Did You Know?

August 21, 1995 – Disneyland’s PeopleMover closes (it will be replaced 3 years later by a faster attraction known as Rocket Rods

• The attraction opened as part of the New Tomorrowland in 1967 and required a “D” ticket to ride
• Its hourly capacity could hold up to 4,885 guests
• The attraction moved uphill and downhill, unlike its Walt Disney World counterpart which glides on a flat track
• Rocket Rods closed in September of 2000 for refurbishment, but never reopened and was officially closed in the Spring of 2001
• The track for the PeopleMover remains, which leaves the door open for it to be revived.

Other Notable Disney Dates:

August 19, 2006 – Who Wants to be a Millionaire – Play It closes at the Disney MGM Studios

August 20, 1928 – The final short of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Hot Dog, is released

August 22, 1968 – The Walt Disney Travel Company is formed in Florida – compromising of travel agents and people who will helps guests plan their vacation to Walt Disney World, although the park will not open for another three years!

August 23, 1986 – A bill is passed by the U.S. Senate declaring December 5, 1986 as “Walt Disney Recognition Day”

August 24, 1989 – Ewok Village opens at the entrance to Star Tours in Walt Disney World’s MGM Studios

August 25, 2008 – Disney announces that it sold 298 acres of Florida property to the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts for  new development

Question of the Week:                 

The Tomorrow Land Transit Authority in Walt Disney World  uses linear induction motors to move the cars. How were the cars in Disneyland’s PeopleMover propelled?

Candra Spirtoff and Megan Voisard are identical twins, born and raised in Cincinnati,  Ohio. They both graduated from the University of Cincinnati, Candra with a Bachelor’s degree in Legal Assisting and Megan with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.  They currently work as a paralegals for a local law firm.  Their passion is anything and everything Disney, and they have visited WDW almost every year since 1988, at the age of four.

The post THIS WEEK IN DISNEY HISTORY & PeopleMover Trivia Question 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.

On Thursday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. PT, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will begin selling tickets for the next http://D23Expo.com , which will open one year later and run from Aug. 9-11, 2013, at the Anaheim Convention Center. The largest Disney fan event in the world, the D23 Expo celebrates the entire world of Disney entertainment and brings together all parts of The Walt Disney Company under one roof, including The Walt Disney Studios; Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Disney Consumer Products; Media Networks (including ABC, ABC Family, Disney Channel, and Radio Disney) and Disney Interactive. D23 Expo 2013 marks the third Expo held in Anaheim, following Expos in 2009 and 2011.

Look for WDW Radio’s LIVE coverage of the 2013 D23 Expo! Watch & chat live from the show floor, the WDW Radio booth and more!

More than 40,000 Disney fans from around the world gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center in 2011 for the second D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. In anticipation of even bigger attendance, D23 Expo 2013 will feature: an overflow theater for the D23 Arena, which will accommodate more than 2,000 guests for live streaming of the popular Arena presentations; nearly double the size of presentation venue Stage 23 (formerly 1,000 seats); and an expanded show floor, to include Halls A, B, C and D, as well as a larger Collectors’ Forum to provide even more magical experiences for guests.

As in previous Expos, D23 Expo 2013 will showcase all of the latest stars in the Disney universe. In 2011, celebrity appearances included Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Garner, Dick Van Dyke, Willem Dafoe, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Jason Segel, Marty Sklar, Alice Davis, Michael Giacchino, Tony Baxter, Tom Bergeron, Regis Philbin, Jodi Benson, Lea Salonga, Linda Larkin, Paige O’Hara, Anika Noni Rose, David Arquette, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Kelly Macdonald, Kevin McKidd, Taylor Kitsch, Wilmer Valderrama, Melissa Joan Hart, Sean Astin, Chelsea Kane, and Kyle Massey, along with Disney executives and creative talent. They came together to bring special presentations, announcements, and performances to Disney fans throughout the three-day extravaganza.

D23Expo.com 2013 will also feature the Disney Legends Awards–a stirring biennial event that pays tribute to the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to the Disney legacy; an all-new Fan Art Contest themed to the upcoming 50th anniversary of Mary Poppins; the 12,000 square-foot Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit featuring costumes, props, and set pieces from Disney’s rich history; plus amazing live events, celebrity appearances, panels and presentations, sneak peeks, and unique experiences that celebrate the past, present, and future of Disney.

