The WDW Radio Show – Episode 9 - Originally aired April 8, 2007
The sliding radio dial intro ends on “The Dreamfinder” singing One Little Spark but then he begins to talk and sing about the WDW Radio Show and Lou. It’s obviously an impersonator. Probably that Dichter guy again, I assume. This is a much better impression, btw.
Lou announces its going to be a train themed show.
It’s funny to hear “from Scotch Plains, NJ” again since Lou relocated last year.
WDW has set attendance records again. Lou says nice to see tourism rebounding since 9/11. Little does he know the country is months from the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression. I worked in the mortgage industry at this time. April ’07 was a dark month for us, and we were the first ones off the boats and on the beach, so to speak. The good news is there will be lots of free dining plans coming! Gotta find the silver lining!
Lou says Epcot will have themed character meet and greets, Chip & Dale in an energy themed area, Pluto in a Land themed area, Minnie in a Communication area. Really??? Did I miss these? The only character area I saw was that one big one that’s a jumble of background activity painted on a set. Admittedly I have only really glanced while running to Soarin’!
The Hoop De Doo Revue is closed two nights a week for a refurb of the floors. To which I say “whoop de do.” Just kidding. I’ve never even seen it.
Lou mentions changes at Pleasure Island. They removed the west end stage and are widening the walking areas to accommodate more foot traffic. Lou actually says “I’d expect to see a very different Pleasure Island from what you may remember.” He has no idea! Wish I could call 2007 Lou to let him know what was about to happen. R.I.P. Adventurer’s Club. : (
Not to mention R.I.P. to P.I. in 2011.
Plays a voicemail of a listener who got to ride a preview of Gran Fiesta (ironic that this would be my second cast of the week and it mentions Gran Fiesta again!) It’s a favorable one. He feels much the way I do. It’s cute. You wouldn’t wait more than 10 minutes, if that, for it, but it makes for a nice break. And kids love it. Heck, I’d take it over It’s a Small World any day!!! Yes, I heard your gasps!!!
Disney has announced a new Illuminations schedule, adding a second late show during evening EMH. Do they still do this? I don’t recall (as if I’m still in Epcot that late, it means I’m “drinkin’ round the World” and therefore the details are tad hazy! Ask me about the time a whole set of engraved drinking glasses arrived at my door a week after a night in Epcot!)
Disney has added same-sex unions at the wedding pavilion and on the ships. Disney exec said “we’re not in the business of making lifestyle judgments about our guests. We’re about hospitality.” Of course, there also about taking any one’s money that’s willing to give it. Either way it’s fine with me.
Just announced, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13 K nighttime marathon. I’m not a runner, unless chased, but the description sounds awesome. Begins and ends at the Tower, sending runners on a path around “Disney - MGM Studios.” I’d love to have even been a cheering spectator. Does this still happen? Haven’t heard of it since.
After news and rumors, Lou plays a portion of Walt’s dedication speech from Disneyland. Gives me a chill every time. Love that speech. Especially when it’s played at the start of the parade at DL set to the song Welcome from Brother Bear.
Lou’s special interview this week is with Michael Broggie, son of original Imagineer Roger Broggie and author of Walt Disney’s Railroad Story & chairman of Carolwood Pacific Historical Society. As a kid Michael got to spend a lot of time around Walt, working on model trains and at family functions. Michael tells a number of great stories about the man Walt Disney and how fun and down to Earth he was. Mentions Walt was quite a cusser and didn’t really hold his tongue even when kids were around. I love hearing little humanizing details like this. “Walt liked guys and gals who liked trains.” Michael and his brother were the short kids, Walt was the tall kid.
Never talked to kids like kids. As a children’s writer, I love this. It’s something I endeavor to do and sometimes struggle with. Walt talked to kids at “eye-level.”
Walt had a liquor bar and an ice cream bar. He’d make drinks for the adults and sundaes for the kids. Love it. Name a studio head or any corporate multi-millionaire CEO who does this today! They may be out there, but you sure wouldn’t know it.
Walt is known for not giving direct compliments, but when Michael was a little older; Walt was talking to him alone just before the opening of Disneyland and said “you know your dad is a genius. Disneyland would not have happened without him.” Imagine hearing that about your old man!
