Ever walked through Disney certain you’d seen it all—then spotted one tiny detail that changed how the whole land feels? That spark of discovery drives this episode, where we explore the most rewarding Disney tours that add depth and story to your day, then sit down with Stefan from Rabbit Hole Quest Craft to uncover escape-style adventures that turn the parks into interactive playgrounds.
We start with essential picks for curious fans looking to see Walt Disney World in a new light. Keys to the Kingdom at Magic Kingdom dives into park history and those legendary utilidors beneath Main Street. Over at Animal Kingdom, Caring for Giants delivers a meaningful and affordable look at elephant care and conservation. In Epcot, Behind the Seeds takes you behind the Living with the Land boats to explore hydroponics, sustainability, and beneficial insects firsthand—perfect for anyone who loves learning how Disney grows the future.
For more immersive experiences, we compare the adventurous Wild Africa Trek with the relaxed, food-forward Savor the Savannah, two premium Animal Kingdom offerings worth the splurge. Short on time? Up Close with Rhinos gives guests a rare, intimate view of one of the park’s most inspiring species. And for a nighttime twist, Starlight Safari at Animal Kingdom Lodge lets you explore the savannas with night-vision goggles—no park ticket required.
Throughout the discussion, we share practical tips: when to book, how to handle mobility needs, where discounts might apply, and what to expect in terms of pacing and accessibility. You’ll also hear a few fun extras—like trivia about The Land pavilion’s early sponsors and the original Soarin’ concept—plus a few classic Walt quotes that still resonate with how guests learn and explore today.
Then we welcome Stefan from Rabbit Hole Quest Craft, a lifelong Disneyland local reimagining the parks as story-driven scavenger experiences. His team’s handcrafted “quests” combine analog and digital gameplay—think ciphers, clue cards, and location-based puzzles—leading to a final story payoff sealed in a locked envelope. It’s National Treasure meets The Goonies, with a sprinkle of Disney storytelling magic. You’ll
Travel Made Easy with Little OnesHigh quality, clean baby gear delivered right to your resort while on your Disney Vacation.
Use the code "dislove10" to save 10%!
Where In the Park game packs are fun & challenging for anyone who knows the parks and for newbies.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
For all the latest news about our episodes follow us on Instagram @dislovewithvanessaandkris or on YouTube.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:24):
Welcome to the Disney Love Podcast with Vanessa
and Chris.
I'm Vanessa Ferguson.
SPEAKER_03 (00:28):
And I'm Chris Johns.
SPEAKER_00 (00:29):
We'd like to welcome you to show number 161.
And for any listeners joining usfor the first time, our show
features things we love atDisney, and in each episode, we
typically have a guest whocreates Disney Magic for our
listeners at home and on theirDisney vacations.
From vacation planners toproduct producers, our guests
can bring Disney magic into yourlife.
(00:51):
We are so glad to be back onafter a short break, and we are
excited for today's show.
And a quick reminder (00:57):
if you are a longtime listener, please make
sure to leave us a review onApple Podcasts or wherever you
listen.
We love to give shout-outs andupcoming episodes, and of
course, we appreciate thosebecause that helps the show
grow.
Now, before we get started withuh introducing our show, Chris,
we have a message from ourfriends Kevin and Amanda at
(01:19):
We're in the Park.
SPEAKER_03 (01:20):
Yes.
Our friends Kevin and Amanda atWe're in the Park, they make
scavenger hunt game packs.
And what they do is they takeyour Disney experience and make
it even more fun.
And what they do is it's ascavenger hunt within the park,
and they're gonna give you cardswith clues.
And so not only are you gonnaexperience all your rides, food,
and fun with family, but you'realso gonna have a family
(01:41):
competition.
And it's great for Disneyveterans like Vanessa and myself
who have been there many, many,many times as well as first-time
visitors.
And what's awesome is they havegame packs for both Disneyland,
Disney World, as well asUniversal.
And if you use the codeDISLOVE10, you'll get 10% off
your next order.
We met Kevin and Amanda, and wewere in.
(02:03):
Is this is it in Anaheim?
We were in Anaheim.
That was one of the questions.
I got it right.
And what was awesome was that wehad a lot of fun, and you're
gonna see details that you'vewalked past a hundred times, a
thousand times, ten thousandtimes, and you never notice.
But what is awesome with thisgame is it's gonna give you a
chance to fully experienceDisney.
SPEAKER_00 (02:24):
And I'll make sure to put the link in the show
notes with along with the promocode that Chris just shared.
So before we get started, ourshow today is going to feature
Stefan with Rabbit Hole Quest,and they have some really,
really cool things, which iskind of an even deeper thing
than Kevin and Amanda are havebeen working with him over at
(02:47):
Rabbit Hole Quest Craft, andwe're excited to share all about
it's almost like an escape roomin the park.
So you follow all these tips andclues, and then you are going to
have an amazing time.
So we have our call with Stefana little bit later from Rabbit
Hole Quest Craft, and superexcited to share all about what
he has in his or at Disneyland,which is what Chris was just
(03:10):
talking about, how we got tomeet Kevin and Amanda out there.
So before we get to our talkwith Stefan, we want to talk
about Disney tours and all thetours that are worth taking.
And if you have never done atour, or maybe it's been a while
since you've done one, becausesome of these have changed since
COVID.
So it's going to be exciting tolook at all of the ones that are
(03:32):
some of the good experienceshappening right now.
They give you a real deep behindthe scenes look at Disney and
all of the storytelling, which Ithought was perfect to go along
with our interview with Stefanbecause that's what these
experiences are with the queststhat he has and then with the
packs that Kevin and Amandahave.
(03:53):
It's all about seeing thoselittle details.
And taking one of these toursreally gives you a backstage
view of some of the things.
Now, the first one is Keys tothe Kingdom at Magic Kingdom.
And I took this one many yearsago with my parents.
It's a five-hour tour and it'sat the Magic Kingdom.
You get all kinds of behind thescenes, lots of great park
(04:14):
history.
You get to go into theutilidors, the infamous
utilidors.
I don't think, Chris, you'veever been on something to go in
the utilitors, have you?
SPEAKER_03 (04:21):
That's correct.
SPEAKER_00 (04:22):
So I've had a chance to be in the utilidors.
Chris has not.
It is pretty, it is a lot ofwalking, so that's something to
keep in mind if you have anybodywith mobility issues.
But really, any of you that loveDisney history, if you're like
me and you like to get the booksand read the trivia and all of
that stuff related to the parkand the history of the park,
you're going to love this.
(04:44):
And they typically they'll havea quick service lunch at the
end.
And you do get to ride one ofthe rides as they're giving you
some of the history andbackground with that ride.
So I don't want to, I don't wantto give that away too much, but
it's really just a funexperience.
I would say that this isdefinitely geared towards teens
and adults, unless you have likea kid that is super into Disney
(05:06):
history, which is possible.
I know there are some out there,but it is a lot of fun.
You definitely want to book thisone ahead of time, just like
with most of these.
Now, the second one we're goingto talk about does not require a
lot of upfront planning, andthat's called Caring for Giants
at Animal Kingdom.
This is a one-hour elephantencounter, and I did this with
(05:28):
my friend Judy.
We did this for her birthday oneyear when we were down, and it
was a lot of fun.
And it was just a one-hour tour.
So Chris and our daughter kindof hung out and they went and
did other things at AnimalKingdom while we were doing the
experience.
But it's a neat, we actuallywalked up the day of and booked
it.
And I know that you can do it.
(05:49):
I can't remember if this one'sahead of time or not, but we
just walked up and they had akiosk in Africa, kind of near
the safari, and you sign up forit.
It's called Caring for Giants.
And it was super cool becauseyou got to meet the caregivers
or the caretakers, and you gotto hear how they were working
with some of the differentindividuals who are really
(06:13):
working to try to preserve thehabitat and to ensure that
elephants in their naturalhabitats are kept safe.
It was really interesting.
They showed us some things withdifferent research and things
that where they work to ensurethat because elephants can be,
because they're such a largeanimal, they are can be a
(06:34):
nuisance related to certaincrops and things.
So they were showing how they dosome things to help farmers
ensure that elephants don'treally cause any issues with
their props, or props, theircrops.
Um, I will, and it was just areally fascinating experience.
You got to see where they arecared for behind the scenes
(06:55):
outside of being on thesavannah.
So, and this one is a relativelyinexpensive one.
Another one we're gonna talkabout later is inexpensive.
This one was just$39 a person,and that's as of 2025.
Obviously, there's alwayschanges that can happen, but
caring for giants is super funat Animal Kingdom.
So we've talked about one atMagic Kingdom, one at Animal
(07:18):
Kingdom.
