WDW Radio Show #48 - Jan. 6, 2008

**Lou Mongello** · 01-06-2008, 09:54 PM

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show - your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #48 for the week of January 6, 2008. Thank you for tuning in once again, and I want to 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 joins me to talk about the amazing work that is taking place onstage and backstage, and how you can get involved at the park and when you get home. It’s a fascinating look at the amazing conservation and research efforts that Disney undertakes each and every day.

I will also answer a number of your emails in our Listener Feedback section this week, and play some of your voicemails at the end of the show.

So as always, sit back, relax and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

Be sure to view this week's complete show notes page.

You can email the show at lou@wdwradio.com or call the voicemail at 206-202-4WDW.

**Elvin** · 01-07-2008, 09:36 AM

OK, I love the shows. They are usually the highlight of my Monday morning commute, but today it just made me depressed :-(

Not sure if it's because I am still recovering from my post Disney/post holiday blues, but the extended rumors section seem to ruin my morning. The lack of anything exciting coming to the parks other than the stuff already announced is depressing. Even more disheartening is the rumor of project H and and exclusive separate theme park (similar to Discovery Cove @ Seaworld is not anything I hope Disney actually does. A separate park with limit hours and admissions (plus a $300 per person price tag) would not fit in with the current Disney parks regardless of themes. Part of the magic for me is having this huge world to openly explore. I can go to on type of park in the morning and a get a totally different experience in the afternoon by simply hoping on the Monorail. I think Disney is already splintering the experience a bit by having so many hard ticketed events, and this would only make it worst. I love the park and the company but this sounds like another ploy to bleed more money out of guest. Yes I know like anything else we have the choice not to pay it an go, but it seems that Disney each year is charging more and more for tickets, hotels, meals...etc and adding additional things that are not included in these costs and which guests have to pay an additional charge.

I hope is just a wild rumor and that it is not true :-(

**SamIAm717** · 01-07-2008, 11:37 AM

I didn't find it depressing as I really didn't expect many changes to WDW in the near to intermediate future given the focus on transforming California Adventure. The plans for CA seem very detailed, expensive and will probably require a great deal of manpower. I think WDW is fine the way it is for now. We've just gone through a pretty big bout of refurbs and we have Toy Story Mania opening soon and that will be fine with me for a while.

If California Adventure is done right, it will be a destination unto itself and that park truly deserves to be lifted up and done right! I really can't express my gratitude to John Lasseter enough for seeing the potential behind this park and wanting to make it what it deserves to be!!

**mini-V** · 01-07-2008, 02:06 PM

I wasn't that upset or excited about the rumor section of the broadcast. I do think it's fun to toss these ideas out so we can come back in 12 months and laugh about what we expected to happen.

I was really fascinated with the interview with Dr. Savage. Learning more about the research that is being done in AK only peaked my interest to hear about other areas of conservation and animal habits that are a big part of the AK program. Kudos to Lou for arranging the interview. Dr. Savage was informative and entertaining. She obviously loves her job and it came across in the interview.

**Kellie19891992** · 01-07-2008, 04:28 PM

Dr. Anne Savage from Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Wildlife Tracking Center was really interesting. Great interview

**BigT4187** · 01-08-2008, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by SamIAm717

I didn't find it depressing as I really didn't expect many changes to WDW in the near to intermediate future given the focus on transforming California Adventure. The plans for CA seem very detailed, expensive and will probably require a great deal of manpower.

I totally agree.

**disneysister** · 01-08-2008, 01:24 PM

Dr. Savage was great. I really LOVE animal kingdom. Can't wait to go back to Rafiki's Planet watch now! This was great...Hey Lou-I have a friend that works with the tigers at AK. They are "my girls" Any chance you might be able to talk with a tiger handler? Would love more inside info.

**TiggerRPh** · 01-08-2008, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by devkxl

Dr. Anne Savage from Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Wildlife Tracking Center was really interesting. Great interview

OMG....could she have sounded anymore like she was reading from a list of talking points? I also heard more about animal husbandry and the reproductive process of animals than I ever care to know. All I kept yelling at my iPod, "TOOOOO MUCH INFORMATION!!!"

I found the "Rumor Mill" section very refreshing...I loved Lou giving his honest opinion on the validity of the reported rumors.

**ohiodisneydad** · 01-09-2008, 05:04 AM

Lou answered my question first!!! I was so excited I broke out in a dance. Man that is a frightening image too! Thanks Lou!

**T Morrows Child** · 01-09-2008, 09:07 PM

Thanks for inviting Dr. Savage on the show, Lou. I have always felt that the AK is a full day park, and interviews like that help to prove it.

Great show! We are really getting excited to be there in a couple of weeks!

**biblioadonis** · 01-09-2008, 11:18 PM

I t was a great show, Lou, but I think you need to upload it again.

The segment with Jeff Pepper was missing.

**pigletfan** · 01-10-2008, 06:26 AM

The interview with Dr Savage was very interesting. I have been back to Conservation station a few times, and it is very interesting. There is always something new to see there. Seems like the train ride discourages people from going there at times. Now I want to take the Backstage Safari Tour!