January 1, 2025 • 55 mins
We reflect on our 2024 Disney adventures and share plans for 2025, highlighting our kidless trips, experiences at festivals, and lessons learned along the way. Join us as we celebrate the magic of Disney and anticipate exciting upcoming journeys.
• Reflection on Disney trips of 2024
• Highlights from the Festival of the Arts
• Importance of behind-the-scenes tours in Disney experiences
• Experience of Disney's Vero Beach Resort
• Lessons learned about vacation pacing and family bonding
• Preview of upcoming plans for 2025 trips
• Excitement about character dining plans
• Embracing the magic of Disney and future aspirations
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Hello and welcome to Circula Parks podcast, episode
number 183.
Today we are going to recap ourDisney trips in 2024 and talk
about our trips we have plannedfor 2025.
There is far too much to seeand do.
We are here to help guide youthrough.
(00:42):
We are here to help guide youthrough, but before we do that,
we must talk Disney merch.
So this week, disneystorecom.
I don't know why my eyes justkept going back to this
particular item item, but it isa mini mouse exercise dress for
(01:04):
women, priced at $59.99.
Super cute, comfy, sleevelessdress made for play, with a
built-in bodysuit and a, youknow, exercise lining that we're
(01:25):
accustomed to, and it has anembroidery of mini signature
which adds to the finishingtouch.
And again, for some reasonmaybe it's because it's New
Year's, you know thinking aboutwhat New Year's resolutions are,
I don't know, but this was asuper cute exercise dress that I
could see several peoplewearing in the parks.
So again, please go check thatout.
And that is this week's Disneymerch.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
So it's a mini workout dress it's a mini
workout dress.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
It's still red, with the polka dots, all of that, but
for some, I don't know why, butmy eyes just kept drifting back
to it so you know what they.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
You know what they need a goofy workout suit got.
We're going way back, right?
Okay.
To the goofy shorts when he wasdoing the workout stuff.
No, I'm that old, this is stilllike.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
No, I'm just saying this dress, though, like it's
like what you see women wearing,you know to work out in, or
even in the parks, but for somereason it was just super cute so
or you can just get bicycleshorts and paint them like mini
mouse right.
That too, that too Okay Again,it was.
(02:33):
It was just cute.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
All right.
Well, thank you everybody forjoining us.
Happy new year.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yes, when you are listening to this, it will be
new year's day.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, new year's day.
Yeah, happy new year.
We hope you had a greatchristmas.
If you're anything like ourfamily and other families, we
know you were sick at some pointin the last week.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
You can tell in our voices, we sound a lot worse
than we actually feel now.
Yes, that is correct, like wesound super nasally still, I
feel, but I don't think we areno but then the weather here is
changing too.
It was like 60 degrees andsunny yesterday, and then today
is like all this cold air andwind.
Welcome to snow next week.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yeah, Welcome to Tennessee winters yeah, they're
awesome.
So, yeah, I hope you had aMerry Christmas.
Hope you had a happy holidays.
Whatever it is you celebrate.
Hope it was great.
We enjoyed our break A coupleweeks off.
I'm ready to get back to thesocial media, though, with the
Daily Walt Disney quote trivia,posting stuff.
It was a nice break, but I'mready to get back into it.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Right, yeah, as far as for the podcast.
Yes, as far as work, work.
I'm not ready yet, but I stillhave a few days.
Anyway but I do want to echooff of everything Zach said.
I hope everyone had a greatChristmas, happy holidays, all
of that, and even though we saidwe'd been sick like Christmas,
(03:53):
only one, only one kid was sickand he was still able to enjoy,
and then it just kind oftrickled on to all of us after
that.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So I gave Brittany a look because I'm still working.
I don't get a break.
There is no breaks for me.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
I know.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
All right, so if you're new here, I'm Zach.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
I'm Britt.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
And we do this show every week Usually usually we
skipped last week.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
We skipped last week, it was Christmas, you know jinx
.
You can't talk anymore.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
And we just our goal here is to help you have a
better walt disney worldvacation or disneyland and
really break your week up.
I know everybody has stressfuljobs.
This is a 45 minute to an hourbreak during the week.
Listen to us when you're out,running, walking in the car,
whatever.
We just hope to bring you towalt disney world for a week
(04:42):
helps us get through the week.
I hope it helps you going intothe new year.
Great stuff coming up.
This is not a news podcast.
I know we always say that, butbig news will be dropped
tomorrow, january 2nd.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
No, that's not tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
When this is released , it will be.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Sorry, yes.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Free dining is back released.
It will be.
Yes, free dining is back, whichtells me that their advanced
bookings are not what theywanted to be.
Maybe epic universe is oh.
We can't talk about that onthis podcast, though, can we?
We don't the park we can't talkabout but it just kind of makes
you wonder.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
You know like, yay, all these specials.
But then it's like, okay, therethere's a.
There was there's a reason um,however I would, I would be okay
with it being a little lesscrowded yeah, I'm okay with that
too.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
All right, so we're going to get into our 2024 recap
.
It was a big year for us.
We didn't take as manyvacations as we have in the past
, but the ones we did take, orthe one we took, was big.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
And it was a great vacation.
I would do it again, with a fewchanges Okay but we're not
there yet.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
We're not there yet.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And then we're going to talk about our 2025 vacations
that have been completelychanged than what we had
originally planned on.
We're going to get to that.
All right.
So our first trip we took in2024 was our first kidless trip
last February.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Now a little history Kidless trip to Disney, To
Disney World.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
February is always a big month for Brittany and I.
I proposed to her onValentine's Day.
We got engaged.
I know it seemed a little hokey, but for us, we try to always
make it a big thing.
Right.
So this past year we're likewe're going to Walt Disney World
(06:38):
, our kids were finally oldenough to not be so pissy about
it that they didn't get to go.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Is that I wouldn't?
Have used that word, but I meanthey weren't upset, they
weren't like't like no, youcan't go without us.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
But in the years prior they're like you can't go
without it.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
You know, they were at that age where and I think
too because we weren't going toall the parks and when we were
telling them what we wanted toto focus on when we were in the
parks, they were like, oh, okayyeah, it's a completely
different trip right you can goback and listen to those trip
reports and dining reviews, butwe stayed at a non-disney resort
for the first time.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
We stayed at the dolphin hotel, great resort yes,
a great location great location, especially for the price.
You're getting all the deluxeamenities for half the price,
essentially as a deluxe resort.
However, there was no theming.
I mean a little bit, but.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
A little bit here and there, but I mean, it's like
you're staying at a.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
An upscale Marriott at anywhere else in the country
that has a huge conventioncenter.
Right, that's what it was like.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
But I mean again not to take away the Like, if we'd
had more time, there were somany restaurants that they had
there in the hotel itself again,not Disney, but quite a bit of
a selection of different typesof restaurants that we've heard
good things about yes and youknow it just didn't even though
(08:00):
it's right there, like on theEpcot side and everything it
just it didn't feel like youwere in that Disney bubble.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Here's a great analogy If you were this is
dating me too way back in highschool.
It's like you got invited tothe popular kids party but no
one was talking to you when youwere there.
You were just still like.
You were kind of there, but notreally.
Right.
Does that make sense?
Yeah, that's what it felt liketo me, because that's how the
(08:28):
kid, that's the kid.
I was in high school.
I was included, but not really.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Right and again, not to take away from it because
some people love staying at thisone in Dolphin and it is a very
nice resort hotel, but it just,you know, we like to feel the
more disney vibes we do all that, so so that was missing some,
uh.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
But you know, if you're one that enjoys, you know
those type of properties andthe price and everything, I
would recommend it yeah, ifyou're wanting to take advantage
of the deluxe resort amenitiesand extra magic hours and all
that stuff, to take advantage ofthe deluxe resort amenities and
extra magic hours and all thatstuff that you get with the
deluxe resort, but you're notgoing to really be staying at
(09:11):
the resort much, I would do this.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Yeah, this is on price on par with moderate
resorts but it's a deluxe resortand the room was very nice and
very comfortable.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
It was great, yes yeah, all right, we enjoyed
farts and did our first tourwith behind the scenes.
If you have boys, you arewelcome, like we do.
Festival of the arts known fart, known as farts.
We did it and I must say thisis my favorite festival yes sans
food yeah, zach can only handleso much sweets.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
I can't do sweets.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I know that's probably a good thing that I
can't handle sweets, but I'm outfor the food.
But I enjoyed the artistry.
I enjoyed the sidewalk chalk.
I enjoy painting the numberthing.
I enjoy all of the that's agood word to put it not
(10:09):
worshiping, but all of theappreciation that figment gets,
that I appreciate theimagination.
They're celebrating figment andthe and imagination right which
I think is essentially whatevery all of this is, so I
really enjoy.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, I enjoyed seeing the different type of
artwork because there's allkinds and you know, like Zach
was saying, you know getting topaint some of that mural and the
food booths.
You know some of the items arevery unique to keep it on par
and theme with the Festival ofthe Arts.
(10:44):
So I do like how some of thefoods were presented.
I would say it's not one of myfavorite festivals for the food.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
No, it's not, In my opinion.
It's not for the food, it's forthe arts.
Right yeah, the food issupposed to be artsy, but if
we're talking about food, as faras festivals go, I think the
flower and garden probably hasthe best food in my opinion yeah
, that's tough but it's not.
We're not talking right, no,but yeah we did the behind the
(11:15):
seats tour, yes, which I loved.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
If you even have a hinkling of liking living with
the land, do this tour it wasvery informative in different
ways than what you hear on theride, and it was more
interactive than I thought itwould be as well it was.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
It was great.
I'm sorry I cut you off there.
You were gonna say something.
You're gonna move on, okay?
Um, I it's very, as far astours go, very affordable and I
like that.
You get to see what otherpeople look like.
When, when you're on livingwith the land, you get to see
what other people look like,when, when you're on living with
the land, you get to see whatthose people look like right.
I just find that kind of I knowI'm a little goofy, but I just
find it.
Hey, this is what you look likewhen you're on living with the
(11:53):
land to the plants and stuff,but I thought it was.
They had a lot of very uniquetechniques and developed
technologies and I really thinkthat the Land Pavilion,
especially Living with the Land,still embodies what Walt's
concept of Epcot Center wassupposed to be Innovate, develop
and move forward in the future,and that's what this does, and
(12:18):
they do a really good job ofshowing that, I think.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah, I think so too, and again, I didn't really know
what to expect from from thetour and of course, zach is the
one that loves the ride so much,but I I definitely enjoyed it.
It was very informative.
Our tour guide was amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
She was great, yeah and I'm not a green thumb person
, I don't have an inkling ofgrowing crops or vegetables or
anything and I love this,absolutely loved it.
I love the technology part andthat they're keeping with Walt's
original idea of what Epcotshould have been.
I think that's what I reallyappreciated the most about it.
Right, because it's very uniquethe techniques that they use.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Yeah, no, I agree.
And the amount just.
I know you hear it on the rideand stuff too, but just the
amount of food that they produceis amazing.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
It's a lot Yep.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
What's on your list for this trip?
I enjoyed this is where I felta little guilty without the kids
but getting to experience theMoana attraction in Epcot for
the first time.
What is it?
Journey Through Water?
Yeah, time.
What is it journey throughwater?
Yeah, and it was.
It was just fun because we werewe were being big kids without
(13:29):
the kids.
You know like I go backsometimes and watch a couple of
like videos that you took of melike doing things with the water
and I really did look and actlike a big kid with it, like I
was just having a good time yeah, I really enjoyed this too.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
I didn't know what to expect, but this is going back
to again the edutainment thatEpcot Center is supposed to be.
For those that say this shouldbe an animal kingdom, I'm sorry
you're wrong.
This should be an Epcot,because it really talks about
the journey of water actuallythrough, like the rainforest and
everything like that, and it'sjust a fun attraction.
(14:04):
And the key to this is doing itat night.
It is beautiful at night.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
It is.
I mean, it's beautiful duringthe day too, but it just takes
on a more magical glow.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Very magical.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Yes, completely agree , but it's so fun.
