WDWNTunes Announces “Super WDWNTunes Saturday”

WDWNT on February 13, 2010

WDWNTunes is proud to announce our most exciting day of programming ever, with our signature WDWNT Live! show, new original programming, WDWNT Network podcasts, and the Disney Parks music you love. “Super WDWNTunes Saturday” is a special event that defines everything that the online radio station & chat room is about.

The event begins with the wildly popular and first-ever WDWNTunes original program, Brandon and Banks’ Super Obscure Show. B&B S.O.S. is a show dedicated to obscure Disney audio and is usually featured twice a day on WDWNTunes. For this one time only special event, you can catch all 4 of the first episodes of the show in a row beginning at 10:00 AM ET.

For the first time in history, an episode of the popular WDW News Today Podcast will debut on WDWNTunes.com before being available for download. Episode 130 of the WDWNT Podcast will be airing beginning at 1:45 PM ET and contains what the podcast team has already described as “the best and funniest segment we’ve ever recorded”.

The first episode of the very first podcast dedicated to the collecting, trading, and creation of Vinylmation debuted earlier this week, it’s called The Viylmation Station. Super WDWNTunes Saturday will feature the innovative podcast starting at 4:00 PM ET, giving listeners a chance to hear Tom Corless, John Rick, and Scott Smith dissect Disney’s latest collectible craze.

WDWNTunes hosted a live chat on February 10th to give Disney fans a place to communicate live as major announcements were made about the future of the Walt Disney World Resort. While the exciting chat was taking place, a record WDWNTunes audience enjoyed a special mix of Disney audio called “WDW Through the Years”. The music selection took listeners on an audio journey from the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971 to the debut of Disney’s Honorary VoluntEARS Cavalcade in January. The audio was so popular with listeners that we have decided to play it one more time during Super WDWNTunes Saturday beginning at 6:00 PM ET.

The festivities end with a WDWNTunes trademark, “WDWNT Live!”. This is a live interactive program that gives listeners a chance to interact with WDWNT Network staff members from WDW News Today, Disneyland News Today, The Disney Pincast, and The Vinylmation Station, as well as fellow listeners in the chat room. This first-ever Saturday presentation of WDWNT Live! begins at 9:30 PM ET.

Super WDWNTunes Saturday begins at 10:00 AM ET and is the biggest event in WDWNTunes history, so be sure to join us at www.WDWNTunes.com this Saturday, February 13, 2010.

Disneyland News Today Turns Two!!!

WDWNT on February 9, 2010

Two years ago today…

Let me welcome everyone to DL News Today! DL News Today is the offspring of WDW News Today, dedicated to the place where the magic began, the Disneyland Resort. This daily updated news and information website will be dedicated to covering all the happenings at Disneyland Park, Disney’s California Adventure Park, the Downtown Disney shopping district, and the three resort hotels that make up the Anaheim, California vacation destination. Stay tuned for daily news, rumors, articles, and podcasts as we present “Ideals, Dreams, and Hard Facts”.

Hard to believe it was two years ago that Disneyland News Today launched, on the anniversary of Disney’s California Adventure. February 8th seemed like a fitting day to launch “DLNT”, since the opening came about at the beginning of the huge expansion period for Disney’s California Adventure theme park. The DLNT website has covered many historic openings, debuts, and events from the Disneyland Resort in its short existence. But the website has only been one part of the equation. The Disneyland News Today Podcast has been revolutionary in that it is still the only podcast dedicated to news and current events at the Disneyland Resort, a concept WDW News Today readers and listeners wanted to see fulfilled in a 2007 year-end survey.

I would be remiss to not acknowledge the rolling changes as of late to the Disneyland News Today brand of the WDWNT Network. The website and podcast you enjoy have probably been the greatest learning experience for the WDWNT Network, learning the hard way that what worked for a Walt Disney World fan, probably won’t work for a Disneyland Resort fan. The lessons were valuable, and have led to many changes in the staff and operations of our website and podcast. Just 5 weeks ago, we launched the NEW Disneyland News Today Podcast to rave reviews. The show might be young, but has already proven popular, entering the top ten in the iTunes top travel podcast list regularly over the last month. The Disneyland News Today website also introduced a new lead reporter last week, the first step in returning news updates to a regular flow.

While it has been a rough two years at Disneyland News Today, it has also been a fun and rewarding experience. We would like to thank all of you who stayed with us through the rough times and promise you that 2010 will be a HUGE year for Disneyland News Today and the NEW Disneyland News Today Podcast. In a way, it all begins again for DLNT today, and we’ll be revealing some major changes in the next few weeks that we think you’ll enjoy. So here’s to the future and our continuing effort to bring you “The Ideals, Dreams, and Hard Facts” of the Disneyland Resort.

