These Word of the Week shows are supposed to run between eight and ten minutes. Sometimes they stretch out to twelve or fifteen minutes but I’ve never had one that went over twenty five minutes. That ends now! Check out the all new Word of the Week – Villains.
The Disney Villains are some of the best characters in the history of film. This week, I talk all about the villains from the long list of Disney’s feature-length animated films. Some villains you’ll easily recognize like Gaston, Ursula, and Maleficent. Others, like Madam Mim, Mr. Winky, and The Horned King are a little, well, lesser-known!
This was a really fun Word of the Week to get together so I hope you enjoy this week’s Word of the Week – Villains!
With the holidays here and the New Year fast approaching, it’s time to take a look back on the year that was, 2016. This week’s show is all about reflecting on what happened in Walt Disney World over the last year and what is to come in 2017. I’m very excited to bring you Episode 48: WDW Ear In Review.
2016 was a HUGE year for Walt Disney World, for my business, Ear To There Travel, and for myself personally as I started this podcast. This week’s episode is all about the last year and looking forward to even bigger and better things in 2017 and beyond.
Join me in reviewing the year that was in Walt Disney World. I’ll cover all of 2016’s big additions and take a look back at some of my favorite moments from the podcast!
When Walt Disney saw a cowboy walking through Tomorrowland in his famous Disneyland Park, he made up his mind. If he were to ever open another theme park, he would figure out a system where costumed cast members would not have to walk through lands that were unrelated to their themes in order to get to their posts. From Walt’s revelation comes this week’s Word of the Week – Utilidors.
Underneath the Magic Kingdom lies a series of tunnels that are crucial to the everyday operation of the theme park. Very few non-cast members get to see these tunnels, but this week I’ll give you a sneak peek into what makes them so special and unique!
When Walt Disney World opened on October 1st, 1971, it opened with 3 resort hotels. The three opening day WDW resorts were The Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, The Contemporary Resort, and The Polynesian Village Resort. Over the years the original WDW resorts have only gotten better and that is why this week I wanted to talk all about one of the originals in Episode 47: WDW Resort Roundup – Polynesian.
This episode is the second of a series of looks at Walt Disney World’s resort hotels. In it my guest Johnny Shortsleeve and I discuss exactly why you need to choose Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Bungalows (yep, that’s a mouthful!) for your next Walt Disney World vacation.
Check out our previous Resort Roundup episode all about the Port Orleans Resorts by clicking HERE.
When Tomorrowland opened in Disneyland in 1955 it, unfortunately, was unfinished. In Walt Disney World, when Tomorrowland opened in 1971, coincidentally, it was also unfinished. Even though it may seem like it’s an under-appreciated land in Walt Disney World, Tomorrowland has had housed some of the greatest attractions in the history of the Disney Parks. Check out this week’s Word of the Week – Tomorrowland.
From the earliest days when he was still animating the characters on the page, Walt Disney was the driving force and creative genius behind the Disney company. It was Walt who took all of the risks and, rightfully so, received all of the accolades. That is why it was such a pivotal time in the company when Walt Disney passed away in 1966. This week I wanted to do something a little different in Episode 46: Disney After Walt.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was one of the most successful films of all time. During its production, however, Walt Disney was ridiculed by much of the press and Hollywood insiders of the time. They thought no one would ever watch a full-length animated film. I’ll tell you why they were wrong and more on this week’s Word of the Week – Snow.
Walt Disney was a visionary who didn’t need anyone to believe in what he was doing. He proved this time and time again with his accomplishments; often he risked almost everything to make his dreams a reality. This week I’ll take a look back at the history and production of one of those great risks, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I’ll also take a look at where Snow White can be found in Walt Disney World today.
During the episode, I mentioned The Great Snow White Debacle of 2015. That article can be found by clicking HERE. You’ll laugh, you might cry, and you’ll see just how Disney-crazy my family is!
