The app gives kids (and us kids at heart) the chance to create our OWN version of a Toy Story short.  I have had such fun with this, before long, I just KNOW John Lasseter will be calling me to ask that I lend a hand on the next Pixar film.

The app has two story-telling levels: story play option and free play.  In the story play option, the player is really “learning” how to use all the fun features of the app, while still having lots of freedom to choose characters, backdrops, events, and actions.  In this option, you can select Woody, Jessie, or Buzz to be the main character, and then choose a location for the story to take place.  From there, the app provides three basic scenes with a storyline.  The artist selects actions and records sound effects.  The finished product plays and automatically is saved into the “saved stories” section of the app, to be enjoyed time and again.

In the free play section, well…. it’s a rootin’ tootin’ creative good time.  Here, the storyline is ALL YOURS.  You can select (and resize) your characters, change backdrops, and select from eleven actions.  You create your storyline, then record your voice, make sound effects, and playback your masterpiece!

I can imagine this could be great fun for kids and parents to play together, from writing funny storylines to making outrageous sound effects–there are endless possibilities to exercise your creativity.  With the ability to record stories, you can also have a great time (and surprise your child) by recording your own story for her to enjoy–and asking grandma and grandpa or cousins to do the same.  It becomes your personal storybook that archives a moment in time.

Additionally, this is an app that is perfect for ALL ages, as even children who are emerging readers can participate without needing to be able to read the directions. This is very empowering for a child, and allows them to own their work.  My three children laughed themselves silly, making bizarre noises, doing unique voice-overs, and creating downright witty storylines.  (Maybe they are future Imagineers???)

It would be great if this app would eventually allow users to share their stories, either via email or Facebook.  I can imagine that a set of grandparents who do not see their grandchildren often would delight in receiving an email of a story they created, complete with their own little voices and sound effects.  It would also be fun to be able to incorporate a picture of yourself into the app, so YOU can interact with Woody and Buzz.  (Sorry, I just can’t help being an armchair Imagineer!)

Even more exciting: Disney Publishing has announced the inaugural Disney Story Theater Film Festival, inviting little filmmakers and their parents to tell their story for a chance to win a trip to Disneyland.  You can find information on how to enter below.

Thank you, Mr. Lasseter, for this PIXAR practice opportunity.  When you need a new Imagineer, you can find me here, daydreaming and playing with my iPhone…. To Infinity…… and Beyond!

Here’s how to enter the Disney Story Theater Film Festival:

1. Parents take a 1-minute video created by their child in the new Toy Story: Story Theater app for iPad or iPhone and submit it to the contest at Facebook.com/DisneyLearning.
2. Disney will select 100 outstanding videos in a semi-final round and fans will vote on Facebook for their favorite.
3. The fan-favorite video will be selected as the grand-prize winner and will premier at Disneyland Resort in August.

The winning family will receive a trip for four to Disneyland Resort and will be honored at D23.

You have until June 23 to submit – and be sure to check out the official contest video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL1PB7QM-J8

Thanks to Disney Publishing for providing WDW Radio with a review copy of this app.

The post Become A Disney Animator with the TOY STORY Theater App (and win a trip to DISNEYLAND!) appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Whether it’s a misty fog, a bright blue sky, or an angry storm cloud, the skies around central Florida offer the opportunity to capture dramatic photos.  Here’s just a few of our favorites.

A covering of dappled clouds scud across the blue sky over Mexico. 

A passing storm, the sunset, and World Showcase—what could be better? 

Storm clouds begin to build at the Magic Kingdom. 

At the All Star Sports Resort, the sun breaks through the morning fog. 

Late afternoon cumulus clouds make a dramatic background at World Showcase.

On your next visit, don’t forget your camera and keep your eyes to the sky.  With the magic of Walt Disney World as your foreground and some vivid weather elements, you can create amazing photos.