Tickets for D23 Expo 2013 will be available at a discounted price for a limited time. From August 9–December 31, 2012, tickets will be $47 for a one-day adult admission and $37 for children 3-12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will be $40 for a one-day adult admission and $32 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available for both D23 Members and the general public, and D23 Members can save as much as $204 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for members and general admission, visit D23Expo.com.

In addition to these special advance-purchase savings, D23 Members can also buy D23 Expo VIP Sorcerer Packages, extremely limited tickets that are only available to members. These packages offer incredible, exclusive opportunities.

The SORCERER PACKAGE includes:
· Three-day admission ticket
· Reserved seating at all presentations in the D23 Arena and Stage 23
· Commemorative Sorcerer credential
· Pre-Expo tour of the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit
· Exclusive shopping time in the D23 Expo Dream Store and the Treasure Trove the day before the Expo is open to guests
· Exclusive tour of the D23 Expo show floor the day before the Expo is open to the public
· Private welcome reception
· Special entrance to the Expo each morning
· Hardbound Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives catalog
· Hardbound Disney Legends ceremony commemorative program
· A voucher for an appointment with an on-site massage therapist
· Exclusive D23 Expo 2013 tote bag filled with gifts
· “Fond Farewell” reception on final day of Expo
· In addition, Sorcerer-level members have access to the Sorcerer Member Lounge

Sorcerer Package tickets will be available exclusively to both Gold- and Silver- level D23 Members at $1,500 per ticket. Members will also have the option to purchase up to two Sorcerer tickets. Additional details and benefit are highlighted at D23Expo.com.

D23 Members receive early admission to the Expo show floor, and D23 will once again give a special thanks to D23 Charter Members, providing them special access to the Expo’s Charter Member Lounge.

Visit D23Expo.com to relive some of the extraordinary experiences from the first two Expo events and get a peek at what’s to come in 2013.

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 unlocks the magic of Disney with a host of exclusive benefits, including a quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com; a weekly e-mail newsletter; an array of discounts and special offers; free gifts throughout the year; as well as exclusive events created especially for its members.

Gold-level D23 memberships are $74.99, and Silver-level memberships – which provide all benefits with the exception of a Disney twenty-three subscription – are just $34.99 a year. All discounts and special promotions are available to both Gold- and Silver-level D23 Members.

Disney fans can join the world’s only Official Disney Fan Club by visiting D23.com, 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.

The post D23 Expo 2013 Will Be Bigger and Better! Tickets Go On Sale August 9 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

From Los Angeles through the eyes of Walt Disney on Buena Vista Street, to traveling down Route 66 to the Cozy Cone Motel, Luigi’s Flying Tires, Radiator Springs Racers, Flo’s V-8 Cafe, and much more, it’s a quick virtual tour of what’s new at Disney California Adventure Park

QUESTION: What part of CarsLand or Buena Vista Street are YOU most excited about seeing? Leave your answer in the Comments below

The post CarsLand and Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure Park Tour appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

On June 15, Disney had a grand reopening celebration for Disney California Adventure, and introduced two new lands – CarsLand, featuring an immersive experience in the world of the Cars films, including Radiator Springs Racers, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, Luigi’s Flying Tires, Flo’s V8 Cafe, the Cozy Cone Motel and much more!

Guests now enter Disney California Adventure through another lively and richly detailed land, Buena Vista Street, which celebrates the life and legacy of Walt Disney in a locale reminiscent of Los Angeles in the 1920s.

The Trolley Treats shop allows guests to watch candy makers through the window and enjoy the amazing sweet treats inside. Lou Mongello from WDW Radio had a chance to visit the shop and try his hands at making one of their famous handmade temptations.

For more videos, subscribe to our WDW Radio channel on YouTube or the show in iTunes

Stay tuned for much more from CarsLand and Buena Vista Street coming soon! And be sure to listen to our full recap and review, recorded LIVE from CarsLand on WDW Radio Show # 279 

The post Video: Making Candy at Trolley Treats on Buena Vista Street at Disney California Adventure 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 #279 for the week of June 17, 2012.

