Podcasts...why do you listen to them?

[WDW Newsletter]

Here is my latest blog about podcasts and I would like to hear our thoughts about them.

Newspapers…..news on the radio…..news on television….. news on the internet……these have been the main sources of ways to receive information. The latest form of passing along information to people is through podcasts.
Several years ago there were a handful of Disney related fan websites. Now there are hundreds of them throughout the internet. Some of the websites decided to expand their viewership and reach new fans through the podcasting medium. Many now produce weekly shows that offer things such as news, rumors, interviews, audio clips, and games.

As with the many Disney websites, most of the podcasts are going to contain the same basic news and rumors items, but each has its own uniqueness of flow, structure, and style of their podcast. Some are longer than an hour, while there are some that run as short as 15 minutes. That is what makes each podcast a bit different. Many times people are limited in how much time they have to listen to podcasts, thus the shorter podcasts are better for them. Conversely, if you are someone who commutes and has plenty of travel time, a longer podcast helps pass the time for you.

Some of my weekly favorites include such longer shows like Lou Mongello’s WDW Radio Show, Ricky Brigante’s Inside the Magic podcast and Tom Corless’ podcast. Since I am sometimes limited to the length of time I have available to listen each week, the shorter podcasts tend to work better for me. My favorites for this category include the Matt Hochberg’s WDW Today podcast and Nathan Rose’s Magical Definition podcast. But my favorite podcast of them all is Van’s ____________.com podcast. This podcast is unique. It still provides Disney news like the others, but Van does with a different flair. His delivery, style, and take on Walt Disney World is different than other podcasts. If you haven’t listened to it, give it a try and you will see what I mean.

Podcasts are not for everyone. There is only so much time we all have each week to relax and sometimes we get enough information through newsletters and websites to make do. For others who can find the time and can’t get enough Disney talk, then head over to iTunes and give some various podcasts a listen. Who knows maybe you will find one that you like and it will help give you a Disney fix until your next vacation!

 

[Fievel]

I listen for a variety of reasons. I have a 45 minute drive to work everyday, so they help pass the time, as they are something free and new to listen to each week. You're correct in saying they all have basically the same information, but each has it's own distinct tone and entertainment value. Some are more whimsical, such as the "All about the mouse" podcast, while some more informative, such as "Inside the Magic" and "WDW Radio".

I think the best part of any of these podcasts is that they offer hint/suggestions even for those who have been to the park many times. Because it is yet another extension of this huge community, you find a lot of people giving great advice that can help even the most seasoned veteran, and tempt them to try a ride/restaurant/show they never have before. It's helpful when planning things such as ADR's for places such as Yak and Yeti, when you've never been there before.

After listening for awhile, you start to feel like you know the people who are doing the podcast. I was excited last October to meet Lou Mongello face to face, as I was a long time listener of his. Johnathan Dichter has talked about his weight loss goals, and his goal of competing in the 2009 Half Marathon. It's not all about news....it's like sitting down with friends and hearing what they have to say.

 

[markjohns1]

WDW podcasts help to allow me to "escape" to the parks even when I'm sitting at home, in the car, or at work. I listen to them for many of the same reasons that I come to sites like this one. Sure, I love to hear the news and rumors, but just reading, talking, and hearing about the parks always picks my mood up a few notches. And even though I consistantly listen to three different WDW podcasts (ITM, WDW Radio Show, and WDW Today), I feel I take something different from each of them. I have yet to listen to a whole show and feel like I didn't learn something I didn't already know. Even if I did, though, I would still listen.

Speaking on podcasts specifically, I think they are an awesome medium and I subscribe to dozens. I often find the content more interesting than what is on "normal" network television, especially because I can find exactly what I am looking for.

 

[Captain Hank]

I'm a fan of the LaughingPlace podcast. It's not necessarily a good source of up-to-the-minute news, but it's got a really cool roundtable discussion format with a group of die-hard Disney fans, each of which has a different area of "expertise." It's a lot of fun to listen to.

 

[bgraham34]

I listen to them to get some news about things at the parks. At work I listen to drown out some of the noise. Also just to feel a little like im at the parks especially with the ride audio.

 

[LoriMistress]

Inside the Magic and WDW Today are the only two podcasts that I listen to.

 

[Maverick Mike21]

I listen..

I listen to them to just get my "Disney Fix" in between trips. But I totally agree about feeling like you are sitting down with friends and listening to what they have to say about their latest WDW adventures!

My favorites are WDW Today, The WDW Radio Show, ____________, Character Breakfast, and Inside the Magic.

Well, my absolute favorite is the "Be Our Guest WDW Trip Planning Podcast!" (I host that show with NibblesNBits from here on WDWMagic!)

Please give us a listen if you don't mind!

www.beourguestpodcast.com

 

[Bill Smugs]

why can't we post the name of van's podcast?