Definitely recommend whetheryou're by yourself with kids any
time of day.
Really, it was just truly fun.
Another highlight of this tripwas eating at Boma.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yes, Early early, early in the morning.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
So we had an early, early morning reservation one of
the days we were there for Boma, which is an Animal Kingdom
Lodge, for breakfast it's abuffet, so good, the theming
there, everything.
It just you know, one of thesedays we will be taking the kids
as well, but I was glad we gotto finally experience it.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah, it was good.
So I had a couple of thingsmore on this trip.
The key to riding expeditioneverest thoroughly is having two
tempting tigresses at nomadlounge prior to it.
That takes it to a whole notherlevel.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Man, that was awesome right and we thoroughly did, as
you as, what he just said.
We did get to thoroughly enjoyand take our time at Nomad
Lounge as well.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
We were there for a few hours.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
I wouldn't say a few hours but maybe two, a couple
hours.
Yeah, and it was just.
You know, it's just a relaxingvibe and, I guess, something
you're wanting to do every timeyou go right.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
So I really enjoyed just relaxing in Animal Kingdom.
I think Animal Kingdom I knowpeople say Animal Kingdom is
only a half-day park and thatreputation probably is going to
grow with the closure, startingJanuary 6th, of Chester and
Hester's like the games, thegift shop and Triceratops Spin,
(16:03):
which I get it, but it's stilllike you need to read.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
This park is meant to help you relax, right and if
you're focusing just solely onthe rides, then yes, half day,
but there's so much more to itdare you.
No, I'm saying for the peoplethat just go for the rides only,
but that the park isn't meantfor just that.
No, you know it's to.
It is to relax.
Go do a ride, relax some more,go do another ride or do a few
(16:34):
rides and then relax for a while.
You know whether it's on thosetrails we've talked about
several times, you know.
Or just going to places likeNomad Lounge, and you know,
taking it easy.
Or walking around the Tree ofLife and stuff, or yeah, yeah
Tree of.
Life.
That sounded wrong for somereason, but you know.
But that's what it's for.
It is to just have you slowdown, take it easy, because so
(16:57):
many of the other parks are gogo, go, go go, so you can get
everything in.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Yeah, yeah.
So my favorite thing about thistrip was just the more relaxing
pace.
We just went at our own flow.
I don't think we ever gotreally tired.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
No.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
And then the behind the scenes tour I think was
absolutely amazing.
Go check it out, get areservation.
I highly recommend it.
It's worth the money, it's notexpensive and it will give you a
more, better appreciation forwhat they do, not only in Walt
Disney World, but for just forliving with the land.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I think it was great right, and if you're looking for
like a time to go, maybe youwant to do a couples only trip
or something, you know.
I think February is a great timeand the weather's great, you
know it wasn't cold it wasn'tcold like you needed, like maybe
a long sleeve shirt, but umlater in the day it would warm
up, you know it wasn't cold.
It wasn't cold like you needed,like maybe a long sleeve shirt,
but um later in the day itwould warm up, you know.
(17:49):
And back to t-shirt and shortsand stuff, but it was.
It wasn't as crowded I mean,you are still gonna have to wait
in line and stuff but it wasn'tas crowded and the weather was
very pleasant.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
So all right.
Moving on, we went to disney'svero beach resort in june.
I said this back then.
I'm reiterating it now.
This is a deluxe resort withoutthe stress of the parks, no
crowds, in an amazing beach.
That's what this place is.
Yes, it is amazing.
I love, love, love, love thisplace yeah, it is.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
It is disney without being in that huge disney bubble
in orlando, you know, but thetheming, the theming's on par,
it's very relaxing.
There's still a lot of thosesame perks and stuff that you
get at the disney resorts inorlando, you know.
You have movies at night, youhave arts and crafts activities,
(18:46):
you have trivia at the pool,things like that, and they even
have like areas for games andpuzzles and they have what am I
trying to say when you notreally rent officially.
But you have to like borrow DVDs, borrow games, like they have
(19:06):
some TVs downstairs in the mainin where you know they have a
couple of different gamingsystems like Xbox and
PlayStation stuff like that, andyou go to the front desk and
and they just give you they giveyou a game and you play it and
you return it.
You just have to sign it out.
So you know, they know who hasit and so, yeah, I mean it, it
(19:27):
was.
It was so pretty, though in thebeach there they really support
the local like turtles and it'sjust I don't know.
It was so fun and relaxing andthe food you know a lot of the
food is like your Disney food,especially the pool.
The quick service food is likewhat you would get at quick
(19:47):
service pool bars and stuff andother Disney resorts the chicken
tenders, all of that stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
So yeah, my favorite thing was they said they were
fully booked and it felt it wasempty.
Right.
It was completely empty and thebeach was not crowded at all.
We were there on late MemorialDay.
There's nobody there.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
It was completely empty and the beach was not
crowded at all.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
We were there on late Memorial Day.
There's nobody there.
It was amazing.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
I mean, we did have like one of the days there were
quite a few people on the beach,but it didn't feel overcrowded
in any way, you know, in thespacing like there was still,
you know.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Yeah, we're used to going to the Gulf Coast off of
Highway 38.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
If you know anything about that, that you know how
packed.
That is right.
This is the exact opposite ofthat.
Yeah, it's so great, love it,love it, love it.
And you know they do likerental chairs there for the
beach and everything too, andthe prices are very reasonable
yes, yes, all right, moving onto the oh, that's all you're
gonna say.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
What do you?
Speaker 1 (20:39):
no, it's just I.
I though more of Vero Beach inthe location of it.
I think it is a good way, likeif you could and then we said
this before If you could go tothe parks and then save a few
days in your trip towards theend, to take this drive down to
Vero Beach and use those lastfew days for relaxing, this
(21:02):
would be.
This is the perfect resort forthat.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
More on that in a bit .
Okay, coast to coast big tripin July.
I love staying at the GrandCalifornian.
It was so relaxing and I lovedthe entrance into DCA right from
the hotel.
Yes, that was so awesome.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
That was a huge, huge perk, and Grand Californian has
similar vibes to likeWilderness Lodge and the pool
chairs.
I know you're thinking what?
What about pool chairs?
But I'm surprised Zach's notjumping in, because he ranted
and raved about these poolchairs being some of the most
comfortable at any resort.
(21:44):
They were awesome.
They were awesome.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
They were awesome and the Yacht Club was an amazing
resort.
Loved everything about theYacht Club.
I just enjoyed experiencingboth resorts I mean resorts, I
mean Disneyland Resort and WaltDisney World in the same trip.
I think that was really cool tobe able to, I guess, compare
the two.
Right.
(22:06):
And I said this last time whenwe did our trip report.
I'm going to say it again itfelt like we were visiting
Disneyland.
But the second we walked intothe Yacht Club Resort I was like
, oh yeah, like once we were inDisney World.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
It felt like we were home.
I was like okay, we're homeyeah.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Disneyland was like visiting, but when you're at
Walt Disney World you're likeokay.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Yeah, I would agree, like Disneyland, love it, love
it.
You know the history of it.
Some of our favorite rides andlands are even out in Disneyland
in California Adventure.
But we just for us our homeparks.
Our home resort as a whole isWalt Disney World.
Now, cars Land still might beone of my favorite lands though
(22:50):
ever in Disney's CaliforniaAdventure.
I'm glad we had the amazingopportunity, kind of, like Zach
said, comparing in a way, youknow, even comparing Because it
was on the same trip Food itemssuch as churros and which ones
were better, which, I'm afraidto say, it's still Nomad Lounge
(23:12):
In Walt Disney World.
But it was just, I don't know,like the appreciation for both.
You know I definitely have Onboth coasts, but I think it just
made me appreciate the lovethat I have more for Walt Disney
World.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Yeah, made me appreciate the love that I have
more for Walt Disney World.
Yeah, I would agree to that.
And Cars Land is.
We need to rank the lands again.
We did it a long time ago, acouple years ago.
I think we need to go back andredo that now that we've done
Disneyland as well and.
California Adventure.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
So all the lands from both coasts?
Yes, okay.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
And I've been listening, so I'm doing a lot of
book research.
Still I'm listening to a lot ofinterviews with Tony Baxter
because I'm still working onFrontierland and in that
interview, because he worked onCars Land, tony Baxter did and
he said one of the greatestcompliments you could ever get
as an Imagineer was when he wasin Cars Land.
He overheard a little boy askhis mom is this where they
(24:05):
filmed Cars?
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
That's how real Cars cars land is.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
It is especially at night wow, well, and you know,
we said it, so he's 12 now, butthe first time we went was he 10
or just turned 11 he was 10, uh, our oldest.
So he loved, loved loved.
Cars as a toddler and having himlike just when we were in Cars
(24:34):
Land, going back to like histhree-year-old self.
You know I mean that should saya lot too, and compliment
Baxter, because you know I thinkit does that for a lot, a lot
of kids and adults.
I mean they did such a greatjob.
It really, really, truly feelslike you're there in a part of
the movie, so.
But yeah, I agree, sometimewe'll need to rank the lands
(24:56):
again, but yes, it was anamazing opportunity Again
appreciate both coasts so much.
In this same trip, besidesdoing the parks that we've done
before and, you know, staying innice resorts, we also
experienced Typhoon Lagoon.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
A lot larger than I thought it would be.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Yes, a lot larger, a lot nicer than I thought it
would be.
I don't know, and I don't meanthat in any condescending way or
anything I just I don't think Iknew what to expect.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
We've never been to a Disney water park.
We've always been to a Disneywater park.
We've always been to waterparks around here and they're
just you know, yeah, and theLazy River.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
It was very, very nice and I would definitely be
up to going again, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Yeah, one of my favorite things from this trip
was me and Ryan closed out ourDCA night with Incredicoaster
timed it perfectly.
We got to watch the Disney andfireworks from the
Incredicoaster at CaliforniaAdventure.
I thought that was great.
One thing I would have changedis I think we should have taken
a rest day after ourcross-country trip due to the
(26:03):
jet lag and as long of a day asit was, because we got there and
went right into the parks andit it was like it took a toll on
us, I think a little bit, Ithink.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Well, so, for those of you wondering exactly so, yes
, the, the, there was a travelday, obviously, but between
going from california to floridaand what originally was going
to be like a five hour flightended up with storms and all
that turning into a lot longerand having to fly into another
airport refueling and thenflying into Orlando.
(26:36):
So we got in much later thananticipated and you know, with
the, the time difference and allthat, yeah, I think I think it
did affect us some, but I don'tthink we realized it in the
midst of it until later in thetrip.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Yeah, yeah, well, so when we left California, it was
breakfast time, and when we gotto Orlando, it was like 9
o'clock at night, right, and sothat's a big toll on your body
that you don't realize isactually happening.
Yeah, so that's one thing Ithink I would have changed is
that, other than that, it was agreat trip.
I don't recommend it for firsttimers, though.
Right.
So, but yeah, all right.
(27:13):
So lessons we learned in 2024.
Brittany, what is one lessonthat we learned in 2024?
Speaker 1 (27:20):
We are no longer a rope dropping family.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
We are not, nope.
I'm glad to.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Yeah, I mean there is something to be said for rope
dropping, though, like it isexcitement, you know you want to
be one of those first onesthere, get a couple of rides in
before anyone else comes to thepark and and there is a lot of
fun in that, a lot of stress inthat sometimes too.
But you know, I think if you,if it's one of your only times
(27:49):
being able to go, or your onlytime it is, it is worth it to
rope drop.
But the fact that we go severaltimes now and our kids are
getting older, you know thatextra hour, hour and a half, two
hours of sleep and not havingto get up and rush and go, I
think is what's going to starthappening for us in the future.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Well, and I think, now that we've done most
everything, there's not a rushto like.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
we have specific things that we want to do and
then after that it's like yeah,right, you know it's not like
we're trying to squeezeeverything in because we don't
know when we're going to comeback.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Yeah, I learned couples only trips to Walt
Disney World are amazing whenwe're going to come back.
