The Magic We Made

The Big Thunder Mountain Guild is taking over the podcast! Former cast members from across Walt Disney World, many who worked at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and others from different attractions and roles around the park, are coming together in Orlando for a special round table reunion. In this episode, past guests of The Magic We Made share stories from their time as cast members, unforgettable...

In this episode, we are joined by Rick Dolishny as he shares how a trip from Canada to Epcot unexpectedly placed him among one of the very first Cultural Representative classes in 1985. From working throughout the Canada Pavilion to discovering a passion for computers, technology, and media through Disney entertainment, Rick reflects on experiencing Epcot in its earliest years and how that time sh...

Greg’s theme park journey took him from Frontierland to Test Track and even over to Islands of Adventure, giving him a front row seat to some of the wildest and most memorable moments parks have to offer. In this episode, Greg shares the reality of working inside the parks, the local hangouts where Cast Members unwound after long shifts, and the friendships that made the chaos worth it. We also di...

This week on The Magic We Made, we’re joined by Nikkie, a familiar face to so many in the Disney Instagram community. Before becoming a creator, Nikkie worked at Walt Disney World from 2009 to 2013, spending time in merchandising throughout the parks and resorts before transitioning to the front desk at the Swan and Dolphin. In this episode, Nikkie shares what it was like creating magic on both si...

In this episode of The Magic We Made, we sit down with Adam to explore his time working at Walt Disney World in the late 90s, with roles in both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. As we continue our coverage of what we affectionately call the Big Thunder Mountain Guild, Adam shares stories filled with fun, connection, and the kind of memories only Cast Members from that era can tell. From the friendships he...

In this episode of The Magic We Made, we sit down with John to explore his Disney days filled with personality, surprises, and stories that hit harder than a runaway train on Big Thunder Mountain. He walks us through the roles he held, the moments that shaped his time in the parks, and the behind the scenes memories that still make him laugh today. This conversation includes stories best suited fo...

In this episode of The Magic We Made, we sit down with Karyn, a past Cast Member who turned what was supposed to be a college job into a 25-year Disney career. Over the years, she worked at an incredible number of attractions throughout Magic Kingdom and helped pave the way for women to step into roles that were once held only by men. Karyn’s passion for the parks, love for training, and dedicatio...

In the second episode of The Magic We Made, we continue our conversation with Alex’s dad, Phil Wesolowski. This time, we’re diving into his years at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Phil shares what it was like to work in the parks during a time of huge growth, the celebrities he crossed paths with, a few things he “definitely did not keep,” and his overall ta...

In the very first episode of The Magic We Made, we’re joined by someone especially close to home: Alex’s dad, Phil Wesolowski. In part one of this multi-episode conversation, Phil shares how his Disney journey began, his time working at Magic Kingdom, and what park life and Cast Member roles looked like back in the 1990s. We also dive into his years at Jungle Cruise and the legacy he left behind o...

The Magic We Made is our new series celebrating former Disney Cast Members. Join us as they share the roles they worked, the memories that stayed with them, and how they helped bring the parks to life. It’s a chance to look back at the people who made Disney feel so special. Stay tuned for new episodes being released every other Monday, with our episode airing October 6th!