Tom Corless
Owner of the WDWNT Network

The 3rd Annual Christmas Podcast Parade 2009 is Now Available for Download

WDWNT on December 26, 2009

The WDWNT Network proudly presents “3 Times the Holiday Cheer”, The 3rd Annual Christmas Podcast Parade, live (well, sort of) from the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Join hosts Chris Lastrapes, TBA, Jason Diffendal, Wolverine, and Miley Cyrus for a wild time on Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom for holiday floats, famous celebrities, fantastic performances, and full-out destruction.

This new Christmas tradition is proudly presented by WDW News Today, Disneyland News Today, The Disney Pincast, The Vinylmation Station, the WDWNTube, WDWNTunes, The WDWNT Network Community Forums, Magical Travel, A Window to the Magic, and The Muppetcast. Sponsored by G-Force Records, Florida-MAX, WDWNT: The Products, Wilkin’s Hyundai and Subaru, Justin Heyman’s Back on the Ranch dressing, and Yeti-Profen Brand Pain Reliever.

To subscribe to the WDW News Today podcast on iTunes, go to this link. If you do not have iTunes, visit our Podcast Download Directory to download or listen to all of our shows.

This episode is also available in an enhanced version. An enhanced podcast is a podcast with added features that standard podcasts don’t have. Enhanced podcasts include many features like Chapter listings, this lets you skip through chapters or see what is in store for this weeks show. Enhanced podcasts also have images to let you differ the chapters by. Enhanced podcasts have one negative feature, you can not play them on all mp3 players. The file format for this is a .m4a which can play on Apple’s iPod and Microsoft’s Zune. You will also need iTunes or Windows Media Player to be able to skip through chapters. If you need or would like the standard edition, download the normal edition listed below this file both on Itunes and in our podcast directory.

WDW News Today’s 1000th Post!!!

WDWNT on December 15, 2009

It’s hard to believe this is the 1000th story to be published on the WDW News Today website, but it also is harder to believe that we surpassed our goal set from the very beginning. This website was created on July 8th, 2007, with the sole intention of being the internet’s first daily updated Walt Disney World news site. When that dream began, it started with a post, and a post alone. There were no thoughts of podcasts, forums, online radio stations, or anything of the sort. Our idea was to post at least one Disney-related news story a day. While it may be unrealistic to think (or claim) that we have posted every single day since our inception, we have posted 1000 times in just 890 days, which I consider a great success. Instead of rambling on as I usually do on the site, I decided it would be better to turn the spotlight on our WDWNT Network staff and see what was their favorite or most memorable posts from WDW News Today have been. Here is what they picked:

WDWNT Network Technical Director Justin Heyman – The First Video of Toy Story Midway Mania

“This is what WDWNT was all about from the beginning, bringing our fans breaking news. That’s what this video did, presenting a new attraction to the world just hours after it opened for the first time.”

WDWNT Network Owner Tom Corless – The First Video of Toy Story Midway Mania

“Thinking about the most important post we have made to date, it has to be this video. The unbelievable amount of people who came to the website to see the first video of what has become my favorite attraction at Walt Disney World is still a great memory. I’m not sure if we’ll ever top it, only time will tell.”

WDW News Today Photographer and Videographer Matt Paul – Announcement of Star Tours II and Fantasyland Expansion

“These announcements are in my opinion, the biggest news in the most recent years of Disney Parks.  This was also the first time Disney Parks announced huge changes to Disney Fans in Person.  The Expo was phenomenal, and this post just about sums up the highlight of my trip!”

WDWNT Network Technical Services Jose Castillo – Epcot’s 25th Anniversary Happening

“I first entered the Disney online community around the time of Epcot’s 25th anniversary. This was a real fantastic event for me and this was the time I found out about WDW News Today. This is what changed everything for me and I’m very glad so many years later the website is stronger than ever.”

WDW News Today Editor in Chief Jason Diffendal – Spaceship Earth Refurbishment Begins

“It marked a turning point in the history of Epcot.  Looking back on it, it is a little bittersweet.  We all loved the fact that the wand was coming down, and we had much hope for the refurbishment of Spaceship Earth.  But unfortunately the reality of Judi Dench and the blackened descent disappointed all of us.”

WDW News Today Podcast Staff Member Scott Smith – The 2nd Annual Christmas Podcast Parade 2008

“I chose this because the Christmas Podcast Parade is when WDWNT proved that, without a doubt, it is something unique and special among the Disney podcast community. It immidiately became my favorite, and the self depriciating humor and intense Disney inside-jokery made me realize this is something that I wanted to be a part of. And since then, WDWNT has become a wonderful part of my life. And I owe it all to the first Christmas parade. That sounds pretty wierd, doesn’t it?”