We're and we have several moreat Animal Kingdom, but I want to
jump over to Epcot and Behindthe Seeds, and this is in the
land pavilion.
And you did, I think you and ourdaughter, you guys went to the
DVC lounge when I went to theshow.
SPEAKER_03 (07:35):
We sure did, it was awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (07:36):
Yes, so this one is behind the seeds, and I will say
my family had talked about doingthis for years and years and
years, and we finally did it.
I think about a year and a halfago is when we went.
And it is super interesting.
If you, I mean, I don't have agreen thumb, I don't kill
plants, but I'm also not onethat is really great at getting
(07:59):
them to grow either.
But I found it superfascinating.
They give you all the behind thescenes about the sustainability,
how they do the hydroponics.
You get to go in where they havelike the fish farm where they
have the different seafood thatis used in some of the
restaurants there, and you learnall about that.
(08:20):
You learn about some of thethings related to insects that
they utilize, how they do all ofthe different growing in the
greenhouses.
So it's super, super cool.
You get to go behind, like younormally when you take when you
go on the ride, you're in theboats and you go through, but
this you get to go throughwalking paths and it's all
inside, which is great.
(08:40):
So if it's raining outside orsomething, you do a little bit
of a walk when you go out onedoor to go into another part of
the greenhouses, but even if itwas raining, you would be
totally fine.
It's a great entry-level tourfor anyone, it's relatively
short, they have it throughoutthe day, and you can just walk
up to the kiosk, which is rightoutside soaring.
(09:03):
And so you're you can go grablunch at down there, maybe ride
soaring, and then sign up forthe tour.
It behind the seeds is supergreat, and it was a nice
experience.
And like I said, it wasn't verylong.
I don't you guys waited for us,and it was maybe an hour at
most.
SPEAKER_03 (09:21):
It was very reasonable.
SPEAKER_00 (09:22):
Yes, and so it's a good way for you to not take too
much time from your Disneyvacation but still enjoy some of
the backstage look.
Now, these other two, so I'vedone these first three that we
talked about, and there'sanother tour that Chris and I
did that's like an all-day tour,which we're not gonna talk about
that one on this show, but weare gonna talk about two more
(09:44):
that are in Animal Kingdom.
We have the Wild Africa Trek,and this is essentially a
private safari.
It's supposed to be really cool,it runs just under$250, and with
it you are able to go behind andsee all of the different
experiences that happen atAnimal Kingdom and how they care
(10:06):
for some of the differentanimals.
Now, the super cool thing forthis tour is they also have
photographers on with you andthey're taking pictures of you
as you're going through anddoing kind of this up close
savannah truck.
So you get a chance to go acrosssome of the rope bridges, and
(10:26):
you're gonna have your vehiclethat's gonna take you a little
bit closer into some of theareas that the regular ride does
not go, and then at the end,you're able to get some really
great African-inspired snacks.
Some of these are things thatyou have seen on the menus at
some of the like quick service,but you get hummus and an olive
(10:47):
mix, a chicken wrap, they havesome tenduri shrimp, so a good
variety of things.
But those are some of theAfrican-inspired snacks that
they have at the end of the wildAfrica truck.
So it's a super fun experience.
And if you're interested inhaving a more fulfilling or I
(11:08):
guess more filling meal, thenyou might want to check out the
Savor the Savannah.
And this is a premium safariwhere they take you back to
there's kind of a pavilion sortof building that you'll see when
you are when you've gone pastwhere the lions are as you
circle through, where there'susually the a lot of the
(11:29):
giraffes in that there.
You will typically see you cansee it off to the right.
Well, as your car to uh as yourcar curves around, it's going to
be in different spots.
But originally you'll see it upto the right, and it is going to
be where they do a gourmetdinner.
It has small plates, wine.
It's a very cool like VIPexperience.
(11:52):
I've known some people that havetaken it, and you have it's a
little bit more pricey, but itis a super cool experience,
especially if you're celebratinga special occasion.
Somebody who really loves AnimalKingdom and those experiences.
So Savor the Savannah is apremium kind of experience that
you have.
Really Wild Africa Truck andSavor the Savannah are both
(12:15):
great.
Another one that is similar towhere we had talked about the
caring for giants.
I almost forgot to mentionthere's one that's called Up
Close with Rhinos, and it'sexactly like the elephant one.
I've not been on the Rhino one,but only with rhinos.
And the cool thing about this isI think to me, you hear more
(12:36):
people talk about like elephantsand different things like that.
You don't hear people talk aboutrhinos very much.
SPEAKER_03 (12:42):
You don't.
SPEAKER_00 (12:43):
Yeah, so I think it would be cool to take the rhino
tour.
Right now it's$49.
Obviously, those can change, butthat again, it's only a one-hour
tour.
So if you're wanting to try outsomething like we mentioned, you
could do behind the seeds.
If you were at Epcot, you coulddo Caring for Giants or Up Close
with Rhinos at Animal Kingdom.
Really gives you a greatexperience.
(13:04):
Now, some other things that youcan do, some other tours, these
are the main ones in the parks.
There is also a dive quest atEpcot where you get a chance, if
you are a certified diver, to gointo the aquariums at Living
Seas.
They used to have some othertours there, but right now
there's just the dive quest.
And of course, outside theparks, there are some tours.
(13:26):
Just because we talked a lotabout Animal Kingdom tours, I
want to specifically mentionthey have a Starlight Safari
tour at Animal Kingdom Lodgewhere you get to wear the night
vision glasses and see theanimals out on part of the
savannas.
I think it'd be cool to wearnight vision glasses.
SPEAKER_03 (13:41):
It would be awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (13:42):
Yeah, so you can get a chance to do that.
So that though, again, isoutside the park, so you don't
have to have a park ticket,which is an added bonus.
All the other ones were onesthat you have to have a park
ticket for.
So just a couple of things for alot of these tours, you want to
check ahead of time.
Almost all of these can bebooked in advance, and you want
(14:03):
to make sure that obviously forthese that you have a park
ticket to get in.
Another thing is that some ofthem do involve a lot of
walking.
So if you have anyone in yourgroup with some mobility issues,
like when we did the caring forgiants, my friend has some
challenges when it comes togetting around like walking
distances, and she had noproblem on that tour at all.
(14:25):
They did some accommodations forher.
My parents and I, when we didthe behind the seats, my Dan has
a little bit of mobility issues,but it wasn't too much walking,
and there was enough likestopping and things that he was
able to make it through.
And of course, remember tobudget this in, these are all
added costs to your to yourexperiences when you're at the
(14:47):
park.
So that's something to keep inmind too.
So, Chris, if you could only doone of these tours, which one
would you do?
SPEAKER_03 (14:55):
Definitely the one with the rhinos.
SPEAKER_00 (14:58):
Is it why why that is that?
SPEAKER_03 (15:00):
Well, just like what you said, I mean, elephants get
so much attention.
SPEAKER_00 (15:05):
That's true.
SPEAKER_03 (15:05):
But rhinos, they're doing their thing.
SPEAKER_00 (15:07):
Yeah, so I I agree.
Even because I've already donethree of these, I think the
rhinos would be maybe next on mybucket list.
I would also at some point loveto do one of those more premium
ones at Animal Kingdom.
Probably savor the savannah,because we like to do things
that include food.
I mean, I know Wild Africa truckincludes food, but I would love
(15:28):
to maybe have that more,especially if you're celebrating
an anniversary or an engagementor a special birthday.
But I think, yeah, I agree.
On my list would probably be upclose with rhinos.
So would you be up to taking itwith me on a future trip?
SPEAKER_03 (15:42):
I'll think about it.
SPEAKER_00 (15:44):
Now, when we look at this, most of these, and you
always want to double check, butthe ones that you do book advan
in advance will take you shouldbook them 60 days out, just like
you do with any of the otherthings.
And some things book up fast.
Like I was just trying to book acarriage ride at Fort
Wilderness, they booked up likeinstantly at 60 days out.
(16:04):
So you want to make sure thatyou check that out.
Really, any of these, are theyworth the cost?
I think it's it's up to you whatyou value with your time.
If you've already been to Disneyquite a bit, this is a great way
to kind of up that experience.
If you're even new to going toDisney, trying something like
behind the seeds or caring forgiants or the up close with
(16:27):
rhinos gives you a chance toreally see all of the additional
magic that happens in whatDisney puts in to make the parks
an awesome and amazingexperience.
So when it comes to all ofthese, I think if you are,
depending on what you're lookingfor, these can definitely be
worth it.
A lot of them offer discounts,they are subject subject to
(16:48):
change.
Typically, the discounts runabout 10% and they can be for
annual pass holders, DVCmembers.