Looking for Magic is Kathy @ Two Roads Photo[K1]  and Sean @ Shamrock Photo[K2] .  Kathy is a librarian, walker of many miles, and Paper Bag Princess, who dreams of having coffee with Belle at the castle and co-administering a fantasy book discussion group.  Sean is a fire fighter, pilot, and closet superhero, who would like to join the pack with Tigger to use his bouncy and fun powers to make people smile.

Kathy can be contacted at imtxag85@aol.com

Sean can be contacted at spoc65@aol.com

The post Looking for Magic Photo Blog: Look! Up in the Sky! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

As summer settles in, I’m curious: what goes down when your family takes a trip? Do you have any traveling traditions to pass the time? Any funny stories that are perhaps more memorable than the vacation itself? I’ll start us off:

My family is all about the WDW Must-Do channel in the resort TVs. It’s one of those things that really just tells you you’re there! So in the car, my sister takes reign of the video camera and pretends to be Stacey, pointing out to the loyal viewers at home all the Must-Dos that you just must do in the car on the way to Florida. She even pumps in her own theme music. It’s quite the to-do. Her doing the Must-Dos has become one of our Must-Dos!

How about you? What memories do you have of making the journey to WDW? Share in the comments below by Saturday, June 22 and check back in next Wednesday’s Finding Disney post to see if you’ve won a WDW Radio Mystery Ticket!!

Blake is a college student focusing on Creative Writing and Media Studies. He enjoys making his family of six watch the parade on Main Street and then sprint to Frontierland in time to see it again. You can follow Blake’s random Disney ramblings on Twitter at @blakeonline, or at BlakeOnline.com.

The post Share YOUR Magical Disney Memories: Traveling to WDW appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hello and welcome to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host, Lou Mongello, and this is show #327 for the week of June 16, 2013.

Join me at Disney’s Hollywood Studios where we’ll celebrate the 25th Anniversary of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” by looking back at the movie’s history, Roger’s presence in the Studios and elsewhere around the parks (both current and extinct), what might have been, and what the future may hold.

I’ll have the answer to our last Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week, and pose a new challenge for your chance to win a Disney prize package.

Stay tuned as I’ll some announcements and play your voicemails at the end of the show. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week!

- Lou Mongello
http://LouMongello.com

Information and Links from This Week’s Show

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Would you like to see a return of Roger Rabbit in the movies or Disney parks? Where and how? Leave your answer in the comments section below!

• Listen to this week’s episode for the Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week for a chance to win a Disney prize package!
• Disney Meets and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World – Get dates and locations on our Events page
• Watch & chat during our LIVE WDW NewsCast Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET at WDWRadioLIVE.com
• For more videos, subscribe to our WDW Radio channel on YouTube or the show in iTunes
• Get Celebrations Magazine on your iPad/iPhone in iTunes App Store

The post Show # 327 – Roger Rabbit in Walt Disney World: What Is, Was, and Might Have Been – June 16, 2013 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

I wanted to start this week’s article with a thank you to my father, my father-in-law and to all of the dads out there who go above and beyond to provide for their families.

Last week we finished up our discussion about moving to the Sunshine State, so this week I wanted to move on to a topic that is very close to my heart – Disney Movies!

Growing up as a child of the 80’s, I was witness to what I consider to be the pinnacle of Disney entertainment. The Disney Sunday Movie was one of the highlights of my week. I had no idea if I would ever meet Captain EO, but I did envy his awesome golden spaceship. I would eventually forget about Captain EO until one sunny day in 2011 when for a brief moment, I met Captain EO and his crew, and got to ride on that golden spaceship.

I have heard many Disney-centered conversations between married couples, and the one question that always comes up is “Which one of you is the convert?” Being a part of the WDW Radio Community, almost every other reader that I meet asks this question at some point in conversation, and my reply is always the same. “I’m the dreamer, she’s the convert.” While obviously a funny subject, I hadn’t given much thought to how much Disney had influenced my life until I began my quest to introduce Disney to my wife. She had grown up in an environment very much removed from things like Disney and it was hard for me to understand how anyone couldn’t instantly love everything about it. It is amazing to watch from day to day her journey as a “convert.”

