by Cara Richards

On the weekend of August 11^th to 13^th 2012, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend D23’s annual Destination D convention at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim – the theme for 2012 was ’75 Years of Disney Animated Features’.

Unlike previous Destination D’s, the 2012 event had a choice of ticket levels open to D23 members.  The basic ticket included the two main days inside the hotel (including fantastic panels featuring Disney celebrities such as Andreas Deja, Eric Goldberg, Tony Baxter, Dick Van Dyke and Alan Menken to name just a few).  But for the first-time, a premium level (Diamond) package was offered to a select number of D23 members who were quick on their computers when tickets were released earlier in the year.  I was one of the lucky few who managed to secure one of these special passes at an additional cost and as a result, had one of the most exciting Disney trips of my life.

Lou hosted a great panel on show number 287 covering the details of days 1 and 2.  I ‘m excited to share with you what the Diamond ticket holders were treated to on day 3 – Monday 13^th August.  So hold on to your mouse-ears as you come along on an exciting journey to Burbank, California…

Before we board the Mouse-ka-Bus and head in to the hustle and bustle of tinsel-town, a few details about what Diamond ticket holders had to look forward to on the first two days.  We were treated to a Destination D shoulder bag, which included our welcome pack for the weekend – a Sleeping Beauty sketch book and pencil, a ‘How To Draw Jiminy Cricket’ character model guide, a Tinker Bell lithograph, a set of Destination D buttons and a Cast Member style name badge.  All lovely souvenirs.  In addition to this, we were given early entry in to the merchandise hall – so first pick of the goodies on offer! – and we also had the first five rows of seats in the main ballroom reserved for us, so that we could avoid having to queue for seats between dining breaks.  A small meet and greet was also organized on the Saturday afternoon, where I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Don Hahn, Dave Smith, and Bill Rogers.

So, moving forward to Monday, we were scheduled to meet bright and early at the Disneyland Hotel where a grab and go breakfast was waiting for us along with two large coaches, which would transport the 100 or so of us to the Disney Animation Studios in Burbank.  On the way, we were entertained with some vintage episodes of Disneyland, specifically about animation techniques which got us all in the mood for the tours to come during the day.

Upon arrival at the Disney Animation Studios, we were issued with stickers featuring one of four different Disney characters (I was Donald Duck!) and from here we were invited to enjoy some fresh fruit and pastries before being taken inside the main building to be split in to our different tour groups.  Before heading off, Darrin Butters (who has worked on a plethora of Disney animated movies, including Tangled, Prep and Landing, Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons and Dinosaur) met with us and showed us the trailer for the new ‘Wreck-It-Ralph’ movie (which he has also done animation for).  We were then ushered off to our first location – the Story room.

We were sat down in a large meeting room and told about how the ideas for new animated stories are decided upon, much of which is done in the form of a brain-storm with no idea being dismissed.  Everybody is encouraged to suggest characters, plots, storylines and we even had a go at doing this ourselves, with the other groups later in the day adding to our suggestions in the hope we could put together a whole story plan by the end of the tour.  A member of the Disney story department then showed us how a story-board would be presented to an animation team and we got to see some actual storyboards from Wreck-It-Ralph (the scene where Ralph and Vanelope are arguing on the candy tree in Sugar Rush).  The cast-member who presented this scene to us did voices and actions and had a similar enthusiasm as can often be seen in old movie footage of Walt with his own team of animators decades ago.  Nowadays, most storyboard sessions are done through a computer, but it was nice that we were given an opportunity to see how it would have been done in the more traditional method.

Our next stop was at Pre-Vis and on our way we passed through a corridor where Studio Cast-Members were being encouraged to display their photographic skills.  The theme for this month was architecture and there were many impressive shots lining the walls of buildings and structures from all over the world.  Already we could see that this was a very creative building where EVERYBODY is given an opportunity to show off their talents.