They change so frequently,though, it's always important to
look that up and ask when you'remaking a call.
Of course, these are gonna bediscounts from Disney things,
not from like AAA or somethinglike that.
So really take a look at all ofthese.
(17:11):
I'll put some links in the shownotes to the different tours so
you can check them out yourself.
And so, after in just a fewminutes, we're gonna get up our
interview with Stefan fromRabbit Hole Quest.
Um, they sound like scavengerhunts, and he'll talk about that
initially, but really it's sucha cool adventure.
It is well beyond just lookingthrough and finding a few clues.
(17:35):
It is going through a it's a bigadventure.
And one of the things is it'skind of like going through an
escape room, and he's gonna tellus all kinds of cool things, and
they have some at Disneyland,Downtown Disney, and they're
working on some new ones comingup, um possibly at Disney World.
So we're excited to share thatwith all of you in a little bit.
(17:57):
But before we get that call up,we have a quick message from our
friends Eric and Alexa.
SPEAKER_03 (18:03):
Yes.
If you're traveling with smallkids, leave the stroller, the
pack and play, all the otherstuff that you have to have for
the little ones, leave it athome.
Reach out to Eric and Alexa atBabyQuip.
As your uh BabyQuip independentquality provider, they provide
clean and high quality equipmentto make your trip easy and
comfortable.
And what's awesome is we've usedthem multiple times for Keris.
(18:25):
Keris is getting older, she'sgetting better, but sometimes
just you know the speed ofDisney, you want to put her in
the stroller and move.
What's awesome is we've rentedfrom them.
SPEAKER_00 (18:33):
I just booked from them again.
SPEAKER_03 (18:36):
And what I love about them is three things.
Number one, that the equipmentis top-notch, the customer
service is awesome, and thecustomer service is awesome.
They come to they meet you,they're smiling, and what they
give you is new equipment thatis top quality, and it makes
your trip so much easier.
You don't have to lug it on theairport, uh, the rental car, the
(18:58):
bus, whatnot.
Uh reach out to Baby Quip, checkthe show notes, make your life
easier the next time you go toDisney.
SPEAKER_00 (19:05):
Yes, so as Chris mentioned, I will make sure to
put their link in the shownotes.
And so stick around with us, andwe are going to get our call up
with Stefan.
We would like to welcome Stefanto the show.
His business, Rabbit Hole QuestCraft, has some really cool
experiences that we're going tolearn all about.
(19:27):
And really, if their idealcustomer is anyone who gets to
go to Disneyland a lot and wantsto experience the park in a new
way, if you enjoy going toescape rooms, puzzle sl puzzles,
any sort of thing that where youlike to be really immersed in a
story, you're going to love whatStefan offers.
So we'd like to welcome Stefanto the show.
SPEAKER_02 (19:47):
Oh, it is my pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_00 (19:51):
Now we always start off by asking our guests what
they enjoy at the Disney park.
So lately we have been askingpeople, what is your favorite
show at any Disney park?
SPEAKER_02 (20:05):
Boy, so many good shows.
Um I'm out here on West Coast,so uh Disneyland is sort of our
our home base.
And you know, for my money, Idon't know that I can beat
Phantasmic.
Uh the Phantasmic show is so uhhas such a great story that
plays out because it's so liketight and small.
(20:26):
You get to see that whole storyplay out.
Um my wife and I will it'spretty common that we'll go down
to the park, uh, you know, we'llwe'll get you know dinner at
Cafe Orleans, oh nice uh or oruh or Tiana's and just sit there
and watch the show.
It is so awesome.
Um but it's a it's just awonderful uh it's just a
wonderful story to play out.
(20:46):
And the kids get so excited,it's great seeing the kids play
out too.
SPEAKER_00 (20:49):
Oh, that's for sure.
Now you've told us about whatyou enjoy at the park.
So tell us about your businessand what you offer connected to
Disney.
SPEAKER_02 (21:00):
Sure.
So uh our little uh our littlehome is Rabbit Hole Questcraft.
We make um, I guess the best wayto describe it is escape room
style games you play out in theopen, but inside the park.
So it's um the games are are uhstory-based, uh fairly immersive
(21:21):
in that way.
You solve clues, crack codes.
Um, you're playing in your owntime, it's not a race.
You're given a uh a lanyardinside the lanyard of a series
of clues.
So it's called based on whatthose clues say, you have to
determine what location in thepark uh you need to go to.
And once you get at thatlocation, uh you have to follow
(21:42):
the clue to understand what itis you need to do at that
location.
And in most cases, it's someform of code or cipher or
something that you have to kindof solve in order to get to uh
get to the answer.
Uh most of our games are uh havebetween five and ten clues, and
inside the lanyard is not onlythe clues, but you always have a
(22:03):
pencil that uh to be able towrite with.
And then there's usually someodd things that are in the
lanyard as well that uh worktheir way into a clue if you can
figure out how to use it.
And then once you've solved allthe clues, you have everything
you need you need to solve thefinal clue.
When you solve the final clue,it gives you the combination to
(22:24):
a lock.
That lock, there's a there's alocked envelope attached to the
back of the uh of the lanyard.
And when you put in that code inthe lock, you can open the open
the envelope and you get aprize.
It's the treasure that you findat the end.
It also uh completes the storythat you're following.
There's a story at the verybeginning of this that you uh
that you understand you'refollowing.
(22:44):
Story plays out as you gothrough the game, and then the
end of the story is also insidethe envelope as well.
So it's a bit of a treasurehunt.
We've always said it's sort ofnational treasure meets Goonies.
You kind of do it in your owntime.
Um, most games take between,well, you know, if you're if
you're Amanda and Kevin fromWhere in the Park, who are
(23:05):
absolute uh superstars atsolving games, it might take you
an hour to get through the game.
Um we have found most peopletake about two hours.
We try to keep the gamefootprint relatively under
control so you're not traversingthe entirety of the park in
order to solve clues.
But um, because you're solvingthem in your own time and it's
(23:25):
not a race, you can you cansolve clues and then go on rides
and you can you know get somefood.
You don't have to solve theentire game all at once.
You can do it throughout yourday, uh, or you can choose to
just go in the park and this iswhat you're gonna do.
So it's um it was all born fromfrom experiences my uh my wife
and I and our daughter had.
(23:47):
I've been um I'm in SouthernCalifornia and I've been around
uh Disney my entire life.
My dad was um my dad was in thethe uh Disneyland band when I
was growing up.
So I think as an eight-year-old,you're played uh he played he
played trump he well, he playedall brass, but he played trumpet
in the band.
(24:08):
So um yeah, my mom would go downand sit incarnation and just
watch him go up and down.
And then, you know, as aneight-year-old, I'm running
around Disneyland, but uh I'mpretty old.
So back then you had you hadtickets for rides, and dad got
three tickets, but the onlytickets he got were a ticket
ride.
Which is pretty much themerry-go-round.
(24:30):
Uh on that.
So uh I've ridden thatmerry-go-round it's gotta be a
thousand times.
Um as an eight-year-old, you'rerunning around Disneyland, and
you know, back then you justthink it's it's like you know,
the park on the corner becauseyou're there so often, and uh
you don't realize how special itis until you grow up and you
(24:53):
bring your kids to it.
We brought we have one daughter,and um you know she was uh we
brought her actively to thepark.
We were we've been annual passholders for a long time, and um,
we've grown up in thatenvironment.
And to make her experiences alittle a little different, a
little fun, we started makingthese little games for her.
Uh they started off withscavenger hunts, but then they
(25:14):
they as she got older, she wasgetting faster.
And so we had to start writingclues as part of them.
And it sort of evolved into thisthing that we just did for our
family.
Well, uh a year and a half ago,our daughter's like they're
she's grown now and married, andshe's um you know, for her for
her wedding, we built her agame, uh, a new custom game that
she went and played with her newhusband.
And uh they're both fantastic atit.
(25:36):
They they they make terribletesters because they just get
through it so quickly.
But um they just they just runthrough it.
But uh after that game, she wasthe one that convinced us and
said and said, Dad, you gottamake these available for other
people.
There are so many annual passholders that come in these gates
that would love a two-hourdifferent thing to do in the
park when they came on aThursday night or on a Saturday,
(25:58):
you know, or Sunday or whatever.
And so we took her up on it.
And so we've we made our firstgame, we tested it, we uh we
made it available, and then webuilt one for DCA, and we built
one for downtown Disney, and nowwe're in the middle of building
our second game for Disneyland.
SPEAKER_03 (26:12):
Well, you really hit up on you know why you started
the business.
Tell me, when was your firstsale to somebody who was not in
the family?
SPEAKER_02 (26:20):
Oh uh, not in the family.