This brings me to the subject of my children. My kids will be 13 this year, and I feel myself going through this same process once again. The world has changed, and what was once considered quality family entertainment is now old and boring. Bringing my children into the fold has definitely been a challenge. No, there are no pineapples under the sea, and you won’t be seeing any wild police chases; but, that doesn’t mean that Disney movies aren’t adventurous. If we take Swiss Family Robinson for an example, in a short timeframe the family has their ship destroyed, they are shot at, marooned on a desert island, they construct an awesome tree-house, tame wild animals, are shot at again, and on it goes. As I see it, this is much more entertaining and has a longevity that is lacking in much of today’s entertainment. What is even more important is that all of these movies are centered on family.

Another question that I have been asked is “Why would you have your children watch these old movies?” I always answer this question with another question – “Why wouldn’t I?” Morals, Values, Faith, Respect, I don’t see the problem with keeping these ideals at the center of our family. While I will admit that a certain aquatic sponge will give a quick chuckle, I can’t recall hearing said sponge stress the importance of morality or respect.

I will close with a question for our readers. How have Disney movies/tv shows impacted your life? Do you think the days of movies with a message are coming to an end?

As always remember, you’re a firework! Ignite the light!

I am always looking for ways to add to the Magic. It is with this spirit that I would like to ask our readers a trivia question. The first posted comment that answers correctly will receive a little Disney Magic!

Go to this youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=eb8i_hL8lKk#t=43s) and watch the clip from 42 seconds. There is a quick scene with a young man performing some acrobatic martial arts. I would like to know what Disney property was this scene taken from, and who is the actor?

Good Luck!

The post Never Grow Up: The Power of Disney Movies appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Disney seems to have covered every aspect for a theme park:  there is a magical park, a futuristic park, a theater park and an animal park.  Having covered such a vast number of themes requires people to dig deeper into their ideas to think of something new that hasn’t been done before.  Some people think that maybe there should be a theme park focused on the villains or one centered around the past.  But Tony Ebers, known in the box as BacksideOfWater, came up with a brilliant idea.  He mentioned this idea to me, and I loved it so much that I decided to take the idea and dig a little deeper.  What about specific attractions?  The restaurants?  The location of everything?   The color scheme?  (Yes, I was thinking THAT deep).  I loved doing this so much that I created this blog about it, and you are reading it right now.  What was his idea, you ask?

What if Disney World’s fifth theme park was WDW Radio themed?

Before I go into detail, the name of the park is KMF:  WDW Radio Kingdom, but is shortened to be KMF, which stands for Keep Moving Forward. If any of you have listened to even ONE of Lou Mongello’s podcasts or newscasts, you know that this seems to be his favorite quote and he says it all the time.  Let’s take a walk through KMF and stay tuned for the last section where I talk about a few people that get their own areas in the park.

The Attractions

The star attraction in this park is called The Curse of the Incident.  You are invited to join Lou and the rest of the gang on their 6^th anniversary adventure.  You get to see how their day really went in a format similar to the Winnie the Pooh ride or Peter Pan’s Flight.  Things take a drastic turn (almost literally) when your ride vehicle stops at the bottom of the waterfall.  All you hear is Otis’ scream and Lou exclaiming “We gotta get out of here!” before zooming backwards into a loop.  You reach speeds up to 80 miles per hours throughout the attraction.  This is unlike any existing Disney experience!

