The Disney Avenue Podcast features interviews, insights and opinions with top Imagineers and other popular figures in the Disney stratosphere. We hope you enjoy your stroll down Disney Avenue; it's not Main Street, but it's close to it!

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March 2015
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It's the most wonderful time of year here on the Disney Avenue Podcast and boy, what an amazing show we have in store for you. As many of you know, Christmas and Disney go hand in hand. I’ve yet to experience a Christmas display or Spectacle anywhere on earth that can top Disney. The beautiful lights and decorations along Main Street, the beauty of Cinderella Castle decked out in millions of lights, and, of course, that little light show over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the truly breathtaking Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. 

As many of you may have heard by now, this year, 2015, will be the last year that Disney will be showcasing this 20-year-old holiday tradition. And so, with the Holiday Season now upon us and with the closing of the Osborne Lights, I thought, what can we do here on the Disney Avenue Podcast to really capture that Disney Christmas spirit, what can we do to entertain our listeners and bring them more of our signature interviews, history and stories from big names in the Disney stratosphere? And then it hit me! Why not continue a Disney Avenue Podcast Christmas tradition by inviting the top Disney historian and author on the planet earth to come on the show and tell us all about the history of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights and other gone but not forgotten Walt Disney World Christmas classics. So friends, it is with Christmas cheer and everything holly and jolly, to welcome back for a third time to the Disney Avenue Podcast, the one and only, Jim Korkis.

While listening to this wonderful show, please be sure to head on over to themeparkpress.com and grab yourself a copy of Jim's brand new books on sale now. There aren't better stocking stuffers around, I assure you! Merry Christmas everyone and enjoy the show...

 
 
 


The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_18_-_Osborne_Lights.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:25am PDT

The Disney Avenue Podcast returns with another amazing guest from the Disney universe. Dave Bossert, who is currently the Producer, Creative Director and Head of Classic Projects at Walt Disney Animation Studios, joins host Keith Michael Mahne and Dusty Sage of MiceChat.com for a spectacular interview. Dave Bossert studied at the Character Animation program at CalArts. He has contributed his talents as a visual effects animator to such films as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hercules, and many others. He is the author of one of my favorite books titled "Remembering Roy E. Disney: Memories and Photos of a Storied Life", which was published by Disney Press in 2013. He has also authored "An Animator's Gallery: Eric Goldberg Draws the Disney Characters" and his newest book "Dali and Disney: Destino" which are all available now on Amazon. Friends, it is with great excitement to welcome Dave Bossert to the Disney Avenue Podcast…Enjoy.

 
 
 


The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Direct download: No_Commercial_Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_17_-_Dave_Bossert_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:28pm PDT

This time around on the Disney Avenue Podcast, we interview the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World Resort, the incredible Lee Cockerell. As the Senior Operating Executive for ten years, Lee has led a team of 40,000 Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations which supported the number one vacation destination in the world. Lee offers us some wonderful insight on what it takes to run a resort complex like the incredible Walt Disney World. This is a show you won't want to miss...

 
 
 


The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_16_-_Lee_Cockerell_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:55pm PDT

Welcome friends to another episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast. As you all know, the Disney community is unlike any other. It's filled with amazing people who love to help each other out and enjoy reveling in the magic together. Although we are all different, we all share and have experienced that feeling you get when you walk into a Disney Park. We all know that feeling of safety and escape it provides us. Someone who really appreciates that comfort is a wonderful man named Guy Spagnoli. Guy is a Vietnam veteran, and just like all of our service men and women, is a hero in my opinion. Guy is currently the subject of a documentary in production called Keep Moving Forward about his struggles with PTSD and how he uses Disney to self-medicate. I think it's an important story to be told and one we can all relate to which is why I’ve invited Guy and the producers of this heartfelt documentary, Brent and Emily on the show so that you can hear from them personally and understand why this project is so important. It is with great honor and respect to welcome Guy Spangnoli and the producers of the documentary Keep Moving Forward, Brent Bandemer and Emily Strong to the Disney Avenue Podcast….Enjoy!

 
 
 
 


The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_15_-_Keep_Moving_Forward.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:25pm PDT

Welcome back friends to another special episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast. With all the excitement going on right now for the 60th anniversary of Disneyland, I though…what could we do on this show to really make it special for you in commemorating the 60th? And then it hit me…let's invite the one and only Marty Sklar to come back on the show and tell us all about the opening of Disneyland because, well, simply put, Marty was there with Walt on that special day!

Friends, it is with great joy and excitement that the Disney Avenue Podcast welcome back the legend himself to discuss the opening of Disneyland 60 years ago, the one and only Marty Sklar…..Enjoy!

