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Answers to Your Questions About Disney World: Special Events, Late Night Transportation & More · Ear Scouts Podcast

• Rob: In this episode of the Ear Scouts podcast, we've got tons of answers to tons of questions that have been coming in online. we got a lot of stuff to cover, so let's get to it. Hi ho everybody, this is Rob with Ear Scouts coming to you from Celebration Florida. also with me here in Celebration Florida is the other half of Ear Scouts, Eric. Hi ho, Eric. Erick: Hi everyone. Rob: And joining us from the great state of Connecticut is the host of Jessica Scraps on YouTube. Jessica. Hi ho, Jessica. Jessica: Hi ho everyone. Rob: And last but certainly not least from the great state of Indiana is our resident Disney trivia guru, Quizmaster Craig. Hi ho, Craig. Craig: Hm. Rob: So we are today focused on questions that have been coming in online. As we always say in every show, if you have questions for us to answer, you can leave them in the comments of our YouTube channel or you can leave them on Patreon. and we have had so many questions, like we just were like, okay, we just have to have a dedicated episode to go through All these awesome questions that everyone has been sending in. So thank you all so much for sending in your questions. If you'd like to have your question answered in a future episode of the show, just head over to earscouts.com forward slash podcast. And that's going to take you straight to our YouTube channel. And you can leave your question as a comment there on one of those videos. And as Jessica says, make sure to put in all caps at the beginning, question for podcast. And that way we'll make sure that we don't miss it. so thank you, Jessica, for for harvesting all of these awesome questions. and I think we should probably just go ahead and jump into it because we got so many to cover. the first question, Jessica, it looks like it came in from YouTube. What what do we got? Jessica: Yes, we a question from Genevieve Belleville. And just a little fun fact: I lived in Belleville, Illinois multiple times growing up because it Craig: huh. Jessica: is the home of Scott Air Force Base, which is very exciting. Anyway, but there's a question for the podcast from Genevieve, which is we'll be at Disney World right on our daughter's 12th birthday. And there's a good chance we'll be spending the day at Magic Kingdom. We're already hoping to get a reservation for brunch at Crystal Palace. Here's our challenge. Most of what we do at Disney will be experienced. As a family. And as anyone with children knows, if your sibling gets exactly the same experience you do, no matter how amazing it is, it somehow doesn't feel quite as special. Do you have any suggestions for affordable ways to make a 12th birthday feel a little extra special at Magic Kingdom? We're not looking for VIP, just simple touches. We're also not much of character meet and greet family, especially when long lines are involved. So we'd love to hear other ways to make the day special. So I thought this would be a good one that we can round table. Some of these questions are quick answers, and some of these are more like, what do we all think? So I'm going to start the round table, then I'll throw it to you guys. My number one suggestion for this is to get a personalized either ears or bag or keychain or something at Magic Kingdom. You can do that in two ways. You can, if you're into ears or you just want something written kind of with a sharpie, and I say sharpie, it's actually painted on at the Christmas shop there. You can actually take ears, bags, keychains, all kinds of things. And you could get happy birthday and her name. And she could have ears that she wears all day long, that of her birthday, and then she could bring them home and then have them for that day. To me, that's one step up from a birthday button. It's also Craig: Mm-hmm. Jessica: about $15. it's not that expensive to do that. I mean, obviously you have to have bought the ears, but you know, that's it, it's not that expensive to do that. We're talking a minimal price. For a little bit more, if you want to do the next step up, there's also the embroideries. You can actually have things embroidered, including like the old classic Mickey hats. That can be done at the shop right there on the same place that you meet Mickey Mouse, the main street theater. there's actually an embroidery store in there that you can actually get things embroidered. So that to me, those are the two ways that I would do that are not they're not huge expenses, but they're just that little something extra. Maybe everybody gets a pair of ears, but she gets a special pair of ears. Craig: Mm-hmm. Jessica: or everybody gets a hat or ears and she gets a special hat or ears. So that's my suggestion. I'll throw it, Craig, what's one of your suggestions? Craig: I love that. I love your suggestions, by the way. so one of my things that I always tell people who you know they're want to do something special, but they're on a budget. go to Sir Mickey's and ask one of the cast members to be pixie dusted. And they will bring out a wand and they will shake a little pixie dust over whoever wants it. again, when it comes to twelve year old girls, I'm afraid I'm not I don't have a lot of ideas as far as that goes, but I I I took Eric there and he loved it. So yeah, that's a fun little Jessica: Excellent. Craig: thing. Jessica: I like that. Rob, what about you? Rob: Well, you know, I think it it many of the things that happen at Disney World that are special for birthdays, you