This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:13] David Alpert: Welcome to E Ticket to Broadway, where Broadway meets Main Street.

[0:19] David Alpert: Here's your host, my pal, David Alpert.

[0:25] David Alpert: Ha ha. Hello and welcome to another episode of E-Ticket to Broadway, where your favorite Broadway stars become your very own personal Disney travel agents. Before I introduce this episode's incredible guest, I want to ask a favor of you. If you're enjoying E-Ticket to Broadway, please head to Apple Podcasts and leave a favorable review and share with your friends. Additionally, check out our website, www.eticketpodcast.com to learn about the Patreon rewards and how you can help support the podcast and Gilana's Fund, an organization committed to making the world a more accepting, inclusive, and just place. Believe it or not, I've never met the magical creature that is this episode's guest in person.

But we were connected once I learned she was a big, big fan of the Disney theme parks, and I'm so glad that I was. This Tony Award winner has been seen on Broadway in Legally Blonde, Wicked, Kinky Boots, You Can't Take It With You, Sylvia, and Sunday in the Park with George, in addition to many television and film appearances. Keep your hands and arms inside the episode at all times. Here is Annaleigh Ashford.

[1:41] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh, I'm so happy to be here. I love Disney. It is magic. Um, this is like one of my dreams is just getting to sit and talk about all things Disney. I am a huge fan of the parks. I didn't get to go to them until later in life. Um, and it was like one of my childhood dreams to get to go. So now I go as much as I possibly can as an adult.

[2:07] David Alpert: Yeah, that's perfect. So Annaleigh, this is probably the most important question I'm gonna ask you this entire interview. Do you feel like you made your greatest impact on the world when you gave voice to one of the trolls in Frozen?

[2:20] Annaleigh Ashford: Yes. It was my greatest career accomplishment. Um, it actually like there are times where people are like, "Well, what do you what are your proudest moments?" And I forget to say that I was in a Disney movie, people. Yeah, duh. Hello, and that sort of happened in an accidental way. The when the troll song um came about, it was sort of farther into their process. It was actually in the spring before it came out that winter. And Steven Aremus was the music director and is, you know, he was the music director of Kinky Boots and Wicked and Book of Mormon. And at the time he needed um like 16 to 20 singers to just come in and lay down the track to just see what it was gonna sound like. They probably they were like, "We're probably gonna re-record it later on, but we don't even know what we're doing.

We don't know if the song is gonna be in the movie." They just knew that they needed another song in that spot. So like 10 people from Kinky Boots and 10 people from Book of Mormon, which was so fun. It's like, you know, a party. Um, we came together and we sang that song. It was so magical.

[3:26] Annaleigh Ashford: Fixer Upper. What a great song. Right? And your lyric, correct me if I'm wrong, or the pear-shaped, square-shaped weirdness of his feet.

[3:34] Annaleigh Ashford: Yes, mouthful. I still sometimes have problems doing it when we watch it or listen to it in the car, and my little boy will be like, "Mom, that's you." And also when we play with frozen things in our house, because I have an almost four-year-old, um, he'll pull out the trolls and go, "Look, mom, it's you," which is always great. It's great. It's my dream. It's a beautiful moment. You've I mean you've had such an incredible career so far, and I but I agree. But you are a voice in the Disney movie. That's so cool.

[4:06] Annaleigh Ashford: Yeah, let's keep it going. Let's yeah, let's do some more Disney vo. I try to tell anybody who will listen. I would be great as some more Disney voices. Hello. Or maybe like Frozen 3, the troll can make an appearance. Like, where's the backstory? Or can I play their weird aunt named um like Geraldine? Like, "Hi, and Geraldine's here. Welcome." You know, so or it could be Olaf's girlfriend.

[4:36] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh, sure. Should I tell somebody? I don't know who to tell, but I think you're listening. I think Disney is listening. I've got a good pitch, okay? Did your troll have a name?

[4:49] Annaleigh Ashford: No, but let's make one of now.

[4:52] Annaleigh Ashford: Okay. Uh how about fruity pebbles?

[4:56] Annaleigh Ashford: I love it. You talk about pears, that's a fruit. You're totally ready to go. Fruity pebbles, the troll. You heard it here first.

[5:03] Annaleigh Ashford: Yeah, I turn I was a rock before I became a troll. So you know I was a little troll, so I'm fruity pebbles.

[5:09] Annaleigh Ashford: That was beautiful. Thank you.

[5:22] David Alpert: Annaleigh, you're from Colorado, and you mentioned though you didn't go to the Disney parks as a kid. What I mean, why not?

[5:29] Annaleigh Ashford: Well, I will clarify that I actually did get to go to Disneyland once as a kid. I grew up in Denver, Colorado, and um when I was a kid, we uh we were living in humble circumstances as most families are, and all of our extra money went to my dance classes and my voice lessons, and um my family was amazing about providing me with like all of these awesome opportunities and but they're expensive. Like I, you know, my dance costumes at my dance studio were expensive, and so the only like family vacations that we got to go on, uh and also my brother and sister are 10 and eight years younger than me. Um, it was a really expensive thing to go all the way to California or to go all the way to Disney World. And you know, as an adult, I'm so aware what a privilege and a treat it is to get to go to Disney World or Disneyland, and especially if you don't live in California or Florida. So I went to dance conventions in Vegas, so I weirdly know Vegas really well.