The ride vehicles look like hybrids.  Even though it is truly a hanging rollercoaster (meaning that the track is above you and your feet dangle), there is the illusion that it is not.  The bottom half of the vehicle is simple and similar to Snow White’s Scary Adventures.  Your feet do touch the bottom of this mechanism.  The upped half, however, is unique.  You have the standard “U” shaped safety device that you have to pull down, but there is an adjustable Viking hat attached.  From a bystander’s point of view, it looks like you are wearing the hat.  Now here is the REALLY cool part of the vehicle.  When you reach the bottom of the waterfall, hear the scream, and shoot backwards, the sides of the Snow White Scary Adventure part of the vehicle (the bottom) drop down, and you fly backwards without your feet touching any part of the ride vehicle.  So that’s when it becomes a true hanging roller coaster.  This ride also contains loops and corkscrews, so only the most daring of people can witness “The Curse of the Incident”.

For those with younger children or people who aren’t so adventurous, this next experience might be for you. Everybody loves Toy Story Mania.  It’s just one of those addicting rides that you can ride over and over and get different experiences every single time.  In Mongello’s Trivia Test, instead of shooting things for points, you will be answering trivia questions for points.  Of course, these questions are written by the one and only Lou Mongello!  The ride vehicles would almost be the same as Toy Story Mania’s.  You would have 90 seconds at each center to answer as many questions as possible.  Each screen will have different themes, just like the original trivia books (General, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, etc.).  Inside your vehicle, instead of a mini cannon, you will find a touch screen that has A, B, C and D.  The question is displayed on the screen along with the four choices.  The idea is to prove to your ride partner that you know more about Disney than they do!  Put your thinking caps on and get ready to hop right back in line as soon as you depart your vehicle.  I promise this will be one with a long line all the time.

The Restaurants

Imagine you are walking around KMF with your family.  You want escargot, while your loved one wants a few spring rolls and your daughter wants a burger.  How can you accommodate all of these cravings?  Just fill your stomach at “Go With Me Here”:  Around The World!  All seven continents are represented here with some of our more popular areas being India, Brazil, Madagascar, Scotland, Australia, and Jamaica.  You can now visit many different countries without having to buy an expensive plane ticket!

If you aren’t interested in expanding your culinary options, don’t worry!  Your classic BBQ favorites can be found at Lightning Round!  Rest assured your food will be prepared and served to you in under 10 minutes!  This restaurant is called Lightning Round because Lou answers his lightening round questions SUPER FAST!  Plus, consider all of your food “struck by lightning” as it is grilled or fried perfectly!

Are you just a little hungry?  Just need a little snack?  We got ya covered!  The Double Vision Cupcake Shop serves the greatest cupcakes of all time, which is conveniently located next to the Ninja Arcade. (These two might be a little confusing for those of you who don’t know Christy Viszoki, but I am sure that you can figure it out J).  Don’t worry if you see double at the Double Vision Cupcake Shop-everything is sold in twos!  At the Ninja Arcade, get ready to move!  All of these games require you to be quick on your feet, like a blue belt in karate!  (For more go to The People References)

The Other Things

Magic Kingdom has Cinderella Castle, Epcot has Spaceship Earth, Hollywood Studios has the Fantasia hat, and Animal Kingdom has the Tree of Life.  What does KMF have?  A huge radio microphone that has a question mark with ovals printed on it.  AKA, the microphone found in the WDW Radio logo.  It towers at 199 feet tall and it is the focal point of the fireworks.

A while back, I wrote a blog with a corresponding video called the WDW Radio Hall of Fame, which you can find HERE and everyone seemed to love it.  Well now that idea is coming to life with a REAL WDW Radio Hall of Fame!  Video and audio of some of the most favorite and classic moments can be found here, along with some mementos, including one of the Vikings hats seen in the sixth anniversary show and the fairy wings from the fifth anniversary show.

If you ever just want to simply escape the crowds that we would definitely be drawing in, you can take a monorail to Lawyer’s Landing, which is themed to fit Lou’s life before he became a podcast star. Our cast of characters walk around, play the part of lawyers and interact with everyone they meet.  Is it really against the law to eat popcorn with your legs crossed or have your children share an ice cream?  You might be surprised how many memories you can make!  Lawyer’s Landing will also include WDW Radio U and a show, both of which will be explained in more detail later.

