Rob: In this episode of the Ear Scouts podcast, we're sharing some things we'll never do again at Walt Disney World and some things that we most definitely will. We got a lot of stuff to chat about, so let's get to it. Hi ho everybody. This is Rob with Ear Scouts coming to you from our makeshift studio here in Celebration, Florida. Unfortunately, Eric is not going to be able to be with us this week. Well, he's he's here right now, but he's gonna have to head off to Hollywood Studios in a moment to meet some friends. So he'll be with us in the chat for a little bit, but he won't be joining us for the show. but we do have joining us from the great state of Connecticut, Jessica. Hi ho, Jessica.

Jessica: Hi, hello everyone.

Rob: Jessica just got back from a a trip to Walt Disney World, where I think you did some things that you've never done before.

Jessica: We did, we did a lot of things we've never done before, so it was a lot of fun.

Rob: Awesome. And Craig also just got back from a trip to Walt Disney World where he tried out some new things. Hi-ho, Craig.

Craig: All right, ho everybody.

Rob: So we all just had some new experiences at Walt Disney World. And that kind of was the inspiration for this show because there were some things that we experienced that we were like, wow, that was a one and done for me. I'm definitely not gonna do that again. For me, obviously I live here, so I wasn't on a whirlwind trip, but I did have a new experience, which was I had some friends visiting from out of town, and they have twin daughters that are seven years old. And I gotta say, as much as I've been in Walt Disney World, I've never done a whole trip with with little Year Scouts in tow. So we had two seven-year-olds, and I learned so much, and so many things that I just would take for granted on a normal Disney trip that I learned, yeah, when you've got little ones, never do that again. many of the things I'm gonna share. Jessica has shared in previous episodes of things not to do. So I I probably should have paid attention to our earlier episodes before they visited, but alas I did not. So we're gonna we're gonna cover some of that ground again. but Jessica, why don't you start us off? What is the first thing on this recent trip to Walt Disney World that you did that you will never do again?

Jessica: So this trip was a little bit different for us in that our main purpose of the trip was a board game convention. So we only had a couple of really park days. So we had two solid park days. And because of that, we stayed on property at Riverside, Port Orleans, Riverside. And I can tell you, if my focus is a park day, I will not be staying at Riverside again for a park focused day. I felt like the transportation, was not as good to have to use the bus for the transportation. I wasn't at the resort very much. I did not get any of the real benefit of being at a relaxing Riverside resort with a lounge. And then the number one reason I will not stay at Port of Leans Riverside for a park-based trip is the quick service location. For me, the quick service and the ability to get food quickly in and out because we're not there that much. We want to grab food, then we want to go to the parks or get back from the parks, grab food and go to bed. Port Orleans Riverside's quick service was always a long wait, was undersized for the number of people. You couldn't get the mobile orders. I know Craig went to the actual sit down table service restaurant and probably had a wonderful experience. If I was doing a resort based day where I wanted to do table service, it might be different for us. Riverside for this kind of a park heavy trip is a one and done. We had a much better experience at pop. I've had a much better experience at the contemporary, even at Coronado with being able to get to the parks quickly and get that food that we needed quickly.

Rob: I I agree with you that I think transportation is definitely the the weak link and the quick service there, especially during busy times, is tough. Also, I don't know if you're gonna talk about this later because you probably had to deal with the boats when you're there. That can also be a frustration at certain times of the day. But I will say if you're there just to relax and enjoy a beautiful resort, Riverside is lovely. it's just I think you're right, it's not for that kind of a trip. but share something that you also experienced on this trip that you definitely will do again.

Jessica: So this is another thing that kind of happened as a result of the fact that we were doing this major board game convention. We rented a car and it ended up that renting a car during these extremely busy times, we were there for July 4th week, we were there the whole week of July 4th and there were ebbs and flows in the crowds, but having a car. allowed us to avoid some of the problems with the transportation, either after fireworks, before fireworks, to Riverside. A lot of that, and I'm telling you, I'm now a huge believer in renting a car. It let us pivot during the rainstorms. We pivoted when it was really crowded and we couldn't get a good mobile order time. We pivoted and drove to a restaurant, ended up having I think I texted you, we found good pizza near the parks. Celebration Brewing Company, which is right next to your place there. Celebration Brewing Company, if you want to watch sports and have good pizza in the bubble, because Celebration is close to the bubble, it's closer. Celebration Brewing Company, man, we found that though because we had a rental car.

Rob: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: And we could pivot when the mobile order times were too long. So I will always be a rental car person from now on. I just think it gives me flexibility that I don't have when we don't have our own car. So that's the two things that I found.

Rob: Yeah. I could see that so as a local, obviously I always have my car. And what I love about staying on property is that I can just park it and not have to deal with driving. But you're right, I have that luxury, right? If something comes up and I really need my car, it's there. So I could see where that that could be that could come in clutch in certain situations. Craig, what what was something that you found on your trip that that you just

Craig: Yeah.

Rob: we're not thrilled about, you're not gonna do again, and something that that you definitely will.

Craig: So, boy, that thinks is gonna ruffle a few feathers. so my first never again are the beignets at French Quarter. I've heard so much about them. The high I knew especially before the trip with the transportation changes from Disney Springs, where you can't, you know, take the boat from Disney Springs to the French Quarter to get the beignets. And I was excited to try them and we got them and I was like, they're just big fried dough balls. I prefer a crispy cream.

Rob: Ooh.

Craig: Over these. They I don't they were dense, I thought. They were doughy. We got fresh. We got right there. And I it just did not it was not what I was was hoping for or what I expected. And we ate one of the three between the two of us and dropped the the other two.

Rob: It's i yeah. It's it It's probably good it's probably good that Eric is not able to be with us at this moment because the beignets at French Quarter, one of his all time favorite treats at Walt Disney World. but yeah. Mm hmm. Yeah.

Jessica: love this so much.

Craig: Ha ha And yeah, it's a lot of people's obviously, but yeah, I was just like, Nope, that done.

Rob: And you know, we all have different tastes. I I will say I think, you know, if if you've spent a lot of time in New Orleans, I'm sure that, you know, I haven't been to New Orleans, but I can only imagine that, you know, the place that is legendary for beignets probably does it better than the Mickey Shaped beignets at French Quarter. but since I've only been able to experience the the beignets at French Quarter and not at the real French Quarter in New Orleans, I've

Craig: Exactly.

Rob: I think they're pretty good. I like them, but yeah. Fair enough. What is your what is your thing that you will definitely do again from this trip?

Craig: Okay. So this was also our first time staying at French Quarter and loved it. Like everything that Jessica was not happy about at Riverside were almost the same things I was really happy about at French Quarter. Like the transportation. There's only one bus stop. we had no problems with the buses. The food court was great. never had troubles, you know, even waiting in line. It was never never seemed to be that busy. It's nice and small. You could walk we walked several times to Riverside, used the pools, we went to boat rights, which I'll talk about more as well, the sit down restaurant there. and just just walked around and truly enjoyed both of the resorts. But we both agreed we definitely are glad we stayed at French Court and that was our pick.

Rob: It's the tale of two Port Orleans and t two completely different experiences.

Craig: Yeah, I do like Right. I do love the fact they have the quiet pools at Riverside, but again, all you have to do is walk over and enjoy them.

Rob: Yeah, I mean that's the magic of both of those resorts is you're welcome to use the amenities at both, and you can easily walk between the two. So yeah. Well, my trip was very different from from either of yours. Well, it wasn't a trip. I was already here, but my my visit from friends was very different. and the first thing that I learned that I don't feel like

Craig: Ha ha ha.