This week, I’m coming to you live from the cutest little town in Carburetor County – Radiator Springs, as the town from Disney-Pixar’s Cars has literally been brought to life at CarsLand at Disney California Adventure Park. I had a chance to visit CarsLand and Buena Vista Street for a special sneak preview of the lands that opened on June 15, and will bring you a full review, recorded live from CarsLand. We’ll discuss the two lands, their history (both literal and according to Disney backstory), details, attractions, shops, restaurants and so much more. We have a lot to cover from an experience that had me happier than a tornado in a trailer park!

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

Be sure and stay for the announcements, including information about the next WDW Radio Meet of the Month in Walt Disney World, as well as 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:

Question for YOU: What part of CarsLand or Buena Vista Street are you looking forward to seeing (eating?) most?? Leave your answer in the comments section below

Stay tuned for more videos, interviews, photos and more from CarsLand and Buena Vista Street coming SOON!

• 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
• Watch & chat during our LIVE WDW NewsCast Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET at WDWRadioLIVE.com
• WDW Radio on YouTube – Watch past episodes, subscribe to the show and comment on the WDWRadio YouTube Channel
• Get Celebrations Magazine on your iPad/iPhone in iTunes App Store
  

The post Show # 279 – June 17, 2012 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

The post Kids Race Their Own Little Lightning McQueens to Cars Land! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

“It’s a very exciting time to be a Disney fan!” – I have been saying that for quite some time, and reiterated that at the end of last year, as 2012 is proving to be a year of some incredible new additions, enhancements, and updates to not just Walt Disney World, but Disney Parks around the world.

And one of the most anticipated, exciting, and (from what I hear) spectacular of all is the Cars Land expansion coming to Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland, which officially opens on June 15, 2012.

I was honored to be invited to visit the park for a very special sneak peek from June 13-15, for what I have a feeling will be a very action-packed three days!  During that time, Disney will celebrate the grand openings of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre as well as premiere new entertainment that will greet guests when they arrive on June 15. And on the morning of June 15, Disney will celebrate the grand reopening of Disney California Adventure Park.

I’m very excited to be able to attend, and share with you the experience through the audio, video, interviews, merchandise (you know I’ll be bringing back giveaways for the show, right?), etc. But, I really wish you were able to be there with me as it’s happening… so…

I will be bringing you LIVE video coverage from Cars Land, Buena Vista Street, the Carthay Circle Theatre and Disneyland from June 13-15 at WDWRadioLIVE.com. You’ll be able to experience it with me and everyone else who is watching and chatting in “The Box” over the three days.

Because I am unsure at this time exactly what the schedule will be, I don’t have a set list of times as to exactly when I’ll be broadcasting, but I WILL be sure and let you know via Twitter (@LouMongello) and Facebook (subscribe at Facebook.com/LouMongello), so please follow or subscribe to either or both, and stay tuned for updates, photos, and broadcast times beginning on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 13. I’ll be sending out photos, audio, and when and where I’ll be broadcasting from, so you can watch and chat along with us from the WDWRadioLIVE page on the site (you can also watch via your mobile device by downloading the FREE Ustream app for your iPhone, iPad or Android device).

Disclosure: I am attending the Cars Land media event as an invited guest of the Walt Disney Company, but the opinions, reviews and coverage I will provide will be my own, and not influenced in any way. Kachow!

The post Come with Me to Cars Land! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Advance Tickets On Sale August 9, 2012, for the Most All-Encompassing Disney Fan Event in the World

BURBANK, Calif. – March 9, 2012 – All the magic and excitement of the past, present and future of Disney entertainment will come together once again when D23: The Official Disney Fan Club presents an all-new D23 EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center on Aug. 9-11, 2013.

“The D23 Expo has become a phenomenal way for Disney fans to see everything they love about Disney all in one place — from Disney’s biggest stars and latest innovations to unforgettable performances live on stage,” said Steven Clark, head of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, which produces the bi-annual D23 EXPO. “Our third Expo is sure to create even more magical new experiences and memories for our biggest fans attending from throughout the U.S. and around the globe.”

“Anaheim is extremely pleased that the D23 EXPO will be returning next year,” said Charles Ahlers, president, Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau. “This exciting event is quickly becoming an industry icon, drawing Disney fans from around the world. The Anaheim community truly appreciates and enjoys this quality show and positive impacts it brings.”

