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

872 · Why Disney Changed the Rules… and a D23 Tease This week I am doing something I almost never do. I am taking a piece of my Wednesday night live show and turning it into an episode, because you have been asking me about it... a lot. There is a new Disney Springs transportation rule, and online, people are melting down. So let me pull up a chair and really talk with you about what changed, why...

871 · The Most Surprising Hotel Near Walt Disney World: My ette Hotel Review One of the most exclusive hotel awards on the planet - harder to earn than a Michelin star, given to less than 1% of hotels worldwide - belongs to a boutique property sitting just one mile from Disney's Animal Kingdom. Yet most Disney fans have never heard of it. Lou Mongello has stayed at virtually every Disney resort an...

870 · 10 Reasons to Visit Shanghai Disneyland... and Why This Trip Changed Me China is a long way to go for a theme park... but Shanghai Disneyland is not a theme park. It is a destination that happens to have a Disney castle at its center. Lou Mongello had the privilege of being invited by Disney for Shanghai Disneyland's 10th anniversary celebration, with time alongside the Imagineering team who...

869 · How Disney Magic Changed Baseball - Jesse Cole and the Savannah Bananas What happens when someone takes Walt Disney's philosophy and applies it far beyond Disney? In this episode, I sit down with J esse Cole , founder of the Savannah Bananas and creator of Banana Ball , during their sold-out appearance at Walt Disney World's ESPN Wide World of Sports. What began as a conversation about baseb...

868 · Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress: History, Debate & What's Next The Carousel of Progress reimagining announcement sparked one of the most passionate Disney fan conversations in recent memory. Some fans are excited. Others are heartbroken. Many are somewhere in between. And all of it makes complete sense - because this attraction isn't just a show. For a lot of us, it's a memory. A pers...

867 · Walt Disney World Just Got Major Upgrades - and This Summer Is the Best Time to Visit This might quietly be one of the biggest overall summer upgrades Walt Disney World has had in years. Not because of one giant new land - but because every park, every age group, and nearly every type of guest got meaningful, real enhancements at the exact same time. After being invited by Disney to their Su...

866 · The Best Food at Walt Disney World Isn't Where You Think It Is The best food at Walt Disney World isn't where you think it is. In WDW Radio # 866, Lou Mongello spends a full day eating his way through Disney's Animal Kingdom - stop by stop, bite by bite - and makes the case that this is Walt Disney World's most extraordinary culinary destination. Colombian arepas and globally inspired rice b...

865 · When Wishes Assemble: The Story of Disney and Make-A-Wish 45 years. 175,000 wishes. One out of every two Make-A-Wish wishes granted in America is a Disney wish. The Disney Make-A-Wish partnership is about far more than theme park vacations. Every single hour, somewhere in the world, Disney helps grant a wish for a child battling a critical illness - creating moments of hope, joy, strength, a...

864 · What Does It Actually Take to Lead Disney? Chairman Thomas Mazloum - His First Interview What does it really take to lead Disney at a global scale... while still making every single guest feel like they matter? In this episode, Lou Mongello sits down with Thomas Mazloum in his first interview since stepping into his new role as Chairman of Disney Experiences - overseeing 12 theme parks, 57 r...

863 · 10 Disney Adventure Cruise Surprises (What You Need to Know) What are the biggest Disney Adventure cruise surprises - and what should you know before you go? After sailing back-to-back voyages aboard the brand-new Disney Adventure from Singapore, I can tell you this… I thought I knew what to expect. I didn’t. Not even close. In this episode, we break down 10 things that genuinely surprised u...

862 · The Happiest Factory on Earth: Disneyland, Automation, and the Future of Theme Parks What if the magic of Disneyland isn't just what you see - but how it all works? In Episode 862, Lou Mongello sits down with Roland Betancourt - Guggenheim Fellow, UC Irvine Professor of Art History, and author of Disneyland and the Rise of Automation - for a conversation that might just completely change the...

861 · Daredevil Born Again Season 2: Spoiler-Free Review Is this the Marvel show that changes everything? What stood out after watching Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 wasn’t what I expected - and having seen the full season early thanks to Marvel Studios screeners, I couldn’t wait to talk about it. In this spoiler-free Daredevil Born Again Season 2 review, I’m sharing what stayed with me most… and...

860 · Inside World of Frozen Disneyland Paris - Disney Adventure World Disney Adventure World and World of Frozen may represent the biggest shift in Disney Parks design we’ve seen in years... and you can feel it from the very first step. Something felt different the moment we stepped onto Adventure Way. Before the gates even opened to the public, Lou Mongello was invited inside Disney Adventure Wo...

859 · EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Sweet 16 Bracket-Style Tournament What happens when you take the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Sweet 16 desserts, and put them into a bracket-style tournament, recorded LIVE at the Festival ? You get delicious chaos. After the success of last year’s Savory 16, we’re doing it again. But this time we’re diving into the sweetest side of EPCOT’s most beautif...

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...