[6:36] Annaleigh Ashford: Um I went a lot as a kid. And then one time I got to go to Orange County for a dance convention that Susan Egan was like the guest speaker at. And I remember I did a triple pirouette in front of her and landed it, and she was like, "Yes, girl, I see that triple," and it was like one of the best dance moments of my life. Um, and that weekend I stayed with one of my grandma's friends, and um she lived like a half an hour away from Disneyland. So she said, "Do you want me to take you to Disneyland?" I got big tears in my eyes and said, "Yes, please." And she she was like in her 60s at the time, and she took me on all these, she took me on everything. We went to Splash Mountain. We went on a really good day where the park wasn't too crowded, and I was allowed to spend $20 on merchandise. And I bought cat-eyed cat-eyed sunglasses with Mickeys on them, as every fifth grader does who wants to be a musical theater.

[7:28] Annaleigh Ashford: And uh I remember like crying when I left the park, like tears of joy because I was so grateful for that day. So I I did go one day as a kid to Disneyland, but I didn't get to go to Disney World until I was 20 years old on the road with Wicked. The first national tour, Stephanie Block was Elphaba and Kendra Kassebaum was Glinda. I was the understudy for Kendra Kassebaum. I was the Glinda understudy um with Emily Rosick. And we were playing Tampa, and the head of guest relations in Disney World uh was a friend of somebody's through the show, and so um we were invited to go to Disney World, and so I got to go for the first time and had a really special day.

[7:58] Annaleigh Ashford: I got to go to all four parks. I also got to um ride uh Expedition Everest before anybody ever rode it. Um they were just like testing it, so we got to test it, and I remember when I left, I bought a children's uh jacket that had all the princesses on it from like is a children's size, but I wore it as a jacket that you can wear in life, and it was pink, and somebody took a picture of me in front of the castle and I had capris on, which I think is really Disney appropriate.

[8:47] Annaleigh Ashford: And uh I cried again when we were leaving, and people are like, "Are you okay?" And I was like, "Yeah, just these are tears of joy. I'm just so grateful that I got to experience this." It was like the most magical way to go to Disney World. So that's that's it.

[9:01] David Alpert: I love that that you had so many magical experiences going to each part for the first time. And it I think it just kind of impacted you to be an adult now and and love it so much.

[9:12] Annaleigh Ashford: Yeah, and then I didn't get to go back again until um my husband and I got married while I was doing Kinky Boots and I didn't we didn't get to have a honeymoon. I only got to take a couple days off you know because we were in Bravo show so we got married on a Monday and then we always said we'll go on a big honeymoon later on and we actually didn't go for another three years. We went to Europe for a couple weeks and planned and everything. But I said in the meantime right when I finish um right when I'm done with Kinky Boots let's go to Disney World for a couple days.

[9:41] Annaleigh Ashford: So I got my wisdom teeth out and then we went to Disney World and we went for three days and I planned it out immaculately. My best friend Craig Jessup, also known as Breed Love, is a giant Disney aficionado. He's um he's really really special and magical and when it comes to all things Disney he knows it all. His Uncle Graham was uh a cast member at Disneyland and his uncle Harley um is uh both last name Jessup. Harley Jessup is one of the art directors at Pixar. You will see his name as art director on films like Ratatouille and uh most recently Coco and a whole bunch of other magical Pixar hits but like he's really really fancy and special in the land of Pixar.

[10:30] David Alpert: Cool.

[10:30] Annaleigh Ashford: Um, so anyway, so he helped me plan out our three-day trip, and then after that, my husband was hooked, and now we go twice a year because we are dis we literally we check, you know, all the things you can check to look up Disney stuff, and we plan out our trips to a T.

[11:02] David Alpert: When you went to Disney World after Kinky Boots, how much time had passed between the wisdom teeth surgery and the trip?

[11:09] Annaleigh Ashford: Like, were you on Vicodin?

[11:11] Annaleigh Ashford: Three days. I have big huge black circles under my eyes because that happens sometimes when you get your top wisdom teeth out. Um, and I was like, "Let's keep I who cares? I'll just put a little make you want to wear sunglasses."

[11:23] Annaleigh Ashford: Let's go. Um, I was super swollen. You can see in the pictures, my mouth's all swollen. Oh no. Um, but I like people, especially when we would go as adults at that time in our life. Like now we have a little guy, so people are sort of like, oh, okay. But people who aren't Disney people or that they or they don't know, or they didn't go and didn't plan it. Um, I mean, you listeners out there, you're Disney people, so you know you gotta plan your trip. Um, but if you don't do those things, sometimes you don't understand like what an incredible experience you can have. You are you're gonna have an incredible experience no matter what because it's Disney. But when you take that extra step and you plan and you ask questions and you ask where to eat for what, and um I just think uh there's people in our life that were like, really?