The Pre-Vis presentation was done inside the actual blue sorcerer hat (which you can see from the building entrance).  It was designed to be Roy E Disney’s office and due to his extensive smoking habit, he even had a state-of-the-art air filtration system installed to get rid of the excess smoke – however, he decided to give-up smoking before he had a chance to try it out!  It was exciting to be in his office and the information we were given about Pre-Visualation was really interesting.  We got to see the different styles and themes used through the different worlds appearing in the new Wreck-It-Ralph movie and were shown how colour and design can convey the mood of a scene.

Next stop was the room where dailies are run for all the animated movies.  Here, the director and his team will sit for up to eight hours reviewing the days’ work and analysing it frame by frame.  We got to sit down in the director-style chairs and see some unfinished footage from Wreck-It-Ralph (are you seeing a theme here at all?) and the cast-members explained how as  a team they would discuss which pieces of the animation needed to be improved on and batted about ideas on parts that weren’t working.  This is also where positive feedback is received and where sections of the film can be built upon, eventually turning it in to the polished movie that we expect from a Disney production.

After leaving the screening room, we walked past some of the offices in the building (many of which are customized with shelves and shelves of stuffed toys, macquettes and custom art – all Disney of course) and made our way to ‘The Pod’.  This area of the studio is changed up every time a new feature is in production and true to the theme of our current tour, this time the pod was made up to feature the adventures of Wreck-It-Ralph.  The entrance to The Pod was made to look like an arcade doorway and there were even old 80s video game systems (including Pac-Man and Space Invaders) adorning the entrance.  Inside, there were bean-bag seats, foosball tables and vending machines where cast-members could relax between shifts.  A couple of tables were laid out featuring Sugar Rush scenes from Wreck-It-Ralph, made from real candy and there was art-work EVERYWHERE – a real feast for the eyes for any Disney animation fan.

Next, we followed some paper-planes which were suspended from the ceiling (in honour of the new short Paperman – which by the way is AWESOME!) and headed downstairs in to the belly of the building.  Our next stop was the voice-recording department.  For me, this is an area of Disney animation that I find fascinating.  We were given the opportunity to star as either Ralph or Vanelope and read some lines from the movie, doing our best to sync our voices with the animation on the screen.  In pairs, we were taken in to the recording booth and did our best Disney voices.  What a fun opportunity!  In a real-life situation, the voices are recorded BEFORE the animation, giving the animators prompts for facial expressions and movement in their work.  It was mind-blowing to think of the dozens and dozens of actors who have passed through this doorway and applied their voice-talents to so many wonderful Disney movies in the past.

As we walked down the corridor to our next location, we got to see a brief history of Disney animation in the form of sketches on the walls.  There were also a number of large ‘flip-books’ where our tour guides encouraged us to look at some of the wonderful work by animators such as Glen Keane and Frank Thomas.

Our next stop was in Rigging.  We were all sat down in front of PCs where we were presented with a large computer model of Disney’s latest hero (or bad-guy depending on how you look at it!) – Ralph.  We were given a brief lesson on how to animate him and were shown how to manipulate his body to put him in to different positions and change his facial expressions.  This was the ACTUAL Ralph computer model that the animators used when making the movie and after our brief lesson, it was fun to see what crazy positions other D23 members had put their Ralph in to – mine ended up looking like he was break-dancing!

We were told by our tour guides, as we left the Rigging room, that ALL employees at the Disney Studio are given the opportunity to take part in art-programs (regardless of what department they work in) and amongst other things, there are art classes held every day at the studio, where cast-members are encouraged to join in and perfect their techniques or learn new skills.  We got to see one of these class-rooms, where live models feature regularly; it which was decked out with easels, benches and a variety of art materials including paints, pastels and clay.

It was now time for us to go back downstairs and meet the other people who were touring the studios with us.  We got down to the ground-floor via an amazing stairwell where employees are encouraged to graffiti the walls!  There were sketches and doodles everywhere.  Some were Disney related, some featuring other well-known non-Disney characters (such as Warner Bros and The Simpsons/Futurama).  Many had witty comments or anecdotes written next to the art.  It made for fun reading as we headed back downstairs.

