Disney History: Walt and His Trains

Trains are a core part of the Disney experience at parks around the globe. In today’s episode, Matt Krul of Imagination Skyway joins Danny and CJ to discuss the deep and storied history of the Disney family and their connection to the locomotive industry. They discuss a wide range of stories, including Walt’s early days as a news butcher on the railroad, a legally binding document between Walt and Lillian regarding a train project, and, of course, the story of how the trains themselves are true markers for Walt’s inspiring life lessons. 

Kicking the show off, CJ and Danny answer a listener call from Molly, who brings some playful “mom guilt” to the show about our Preserve, Pave, or Plus decisions. She also delivers her own foodie-forward “P3” for the hosts to answer. How do they do?

The mid-break segment is a brand-new addition. Join CJ as he goes on location with the Animal Care team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see baby giraffe Ivy take her first steps onto the Kilimanjaro Safaris! Complete with an interview from an Animal Care specialist, this is a special segment for any animal lover. For more on Lily, read our blog post: HERE!

Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. 

Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode!

Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. 

Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix.

Thank you to our sponsors:

* David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. 

* The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders!

* Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com.

It’s the return of a listener-favorite series: Bucket List Bites! Molly from Mammoth Club joins CJ and Danny to take the challenge to EPCOT! Budget? Out the window! Molly, Danny, and CJ skip the reservations and take “the company card” for an all-expenses-paid culinary adventure in EPCOT. There’s a lot of food to discuss, and for those who know Molly, she has a lot to offer on the topic! This is not one to miss if you’re a Disney foodie!

Molly also joins CJ and Danny for a challenging Mail Call from a UK listener and friend of the podcast. Having our global community show up is special, particularly when you all bring a challenge like Gavin does! We also learn a lot more about Molly and her creation of Mammoth Club in the first half of the episode, including a special behind the scenes trip to a new land under constructio.

Tim comes in with a Between the Lines segment, teasing what’s coming down the line in August from WDW Magazine. The focus? Magic at Walt Disney World. No spoilers, but would you drink ants…? Find out who does with a listen!

Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. 

Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode!

Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. 

Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix.

Thank you to our sponsors:

* David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. 

* The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders!

* Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com.

What’s the PERFECT Disneyland day? Join CJ and Danny as they dive into the rides, food, and all the entertainment offerings that come together to build out their dream Disneyland day — including an iconic parade one of our hosts hasn’t seen yet and a snack CJ has been missing for years! What’s your Disneyland perfect day? Email or call and let us know!

To kick things off, the hosts take a Mail Call break and read some of your 5-star reviews, including a review that has CJ right on the verge of tears. The reviews you leave really do have a positive impact on the future of the show, and it helps grow the Parks & Pages family.

The mid segment takes a slightly different detour with an audio tour of “Walt’s LA.” Join Danny while he remembers a road trip he once took so that he could follow in Walt Disney’s footsteps. “Danny In-Depth: Walt’s LA” is the first of its kind, but there will be more to come! 

Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. 

Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode!

Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. 

Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix.

Thank you to our sponsors:

* David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. 

* The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders!

* Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com.

The summer heat is hitting Walt Disney World, and this episode is bringing the tips and tricks to help you thrive during the hottest part of the year. CJ and Danny are joined by Senior Customer Care Representative Jodi from the WDW Magazine team to offer a different perspective on how her family prepares for Florida summer visits. All three hosts have different opinions and ideas for all our listeners to consider, and are curious what you all have in mind!

Plus, CJ and Danny handle Mail Call to start the show, starting with a very important discussion over how Disney accommodates food allergies. There’s plenty to say on the subject, and their discussion offers some baseline knowledge on how to handle a food allergy in The Most Magical Place. There is also an email regarding the coming Lakeshore Lodge DVC property and what our hosts think about its progress and future.

And Mickey Mouse may be the leader of the club, but today’s special segment celebrates the number one duck, Donald. Tim fans will be happy to know he still makes his appearance with a “This Date In Disney History” segment! All that and more… coming up!!

Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. 

Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode!

Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. 

Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix.

Thank you to our sponsors:

* David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. 

* The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders!

* Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com.

Today’s episode sparks some truly impossible Disney Parks decisions! Danny, Tim, and CJ are all forced into some rough “Preserve, Pave, or Plus” scenarios. Who is forced to pave one of their favorite resorts? What beloved nighttime attraction does CJ put to rest? It’s a conversation filled with tough and divisive answers that we know will bring some calls and emails from you all. 

The team also answers an email from our first Junior Listener, Emma. She’s curious about Villains Land and what our hosts think of the coming Magic Kingdom expansion. Plus, a listener from Australia asks how they can experience the magic of Disney Down Under!

CJ takes a crack at the very popular “This or That” segment, trying his best to really make you struggle with two incredible Disney options. You only get one, and (spoiler alert!) the less popular option may have been a LIFETIME supply of VIP Tour Guides… So what could possibly have won?! Drop a listen now for more!

Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. 

Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode!

Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. 

Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix.

Thank you to our sponsors:

* David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. 

* The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders!

* Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com.

How much food can $100 get you in Hollywood Studios? Theme park journalist Carly Caramanna joins CJ and Danny to discuss just how far that Benjamin can take you. This isn’t your standard tenders and burgers episode; the hosts give some inspired ideas, including sit-down dining, cocktails, and even a meal at The Hollywood Brown Derby. If you’re a Disney foodie, this is a must-listen episode. 

