The Wdw Radio Show - Your Walt Disney World Information Station

Hello and welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is show #65 for the week of May 4, 2008. I am your host Lou Mongello, and I want to thank you for tuning in again this week. We'll begin this week as always with our look at the Walt Disney World News, where I talk about a number of news items, including the opening of Toy Story Mania, a welcome change for DVC members, and a number of special events going on in WDW, and one outside the parks where you might get a chance to peek behind the curtain of Imagineering and learn just how they create some of the Disney magic. Disney last week revealed the winner of the first-ever Chief Magic Official contest, and Justin Muchoney from Seven Fields, PA was named the winner out of more than 1300 applicants. Justin joins me, fresh off of the announcement to discuss the application process, rounds of judging, winning the contest, and what the future holds in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There is never a bad time to visit

JAMBO and Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host Lou Mongello, and I want to thank you for tuning in again this week. This is show #64 for the week of April 27, 2008. I spent a number of days last week in Walt Disney World covering Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s 10th Anniversary, and as promised, I brought back some wonderful audio from the event. In addition to a live recording of the opening rededication ceremonies, I was able to get one on one interviews with Val Bunting, Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Jackie Ogden, vice president of animal programs and environmental initiatives, world-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, and legendary Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde. I’ll also discuss the day’s event, the Wild Decade fan gathering, and a look back at the park, its mission and message with fellow attendees Eric Hollister and Glenn Whelan. I’ll also play audio from the presentation of the WDW Celebrations donation to the DisneyWorldTrivia.com Dream Tea

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host Lou Mongello, and I want to thank you for tuning in again this week. This is show #63 for the week of April 20, 2008. I won’t get a chance to cover the Walt Disney World News this week, not just because there wasn’t a lot to report on, but because I had to tape this show early in the week, as I am heading down to Walt Disney World to cover Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s 10th Anniversary celebration on Tuesday, April 22. I’ll be back next week with not just coverage of the event, but live audio from the parks, and a few surprises. This week, I welcome back Cara Goldsbury, author of the Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World to the show, as we talk about her appearance on two new Travel Channel specials as they continue their Season of Disney series. Cara will be appearing on both the Disney Splurge and the Disney Royal Treatment shows, and will discuss each of these, as well as tips on how to splurge on some special events witho

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host Lou Mongello, and I want to thank you for tuning in again this week. This is show #62 for the week of April 13, 2008. In Walt Disney World News this week, I’ll cover Star Wars Weekends, the demise of the Virtual Magic Kingdom, a new restaurant coming to Walt Disney World and more. Another of Walt Disney World’s Hidden Treasures is one that is not just one that’s always in plain sight and often overlooked, but is really a Best of the Best, and to some, even a true wonder of Walt Disney World. It’s all around us, is magnificent to behold, and is an integral part of the magic and storytelling of the parks and resorts. Listener Barry Frechette joins me as we tour the parks to explore the beauty of the gardens and landscapes of Walt Disney World, as we invite you to literally stop and smell the roses on your next visit. I am thrilled to welcome back to the show one of my all-time favorite guests, Samantha Brown from the T

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host Lou Mongello, and I want to thank you for tuning in again this week. This is show #61 for the week of April 6, 2008. In this week’s Walt Disney World News, there is some important information coming from the Walt Disney World Resort about what the future holds for Guests looking to stay on property, as well as more from the resorts and the Magic Kingdom. The Walt Disney World Rumor Mill was quiet this week, but stay tuned next week for more rumors from the parks. I want to also bring you what I can best describe as the Ultimate Guide to the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). I am pleased to be joined by Michael Collier, Quality Assurance Manager for Disney’s Vacation Club, who spends some time with me not only answering some frequently asked questions, but explains the process, cost, point system and benefits. He will also help clear up some of the misconceptions and concerns, explains what happens once you step inside one o

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is show #60 for the week of March 30, 2008. I am your host Lou Mongello, and this week I am coming to you LIVE from Walt Disney World, as I am standing on the promenade of World Showcase in Epcot, enjoying the sights, sounds and scents of the 15th Annual Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. Thank to the assistance of the Walt Disney World Company and so many wonderful Cast Members, I have a special show for you this week, as I not only have a review of the Festival from right here from the park, but an exclusive interview with someone whose job it is to really make dreams come true, as she is Carrie Schoen, the Manager of the Disney Dream Squad, and she will reveal what it’s like to truly make magic, a day in the life of a Dream Squad member, what’s in store for 2008 and more. As we get ready for Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s 10th Anniversary next month, I will also take you along with me on a ride on the Kilimanjaro Safari unlike any

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is show #59 for the week of March 23, 2008. As always I am your host Lou Mongello, and thanks for taking time to tune in again this week. I will begin this week with News coming out of Walt Disney World which includes information about some new Mickey ears that you can customize and design yourself, the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival, as well as news from the Studios and resorts. In the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill, I’ll talk about cars in the Magic Kingdom – and I’m talking about the attraction and not the movie, a new character you just might see walking (or rolling) around Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as well as some of the cast of characters that you might just see walking around during Star Wars Weekends this summer. Steve Barrett, author of the Hidden Mickeys series of books will join me this week as we start a new series of themed Hidden Mickey hunts, and we’ll begin under the sea (literally) at the Seas pavilion in E

