Play It By Ears Podcast

Ready to take Disney all the way to mainland China?

This week on Play It By Ears, we’re heading to Shanghai Disneyland and breaking down everything you need to know before making the trip.

From the logistics of traveling to mainland China and navigating cultural norms to the park layout, on-site Disney hotels, Early Entry, unique attractions, ride strategies, and dining—we’re covering the practical stuff and giving...

In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re taking you inside Hong Kong Disneyland and breaking down everything you need to know to plan your visit.

We cover transportation logistics, Disney hotels and the perks of staying on property, unique merchandise, rides you won’t find at the U.S. parks, rope drop strategies, the incredible World of Frozen, cultural differences, and all the little things that make Hong Kong Disneyla...

Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea are unlike any Disney park in the world — but is it worth the trip?

In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re giving you our complete Tokyo Disney breakdown, including how to get there, where to stay, Early (Happy) Entry, Premier Access, rides, food, and the strategies you need to maximize your time.

We talk through what surprised us, what we loved, what we’d skip, and whether Tokyo...

The Disney Dining Plan can be confusing—but does it actually save you money? 🍽️💰

In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about the Disney Dining Plan, including how the plans work, what you get, whether they’re worth the cost, and how to maximize your credits.

We share our favorite tips and tricks, the restaurants where we think you can get the BEST value, how to make th...

How did Disney REALLY do in 2026? 👀

In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re taking a look at Disney’s 2026 fiscal performance and everything the company has accomplished so far this year. We’re talking about the biggest wins, the things Disney got right, and the areas where we think they still have room to improve.

From the theme parks and guest experience to movies, streaming, Disney Cruise Line, new experiences...

Disneyland Paris is unlike any Disney park in the world — but is it worth the trip? 🇫🇷✨

In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re giving you our complete Disneyland Paris breakdown, including how to get there, where to stay, Early Entry, Premier Access, rides, food, and the strategies you need to maximize your time.

We talk through what surprised us, what we loved, what we’d skip, and whether Disneyland Paris dese...

Is Disney Springs worth adding to your Disney vacation?

In this episode, we dive into everything Disney Springs has to offer—from incredible restaurants and snacks to shopping, entertainment, parking, transportation, and planning tips.

Whether you’re looking for the best places to eat, wondering how much time you should spend there, or deciding if it’s worth visiting without a park ticket, we’ve got you covere...

What happens when every Disneyland attraction enters a World Cup-style tournament?

In this episode of Play It By Ears, we seed Disneyland’s most beloved rides into a bracket and battle our way to one ultimate champion. From iconic classics to modern favorites, every matchup sparks debate as we decide which attraction deserves the title of Disneyland’s greatest ride.

Expect bold opinions, surprising eliminations, plenty of...

A great quick service meal can make your Disney day—and a bad one can leave you wishing you’d picked somewhere else.

This week on Play It By Ears, we’re ranking our favorite quick service restaurants across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. We also give Disneyland some love with our best snacks. We discuss the best food, biggest surprises, overrated spots, and where you’ll get the m...

Disney’s resort restaurants are some of the best places to eat at Walt Disney World—but knowing where to go (and how to get a reservation) can make all the difference.

In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re sharing our favorite Disney resort table-service restaurants, the character meals we think are worth booking, and our best tips for snagging even the hardest dining reservations. Whether you’re planning...

Ready to eat your way through Walt Disney World?

In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re breaking down our favorite sit-down restaurants inside the Disney parks and discussing which dining experiences are truly worth your time and money.

From signature dining experiences to family favorites, we’re sharing where we’d book, where we’d skip, and the reservation strategies that give you the best chance of snaggi...

Is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party worth the ticket price?

This week on Play It By Ears, we’re diving into Disney World’s most popular Halloween event. From the Boo-to-You Parade and Halloween fireworks to trick-or-treating, rare characters, exclusive snacks, and lower ride wait times, we’re covering everything you need to know before you go.

We’ll also share our favorite planning strategies, commo...

The countdown continues!

After ranking the bottom 25 rides at Walt Disney World, we’re flipping the script and discussing the attractions that truly deserve the hype. From thrilling headliners to beloved Disney classics, we’re counting down our top 25 rides across all four parks.

Expect strong opinions, controversial rankings, and plenty of Disney debate as we determine which attractions belong at the very top of Walt Dis...

Everyone talks about the best rides at Disney World—but what about the worst?

In Part 1 of this two-part ranking episode, we’re counting down the 25 worst rides at Walt Disney World. Some are outdated, some are skippable, and some might be controversial picks that have loyal fan bases ready to come after us.

We’re sharing what doesn’t work, why these attractions landed on our list, and whether they’re wo...

Thinking about visiting Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii? We’re answering the questions we hear most often and sharing our honest opinions about one of Disney’s most unique destinations.

From dining reservations and activities to character experiences, costs, and first-time visitor mistakes, we’re breaking down everything you need to know before your trip. Plus, we’re sharing a few controversial hot tak...

EPCOT’s festivals are some of the most popular events at Walt Disney World, but each one offers a completely different experience.

In this episode, we’re diving into Festival of the Arts, Flower & Garden, Food & Wine, and Festival of the Holidays. We’ll discuss what makes each festival unique, our favorite experiences, planning tips, common mistakes, and a few hot takes along the way.

If you’re trying ...

Our baby-to-Disney series continues! In this episode, we’re talking all about taking kids to Disney—from park strategies and meal planning to handling long days, avoiding common mistakes, and making the most of the magic.

We’re sharing our favorite tips, practical tricks, and a few Disney hot takes that might be controversial. Whether you’re visiting with toddlers or young kids, this episode is full of advice...

Planning a Disney World trip with a baby? In this episode, we’re sharing our best tips, tricks, and honest advice for surviving — and actually enjoying — Disney with little ones.

From stroller strategies and nap schedules to Baby Care Centers, rider swap, packing hacks, and rope drop tips, we’re covering everything we wish we knew before bringing a baby to Disney.

Whether you’re planning your baby’...

If you’ve ever wondered whether rope dropping at Disney World is actually worth it… this episode is for you.

We’re breaking down our best rope drop strategies for all four Disney parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom — including which rides you should head to FIRST, what’s actually worth waking up early for, and the biggest mistakes people make in the mornings.

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