About James

My name is James, and although I was born in Southern California, I didn’t grow up in just one place. Thanks to my dad’s career with the Union Pacific Railroad, my family moved all over the western half of the United States. By the time I was 16, I had lived in California, Idaho, Washington, Alaska, Nebraska, and Colorado. Eventually, I landed in Las Vegas—and over 30 years later, it’s still home. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Some of my earliest Disney memories revolve around trips to Disneyland. Even though we moved frequently, my family always made time to return to California and visit the park, and those trips became some of my favorite memories growing up. Disney movies were also a constant in our house, and once home video became popular, my parents made sure we had a growing collection of Disney classics.

I always knew Disney was important to me, but I didn’t fully realize how much until after I got married. On a trip to Disneyland with my wife and her family, I found myself naturally guiding everyone around the park—knowing where things were, what came next, and how everything connected. That was the moment it clicked: Disney wasn’t just something I liked, it was part of who I was.

Disneyland is unquestionably my home park. I’ve been there more times than I can count, it’s less than a five-hour drive from Las Vegas, and there’s just something special about walking through the original park that Walt Disney helped build. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit all four parks at Walt Disney World, but for me, nothing compares to Disneyland. One day, I’d love to experience the international parks—or take a Disney cruise—with Tokyo Disneyland sitting firmly at the top of my wish list.

I joined the Talking Disney Podcast in a way that feels very on-brand for me: as a devoted listener first. Jason and Cody started the show, and I loved hearing them talk Disney each week. After being invited on as a guest a few times, I was absolutely thrilled when they asked me to officially join the podcast around Episode 50. Saying yes was a no-brainer. Recording with them is genuinely one of the highlights of my week, and I love that we’ve built a space where we can share our passion, debate our favorites, and just talk Disney for hours.

When it comes to favorites, my list is very on-brand for a Disneyland loyalist. My favorite attraction at the resort is Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!, with the Disneyland version of Space Mountain close behind. My favorite hotel I’ve stayed at is Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, though staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a dream for the future.

My favorite animated Disney film is The Lion King, with Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast right on its heels. My favorite live-action Disney film is Mary Poppins. As for characters, my favorites tend to rotate between Mickey, Donald, and Goofy—but if I’m being honest, I probably identify most with Grumpy.

When it comes to Disney snacks, it’s a constant internal debate between a classic Main Street corn dog and a chimichanga. I don’t really have a single favorite parade or nighttime spectacular—I’m just happy being there, soaking it all in.

At the end of the day, Disney is my escape. It gives me a break from the outside world, helps me reset, and reminds me of the good that still exists. When I visit the parks, my only real goal is simple: have fun—and remember why I fell in love with Disney in the first place.