Michael refers to Disneyland as Walt’s gift to the world, and his train was the ribbon around the gift. I like that analogy.
He also tells of how before Walt died he told Roy he couldn’t retire. He had to finish Disney World. And how it was Roy who said after Walt died it was to be called Walt Disney World. Michael made the comment that he still will not ever refer to it as simply Disney World. It is Walt Disney World. It’s a tribute and legacy to Walt. And he makes a good point that I intend to make sure I follow going forward.
Anyway, it is a great interview and I could just keep pulling nuggets out but that could go on for pages. Look it up and listen to it. And Lou did say before hand that it was a truncated version and he was putting the entire, unedited interview on the site. I definitely want to check it out.
Next up: A DSI: Disney Scene Investigation with Jeff Pepper. This is a big deal to me for a couple reasons. The DSI segments are always a favorite of mine, and especially with Jeff because the first episode I ever listened to was a DSI on Peter Pan’s Flight with Jeff and Lou. This particular one was a little different. You really get a sense of how the segment has evolved. In this early version, it’s just Jeff more or less describing the ride and rattling off facts along with some sound effects from the ride. It’s on the Train Station on Main St., by the way. It’s ok, but lacks something that current DSI’s have when there’s actual discussion between the two of them. It’s more engaging now, but it’s still nice to hear this infant version.
Listener Emails: A writer named Bobby says if you plan on attending Food & Wine the Disney Dining plan is imperative so you can use your snack credits at the festival.
Another email says they prefer to spend less on a resort since they’re barely in the room and last time they stayed at All Star Music. It was fine, but where does Lou recommend staying when you don’t want to splurge on the room. In other words, what’s the best Value resort? I actually say the answer just before Lou does. Pop Century, hands down! I have to admit I haven’t stayed at any of the 3 All Stars and I’m not opposed to it someday if it turns out that way. But we stayed at Pop on our last trip and loved it. We’ve always stayed at Moderate resorts, but now I can’t even see ever paying the extra money for such miniscule benefit. That’s my opinion anyway.
One email asks if Walt’s daughter Sharon has a window on Main Street. It is on the right hand side above the watch shop. There’s an image of a white cat in a red square. But it doesn’t say Sharon Disney. It says William and Sharon Lund.
Lou from New Jersey writes in to Lou from New Jersey (seriously) and asks what ever became of the old parade at Epcot called “Tapestry of Nations?” Also know as the Tapestry of Dreams. My wife & I got to see this one twice on our first trip to WDW together. It really was one of the best parades Disney ever did, that I’ve seen. And I’m not a parade fan. It was just visually amazing. Giant, ornate costumes. Enchanting, hypnotic music (which plays in Epcot still after Illuminations.) It is sad to see it gone.
Lastly someone writes in to remind Lou he forgot about some 3D movie at Epcot that had Aladdin, blah, blah, blah . . . my eyes crossed. Apparently it was the predecessor to the 3D Aladdin virtual ride thing at Disney Quest.
Finally, Lou has a recommendation for a cheap collectible for kids. Instead of the more expensive pins, collect the pressed pennies around the park. I know in the future sometime in late 2008 or early ‘09 there is actually a show that dedicates a whole segment to pressed pennies with Chuck “Disney Daddy” Lionberger. I will look for the date because it’s actually full of great information I know I would’ve never known.
Best of the Best: Holy shnikeys this is a long episode. Lou introduces Mike Scopa (sp?) from Mouse Planet to discuss where the Best Place to Run in WDW is. He says stay at Port Orleans (doesn’t specify which one) and loves to run alongside the Sassagoula River. Later says doesn’t matter if you stay at French Quarter or Riverside because you need to run the entire resort, both sides, to get an effective run. I’ll make note of that while I’m eating my carrot cake cookie.
That does it for this episode. Again, it’s a little bit long, but full of great info. And that interview with Michael Broggie was just awesome. Even if some of the stories he told are now legendary at least among hard core fans like us, they’re still amazing when heard from someone who was there. Especially who was a kid in Walt’s court.
Tomorrow prepare for time travel as we blast ahead a year into 2008! What changes, news, and rumors await to make us now chuckle?!
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