You're going to Disney World again? That's what people always say to us. You're going to Disney World again, and we're like, Yeah, it's the happiest place on earth. Why wouldn't we? Yep. And the great thing is, and Leah, on this podcast, you don't have to defend that as you haven't. It's like everyone listening and definitely I'm supporting you. It's like, yeah, you go as much as you can. Hello. Also, you know, there's something somebody at one point told me, um, they were like, I was saying how much I love Epcot, and they were like, you know, I just like prefer to actually go to Italy. I want to take my kids to Italy and not Epcot in Italy. And I said, I just want to pause there for a second, and I agree with you.

I want my kids to experience other places in the world and not just take them to Disney World. And Disney World can be expensive, but it can also be affordable depending on how you do it. And on that note, Disney gives you really good options in terms of hotel pricing. So if you are in a more of a budget bracket for a value hotel, you have that option, or if you want to have a splurge year, you can do a moderate, you know, you there's a lot of options for families, and you can even you can even camp at Camp Wilderness. And it I just think that not everybody has um the financial ability to go to Tokyo or go to Rome, but it's really exciting to share those lands and places and different cultures with your kids in the in in another way, which is through Disney World.

And if they get excited and interested, maybe they'll do um an exchange program or maybe they'll do a semester abroad at some point. I just think it's a cool way to expose, you know, kids to those cultures, even if you don't have the means to take them to those places. It's another thing that was part of Walt Disney's dream. I love that. I've never like I was just like listening to you being like, this is very wise. This is a totally different kind of conversation. Like you are a wonderful like Disney travel agent. Oh, yeah. Come on. I um am constantly trying to sell people Disney World trips of all ages. Um, like I'm always reminding people that one of Walt Disney's dreams about all of the parks, and I think that Disney has really stayed true to this concept.

Um, like Bob Iger talks about it, is that the parks are supposed to be places for families to go from ages two to eighty-two so that everybody can have a good time. And I really think that that is um it's it's an accessible dream, and it's also something that they're achieving throughout the parks. When whether it's in Disneyland or whether it's in all four parks in Disney World, you can go to each park and bring your you know 80-year-old grandma, depending on the you know, the heat that day. Exactly. But you can bring them and you can bring the baby and they both can have a good time. Um, there's just so much to do, right?

[15:18] David Alpert: Annaleigh, the first time you brought your son Jack, what was that like for you in the parks?

[15:22] Annaleigh Ashford: Okay, well, it's uh I'm embarrassed to tell you how little he was a safe place. I know. So we went to Disneyland and Disney World. Um the f Disneyland we went when he was eight months old, and he had on a Mickey sweatshirt, and he was a late talker and even a late babbler. And but we caught his first, like blah blah blah, you know, babies are like la bla bla. He did it for the first time at Disneyland. It was so sweet, it was magical. Annaleigh, my first time at Disneyland was five months. So, so like I'm with you. That's the way we roll. Your son is gonna grow up and have a Disney podcast. That's just how it works if they go before they turn one. We hope so. You know, we're living vicariously through him too.

So we did that at eight months, and then we went. I talked my brother and my sister when they both graduate from college. I talked them and the rest of my family into having their graduation present be a trip to Disney World. So my dad agreed, and my mom agreed, and me and Joe planned a very elaborate week of Disney World magic. Um, for my brother's graduation from college first, um, we stayed at the boardwalk, and then my sister's graduation from college um was a year later, and again we stayed at the boardwalk, but it was the week of Thanksgiving, which was so fun to be there during the holidays. And we planned it to a tea. That can be a nightmare week to go, but we planned it so beautifully um that we had a magical experience, like always.

[17:04] Annaleigh Ashford: Annaleigh, if you were to get a job in the parks, what job would you want?

[17:09] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh, that's such a good question. Um, this is so I you know what, I think about this a lot. I mean we all do to be honest, there's a couple different scenarios. So great. I'd love to be an imagineer. Um in another lifetime, like I think maybe I was Mary Blair. Uh or I know you can please be Mary Blair for Halloween this year. I know. I would love to. Okay, that's actually a great idea. I wonder if Jack will let you know. Your son is a small world doll. Oh, and your husband can be like the building, like the small world structure. That's such a good idea. Jack actually gets really specific about what he wants us to be. So last year he was like, I'm gonna be Forky, and you and Dad are gonna be Benson, and Gracie has to be um Buzz Lightyear.

Uh our dog is Gracie. So me and Joe had to figure out how to be Benson. He did though he kept changing his mind because he was just turned three. So I don't know what he's gonna make us be this year. He keeps telling me that um I have to be uh Bo Peep. He just really loves Toy Story a lot. So anyways, I don't know what we're maybe we can like hint, just keep dropping hints about Mary Blair between now and October. I know. I don't Mary Blair kind of look like Bo Peep. They're similar bang styles, so I think I can just wrap it. Um but Okay, so Imagineer. Yeah, I'd love to be an Imagineer because I love to uh like I would I I'm really good at creating puppets and figuring out problem solving how to make a mural work or how to make it come alive.

I that is like the attention to detail is something I thrive in. Um and visually too. Like I love visual arts. Like I would have been an elementary school art teacher if I wasn't um if I wasn't a storyteller. So uh that and then I'd also um I would love to work at really any of the kiosks. I think that they're unsung heroes, the kiosk workers, they have a really hard gig, but they get to see people sort of buy things in the heat of the moment that they need really bad and kind of impulsively, and like they get to see people be kind of have manic magic. You know that Disney manic magic that you have when you're like the parade is starting and I need that light up bubble blower. I have to have it.

