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  • 174. What the Tower of Terror Borrowed from the Haunted Mansion: The Lost Concepts That Changed the Ride - DCA & DLP Tower of Terror - Part 29
    Jan 17 2026

    How did lost concepts from the Haunted Mansion inspire the Tower of Terror?


    Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into California Adventure's lost Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within its design.


    In this final episode in our 29-part Tower of Terror series, we check out of the DCA and DLP versions of the Tower of Terror, exploring details on the ride and in the exit of the attraction. After hearing some descriptions from the official Imagineering show guide, we explore the secrets of the looking glass, with a detour to a dark entertainment spot in Paris along the way.


    Kirk explains some changes to the ride mechanics and goes over the creepy new storyline for the Disneyland Paris version, before Kate walks us off the ride to explore the Modern Wonders in the shopping arcade at the exit. We end this episode with some history of camera design and electric shavers before checking out one final time from the Hollywood Tower Hotel.


    Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


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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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  • 173. Horrifying Storytelling in the Tower of Terror Boiler Room: The Man Disney Left to Burn - DCA & DLP Tower of Terror - Part 28
    Jan 10 2026

    There were hidden secrets in the Boiler Room of the DCA Tower of Terror that made it the most TERRIFYING version of all, but most people walked right past them without noticing the detailed storytelling. Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into California Adventure's lost Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within its design.In this episode, we timidly step into the boiler room of the DCA and DLP versions of the Tower of Terror, starting with the poetic words of the original Imagineering Show Info Guide. Then we lean in to take a closer look at the employee bulletin board, clock in for work, and make a few phone calls on a vintage rotary pay phone.

    Kate explains some horrific (and perhaps too obvious) storytelling, Kirk walks us through the history of Stanley's thermoses at the mechanics desk, and we ponder the bizarre location of a chair repair station.

    After hearing some lost voices and laughing at the absurdity of our obsession with Disney's lamps, we wrap up this boiler room episode that compares and contrasts the Disney California Adventure version of the Hollywood Tower Hotel to the one still currently in Disneyland Paris (with a few glances at the Hollywood Studios version as well).


    Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


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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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  • 172. How Disney Rewrote the Tower of Terror Library - True Confessions, Monarchs, & Lost Artifacts in the DCA & DLP Libraries - Tower of Terror - Part 27
    Dec 20 2025

    How did the Imagineers alter the storytelling of the Tower of Terror libraries for the California and Paris versions?


    Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into California Adventure's lost Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within its design.


    In this episode, we check into the DCA and DLP versions of the Tower of Terror, exploring details in the lobby, foyer, and libraries of this iconic attraction. Along the way, we discover some scandalous true confessions in the lobby, followed by some disappearing monarchs and Twilight Zone connections in the foyer.


    We then step into the libraries to point out some unique props and differences between this version of the Tower and the one that still exists in Walt Disney World. Kate discusses a tragic love story, Kirk offers up some wisdom (and cookie recipes), and we laugh our way through this (thankfully) LAST Hollywood Tower Hotel library episode in our series.


    Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


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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

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  • 171. BONUS EPISODE - The Christmas Disney Doesn’t Talk About: Six Forgotten Stories from Disney’s Holiday Past
    Dec 13 2025

    Christmastime in the Disney parks is a wonder to behold, but its history is something even more magical than snow falling on Main Street. But there are a few less-than-magical things in Disney’s holiday past as well.


    In this episode, we bring you 6 unique stories from the history of Disney at the most wonderful time of the year, beginning with a behind-the-scenes look at a Muppet Christmas Carol, a trip back in time to 1955 Disneyland at Christmastime, and even Walt Disney’s unusual gift-giving preferences.


    Kirk takes us on a sweet tour of the history of Disney’s gingerbread houses, Kate gives some magical context to a beloved parade character, and we both share some unique stories that we hope will bring a little extra wonder and joy to your holiday this year.


    Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


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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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  • 170. The Lost Secrets in DCA's Tower of Terror Lobby: Creepy Dolls, Hidden Relics, & 1939 Hollywood Mysteries
    Dec 6 2025

    A doll, brochure, and magazine in the DCA Tower of Terror Lobby were all telling a story, but no one has ever fully understood their significance... until now.

