Welcome back to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. Thanks for tuning in once again. This is Show #5 for the week of March 11, 2007. This week I’m back from WDW with a special treat – an exclusive interview with Disney Legend, author and recipient of his own window on Main Street, Charles Ridgway. I will also have News & Views from WDW and a visit to the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill which includes Pirates & Princesses, the Haunted Mansion and more. For these segments, I welcome my special guest Cara Goldsbury, author of the Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World to discuss some recent announcements from the Disney company that will forever change the landscape of the resort. Mike Scopa joins me as we answer another question about a Best of the Best at Walt Disney World in this somewhat extended show.

Purchase the book from Amazon.com: “Spinning Disney’s World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent”

More information visit Charlie’s web site at: TravelPhotoRidgway.com or IntrepidTraveler.com

MEET A DISNEY LEGEND!! - Charles Ridgway Launches Central Florida Speaking Tour

Attention Disney cast members, past and present, Disney fans and Disney fanatics. This is your chance to meet a bona fide Disney Legend, whose intimate knowledge of Disney parks goes back to the days before Disneyland opened, when he talked a neighbor kid into sneaking under the fence as a publicity stunt for an article he was writing.

To celebrate the publication of his new memoir, Spinning Disney’s World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent, Charles Ridgway will make a series of public appearance across Central Florida in March and April. Charlie will be sharing his reminiscences of Walt and Roy, Michael Eisner and an all-star cast of movie stars, royalty, television personalities, and journalists, as well as the unsung cast members who make Disney magic every day.

After serving as a publicist for Disney parks around the world for over 40 years, Charlie was a legend among journalists and public relations professions. In 1999,  Disney made it OFFICIAL, proclaiming Charles Ridgway a “Disney Legend” and according him the rare honor of his own window on Main Street, USA.

At most of his bookstore talks, Charlie will be sharing seldom-seen archival photos of Disney history from his personal stash. These appearances offer a rare opportunity to learn the real story behind some persistent Disney folk tales and get answers to those questions about Disney history that have been nagging at you for years.

And don’t forget to ask Charlie everyone’s favorite question, “What was Walt really like?” Spinning Disney’s World is published in hardcover by The Intrepid Traveler. It is available for sale and autographing at all of Charlie’s appearances. Here is Charlie’s appearance schedule, which is subject to change. Please call ahead for more information and directions to each event.

Thursday, March 15 – Orlando
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) - Orlando Chapter
Time: Noon
Place: The Citrus Club, 255 S. Orange Avenue, 18th floor
$20 members, $30 non-members, $15 students
RSVP at www.prsaorlando.org/events/

Saturday, March 17 – Orlando
NFFC Disneyana Garage Sale
Time: 11 am to 1 pm
Place: Quality Inn & Suites, 8700 S. Orange Blossom Trail, 32809
Charlie will be signing books at the Bookendz booth.
407-444-6351

Saturday, March 24 – Orlando
Book talk and signing
Time: 3 pm to 5 pm
Place: Barnes & Noble, Plaza Venezia, 7900 W. Sand Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32819
407-345-0900

Saturday, March 31 – Merritt Island
Book talk and signing
Time: 2 pm to 4 pm
Place: Barnes & Noble, 780 E. Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, FL 32952
321-453-8202

Sunday, April 1 – Daytona Beach
Book talk and signing
Time: 2 pm to 4 pm
Place: Barnes & Noble, 1900 W International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
386-238-1118

Saturday, April 7 – Orlando
Book talk and signing
Time: 2 pm to 4 pm
Place: Barnes & Noble, Colonial Plaza Market Center, 2418 E Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32803
407-894-6024

Friday, April 13 – Celebration
Book talk and signing
Time: 7 pm to 9 pm
Place: Reading Trout Books, 671 Front Street, Celebration, FL 34747
321-939-2265

Saturday, April 14 – West Melbourne
Book talk and signing
Time: 2 pm to 4 pm
Place: Barnes & Noble, 1955 W. New Haven, West Melbourne, FL 32904
321-726-9505

Wednesday, April 18 – The Villages
Book talk and signing
Time: 6 pm to 8 pm
Place: Barnes & Noble, 1055 Old Camp Road, The Villages, FL 32162
352-430-3029

Thursday, April 19 – Sarasota
Book talk and signing
Time: 3 pm to 5 pm
Place: Sarasota News and Books, 1341 Main Street, Sarasota, FL  34236
941-365-6332

Friday, April 20 – Brandon
Book talk and signing
Time: 6 pm to 8 pm
Place: Barnes & Noble, Brandon Square, 122 Brandon Town Center, Brandon, FL 33511
813-661-9883

Saturday, April 21 – Gainesville
Book talk and signing
Time: 2 pm to 4 pm
Place: Barnes & Noble, Butler Plaza West, 3910 S.W. Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608
352-372-3535

Sunday, April 22 – Clearwater
Book talk and signing
Time: 2 pm to 4 pm
Place: Barnes & Noble, 23654 US 19 North, Clearwater, FL 33765
727-669-1688

Friday April 27 – Orlando
Book talk and signing
Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Place: Urban Think!, 625 East Central Blvd., Orlando, FL 32801
407-650-8004

Saturday, April 28 - Ocala
Book talk and signing
Time: 2 pm to 4 pm
Place: Barnes & Noble, Park Centre Commons, 3500 SW College Rd. Ste. 300, Ocala, FL 34474
352-854-3999

Thanks to Cara Goldsbury, author of the Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World for her insights into the new Four Seasons Resort scheduled to open at the Walt Disney World Resort in 2010.

The following images are Copyright (c) 2007 the Walt Disney Company and illustrate the locations of the Four Seasons Resort and Western Mixed-Use Development Projects

Visit MagicMeets.com for more information about Fred Block's Northeast Disney Fan Meet 2007! July 14th, 2007, in Harrisburg, PA, from 11am to 6pm. Join us for a full day or speakers, presentations, Disney merchandise for sale, contests, a charity auction to benefit the Dream Team Project, games, prizes, kids room, and more surprises (like free Segway instruction and rides!) and lots more fun! SOLD OUT!!

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Click here to visit Deb's personal page at AvonFoundation.com.