Do you like working out while on vacation!  Then come check out the Running Team Training Room, also known as The Happy Center after the beloved coach Happy Keller.  You can find a rock climbing wall, a zipline, an indoor pool and all of the great gym equipment you can only dream about at home!

If you know Lou, you know that he loves Nutella Waffle Sandwiches.  So, to commemorate that, you can smell this scent all of the time in KMF.  How?  From the 24/7 piped Nutella Waffle Sandwich scent! This could change seasonally to things like the Chili Con Queso from Cozy Cone, Dole Whip and a churro. You never know what to expect!

We all know that Lou likes to mess around with 80s music.  He smashes them together, remixs them, and occasionally even destroys the ones you love (well, at least if you ask Beci).  At night, you can join us for an 80’s themed dance party in front of the microphone following the fireworks.  At other parks, the fireworks symbolize the end of the night.  Not here!  You still have time to spare.  There is a live DJ that takes requests, so don’t be afraid to speak up and ask.

Monorails are fun.  I know that.  You know that.  You know what would make them better?  Instead of just trying to guess what color your monorail is, why don’t you wait and see what memorable quote is printed on your highway in the sky?  That’s right!  Favorite WDW Radio quotes are in the monorails. Some include “THAT MERMAID TOOK MY SEASHELLS!”, “Oh my!” and “Who is your favorite box person?”  Once you see a quote on a monorail it is there to stay, but you may find that the pure white monorails could be covered in quotes within a few years.  Each quote (or group of quotes) is specific to each monorail, so you can still bet on which one you will be taking to your destination.

The Show, Parade and Fireworks

Fireworks are a necessity to many successful parks.  The firework show at KMF is inspired by the many different events that Lou has done with the box, including the 24 Hour Show, the 40 Hour Show and the fifth and sixth anniversary shows.  The narrator of the show is, of course, Lou Mongello as he takes you back in time with audio tidbits, with the grand finale being the celebration of the future events, like the 2013 WDW Radio Cruise and the trip to Aulani.  This also means that the show will change very often as time goes on.  The firework extravaganza is called Keep Moving Forward.  On Lawyer Landing, you find a show that explains how Lou turned from being a lawyer to a reliable Disney World source called From Lawyer to Legend.  This is a musical, so expect a lot of random outbursts of singing!  Not in the mood for a show?  That’s okay, because you can sit for a ten minutes stop-and-pay parade inspired by each of the topics on the blog!  You can find a vegan float, a 20-something float, a float devoted to only photos, and so many more!  Each blogger is represented in this fantastic fanfare called Believe in Blogging!

The Gift Shops

One of the more unique gift shops is the “Put Your Name On It!” Sign Shop.  It isn’t hidden that Lou loves this quote, and this is the perfect time to use it.  You can find many personalized things here including hats, mugs, key chains, and of course, signs.  There are a lot of other specific gift shops, but they are dedicated to other people so I don’t mention them here.  (For more go to The People References)

The People References

What makes WDW Radio truly magical are the people.  Without them, WDW Radio would be nothing. Since Lou is scattered throughout the whole park, I didn’t create another themed area for him here (I hope you understand, Lou!) and I figured that it was time for some other people of WDW Radio fame and people who work behind the scenes.  The first one I want to recognize is Tony Caggiano.  He can be known as the jokester of the group, but I PERSONALLY remember him as the lead singer during the 5^th and 6^th anniversary celebration.  I decided that he should give other people a chance to take the microphone.  Here you can find Caggiano Karaoke.  Show us your stuff with choices from classic Disney songs to 1980’s pop hits.  Another popular area of the park is Club Caitlin, a 21 and up club for people who are twenty-something just like Caitlin Corsello.  Another blogger gets his time to shine with Myer’s Magazine, a newspaper stand with all of the latest and greatest WDW Radio news, dedicated to Don Myers.