Imagine this: I just hired you as the newest Disney Imagineer and it’s your job to come up with an idea for the next great Walt Disney World Resort Hotel. Sound too good to be true? Well, it is! But that doesn’t mean it’s not a lot of fun to dream! This week, my guest Chuck Rodriguez and I talk about the resort hotels we would build in WDW on Episode 45: Imaginary Imagineering – Resort Edition!
If it were totally up to you, what kind of resort would you build in Walt Disney World? Where would you build it? Would it be a Value, Moderate, or Deluxe Resort? We answer these questions and much more and have a ton of fun along the way!
If you’d like to check out more episodes with Chuck Rodriguez, here are a few of our other highlights:
Episode 38: Most Controversial WDW Decisions
Episode 34: Best Desserts in Walt Disney World
Episode 29: Imaginary Imagineering
Episode 22: Best Walt Disney World Attraction Quotes
Did you know that Walt Disney envisioned a Mississippi-style riverboat in the first plans for his “Mickey Mouse” amusement park back in the early 1950’s? Yes, Walt always wanted a working riverboat in his park, no matter where it was going to be located. This week, we take a look at the unique riverboats in the North American Disney Parks, with this week’s Word of the Week – Riverboat.
The Liberty Square Riverboat is a classic Walt Disney World attraction that has been in operation (almost) since the Magic Kingdom’s Opening Day. The ride along the iconic Rivers of America around Tom Sawyer Island has changed over the years, but it’s still a familiar, pleasant, and fun experience that every Magic Kingdom guest should have!
This week, I’ll give you some history on the riverboats, a little trivia, and tell you what will be happening next along the Rivers of America!
On Episode 43 of the show, my guest Johnny Shortsleeve tand I talked all about our favorite places to go to get away from the hustle and bustle of Walt Disney World.
If you haven’t yet listened to that episode, you can listen by clicking here: Part 1
Of course, we went on WAY too long so we had to break the episode up into two parts. Check out the exciting conclusion in this week’s show, Episode 44: Best Places to Get Away From It All in WDW Part 2!
This week, we wrap up our talk about the best places to get away from it all in Walt Disney World. Johnny Shortsleeve and I talk about little hideaways and lesser-known spots that will help make your WDW vacation a little more relaxed. Oh, by the way, don’t tell anyone about these places, they’re our secret!
If you’re picking up on what Johnny and I are putting down and would like to hear more episodes that we recorded together, check these out:
Episode 32: Top Reasons to Visit WDW at Christmas Part 1
Episode 33: Top Reasons to Visit WDW at Christmas Part 2
For the last 15 weeks, I’ve been coming up with these Word of the Week Podcast ideas by myself. This week I decided that the letter Q offered the perfect opportunity to answer some questions from Disney fans and listeners to the podcast. That’s why settling on the idea for this week’s Word of the Week – Questions, was an easy decision to make.
From the best activities outside the parks to Disney land & sea vacations, this is a quick and informative episode that answers some frequently asked questions!
In the episode I mention an interview that I did with an amazing WDW entertainer, Yehaa Bob Jackson. You can listen to that interview by clicking HERE.
Big shocker here: I LOVE Walt Disney World. It is my favorite vacation destination in the world and that is why I do what I do for a living. But that doesn’t mean I always love the crowds, heat, and overall hustle and bustle of the parks and resorts. Sometimes you just have to step out of the crowds and take a break from it all in Walt Disney World. That is how we came up with Episode 43: Best Places to Get Away from It All in WDW (Part 1).
This week, my good friend Johnny Shortsleeve joins me to talk all about those quiet places we’ve found in the parks and resorts where you can go alone or with the family to take a little break. This episode will be especially helpful if you have little kids or just want to step aside and take some time away from the sensory overload that is Walt Disney World.
Pirates Of The Caribbean has been delighting Walt Disney World guests ever since it premiered in the earlier days of the Magic Kingdom. But, did you know that Pirates wasn’t an original, opening day, Magic Kingdom attraction? This week I’ll tell you all about the history of this iconic attraction in the Word of the Week – Pirates.
