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[0:25] David Alpert: Welcome to E-Ticket to Broadway, where Broadway meets Main Street.

[0:25] David Alpert: Here's your host, my pal, David Alpert.

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[1:31] David Alpert: Now on to the episode. This E-Ticket guest has starred on Broadway in Les and has the distinct honor of performing as the title role in not one, but two Disney on Broadway musicals.

[1:42] David Alpert: The Lion King and, of course, Aladdin, the role he originated. Clear the way, it's Adam Jacobs.

[1:57] David Alpert: Well, Adam, when I look at your Instagram, it is full of so much Disney love. It only makes sense to have you as a guest on this podcast. Are you ready to share your enthusiasm for the Disney parks with the listeners?

[2:09] Adam Jacobs: I am. I'm ready.

[2:10] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, let's do this.

[2:11] David Alpert: So, Adam, you clearly have such a love for the magic of Disney. Do you remember the first time that you went to the Disney Parks?

[2:18] Adam Jacobs: Uh, yeah. So I grew up in San Francisco, California. And um, we would sometimes go down to Anaheim to Disneyland. And um I remember going on uh I think it was Pirates, Pirates of the Caribbean was just it was my favorite ride as a kid. I just loved, you know, everything with pirates and treasure and and Peter Pan and all that stuff. Um and so I was just completely drawn in to that full immersion type of ride where you're you know on the boat and the voices and and the the whole cannon fight, like everything. I was just in I loved it and seeing the the sparkling treasure on the beach, you know, all of it. Um I was totally taken in. And um that was sort of the first moment at Disney where I was like, wow, this is this is amazing, you know. Um, and then of course, all the other rides and and uh Space Mountain, I was totally freaked out on because you know, uh in the dark, and um, but I still loved it and and had to do it over and over again.

[3:22] David Alpert: Yeah. Do you remember kind of that experience of going on these rides and thinking like, I don't think it's real, but I definitely do think it's real, kind of trying to navigate that as a kid?

[3:33] Adam Jacobs: Uh you know, as a kid, I think my imagination was pretty wild, or pretty, you know, it was pretty healthily developed, maybe at that point where um I could imagine sort of suspend my disbelief and be like, yeah, I I'm totally buying into this uh magic right now and and thinking that it's real, you know, and and just accepting that it's real. And then that's what Disney does so so well, right? They they set up the environment and they they do this fully immersion thing where you you really do feel like you are in the world, you know, whether it's Pandora or you know, in Frozen or whatever, whatever it is. It's like they they know how to create that. And you know, there's a you can say maybe they're manipulating your senses in a sort of devious way, but uh, you know, you can take that that position as well. But uh, I like to think that it's um just all in good fun and and it's great, it's magic.

[4:32] David Alpert: I love that you mentioned Peter Pan and Pirates because you know, as a kid, you're on the Peter Pan ride and you're like, these are cartoon characters, but on pirates are like, well, these are definitely human beings.

[4:43] Adam Jacobs: Oh, yeah. And you see like the the swords through the skeletons, and you're like, you know, imagining the fight that happened to to have that guy end up that way, right?

[4:52] Adam Jacobs: Exactly. You can see the whole thing play out in your mind and and uh in the town when the guy's being dunked under the well and just like the drama, right? Like all of those little vignettes and those scenes and the fire and the chasing, like all of it was just like so much, um, and so detailed, and and it's just like you know, so many stories playing out at once, uh, which just adds to the whole level of you know, full immersion like that. It's just great.

[5:18] David Alpert: As a kid, did you enjoy the Disney movies as well?

[5:23] Adam Jacobs: I loved the Disney movies, of course. I I really was drawn to Aladdin, um, you know, big surprise. Go figure uh little brown boy that one and also Mowgli uh in Jungle Book right those are the two I was like hey these guys kind of look like me and they're you know scrawny and and wily and I like to think of myself that I that I was like that even though I was actually more shy as a kid um but I I loved the chutzpah that you know Aladdin had and I wanted to be like him I wanted to run away from guards and and you know pretend I was uh you know stealing but not really did you remember like as a kid you know you you probably enjoyed performing I'm guessing did you ever just like kind of go down the street singing these Disney songs as a kid?

[5:29] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, you know I I actually was singing more of the like Little Mermaid type of songs because my sister loved that movie and we we played that so many times over and over and uh so I remember singing like part of your world with her just you know going up and down the streets but really you know one jump was the one I would sing in the in the playground pretending like jumping off of benches and swinging off of basketball poles and just like you know pretending I was Aladdin. So that that was my childhood essentially and and Disney was so much infused in my childhood that uh you know it's it's hard to even really analyze it now.

[6:56] David Alpert: Do you remember like meeting Aladdin or Mowgli at Disneyland? Did that ever happened for you as a kid?

[6:59] Adam Jacobs: Uh you know, I don't think we ever waited in line long enough to to do that. Um, but I do remember seeing it from a from afar and being like, wow, um, he's really here. You know, I did really think that I had that feeling of uh when I especially when I saw Mickey and you know the the traditional characters, I I was very excited to see uh you know Pluto and and and all those guys. Um yeah, I I just was it was like you know, you're just in you're it's like you stepped into the cartoon in a way, or and they've come to life and they're there. It's it's and I felt that same way even recently when I went on the uh Disney cruise, you know, because I sang a couple, I did a show out there um with my wife a while back, and um just having the characters not not only the the ones in full um you know uh animated one, not but also the like the princesses and and Gaston and like the the live action guys, um I just thought I I thought that was it was just really cool how they're you know they're staying in character and they're really being those characters, and that that was kind of my I'm like oh they're I obviously I know that they're that they're acting because these guys are those are the cartoon guys, right?