Rob: I would have ever given someone this advice until I experienced it firsthand. And that is, I will never plan back-to-back park days if I've got really little kids in the in the party. Or I would even say if you have people who are just not theme park people, right? The people who are kind of tolerating the visit to Disney, not super excited about it. I mean, that wasn't the case with the kids. The kids, it was just. The parks are are overwhelming and overstimulating. And it's it's a lot for little kids to take in. And it's not that they weren't having amazing time, they were, but they just kind of they kind of run out of steam. And I realized on day two immediately, I mean, as soon as we started the day, I could tell they were already exhausted from the day before. And I feel like a lot of people, I've always given the advice to to folks who are coming. I always say just do two park days, take a day off, and then try to do the other two parks after that. And this was a wake up for me that, you know, yes, that works for many, many families and many groups and many situations. But if you've got little kids, I I think it's too much. I really do. The exception to that, I would say, is maybe if you were staying on property and you could do a nice long break in the middle of the day, that could probably help. But barring that, yeah, never again will I do back-to-back park days with little kids. but the one thing that I will do again that I was, I will admit I was very skeptical of these, and that was. Bibity Bobbity Boutique and Cinderella's Royal Table. And so we we had two little princesses and they had the magical princess day. And for starters, yes, this is a very expensive upgrade to your trip. There's no doubt about it. This costs a fortune. And for a lot of folks, like they look at the price tag and that's just gonna be a non-starter. But I will say, if it's something that you're considering, if it's something that you're like, you know, I

Craig: Mm.

Rob: Think maybe I want to do this with my kids, but I'm not sure. It exceeded both of them exceeded all of my expectations. So Bibity Bobbity Boutique is so much more than a makeover. It is a full Disney experience. I mean, there's like a magic mirror moment involved. There's a moment where you're singing with the fairy godmother assistants, and there's like you know, a big sing-along that happens. It it really was over the top in in all the best ways. And you could just tell that the the kids that were in there were having a blast. We're just ha it was probably the highlight of the twins that we were with. I think it was their favorite thing from the entire visit. so bibity body boutique, amazing. Then Cinderella's royal table, we went for breakfast. and I've always heard that the food is underwhelming, that the food is kind of meh, but you know, you're really just going for the experience of being inside the castle. I thought the food, it wasn't like, my gosh, you have to go for the food, but the food really wasn't bad. Like it really, it was, it was, it was good. Like I would say it was slightly above average. But the reason I say it's worth it is because they did not cheap out. on the inside of that castle. I mean, it is impressive from the moment you walk in. They've they've got this sort of royal reception area and there's tons of little hidden details that you can find. And Cinderella is there to greet you and you get your photos with Cinderella. And then you go up this really cool winding staircase and you come out into this really spectacular dining room with you know the the stained glass and the windows everywhere and it's it's really spectacular. and of course, you've got the princesses there as well. It's a princess character meal. And here's the thing: if you're gonna look at the price, yes, it is one of the most expensive meals. However, if you compare it to the other princess character dining experiences at at Disney World, if you're like, you know, comparing apples to apples, it's a little bit more expensive than that, but it's really not a whole lot more expensive. And the upgrades that you're getting. That whole experience with the reception and and you know going up and and just being inside the castle. they give you little little special giveaways. There was your choice of a sword or a wand that you get at the end. it was just it was a really, really wonderful experience. And if I was going to the park again with little ones at the right age, no question, I would I would definitely do both of those again. So. Craig, what are we hearing over on Patreon? normally Eric is here keeping up with the chat on Patreon. w what what are we seeing in the chat over there?

Craig: Okay, well some from Melissa, she says mission space, never again. I'm not sure if she's talking about orange or green mission. Now the orange mission is far more intense than the green, but a lot of people have trouble with the green too. But I agree. I think that as far as attractions go, that's probably the biggest never again that we get. Because I think because people who wouldn't try a roller coaster will try that and then regret it. I mean, I don't write it anymore. That's that's kind of done with me too, so

Rob: yeah.

Craig: Diana, beacon barrel, never again. that's fine. Open up more s slots for me to go. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. I loved it. Yeah.

Jessica: But we hear that a lot. But we hear that a lot. I mean, think we do hear Beacon Barrel was not a good experience. And I'll just say, I think I said this on one of the podcasts, the first time I went to Beacon Barrel was not great. And then we went back with Craig. And then we went back this last time with Craig. And maybe that's the key. Go with Craig. Go with Craig. But it's the group you're with and the server you get. And it really was a much better experience that second time we went.

Rob: Yeah.

Craig: Ha ha ha.

Jessica: I know you're saying it's a one and done, but take Craig and then you'll have a great time. Just take Craig and you'll have a great time. But we really did.

Rob: It

Craig: Now now that being said, I've been there by myself a few times and I had a great time. So maybe it is me.

Jessica: So there you go, see, it's Craig.

Rob: But you're, yeah, you're you're you're you're still there with Craig when you're by yourself. I've had experiences there that were great, and I've had experiences that were not so great. I think consistency is an issue at Beacon Barrel, especially with the food. The first time I went, I was like, the food is it's fine, but it's nothing to write home about.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Rob: Went the second time and was like, my gosh, I was wrong. This food is amazing. And then we were just there again when you got we we were all here together and we went. And it was just okay again. It wasn't really the food, the dishes that I had were not amazing. So it is a little hit or miss for sure. Yeah.

Craig: I mean, to be honest, I'm not a big fan of the food. I'll get something if I'm hungry, but th I don't go for the food. I go for the atmosphere and the the drinks.

Rob: Okay. Yeah.

Jessica: Yeah, I don't go for the food either.

Rob: Yeah. anything in the chat that people will definitely do again?

Craig: Yeah, so Lisa D, something I will do over and over is the box tarts from Woody's lunchbox and she'll also do the people mover. Over and over at the same

Rob: Mm-hmm. Lunchbox lunch box tarts. if you love pop tarts, this is you're gonna love this even more. It's a it's a huge upgrade to the pop tart. And we all know people mover, you know. We we it it's it's a must on any Disney World Magic Kingdom visit. Well, Jessica

Craig: Mm-hmm.

Rob: What is your next thing that you learned on this last trip that you will never do again? And something that you definitely will.

Jessica: So we hadn't been in a while and I had some really specific things I wanted to do in each of the parks. So for the first time in a very long time, we did not park hop. We went to one park a day. Every day we were there, if we went to a park, we only went to one park. And I'm going to tell you, I am never going to tell people they have to park hop again. We had amazing days at each park we went to. Didn't feel like we had reservations somewhere else. And even as an annual pass holder, even though I could park hop, staying at one park for a day really did help us to kind of get the things done we needed to do. without feeling like we had to have lightning lanes or we had to spend all this money or, know, we had to rope drop and be super early because we knew we were just going to one park. So I typically tell people they have to park up, but I'm now going to be a person that says, if you do want to do a park differently, one park a day is okay. So that's something that I'm never going to do again. Now, something I will do again, and I think I said this in our beat the heat episode is I'm only going to do partial days in the summer. We, We really made it an effort to only spend no more than I think four hours in a park at a time in the summer. In any of these days that we went, we were there for four hours. I think the Magic Hino day that we spent with y'all was the longest, we were, cause we were there in the morning to do a carousel progress. But the park days, it was just John and I, I think four hours was the max we spent at a time in the parks. And in the summer with that heat, with that humidity, all those steps, it just, really made sense. And that's what I'll do from now on. It made us so we weren't miserable. And I think that's the key. In the summer, really listen to your body, listen to your kids. You know, they're hot, they're miserable. You're hot, you're miserable. Try to limit the time you're out in the park. Cause even park AC, it's not quite the same as being back in your room, resting, taking a break, kind of.

Rob: Yeah.

Jessica: not worrying about, I got to walk to the car or whatever it is. So those are the two things I'll say about one thing I will do and won't do.

Rob: Nice. Craig, what is your next will do and won't do? We'll start what's what's your next never doing it again? Your next will do it again.

Craig: Okay, another hot take here, and that is Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review. First time doing it. I haven't done it in years, been meaning to do it. it was great. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed it. We had a great time, the food was good. but it's it's just not me. It's just not my milieu of what I enjoyed to do for entertainment. and the food was was fine. It was good, but I it didn't it wasn't special in any way to me. But and we had amazing scenes. We were right on the stage and that was fun, but

Rob: Mm.