Yeah, I learned couples onlytrips to Walt Disney World are
amazing.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
They are so much fun, so much fun.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
And people are like, are you going to Walt Disney
World without your kids?
I'm like, yeah, and it's goingto be awesome, it's.
There's so much to do forcouples.
We did a show like two yearsago about it, yeah, and I think
we probably need to do anotherone right, kind of re because
stuff has changed you know, Ihate doing episodes again, but I
think because things havechanged, we need to bring it up
(28:54):
again well, yeah, and I meanwe're.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
What is this?
Episode 183 so I mean it's okayto kind of revisit, rehash them
yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Yeehaw Bob.
Still awesome, still awesome,go see.
Still awesome, still awesome,go see him.
He's at the Port OrleansRiverside, I think, thursday,
friday and Saturday nights.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Go see, check the schedule though.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
No, call him.
I don't think there's an actualschedule.
Call the front desk, they'lltell you Right.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Yeah, one thing just how much we love Nomad Lounge,
even with the kids, because itis that time to relax and, if
it's a hot summer day, you know,to just have that time to
unwind and chill for a bit.
Also another thing pool daysfor those longer trips are a
(29:40):
must.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Yes, for sure.
One other lesson I learned.
This is for the guys boxershorts and theme parks, not a
combination.
You know what I mean.
Just saying it's a long day,all right.
Anything else you learned thisyear?
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Just as always in Disney, this isn't necessarily
for this year, but pack yourpatience.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Pack your patience pants.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Everyone's experiencing a lot of what
you're experiencing, whetherit's the joy of being there or
the stress of it, or having kidsthrowing tantrums.
Don't feel like you're the onlyones going through it, because
you're not.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Yeah, I will say this , and I noticed this on my solo
trips when I go for bookresearch If you stop and look
around, there are like 20parents with kids having
meltdowns all at the same time.
Right.
No one's paying attention to you.
I'm not judging you, I'm busydoing my thing.
But when you're so involvedwith your family, you think
everybody is like all eyes areon you.
(30:41):
No, they're not.
Yeah, everybody's payingattention in their own world.
Don't sweat it.
Don't feel like everybody'sjudging you.
They're not their kids meltingdown whatever.
Just it's okay yes it is okayyou are fine.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Yep, yep, all right.
So what do we have planned for2025?
Speaker 2 (31:01):
well, get ready for a roller coaster, because we're
about to take you on one aboutwhat was originally excuse,
excuse me originally supposed tobe planned, and we changed our
minds again.
So let's talk Disney CruiseLine for a bit.
We were going to go cruising in2024, this past year.
Yes we were, but we decided onthe coast to coast trip instead.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
Yes, which I'm glad we did.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
I'm glad we did too.
So 2025 was going to be ourcruise year and we were going to
do a couple of park days beforeand then go sailing on the
Disney Wish in concierge leveland that was going to be it for
this year.
That was it.
Due to the high price tag ofconcierge level, it is not cheap
(31:48):
.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
It is not cheap, it is not.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
But why were we going to do concierge level Brittany?
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Oh, you're making me sound all bougie over here.
I'm not.
No, I'm not.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
There's a very legitimate reason.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
I'm nervous about being on a cruise for many
reasons, and it's not becauseTitanic or anything, but it's
just like what.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
It's in the caribbean icebergs?
Speaker 1 (32:13):
no, I know, but I mean like I think some people
like when they think, oh, I'mgonna be on a ship for a long
time and stuck or something,then that pops in their head, I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
But they have luxury lifeboats now too, so it's more
it's more of I don't know.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
I've heard mixed reviews, and not so much from
any particular cruise line.
But just you know, when you areon some choppier waters, like
if it's a little stormy out orsomething like I don't know how
it's going to affect me, becausethere's times I can get motion
sickness very easily and othertimes not at all, and so I guess
(32:50):
part of it is I don't want tofeel that way for several days
in a row.
Obviously I do have like just aslight bit of vertigo as well,
which I mean I can take somemedicine to help control that
(33:11):
medicine to help control that.
But the combination of possiblyfeeling sick from the bigger
waves and and then that vertigostuff, it just kind of worries
me and then I sound so horrible.
But then a little bit ofclaustrophobia as well, which I
know these ships are huge,they're magnificent, they look
beautiful, gorgeous, there's somuch to do on them, but the
rooms, like the regular rooms,just seem so small that I just I
(33:38):
don't know how I would feel.
So that's when Zach startedlooking at different options of
rooms and the concierge leveland how you have like little
like balcony and stuff.
So I wouldn't feel soclaustrophobic.
Claustrophobic if I needed tolike get some fresh air.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
So the main reason there's several reasons we were
going to do concierge level one.
When we were planning this orlooking at it, I was like we
need to take as many of thesestresses that could possibly be
like instances that couldpossibly be stressful for
Brittany away.
It's like boarding the ship,deboarding the ship, getting on
and off, for that could possiblybe like instances that could
(34:14):
possibly be stressful forBrittany away.
It's like boarding the ship,deboarding the ship, getting on
and off for excursions,breakfast, like all that stuff
that can cause anxiety and causeworry.
Concierge level takes thoseaway.
Right, you have expeditedboarding, expedited deboarding.
You have your own little likeclub lounge area with like
continental breakfast drinks,all of that in your own little
area.
The rooms are a bit bigger.
(34:34):
You do have the balcony andthen you have your own little
like concierge level deck withchairs and stuff like that and I
think like a pool stuff, stufflike that.
So my thought was, if we'regonna do it, let's do that and
try to help britney take some ofthose worries and concerns that
you don't think are worries andconcerns, but when you get in
those situations they arestressful, right.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
They are, and our youngest, every once in a while,
can feel some of those too.
He can get a little motionsickness as well, and so I think
it would also help him.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Yeah, yeah.
And so, after talking about itmore and realizing that's the
only trip we're taking next year, we got to thinking about it
and we realized we've been doingCalifornia the past few years.
Right, we haven't done just a Isay this with quotation marks a
good old fashioned seven night,four day park day in Walt
Disney World.
(35:30):
That can be relaxing.
It is, we've done it before andsave some money and go a few
more times this year and wethought that would be a much
better use of our money and timeinstead of doing a four night
cruise, a couple of days at thepark and that's it for the year.
Right, right, money and time,instead of doing a four night
(35:57):
cruise, a couple days at thepark, and that's it for the year
, right, right.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
So we shelved the cruise and decided to that and a
few other trips.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
So here's what we have planned for 2025 yes, so in
february we are doing a kidlesstrip again.
Yay, I can't wait.
It is fully booked.
Done, done, it's happening.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
So this time now Zach had to pull my leg a little bit
on where we're staying.
You know he said but weprobably wouldn't stay here with
the kids when there's a fewother resorts they want to stay
at as well, so why not do it inour couples only trip?
So we are staying.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
We've stayed at Port Orleans Riverside, now we're
going to stay at port orleansfrench quarter so the reason
we've been hesitant on portorleans french quarter is we're
just not big and I know we'reprobably one of the few outliers
on this opinion, and that'sokay we're not big into like the
new orleans theme right, we,we're just not Like Marty Girl
(36:46):
and all that.
That's just not us Back in.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
Zach's younger days.
I think he was yes, but I'm not21 anymore.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
I'm 42.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
So the theming has really you are not 42 yet.
Yet who's even counting at thispoint?
Because then you rush my agewhen you jump through.
Who's even counting?
Speaker 2 (37:11):
When you get in your 30, like late 30s and 40s, no
one cares anyway.
Um so this has not been aresort that's been high on our
list to stay at right, and sofor our couples trip, we're not
really going to be enjoying theresort for like a.
We're not having a resort day,so let's just go and stay there.
We will have some night time.
You know we're going to enjoyscat Cats.
We'll get the beignets.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
So let's clarify real quick.
So there's Scat Cats Club Cafethat you can eat at earlier in
the day for the Mickey beignets.
You can get traditionalbeignets.
They have some other likeversions of it as well.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
The boozy ones.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
Well, no, but I think there's.
I wasn't.
I was getting to that.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Oh sorry.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
There are some bougie , yeah, bougie like adult Bougie
.
I know we're bougie, but thoseare bougie, well, I kept saying
it in my head and I'm like thatdoesn't sound right.
Bougie ones, but I think theysometimes bring out different
flavors as well, but the MickeyBeignets.
But then at night you have theScat Cats Club Lounge that has
(38:07):
like jazz and cocktails.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
I want to.
You know I'm not a big jazz.
I know we live in Nashville.
Oh, you don't like live music.
No, we can't stand it.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
We don't go downtown at all, but we want to
experience it.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
We want to experience it and I think, because we have
such low expectations goinginto it, we're like, oh man,
that was a great resort, thatwas I don't know what we were so
hesitant about, right, you know?
Yeah, who knows?
Speaker 1 (38:29):
though, who knows?
Speaker 2 (38:30):
We're going to thoroughly enjoy farts again.
For those of you with boyslistening, you're welcome.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
Yes, festival of the Arts at Epcot.
So, and yes, we want to enjoythe festival for all the artwork
, do the painting, all thatstuff again.
You know we may hit up one ortwo of the food booths.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
I'm not, I'm out.
No, like you can.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
But you know, but we will be eating elsewhere in
Epcot.
Yes.
And then we'll be doingenjoying Animal Kingdom as well.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
Yes.
And so for food, we are atEpcot.
We're going to eat lunch atSpace 220 Lounge, the Lounge
caught.
We were going to eat lunch atspace 220 lounge, the lounge.
Now, if you go way back to ourfirst episodes, you will know I
was so excited and pumped forthis restaurant to open after
the covid closures.
This was like the number onething I was looking forward to.
(39:21):
And then they came out with thefood and the prices and I was
like I don't think so.
And then, after watchingseveral of our favorite
youtubers go there and like,yeah, it's a steak, like I don't
think so.
And then, after watchingseveral of our favorite
YouTubers go there and like,yeah, it's a steak, like there's
nothing special about it.
So we still want to goexperience it, but not pay those
outrageous astronomical.
Did you see what?
I did there Prices, so we'regoing to go to the lounge Now.
(39:42):
They do have some small bitesand get some drinks for lunch
and get some drinks for lunchRight, and for dinner we're
going to eat in the JapanPavilion at Shikisai Izakaya
House.
I'm glad you said that I do notlike sushi, but I love, like,
skewered meats and that type ofstuff, which is what this place
(40:04):
has.
Yeah, and we've wanted to eathere in the past and our oldest
Ryan loves all Japanese food,but our youngest Nolan does not,
and there's nothing on the menueven the kids menu that he
would like here.
So we decided this would be agood time for us to eat there.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
Yes, and what.
I will order.
I don't know.
I will let you know after thetrip, because so much of of the
menu sounds good to me and Ihave been very critical of
what's that show in Epcot.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
again, the Fireworks show Harmonious.
No, that's the one we love.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
That's the one we loved.
Luminous, luminous, yes.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
I'm going to give it another try.
I don't understand it.
I'm going to give it anothershot.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
I want to.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Yeah, and I think you may enjoy it more the second
time around, Like I haven't seenit as a whole since that one
time either, but when I'm onthis was it the summer trip, I
guess, when Nolan and I went.
Speaker 2 (41:00):
I went back to Epcot.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
We went back to Epcot when we had all four of us had
kind of separated you with Ryan,me with Nolan, and after we
were doing what we went therefor and we were walking back to
the resort, uh, what little wecaught of it.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Like it held my attention, Like I, I was like so
we'll be eating a late dinnerin the Japan pavilion.
Yeah, I think we just hang outright there, cause that'd be a
good spot to watch it from.
Okay.
Yeah, to watch it from?
Okay yeah, I'd be up for that.
And there's a slight chance,depending.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
I may agree to go to Yeehaw Bob with him at Port
Orleans Riverside for a littlewhile.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
For a little bit.
Yeah, yeah, I completely agree,and we are going to be doing
again.
We're just doing Epcot andAnimal Kingdom, because those
are our two favorite parks, andwe're going back to Boma.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
Yes, not as early, though, like an hour later For
breakfast.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:51):
On our last day.
