Going Beyond The Castle
Going Beyond The Castle is your ultimate travel podcast that takes you beyond the magical gates of Disney. Join hosts Fred, Lori and Ashley as they explore a world of vacation possibilities, diving into the best experiences from Universal Studios, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Virgin Cruise Line, Sandals Resorts, and so much more. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just dreaming of your next getaway, tune in for expert tips, in-depth reviews, and insider secrets to make your vacation truly unforgettable.
Going Beyond The Castle
We’re Back: Let’s Talk Updates & Exciting News!
Welcome back to Going Beyond the Castle! After a refreshing four-week break, we're kicking off Season Two with exciting changes and tropical adventures waiting in the wings.
The most thrilling news? We're welcoming Ashley as our new co-host! With parents who worked at Disney parks and a lifetime of Disney passion, Ashley brings authentic expertise and enthusiasm to our conversations. Her love for Animal Kingdom runs particularly deep—so deep she jokes she'd "pick up trash" just to work there.
While we were away, Disney dropped major announcements worth unpacking. The Starlight Parade debuts July 20th, featuring a spectacular finale float paying tribute to the Main Street Electrical Parade. Disney's "Cool Kids Summer" brings expanded character experiences, including early entry character appearances and Stitch-hijacked Magic Shots. Food & Wine Festival dates are confirmed for August 28th through November 22nd, and we share our favorite booth recommendations from past experiences.
We dive into firsthand impressions of Universal's Epic Universe, where surprisingly, Isle of Berk outshines Super Nintendo World for overall immersion and experience. The Toothless interaction receives particular praise, while we note that Nintendo areas might present challenges for those with sensory sensitivities. Universal's Express Pass now includes Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure—a game-changer for park strategy.
Between discussions of throwing up on Soarin' (please aim forward!), flash photography etiquette, and the merits of Port Orleans French Quarter, we explore the ever-evolving landscape of theme park experiences. Looking ahead, we tease upcoming episodes featuring a first-timer's perspective on Disney World, an in-depth Epic Universe trip report, and Disneyland insights.
Have questions about any of these destinations? Send them our way at info@goingbeyondthecastle.com or through our social media. Until next week, keep dreaming big and going beyond the castle!
Stay up to date with all things Going Beyond the Castle at beacons.ai/GoingBeyondTheCastle
Some guests got stuck on Soarin' for a period of time 30 minutes. And then apparently one of the guests got sick. How do you get sick on Soarin'? And threw up I don't know, no yeah. And again, disclaimer these are comic. I was about to say comic book comment section chronicles, so we don't know if it's actually. I didn't look to see if it was legit, I just thought it was funny.
Speaker 2:Did you watch the TikTok video on it? I did, okay.
Speaker 3:First of all like let's have this conversation Like.
Speaker 2:Lock in.
Speaker 3:If you're going to throw up on Soren, go forward Like, because then it's just going go down, like go forward, don't go like this, cause then it's just gonna drip on all the people second off.
Speaker 2:Who throws up on Soren?
Speaker 1:yeah, like it's not even like the video is not killing or anything, it has to be maybe it was like a Josh situation where he had food poisoning from eating at Hollywood and Vine and was stuck on a ride and then they couldn't help it and so they throw up.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:That's got to be it.
Speaker 3:Common sense says go forward.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I want to know.
Speaker 1:But don't worry.
Speaker 2:They got two free lightning lanes and they rode guardians twice.
Speaker 3:I would take that what is up and welcome back to going beyond the castle. Uh, I'm super excited. It's been, uh, it's been a long four weeks. I was talking to Lori today. I understand why people say don't take breaks in podcasts. It has been a blessing to take the past four weeks off at this point, but I am super excited to be back as we enter what I'm going to call season two of Going Beyond the Castle, because we are back bigger, better than ever, and we have a surprise for everyone which I think we'll get into here quickly into the episode, but I'll save that for then.
Speaker 3:So, yes, welcome back to Going Beyond the Castle. We are back after a short break and super excited to dive into it. We have a lot of great episodes planned for the month of June. We're already looking at the month of July, so we're ready to go. So for this episode, we figured it would probably just be best to cover some things that happened while we were gone, because, of course, right after we took our break, disney was like let's announce Halloween, which was horrible timing, but a lot of stuff did get dropped while we were, uh, on our hiatus. So we will dive into that. And I don't know. I'm gonna turn over to laurie and I hope laurie's ready I am ready excellent I am ready.
Speaker 1:Um, yeah, so I guess it was. Uh, I don't know, I always lose the concept of time. So, um, I guess a couple of months ago fred and I were chatting and, um, cause we both do have full-time jobs, um, we're both travel agents and we have the podcast, and so I was like maybe we should have, um, you know, someone join us on the podcast, and we just kind of tossed the idea around a little bit. And then one day in one of the Disney groups I'm in, um, I saw a post by Ashley and was like, hey, is anybody out there looking for a co-host? And so I took a screenshot and sent it to Fred, and so we invited her to come on. Gosh, I don't even remember what we talked about when we had you on.
Speaker 2:Oh, it was Animal Kingdom.
Speaker 1:Yes, how could I forget my favorite, and it was just kind of like a tester, like hey, let's see howley fits in um with fred and I and and go from there. And so we took a little bit of time after, but excited to announce that ashley is officially joining us as a co-host on, yes, going beyond the castle.
Speaker 1:So I'm super excited to have her with us. Um was very impressed, especially because when we talked about the Animal Kingdom sections and she wanted to do like the history and I was like okay, you got it. So anyway, so we just, you know, welcome Ashley to the show. And why don't you just a little brief, because I don't even know if we talked about it much. Just a little bit about your background, like what got you started with Disney and you know what makes you love it and love podcasting yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Uh, for starters I was nervous about gelling with you guys and then I realized fred and I both love stitch, so we are always twinsing on the stitch run. Um hi, thank you guys. I appreciate all of your kind words and, yeah, I loved my little on-screen interview that I got to have talking about animal kingdom with you guys. It was super fun. Um, my cat's here. But now I'm here and I yeah, I, my parents. Actually, in fifth grade, my parents were just like let's just, I live in indiana. So my parents were like you know, let's, let's just move to disney. And I was like, okay, and so my mom worked at animal kingdom. My dad worked at magic kingdom so jealous yeah, so that's kind of.
Speaker 2:That's just what kick-started my real love for disney. And you know, I tried to hide it for a while because I was getting bullied by about it.
Speaker 3:But now here I am and we're thankful that you didn't avoid it yeah, yeah, so I just jumped in with both feet.
Speaker 2:Um, I go a lot now. Um, I probably go one to two times a year with my wife and kids. I have two boys, they're six and seven. We love star wars. We love anything and everything disney we're always watching youtube videos, stuff like that. Always planning our next trip. We're planning on going in September right now, and, yeah, I am really excited to be here. Thank you, guys.
Speaker 1:Sweet Fun stuff. My dream is to work at Animal Kingdom one day. Probably won't come true.
Speaker 3:It will. It's going to happen for you.