Craig: yeah. I I I'm glad I did it. It was mostly for the nostalgic value and the fact that I'd never done it. And again, we had a great time, but one and done. I'm done.

Rob: All right. I'm again, glad Eric is not Eric is one of his favorite desserts and then his favorite show in all of Walt Disney World. He's actually been in the show twice of the two two two of the times that we went, he got pulled up on the stage. But yeah. and I saw Jessica nodding along. I feel like Jessica not also not not a fan of Hoop De Doo.

Craig: Ha ha ha Ha I know. I've seen pictures.

Jessica: Not a fan of Hoop-Dee-Doo, but I think I agree with Craig. Although I would never have used the word milieu. Is that what you said? I mean, but I mean, I would use Delta, the Delta in entertainment. The Delta in entertainment. It's not my style of entertainment, but it's a one and done. I'm glad we did it with everybody, but it's not something that I need to do again.

Craig: It probably wasn't even correct, but

Rob: No, it was, yeah, yeah. I think it's Delta. Yeah. I definitely need to do it again. it's it's it's I I love it, but Craig, what is what is the next thing that you will definitely do again that you did on this trip?

Craig: Okay, something we we spoke a little bit about early, and that was boat rights at Riverside. we ended up going twice. we went there our first night because I was able to s score a reservation while they still had the forty percent off annual pass. And we got the hanger steak, and my gosh, it was so good. I mean, we w didn't know what to expect, but that hanger steak was delicious. They have these pimento cheese fritters, I think they call them. my gosh, they're

Rob: Well. Yep. Those are done s they're amazing.

Craig: Fantastic. Little balls deep fried, breaded, and but just full of this gooey cheese. yeah, everything we had there was was fantastic. So we ended up going again on Saturday night. And it was later in the day, I'd be honest. I mean, it wasn't as good, and I think it was because it was near the end of the night. So but it was still great. I still highly recommend it.

Rob: I do think timing matters a lot. at at any restaurant, not just at Disney, but especially I think at Disney, 'cause especially also if you're doing character dining. I have found if you're doing character dining at the very end of the night, sometimes, you know, it's just there they're people people are running out of steam. So it's y you have a better experience usually earlier. But I agree. Boat rights is great. my next thing that I will never do again is Rope drop with little kids in tow. If my plan is to try to make it for fireworks. So rope dropping with kids can be can be great, right? Because if you've got kids that are used to getting up early, they go to school really early, that's kind of their schedule, great. But just know unless you're planning to take a really long nap in the middle of the day, you're not gonna make it to fireworks, probably. I mean, well, you know your kids better, but I the kids were so excited about the idea of fireworks. They were so excited that they were going to see Tinkerbell and all this stuff. They were so pumped up for it. And we hit like, I think it was like six or seven o'clock after having rope drop that day. And they just they were not even ex like the idea of fireworks at that point to them was just like, we just want to go back to the hotel and get in the pool. We're done. Like they're just they were done. And I think. It was a mistake to plan such an early morning when we knew that fireworks was going to be a really big deal for them. so I would say if you're gonna do fireworks, you either need to come in and later in the day and let the kids have, you know, kind of a snoozy morning, or you need to plan a good long break in the middle. and the thing that I definitely will do again, Are two of the newest kids focused experiences. I had never done either of these because, well, I'm not the target audience, but we took the twins to the new Bluey, Bluey's Wild World at Animal Kingdom. And then I checked out the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which y'all, these are both. Really, I think the best experiences geared towards really little kids that I've seen at Disney World. I was really impressed by both of them. If your kids love Bluey, I'm a Bluey junkie. I've watched every episode multiple times. and this experience captured Bluey in such a like the what's magic about Bluey is that. The families play these games together. I mean, that's so many of the episodes are about the families playing these games together. And it really did a great job of replicating that experience for kids. And they were they were playing games with Bluey and Bingo. There's a moment where like the whole room gets full of of bubbles. There's another room where everyone's playing keepy uppy with these kind of like, you know, balloons. It was just a lot of fun, and those kids were having the time of their lives. They loved it. And then the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. This is kind of replacing what used to be the Disney Jr. play-in dance, I think is what it was called. But that show, I don't know. To me, it just seemed kind of weird. It didn't have a lot of focus. It was just kind of like a dance party for kids. This one is a full, there's a story. You go, you know, to different characters' houses and you kind of like go on little adventures. And all of the adventures involve the kids having to do something to kind of get up and you know find something or dance. And it was just both of these were great opportunities for kids to get involved with the characters and to to burn some sugar off. And they're they've got a lot of hyper energy. it was great. And and the effects, one last thing I'll say: the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the whole set is basically a giant screen.

Craig: Ha ha ha

Rob: And as the characters were kind of like running and dancing, the screen was like moving with them. So you kind of got this sense of motion. It was very cool. And there was a moment with bubbles, of course. And there's another moment where it snows. I mean, they just went all out with this. And it's, I think, the the best thing for little kids that Disney's added in a very long time. Craig, what are we hearing on Patreon? Any any more? Never do's and must do's.

Craig: Well, we did get a never do from Kelsey and that was Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. It's one of her never agains. Yeah, she found it she found it super overrated.

Rob: Really, really.

Jessica: Ooh.

Rob: Okay. All right.

Craig: Okay, so we do have a lot of people who are suggesting Sebastian's Bistro at Caribbean Beach Resort. we've got Heather, a few people, yeah, a lot of people are mentioning jumping in on that. That's a very underrated gem.

Rob: Yeah. My favorite thing about Sebastian's Bistro, they have this whole soundtrack of like classic songs all sung by Sebastian and it plays on a loop. It is some of them are hysterical. Some of them are just really funny. The idea of Sebastian covering like Frank Sinatra or something. But I I do feel a little bit bad for the cast members because you know I There's probably only so many nights that you can hear Sebastian's greatest hits on repeat without going a little bit crazy, but it's adorable and it's really fun. And I agree the food's really good. all right. Jessica, what is your next never do and your next must do?

Jessica: So my never do happened on the day that we were all in the parks together. And that is, I will never forget a disposable poncho again. So the Saturday that we were all in the parks, I have disposable ponchos in my owner's locker, in my suitcase, and I always put them in my park bag. And I didn't that day. We came to meet y'all for Carousel of Progress and...

Rob: Ha ha ha

Jessica: As we were about to go home, the sky opened up and in the parking lot from the ferry boat to our car, I have never been so wet. And my disposable poncho is sitting right in the hotel room waiting for us. They are usually like a dollar each, buy them from any store, buy them from Amazon. Just get a group of them, stick one in your, even if it's sunny. in the summer, stick a disposable poncho if you don't want to carry your big raincoat or your big poncho, stick it in your park bag. I will not forget that ever again, ever again. And on the flip side, the thing that I will do every time is bring a backup pair of sneakers. And because I did have two pair of sneakers, actually had three pairs of sneakers, and I was able to take basically three days. to dry out those sneakers, because I don't have the dryer that Rob recommends. I almost called you to see if I could borrow it. But yeah, so I will always bring a couple of pairs of sneakers with me. I know it takes up space in your bag, and I know it seems like a big hassle, but pack one, wear one on the plane, put one in your carry-on. But a second pair of sneakers, and I'll never forget that poncho again.

Craig: Mm.

Rob: Ha ha ha. Craig, what is your next thing you'll never do again and something you definitely will?

Craig: Well, sadly it's the carousel of progress in its current form. And the reason I bring this up is because Gene Shepherd, who has narrated the whole thing, his voice is so distinct. I think it's just so tied to that attraction. Like every time I see pictures of the attraction of the animatronics, I just hear his voice. So when they redo it, I'm very much looking forward to it. I'm hoping they do find a good match for his voice and not go in a totally different direction.

Rob: Mm-hmm.

Craig: But that's my but yeah, and I'm sad that I'm never going to get to do it again. And that's the main that's the main reason. I'm really looking forward for the to the the redo. It's just just the narration I'm a little concerned about.