So that's our couple's trip inFebruary.
And another restaurant inAnimal Kingdom Lodge too.
Oh, we're going to Jiko ourfirst night.
That's like our Valentine'sdinner.
Yeah, I am looking for I don'tknow why I can't believe I
forgot that.
I'm looking forward to Jiko.
They have a very unique, someunique meats on their menu and
(42:13):
I'm a sorbet guy, their palatecleanser between courses sorbet.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
I am so looking forward to this I'm surprised
you forgot about that Icompletely forgot about it.
Oh my gosh, I can't wait forthat.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Yeah, so that will be in February, and so looking
forward to that again.
Just a short little likeweekend trip.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
But still plenty to do and relaxing time as well.
Speaker 2 (42:37):
Oh, I'm chilling.
You can find me at Nomad Loungewith the Tempting Tigress
outside.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
I'm hanging, yeah, we will be spending time at Nomad
Lounge.
I'm hanging outounge and alsohaving their delicious churros.
Yes, so then, a little bitlater in the year, the end of
May into the early part of June,we are doing a seven-day Walt
Disney World trip in June withanother family.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
More on that later.
We can't divulge any detailsyet Followed by four days at
Vero Beach.
Yes, this I cannot wait for.
So we're staying in the towerat Coronado Springs.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
Yes, the Grandestino Tower, and so we haven't booked
it yet.
So hopefully that is wherewe're staying.
And we've heard we've stayed atCoronado Springs before.
So some of you that have beenlistening for a while and stuff
like yes, we have stayed atCoronado before, but not in the
tower.
In the trip that we did stay atCoronado, that was the trip.
(43:36):
That was like a complete blurto us Almost broke us.
And so this will be a differentexperience, with the tower and
actually having like a pool dayand everything and being able to
enjoy the resort in the pooland the restaurants.
They have.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
We have a couple of days to do that.
Yeah, three Bridges Bar andGrill, can't wait.
Ryan and I will be taking a dayand going to the park we do not
speak of.
Rhymes are universal.
So Ryan is turning 13 this yearand he is getting a little bit
older, you know, and he lovesroller coasters and when we were
(44:14):
planning this, he's like Iguess we're going to Disney
again.
Same old thing going to Disney,which I get it he does love it,
but I get it.
He's 13.
He wants more thrilling.
He will be.
He wants more thrillingattractions.
I get it, I.
So we're going to be taking aday just me and him and going to
Universal.
It's going to be right whenEpic Universe is opening up,
(44:36):
which means we're not doing EpicUniverse, no, which means
either the other two parks aregoing to be completely dead or
100, like just nuts, Everythingnuts yeah.
So it's one of the two, but Ithink it'd be a good time to
good day I'm looking forward tothat.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
I've never been.
Yeah, and nolan and I like will.
We'll probably do the pool atsome point for a little bit.
While they're doing that, um,possibly me and him and maybe
some others we are with might uh, head over to chef mickey's
yeah, I'll have fun with thatsince zach and ryan don't really
we're out don't really want togo there, so that might be the
day that we do that and we'llfind some other fun things to do
(45:12):
as well.
Um so, and that's the thing youknow, whether it's within your
own family or if you're goingwith others, like we're not
going to do everything togetherno, that was one of the.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
When we first talked about this.
That was number one rules.
Like we don't have to doeverything together, like yeah.
Because you don't want to getsick of your friends either.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
Right.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
Just like your family , you don't want to get sick of
them.
Speaker 1 (45:33):
Yeah, so I mean, you know there will be several
things that we do together, butthere will be times where we
might not see each other forseveral hours and just meet at
dinner time or something.
Who knows.
Speaker 2 (45:43):
And then afterwards we're renting a car and driving
to Vero Beach the way MichaelEisner intended for us to do,
and spend four days at the beach.
Speaker 1 (45:51):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (45:52):
He can't wait.
He cut me off before.
Oh, I'm sorry.
What were you going to say?
Speaker 1 (45:55):
Well, besides Chef Mickey's, though, when talking
about this trip, somebody acrossfrom me that I'm staring at
right now agreed to some morecharacter dinings.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
Yes, there's two that I agree to Topolino's Terrace
for breakfast and Garden.
Grill yes.
Those are the only two that Iagree to Topolino's Terrace for
breakfast and Garden.
Speaker 1 (46:14):
Grill yes.
Speaker 2 (46:14):
Those are the only two that I'll ever agree to.
Speaker 1 (46:16):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 2 (46:18):
We'll leave it at that.
Speaker 1 (46:19):
Yes, but then, as Zach said, then renting a car
and going to Vero Beach, yes,For four days of just nothing.
Relaxing at the beach, enjoyingthe pool there, just taking it
all in, maybe going up to theroom napping, getting back out.
Speaker 2 (46:34):
We do have a ocean view room that is 100% booked
done.
Speaker 1 (46:38):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (46:38):
So, when I say the way Michael Eisner intended for
us to do when this resort wasbuilt, the intent was that most
people road trip Now, mostpeople fly, but a lot of people
would road trip and that, afterthey're watching the world of
vacation, they would take a fewdays and go to the beach and
relax before going home.
Yeah, that was the intent.
Now it's a DVC place, you know,but that's what I mean, yeah,
(47:00):
and then, yeah, coming home, allright, and now we have planned
a two day trip for fall breakand we're going to stay at Pop
Century.
Speaker 1 (47:11):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
And we're going to do two park days Magic Kingdom and
Hollywood Studios and, if thetime is right, go to the
Halloween party again, becauseit's been a long time since
we've been.
Speaker 1 (47:20):
Right since the blur of the trip in 2019.
Speaker 2 (47:23):
Yes, we would want to experience again.
We would not rope drop, but wewould be there most of the day
and into the night.
And then Hollywood Studios.
We're only doing two parksbecause we're planning to go
again for Christmas.
We missed it this year.
Speaker 1 (47:35):
We really did.
Oh my goodness.
Yes, we really really did, yes.
And so at Christmas time, theplan is to most likely stay at
Contemporary and get a themepark view room because you're
going to yell at us.
Speaker 2 (47:49):
I can hear people yelling at us right now when we
say this.
Speaker 1 (47:59):
We're not going to go to Magic Kingdom during
Christmas time.
Why, why, why?
I mean, I find myself askingthat sometimes myself when we
discuss this, but we, we'veexperienced it.
It is beautiful, breathtaking,magical, all of those things at
Christmas, yes, and our memoriesof it that we have already are
wonderful, but we're doing someother things.
Speaker 2 (48:17):
So we're going to go back to Animal Kingdom because I
think they have reallyunderrated Christmas decorations
and activities.
Speaker 1 (48:25):
They do and the Merry Menagerie are oh, those puppets
are just so adorable, like thepolar bears, arctic foxes, the
uh, penguins and more.
Just something that that I Ithoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed
when we were there a coupleyears ago at christmas time in
animal kingdom.
And then we also want toexperience epcot we've never
(48:47):
done festival of the holidayswe've never done festival of
holidays and if we time it right, I would.
Speaker 2 (48:52):
I want to do kind of like procession.
I don't care who the narratoris, but I think it'll be really,
really cool to see.
Yeah, yeah, uh.
Also, we're talking about themary menagerie.
I like the steel band drummerthat they had.
Oh yes, it was so so good, yeah, and you only get that in
animal kingdom, right, butyou're not getting that
experience anywhere else.
So we figured if we get a themepark view room at Contemporary,
(49:15):
that'll kind of like satisfyour Christmassy Magic Kingdom
stuff.
Speaker 1 (49:22):
Right.
Speaker 2 (49:22):
Because we'd be able to see the fireworks yes, from
the you know.
So I think that we'd still geta part of that right, right.
Speaker 1 (49:27):
Some of the vibes.
Some of the vibes.
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (49:29):
So I want to.
That's what we have planned in2025.
A little bit of a book update.
I am moving through it.
I am now in Frontierland.
Hopefully we'll be done withthat soon.
I've got to talk about thetrain station Zach.
It's just a train station.
There's a lot of stuff in thattrain station that is research.
(49:50):
Talk about Big Thunder Mountain, which is going down January
6th for an entire year.
They are retracking the wholething.
Hopefully, hopefully, we getthe dynamite scene from
Disneyland.
It would be nice.
It would be nice, it would benice.
I'm going to talk about I stillgot to talk about Tom Sawyer's
Island, and then I haveFrontierland.
I've already done research onFrontierland.
(50:11):
I'm sorry, not Frontierland.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
Fantasyland.
Speaker 2 (50:15):
And that's going to take a long time to write just
because there's so much in.
Speaker 1 (50:18):
Fantasyland yes, there is.
Speaker 2 (50:19):
And then I have to do Tomorrowland and I'm going to
end with the castle and the Waltstatue.
So I hope to have the book doneby next year.
I hope to.
I work six days a week with mynormal job and it's hard to sit
down and find time to write.
I will have some schedulechanges.
I'm trying to get too personal,but I think I will have more
(50:42):
time to write.
Another thing that I want tochange in 2025 is I have let
some things that I can't controltake time away from the podcast
, take time away from producinggood social media content,
writing all of that stuff nomore.
I'm done with that.
Things are going to happen.
(51:03):
Things are going to happen, butI am making a change and I have
made this change.
That stuff that I cannot changeor control I have just
completely written off at thispoint and I'm going to focus on
the things that I can controland be positive about and move
forward.
So look for I want this podcastto be better.
(51:23):
I want us to do.
There's always room forimprovement, right?
Right.
I want us to be better.
I want, I want to do bettersocial media content.
I used to do a lot of hey,that's pretty cool.
I haven't done any of thosereally lately.
Speaker 1 (51:37):
Well, you did one a few weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (51:38):
I did one, but I want to get back into that.
I want to really focus on thewriting and focus on just more
positive things that I cancontrol in my life instead of
things that I can't.
And I had a hard time.
Look forward to next year,brittany, what about you?
Speaker 1 (51:54):
I mean, I think I mean everyone is guilty of stuff
like that.
And you know I, for part of theyear anyway, uh, let a lot of
things get to me as well.
But, um, yeah, you know I, Ithink we want to grow the show
some more.
Uh, the content, what we bringto you, hopefully having more of
these trips.
(52:14):
You know, yes, a bigger trip,but then some of these smaller
ones will help with that as well.
And then you know, zach stillworking on the book and maybe
going out another time or twofor some research trips, just
because when, yes, we are therewith our family and stuff, but
there are times where we do takepictures or whatnot, because
(52:34):
it's like, ok, yeah, we betterget that, because that would be
such a nice social media postlater on, or who would have
thought that that was there andI just realized it myself.
You know things like that.
So, but you know we want tocontinue to bring this, you know
show to you every week.
You know, on occasion we maymiss from time to time, just
like last week.
You know it was Christmas.
But you guys that have beenwith us for a while, you know we
(52:56):
typically don't, if anything,it's maybe two or three times a
year, you know, but we stillwant to be consistent with with
doing our episodes and, as wesay at the beginning of every
episode, break from our week andI hope it is for your week,
whether it's a stressful workweek or whatever might be going
on just to take you to Disney.
Speaker 2 (53:16):
So yeah, and for those who've been listening for
a long time or new listenersthank you so much.
We really do appreciate you.
Yes, every time we talk abouttaking a break from the show or
something, we get just a ton offeedback, so we really do
appreciate it.
Moving on to Disney trivia notrivia.
This week we took a break again, but we will be back next week,
so look for that tomorrow, ifyou're listening to this.
(53:37):
When it comes out, we'llcontinue with the series the
secrets series with HollywoodStudios oh yes, next week okay,
so look forward to that.
So I just want to say thank youfor everybody for listening.
If you're new here, thank youso much.
If you've been around a longtime, we really do appreciate
you.
If you want to support thepodcast, the best thing to do is
to go leave us a five-starrating review on Apple podcast.
(53:59):
Really helps us to grow theshow.
Thank you so much.
You can email us circle ofparks at gmailcom.
Our website iswwwcircleofparkscom.
We're on Facebook, instagram,circle of parks and again,
please share the show with yourfriends.