For more on Carly’s book, The Unofficial Disney Parks Retro Cookbook, click here.

The episode gets rolling with a coast-to-coast Mail Call: an email from New York with a great idea to include all members of a large party in dining planning, and a Vegas listener sharing their personal thoughts on a perfect song addition Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Steph’s segment “Ship Showdown” is perfect for Disney Cruise Line fans and soon-to-be fans; in it, she highlights the dining, entertainment, and other offerings aboard the Disney Magic, DCL’s first ship. Which ship will she board next?

Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. 

Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode!

Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. 

Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix.

Thank you to our sponsors:

* David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. 

* The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders!

* Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com. 

Curious about what’s in the print pipeline for the award-winning WDW Magazine? This week, CJ, Danny, and Tim discuss the July, August, and September issues of WDW magazine and the fall issue of DLR magazine. From ’90s Disney nostalgia to real historical references and a good dose of magic, this is a great companion episode for all the great Disney storytelling coming up in print. 

The Parks & Pages community continues to show up with fun and thought-provoking conversation for Mail Call! This show includes a discussion about Cool KIDS’ SUMMER planning for adults. There’s also a follow-up call and another call posing our hosts with the age-old EPCOT question: Team Mexico or Team Canada? 

Steph wraps up Disney Logistics Lab: WDW with her third installment, helping you break down the different aspects of planning a WDW vacation. Our youngest contributor also joins the episode for another edition of Core Memory Corner. 

Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. 

Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode!

Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. 

Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix.

Thank you to our sponsors:

* David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. 

* The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders!

* Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com. 

We all know the name Walt Disney World, but today our hosts are joined by Cathy Salustri, magazine copy editor and writer — and a true Florida historian — to discuss the project’s first publicly recognized name: The Florida Project. What was Central Florida like before Walt set his sights on the area? What was public perception of the move like? For more on Cathy and her knowledge of Florida and theme park history, check out her website: https://greatfloridaroadtrip.com.

Big News! You could WIN a Walt Disney World® vacation from WDW Magazine! Visit wdw-magazine.com/coolestsummerever for more details. 

Mail call features several topics, including a write-in preference for a listener’s Survive Your Stay scenario, tips for WDW travel with large parties, and a voicemail left live from a Disney park! 

Tim and Steph join us for the mid-round segments: Steph brings her second of three visits to the Logistics Lab, and Tim takes us back in time with an interview excerpt from Walt Disney World’s first Ambassador, Debby Dane Browne. It’s a packed show with a ton of information for both the Disney planner and the Disney historian!

Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. 

Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode!

Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. 

Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix.

Thank you to our sponsors:

* David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. 

* The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders!

* Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com. 

On today’s episode, our friend Tim joins hosts CJ and Danny to “enter a world of danger, survival, and intrigue, here on the Parks and Pages podcast” in their own Disney Parks survivalist scenarios. Each host gets dropped in a land to inhabit in a unique apocalyptic scenario. Where do they eat? What keeps them entertained? Do our ragtag survivalists join forces or hunker down in their own fortresses? Listen to see who ends up with “small world” dolls as minions and who TRULY had to Survive Their Stay: Magic Kingdom Edition. 

Want to THRIVE instead of SURVIVE? You could WIN a Walt Disney World® vacation from WDW Magazine! Visit wdw-magazine.com/coolestsummerever for more details.

Also in this episode, Steph presents her first edition of Disney Logistics Lab, where she helps you take the first steps of planning a Disney World vacation. Return the next two weeks for this recurring segment and learn how you can plan a perfect trip!

The show also includes listener questions, including one about crowd levels. What do our hosts have to say about the crowds increasing at Walt Disney World? What hacks do they have for your next trip? They also discuss top-tier date options for a night with your loved ones! Anniversaries, birthdays, or just a nice night out, they round up some incredible options. 

Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. 

Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode!

Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. 

Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix.

Thank you to our sponsors:

* David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. 

* The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders!

* Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com. 

We are aware of audio issues in this episode that happened during distribution and are working on a fix for a re release of this episode. Thank you for your patience and please take the time to enjoy our more recent shows.

Disney invited our team to attend the Coolest Summer Ever Media Showcase and interview Disney Parks pros about all the exciting things coming to Walt Disney World for Cool KIDS’ SUMMER. From new character interactions and merchandise to updated attractions and water park perks, we cover a whole world of summer fun. Bluey and Bingo are headed to Animal Kingdom, Toy Story pals entertain at Diamond Horseshoe, and Imagineers have delivered major enhancements to Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster — and so much more! This is a mega-packed episode full of the kind of summer fun only Disney can do!

Even better? You could WIN a Walt Disney World® vacation from WDW Magazine! Visit wdw-magazine.com/coolestsummerever for more details.

For this episode, we start with listener ideas for new shows in the future. Y’all really bring some great ideas, and some are already in the brainstorming stage! Keep those questions and ideas coming! We love it!

The show has a special guest making her Parks & Pages debut: Riley, CJ’s daughter. She appears in her first “Core Memory Corner,” remembering some highlights from last year’s Cool KIDS’ SUMMER.

Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. 

Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode!

Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save at wdw-magazine.com. 

Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix.

* David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. 

* The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders!

* Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com.