Back in the main lobby of the studio, we were guided en-masse in to the Studio Theater where Darrin Butters was waiting for us with goody-bags and a slide-show of photos of us on the big screen.  Our gifts included a Wreck-It-Ralph movie poster and postcard, a Paperman art-book, a Winnie The Pooh mug and a framed photo of the entire tour group taken outside the Animation Building when we had arrived that morning.  This was all bagged up in a Disney Animation Studios branded tote with a vintage-style Mickey Mouse button.  After asking us all whether we had enjoyed our time (a resounding YES! from everybody of course), Darrin proceeded to read out the completed story which we had as groups, written in the Story Board room over the course of the morning.  I can’t even remember much of the plot as it was so bizarre, but suffice to say it included a teddy bear, life-time passes to the parks and an evil roller-derby girl – very random!

In my next post, I’ll tell you about the afternoon session of our day at the Disney Studios.

Check back on the blog tomorrow to learn about Cara’s experiences in the afternoon session!

The post Insider Report: D23′s Destination D Tour of Disney Animation Studios–PART 1 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

PODCAST:

• Show #286: Week of August 12 – D23 Destination D Recap Roundtable and Disney Trivia Contest

VIDEO:

• Please join us in honoring Box Person Nolan Woodall with this video tribute.

ON THE BLOG:

•  Join Angie as she starts her series on vegan/vegetarian dining in Walt Disney World.

• Walk down Memory Lane and revisit an extinct WDW shop, the House of Magic

• Learn how to use multiple Disney-styled fonts in your next crafting project!

• Check out examples of Disney school supplies to start your school year in magical style!

• Are you a Disney fan in your twenty-somethings?  Caitlin is now writing a column about you!

• Disney from Down Under shares the reflections of an Australian Disney Fan.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• August 31: Deadline for submitting an entry to the first WDW Radio PINspiring Disney contest

• September 28: 1st Annual WDW Radio E-Ticket Weekend!

• September 28-30: WDW Radio Online Auction to benefit the WDW Radio Dream Team

• November 4: WDW Radio Cruise 2.0 begins!,  Flag contest submissions DUE

SNEAK PEEKS INTO NEXT WEEK:

•  Look back on the extinct attraction, Alien Encounter!

• The WDW Radio Exchange returns with advice for people traveling to Disney with TEENS who have NEVER been to Disney.

WHERE IN THE WORLD???

Were you watching carefully?  What state was Lou in when he took this picture during his return from Destination D?

The post WDW Radio Week in Review 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 #287 for the week of August 12, 2012.

I just returned from attending Destination D: 75 Years of Disney Animated Features, presented by D23 at the Disneyland Hotel. It was a weekend filled with presentations by Disney artists and Imagineers such as Tony Baxter, producers like Don Hahn, John Musker and Ron Clements, Disney Legends, voice talents, fun, and Disney history and much more. We looked into the future through sneak peeks at Wreck-It Ralph, Paperman and Frozen, and capped off each night with amazing concerts by Dick Van Dyke and Alan Menken. On this week’s show, we’ll recap the events and share our thoughts of the event, D23 and the future in our roundtable discussion recorded live in Disneyland.

I’ll then have the answer and winner for last week’s Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week, and pose a new question for your chance to win a Disney prize package!

Be sure and stay for the announcements, 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:

• Lou’s interview with Alan Menken – Show #196
• Lou’s interview with Don Hahn – Show #160

Additional audio from Destination D interviews coming to this page soon! Please check back!

Question for YOU: Are you a D23 member? Do events like Destination D make you wnat to join and attend future events like these or the D23 Expo? 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!
• Private Tours of Walt Disney World with Lou Mongello
• Disney Meets and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World – Get dates and locations on our Events page
  • August Meet of the Month info
• 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 Guide to Walt Disney World Dining – Use code WDWRADIO to save 20%! Money-back guarantee!

Follow Lou on Twitter and

The post Show # 287 – August 12, 2012 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Topics in this week’s Disney news include:

- New Fantasyland Expansion Grand Opening
- My Disney Experience now available for iOS
- Free WiFi at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
- D23 Destination D and D23 Expo news
- And more!