Speaker 1:Speak it into existence. Speak it into existence. Yes, I need it to happen.
Speaker 3:But what do you want to do, though? I'll pick up trash for all I care.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I just. I love Animal Kingdom so much that I can be. The only thing is, though, I don't know that I will love it in the summer.
Speaker 3:I don't care Like working there. I'll look like a lobster. For all I care, I'll be there loving every minute of it I will say.
Speaker 2:The one thing I remember is they wear some interesting costumes and they're thick. So like my mom was always complaining that she was hot yeah, I mean like florida heat, yes, and then like the thick costuming that they wear.
Speaker 1:Yes, they're.
Speaker 3:What we did, which this will also be a story for next week when Jamel's on the podcast. But I tried to warn him how much hotter Animal Kingdom is than every other part. He didn't believe me and afterwards he was like, oh my god, it is way hotter at Animal Kingdom than any other part.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's unmatched. I feel like I have to wear sandals at Animal Kingdom other. Yeah, it's unmatched. I feel like I have to like wear sandals at animal kingdom just because it's so hot it is hot it's
Speaker 1:ridiculous. That's a whole thing. See, here we go. We need to tell you last time we go down rabbit holes a lot, but I used to be a flip-flop girl like every single trip. And then last I guess it was october, when josh and I and I got huge blisters, and now I'm like I cannot, I have to wear tennis shoes, and I hate it. Though October, when Josh and I got huge blisters, and now I'm like I cannot, I have to wear tennis shoes. And I hate it though, because when it's hot, like I don't like wearing tennis shoes when I'm hot, because it makes me hotter. But I will say those mini Brooks are probably the most comfortable shoes.
Speaker 3:I've ever worn, that's because they were made by Disney.
Speaker 1:Yeah. They were like super comfortable.
Speaker 2:At first I thought you meant like mini brooks, and then I was like oh, yeah, yeah, little baby brooks.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're mini brooks anyway. So, yeah, so good. Well, welcome, and we're excited to have you with us. And I know this episode is going to kind of be all over the place, but we'll get better and we won't organize and we won't maybe we'll be better in season three?
Speaker 1:probably not there you go. Yeah, so one of the things that I thought would be funny or fun, I guess, just depending on the topic um, comment section chronicles, because sometimes when you know a lot of people which we've said before please do not read everything that you see in the facebook groups or things like that, because a lot of times this stuff is not true. Sometimes you'll see things that might you know, may come true, especially things get leaked or whatever. But just some of the funny stuff. So we're going to start doing I don't know if we'll do it every episode, but we're going to do tonight a little. We just have a few of them of comment section chronicles One I thought that was interesting, though I'll do this one first and then I'll do the other. The nasty one, and then Ashley can go is I saw it shared there.
Speaker 1:Someone did a tiktok on why the two other bippity boppity boutiques haven't opened and I thought it was very interesting because you know, I'm always like, why have they not opened it? Like it's so hard to get those reservations and they have opportunities to have other locations, so like, why have they not opened it back up to make our lives easier, especially when you're making dining reservations and those appointments, and it was very interesting. The girl said that she used to work there. She actually opened up the one of them. She said that after COVID they changed the rules where they have to have a license. So like if when you go into Magic Kingdom it's different because it's a ticketed event that they're going into, so those rules are a little bit different. If they open them outside, like at Disney Springs or at Grand Floridian, then it's not a ticketed place where the folks go in. So those they would have to be fairy godmothers, would all have to be licensed and so I'm assuming that they don't want to.
Speaker 1:You know, have all those people have to get licensed?
Speaker 2:although that was interesting I mean you'd think that they like want to do that because it'd be more income, like yeah, they're gonna have to bite the bullet on the licenses at the beginning, but like drawing on money.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know, it's just. It is odd to me that they haven't found a way to open that back up. Or you're right, like I don't know how much a cosmetologist license costs, but I imagine they're going to well, more than $50.
Speaker 2:I don't know, I just made that up. That was a great guess, thank you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I would imagine that they would definitely make up for it. Yeah, the question is retention.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's true. Either A you say, hey, you have to have a cosmetology license to come work at Bippity Boppity Boutique or you pay for it, but then it's like, how long does that person have to stay on? Because yeah. And also, how much are you actually going to make working as a fairy godmother at Bippity Boppity Peek? Because chances are you could always have somebody come in get Disney to cover it and then they're like, all right, bye, it's Orlando. Like I could go work anywhere now that I have a cosmetology license.
Speaker 2:Is it like do you tip them?
Speaker 3:I've never done baby body routine. My kids are not old enough.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know if it's a situation where you can tip. I'm going to look it up, I feel like, because I'm trying to remember, because Olivia went, of course, now she's 17. So she went 10 years ago and I can't remember if we tipped or not. I'm gonna look it up, see if you can tip I would assume you could.
Speaker 3:Like. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to provide some form of a tip for that type of service. I mean, it already is that type of that expensive of a service.
Speaker 2:But right, I mean you can tip anybody else it yeah performs a service for you I think that also like incentivizes it to like either a have your license and work there or b get on. Then get your cosmetology license, because I would imagine the tips are better at disney yeah, yes, and it says it is customary that you tip at the pirates league and the bippity boppity Boutique Makes sense. Yeah, yeah, so there's the Disney Springs location that's still closed. And what's the other one?
Speaker 3:Grand Floridian.
Speaker 2:Grand Floridian, grand Floridian.
Speaker 1:That's right. I know I couldn't say.
Speaker 3:Grand Floridian.
Speaker 2:Sometimes we flirt with the idea of letting the boys get dressed up like little princes. Oh, boys get dressed up like little princes oh, but then we're just gonna get hot.
Speaker 3:And yeah, I've had a couple clients do it like first thing in the morning and I'm like, well, why?
Speaker 2:yeah, I mean kudos to them. If your kid can do it and you can power through it with them, great.
Speaker 1:But I don't want to fight my boys it's about the experience yeah yeah, yeah for sure I wish I would have shared, like pulled up a picture I could have shared of Olivia. It was the cutest thing, should have been.
Speaker 1:I did. I did put links for other stuff, but not that well, I didn't plan to go into too much, but, um, yeah, that was because we did that well, we actually, and we bought our own dress. Like we went there with the um Sophia, the first dress, so I didn't have to buy a dress, but she got her hair done and then, of course, we went meet the princesses after. So it was fun. She liked it okay. So the other one I found was and I'm gonna click on the link, so it was, I guess apparently some guests got I can't Open, open. Alright, let me go over here.
Speaker 1:I'm working on two computers. Some guests got stuck on Soarin' for a period of time 30 minutes. And then, apparently, one of the guests got sick.
Speaker 3:How do you get sick on Soarin' and?
Speaker 1:threw up. Oh no, and again disclaimer. These are comic. I was about to say comic book comment section chronicles, so we don't know if it's actually. I didn't look to see if it was legit, I just thought it was funny.
Speaker 2:Did you watch the TikTok video on it?
Speaker 1:I did.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 3:First of all let's have this conversation.
