90s Disney

Welcome to the 90s Disney Podcast! Join your hosts AJ, Mike, and Chris Minotti as they dive into the world of Disney's All-Star Resorts. Get ready for a nostalgic journey through the development, design, and experiences at these iconic value-priced accommodations.

The Need for Value

Remember the first thing that crossed your mind when planning a Disney trip? Cost, right? Discover how the expense of staying on Disney property led to the need for more affordable options, especially as more parks opened. Learn about the shift in guest behavior and Disney's desire to keep tourists within the magic.

Developing Value

Explore the decision to create the All-Star Resorts and the selection of 246 acres of land at the southern end of Disney property. This unique area, located in Osceola County, was a prime location for the new value-priced hotels. Dive into the details of the development process and the involvement of Architectonica, known for its high-tech modernism.

All-Star Sports

Take a closer look at the first of the All-Star Resorts to open, All-Star Sports, on April 29, 1994. Learn about the themed sections within the resort and the budget-conscious decisions made to keep prices low. From room sizes to landscaping, discover what made these resorts unique.

All-Star Music

Explore All-Star Music, with its separate themed "hotels" like Calypso and Broadway. This resort introduced family suites and offered guests a diverse musical experience. Find out how it differed from All-Star Sports and All-Star Movies.

All-Star Movies

Delve into the announcement of All-Star Movies and its opening on January 15, 1999. Explore the themed sections, including The Mighty Ducks, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Love Bug, Fantasia, and Toy Story.

What to Expect from a Stay Here

Get an overview of what you can expect during your stay at the All-Star Resorts, including dining options, pools, and themed areas within the resorts. Learn about the convenience of bus transportation to the parks and the pros and cons of each resort's location.

Refurbs

Discover the recent refurbishments of the All-Star Resorts and how they have enhanced the guest experience. From updated rooms to improved amenities, these changes have brought a fresh, modern feel to the resorts.

Our Memories of the Resort

Join us as we share their personal memories and stories from their stays at the All-Star Resorts, reminiscing about the fun and unique experiences we've had.

Where to Find Us

Welcome back to the 90s Disney Podcast! In this special episode AJ, Mike, and Chris take a nostalgic journey to explore the iconic PeopleMover and its transformation into the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Metro Liner Blue Line (TTA) at Walt Disney World.

Disneyland Origins

Join us as we delve into the origins of the PeopleMover, which opened in Disneyland's Tomorrowland on July 2, 1967. Discover how this futuristic monorail system, with its innovative electric motors, served as a model for transportation plans both for EPCOT and other cities. We'll also uncover the surprising history of Houston Airport's adoption of the WEDWay system in 1981.

Magic Kingdom's PeopleMover

Travel back in time to July 1975 when Walt Disney World introduced its own version of the WEDWay PeopleMover. Learn how this attraction was carefully integrated into Tomorrowland's development and discover its evolution from Space Port to the beloved Space Mountain.

New Tomorrowland

The excitement continues as we discuss the overhaul of Tomorrowland, resulting in the birth of the New Tomorrowland in June 1994. Inspired by Jules Verne and retro sci-fi, this revamped land featured a unified story that transformed the PeopleMover into the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Metro Liner Blue Line, your guide to the futuristic city hosting a spaceport and the League of Planets.

The Ride

Buckle up and join us for a virtual ride on the TTA Blue Line! From the Interplanetary Convention Center to a thrilling glimpse of Space Mountain's inner workings, we'll take you on a detailed tour of the sights and sounds that made this experience unforgettable.

Changes

Discover the changes that occurred over the years, including the 2009 refurbishment with a new narration by Mike Brassell. We'll also explore the 2022 refurbishment, where the attraction returned as the PeopleMover, featuring a new sponsor and narration by Stephen Stanton as ORAC-5.

Our Memories of the Ride

As we wrap up, we share our personal memories and stories of riding the PeopleMover/TTA, reminiscing about the magic and excitement that made it a cherished Disney experience.

Where to Find Us

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to join us for a movie. But not just any movie. It’s A Goofy Movie! Learn how Disney’s resident goof went from TV dad to star of his own feature film. We also learn how this film was produced around the world, the unorthodox way it was filmed, and the legacy of its incredible music. Grab your map, load up the station wagon, and practice your perfect cast (for your TikTok). It’s time to hit the open road!

