The WDW Radio Show - Your Walt Disney World Information Station Lou Mongello - Disney Expert, Host, Author, and Speaker

Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs is nothing short of a phenomenon, with wait times and lines that rival Disney’s biggest E-Ticket attractions, and delicious cookies that justify those waits. This week, I sit down with Steve Lewis, the founder (and mad scientist) behind Gideon’s to discuss its origins, journey, stories, recipes, and more!

I visited the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival this week, and love seeing old friends… not just wandering and grazing the promenade with me, but old friends from Walt Disney World’s past… and present. In recent years, we have seen a resurgence in nostalgia, sentiment, and love for our little purple friend with childlike innocence, Figment, as well as our favorite combination of fruit and fowl, the Little Orange Bird.

And in the past 50 years, we’ve seen some pretty interesting things at Walt Disney World: A waterskiing Goofy, gunfighters shooting it out in Frontierland, singing fruit, a rapping Mickey and much more. But until 2011, many people didn’t know who the Orange Bird was, let alone remember seeing a character walking around in Adventureland with a giant orange head, leaves for arms and a green stem sticking out of his head. It started with a slow release of retro merchandise in Magic Kingdom, and in 2012, the Orange Bird returned to Sunshine Tree Terrace signage and quirky drink cups, and a new line of Orange Bird merchandise started to appear on the shelves! Also, an Orange Bird statue that was on display at Sunshine Tree Terrace in the 1970s was retrieved from the Walt Disney Imagineering Sculpture Studio in California, and is now on display in full, orange glory.

This rekindled a sense of fond remembrance for our little orange friend, and now, he is not only present in our memories, hearts, and Adventureland, but is a huge fixture at this year’s Festival in Epcot. He has inspired not just a huge line of merchandise, but even some food items as well.

So I went back into the WDW Radio Archives this week to 2011 and Show #250, where Jim Korkis and I took a look back in time at the Sunshine Tree Terrace and it’s one-time host (and hostess). We explore the origins of the Orange Bird, the Sherman Brothers song, why he and Anita Bryant may have flown the coop, and the (then) recent resurgence of our little orange friend. I’ll then pose a question for you to share your thoughts on as well.

Do you remember seeing the little Orange Bird in Adventureland in the 70’s? Did you ever get a photo with the walk around character? Share your memories, and thoughts about this old and new unofficial mascot for the parks in the WDW Radio Clubhouse at WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse, or call the voicemail at 407-900-9391 (WDW1) and share your story on the show.

But for now… sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode from the Archives on the WDW Radio show.

The 2023 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival features food and fun for guests of all ages, and is a feast for all five senses in 360°. This week, join me live from the first day of the Festival, as we sample and share our top five foods you need to try at this year’s event… including a few, wonderful, delicious, and unexpected surprises!

After visiting EPCOT this past week, and in thinking about the future of that park, specifically the Imagination pavilion, I went way back into the WDW Radio Archives to being you one of my earliest interviews.

Let’s go back to 2007 and Show # 30, when, as part of my Legends of Disney Imagineering feature, I shared my conversation with former Imagineer Steve Kirk. Steve helped come up with the initial concepts for Figment and the Dreamfinder, as well as the Journey Into Imagination attraction, and also helped develop some of Disney’s most memorable characters, attractions, pavilions, and even complete theme parks, including being the creative leader of Tokyo DisneySea. We also talk about Epcot, the Studios and so much more.

I would later come to interview his brother, Tim Kirk about his work at Imagineering, specifically at the Disney-MGM Studios, but that is another trip to the archives for another day. For now, sit back, relax, and enjoy my conversation (and forgive my voice), with the fascinating and talented Steve Kirk.

I open up the inbox this week and answer more of your emails about topics including: father/son activities in Walt Disney World, Disney’s Contemporary Resort and a discussion of possible themed rooms in Disney Resorts, secret lounges, crowd levels and best times to visit WDW, and a Disney dream trip around the world.

From the WDW Radio Archives… There is always be a great, big beautiful tomorrow, but now is the time, now is the best time to explore the history, legacy, details and future of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress that is part Walt Disney World Wayback Machine, and part DSI: Disney Scene Investigation, and I leave you with some questions that I encourage you to share your thoughts on.