Like Disney Mickey and and Donald and Minnie, like those are the cartoons, and they're supposed to be here, but these guys are not the cartoons because they're real people, so I know that they're actors, if that makes any sense.

[8:33] David Alpert: I know we were talking about it and I was like, oh no, I think it's snow white. I don't know what you're talking about.

[8:37] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, okay, okay, right.

[8:39] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, you can't do it.

[8:40] David Alpert: Maybe friends, we say like you know, like friends with Snow White, but yes, I totally understand where you're like again. It's like the Peter Pan ride versus Pirates. We were like, I believe in it the same way, but I know it's slightly different.

[8:51] Adam Jacobs: Right, right, right, right. So, but I guess seeing those people, you know, um as Snow White and as Gaston and and Aladdin, I was like, that's really cool that they are are doing that, you know, that they get that they get to do that, that they get to just play all day essentially and um and be those characters. And I thought, yeah, that's that's fun. You know, I I want to I want to play along you know I know would you ever consider you know being friends with Aladdin at Disneyland one day like being the parade and or be in the shows?

[9:27] Adam Jacobs: Sure yeah yeah why not I I would love doing the parade I'd I'd love to stand up there and like you know do my do my nice my nice wave you can't see me doing it but I'm doing it.

[9:38] David Alpert: It's beautiful everyone I see it I mean you would you would maybe sing and they'd be like wow that guy sounds just like the album of the Broadway music hall that Aladdin wow he was really good or he's a really good lip syncer.

[9:38] Adam Jacobs: Adam you shared some adorable photos of you and your kids at the parks your whole family what are your favorite traditions to do with them while you're there?

[9:38] Adam Jacobs: Well we've only gone really twice uh because I was fortunate enough to be in the Epcot Festival of the arts um with the we did the the concerts there um and I did it just this past year and then the year before that and we you know my my kids let me first off say that my kids are very spoiled because while I was working there I got the full VIP treatment and we didn't have to wait in lines.

[10:34] Adam Jacobs: And so now we have that tradition, which is awful because I've pretty much ruined their theme park experience for the rest of their lives.

[10:44] Adam Jacobs: Uh if we ever decide to go.

[10:54] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, right, right, right.

[10:54] Adam Jacobs: Um, but uh yeah, I've kind of created a monster with that, but but you know, being able to be there with them during that time when I was performing, like they would we would go ride rides, and then I would go do my show in the evenings, and they would come to one of the one of the shows before they'd have to head off to bed.

[11:14] Adam Jacobs: And um, and so it was like this dream where we got to ride all these amazing rides without waiting, and then um they were treated to a show, Daddy gets to sing um in front of all all the all the um the peak theme park visitors.

[11:29] Adam Jacobs: So uh yeah, it was uh the kind of tradition that you can't really replicate.

[11:36] Adam Jacobs: Um but yeah, in terms of like, do you buy the funnel cakes or do you know, like that sort of tradition?

[11:45] Adam Jacobs: Um yeah, I I don't think we really set up anything where uh like they're gonna want to do for sure.

[11:53] Adam Jacobs: I'm sure it's just like the rides, like they want to hit those certain rides that they love, and that's sort of it, I think.

[12:00] David Alpert: I think what you're saying is you've set the bar high for them.

[12:03] Adam Jacobs: There's a very high set.

[12:06] David Alpert: Yeah, maybe two.

[12:06] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, impossible impossibly high.

[12:08] David Alpert: Yeah. Do you remember the first time that they got to meet Mickey?

[12:13] Adam Jacobs: Did that happen? Uh yeah, yeah. They met the whole cast of Beauty and the Beast. They met the Nemo cast. Um, they got to meet everybody. They got to meet Aladdin. And I think I don't think they were sort of googly-eyed and awestruck the way that maybe I was as a kid. I, you know, maybe it's just a sign of the times where they're like, yeah, you know, I there he's he's there. He's cool. You know, it's part of the whole experience. And um, you know, I don't know, but maybe they appreciated it, but not to that, I don't think to the extent that I was like, wow, you know.

[12:57] David Alpert: Yeah, I hear that. I'm still at my age, I still get very excited to meet Mickey. And it's always funny. We always say like we're meeting the characters. It's like, how many times can I meet Mickey before it's visiting him? You know, it's like I want to go meet Mickey for that 50th year.

[13:12] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, it's like right. Should I bring my sleeping bag? You know, should I bring my toiletry bag? And it's gonna hang out now, sleeping over.

[13:34] David Alpert: Adam, you started on Broadway as not just one Disney leading man, but two. What do you think you, Adam Jacobs, as a human being possess that makes you so right for portraying a Disney character?

[13:46] Adam Jacobs: Uh, that's a you know, nobody's ever asked me that question in that way. Um, I maybe you know, I have to go all the way back to growing up on the West Coast, California, sort of having kind of that laid back, easygoing attitude, but also um my parents and my even my mom's father, my grandparents' work ethic, you know, like that kind of combination, I think has done well for me, uh, and frankly. And um, you know, I've played Alion and I've played Aladdin, you know, and because when you said you played two um two characters, I thought, oh well, one of them is a human, the other one's not. But uh, but the fact that I got to play those two roles, which were roles that I emulated uh or that I idolized really as a kid, um, you know, it's the sort of thing you're like, if you would have told me as a kid that that would have happened, that was going to happen.