know, are let's be honest, they can be expensive. You know, things like having, you know, bibbity bobbity boutique would be the kind of the the classic, you're gonna get a a birthday princess makeover. That's a lot of money, right? So Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: we're trying to look for things that are that are more affordable but still make the day special. And and my suggestion would be to just, you know, let's say that we're using, let's say that we're we're mighty not using Lightning Lane. When you're deciding what attraction you're gonna do next, you're gonna be deciding what you're gonna be focused on. Maybe, you know, the the birthday girl gets, you know, the the first pick for, you know, certain portion of the day or something, you know, like something that lets lets her feel like she's having, you know, her She's getting to have her Disney World day for at least a period of the day. You know, and if she wants to ride, you know, Tiana over and over, then we're gonna ride Tiana over and over for that for that period Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: of the day. And I feel like, for me as a kid, I grew up in the time when it was not unusual for I think I was 13 years old, 12, 13 years old, and my parents would just let me and my little brother, you know, as long as I was watching after my little brother, kind of go do what we wanted to do in the parks. And that level of freedom, you know, to to that that I feel like kids don't often get anymore. But that ability to kind of call the shots for a period of the day, I think would make for a really special moment for for a special birthday in the parks. Eric you know, you're you've been you're gonna be keeping up with the chat over on Patreon. I did forget to mention that earlier in the show. If you join us live at patreon.com forward slash Earscouts, we do have a live chat. And Eric is always keeping up with that live chat. But I also want to ask you, Eric, because you know, I I feel like especially at Magic Kingdom, you know that park so well. What are some things that families can do that make a day special? for for you know, maybe a little princess that's in the group having her birthday. Erick: I think it will depend on well g first you know your little one more than anyone. But the celebrations that I that I see happening multiple times in the mag in the Magic Kingdom are them taking the little ones to a restaurant. Usually it's like Cinder Cinderella's royal table or be our guest. the personalized ears or buttons that that Jessica mentioned. The other one the the other one is the personal personalized tiadas that you can also like I believe that you Rob: yeah. Erick: can choose you can choose Jessica: that's a good one. Erick: the Craig: Mm. Erick: the jewels that are going to have. that's by Crystal Arts. And you can also they just came with like some the the ones that also you can add crystals to it and you can choose the colors. I see like the little ones getting very excited about those. some of the little ones they come to capture your moment as well and they get the personalized Jessica: that's a great idea. Erick: they get the personalized sign with it. so I I have seen some cute ones, especially for the little so like Jessica: What kind of personalized sign can you can you describe what that is? Erick: yes so basically there there are different signs that we can that they can create for you that between the lines of saying like I'm celebrating Sorry, it's it's my it's my third birthday. It's my 11th birth birthday or happy birthday and and the name of the little one. One that I consider that is super cute is the Bib D Bobidi 2, you know, when when they Jessica: Ha ha ha. Erick: are like two years old. Rob: No. Erick: again, they they they can go if you're there there is one that says celebrating, you set up the number and my at the bottom it says magical years. So if you also come with an idea, as long as it's it's within the the guidelines, like they should be able to to make it for you, you know? Rob: So these are like an assortment of signs that are pre made that they can choose to customize. or I'm guessing there's Erick: That are pre made or Rob: one that's more just like a chalkboard kind of a thing where they can create whatever message within the guidelines. Erick: They they look like chuckp chalkboard, but all the letters that we use are magnetic. So Rob: Okay. Erick: again that's that's how they can they can create design that you that you would like. Rob: And you would be shocked how affordable when you compare it to what it normally costs to get a a a photo shoot done of your family. I mean yes, you do have to have photo pass to begin with. So if you're not planning to get photo pass, that's when it does become pretty expensive to add in capture your moment. But if you already have photo pass, adding capture your moment is, you know. I think it's it's cheaper than I expected it to be. I can't remember the exact amount off the top of my head, but it's way less than what you would pay, a professional photographer, you know, outside of Disney World to to do and you're getting the shots in Disney World. So I think it's a it's a pretty good value. Do you know off the top of your head, Eric, ballpark, what the capture your moment session is? Erick: Mm the price? It's Jessica: ninety nine dollars. Erick: ninety nine dollars. Yes. Rob: Mm-hmm. Yeah, ninety-nine dollars. There's no way you're gonna find you know, a a professional photographer, certainly not one who's gonna come with you to Disney World for ninety