Speaker 2:Lock in.
Speaker 3:If you're're gonna throw up on soren, go forward like because then it's just yeah, like, go forward, don't go like this, like, because then it's just gonna drip on all the people second off.
Speaker 2:Who throws up on? Soren yeah, like it's not even like, the video is not killing or anything it has to to be.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it has to be. Maybe it was like a Josh situation where he had food poisoning from eating at Hollywood and Vine and was stuck on a ride and then they couldn't help it. Instead, I throw up.
Speaker 2:Yeah that's got to be it.
Speaker 3:Comments that says go forward.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I won't, but, yeah, yeah, but don't worry, they got two free lighting lanes and they rode Guardians twice.
Speaker 3:I would take that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I would be like, okay, I'll take a little bit. Yeah, I don't know, I just thought that was wild.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that is crazy.
Speaker 1:I have one of my travel agent friends, which is why okay, I know y'all are going to correct me because I never remember, because I didn't write either. One forbidden journey is the one that's makes you could make people sick, right? Not green gods, okay, yeah one of our agency, but more likely forbidden journey yeah, yeah, one of our agency trips um one of our friends, she got somebody threw up on her on that ride so I was like I will not ride it because I don't need to want to throw up I wrote it when I was younger and I was very similar to soren, but like just a different, like it's a little bit more intense it's soren on crack
Speaker 2:it is yeah, I wrote it when I was younger and I was fine, but now I feel like if I wrote it, I would 100% it yeah, I'm afraid of motion sickness all right, so that was mine.
Speaker 1:I know, ashley, you have one yeah, I had one.
Speaker 2:Well, I found two posts on reddit the last probably three days and it's just people talking about how like they can't enjoy anything anymore without having to look like through a phone. Either they're looking through a phone or like you're on pirates and someone two rows ahead of you has their phone brightness all the way up, they're recording the whole ride and their flash is on like.
Speaker 3:So I think this is just my psa to put your phone down for a minute and just like enjoy well, and I will say too, having gone to disneyland, disney world last month, they're both very fresh, the amount of people who record video with their flash on.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Like. Learn how to use your devices before you don't need your flash on for Happily Ever After.
Speaker 2:The whole time I was watching Happily Ever After.
Speaker 3:There was a dude in front of me and if you want to record it, that's cool, but he had his flash on and like, like, just come on, like yeah, and I'll just get you a pair of ray bane metas.
Speaker 1:They're fabulous there you go yeah yeah, olivia's watching, so I don't. If she remembers, she can type in and tell us we were when we were just there and I for the life of me cannot remember what ride we were on. And it got dark and they, they had to fuss. You know, one of the cast members had to fuss at somebody to turn their their light off.
Speaker 2:But I can't, I cannot remember what it was yeah like I get like taking a little video here and there or taking a video of a whole ride, but like turn your flash off, turn your brightness down, be respectful yeah, absolutely fully agree, yeah yeah, so that was my little psa of the two posts I saw they were super in-depth, just like dogging on everybody doing it.
Speaker 1:But yeah, yeah, fun stuff. People get very passionate.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I will with them if I have to flip a table?
Speaker 1:yeah, exactly should we run some news, news and updates? Yeah, and shocker that this is going to be more Disney heavy. But I also I kind of went back and forth to. I also feel like, since we're going to have I mean, we're going to do a Disney report too, but with my trip report, with Epic Universe, I think that's really what the big things are right now going on with um, with universal. So we'll have some stuff, um, but it's going to be heavy on the disney side, of course yep, yep so I'll hit a few and then actually you can pick which ones you want to go for.
Speaker 1:We'll'll let Fred chime in when he feels like it.
Speaker 2:We'll tell you when you can speak.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. Usually it's funny because usually on the outline I didn't do it on this one, so we'll talk about it next time. I usually put like who's going to leave what section and I just didn't on these. But one good thing for Disney fans is that if you have a trip this year, you can take advantage of the bounce back offer for 2026. And that just recently opened, because up until last week you could only book through the end of 2025.
Speaker 1:And so I know, you know, not everybody wants to go which I don't know who wouldn't but not everybody wants to go in the same year. You know you want to kind of spread the love and have a trip for next year.
Speaker 2:Users don't want to go, yeah, people not listening to this podcast.
Speaker 1:Don't want to go exactly, exactly, yeah, so you can book your bounce back offer. It's still only open through october of next year. They haven't released november december dates yet, but good news is, if you have a trip, make sure you do that within seven days but you tell me bounce back offer.
Speaker 3:Uh, I don't think they've extended it yet. Have they extended the water park on your resort date check?
Speaker 1:yet? Yep, no, I think they only did it for the summer yeah, it only says somewhere for 2026, but it doesn't specify what date yet and you got free dining for kids.
Speaker 3:like 2026 is the year to go to Disney, like right now, like it's looking like to be a solid year to go and get a ton of discounts.
Speaker 2:I'm a huge proponent for the bounce back. Even if you don't, even if you're not always sold on it, just keep moving that bad boy. Exactly. Yes, I mean cancel it, get your money back, but at least you know you're going to save some money at that time, then I won't have a trip book. Right, I mean we flew dollars a couple times.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, $200 deposit to get it booked. And then you're right. If you don't know the dates, well, at least now it's better because you know you can pick a 2026 date somewhere.
Speaker 3:Yeah, but yeah, you can always move it.
Speaker 1:If you're not within that penalty window, which I won't go there with the penalties. But that's for another podcast.
Speaker 3:Well.
Speaker 1:I haven't had a client get a penalty yet, but Really, yeah, it just depends on the timing and how you do it. So another thing which we just talked about. I think I was at our last episode when we talked about Mickey's not so scary Halloween party, when we were hoping they would have announced the stuff for that podcast, but they didn't. But now Halloween night is already sold out.
Speaker 3:Two weeks.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Sell out. I mean, I'm not surprised. It's always the first one to sell out. Next one to sell out should be the opening night, and then they'll start trickling down after that.
Speaker 2:Yes, so on down after that. Uh-huh, yes, so don't wait for the opening night.
Speaker 3:Oh sweet, I don't know if we're going.
Speaker 2:I don't know yet, but we will be like at Disney for the opening night one, I believe.
Speaker 1:Gotcha. It's fun. I went the last three years Also. When I go, though, it's just me because I'm gone, nobody in my family agency.
Speaker 2:the last three years, so so it's fun. Yeah, fred knows all about going on trips.
Speaker 1:But I'm just family, I do, yeah, yeah, I'll be nice. You were getting all the kudos at at the meeting tonight, so I need to roast you a little bit that's fine yeah, anyway, it's sold out.
Speaker 1:But if you want to go, reach out to info at gulmiana castle and we can help you get that booked. And then something interesting that they recently and I don't know that they've done this in the past, I guess maybe they have, I don't know, but they know. Okay, they now have same day dining help, which I'm not really sure how I feel about it, because one it's the same day.
Speaker 3:So basically, you can go up. Stop making it sound fancy. You were too. You failed to prepare, and so now you're getting added to the walk-up list, right?
