For this episode, we are discussing some news stories that developed while we were celebrating our birthday for the entire month of November. We will be discussing the fallen monorail door, Photopass booths, Personal Shoppers/Flippers, and much, much more!

What are your thoughts on some of these news stories? Let us know at show@magicourway.com. Your opinions are always welcome on our show. Seriously, every opinion is welcome.

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Kevin Hulk

Kevin Estoque

I attribute my Disney fandom to my parents, specifically my mother. When we lived in New York City, my parents brought me down to Walt Disney World when I was one year old, and then every year after that. This was an easy adventure for my parents as there was only one park at the time. The trek became more accessible when we relocated to New Orleans. I traveled to Walt Disney World almost every year, whether with my parents, as part of a band trip, or with friends. I was a fan and would collect all things Disney, from park maps and park tickets to brochures procured from the Florida welcome center or the Okahumpka Service Plaza on the Florida Turnpike. Then, one day while I was in high school, my friend, David, bought me a used copy of Steve Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World Guide from my high school’s Christmas Bizarre. From this point on, my obsession exploded as I discovered the world of Disney-related literature. With this new resource and the dawn of the Internet and Disney-related newsgroups, I began acquiring as much knowledge as possible.

I entered the world of podcasting in 2005 when I discovered that my fellow bandmates had a podcast of their own, The Big Easy Trickbag. From here, I found the world of Disney podcasts. In reality, I was podcasting before the medium even existed, privately for myself. I started reading the WDW park guidebooks into a tape recorder word for word. This eventually grew into me doing a pseudo-news show. My tape recorder would document my travels with my friends on band trips. 

I attribute my leap into podcasting to two individuals who hail from New Jersey: well-known Disney trivia guru and podcasting veteran Lou Mongello and director and podcaster Kevin Smith. I started listening to Kevin Smith’s show, Smodcast and saw how much fun he and his friend, Scott Mosier, were having while recording the show. Several times on this particular podcast, Kevin Smith would break down how easy it was to begin in this medium. Lou Mongello’s positive and constant embodiment of the phrase “keep moving forward” gave me the impetus to pursue this podcasting venture. You see, I have always had a desire to work for the company and be part of something that brings so much joy to people daily. But, that path has never been presented to me yet. Podcasting, however, was very accessible to him. I discovered that my friend, Danny, also had a Disney obsession, and the rest is what you are witnessing before you.

I entertain the masses as a professional musician when I am not podcasting. I have played and recorded with several bands, but I am primarily a freelance musician. I have played numerous events around the New Orleans metropolitan area and the Gulf Coast as a freelancer. I have worked for several Broadway tours that have come through such as Wicked, Mary Poppins, and Shrek the Musical; for several performing acts on the Gulf Coast such as Johnny Mathis, Jerry Lewis, Frank Sinatra Jr., and Regis Philbin; and for several local musical production companies such the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts and the Jefferson Performing Arts Society; and for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra as an extra musician. On a national level, Kevin worked for the Music Box Company on the 1st National Tour of the Phantom of the Opera as a substitute musician until its closure. Kevin was raised a New Orleanian and is a fierce advocate for its culture. LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULE!