👻 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 experiences, Lou dreams up what could make the Walt Disney World Halloween season even more magical - with creative concepts that celebrate Disney’s history, innovation, and a few friendly frights along the way.

🎃 Whether you love the Haunted Mansion, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, or just the fall vibes in the parks, you’ll love these spooky “what if” ideas inspired by Disney’s unique blend of fun and fantasy.

💬 Which idea is your favorite, or what kind of Halloween experience would you love to see at Walt Disney World?

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🙏 Thank you for listening, being part of the WDW Radio family, and helping the show be recognized as the Best Travel Podcast for nine consecutive years - and for the incredible honor of being inducted into the ⭐️ Podcast Hall of Fame.

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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 Disney Cruise Line, to where is the best storytelling, Disney villains, the future of Disney Parks experiences, and much more... every topic is up for debate!

So think about your own answer as you listen and let me know… are you in, or are you out?

📣 Comment in the WDW Radio Clubhouse or 📞 Call the Voicemail: 407-900-9391

✈️ Looking to visit a Disney Park, Disney Cruise Line, or any vacation destination around the world? Let our friends at Mouse Fan Travel help you with expert planning at no cost to you! - visit MouseFanTravel.com

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• Events & Cruises - Join us for group trips and in-person meetups!
• LouMongello.com - Creator or solopreneur? Turn your passion into your profession with coaching, courses, and events, including our Momentum events in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who shares how to leverage lessons from Disney on customer service, experience, and leadership.

🙏 Thank you for listening, being part of the WDW Radio family, and helping the show be recognized as the Best Travel Podcast for nine consecutive years - and for the incredible honor of being inducted into the ⭐️ Podcast Hall of Fame.

Please subscribe, tell a friend, and join me again next week... and as always, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show!

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 shapes identity, belonging, and even adulthood itself
• The joys and challenges inside the Disney Adult community
• Disney’s role in cultivating lifelong fans and what the future holds
• AJ’s personal journey, surprising research, and unforgettable stories

Whether you proudly call yourself a Disney Adult or just wonder why so many grown-ups are drawn to Disney, this episode will give you new insight into fandom, culture, and the magic of never growing up.

📣 Comment in the WDW Radio Clubhouse or 📞 Call the Voicemail: 407-900-9391

✈️ Looking to visit a Disney Park, Disney Cruise Line, or any vacation destination around the world? Let our friends at Mouse Fan Travel help you with expert planning at no cost to you! - visit MouseFanTravel.com

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• WDWRadio.com - Blog, archives, podcasts, and more
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• WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesday nights
• Events & Cruises - Join us for group trips and in-person meetups!
• LouMongello.com - Creator or solopreneur? Turn your passion into your profession with coaching, courses, and events, including our Momentum events in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who shares how to leverage lessons from Disney on customer service, experience, and leadership.

🙏 Thank you for listening, being part of the WDW Radio family, and helping the show be recognized as the Best Travel Podcast for nine consecutive years - and for the incredible honor of being inducted into the ⭐️ Podcast Hall of Fame.

Please subscribe, tell a friend, and join me again next week... and as always, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show!

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 - from emotional tributes to bold Disney Parks announcements, hidden details to historic reveals - and even (what I think is) one big surprise hiding in plain sight that no one is talking about, but I believe is a sign of what’s to come.

More than just news, we will explore what these moments mean for the future of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Plus, Pixar, and Marvel - and for the incredible community of fans around the world.

✨ What was your favorite announcement from Destination D23?

📣 Comment in the WDW Radio Clubhouse or 📞 Call the Voicemail: 407-900-9391

✈️ Looking to visit a Disney Park, Disney Cruise Line, or any vacation destination around the world? Let our friends at Mouse Fan Travel help you with expert planning at no cost to you! - visit MouseFanTravel.com

- Subscribe for email updates + get my FREE Disney book!

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• WDWRadio.com - Blog, archives, podcasts, and more
• WDW Radio Nation - Support the show and unlock rewards
• WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesday nights
• Events & Cruises - Join us for group trips and in-person meetups!
• LouMongello.com - Creator or solopreneur? Turn your passion into your profession with coaching, courses, and events, including our Momentum events in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who shares how to leverage lessons from Disney on customer service, experience, and leadership.

🙏 Thank you for listening, being part of the WDW Radio family, and helping the show be recognized as the Best Travel Podcast for nine consecutive years - and for the incredible honor of being inducted into the ⭐️ Podcast Hall of Fame.

Please subscribe, tell a friend, and join me again next week... and as always, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show!

