Disney and NASA: The Surprising Space Race Story Behind Mission: SPACE (Ep. 46)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Tv & Film, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 8 May 2025

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week on I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey explore the surprising (and very real) connection between Disney and NASA. From Walt’s passion for futurism to the pivotal role of the Disneyland TV show in helping launch America’s space program, this episode tracks how a theme park attraction like Mission: SPACE is rooted in actual history—and how it all started with a cartoon. Plus, Lauren recaps her latest visit to Walt Disney World, with new pin trading finds at Epcot, handmade souvenirs in Germany, and must-see graduation merch at Creations. Also: Loungefly alternatives, the secret perks of the Mission: SPACE playground, and how the Plain White T’s ended up in the middle of Flower & Garden. Why Walt Disney worked with Wernher von Braun How a Disney TV special helped get NASA off the ground The story behind Mission: SPACE merch (and crystals) The new must-have black-and-white Disney backpack Tuesday pin drops and pro trading setups at Epcot The make-your-own glass art experience in Germany From space-age storytelling to personalized souvenirs, this episode blends the historical with the hands-on in true I Want That Too fashion. Be Our Guest Vacations Planning your next Disney vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is a Platinum-level Earmarked travel agency with concierge-level service to make every trip magical. Their team of expert agents plans vacations across the globe, from Disney and Universal to cruises and adventures, ensuring you have the best possible experience without the stress. Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome back to I Want That Too, the podcast where Disney merch meets Disney history.
0:06.6	I'm entertainment writer Jim Hill, and as always, I'm joined by the lovely and exhausted Lauren
0:13.7	Hersey.
0:15.0	Do I look that bad?
0:17.3	No, no, you look like, in fact, that's the thing. You look lovely. That's why the lovely
0:24.3	Lauren Herssey. But when I hear your schedule, I just listening to your schedule, I want to
0:30.6	lie down. Because like you're, you just got back from Disney and you're headed there again
0:35.8	this weekend, right? Yes, yes. And I was actually just before we hopped on trying to see if I could get our
0:43.6	dates moved up a day, which because like what's wrong with me? Why don't I need more? But yes,
0:50.5	we are leaving Friday to go back to Orlando.
0:54.4	This time, Just Laney and I for a cheer competition.
0:59.7	So we're staying at Universal and the cheer competition as at the convention center.
1:06.1	I'm brand new to the world of this type of cheerleading, not new to cheerleading, but new to competitive
1:13.8	cheerleading. So this is our first ever, it's called the one cheer competition. Do you remember
1:21.7	like when you lived in Orlando like cheerleaders from everywhere like raining down on the area?
1:30.0	Did you have to deal with any of that?
1:32.9	What's interesting, again, is that I know obviously folks who work in themed entertainment,
1:40.1	and this became such an important market segment.
1:45.0	For example, Universal Studios Florida, they had, for their Wild Wild West Theater,
1:52.0	which used to be between where Harry Potter or Jaws used to be back in the day
1:59.0	and what was it, men in black alien day. And what was it?
2:02.0	Men and Black Alien attack.
	...

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