Show Notes
Disney History: Walt and His Trains
Trains are a core part of the Disney experience at parks around the globe. In today’s episode, Matt Krul of Imagination Skyway joins Danny and CJ to discuss the deep and storied history of the Disney family and their connection to the locomotive industry. They discuss a wide range of stories, including Walt’s early days as a news butcher on the railroad, a legally binding document between Walt and Lillian regarding a train project, and, of course, the story of how the trains themselves are true markers for Walt’s inspiring life lessons.
Kicking the show off, CJ and Danny answer a listener call from Molly, who brings some playful “mom guilt” to the show about our Preserve, Pave, or Plus decisions. She also delivers her own foodie-forward “P3” for the hosts to answer. How do they do?
The mid-break segment is a brand-new addition. Join CJ as he goes on location with the Animal Care team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see baby giraffe Ivy take her first steps onto the Kilimanjaro Safaris! Complete with an interview from an Animal Care specialist, this is a special segment for any animal lover. For more on Lily, read our blog post: HERE!
Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode! Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix. Thank you to our sponsors: * David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. * The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders! * Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com.
More from Parks & Pages
*CJ was a little under the weather for this one folks. We apologize for any sniffles or coughs we may have missed in editing.* Shutterbugs, assemble! It’s time for Danny and CJ to share some of their favorite photography tips for any fellow or aspiring Disney Parks photographers! From their kits and gear to their tips and tricks, there are NO secrets kept in the Parks Pod Fam! Curious how to get started or what you can do to get the most out of your camera phone? Our hosts have you covered with all their combined experiences, and they’ll have you snapping those perfect castle photos in no time. Kicking off with Mail Call, the hosts are cast with the idea of refurbishing a current attraction to “plus.” No preserving or paving today — just picking a favorite attraction to upgrade. Lots of discussion around the potential upgrades, but what two attractions do they settle on for this listener question? The middle segment brings back our dedicated friend and listener Andrew, who gives us a difficult and slightly divisive “this-or-that” scenario. Are you a table-service or quick-service diner? This really drives home not only what type of eater you are, but how you tour the parks, and CJ and Danny have a lot of thoughts. We also want to hear more from you. We are planning a listener-driven “this-or-that” episode and need you all to submit your impossible this-or-that scenarios for our hosts! Email, call, or hit us up on social media and bring all you got! Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode! Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix. Thank you to our sponsors: * David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save. * The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders! * Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com.
It’s time to find out if everything we *believed* was coming to the Disney Believe is actually coming true! On today’s episode, Danny and Steph recount their recent sailing on the Disney Wish, where they got to uncover more about what’s coming to the Believe. Through a multi-day scavenger hunt, they unpacked new dining locations, entertainment offerings, and so much more. If you’re excited for the newest addition to the fleet or just curious about Disney Cruise Line in general, this is a must-listen. Get our full guide to the Disney Believe: https://bit.ly/dclbelieve This week features a return to mail call, where Danny and CJ help MattKDisney lock in some photo tips for the Magic Kingdom special ticket parties. Are you curious to try your hat at some Boo-To-You Parade photos? Or how to capture the last castle show of the night for the best shots? Our hosts have photographed these parties numerous times and have you covered! The mid break features a dad/daughter combo where CJ on Location and Core Memory Corner mash up to discuss a recent outing to Hurly-Burly, the newest family-friendly offering on the BoardWalk. Thank you to Disney for hosting us onboard the Disney Wish during the Disney Believe Reveal celebration and at a preview of Hurly-Burly. Thank you for joining Parks & Pages every Tuesday, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You never know when we may drop a bonus episode on you! Loved what you heard? Consider leaving a 5-star review — it really helps others find our community and join in the conversation. Would you like to ask a question or drop a comment that could be used for a future episode? Head to parksandpages.com to join the conversation. We would love to hear from you and may even use your contribution on a future episode! Parks & Pages is brought to you by the award-winning team behind WDW Magazine, DLR Magazine, and DCL Magazine. Becoming a member is the best way to support the podcast so we can keep long-form storytelling alive in print, online, and on the pod. Use code PARKSPOD and save 20% on new memberships at wdw-magazine.com. Follow us on social @wdwmagazine for your daily Disney fix. Thank you to our sponsors: * David’s Vacation Club Rentals is the largest and most trusted source of Disney Vacation Club Rentals in the world. With David’s, many Disney fans have saved thousands of dollars on their Disney vacations, and you can, too. See how much you can save: bit.ly/bookdvcr * The Circa 1955 collection by Lux Illume will transport you to your happy place with scents inspired by Disney’s most iconic parks and resorts. Save 10% with code PARKSPOD at luxillume.com and get free shipping on all US orders! * Make your next Disney trip easier with crowd prediction, wait time alerts, and more. Download Rope Drop Guide on the App Store or Google Play, or visit ropedropguide.com.
Navigating Disney Vacation Club can be complicated as a first-time Disney vacationer. In today’s episode, Steph and special guest Melissa Mullett, CEO of David’s Vacation Club Rentals, join CJ and Danny to discuss the process of renting DVC points. What are the perks of DVC? How much can you save renting vs. booking direct? What are some of Melissa’s biggest hacks for new renters? This episode answers all your DVC rental questions! We also take a moment to look into the history of DVCR and how David started the business in 2005. They aren’t only one of the most respected brokers in the DVC rental space; they were also the first to connect DVC owners to interested renters — making them a Disney vacation matchmaker of sorts.
Our popular Ballin’ on a Budget series makes its next stop — at Magic Kingdom! CJ, Danny, and returning guest Carly take their $100 spending limits to the max as they wine and dine in the Most Magical Place on Earth. As always with this series, $100 really allows our hosts to make the most of their dining experience. Curious how many vital snacks and popular dishes this budget can get you? Listen now to find out!
The 2026 EPCOT international Food & Wine Festival is underway, and we definitely have some favorite foods to try. From returning classics to brand-new bites, this year's festival is stacked with some tasty menu items! Join CJ and Danny for a circle-tour around World Showcase as they discuss highlights (and some low lights) from this year’s foodie fest.