Episode #33 - Disney artist Tom Gilleon Interview

In this episode Matt and Nate are very pleased to be joined by Disney artist Tom Gilleon whose Disney career as a Disney artist began during the construction of Walt Disney World. Throughout his career he has contributed some amazing pieces of concept for World Showcase pavilions, Future World pavilions, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Sea and a wealth of other areas including some that never came to be such as Disneys America. Mr. Gilleon spends an hour on the air discussing his career filled with memorable stories of both projects and famous Disney artists such as Herb Ryman just to name one. In the news this week Walt Disney World has begun construction on the Best Friends Pet Resort across from Port Orleans. Also, Matt and Nate discuss a report that Disney is seeking to add more technology to the guest experience within theme park. Enjoy!!

Episode #32 - DizCollect and Global Disney Pinvestigation

In this ENHANCED podcast episode Matt and Nate focus on an area that many visitors to Disney theme parks are passionate about; and that is collectibles. Scott Barrett from DizCollect.com joins the team to discuss his soon to be launched website which will allow users to track their entire collections online as well as view other collections. Next, the hosts are joined by Cody from the Global Disney Pinvestigation blog to talk about pin trading, vinylmation and Cody's exceptional blog www.gdpinvestigation.blogspot.com which tells the story of many of the attractions at Disney theme parks around the world through Disney pins. In the news this week Disney's California Adventure expansion, Star Tours closings and a possible LOST attraction are all discussed.

Introducing.......HI-DEF

The WEDway Radio podcast is featured in high definition for selected podcast. This means that pictures are added to the feed so that listeners using an iPod or other MP3 device can follow along better my actually seeing what is being discussed. We hope that this new feature will allow the listener a greater experience and further enhance the show itself.

The first episode featuring this new enhancement is Episode #031 - Exploring Norway and The Maelstrom. If you download the high definition version of he show (released Jan 6, 2010) you can view many of the buildings and architectural aspects that are discussed within the episode.

Also, as a bonus we may be re-releasing some past shows featuring this enhancement.

Enjoy!

Episode #31 - Exploring Norway and the Maelstrom

In this episode Matt and Nate explore one of our favorite World Showcase pavilions, Norway. In this adventure we look at one of the only rides in Epcot's World Showcase, The Maelsrom. From the moment you step aboard your viking voyager until your exit into a Norwegian fishing village, The Maelstrom is filled with Norways past, present and fantasy.

Afterwards the architecture of Norway is examined and, like the other World Showcase pavilions, Norway draws upon diverse areas of its nation in the look of the pavilion:

From the storied fortress of Oslo's Akershus....

To the beautiful Stave Church's that still stand 700 to 800 years after their construction....

To the fantastic and grass roofed buildings of the Norwegian countryside.....

To the modern town of Alesund....

Norway truly celebrates its past and present though the dramatic architecture in its pavilion.

News this week highlights the opening of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at he Opera House in Disneyland as well as a themed lobby with some great Disney art.

ENJOY!!!

Epsiode #30 - Tomorrowland Transit Authority

In this episode Matt and Nate revisit their Tomorrowland 1994 RetroMagic series by visiting one of everyones favorite attractions at Walt Disney World, the ever popular Tomorrowland Transit Authority. As Nate says, "Its hard to pinpoint why this attraction is so popular; It isn't exciting, There arent any audio-animatronics, and there are no real special effects. However, it is nostalgic, its easy so the whole family can ride it and theres hardly ever a line."

For the first ten years the WEDway Peoplemover was basically a tour of Tomorrowland voiced by the legendary Jack Wagner. Then in 1986 the attraction changed to a commuter computer and the focus changed from a tour to focus more on the linear induction motor. In 1994 the attraction changed again with the Tomorrowland refurbishment and the ride turned into an attraction that had depth and a story and seemed like so much more than a tour. In 2009 the attraction changed back to more of a tour of the area and less a part of a sytem of transit throughout a fantasy world of tomorrow.

Theres just something about the TTA that makes us all feel a little closer to Walt Disney himself. This may be the best podcast ever produced. We added that last line just so it would appear in Mush's Blog. In the news this week we discuss the new walkway being built to connect the once temporary Bugs Land at DCA to the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. Also the closing of the Aladdin Show at the Hyperion Theater is discussed.

Episode #29 - WDW 25th Anniversary and A First Trip to Disneyland

In this episode Matt and Nate remember Walt Disney Worlds 25th Anniversary from 1996 and 1997 including all of the new attractions, promotions, shows and fireworks that were introduced during the celebration. From the Castle Cake to Disney's Wide World of Sports Disney went all out during this celebration.

Then we bring on a special guest who was a former Magic Kingdom cast member that recently took her first trip to Disneyland. Differences, Similarities, Likes and Dislikes were all discussed. Nah nuh nuh, Nah nuh nuh......Its time to Remember the Magic!

Enjoy!

Micro RetroMagic #7 - Tomorrowland Skyway Station Waterfall

I was looking through some photographs that I took during my last trip to Walt Disney World a couple of years ago and I came across this picture of the Tomorrowland Skyway Station. I always liked this because it was kind of tucked away and it was one of the last structures that looked as it did prior to thew 1994 Tomorrowland refurbishment.Although I loved the 1994 refurbishment I still liked the old "white space age" Tomorrowland. I'm kind of sad because as Tomorrowland goes through changes (TTA, Space Mountain, Stitch, Monsters Inc, etc..) I feel it is losing its identity. The 1994 refurb brought about the "Future That Never Was" and now as that slips away Tomorrowland has lost its focus and exists today without theme.