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you on a magical journey through the history and development of Fantasmic!, the spectacular nighttime show that has been enchanting Disney Park guests since 1992. Join Mickey Mouse as his dream takes an unexpected twist, leading him to face off against a medley of Disney villains. Through stunning water screens, dazzling projections, and a delightful mix of live performers, Fantasmic! Has entertained audiences at Disney parks across the world. Get ready to embark on a magical journey you won't soon forget as you uncover the fascinating story behind Fantasmic! Just keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Fantasmic! - Disney Parks Fandom

AJ, Mike, and Chris are ready to explore the Pacific Northwest at the Wilderness Lodge. Come learn the intricate backstory of this resort, both its factual origins dating back to the 70s, and its mythological roots as the home of a fictional explorer and his daughter.

Mike shares his experience as a solo visitor here while we reminisce the times we visited Wilderness Lodge in the past to explore its grounds and, of course, its food!

WildernessLodgeSite.com!

AJ, Mike, and Chris revisit a time when Disney was preparing to heavily invest in gaming after the success of Alladin on the Sega Genesis. This led to a new starring vehicle for Donald Duck. Donald in Maui Mallard was originally released in Europe. From there it gets... complicated. We talk about the game's multiple versions, releases, and more.

Maui Mallard Interview with John Fiorito

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to take a spin on the now classic Disneyland attraction, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin. We explore all the other ways Roger almost came to the parks, the story of the imagineers that created the ride, and how the final attraction differs from what was planned. So hop aboard Lenny, watch out for weasels, and avoid the dip!

Somehow Jafar returned, and AJ, Mike, and Chris are here to get to the bottom of it! Join us as we explore the origins of the direct to video sequel that spawned an entirely new market for Disney. We discuss the movie's roots in the Aladdin TV show, the other sequel films it spawned, and how the creators feel about their creation. We hope you enjoy the show, because to us, you're always first rate!

AJ, Mike, and Chris talk all about our recent trip to Walt Disney World! Find out how six adults and six kids spent a week at the most magical place on Earth. AJ finally gets to experience Rise of the Resistance, Chris got to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind twice, and Mike ate and drank his way around the resort. We hope you enjoy getting to live vicariously through our family’s most recent visit to Disney World. Enjoy!

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to don your lanyard, unzip your binder, and display your finest Disney pins as we explore the history of Pin Trading at the Disney Parks. We learn about the cast members behind the scenes who brought this trend to life in the parks, the origins of traditional pin trading outside of Disney, and how one Disney park had to skip out on the pin trading craze because it was too successful!

AJ, Mike, and Chris are ready to check out the future at Innoventions. This unique ”World’s Fair” style pavilion at Epcot held the promise of showcasing the latest technology, products, and yes, video games before consumers would ever get their hands on them. Smart homes, super computers, and the Sega 32X dominated these complex corridors until corporate interest waned and consumer technology moved to quickly to keep the area up to date.

So grab a Beverly and some ice cream, and meet us under the Electric Umbrella. Just watch out for that Ballzac flying at you!

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to dine with the stars at Planet Hollywood. This global phenomenon took the world by storm in the early to mid-nineties, and Walt Disney World was no exception. Learn how the idea to eat in a showbiz museum was born, how the concept became reality, and what caused it all to go so horribly wrong. Pass the Chicken Crunch, grab a Home Alone, and have a seat under Sylvester Stallone's frozen body as we enjoy this month's episode!

AJ, Mike, and Chris discuss our favorite animatronics! From the life-like to the fantastical, we discuss the entire range of amazing creations found across the Disney parks. Did we miss your favorite? Be sure to let us know!

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to board an XP-37 Star Cruiser as you prepare to blast off to Planet Z. This month, we're talking all about Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin! Join us as we trace this modern classic's origin all the way back to 1972's If You Had Wings. Buzz's theme park debut proved so popular that a version of this attraction was created in every Disney resort around the world (until a tiny Avenger gave one of them the boot).