Rob: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, he's his voice is iconic. For me, whenever I hear his voice, I think of a Christmas story because that was I I grew up with that we watch that movie at least once every year for Christmas. So yeah, it is it is like visiting with an old friend when you go to Carousella Progress.

Craig: Well yeah, that too. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Such a great storyteller. but yeah, the thing I'm definitely going to do again is skip a canteen. And I had not been there in a long time and I realized I keep talking up the kachapas on this show for about a year now. And I realized if I don't try them, maybe they've changed. Maybe they don't taste as good as they do. And when I got them, the presentation was kind of dull compared to past times I've had it. They were just the everything was just very well formed and just it was it it it used to be very scattered, like they

Rob: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Craig: put the the toppings all over the place, which I thought it was a nice presentation. But flavor wise, they were spot on, exactly as good as I remembered, and highly recommend them, as always.

Rob: Well, I'm glad that they lived up to your lofty expectations because you've gotten us all so excited about them. So I'm glad they're still delicious. For me, the next thing that I will never do again is if I've got little kids with me, I'm never gonna let them go in those splash zones at the parks unless we have a full change of clothes and shoes. Because I don't know what we were thinking.

Craig: Mm-hmm.

Rob: That, you know, we were just like the the it was it was swelteringly hot and we were in storybook circus. And I was I'm I'm guilty. I'm the one who's like, hey, do you kids want to go, you know, splash around in the Casey Jr. splash zone? And the kids were, of course, were like, yes, and like immediately go running into the water. And about an hour later, we were having to visit first aid for for band-aids for blisters on ankles and

Craig: Ha ha ha.

Rob: I mean, it was not a good scene. They were really unhappy that their that their underwear was still kind of wet, even though it was miserably hot. So we had to do a a trip to the the emporium to get new clothes. Yeah, that was that was a poor decision on on my part to suggest the splash zone without making sure that we had that we had prepared ourselves for a splash zone. And then the thing that I definitely will do again is I will definitely recommend families that have little ones stay on property. Even if it's a value, a value is just fine. You don't need to spend a fortune staying on property. You can stay at All Stars if that's what fits your budget. But I gotta say, the there were so many things that would have happened on this trip with. With the little ones that didn't because they were staying off property. They, you know, they had, I think they had some some points at a timeshare, not you know DVC, but an off-property timeshare. And it was like once once they left and went all the way to their off property, and you know, they were in the car and and parked. I don't know, it it puts like kind of a finality on your day. Like Disney part of your day is done. And now you're in the hotel part of your day. And I think it it's hard to get back into the Disney part of your day. However, if you're inside the bubble, I think if you can go and just especially if you can just take a a quick form of transportation back, you haven't left Disney. You're still in Disney. You're just doing something different in Disney. You're hanging out at the pool at Disney for a little while. And I think it doesn't seem It's it's it's psychological, but it doesn't seem weird to then come right back into the park. Whereas I felt like it was it was just the sense of finality when we had to leave the parking lot, you know, and especially at Magic Kingdom, where you're parked at the TTC. I mean, getting from the TTC to you know, Magic Kingdom and back is just such a nightmare. I feel like if you asked Roy Disney, who built Walt Disney World, what is the one thing he will never do again? I bet you he would say he would not put the parking way, way, way far away from the park again. Because it's just it's a nightmare to to deal with the TTC. Craig.

Craig: Ha ha

Rob: What is the next thing that we're hearing on Patreon that people definitely won't do and definitely will?

Craig: Okay, so Jen has to say, I will never quote not read the room. I've learned over the years that the kids are have aren't having it, there's no forcing it. Retreat to the hotel, swim if that's what they're asking to do, stop to ride the ride they want, and forget about the lightning lane you've booked. Take the time to stop and eat when people are hungry. And I I do believe that's good advice.

Rob: Mm-hmm. I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone in Disney World say, We paid all this money for this vacation and all my kids wanna do is sit in the pool at the resort. And they're like, We could have had a pool at a resort in our, you know, in our town. Like we didn't need to come all the way here to be in a pool. But you're right. Sometimes that's just what the kids wanna do. And yeah.

Craig: it it will make it a happier trip in the overall. and then Jackie said her again is the hangar bar at Disney Springs.

Rob: Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Rob: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: I think it's a good thing to remind people that the Hanger Bar is an Indiana Jones themed establishment, and it's got Disney level theming in there. And it has, yeah, well, yeah, but I'm just.

Rob: It is Disney. It's it's it's not a third party, yeah. Mm-hmm.

Jessica: Yeah, but I'm just saying it's really well themed in there and it's got actual props from the movies, a couple of actual props from the movies and the food and drink are hit and miss, hit and miss, but it's still, it's a great experience. So I think that's one we don't talk about enough probably.

Rob: Mm-hmm. I agree. I love hangar bar. I think it's my if I if you were just asking me where you should go to have a fun time having drinks at Disney Springs, that would actually be my top pick. I love Hangar Bar. awesome. Well, Jessica, we're we're winding down the list here, but I think we got a couple more. What is the next thing you definitely will never do again and something that you will?

Jessica: So I'm talk about food just a little bit here. And I am never gonna order an adult meal from Cosmic Ray's ever again. Ordered for $16, I think it was $16, it might've been $18. Ordered the grilled chicken sandwich from Cosmic Ray's. So I got a grilled chicken sandwich and I take the bacon off, obviously. Grilled chicken sandwich with French fries. And then I had to pay extra for the Coke and... I could have gotten for $8 the grilled chicken sandwich with no bacon, because they don't put bacon on the kids version, and a water and cuties and French fries for half the price. And it's the same grilled chicken sandwich. So just look at the kids menus. You don't have to be a kid to mobile order the kids menu or even order the kids menu. And there are some situations where literally you're getting the same food and in this case, more food for half price. And most of the kids meals come with a bottle of water or a soda. I, and I know this, I know this, but in my head I said, I'm kind of really hungry. I want a real adult size chicken sandwich. It is the same chicken sandwich. was, I was fooled. So yeah, there are some.

Rob: So there there are some exceptions to that, 'cause there are some. There there are some restaurants where it is a definitely a different size, a different portion, and in some cases a completely different item. Like if you love the empanadas in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot, don't order the kids' ones because it's not the same empanada and it's not nearly as good. Yeah.

Jessica: Mm-hmm. And I made that mistake too. I made that mistake at there. So you're right. It's not, that's why I said at Cosmic Reyes, the grilled chicken sandwich. I will never order the adult version again. But what I will do right outside of Cosmic Reyes, and I did this because I think we talked about it in our foods from Magic Kingdom, somebody on the Patreon had said, have we tried the new Arctic Fizz? And none of us had. So I said to John,

Rob: Yep. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Jessica: It's really hot. think I want this Arctic Fizz orange slush. I'm going to try it. Holy cow. It's really good. I will be, it is, that is, if we did the Magic Kingdom favorite foods again, that orange slush from Arctic Fizz would be on my list. It is, it's like cold and sweet and it's citrusy and it's like, it just needs Pop Rocks. Doesn't have Pop Rocks, but,

Rob: Wow.

Jessica: It's just everything you want in a cold drink without like that overly sweet Coca-Cola. Like the frozen Coke's just a little too sugary for me. And it was just everything I wanted. It was citrusy and cold. So that orange slush from Arctic Fizz, I'd never been there before, didn't think about it, but definitely will be going back there. And you can mobile order. So that was another positive.

Rob: Mm-hmm. Very nice. Craig, what is your next thing you'll never do again and something you definitely will?

Craig: Okay, well here thought the beignets were controversial. My next one is the People Mover. Now there is a there is a there they're calm down. There's a qualifier. Right? The People Mover before an Ear Scouts gathering. Because here's what happened, folks. Though those who weren't there. so on the Saturday we had to plan to all meet up and watch the first showing at nine o'clock after the park officially opened of Carousel of Progress.

Rob: boy. What? Ha ha ha.