Um I think there's something kind of fabulous. Like kiosk like food kiosk or specifically merchandise. Are we selling pins the results? All of the above. Um and then where where I don't I'm like thinking about which specific park that I would love like to work in. I'd also I think it'd be fun to to do the parades. There's a part of me that when I s when I'm I'm always like it's ironically I always want to do things that are not performing. So in the parades like I'd actually rather be like um like a as one of the soldiers that is a soldier I couldn't be I guess I could it doesn't matter gender whatever one of the soldiers in the territory I know I'm just not tall enough. That's the thing when you when you're starting to be characters it's like not really about gender.

It's about how tall you are so I was told I was like well who would I be if I got to go and they were like you'd probably be an Alice because of your height. I need to be friends with Alice Aura. I'm not quite tall enough to be Aurora. I think you could be really great friends with Mickey though. I just I think that'd be great. Right? I probably too I'd be a um Alice or I'd be a Wendy maybe I don't know if I had got to be a character but I don't think I'd get to be the princesses I'm too short. I don't know. Inside you can be a princess on the inside.

[20:50] Annaleigh Ashford: On the inside so same question uh but for Marg from Legally Blonde. What role or what job do you think she would have in the parks?

[21:01] Annaleigh Ashford: Um, okay, Margot from Legally Blonde. Um, I think she would I think she would sell pretzels.

[21:01] David Alpert: Okay.

[21:12] Annaleigh Ashford: Because she really likes pretzels a lot. She loves a soft pretzel. That is so weird and random. I know. No, it's perfect, it's so good.

[21:24] David Alpert: Oh, Philly, we'll be right back.

[21:27] David Alpert: Oh, what's the bad time forever?

[21:48] David Alpert: Here comes everyone's favorite. This is fast pass answers. I'm gonna ask you some questions, and after I ask the first one, you'll have 30 seconds to answer as many as possible. Are you ready?

[21:59] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh my god, I'm nervous, but yes, I'm ready.

[22:01] David Alpert: Yes. We're gonna breathe in. Breathe out. There we go. Fast pass answers. Annaleigh, what is your favorite Disney movie?

[22:11] Annaleigh Ashford: Uh Sleeping Beauty.

[22:13] David Alpert: Name a ride in fantasy land.

[22:16] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh my gosh. Uh um Peter Pan.

[22:19] David Alpert: Favorite snack in the parks.

[22:21] Annaleigh Ashford: I can't eat them anymore because I have celiac disease, but they were soft pretzels.

[22:26] David Alpert: Name a character from Snow White.

[22:28] Annaleigh Ashford: Um, sleepy.

[22:29] David Alpert: True or false. You have a Tony Award.

[22:32] Annaleigh Ashford: True.

[22:34] David Alpert: Favorite Disney character?

[22:36] Annaleigh Ashford: Aurora.

[22:37] David Alpert: Time.

[22:38] Annaleigh Ashford: That was very exciting.

[22:40] David Alpert: So we really like Aurora in Sleeping Beauty.

[22:43] Annaleigh Ashford: I she's my child.

[22:45] Annaleigh Ashford: Well, you know what really? Really, who I really love? Even more than Aurora. She's my very uh for some reason Sleeping Beauty was my favorite when I was a little girl. I think as an adult now, actually. Like Wally, In N Out, Toy Story 3. Toy Story 3, I think is my favorite movie of all the Disney movies. Um but it's so sad. I my god, it's so it's beautifully crafted as a film. When they hold hands, oh when they're holding hands and they're in the inferno, it's like mm-hmm. We listen to the whole soundtrack a lot, including the orchestrations, you know, like we listen to the whole soundtrack. Um, and it's just so beautifully crafted. It and for real, it's one of my top ten favorite movies of all time.

It's like Goodfellas, Toy Story Three, and Too Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar. Like Top Ten? Those are my top ten. Um, but Sleeping Beauty, for some reason when I was a little girl, I loved it so much, and I think it's because Merryweather, the third uh fairy of the good fairies, who she saves her blessing for last, and she's the one who helps break the curse. She um and she's also she looked like my grandma. That's what that was like what my grandma looked like. And I would always be like, grandma's like Merryweather, and she was so silly, and my grandma was so silly and funny. So we have a picture a hand drawing of Merriweather in uh that we got in Disney World in Jack's room, and then Joe loves Peter Pan.

It was the first play he ever did as a kid, and he it's his favorite, and Captain Hook was his favorite, and Jack loves Captain Hook. We did the Pirate Cruise, we spent extra money and did the pirate cruise. It was worth every penny, and he showed up as Captain Hook and had a mustache, the whole thing. And he had like an epic experience with Captain Hook. So we have a hand drawing of Captain Hook in his bedroom too. Those two. So I think Merryweather's maybe my favorite character. And of course Mickey.

[24:41] David Alpert: Does that mean though that you prefer Sleeping Beauty in blue?