Are you a Galactic Hero or a Star Cadet? We unlock the secrets of defeating Zurg, spotting reference's to the attraction's past, and identifying the ways the original track layout from 1972 is still in use today. Was this all a ruse so we could talk about Delta Dream Flight on our 90s-focused podcast? You'll have to listen to find out.

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to journey aboard a short-lived attraction, the Discover River Boats. Is it a ride? Is it a mode of transportation? Is it any fun? We answer all of your questions that you definitely asked as we explore the legacy of this unique journey that gave us our best look at an Animal Kingdom that never was.

AJ, Mike, and Chris explore the origins of the Disney Vacation Club. Learn how this idea of vacation ownership originated in the 80s before coming to fruition in the Disney Decade. From the early days of what is now the Old Key West Resort to Chris’s experience as current member, you can learn all about the way points work, how the DVC has expanded over the years, and what perks come with membership. Just don’t call it a timeshare!

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to travel to the French countryside for the 30th anniversary of what was once known as Euro Disney. Learn about the alternative sites that almost became home to Disney’s European resort, the park’s initial failures, and its impact on the Disney Company for much of the 90s.

As the only Minotti brother to have been to France, Mike tells us about his time spent at Disneyland Paris. We talk about what’s different, what’s the same, and what makes this one of Disney’s most beautiful theme parks.

AJ, Mike, and Chris indulge their sweet tooth with their favorite confections, baked goods, and frozen goodies from around Walt Disney World (and beyond). Join us as we snack our way across the theme parks, resorts, and more as we share fond memories of our favorites!

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to journey 220 million years in the past along with Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy as we explore Ellen’s Energy Adventure. Find out how this 1996 revamp of the Universe of Energy evolved from the Epcot opening day original, what short lived 1.5 version of the attraction, and the victor in Ellen’s eternal battle against a dinosaur.

Did you ever want to go on vacation to learn stuff? If you said yes, AJ, Mike, and Chris have the show for you! Join us as we take a look back at one of Disney's more interesting experiments, the Disney Institute. Learn how this hands-on education resort rose from the ashes of an abandoned residential community. What did Eisner see this time that prompted the development of a massive educational facility for Walt Disney World guests, and why did it fail so quickly? Join us as we teach you about learning at Walt Disney World!

AJ, Mike, and Chris stroll down memory lane as we discuss the attractions, restaurants, and experiences we missed the most from Walt Disney World. Join us as we talk about some childhood favorites that live on in our memories. Do you miss the days of floating above Fantasyland ina sky bucket? Do you want WDI to bring back Dreamfinder? This is the show for you!

AJ, Mike, and Chris go from zero to hero to kick off the new year with a look at Disney’s Hercules. Join us as we discover how this film came to be from an early pitch involving the Trojan War to deal to one day get Treasure Planet green lit. Did Mike make up a Ricky Martin cover of Go the Distance in his head? There’s only one way to find out. Enjoy!

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to experience Disney's holiday classic, The Santa Clause, like never before. Join us as we discuss the creation of the first major starring role for Tim Allen as he becomes Santa Claus. Learn about animatronic reindeer, children's dentures, and the other actors that almost donned the fat suit. We hope you enjoy the show, but please be aware that pushing Mike off the roof and wearing his clothes is not a way to get on the podcast.

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you back to the 1950s and the height of the drive-in as we visit the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. Learn about the origins of this Hollywood Studios fan-favorite restaurant, how its famous 45-minute loop of movie trailers, intermission adverts, newsreels, and cartoons came to be, and what the menu looked like when the restaurant opened in 1991.

AJ, Mike, and Chris debate which monorail resort is the best. Who will win? Will it be the luxurious Grand Floridian, the exquisitely themed Polynesian, or the Contemporary, which has a monorail GO THROUGH THE BUILDING!?

AJ, Mike, and Chris are very pleased to bring a special episode to you this month. To celebrate the upcoming 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beast, we are thrilled to welcome Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale to the show! Kirk and Gary co-directed this Academy Award-nominated film. They graciously agreed to sit down with AJ to discuss their personal experiences while working on this film. We put internet rumors to rest, discover how far one can launch a donut with surgical tubing, and discover how a group of animators, writers, and artists came together to create one of the greatest animated films ever produced.

