Stories of the Magic Podcast – Episode 010 – David Smith, Part 1

 

 

 

In this episode of Stories of the Magic, I have the honor of sharing part 1 of my interview with David Smith. David grew up “in the shadow of the Matterhorn”, down the street from Disneyland. He had a few different roles in his 6 years there, and loved it. You can hear it in the way he talks about his time there. He’s especially got some great stories related to one of the most overlooked attractions in Disneyland, the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes.

Since then, he’s co-written the Hidden Mickey series of books, a fiction, action-adventure series of books. Think “National Treasure meets Disneyland” and you’ve got the idea. Sometimes Dead Men DO Tell Tales! is the first in this series of action-adventure mysteries about Walt Disney and Disneyland, written with the adult reader in mind, but age appropriate for those 10 and up. Hidden Mickey was the first book written for the adult level reader. It also was the first mystery based on historical fiction as it relates to Walt Disney and Disneyland. In May of 2011, David released Hidden Mickey 5: Chasing New Frontiers.

Then this year, In the Shadow of the Matterhorn was released. This book is David’s look at Disneyland from the perspective of living very close to the Park, working at the Park, and the life-changing effect that Disneyland had on so many. Listen to the interview, then go get the books! [Note, all Amazon links are affiliate links.]

 

In Part 1, David talks about:

• How he started at Disneyland;
• What it was like growing up down the street from Disneyland, and the impression it made on him;
• The attractions he worked (including a very unique combination that spanned time and technology);
• The real reason the Mike Fink Keel Boats was an attraction;
• The role he played in creating the spiel for the Keel Boats;
• …