nine dollars Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: to it's an Jessica: Well, you're not allowed to bring to Disney World. Rob: well that two, but yes. Craig: That too. Rob: but it's it's it's how long is the session, the the Eric? Is it in mm-hmm. Erick: It's a twenty minute session and they can take you basically anywhere that you would like to, except for inside of the rides and inside of certain places like restaurants of course. But like any any other locations where you usually can find a photographer, that that's where where we can take you. Rob: Very cool. Craig: Mm-hmm. Yeah. One thing I did want to add to this, if you are doing a sit down restaurant and you make your reservations, make sure you let the the on the app you can tell them it's a birthday, you're celebrating a birthday. And that way they know ahead of time and hopefully they will have something ready for you when you get that Erick: Yeah, yeah. Craig: little little sprinkling of something, maybe. Erick: And also like if you wanted to, you can add on top of that, like for a birthday cake. Again, they they will they will provide probably like a little cupcake, but if you want like the the little like Mickey Dome cake, you can add it for an additional cost, I believe. So if that's something that that helps you. Rob: All right. Anything else we want to add as ideas? Any ideas coming in from Patreon before we move on to the next question? Erick: Another idea that I read from Patreon are that the personalized umbrellas that they have right there Rob: Yeah. Erick: in Middle Street and or right over there as well. I have seen some of the very cute silhouettes. or Jessica: Hm. Erick: like also they do cartoon portraits, but that one is by the old Christmas shop as well. Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: Yeah, my guess is if she's got other siblings, she's not gonna just do a silhouette of one kid. I'm ninety percent certain as a mom, she's Erick: Yeah. Jessica: not gonna just do a silhouette of one kid. But the parasol is a good idea. I know Rob: Yeah, yeah. Jessica: how those moms are, man. They gonna get a silhouette of one, they're gonna get a silhouette of one. Rob: Well, our next question is from Tracy Hill. she says, I have a question, please. If, and you may have already talked about this, if you go to the after hours event at Epcot, we will be accessing the park from the International Gateway entry. Would we be able to exit that way at the end of the night to use the Skyliner? Thank you for your great podcast, by the way. Great info, Rob. thank you so much for watching the show. And I actually I knew that you could exit that way. That was not a question. The question I had, I wasn't sure if the Skyliner continued running for the full hour after park close. during those after hours events because I do know the Skyliner has kind of a hard stop at the end of the day. So I went to guest relations to a ask them this question and they checked. The Skyliner will not go to Hollywood Studios on the day that Epcot has an after hours event or extended evening hours, but it will continue to run from Epcot to Caribbean Beach. like to that that wing of it will stay open. and then presumably there's also going to be if you're staying at Art of Animation or Pop Century. But even if you're there for extended evening hours, that's only open to deluxe hotel guests. But again, you've got Riviera. Riviera requires Skyliner to get to Riviera from that international gateway. So they would run it even for extended evening hours, basically primarily for those Riviera guests. I don't know, you know, i in the off chance you were trying to get somewhere other than Riviera, I'm not sure if it's extended evening hours if you would be able to to get like I don't know that it would be running to art of animation, for example, because extended evening hours is a perk for deluxe guests. But after hours or, you know, one of the different parties, that's, you know, that is anyone can purchase those tickets no matter where they're staying. So they would have the full skyliner running for an hour after it ends. Craig, what is our next question? Craig: Okay, so I have one from Elizabeth Harding who says, coming for the holidays, probably our only trip to Disney World ever as a family. Kids are teens and ride focused. Is my Hollywood day better to do a one day ticket with Lightning Lanes or a Jollywood Nights ticket? And in my opinion, you are going to be much better off just doing the one day ticket and getting Lightning Lane tickets. multipass and even single pass if if it's within your budget to do rise of the resistance without a whole lot of weight. not sure if you have early entry. That's something if you're staying at a Disney resort, well, you get in a half hour early. That's something to definitely take advantage of. The thing about Jollywood nights is there's so much other things that you're going to do and you're spending so much money on that one ticket. Now, have I ever done that? Have I ever gotten an after hours event literally just to do rides? Yes. And it was just because we were only there for two days and I wanted to experience all four parks. but if you have a whole day, yeah, just just use your regular ticket, use your lightning lanes and you should have a great day of riding. Rob: Yeah. I would agree with that. I think the the the different after hours events and especially the parties, I mean, I feel like if you're they're you're gonna spend a a huge premium in terms if you break it down like per hour, like how much you're spending per hour to be in the park, you're spending a huge premium at something like Jollywood or Not So Scary, because of all the extra stuff that's happening during that time. And if you're not taking advantage of that extra stuff. then it it doesn't tend to be that great of a deal. you know, you you'd get a lot more time in the parks doing it what the way that Craig suggested. Jessica: I was trying to remember what time they let you in the parks for Jollywood. It's not as early as it is for Rob: Mm-mm. Jessica: the Magic Kingdom ones. Also, because Jollywood kind of almost goes to the end of the park day. I mean, Magic Hollywood Studios stays open and they do Phantasmic at the end of it. There's Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: not a lull in crowds like there would be at Rob: Right. Jessica: Magic Kingdom. So Jollywood's kind of a unique beast. Rob: Yeah. Whenever I hear someone say that they're doing one of these events just for the rides, you know, I I I I think it makes sense to do that if you're doing something like Craig said, where you've got a limited window of time, right? And so you don't have the time to add a whole day in the parks, right? That that's why you're choosing that. In that scenario, it can make sense. But if you've got the ability to add a part day, which is kind of what this question is implying, I don't think it's even close. I think you're much better off doing Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: even if even if you don't spring for for the single pass, just just get multi pass, you know, and and that you're gonna get more done in your day and have a more relaxed time doing it, I think. what is our next question from Patreon or YouTube, Jessica? Jessica: so I've got actually two questions. They're both about food at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party. So I'm gonna read them both and then answer them both. the first one comes from YouTube from Lou Lula Glazer. Glaze Glazer. I don't know. Sorry if I butchered that. so excited to go to our first Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party next month. Always love your videos and tips, Including the real life pivoting. Question Can you enter a mobile order for party exclusive food before 7 p.m. or wait until the party starts? Then the second question is from Christy Ghee on Patreon, I believe. Planning for Mickey's not so scary. Is party specific food not available until official party start at 7? Or will they start a little early as long as you can show your wristband? So here's the deal with the parties, particularly at Magic Kingdom. There's like this weird cosmic hour at six o'clock. And at six o'clock, the real park closes and the app basically shuts down, including mobile order. So the app shuts down. There's no ride times, there's no characters, there's no mobile order. It's as if the park is closed. It's dead for that hour. And then magically mobile order and wait times and characters will all come back at seven. So to answer the first question, you cannot mobile order for food until seven. Then mobile order will appear. However, at six o'clock, some restaurants will start serving the party specific foods. If you go stand in the line, you may be able to get the party specific foods if you have your wristband. So I know last year we were able to get it at Pinocchio's Village House for sure. And I know we've been able to get some treats at Pecos or some things at Pecos Bills. So that is kind of, I think, hit and miss. It may be always a hit, but I think it's hit and miss. Rob: Yeah. I can tell you I had the experience once where I was at not so scary, two nights pretty close to each other. And on the first night that I was there, I went to Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe and I was able to get the party specific food right at six. The next time I was there, which was just a few days later. they looked at me like I had three heads when I was like, was it possible to order the party specific food until you know before seven? They're like, No, nothing until seven. So it I think it really that and that was the same exact location. days apart. So I think it has a lot to do with just, you know, the the the cast members that are that are there and and what they've been told right that day that they are allowed to do. and that changes. From day to day, apparently. So I would say it's always worth trying, but but I wouldn't count on being able to get food at six. just hope that maybe you will and Yeah, yeah, yeah. Correct. Yes. Jessica: You can get food, you just can't get the specialty food. So I think Craig: Uh-huh. Jessica: that's the other thing I will say is that if you have kids and they just want chicken fingers or hamburgers, Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: you can get it it appears like everything is closed. It's not closed. So you can get your hamburger, your hot dog, your taco salad, whatever it is you want. You just may not be able to get phantasmic garlic burger. So Which is the thing on John's list that I am not looking forward to him eating. Rob: I'm I I that was one of the few things that we had that Patreon voted for that they wanted us to try that we Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: just didn't have time to get over there to try it. So we're gonna be going back to to not so scary for the chamboree and we're gonna have to try that burger for sure. Yeah, sounds like a plan. Jessica: Maybe you can take John with you. Would that be okay? Craig: Ha ha. Jessica: Take John with you. Rob: Eric, do we have any questions from our friends on Patreon? Erick: Yes we do. The first one comes from Daniela Rutia, which by the way is her first live, so welcome. Rob: Welcome. Craig: Hey, welcome. Jessica: Welcome. Erick: She wrote I'm going this Sunday to Magic Kingdom and I will stay for the Halloween party with three kids. I have reservation for Crystal Palace for breakfast. What do you guys recommend to have dinner, to recharge and have a little break before party starts? Thank you, you guys are awesome. Thank you so much, Lanita. Rob: So okay, let me make sure I understand. So on the same day that you have the party, you have tickets for Magic Kingdom and you're having breakfast at Crystal Palace. So you're planning to be there from park open or close to it through the party. Is that right? Jessica: That's what it appears, Erick: Yes. Jessica: yes. Erick: Mm-hmm. Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: my biggest suggestion to you would be to plan a break in your day. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: because it's it is an overwhelming day. And the thing is, is what you really don't want to have happen is you don't want to get halfway through the party and just everyone's just not enjoying themselves anymore because they're exhausted. and so I I would say if you're I usually recommend if you're gonna do a Magic Kingdom day ticket as well as the party to come in later in the afternoon. Like I would say if you can maybe consider canceling your breakfast and instead booking like a late lunch and and not plan on like just just take it easy that morning, breeze into Magic Kingdom a little bit later. I think that's gonna be a better recipe for a fun day. what else was the other part of the question though? Was where should they eat later? Is that what the Jessica: Yeah. Erick: Mm-hmm. Yes. Rob: Yeah, I would say just shifted. I w I I I don't I don't personally love Crystal Palace for lunch or dinner, although I know that others do. but I would say Maybe keep Crystal Palace if that's the restaurant you're excited to see, but maybe just shift it to to late lunch instead. What do you guys think? Jessica: I'm gonna give go ahead, Craig. Craig: I was just gonna say, if you don't want to do the dinner thing and you're dead set on doing that, and if Rob has kind of made you a little nervous about doing it from opening to a very late close, maybe go back to your resort and have a little dinner there and take a little break, because it's a long day. Jessica: Yeah, I was gonna give I was gonna give the other part of that, which is if you are like me and my kids, there is no sleeping in. We're gonna get up at 5 30 Craig: Mm. Jessica: or 6 a.m. My kids and I, we just it's our natural rhythm is to get up and we wanna go do things. So I would have a hard time keeping my kids in a hotel room relaxing in the morning. We would do Crystal Palace, do breakfast, do a little bit of Magic Kingdom, go back and then because of the sensory overload of the Halloween party, I would probably get food and eat it in the hotel room. Like I would actually just do like a picnic, make it kind of a a cute picnic, watch a watch Disney on the TVs, maybe watch hocus pocus, watch you know, watch something, and then saunter in to the party at 530 or 6 and kind of having relaxed, having not a lot of sensory overload. of people and heat, but take that break in the afternoon, like Craig's saying. But for dinner, I wouldn't go to dinner anywhere. I would bring dinner in, be as relaxed as possible. Even eating in the cafeterias there, the quick service restaurants, can be sensory overload. So I would prepare your kids for what should be one of the most fun nights. I mean you get to trick-or-treat, you get to watch a parade. It should be sensory overload at the Halloween party. But bring it down so that they can have that fun. That's kind of my suggestion. Rob: Yeah. But I think we're I think everybody here is saying that you s in some way, shape or form you're gonna need to have some kind of a chill period, either at the beginning or in the middle of your day, just to make sure that everyone's able to fully enjoy the entirety of the party. Erick: Heather, she's giving her opinion and she said that We did a long day last year with Halloween party and it was too much for all of us. But like well and Sarah sorry the the Colangelo Henkel family were suggesting that if you're not staying on property, maybe a boat ride over to Wilderness Lodge, relax and then eat at Whispering Canyon. it's a great experience. The food is also like really, really good. Rob: Yeah. So yeah, that's a that's a good point. Even if you're if you're not staying on property, so you it's not easy for you to just hop back to your resort, maybe just get a reservation at one of the Disney resorts and you can just chill, you know, have a chill period there. That's a good idea. well Craig: Yeah. And if if we are talking about that, I suggest why Lulu Grill. That's that place is so chill to me. So if you want to relax, you Rob: Yeah. Craig: can't get back to your resort, you want dinner, that's my number one choice. Rob: Wailu is definitely much more laid back. At at Chris Bring Canyon, I let's just say it's Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: possible you're gonna end up with fifty two bottles of ketchup on your table. It can happen. Erick: Ha ha. Rob: but Jessica: Yeah, Craig: Ha ha. Jessica: that's my problem with Whispering Canyon. It does it's doesn't get the sensory overload down. Rob: The so the they the Erick: Well you're right about that. Rob: the the servers Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: at Whispering Canyon, like they the it's kind of a thing there that you know, they maybe they're gonna make fun of someone at your table, maybe they're gonna create some mischief, they're gonna throw things at you. It the thing is if you don't want any of that to happen, you can let them know at the at the host station that we're just we're not we're not up for shenanigans and and they'll let the server know and you can have a normal meal. But There are going to be shenanigans happening all around you. yeah. Jessica: Shenhenigans. Rob: All right. our next question is kind of similar to what we were talking about earlier about rides and parties. It's if all I care about is rides, will wait times be better the morning of a party or during the party? this would be the second week of October. and that is a question from LTF. 1110, I'm guessing from YouTube. so I can tell you it again what I said before. If your goal is just to ride rides, if you're not interested in the party aspects of the party, definitely just get the day ticket and do do the day of the party because is Magic Kingdom specifically, the park is usually pretty dead on party days. If you want to have an extra smooth sailing, get lightning lane because when the park is kind of dead, some people would argue you don't need lightning lane. I would argue it's great to use lightning lane because you know, even when it's dead, there's gonna be lines. And when it's dead, it's super easy to book what you want when you want to book it. It's not as competitive to get those key lightning lanes. So it makes for a really low stress multipass lightning lane day. if it's low crowds, and you know, you're gonna pay less for that day ticket, probably, and adding lightning lane than you would have paid for the party ticket. So, and you're gonna get more done, and it's gonna be a much more pleasant day, in my opinion, if your goal is just to do rides. If you do think though that the party is appealing and you be you want to do some of those party things, then I would say it may be worth considering, but you won't get as many rides done. You know, that that was the question. Will you will where will you get more rides done? It'll be during the day. especially if you add lightning lane. All right. Craig, what is our next question? Craig: Okay, I have a couple of questions. one's a quick, easy answer, and then another one we're gonna throw to the group and I think it's gonna be a lot of fun. So first of all, Robin NC says, next year I plan to buy annual passes for my family. If I buy a multi pass, lightning lane passes and par cop, magic kingdom in the morning, Epcot in the afternoon. Would the Lightning Lane passes be good at Epcot in the afternoon? And the answer is absolutely. Absolutely yes. So here's the deal. So Whatever park you start with, whatever park you tell the app that you're going to start in and you have your lightning lane multipass set up, it's going to give you those three lightning lanes and any single pass you want. as soon as you tap into that first one, everything unlocks. So you can instead of just getting one tier one ride, you can all the tier ones are open at all the parks. So and all of the lightning lanes are open at all the parks and all the rides that have it. So as soon as you tap in, you can start making reservations for Epcot if you like. You just can't make it ahead of time. That's the only thing. So you're gonna start Magic Kingdom, that's where they need to start. But once you tap into your first ride, you'll be able to reserve some for Epcot as well. Rob: And then you had a did you have a second part of the question? Craig: Well, this is a different question. this comes from big clips, and this is pretty much for everybody. So if you had to choose one ride to ride for the whole day, which one would you choose? so you'd probably think I'm going to say guardians, but that's a lot to do all Rob: Mm-hmm. Craig: day long. So I decided my choice is going to be Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. Because it has so many details. no matter what car what car you're riding in, there's basically like four different cars. It's a totally different experience. There are things you're not going to see if you're in the back car that the front cars are going to see, and vice versa. So that would be my choice just because there's so much that I mean, I've written it many times and I know there's things that I've never noticed. So every time I go on, it's like, where did that come in? So that's my choice. How about you, Jessica? Jessica: So my gut reaction was people mover. I mean, that just that's a gut reaction as I would probably ride the people mover over and over again. Yeah, but then Craig: I even considered that too, so but I knew Jessica: I'm I thought about it and I've ridden the people mover multiple, multiple times. And and so if for one day I got to ride something over and over and over again, you don't hear me talk about this a lot, but Haunted Mansion, for the same reason you just said, Craig. There are so many details, so many hidden gems in that ride that I never get to see. And I feel like if I got a whole day and I could ride it maybe 10 times, 10, 15 times in a day, I could focus on different parts of the ride, each ride, and see different things. That's the one ride that I feel like, from an imagineering perspective, was a ahead of its time, from kind of just the cool imagination perspective was ahead of its time. And I think that's the one I would want to ride over and over again to to see the details. That that's it. But in reality, I say all that, I'd just be on the people mover. Rob: Well, I know Eric would choose Journey into Imagination with Figment to ride again and again all day. Am I Erick: How do you know that? Rob: am I did I did I call it? Erick: Of course, my horse. Rob: Ha ha. Craig: Hmm. Mm-hmm. Jessica: So it's like a horror. You're like going to the haunted house. Erick: Yeah. Rob: What what what is your what if if you had to you have to ride something all day long, what's it gonna be? Erick: Que le manjaro safaris. Craig: Mm, good one. Jessica: It's a great Erick: Yeah. Jessica: answer. Rob: That that was that was you you stole my answer, but but why why for you would Craig: Ha ha ha. Rob: it be Kilimandra Safaris? Erick: It's just like every single time you ride it is complete completely different. So Rob: Mm-hmm. Erick: you never you will never repeat the same safari ride. You will encounter more animals and for me, I will be having more chances to take photos of the animals. So Jessica: that's a great why that's a great answer. Craig: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Rob: Yeah, that that was gonna be my pick as well. probably my favorite ride is Expedition Everest. But as Craig said, that's not a ride. I mean, Craig: Uh-huh. Rob: I I would happily ride Expedition Everest, maybe six or seven times in a row. But I think once you got past like six or seven times in a row, you know, you you'd probably be in sensory overload, as we were talking about earlier. Okay, I need a break. But Safaris is just so relaxing. And it I I'm as as someone who, you know, is lucky enough to be a local here, one of my absolute favorite things to do is to just go s go over to Animal Kingdom right after work and just hop on the safari. And for some reason, a lot of times late in the afternoon, there's no hardly any weight for safaris. And it is just the most relaxing, like Wonderful way to unwind after a day at work. And I think I could enjoy that all day long, really. I think it it's it's just relaxing. And as Eric said, it's always different. There's always something different happening every time you go through. So that would be my pick. Jessica, what is our next question? Jessica: We have a question from Patreon and it and it's from Jen. my friend has an 8 30 p.m. reservations at Geo82. Any tips for seeing the fireworks? She didn't book the fireworks specific package. I know Jessica talked about this on the podcast, but can't remember exactly what her tips are. So I thought this would be a good one for me to answer. Hmm. so I will say here's the thing it does you there are no tips. There are no tips. If you have booked it for 830, you show up, you will see the fireworks. That's the best part about Geo eighty two. There's the whole wall is a window into the what is the lake, the lagoon, the what is it called? Craig: Seven C's not seven C's, World Showcase Lagoon. Jessica: World Showcase Lagoon. The whole window is a view of World Showcase Lagoon. And they pipe the music in the entire restaurant. The restaurant is kind of angled and tiered. So there's almost no bad seat. The difference between the fireworks package and just getting a reservation around eight eight thirty is there's a food items. It's almost like a tea, like cucumber sandwiches and champagne. And you're guaranteed a seat at that first window. Let me tell you, sitting at the first window is not any better than sitting two chairs back. It it is we've sat in both the views. I've done this now, I think four times. I've done four reservations at that time to see luminous. And I've sat at the glass, I've sat three tables back from the glass, I sat in the middle, I've sat on the side. It is by far one of my favorite ways to see luminous. particularly if you will not see the fire, the the light show on the water, but you will see the fireworks and you will hear the music. And you will be drinking a really, really good old fashioned or a glass of wine, and there's only people 21 and over around you. So it is a wonderful experience at GOAD2. So my tip is there are no tips. She has done everything 100% correct. And I know she's going to have an amazing night. Rob: I'm I'm curious, Jessica, because we we did this the very first night that it opened. we were there, we did this exact same thing. We were booked Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: around 8 30, we were got to be there for the fireworks, and there was a real issue with glare from all the light fixtures inside Geo eighty two, like especially those kind of the ones that are like starlight fixtures that hang. Have they dealt with that or there's is there still a lot of glare on the the glass when you watch the show? Jessica: So I'm gonna say because I don't remember that at all, they probably have dealt with it. Cause Rob: Okay, good. Jessica: it's not I'm not remembering a glare from the light fixtures. Rob: Yeah, the night that so we were there the first night and they were they were constantly adjusting the light levels, I guess trying to figure out how to get rid of the glare and they never really could get rid of the glare from those. So I'm glad they figured it out. Jessica: Yeah, I don't remember I don't remember a glare at all. And Erick: Yeah. Jessica: like I said, I've been multiple times. So they either figured it out or else it just didn't bother me. So they must have figured it out if everybody was commenting on it. Erick: Laura says that they turn the lights down now. Rob: Okay. Jessica: Yeah. It it's it was it was amazing. I I I'm not gonna say anything negative about it. It's one of