We really do appreciate it andwe will talk to you next week.
Speaker 1 (54:14):
Hope you have a happy new year happy new year, thank
you, we are Bye.
Hello and welcome to Circula Parks podcast, episode
number 183.
Today we are going to recap ourDisney trips in 2024 and talk
about our trips we have plannedfor 2025.
There is far too much to seeand do.
We are here to help guide youthrough.
(00:42):
We are here to help guide youthrough, but before we do that,
we must talk Disney merch.
So this week, disneystorecom.
I don't know why my eyes justkept going back to this
particular item item, but it isa mini mouse exercise dress for
(01:04):
women, priced at $59.99.
Super cute, comfy, sleevelessdress made for play, with a
built-in bodysuit and a, youknow, exercise lining that we're
(01:25):
accustomed to, and it has anembroidery of mini signature
which adds to the finishingtouch.
And again, for some reasonmaybe it's because it's New
Year's, you know thinking aboutwhat New Year's resolutions are,
I don't know, but this was asuper cute exercise dress that I
could see several peoplewearing in the parks.
So again, please go check thatout.
And that is this week's Disneymerch.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
So it's a mini workout dress it's a mini
workout dress.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
It's still red, with the polka dots, all of that, but
for some, I don't know why, butmy eyes just kept drifting back
to it so you know what they.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
You know what they need a goofy workout suit got.
We're going way back, right?
Okay.
To the goofy shorts when he wasdoing the workout stuff.
No, I'm that old, this is stilllike.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
No, I'm just saying this dress, though, like it's
like what you see women wearing,you know to work out in, or
even in the parks, but for somereason it was just super cute so
or you can just get bicycleshorts and paint them like mini
mouse right.
That too, that too Okay Again,it was.
(02:33):
It was just cute.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
All right.
Well, thank you everybody forjoining us.
Happy new year.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yes, when you are listening to this, it will be
new year's day.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah, new year's day.
Yeah, happy new year.
We hope you had a greatchristmas.
If you're anything like ourfamily and other families, we
know you were sick at some pointin the last week.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
You can tell in our voices, we sound a lot worse
than we actually feel now.
Yes, that is correct, like wesound super nasally still, I
feel, but I don't think we areno but then the weather here is
changing too.
It was like 60 degrees andsunny yesterday, and then today
is like all this cold air andwind.
Welcome to snow next week.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yeah, Welcome to Tennessee winters yeah, they're
awesome.
So, yeah, I hope you had aMerry Christmas.
Hope you had a happy holidays.
Whatever it is you celebrate.
Hope it was great.
We enjoyed our break A coupleweeks off.
I'm ready to get back to thesocial media, though, with the
Daily Walt Disney quote trivia,posting stuff.
It was a nice break, but I'mready to get back into it.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Right, yeah, as far as for the podcast.
Yes, as far as work, work.
I'm not ready yet, but I stillhave a few days.
Anyway but I do want to echooff of everything Zach said.
I hope everyone had a greatChristmas, happy holidays, all
of that, and even though we saidwe'd been sick like Christmas,
(03:53):
only one, only one kid was sickand he was still able to enjoy,
and then it just kind oftrickled on to all of us after
that.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So I gave Brittany a look because I'm still working.
I don't get a break.
There is no breaks for me.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
I know.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
All right, so if you're new here, I'm Zach.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
I'm Britt.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
And we do this show every week Usually usually we
skipped last week.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
We skipped last week, it was Christmas, you know jinx
.
You can't talk anymore.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
And we just our goal here is to help you have a
better walt disney worldvacation or disneyland and
really break your week up.
I know everybody has stressfuljobs.
This is a 45 minute to an hourbreak during the week.
Listen to us when you're out,running, walking in the car,
whatever.
We just hope to bring you towalt disney world for a week
(04:42):
helps us get through the week.
I hope it helps you going intothe new year.
Great stuff coming up.
This is not a news podcast.
I know we always say that, butbig news will be dropped
tomorrow, january 2nd.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
No, that's not tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
When this is released , it will be.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Sorry, yes.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Free dining is back released.
It will be.
Yes, free dining is back, whichtells me that their advanced
bookings are not what theywanted to be.
Maybe epic universe is oh.
We can't talk about that onthis podcast, though, can we?
We don't the park we can't talkabout but it just kind of makes
you wonder.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
You know like, yay, all these specials.
But then it's like, okay, therethere's a.
There was there's a reason um,however I would, I would be okay
with it being a little lesscrowded yeah, I'm okay with that
too.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
All right, so we're going to get into our 2024 recap
.
It was a big year for us.
We didn't take as manyvacations as we have in the past
, but the ones we did take, orthe one we took, was big.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
And it was a great vacation.
I would do it again, with a fewchanges Okay but we're not
there yet.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
We're not there yet.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And then we're going to talk about our 2025 vacations
that have been completelychanged than what we had
originally planned on.
We're going to get to that.
All right.
So our first trip we took in2024 was our first kidless trip
last February.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Now a little history Kidless trip to Disney, To
Disney World.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
February is always a big month for Brittany and I.
I proposed to her onValentine's Day.
We got engaged.
I know it seemed a little hokey, but for us, we try to always
make it a big thing.
Right.
So this past year we're likewe're going to Walt Disney World
(06:38):
, our kids were finally oldenough to not be so pissy about
it that they didn't get to go.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Is that I wouldn't?
Have used that word, but I meanthey weren't upset, they
weren't like't like no, youcan't go without us.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
But in the years prior they're like you can't go
without it.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
You know, they were at that age where and I think
too because we weren't going toall the parks and when we were
telling them what we wanted toto focus on when we were in the
parks, they were like, oh, okayyeah, it's a completely
different trip right you can goback and listen to those trip
reports and dining reviews, butwe stayed at a non-disney resort
for the first time.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
We stayed at the dolphin hotel, great resort yes,
a great location great location, especially for the price.
You're getting all the deluxeamenities for half the price,
essentially as a deluxe resort.
However, there was no theming.
I mean a little bit, but.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
A little bit here and there, but I mean, it's like
you're staying at a.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
An upscale Marriott at anywhere else in the country
that has a huge conventioncenter.
Right, that's what it was like.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
But I mean again not to take away the Like, if we'd
had more time, there were somany restaurants that they had
there in the hotel itself again,not Disney, but quite a bit of
a selection of different typesof restaurants that we've heard
good things about yes and youknow it just didn't even though
(08:00):
it's right there, like on theEpcot side and everything it
just it didn't feel like youwere in that Disney bubble.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Here's a great analogy If you were this is
dating me too way back in highschool.
It's like you got invited tothe popular kids party but no
one was talking to you when youwere there.
You were just still like.
You were kind of there, but notreally.
Right.
Does that make sense?
Yeah, that's what it felt liketo me, because that's how the
(08:28):
kid, that's the kid.
I was in high school.
I was included, but not really.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Right and again, not to take away from it because
some people love staying at thisone in Dolphin and it is a very
nice resort hotel, but it just,you know, we like to feel the
more disney vibes we do all that, so so that was missing some,
uh.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
But you know, if you're one that enjoys, you know
those type of properties andthe price and everything, I
would recommend it yeah, ifyou're wanting to take advantage
of the deluxe resort amenitiesand extra magic hours and all
that stuff, to take advantage ofthe deluxe resort amenities and
extra magic hours and all thatstuff that you get with the
deluxe resort, but you're notgoing to really be staying at
(09:11):
the resort much, I would do this.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Yeah, this is on price on par with moderate
resorts but it's a deluxe resortand the room was very nice and
very comfortable.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
It was great, yes yeah, all right, we enjoyed
farts and did our first tourwith behind the scenes.
If you have boys, you arewelcome, like we do.
Festival of the arts known fart, known as farts.
We did it and I must say thisis my favorite festival yes sans
food yeah, zach can only handleso much sweets.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
I can't do sweets.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
I know that's probably a good thing that I
can't handle sweets, but I'm outfor the food.
But I enjoyed the artistry.
I enjoyed the sidewalk chalk.
I enjoy painting the numberthing.
I enjoy all of the that's agood word to put it not
(10:09):
worshiping, but all of theappreciation that figment gets,
that I appreciate theimagination.
They're celebrating figment andthe and imagination right which
I think is essentially whatevery all of this is, so I
really enjoy.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, I enjoyed seeing the different type of
artwork because there's allkinds and you know, like Zach
was saying, you know getting topaint some of that mural and the
food booths.
You know some of the items arevery unique to keep it on par
and theme with the Festival ofthe Arts.
(10:44):
So I do like how some of thefoods were presented.
I would say it's not one of myfavorite festivals for the food.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
No, it's not, In my opinion.
It's not for the food, it's forthe arts.
Right yeah, the food issupposed to be artsy, but if
we're talking about food, as faras festivals go, I think the
flower and garden probably hasthe best food in my opinion yeah
, that's tough but it's not.
We're not talking right, no,but yeah we did the behind the
(11:15):
seats tour, yes, which I loved.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
If you even have a hinkling of liking living with
the land, do this tour it wasvery informative in different
ways than what you hear on theride, and it was more
interactive than I thought itwould be as well it was.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
It was great.
I'm sorry I cut you off there.
You were gonna say something.
You're gonna move on, okay?
Um, I it's very, as far astours go, very affordable and I
like that.
You get to see what otherpeople look like.
When, when you're on livingwith the land, you get to see
what other people look like,when, when you're on living with
the land, you get to see whatthose people look like right.
I just find that kind of I knowI'm a little goofy, but I just
find it.
Hey, this is what you look likewhen you're on living with the
(11:53):
land to the plants and stuff,but I thought it was.
They had a lot of very uniquetechniques and developed
technologies and I really thinkthat the Land Pavilion,
especially Living with the Land,still embodies what Walt's
concept of Epcot Center wassupposed to be Innovate, develop
and move forward in the future,and that's what this does, and
(12:18):
they do a really good job ofshowing that, I think.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah, I think so too, and again, I didn't really know
what to expect from from thetour and of course, zach is the
one that loves the ride so much,but I I definitely enjoyed it.
It was very informative.
Our tour guide was amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
She was great, yeah and I'm not a green thumb person
, I don't have an inkling ofgrowing crops or vegetables or
anything and I love this,absolutely loved it.
I love the technology part andthat they're keeping with Walt's
original idea of what Epcotshould have been.
I think that's what I reallyappreciated the most about it.
Right, because it's very uniquethe techniques that they use.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Yeah, no, I agree.
And the amount just.
I know you hear it on the rideand stuff too, but just the
amount of food that they produceis amazing.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
It's a lot Yep.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
What's on your list for this trip?
I enjoyed this is where I felta little guilty without the kids
but getting to experience theMoana attraction in Epcot for
the first time.
What is it?
Journey Through Water?
Yeah, time.
What is it journey throughwater?
Yeah, and it was.
It was just fun because we werewe were being big kids without
(13:29):
the kids.
You know like I go backsometimes and watch a couple of
like videos that you took of melike doing things with the water
and I really did look and actlike a big kid with it, like I
was just having a good time yeah, I really enjoyed this too.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
I didn't know what to expect, but this is going back
to again the edutainment thatEpcot Center is supposed to be.
For those that say this shouldbe an animal kingdom, I'm sorry
you're wrong.
This should be an Epcot,because it really talks about
the journey of water actuallythrough, like the rainforest and
everything like that, and it'sjust a fun attraction.
(14:04):
And the key to this is doing itat night.
It is beautiful at night.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
It is.
I mean, it's beautiful duringthe day too, but it just takes
on a more magical glow.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Very magical.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Yes, completely agree , but it's so fun.
Definitely recommend whetheryou're by yourself with kids any
time of day.
Really, it was just truly fun.
Another highlight of this tripwas eating at Boma.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yes, Early early, early in the morning.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
So we had an early, early morning reservation one of
the days we were there for Boma, which is an Animal Kingdom
Lodge, for breakfast it's abuffet, so good, the theming
there, everything.
It just you know, one of thesedays we will be taking the kids
as well, but I was glad we gotto finally experience it.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah, it was good.