WDW News Today Podcast Staff Member Anthony Yacullo – Fantasyland Expansion Announced

“My choice is the Fantasyland expansion post. It’s the biggest piece of news to be announced since I joined the site and podcast in March. I think it sounds absolutely amazing and I cant wait to see it in person when it is completed.”

A very special thank you to all the staff and readers who have made our journey to this point possible and so much fun. Here’s to the next 1000 posts on WDW News Today, may we continue “Bridging the Gaps Between You and the World”.

Tom Corless
Owner of the WDWNT Network

WDWNT Network Coverage of the D23 Expo 9/10-9/13/09

WDWNT on September 7, 2009

When D23: The Official Disney Fan Community debuted on March 10, 2009, we had a pretty good idea that it was something that would forever change what it meant to be a “Disney Fan”. We were made a ton of promises and I think Disney has come through on just about all of them, to their credit. The biggest promise they made was that the first ever Disney fan convention called the D23 Expo would be “the ultimate Disney fan experience”. In our continuing effort to bring you Disney news as it happens (who are we kidding, we wouldn’t miss this for the world anyway), the WDWNT Network crew is heading to the D23 Expo in Anaheim to provide you with as much coverage of the event as we possibly can. Mind you, we can’t bring you everything because there is just far too many panels, presentations, and exhibits spanning the 4 days of the event (as you can see by the 74 pages of guide book it takes to explain and showcase all that the D23 Expo has to offer). To follow live coverage from the various events of the D23 Expo, you can regularly check the WDW News Today and Disneyland News Today news blogs, as well as follow the WDWNT Twitter and myself on Facebook for the most frequent updates we can possibly provide.

For those who are actually coming to the D23 Expo in Anaheim, we are proud to announce that we will be having yet another WDWNT Fan Meet in Disneyland Park on Friday, September 11th. The meet is a great opportunity to escape the Anaheim Convention Center for a few hours after the floor closes and take in Disneyland with fellow Disney fans and WDWNT Network staff. You can find out more information about this meet on Facebook and on the WDWNT Network Community Forums.

There will also be a special post-Expo review podcast (featuring audio from the various events, interviews, and much more) on WDW News Today Podcast episode 111 and Disneyland News Today Podcast episode 81.

We hope you will join us for and enjoy all of our coverage from the D23 Expo!

Tom Corless
Owner of the WDWNT Network

WDWNT Network Coverage of the D23 Expo 9/10-9/13/09

WDWNT on September 7, 2009

When D23: The Official Disney Fan Community debuted on March 10, 2009, we had a pretty good idea that it was something that would forever change what it meant to be a “Disney Fan”. We were made a ton of promises and I think Disney has come through on just about all of them, to their credit. The biggest promise they made was that the first ever Disney fan convention called the D23 Expo would be “the ultimate Disney fan experience”. In our continuing effort to bring you Disney news as it happens (who are we kidding, we wouldn’t miss this for the world anyway), the WDWNT Network crew is heading to the D23 Expo in Anaheim to provide you with as much coverage of the event as we possibly can. Mind you, we can’t bring you everything because there is just far too many panels, presentations, and exhibits spanning the 4 days of the event (as you can see by the 74 pages of guide book it takes to explain and showcase all that the D23 Expo has to offer). To follow live coverage from the various events of the D23 Expo, you can regularly check the WDW News Today and Disneyland News Today news blogs, as well as follow the WDWNT Twitter and myself on Facebook for the most frequent updates we can possibly provide.

For those who are actually coming to the D23 Expo in Anaheim, we are proud to announce that we will be having yet another WDWNT Fan Meet in Disneyland Park on Friday, September 11th. The meet is a great opportunity to escape the Anaheim Convention Center for a few hours after the floor closes and take in Disneyland with fellow Disney fans and WDWNT Network staff. You can find out more information about this meet on Facebook and on the WDWNT Network Community Forums.

There will also be a special post-Expo review podcast (featuring audio from the various events, interviews, and much more) on WDW News Today Podcast episode 111 and Disneyland News Today Podcast episode 81.

We hope you will join us for and enjoy all of our coverage from the D23 Expo!

Tom Corless
Owner of the WDWNT Network

Staff Changes at the WDWNT Network

WDWNT on August 16, 2009

Over the last few weeks here at the WDWNT Network, we have been preparing for a few important staff position changes that have officially gone into effect today:

-WDWNT Technical Director Jose Castillo has stepped away from his position to focus on his long-running web hosting company and a plethora of personal projects. Jose has been a vital part of our family since joining the team in January 2008 and has been responsible for the creation of our enhanced podcasts, Disneyland News Today, the WDWNTube Disney Parks video site, the WDWNTunes online radio station, and much, much more. Jose was such a vital part of our team that he was inducted into our WDWNT Network Hall of Fame in June 2009. While Jose will be stepping away for a while, he will be first finishing up some work on the “WDWNT: The Weekend” website and will continue to pop-in every now and then for a side project. We would like to thank Jose for all his hard work here at WDWNT and wish him the best in his many endeavors. WDW News Today editor in chief and podcast team member Justin Heyman will be taking over our technical services department effective immediately.