QUESTION OF THE WEEK – Do you like the idea of everywhere Wi-Fi connectivity in the parks, or would you prefer to be disconnected while enjoying your Disney experience? Leave your answer in the comments below

—————-

Join us every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET at WDWRadioLIVE.com for a LIVE interactive video news show covering Walt Disney World. Be a part of the broadcast and discussion and discuss the news real-time in the chat room.

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

- Lou Mongello

The post Video: Disney News – Aug. 5, 2012 on WDW Radio LIVE from Disneyland appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

This weekend, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is celebrating the once-in-a-lifetime diamond anniversary of one of the most universally beloved and singularly unique film genres in the world—at DESTINATION D: 75 YEARS OF DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURES, Aug. 11 and 12 at the Disneyland^® Resort.

The two-day event will offer a panorama of some of the most celebrated films and characters ever brought to life on screen and provide attendees with an unforgettable Disney experience.

From Walt Disney’s groundbreaking Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the upcoming Wreck-It Ralph, guests will go on a “behind-the-magic” journey filled with classic cinematic moments of heart-tugging emotion, laughter, and song that have captivated generations the world over. Renowned historians, authors, and animators of today will host this trip through the artistry and imagination of Disney animated features, each day ending with an unforgettable nighttime concert featuring two incomparable Disney Legends.

I had an opportunity to sit down and chat with D23′s Jeffrey Epstein about the event, the future of D23 and much more. Then D23′s  Tim O’Day, who will be moderating many of the panels during this weekend’s event, joins me to discuss the variety of special presentations, what people can expect to see (and hear) and much more!

You can listen to these exclusive interviews here:

Right click to download the file HERE

Highlights of DESTINATION D: 75 YEARS OF DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURES will include*:

• Salutes to the great Disney animators and artists of the past
• A Saturday-evening concert by the incredible Dick Van Dyke and The Vantastix performing beloved Disney songs and pop standards
• A Sunday-evening concert showcase starring eight-time Oscar^®-winning composer/songwriter Alan Menken, who will perform some of his most memorable songs from many modern-day Disney film classics and more
• A glimpse at how Disney animated features have influenced Disney Parks
• Rare and never-before-seen artwork and film footage
• A special salute to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the “fairest of them all”
• An extraordinary reunion of Disney animation voice talent through the years
• More screenings, presentations, and panels!

Full Destination D Schedule

For LIVE updates from Destination D, follow Lou on Twitter and
The weekend event will take place in the Grand Ballroom of the newly “re-Imagineered” Disneyland^® Hotel in Anaheim, Calif. Tickets are still available and you can get more details about the program for D23’s DESTINATION D: 75 YEARS OF DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURES at Disney.com/D23.

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club celebrates the remarkable past, present and future of Disney, taking its name from 1923, the year Walt Disney founded his world-famous company. D23 brings its members a host of exclusive benefits, including a weekly email newsletter; an array of discounts and special offers; free gifts throughout the year; as well as exclusive events created especially for its members.

Disney fans can join the world’s only Official Disney Fan Club by visiting Disney.com/D23, or at select shops at the Disneyland^® Resort, the Walt Disney World^® Resort and DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow “DisneyD23” on Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

*Talent is subject to availability. All events are subject to change.

The post D23 Destination D – Interviews with Jeffrey Epstein & Tim O’Day appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

The Official Disney Fan Club Commemorates the Diamond Anniversary with Rare Screenings, Entertaining Presentations and Memorable Musical Performances Aug. 11 & 12 at the Disneyland^® Resort

BURBANK, Calif. – April 5, 2012 – D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is celebrating the once-in-a-lifetime diamond anniversary of one of the most universally beloved and singularly unique film genres in the world—at DESTINATION D: 75 YEARS OF DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURES, Aug. 11 and 12 at the Disneyland^® Resort.