That was pretty exciting.
Well, we do we do a testingphase where where uh we were
using Facebook and Instagram toto find other annual pass
holders who would test the gamefor us.
And so uh we tested with um wetested twice for the Disneyland
game with two different groups.
And uh one of them ended upbeing the first purchase.
(26:41):
Our very first purchase was oneof the people who tested the
game.
Uh they bought it for uh theirfriends who they wanted to have
play the game as well.
Um I didn't know it at the timeum that they were the first
ones, but then after theirfriends play, they uh they told
us that that uh because it was adifferent name that ended up
buying it, but they were theones that tested the game.
And I'm like, you should havetold me, I would have given you
one to have played it on yourown, you know, thanking them for
(27:04):
testing it.
But they were they were ourfirst sale.
That was about a year and a halfago.
SPEAKER_00 (27:08):
That is awesome.
Now you've touched a little bitabout how like you were really
inspired about creatingsomething for annual pass
holders and from yourexperiences with your family.
Overall, how do you think thatyour products, like how do these
quests add magic to yourcustomers' lives?
SPEAKER_02 (27:27):
Well, I mean, the the park itself, uh as you know,
there's so much rich historythat exists there that even
annual pass holders who go allthe time, um, I think in a lot
of ways, because we have been atthe we've been in the park so
much, there's things that wemiss.
And frankly, even someone I'vebeen I've been going to the park
(27:48):
for 40 years.
And in in that time, uh when I'mresearching a game, I see things
I never saw before.
So one of the things that we'vewe've heard from folks is as
they play the game, they they'reexperiencing parts of the park
that that they have, it's notthat they've never seen it, but
they've forgotten it's therebecause it's not part of their
routine or part of their ritual.
(28:09):
Um, but in addition to that, umthe game, while while the the
primary game is analog, it's alldone on paper and you're writing
uh and you're you're solvingthings uh on paper, there's a
digital component to it thatallows you to validate your
answers.
So if you think you have ananswer right, you go to a
particular URL that's listed onthe clue.
(28:29):
And in that on that URL, you cansee if you've got the answer
right or wrong.
If you've got the answer right,it'll tell you you got it right.
And then it gives you a little,we call the nuggets of no.
It's a little piece ofinformation about where you're
most likely standing right nowin the park.
So little bits of facts, littlethings that you think you might
(28:50):
not know about the about thearea that you're in.
And and we've heard from uh ourthe customers have heard from
other people who have played thegame that there was there's just
facts and things that they neverknew about the park uh that we
were able to kind of give themand provide for them.
And our our our fans have evengiven us um, hey, did you know
that that uh about this area ofthis and this and this?
(29:12):
We didn't know that we've addedto that.
So it kind of gives that whenyou talk about that magic, it's
just you know, enjoying the parkin a way that you may never
never have known uh never haveenjoyed before or never known
before.
SPEAKER_03 (29:25):
Now you you mentioned you know folks who
have tested it.
You know, for folks who aregonna go have an upcoming trip
and want to buy this, where canpeople go online?
SPEAKER_02 (29:35):
Uh our website is rabbitholequestcraft.com.
Uh you can buy it right there onthe site.
We also have uh an Etsy, uh anEtsy store.
So you can go on to Etsy and youcan search for Rabbit Hole
Questcraft.
You'll find all of our gamesthere as well.
Right now we have one forDisneyland, we have one for uh
California Adventure, and thenwe have one that we built for
(29:57):
downtown Disney for the folksthat That you know may have um
may have the the lower endpasses or the Southern
California passes, and there'sthose blackout periods in the
middle of the summer that theystill want a little bit of
Disney magic but can't go in thepark.
Uh so we allow we've we've builta game around downtown Disney
that you can kind of play.
Uh that's available as well.
Um we are in the middle ofbuilding our second Disneyland
(30:19):
game right now.
Uh something we've been talkingabout, uh talking with Amanda
and Kevin with over at uh Wherein the Park to collaborate with
us around um a main uh MainStreet only uh noir heist
thriller game where all theclues take place along Main
Street.
Um so uh they're helping us outwith that um and and uh
(30:43):
providing uh some much neededcreativity to the mix and having
other people who have played thegame participate as well.
SPEAKER_03 (30:50):
That's awesome.
And then again, if I were to begoing, let's say I ordered
today, what is the expectedturnaround time for production
and delivery?
SPEAKER_02 (30:58):
Sure.
Uh I mean we we ship same day,uh at the very least the next
day.
And it's usually two to threeday shipping.
Admittedly, almost everyone whopurchases the games are within
the Southern California area.
They're all annual pass holdersaround here.
But uh just recently we sent oneto Hawaii.
We've sent uh plenty to the EastCoast of folks who are coming
into town.
Uh it's usually a three-daything.
(31:19):
So if you're if you're on theEast Coast and you're coming
into Disneyland, uh I would saygive it three days and and
you'll have uh you'll have thethe game pack in front of you.
We ship it in a in a box, uhsomething we had to learn.
We used to ship them inenvelopes and found uh found out
they were getting a littledamaged.
So now they're they're shippingin something a bit more
sturdier.
And it's also part of the uh theexperience.
(31:40):
The box becomes part of theexperience as well.
So I'd say give it three daysand you'll have it in your
hands.
SPEAKER_00 (31:44):
Now, one more quick question, and you might not know
the exact date, but we arerecording on Halloween.
And do you expect to have yoursecond Disneyland quest out by
the end of the year?
Or what what time frame shouldpeople keep in mind for that to
see that Main Street one?
SPEAKER_02 (32:02):
Yeah, our goal is to launch in January.
Uh, we have found that theholidays, with all of the
theming and decorations that areup, uh, you know, folks like to
go and enjoy that.
We don't we don't see a lot offolks who are playing, at least
we didn't last year, playingduring the holidays because
there's so much more to do atDisneyland and DCA.
Uh, but our goal is to starttesting early January and have
(32:23):
that game available by the endof January.
SPEAKER_00 (32:26):
Awesome.
Well, we will make sure inJanuary, we'll have you let us
know when you launch and we'llmake sure to share out all of
your information again.
We really appreciate you takingtime to join us today.
And of course, it's always greatto connect.
As he mentioned several times,we all know Kevin and Amanda
from where in the so it's alwaysgreat if we can connect with
other people within the Disneycommunity where we're all kind
(32:48):
of known each other and gotten achance to meet.
So thank you so much for joiningus today.
SPEAKER_02 (32:53):
Oh, it's my pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
I'm I'm incredibly honored.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_03 (32:58):
Thank you again to Stefan for joining us today.
SPEAKER_00 (33:01):
And now we are on to our two-minute trivia and our
wisdom from Walt Coat.
So, Chris, you are up withtrivia.
SPEAKER_03 (33:07):
Okay.
As in most places in Disney,there are corporate sponsors of
areas.
Yes.
The land has had two uhcorporate sponsors.
Who are they?
Who were they?
SPEAKER_00 (33:22):
Okay, I'm gonna guess Nestle as well.
Okay, because they used to havea chocolate chip cookie making
experience or something down bythe food court area.
And there's a second one?
Or there is one, or there it'sthey're past tense.
SPEAKER_03 (33:37):
Past tense.
These are actually Nestle was asponsor.
SPEAKER_00 (33:40):
Yes, okay.
SPEAKER_03 (33:40):
And this was also it was the initial, the inaugural
sponsor.
SPEAKER_00 (33:45):
Nestle was or the one I'm missing.
SPEAKER_03 (33:47):
Nestle was the second sponsor.
SPEAKER_00 (33:49):
Ooh, what was the inaugural one?
SPEAKER_03 (33:51):
It it's a food brand.
You'll you know it.
I mean you've seen it.
There I bet you in the low endthere we have ten of their
products in our fridge rightnow.
SPEAKER_00 (34:03):
Now you've now you've put the pressure on and
now I don't know.
I'm not quite sure.
SPEAKER_01 (34:11):
Kraft.
SPEAKER_00 (34:12):
I almost said craft or heinz, but then I was like,
Heinz, we don't have ten typesof ketchup in our fridge.
Kraft, huh?
I don't think I remember that.
It must have been I wonder whatyears they were from.
Interesting.
I'm gonna have to look that up.
SPEAKER_03 (34:25):
I have another one for you.
SPEAKER_00 (34:27):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (34:27):
Soaring is one of our favorites.
SPEAKER_00 (34:29):
Sure.
SPEAKER_03 (34:30):
What was before soaring?
SPEAKER_00 (34:36):
Oh, I'm trying to think.
I don't think wait, KitchenCabaret was on the other side of
the of the property.
Food rocks was, I think, on theother side.
Was Food Rocks there?