Craig: And we got there early. We got we had early entry. So we said, hey, let's ride the people mover. No problem. Got plenty of time. It got stuck. And it got stuck for a very long time. And we got evacuated. And I feel I apologize to all those folks who are listening that were there that had to, you know, start the get going and start the show. But we missed the gathering, unfortunately. And we're also stuck at my least favorite part, which is the hairdresser part. It just that just bugs me.

Rob: Ha ha ha.

Craig: And then we got evacuated, which is kind of cool, but we didn't get to actually walk the track. We'd actually just we're in a tunnel where we got stopped, which I guess I'm grateful for. but then we just went down a staircase and came out near the purple wall. So but no, of course I will ride the people mover again, repeatedly, but not when I know I need to be somewhere.

Jessica: Mmm.

Rob: I I agree. Yeah. Anytime you've got plans immediately following the people mover, this is gonna sound crazy, but it is absolutely true. I have been stuck on the people mover more than any other attraction at Walt Disney World. I have been evacuated from the People Mover more than any other attraction at Walt Disney World. It's yeah, it it happens a lot. Yeah.

Craig: Hmm. That was a first for me. Yeah. Wow.

Jessica: never been and it's on my list.

Rob: It it happens a lot, especially when it reopened after the pandemic. Remember there was a long closure. The people mover was down more than it was functioning for that period. But yeah, it's yeah. Careful with that one. So what's your next thing you definitely will do again?

Craig: Okay, and this is something I had done a very, very long time ago. And this is story time with Belle. to be honest, I I might not do it, but I highly recommend. I so glad we did it again, or I got to do it again. It was Eric's first time. But yeah, it was so charming. The special effects were all great, the storytelling was great. Having the little ki if if you've never been there. long story short, the you do a you're you're going to tell the story of Beauty and the Beast to Belle. It's her birthday, I believe. And so they get all the kids in the audience to help tell the story. And they all take the characters of the beast and Maurice, and they always have a couple of parents doing the guards and it's j it's so cute. I just highly recommend it. and yeah, I would do it again if I had the chance, but definitely was so happy I did that.

Rob: Mm-hmm. Yeah. So we we were we were at my friends that I was with for this trip. the the father, he is a a robotics engineer. He creates robots you know for a living. He's actually an academic, he teaches people how to create robots, but he said when we did that attraction that the Lumiere animatronic was one of the most impressive things he'd seen at his day at Disney World. He was just enchanted with it. And

Craig: Mm-hmm.

Rob: that's from a pro. So yeah, definitely very cool experience.

Craig: Yeah, true. That animatronic it took me forever to figure out how how it even worked and then I was able to see. I'm gonna spoil it, but yeah, so well done.

Rob: Yeah, it is really impressive. Until you figure it out, you're like, wow, that's just amazing. But yeah. well, my next thing that I will never do again. So mine are all of a theme. Mine are all when you're with kids. so this wouldn't apply to a trip without kids, but in this case, I think it kind of could. And that is I would not plan on doing must do attractions late in the day. And we got the kids, we got the girls really excited for Cali River Rapids because it was so hot. And we brought, we had learned the day before, right, at Magic Kingdom, if you're gonna get soaking wet, you gotta have your change of clothes, you gotta have your shoes. We were all prepared, we were ready for this, and it went down. And as it is known to do.

Jessica: Hehehehe

Rob: And then it's Orlando in the summer. So then what happened? We had a thunderstorm. So it went down again. So we had a lightning lane for it. We came back to use the experience redemption and it went down again. We waited for the storm to pass. I'm kidding you not. We got back in the line. We used that experience redemption to get back in line. We were almost about to board. I mean, we could see the boarding happening like in front of us. And there was another strike of lightning and they had to shut it down. And it it really it kind of ruined the the day. I mean, the the that was it. That was, I mean, there was we we waited in that line as long as we could before the girls were just, you know, I mean, they're at Disney World and they don't want to sit in one place for 30 minutes, you know, and especially if they're not moving. So that was a really big learning lesson, is If something's really important to you and you can do it earlier in the day, always do it earlier. Cause especially if it's weather dependent or it's a ride that goes down a lot. because there's nothing worse than not getting to do something you're really excited to do. and then the thing I definitely will do again, however, is recommend Lightning Lane for families with little kids. I mean, here's the thing. As we've been talking about, there's a theme to all the things that I'm sharing, and that is that, you know, kids at a certain age, you you your parent, you know this already. They've got finite attention, a finite, you know, amount of of overstimulation that they can handle in a day. There's a limited amount of time where you're gonna really have magical experiences and and the kids are gonna be firing on all cylinders. And if you spend

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Rob: An hour and a half in a line for one of those attractions, like Peter Pan's flight, which can easily be an hour and a half. You've just you've just eaten up a lot of that precious window of time where your your kids are are still excited and not worn out. I mean, I think really, yes, it's an added expense. I'm sad that Disney doesn't continue to offer it for free like they did with Fast Pass. but I think. It is worth the upgrade to do Lightning Lane with little kids because it's just it's gonna be the difference between doing doing a few attractions and we're all really happy and excited, or doing in our case, we did almost all of Magic Kingdom before they really ran out of juice. I mean, there were only I think five attractions in all of Magic Kingdom that we did not do, including the ones that they were not tall enough to ride, you know. So we did almost everything. We would not have come close without Lightning Lane. I mean, just it wouldn't have happened. So I think it with with little kids, it is a must. Lightning Lane is just kind of a must. Jessica, what is your next thing you'll never do again and your thing that you'll definitely do again?

Jessica: Well, I will just say I did have a crossover with you on Never. So I'm just going to say that I agree with your don't wait, particularly in the summer on doing attractions late in the day. I will just say that it doesn't apply just to little kids. It applies to anybody, particularly for weather. And even if you don't think that this ride could possibly be affected by weather, while we were there, there was a lot of lightning strikes and it took out

Rob: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: most of Magic Kingdom for two days. Two afternoons, the lightning strikes took out Magic Kingdom. Rides that you think there's no way that a rain impacts them were down. So in the summer, if there's something that's really, really important to you, please put it in the beginning of your day. Even if it means, and this is what John and I had to do, we rode Big Thunder. We just walked this, we had a lightning lane, but it was at like six o'clock at night and I was watching the weather and I said, Let's just get in the line. Let's just wait it out. And so we just waited in the standby lane just so I could know that I rode Big Thunder. Cause I was, and I'm glad we did because I was really nervous about not getting it. So it's, not just families or with littles. so I'll just say that, but my other, thing I will never do again is I probably will never pay a single pass for Rise of the Resistance. It is my favorite ride on property. And it was down under 45 minutes, in heavy crowds, a couple times every day. We rope dropped it in the morning. We wrote it with Kieran. I think it was 15 minutes total. We were in line. And it's just, I don't think it's necessary anymore to get the single pass. Now, that being said, if... you're park hopping into Hollywood studios or you have people that are Star Wars fans and you don't think you can wait 45 minutes, go for it. But somebody like me who's written a few times, can now, I will never do the single writer cause I won't skip parts of that, but I will wait in that queue for 45 minutes and just, and just do it. So I think that's worth it. Now, the thing I will pay money for is I will actually pay the $25 difference in parking for

Craig: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: premium parking on key days at the transportation and ticket center. It made enough of a difference. John and I did the July 3rd at a Magic Kingdom and we paid for premier parking. And I can tell you it probably saved us 30, 40 minutes getting out of that park because we didn't have to tram or walk because our car was in like the first row right outside and we just walked straight to the car.

Rob: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: Same thing applies the next night at Epcot. We were at Epcot and they had turned off Premier parking because it was full, but they were also just letting you go until you found a spot. So we got as close as we could and we could walk up. Also saved us tons of time getting out of the park. So if you're going on a day where you know there's a ton of crowds and you can handle paying that $25 extra, it was well worth it. It's something I've always said, it's no big deal. I'll just do the tram. But on days like that, I will pay that difference going forward to get out of there quicker. And this is one of those situations where having a rental car and not having to wait on buses or the monorail, it actually probably saved me some time. We ferried out and right there. So it was pretty nice.