[24:46] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh, I love her in purple, which means I love when she gets that splash thing happen. You know, and it's like a mess for a second. Um yeah, the best. So I I love both. I like I love when it's a mess. And there was a time where they they probably probably do, but they sold a version when I was a little girl and we couldn't afford it. So maybe I'll have it as an adult. There was a version of the costume for Aurora that they sold at the Disney store, and you could pull back the tool, and so it kind of looked purple. So you could pull it back and it was pink, and then you could put the blue over it, but it kind of looked purple, and I was like, I like it purple anyways.

[25:35] David Alpert: It is time for trivia. Here we go. Annaleigh. Located at both Disneyland, which was unveiled in 1993, and Walt Disney World unveiled in 1995. The statue of Walt and Mickey is a beautiful image located at the end of Main Street. Designed by Blaine Gibson. This statue can also be seen at Tokyo Disney, Disneyland Paris, as well as at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. What is the statue called?

[26:03] Annaleigh Ashford: I don't know. I'm so embarrassed. Is it it has to be something about magic or dreams, I hope. I don't know the answer to this. And there was a part of me that was like, you're a bad Disney person, because I don't know. But I'm open to learning. What's it called?

[26:19] David Alpert: Well, what I mean, what do you what would you name it?

[26:22] Annaleigh Ashford: Uh walking into the f well, wait, what would I call it? I'd call it like uh the land of dreams. I don't know.

[26:33] David Alpert: No, I love that. It's actually called partners.

[26:36] Annaleigh Ashford: Partnership. It's the partner's statue.

[26:39] David Alpert: Oh, I love that. That's cool.

[26:41] Annaleigh Ashford: And this is what crazy. I I just learned this. They the plaques that are on the statues are slightly different between land and world. At Disneyland, the plaques is, I think most of all, what I want Disneyland to be is a happy place where parents and children can have fun together. And at Disney World, it's slightly different. It's we believe in our idea, a family park where parents and children could have fun together. But I love that earlier on you talked about your grandmother that's 82 and your kid that's two can have a good time together. You are sell on brand with this partner statue, Annaleigh.

[27:18] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh, I believe in that so much, and I believe that that's a way to look at every vacation that you go on with your family. Like, how can we make this enjoyable for every person? And there that's what's so that's what the that that's the gift about the Disney parks. Um Joe always says, like, I can't wait to let our freak flags fly. Like we can be ourselves in every way when we get into the park, and we look hilarious and we wear full outfits, and I have like lots of spirit tees that I save my money up for, and um like I order my ears ahead of time. Like it's a whole thing, and part of that is we are part of what makes us special, I think as performers, um, is that we are connected to our childlike spirit.

We have to be to be creative, and to be a storyteller, you have to have a connection with your your childlike spirit. So we're we're more used to being in that headspace, but it's really exciting to watch all these people around us who don't get to connect to that childlike spirit as often to just let go and relax and be in a place where thoughtfulness and kindness matters.

[28:27] Annaleigh Ashford: That's one of the special things that I love about Disney World is the cast members. There's not there's the customer service in the Disney parks is better is there than it is anywhere else in the world. And part of it is just the mentality of kindness and loving. And you know, when you go to guest services, we always try to say, Hey, are you having a magical day back? We always ask because I think it's important to do that. And I always think we have such a great experience, and it makes our ex you know, of course, there's gonna be things that go wrong and you need help with, and um this just the world, and I always I always say when we go to guest services, it's just such a magical experience, and that comes from the top down, and it comes from sort of that um, you know, that statement, that mission statement.

One time we walked, we were staying at one of the hotels in Disney World, and we walked by um they accidentally had a curtain open that was a training room for cast members at that hotel, and they had some of like the they had an outline of their mission statement for for treating guests, and it was so beautiful and it was all based around kindness.

[29:33] Annaleigh Ashford: Um it's also like a a place where you know, we've been quite a bit to Disney World, I'd say at least twice a year, the two of us as a couple, and then I had Jack in 2016, so we all know like our no matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, things got more divided in 2016, no matter who you are, you know, voting for or whatever. But it was always just a place that we could go where that wasn't part of the conversation. You know, it was like such a nice place to be free of that uh topic, that chatter, that energy. Um, and unfortunately, it's you know uh uh it's overwhelmed us in the world, but not but not in Disney World. So that's been a treat.

[30:24] David Alpert: In the Tony Winning musical Kinky Boots, you originated the role of Lauren and brought to life the song The History of Wrong Guys. And as this podcast combines Broadway and the Disney parks, we're going to play the history of wrong guys Disney edition. I'm going to share some clues, and I need you to tell me which wrong guy I'm talking about. Does that make sense?

[30:42] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh yeah, this is funny.

[30:45] David Alpert: Okay, here we go. So the history of wrong guy is Disney edition number one. This wrong guy hails from France, and though every last inch of him's covered in hair, he is incredibly self-centered and doesn't care about anyone but himself.

[31:01] Annaleigh Ashford: It's you said it, it's Gaston. Sorry, it's in the interrupt. I I forgot that we weren't like we didn't have a timer.

[31:08] David Alpert: Oh, you know what? What gave it away? France or the hairiness?

[31:13] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh, France, baby.

[31:14] David Alpert: Yeah, yeah. Like it could have been something in Ratatouille, but perfect.

