WDW Radio: The Disney Podcast for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and More

WDW Radio # 715 - Gideon's in Disney Springs: Its History, Mystery, and Magic - Interview with Founder Steve Lewis Gideon's Bakehouse in Disney Springs is nothing short of a phenomenon, with wait times and lines that rival Disney's biggest E-Ticket attractions, and delicious cookies that justify those waits. This week, I sit down with the founder (and mad scientist) behind Gideon's to discuss its origins, journey, stories, recipes, and more! ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com - Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello

WDW Radio # 714 - The Orange Bird - From the WDW Radio Archives I visited the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival this week, and love seeing old friends... not just wandering and grazing the promenade with me, but old friends from Walt Disney World's past... and present. In recent years, we have seen a resurgence in nostalgia, sentiment, and love for our little purple friend with childlike innocence, Figment, as well as our favorite combination of fruit and fowl, the Little Orange Bird. And in the past 50 years, we've seen some pretty interesting things at Walt Disney World: A waterskiing Goofy, gunfighters shooting it out in Frontierland, singing fruit, a rapping Mickey and much more. But until 2011, many people didn't know who the Orange Bird was, let alone remember seeing a character walking around in Adventureland with a giant orange head, leaves for arms and a green stem sticking out of his head. It started with a slow release of retro merchandise in Magic Kingdom, and in 2012, the Orange Bird returned to Sunshine Tree Terrace signage and quirky drink cups, and a new line of Orange Bird merchandise started to appear on the shelves! Also, an Orange Bird statue that was on display at Sunshine Tree Terrace in the 1970s was retrieved from the Walt Disney Imagineering Sculpture Studio in California, and is now on display in full, orange glory.   This rekindled a sense of fond remembrance for our little orange friend, and now, he is not only present in our memories, hearts, and Adventureland, but is a huge fixture at this year's Festival in Epcot. He has inspired not just a huge line of merchandise, but even some food items as well.   So I went back into the WDW Radio Archives this week to 2011 and Show #250, where Jim Korkis and I took a look back in time at the Sunshine Tree Terrace and it's one-time host (and hostess). We explore the origins of the Orange Bird, the Sherman Brothers song, why he and Anita Bryant may have flown the coop, and the (then) recent resurgence of our little orange friend. I'll then pose a question for you to share your thoughts on as well.   Do you remember seeing the little Orange Bird in Adventureland in the 70's? Did you ever get a photo with the walk around character? Share your memories, and thoughts about this old and new unofficial mascot for the parks in the WDW Radio Clubhouse at WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse, or call the voicemail at 407-900-9391 (WDW1) and share your story on the show.   But for now... sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode from the Archives on the WDW Radio show. ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com - Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello

WDW Radio # 713 - Top 5 New Items You Need to Try at the 2023 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival The 2023 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival features food and fun for guests of all ages, and is a feast for all five senses in 360°. This week, join me live from the first day of the Festival, as we sample and share our top five foods you need to try at this year's event... including a few, wonderful, delicious, and unexpected surprises! ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com- Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello

WDW Radio # 712 - Interview with Former Imagineer Steve Kirk - From the WDW Radio Archives After visiting EPCOT this past week, and in thinking about the future of that park, specifically the Imagination pavilion, I went way back into the WDW Radio Archives to being you one of my earliest interviews. Let's go back to 2007 and Show # 30, when, as part of my Legends of Disney Imagineering feature, I shared my conversation with former Imagineer Steve Kirk. Steve helped come up with the initial concepts for Figment and the Dreamfinder, as well as the Journey Into Imagination attraction, and also helped develop some of Disney's most memorable characters, attractions, pavilions, and even complete theme parks, including being the creative leader of Tokyo DisneySea. We also talk about Epcot, the Studios and so much more. I would later come to interview his brother, Tim Kirk about his work at Imagineering, specifically at the Disney-MGM Studios, but that is another trip to the archives for another day. For now, sit back, relax, and enjoy my conversation (and forgive my voice), with the fascinating and talented Steve Kirk.   ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com- Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello

WDW Radio # 711 - Listener Email: Themed Resort Rooms, Secret Lounges, Disney Dream Trip, and more! I open up the inbox this week and answer more of your emails about topics including: father/son activities in Walt Disney World, Disney's Contemporary Resort and a discussion of possible themed rooms in Disney Resorts, secret lounges, crowd levels and best times to visit WDW, and a Disney dream trip around the world. ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com- Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello

WDW Radio # 710 - Carousel of Progress History, Legacy, Details, and Future - From the Archives From the WDW Radio Archives... There is always be a great, big beautiful tomorrow, but now is the time, now is the best time to explore the history, legacy, details and future of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress that is part Walt Disney World Wayback Machine, and part DSI: Disney Scene Investigation, and I leave you with some questions that I encourage you to share your thoughts on.. ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com- Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello

WDW Radio # 709 - Top Ten Restrooms in Walt Disney World An episode that I wasn't sure I would ever do, this week we look at the Top Ten Restrooms in Walt Disney World. From what makes a great restroom, to the where and why it's on our lists, it's where to go when... well... ya know. ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com- Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello

WDW Radio # 708 - Interview with Disney Legend Alice Davis - From the WDW Radio Archives From the WDW Radio Archives... one of my all-time favorite interviews, and one that listeners reference all the time, Disney Legend, Alice Davis. I had the honor of spending the day with Alice Davis in her home, where we discussed her fairy tale story of how she came to work for and with Walt Disney through her marriage to Marc Davis, one of Walt Disney's Nine Old Men. In addition to discussing her relationships with both, we also closely examine her work on classic films such as Sleeping Beauty, and attractions such as it’s a small world and Pirates of the Caribbean. Alice shares her very personal stories and humorous anecdotes about her work and life, from her early beginnings to the World’s Fair, to her ongoing connection to Disney enthusiasts today. It is the only episode and guest I ever had to bleep.... listen and find out why. Sadly, Alice Davis passed on November 3, 2022, so I consider it a privilege and a gift to have been able to capture her stories in her own words... more importantly, in her own voice, and be able to share it with you. You can listen to the original episode in it's entirety at WDW Radio # 193 ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com- Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello

WDW Radio # 707 - Interview with Former Disney Executive, Djuan Rivers - Part 2 I continue my conversation with former Disney executive Djuan Rivers, as he shares stories and lessons from his time in Disneyland Paris, and as Vice President of Disney's Animal Kingdom, including working with Joe Rohde, opening Pandora - The World of Avatar, and his window on Main Street, USA. He not only reflects on what he learned, but inspiration we can take from the Disney Parks as well. Djuan's adventures continue to mountains, marathons, planes, and talking about not being afraid to jump. ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com- Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello

WDW Radio # 706 - Interview with Former Disney Executive, Djuan Rivers Part 1... and Something New Adventure is out there... and Djuan Rivers has experienced it as an executive in the Walt Disney World Resorts, theme parks, Aulani, Disneyland Paris, Disney Cruise Line, and beyond. This week, he shares stories and lessons from his time at Disney... and the power of saying yes. We'll celebrate WDW Radio's 18th anniversary this week with something new... and old? ---------------------------------- WDWRadio.com - Visit the site and blog WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse - Join the community and conversation on Facebook WDWRadioNATION - Get monthly rewards, and help support the show WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET WDWRadio.com/Podcasts - Show notes, past episodes, links, and photos WDWRadio.com/Events - WDW Radio Disney meets, events, cruises, and more! WDWRadio.com/Shirts - Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, logo gear and more! 407-900-9391 - Call the voicemail with a question, comment or "Hello!" from the parks THANK YOU for your support by voting WDW Radio Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years! Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio show. Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week! ---------------------------------- LouMongello.com- Let me help you turn what you love into what you do and turn your passion into your profession with one-on-one mentoring, mastermind groups, and my Momentum Workshop in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who can present at your event, conference, business, or school, and provide mentoring and consulting to individuals and organizations looking to build their businesses and brands. I speak on a variety of topics, including sharing the magic of Disney, and teaching how to deliver exceptional customer service, social media, podcasting, live video, community, following your dreams, and more. ---------------------------------- LET'S CONNECT! WDWRadio.com/Community Facebook.com/WDWRadio Instagram.com/LouMongello Twitter.com/LouMongello YouTube.com/WDWRadio Pinterest.com/LouMongello LinkedIn.com/in/LouMongello