WDW Radio: Your Guide to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise and More Disney Magic!

857 · 50+ Disney Cruise Line Insider Hacks | The Ultimate Guide What if your next Disney cruise already had upgrades built right in... and you just did not know where to look? Recorded LIVE aboard the Disney Magic, Lou Mongello is joined by cruise expert and Mouse Fan Travel’s Beci Mahnken to reveal 50+ Disney Cruise Line insider hacks that experienced cruisers use to sail smarter, avoid crowds, a...

857 · Top Ten Extinct Walt Disney World Experiences We'd Bring Back Some of the most powerful memories you have from Walt Disney World probably aren’t tied to a single attraction. They’re tied to something else. This week, in Episode 857, we’re counting down our Top Ten Extinct Walt Disney World Experiences We’d Bring Back . No rides allowed. No $2 ticket books. Just the details, the atmosphere, t...

856 · I Just Got Off a Call With Disney’s New CEO, Josh D’Amaro... Disney just named only its ninth CEO in more than 100 years, and days later, I found myself on a video call with Disney’s new CEO, Josh D’Amaro. In this episode, I share what that on-the-record conversation revealed about Josh’s leadership style, his Josh D’Amaro Disney CEO leadership vision , and his commitment to remaining access...

855 · My Interview with Tony Baxter on Figment,and the Art of Imagination at Disney How did Figment become one of the most beloved and enduring symbols in Disney Parks history? Disney Legend Tony Baxter reflects on Figment, imagination, and creative legacy in a rare conversation recorded at EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts. Joined by Michael Young, CEO of Disney Fine Art , this episode e...

What if there was no right or wrong answer…only where you stand? 854 · Disney In or Out - Pick a Side on These Disney Debates In this episode of Disney In or Out, we have a fast-paced, passionate conversation about the Disney topics fans love to debate. From Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and Magic Kingdom attractions to Marvel after Avengers Endgame, we explore the Disney debates fans care about most an...

853 · Disneyland Handcrafted Review and Interview with Leslie Iwerks Disneyland has been analyzed and celebrated for decades. But Disneyland Handcrafted shows us something far more rare. How the park was actually built. This week, I sit down with Academy Award nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks for a deep conversation about her new documentary, Disneyland Handcrafted , followed by my review and tho...

852 · The State of the Disney Parks: What 2025 Changed and Why 2026 Matters If you had to describe Disney in 2025 and what it means for 2026, what word would you choose? 2025 wasn’t a year defined by massive new attractions. Instead, it was a year of movement, transition, and emotional goodbyes. Lands closed. Atmospheres shifted. Comfort gave way to construction. And for many fans, it felt like Di...

851 · D23 and the Future of Disney Fandom with Michael Vargo What is D23 today - and what will it become in the years ahead? This week, Lou Mongello is joined by Michael Vargo, Head of Disney’s D23 , for an in-depth conversation about the evolution of D23, the future of Disney fandom, and what fans can expect in 2026 and beyond. From the return of the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim...

850 · Disney Q&A: Hidden Magic & Helpful Advice What Disney question have you always wanted answered? This week, we try something brand new as we answer a wide variety of your Disney listener questions and tips in a fresh, fun, and faster format. We talk about the choices you face when planning your next Disney adventure. We look at Disney Cruise Line decisions like the Destiny vs. the cla...

849 · My Five Hidden Dining Gems at Walt Disney World Walt Disney World is packed with incredible food, but some of the very best meals hide in the places guests walk right past. This week, we’re digging into My Five Overlooked Dining Locations at Walt Disney World , including tucked away lounges, lakeside escapes, and resort restaurants that deliver amazing food without the rush or the reservatio...

848 · How to Walk Smarter and Feel Better at Walt Disney World Long days in the Disney parks are magical… but they’re also full of walking, standing, heat, excitement, and unexpected moments that can leave you feeling drained before the fireworks even start. This week, I’m joined by a doctor of physical therapy to talk about practical tips to help you feel better all day at Walt Disney World . We...

847 · Top Ten Reasons You Need to Cruise on Disney Destiny Join me this week for the ultimate Disney Destiny review, as we share our Top Ten Reasons Why You Need to Cruise on the Disney Destiny. We take you inside Disney Cruise Line’s newest Wish-class ship and reveal everything we discovered on board. From the heroes and villains theme to the immersive storytelling, characters, dining, and unexpe...