Speaker 1:and then it's at disney springs, so you have to make a trip to disney springs. I think the good thing is for people who aren't tech savvy, but I feel like you're still at a disadvantage, unless this means are gonna like hold some spots for walk-up people. I don't know doubt it how it's going to work if the restaurant's going to sell out now.
Speaker 3:I think they're just going to be able to see.
Speaker 2:You know that last minute dining they're going to be able to see the same thing that we see they're just going to make people feel special by saying we're here to help you right, it's all the way, like outside of the orange garage, so like you got to go all the way to what that's the West End.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so it'll probably be geared toward? Is that over by where the movie theater is? Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I bet they'll be pitching on a lot of like City Works House of Blues.
Speaker 3:Yeah, all that stuff nobody ever goes to. But you're going to feel super special because you got a whole same day spot.
Speaker 1:Because you use the same day kiosk. Yep, yeah, so anyway, feel free to jump in when you want, or you want, me to keep.
Speaker 2:I am, I got you. No, I meant ashley, not you. Yeah, you, I'm here. I got you food wine dates are august 28th through november 22nd. We literally arrive the 31st, so we are pumped that we are just barely getting in the window yeah I'm gonna sidetrack for a second.
Speaker 2:Originally we're gonna go for I think we're gonna go for five days, two park days with a hopper and just knock all four parks out. Then I saw the food and wine. We know we were gonna make it for food wine. I was like, let's do three days and let's get rid of a park, so we are gonna enjoy all the food and wine. I was like, let's do three days and let's get rid of a park, so we are going to enjoy all the food and wine. Now they have not announced the booths yet. I've been keeping a close eye on what's going to happen there, but that is super exciting. What booths do we like? What's our vibe?
Speaker 3:all of them I liked the.
Speaker 2:I was going to say I liked the. I think it was the Brazil booth last year yeah, and it's been a couple years since.
Speaker 1:We went in october and it was during I don't know what year it was. It was one year we went. We took my in-laws. That trip was the beautiful weather, it was like the best weather trip we ever took. And they had in the american pavilion. They had, um, a lobster roll, yeah, but the lobster roll was like literally like four inches, maybe like the bread, but it was so good. Like that's where we kind of started our interest in lobster rolls at Disney because we got it there. But the lobster in it was warm. It wasn't like the cold lobster that you get over in Columbia Harbor House. It was the best. Like that is my favorite snack or meal that we got from Food and Wine. I mean, it's pretty pricey I think it was probably like eight or ten bucks for you know, like a little bitty lobster roll. So you probably need like two or three to make it like a good sandwich, unless you're going to snack around.
Speaker 2:But yeah, those were super good. I think the France line is always super long. I've never made it to the France because I never have the patience to wait in the line.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's how we are. We just kind of, if we don't have a reservation in Epcot, it's always miserable, because we just kind of walk like, and I did the one thing I said in one of the podcasts that we had episode and I was like don't go eat at the regal whatever it's called is it the regal eagle? Regal eagle, and that's where me, josh and olivia and braden ate. When we went this last time, however, it was good, though I got actually got the ribs and it was decent.
Speaker 1:It wasn't horrible barbecue, so it was pretty good, but I just feel like you can get that anywhere but anyway yeah, but we don't like to stand in a line at the booths, or there's just so many that it's hard to you don't know when to stop, because you're like, oh, they might have something good at the next one and you just keep walking and yeah I'm not eating or you stop to look and then the crowd just kind of like pushes you into, like well, I don't really want to do this anymore.
Speaker 2:So you, you, keep going.
Speaker 1:Yeah, one thing I did do and I think we might have talked about it on one of the episodes too is they do have an app. It's like the Food Wine app, yeah, and so I ended up pulling that up. So I mean you can look on there and kind of get an idea ahead of time too, but I definitely recommend you know walking around.
Speaker 2:The Food Wine, I think is probably the the one that has the best food books. Yeah, I mean, like they all food. I know I figured, and I do think, um, it's emily's fromage montage will be back again is what I was reading on one of the blogs a couple weeks ago, so that'll be good to all of you, all the cheese lovers, sweet cheese I got one year when josh and I went.
Speaker 1:I don't think it, I know it had to be because I don't know. I don't know if it was just he and I, but I got a limoncello margarita in one of the Italian booths. It wasn't very strong, it was just very refreshing. It's good.
Speaker 2:I think they're just called Italian margaritas, aren't they? Or is it a limoncello? Because I think Gabby gets them too all the time and she loves them she'll get one and pour it in her cup, and then she'll go and get another one. The biggest announcement Disney's Starlight Parade is debuting on July 20th, so just a little over a month away. At this point, they released the track for the music. The music is great, fred. Have you listened to it yet?
Speaker 3:no, not yet.
Speaker 2:It's pretty great.
Speaker 1:Yes, I even shared a little. I think I shared the link that you can go back and listen to it that Ashley shared with us. Yeah, not saying that you need to play it now, I'm just saying Right now, I have been corrected, it is.
Speaker 2:Emile's. Formage Montage, not Iblis, I sound like a southerner at that point, I'm cultured.
Speaker 4:Yeah, sorry guys.
Speaker 2:Some of the parade floats. The finale float is the train playing a special tribute to the Main Street Electrical Parade with Goofy, Pluto, Donald Daisy, Snow White, Dopey, Aladdin, Jasmine, and then Mickey and Minnie.
Speaker 1:Did you just do that off the top of your head?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I wrote it down here, but I did do it off the top of my head. I'm pretty proud of that.
Speaker 1:This is why we have you with us now.
Speaker 2:I saw I think it was a tweet the other day and somebody was like why are we letting Goofy drive trains again? Which was pretty funny. Other floats so that was the finale float that I just mentioned. Um, other floats are peter pan, wish, incanto frozen, the princesses, of course, coco and moana. One thing to note for july 20th is starting then. Annual pass holders need a reservation for the parks because they are going to get a little busy starting in the evening.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I saw that. That's why okay, sidebar, that's why I struggle with, because there are times and I'm like, oh, I want to annual, just because I want it, not because I need to have an annual pass, but I'm like I think it would be cool to say I'm a disney annual pass holder and get the discount every time you go yeah right and get the discount, but I don't want to have to make park reservations.
Speaker 1:I want to be able to go when I want, and so that's why I don't want to do it really can.
Speaker 3:But when they start a brand new nighttime parade for the first time and god knows how many years you're gonna need they're gonna require reservations, yeah, yeah but like I don't want to have to say which park I'm going to, like I want to just be able to show up.
Speaker 1:Even though we say that and we have dining reservations and we have plans, you kind of of know where you're going, but I don't know. And then they do have blockout dates too. So some days they have blocked out and I don't even know how much it is, because I didn't look at it that much.