I would never have believed it really. Um, because it's just like this surreal uh this surreal thing where I'm playing these characters that I love. But in terms of what makes me the right fit for these characters, um, you know, I it's hard to really analyze yourself. Maybe it's just like like I said, my kind of I don't like to say that I am Aladdin or that I am Simba, but I definitely have elements of each of those characters that I was able to sort of bring to life. Um, and even elements about myself that like, you know, I love how Aladdin is very makes everything look effortless, right? Even though he's and I like to think that I don't have to show how hard I'm working. But uh, you know, it's that sort of thing where it's like, yeah, I'm gonna pick and choose the things about each character that I can that I can bring to the table and highlight and um and make it the role my own in my own way.

And uh it just so happens that the things that are part of me that people recognize and people I guess appreciate, and they they you know, when they think of me, you know, what do they who who who am I? It's very very existential conversation we're having here. Um, but uh you know, like how people view you and and what what they they see you as, how do they cast you, and um they saw those elements that fit those roles.

[16:16] David Alpert: Well, I think as you shared with your childhood, like even singing One Jump Ahead, um, as a kid, you know, that kind of points to the direction like, okay, here's a young boy that really enjoys adventure and kind of pushing the envelope, and like I see that in both Simba and Aladdin, you know.

[16:32] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I was drawn to adventure. Yeah, uh you're totally right. The stories and you know, we have Disney to blame for all of it.

[16:40] David Alpert: That's right, right. For maybe some unrealistic expectations of romance, you know.

[16:47] Adam Jacobs: I was gonna say also, Adam, you every time I think of you, you have a naturally smiling face, you have a pleasant, you're always just kind of happy. It's like that I think directly leads to a Disney, you know, hero, just kind of optimistic and thinking like it's all gonna be okay.

[17:03] Adam Jacobs: I think that's when I think of you, I think.

[17:05] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, uh, and I thank you, thank you. Um, and I do feel that that is an accurate portrayal of how I normally do feel um that whenever you know there is trouble and strife that just take a breath and then we're gonna get through it and things eventually do, you know, work out. It might not always be the way you thought, but things do tend to work out, and um yeah, so I do have that kind of easy-going attitude in a way, which my wife tells me is sometimes a detriment. Uh, but you know, we balance each other out in that way. So that's good.

[17:41] David Alpert: I think if I was like on a cliff and Adam Jacobs held out his hand to me and said, Do you trust me? I'd be like, Yes. You're very trustworthy, it seems.

[17:52] David Alpert: Speaking of Aladdin, what do you you kind of mentioned this, but what do you have in common with Aladdin? You kind of mentioned, you know, this adventurous spirit. But what else?

[18:00] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, so um, you know, uh, first of all, uh uh the obvious thing, uh Aladdin is very athletic. And as a kid, you know, I played soccer, baseball, I did all those. Um, I didn't do parkour, I didn't do American Ninja Warrior, which Aladdin does, but um, you know, I definitely had that element. Um, I didn't consider myself funny, really. Um, the way that Aladdin has that sort of self-deprecating humor that he has. And I I didn't really have that. I kind of had to, you know, figure that out uh in during the process. And and you know, as I've gotten older, I definitely have an element of that that I've but as a kid, you know, I didn't have that. And um, you know, I was a naive little scrawny boy, but um what else?

Uh yeah, he's he makes everything look really easy. And and he has obviously a strong relationship with his mother, which I do have as well. Um, so you know, singing Proud of Your Boy every night was always a poignant moment in the show. And um what else? I mean, he's he's trying to figure out who he is at the core, and that seems to me like a um an ongoing struggle for everybody. Uh, I do, you know, am always trying to figure out, you know, when things change in your life, you know, how do you adjust and what you know what happens now, right? You know, it people freak out, and you have to really kind of rediscover who you are and what what's happening.

[19:35] Adam Jacobs: So you know, there's that sort of thing as well. My uncle had a pet monkey growing up.

[19:44] David Alpert: Do you also love monkeys?

[19:48] Adam Jacobs: I love monkeys. I love going to the zoo and watching them swing all around. And uh, yeah, who doesn't love monkeys? Of course, people were upset when Abu was not in our musical. And I felt for them. I did, I did. I said, I know, I know, I know, I know it's really sad. But I do have these awesome friends, and I can't wait for you to meet them. You know, that was that sort of thing.

[20:11] David Alpert: But do they also steal apples at the fair?

[20:14] Adam Jacobs: Uh well, they helped me in in one version of Aladdin back in Seattle, we uh we did have uh, you know, busking and helping out in that sort of way. Um, but we realized probably should just be Aladdin. So um, yeah, we went through many iterations.

[20:33] David Alpert: Craig and I have the same question. What was it like the first time you flew over the audience on Broadway on that magic carpet?

[20:40] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, first time flying on the carpet was harrowing, I would say, because I didn't know which way it was gonna go. Like I watched it, I watched the stage manager do it, but you know, you get up on there the first time and you got the lights and you know, there's fog, and you know, it was a little scary at first because uh it does actually, you know, you can't tell, but it does do a slight pitch, you know, left and right as it's turning, and um even that little bit kind of makes you feel like whoa, you know, and when it kind of slows down and then speeds up and you feel like you're gonna fall off the back. It's like a it's like Space Mountain.

[21:19] David Alpert: Yeah, yeah, right, in the dark.