Rob: Yeah. Craig, what is your next thing that you will definitely not do and something you definitely will?

Craig: Mm-hmm. Well, this one mirrors one of Jessica's, and that is to I will never forget to pack a disposable poncho with me at all times. same kind of thing. We we were at the Floridian and we decided we want to go try to get into Trader Sam's at the Polly and it was raining and we were like, we don't really want to walk. Let's just take the monorail all the way around. Big mistake. We got all the way to the tri TTC, the Ticket and Transportation Center, and it just opened up and they stopped moving.

Rob: Mm-hmm.

Craig: So we were just sitting there. They had the doors open and they said, You can, you know, you you can leave. You can go out the exit and go to they have buses to get you wherever you needed to go right there. And we were just like, if I only had that s one silly poncho, we could just you know, pull it up and walk over there. I have ponchos, they're really great, but they're big and bulky. L I umbrellas are we've taken those too, but you know, getting through security is always a hassle. So yeah, just those cheap little ones would have made all the difference. Take it off, throw it away when you get there. but we actually did have a nice time. It was kind of at that point we were like a little tired and just sitting quietly in a monorail and it was still cool. ended up being a nice thing, but yeah, wish we had those ponchos. and then

Rob: And then what's the thing that you definitely will do?

Craig: Okay, well, we did Beer Garden finally for the first time. and personally, I would definitely do it again if it's 40% off. Eric, I think, loved it a lot more than I did. it's not my kind of food either. I'm not a buffet person. but he really loved the food and it was very good. And he especially liked the show. He thought it was just a great thing to have a cultural show, you know, in an Epcot pavilion. and I remember They used to have when Restaurant Marrakesh was open in Morocco, they had belly dancing show, which I unfortunately never got to see either. But and like no, places like Rosen Crown, they have live entertainment. but like a full show with like with set times that they do it. that was really cool. Really enjoyed that.

Rob: I am with Eric. I love the food there. In fact, I feel like I can't go that often because I like the food so much that I just always leave miserable. I'm just so stuffed because I love the food so much. But I agree. It's it's a really great one. I I do it at least once a year just because I I I miss it and I'm like, gotta go back and and see the show and eat that. Especially it's that German mac and cheese thing that's just it's my gosh, it's so good. Well, my next thing that I will never do again, this this was something I had never done before. It's brand new. I will never visit the new jumping junction on a really hot day. So when we went to go see Bluey, if you go to the new what used to be Rafiki's Planet Watch, is now Bluey's Wild World. And they also have the jumping junction, which is where the petting zoo used to be. and it's still, you know, very similar setup to the petting zoo, except you can't pet anyone because the kangaroos and the wallabies are a little dangerous. So they keep them at a distance from you. And you have to go through with a guide. And it's very clear from all the instructions that the guide has to give you that, you know. there's a lot of precautions that have to be taken and you just you feel like you're kind of it's like this feels a little dangerous for Disney actually. I mean they're very like, you know, so that there has to be two people 'cause some one person has to like close the door because the kangaroos are so fast that they can get outside, you know, if you don't have someone to close the door really quickly. I don't know. It would just seem like it was a very unlike any other experience at Animal Kingdom where you feel like, you know, the animals are Everything feels very safe and controlled. And this felt a little, a little less so. But what was worse, it was a really hot day. And the animals just don't they the the the kangaroos and wallabies did not have much space. They're they they were kind of they didn't seem very happy, honestly. They seemed like much like we felt like we were exhausted and and you know, wanted to be out of the heat. I felt like that was how they felt. I mean, one of the kangaroos was just sort of

Craig: Mm-hmm.

Rob: sprawled out on his back and was just like done. I don't know. I I was not impressed with this. I I I don't feel like it was even half as good as the other animal experiences you'll have at Animal Kingdom. And it's the first time I kind of felt I did kind of feel bad for the animals at Animal Kingdom. And that's I've never I've always felt like Disney went above and beyond and cared really well for the animals. And I

Jessica: Mm.

Rob: I didn't get that sense with this one. So I don't know. I I think they need to reimagine this and and you know either make it much larger or pare down the number of animals that are there and find a way to keep everybody more comfortable and safe. So that was a a one and done for me. but the one thing that I definitely will do again, and this is something that I've always done, but I'm just gonna reiterate it. Especially if you've got little kids, photo pass, photo pass, photo pass. It is absolutely worth the dollars, especially if you're gonna take some time in your day to just get some, some, some magic shots. Because at the end of that trip, you know, the these twin girls were adorable. And there are so many shots that when I was looking through my you know, because we're we're friends on the app, so I can see all of their their shots. And I was like, my gosh, these are just they're priceless. They're just a so many adorable photos. And, you know, I'm not even mom or dad. I'm just like, you know, Uncle Rob basically. And I was just so enchanted with the photos that they got from their day at Magic Kingdom and then at Animal Kingdom. It absolut no no question in my mind that it was worth the money to get photo passed. So Especially if you're there with littles, it's it's priceless. it's it's worth every penny and I will always recommend photopass. Craig, what are we hearing from our friends on Patreon? Let's take one last look. Anything else from our friends on Patreon?

Craig: Yes, so Wendy says I would never do a poncho again. Too steamy, too wet, too messy to get on and off of rides. She is one hundred percent an umbrella girl.

Rob: I am too, yeah.

Jessica: I think that makes sense if you're gonna stay in the parks. For me, the poncho is a device to get to my car. Like if I was gonna stay in the parks, I agree. I don't know that I would have the poncho on for a long time, but I understand where she's coming from on that.

Craig: That's what's so great about those disposables though. and then for a willdo, we have Bailey and she said she would do club level again someday when the budget allows. she says she got a big discount on her annual pass for one night, and it was wonderful. not sure where she stayed, but I would love to hear that. Yeah.

Jessica: Mm-hmm, exactly. It's on my bucket list.

Rob: never done club level at Disney World, I've done it at Disneyland at the Pixar Hotel. And it was it was it was lovely. It was a very nice yeah.

Craig: Mm. Yeah. I did it there too, but it was like still the Disneyland Pan Pacific Hotel. We're going way, way back.

Jessica: wow.

Rob: Mm-hmm. All right. Well, Jessica, what is your what is your final round of something you'll definitely won't do again and something you definitely will?

Jessica: So I'm gonna cheat the system because I have one definitely won't do and then I have three definitely will do. So I'm gonna cheat the system and do that, but that's okay. My definitely won't do and here's my chance to be controversial. Craig, I'm so excited. I don't think I'm doing Soarin' Across America. I just don't think I'm doing it ever again. John and I wrote it and we were like, what? What is this?

Rob: Okay. Wow. Wow.

Jessica: Where's the elephants? Where's the good water scenes? Where's the transitions? Where's the smells? Where's the anything? And I was like, and why am I seeing all these places that I've been before in a way that I've already seen them? would just, it was just, was, it didn't do it for me. Didn't do it for me. I know that's controversial. I'm very much proud to be an American, but.

Rob: Ha ha.

Jessica: It would have sworn across America compared to soaring around the world did nothing for me. Just didn't do it. So I think until it comes back, I'll let everybody else hang out in that line. And I will avoid that one. So Craig, did you write it?

Craig: We did. and yeah, I was a little disappointed to I I would write it again just to see it again.

Rob: I really I hope it comes back every year for the Fourth of July as like a little overlay during like from Memorial Day to Fourth of July. I feel like should be Soren across America every year. For me, I felt like it was I felt like that they had learned what was the most exciting aspects of the different soarins that they've done. And it was like the feeling of like banking and dipping. And now I know Jessica, we talked about this. You didn't feel like you got that sensation at all. I was seated in the center of the center section. So I'm wondering if it matters a lot on this one, because you mentioned that you were kind of off on the side, right?