Speaker 3:Only one way to find out, and that's when you swipe the credit card.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Nope, I was very close when they first started selling them, but I couldn't justify it. One day first started selling them, but I couldn't justify it. So, um, one day, one day I just watched. Yeah, I saw it go ahead. Oh, it's okay. I was just gonna say I saw a tiktok or I don't know. It was a meme today and it was. It was a guy standing outside of um, oh, never mind, it's the next two go ahead. I was gonna talk about him, so, please, okay, um, it was. It was a guy standing and he was being pulled by a mermaid and then by a villain. Which way do I go? First with the two new shows.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I actually just watched them. I've seen them both, yeah, before we jumped on Disney villains, Unfairly Ever After and the new Little Mermaid, a musical adventure at Hollywood Studios. Which one do you guys want to talk?
Speaker 2:about first I've started let's go Little Mermaid. So I watched the old one first and then to compare it to the new one. So that way I gave it all fresh eyes. I don't know how to feel about the new one. It's very video heavy. There were times when I couldn't figure out if Sebastian was actually a puppet or if he was on the video screen. So that's probably a good thing, but other than that it I mean obviously it looks great now that the videos have been upgraded, but like it's still great things about, about it
Speaker 1:yeah, um, I have not. I haven't watched the old one you aren't missing much. I have to go watch it.
Speaker 2:Maybe I'll go watch a video, like you said, I don't usually look at.
Speaker 1:I haven't watched the old one. You aren't missing much. I have to go watch it. Maybe I'll go watch a video, like you said. I don't usually look at stuff ahead of time, but I'm probably not going to go see those, so it doesn't make a difference if I see it. So I have to go check it out.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Compare them.
Speaker 2:I don't know. I think if I had to pick one, I'd pick the Little Mermaid one. I don't the Disney villains on Fairly Ever After. It fell all over the place to me. I don't know if you guys have watched any of the footage from it yet.
Speaker 3:I've seen bits and pieces, yeah, and I don't want to like Nothing like put together, yeah, I don't want to spoil too much of it, but it's basically Cruella.
Speaker 2:Captain Hook and Malefic doing their songs in like a rock style I don't even know it was something, so probably see him just to give it a second chance yeah, I'll.
Speaker 3:Uh, I'm super salty. They opened like a couple days after we were there. Yeah, they did, they did. I think we left on friday and they started on monday should have cashed out the flow to go back never leave orlando the next time I go there, you go there you go yeah, then I can't miss anything there you go, got a point.
Speaker 1:I know, yeah, I don't know. Maybe I'll go watch them, just like I said, because it's not something that I'm gonna go and do. I don't think, I don't know.
Speaker 1:I told you my family's not real show heavy show head yeah, although when I go in December I don't know what the plans are with the agency, but we'll have some park days, so we all like to try to do stuff that we haven't done before. So we'll see, but I doubt it if that will be included. I do want to go watch the nighttime parade, though.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, we gave up Magic Kingdom. That was our sacrificial lamb for our trip in September and I regret it every day. But I'd still rather do three full park days than cram four parks into two days.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it is a lot Every time we say we're not going to do that and we do it, and then I'm like we're just exhausted.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, especially with the, there'll be seven and eight, so I don't want to push them any more than I want to push myself. So, yeah, all right, any more than I want to push myself? Yeah, too bad. Get in the stroller and let's go, keep going. We got one stroller. Look, we have two boys. I was like what are we going to do at rope drop? I think I'm just going to throw one of them on my shoulders.
Speaker 1:I was going to say I'd probably get two strollers you may die.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that'd be fun. Exactly, you want to take over Gio.
Speaker 1:Sure, so are you a lounge person? I know y'all were talking before we started about the things. That's another thing.
Speaker 3:Epcot's newest adult-only lounge.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I guess the experience might be a little different. Since it it looks cool, that's going to make it sound like I don't like hanging out with kids. Not that I mind kids, but no, I think it's fine. But, like you know, if you're going to go hang out in a lounge, then you might want it to be adult only.
Speaker 3:It looks really cool. It has a really great vibe to it the drink menu looks really good. The views, the views, assuming that you can get one of the good seats, look really good. I'm intrigued to see how it is once they do the fireworks package yeah, I thought that was um a neat concept I really appreciate disney's verbiage of fireworks not guaranteed for the fireworks package yep, I missed that.
Speaker 1:Like that's awesome.
Speaker 3:I mean I guess, yeah, I guess you never know, I mean you're still paid for it, mean, it's like the fantastic dining baggage, I paid for it. It is the fantastic, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:No, but it does look really cool.
Speaker 3:I mean I'm intrigued to see the reviews of how the fireworks package is. I don't think it's something I would ever do just because I really like being in World Showcase during the Night Time Show. But for those people that are all about it, go for it yeah.
Speaker 1:It's like open, it's like it's $179 plus tax per person.
Speaker 3:I mean look at how much the fireworks, the dessert packages over are over at Magic Kingdom.
Speaker 2:They're pretty close to the same price.
Speaker 3:Yeah, zero proof cocktails to the same price.
Speaker 1:Yeah, zero-proof cocktails. So I'm thinking 100-proof.
Speaker 3:They opened it up for creators slash media, yeah that's what I was just looking into.
Speaker 2:Is it open-open or is it just open for?
Speaker 3:media. It's just previewed right now Okay okay, let's see.
Speaker 1:It says it's opening ahead of the date june 4th.
Speaker 3:yeah, thank you for I'm looking over the menu now it looks cool especially because we got to the point where, probably around like seven o'clock, maybe six, we did everything and so we sat over there outside of the creation shop and you could see inside of it it looked, it looked like a really cool lounge. So even from the outside, where is it?
Speaker 2:where is it at exactly?
Speaker 3:it's behind, you know, the the dreamer statue of walt right behind that literally right behind it.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay, yep, I know exactly what you're talking about.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm looking at the drinks and if you get like a specialty drink, the cheapest one is $23 that drink right, there was like $50.
Speaker 2:I think I have a few expensive ones if you like bourbon.
Speaker 1:There's a bourbon flight for $45. I like the one that appeals to me the most is the strawberry and coconut right hand, because I'm all about the coconuts. The one that appeals to me the most is the strawberry and coconut right hand Because I'm all about the coconuts. Put the lime in the coconut, I get it. I'm not looking like, yeah, nothing else really sounds like anything I would drink.
Speaker 3:What you say until you try it. Right, alcohol is very sneaky.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know If you like beer. The beer is like between $8 and $11.
Speaker 3:I guess depending on which one you get. If there's alcohol in it, I like it or I'll try it or I'll try it.
Speaker 1:I used to like beer way back in the day. Now I feel like I could not. Even I couldn't do it because I know it's an acquired taste and I don't acquire it.
Speaker 3:I'm not walking in that street Not even I couldn't do it, because I know it's an acquired taste and I don't acquire anything.
Speaker 1:I picked Lori over at Bourbon Street one night. No, you're not, I'm not walking in that street slush, I forgot what. Do they call it? Street gumbo, or whatever.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:That's so gross Anyway.
Speaker 3:I think back on topic.
Speaker 2:No, I think this is a good lead into one of the other topics, which was they just updated the. They updated a thousand of the Port Orleans French Quarter rooms to have Mardi Gras flares. So my question is like what's the vibe with Mardi Gras for you guys? Are we into it? Can we leave it Like okay?