[21:21] Adam Jacobs: Um right. So we we I had to definitely get used to that. And luckily, you know, we were safe. We were buckled in with harnesses and um, but um, yeah, that was that was pretty cool just doing that. That first time, I'll never forget. It's pretty amazing.

[21:40] David Alpert: It's fun on this podcast. Ashley Brown, Josh Strickland, Gavin Lee, know you these Disney on Broadway stars that get to fly. And it's always fun to hear because you know, I I that's my superhero power that I'd love to have is to be able to fly so I kind of live vital through you all.

[21:56] Adam Jacobs: Yes, I always pick uh telekinesis myself, um because I figure I can always move my body to make myself fly.

[22:04] David Alpert: See, and then I have both.

[22:07] Adam Jacobs: That's like, well, I want to teleport as well, but I'll just fly, so it'll be okay.

[22:12] David Alpert: Yeah, we're smart. We've really figured this out.

[22:27] Adam Jacobs: Adam, big question for you. If Aladdin were to get a job at Walt Disney World, what job do you think he would get?

[22:34] Adam Jacobs: Oh man, that's a great question. Um, I would think he would be selling wares of some kind, you know.

[22:42] David Alpert: Like in the employee.

[22:44] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, it's just like hawking, you know, hats and caps and and vests and vests. He loves a vest, obviously. A fez, maybe a couple fezzes. Here, buy my fez. Uh, and of course, he would be he would be really good at negotiating and getting them to buy more, or you know, you know. They're like, this hoodie is really 100. He's like, but it's so good. You really want it. It's so good. You really want it.

[23:11] David Alpert: Yeah. Are there any um pieces of merchandise at the parks that you love to buy?

[23:17] Adam Jacobs: Um, we I always try to get a Christmas ornament. Just kind of that's kind of a tradition. I like um I like do I do like buying like baseball caps. Um, I bought a like an Epcot one last time. Um I would have been into the Star Wars lately, so anything with that, and I like the classic ones too, like the shirts with just Mickey and um so I kind of go back and forth with my styles in terms of the Disney stuff, but uh yeah, I I like it all really.

[23:47] David Alpert: We love merchandise, uh so does Disney.

[23:52] David Alpert: Oh free, we'll be right back.

[23:56] David Alpert: Oh, what's the board commercial?

[24:10] David Alpert: Fast pass.

[24:16] David Alpert: Adam, it's time for fast pass answers. I'm gonna put 30 seconds on the clock after I ask the first question. And this is going to be fun and not stressful.

[24:24] Adam Jacobs: Yes.

[24:24] David Alpert: Do you trust me?

[24:25] Adam Jacobs: Yes.

[24:26] David Alpert: I I yes, uh, do I trust you?

[24:28] Adam Jacobs: Yes.

[24:29] David Alpert: Do you trust me?

[24:30] Adam Jacobs: Yes.

[24:31] David Alpert: Okay, great. So uh 30 seconds after I asked the first question. Adam Jacobs, who is your favorite Disney character?

[24:38] Adam Jacobs: Oh, Aladdin, of course.

[24:38] David Alpert: Name any song from Aladdin.

[24:43] Adam Jacobs: Proud of your boy.

[24:44] David Alpert: Favorite Disney villain?

[24:47] Adam Jacobs: Uh Ursula.

[24:49] David Alpert: Name any Disney bird.

[24:52] Adam Jacobs: Uh Zazu.

[24:53] David Alpert: Yes or no? Can you feel the love tonight?

[24:54] Adam Jacobs: Yes.

[24:58] David Alpert: Favorite ride in fantasy land.

[25:02] Adam Jacobs: Uh oh.

[25:05] Adam Jacobs: I don't know. I'm trying to think. What's in the which one's face?

[25:10] David Alpert: Oh, yeah. Which one's fantasy land?

[25:11] Adam Jacobs: It was Peter Pan's flight. You said it earlier.

[25:13] David Alpert: I figured that.

[25:14] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, yeah. I couldn't. I couldn't figure out. I for some reason I was thinking, what's Fantasyland? I couldn't picture what was in there.

[25:20] David Alpert: That was exciting. Zazu, solid answer. And let's Ursula. We didn't go for Jafar, we're for Ursula.

[25:26] Adam Jacobs: I I thought Jafar, but I love Ursula. Ursula, she she does it for me.

[25:31] David Alpert: Well, it's that body language, you know.

[25:33] Adam Jacobs: That's that body language.

[25:36] David Alpert: Yeah. Oh, a question I didn't get to, but I I'm curious if you can, I'm sure you can do this. Is name any part of Prince Ali's parade?

[25:45] Adam Jacobs: Oh, um, 95 white golden monkeys.

[25:50] David Alpert: Wait, is that right? 95 white.

[25:54] Adam Jacobs: Well then they say, like, we got the monkeys.

[25:56] David Alpert: Uh yeah. You know what? I would fail on that question.

[26:00] Adam Jacobs: Yeah. I mean, bring me back to the I and I listened to that song a million times. What is it? There's like there's llamas, there's camels, there's a lot.

[26:07] David Alpert: But I don't think I could tell you.

[26:09] Adam Jacobs: Llamas.

[26:10] David Alpert: Peacocks, yeah.

[26:11] Adam Jacobs: Peacocks.

[26:13] David Alpert: There's a lot. Elephants.

[26:14] Adam Jacobs: Yep, lots. Lots of elephants.

[26:16] David Alpert: Um, and Adam, yes, thank you. I do also feel the love tonight. So that was very exciting.

[26:29] David Alpert: You're thinking ears. It's trivia time.

[26:31] Adam Jacobs: Oh boy.

[26:34] David Alpert: Adam, it's time for trivia. Here we go. In 2017, Disneyland's Phantasmic welcomed a new vignette of Aladdin and Jasmine flying on their magic carpet. While in Walt Disney World, Jafar makes not one but two appearances. One as the sneering Grand Vizier, but then later on is a 120-foot long, 16-foot high snake that shoots glaring spotlights out of his cobra eyes. Which Disney character shoots glaring spotlights out of their eyes in the Disneyland version?

[27:08] Adam Jacobs: Uh was that a dragon?

[27:12] David Alpert: The dragon?

[27:13] Adam Jacobs: No. Um That's not who I'm thinking of. I'm gonna give you a point. You mentioned loving this character as a kid, and this this character that shoots the spotlights out is from the same movie.

[27:27] Adam Jacobs: Is it Jafar?

[27:28] David Alpert: No.

[27:29] Adam Jacobs: It's not. Uh okay. The character you mentioned was Mowgli.

[27:34] David Alpert: Oh, Mowgli.

[27:35] Adam Jacobs: Yeah.

[27:36] David Alpert: And the character that shoots the spotlights is it's Ka.

[27:41] Adam Jacobs: Oh, Ka, yeah. I couldn't remember the name.

[27:44] David Alpert: It's God. The snake.

[27:45] Adam Jacobs: It's the snake, exactly.

[27:47] David Alpert: It's the snake.

[27:49] Adam Jacobs: Yeah.

[27:49] David Alpert: So this is what I learned though. At Walt Disney World, he's 120 foot long. The Jafar snake at Disneyland.

[27:55] Adam Jacobs: Yeah.

[27:55] David Alpert: He's only 100 feet long.

[27:57] Adam Jacobs: Oh.

[27:59] David Alpert: It's because Disneyland is smaller, probably.

[28:02] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, yeah. More compact.

[28:04] David Alpert: Do you like Phantasmic?

[28:06] Adam Jacobs: I do. I thought that was really cool. Um I love it.

[28:09] David Alpert: Yeah, especially that transformation at the end. They really did uh they've been upgrading it every every time I've gone to see it, and it's just gets even more phantasmic oracle um every time.

[28:29] David Alpert: Adam, we love the Disney parks, but when Disneyland opened in 1955 and Walt Disney World opened in 1971, some of the lands we love weren't even created yet. So in this game, a whole new world. I have 10 questions for you about some of the areas of the parks that were added into the theme parks a bit later. Are you ready for this thrilling chase to many wondrous places?

[28:52] Adam Jacobs: Oh, who wrote that?

[28:53] David Alpert: Yeah, okay. I I don't know. Okay, but don't you dare close your eyes, Adam, as we need to play this game, and please don't hold your breath. I need you with me.

[29:00] Adam Jacobs: Okay.

[29:01] David Alpert: Okay. I'm so sorry. Okay. A whole new world number one. This whole new world came to Walt Disney World in Disneyland in 2019 and featured a land far, far away with a centerpiece being a hunk of junk. What land am I referring to?

[29:17] Adam Jacobs: Uh Tomorrowland.

[29:20] David Alpert: It came in 2019.

[29:22] Adam Jacobs: Oh, 2019. Uh hunk of junk. Uh wait, Star Wars, not Star Wars Land.

[29:25] David Alpert: Yeah, Star Wars.

[29:25] Adam Jacobs: Star Wars Land, yeah.

[29:30] David Alpert: Galaxy's Edge.

[29:31] Adam Jacobs: Yep. Totally.

[29:32] David Alpert: Galaxy's Edge, yeah. Star Wars Land. Galaxy's Edge. That's exactly it. The whole new world came. I was thinking the hunk of junk. You mean the Millennium Falcon you're calling a hunk of junk?

[29:40] Adam Jacobs: I'm sorry.

[29:42] David Alpert: I know. Okay. Number two. It's surprising to think that this land, comprised of many whole new worlds, didn't exist until 11 years after the Magic Kingdom opened in Florida.

[30:01] Adam Jacobs: Was it Epcot?

[30:03] David Alpert: It is Epcot. Funny to think that when Classes and World Open, Epcot didn't open until 11 years later.

[30:11] Adam Jacobs: That is a ways.

[30:13] David Alpert: Yeah, that's a long time. Who knew?

[30:16] Adam Jacobs: Who knew?

[30:17] David Alpert: Number three. This whole new world just celebrated its 20th anniversary in California and is the home park for the World of Color show.

[30:27] Adam Jacobs: California Adventure?

[30:29] David Alpert: Yes, Disney California Adventure, totally. 20 years when it first opened. Maybe not as successful, but it's they've definitely made a lot of wonderful changes.

[30:39] Adam Jacobs: Yes.

[30:40] David Alpert: I love that one. Here's number four, featuring one of my favorite e-ticket attractions, this land opened in 2012 and stars such characters as Mater and Luigi.

[30:51] Adam Jacobs: Uh I love those guys. That's cars.

[30:52] David Alpert: That's the car's land, right?

[30:55] Adam Jacobs: That is, that's cars land.

[30:56] David Alpert: Have you been on Radiator Springs Racers?

[30:59] Adam Jacobs: I have. I love it. Speeding through those red rocks, it's pretty awesome.

[31:03] David Alpert: Amazing.

[31:04] Adam Jacobs: It's like it's one of my favorite rides.