So I had a couple of thingsmore on this trip.
The key to riding expeditioneverest thoroughly is having two
tempting tigresses at nomadlounge prior to it.
That takes it to a whole notherlevel.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Man, that was awesome right and we thoroughly did, as
you as, what he just said.
We did get to thoroughly enjoyand take our time at Nomad
Lounge as well.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
We were there for a few hours.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
I wouldn't say a few hours but maybe two, a couple
hours.
Yeah, and it was just.
You know, it's just a relaxingvibe and, I guess, something
you're wanting to do every timeyou go right.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
So I really enjoyed just relaxing in Animal Kingdom.
I think Animal Kingdom I knowpeople say Animal Kingdom is
only a half-day park and thatreputation probably is going to
grow with the closure, startingJanuary 6th, of Chester and
Hester's like the games, thegift shop and Triceratops Spin,
(16:03):
which I get it, but it's stilllike you need to read.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
This park is meant to help you relax, right and if
you're focusing just solely onthe rides, then yes, half day,
but there's so much more to itdare you.
No, I'm saying for the peoplethat just go for the rides only,
but that the park isn't meantfor just that.
No, you know it's to.
It is to relax.
Go do a ride, relax some more,go do another ride or do a few
(16:34):
rides and then relax for a while.
You know whether it's on thosetrails we've talked about
several times, you know.
Or just going to places likeNomad Lounge, and you know,
taking it easy.
Or walking around the Tree ofLife and stuff, or yeah, yeah
Tree of.
Life.
That sounded wrong for somereason, but you know.
But that's what it's for.
It is to just have you slowdown, take it easy, because so
(16:57):
many of the other parks are gogo, go, go go, so you can get
everything in.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Yeah, yeah.
So my favorite thing about thistrip was just the more relaxing
pace.
We just went at our own flow.
I don't think we ever gotreally tired.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
No.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
And then the behind the scenes tour I think was
absolutely amazing.
Go check it out, get areservation.
I highly recommend it.
It's worth the money, it's notexpensive and it will give you a
more, better appreciation forwhat they do, not only in Walt
Disney World, but for just forliving with the land.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I think it was great right, and if you're looking for
like a time to go, maybe youwant to do a couples only trip
or something, you know.
I think February is a great timeand the weather's great, you
know it wasn't cold it wasn'tcold like you needed, like maybe
a long sleeve shirt, but umlater in the day it would warm
up, you know it wasn't cold.
It wasn't cold like you needed,like maybe a long sleeve shirt,
but um later in the day itwould warm up, you know.
(17:49):
And back to t-shirt and shortsand stuff, but it was.
It wasn't as crowded I mean,you are still gonna have to wait
in line and stuff but it wasn'tas crowded and the weather was
very pleasant.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
So all right.
Moving on, we went to disney'svero beach resort in june.
I said this back then.
I'm reiterating it now.
This is a deluxe resort withoutthe stress of the parks, no
crowds, in an amazing beach.
That's what this place is.
Yes, it is amazing.
I love, love, love, love thisplace yeah, it is.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
It is disney without being in that huge disney bubble
in orlando, you know, but thetheming, the theming's on par,
it's very relaxing.
There's still a lot of thosesame perks and stuff that you
get at the disney resorts inorlando, you know.
You have movies at night, youhave arts and crafts activities,
(18:46):
you have trivia at the pool,things like that, and they even
have like areas for games andpuzzles and they have what am I
trying to say when you notreally rent officially.
But you have to like borrow DVDs, borrow games, like they have
(19:06):
some TVs downstairs in the mainin where you know they have a
couple of different gamingsystems like Xbox and
PlayStation stuff like that, andyou go to the front desk and
and they just give you they giveyou a game and you play it and
you return it.
You just have to sign it out.
So you know, they know who hasit and so, yeah, I mean it, it
(19:27):
was.
It was so pretty, though in thebeach there they really support
the local like turtles and it'sjust I don't know.
It was so fun and relaxing andthe food you know a lot of the
food is like your Disney food,especially the pool.
The quick service food is likewhat you would get at quick
(19:47):
service pool bars and stuff andother Disney resorts the chicken
tenders, all of that stuff.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
So yeah, my favorite thing was they said they were
fully booked and it felt it wasempty.
Right.
It was completely empty and thebeach was not crowded at all.
We were there on late MemorialDay.
There's nobody there.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
It was completely empty and the beach was not
crowded at all.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
We were there on late Memorial Day.
There's nobody there.
It was amazing.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
I mean, we did have like one of the days there were
quite a few people on the beach,but it didn't feel overcrowded
in any way, you know, in thespacing like there was still,
you know.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
Yeah, we're used to going to the Gulf Coast off of
Highway 38.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
If you know anything about that, that you know how
packed.
That is right.
This is the exact opposite ofthat.
Yeah, it's so great, love it,love it, love it.
And you know they do likerental chairs there for the
beach and everything too, andthe prices are very reasonable
yes, yes, all right, moving onto the oh, that's all you're
gonna say.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
What do you?
Speaker 1 (20:39):
no, it's just I.
I though more of Vero Beach inthe location of it.
I think it is a good way, likeif you could and then we said
this before If you could go tothe parks and then save a few
days in your trip towards theend, to take this drive down to
Vero Beach and use those lastfew days for relaxing, this
(21:02):
would be.
This is the perfect resort forthat.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
More on that in a bit .
Okay, coast to coast big tripin July.
I love staying at the GrandCalifornian.
It was so relaxing and I lovedthe entrance into DCA right from
the hotel.
Yes, that was so awesome.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
That was a huge, huge perk, and Grand Californian has
similar vibes to likeWilderness Lodge and the pool
chairs.
I know you're thinking what?
What about pool chairs?
But I'm surprised Zach's notjumping in, because he ranted
and raved about these poolchairs being some of the most
comfortable at any resort.
(21:44):
They were awesome.
They were awesome.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
They were awesome and the Yacht Club was an amazing
resort.
Loved everything about theYacht Club.
I just enjoyed experiencingboth resorts I mean resorts, I
mean Disneyland Resort and WaltDisney World in the same trip.
I think that was really cool tobe able to, I guess, compare
the two.
Right.
(22:06):
And I said this last time whenwe did our trip report.
I'm going to say it again itfelt like we were visiting
Disneyland.
But the second we walked intothe Yacht Club Resort I was like
, oh yeah, like once we were inDisney World.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
It felt like we were home.
I was like okay, we're homeyeah.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Disneyland was like visiting, but when you're at
Walt Disney World you're likeokay.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Yeah, I would agree, like Disneyland, love it, love
it.
You know the history of it.
Some of our favorite rides andlands are even out in Disneyland
in California Adventure.
But we just for us our homeparks.
Our home resort as a whole isWalt Disney World.
Now, cars Land still might beone of my favorite lands though
(22:50):
ever in Disney's CaliforniaAdventure.
I'm glad we had the amazingopportunity, kind of, like Zach
said, comparing in a way, youknow, even comparing Because it
was on the same trip Food itemssuch as churros and which ones
were better, which, I'm afraidto say, it's still Nomad Lounge
(23:12):
In Walt Disney World.
But it was just, I don't know,like the appreciation for both.
You know I definitely have Onboth coasts, but I think it just
made me appreciate the lovethat I have more for Walt Disney
World.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Yeah, made me appreciate the love that I have
more for Walt Disney World.
Yeah, I would agree to that.
And Cars Land is.
We need to rank the lands again.
We did it a long time ago, acouple years ago.
I think we need to go back andredo that now that we've done
Disneyland as well and.
California Adventure.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
So all the lands from both coasts?
Yes, okay.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
And I've been listening, so I'm doing a lot of
book research.
Still I'm listening to a lot ofinterviews with Tony Baxter
because I'm still working onFrontierland and in that
interview, because he worked onCars Land, tony Baxter did and
he said one of the greatestcompliments you could ever get
as an Imagineer was when he wasin Cars Land.
He overheard a little boy askhis mom is this where they
(24:05):
filmed Cars?
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
That's how real Cars cars land is.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
It is especially at night wow, well, and you know,
we said it, so he's 12 now, butthe first time we went was he 10
or just turned 11 he was 10, uh, our oldest.
So he loved, loved loved.
Cars as a toddler and having himlike just when we were in Cars
(24:34):
Land, going back to like histhree-year-old self.
You know I mean that should saya lot too, and compliment
Baxter, because you know I thinkit does that for a lot, a lot
of kids and adults.
I mean they did such a greatjob.
It really, really, truly feelslike you're there in a part of
the movie, so.
But yeah, I agree, sometimewe'll need to rank the lands
(24:56):
again, but yes, it was anamazing opportunity Again
appreciate both coasts so much.
In this same trip, besidesdoing the parks that we've done
before and, you know, staying innice resorts, we also
experienced Typhoon Lagoon.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
A lot larger than I thought it would be.
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Yes, a lot larger, a lot nicer than I thought it
would be.
I don't know, and I don't meanthat in any condescending way or
anything I just I don't think Iknew what to expect.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
We've never been to a Disney water park.
We've always been to a Disneywater park.
We've always been to waterparks around here and they're
just you know, yeah, and theLazy River.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
It was very, very nice and I would definitely be
up to going again, yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Yeah, one of my favorite things from this trip
was me and Ryan closed out ourDCA night with Incredicoaster
timed it perfectly.
We got to watch the Disney andfireworks from the
Incredicoaster at CaliforniaAdventure.
I thought that was great.
One thing I would have changedis I think we should have taken
a rest day after ourcross-country trip due to the
(26:03):
jet lag and as long of a day asit was, because we got there and
went right into the parks andit it was like it took a toll on
us, I think a little bit, Ithink.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Well, so, for those of you wondering exactly so, yes
, the, the, there was a travelday, obviously, but between
going from california to floridaand what originally was going
to be like a five hour flightended up with storms and all
that turning into a lot longerand having to fly into another
airport refueling and thenflying into Orlando.
(26:36):
So we got in much later thananticipated and you know, with
the, the time difference and allthat, yeah, I think I think it
did affect us some, but I don'tthink we realized it in the
midst of it until later in thetrip.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Yeah, yeah, well, so when we left California, it was
breakfast time, and when we gotto Orlando, it was like 9
o'clock at night, right, and sothat's a big toll on your body
that you don't realize isactually happening.
Yeah, so that's one thing Ithink I would have changed is
that, other than that, it was agreat trip.
I don't recommend it for firsttimers, though.
Right.
So, but yeah, all right.
(27:13):
So lessons we learned in 2024.
Brittany, what is one lessonthat we learned in 2024?
Speaker 1 (27:20):
We are no longer a rope dropping family.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
We are not, nope.
I'm glad to.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Yeah, I mean there is something to be said for rope
dropping, though, like it isexcitement, you know you want to
be one of those first onesthere, get a couple of rides in
before anyone else comes to thepark and and there is a lot of
fun in that, a lot of stress inthat sometimes too.
But you know, I think if you,if it's one of your only times
(27:49):
being able to go, or your onlytime it is, it is worth it to
rope drop.
But the fact that we go severaltimes now and our kids are
getting older, you know thatextra hour, hour and a half, two
hours of sleep and not havingto get up and rush and go, I
think is what's going to starthappening for us in the future.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Well, and I think, now that we've done most
everything, there's not a rushto like.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
we have specific things that we want to do and
then after that it's like yeah,right, you know it's not like
we're trying to squeezeeverything in because we don't
know when we're going to comeback.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Yeah, I learned couples only trips to Walt
Disney World are amazing whenwe're going to come back.
Yeah, I learned couples onlytrips to Walt Disney World are
amazing.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
They are so much fun, so much fun.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
And people are like, are you going to Walt Disney
World without your kids?
I'm like, yeah, and it's goingto be awesome, it's.
There's so much to do forcouples.
We did a show like two yearsago about it, yeah, and I think
we probably need to do anotherone right, kind of re because
stuff has changed you know, Ihate doing episodes again, but I
think because things havechanged, we need to bring it up
(28:54):
again well, yeah, and I meanwe're.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
What is this?