AJ, Mike, and Chris talk about some of their favorite roller coasters. Not just a Disney parks, our journey takes us to Universal, Cedar Point, and more!

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to join us backstage at the hottest concert in town! This month we're talking all about Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith! We talk about the ride's history, the bands that almost got to headline the attraction, the technology behind the thrilling launch, and the completely different storyline the attraction has at the Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris. Traffic bug you? Then step on it! Walk this way for some sweet emotion as we present a ride that Mike will never go on. Unless a very specific change comes to the coaster. He still probably won't, though, but he'd think about it!

Join us as we talk about our favorite Fantasylands and the Fantasylands we want to visit. Whether you like the old-school charm of Disneyland's Fantasyland, the expansive offerings of Walt Disney World's Fantasyland, or the high-tech thrills of Tokyo Disneyland's Fantasyland, you're sure to never get tired of hearing about (or reading the works) Fantasyland.

AJ, Mike, and Chris journey to a blustery day in the Hundred Acre Wood to experience the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at Walt Disney World. Join us as we explore the attraction’s origins as Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, the tumultuous transition between the two attractions, and the opening of this now beloved dark ride. We also examine how Pooh arrived to the other Disney parks, how the ride honors the legacy of Mr. Toad, and the secret best candy store in any Disney park. Bounce along with us, just don’t bounce right out of the podcast!

Let's face it. Even though you've been to Disneyland or Walt Disney World countless times, there's still stuff you've never done. AJ, Mike, and Chris share some of the attractions, restaurants, and locations that they've yet to get to despite over 30 years of Disney vacations. Are any of ours on your list?

AJ, Mike, and Chris travel to Saint Canard to explore the origins of the greatest crime stopper that ever was, Darkwing Duck! Join us as we discuss the show's origins from Bond spoof and a certain talking moose. We learn about the team at Disney responsible for creating the show's distict look and feel along with its incredible cast of characters. Not content to just stay on TV, Darkwing appeared across comics, video games, and theme parks, and he remains a popular and beloved character to this day. He is the terror that flaps in the night. He is the squeaky wheel on the shopping cart of injustice. He is Darkwing Duck!

While Chris is at the beach, AJ and Mike decided to carry on the arcade theme from this month's Disney Quest episode as we talk about some of our favorite arcades around Walt Disney World in the 90s. Who could forget the massive Food and Fun Center at the Contemporary Resort or the simple charms of the Penny Arcade on Main Street USA? Share some fun, quarter-munching memories with us.

AJ, Mike, and Chris celebrate 2 years of 90s Disney with a quintessential product of its time, DisneyQuest. Join us as we explore five floors of virtual fun inside Disney’s indoor theme park. What was once meant to be a way of bringing the Disney experience across the country became a surprisingly long lives part of Downtown Disney’s West Side along with a two year stint in downtown Chicago. Where else was DisneyQuest destined to venture? How did virtual reality work in the mid-90s? How did Mike follow along with news about the GameCube without a cellphone? All this and more awaits you in this month’s episode.

In a new conversation series format, AJ sits down with AJ LoCascio (I promise it's less confusing when you listen). AJ LoCascio is a voice actor who's career started with the role of Marty McFly for the Back to the Future TellTale game series. Most recently he played the role of Han Solo for the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special. It also turns out that AJ is a huge Disney fan, and grew up with the Mouse House throughout the 90s. We talk about his career, the influences Disney has had on him personally and professionally, and some of his favorite attractions, shows, and food around the Disney parks. We hope you enjoy our chat!

AJ, Mike, and Chris celebrate the 30th anniversary of a fantastic film, The Rocketeer. As on of Mike's favorite movies, we wanted to make sure we did right by the 1991 comic book adaption. To that end, Mike has a fantastic conversation with co-screenwriter Danny Bilson. It's a fantastic look into the history of the film's origins, its adaption from comic to screen, Disney's involvement with the film, and how created a unique movie world squarely set in the 1930s.

We also explore Jame's Horner's sweeping musical score, discuss the film's fantastic performances, and talk about the movies legacy. We hope you enjoy. Just remember, it's all part of the show!