Who can think of WDW Radio without thinking of Christy Viszoki?  She is the ringmaster of the blog and keeps everything on schedule.  She is an amazing teacher, and in fact she is the Chancellor of WDW Radio U where you will learn more about all things Disney and WDW Radio:  including how to argue your “Top Ten” of any topic and draw your favorite WDW Radio personalities!  More details of WDW Radio U will be released in upcoming months and, at the moment, is planned to open to the public in the Fall of 2014.

AJ Wiseman gets her own merchandise area called AJ’s PJs, which sells fashionable pajamas for all ages and all genders (including your dogs!).  Kendall Foreman gets to spread her magical tips at Kendall’s Kiosk, which is conveniently right next to Lindsey’s Garden of Information.  Lindsey Diamond’s dedicated area is filled with flowers and plants that describe each personality, like roses for the romantics and sunflowers for the families with younger children.  Once you gather the information there, go to Kendall’s Kiosk to figure out how to apply the information you gathered to your vacation.  Angie Carriero is our favorite vegan here at WDW Radio.  Whenever you visit any of our restaurants, the vegan part of the menu is titled Angie’s Picks.  You can find this on every single menu!

Do you hear the bushes shaking?  That must mean that Scott Otis is nearby!  It is rare to see him without a hat, and you can find your own at Otis’ Hat Shop.  The selections are almost endless!  Another person (in)famous in the WDW Radio community for something on her head is Beci Mahnken.  Beci and her bangs are both recognized in the barbershop Beci’s Bangers, famous for the stylish haircuts you leave with. Complete the hair at Glenn’s Gel, where you can get unique hair gels used by Glenn Whelan and other accessories that you can only find here!  Another person who is box famous is Mike Beckerman.  He is well known for receiving the blame of the box shutting off during the beginning of the 40 Hour Show and later on that same broadcast.  To commemorate this, you can see how well you can keep things on your head at Beckerman’s Balancing Act.  One of the more important people that is often overlooked is the hard-working John, the videographer.  In KMF he has his own movie theater titled John’s Films, where you can find all of the archived WDW Radio videos and broadcasts!  Every fifteen minutes you can vote on what gets shown in one of our ten movie theaters.

Even former bloggers are remembered here.  If the younger ones just want to hang around while you explore what the park has to offer, you can drop them off at Fran’s FunSpot, where the kids can let their imaginations fly with all of the crafts they can think of under the supervision of Fran Cassano.  Don’t worry, at night teens and adults can join in the fun with crafts aimed at older age groups.  And of course, since it was his idea, Tony Ebers gets his own tribute.  A huge waterfall is behind the center point of the park.  You might notice that the waterfall is angled very weirdly. That is because it is the BACKSIDE OF WATER! *baa dum tss*

_____________________________________________________

I hope you enjoyed all of my ideas.  I sure had a lot of fun thinking and planning Disney’s fifth park.  And any Imagineers:  if you are reading this and you use any of my ideas, I want credit.   I am waiting to see what you guys think should be added to KMF!  What did I miss?  What should we add?  Share your ideas in the comment section below!  I am VERY excited to see what you guys come up with!

Congrats to everyone who answered that story number two was correct on last week’s To Tell the Truth! The water that is collected from Spaceship Earth goes to the World Showcase Lagoon.  You guys are so good at this!

See ya REAL soon!

Quote of the Week: “I shall call him squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my squishy!” ~Dory, Finding Nemo

Makena is a 14 year old high school student who spends much of her free time researching Disney. She enjoys sharing Disney facts and even plans Walt Disney World vacations (including searches for secrets and Hidden Mickeys) for friends and family. Makena began blogging for WDW Radio in December 2011.

The post KMF: Walt Disney World’s Fifth Park appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Last week’s common theme, as most of you guessed correctly, included all pictures of readers located within the Magic Kingdom. Thanks to everyone who commented!