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is show #58 for the week of March 16, 2008. I am your host Lou Mongello, and I want to thank you for tuning in again this week I just returned from Disneyland in California, and wanted to not just take a look back at my trip, but wanted it to be informative and interesting for the listener. I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed my experience at the parks, and realized that there was so much to discuss and introduce people to, that I invited in my friends, travel companions and frequent WDW Radio Show guests Jeff Pepper, George Taylor and Eric Hollister in for a roundtable discussion simply entitled: Why Every Walt Disney World Fan Needs to Visit Disneyland. Because of the length of the segment, I'll save the WDW News and Rumor Mill for next week, as well as your emails, so sit back, relax and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show. You can email the show at lou@wdwradio.com or call the voicemail at 206

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is show #57 for the week of March 9, 2008. I am your host Lou Mongello, and I want to thank you for tuning in again this week. To all of my new listeners, I want to welcome you to the show as well. I think you’ll find it a positive, fun, feel-good look at Walt Disney World that will inform, educate and entertain you. This weekend, I’m heading to Disneyland in California to compare and contrast the two parks… OK, so I’m going to Disneyland to enjoy the parks for a few days, so unfortunately this week, I’m once again recording early and won’t have the ability to cover news and rumors due to when I’m recording. Of course, I’ll be back next week with all of the WDW news and visit to the Rumor Mill. Next month, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary, and following the success of Celebration 25, Adam Roth and his team have put together WDWCelebrations.com and have organized “A Wild Decade,” a gathering to c

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is show #56 for the week of March 2, 2008. I just returned from Walt Disney World, and in addition to getting some work done for the next CD and new features I’m going to be adding to the site, I also came back with some great information for both the Walt Disney World News section, as well as the Rumor Mill. In fact, there is SO much to cover this week that I invite Jeff Pepper to come in and discuss with me the variety of topics this week. In the News, we’ll talk about some changes coming to Extra Magic Hours, The Kingdom Tower, how to enjoy the resorts right at home, a new meet and greet, an exclusive look at the new Disney Parks television specials coming to the Travel Channel, and more. The Rumor Mill is full this week, as we talk about some big changes coming to the Magic Kingdom turnstiles and FASTPASS systems, is Illuminations really leaving, and a super-sneak peek at new Star Wars Weekends merchandise. We’ll also talk

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #55 for the week of February 24, 2008. This week, I once again have to record and produce the show early, so it may be a little shorter and a little different than usual. I’ll start off as always with some Walt Disney World News, where I’ll discuss an exciting new promotion for Annual Passholders. In my trip aboard the Walt Disney World Wayback Machine, I’m going to grab my swimming trunks, pick up Jeff Pepper, and head on over to the Ole Swimmin’ Hole at River Country, Walt Disney World first water park, and a place that conjures up great memories of water slides, sand beaches, picnics and some great times spent with family. Now closed, it’s a fun look back at the history, attractions and demise of this very unique destination. I’ll also have time to answer some more of your emails this week, so sit back, relax and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show. You can email the show at lou@wdwradio.com or call the

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #54 for the week of February 17, 2008. In this week’s Walt Disney World News, I’ll look at a dining change in World Showcase, updates on the Backlot Theater in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, new special events coming to Pleasure Island, and a very special event that is the first of its kind at Walt Disney World that will offer a truly unique experience in many ways. For the next in my Legends of Disney Imagineering interview series, I thought that with the recent name change of the Disney-MGM Studios to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and new direction it is taking in its entertainment offerings, I wanted to have someone come on the show who could speak authoritatively as to the genesis and growth of the park. So I decided that who better to come on the show and talk about this than the man who literally put pen to paper and designed the original concept drawing for the Disney-MGM Studios. He is former Walt Disney Imagineering

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #53 for the week of February 10, 2008. I’m your host Lou Mongello, and I want to thank you for tuning in again this week we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the WDW Radio Show. Although I’ve been podcasting since 2005, this past week marked the first anniversary of this show, and I want to take a moment to thank all of you for your support and for listening over the past year. It’s been an incredible, amazing journey, and I believe that things will only continue to get bigger and better. In fact, I have to tell you that I am more excited about this week’s show than I may have ever been, in large part due to my very special guest. Joining me this week in an exclusive interview is Samantha Brown, host of a number of popular series on the Travel Channel, including a number of specials all about Walt Disney World. She has explored some of the finest resorts on property, as well as the incredible experiences that Guests

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #52 for the week of February 3, 2008. I want to thank you for tuning in again this week. I visit the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill this week and talk about recent permits filed by Disney about the Imagination pavilion, and a survey about Guest experiences at Walt Disney World with some very interesting questions. In honor of the upcoming Chinese New Year, Jeff and I do another DSI: Disney Scene Investigation, and this week, we explore the beauty, mystery and symbolism of the China pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase. I'll answer more of your emails and stay tuned for the end of the show, where I play a number of your voicemails. So sit back, relax and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show. You can email the show at lou@wdwradio.com or call the voicemail at 206-202-4WDW (4939). Visit the web site at wdwradio.com. Talk about the show by visiting and posting in the WDW Radio Show message forums at DisneyWorldTri

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #51 for the week of January 27, 2008. Unexpected circumstances have prevented me from producing a regular show this week with a variety of segments. However, this is a great opportunity to answer many of your listener emails that cover a broad range of topics, so Jeff Pepper will join me as we answer your questions together. Next week’s show will return to its regular format, so sit back, relax and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show. You can email the show at lou@wdwradio.com or call the voicemail at 206-202-4WDW (4939). Visit the web site at wdwradio.com. Talk about the show by visiting and posting in the WDW Radio Show message forums at DisneyWorldTrivia.com. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week!

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #50 for the week of January 20, 2008. Thank you for tuning in again this week. With not a lot of Walt Disney World News to report this week, we'll jump right in to a visit to the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill, where we'll talk about what’s going on (and up) at Disney's Contemporary Resort, more updates on the rumor of handheld devices in the parks, possible changes going on throughout the resort property-wide and more. After that, it's all about the recent Walt Disney World Half Marathon, as I invite Mike Scopa and Bryan Ripper to join me in a roundtable recap of the weekend's events. It’s a fun look back at an exciting weekend for both runners and spectators alike, and offers some great tips for people who may be considering running next year. Afterwards, Eric Hollister joins me as we not only announce the winner of the 13th and final mile marker challenge, but the Grand Prize and winner as well. We also look back at w

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #49 for the week of January 13, 2008. I’m your host Lou Mongello and by the time you hear this episode, I will have run, and hopefully completed my first - and possibly last - Walt Disney World Half Marathon. Since I have to record and produce the show early this week, there won’t be any news or rumors, but I do have a few segments that I think you’re going to enjoy. First, we take a detailed look at, and review one of Walt Disney World’s premier restaurants and prove that food in the parks is more than just burgers and fries, as Glenn Whelan and I take a trip to Canada in Epcot’s World Showcase and visit Le Cellier Steakhouse. Next, young Cody Pepper joins me once again for a fun game of Walt Disney World - Fact or Fiction? Then Steve Barrett and I will talk about new Hidden Mickeys, some other hidden characters, hunting at the resorts, and then he asks for your help in determining whether some questionable ones fit t

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #48 for the week of January 6, 2008. I’m your host Lou Mongello and I want to thank you for tuning in once again, and wish you all a very happy new year. We’re going to start off 2008 just as we did in 2007, with Walt Disney World news, and a wild visit to the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill. In addition to talking about some updated rumors, I’m going to take this opportunity to kick off the New Year with some of the very wild rumors I've been hearing about. Will they all come true? Probably not. But it will be fun to talk about them and speculate as to what the future may hold. In my continuing effort to introduce you to not only some of WDW’s hidden treasures, history, trivia, reviews and vacation planning advice, I also want to open your eyes to some of its overlooked experiences. This week, I have something special for you, as my special guest, Dr. Anne Savage from Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Wildlife Tracking Center joi

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #47 for the week of December 30, the last week of 2007. So it's only appropriate that during my roundtable discussion with Jeff Pepper and Tim Foster, we take this opportunity to look back at 2007, and the news, events, announcements and other noteworthy happenings at Walt Disney World. We'll also look ahead to 2008 - from what we're most looking forward to experiencing, and what rumors just might come true. It’s an interesting retrospective, and fun speculation as to what's ahead. I'll also announce the winner of our last WDW ½ Marathon Challenge Contest, and Eric Hollister will announce the 13th and final challenge to test your Walt Disney World knowledge. So for the last time in 2007 - sit back, relax and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show. You can email the show at lou@wdwradio.com or call the voicemail at 206-202-4WDW (4939). Visit the web site at WDWradio.com. Talk about the show by visiting and po

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #46 for the week of December 23, 2007. Thank you for tuning in once again and happy holidays! This week's show will start off as always with some news from Walt Disney World, including a number of changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, new dining venues at the Magic Kingdom, Pirate and Princess Party dates and more. Our trip to the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill talks about Imagination and Space Mountain. Keeping in the holiday spirit, we'll take a detailed look at another of Walt Disney World’s Hidden Treasures, the Winter Summerland Miniature golf courses. Made up of two different experiences, it's an often overlooked gem of the resort that offers hours of inexpensive fun for everyone in the family. Steve Barrett joins me once again to talk about some of Walt Disney World's best, newest and most controversial Hidden Mickeys and we talk about some that come out just for the holiday season. I'll answer more of your emai