Episode 183 so I mean it's okayto kind of revisit, rehash them
yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Yeehaw Bob.
Still awesome, still awesome,go see.
Still awesome, still awesome,go see him.
He's at the Port OrleansRiverside, I think, thursday,
friday and Saturday nights.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Go see, check the schedule though.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
No, call him.
I don't think there's an actualschedule.
Call the front desk, they'lltell you Right.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Yeah, one thing just how much we love Nomad Lounge,
even with the kids, because itis that time to relax and, if
it's a hot summer day, you know,to just have that time to
unwind and chill for a bit.
Also another thing pool daysfor those longer trips are a
(29:40):
must.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Yes, for sure.
One other lesson I learned.
This is for the guys boxershorts and theme parks, not a
combination.
You know what I mean.
Just saying it's a long day,all right.
Anything else you learned thisyear?
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Just as always in Disney, this isn't necessarily
for this year, but pack yourpatience.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Pack your patience pants.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Everyone's experiencing a lot of what
you're experiencing, whetherit's the joy of being there or
the stress of it, or having kidsthrowing tantrums.
Don't feel like you're the onlyones going through it, because
you're not.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
Yeah, I will say this , and I noticed this on my solo
trips when I go for bookresearch If you stop and look
around, there are like 20parents with kids having
meltdowns all at the same time.
Right.
No one's paying attention to you.
I'm not judging you, I'm busydoing my thing.
But when you're so involvedwith your family, you think
everybody is like all eyes areon you.
(30:41):
No, they're not.
Yeah, everybody's payingattention in their own world.
Don't sweat it.
Don't feel like everybody'sjudging you.
They're not their kids meltingdown whatever.
Just it's okay yes it is okayyou are fine.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Yep, yep, all right.
So what do we have planned for2025?
Speaker 2 (31:01):
well, get ready for a roller coaster, because we're
about to take you on one aboutwhat was originally excuse,
excuse me originally supposed tobe planned, and we changed our
minds again.
So let's talk Disney CruiseLine for a bit.
We were going to go cruising in2024, this past year.
Yes we were, but we decided onthe coast to coast trip instead.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
Yes, which I'm glad we did.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
I'm glad we did too.
So 2025 was going to be ourcruise year and we were going to
do a couple of park days beforeand then go sailing on the
Disney Wish in concierge leveland that was going to be it for
this year.
That was it.
Due to the high price tag ofconcierge level, it is not cheap
(31:48):
.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
It is not cheap, it is not.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
But why were we going to do concierge level Brittany?
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Oh, you're making me sound all bougie over here.
I'm not.
No, I'm not.
Speaker 2 (31:56):
There's a very legitimate reason.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
I'm nervous about being on a cruise for many
reasons, and it's not becauseTitanic or anything, but it's
just like what.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
It's in the caribbean icebergs?
Speaker 1 (32:13):
no, I know, but I mean like I think some people
like when they think, oh, I'mgonna be on a ship for a long
time and stuck or something,then that pops in their head, I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
But they have luxury lifeboats now too, so it's more
it's more of I don't know.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
I've heard mixed reviews, and not so much from
any particular cruise line.
But just you know, when you areon some choppier waters, like
if it's a little stormy out orsomething like I don't know how
it's going to affect me, becausethere's times I can get motion
sickness very easily and othertimes not at all, and so I guess
(32:50):
part of it is I don't want tofeel that way for several days
in a row.
Obviously I do have like just aslight bit of vertigo as well,
which I mean I can take somemedicine to help control that
(33:11):
medicine to help control that.
But the combination of possiblyfeeling sick from the bigger
waves and and then that vertigostuff, it just kind of worries
me and then I sound so horrible.
But then a little bit ofclaustrophobia as well, which I
know these ships are huge,they're magnificent, they look
beautiful, gorgeous, there's somuch to do on them, but the
rooms, like the regular rooms,just seem so small that I just I
(33:38):
don't know how I would feel.
So that's when Zach startedlooking at different options of
rooms and the concierge leveland how you have like little
like balcony and stuff.
So I wouldn't feel soclaustrophobic.
Claustrophobic if I needed tolike get some fresh air.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
So the main reason there's several reasons we were
going to do concierge level one.
When we were planning this orlooking at it, I was like we
need to take as many of thesestresses that could possibly be
like instances that couldpossibly be stressful for
Brittany away.
It's like boarding the ship,deboarding the ship, getting on
and off, for that could possiblybe like instances that could
(34:14):
possibly be stressful forBrittany away.
It's like boarding the ship,deboarding the ship, getting on
and off for excursions,breakfast, like all that stuff
that can cause anxiety and causeworry.
Concierge level takes thoseaway.
Right, you have expeditedboarding, expedited deboarding.
You have your own little likeclub lounge area with like
continental breakfast drinks,all of that in your own little
area.
The rooms are a bit bigger.
(34:34):
You do have the balcony andthen you have your own little
like concierge level deck withchairs and stuff like that and I
think like a pool stuff, stufflike that.
So my thought was, if we'regonna do it, let's do that and
try to help britney take some ofthose worries and concerns that
you don't think are worries andconcerns, but when you get in
those situations they arestressful, right.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
They are, and our youngest, every once in a while,
can feel some of those too.
He can get a little motionsickness as well, and so I think
it would also help him.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
Yeah, yeah.
And so, after talking about itmore and realizing that's the
only trip we're taking next year, we got to thinking about it
and we realized we've been doingCalifornia the past few years.
Right, we haven't done just a Isay this with quotation marks a
good old fashioned seven night,four day park day in Walt
Disney World.
(35:30):
That can be relaxing.
It is, we've done it before andsave some money and go a few
more times this year and wethought that would be a much
better use of our money and timeinstead of doing a four night
cruise, a couple of days at thepark and that's it for the year.
Right, right, money and time,instead of doing a four night
(35:57):
cruise, a couple days at thepark, and that's it for the year
, right, right.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
So we shelved the cruise and decided to that and a
few other trips.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
So here's what we have planned for 2025 yes, so in
february we are doing a kidlesstrip again.
Yay, I can't wait.
It is fully booked.
Done, done, it's happening.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
So this time now Zach had to pull my leg a little bit
on where we're staying.
You know he said but weprobably wouldn't stay here with
the kids when there's a fewother resorts they want to stay
at as well, so why not do it inour couples only trip?
So we are staying.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
We've stayed at Port Orleans Riverside, now we're
going to stay at port orleansfrench quarter so the reason
we've been hesitant on portorleans french quarter is we're
just not big and I know we'reprobably one of the few outliers
on this opinion, and that'sokay we're not big into like the
new orleans theme right, we,we're just not Like Marty Girl
(36:46):
and all that.
That's just not us Back in.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
Zach's younger days.
I think he was yes, but I'm not21 anymore.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
I'm 42.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
So the theming has really you are not 42 yet.
Yet who's even counting at thispoint?
Because then you rush my agewhen you jump through.
Who's even counting?
Speaker 2 (37:11):
When you get in your 30, like late 30s and 40s, no
one cares anyway.
Um so this has not been aresort that's been high on our
list to stay at right, and sofor our couples trip, we're not
really going to be enjoying theresort for like a.
We're not having a resort day,so let's just go and stay there.
We will have some night time.
You know we're going to enjoyscat Cats.
We'll get the beignets.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
So let's clarify real quick.
So there's Scat Cats Club Cafethat you can eat at earlier in
the day for the Mickey beignets.
You can get traditionalbeignets.
They have some other likeversions of it as well.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
The boozy ones.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
Well, no, but I think there's.
I wasn't.
I was getting to that.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Oh sorry.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
There are some bougie , yeah, bougie like adult Bougie
.
I know we're bougie, but thoseare bougie, well, I kept saying
it in my head and I'm like thatdoesn't sound right.
Bougie ones, but I think theysometimes bring out different
flavors as well, but the MickeyBeignets.
But then at night you have theScat Cats Club Lounge that has
(38:07):
like jazz and cocktails.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
I want to.
You know I'm not a big jazz.
I know we live in Nashville.
Oh, you don't like live music.
No, we can't stand it.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
We don't go downtown at all, but we want to
experience it.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
We want to experience it and I think, because we have
such low expectations goinginto it, we're like, oh man,
that was a great resort, thatwas I don't know what we were so
hesitant about, right, you know?
Yeah, who knows?
Speaker 1 (38:29):
though, who knows?
Speaker 2 (38:30):
We're going to thoroughly enjoy farts again.
For those of you with boyslistening, you're welcome.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
Yes, festival of the Arts at Epcot.
So, and yes, we want to enjoythe festival for all the artwork
, do the painting, all thatstuff again.
You know we may hit up one ortwo of the food booths.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
I'm not, I'm out.
No, like you can.
Speaker 1 (38:51):
But you know, but we will be eating elsewhere in
Epcot.
Yes.
And then we'll be doingenjoying Animal Kingdom as well.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
Yes.
And so for food, we are atEpcot.
We're going to eat lunch atSpace 220 Lounge, the Lounge
caught.
We were going to eat lunch atspace 220 lounge, the lounge.
Now, if you go way back to ourfirst episodes, you will know I
was so excited and pumped forthis restaurant to open after
the covid closures.
This was like the number onething I was looking forward to.
(39:21):
And then they came out with thefood and the prices and I was
like I don't think so.
And then, after watchingseveral of our favorite
youtubers go there and like,yeah, it's a steak, like I don't
think so.
And then, after watchingseveral of our favorite
YouTubers go there and like,yeah, it's a steak, like there's
nothing special about it.
So we still want to goexperience it, but not pay those
outrageous astronomical.
Did you see what?
I did there Prices, so we'regoing to go to the lounge Now.
(39:42):
They do have some small bitesand get some drinks for lunch
and get some drinks for lunchRight, and for dinner we're
going to eat in the JapanPavilion at Shikisai Izakaya
House.
I'm glad you said that I do notlike sushi, but I love, like,
skewered meats and that type ofstuff, which is what this place
(40:04):
has.
Yeah, and we've wanted to eathere in the past and our oldest
Ryan loves all Japanese food,but our youngest Nolan does not,
and there's nothing on the menueven the kids menu that he
would like here.
So we decided this would be agood time for us to eat there.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
Yes, and what.
I will order.
I don't know.
I will let you know after thetrip, because so much of of the
menu sounds good to me and Ihave been very critical of
what's that show in Epcot.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
again, the Fireworks show Harmonious.
No, that's the one we love.
Speaker 1 (40:34):
That's the one we loved.
Luminous, luminous, yes.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
I'm going to give it another try.
I don't understand it.
I'm going to give it anothershot.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
I want to.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Yeah, and I think you may enjoy it more the second
time around, Like I haven't seenit as a whole since that one
time either, but when I'm onthis was it the summer trip, I
guess, when Nolan and I went.
Speaker 2 (41:00):
I went back to Epcot.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
We went back to Epcot when we had all four of us had
kind of separated you with Ryan,me with Nolan, and after we
were doing what we went therefor and we were walking back to
the resort, uh, what little wecaught of it.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Like it held my attention, Like I, I was like so
we'll be eating a late dinnerin the Japan pavilion.
Yeah, I think we just hang outright there, cause that'd be a
good spot to watch it from.
Okay.
Yeah, to watch it from?
Okay yeah, I'd be up for that.
And there's a slight chance,depending.
Speaker 1 (41:32):
I may agree to go to Yeehaw Bob with him at Port
Orleans Riverside for a littlewhile.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
For a little bit.
Yeah, yeah, I completely agree,and we are going to be doing
again.
We're just doing Epcot andAnimal Kingdom, because those
are our two favorite parks, andwe're going back to Boma.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
Yes, not as early, though, like an hour later For
breakfast.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:51):
On our last day.
So that's our couple's trip inFebruary.
And another restaurant inAnimal Kingdom Lodge too.
Oh, we're going to Jiko ourfirst night.
That's like our Valentine'sdinner.
Yeah, I am looking for I don'tknow why I can't believe I
forgot that.
I'm looking forward to Jiko.
