The Dreamfinders by Anthony Cortese

It’s a common dream among Walt Disney World fans: move to Orlando and visit the parks all the time. Instead of having painful waits between annual trips, we could go whenever we want! For most of us, it’s just a daydream and not possible in reality. Plus, there certainly would be unexpected challenges when becoming a Florida resident. The parks and roads are crowded, and the heat would get old.

On the other hand, that idea never really goes away. It’s especially true for bloggers and podcasters. Having close access to Walt Disney World would change the approach and give you a huge edge. In his documentary The Dreamfinders, Anthony Cortese chronicles a group that has taken the plunge. They’ve pushed their fandom to new heights and converted their Disney passion into a full-time pursuit.

Cortese brings together content providers that are well-known among the online Disney community. Veterans like Ricky Brigante (formerly of Inside the Magic) and Lou Mongello (WDW Radio) podcasted about the parks in the early days of the medium. Their shows drove my own fandom as an adult in the mid-2000s. JeniLynn Knopp (formerly of The DIS) and John Saccheri (Big Fat Panda) bring a different take as video hosts with big personalities.

Corinne Andersson (Inside the Magic) moved from Sweden to be near Disney and focuses on merchandise. There’s no shortage of niches in this community. Finally, Cortese interviews Ron Schneider apart from the group. Schneider was the original Dreamfinder at EPCOT Center and has a long history with Disney.

A Wide Range of Diehard Fans

The diversity among these participants in Dreamfinders shows a reason why so many get into Disney. There is no single type of person that becomes a fan. Most connected with Walt Disney World on trips as a child. Knopp speaks about growing up in a broken family and how the parks brought them together. It’s no surprise that many adult fans became obsessed as kids.

Saccheri calls his dad from the ferry to The Magic Kingdom and is so connected with his childhood memories. He gets emotional just thinking about those trips and how they impacted his life. Mongello relates a familiar story of car trips from New Jersey with his parents each year beginning in 1971. I had a very similar experience on regular visits from Missouri in the ‘80s.

Anthony Cortese is the director of the Dreamfinders documentary. — Director Anthony Cortese

Cortese is known for his “A Day in the Life of Walt Disney World” time lapse video presentation. The 10-minute video takes the viewer from morning to night at each of the four parks. It’s a brilliant way to remind us of the excitement of each place in a short time period. He uses similar time-lapse videos well throughout this film.

In particular, the opening sequence does a great job in showing the beauty and energy of the resort. Cortese finds a way to make Walt Disney World look so relaxing with shots from the Liberty Square Riverboat and Walt Disney World Railroad. There is a definite old-school vibe to this footage; FastPass queues and MagicBands are not the focus. These scenes easily reveal why Disney World still clicks with so many.

Early Disney Podcast Legends

Veterans Mongello and Brigante interested me the most, and each has a very different approach. Mongello is the enthusiastic fan who’s become a motivational speaker. He’s a genuine guy that both loves the parks and is a smooth pro. When a fan approaches him in World Showcase, Mongello bypasses any awkwardness with questions and fun banter. I expect that he encounters this type of moment all the time. My only wish was to learn more about challenges Mongello faced with the transition.

Brigante seems more introspective and sort of amazed that he’s done so well. He really was just a guy talking about Disney for hours in the beginning. I witnessed the growth of his show as a regular listener, and its success does not surprise me. Brigante’s view of his site as a “publicity arm” of Disney is interesting. He recognizes the benefit that Inside the Magic provides the company and the fine line to walk when offering any criticism. It benefits Brigante and Disney to be nice to each other. This is true of everyone here, though I doubt it’s hard for them to be positive. They’re practically giddy when strolling through the parks.

I wasn’t that familiar with Saccheri and Andersson, so this documentary was a nice introduction. It’s a reminder of just how expansive the blogging and podcasting community has become. There’s no way to keep track of everyone. I enjoyed Knopp’s work on The DIS, and it surprised me to not hear her family’s amazing story in this film. Learning more about her experiences at Disney World as a parent would make her fandom even more understandable. Each participant has a unique story of how they connected to Disney. Cortese brings together an interesting group that differs a lot from the standard “Disney nerd” idea.

Cinderella Castle at The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World

A good portion of The Dreamfinders involves just spending time with this group in the parks. They enjoy good meals, watch Illuminations, and dance in Tomorrowland. There’s even a Periscope battle on Main Street to grab the most followers (Mongello wins). Being a Disney personality take a lot of work; they constantly take photos and broadcast from the parks. Everyone shooting the fireworks through their phones is a perfect example. It’s fun to hang out at Disney World, but the listeners and viewers always occupy their minds. It takes a certain personality to be “on” all the time. Cortese shows the work that’s needed from even the biggest Disney fans to become successful. They’re always on the clock to keep the dream alive.

Learn more about The Dreamfinders and see the film on the official site.