by Ray Keating
Commentary
DisneyBizJournal.com
February 19, 2019
Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” True enough. But in the 21stCentury broadband universe, I’ll add another certainty: There certainly is no shortage of podcasts, YouTube channels, blogs and vlogs focused on Disney.
This phenomenon is a fascinating combination of technological advancements, entrepreneurship and small business, and entertainment and information services coalescing around one of the largest entertainment businesses on the planet with a massive, diverse, and passionate fan base.
So, as a listener/viewer/fan, how does one sort through all of these podcasters and vloggers? I’m not quite sure, but at the very least I can tell you about the three that have impressed me, so far.
First is WDW Radio with Lou Mongello. Lou excels at podcasting, special events, and live Facebook videos, including a Wednesday night show on Facebook where he talks about seemingly all things Disney.
Mongello’s podcast topics are wide-ranging, with recent subjects including “Top Ten Things to Do in Walt Disney World When It’s Cold Outside,” “Marvel Day at Sea on Disney Cruise Line Review,” “Mary Poppins Returns Interviews” (including interviews with the movie’s songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman, and director Rob Marshall), and “Raglan Road LIVE Restaurant Review.” Lou loves tasting, talking and reviewing all foods related to Disney. In fact, I think there might be a Lou Mongello table at The Boathouse in Disney Springs.
Mongello also is a big Marvel fan, and, full disclosure, I was fortunate to be a guest on his two-part podcast discussing and ranking the Marvel Universe movies leading up to Avengers: Infinity War(listen to Part Iand Part II.)
In addition, Lou has formed a passionate community around WDW Radio; runs Meets of the Month for face-to-face gatherings; and sponsors trips and cruises. For good measure, he has become a leader in terms of helping people start up and build their businesses, and as an event speaker (check this out at LouMongello.com).
Visit and like the WDW Radio Facebook page.
Second is the Disney Food Blog. AJ Wolfe leads the way for this fantastic endeavor, which has been growing since March 2009. DFB offers both in-depth and quick takes on food and restaurants in the Disney parks and resorts, as well as on the cruises, along with a bunch of other Disney news and tips. The website is jam-packed with handy information, including, for example, explanations and advice on the Disney Dining Plans and the various Disney World festivals(like Epcot Food and Wine), as well as handy guidebooks, such as The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2019.
Where DFB arguably does its best work is the news and reviews presented via its YouTube channel. Among recent topics have been “The Best Times To Go To Disneyland This Year!,” “37 Hidden Secrets in Disney World's Magic Kingdom!,” “The Most Expensive Disney World Snacks” (i.e., the most value on the Disney Dining Plan), “Disney Bathrooms Part II: You've Gotta See These Disney Restrooms,” and “The ULTIMATE Guide to the 2019 Disney Dining Plan.”
DFB ranks among the best because of the combination of valuable information, a fun vibe, professional videos and guides, and AJ’s engaging video presentations.
Visit and like the Disney Food Blog Facebook page.
Third is TheTimTracker. TheTimTracker videos – pretty much posted daily! – offer all kinds of looks at Walt Disney World, as well as takes on the entire Orlando area, including other theme parks, shopping and more. The on-the-scene videos feature Tim, and often his wife, Jenn.
The wide-ranging videos recently have included “Touring The Disney Fantasy! | Disney Cruise Line Ship Tour, Cooking Class At Palo & More!,” “Food, Fun & Friends At Disney's Festival Of The Arts! | Food Reviews & Taste Tests!,” “Looking For Disney Stuff At The Target Behind Disney World!,” and a recent series taking more in-depth looks around Epcot’s World Showcase, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and France.
Watching Tim, along with Jenn, is like tuning in to friends you know who live in the Walt Disney World area. They’re engaging, inquisitive, quippy, information rich without being boring, and excellent with a video camera and editing software. My wife introduced me to TheTimTracker, and mentioning that she’d like to hang out with these people.
Subscribe to TheTimTracker.
In fact, that’s a key part of the success of the best podcasters and vloggers, right? They’re engaging people who know their stuff, and you just feel like you’d appreciate hanging out with them. Lou, AJ, and Tim and Jenn pull that all off quite nicely.
Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels, with the three latest books being Reagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel, Heroes and Villains: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Storyand Shifting Sands: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story. He can be contacted at raykeating@keatingreports.com.
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