Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast...Episode 78

Welcome to episode 78 of Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast! Well, we're back to a more 'normal' format this time around. No special interviews. No special coverage. Just us. Doing what we do. Sharing Disney Magic with YOU!

So, we kind of went a little long in Host Chat. What can we say? We had a lot to share. But it's fun. Well, kind of. Joyce and I chatted about what's going on around the old Tales House including what we HOPE is the start of a cooler season here in Arizona. Man it's been HOT! I mean like, Africa hot! Today was kind of a nice day, overcast, rainy. But still on the warm side but hey, it's a start, right?

Narrated by Al Kessel

We also chatted about my (Al) recent audiobook completion. This one marks number six for me and is titled The Warrior and the Flower, by Camille Picott. This was truly a fun book to narrate. I know what you're thinking: you HAVE to say that. Well, not really. But I really mean it. This was really a great novel. It's an Asian Fantasy, all about this ragged and worn warrior who adopts an eight year old girl. Well, saves her from a life of misery really. While he's trying to figure out just how to raise a little girl, he's also battling some pretty nasty villains in an effort to save the World Kingdom from total anarchy. See? Told you it was fun! The audiobook was approved recently by the author and should be up for purchase by the end of September at audible.com and iTunes. 

And of course, we shared a couple reviews. Joyce shared a few of her favorite attractions at Disneyland, and I shared a food review on Disneyland's Rancho Del Zocallo. If you like Mexican food, well, trust me, you'll have to tune in to my review. 

PLUS, and this is AWESOME news...our great friend and podcast sponsor Randy Crane from Mouse Ear Vacations has signed on for another sponsorship year! It's great to have Randy as part of the Tales Family and we're both very grateful for all he's done for the show. Thanks Randy! Everyone, send Randy a BIG thank you on Facebook!! 


We'll be sharing Faye Crane's D23 Expo coverage in an upcoming blog this week, so if you missed her episode (76), you can read all about it. Then go back and listen. Cuz there's no excuse. You MUST listen!! 

Congrats Jason!

What else....OH, we also announced the winner of our Ben G. Pirates Of The Caribbean Four Movie Blu-Ray Collection Trivia Contest Giveaway! We had a LOT of entries this time around, but only a few were correct. And the lucky winner of that AWESOME giveaway is....(insert drumroll here) Jason Gordon! Congrats Jason! Thanks to EVERYONE for entering and keep an ear out for some great contests coming up soon. 


Hey, if YOU'RE in need of a great travel agent, why not give our sponsor, Randy Crane from Mouse Ear Vacations a holler! I bet he can make YOUR vacation a MAGICAL one! Visit Randy at www.randyc-mouseearvacations.com. NOW is the time to book your 2015 Disney D23 Expo adventure! 

As always, If you’d like to send in comments for the show, you can send us an email to talespodcast@cox.net, leave us voicemail on the Hotline at 304-TALES23, leave us feedback in iTunes or leave comments for us on our Twitter account @talespodcast. Heck, you can even find us on FaceBook, just search for Tales From The House House - Disneyland podcast! If you'd like to listen to the show, you can find it on iTunes, on our podcast site at talescast.com, the direct episode link: Episode 78, or on Stitcher Radio now! Just visit www.stitcher.com and search for Tales From The Mouse House - Disneyland Podcast!


Thanks for making us part of your Disney experience and remember…

"Make It A Mickey Day!" ~~ Al & Joyce

Happiest Blog on Earth...PIRATES!

Hey gang, sorry I missed my self-imposed blog deadline last week. But you see, there was this HUGE emergency I had to take care of, and then there was that urgent phone call I had to make, oh, and then I had to rush my friend to the…ok, well, those are not true at all! The truth is I got wrapped in to trying to sort out the details of the new Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast website that Tuesday came and went and I didn’t even realize it! The pitfalls of getting old..I mean, of being busy! Cuz, I’m NOT old…

So, what shall we talk about this week? Hmm, Pirates is a theme suggested by Lisa from Babes In Disneyland for her weekly blog hop. So, how about Pirates? Arrr! That be a right talk fer a salty ol’ sea adventuaaar like me!

Well, you come looking for salty old pirates eh? So let me tell you a story… a story of pirates, and ships, and swash buckling (what ever that means), and the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow! That’s right, I’m talking about the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California! One of my top three favorite attractions at the Resort, and one that Joyce and I never miss (that is, if it’s not closed!).  Ever since my first visit to the Disneyland Resort in 2007, Pirates of the Caribbean has been one of my all time favorite attractions, and to be completely honest, I have no idea why. I mean, other than it’s such an immersive, entertaining, well presented and completely realistic experience. But other than that, no clue.

So, I’m sure that you all know the story of the Pirates, so I won’t bore you with the details, but I will say that like Disneyland itself, this attraction has undergone a few upgrades to keep the story current and fun. When I first started going to the Resort, they had just introduced the ghostly image of Davy Jones telling us only the brave or foolish (not sure which one I am!) would go any farther. Now it’s Black Beard from On Stranger Tides giving us a sound warning. But, like the adventurous souls we be, our boat alters no course! YIKES!

Now, as I mentioned earlier, this really is one of my all time favorite attractions and for some reason, strikes a cord deep inside my heart. No, not in THAT way! In that, “makes you feel like a kid again” way that just makes me happy all over! I seriously can’t put a label on just exactly what it is about this attraction that I love so much, so I’ll just say it’s everything. Walt Disney set out to create not just another amusement park for people to enjoy, but a place to create memories. That may sound like a simple thing but it’s anything but simple. The memories he creates through his beloved Park are deeper than just fun, they’re connections to innocence. Maybe that’s why I love Pirates so much. When Joyce and I are sitting in our boat, I can FEEL those connections all around me. Almost as if…the attraction is haunted by the happy memories of countless families! Ok, too much? NAH!

Anyway…as many of you know, Joyce and I host Tales From The Mouse House Disneyland Podcast (hmm, I think I MAY have mentioned that a few times!), and if you’re interested in watching a fun video, check out episode 32, it’s our video podcast showcasing Pirates of the Caribbean and a few other adventures at the Disneyland Resort! Thanks for reading. And for forgiving me for missing last week. Oh, and for that drink I spilled on your carpet over the Holidays! Just kidding. Or am I??

~~~ Al



Duffy the Pirate Bear!!