Ahh yes, smell the churros being made to the perfect golden color, see shops begin opening up, watch cast members greet guests with wide smiles, and enter the castle that is the very symbol for all things Disney. Disneyland, and any Disney Park, is a place for young kids to go and have all their childhood dreams come true. From meeting princesses to fighting like a pirate, Disney Parks have always been able to attract a young audience, but that’s not all they get. Teens and adults fall in love with the Disney magic just as easily, although usually for different reasons. The YouTube channel, Offhand Disney, has been able to create videos that enhance, educate, and sarcastically commentate on why Disneyland and all Disney Parks intrigue guests of all ages. Offhand Disney started his YouTube channel in December of 2016 and has now grown to have 132,494 subscribers in just over a year and a half. The fast-growing number of subscribers has increased by 10,000 since August 1 to September 3! Offhand Disney, covers topics ranging from fan theories, to the history of the Parks, to unknown attractions and rides that were once part of the Disney company. Using stick figure drawings to represent himself and witty commentary, Offhand Disney keeps viewers coming back for more videos every week. The owner of the channel, Dallin, describes Offhand Disney with this sentence: “History, secrets, theories and sarcasm; it’s all here.” I was fortunate enough to be able to talk to Dallin about Disney, his channel, and some of his future plans. This interview was full of sarcasm, theories, and a touch of what all happens behind the scenes to create a video. Below is the complete transcript of what all went down!
Offhand Disney Interview Transcript
Interview Questions
Offhand Disney Answers
Where did your love for Disney Parks begin, and how did it continue to where it is at today?
When I was younger, my family went on a vacation to Walt Disney World. This was in the year 2000 for the Millennium Celebration. There was a massive Mickey Mouse hand holding a wand attached to Spaceship Earth (the Epcot Ball) with a big "2000" plastered above it. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I was only 2 then, but the memory of Spaceship Earth with that wand is still vivid in my memory. Fast foreword to the second grade, and we had to do reports on a famous person of our choice. I was a very casual Disney fan like any other kid at that point, so I decided to do mine on Walt Disney. I learned so much about innovation and Disney history through that report. I had no idea how much history and planning went into absolutely every detail at the Disney Parks. I slowly descended into the super rich history of the Disney Parks and the history of The Walt Disney Company from there.
How did this idea of a Youtube Channel begin?
When I gained access to the internet on a regular basis, I started watching tons of on-ride videos of Disney Parks attractions, specifically Splash Mountain and Expedition Everest as those were my favorites back then. Every now and then another type of Disney history video would pop up. History of The Haunted Mansion, Secrets in Main Street USA, etc. Really fun videos that mixed history with trivia. I had always wanted to be involved with YouTube from a young age, but upon going into High School and getting a job at a local restaurant, I mostly gave up on that dream. I continued to exercise my creativity through Theatre at school, and it really helped me get a feel for what it was like to entertain people. After High School I watched a number of different Disney and Disneyland YouTubers who inspired me to do something similar, but with my own twist. I wanted to start a Disney YouTube channel but I wanted to wait for the right time where I could do my own sort of thing without copying anybody. December of 2016 rolled around, I got myself a cheap microphone and hooked it up to my terrible laptop and made a quick video about the Skyway at Disneyland. The rest is history.
When did you first start your channel?
December 2016
Do you like calling yourself a Youtuber, or is this something you just enjoy doing without the label?
I have a running joke with friends that I prefer the title "Internet Content Influencer" but that's all just fun and games. In passing and in general conversations I don't usually bring it up, I'll say "I make YouTube videos" but family and friends refer to me as a "YouTuber" but I wouldn't say I am just yet. I feel like there's an imaginary bar to earn the title that I just haven't reached yet.
Youtubers that inspire you?
I try not to watch TOO MUCH of other Disney creators, not because I don't love their content, I just don't want to subconsciously copy content from their videos. From time to time I'll watch a few videos from other creators because I love seeing what they're up to. I've gone from a passive fan to an active friend of lots of these creators and its super surreal, so I really want to check in and see how their channel is doing. Justin Scarred is a creator who inspired me to start my channel and I love to check in and see what adventures he's going these days.
What did you want your channel to accomplish? Was it more of a personal thing or did you really want it to grow into what it is now?
A bit of both is the best way to put it. I had no idea I'd see the kind of growth I have. I wanted to be able to put lesser-known Disney facts out there onto the internet so I could catalog them for myself, but also to inform anybody who thinks they've seen everything when it comes to Disney trivia.
Where do you see your channel in 10 years? Do you plan on still making videos?
I absolutely want to continue to do YouTube, as it allows for me to turn my passion for Disney into a profession. Who else can say they get paid to go to Disneyland and talk about nerdy facts? Maintaining relevancy for ten years is hard to do but I'll be doing my best to be around and better than ever by that time.