Originally, Walt Disney’s Imagineers had no intentions of bringing the popular Pirates of the Caribbean attraction to Walt Disney World. Central Florida was much too close to the real Caribbean for everyday park guests to be interested. Well, guess what? Disney’s Imagineers were wrong!
This week I’ll talk all about the history of Pirates, the changes over the years, and why it is still an iconic and popular attraction after all these years!
Whether it’s your first ever trip to Walt Disney World or your twentieth, let us help you avoid making those mistakes on your vacation that we’ve already made for you! Check out Episode 42: Biggest WDW Rookie Mistakes!
Want to know just how you should handle your Hotel Reservations, FastPasses, Dining Reservations, and more? This week my guest Herb Leibacher and I will tell you exactly how you SHOULD NOT handle all of these when planning your trip to Walt Disney World. We also go into detail about strollers, over-planning, under-planning, and much more! This episode will be very helpful to those who are about to plan or are in the middle of planning their next Walt Disney World vacation.
To hear more from Herb Leibacher or to listen to his podcast, head on over to the World of Walt at worldofwalt.com.
Walt Disney World, just outside Orlando, Florida, is one of the most highly visited tourist destinations in the entire world. It holds 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping and entertainment district, golf courses, more than 20 resort hotels, and much, much more. This week, I take a look at why it’s all there, in the middle of Florida, in the Word of the Week – Orlando.
Many locations were considered before Walt Disney and the Disney company settled on the swamplands of Central Florida. New Orleans, St. Louis, Niagara Falls, and more all had reasons to attract the Disney Company to build a theme park in their area. Why did the Orlando area get Walt Disney World? I’ll fill you in on this and more in this week’s episode!
What do you think is the BEST attraction at Epcot? This week, I do my best to answer that question as I give you my Ultimate Ranking of Epcot Attractions.
It’s a little surprising to read that Epcot currently has 23 attractions for guests to experience. That does not include walking through and experiencing all of the pavilions in World Showcase or taking in the live entertainment that is constantly changing in Walt Disney World’s second theme park.
Do you agree with my ranking of the Epcot attractions? Let me know in the comments section or send me an email to phil@eartotheretravel.com.
If you enjoyed this episode, check out my ranking of the Magic Kingdom attractions:
Even though it wasn’t one of the original pavilions in EPCOT Center’s World Showcase, Norway has had a special place in Disney fans’ hearts for decades. With it’s beautiful architecture, wonderful and friendly Norwegian cast members, and fantastic attractions, the Norway pavilion is one that many guests look forward to immensely on their trips to Epcot. That’s why I’m taking a closer look at the pavilion in this week’s Word of the Week – Norway.
The Norway pavilion has not been without it’s fair share of controversy lately, however. With Frozen Fever taking over a lot of Walt Disney World over the last few years, Norway has been turned into a bit of a Frozen Showcase. Has the pavilion lost it’s way or is it still as charming and quaint as ever? You’ll have to listen to this week’s episode to find out!
I just let you borrow my time machine. Where in Walt Disney World’s history would you go back to so you could experience the magic in person? Would it be Opening Day on October 1, 1971? Would you stop by the 25th Anniversary Celebration? Episode 36 is all about the Top Times to Visit WDW in a Time Machine!
Join my guest Herb Leibacher from the World of Walt and I as we talk all about our favorite (and least favorite) times in the history of Walt Disney World. From the Main Street Magic Shop to Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration, you won’t want to miss any of our top picks!
If you like the cut of Herb’s jib, he is also featured on these fun podcast episodes:
Episode 13: Top False Rumors of Walt Disney World
I have to admit, I wasn’t all that excited when the concept of Disney Springs was announced by the Disney Company. Since the closure of Pleasure Island and the announcement of the never-built “Hyperion Wharf,” it seemed like WDW was spinning it’s wheels on what to do with the area. Oh…how wrong I was! We talk all about the new and improved Disney Springs in Episode 40: Top Things About Disney Springs.
