#117: Celebratory Summer Series - “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland” by Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt Foreword by Bob Iger
Release Date: 08/27/2025
#120: Now It’s Time to Say Goodbye
Book of the Mouse Club
“And now it’s time to say goodbye to all our company.” Courntey and Emily are hanging up their headphones after 120 episodes and over 100 books. In this episode, they reflect on their podcasting experience and turn their author interview questions on themselves to give advice to future podcasters and what they want to do next as they keep moving forward. Thank you to all of the guests, authors, publishers, friends, family, podcast universe, and, of course, the listeners for supporting the show the last eight years. Keep reading and spreading the disney magic. Keep in touch with us...
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#119: Author Interview - Kingdom Keepers Inheritance Series: The Final Trilogy by Ridley Pearson
Book of the Mouse Club
The Overtakers and Disney Villains are at it again! But the Keepers are parents now, and their kids are as invested in saving the Disney parks as they were in their youth. Is it time to pass the wand to a new generation? Courtney and Emily welcome back Ridley Pearson, author of the Kingdom Keepers, to discuss the final installment in the series, The Inheritance trilogy. In the episode, Ridley talks about the legacy of family, Walt Disney, imagineering his own version of a Villains Land, and how to move forward from a project you’ve spent a long time committed to. Ridley will also make an...
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#118: Fairytale Favorites - Children Will Listen: A Comparison of Sondheim and Disney’s “Into the Woods” ft. Conor Perkins and Caroline Aimetti of Poor Unfortunate Podcast
Book of the Mouse Club
Anything can happen in the woods, such as having Conor and Caroline from the Poor Unfortunate Podcast back on the show! In the episode, Courtney, Conor, Caroline, and Emily go into the woods to journey’s end to compare Grimm’s Fairytales to Stephan Sondheim’s 1987 stage musical and Disney’s 2014 film adaptation of Into the Woods. Careful the things you say...there are some hot takes in this episode especially over the differences in the show and film and the morals audiences are left with at the conclusion of both. So do not delay or be misled, if you love Into the Woods, you will...
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#117: Celebratory Summer Series - “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland” by Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt Foreword by Bob Iger
Book of the Mouse Club
Join your hosts for a kiss goodnight finale to the Disneyland 70th anniversary! Courtney and Emily complete their Celebratory Summer Series commemorating Disneyland’s 70th anniversary with “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland” by Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt Foreword by Bob Iger. This coffee table book features over 750 images, documents, and concept art during Walt Disney’s shaping of Disneyland. Review Book of the Mouse Club on iTunes and Google Play and send any questions, comments, or suggestions to the hosts at Follow Our...
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#116: Celebratory Summer Series - Author Interview “Presenting Disneyland: Forgotten Photographs From Opening Day” by Aaron Goldberg and forward by Bob Gurr
Book of the Mouse Club
A picture is worth a thousand words, and these never before seen photographs of Disneyland on its opening day in 1955 tell a lot of stories. Courtney and Emily continue their Celebratory Summer Series by welcoming back author, Aaron H. Goldberg, to the podcast to talk about his book, "Presenting Disneyland: Forgotten Photographs From Opening Day.” Featuring never before seen photographs from a studio employee, Presenting Disneyland transports you in technicolor to back July 17, 1955. Coupled with quotes and newspaper clippings, Aaron presents readers with an anthropological view of...
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#115: Celebratory Summer Series - “The 55ers: The Pioneers Who Settled Disneyland” by David Koenig
Book of the Mouse Club
Disneyland is celebrating its platinum anniversary! This episode introduces the Celebratory Summer Series with a Disneyland theme to commemorate 70 years of the Happiest Place on Earth. Courtney and Emily kick off this three book summer series by meeting some original cast members around Disneyland in David Koenig’s book “The 55ers: The Pioneers Who Settled Disneyland”. The book memorializes almost 700 original cast members in its pages who helped build and operate Disneyland for its inaugural year. The cast members are the magic of the Disney parks deserve every recognition while...
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#114: “Before You Leap: A Frog's-Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons” by Kermit the Frog
Book of the Mouse Club
Welcome Class of 2025 to Kermencement! In honor of Kermit the Frog’s commencement speech at his, and your hosts’ alma mater, the University of Maryland, Courtney and Emily read Kermit’s book, “Before You Leap: A Frog's-Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons.” Kermit has 70 years of wisdom to share with graduates and readers and in honor of the Muppet Anniversary, Kermit published a third edition of his book and used it to help create his commencement speech. In this episode, Courtney and Emily reminisce about their own UMD graduation, talk about Kermit’s speech in tandem with the...
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#113: Author Interview - “I Love Disney’s Magic Kingdom” by Danielle Kelly (Dapper Danielle & Co-Host of the Disney Countdown Podcast)
Book of the Mouse Club
You may recognize her from social media: she loves churros, Orange Bird, and telling her followers all about Disney history in the late hours of the night. Danielle Kelly, aka the Dapper Danielle, joins Courtney and Emily to give them a tour around the Magic Kingdom in her new book “I Love Disney's Magic Kingdom 100+ Surprising Facts, Magical Quizzes, Fan-Favorite Trivia, and More about Disney's Magic Kingdom!” Danielle’s guide book shares history, design details, and park tips in an accessible guide suited to new park guests and the annual pass holder alike (and fits in a...
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#112: Fairytale Favorites - “Beauty and the Beast” by Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont
Book of the Mouse Club
There’s a girl in the castle! Courtney and Emily invite you to be our guest for a latest Fairytale Favorite episode. The tale as old as time, “Beauty and the Beast” by Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont, was the inspiration for the 1991 Walt Disney animated film. There are many differences between the 14 page fairytale and the 90 minute film, but there is beauty found within both. Review Book of the Mouse Club on iTunes and Google Play and send any questions, comments, or suggestions to the hosts at Follow Our Reading Journey On Social Media! Official : @BookoftheMouse Courtney: ...
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#111: “The Adventures of Pinocchio: Story of a Puppet” by Carlo Collodi
Book of the Mouse Club
Hi-ho the me-ri-o! Courtney and Emily have no strings to hold them down as they celebrate the 85th anniversary of Walt Disney Animation’s second motion picture, Pinocchio, by comparing the film to Carlo Collodi’s original novel, “The Adventures of Pinocchio: Story of a Puppet.” Collodi’s episodic adventure takes readers to the puppet show, the not so wondrous meadows, Playland, the bottom of sea…pretty much everywhere that is not school as Pinocchio learns to accept the consequences of his actions and tries to become a real boy. Review Book of the Mouse Club on iTunes and...
info_outlineJoin your hosts for a kiss goodnight finale to the Disneyland 70th anniversary! Courtney and Emily complete their Celebratory Summer Series commemorating Disneyland’s 70th anniversary with “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland” by Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt Foreword by Bob Iger. This coffee table book features over 750 images, documents, and concept art during Walt Disney’s shaping of Disneyland.
Review Book of the Mouse Club on iTunes and Google Play and send any questions, comments, or suggestions to the hosts at bookofthemouseclub@gmail.com
Follow Our Reading Journey On Social Media!
Official Twitter and Instagram: @BookoftheMouse
Courtney: Instagram @greatguthsby and Goodreads
Emily: Instagram @emily_mickde and Goodreads
Next Book: Fairy Tale Favorites: Stories that Steven Sondheim’s Inspired Into the Woods and Disney’s retelling. The following stories are in the public domain and can be accessed online or at your local public library for free: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack the Giant Slayer, and Rapunzel