[31:06] David Alpert: Okay, number five, for a whole new world. Mickey's Toontown, where you can visit both Mickey and Minnie's home separately. Opened in Disneyland in 1993 in the Magic Kingdom in Florida in 1988. And which international park in 1996?

[31:23] Adam Jacobs: Uh Tokyo Disney.

[31:25] David Alpert: That's right. Tokyo Disneyland.

[31:27] Adam Jacobs: Hey!

[31:28] David Alpert: That's exactly right. It actually I learned it it closed in the Magic Kingdom in 2011.

[31:34] Adam Jacobs: Oh, so sad.

[31:36] David Alpert: But you know, maybe one day Mickey and Minnie will buy a house together.

[31:40] Adam Jacobs: But for now, not so much.

[31:45] David Alpert: This one I think you might get. Number six. Walt Disney Studios was a whole new world at Disneyland Paris and opened in 2002. In this land, one can ride an attraction similar in feel to Dumbo, but it's based on which 1990s Disney animated film.

[32:06] Adam Jacobs: Similar to Dumbo, but not Dumbo. Uh 1990s film. Um I don't know.

[32:16] David Alpert: That's tough.

[32:16] Adam Jacobs: It is tough.

[32:19] David Alpert: Yeah.

[32:21] Adam Jacobs: Uh is it Aladdin?

[32:23] David Alpert: It is Aladdin.

[32:24] Adam Jacobs: It is Aladdin. The ride is the flying carpets over Agrabah. And in Tokyo Disney C, they've got Jasmine's flying carpets and Magic Kingdom has magic carpets of Aladdin. Um but yeah, instead of an elephant, it's a magic carpet.

[32:37] Adam Jacobs: Okay, yeah, it's kind of hard to put those yeah together, but yeah, they I guess that makes sense.

[32:42] David Alpert: And I think that you should go at some point in an Aladdin costume and just go on the ride and just relive your Broadway fantasies.

[32:49] Adam Jacobs: I think it's time for it.

[32:52] David Alpert: Okay, that was very exciting. Uh we've got uh four more, but you are killing this. Number seven, in which land can one fly on a mountain banshee, part of a whole new world that opened in Walt Disney World in 2017?

[33:06] Adam Jacobs: That's Pandora.

[33:08] David Alpert: That is Pandora, the world of Avatar.

[33:10] Adam Jacobs: Yeah.

[33:10] David Alpert: Do you love Flynn?

[33:13] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, I love that one. I did get almost like get a little dizzy the first time, but uh, but then I afterwards I got it and I was like, ah, this is awesome.

[33:20] David Alpert: Amazing.

[33:21] David Alpert: Number eight. Disneyland has the Matterhorn, and Walt Disney World has Expedition Everest, which is part of the new park that opened in 1998. What's the name of that park?

[33:31] Adam Jacobs: Oh yeah, that's uh Everest is in Animal Kingdom.

[33:34] David Alpert: That's right, Animal Kingdom. Do you prefer the Matterhorn to Everest or vice versa?

[33:40] Adam Jacobs: Well, Matterhorn was one of my favorites for sure, but then Everest came along and kind of blew me away.

[33:47] David Alpert: So I now am an Everest fan for sure.

[33:51] Adam Jacobs: Fair.

[33:51] David Alpert: That's fair. I mean, they're both similar.

[33:55] Adam Jacobs: I know, I'm such a land boy, but like the Matterhorn hurts my back and terrifies me. And Everest was just thrilling.

[34:01] David Alpert: It's very thrilling. Oh, it was yeah, it was awesome.

[34:04] David Alpert: Number nine, when you visit Disney's Hollywood studios, you can now experience Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. Which attraction did this railway replace?

[34:15] Adam Jacobs: Uh I don't know.

[34:20] David Alpert: Which one is the great movie ride?

[34:22] Adam Jacobs: Oh, the great movie ride.

[34:26] David Alpert: I don't remember that one very well.

[34:27] Adam Jacobs: No.

[34:28] David Alpert: It was an experience. Like the carousel, like the carousel of progress. Like one of the very big commitments. It's like this ride is going to take some time and it's gonna be wonderful.

[34:39] Adam Jacobs: Great.

[34:40] David Alpert: This last one is a little tough. So this is this one's tough, but I'm I'm gonna hear I'm here to help you out.

[34:46] Adam Jacobs: Okay.

[34:48] David Alpert: For our final A whole new world. This whole new world opened in Disneyland in 1972, and where you were once able to visit the country bear jamboree. What's the name of this area?

[34:59] Adam Jacobs: Frontierland?

[35:01] David Alpert: Yes. It's not Frontierland.

[35:04] Adam Jacobs: Oh shoot. This is one of those, it's like New Orleans Square. It's just like a very like small part.

[35:11] David Alpert: Well, not many people. So is it's called?

[35:14] Adam Jacobs: Yeah.

[35:15] David Alpert: You ready for it?

[35:16] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, what is it?

[35:17] David Alpert: We're gonna learn this together. It's Critter Country.

[35:21] Adam Jacobs: Critter Country? I've not I did not know that.

[35:25] David Alpert: I think you would only know that if you were looking at the map.

[35:27] Adam Jacobs: But you're kind of just like you're in New Orleans Square, you leave Haunted Mansion, and then you like turn and you're in Splash Mountain. You're like, oh, I guess I'm in critter country now. Huh. I I don't think I've ever heard that. That's that's amazing. We're learning together. So, Adam, thank you so much for playing a whole new world with the Disney Parks. I hope this was an enjoyable for you.

