Of all the iconic attractions at the Disney parks around the world, one of—if not the—most recognizable is Spaceship Earth at Epcot. A marvel of both engineering and imagineering, the attraction takes us on a voyage of mankind’s technological innovations across the centuries, with so many iconic moments and smells (if you know, you know). There are so many details associated with the attraction around its history, construction and storytelling that it could fit in a book. That’s a great idea, right! Fortunately, our pal Tim Foster of Celebrations Press has done just that—another terrific book called Spaceship Earth: The Definitive History. Tim tells us all about awesome facts about the ride and his favorite parts, as well as some fun discussions/debates around changes to the attraction over the years. And since it’s the holidays, we also dive into a fun musical scavenger hunt to find our favorite holiday songs in the parks, as well as our favorite Disney holiday songs in general.

You can find Tim, all his great books, and Celebrations magazine at celebrationspress.com. And if you are trying to get the Spaceship Earth book in time for the holidays, email him at subscriptions@celebrationspress.com and he will do everything he can to make that happen.

When you think of all the iconic imagery associated with Disney, lots of things immediately come to mind—Cinderella Castle, Tinkerbell, Spaceship Earth…and Mickey’s Sorcerer’s hat from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. That legendary vignette is the most famous part of Fantasia, the groundbreaking film that married music and animation in ways that were so far ahead of its time conceptually, musically, and technically. This year marks the 85th anniversary of Fantasia, and to commemorate the film’s milestone, a new book has just come out, “Worlds to Conquer: The Art and Making of Walt Disney’s Fantasia” by noted film historian J.B. Kaufman. We are joined today by J.B. to learn more about the story of how Fantasia came to be, and the critical importance that music played in its creation.

Please follow J.B. at jbkaufman.com and find his book on Amazon and all other booksellers.

Baseball has its Hall of Fame. So does Rock and Roll music. Hollywood has a Walk of Fame, and there are numerous other Halls, Walls, and Walks that recognize contributions to everything from sports and entertainment to business and science. So, how does Disney celebrate those who have made groundbreaking contributions to the company? It’s through the recognition of Disney Legends. Disney Legends is a Hall of Fame award that is awarded by The Walt Disney Company to individuals who "[have] made a significant impact on the Disney legacy." The honor was established in 1987, and was traditionally awarded annually during a special private ceremony. Since 2009, it has been awarded on a biennial basis during Disney's D23 Expo and there are currently 318 individuals who have received that recognition.

With all the incredible contributions that Disney has made to the world, it is no small feat to qualify and be recognized as a Disney Legend. And each recipient has a rich story that has made an impact to the company, culture, and our lives. That is where today’s guest comes in. Jamie Hecker is an author and friend who has written several books about Disney, including two volumes about these icons: Disney Legends: Makers of Magic Volume 1, and the recently released Volume 2. Jamie joins us today to give some history and context around the award, as well as discuss those Legends who have impacted Disney music.

Please follow Jamie at jamieheckerwriter.com and you can also find his books on Amazon