History

Contents

• 1 Origins
• 2 Launch
• 3 Episodes about the creation of the Show
• 4 Highlights of the Podcast
• 5 Live Show Firsts
• 6 Terrestrial Radio

Origins

The idea for WDW Today came in mid-2005 when podcasting was emerging as an intriguing technology. Matt Hochberg and Len Testa had both toyed with the idea of doing a podcast about Walt Disney World in one form or another. Hochberg talked with Mike Newell about the idea along with Testa. Testa had been talking to Mike Scopa about doing a podcast and together, the four decided to collaborate on the idea and begin a podcast. The name of the show was chosen to be WDW Today and the four had a few principles for the show.

First, the show was to be short. Originally it was to be about 5 minutes in length but necessity brought the show closer to 10 minutes and then 15 minutes and eventually closer to 20 minutes per episode. The show’s slogan of “Give us 5 minutes and we’ll give you the World” is a play on words from a local New York City radio station 1010 WINS, which has the slogan of “Give us 22 minutes, and we’ll give you the world”, with the World in the podcast referring to Walt Disney World.

Second, the show would try to avoid topics that would only be relevant when the episode came out so older episodes could still be useful to listeners (such as shows about news or rumors).

Launch

The first episode of WDW Today premiered on September 12, 2005 in a format of one show on Mondays and another show on Fridays. The first Listener Questions show, called a “Call For Help” show, premiered on October 7, 2005. The response to requests for questions lead the four to add a Wednesday show to answer listener emails, the first of which aired on October 19, 2005.

The first LIVE episode of WDW Today premiered on Sunday April 30, 2006. The Live Shows proved so popular, that they have become a monthly addition to the show. Live episodes air on the last Sunday of each month.

The first road show was at Mousefest 2005, where the show was recorded at the Walt Disney World Dolphin. It was also the first time the 4 guys were in the same place at the same time to do a show. The first LIVE road show was at Dismeets 2006 in Allentown PA. Other live road shows were from Mousefest 2006 and 2007 as well as Magicmeets 2007 and 2008 (see Event).

The show started out advertiser and sponsor free and continued so for the first two years of the show’s existence, being funded by the hosts. Starting in Episode 238 on April 02, 2007, WDW Today started taking advertisers with a single advertisement before the start of the show and again at the end of the show. Sponsors have changed since then but there have been sponsors to help pay the bills that the podcast accrues over the course of the year.

WDWToday also broadcasted LIVE from the Disney Wonder out at sea in the Atlantic Ocean during the Mousefest Cruise in 2007. It was a first for Disney podcasting and a perhaps a internet radio first.

Although episodes of WDW Today currently air on other internet radio stations, all Live broadcasts air exclusively on MouseWorld Radio.

Episodes about the creation of the Show

Episode 1182 – Park Broadcasting

Episode 154: One Year Anniversary show

Highlights of the Podcast

The Best of WDW Today series has highlights from the first few hundred episodes, including many of today’s Inside Jokes.

Other highlights can be found in the Episode Recommendations page.

Live Show Firsts

WDW Today can also be know as a innovator of sorts. They were the first Disney related podcast to accomplish a few “firsts”

* First show to air Live
* First show to air Live from the road
* First show to air Live from a Disney Resort
* First show to air Live from a Disney Theme Park (Disney’s Hollywood Studios and The Magic Kingdom)
* First show to air Live from the Disney Cruise Line while at sea (’07 and “08 Mousefest)

Terrestrial Radio

SeeHow Do I Listenfor general information.

The premiere terrestrial KYAH broadcast was on December 15, 2012. The first half hour was Episode 1122 with a newly recorded intro by Matt saying it is a weely program on KYAH (as opposed to “This is Episode 1122 of WDW Today”) There were also a few brief commericals with intros and outros by Matt, and the 2nd half hour was Episode 1124.

Unofficial WDW Today Wiki – by Phillip Burton and Andrew Carrieri