AUTHOR: Michael Bowling

Michael Bowling is the Disney Historian for The DIS Unlimited and host of the Connecting with Walt Podcast. He lives in Northern California. With his late wife Carol he has two adult children and one granddaughter who shares her grandfather's love of all things Disney. Michael's passion for Disney began during his first visit to Disneyland as a one-year old when some Pixie Dust got into his bloodstream during Tinker Bell's flight over Sleeping Beauty Castle. Since then he has learned all he could about the Disney magic and shares it freely with his students, family, neighbors, co-workers and pretty much anyone who will listen. Michael is a Disneyland and Walt Disney World annual passholder, D23 Gold Charter Member, DVC owner and The Walt Disney Family Museum Charter Member. With his family he has spent time at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, has traveled with Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line, and relaxed at Aulani. Michael has been been able to visit all the Disney Parks with friends he has met through The DIS Unlimited. When Michael is not at the parks or spending time with his family or in his garden, which is filled with Disney topiaries and statues, you can find him at The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco or at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary where he is a docent. Michael enjoys reading about Disney history and learning all he can about Walt Disney and those who make the magic happen for all of us.



Connecting with Walt: ‘Call Me Walt’ by Jim Korkis

To understand a person’s accomplishments, you must understand the person. In his recent book, Call Me Walt: Everything You Never Knew About Walt Disney, Disney historian and author Jim Korkis shares stories about the people and experiences that influenced Walt Disney. This book is not about the animated characters, films, technology, and theme parks Walt Connecting with Walt: ‘Call Me Walt’ by Jim Korkis

Connecting with Walt at Disney California Adventure

Walt Disney is a part of Disneyland. This Magic Kingdom was his idea – his dream. Unlike his films, which were finished the moment the director yelled, “That’s a wrap!”, Disneyland would be alive and everchanging. A Park that reacted to its visitors, and a Park that Walt Disney could endlessly reimagine, innovate, and grow. Connecting with Walt at Disney California Adventure

Connecting With Walt at Disneyland

I have many friends who have frequently visited Walt Disney World, but have not had the good fortune to visit Walt Disney’s original Magic Kingdom – Disneyland. I always look forward to taking them on their first visit to Disneyland and sharing the stories of the buildings, realms, attractions and people who made Disneyland a Connecting With Walt at Disneyland

A History of the Disneyland Hotel – The Happiest Hotel on Earth

Walt Disney’s Disneyland was almost an immediate success when it opened its gates to the public on July 17, 1955. In its first year of operation, nearly 4 million guests had walked down Main Street USA to the enchanted realms of Disneyland. About 41 percent of the guests had come from outside California, which is A History of the Disneyland Hotel – The Happiest Hotel on Earth