[31:20] Annaleigh Ashford: Well done. You are one for one. I'm really proud of you. Okay, number two. This wrong guy is a big old cat, and not only does he kill his brother for power, he tries to kill his nephew, too, to hold on to the throne.

[31:35] David Alpert: Scar.

[31:36] Annaleigh Ashford: It is Scar. Very good. Thank you.

[31:40] David Alpert: This next wrong guy is a real devil. Whenever he gets mad, his hair ignites on fire, and he's obsessed with the planets aligning.

[31:48] Annaleigh Ashford: Hades.

[31:49] David Alpert: Yes.

[31:50] Annaleigh Ashford: Hades is great. We love Hades. We've been watching Hercules a lot lately. Jack's really into it. And I'm like, Lillian Swite is in my bedroom.

[31:59] David Alpert: Well, the first episode was um Susan Egan for this. And I was just like fangirling the entire time. I was like, oh my god, you sound just like Meg.

[32:08] Annaleigh Ashford: And then you let Italy do a triple pirouette. Can you believe that? It was mind-blowing. I love her too.

[32:15] David Alpert: Okay. Our fourth wrong guy, much like the Queen in Snow White, is able to transform himself into a hunched over old person and is the only Disney villain to say the terrifying word a boo-boo.

[32:29] Annaleigh Ashford: Ooh, Jafar.

[32:31] David Alpert: It is Jafar.

[32:33] Annaleigh Ashford: Like, what is up with like that transformation? He's this like Sultan-like person, and then I know because you don't think he has that much power, but he does it with potions because he's a like he's a sorcerer. Remember what is what did they like to call him?

[32:47] David Alpert: And yes.

[32:50] Annaleigh Ashford: Like, the genie will always have more power than you.

[32:54] David Alpert: Because he says, make me the most powerful sorcerer, right?

[32:57] Annaleigh Ashford: Yeah, you're right. Oh my gosh. You can you tell I watch a lot of Disney movies? It's pretty good. I love it. It's enjoyable though. I'm okay with that.

[33:06] David Alpert: Number five. This bat like demon creature is the absolute wrong guy because he's terrified me since the 80s and makes me close my eyes during Phantasmic. He was seen in Fantasia with the music of Night on Bald Mountain.

[33:21] Annaleigh Ashford: Ooh, you maybe you maybe got me. Bat like creature in Fantasia. That's like the only movie that I don't know that well.

[33:27] David Alpert: And he's in Phantasmic.

[33:31] Annaleigh Ashford: It does make an appearance in Phantasmic, and he's also terrifying. I actually don't know who it is. I know I can see it, but I don't know the name.

[33:40] David Alpert: Okay, don't see it.

[33:41] Annaleigh Ashford: I need that visual out of your mind because it's scary. It is his name is Chernabog, and we're going to move on.

[33:47] David Alpert: Wow, that was a good one. That was like a that was a um that was like a five million dollar answer one.

[33:55] Annaleigh Ashford: You know, like high level. But that is, you know, it's that part two of a Phantasmic where you're like, oh, are you okay, Jack? He's scared.

[34:01] David Alpert: Number six. This wrong guy made us all collectively gasp in the movie theater when we learned what a bad guy he truly was.

[34:10] Annaleigh Ashford: It was made even more shocking by the fact that he was voiced by the very kind Tony Award winner, Santino Fontana.

[34:17] David Alpert: Oh, um, uh, Hans.

[34:20] Annaleigh Ashford: It is Hans.

[34:22] David Alpert: Yeah.

[34:22] Annaleigh Ashford: Definitely Hans.

[34:23] David Alpert: Fantino.

[34:24] Annaleigh Ashford: What a great gig.

[34:26] David Alpert: Totally deserves it, too.

[34:27] Annaleigh Ashford: Madame.

[34:28] David Alpert: Do you know who else gave the voice in that movie?

[34:31] Annaleigh Ashford: Who?

[34:32] David Alpert: Well, Jonathan, right.

[34:34] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh, yeah.

[34:35] David Alpert: It was you.

[34:37] Annaleigh Ashford: We're all in the same movie.

[34:38] David Alpert: We were singing today in the car when I was with Jack this morning.

[34:43] Annaleigh Ashford: Uh show yourself.

[34:46] David Alpert: Dun with dunna.

[34:49] Annaleigh Ashford: I'm like, oh, I love Adina. I could just listen to Adina sing all day.

[34:54] Annaleigh Ashford: This seventh wrong guy is a little monster. He lives next door to Andy and finds pleasure in blowing up innocent, kind toys who are smarter than him.

[35:03] David Alpert: Sid.

[35:04] Annaleigh Ashford: Yes, it's Sid.

[35:05] David Alpert: Okay, we've got three more. Here we go.

[35:07] Annaleigh Ashford: This wrong guy continually tries to murder a boy who will never grow up, attempts to drown a young woman, and routinely kills his employees.

[35:16] David Alpert: Captain Hook, man, but he's very funny.

[35:19] Annaleigh Ashford: I know, he's very funny. He wears great coats. But yes, not a great guy.

[35:23] Annaleigh Ashford: And absolutely a homosexual in the most magical best way. Like hello.

[35:28] David Alpert: Oh my gosh, of course.