846 · Mary Poppins: Untold Stories and the Making of a Disney Classic Mary Poppins is practically perfect, but the process behind it was emotional, unpredictable, and filled with incredible stories that most fans have never been told. There are very few "perfect" movies in this world: Jaws ... The Shawshank Redemption. .. The Shining ... Back to the Future ... and from Disney, there is only one on...

845 · Cotino – What It’s Really Like Inside Disney’s First Storyliving Community What if Disney built a place you could actually live? This week, I take you inside Cotino , Disney’s first Storyliving by Disney community... and share what I discovered as one of the first people invited to explore it. I didn’t know what to expect… but what Cotino revealed about Storyliving truly surprised me. In thi...

👻 What if Disney made Halloween at Walt Disney World even spookier? This week, Lou Mongello shares his five original, story-driven Disney Halloween ideas that could transform the parks with new attractions, experiences, and eerie overlays - all filled with that perfect mix of nostalgia, storytelling, and Disney magic. From haunted celebrations of extinct attractions to imaginative new Halloween e...

Is EPCOT the best full-day Walt Disney World park? Should Genie+ be eliminated? Who is the greatest Disney villain of all time? This week on WDW Radio, Lou Mongello hosts another round of In or Out . It is the fun, fast-paced Disney fan debate segment where we tackle the big and small questions about Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disney movies, and beyond. From replacing Pirate Night on D...

842 · Disney Adults: Fandom, Identity, and the Magic of Never Growing Up What does it really mean to be a Disney Adult? I sit down with AJ Wolfe - founder of Disney Food Blog and author of the new book Disney Adults - to explore one of Disney fandom’s most passionate and misunderstood communities. Together, we unpack: Why Disney Adults face stereotypes, criticism, and double standards How Disney s...

The biggest Disney fan event of the year, D23’s Destination D23 2025 , delivered history and heritage, stories and surprises, parks and people, performances and passion. Over three unforgettable days at Walt Disney World , Disney fans came together to celebrate the past, present, and future of the magic we love. This week on WDW Radio , we recap the 23 biggest takeaways from Destination D23 2025 -...

840 · Disney Destiny Shipyard Tour: Behind the Curtain of Disney Cruise Line’s Boldest Ship  Join me for an exclusive Disney Destiny Shipyard Tour inside Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, where the newest Disney Cruise Line ship is coming to life. I take you behind the scenes to step aboard the Destiny during construction, explore first looks at venues like the Haunted Mansion Parlor, Doctor Str...

839 · Disney Q&A: Cruise Rankings, Solo Park Tips, Disneyland Food & Hidden Secrets This week, Lou opens up the inbox for a fun, fast-paced episode filled with listener questions - from planning the ultimate solo day at Walt Disney World, to why Disneyland’s food might just outshine Epcot’s, to a ranking of every Disney Cruise Line ship. He also reveals a hidden Easter egg in Journey Into...

838 · Walt Disney Imagineering Chief Creative Officer Bruce Vaughn on the Future of the Disney Parks What happens when you sit down with the head of Walt Disney Imagineering… and just hit record? In this exclusive, unscripted conversation , Bruce Vaughn, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Imagineering , shares stories, insights, and opens up for a behind-the-scenes look at the future of the Dis...

837 · Walt Disney Imagineering Tour: Behind the Scenes Where Disney Magic Is Made What if you could get a guided tour through the heart of Walt Disney Imagineering - the place where Disney dreams aren’t just imagined, but engineered, designed, and brought to life? I was honored with the rare opportunity to step inside the hallowed halls of Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, California... and th...

836 · Inside Imagineering: Zsolt Hormay on Sculpting Stories in Disney Parks Do you ever walk through the Disney Parks and say, "How did they do that?" or better yet, "WHO helped bring these incredible places and spaces to life?" I was recently invited into the hallowed halls of Walt Disney Imagineering to discover the answers to those questions, and will have a full recap of what (and who) I saw,...

835 · "In or Out?" - Trilogies, Overlays, Lounges, Live-Action, Leadership & More! Are you In or Out? Is the Indiana Jones trilogy really Disney’s best? Should Tower of Terror get a Halloween overlay? And is Josh D’Amaro the future CEO of Disney? That is just the beginning! This week, we dive into bold opinions and big questions about the parks, movies, cruise line, lounges, and leadership. Fr...

834 · Ultimate Guide to Indiana Jones in the Disney Parks What if there was an Indiana Jones land so ambitious it could’ve changed the Disney Parks forever? Or that Indy once shared the stage with Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Mark Hamill himself… for one night only? And what if Indiana Jones has a rich, decades-long history in the Disney Parks - with attractions, shows, and experiences aroun...