We love seeing all of your self-shots, so please keep sending them to Lou@wdwradio.com. Self-shot photos can be any self-taken picture snapped anywhere on Disney property. Be sure to check back on the blog each Tuesday to see if your picture will be featured.

Here is this week’s set of your self-shot photos.

Do you notice what they have in common? Post your response in the comments below. And keep your pictures coming, we love to see them!

The post Self-Shot Tuesdays appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

While visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom in early June, one of our must-do items was to try the new “Wilderness Explorers” activity.  Our group of explorers, all adults, was excited to earn badges with the help of our Badge Guides and Troop Leader!

When you arrive at Animal Kingdom, you will find the Wilderness Explorers Headquarters.  This is on your way to Discovery Island so it is easy to start right away!  Each explorer is given a Wilderness Explorers Handbook and a “W.E.” sticker to wear.  Then, you are taught the Wilderness Explorer Call.  Once you repeat the call, you have earned your first badge!  Each badge is a sticker affixed to a designated page in your handbook.

As you arrive at each badge location, you will have a requirement for that badge.  Usually you speak with a Badge Guide.  They will show you what badge you are earning, provide you with information, and ask questions to engage you and your group.  We were impressed with the Badge Guides.  They eagerly engaged our all adult group in the same manner as a family with young children.  As explorers we were asked to complete every activity and answer questions to earn our badges.  We loved being part of the troop!

Earning a badge may require you to write, draw, play music, speak to a cast member, or any of a variety of other activities.  The variety of badge requirements keeps the explorer on their toes!  Some badges, like the Asian Culture badge, provide a take away item.  I received a certificate that has my name written in Hindi… that’s a nice souvenir!

With about thirty badges to earn, you can tour the park as you normally do and earn badges along the way.  We followed our regular attraction plan and found most of the badges on our way.  The areas were clearly marked with the Wilderness Explorers badge location icon.  Some areas had several badges clustered near one another.  This made earning badges fun and easy.

Keep in mind that Badge Guides do occasionally step away for a moment.  If a badge location is missing its Badge Guide, you may need to return in a few minutes.

The format of the Wilderness Explorers Handbook is such that while it can be completed in one visit, it is probably meant to be done slowly over at least two visits to really enjoy what each location has to offer.  We earned twenty four badges during our visit and we are all keeping our books in a safe place until our next visit to complete our handbooks.

Having the Wilderness Explorers Handbook certainly plusses your Animal Kingdom experience.  It may take your troop to favorite places and to some you have yet to discover in the park.  As the focus of these activities is conservation, you will find a link on the last page to Disney’s conservation website.

Our troop of explorers all had fun on our Wilderness Explorers adventure!  The only thing we wanted to change was that we wished the shops sold actual badges or pin badges and explorer satchels!

I hope to see all our troop members off exploring the wilderness on their next visit to Animal Kingdom!

“THE WILDERNESS MUST BE EXPLORED!”          “CAW! CAW!”          “ROAR!”

 Liz Driscoll went to Walt Disney World for the first time when she was five years old, though her Disney passion began seven years ago.  She has visited Walt Disney World about twelve times in the past seven years.  In the non-Disney world, she is a teacher who enjoys bringing a little bit of pixie dust in the classroom each day

The post The Wilderness Must Be Explored!: A Review of the NEW Animal Kingdom Interactive Adventure appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

As you approach Tony’s, take notice of the façade of the building which was inspired by the Hotel Saratoga in New York. There is a sprawling porch which offers pretty fantastic views of the parades. Since this is such a prime viewing location, be sure to scope out a spot on the porch at least an hour before the beginning of the parade to ensure that you have a viewing spot. In addition to a parade viewing spot, the porch is also a wonderful place to take a break during the day and do some people watching in the Magic Kingdom.

