Join Mike Patrick, veteran themed entertainment professionaland storyteller, as he takes you behind the scenes of the beer business andtheme park operations in "Launching the Brand." In this episode, Mikeshares insider stories from his time at Busch Gardens and Anheuser-Busch,revealing the fascinating process behind the launch of a new brew, that became oneof the fastest-growing beer brands in history. With engaging anecdotes,industry insights, and a touch of humor, this episode offers a unique look atleadership, marketing, and innovation in a crowded market. Whether you're a fanof themed entertainment, business stories, or just love a good beer tale, thispodcast delivers an authentic and entertaining experience.

Tune in for trivia, laughs, and lessons from a seasonedinsider who’s been there and done that.

Episode 3

“If You Wait Until You’reReady to Open, You’ll Never Open”

Step back into the final,frantic 90 days before Walt Disney World opened its gates in 1971. In thisepisode, Mike Patrick takes you behind the construction walls and into theorganized chaos of a project racing the clock — where cranes hovered overCinderella’s Castle, monorails hadn’t yet made a full loop, and entiredepartments worked elbow‑to‑elbow in makeshiftoffices above Main Street.

You’ll hear what it was liketo join the Recreation team during those wild early days: training 100lifeguards with no pools, testing the first Jet Skis, running barefoot acrossBay Hill, and navigating the friendly rivalry between Recreation andWatercraft. Mike shares the tension‑filled moment when the first monorail crept throughthe Contemporary Resort, the legendary swim across Seven Seas Lagoon, and theunforgettable cast of characters who helped bring the Vacation Kingdom to life.

From construction workersabandoning their posts to catch a glimpse of lifeguards, to contractors beingpushed out the back gate as guests walked in the front, this episode capturesthe energy, urgency, and magic of a world being built at full speed.

Plus — the answer to this week’strivia question: What color was the first monorail to pass through theContemporary, and who was driving it?

If you love Disney history,behind‑the‑scenes stories, or talesof impossible deadlines met with grit and humor, this is an episode you won’twant to miss.

S1E2: The Road to Disney; Part Deux

Step back into1970s Orlando—long before the theme parks, traffic jams, and endless souvenirshops—as Mike Patrick continues his true story of how an ordinary 18‑year‑oldkid found himself on the front lines of opening Walt Disney World.

In this secondepisode of The Road to Disney, Mike takes listeners from the citrus‑scentedgroves of old Central Florida to the pristine fairways of Bay Hill CountryClub, where a summer lifeguard job unexpectedly becomes the gateway to a 50‑yearcareer in the themed entertainment industry. Along the way, listeners meetlegendary Disney horticulturist Bill Evans, survive a Navy hospital adventureor two, and discover what it was really like to apply for a job at Walt DisneyWorld when the Casting Center was a double‑wide trailer tucked into the woods.

From run‑swim‑runtests on Bay Lake to the strict grooming rules of early Disney cast life, thisepisode blends nostalgia, humor, and insider history in a way only someone wholived it can deliver.

The episodealso answers this week’s trivia question: Which original WDW role required male cast members who were at least 6 feet tall?

Listeners who enjoy behind‑the‑scenes stories, Disney history, or tales of how life’s smallest decisions can change everything will find this episode especiallycompelling.