The two-day event will offer a panorama of some of the most celebrated films and characters ever brought to life on screen and provide attendees with an unforgettable Disney experience.

From Walt Disney’s groundbreaking Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the upcoming Wreck-It Ralph, guests will go on a “behind-the-magic” journey filled with classic cinematic moments of heart-tugging emotion, laughter, and song that have captivated generations the world over. Renowned historians, authors, and animators of today will host this trip through the artistry and imagination of Disney animated features, each day ending with an unforgettable nighttime concert featuring two incomparable Disney Legends.

Highlights of DESTINATION D: 75 YEARS OF DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURES will include*:

• Salutes to the great Disney animators and artists of the past
• A Saturday-evening concert by the incredible Dick Van Dyke and The Vantastix performing beloved Disney songs and pop standards
• A Sunday-evening concert showcase starring eight-time Oscar^®-winning composer/songwriter Alan Menken, who will perform some of his most memorable songs from many modern-day Disney film classics and more
• A glimpse at how Disney animated features have influenced Disney Parks
• Rare and never-before-seen artwork and film footage
• A special salute to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the “fairest of them all”
• An extraordinary reunion of Disney animation voice talent through the years
• More screenings, presentations, and panels to be announced in the coming weeks

The weekend event will take place in the Grand Ballroom of the newly “re-Imagineered” Disneyland^® Hotel in Anaheim, Calif. Tickets, available Wednesday, April 18, are $225 each and available exclusively to D23 Members and their guests. A limited number of “Diamond Level” tickets will be available featuring VIP seating, a third day of experiences on Monday, Aug. 13, at the Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif., special gifts, and more.

More details about the program and tickets for D23’s DESTINATION D: 75 YEARS OF DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURES can be found online at www.disney.com/D23.

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club celebrates the remarkable past, present and future of Disney, taking its name from 1923, the year Walt Disney founded his world-famous company. D23 brings its members a host of exclusive benefits, including a weekly email newsletter; an array of discounts and special offers; free gifts throughout the year; as well as exclusive events created especially for its members.

Disney fans can join the world’s only Official Disney Fan Club by visiting www.Disney.com/D23, or at select shops at the Disneyland^® Resort, the Walt Disney World^® Resort and www.DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow “DisneyD23” on Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

*Talent is subject to availability. All events are subject to change.

The post DISNEY LEGENDS DICK VAN DYKE AND ALAN MENKEN HIGHLIGHT D23’S DESTINATION D: 75 YEARS OF DISNEY ANIMATED FEATURES 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 #223 for the week of May 22, 2011.

From May 12-15, 2011, Disney’s D23, the official community for Disney fans, held a four day event in Walt Disney World that included a 4 park Scavenger Hunt, as well as two days of speakers, presentations, and many surprises. Known as Destination D – The Florida Project, it celebrated Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary and we’ll review the hunt and event on this week’s roundtable.

I’ll also tell you about the brand new Walt Disney World Trivia iPhone app and more 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.

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

Information and Links from This Week’s Show

• In Memory of Lorie and Glenn Holland – Facebook page. To make a donation in their honor, visit the Dream Team Project page on the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America site
• Visit LouMongello.com to find out more about Lou’s private tours of Walt Disney World
• WDW Radio Disney Book Club – The first WDW Radio Disney Book Club selection is… Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play – the latest in the wildly popular series by Ridley Pearson. Click here to purchase the book directly from Amazon.com. Future titles include
  • June and July: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom by A.C. Crispin.  Learn the story behind how Jack Sparrow became a pirate in this book which serves as a prequel to the Pirates of the Caribbean movies
  • August and September: Spinning Disney’s World by Charlie Ridgway.  As we prepare to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Walt Disney World, let’s see what it was like 40 years ago with someone who was there on opening day

• Join us every Wednesday at 7:30 pm EST at WDWNewsCast.com. Click HERE to watch past episodes, subscribe to the sho w and comment on the WDWRadio YouTube Channel

• 

  Lou Mongello’s Audio Guides to Walt Disney World -Available NOW as an instant download or on CD! Order all 5 on CD and save! C lick Here to learn more or order!

• DisneyMeets.com – Join us for Disney fan gatherings and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World and other events around the country! Get dates and locations here!

Explore hundreds of Walt Disney World secrets and fun facts with the Disney World Trivia iPhone app!

This unique collection of nearly 750 multiple-choice questions covers all four theme parks and every Walt Disney World attraction – almost 90 different rides and shows!

Detailed answers provide in-depth historical and background information, secrets, fun facts and wonderful details that will add new dimensions to your enjoyment of your favorite vacation destination

Test your Disney knowledge at home, bring it to the parks to enhance your experience during your visit. Play with family and friends or test yourself anytime! You can even share your score with others online!

If you’re in the parks, the app can use the built-in GPS (if your device supports it) to sort questions by the attractions you are closest to, so you can have fun and learn more about exactly where you are in Walt Disney World! You can also sort by area or lands, or by name to find your favorites easily.

In addition to the trivia questions, the Home Screen features hundreds of fascinating Did You Know facts and figures. You also get easy, one-click access to connect with Lou and the show, the WDW Radio show, discussion forums, online store, free videos, blog, and much more!

It’s a whole new way to enjoy the Disney magic for fans of all ages at home or in the parks!

Download the app from iTunes

Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch with iOS 3.1.3 or later

The post Show # 223 – May 22, 2011 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 #215 for the week of March 27, 2011.

This is an exciting year from the Disney community, with the introduction of new attractions, resorts, destinations and special events. Some of those events include those held by and for D23, the Official Community of Disney fans. This May, they will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Walt Disney World with Destination D and a companion scavenger hunt, and later this summer, the D23 Expo returns to Anaheim, California  . This week, I welcome in Jeffrey Epstein, the Disney Geek from D23 to learn more not only about him, but some of the history of D23, some of the upcoming special events, what’s new and what’s next.

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.

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

Information and Links from This Week’s Show

Disney’s D23

The Disney Geek

Join us every Wednesday at 7:30 pm EST at WDWNewsCast.com. Click HERE to watch past episodes, subscribe to the show and comment on the WDWRadio YouTube Channel

DisneyMeets.com – Join us for Disney fan gatherings and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World and other events around the country! Get dates and locations here!

Lou Mongello’s Audio Guides to Walt Disney World -Available NOW as an instant download or on CD! Order all 5 on CD and save! Click Here to learn more or order!

The post Show # 215 – March 27, 2011 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

I just returned from Destination D, the D23 event celebrating the 55th anniversary of Disneyland. This two day event took guests on a journey through the design, creation, debut and history of the world’s first Disney theme park through presentations, panels, screenings, speakers, Disney Legends, a scavenger hunt and even a concert of memorable songs from the Disneyland Resort. On this week’s roundtable, we’ll recap the events, discussing our expectations, surprises, reviews and memories. We’ll then look towards what is coming next for D23 in Walt Disney World and at next year’s Expo.

I’ll have a few announcements and then 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.

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

Information and Links from This Week’s Show

Watch videos from the Meet of the Month in Disneyland live stream on Thursday, September 23 LIVE from Disneyland!

Photos from Destination D - Courtesy of Jeremy Marx

Congratulations to Henry Work and his team for WINNING the inaugural Destination D Scavenger Hunt!!

Celebrations Disney Magazine Celebrates 2 Year Anniversary – Choose Your Favorite Cover and Issue for a Chance to Win a Prize Package

WDW Radio Cruise on the Disney Dream Logo Gear at Cafepress

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel is offering guests a chance to indulge at the first annual Food & Wine Classic at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Oct. 8 and 9. More information

DisneyMeets.com – Join us for Disney fan gatherings and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World, including D23’s Destination D meets in Disneyland, Congaloosh, the Food & Wine Walkabout & more! Get dates and locations here!

Liberty Square AND Mickey’s Toontown Fair Available NOW as an instant download or Pre-Order the Guides on CD

Click Here to learn more or order!

The post Show # 189 – September 26, 2010 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.