They have a very unique, someunique meats on their menu and
(42:13):
I'm a sorbet guy, their palatecleanser between courses sorbet.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
I am so looking forward to this I'm surprised
you forgot about that Icompletely forgot about it.
Oh my gosh, I can't wait forthat.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Yeah, so that will be in February, and so looking
forward to that again.
Just a short little likeweekend trip.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
But still plenty to do and relaxing time as well.
Speaker 2 (42:37):
Oh, I'm chilling.
You can find me at Nomad Loungewith the Tempting Tigress
outside.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
I'm hanging, yeah, we will be spending time at Nomad
Lounge.
I'm hanging outounge and alsohaving their delicious churros.
Yes, so then, a little bitlater in the year, the end of
May into the early part of June,we are doing a seven-day Walt
Disney World trip in June withanother family.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
More on that later.
We can't divulge any detailsyet Followed by four days at
Vero Beach.
Yes, this I cannot wait for.
So we're staying in the towerat Coronado Springs.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
Yes, the Grandestino Tower, and so we haven't booked
it yet.
So hopefully that is wherewe're staying.
And we've heard we've stayed atCoronado Springs before.
So some of you that have beenlistening for a while and stuff
like yes, we have stayed atCoronado before, but not in the
tower.
In the trip that we did stay atCoronado, that was the trip.
(43:36):
That was like a complete blurto us Almost broke us.
And so this will be a differentexperience, with the tower and
actually having like a pool dayand everything and being able to
enjoy the resort in the pooland the restaurants.
They have.
Speaker 2 (43:50):
We have a couple of days to do that.
Yeah, three Bridges Bar andGrill, can't wait.
Ryan and I will be taking a dayand going to the park we do not
speak of.
Rhymes are universal.
So Ryan is turning 13 this yearand he is getting a little bit
older, you know, and he lovesroller coasters and when we were
(44:14):
planning this, he's like Iguess we're going to Disney
again.
Same old thing going to Disney,which I get it he does love it,
but I get it.
He's 13.
He wants more thrilling.
He will be.
He wants more thrillingattractions.
I get it, I.
So we're going to be taking aday just me and him and going to
Universal.
It's going to be right whenEpic Universe is opening up,
(44:36):
which means we're not doing EpicUniverse, no, which means
either the other two parks aregoing to be completely dead or
100, like just nuts, Everythingnuts yeah.
So it's one of the two, but Ithink it'd be a good time to
good day I'm looking forward tothat.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
I've never been.
Yeah, and nolan and I like will.
We'll probably do the pool atsome point for a little bit.
While they're doing that, um,possibly me and him and maybe
some others we are with might uh, head over to chef mickey's
yeah, I'll have fun with thatsince zach and ryan don't really
we're out don't really want togo there, so that might be the
day that we do that and we'llfind some other fun things to do
(45:12):
as well.
Um so, and that's the thing youknow, whether it's within your
own family or if you're goingwith others, like we're not
going to do everything togetherno, that was one of the.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
When we first talked about this.
That was number one rules.
Like we don't have to doeverything together, like yeah.
Because you don't want to getsick of your friends either.
Speaker 1 (45:31):
Right.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
Just like your family , you don't want to get sick of
them.
Speaker 1 (45:33):
Yeah, so I mean, you know there will be several
things that we do together, butthere will be times where we
might not see each other forseveral hours and just meet at
dinner time or something.
Who knows.
Speaker 2 (45:43):
And then afterwards we're renting a car and driving
to Vero Beach the way MichaelEisner intended for us to do,
and spend four days at the beach.
Speaker 1 (45:51):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (45:52):
He can't wait.
He cut me off before.
Oh, I'm sorry.
What were you going to say?
Speaker 1 (45:55):
Well, besides Chef Mickey's, though, when talking
about this trip, somebody acrossfrom me that I'm staring at
right now agreed to some morecharacter dinings.
Speaker 2 (46:08):
Yes, there's two that I agree to Topolino's Terrace
for breakfast and Garden.
Grill yes.
Those are the only two that Iagree to Topolino's Terrace for
breakfast and Garden.
Speaker 1 (46:14):
Grill yes.
Speaker 2 (46:14):
Those are the only two that I'll ever agree to.
Speaker 1 (46:16):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 2 (46:18):
We'll leave it at that.
Speaker 1 (46:19):
Yes, but then, as Zach said, then renting a car
and going to Vero Beach, yes,For four days of just nothing.
Relaxing at the beach, enjoyingthe pool there, just taking it
all in, maybe going up to theroom napping, getting back out.
Speaker 2 (46:34):
We do have a ocean view room that is 100% booked
done.
Speaker 1 (46:38):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (46:38):
So, when I say the way Michael Eisner intended for
us to do when this resort wasbuilt, the intent was that most
people road trip Now, mostpeople fly, but a lot of people
would road trip and that, afterthey're watching the world of
vacation, they would take a fewdays and go to the beach and
relax before going home.
Yeah, that was the intent.
Now it's a DVC place, you know,but that's what I mean, yeah,
(47:00):
and then, yeah, coming home, allright, and now we have planned
a two day trip for fall breakand we're going to stay at Pop
Century.
Speaker 1 (47:11):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
And we're going to do two park days Magic Kingdom and
Hollywood Studios and, if thetime is right, go to the
Halloween party again, becauseit's been a long time since
we've been.
Speaker 1 (47:20):
Right since the blur of the trip in 2019.
Speaker 2 (47:23):
Yes, we would want to experience again.
We would not rope drop, but wewould be there most of the day
and into the night.
And then Hollywood Studios.
We're only doing two parksbecause we're planning to go
again for Christmas.
We missed it this year.
Speaker 1 (47:35):
We really did.
Oh my goodness.
Yes, we really really did, yes.
And so at Christmas time, theplan is to most likely stay at
Contemporary and get a themepark view room because you're
going to yell at us.
Speaker 2 (47:49):
I can hear people yelling at us right now when we
say this.
Speaker 1 (47:59):
We're not going to go to Magic Kingdom during
Christmas time.
Why, why, why?
I mean, I find myself askingthat sometimes myself when we
discuss this, but we, we'veexperienced it.
It is beautiful, breathtaking,magical, all of those things at
Christmas, yes, and our memoriesof it that we have already are
wonderful, but we're doing someother things.
Speaker 2 (48:17):
So we're going to go back to Animal Kingdom because I
think they have reallyunderrated Christmas decorations
and activities.
Speaker 1 (48:25):
They do and the Merry Menagerie are oh, those puppets
are just so adorable, like thepolar bears, arctic foxes, the
uh, penguins and more.
Just something that that I Ithoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed
when we were there a coupleyears ago at christmas time in
animal kingdom.
And then we also want toexperience epcot we've never
(48:47):
done festival of the holidayswe've never done festival of
holidays and if we time it right, I would.
Speaker 2 (48:52):
I want to do kind of like procession.
I don't care who the narratoris, but I think it'll be really,
really cool to see.
Yeah, yeah, uh.
Also, we're talking about themary menagerie.
I like the steel band drummerthat they had.
Oh yes, it was so so good, yeah, and you only get that in
animal kingdom, right, butyou're not getting that
experience anywhere else.
So we figured if we get a themepark view room at Contemporary,
(49:15):
that'll kind of like satisfyour Christmassy Magic Kingdom
stuff.
Speaker 1 (49:22):
Right.
Speaker 2 (49:22):
Because we'd be able to see the fireworks yes, from
the you know.
So I think that we'd still geta part of that right, right.
Speaker 1 (49:27):
Some of the vibes.
Some of the vibes.
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 2 (49:29):
So I want to.
That's what we have planned in2025.
A little bit of a book update.
I am moving through it.
I am now in Frontierland.
Hopefully we'll be done withthat soon.
I've got to talk about thetrain station Zach.
It's just a train station.
There's a lot of stuff in thattrain station that is research.
(49:50):
Talk about Big Thunder Mountain, which is going down January
6th for an entire year.
They are retracking the wholething.
Hopefully, hopefully, we getthe dynamite scene from
Disneyland.
It would be nice.
It would be nice, it would benice.
I'm going to talk about I stillgot to talk about Tom Sawyer's
Island, and then I haveFrontierland.
I've already done research onFrontierland.
(50:11):
I'm sorry, not Frontierland.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
Fantasyland.
Speaker 2 (50:15):
And that's going to take a long time to write just
because there's so much in.
Speaker 1 (50:18):
Fantasyland yes, there is.
Speaker 2 (50:19):
And then I have to do Tomorrowland and I'm going to
end with the castle and the Waltstatue.
So I hope to have the book doneby next year.
I hope to.
I work six days a week with mynormal job and it's hard to sit
down and find time to write.
I will have some schedulechanges.
I'm trying to get too personal,but I think I will have more
(50:42):
time to write.
Another thing that I want tochange in 2025 is I have let
some things that I can't controltake time away from the podcast
, take time away from producinggood social media content,
writing all of that stuff nomore.
I'm done with that.
Things are going to happen.
(51:03):
Things are going to happen, butI am making a change and I have
made this change.
That stuff that I cannot changeor control I have just
completely written off at thispoint and I'm going to focus on
the things that I can controland be positive about and move
forward.
So look for I want this podcastto be better.
(51:23):
I want us to do.
There's always room forimprovement, right?
Right.
I want us to be better.
I want, I want to do bettersocial media content.
I used to do a lot of hey,that's pretty cool.
I haven't done any of thosereally lately.
Speaker 1 (51:37):
Well, you did one a few weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (51:38):
I did one, but I want to get back into that.
I want to really focus on thewriting and focus on just more
positive things that I cancontrol in my life instead of
things that I can't.
And I had a hard time.
Look forward to next year,brittany, what about you?
Speaker 1 (51:54):
I mean, I think I mean everyone is guilty of stuff
like that.
And you know I, for part of theyear anyway, uh, let a lot of
things get to me as well.
But, um, yeah, you know I, Ithink we want to grow the show
some more.
Uh, the content, what we bringto you, hopefully having more of
these trips.
(52:14):
You know, yes, a bigger trip,but then some of these smaller
ones will help with that as well.
And then you know, zach stillworking on the book and maybe
going out another time or twofor some research trips, just
because when, yes, we are therewith our family and stuff, but
there are times where we do takepictures or whatnot, because
(52:34):
it's like, ok, yeah, we betterget that, because that would be
such a nice social media postlater on, or who would have
thought that that was there andI just realized it myself.
You know things like that.
So, but you know we want tocontinue to bring this, you know
show to you every week.
You know, on occasion we maymiss from time to time, just
like last week.
You know it was Christmas.
But you guys that have beenwith us for a while, you know we
(52:56):
typically don't, if anything,it's maybe two or three times a
year, you know, but we stillwant to be consistent with with
doing our episodes and, as wesay at the beginning of every
episode, break from our week andI hope it is for your week,
whether it's a stressful workweek or whatever might be going
on just to take you to Disney.
Speaker 2 (53:16):
So yeah, and for those who've been listening for
a long time or new listenersthank you so much.
We really do appreciate you.
Yes, every time we talk abouttaking a break from the show or
something, we get just a ton offeedback, so we really do
appreciate it.
Moving on to Disney trivia notrivia.
This week we took a break again, but we will be back next week,
so look for that tomorrow, ifyou're listening to this.
(53:37):
When it comes out, we'llcontinue with the series the
secrets series with HollywoodStudios oh yes, next week okay,
so look forward to that.
So I just want to say thank youfor everybody for listening.
If you're new here, thank youso much.
If you've been around a longtime, we really do appreciate
you.
If you want to support thepodcast, the best thing to do is
to go leave us a five-starrating review on Apple podcast.
(53:59):
Really helps us to grow theshow.
Thank you so much.
You can email us circle ofparks at gmailcom.
Our website iswwwcircleofparkscom.
We're on Facebook, instagram,circle of parks and again,
please share the show with yourfriends.
We really do appreciate it andwe will talk to you next week.
Speaker 1 (54:14):
Hope you have a happy new year happy new year, thank
you, we are Bye.
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