875: Cooking Up Disney History with Carly Caramanna

Jeremy sits down with acclaimed theme park journalist, Disney food expert, and author Carly Caramanna for a fascinating conversation about Disney food history, nostalgia, storytelling, and her upcoming book, The Unofficial Disney Parks Retro Cookbook. Carly shares her journey from growing up in a Disney-loving family in New Jersey to becoming one of the most recognized voices covering theme parks and travel, with work appearing in outlets including USA Today, CNN, BBC, NPR, and more. Along the way, she reveals how a late-night discovery of a 1981 Walt Disney World cast member restaurant manual eventually sparked the idea for a cookbook dedicated not just to recipes, but to preserving the stories behind Disney's most beloved dining experiences. Together, Jeremy and Carly explore the evolution of Disney food over the decades, discussing everything from the earliest days of Disneyland to the Michael Eisner era, Pleasure Island, Disney-MGM Studios, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and beyond. Carly shares behind-the-scenes details about researching long-forgotten restaurants, tracking down former cast members, recreating extinct recipes, and adapting vintage dishes for modern kitchens. The conversation also dives into the ongoing debate surrounding Disney adults, why theme parks should be viewed as living art, and how Disney's culinary scene has helped elevate Central Florida into a nationally recognized food destination. Along the way, Carly offers plenty of hot takes, including her picks for the most underrated and overrated restaurants at Walt Disney World, her favorite Disneyland snacks, why Narcoossee’s deserves far more attention, and what excites her most about the future of Disney dining. From hot dog egg rolls and carrot cake cookies to blue shrimp, monorail cocktails, and nostalgic Disney memories, this episode is packed with food, history, humor, and plenty of Disney magic.Connect with Carly Caramanna  Website: Adventures by Carly  Instagram: @adventuresbycarlyPreorder the Book  The Unofficial Disney Parks Retro Cookbook is available now for preorder! 🎉Plan Your Next Adventure with MEI-Travel Let the magic start before your trip even begins! Our trusted partner, MEI-Travel, takes the stress out of planning with nearly 20 years of expert service and completely free vacation planning. Whether it’s Walt Disney World, Disneyland, a cruise, or beyond—they’ve got you covered. Get your fee-free, no-obligation quote at MainStMagic.com/Travel and let the memories begin! 📱Stay Connected with Main Street Magic Join the conversation and follow along for park tips, laughs, and magic: Facebook Group – Main Street Magic Community Facebook: @MainStMagic Instagram: @MainStMagic TikTok: @MSMPodcast X (formerly Twitter): @MainStMagic 🌐Visit Us Online Podcast & Blog: www.MainStMagic.com Disney-Inspired Apparel: www.MainStreetShirts.com 🍽️Snag That Hard-to-Get Disney Dining Reservation Never miss your dream meal again! Set up free alerts at MouseDining.com and get text or email notifications when reservations open up. Be the first to the table—literally! 🤝Support & Discover Our Friends Explore more of our favorite resources, creators, and small businesses at www.mainstmagic.com/msm-friends/ 🎵Theme Music Provided by TFresh Productions Because every great show deserves a great beat.