[35:46] Adam Jacobs: Yes, it was very much so. Thank you.

[35:51] David Alpert: Now let's hear from some of you. Uh-huh. Adam, we put it on our Instagram page, and your fans have some Disney questions for you, so here we go. Veronica wants to know what is your favorite Disney song to perform.

[36:09] Adam Jacobs: Oh, favorite Disney song to perform. Um, I mean, it's kind of hard to top proud of your boy at this point. It has become my signature song. Um, so I mean, it is that a cop out to say that maybe, maybe it is. Um, you know, but I'll just gonna say it anyway. I love that. Yeah, I also love uh Friend Like Me. You know, I never got to be the Janie, but I sometimes do that one in the shower. So um, so there you go.

[36:37] David Alpert: So here's the follow up. Ellie would like to know which song in Aladdin that you weren't in would you have liked to be in?

[36:44] Adam Jacobs: What? I just said that. That's amazing. Um yeah, friend like me. Yep. Tot only you're in friend like me, but you would get to sing it this time.

[36:52] Adam Jacobs: Oh, okay, okay, okay, yeah. If Courtney Reed's listening, I'll, you know, say Palace Walls. Um that would be that would be the one. Yeah. Or, you know, the one they they they took away. They changed they had her song um was a beautiful one singing about a bird in a cage and wanting to be free. And that was a beautiful number that they sadly had to get rid of. Of course, you know, Jafar went through 24 different villain songs before he found his. Um, but that's also Diamond in the Diamond in the Rough is a fun, fun one too. Uh someday I want to be a villain, so I'm just putting that out in the universe.

[37:30] David Alpert: Laura asks, what's your favorite Aladdin costume?

[37:36] Adam Jacobs: I love the Prince Ali costume. Um, it's just glorious. That cape and the capography I get to do with it. I mean, come on. You know, I know Jonathan Freeman likes to talk about his cape, but I mean, I got the cool embroidery and all that, plus the secret pocket for my lamp. Uh, so you know, can't talk that. Spoiler. Hello. That's right. I wish we could bring capes back into fashion.

[38:03] David Alpert: I think you can single single-handedly.

[38:06] Adam Jacobs: Sure. I guess think of like when you're in an argument and you like want to leave. You just like swoop your cape. That's good. Bye, Felicia.

[38:18] David Alpert: Exactly. Exactly. Cynthia is curious. Which Disney movie or franchise should be made into the next musical?

[38:25] Adam Jacobs: Well, Cynthia, uh, I think the obvious one is Tangled. I think that one should be the next uh musical. I I think it's a great one. And I don't actually don't know sure if it's in the works or not, but it should be. Well, there's the cruise line version, but potentially it could be a good one.

[38:41] David Alpert: Right, yes, that's true. It could make its way to Broadway. Who knows?

[38:43] Adam Jacobs: It could, you're right. It could. Would you like to be entangled?

[38:49] Adam Jacobs: I think it'd be fun for sure.

[38:51] David Alpert: As brighter as Rapunzel.

[38:53] Adam Jacobs: Uh as Rapunzel. Uh, as my contract stipulates my hair has to be at least 150 feet long. So of course. Um, it's a far in Phantasmic, that snake.

[39:07] David Alpert: Yes. Mark asks, were you excited about performing songs on Broadway that were cut from the movie?

[39:14] Adam Jacobs: Oh, yeah, for sure. And uh Proud of Your Boy was the number one song. It it really just sets up his whole character. It's early in the first act and creates the whole arc and for him and uh gives him the depth. And I just love that number.

[39:31] David Alpert: And finally, Karina asks, if you could design an Aladdin ride other than the Walt Disney World carpets, what would it be like?

[39:40] Adam Jacobs: Ooh, if I could design a ride myself, it probably would be um, you know, I as a kid it probably would have been a giant roller coaster ride. But nowadays I love just like the boat rides, you know, and and also, you know, I we talked about how I love the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. I love the uh the the boat ride in Pandora. Um so I love anything that's sort of full immersion like that. So maybe it would be um like oh I they're doing Ratatouille, aren't they? Isn't that coming up pretty soon? Like it's in Paris, but it's coming to Epcot.

[40:16] David Alpert: Yeah, like something like that where you're like totally immersed in the world of of the movie. Um, yeah, maybe I guess we could we could do an Aladdin, you know. Uh they have the flying carpet, but I feel like they could really just go, you know, full out and and upgrade it, I think.

[40:38] Adam Jacobs: You mentioned loving Peter Pan's flight. I I could see a dark ride where you're on the carpet, you know.

[40:44] David Alpert: Yeah, I love the dark rides.

[40:45] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, yeah. You could do like an Aladdin dark ride, but like maybe a little more adventurous than Peter Pan, like maybe definitely you should have him flying through the cave with lava coming down. You can go like full universal and just like do that too. Like with like everything. Oh, I shouldn't say that. Can't say that. I can't say that word on this podcast. I'm so sorry. Oh, sorry. Okay. Um, yeah, so you definitely should have the lava pouring in uh at from the cave and you know, shooting up out of the cave as it's collapsing. You gotta make it more exciting.

[41:21] David Alpert: Yeah. I mean, you could definitely turn like an e-ticket dark ride. Kind of like you know, just really amp it up.

[41:27] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, that's that's what I'm in. Let's do it. Any imagineer that's listening, you've heard it here. Let's do it.

[41:31] David Alpert: It's time for some tough choices. Let's play Tweedledee or Tweedledum.

