Different Times in Knott's Berry Farm's History
• The History of Knott's Berry Farm: From Roadside Pie Stand to Theme Park - Entertainment Designer — Sifting through the history of Knott’s Berry Farm, one discovers a uniquely American tale of ingenuity and perseverance. What began as a small berry stand on highway 39 through Buena Park, California is now “The Theme Park Californians Call Home.” Unlike nearby Disneyland, which was organized around a very specific vision, Knott’s Berry Farm grew organically from a combination of hard work, the right location, and a commitment to family fun into what is arguably America’s first theme park.
• Interview of Walter Knott
• Venice Amusement Pier
• The History of Holiday World Theme Park — Opened in 1946, Koch says that Santa Claus Land was the "first theme park in the world." It certainly pre-dates Disneyland (which opened in 1955), but arguments could be made that other "theme parks" going back to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition or even Denmark's Tivoli Gardens, built in 1843, preceded Santa Claus Land. And other parks, including Disneyland's neighbor, Knott's Berry Farm, also lay claim to the world's first theme park title.
• Merry-Go-Round in Griffith Park Inspired Walt Disney to Create Disneyland
• When Orange County Was Rural (And Oranges Actually Grew There) | KCET
• T-Shirts by Fastpass to the Past: The Theme Park History Podcast - TeePublic Store | TeePublic — Are you a theme park history expert? Show the world (world showcase that is) with these unique designs and t-shirts inspired by the Fastpass to the Past podcast.
• Pre-Order Our New Book! Fastpass to the Past: The Jr. Historian's Guide to Disneyland

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