I am a former attorney and owner of an IT consulting firm who left the practice of law to move with my family to Florida, pursue my passion, and share my love for the Disney Parks, movies, Disney Cruise Line, Marvel, and Star Wars with others.
Who is Lou and what is wdw radio?
ABout Lou Mongello and WDW Radio
Who is Lou, how did this all begin, and what can you learn, experience, and enjoy here
Here's a (relatively) quick look at who I am, the show, etc.:
I launched WDW Radio in 2003 (originally known as DisneyWorldTrivia.com), and started with a simple web site to promote my first book, The Walt Disney World Trivia Book, Volume I. Over time, I added blog posts (they were called “articles” back then), added a discussion forum (this was pre-social media) in January, 2004, and wrote my second trivia book in 2006.
In 2005, not long after the podcasting technology and medium was first introduced, I started podcasting about Disney, and, thanks to the incredible community and support, the show was was named Best Travel Podcast for 9 consecutive years by the Podcast Awards. I am also the author of the 102 Ways to Save Money for and at Walt Disney World book, and guided audio walking tours of Magic Kingdom.
I have been live streaming weekly since early 2007, and is one of my favorite ways to connect and engage with the incredible community which you have helped create (I just built the “clubhouse,” YOU help populate and grow it by inviting your friends).
Connecting online and in “real life” remains the core of what I love to do, through a variety of social networks and live events, including monthly meetups in the Disney Parks, group cruises on Disney Cruise Line, overseas Adventures by Disney (so far, we’ve been to Japan and China, with Italy coming in 2021!).
I, and the show/site have been featured in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, the BBC, Associated Press, The New York Times, VentureBeat, Bloomberg Business, CBS News, Fox News, Parenting Magazine, Readers’ Digest, Fodors, SyFy, ComicBook.com, Cinemablend, Slashfilm, ScreenRant, and numerous others. I have also been named as one of the Top 40 Social Media Influencers, Top 100 Digital Marketing Experts, Top 50 Social Media Influencers, and Top 50 Social Media Experts.
The most important part of what I do has been as the founder of The Dream Team Project, which, thanks to the participation and generosity of our community, has raised more than $550,000.00 to send children with life-threatening illnesses to Walt Disney World through the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.
I am also a keynote speaker, teacher, consultant, and coach, who shares with businesses, associations and schools the magic of Disney and/or the power of new and social media, entrepreneurship, brand-building, storytelling, podcasting and more. I also provide mentoring, consulting, and workshops to those looking to build their business and brand, and help people turn what they love into what they do. I am the host and founder of the Momentum Weekend Workshop and Retreat in Walt Disney World. To learn more about me and see how we can work together, please visit LouMongello.com
I am blessed and honored to be able to share my passion for Disney with you in so many ways! I am not an employee of the Disney Company, nor am I compensated in any way for any content that I produce. I pay (full price) for all of my tickets, hotels, meals and merchandise (other than when I am invited to an event, which I fully disclose). I simply love this place and what it means to me, and enjoy being able to share my honest thoughts about the things that simply make us happy about visiting Walt Disney World and the other Disney parks. All opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.
Recent Media Mentions and Appearances
9 time consecutive award winner for Best Travel Podcast (was then removed from future contention and deemed a “Legacy Podcast”)
Once ranked #2 overall among 550,000+ active podcasts in iTunes (behind Serial)
- AOL.com
- Associated Press (AP) (Online)
- BBC World News (Radio and TV)
- Bleacher Report (Online)
- Bloomberg Business
- Bloomberg Law
- Boston.com
- CBS (TV, National and multiple local markets)
- Cinemablend
- ComicBook.com
- Condé Nast Nast Portfolio (Print)
- Fodor’s (Print)
- Food & Wine Magazine (Online and Print)
- FORTUNE Magazine
- Fox (TV and Online, National and multiple local markets)
- Fox News
- Fox 35 Orlando – (Frequent appearances since 2009)
- Frommer’s Budget Travel (Print)
- GeekTyrant
- Huffington Post
- INSIDER
- Inc. Magazine (Print)
- LIFE Magazine (Print book – “Inside the Disney Parks – The Happiest Places on Earth)
- Medium (Online) – Best Podcasts of 2018
- NPR
- Orlando Sentinel (Print and Online)
- Parenting Magazine (Print)
- People Magazine
- Readers’ Digest (Print)
- ScreenRant – #1 Ranked Disney Podcast for Fans
- Slashfilm
- SyFy
- The New York Times (Print and online) – Top 13 Travel Podcasts in 2020
- The Wall Street Journal
- Travel & Leisure Magazine (Print)
- USA Today
- VentureBeat
- WPIX 11 New York (TV)
- Woman’s World (Print)
- Yahoo (Multiple online)
- “World Ranking” – Japanese TV show with 13 million viewers (spent 4 days with host filming in Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts – https://www.ntv.co.jp/pc/)
