S1E9: Two Kinds of Motorcycle

A childhood of banana‑seat bikes and SteveMcQueen reenactments leads Mike into a lifetime of two‑wheel adventures—froma sputtering 90cc Yamaha to a Harley Street Bob at age 60. Along the way comelove bugs, sand‑coveredS‑curves,West Virginia mountain rides, a storm that knocked out power for 11 days, andtwo hit‑and‑runs that changed theway he saw the road. It’s a fast, funny, and sometimes painful ride throughthe machines, mishaps, and memories that shaped a lifelong itch formotorcycles.

Trivia: What were the six‑passenger sailboats Disney once rented at thePolynesian and Contemporary? Stick around for the answer.

S1E8 Almost Died, But I Didn’t Get Hurt Description.

 A simple trip to inspect a movie prop turns into a full‑blownaviation thriller when Mike’s Cessnalines up to land on a quiet grass runway…only to find a twin‑engine Beechcraft coming straight at him from theopposite direction with no radio, no lights, and no warning. What follows is asplit‑secondescape, a heart‑pounding near‑miss, and a Twilight Zone twistweeks later that reveals exactly why the other plane never answered a singlecall.

Along the way, Mike shares behind‑the‑scenesBusch Gardens history, the origins of the African Queen Boat Ride, and a fewstories from his early days in themed entertainment. Humor, suspense, and avery lucky break.  — this episode has it all.

Podcast Episode Description –S1 E7: “Hope That Anti‑RollbackHolds”

 When a brand‑new roller coaster breaks down onthe busiest week of the year, twenty‑four guests end up stranded on a45‑degreelift hill… and a young area manager named MikePatrick finds himself climbing into the sky to get them down. What couldpossibly make the situation worse?

Try August Busch III hovering overhead in a helicopter.

In this episode, Mike takes you behind the scenes of BuschGardens Tampa Bay in 1976 for a true story involving the Python roller coaster,a sheared steel lift shaft, a buried sprocket, panicked riders, a bleedingankle, and a rescue operation complicated by rotor wash. Along the way, you’lllearn what an anti‑rollback actually does, how early Arrow corkscrews werebuilt, and why spare parts inventories became a sacred rule in coasterplanning.

Plus, Mike reveals the answer to this week’s trivia:

Which ride from Busch Gardens Los Angeles still operates inTampa today—and which one didn’t survive?

It’s a story of engineering, adrenaline, leadership underpressure, and the kind of theme‑park chaos you just can’t make up. Buckle in… and hopethat anti‑rollback holds.

Episode 6: Fort Wilderness UFO Encounter

A fog‑shrouded road. A silent, toweringshape hovering in the darkness. And one exhausted Disney cast member drivinghome at 2:30 a.m. who suddenly isn’t so surehe’s alone out there.

In this episode, Mike relives the night he came face‑to‑facewith something massive, metallic, and absolutely not where it should have been.Was it a craft? A structure? A trick of the fog? You’llhear the moment he realized the truth — and why itstill gives him chills.

Stick around for the full story… and the answer to thisweek’s trivia challenge about Disney’s forgotten airport.

E5 — “Fort Wilderness Scavengers”

In this episode, Mike Patrick heads back to the wild earlydays of Walt Disney World to tell the true story of how Fort Wilderness wentfrom an underfunded experiment to one of the most beloved corners of theVacation Kingdom.

You’ll hear how the Recreation team — led by the legendaryKeith Kamback — turned “no budget” into “no problem,” scavenging their way to afull nature walk, a campfire program, nighttime gator tours, and even their ownChip & Dale appearances.

Mike shares the behind‑the‑scenes antics that defined thoseearly years: Sunday “shopping trips” for lumber and benches, learning to operate heavy equipmentthat definitely wasn’t assigned to them, and theinfamous moment he broke the number‑one character rule while wearingthe Chip costume.

Plus, the origin of the Fort Wilderness Scavengers softballteam, the buzzard‑topped logo Mike designed and hand applied to the teamjerseys, and the moment Fort Wilderness officially became an icon — hosting over 1.5 million campers a year.

And of course, this week’s trivia answer:

What was Dick Nunis’s unofficial radio call sign duringconstruction?