Jessica: Yeah, we got zero banking, but we would have felt it if it had moved at all. Like we would have seen the people's feet. It didn't move. Like you kept, said in the, us that it was good. It didn't, there was, I don't know if it was broken that day, if it was in B mode. There was no banking and swooping and moving. I kept waiting for it and it never happened.

Rob: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I that that was my favorite thing about it. I felt like it was a much more immersive experience than than around the world. I will agree the choices that they made for the places that they took you, some of them seemed a little odd. Like, okay, well, I could think of several places in America that I probably would have chosen above that one, but but I still there were some that were really spectacular that I loved. So I I I enjoyed it a lot.

Craig: Mm-hmm.

Rob: But what are what are some of the things that you definitely will do again? Your your trio of will do's.

Jessica: My trio. So my first trio is a duplicate of yours again, which is the PhotoPass. And here's my take on the PhotoPass. Obviously, I am an annual pass holder who goes to Disney more than a normal person who lives in Connecticut does. And you would think maybe I would get tired of doing PhotoPasses because I have them all. I got three or four brand new magic shots this time. And one, in Epcot now, they're doing this new, like they take the picture and they put it in an overlay of a character that's in that area. So I got the three caviaros from, and I was pointing at my Donde Este Donald shirt. And it's just, my favorite magic shot. I put it in the Patriot shot. It's my favorite magic shot. But it was like, it appeared in my gallery and I was like, John, John, do you see this? Do you see this? It's the best shot ever. But we had two or three.

Craig: Ha ha

Rob: So you had so you had no idea you were pointing to the three caballeros on your shirt and you had no idea it was going to become a three caballeros shot. I had no idea. That's very cool.

Jessica: And I had no idea.

Craig: Ha ha ha.

Jessica: I had no idea it was gonna become that. I was just pointing at it because I was standing in front of Mexico. I thought that would be fun just a photo to have. But that happened to us like two more times throughout the trip where we got a photo pass picture, one in front of the Tower of Terror that we'd never gotten before. So even if you're an annual pass holder, take the photos, do the magic shots because you'll get shots you...

Craig: There we go.

Jessica: that are new. think they're always innovating. They're always finding new magic shots. So that's my take on that. The other ones that I will say, just to kind of talk about something like that, Craig talked about Tusker House. We went to Tusker House. We will continue to go to Tusker House. I had forgotten how good the food is at Tusker House. I know I talked about it. was like my one of my favorite character dinners or character meals. I had mainly gone for breakfast. We went for dinner. Tusker House every day of the week. But finally, the thing that I will do again that we had never done before is fireworks up close. So twice, both in Magic Kingdom and in Epcot for the 4th July fireworks on the 3rd and the 4th, we ended up with these seats right next to the fireworks. In Magic Kingdom, we were right next to Cinderella's castle. Now, obviously, we were to the side, so we really didn't see the castle, but we saw the felt the fireworks. And then at Epcot, we got one of those coveted down in front of the Rosen Crown tables right next to the water. And it was a magical experience to be that close to the fireworks and to see and to feel it and to feel like you were really part of it. For me, Luminous, that close. Obviously, y'all know Luminous is my favorite. It's my jam. I was crying. I was like, this is, and then you go from luminous into, you know, the star spangled banner. I, this, you know, this military brat just, I almost couldn't handle it. It was just almost too much for me. But sitting there with these, there was a whole row of us that was almost too much for, cause that luminous into the fire, did the heartbeat America combo right there. Everybody was just like, that was the most amazing thing we have ever seen. So.

Craig: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: And we waited about three hours for that fireworks show to get that perfect spot. And I'm not sure I would do that again, but in hindsight for something special like that, I might. Cause you know, we just got dinner. We sat, we chatted, um, didn't ride a single ride in Epcot that day, even though we had planned on it, all we did was wait for the fireworks and it was worth it. So I will actually probably be doing that again. Cause it was such a good way to see the fireworks.

Rob: Yeah. Yeah, and you know, you would be surprised. You can luck out sometimes less than an hour before fireworks and find a table over there right on the water that's open. Cause a lot of people just don't realize that anyone can go there. Like they think it's seating for the restaurant, right? That they can't just walk back there and grab a table, but you can. yeah. Craig, what is your final never again and your final definitely will do again?

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Craig: Mm-hmm. So I will never again look down on the buses as a viable transportation option. I think I probably mentioned this for I tend to avoid the buses as much as possible. I will spring for an Uber or whatever, but staying at French Quarter with only one bus stop, it was it was fantastic. had no problems with the buses. There's always one within five minutes. Going anywhere we were going to. I don't know if we were just super lucky, if it was just quiet enough, or it was just the resort, but buses really came through for us on this trip.

Rob: All right. Well, I'm glad to hear the motor coaches were clutch for you, pun intended. And what is your what is your last thing that you definitely will do again?

Craig: Mm-hmm. So we're definitely going to go back to the perch bar at the Grand Floridian. this is the new birdcage bar in the lobby. it just they only had like two drinks. I was just never there was never one there. I was just like, this is just kind of a weird thing. I'll eventually try something there. So we were staying there on our last night and we went down, and I have a new favorite cocktail, and that's the coffee rum Sazerac. it's Siesta Key coffee rum, demorera, absinthe rinse, peixot binners, and lemonescence and it was like a not so sweet old fashioned with a little coffee flavor to it. It was it's really hard to describe, but it was just delicious. And Eric had the the champagne cocktail and that was also very good. we met some great friends there. There are only a few stools, but they're usually always open. So hi to Meg. We had more time talking to you. Eric and Lisa if you're listening. Thanks again. We had a great time with you. So yeah

Rob: Mm-hmm. haven't

Craig: I I definitely recommend it.

Rob: been there. I'm cu I'm curious, is are the drinks made fresh to order there or are they kind of premixed they're fresh to order? Okay. I would I would bet that the same people who crafted the cocktail menu up at the Enchanted Rose probably also crafted the menu because the the Enchanted Rose also has spectacular cocktails. So it doesn't shock me that those are good too.

Craig: Yes. No, no, they are rush. Mm-hmm. Yeah, and and I chatted with the bartender too, and saying, like, there's there's only a few stools there. There doesn't they don't seem to be trying to get a lot of people here. And they're like, no, they're that's kind of they want people to go up and have a drink, go enjoy the lobby, but they don't want it to be like a destination. They don't want it to be like a tambour lounge or a Trader Sam's kind of thing. They want it to stay quite or even a Enchanted Rose, I think for that matter. it's just

Rob: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Craig: a very nice thing to have and I I highly recommend trying it if you if you like a good cocktail.

Rob: Awesome. I'm definitely gonna gonna check it out. I've I've been very curious about it since it opened. so my final thing that I will never do again is actually a segue to our question of the week because it just so happened I made my list of things I would never do again. And Jessica was like, my gosh, there's actually a question that that came in that that pairs up perfectly with one of yours. So my thing that I will never do again is keep My default settings in the app related to family and friends when I have a bunch of people here visiting Disney World at the same time. So if you have a large group that you're with and your part of your group is going to be in a different park than you or going to be doing different things than you, or maybe you just have friends who are locals or pass holders that also tend to come concurrently with you. This was the first time I've tried to use Lightning Lane Multipass when I'm fr we're all friends and family here. We're all we're all linked together on the app. Jessica was using Lightning Lane Multipass. Craig was using Lightning Lane Multipass. And when you looked at your Lightning Lane window, you saw everybody's Lightning Lanes. And it was, it was a mess. I mean, it was just like.

Jessica: Hehehehe

Craig: Mm-hmm.

Rob: Trying to to modify your lightning lanes, trying to find like and sometimes they would say, you're free to book and you'd be like, I I guess I don't have all three and I click on book and it would say, Okay, who's going? Jessica or John? And I'm like, well, okay, so I'm not free to book. They're free to book, but it's showing up on my app that I can book. It it was a mess. So

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Craig: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. And like the only way to tell the difference is just very fine print that said, You might not be part of this. So that's the only way if it didn't have that then you knew it was yours. Yeah, it was it was a it was a new annoyance.

Rob: Yeah, exactly.