SPEAKER_03 (34:47):
You're right.
SPEAKER_00 (34:48):
Oh, Food Rocks, okay, nice.
I couldn't remember if it wasthere, if it was on the other
side of like of Spaceship Earthover by like Test Track and
that.
Awesome.
That was a good show, too.
So we're gonna end now with ourWisdom from Walt quote.
And I thought because we weretalking about learning things
(35:10):
and being able to experience newthings, this quote was from Walt
Disney talking about like youngpeople in the future and kind of
exploring and learning.
Shorten to the point, peoplesort of live in the dark about
things.
So I think that's really perfectfor talking about tours.
Instead of living in the darkabout knowing how they care for
(35:31):
rhinos or elephants or how theydo the hydroponics, take one of
these tours and learn about itand have a great experience.
And then you're no longer in thedark about all of these
different things.
So I think that is a great quotefrom Walt.
And thank you so much forjoining us on this episode.
Don't forget to check out all ofour other episodes on our Buzz
(35:54):
Sprout page and of course tofollow us on social media.
Thank you so much for joiningus.
I'm Vanessa.
SPEAKER_03 (36:00):
And I'm Chris.
Welcome to the Disney Love Podcast with Vanessa
and Chris.
I'm Vanessa Ferguson.
SPEAKER_03 (00:28):
And I'm Chris Johns.
SPEAKER_00 (00:29):
We'd like to welcome you to show number 161.
And for any listeners joining usfor the first time, our show
features things we love atDisney, and in each episode, we
typically have a guest whocreates Disney Magic for our
listeners at home and on theirDisney vacations.
From vacation planners toproduct producers, our guests
can bring Disney magic into yourlife.
(00:51):
We are so glad to be back onafter a short break, and we are
excited for today's show.
And a quick reminder (00:57):
if you are a longtime listener, please make
sure to leave us a review onApple Podcasts or wherever you
listen.
We love to give shout-outs andupcoming episodes, and of
course, we appreciate thosebecause that helps the show
grow.
Now, before we get started withuh introducing our show, Chris,
we have a message from ourfriends Kevin and Amanda at
(01:19):
We're in the Park.
SPEAKER_03 (01:20):
Yes.
Our friends Kevin and Amanda atWe're in the Park, they make
scavenger hunt game packs.
And what they do is they takeyour Disney experience and make
it even more fun.
And what they do is it's ascavenger hunt within the park,
and they're gonna give you cardswith clues.
And so not only are you gonnaexperience all your rides, food,
and fun with family, but you'realso gonna have a family
(01:41):
competition.
And it's great for Disneyveterans like Vanessa and myself
who have been there many, many,many times as well as first-time
visitors.
And what's awesome is they havegame packs for both Disneyland,
Disney World, as well asUniversal.
And if you use the codeDISLOVE10, you'll get 10% off
your next order.
We met Kevin and Amanda, and wewere in.
(02:03):
Is this is it in Anaheim?
We were in Anaheim.
That was one of the questions.
I got it right.
And what was awesome was that wehad a lot of fun, and you're
gonna see details that you'vewalked past a hundred times, a
thousand times, ten thousandtimes, and you never notice.
But what is awesome with thisgame is it's gonna give you a
chance to fully experienceDisney.
SPEAKER_00 (02:24):
And I'll make sure to put the link in the show
notes with along with the promocode that Chris just shared.
So before we get started, ourshow today is going to feature
Stefan with Rabbit Hole Quest,and they have some really,
really cool things, which iskind of an even deeper thing
than Kevin and Amanda are havebeen working with him over at
(02:47):
Rabbit Hole Quest Craft, andwe're excited to share all about
it's almost like an escape roomin the park.
So you follow all these tips andclues, and then you are going to
have an amazing time.
So we have our call with Stefana little bit later from Rabbit
Hole Quest Craft, and superexcited to share all about what
he has in his or at Disneyland,which is what Chris was just
(03:10):
talking about, how we got tomeet Kevin and Amanda out there.
So before we get to our talkwith Stefan, we want to talk
about Disney tours and all thetours that are worth taking.
And if you have never done atour, or maybe it's been a while
since you've done one, becausesome of these have changed since
COVID.
So it's going to be exciting tolook at all of the ones that are
(03:32):
some of the good experienceshappening right now.
They give you a real deep behindthe scenes look at Disney and
all of the storytelling, which Ithought was perfect to go along
with our interview with Stefanbecause that's what these
experiences are with the queststhat he has and then with the
packs that Kevin and Amandahave.
(03:53):
It's all about seeing thoselittle details.
And taking one of these toursreally gives you a backstage
view of some of the things.
Now, the first one is Keys tothe Kingdom at Magic Kingdom.
And I took this one many yearsago with my parents.
It's a five-hour tour and it'sat the Magic Kingdom.
You get all kinds of behind thescenes, lots of great park
(04:14):
history.
You get to go into theutilidors, the infamous
utilidors.
I don't think, Chris, you'veever been on something to go in
the utilitors, have you?
SPEAKER_03 (04:21):
That's correct.
SPEAKER_00 (04:22):
So I've had a chance to be in the utilidors.
Chris has not.
It is pretty, it is a lot ofwalking, so that's something to
keep in mind if you have anybodywith mobility issues.
But really, any of you that loveDisney history, if you're like
me and you like to get the booksand read the trivia and all of
that stuff related to the parkand the history of the park,
you're going to love this.
(04:44):
And they typically they'll havea quick service lunch at the
end.
And you do get to ride one ofthe rides as they're giving you
some of the history andbackground with that ride.
So I don't want to, I don't wantto give that away too much, but
it's really just a funexperience.
I would say that this isdefinitely geared towards teens
and adults, unless you have likea kid that is super into Disney
(05:06):
history, which is possible.
I know there are some out there,but it is a lot of fun.
You definitely want to book thisone ahead of time, just like
with most of these.
Now, the second one we're goingto talk about does not require a
lot of upfront planning, andthat's called Caring for Giants
at Animal Kingdom.
This is a one-hour elephantencounter, and I did this with
(05:28):
my friend Judy.
We did this for her birthday oneyear when we were down, and it
was a lot of fun.
And it was just a one-hour tour.
So Chris and our daughter kindof hung out and they went and
did other things at AnimalKingdom while we were doing the
experience.
But it's a neat, we actuallywalked up the day of and booked
it.
And I know that you can do it.
(05:49):
I can't remember if this one'sahead of time or not, but we
just walked up and they had akiosk in Africa, kind of near
the safari, and you sign up forit.
It's called Caring for Giants.
And it was super cool becauseyou got to meet the caregivers
or the caretakers, and you gotto hear how they were working
with some of the differentindividuals who are really
(06:13):
working to try to preserve thehabitat and to ensure that
elephants in their naturalhabitats are kept safe.
It was really interesting.
They showed us some things withdifferent research and things
that where they work to ensurethat because elephants can be,
because they're such a largeanimal, they are can be a
(06:34):
nuisance related to certaincrops and things.
So they were showing how they dosome things to help farmers
ensure that elephants don'treally cause any issues with
their props, or props, theircrops.
Um, I will, and it was just areally fascinating experience.
You got to see where they arecared for behind the scenes
(06:55):
outside of being on thesavannah.
So, and this one is a relativelyinexpensive one.
Another one we're gonna talkabout later is inexpensive.
This one was just$39 a person,and that's as of 2025.
Obviously, there's alwayschanges that can happen, but
caring for giants is super funat Animal Kingdom.
So we've talked about one atMagic Kingdom, one at Animal
(07:18):
Kingdom.
We're and we have several moreat Animal Kingdom, but I want to
jump over to Epcot and Behindthe Seeds, and this is in the
land pavilion.
And you did, I think you and ourdaughter, you guys went to the
DVC lounge when I went to theshow.
SPEAKER_03 (07:35):
We sure did, it was awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (07:36):
Yes, so this one is behind the seeds, and I will say
my family had talked about doingthis for years and years and
years, and we finally did it.
I think about a year and a halfago is when we went.
And it is super interesting.
If you, I mean, I don't have agreen thumb, I don't kill
plants, but I'm also not onethat is really great at getting
(07:59):
them to grow either.
But I found it superfascinating.
They give you all the behind thescenes about the sustainability,
how they do the hydroponics.
You get to go in where they havelike the fish farm where they
have the different seafood thatis used in some of the
restaurants there, and you learnall about that.
(08:20):
You learn about some of thethings related to insects that
they utilize, how they do all ofthe different growing in the
greenhouses.
So it's super, super cool.
You get to go behind, like younormally when you take when you
go on the ride, you're in theboats and you go through, but
this you get to go throughwalking paths and it's all
inside, which is great.
(08:40):
So if it's raining outside orsomething, you do a little bit
of a walk when you go out onedoor to go into another part of
the greenhouses, but even if itwas raining, you would be
totally fine.
It's a great entry-level tourfor anyone, it's relatively
short, they have it throughoutthe day, and you can just walk
up to the kiosk, which is rightoutside soaring.
(09:03):
And so you're you can go grablunch at down there, maybe ride
soaring, and then sign up forthe tour.
It behind the seeds is supergreat, and it was a nice
experience.
And like I said, it wasn't verylong.
I don't you guys waited for us,and it was maybe an hour at
most.
SPEAKER_03 (09:21):
It was very reasonable.
SPEAKER_00 (09:22):
Yes, and so it's a good way for you to not take too
much time from your Disneyvacation but still enjoy some of
the backstage look.
Now, these other two, so I'vedone these first three that we
talked about, and there'sanother tour that Chris and I
did that's like an all-day tour,which we're not gonna talk about
that one on this show, but weare gonna talk about two more
(09:44):
that are in Animal Kingdom.
We have the Wild Africa Trek,and this is essentially a
private safari.
It's supposed to be really cool,it runs just under$250, and with
it you are able to go behind andsee all of the different
experiences that happen atAnimal Kingdom and how they care
(10:06):
for some of the differentanimals.
Now, the super cool thing forthis tour is they also have
photographers on with you andthey're taking pictures of you
as you're going through anddoing kind of this up close
savannah truck.
So you get a chance to go acrosssome of the rope bridges, and
(10:26):
you're gonna have your vehiclethat's gonna take you a little
bit closer into some of theareas that the regular ride does
not go, and then at the end,you're able to get some really
great African-inspired snacks.
Some of these are things thatyou have seen on the menus at
some of the like quick service,but you get hummus and an olive
(10:47):
mix, a chicken wrap, they havesome tenduri shrimp, so a good
variety of things.
But those are some of theAfrican-inspired snacks that
they have at the end of the wildAfrica truck.
So it's a super fun experience.
And if you're interested inhaving a more fulfilling or I
(11:08):
guess more filling meal, thenyou might want to check out the
Savor the Savannah.
And this is a premium safariwhere they take you back to
there's kind of a pavilion sortof building that you'll see when
you are when you've gone pastwhere the lions are as you
circle through, where there'susually the a lot of the
(11:29):
giraffes in that there.
You will typically see you cansee it off to the right.
Well, as your car to uh as yourcar curves around, it's going to
be in different spots.
But originally you'll see it upto the right, and it is going to
be where they do a gourmetdinner.
It has small plates, wine.
It's a very cool like VIPexperience.
(11:52):
I've known some people that havetaken it, and you have it's a
little bit more pricey, but itis a super cool experience,
especially if you're celebratinga special occasion.
Somebody who really loves AnimalKingdom and those experiences.
So Savor the Savannah is apremium kind of experience that
you have.
Really Wild Africa Truck andSavor the Savannah are both
(12:15):
great.
Another one that is similar towhere we had talked about the
caring for giants.
I almost forgot to mentionthere's one that's called Up
Close with Rhinos, and it'sexactly like the elephant one.
I've not been on the Rhino one,but only with rhinos.
And the cool thing about this isI think to me, you hear more
(12:36):
people talk about like elephantsand different things like that.
You don't hear people talk aboutrhinos very much.
SPEAKER_03 (12:42):
You don't.
SPEAKER_00 (12:43):
Yeah, so I think it would be cool to take the rhino
tour.
Right now it's$49.
Obviously, those can change, butthat again, it's only a one-hour
tour.
So if you're wanting to try outsomething like we mentioned, you
could do behind the seeds.
If you were at Epcot, you coulddo Caring for Giants or Up Close
with Rhinos at Animal Kingdom.
Really gives you a greatexperience.
(13:04):
Now, some other things that youcan do, some other tours, these
are the main ones in the parks.
There is also a dive quest atEpcot where you get a chance, if
you are a certified diver, to gointo the aquariums at Living
Seas.
They used to have some othertours there, but right now
there's just the dive quest.
And of course, outside theparks, there are some tours.
(13:26):
Just because we talked a lotabout Animal Kingdom tours, I
want to specifically mentionthey have a Starlight Safari
tour at Animal Kingdom Lodgewhere you get to wear the night
vision glasses and see theanimals out on part of the
savannas.
I think it'd be cool to wearnight vision glasses.
SPEAKER_03 (13:41):
It would be awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (13:42):
Yeah, so you can get a chance to do that.
So that though, again, isoutside the park, so you don't
have to have a park ticket,which is an added bonus.
All the other ones were onesthat you have to have a park
ticket for.
So just a couple of things for alot of these tours, you want to
check ahead of time.
Almost all of these can bebooked in advance, and you want
(14:03):
to make sure that obviously forthese that you have a park
ticket to get in.
Another thing is that some ofthem do involve a lot of
walking.
So if you have anyone in yourgroup with some mobility issues,
like when we did the caring forgiants, my friend has some
challenges when it comes togetting around like walking
distances, and she had noproblem on that tour at all.
(14:25):
They did some accommodations forher.
My parents and I, when we didthe behind the seats, my Dan has
a little bit of mobility issues,but it wasn't too much walking,
and there was enough likestopping and things that he was
able to make it through.
And of course, remember tobudget this in, these are all
added costs to your to yourexperiences when you're at the
(14:47):
park.
So that's something to keep inmind too.
So, Chris, if you could only doone of these tours, which one
would you do?
SPEAKER_03 (14:55):
Definitely the one with the rhinos.
SPEAKER_00 (14:58):
Is it why why that is that?
SPEAKER_03 (15:00):
Well, just like what you said, I mean, elephants get
so much attention.
SPEAKER_00 (15:05):
That's true.
SPEAKER_03 (15:05):
But rhinos, they're doing their thing.
SPEAKER_00 (15:07):
Yeah, so I I agree.
Even because I've already donethree of these, I think the
rhinos would be maybe next on mybucket list.
I would also at some point loveto do one of those more premium
ones at Animal Kingdom.
Probably savor the savannah,because we like to do things
that include food.
I mean, I know Wild Africa truckincludes food, but I would love
(15:28):
to maybe have that more,especially if you're celebrating
an anniversary or an engagementor a special birthday.
But I think, yeah, I agree.
On my list would probably be upclose with rhinos.
So would you be up to taking itwith me on a future trip?
SPEAKER_03 (15:42):
I'll think about it.
SPEAKER_00 (15:44):
Now, when we look at this, most of these, and you
always want to double check, butthe ones that you do book advan
in advance will take you shouldbook them 60 days out, just like
you do with any of the otherthings.
And some things book up fast.
Like I was just trying to book acarriage ride at Fort
Wilderness, they booked up likeinstantly at 60 days out.
(16:04):
So you want to make sure thatyou check that out.
Really, any of these, are theyworth the cost?
I think it's it's up to you whatyou value with your time.
If you've already been to Disneyquite a bit, this is a great way
to kind of up that experience.
If you're even new to going toDisney, trying something like
behind the seeds or caring forgiants or the up close with
(16:27):
rhinos gives you a chance toreally see all of the additional
magic that happens in whatDisney puts in to make the parks
an awesome and amazingexperience.
So when it comes to all ofthese, I think if you are,
depending on what you're lookingfor, these can definitely be
worth it.
A lot of them offer discounts,they are subject subject to
(16:48):
change.
Typically, the discounts runabout 10% and they can be for
annual pass holders, DVCmembers.
They change so frequently,though, it's always important to
look that up and ask when you'remaking a call.
Of course, these are gonna bediscounts from Disney things,
not from like AAA or somethinglike that.
So really take a look at all ofthese.
(17:11):
I'll put some links in the shownotes to the different tours so
you can check them out yourself.
And so, after in just a fewminutes, we're gonna get up our
interview with Stefan fromRabbit Hole Quest.
Um, they sound like scavengerhunts, and he'll talk about that
initially, but really it's sucha cool adventure.
It is well beyond just lookingthrough and finding a few clues.
(17:35):
It is going through a it's a bigadventure.
And one of the things is it'skind of like going through an
escape room, and he's gonna tellus all kinds of cool things, and
they have some at Disneyland,Downtown Disney, and they're
working on some new ones comingup, um possibly at Disney World.
So we're excited to share thatwith all of you in a little bit.
(17:57):
But before we get that call up,we have a quick message from our
friends Eric and Alexa.
SPEAKER_03 (18:03):
Yes.
If you're traveling with smallkids, leave the stroller, the
pack and play, all the otherstuff that you have to have for
the little ones, leave it athome.
