WDW Radio: Your Guide to the Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise and More Disney Magic!

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is show #73 for the week of June 29, 2008. I am your host Lou Mongello, and thank you for tuning in once again. In this week's Walt Disney World News, I'll let you know the breaking news about big changes and additions that are coming to Pleasure Island. With the Adventureland CD release coming very soon, this week, I'll take a look at my Top 10 Favorite Things in Adventureland with Tim Foster. Not just attractions or food, there is so much to enjoy in this land, and hopefully we'll point out just a few things that you might enjoy. And yes, there is some food included in there as well. Justin Muchoney, Disney's first Chief Magic Official, joins me once again this week to update us on what life has been like as CMO, what he's been doing, and just a bit of the magic he's been making. And he'll even give us a hint of what's next for him. In just a few weeks, The DisneyWorldTrivia.com Dream Team Project will hold it's third annual auction at MagicMeets, and this week, I spent time with some of the auction volunteers as we prepare for what will be our biggest and best event ever. In addition to giving recognition to those people behind the scenes, we also talk about a few of the exciting lots up for auction this year, and how you can help, even if you can't attend. 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. Thank you for tuning in once again. This is show #72 for the week of June 22, 2008. I am your host Lou Mongello, and I am admittedly VERY excited about this week's show I won't have any news or rumors this week, but will have an announcement before getting to my first guest. And part of the reason why I'm so excited about this week's show is because of whom my first guest is. Disney Channel fans may remember a series from the mid-90's called Walt Disney World Inside Out, which took you literally behind the scenes of the parks every week. This week, I am joined by the one of the hosts of what was probably my favorite show on television, JD Roth. We'll talk not only about his career and experiences on the show, but what he's been doing ever since. You may now know that he is one of Hollywood's hottest producers, with not only many popular reality and game shows to his credit, but he's also going to be the host of a new show coming to ABC later this year unlike any other that's been done in the past. And best of all, he'll tell you how you and your family can be a part of it! And you don't have to go to Hollywood – JD and the show will come to you! Continuing in my 7 Wonders of Walt Disney World series, where we explore some of the things that truly make Walt Disney World such a magical place, this week we'll take a detailed look back at the overwhelming choice of almost everyone who cast a vote. We'll explore the history, story and technological marvels that make Spaceship Earth more than just an icon for a theme park. It's a classic attraction that gives us all a sense of our collective past, and acts as a symbol of our hopes for the future. 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. Thank you for tuning in once again. This is show #71 for the week of June 15, 2008. I am your host Lou Mongello, and I am back from covering Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios In this week's Walt Disney World News, I'll respond to your inquiries about Disney's baggage policies when you check in for your flight at your resort, pin events, what's coming to the Wide World of Sports, and how you can watch full length Disney movies for free. In the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill, we'll talk about what's coming to Toy Story Mania, and why next year may be the last for some very popular merchandise. I'll recap my visit to the first Star Wars Weekends events at Disney's Hollywood Studios with Glenn Whelan, as we look back at our experiences, talk to other Guests in attendance, and think about what the future of the event might hold. We talk about the Disney magic that we all know, believe in and appreciate, as it's really what brings us back time and time again to Walt Disney World. But what you might not know is that there are many sides to the magic that is created, and quite often, we neither see nor hear about it. I'm not talking about the magic created inside the resort, but what Disney does to bring that magic to those that really need it in a variety of ways. As giving back to the community has always been important to me, I wanted to let you hear about some of the amazing efforts that so many members of the Walt Disney World cast take part in throughout the year. So I want to share with you my interview Eugene Campbell, who is Disney's Vice President of Community Affairs about what they do to help people close to home. Beci Mankhen from MouseFan Travel joins me once again to answer more of your emails, and I'll play more of your voicemails at the end of the show. Stay tuned after the email section, as I'll give you a chance to sample my Audio Guide to Walt Disney World, and have a couple of announcements. So as always, please 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. Thank you for tuning in once again. This is show #70 for the week of June 8, 2008. I am your host Lou Mongello, coming to you this and every week bringing you the very best ways to enjoy and enhance your Walt Disney World vacation experience. No news this week, as I'm leaving early to cover Star Wars Weekends, but a couple of interesting items in the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill which includes a possible addition to the Magic Kingdom. Tim Foster joins me once again for another Top 10 with Tim, as we explore our Top 10 Refurbishments in the parks. It's an interesting look at some of the welcome changes that have taken place throughout the years, and might even make you take a second look at that attraction you haven't experienced in some time. Listener Tony Mendyk gets in the hot seat for another round of "Walt Disney World – Fact or Fiction?" He'll answer some trivia questions in a fun game where there are no prizes to be won, but just a fun way to talk about some trivia and history. I'll answer some more of your vacation planning emails this week along with the help of Beci Mankhen, owner of MouseFanTravel, including questions on specialty cruises, dinner shows, traveling with a large group, backstage tours, and more. Listen for more of your voicemails at the end of the show, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show. 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. Thank you for tuning in once again. This is show #69 for the week of June 1, 2008. I am your host Lou Mongello, coming to you this and every week bringing you the very best ways to enjoy and enhance your Walt Disney World vacation experience. In this week's Walt Disney World News, I'll discuss a new marathon coming to Walt Disney World in 2009, another way to bring some Disney magic to your iPod, and a new set of DVDs coming from Imagineering this Fall. My visit to the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill hints at a new way to purchase Disney theme park items right from home, parade changes coming to the Magic Kingdom, and possible confirmation of the Star Tours rumors. Speaking of Star Tours, Star Wars Weekends begins on June 6 and runs through the month, so I wanted to discuss the events, the different elements that make up each weekend, and how to get the most out of them, whether you are a Star Wars superfan or not. So I brought in George "Darth Sidious" Taylor and Glenn "Grand Moff Tarkin" Whelan to pull up a chair in the Cantina and join me in a roundtable discussion about the weekends. Steve Barrett and I trek through Conservation Station and Rafiki's Planet Watch hunting Hidden Mickeys, including the elusive one that can be found on a live animal as well. I'll answer some more of your emails this week, including questions on Illuminations, the Epcot 25 Exhibit, strollers and more. Listen for more voicemails at the end of the show, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show. 