Speaker 1:No, not in.
Speaker 3:We went to one parade this year, one parade. I stood there for two hours and didn't see a single thing and we got there when it started, right, because it was just so far behind like and it was crowded. I almost got hit by five cars, like children almost got hit by cars. There were too many people, not for me thank you I stick to the king cake in my house and at that time at 9 o'clock.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the only participation I have in Mardi Gras is when I have to march in the parades with my daughter.
Speaker 3:And the only reason she doesn't ask is there's a chance she's going to march with some Disney princesses.
Speaker 1:Every year. So there's a Disney princess float and I swear every year we happen to either be standing right by it or at least pass it, and I always take a picture with them. Nice, yes, one of the other cheer moms. She actually works at the school. Her daughter's the mascot for the cheer team, but her daughter's also on the dance team and she's also a Disney nut like me, and so I was like come on, erica, so I drug her over there and we went to picture with the princesses it's such a negative term it's the aficionado
Speaker 1:there you go, disney, whatever you said, fun stuff, yes, but it's all. My daughter looks at me like oh my gosh, mom, I mean she's over now. But I'm like look and then buzzing. What are you there? Well, no, not buzz. What is there? Some of the um, other guys, I don't know. I mean she's over now, but I'm like look, and then Buzz and Woody are there. Well, no, not Buzz. Woody's there. Some of the other guys, I don't know. It's too late for me to think, but yeah, it's fun, fun times. Next year Lori's on the Princess.
Speaker 1:But, no, I'm not a Mardi Gras fan. I don't know. Even when I was younger I never was. It just doesn't sound fun to me to go. No appeal Stand out, got it. Yeah, I do love Port Orleans, french Quarter, though it's probably one of my favorite resorts.
Speaker 3:It is a gorgeous resort yeah how can you not love it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's amazing.
Speaker 3:They can keep the Mardi Gras out of it. It would be fun yeah.
Speaker 1:I actually booked that one for next year for Olivia's cheer nationals. We're going to stay at Port Orleans, french Quarter. So now Brayden wants to come. He's like, oh, I want to go and stay there. So yeah, we'll see. I don't know, they never want to come or they always say they don't want to go, but this last trip he had a good time. So now he's like I said, see, you can come into all these cheer trips, all it takes is one trip.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm like I don't know why this trip was so different for him, but he actually enjoyed himself and wants to go back next year. Were you going to go for his first or did that already happen? No, we were talking about it, but I think we're going to do something for Mardi Gras week to celebrate, which it's going to be way past his birthday and hers, but just because of cheer and stuff, we have to wait. We're going to do something, probably over Mardi Gras week next year, to celebrate their birthday. He'll be a little past it, but we'll see. Probably won't be Disney, though makes sense.
Speaker 2:I'm not doing disney at mardi gras I actually did one year and it was brutal, it's bad. And I was at animal kingdom too and surprisingly, like that was brutal, there were mardi gras shirts everywhere yeah, our very first trip in 2014.
Speaker 1:We went. It was in march and we went for mardi gras and it was it was. But like what he said, he say he said that's gross.
Speaker 3:That's gross.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then the last week when Brandon, my son, was the drum well, no, this was before he made drum major, but he was in a high school band and they marched in Magic Kingdom and it was during Mardi Gras and it was so bad. Like Olivia and I me, olivia and Josh, I think we rode in one day. We went to Hollywood Studios and maybe Animal Kingdom in the same day and we rode one ride at each park. It was so bad. That was before I was bougie and I didn't pay for any Fast Pass or Genie I don't even know what it was back then. High class yeah, I'm saying all of that stuff, but now I'm high class and I don't want to go without Lightning Lane.
Speaker 2:It was very important.
Speaker 3:Yes, Alright back on topic.
Speaker 1:Cool Kids Summer.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so they're. I think they do it every summer, but this year they're super leaning into Disney's Cool Kids Summer. They are. They're doing special dance parties for Stitch and someone else at Magic Kingdom and Epcot. I think, and then they have yeah, and then they have, yeah, and then they have I was listening to this earlier all of the. They're having a bunch of characters come out for early entry.
Speaker 1:Yeah, or early, whatever it's called early entry which I thought was cool and I think we yeah, I think we touched on a little bit once too. Like they said, even like in some of the resorts over the summer, they'll have more character presence too I mean they've already been, they've already been increasing the character presence as it is.
Speaker 3:They got that bus that goes around with the fat five. But yeah, they're, they're definitely stepping up the the character presence of disney world yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2:And then I think the other thing was just like special magic shots that they added, and stitch can hijack your magic shots and you won't know which one it is, which I thought was kind of cool too, so it's neat yeah, I love me a good magic shot.
Speaker 1:Yep on to universal. Yeah, I think that wraps it up. And again, I didn't really. I didn't really put too much because I don't want to dig too much into it, although I want to. I cannot wait until we talk about epic. Um, I'll be back there on tuesday to go explore some more and get some more stuff. So I won't give away spoilers yet, I'll just talk a little bit. It is absolutely amazing. I thought that I was going to be the most excited about super nintendo area, but isla burke blew it out of the water.
Speaker 3:I think that is for everybody. That's a common trend I'm noticing among people that are going. Isle of Berk is where it's at.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh. And then the whole toothless interaction and we got lucky because Hiccup Wait, no, what's the guy's name? Hiccup, okay, I was right, I was confusing myself. Yes, so a couple of people ahead of us. It was a random Viking that was out, and then, all of a sudden, hiccup came out, so we got to visit with both of them and it was just. I was like this is going to be so awkward because it was just me and my adult friend. We didn't have any children with us, and so I was like I don't, I'm not gonna know what to say, and she's like me either, but it was it wasn't awkward at all yeah, I mean he just kind of he started the conversation and you know, and so it was just super.
Speaker 1:I mean I will make sure that I have. I'll send you the video and some pictures when we do my epic trip report. But yeah, yeah, so good, a lot of good food there. Super Nintendo area for anyone who has any kind of sensory issues, I think is going to be probably a lot. There's games, you know, when you walk in the area there's games going on. They have the little you know question boxes and you can punch them and it actually make the noise. It's just a lot of. It's very busy in that area. So that's just something to be mindful for. If you know, if you have a lot of you know, some it could be sensory overload.
Speaker 1:It was super cute, though we actually saw Mario and Luigi come out. We didn't get to see him when we go back, but still, I mean it was Brayden, I think that just like was his whole, the whole trip for him, because it just brought it back to his childhood and we was me and my friend was so glad that he was there because the three of us went. We were the only ones that bought the power up bands. Olivia and Josh didn't want one, so he took us through and showed because the Bowserowser's challenge in order for you to play the game you have to get three keys. And so he took us around and showed us how to play the games and so we were like you know, at least he was with us and now we can help other folks. It was really cool. I mean, it was super fun.
