For those wondering what all these weird posts are regarding this WDW Radio Show, followed by incoherent stream-of-consciousness drivel, it was a little project I did. I'm a big fan of the WDW Radio Show podcast; it's one of my little geeky obsessions. So I decided to take a week and listen to an old show from the archive every day for a week and blog about it. Lou, the host, has a ton of fans and I'm friends with many on Facebook so they were following along. If you're a stranger to our little world, come on along anyway. You might be intrigued. But there is one challenge of course . . . to find a way out!!!
The WDW Radio Show: Episode 2 – Originally aired Feb 19, 2007
Episode 1 was a 6 minute intro by Lou just setting up what was to come. A nice little introduction and "how do you do" but Episode 2 is really the first real podcast, as we know it.
Intro is similar except for bad Mexican parrot from the Tiki room impression explaining what it is.
Lou sounds quieter, more subdued – or sub-Lou’ed.
Disney news: The “Let’s Have a Ball” party is the first casualty of the Year of a Million Dreams – it was apparently a castle show – something to do with Princesses and a Lady Lucinda. They play Simon Says and do a freeze dance with guests, but didn’t last long (Feb. 24th.) – sounds lame anyway. Must have been bad since it is the first I have ever heard of it. As Lou says, fortunately or unfortunately it’s over. Lou asks “are these interactive shows not as popular as Disney had hoped?” Wait til he learns about the Stitch show coming to Tomorrowland . . . briefly!
El Rio Del Tiempo is now closed for the “three caballeros” overlay. A few other restaurants are closed for refurbs through the spring, including Le Cellier. Lou wonders, “Is this part of a park wide overhaul for a secret celebration of Epcots 25th?” NOPE!
Describes the new Mexico ride, continually referring to it as 3 Caballeros (Sounds like at this point we didn’t even have the new name, Gran Fiesta Tour) – Lou says love it or hate it more characters coming to Epcot. I now know I love it. Well, love it is probably a strong choice of words, but I really like it. My son who was 3 last time we were there and got to ride it loved it! I felt it was pleasant and relaxing without being aquatic valium like the original version. ZZZZZZZ!
Construction walls have also gone up for refurb of Innoventions character meet and greet, again love it or hate it. Lou reminds us how Epcot was supposed to be a “no character” park originally til Eisner demanded they be brought over. Personally I think that was a good decision, although I think they could incorporate the characters to the attractions/pavilions a little better. Show where some of them came from, for instance Pinocchio in Italy. Make that connection, especially for young guests.
Lou says “Nice segway Lou” . . . into the “Pixarization” of Walt Disney World. If only you knew, Lou . . .
New preshow to Turtle Talk w/ Crush is open. (Was this before The Seas with Nemo ride?) Lou hasn’t seen new Turtle Talk venue yet. I still haven’t.
Niche theme parks and urban hotels. Disney’s “blue sky” concept is to open smaller theme parks and hotels and water parks around the country, such as Chicago, New Orleans, and Niagara Falls. Would you be compelled to go to one of these places if there was a Disney presence, even if not an amusement park? How about an “indoor water park outside the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI?” I lived in Wisconsin. I’ve been to Green Bay in the dead of winter. You could tell me Walt was alive and well in Green Bay and wanted to meet with me personally over dinner to discuss my ideas for the parks . . . and I’m still not sure I’d be compelled to go back to Green Bay, WI.
Also says there’s a rumor of a third Disney Cruise ship . . . hmmm . . . I don’t know. Dare to Dream!!!
According to Lou there are rumors of Disney buying land in Texas, Virginia and other places. People are swearing Disney is coming to Texas. Isn’t DCL going to be departing from Galveston now? Wonder if that was the genesis of those rumors. I guess in a way they weren’t wrong.
Lou says he’s training to run a Disney marathon in 2009, which I believe he actually did.
Plays segment by Jonathon Dichter (?) called Voices behind the Magic. Pays tribute to Paul Fries. Said this will be a weekly segment. It appears not so much, probably better that way too. Paul Fries is great and love to learn about his career, but the narration is . . . well, annoying. Still, the actual info was good and would make a nice semi-regular segment (didn’t know Fries was the voice of Boris Badenov.)
Listener Emails. One asks about where on property his dad can pick up pain killers. Lou did not direct him to the Universal City Walk parking structure after dark. Actually he did say there’s really no where on property but points out a nearby Walgreens. And some local pharmacy that delivers for a charge.
Best segment: Email asking about a Magic themed restaurant announced coming to WDW (this was buy an former cast member who worked on Countdown to Extinction – Dinosaur to you and me!) IT was indeed announced in ’96 between David Copperfield and Michael Eisner. It was called David Copperfield’s Magic Underground and was to open in Disney’s MGM Studios as well as Times Square New York. Never became more than a short lived magic shop for a time. Gone completely now. Would have cost $30 Mil!