Jessica: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Rob: Right. So Jessica, you found this question that paired perfectly. And what I love about this question is we're going to give everyone right now the answer to how to avoid the weekend that we all just had, right? So if you don't want to have this never again experience, Jessica, share with us the question and we'll share the answer for how to avoid This experience.

Jessica: Okay, so AC90s on YouTube wrote, great podcast, thank you. Question, if we're going as a large group, but spending some days apart, how do we book Lightning Lanes? Won't we all still be connected as a group on the app on the days we're not together? Thanks all. So it's actually two parts to that question. If you wanted to book Lightning Lanes just for yourself, and let's say the rest of your party was not gonna even go to the parks, you could just, pay for lightning lanes for one or two people? So that's the first part of that question. And I'm not sure if he was asking that or the corollary, which is what we were all talking about, which is all of your large group is going to the parks, but they're going to different parks and they need different lightning lanes. Each part of your group would buy the lightning lanes they want. If you want to change your settings for the family and friends, you cannot do it in the app. This is the most important part of this whole discussion. You must go to the Disney World website on a web browser of some sort, go to the family and friends part of your account, select family and friends, select the friend you're interested in, and modify the setting that is called allow so-and-so to view and modify all your plans. So basically what that means is they're going to see all of your plans, not just the plans you have together. The important part to note is by switching that off, Rob now sees all the plans we have together. So if he and I both had a lightning lane, if he and I are going to dinner together, if we're staying in a hotel room together, he still sees all of those plans of mine, right?

Rob: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: but what he doesn't see is everything that I have that he's not a part of. So he wouldn't have seen the lightning lanes that he didn't have with me. He wouldn't have seen the dining reservations I've made, you know, that don't involve him. So you unselect that so that you're not showing all of your plans to that person. The very important thing is you have to do it for your plans. You can't...

Rob: Yeah.

Jessica: unselect somebody else's plans. So the more people you're friends with, so right now I'm friends with a bunch of different people because I've done a lot of different trips. Every one of them, I have gone in and turned that setting off so they don't have to see every one of my lightning lanes all the time. But anytime we go to the parks together, we will see each other. There is also a setting in that same group that says share photos. That's the other one you should make is turned on. That's what allows me to see Craig's great photos is because Craig has that turned on. The reason you should turn that on is if you have one of your friends, just one of your friends that has the PhotoPass package, they can then download those photos and send them to you, right? They could download the photos and send them to you. But the big thing to remember is All of these settings can only be done for you and it could only be done on a website. So these are very,

Rob: Yeah. Well, what's what's key there, if you're seeing someone else's plans and you're like, this is driving me crazy, you can't do anything about it, right? You if you're the one who's seeing the plans and you're frustrated, it's actually your friend that the plans that you're seeing, they're the ones who have to do this. They have to go onto the website, they have to turn that setting off so you won't see their plans anymore. I do wish.

Jessica: Mm-mm.

Rob: It's it's a little crazy to me. Number one, that Disney doesn't let you do this easily in the app. And number two, that there isn't just a little toggle button that says, I don't want to see other people's plans. You know, like why is it that I have to, you know, I have to get my friend on the phone or send them a text message and be like, hey, could you please turn off your plans for me? And then have to explain to them the process of how to do that, right? Because not everyone's gonna even know what you're talking about. So yeah, it's it's not ideal, but that is how you do it, unfortunately. That's how you have to make it happen. well, that's all the time we have for our question of the week this week. If you would like to have your question answered in a future episode, just visit us at earscouts.com forward slash podcast and leave us a comment on YouTube on our one of our podcast videos and we'll try to include it in a future episode or you could join us on Patreon at patreon.com forward slash earscouts and on Patreon we have the Patreon exclusive after party where we always go through and answer all the questions that have come in during the course of the show. So you can join us live and get your question answered that way as well. but before we head off to the after party, we have one final segment that we like to call happy thoughts. Because we always like to end with a little bit of happiness at the end of the show. Jessica, why don't you start us off? What is your happy thought this week?

Jessica: So my happy thought this week is the main reason I was in Orlando was to go to a board game convention. So John and I spent Wednesday through Saturday at the Dice Tower East board game convention. We played, we want to say over 25 games of all different shapes and sizes and links and hung out with a lot of fun people. And it is, if you like board games and you like to play board games and you just don't get them to the table enough. This is a great way to do that. It was so much fun. We will definitely be back again. It's always July 4th week in Orlando. So if anyone is interested in taking your vacation and hanging out with us, we will be back next year. it was so much fun. Shout out to Dice Tower and Dice Tower East. It was a great time.

Rob: I'm so sad I didn't go last year because my favorite board game of all time is Pandemic. If you've never played Pandemic, check it out. It's a really good game. But Jessica was telling me that last year they had a human-sized pandemic board, and you actually played pandemic like you yourself were the piece as you moved across the board. And that just that sounded so cool. That sounded amazing. I'm sad I missed it. Yeah. Well, Craig, what is your

Craig: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: Mm-hmm. It was pretty amazing to see.

Rob: Happy thought this week.

Craig: So my happy thought just came right after this wonderful happy vacation we had at Disney. But we went up to North Carolina into the mountains, and well, first of all, we flew to Charlotte and I got to see my dear friend Dennis. I went to college in Greensboro, North Carolina. So I got to see peep him, him and my boyfriend Eric are so much alike, and it's like one of those things it's like You two, like they even draw the same. They're both artists. They both draw the same. It's like, I need you two to meet each other. And they just hit it off immediately. but then went up to the mountains to see five of my or four of my old college buddies. And that was just an a amazing experience. We hadn't all been together, I don't think, since college, which was very, very long time ago. but it was really cool to see like how people I spent so much time with in my formative years, like my early twenties, late teens, early twenties, like how much they have helped me become the person that I am today. Like I see I got I I do that I remember that because of Rich and T J and Andy and Gilly. Like just those golden friends that you've had for so long. And there's nothing better than that, I don't think.

Rob: That's lovely. I love that happy thought. So my happy thought this week is that I I've we always try to make videos, especially strategy videos on the worst possible days. That's the goal, right? We want to go when things are as bad as they're gonna get, and so that we can show you, see, we're able to do all this on the worst possible day, and you'll feel better about your ability to do it when you come to the parks.

Jessica: Hehe.

Rob: Well, we filmed the Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane video, which will be out very soon. We're editing it now on Memorial Day weekend. And I was like, surely, Memorial Day weekend, it's just gonna be slammed. It was dead. The parks were, especially Magic Kingdom, empty. I mean, it was a breeze. We were I don't want to spoil the video, but we were able to do everything pretty easily. fast forward to this past weekend, I was like, okay. We're going to do our final one, Hollywood Studios, 4th of July weekend. I didn't want to do it on the 4th because I figured most people were going to be either in Epcot or Magic Kingdom on the 4th. I thought the 5th, you know, that's the Sunday, part of the weekend. That'll be the perfect day to do this Hollywood Studios video. It was dead. It was empty. So my happy thought is if you have vacation time. That is around a holiday, and you were thinking to yourself, I would love to go to Disney World, but I just can't deal with the crowds, and that's going to be the worst possible time to be there. Well, my happy thought is apparently not anymore. Apparently, so many people have that mindset that they don't want to be there for the holiday weekends, that no one comes. And so the holiday weekends have actually been some of the best weekends to be here. So I don't know how long that's gonna last. Probably at some point word's gonna get out that the reverse has been happening and then it's gonna get crazy again. But at least for right now, if you are worried about massive crowds at Disney World this summer and during the holidays, I don't know. It does not seem to be the case this year. So plan your trip, have a good time and don't stress out about the crowds because they might not be there. And that's all the time we have for happy thoughts this week.

Craig: Mm-hmm.

Rob: but we're gonna head off to our Patreon exclusive after party. If you'd like to join us at that again, just sign up over at patreon.com forward slash earscouts. We'd love to have you. until next time, don't forget to think happy thoughts, everybody. We'll see you again real soon.