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. Thank you for tuning in once again. I am Lou Mongello, coming to you this and every week bringing you the very best ways to enjoy and enhance your Walt Disney World vacation experience. This is show #68 for the week of May 25, 2008. News from Walt Disney World includes some Prince Caspian sightings, a new restaurant opening at one of Disney's Resorts, as well as a welcome new addition to another restaurant, and changes coming to the Wide World of Sports. In the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill, I'll have an update to the Space Mountain rumors, a sponsor that may be moving out, and no longer Living with the Land, and a few hints at some other new rumors as well. With Star Wars Weekends rapidly approaching, and some rumors about this attraction resurfacing once again, there is no better time for Jeff and I to don our Jedi robes and do a DSI: Disney Scene Investigation of Star Tours at Disney's Hollywood Studios. We'll explore the history of the attraction, the story behind it, a exceptionally geeky look at the queue, the shop and what the future may hold. You don't need to be a Star Wars fan to enjoy the attraction or this segment… but it might just make them a little more fun. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet and chat with TC Newman, one of the two Walt Disney World Ambassadors about her role, what a day in her life is like, her duties and responsibilities, and so much more. It’s a look into one of the most highly-coveted roles in the grand Walt Disney World cast. I'll answer some more of your emails, play some voicemails, and tell you about some changes to the web site, as well as new free downloads you might enjoy. So sit back, relax and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show. 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. Thank you for tuning in once again. I am Lou Mongello, coming to you this and every week bringing you the very best ways to enjoy and enhance your Walt Disney World vacation experience. This is show #67 for the week of May 18, 2008. This week's show is going to be just a little bit different from my normal show, as I just returned from Walt Disney World, where I was visiting to cover the new Toy Story Midway Mania attraction press event. So this show is going to be focused on the new E-Ticket attraction opening in Disney's Hollywood Studios later this month. I will first take a look at the event and attraction with Glenn Whelan, as we discuss everything from the new Pixar Studios area of the park, to the incredibly detailed queue and interactive ride experience. It's a spoiler-free review and preview of what Guests can look forward to enjoying for many years to come. Meg Crofton, President of the Walt Disney World Resort, also spoke about what is happening not just at the Studios, but around the Resort, and will share that audio with you as well I met with TC and Kerri, the two Walt Disney World Ambassadors, as they share their thoughts about Disney's newest attraction I had the opportunity to interview a number of Imagineers who worked on the attraction, including Senior Show Producer Chrissie Allen, Senior Concept Writer Kevin Rafferty, Senior Show Producer Laurie Coltrin, and Vice President of Disney's Hollywood Studios Rilous Carter. I'll share audio with their thoughts on the attraction, as well as those of authors Simon and Sharon Veness from a Brit's Guide to Walt Disney World, after experiencing the attraction for the first time. I'll also have an announcement about a new project I've been working on for some time now, so sit back, relax and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show. 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. I am your host Lou Mongello, and I want to thank you for tuning in again this week. This is show #66 for the week of May 11, 2008. First things first – Happy Mother's Day to all moms and mothers to be. Now on to the show… There's no news this week, as I produced the show early in anticipation of my Walt Disney World trip, but I have a number of segments I think you'll enjoy. This week, I wanted to address a question that many of you have sent to me via email and voicemail, which involves staying off Disney property and renting a vacation home. Steve Trover, CEO of All Star Vacation Homes joins me to answer many of your frequently asked questions, as well as looks at the pros and cons of renting a vacation home, who is might be right for and who it’s not, addresses some possible concerns, and talks about the process. It's a great primer on renting a vacation home, and you just might be surprised as to some of the reasons why it might be a viable option for you and your family. One of the most important aspects of what I do is that of giving back to others with the help of so many people through my Dream Team Project. Of course, I'm certainly not the only one, and as I’ve done in the past, this week I want to profile someone who is truly making magic, and a very big difference, in the lives of children and families that need it most. He is Bert Weiss, a radio personality at Q100 in Atlanta and founder of Bert's Big Adventure, an all expense paid trip to Walt Disney World for families that have children with life-threatening illnesses. It is an inspirational story that once again demonstrates the incredible generosity and dedication of people in the community as a whole. I also welcome back Jeff Pepper to join me in exploring not just a hidden treasure and character connection, but a fun place to grab a hot dog and a Coke, ride the bleachers and catch a few toons. So we’ll take you out to the ballgame at Casey’s Corner on Main Street, USA. So to all you moms out there, sit back, relax and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show. 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!

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 Walt Disney World, but many Guests, whether it be their first or fiftieth time visiting the Resort, have to decide when is the right time of year to go for them. Often, the question of going on or off-season comes up, as there are both benefits and concerns about traveling to Walt Disney World during both the busy season and less crowded times of year. So to discuss the factors to take into consideration, as well as some of the pros and cons of each, I welcome back Jeff Pepper and George Taylor, fans and family men, to have a roundtable discussion about just that topic. I'll answer a few more of your emails before playing some of your voicemails at the end of the show, 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!

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 Team Project. I invite Jeff Pepper back to answer some more of your listener emails, and I’ll play more of your voicemails at the end of the show. 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!