In addition to Tony, there are some other familiar faces scattered throughout the restaurant. Of course, I’m talking about Lady and the Tramp. Outside the entrance to the restaurant, look for paw prints in a heart embedded in the cement standing as a tribute to the dogs’ love.  Just inside the door is also a statue of the beloved pups which is a great photo opportunity. In the very back of the restaurant be sure to look for a stained glass window which offers you a glimpse into the back alley where Lady and the Tramp are about to share their famous spaghetti kiss. Finally, keep your eyes peeled for a Hidden Mickey created by some strategically placed bread rolls.

Tony’s is open throughout the day serving both lunch and dinner, and offers classic Italian fare with highlights such as Calamari, Seasonal Melon with Prosciutto, Margherita Pizza, Spaghetti, Shrimp Scampi, and Chicken Parmesan. But most importantly, let’s talk dessert. Tony’s features some delectable classic Italian desserts such as Tiramisu, Spumoni, and Gelato. Make sure you leave enough room!

While lunch and dinner at Tony’s are fantastic, I was once lucky enough to be able to experience breakfast there. Yes, you used to be able to have breakfast at Tony’s, but only if you were part of a Magical Gathering Celebration which required that you traveled with at least ten guests in your party. I was able to be a part of this experience with my family when we traveled as a Magical Gathering in the summer of 2010. The breakfast was family style, and featured visits to each table from Mickey and his friends. To make the meal even sweeter, Tony himself made an appearance and crooned “Bella Note” to us guests while inviting those celebrating anniversaries to get up and dance through the center of the restaurant. At the end of the meal, we also received an exclusive pin commemorating the Magical Gathering. That breakfast is easily one of my favorite memories from any family vacation to Disney World. But, perhaps my favorite perk of the whole meal was being able to enter into the Magic Kingdom before official opening and having the opportunity to have our picture taken on a completely empty Main Street! That was such a wonderful moment which really left us with a fantastic souvenir picture of our Magical Gathering experience.

Overall, Tony’s Town Square Restaurant offers some fantastic Italian food, great parade viewing spots, and of course that touch of Disney magic in the details. I would recommend at least stopping by and checking out the ambiance at Tony’s, but you should try and eat here at some point. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed! Now bon appétit!

Do you love Tony’s Town Square? In the past were you ever able to participate in the breakfast there as part of a Magical Gathering? Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!

Caitlin Corsello was born and raised in New York. She graduated from Adelphi University with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling in 2012. Her love for Disney started as an infant and has continued to grow with family vacations to Disney parks almost every year since. She holds a particular interest in WDW’s parks and attractions, never passing up an opportunity to visit. She looks forward to continuing to explore and learn about all things Disney and to share that passion with readers.

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Here is a quick recap of some of this week’s popular posts, podcasts, videos, events and more:

PODCAST:

WDW Radio # 326 – Listener Email and Disney Trivia Contest – June 9, 2013

VIDEO:

Ashley Eckstein Interview – Star Wars Weekends 2013

ON THE BLOG:

Enjoy the story of a WDW Radio friendship overseas.

Do you think Disney should supply outdoor dryers for the guests who enjoy the water rides?

Time to say who YOU think should win the case of Farkle v. Farkle!

What do you do when you have been to Disney World MANY times?

TWEETS:

I’d rather be…

The wait will be worth it.

Work towards what you want.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Lou is coming to Edison, New Jersey from June 21-23, 2013!
• Join Lou and crew in Hawaii at Aulani Resort & Spa July 15 – 20, 2013.
• On the road with the WDW Radio Team at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California August 9 – 11, 2013.
• The WDW Radio Cruise 3.0, which sets sail November 2 – 9, 2013 will be the happiest cruise that has ever sailed.  Book today!

SNEAK PEEKS INTO NEXT WEEK:

• Join us for some Wanna-be Imagineering for the month of JULY!
• Tune into another WDW Radio newscast at 7:30pm on Wednesday.
• Watch for live broadcasts during the New Jersey meet weekend.

POLL OF THE WEEK: Inspired by discussions in this week’s newscast:

The post WDW Radio Week in Review 6/9: Tweets, Blogs, and POLL!! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.