Speaker 1:Dark universe wasn't as scary as I. Now we went. We did go during the day. I was hoping to really scare olivia, but it wasn't like super scary for her. Really scare olivia, but it wasn't like super scary for her. Monsters unchained was awesome, the, just the whole thing. I don't want to spoil too much. We didn't get to ride curse of the werewolf because it wasn't open. We didn't get to ride ministry of magic because it wasn't open, but we did get to walk through the queue. Yeah, and I'm glad I watched the movies because at least I knew some of what was going on, and my friend bet Bethany that was there is a huge Harry Potter fan, so I was like Bethany, what is this? So what is that? But it was so awesome, just the whole.
Speaker 1:If you're looking for ride heavy experiences. There's not a ton of rides, even between all of the parks, so you really have to experience the shows. You know, just walking around in the land there are some rides. But you know, just walking around in the land there are some rides. Um, but you know, to make a full day of it, you know you really got to kind of get involved in all of it. You can't just like look to go do rides, because then you know you can whip through the rides and then not have anything to do. Um, but definitely worth it and I'm excited to go back to get a little bit more content than what I got this last time.
Speaker 3:They just opened up a whole bunch of single-day tickets too, for that they like increased the capacity for single-day tickets for Epic Universe. Yeah, crowds weren't as bad as they thought it was going to be either for the first couple days.
Speaker 1:I know. And then all of a sudden I was like oh, because I, you know, I heard they were talking about stories or whatever. Like, yeah, they were talking about stories or whatever. Yeah, like they were not opening it up to full capacity, which I don't know if it is yet, but we did get the Express Pass.
Speaker 3:And I'll tell you I've never gone. I think they're up to like 45,000 tickets a day.
Speaker 1:That's what I read too, and I've never gone to Universal with an Express Pass. I guess I was always cheap and didn't splurge and didn't get it. But when we went this last time, so the Monday, it was me and the family went and Bethany, actually my friend, came and met me there and spent half the day with us. And when we were going back to the hotel that night, a lady came up to us and she's like are y'all coming back tomorrow? And we said yes, and she's like, well, I have these express Pass cards and we're not coming back. So she gave them to us. That's five of them, that's awesome, and so, yeah.
Speaker 1:So when we went to Hiccup's Wing Gliders, which is my favorite ride in the whole park, like we did it that day four times. We used two Express Passes for it because it was so fun. But we checked the line the time that we didn't have an express pass, and then we did and they cut it down from like 60 minutes to like 20. And so I'm like, okay, this will probably, yeah, seal the deal. And so when I go next week or this week, we did get the express pass for the day. So just to kind of, you know, compare it. But now I'm going to almost kind of feel like when I go to Disney without lightning lanes like I don't know if. I'm going to almost kind of feel like when I go to Disney without light in lanes like I don't know if I'm going to do it universal the same, like it makes it so much better being able to, especially because you don't have to pick the times, you just can walk up and you know it's a different experience.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but speaking of Express Pass, something that's exciting and new which folks probably know because it's been out for a few days now is that Hagrid's motorbike is now included in the Express Pass. So no more beelining over to Hagrid's at park opening and potentially waiting like two or three hours. You can use your Express Pass for that, which that is my favorite ride. I think it's a very strong toss between Guardians and Hagrid's Like I can't really say which one I like the most. Guardians. But I wouldn't wait two hours for it.
Speaker 2:Fred will make that decision for you, I know but it's Guardians.
Speaker 3:Guardians is the best ride ever created. It is the only reason I don't know, it's so awesome. No, it doesn't. It doesn't touch no.
Speaker 2:Do you like Harry Potter at all? Love Harry Potter.
Speaker 3:Okay, I don't have a wand at all.
Speaker 2:Oh, I didn't even see your wand. I'm sorry, yeah.
Speaker 3:I love Harry Potter. I've watched the first three movies this weekend. Nice, the Galaxy takes the cake. It is by far the best ride ever created on the face of the planet.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it is a good ride.
Speaker 3:At Hagrid's. It's nowhere near as good. It's great, it is a fabulous ride, but it's not as good as the Guardians.
Speaker 2:And he will die on this hill.
Speaker 3:I will.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know, I'm still. I mean I probably would pick audience, but I do love it's a close tie. I've never written Hagrid's. It's not a close tie at all. So the only reason so when I go this week initially we were going to do two days at Epic, but then, since we just went in May, I was like, okay, one day is probably good Because I did two days in May. So I was like I'll do Tuesday when I get there, even though I'm getting there at noon. I'll just do the regular parks because I want to go ride Hagrid's. But then we decided to hang by the pool and have cocktails instead. So that's the only thing I am going to miss not not getting to do haggards, but I'll survive. Yeah, I'll get to ride.
Speaker 1:Curse of the werewolf, which almost because I don't watch videos, but I saw something in a facebook group and it kind of threw me off about a little bit of the ride. Seems like it might have a similar feel to guardians. Yeah, because it spins and stuff on the track. It's one thing I thought was interesting is um. Somebody said that it. They wrote it twice and it was a different experience because it depends on the um weight the weight distribution how did she?
Speaker 1:yes, weight distribution in the car. So now I'm like, oh my god, if it spins non-stop I might throw up. Hopefully that doesn't happen. We're gonna see another post next week somebody complaining about, somebody throwing up on we're all gonna know who it was yeah I will make sure that I take my bony before I I go, so that way at least I'll have a little bit of not sickness.
Speaker 3:I've never wished somebody would throw up, but I kind of wish you well. That'll make a great story next week.
Speaker 1:Well, I'll have to save it for the end of the day so it doesn't ruin the rest of the day. What else we got? Not a whole lot, for Universal 2026 packages are now available and they do have some different ticket options. Most of the time it's been where you get like two park to park days with one day epic. But I did, I booked a trip for someone and they were able to just get three park, three day tickets. So, which is basically the same, but it's not specifically calling out one day at epic.
Speaker 3:yeah, one day at Epic, yeah.
Speaker 1:One day at Epic anymore. That's exciting. I still feel like one solid day if you have an Express Pass with Epic is good, yeah, although I did two days. The first day we just kind of walked around and got the feel of things and then the second day we kind of spent a little more time. So two days would be good you also got rained out.
Speaker 2:I still don't think we got rained out the first day.
Speaker 1:Like, yeah, we couldn't even leave the hotel until like noon, yeah, and then even once we got there it rained a little bit, but I still think a good four now solid days. So I guess it's kind of similar to Disney. If you do one park a day in four days, still not a ton of stuff for little kids to do. Oh yeah, I know when we originally, when fred and I had an episode we were like, well, maybe with epic coming open they'll have some more stuff. The nintendo ride in um, the yoshi's ride, has a height limit on it. It's. It's wild because it's literally like you probably could run faster than the cars on the side and you're strapped in and it's almost like a people mover. But it doesn't even go as fast, like it just kind of it's very slow. So I find it very odd that they have a height requirement and like some little kids couldn't ride it Really.
Speaker 2:I'm going to look it up. I want to know what it is now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, little kids couldn't ride it. Really. I'm gonna look it up. I don't know what it is, yeah, yeah it's. I was kind of surprised by that one. And then so any volcano bay fans out there, they are doing like an extended refurbishment next year, so it's going to be closed from october 20th through march 24th, um, so which I mean I guess it's winterish and I guess people still go cause it's still hot, yeah, and they keep all that water heated. Orlando, they keep it heated, but, um, it won't be closed.
Speaker 1:Another interesting thing is which I haven't I haven't visited there, so but I do have one of my friends who I'm going, actually going with Universal. She loves Volcano Bay and the Tapu. Tapu is going to be going away, which is, I guess it's like a little wristband that you get and you can pay from it, and then it's like a virtual line system where you go and tap in and it gives you a time to come back to the ride. However, I've seen this week some posts where folks are not able, like it's supposed to be going away at the end of the year, but they already can't use it for paying, like some folks were kind of aggravated because they didn't have their wallet when they went out to get something and had to go back and get you know while it's a pay. So it's something to keep in mind.
Speaker 2:If you plan on visiting volcano bay, you have to keep your, keep your money with you I have not been to the volcano bay, but I have been on the roof of Aventura and looked down at Volcano Bay, which is awesome.
Speaker 1:That's sweet. I'm kind of disappointed in myself because when we went so my agency, some girls from my agency it wasn't like an organized trip. We wanted to do some different things. So we went and spent a day at Discovery Cove and then I don't think we did parks, I think we did Discovery Cove. I can't remember what else we did. I have a terrible memory, just in case you don't know. And then one of the days some of them were going to Volcano Bay and I opted not to and I kind of wish I would have went, because now you know, it's just something different to do and they had a good time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, it seems really cool and I think that Tapu Tapu is a really good idea, but I think that there's not enough foot traffic there anymore, especially with Edmick opening, you can just ride whatever you want, whenever you want.
Speaker 3:Poor bummer.
Speaker 1:So yep, but that's all I had on Universal. I know it wasn't a whole lot, but we'll definitely get into that.
Speaker 3:There's really never a lot for Universal.
Speaker 2:I know it's all like that all the time I know.
Speaker 1:Yep, which, yeah, definitely I'll share a lot more info not to be spoilers, but do a trip record. Share all the things that we've done.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we got a lot of good episodes coming up. Next week my best friend, jamel, will be on the episode as we talk disney world and his first trip and his experiences. I kind of got his feedback each day on each part. But as for, like, I gave him a list and I said I don't want to know any of this, tell me on the episode. So I am going to be learning a lot about what he thought about the trip when it comes to like top ride, top park, top food. Like I told him, you know, keep it all for the episode. So I'm excited to hear his feedback. He did say I'm playing a great trip, so just put that out there.
Speaker 3:After that we'll dive um on the. What is that going to be? You got the 8th, the 15th 6th, 15th yeah, we'll dive into Lori's epic epic vacation, where she talks heavily on epic vacations. Yeah, and then on the 22nd, we'll be diving back into my Disneyland trip, which it would have been a long time since my Disneyland trip. We planned this. I know, but it's fine. It's still very fresh in my mind. It was an absolute amazing trip. Great to experience Disneyland for the first time, and especially as a VIP tour. It's impressive.
Speaker 3:Great trip, so looking forward to talking about that. So definitely, over the next couple weeks, as we prepare to dive into each of these episodes, definitely send us some questions that you may have about whether it be Disney World, epic Universe or Disneyland. We'll be doing an interview type style style type episode for those. So if you definitely have questions that you want answered about one of those parks, definitely send us an email post in the comments down below on this video. Send us a message in our Facebook group, whatever's best, and we'll do our best to answer those questions.
Speaker 1:Anything before I wrap this up, yeah, I was gonna say too, um, because we're gonna start working my plan.
Speaker 1:I'm already a little behind, but ashley and I I'm uh delegating to us that we're gonna get some topics together for july. So we'd love some input on folks, because we know us that we're going to get some topics together for July. So we'd love some input on folks because we know things that we could talk about. But I would love to hear some things that you know some folks would like to talk about, and if we get enough questions too, we can always do like a question and answer episode or something. So, you know, what kind of stuff do you guys want to hear about? Of course, we always talk about disney. We throw in universal. We haven't done a whole lot of cruise talks, so we can, you know, do that as well, but we'd love to get some feedback and input on some topics. That would be interesting, yeah, for the folks out there actually any last words before we wrap it up just happy to be here yeah, we're happy you're here.
Speaker 3:it's super exciting to finally have you on board. Yeah, and just have a third person, who doesn't you know, randomly drop off because their internet sucks.
Speaker 1:Yep, see, I told you. I told him, I was like look, this was before we. It might have even been before we met you. I was like he's like, why are you hesitant about it? I'm like because I don't want you to kick me out, it about it.
Speaker 3:I'm like, because I don't want you to kick me out, it's already what plans are in the works?
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're gone.
Speaker 1:There's a different. No, because I've been building a friendship with Ashley, so that way she'll like me better than you.
Speaker 3:Good luck editing the episodes and figure out how all this works.
Speaker 1:Don't worry about it.
Speaker 3:You've got it All right, all right.
Speaker 1:Absolutely not Okay. Look, I'm the podcast princess, so we have to y'all have to come up with y'all names like the personality all right, I'm closing this out because I want to go to bed.
Speaker 3:It's 930, me too. Same, definitely. Shout out to all of our followers. We appreciate you guys joining us each and every week. We go beyond the castle. Please, please, please, head over to our social media channels. Like our stuff, share our stuff. We always want to grow and reach a broader audience. So, please, if you're looking to do that, you can find us. All of our social media channels are on our Beacons page at beaconsai forward slash. Going beyond the castle. We do have a website still, wwwgoingbeyondthecastlecom, where you can find anything and everything going beyond Castle, whether it's the podcast audio, whether it's video, whether it's a blog, whether it's current deals that are going on at Disney. We have everything on that website. So if you're looking for more information on that, you can head over there. And then, like I said, if you have any questions, want to reach out to us directly, maybe get a trip planned or even com, and that's that.
Speaker 1:That all right.
Speaker 3:All right, maybe get a trip planned or even dot com, and that's that, all right. All right, we'll talk to you guys next week. Until then, keep going beyond the castle and have a great week, guys.
Speaker 4:Thanks so much for hanging out with us today on Going Beyond the Castle. We hope you had as much fun listening as we did sharing. To stay up to date on all things going beyond the castle, head over to our website goingbeyondthecastlecom. There you'll find more info about your hosts, both audio and video versions of our episodes, our weekly blog and even some fan favorite merchandise. Want to follow along on social media? The easiest way to connect with us is through our Beacons channel, beaconsai forward slash goingbeyondthecastle. You'll find links to all our social platforms, travel updates and giveaways in one place. And hey, if you're dreaming about your next big adventure, whether it's Disney, universal, a cruise or a tropical escape, we'd love to help make it happen. Our travel planning services are completely free when you book through us. Until next time, keep dreaming big, keep exploring and, as always, go beyond the castle.