-Luke Manning has stepped down as the host of the Disneyland News Today Podcast and as the lead reporter for the DLNT website. Luke has a tremendous amount of work ahead of him the next few weeks and was simply not able to balance everything all at once. Luke will be continuing on as a photographer and videographer for Disneyland News Today and will also continue to appear on the podcast every week. While we are interviewing for a new host for the podcast, I will be filling in as host for as long as is necessary. Taking over as a temporary lead reporter for the website will be Anthony Yacullo, who already works on the WDW News Today Podcast team. The Disneyland News Today twitter account will now also be in my hands, and I’ll do my best to keep the updates flowing as they have in the past.

We hope the transition period for these positions is a smooth one and apologize for any inconviences these changes might cause over the next few weeks. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Tom Corless
Owner of the WDWNT Network

WDWNT: The Weekend

WDWNT on August 1, 2009

While Luke, Tom, Jose, Matt and Chris are visiting Disneyland this week, Justin “The Mayor” Heyman is here to remind you to sign up for the new WDWNT: The Weekend newsletter by visiting www.wdwnttheweekend.com. Be sure to stay tuned to this site for more details as we launch the full site this month with some tentative details on the event. As always you can follow the WDWNT Staff while they vacation at the Disneyland Resort on Twitter by going to www.twitter.com/wdwnt and www.twitter.com/dlnt.

WDWNT Fan Meets – August 1st and 2nd at the Disneyland Resort

WDWNT on July 22, 2009

I’d like to remind everyone about our upcoming fan meets at the Disneyland Resort on Saturday August 1st and Sunday August 2nd. First up on Saturday:

Come enjoy an evening of fun on Saturday, August 1st, with the WDWNT Network and Disneyland News Today staff at Disney’s California Adventure park at the Disneyland Resort. Among the fun and surprises, here is a schedule of group gatherings that will be a part of the unofficial fan meet:

4:00 PM – Meet outside the Blue Sky Cellar for distribution of “free gift” Group walk through the Blue Sky Cellar
4:30 PM – Meet directly in front of the Blue Sky Cellar to watch the Pixar Play Parade
5:30 PM – Group meet n’ mingle (and possibly some eating) at Bountiful Valley Farmer’s Market
6:30 PM – Meet for group photo and showing of MuppetVision 3-D in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot
7:15 PM – Meet for group ride on Mickey’s Fun Wheel in Paradise Pier
8:00 PM – Meet in front the former Orange Stinger attraction (Silly Symphony Swings construction walls) to watch Disney’s Electrical Parade

Then on Sunday:

Come enjoy an afternoon of fun on Sunday, 8/2/09 with the WDWNT Network and Disneyland News Today staff at Disneyland Park. Among the fun and surprises, here is a schedule of group gatherings that will be a part of the fan meet:

3:00 PM – Meet n’ mingle and group photo at Carnation Gardens on Main Street U.S.A.
3:30 PM – Meet for group showing of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland
4:15 PM – Meet for group ride on the Jungle Cruise in Adventureland
5:00 PM – Meet for group ride on Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square
5:45 PM – Meet for group ride through the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square
6:30 PM – Group meet n’ mingle (and possibly some eating) at the Hungry Bear Restaurant
7:30 PM – Meet for group ride on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country
8:00 PM – Meet in the hub on Main Street U.S.A. to view “Magical – Disney’s New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical Celebrations In the Stars”

You can R.S.V.P. (although not necessary to attend) and get more information on Facebook about the Saturday meet at this link or our forums at this link and the Sunday meet at this link or our forums at this link. These will be the first fan meets the WDWNT Network has done at the Disneyland Resort, and we hope you come by and enjoy the fun with us!

WDW News Today’s 2nd Anniversary – A Video Look Back

WDWNT on July 19, 2009

Continuing our 2nd anniversary celebration with a tradition we began last year, WDWNT Videographer Matt Paul has put together a fantastic video looking back at the second year of WDWNT. The video is lengthy (which is why it is split into two parts) and is embedded via the WDWNTube video site. Enjoy:

On a side note, we are wrapping up our 2 year anniversary celebration with our first ever WDWNT Fan Meets at the Disneyland Resort. If you are going to be in Anaheim on August 1st or 2nd, be sure to join us! More information on the August 1st meets is available on Facebook and our forums, the same for the August 2nd meet also on Facebook and our forums as well.