Dreamfinders Podcast Archives

WDWNT Daily Recap (11/17/20): Fireworks Testing at Magic Kingdom, Voice of Brer Rabbit Comments on Princess and the Frog Retheme Coming to Splash Mountain, Tour a “Lion King” Suite at Disney’s Art of Animation, Tony Baxter and Greg Hale Inducted into IAAPA Hall of Fame, and More

November 17, 2020

We bring you a lot of stories every single day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. So in case you missed anything from our feed, we have rounded up all our stories in one place to get the news at a glance. Here is your Daily Recap for Tuesday, November 17, 2020. Walt Disney World … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Rick Harper Talks Directing “Impressions de France”

February 1, 2024November 17, 2020

Welcome to the final bi-weekly episode of “Dreamfinders.” With this episode, the podcast has interviewed 50 guests. It’s been quiet a ride and the fun is not over just yet! Rick Harper’s work for Disney has certainly left an…Impression. Starting in the model shop at WED, Rick soon moved his way up into the design … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Artist Hayden Evans Talks Working at Disneyland & Creating Kitschy Caricatures

February 1, 2024November 3, 2020

Hayden Evans loves to illustrate the soul of people and places. Through his use of bold lines and colors he attempts to capture the essence of what things are. In that way, it’s no surprise that Hayden loves a place that does the same thing for genres and stories – Disneyland. As a Cast Member, … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Stuntman Kevin Brassard Talks Running from Boulders at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!

February 1, 2024October 20, 2020

For almost 30 years, Kevin Brassard beat up Nazis, stole ancient artifacts, and ran from explosions. Quite the day job. As the very first Indiana Jones at Hollywood Studios “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” Kevin was trained by film stunt legends and now teaches the next generation of actors who take up the fedora and … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Aerospace Engineer Mary Kate Smith Talks Science, Nerd Culture & Disney’s Space Attractions

February 1, 2024October 6, 2020

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand why people love Disney, but, if you are one, it certainly can give you a unique perspective. Aerospace engineer Mary Kate Smith has worked for the likes of NASA and Lockheed Martin, but in her spare time you’ll find her flying through the stars over … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Former Imagineer Brandon Kleyla on Creating Trader Sam’s & Pandora!

February 1, 2024September 22, 2020

Brandon Kleyla, better know as Trader Brandon to fellow tiki lovers and friends, has always been obsessed with the intricacies of pop-culture and, over time, he’s become a part of it himself. From acting on Nickelodeon shows at Universal Studios Florida as a kid to creating a feature documentary on Indiana Jones fan culture, Brandon’s … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: David Danipour Talks Avatar Flight of Passage, The Good Place & More!

February 1, 2024September 8, 2020

Attraction preshows are an interesting aspect of theme park storytelling. They’re the first act of a ride’s story, giving us the background and mood we need to know as we fill in all the available space and wait for our chance at adventure. And some of these become quotable favorites for generations. Today’s guest is … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Former Imagineer Ray Spencer on Bringing the Hatbox Ghost to Life and More!

February 1, 2024August 25, 2020

Ray Spencer found out early on that his talent as a conceptual designer could be put to use, not for creating office buildings and shopping malls, but experiences. Since then he’s never looked back. With a career that spans decades of work, fleshing out ideas for places like the Field Museum in Chicago to Kennedy … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Rob Yeo & Andy Sinclair Harris on Disney and Design

February 1, 2024August 11, 2020

To love Disney parks is to also love good design. The immersive nature of the parks depend on it. But while many may just take it in without giving it much thought, others look at every detail. Today’s guests on Dreamfinders, Rob Yeo and Andy Sinclair Harris, are those kind of people. Both amazing designers … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Director Randal Kleiser talks “Honey I Shrunk the Audience” and other Disney classics!

February 1, 2024July 28, 2020

Randal Kleiser grew up with a poster of Disneyland above his bed. He knew every square inch and when he finally got to go, he knew exactly where everything was like he’d been there a thousands times. That passion for Disney eventually helped foster a love of filmmaking and, years later, Randal would have his … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Michael Campbell Talks Disney Trains & Having One in His Backyard!

February 1, 2024July 14, 2020

A staple of the classic “Disneyland” experience, steam trains can take you anywhere from New Orleans to Toontown and its bell and whistle are a constant presence throughout the park.For many, their fascination with trains and theme parks are intricately linked, thanks in no small part to Walt Disney’s own love of both. Today’s guest, … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: David Price on his Dad and Disney Legend Buzz Price – One of Walt’s Most Trusted Advisors

February 1, 2024June 30, 2020

When David Price was a child, he, like many of us, found himself playing about as his father worked elsewhere in the room. But what David didn’t realize at the time was that all those maps and plans hanging around the office were helping his dad, Buzz Price, determine the best place to construct a … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Shawn Rosell on Evolving as a Vlogger & Disney’s Place in Black Culture

February 1, 2024June 16, 2020

Shawn Rosell isn’t trying to be like every other vlogger who loves Disney and in fact, after moving away from Orlando, he knew his channel couldn’t just be park visits like so many others. These days, it’s a mix of short films, Disney opinions, thoughts on life and his unique perspective of being a black … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Musician Gijs Van Winkelhof Plays Your Favorite Disney Park Music!

February 1, 2024June 2, 2020

Gijs Van Winkelhof has always had an ear for a good Disney song. Having taught himself how to play piano at 3, Gijs has spent his life at the keyboard, plucking away at any song after listening to it once or twice. Like many of us, he’s found himself humming Disney theme park music long … Read more

DREAMFINDERS: Author Christopher Tremblay on Finding Walt Disney Across America

February 1, 2024May 19, 2020

We’ve all taken journeys to visit places that connect us with moments in history we love. For many Disney fans, that can include Walt’s home town of Marceline and, of course, his original theme park – Disneyland. But those places only bookend Walt’s life – leaving many experiences in between. That’s where Christopher Tremblay comes … Read more

EXCLUSIVE: Director Jeff Blyth Remembers Michel Piccoli and the Making of “The Timekeeper”

May 18, 2020

As we reported earlier today, famed French actor Michel Piccoli, known to Disney park fans as Jules Verne in the Circle-Vision 360 presentation “The Timekeeper” or “Le Visionarium,” has passed away at the age of 94. Filmmaker Jeff Blyth, who directed Piccoli in “The Timekeeper,” spoke to WDWNT about his experience working with the French … Read more