[35:29] Annaleigh Ashford: I love him.

[35:31] Annaleigh Ashford: Number nine. The jungle creature that is Tarzan mistakenly thinks that this wrong guy's name is the sound of a gunshot.

[35:39] David Alpert: Oh.

[35:41] Annaleigh Ashford: You know, I don't know this guy's name. This is gonna be one I don't know too, but we watched Tarzan. I don't know his name.

[35:48] David Alpert: He actually suffers a terrible death as well.

[35:50] Annaleigh Ashford: His name is Clayton.

[35:52] David Alpert: Yes.

[35:53] Annaleigh Ashford: Okay. That was a tricky one too. Tough one. Clayton.

[35:58] David Alpert: Okay, and final History of Wrong Guys, Disney edition. This one is a Tim Burton creation. He's a bag of insects, is voiced by Broadway legend Ken Page, and at Disneyland replaces the hitchhiking ghosts on the Haunted Mansion during the Halloween and Christmas seasons.

[36:15] Annaleigh Ashford: Is it the boogeyman?

[36:17] David Alpert: It’s Oogie Boogie.

[36:19] Annaleigh Ashford: He's the Oogie Boogeyman.

[36:21] David Alpert: It's Kim.

[36:23] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh, it's fabulous. Yes. You did so well. Congratulations.

[36:27] David Alpert: Now, how do I do compared to other people?

[36:28] Annaleigh Ashford: I mean, I know they have different categories, but I feel like now my...

[36:32] David Alpert: You did, you were perfect. You were great. I want you to sleep very well tonight, knowing you did a great job.

[36:37] Annaleigh Ashford: Really good about that. That Oogie Boogie song. Um, I used to babysit these people, and they had like a Disney compilation CD, and I used to play it when the kids would go to bed, and I would dance to that and create choreography to it because it was sort of sexy.

[36:55] Annaleigh Ashford: And I would like I would make sexy dances to it. I love that song.

[37:04] David Alpert: Now let's hear from some of you.

[37:13] Annaleigh Ashford: And only we put it on social media. Your fans are very excited to ask you about Disney. Let's kick it off. Fernando wants to know what is your favorite Walt Disney World food?

[37:22] Annaleigh Ashford: My favorite Walt Disney World food is oh god, I'm so oh, Dole Whip, hands down, Dole Whip, Dole Whip. Dole Whip. Dole Whip.

[37:31] David Alpert: And not the float.

[37:33] Annaleigh Ashford: Not the float. I like it just... You do have to clarify, yeah. But sometimes I get the float just to have it.

[37:41] David Alpert: Jeff asks, which Broadway show that you've done could be turned into a Disney attraction?

[37:46] Annaleigh Ashford: Ooh, that's a good question. Um, some of them would be very odd, but you know what? Sunday in the Park with George would be a really beautiful Disney attraction because that is a brilliant answer.

[37:57] David Alpert: Yes. You could go through the painting.

[37:59] Annaleigh Ashford: Yes. The second half of the ride would be a little confusing.

[38:04] David Alpert: Yeah, you know, but you'd get an 80s light show, so who cares?

[38:07] Annaleigh Ashford: Yes, we would, yeah, totally.

[38:09] David Alpert: Nadia asks, last year, Theater Mania dreamcast you in a Hocus Pocus remake as Sarah alongside Patti LuPone and Anne Harada. Is there a Disney character either animated or live action that you'd love to recreate? And my question is, why is it Sarah Sanderson?

[38:25] Annaleigh Ashford: Uh, first of all, that casting, I was like, did somebody are we doing this? And nobody told me. Because that would be the best, it would be the best thing that ever happened. Even if we just did a concert performance of it, literally, when I saw that, I was like, whoever put this together, I feel like can't... I didn't pay them. I didn't pay them for this. This is the best thing that ever happened.

[38:45] Annaleigh Ashford: Um, there are times that um I imagine certain movies that haven't been made into musicals. Like I always try to figure out how I could do Moana on stage or figure out how I could make the Princess and the Frog on stage because I like those scores. I think the scores are so beautiful and they always look and also Tangled. What about that, guys? Um, but in terms of characters, I feel like I would like to play. Um, I kind of want to play Mother Gothel, but make it... I because she's sort of weird.

[39:20] David Alpert: Mama loves this.

[39:22] Annaleigh Ashford: Listen to your mama. You're gonna have to fight Leslie Margarita for that.

[39:28] David Alpert: Did she say that too?

[39:29] Annaleigh Ashford: Yes, everyone.

[39:31] David Alpert: She does okay.

[39:32] Annaleigh Ashford: Well, she can play it and I'll direct it. I'll direct it and I'll adapt it for the stage. Like I can double cast. We'll double cast it. It'll be great. Also, she'd be so great. I actually would rather see her do it than me. I don't know who I want to be. I think I want to be maybe... um, I don't know. I don't know yet. Can I... I mean Sarah Sanderson, you can let me know. You can and we'll put it on the Instagram page. Actually, Sarah Sanderson is... uh, Sarah Sanderson is I think the drain. It's gonna be great.

[40:01] Annaleigh Ashford: Crazy for Stitch asks, if you could be miscast as any Disney character, who would you be?