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 Strange Sanctum Lounge, and Pride Lands dining, and witness the unforgettable float-out as she touched water for the very first time.

The Disney Wish set the stage.

The Disney Treasure raised the bar.

And the Disney Destiny feels like a game-changer that embraces character-driven storytelling, immersive experiences, and a heroes-and-villains theme unlike anything Disney has attempted before.

📣 Comment in the WDW Radio Clubhouse or 📞 Call the Voicemail: 407-900-9391

✈️ Looking to visit a Disney Park, Disney Cruise Line, or any vacation destination around the world? Let our friends at Mouse Fan Travel help you with expert planning at no cost to you! - visit MouseFanTravel.com

- Subscribe for email updates + get my FREE Disney book!

- Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

• WDWRadio.com - Blog, archives, podcasts, and more
• WDW Radio Nation - Support the show and unlock rewards
• WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesday nights
• Events & Cruises - Join us for group trips and in-person meetups!
• LouMongello.com - Creator or solopreneur? Turn your passion into your profession with coaching, courses, and events, including our Momentum events in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who shares how to leverage lessons from Disney on customer service, experience, and leadership.

🙏 Thank you for listening, being part of the WDW Radio family, and helping the show be recognized as the Best Travel Podcast for nine consecutive years - and for the incredible honor of being inducted into the ⭐️ Podcast Hall of Fame.

Please subscribe, tell a friend, and join me again next week... and as always, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show!

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 Imagination, debuts a rapid-fire round of Disney “Would You Rather?”, and teases a special announcement about the Disney Destiny… including a very special experience he’s bringing you along for.

📣 Comment in the WDW Radio Clubhouse or 📞 Call the Voicemail: 407-900-9391

✈️ Looking to visit a Disney Park, Disney Cruise Line, or any vacation destination around the world? Let our friends at Mouse Fan Travel help you with expert planning at no cost to you! - visit MouseFanTravel.com

- Subscribe for email updates + get my FREE Disney book!

- Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

• WDWRadio.com - Blog, archives, podcasts, and more
• WDW Radio Nation - Support the show and unlock rewards
• WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesday nights
• Events & Cruises - Join us for group trips and in-person meetups!
• LouMongello.com - Creator or solopreneur? Turn your passion into your profession with coaching, courses, and events, including our Momentum events in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who shares how to leverage lessons from Disney on customer service, experience, and leadership.

🙏 Thank you for listening, being part of the WDW Radio family, and helping the show be recognized as the Best Travel Podcast for nine consecutive years - and for the incredible honor of being inducted into the ⭐️ Podcast Hall of Fame.

Please subscribe, tell a friend, and join me again next week... and as always, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show!

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 Disney Parks - and the emotion, magic, and meaning behind it all.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored the people, places, and legacy of Imagineering. This time, we look ahead. Join me for an authentic and personal discussion about creativity, storytelling, leadership, and the next generation of magic makers.

We talk about Imagineering’s evolving philosophy, lessons from Walt, reverse mentoring, innovation vs. nostalgia, and how emotion is the true product of everything Disney builds.

Whether you’re a Disney fan, creative professional, or entrepreneur, you’ll walk away with inspiring insights on leadership, storytelling, and building experiences that last a lifetime.

📣 Comment in the WDW Radio Clubhouse or 📞 Call the Voicemail: 407-900-9391

✈️ Looking to visit a Disney Park, Disney Cruise Line, or any vacation destination around the world? Let our friends at Mouse Fan Travel help you with expert planning at no cost to you! - visit MouseFanTravel.com

- Subscribe for email updates + get my FREE Disney book!

- Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

• WDWRadio.com - Blog, archives, podcasts, and more
• WDW Radio Nation - Support the show and unlock rewards
• WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesday nights
• Events & Cruises - Join us for group trips and in-person meetups!
• LouMongello.com - Creator or solopreneur? Turn your passion into your profession with coaching, courses, and events, including our Momentum events in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who shares how to leverage lessons from Disney on customer service, experience, and leadership.

🙏 Thank you for listening, being part of the WDW Radio family, and helping the show be recognized as the Best Travel Podcast for nine consecutive years - and for the incredible honor of being inducted into the ⭐️ Podcast Hall of Fame.

Please subscribe, tell a friend, and join me again next week... and as always, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show!

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 this week, I’m taking you with me.

Join me for a personal, behind-the-scenes tour through the models, soundscapes, animatronics, and innovations shaping the future of the parks and carrying on the legacy of Walt Disney's enduring dream.