Here’s what Wikipedia has to say: "David Copperfield's Magic Underground was planned to be a restaurant based on Copperfield's magic.[33] There was a sign on Hollywood Boulevard during the late 90s indicating the restaurant was coming soon. Signs were also located around Pleasure Island and signs outside Disney-MGM Studios.[34] A Magic Underground restaurant was also going to open in New York's Times Square.[33] Plans also included eventual expansion into Disneyland in Anaheim, California, as well as Paris and Tokyo. The restaurants were to have magic props and other items on the walls of the restaurants while magicians would go around to tables doing sleight of hand tricks. There was also to be a larger stage for larger stunts. The restaurant in Times Square was 85 percent completed, but, amid disputes between the creative team and the financial team, and enormous cost overruns, finances dried up from the investors, so the project was cancelled, and Disney cancelled the lease. Copperfield was not an investor in the project; the investors reportedly lost $34 million on the project, and subcontractors placed $15 million in liens."
BUT . . . and this is my favorite story . . . in 1985 mustachioed magician Doug Henning was hired as a consultant for WDW. He even contributed to effects for the Adventurer’s Club concept. One of my personal favorites. That loss still stings. Henning also wanted his own theme park, which he hoped to partner with Disney to finance and build. VEDA LAND!!! Even the name screams “loss of millions of dollars!” Actually Veda means “Knowing”. It was to be A BILLION dollar park right near WDW. Disney wasn’t into it. Henning instead partnered with the Maharishi and the name became Maharishi Veda Land. Not much better.
38 attractions themed to knowledge, enlightenment, and entertainment. Rides sound both lame and insane. One was described as flying over a rainbow made completely out of mist and colors. Thrilling! The park would of course also have a monorail and would have world pavilions. Hmm. Wonder where he got that idea. Eventually the Veda Land idea moved from Orlando to Niagara Falls, but ultimately never happened at all. Hard to believe. A park meant to teach kids about TM . . .
As a kid, I loved Doug Henning . . . but I did not know he was NUTS!!!
Acc: to Wikipedia: "Maharishi Veda Land was conceived as a magical Himalayan setting where visitors would be wowed with theatrical presentations of ancient Vedic stories and “the deepest secrets of the universe", while ingesting organic vegetarian burgers and snacks. Attractions were to include a building suspended above water and a journey into the heart of a rose. At present the project's status is uncertain."
I’d say it is safe to assume the status isn’t that uncertain any more! ; )
Jessica writes in saying she and her sister are going alone for the first time. She is 21 and her sister 17. Lou make’s all the usual suspected suggestions. Prime Time, Bongo’s, House of Blues, and really suggests Biergarten in Germany for great entertainment, good food, and lots of fun. I’ve never been there but should try it. Occurs to me I’ve never gone to Bongo’s either.
At this point while I’m driving I begin to daydream about taking a solo trip to WDW and only doing things I’ve never done, like eating at Bongo’s and yes, Raglan Road. Going to the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. Watching Marty Short’s film in Canada.
Lou stresses a few times no alcohol under 21 due, I assume to the underage sister. Probably wise, as Lou is a lawyer and suggesting a “Beer-garden” to a 17 year old could be misconstrued without the proper caveats! I just find it interesting to think that now as I’m listening, even the little sister is old enough to legally drink a beer in the Beirgarten! Wonder if they still listen. Wonder if they'll read this . . . hmm . . .
And Germany has the highest number of shops of any pavilion. And did you notice that every shop is designed to look like a different room in the same house?
Why, no, I actually didn’t. Because the only shop I ever go in is the wine cellar to get a glass of my favorite Gewürztraminer. Most would expect me to go for a ginormous stein of German beer, but nope. A little plastic “glass” of the delicious sweet and slightly tart white wine while sitting in the shadow of St. George and I’m a happy camper . . . err, Mousketeer! I’ll pay better attention to the architecture next time!
The final email asks about a perceived Chinese symbol on Walt’s tie on the Partners statue.
Lou congratulates the writer on being so observant. So do I . . . sheesh! Turns out it is not a Chinese character at all. It is the letters STR, which stand for Smoke Tree Ranch, a resort in Palm Springs where Walt and Lilly owned property and used as a favorite getaway. Funny, Lou says when Walt first wanted to buy there, the board or association or whatever they had then were opposed to him coming and bringing the “Hollywood lifestyle” to their quiet upscale community. I love Walt, he is indeed my hero and inspiration, but aside from the fact he made movies very little about him ever screamed “Hollywood lifestyle” to me. True that term probably meant something far more subdued then compared to now! After learning of Walt's affinity for the area, it’s no wonder I felt an immediate connection on my one and only trip to Palm Springs.
That about wraps up the first (technically second but whatever) episode of the WDW Radio Show! Aside from a Mousemeet in PA and Lou announcing a "Cruise with Margaret 'Tinkerbell' Kerry on the Disney Dream!" Lou must have had a bigger presence prior to the WDW Radio Show than I realized because the man had some juice, pulling in big names from the start!
All in all, the first full episode didn’t sound much different from a current show. Lou is professional, engaging, and there’s no trace of it being a first show at all. I realize he had a podcast presence before this, but this is his first solo mission as far as I know. It was really fun going back and experiencing this show, especially now knowing what became of some of those rumors, plans, etc. Can't wait for the next one!
Hope you enjoyed my rambling as well. Stay tuned!
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