Do your friends and family know that you have a successful Youtube channel, or is it more something that you like to keep private?
I don't often go around telling people what I do, but my family is very much involved whether I want them to be or not. They're super supportive and watch all of my videos and keep up with me on social media, which really means a lot to me.
If you could give a younger you or someone who would like to make videos like this one piece of advice what would it be?
I would probably tell myself not to overthink everything. It's something I do even up to today. Most YouTubers will tell you they don't really sleep because either they're stressed about the channel or their minds are going crazy with ideas and I am very much like this. I think taking a step back and taking a breath would be good advice for myself. Also people love videos on Abandoned Disney Attractions, so do more of those.
Having a successful channel is not an easy task, do you write and edit all your videos or do you have a team?
It's all me doing every step. I think I've had one video in the past where someone offered to edit it. I let them and it turned out nicely, but I like having total control over my videos so everything you see in the videos besides footage (even that is shot by me sometimes) is all done by me.
Can you describe the process of making a video? Where do you get ideas, how many ideas become videos, how long does it take for videos to be made
I usually will get ideas when I'm thinking about nothing else, usually right when I'm about to fall asleep. I'll write the idea down and sit on it for a few days to see if there's enough to talk about to make a meaningful video. About 50% of the videos I make are scripted. Before I make the video I have a list of bullet points I want to cover, but I don't make an entire script word for word to read off of. I think this gives my videos a more casual and friendly feel than a lot of other Disney History Information channels out there, at least that's what I go for. When I edit I try to incorporate small pictures, ride footage, and examples of what I mean to deepen the understanding. I'd say a good 60% of my ideas become videos, and it usually takes me about five days to a week to fully make and complete a video.
How long does the research process take for your videos that are more fact based and not fan theory based, for example 6 Abandoned Disney Attractions That Are Still Standing?
Absolutely. I have several books that dive deep into Disney Parks history, and it is from here where I draw preliminary information about a topic. From there I move to the internet, different Disney blogs and sites offer even more information, I cross reference those facts found online with the facts found in the books, and add it to the list of bullet points. Lastly I add some fun info or facts that I know from visiting the parks or talking to Cast Members or Imagineers. Theory videos are not scripted at all. I'll reference dates sometimes to find out when an attraction or land opened, but these are my favorite videos to make because it's just me letting my imagination run wild.
What have been some of your favorite videos to make and why?
The two-part episode on Constance Hatchaway (the ghostly bride in the Haunted Mansion) was a lot of fun to work on because it was a history video and theory video wrapped into one. In the first part I talked about potential stories that Imagineers had worked on for the Mansion, and in part 2 I crafted a massive theory about Constance being the true owner of the Haunted Mansion, while leaving the video open ended for a potential third entry having to do with a secret society found in all the Disney Parks. And of course, interviewing Rolly Crump, a famous Disney Imagineer who worked on Small World, The Enchanted Tiki Room and the Haunted Mansion was an amazing experience.
Is there a certain type, like a one that allows you to explore theories or talk about new rides and lands, of videos that you like to make more than others?
In my theory videos I can really let loose and be a fan and talk about some fun things that I think could be possible at Disney Parks. The videos are off the cuff and fun to make, and it seems the viewers enjoy them too. Theory videos are definitely my favorite to make.
To make a theory video, what all needs to be done? Do a lot of the ideas come from you, or do you use a lot of websites that you have mentioned in some of your videos?
Most of the ideas are ones I’ve come up with myself. Jean Laffite connecting all of New Orleans Square at Disneyland, and Constance Hatchaway owning the Haunted Mansion. Some theories are some I’ve seen around mentioned here and there that I want to cover and put my own twist on like the Haunted Mansion Death Theory or the Pirate’s Life in Reverse Theory. I mainly use websites to get other people’s interpretations of these theories so that my video can be better informed and I can cover more ideas.
Has anyone every recognized you?
Not in my home state yet, as I’m very far from either Disney Park, but when I’m at Disneyland or Walt Disney World occasionally people will approach me and ask for pictures or just a nice conversation. I love meeting people who enjoy my videos because they’re often Disney nerds just like me.
Has there ever been a crazy fan experience or other wild story that any fan of Offhand Disney would love to know?
I had a fan approach me at Disneyland for a quick picture and a conversation. I was visiting alone so I asked them if they wanted to go on a few attractions with me since I was feeling a bit lonely. We spent the rest of the afternoon together and I still consider him a great friend. So if you ever see me in the Parks, don’t hesitate to come up and talk.
If someone were to ask you to summarize your channel in one sentence, what would it be?
History, secrets, theories and sarcasm; it’s all here.
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