Imagine that you are walking right down the middle of Liberty Square (bet I caught you off guard there, didn’t I?).  As you look up at the little details Disney has sprinkled throughout property, you notice that the shutters on the window aren’t straight.  Instead, they are tilted a little bit.  Do you know why the shutters throughout Liberty Square are slanted?

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Story 1

As we all know, Disney loves forced perspective.  They use this effect all over the park.  Even famous icons like Cinderella Castle aren’t as tall as they seem.  The shutters in Liberty Square aren’t any different.  The building shutters are slanted a little to make the buildings seem taller from the slant down and shorter from the slant up, thus making the building appear much taller than it actually is.  This also means that Liberty Square looks bigger from Fronteirland, where the theming fits in more than it does in Fantasyland, where Liberty Square looks farther away.

Story 2

Liberty Square was originally planned to be a bigger land.  Unfortunately, Liberty Square was the last area to be built, and the measurements for the buildings and attractions were scaled down a little bit.  The Imagineers were in a rush to finish this area for the grand opening of Disney World.  As the finishing touches were being put on the buildings – including the shutters – they realized that they didn’t order the specially – made shingles to the new size. Imagineers decided to just tilt the shutters a little so that they would appear to fit on the window…problem solved!

Story 3

Hurricane Andrew threatened to sweep all of Central and Southern Florida out to sea, including our beloved Walt Disney World.  Luckily, the park survived the storm with no significant damage. However, some of the shutters in Liberty Square were “adjusted” due to the Category 5 hurricane winds.  The Cast members of Disney were so concerned with keeping the guests safe that they didn’t even think about the little details on the buildings.  Disney was going to get the shutters repaired, but then decided not to for two reasons: it fit in with the theming and the cost of the repair was too much for their liking.  It was only a few features after all.

Story 4

Liberty Square is designed around the time of the American Revolution.  In these Colonial days, the upper hinges tended to be made of leather straps in order to save metal for more important things like guns and other military weapons.  This caused the shutters to list to the side, a quality that the Disney Imagineers mimicked even though Walt Disney World’s shutters are made of metal.  After all, it’s all about the storyline!

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Okay, Disney fans, which one of these stories explains why the shutters in Liberty Square are lopsided?  Let me know which you think is correct (or if you prefer, which ones are not) below.

See ya REAL soon!

Quote of the Week:  “I am brave.  I am strong.  I am Merida.  I am a PRINCESS!”   ~Merida, her coronation ceremony this past Saturday.

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 To Tell The Truth: The Crooked Shutters in Liberty Square appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THE SECOND CHANCE OF A LIFETIME?

The Hochberg Ebersol Company (THE Company) is now casting for a life changing opportunity to reinvent yourself with the career you have always dreamed of but never had the chance to pursue.

For anyone who believes in second chances comes USA Network’s new unscripted original series The Moment. Hosted by legendary NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, The Moment gives ordinary Americans the opportunity to realize their dreams and rewrite their life stories.

We are currently searching the nation for individuals who want a shot at fulfilling their dreams of becoming an Theme Park Designer/Imagineer!

Did you start pursuing your dream of becoming a Theme Park Designer/Imagineer, and life got in the way? We’d love to hear your story.

To apply, or nominate a loved one, please email the following to:

• castingthemoment@gmail.com
• Your name
• Name of the person you are nominating and relationship (if applicable)
• Phone number & email address
• City, and State
• Dream job
• Tell us your story
• Attach a picture of yourself or the person you are nominating

Good luck!!

The post Have You Dreamed of Becoming a Walt Disney Imagineer? Here’s Your Chance! 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 #306 for the week of December 23, 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 week I want to introduce you to person whose name you may not recognize, but whose work you undoubtedly have enjoyed. As a show writer for Walt Disney Imagineering, his work included many of the stories and details in the queue of the Jungle Cruise, Pecos Bill’s, One Man’s Dream, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Space Mountain, Pop Century, Pal Mickey, the Adventurers Club, the Disney Cruise Line and the Walt Disney World Railroad. I’m excited to share with you my conversation with storyteller Darryl Pickett. We’ll discuss his personal journey from dreamer to Cast Member to Imagineer, talk about his wide scope of work, offer guidance to future Imagineers, and much more.

I’ll have the answer to our last Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week, and then have some announcements 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

Information and Links from This Week’s Show

Visit Darryl Pickett’s site at odsmill.com and follows @FlippyShark on Twitter

Purchase The Secret Feast of Father Christmas from Amazon.com

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What is your favorite way to celebrate the seasons at Walt Disney World? 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 # 306 – Dec. 23, 2012 – Former Imagineer Darryl Pickett appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

As one who always has part of her brain on Disney, I looked at these banks and wondered would at an Imagineer would do with them and how they could be used to support (or improve) the story being shared with guests.

And so, this week’s challenge was born.  Behold–the cheeseburger bank!

Here are your Imagineering exercises based upon this item:

1.  If an Imagineer were to put the bank somewhere on Disney property, where would it be?

2. Who would be using the bank? (Which character/what storyline is being supported by this bank?)

3. For what purpose is the money inside the bank being saved?

Have fun with this juicy challenge!  Next week, we will start with some holiday-themed fun!

The post Wanna-be Imagineers: Sink Your Teeth into this Challenge! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

This week, we are exercising our creative muscles with an image submitted a great friend of WDW Radio: Jamie Robbins-Longoria!  She sent in this picture, and we thought it would make a great subject for conversation.

And so, we ask you, our fellow Imagineers in training, to consider these questions.  Please post your answers in the comments below!

1. Where in Walt Disney World would YOU put this image?

2. Who are these women, and what story are they telling?

3. If these women were to run into Mickey Mouse, what would the conversation be about?

We look forward to hearing your thoughts!

The post Wanna-be Imagineers: What Story Do These Women Tell? 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 #293 for the week of September 23, 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

As we prepare for EPCOT Center’s 30th anniversary next week, recently I’ve shared interviews with Disney Imagineers Tony Baxter on Show 289 and Jason Grandt on Show 291. Today I’m excited to bring you my conversation with the Disney Imagineer who really helped start it all, Disney Legend Marty Sklar. Since joining the Disney Company in 1956, Marty’s duties included press and publicity, working at and heading up Walt Disney Imagineering, writing for Walt, and helping to open Disney Parks around the world. In our conversation, Marty recounts stories of his early days at Disneyland, working closely with Walt, the development, genesis and opening of EPCOT Center and much, 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 quick announcements about upcoming events, including what we’ll be doing for Epcot’s 30th including our annual online Disney charity auction to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, 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:

Question for YOU: How do you think Walt Disney would feel about Epcot the park? 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
• 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 # 293 – September 23, 2012 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Currently the Senior Vice President of Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering. We had a chance to talk about his career at Disney, his mentors and inspirations, attractions he helped create such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Splash Mountain and many others. Tony shares wonderful stories about his personal experiences going from Disney fan to Disney Imagineer. We also discuss the current state of the Disney Parks and what the future may hold.

Listen to the FULL, unedited interview on WDW Radio show # 289

The post Video: Interview with Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter 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 #291 for the week of September 9, 2012.

This week I’m excited to share an interview with Disney Imagineer Jason Grandt. He shares his story of growing up being fascinated with Walt Disney World to joining Walt Disney Imagineering. we discuss many of Jason’s projects over the years, including a look into his role in helping to bring back the Orange Bird to Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom. We discuss the New Fantasyland, as well as memories of EPCOT Center, and Jason’s role in the upcoming 30th anniversary. Jason also shares some insight to those looking to become Imagineers themselves.

Then test your Walt Disney World and answer our Trivia Question of the Week for your chance to win a Disney prize package.

I’ll then have some announcements about our next WDW Radio Meet of the Month in Walt Disney World, our next Disney charity auction, other special events and more. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

Information and Links from This Week’s Show:

Question for YOU: Do you remember the Little Orange Bird from early visits to Walt Disney World, or has he been recently introduced to you for the first time? 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
  
• 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 # 291 – September 9, 2012 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

by Blake Taylor

I was raised in a Disney-loving home, the matriarch of which lived in Winter Park, Florida in 1971, the same year a certain vacation destination opened its gates for the very first time.  Disney stories, films, music, and characters have always had a presence in our family for as long as I can remember.  Woody and Buzz Lightyear were two of my most prized possessions.  The Lion King VHS tape would play practically around the clock.  The world’s most famous mouse, who I referred to as “Mimi Mou,” was my hero.  As a child, Disney was important to me, whether I understood what the word “Disney” really meant or not.

And as a child growing up in a home where Disney movies were in heavy rotation, “dreams come true” was a repeated notion that was subtly engrained into my brain, as it is many other children.  However, as a little kid, your dreams mostly consist of swashbuckling the Spanish Main as a pirate or holding royal court as a princess, and unless you plan on breaking multiple international laws or inheriting an unknown highness, those dreams probably aren’t going to come true, no matter how hard you wish upon that trustful star.

As I write this, I’m in my college dorm room.  It’s my freshman year and I just moved in last week, and the reality of my childhood dreams is starting to hit me like a bag of Haunted Mansion tombstones.  What I fear is that I, and my peers, will cease to believe in our dreams as we become “grown-ups”.  I have dreams, and currently, my belief in them is strong.  I’m just afraid of growing up and forgetting that sense of childlike wonder, losing that confidence I once had.

When we’re young, we often have bold belief in vast, fantastical dreams that are probably unattainable (but are okay to fantasize about).  Oppositely, as we mature into adulthood and actually have foreseeable, practical goals (the fancy adult word for “dreams”) in mind, that same bold belief we once had has been diminished and might just mean the difference in that dream coming true.  Kids who have no outlet for their dreams are the ones who dream big, while young adults who actually finally do have the world at their doorstep are the ones selling ourselves short.

If we retained the same beliefs to go the distance that we were taught by Disney characters as young children and used those ideals in a practical mindset as we enter the scary world of adulthood, we could likely go a lot farther than we’d think.

If you’re a teenager on the edge of diving into your future, I urge you to think back to what you wanted to be when you were a little kid.  What did you want your future to look like more than anything in the world (and what spirit did you approach it with)?  How does that compare to what you want to do with your life now?  Furthermore, how can you blend those two ideas and mindsets together to create an affirmative dream that is not only exciting and intriguing, but is also realistic and attainable?

My dream job is to be a Disney Imagineer, something that formulated as I grew older and my appreciation of what Disney does became more authentic.  The ultimate satisfaction for me would come in standing at the exit to a Disney park attraction and seeing families coming out laughing and smiling, knowing that I had a hand in what they just experienced.  I do not delusion myself into thinking that role will come immediately or easily, but I hope to get there one day.  For now, I embrace the small steps along the way.  So right now I’m getting ready to start my freshman year of college, focusing on Media Studies and Creative Writing, eventually wanting to have a writing-based career with Disney.

Maybe you dream of opening your own restaurant like Tiana or Remy.  Maybe you dream of putting smiles on children’s faces like Woody or Mike Wazowski.  Maybe you dream of exploration and impacting the people you’ll meet there like Ariel or Carl Fredricksen.  Maybe you don’t know exactly what you dream of, but want to provide a successful life for yourself and your family like Aladdin or Mr. Banks.  Whatever it is—whatever you seek, whatever you wish, whatever you dream—don’t stop.

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

—Walt Disney

The post Just a Dream Away: Chasing Real-Life Disney Aspirations appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Happy Friday, my friends!  It’s time once again to channel that deep-seated desire to one day be a Disney Imagineer and brainstorm how to use an everyday object within the Walt Disney World Resort.

Today, I present for your consideration this most interesting lamp.  I laughed when I saw it and could not grab my camera fast enough.  It’s too unique. It tells a story.  It makes people talk.  In other words, it’s a perfect artifact to place somewhere in Disney!

And so, my friends, here are some questions for your consideration.  Discuss with your family–have fun!  Then post your answers to these questions in the comments below!

1. What is the name of this little balloon animal?

2. Where in the Walt Disney World Resort would an Imagineer most likely put him?

3. What is this little guy’s story?  (How did he get his/her head stuck in the lamp shade?)

Have fun and enjoy… and remember, one day, one of us may be able to say our career at WDI all started with… a blog.

The post Wanna be Imagineers: Who Doesn’t Love a Balloon Animal? appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.