📣 Comment in the WDW Radio Clubhouse or 📞 Call the Voicemail: 407-900-9391

✈️ Looking to visit a Disney Park, Disney Cruise Line, or any vacation destination around the world? Let our friends at Mouse Fan Travel help you with expert planning at no cost to you! - visit MouseFanTravel.com

- Subscribe for email updates + get my FREE Disney book!

- Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

• WDWRadio.com - Blog, archives, podcasts, and more
• WDW Radio Nation - Support the show and unlock rewards
• WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesday nights
• Events & Cruises - Join us for group trips and in-person meetups!
• LouMongello.com - Creator or solopreneur? Turn your passion into your profession with coaching, courses, and events, including our Momentum events in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who shares how to leverage lessons from Disney on customer service, experience, and leadership.

🙏 Thank you for listening, being part of the WDW Radio family, and helping the show be recognized as the Best Travel Podcast for nine consecutive years - and for the incredible honor of being inducted into the ⭐️ Podcast Hall of Fame.

Please subscribe, tell a friend, and join me again next week... and as always, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show!

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, as well as just some of Imagineering's legacy, people, and projects as I was taken behind the scenes into where Disney magic is made.

And while I was there, I has the privilege of sitting down with Zsolt Hormay, Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering and the sculptor behind some of Disney’s most breathtaking environments – from the Tree of Life to Cars Land to the floating mountains of Pandora and Galaxy's Edge.

I have known of him and admired his work for decades, so this was not only a special moment for me personally, but we had a wonderful, one-on-one conversation not just about his journey from Hungary to becoming a leading figure in theme park design, but how rockwork becomes storytelling, and the emotional and cultural depth behind the places and spaces he and his team create. From the Tree of Life to Fantasy Springs in Tokyo DisneySea, his work is quite literally etched into the parks we love.

I also posted the entire video version on the WDW Radio YouTube channel, and will share even more about what I saw, experienced, and learned during my unforgettable visit to Imagineering on an upcoming podcast episode, so stay tuned!

🙋🏻‍♀️ Which Disney land or attraction do you think has the best storytelling through its environment?

📣 Comment in the WDW Radio Clubhouse or 📞 Call the Voicemail: 407-900-9391

✈️ Looking to visit a Disney Park, Disney Cruise Line, or any vacation destination around the world? Let our friends at Mouse Fan Travel help you with expert planning at no cost to you! - visit MouseFanTravel.com

- Subscribe for email updates + get my FREE Disney book!

- Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

• WDWRadio.com - Blog, archives, podcasts, and more
• WDW Radio Nation - Support the show and unlock rewards
• WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesday nights
• Events & Cruises - Join us for group trips and in-person meetups!
• LouMongello.com - Creator or solopreneur? Turn your passion into your profession with coaching, courses, and events, including our Momentum events in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who shares how to leverage lessons from Disney on customer service, experience, and leadership.

🙏 Thank you for listening, being part of the WDW Radio family, and helping the show be recognized as the Best Travel Podcast for nine consecutive years - and for the incredible honor of being inducted into the ⭐️ Podcast Hall of Fame.

Please subscribe, tell a friend, and join me again next week... and as always, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show!

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. From the Country Bear update to adult-only experiences, EPCOT’s GEO 82, live-action remakes, the Grand Floridian’s new lobby bar and much more... nothing is off the table.

You might agree. You might not. That’s the fun of it! So… are YOU in or out?

🙋🏻‍♀️ Should Josh D’Amaro be the next CEO of The Walt Disney Company? If not him… then who?

📣 Comment in the WDW Radio Clubhouse or 📞 Call the Voicemail: 407-900-9391

✈️ Looking to visit a Disney Park, Disney Cruise Line, or any vacation destination around the world? Let our friends at Mouse Fan Travel help you with expert planning at no cost to you! - visit MouseFanTravel.com

- Subscribe for email updates + get my FREE Disney book!

- Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

• WDWRadio.com - Blog, archives, podcasts, and more
• WDW Radio Nation - Support the show and unlock rewards
• WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesday nights
• Events & Cruises - Join us for group trips and in-person meetups!
• LouMongello.com - Creator or solopreneur? Turn your passion into your profession with coaching, courses, and events, including our Momentum events in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who shares how to leverage lessons from Disney on customer service, experience, and leadership.

🙏 Thank you for listening, being part of the WDW Radio family, and helping the show be recognized as the Best Travel Podcast for nine consecutive years - and for the incredible honor of being inducted into the ⭐️ Podcast Hall of Fame.

Please subscribe, tell a friend, and join me again next week... and as always, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show!