[40:08] Annaleigh Ashford: Gaston.

[40:10] David Alpert: Okay.

[40:11] Annaleigh Ashford: You know why? Because Hugh Jackman played him, and he always ends up being very delightful. I know he's a bad guy, but you know, I think he's... he's a killer part, killer part. Killer part. Literally.

[40:26] David Alpert: Our last question. Alana asks, do you have a favorite pair of mouse ears?

[40:31] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh yeah. Okay, so I just got them. We have a friend who is working at Disney World and has gone, obviously, since they've opened. And I saw on the Disney food blog and on Instagram that they had the ears that were Mickey hands. So I got those, and they're in second place favorite right now, but my very favorite is my rhinestone studded pair of ears by the Blonds. My favorite designers. Favorite designer made my favorite ears. They're like the best thing I think I own. Like, not just like own of Disney stuff, I think I own in my life.

[41:14] David Alpert: Your most prized possession.

[41:15] Annaleigh Ashford: I'm not kidding you. Like they go in a special box and they are in a prized place. I prefer them to my fanciest shoes. Like, seriously, they're the best thing I own.

[41:26] David Alpert: It's time for some tough choices. Let's play Tweedledee or Tweedledum.

[41:33] Annaleigh Ashford: So Annaleigh, this is Tweedledee or Tweedledum. I'm gonna give you two options. Let me know which one you prefer. Tweedledeer, Tweedledum, the Jungle Cruise, or It's a Small World.

[41:38] Annaleigh Ashford: It's a Small World.

[41:44] David Alpert: Mary Blair.

[41:45] Annaleigh Ashford: She's full circle. Love Mary Blair. And also, um, yeah, it's just it's pure magic. I mean, the Jungle Cruise is too, but I could go on It's a Small World like multiple times a day. It's also a lot easier to get on to. The Jungle Cruise is like a really long line.

[42:01] David Alpert: I find in Disneyland it's the opposite.

[42:04] Annaleigh Ashford: Really? Oh my gosh, it depends on the hot... like the holiday version, though, it's like.

[42:09] David Alpert: The restaurant across the street from the Jungle Cruise is also delicious and has some incredible gluten-free options. Like as a person with celiac disease, the last time we ate there, I think I had gluten-free calamari and gluten-free little like bread things that had cheese. It was an amazing gluten-free meal. And they have gluten-free fried chicken. So I'm just saying it's an incredible meal for celiac people. Or just, you know, people who don't eat gluten.

[42:34] Annaleigh Ashford: Yeah. Tweedledee or Tweedledum, Tomorrowland or Galaxy's Edge.

[42:40] Annaleigh Ashford: Uh, Tomorrowland because I'm taking that back.

[42:45] Annaleigh Ashford: Galaxy's Edge because that new Rise of the Resistance ride is the best ride I've ever been on in my whole life. In tie with um Flights of Passage in Pandora.

[43:00] David Alpert: Tweedledee or Tweedledum, Hercules or Mulan.

[43:03] Annaleigh Ashford: And we're talking the movie, not the characters.

[43:05] David Alpert: Okay, I have to just add one more thing onto my last answer. But as a land, the only reason I said that is because of that ride. But as a land, I prefer Tomorrowland over Galaxy's Edge.

[43:19] Annaleigh Ashford: Sure. Okay. I hear that.

[43:20] David Alpert: I hear that. Uh okay. Hercules or what?

[43:24] Annaleigh Ashford: Hercules or Mulan. And we're talking the movie, not the character.

[43:28] Annaleigh Ashford: Hercules, uh, because of the score.

[43:32] David Alpert: Yes.

[43:32] Annaleigh Ashford: I mean, Mulan is a great score too, but Hercules... I mean, come on, that score of Hercules cannot be beat.

[43:38] David Alpert: Can't be beat.

[43:39] Annaleigh Ashford: So amazing. Um, yes, yes, yes. Last tweed or Tweedledum.

[43:43] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh my god, you guys, or Raise You Up, Just Be.

[43:43] Annaleigh Ashford: Raise You Up, Just Be because it has the message of the Censure Read.

[43:52] David Alpert: Okay.

[43:54] Annaleigh Ashford: Yep.

[44:10] David Alpert: Annaleigh, the next time you go to a Disney park, what's the first thing you want to do?

[44:16] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh. I want to take a picture in front of the castle with my family and Dole Whip.

[44:25] David Alpert: Yes, like the Dole Whips in the photo with you.

[44:28] Annaleigh Ashford: Absolutely.

[44:30] David Alpert: Yes. Great. Well, Annaleigh, thank you so much for joining. This was such a delight. I love hearing all of your travel tips and your love of Disney World and all of that. So thank you so much for your time.

[44:41] Annaleigh Ashford: Oh my gosh, my pleasure. And um, yeah, I just uh just to give some love to everybody out there. I suggest that the next time you go to Disney World, just dive in full force and bring somebody who wouldn't normally go because you can spark some joy in them that they didn't even know they needed.

[45:00] David Alpert: That's beautiful. Well, thank you again, Annaleigh, and we'll see you at the parks.

[45:04] Annaleigh Ashford: Yeah, I can't wait to go with you. Let's have a fun magic day.