Let’s just say… he embraced the reputation.

If you love Disney history, backstage culture, and storiesfrom the “wild west” era of Walt Disney World, this episode is a campfireclassic

Join Mike Patrick, veteran themed entertainment professionaland storyteller, as he takes you behind the scenes of the beer business andtheme park operations in "Launching the Brand." In this episode, Mikeshares insider stories from his time at Busch Gardens and Anheuser-Busch,revealing the fascinating process behind the launch of a new brew, that became oneof the fastest-growing beer brands in history. With engaging anecdotes,industry insights, and a touch of humor, this episode offers a unique look atleadership, marketing, and innovation in a crowded market. Whether you're a fanof themed entertainment, business stories, or just love a good beer tale, thispodcast delivers an authentic and entertaining experience.

Tune in for trivia, laughs, and lessons from a seasonedinsider who’s been there and done that.

Episode 3

“If You Wait Until You’reReady to Open, You’ll Never Open”

Step back into the final,frantic 90 days before Walt Disney World opened its gates in 1971. In thisepisode, Mike Patrick takes you behind the construction walls and into theorganized chaos of a project racing the clock — where cranes hovered overCinderella’s Castle, monorails hadn’t yet made a full loop, and entiredepartments worked elbow‑to‑elbow in makeshiftoffices above Main Street.

You’ll hear what it was liketo join the Recreation team during those wild early days: training 100lifeguards with no pools, testing the first Jet Skis, running barefoot acrossBay Hill, and navigating the friendly rivalry between Recreation andWatercraft. Mike shares the tension‑filled moment when the first monorail crept throughthe Contemporary Resort, the legendary swim across Seven Seas Lagoon, and theunforgettable cast of characters who helped bring the Vacation Kingdom to life.

From construction workersabandoning their posts to catch a glimpse of lifeguards, to contractors beingpushed out the back gate as guests walked in the front, this episode capturesthe energy, urgency, and magic of a world being built at full speed.

Plus — the answer to this week’strivia question: What color was the first monorail to pass through theContemporary, and who was driving it?

If you love Disney history,behind‑the‑scenes stories, or talesof impossible deadlines met with grit and humor, this is an episode you won’twant to miss.

S1E2: The Road to Disney; Part Deux

Step back into1970s Orlando—long before the theme parks, traffic jams, and endless souvenirshops—as Mike Patrick continues his true story of how an ordinary 18‑year‑oldkid found himself on the front lines of opening Walt Disney World.

In this secondepisode of The Road to Disney, Mike takes listeners from the citrus‑scentedgroves of old Central Florida to the pristine fairways of Bay Hill CountryClub, where a summer lifeguard job unexpectedly becomes the gateway to a 50‑yearcareer in the themed entertainment industry. Along the way, listeners meetlegendary Disney horticulturist Bill Evans, survive a Navy hospital adventureor two, and discover what it was really like to apply for a job at Walt DisneyWorld when the Casting Center was a double‑wide trailer tucked into the woods.

From run‑swim‑runtests on Bay Lake to the strict grooming rules of early Disney cast life, thisepisode blends nostalgia, humor, and insider history in a way only someone wholived it can deliver.

The episodealso answers this week’s trivia question: Which original WDW role required male cast members who were at least 6 feet tall?

Listeners who enjoy behind‑the‑scenes stories, Disney history, or tales of how life’s smallest decisions can change everything will find this episode especiallycompelling.

In this premiere episode entitled *The Road to Disney*, MikePatrick shares the unlikely, entertaining, and inspiring true story of how an18‑year‑old kid—barely out of high school—landed a job helping open Walt DisneyWorld in 1971. From Red Cross swim lessons in Ohio, to lifeguarding for theU.S. Navy, to a fateful encounter with Navy SEALs, to an unexpected job atArnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Country Club, this episode traces the winding paththat set the stage for a 50+/‑year career in the themed entertainment industry.Told with warm humor, vivid storytelling, and a few surprises along the way,this is the origin story behind a lifetime of adventures.

Introduction to new Podcast

"Welcome Aboard Thrill Seekers and Adventure Lovers"