 
 
 


The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_14_-_Marty_Sklar_Interview_02.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:24am PDT

Welcome to the April 2015 episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast! This month we have legendary animator Floyd Norman joining us. Though he prefers to be called a “cartoonist,” few other artists working in animation today can boast a career as varied as that of Floyd Norman. From the 1950s to today, Floyd’s diverse career, insightful viewpoint, and unflinching honesty have truly made him a Disney Legend.

The Disney Avenue Podcast is thrilled to bring to you the legendary animator himself. Enjoy!

 
 
 
 
The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_13_-_Floyd_Norman_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:26pm PDT

Welcome back friends to the March 2015 edition of the Disney Avenue Podcast! Host Keith Michael Mahne and Dusty Sage of MiceChat.com interview the queen of creativity herself, the amazingly talented Terri Harden. If you've always wanted to know how to become an Imagineer or wanted to hear what being an Imagineer is all about then you are in luck as Terri is about to lay it all out for you! Terri is the definition of creativity and is just an amazing person!

Just a few quick facts about her - she has been involved with over 42 films and TV projects including Ghostbusters and Captain EO. She is a tremendous sculptor and artist and always dreamed of landing a job as an Imagineer. In 1987 the company finally came calling and after 8 interviews she got the job! Your about to hear her wonderful story and get some really amazing insight into Imagineering. We'll also get a surprise visit by Terri's bulldog Tillie during the interview and you'll find out what I mean by that in a bit. It is with great pleasure to present to you the amazing Terri Hardin...

Terri is very open to helping others achieve their dreams of becoming a successful artist so if you'd like to follow Terri or even get in touch with her, make sure to visit her new website TerriHardinspeaks.com. If you'd like to stay up to date with DisneyAvenue.com, make sure to head on over to our Facebook page and join the 28,000 current members, it's a great community of Disney fans like yourselves and we always post our latest articles, photos and shows there. Lastly, and this is so important, if you've enjoyed today's show please click on the link to iTunes and leave us a quick rating and review. This will help us spread the word to other Disney fans out there and your support is greatly appreciated. Enjoy the show...

 
 
 
 
The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_12_-_Terri_Hardin_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:01am PDT

The Disney Avenue Podcast is back with this month's show featuring another fantastic interview with Disney Legend, Walt Disney Archives founder and former chief archivist David Smith! Dusty Sage, of MiceChat.com, teams up with host Keith Michael Mahne for another amazing show. It was a wonderful conversation and a whole lot of fun.

Walt Disney Archives founder and former chief archivist David Smith officially joined The Walt Disney Company on June 22, 1970, but his Disney roots are even deeper.

A fan of Disney films throughout his youth, Dave explained in our interview, “I grew up in Southern California, and so my appreciation of Disneyland began as a child.” In 1967, he had become interested in compiling an extensive bibliography on Walt Disney. With approval from the Disney organization, he spent more than a year researching all Disney publications and productions.

When the Disney family and Studio management decided to attempt to preserve Walt Disney’s papers, awards, and memorabilia, it was natural for them to contact Dave to do a study, and make a recommendation which established the guidelines and objectives of the Archives. Dave was selected as archivist, and in the years since the Archives was established it has come to be recognized as a model among corporate archives in the country. Dave is regarded as the final authority on matters of Disney history.

The Disney Avenue Podcast is pleased to present our interview with the legend himself, Dave Smith...Enjoy!

 
 
 
 
The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!
Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_11_-_Dave_Smith_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:27pm PDT

Born in Southern California in 1952, Ron was born to be a performer.  He was a puppeteer, ventriloquist, magician and actor, who was fascinated by Walt Disney’s Disneyland and so was born his dream of one day performing at the park. Ron got his first theme park job in 1970, and over the ensuing 40 years he’s done it all – writing, directing, consulting, managing and performing for multiple production companies and in eight theme parks and five themed restaurants across America.


Some of his roles were as the comic in Disneyland’s Golden Horseshoe Revue, King Henry 8th in 1520 A.D. Medieval Restaurant, the strolling Dreamfinder in EPCOT Center’s Journey Into Imagination, creative supervisor for Universal Studios Florida’s Celebrity Look-Alikes and historical re-enactor in Titanic, the Exhibition. Today, Ron makes his home in Central Florida where he keeps busy writing, acting, doing voice-overs and consulting on media and themed entertainment projects.

Ron has a wonderful book out called From Dreamer to Dreamfinder that you can purchase here at Bamboo Forest Publishing or from Amazon.

The Disney Avenue Podcast is honored to have him on the show with us today and so, without further ado, the Disney Avenue Podcast presents Ron Schneider…Enjoy!

 
 
 
 
 
The Disney Avenue Podcast would like to thank our producer Geren Piltz and our graphic designer Brian Vermillion for their contributions to this show!

 

Direct download: Disney_Avenue_Podcast_-_Show_10_-_Ron_Schneider_Interview.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:57pm PDT