This week, my guest Johnny Shortsleeve and I go into a lot of detail (and a lot of stories) about why we love Disney Springs. From the world-class restaurants to the amazing shopping where you could buy almost anything you’d ever need, Disney Springs has almost become that 5th theme park we’ve all been waiting for!
Check out what my friend Johnny is up to here: www.facebook.com/johnnyshortsleeve
If you’ve listened and you’re now a Johnny Shortsleeve fan (and really, who isn’t?!) you can find more of his guest appearances here:
Episode 33: Top Reasons to Visit WDW at Christmas Part 2
Episode 32: Top Reasons to Visit WDW at Christmas Part 1
Episode 30: Top Splurges in WDW
He is probably the most recognizable character the modern world has ever seen. This week was my easiest ever choice for Word of the Week – Mickey Mouse.
Since his debut in 1928, Mickey Mouse has been a symbol of happiness, playfulness, and laughter throughout the world. This week I wanted to take a quick look into the history of Walt Disney’s legendary character while also giving you, the listener, a look at where Mickey can be found all over Walt Disney World in the year 2016 and beyond.
We always remember the big, huge special effects in Walt Disney World’s theme parks. The Ballroom Scene in the Haunted Mansion, the drop in the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, the Yeti in Expedition Everest. That’s why this week, we take a look at the more subtle, sometimes overlooked, special effects. Here’s Episode 39: Top Projection Effects in Walt Disney World.
Disney’s Imagineers are wonderful at adding special effects that transform great attractions, shows, and queues into truly unforgettable experiences. These projection effects are not always at the top of the list when guests talk about their favorite attractions but they are the little things that put a Walt Disney World Vacation over the top!
The smallest land in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is loaded with fantastic attractions, rich detail, and an amazing sense of history. This week, I take a look at one of the original lands in the original Walt Disney World Theme Park in the Word(s) of the Week – Liberty Square.
If you trace the history of the Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square, you will find yourself all the way back to Disneyland in the 1950’s. Walt Disney himself wanted an area that showcased Colonial America right off Main Street, USA in Disneyland, and Liberty Street was all but built in the Happiest Place on Earth.
What is WDW’s most controversial decision of all time? The removal of Horizons, Maelstrom, or Body Wars? The introduction of the Disney Dining Plans? We explore all of that and much more on Episode 38: Most Controversial WDW Decisions.
Over the years, Walt Disney World’s management have made several decisions that split the Disney fan base right down the middle. From the addition of more thrill rides to the idea that vacations should be planned months in advance, most of these decisions are still debated by Walt Disney World Fans to this day.
I hope you enjoy this week’s episode with my friend Chuck Rodriguez and myself. If you do, check out these other episodes where Chuck is featured:
Did you ever ride the Mike Fink Keel Boats in the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland? This week, I take a look back at a beloved extinct attraction in Disney’s theme parks with the Word of the Week – Keel.
The Mike Fink Keel Boats were attractions in Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for decades, beginning in 1955 in Disneyland and finally closing in the Magic Kingdom in 2001. On this week’s Word of the Week, I talk all about the attraction’s history and it’s ultimate closure in the North American theme parks. I’ll also tell you where you can find pieces of the attractions that still survive today.
Booking a trip to Disneyland is TOTALLY different than booking a trip to Walt Disney World. I’ve known this for quite a while but it really hit home when I started talking to a friend about it after she had booked her trip to the West Coast recently. We’ll talk about just how different the trips can be on Episode 37: Trip Planning: Disneyland vs. WDW.
From dining reservations to FastPasses, from Extra Magic Hours to Magic Mornings, and from The Happiest Place on Earth to the Most Magical Place on Earth, so many things are similar yet really, really different when it comes to the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort. On this episode of the podcast, my guest Lauren Gaggioli and I try to sort all of that out for you and explain the differences between planning trips to both North American Disney destinations.
If you want to hear more from Lauren Gaggioli or if you know someone that would benefit from her expertise in college test prep, please stop by higherscorestestprep.com or laurengaggioli.com.
For more episodes featuring Lauren, click on one of these guys: