Hello and welcome to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host, Lou Mongello, and this is show #294 for the week of September 30, 2012.

I’m here to help you have the best possible Disney vacation experience, and bring you some Disney magic to to wherever you are with this podcast, videos, blog, live broadcasts, events, trivia books, CDs and more. You can find it all at WDWRadio.com

This past weekend we celebrated EPCOT Center’s 30th anniversary, and I once again want to share with you an interview with someone who knows the park and it’s history very well, as he was there far before it opened to the public. Disney Legend Charles Ridgway joins me to discuss not just the opening and early days of the park, but working closely with Walt Disney, his vision for EPCOT and how closely the current park may have followed his dream. We talk about the challenges, people, attractions, characters, executives and much more, as Charlie recounts stories that have never been shared before. We discuss how EPCOT has changed and evolved through the years, why we look to the past to gaze into the future and much more.

See how you did on last week’s Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week and answer this week’s challenge for your chance to win a Disney prize package.

I’ll then have some announcements at the end of the show. If you missed our live broadcast from Epcot’s 30th on October 1, you’ll definitely want to stay tuned to hear about what’s coming for (and to) you in 2013 and much more. 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!

Information and Links from This Week’s Show

Purchase Charles Ridgway’s book, Spinning Disney’s World at Amazon.com

Click here to see a list of upcoming events, experiences, meets and more in 2013!!!

• 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
• Check out the Disney Food Blog e-book: The DFB Mini-Guide to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival! – Use code WDWRADIO to save 20%!

Follow Lou on Twitter and

The post Show # 294 – September 30, 2012 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hello my friends and welcome to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host, Lou Mongello and this is show #116 for the week of April 26, 2009. Thank you for tuning in once again.

With the 20th Anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios coming up on May 1, I am planning a number of segments looking back on its history, trivia, changes and hidden treasures, and this week, we’re going to start at the very beginning. I am pleased to be joined at the Studios by Disney Legend and former Walt Disney World press agent Charlie Ridgway, who recounts what it was like planning for the opening of a park whose original concept changed dramatically, and showcased the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood that was both real and imaged. He tells us about planning for the opening ceremonies, the many celebrities that visited and worked at the park and so much more.

I’ll answer many of your listener emails and questions this week, including vacation planning and Walt Disney World history and trivia questions. Some topics include Disney honeymoons, Disney dining, World Showcase music, DVC versus a Deluxe Resort, the Empress Lilly and so much more.

I’ll play some 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 TOLL FREE at 888-703-2171.

Visit the ALL NEW web site at wdwradio.com and talk about the show by visiting and posting in the WDW Radio Show message forums

Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week!

INFORMATION AND LINKS FROM THIS WEEK’S SHOW

Talk About This Week’s Show in the Forums

Charles Ridgway’s web site – TravelPhotoRidgway.com

Be sure to watch Lou’s new Daily Disney Diary videos from his recent trip to Walt Disney World!

SOLD OUT!!

If you would like to be added to the wait list please send an email
with your name and number of attendees to adventurers@mei-travel.com. You
will be notified if tickets become available.

Please come and join us for an upcoming

WDW Radio Show Meet of the Month!

DATE: Sunday, May 3
TIME: 1:00 pm
LOCATION: Magic Kingdom at the Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland
RSVP: Not necessary, but if you want to let us know you’re coming, post in the FORUMS or on Facebook

The post Show #116 – April 26, 2009 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show, your Walt Disney World Information Station. This is Show #35 for the week of October 7, 2007.

I am back from WDW and what undoubtedly one of my most memorable experiences ever at the resort. The celebration of Epcot’s 25th Anniversary was even better than expected and this week, I’m going to share some of those experiences with you through a recap with Jeff Pepper, as well as through some exclusive, private interviews. Some of my very special guests include Disney Legends Marty Sklar, Dave Smith and Charles Ridgway, as well as Epcot’s Vice President Jim MacPhee, and Michael and Lowell, two of Disney’s official Ambassadors. Other guests will include a former Disney Imagineer who helped build EPCOT Center; Adam Roth and the other co-founders of the Celebration 25 fan event, Deb Wills, and a number of other authors, podcasters and fans who felt it was important to be present on this historic day. Each share their own personal insights and stories about working to help create Epcot, why it is important to them, as well as to so many of the people that felt they needed to be there to celebrate this event.

I will also cover some recent Walt Disney World News and visit the WDW Rumor Mill, as there are some interesting developments to speak about.

Due to the length of the show, I will unfortunately have to hold off on your emails and voicemails until next week. I know I have so many more to get to, and I promise to address them all on the show as quickly as possible. So sit back, relax enjoy this week’s episode of The WDW Radio Show.

View Lou’s Photo Album with photos from Celebration 25 and Epcot’s 25th Anniversary in the DisneyWorldTrivia.com Photo Gallery

Also visit the DisneyWorldTrivia.com Downloads section to download the full unedit MP3 file of the Epcot 25th Rededication ceremony

Epcot’s 25th Anniversary Celebration
See where it all got started…

Visit and explore the 2008 Disney Dream Catalog!!

The post Show #35 – Oct. 7, 2007 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

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.

Charles Ridgway, Disney Legend and Author

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!!

Join Deb Wills in her Fight Against Breast Cancer

Read her entire letter about her efforts to raise money for breast cancer HERE

If you’d like to send a check, please make it out to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and mail it to: Deb Wills (ATT: Avon Walk); PO Box 524, Rockville, MD 20848

Paypal donations of $10 or more to: avonwalk@debwills.com

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

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