More than 40,000 Disney fans attended D23 EXPO 2011, which brought together the entire world of Disney under one roof for three star-studded days and nights. Fans were treated to appearances by superstars like Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Regis Philbin and Billy Crystal; enjoyed performances by Dick Van Dyke, The Muppets and Disney princess voice talent Jodi Benson, Paige O’Hara, Lea Salonga and Anika Noni Rose; previewed concept art and attractions coming from Disney Parks and Walt Disney Imagineering; glimpsed back at Disney’s rich history through extraordinary panels, presentations and exhibits; and discovered the newest entertainment, technology, and products from The Walt Disney Company.

Among the highlights of D23 EXPO 2013 will be expanded capacities at some of our most popular venues; the 2013 Disney Legends Ceremony, which honors the talented men and women who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy; Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, a treasure trove of crown jewels from the Walt Disney Archives; the bustling aisles of the Collectors Forum, where Disney fans can buy, sell and trade Disney collectibles, memorabilia and merchandise; and a massive show floor full of special opportunities to see what’s on the horizon for Disney around the world—and where guests may bump into their favorite Disney stars, characters, Imagineers, animators and filmmakers.

Advance tickets for the D23 EXPO 2013 will go on sale at D23Expo.com beginning August 9, 2012. D23 Members receive special pricing on both one- and three-day tickets to the event, which is also open to the general public.

D23 Members receive early admission to the Expo show floor, and D23 will once again give a special thanks to D23 Charter Members, providing them special access to the Expo’s Charter Member Lounge. Members will also have an opportunity to purchase a special Sorcerer Package, which provides a host of special benefits and amenities.

D23 EXPO 2013 marks the third D23 Expo held in Anaheim — the first Expo was held in 2009 followed by a second in 2011. Each event played host to thousands of Disney fans from every corner of the globe. Starting today, guests can visit D23Expo.com to relive some of the extraordinary experiences from the first two Expo events and get a peek at what’s to come in 2013.

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 unlocks the magic of Disney with a host of exclusive benefits, including a quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at www.D23.com; a weekly e-mail 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.D23.com, 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.

The post D23 Expo – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – Returns to Anaheim August 9-13, 2013 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 #229 for the week of July 3, 2011.

I’ll kick off the show this week with the announcement of the latest release of my Audio Walking Tours of Walt Disney World, as we set off for the Wild West of Frontierland. I’ll tell you more about the latest in the series, including what’s new, a few changes, and how and where you can get it.

I’ll then open up the inbox to answer more of your listener emails, where you can   learn to enjoy and appreciate Walt Disney World even more with questions about kids clubs at the resorts, getting from here to there (and back again), working in Walt Disney World, recommended Disney books, Bay Lake Towers, Disneyland and more. We’ll also answer a few probative questions including one about the future of Walt Disney World that I want YOU to answer as well.

I’ll have a few announcements, including information about our charity auction, Disney Book Club, and our new Disney At Home series and contest. Then I’ll put you on the air and play 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:

Question for YOU: If you had to conceive of a fifth Walt Disney World park, what would be the theme and nature of the park? – Leave your answer in the Comments section below

Walt Disney World Audio Tour – Frontierland Now Available — Download or Pre-Order the CD from the WDW Radio store!

• Video: The Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street, USA in Walt Disney World
• Our Homes Went Disney – blog and contest

• Visit our weekly WDW Radio Disney auctions for Japan relief on the WDW Radio blog
• Private Tours of Walt Disney World
  • Visit LouMongello.com for more information
• WDW Radio Disney Book Club – TheDisneyBookClub.com
  • Future titles include: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom by A.C. Crispin Jjune/July) and Spinning Disney’s World by Charlie Ridgway (Aug./Sept.)
• Disney Fan Meets and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World
  • Get dates and locations at DisneyMeets.com
  • 
• 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!
• WDW Radio iPhone Apps: Get WDW Radio and Walt Disney World Trivia on your iPhone!
  • Get the FREE WDW Radio iPhone app
  • Walt Disney World Trivia on your iPhone! 750 questions & hundreds of Did You Knows!
• WDWNewsCast – Watch & chat during our LIVE NewsCast
  Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET – Be part of the broadcast & discuss live in the chat room at http://WDWNewsCast.com
• WDW Radio on YouTube
  Click HERE to watch past episodes, subscribe to the show and comment on the WDWRadio YouTube Channel

The post Show # 229 – July 3, 2011 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.