    Drop in with us as we check into California Adventure's lost Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within its elegant (yet terrifying) design.

    In this episode, we check into the lobby of the DCA and DLP versions of the Tower of Terror and take in all the details of these two highly detailed set designs. Along the way, we explore the signs of the golden age of Hollywood, discuss some lost relics of 1930s culture, and take a few rabbit trails here and there into other fascinating places in Disney history.

    Kirk explains the creepy doll on the couch, Kate does a deep dive into Disney’s Oz connections, and we both compare and contrast this lobby with the original in Florida, and how the Imagineers reimagined this attraction on a budget.

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    1 Std. und 23 Min.
  • 169. The REAL Reason the Tower of Terror Felt So Creepy: The Disturbing Inspirations Behind DCA & DLP's Tower Lobbies - Tower of Terror Part 25
    Nov 22 2025

    What is the REAL reason the DCA version of the Hollywood Tower Hotel used to feel so creepy when you stepped inside?

    Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into California Adventure's lost Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within its design.

    In this episode, we check into the DCA and DLP versions of the Tower of Terror, wandering the gardens in the exterior queue before stepping into the lobby to see what we can find. Along the way, we play some cards, drink some tea, and explore the nuances of the differences between this version and the one we spent 23 episodes exploring in Disney's Hollywood Studios.

    Kate uses an Imagineering show info guide to give us a tour of this iconic lobby, Kirk teaches us some new card games, and we both take a side trip to one of the most famous hotels in America to learn how the Imagineers used fear in the collective unconscious to shape their set design.

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    1 Std. und 11 Min.
  • 168. Designing a Cheaper Tower of Terror: Changing Disney's Iconic Attraction - DCA & DLP's Tower - ToT - Part 24
    Nov 15 2025

    Why did Disney’s Tower of Terror change its design when it moved locations? And who was Buddy the Bellhop?


    Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into California Adventure's lost Hollywood Tower Hotel to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within its design.In this episode, we travel to Disneyland Resort to visit the California Adventure version of the Tower of Terror for the first time, covering the concept, design, changes in mechanics, and backstory of this version of the attraction. Because the Disneyland Paris version is almost identical to the one in California, we add that Tower into the mix as well on this international Disney treasure hunt.


    Along the way, we share some rare Imagineering documents, discuss some never-created attractions, and explore the differences between this version and the one in Disney's Hollywood Studios. Kate discusses some connections to Walt’s history found in the Tower, Kirk translates some German, and we both get a little confused by the Tower’s commercial mascot from 2004 that doesn’t quite fit the storytelling of the Hollywood Tower Hotel.


    Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


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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!


    Martin Smith Tower Tribute


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    Kate’s Substack

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    1 Std. und 10 Min.
  • 167. Behind the Locked Door: What Actually Disappeared from the Tower of Terror's Exit - Tower of Terror - Part 23
    Nov 8 2025
    Picture if you will a most unusual attraction exit, as the Tower of Terror’s final scenes hold controversy, history, and a mystery we still have yet to solve. Drop in with us on this episode of Distory with Kate & Kirk as we check into Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Tower Hotel one last time to decipher the history, secrets, and stories hidden within its design.In this episode, we make our way out of the Tower, but not before we find some incredible hidden gems along the way. We start at the checkout desk, highlighting several hidden connections to the Twilight Zone and finding a Halloween postcard of questionable verbiage. Kate admires the ceiling with some original Imagineering color boards, and we spy a hidden Mickey before pausing outside the locked Sunset Room for some storytelling and secrets. Afterward, we head to Tower Gifts to see how this area changed in both concept and execution from the 1990s, before heading out of the Tower and giving a warm welcome back to all who made it through this long series with us. Join us LIVE on YouTube every week! Be notified by subscribing to Kate’s Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@disneycicerone⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠disneycicerone.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠walruscarp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View 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!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kate's books on Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WalrusCarp T-shirts & Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MOWD app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Distory T-shirts and Stickers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kate’s Substack
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    1 Std. und 25 Min.