[41:40] Adam Jacobs: Adam, it's time for everyone's favorite. This is Tweedledee or Tweedledum. I'm going to give you two options. Let me know which one you prefer. Tweedlede or Tweedledum, a whole new world, or can you feel the love tonight?

[41:52] Adam Jacobs: Oh. Whole new world.

[41:55] David Alpert: You got the carpet.

[41:57] Adam Jacobs: Yes, we love a good prop, right?

[41:59] David Alpert: Yeah. Tweedledee or Tweedledum, Tomorrowland or Galaxy's Edge.

[42:05] Adam Jacobs: Oh man. I think, you know, I am a purist, but I think I I have to go with Galaxy's Edge now, because it's it's full immersion. You know, you got the stormtroopers coming up to you and and like saying, you know, show me your papers and stuff. It's pretty awesome.

[42:19] David Alpert: Have you been on Rise of the Resistance?

[42:22] Adam Jacobs: Um, no, I didn't. I that was the only one I couldn't get on, unfortunately. And I'm can't wait to get on that one. We get back.

[42:27] David Alpert: For sure. Tweedledee or Tweedledum, Agrabah or Pride Rock?

[42:34] Adam Jacobs: Ooh. Uh well, I mean, Agrabah is so colorful and so much mystery, but Pride Rock is, you know. If Pride Rock were a village, you know, instead of just a watering hole, um, then that'd be more exciting.

[42:49] David Alpert: Okay. You make a good point.

[42:51] Adam Jacobs: So I think we're gonna go with Agrabah.

[42:53] David Alpert: And finally, Tweedledee or Tweedledum, Dole Whips or Churros?

[42:57] Adam Jacobs: Ah, that's tough. I love those both. I love both of those. I love both of those. Um I'll say Dole Whip. I like I like the Dole Whip.

[43:04] David Alpert: Yeah. Do you have other favorite snacks from the parks?

[43:09] Adam Jacobs: Well, Dolep is probably the top one. Um I like the uh the Mickey shaped like Klondike things, whatever those are. Um and um yeah, that's that's pretty much it. What about you?

[43:24] David Alpert: Favorite snacks.

[43:25] Adam Jacobs: I love uh the Mickey Mouse ice cream sandwich bar.

[43:28] David Alpert: Yeah.

[43:29] Adam Jacobs: You know, the ones that are not the one on the stick, the one that are like you, you know, you pull it out, there's so much dry ice, and then you bite into it and you break your teeth. It's my favorite.

[43:37] David Alpert: Yeah, that one. That's good.

[43:54] Adam Jacobs: Adam, if you found a magic lamp at a Disney theme park, what would your three wishes be to create the most perfect day?

[44:03] Adam Jacobs: Oh man. Okay. No lines, right? Um that's that's gotta be one. Has to be. Um perfect day. Uh let's see. Probably if you could figure out a way to do all the rides without having to like on segues. Maybe you got like a segue. Like you can you can actually drive a car through at the park or something like that. Like nobody would maybe a golf cart.

[44:33] Adam Jacobs: A golf cart, yeah. I would I wish for a golf cart with like full amenities with like you know, a cooler and and all the all the treats, right? Okay, like a dole whip a golf cart with a dole whip machine. Yes on it. Okay, perfect. That's your second wish. And what about your third wish?

[44:49] Adam Jacobs: My second wish. Third wish would be um it would be perfect if I had everybody that I ever knew. Not everybody, I know take that back. No. Uh just the people that uh I really like and I love. Um, having them experience that with me and being there all together, that'd be that would be great.

[45:11] David Alpert: Yeah. Kind of bummed you didn't wish for my freedom for that third one, but okay. That's fine.

[45:15] David Alpert: So Adam, what's the first thing you want to do the next time you go to the parks?

[45:22] Adam Jacobs: Um, I want to do the Rise of the Resistance ride. I didn't get the chance to do that last time. Um yeah, I want to just, you know, I actually kind of want to explore some of the other um hotel properties around around Disney. Uh, because there's some really you know beautiful ones, and uh I haven't done that yet. And so, you know, we'll see. Try to, you know, do like the big restaurants, that's do some of the nice restaurants outside the parks and around on the property. That'd be really fun.

[45:51] David Alpert: That's a great answer.

[45:52] Adam Jacobs: Oh, oh, Club Club 33, Club 33s. I want to do all the club 33s.

[45:55] David Alpert: Okay. Because I did do one.

[45:59] Adam Jacobs: I did do one. I just did the one at at the Epcot. And I want to do the one in Animal Kingdom. Um, I have an open invitation, so I can I can go back there sometime. But Club 33s, I want to see what that's all about. And uh, you know, I don't know if I'll be a member, honorary member, probably not. Um, but uh if I if I ever make a lot of money, that's what I want to invest in a club 33 membership.

[46:29] David Alpert: There you go. I got to celebrate my 33rd birthday there in California.

[46:33] Adam Jacobs: You did?

[46:34] David Alpert: And it was perfect. It was such a wonderful I feel very lucky.

[46:39] Adam Jacobs: Well, Adam, thank you so much for your time and for sharing your love of Aladdin and Mowgli and Dole Whips and your time at Festival of the Arts. This has been so much fun chatting with you about all things Disney.

[46:49] Adam Jacobs: Yes, thank you so much for having me. It's been it's been great.

[46:53] David Alpert: Awesome. And we'll see you at the parks.

[46:55] Adam Jacobs: See you there.

[47:09] David Alpert: See you real soon on the next episode.