Reach out to Eric and Alexa atBabyQuip.
As your uh BabyQuip independentquality provider, they provide
clean and high quality equipmentto make your trip easy and
comfortable.
And what's awesome is we've usedthem multiple times for Keris.
(18:25):
Keris is getting older, she'sgetting better, but sometimes
just you know the speed ofDisney, you want to put her in
the stroller and move.
What's awesome is we've rentedfrom them.
SPEAKER_00 (18:33):
I just booked from them again.
SPEAKER_03 (18:36):
And what I love about them is three things.
Number one, that the equipmentis top-notch, the customer
service is awesome, and thecustomer service is awesome.
They come to they meet you,they're smiling, and what they
give you is new equipment thatis top quality, and it makes
your trip so much easier.
You don't have to lug it on theairport, uh, the rental car, the
(18:58):
bus, whatnot.
Uh reach out to Baby Quip, checkthe show notes, make your life
easier the next time you go toDisney.
SPEAKER_00 (19:05):
Yes, so as Chris mentioned, I will make sure to
put their link in the shownotes.
And so stick around with us, andwe are going to get our call up
with Stefan.
We would like to welcome Stefanto the show.
His business, Rabbit Hole QuestCraft, has some really cool
experiences that we're going tolearn all about.
(19:27):
And really, if their idealcustomer is anyone who gets to
go to Disneyland a lot and wantsto experience the park in a new
way, if you enjoy going toescape rooms, puzzle sl puzzles,
any sort of thing that where youlike to be really immersed in a
story, you're going to love whatStefan offers.
So we'd like to welcome Stefanto the show.
SPEAKER_02 (19:47):
Oh, it is my pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_00 (19:51):
Now we always start off by asking our guests what
they enjoy at the Disney park.
So lately we have been askingpeople, what is your favorite
show at any Disney park?
SPEAKER_02 (20:05):
Boy, so many good shows.
Um I'm out here on West Coast,so uh Disneyland is sort of our
our home base.
And you know, for my money, Idon't know that I can beat
Phantasmic.
Uh the Phantasmic show is so uhhas such a great story that
plays out because it's so liketight and small.
(20:26):
You get to see that whole storyplay out.
Um my wife and I will it'spretty common that we'll go down
to the park, uh, you know, we'llwe'll get you know dinner at
Cafe Orleans, oh nice uh or oruh or Tiana's and just sit there
and watch the show.
It is so awesome.
Um but it's a it's just awonderful uh it's just a
wonderful story to play out.
(20:46):
And the kids get so excited,it's great seeing the kids play
out too.
SPEAKER_00 (20:49):
Oh, that's for sure.
Now you've told us about whatyou enjoy at the park.
So tell us about your businessand what you offer connected to
Disney.
SPEAKER_02 (21:00):
Sure.
So uh our little uh our littlehome is Rabbit Hole Questcraft.
We make um, I guess the best wayto describe it is escape room
style games you play out in theopen, but inside the park.
So it's um the games are are uhstory-based, uh fairly immersive
(21:21):
in that way.
You solve clues, crack codes.
Um, you're playing in your owntime, it's not a race.
You're given a uh a lanyardinside the lanyard of a series
of clues.
So it's called based on whatthose clues say, you have to
determine what location in thepark uh you need to go to.
And once you get at thatlocation, uh you have to follow
(21:42):
the clue to understand what itis you need to do at that
location.
And in most cases, it's someform of code or cipher or
something that you have to kindof solve in order to get to uh
get to the answer.
Uh most of our games are uh havebetween five and ten clues, and
inside the lanyard is not onlythe clues, but you always have a
(22:03):
pencil that uh to be able towrite with.
And then there's usually someodd things that are in the
lanyard as well that uh worktheir way into a clue if you can
figure out how to use it.
And then once you've solved allthe clues, you have everything
you need you need to solve thefinal clue.
When you solve the final clue,it gives you the combination to
(22:24):
a lock.
That lock, there's a there's alocked envelope attached to the
back of the uh of the lanyard.
And when you put in that code inthe lock, you can open the open
the envelope and you get aprize.
It's the treasure that you findat the end.
It also uh completes the storythat you're following.
There's a story at the verybeginning of this that you uh
that you understand you'refollowing.
(22:44):
Story plays out as you gothrough the game, and then the
end of the story is also insidethe envelope as well.
So it's a bit of a treasurehunt.
We've always said it's sort ofnational treasure meets Goonies.
You kind of do it in your owntime.
Um, most games take between,well, you know, if you're if
you're Amanda and Kevin fromWhere in the Park, who are
(23:05):
absolute uh superstars atsolving games, it might take you
an hour to get through the game.
Um we have found most peopletake about two hours.
We try to keep the gamefootprint relatively under
control so you're not traversingthe entirety of the park in
order to solve clues.
But um, because you're solvingthem in your own time and it's
(23:25):
not a race, you can you cansolve clues and then go on rides
and you can you know get somefood.
You don't have to solve theentire game all at once.
You can do it throughout yourday, uh, or you can choose to
just go in the park and this iswhat you're gonna do.
So it's um it was all born fromfrom experiences my uh my wife
and I and our daughter had.
(23:47):
I've been um I'm in SouthernCalifornia and I've been around
uh Disney my entire life.
My dad was um my dad was in thethe uh Disneyland band when I
was growing up.
So I think as an eight-year-old,you're played uh he played he
played trump he well, he playedall brass, but he played trumpet
in the band.
(24:08):
So um yeah, my mom would go downand sit incarnation and just
watch him go up and down.
And then, you know, as aneight-year-old, I'm running
around Disneyland, but uh I'mpretty old.
So back then you had you hadtickets for rides, and dad got
three tickets, but the onlytickets he got were a ticket
ride.
Which is pretty much themerry-go-round.
(24:30):
Uh on that.
So uh I've ridden thatmerry-go-round it's gotta be a
thousand times.
Um as an eight-year-old, you'rerunning around Disneyland, and
you know, back then you justthink it's it's like you know,
the park on the corner becauseyou're there so often, and uh
you don't realize how special itis until you grow up and you
(24:53):
bring your kids to it.
We brought we have one daughter,and um you know she was uh we
brought her actively to thepark.
We were we've been annual passholders for a long time, and um,
we've grown up in thatenvironment.
And to make her experiences alittle a little different, a
little fun, we started makingthese little games for her.
Uh they started off withscavenger hunts, but then they
(25:14):
they as she got older, she wasgetting faster.
And so we had to start writingclues as part of them.
And it sort of evolved into thisthing that we just did for our
family.
Well, uh a year and a half ago,our daughter's like they're
she's grown now and married, andshe's um you know, for her for
her wedding, we built her agame, uh, a new custom game that
she went and played with her newhusband.
And uh they're both fantastic atit.
(25:36):
They they they make terribletesters because they just get
through it so quickly.
But um they just they just runthrough it.
But uh after that game, she wasthe one that convinced us and
said and said, Dad, you gottamake these available for other
people.
There are so many annual passholders that come in these gates
that would love a two-hourdifferent thing to do in the
park when they came on aThursday night or on a Saturday,
(25:58):
you know, or Sunday or whatever.
And so we took her up on it.
And so we've we made our firstgame, we tested it, we uh we
made it available, and then webuilt one for DCA, and we built
one for downtown Disney, and nowwe're in the middle of building
our second game for Disneyland.
SPEAKER_03 (26:12):
Well, you really hit up on you know why you started
the business.
Tell me, when was your firstsale to somebody who was not in
the family?
SPEAKER_02 (26:20):
Oh uh, not in the family.
That was pretty exciting.
Well, we do we do a testingphase where where uh we were
using Facebook and Instagram toto find other annual pass
holders who would test the gamefor us.
And so uh we tested with um wetested twice for the Disneyland
game with two different groups.
And uh one of them ended upbeing the first purchase.
(26:41):
Our very first purchase was oneof the people who tested the
game.
Uh they bought it for uh theirfriends who they wanted to have
play the game as well.
Um I didn't know it at the timeum that they were the first
ones, but then after theirfriends play, they uh they told
us that that uh because it was adifferent name that ended up
buying it, but they were theones that tested the game.
And I'm like, you should havetold me, I would have given you
one to have played it on yourown, you know, thanking them for
(27:04):
testing it.
But they were they were ourfirst sale.
That was about a year and a halfago.
SPEAKER_00 (27:08):
That is awesome.
Now you've touched a little bitabout how like you were really
inspired about creatingsomething for annual pass
holders and from yourexperiences with your family.
Overall, how do you think thatyour products, like how do these
quests add magic to yourcustomers' lives?
SPEAKER_02 (27:27):
Well, I mean, the the park itself, uh as you know,
there's so much rich historythat exists there that even
annual pass holders who go allthe time, um, I think in a lot
of ways, because we have been atthe we've been in the park so
much, there's things that wemiss.
And frankly, even someone I'vebeen I've been going to the park
(27:48):
for 40 years.
And in in that time, uh when I'mresearching a game, I see things
I never saw before.
So one of the things that we'vewe've heard from folks is as
they play the game, they they'reexperiencing parts of the park
that that they have, it's notthat they've never seen it, but
they've forgotten it's therebecause it's not part of their
routine or part of their ritual.
(28:09):
Um, but in addition to that, umthe game, while while the the
primary game is analog, it's alldone on paper and you're writing
uh and you're you're solvingthings uh on paper, there's a
digital component to it thatallows you to validate your
answers.
So if you think you have ananswer right, you go to a
particular URL that's listed onthe clue.
(28:29):
And in that on that URL, you cansee if you've got the answer
right or wrong.
If you've got the answer right,it'll tell you you got it right.
And then it gives you a little,we call the nuggets of no.
It's a little piece ofinformation about where you're
most likely standing right nowin the park.
So little bits of facts, littlethings that you think you might
(28:50):
not know about the about thearea that you're in.
And and we've heard from uh ourthe customers have heard from
other people who have played thegame that there was there's just
facts and things that they neverknew about the park uh that we
were able to kind of give themand provide for them.
And our our our fans have evengiven us um, hey, did you know
that that uh about this area ofthis and this and this?
(29:12):
We didn't know that we've addedto that.
So it kind of gives that whenyou talk about that magic, it's
just you know, enjoying the parkin a way that you may never
never have known uh never haveenjoyed before or never known
before.
SPEAKER_03 (29:25):
Now you you mentioned you know folks who
have tested it.
You know, for folks who aregonna go have an upcoming trip
and want to buy this, where canpeople go online?
SPEAKER_02 (29:35):
Uh our website is rabbitholequestcraft.com.
Uh you can buy it right there onthe site.
We also have uh an Etsy, uh anEtsy store.
So you can go on to Etsy and youcan search for Rabbit Hole
Questcraft.
You'll find all of our gamesthere as well.
Right now we have one forDisneyland, we have one for uh
California Adventure, and thenwe have one that we built for
(29:57):
downtown Disney for the folksthat That you know may have um
may have the the lower endpasses or the Southern
California passes, and there'sthose blackout periods in the
middle of the summer that theystill want a little bit of
Disney magic but can't go in thepark.
Uh so we allow we've we've builta game around downtown Disney
that you can kind of play.
Uh that's available as well.
Um we are in the middle ofbuilding our second Disneyland
(30:19):
game right now.
Uh something we've been talkingabout, uh talking with Amanda
and Kevin with over at uh Wherein the Park to collaborate with
us around um a main uh MainStreet only uh noir heist
thriller game where all theclues take place along Main
Street.
Um so uh they're helping us outwith that um and and uh
(30:43):
providing uh some much neededcreativity to the mix and having
other people who have played thegame participate as well.
SPEAKER_03 (30:50):
That's awesome.
And then again, if I were to begoing, let's say I ordered
today, what is the expectedturnaround time for production
and delivery?
SPEAKER_02 (30:58):
Sure.
Uh I mean we we ship same day,uh at the very least the next
day.
And it's usually two to threeday shipping.
Admittedly, almost everyone whopurchases the games are within
the Southern California area.
They're all annual pass holdersaround here.
But uh just recently we sent oneto Hawaii.
We've sent uh plenty to the EastCoast of folks who are coming
into town.
Uh it's usually a three-daything.
(31:19):
So if you're if you're on theEast Coast and you're coming
into Disneyland, uh I would saygive it three days and and
you'll have uh you'll have thethe game pack in front of you.
We ship it in a in a box, uhsomething we had to learn.
We used to ship them inenvelopes and found uh found out
they were getting a littledamaged.
So now they're they're shippingin something a bit more
sturdier.
And it's also part of the uh theexperience.
(31:40):
The box becomes part of theexperience as well.
So I'd say give it three daysand you'll have it in your
hands.
SPEAKER_00 (31:44):
Now, one more quick question, and you might not know
the exact date, but we arerecording on Halloween.
And do you expect to have yoursecond Disneyland quest out by
the end of the year?
Or what what time frame shouldpeople keep in mind for that to
see that Main Street one?
SPEAKER_02 (32:02):
Yeah, our goal is to launch in January.
Uh, we have found that theholidays, with all of the
theming and decorations that areup, uh, you know, folks like to
go and enjoy that.
We don't we don't see a lot offolks who are playing, at least
we didn't last year, playingduring the holidays because
there's so much more to do atDisneyland and DCA.
Uh, but our goal is to starttesting early January and have
(32:23):
that game available by the endof January.
SPEAKER_00 (32:26):
Awesome.
Well, we will make sure inJanuary, we'll have you let us
know when you launch and we'llmake sure to share out all of
your information again.
We really appreciate you takingtime to join us today.
And of course, it's always greatto connect.
As he mentioned several times,we all know Kevin and Amanda
from where in the so it's alwaysgreat if we can connect with
other people within the Disneycommunity where we're all kind
(32:48):
of known each other and gotten achance to meet.
So thank you so much for joiningus today.
SPEAKER_02 (32:53):
Oh, it's my pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
I'm I'm incredibly honored.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_03 (32:58):
Thank you again to Stefan for joining us today.
SPEAKER_00 (33:01):
And now we are on to our two-minute trivia and our
wisdom from Walt Coat.
So, Chris, you are up withtrivia.
SPEAKER_03 (33:07):
Okay.
As in most places in Disney,there are corporate sponsors of
areas.
Yes.
The land has had two uhcorporate sponsors.
Who are they?
Who were they?
SPEAKER_00 (33:22):
Okay, I'm gonna guess Nestle as well.
Okay, because they used to havea chocolate chip cookie making
experience or something down bythe food court area.
And there's a second one?
Or there is one, or there it'sthey're past tense.
SPEAKER_03 (33:37):
Past tense.
These are actually Nestle was asponsor.
SPEAKER_00 (33:40):
Yes, okay.
SPEAKER_03 (33:40):
And this was also it was the initial, the inaugural
sponsor.
SPEAKER_00 (33:45):
Nestle was or the one I'm missing.
SPEAKER_03 (33:47):
Nestle was the second sponsor.
SPEAKER_00 (33:49):
Ooh, what was the inaugural one?
SPEAKER_03 (33:51):
It it's a food brand.
You'll you know it.
I mean you've seen it.
There I bet you in the low endthere we have ten of their
products in our fridge rightnow.
SPEAKER_00 (34:03):
Now you've now you've put the pressure on and
now I don't know.
I'm not quite sure.
SPEAKER_01 (34:11):
Kraft.
SPEAKER_00 (34:12):
I almost said craft or heinz, but then I was like,
Heinz, we don't have ten typesof ketchup in our fridge.
Kraft, huh?
I don't think I remember that.
It must have been I wonder whatyears they were from.
Interesting.
I'm gonna have to look that up.
SPEAKER_03 (34:25):
I have another one for you.
SPEAKER_00 (34:27):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (34:27):
Soaring is one of our favorites.
SPEAKER_00 (34:29):
Sure.
SPEAKER_03 (34:30):
What was before soaring?
SPEAKER_00 (34:36):
Oh, I'm trying to think.
I don't think wait, KitchenCabaret was on the other side of
the of the property.
Food rocks was, I think, on theother side.
Was Food Rocks there?
SPEAKER_03 (34:47):
You're right.
SPEAKER_00 (34:48):
Oh, Food Rocks, okay, nice.
I couldn't remember if it wasthere, if it was on the other
side of like of Spaceship Earthover by like Test Track and
that.
Awesome.
That was a good show, too.
So we're gonna end now with ourWisdom from Walt quote.
And I thought because we weretalking about learning things
(35:10):
and being able to experience newthings, this quote was from Walt
Disney talking about like youngpeople in the future and kind of
exploring and learning.
Shorten to the point, peoplesort of live in the dark about
things.
So I think that's really perfectfor talking about tours.
Instead of living in the darkabout knowing how they care for
(35:31):
rhinos or elephants or how theydo the hydroponics, take one of
these tours and learn about itand have a great experience.
And then you're no longer in thedark about all of these
different things.
So I think that is a great quotefrom Walt.
And thank you so much forjoining us on this episode.
Don't forget to check out all ofour other episodes on our Buzz
(35:54):
Sprout page and of course tofollow us on social media.
Thank you so much for joiningus.
I'm Vanessa.
SPEAKER_03 (36:00):
And I'm Chris.
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