my favorite experiences. I there's a lot about GO eighty two that's sometimes bought it's expensive, it's hard to get in. There's a lot but that fireworks for you, I love it. Rob: Awesome. Eric, do we have any questions from y from YouTube? Eric, do we have Erick: Mm-hmm. Rob: any questions from Patreon before we continue? Erick: Yes, this is for from Lisa. this is also her first live. So also welcome Lisa. Rob: Welcome, Lisa. Erick: She wrote Hi Hi Ear Scouts. heading to Walt Disney World in a few days, we have purchased lining lanes, single and multi. We even spurge for premiere pass for Epcot in order to cover a lot of ground without crisscrossing the park. Should we also try to do early entry for all parks? And what would you recommend to knock out for early entry? We try to write all the things or as many as possible. There are three kids ages six, ten and twelve, with mom, Jessica: Wow. Erick: dad, and a young heart of grandmother. Rob: Okay, I'm gonna open this up to Jessica: Just Rob: everyone, but but I do have a I have a question that we'll need to get clarification on while we're all answering. And that is, is your group naturally a group of morning people, like like Jessica describes, where you're gonna be up and raring to go early in the morning? Because if the answer to that is yes, for at least the vast majority of the group, then I think. Yeah, early entry is a no-brainer just because, you know, even if you even if you didn't ride rides, just walking around Epcot, for example, walking around World Showcase when it's empty is just magical. but it sounds like your goal is gonna be to ride rides multiple times. And guess what? With Lightning Lane, you can only ride each attraction once. So if there's something that you know you're gonna want to ride multiple times, then early entry would be your best moment to do that. but I will say if you're not naturally mourning people, it might potentially be overkill and you know, since you've already got lightning lanes for everything. But what does everyone else think? Craig: I mean, I agree with that. and just a reminder, early entry is only a half an hour. So, you know, if if you were planning on doing big rides and getting them out, something like Rise of the Resistance remember they take some time. So you might only get one ride. You might save a lot of time, or you're sure you will save a lot of time for that line, but again, you're not gonna be able to get a whole lot of rides in unless you're going for like The small ones that you don't really need lightning lanes for to to begin with, so but you can knock those at any time. Rob: Yeah. I mean, and that's the other thing too, especially if you're going for those big rides, if you wanted to try to get more than one ride in for early entry, if that really was your goal, you have to be usually on the front end of people coming in for early entry, which means that you're not just there early. You're there crazy early. You're there like, you know, probably forty five minutes before, you know, the at least thirty minutes before early entry is gonna begin. But forty five minutes, thirty minutes before early entry even begins, you're gonna be there lining up. So Jessica: I will say if you are like my family though, thirty to forty-five minutes before Magic Kingdom is opens is like seven forty-five. that's not really that early. So Rob: Ha ha ha. Jessica: if you are an early Craig: Ha ha ha. Jessica: person, this this isn't that Erick: I Jessica: big of a deal. I'll just I I like to to kind of clarify that part of it because it's really if you're already gonna be up, I'll say that again, if you're already gonna be up, go stand in the line. to get on seven seven dwarves mind train. The the second part of her question was what would we hit out? What would we try to get what would we Rob: right. Yeah. Jessica: try to use? I would do, for example, to save yourself a, you know, a single pass, I would do Seven Dwarves Mind Train to to to I would Peter Pan's flight. I would do the big ones that may be hard to get later with Lightning Lane. Peter Pan, I I would go to Rob's deck. I would look at the Lightning Lane deck and And I would look at the face cards for the parks and I would make sure I'm grabbing either the single pass or the face cards for the parks so that you don't have to fight over those later on in the day. And that's what I would do. because those are the ones that even if you have lightning lane, maybe harder to get with that large of a group because you're over the magic four number. You know, you're hitting more people. it may be harder. So I would go and look at his lightning lane decks. I can't do the URL as easily as you can, Rob. It is Rob: It's earscouts dot com forward slash deck D E C K. Jessica: There you go. I would go to that Erick: Yeah. Jessica: and I would do the face cards because that that really is what I would knock out. I am interested to see hear back from you on your day with the premiere pass at Epcot. I think that you're gonna save a lot of steps. And from a heat perspective, going soon, I bet that was that's probably a really wise choice. A good use of Premier Pass in the heat that we're having just to be able to circle the park easily. But if you did early entry, you could do guardians so you could get to go on guardians twice. So just or test track if you guardians wasn't your thing. Rob: Yeah. And and i and that's assume if you're if you're coming in from the front of the park, which most guests are, unless you're staying at an Epcot area resort or a or a Skyliner resort, Guardians is right there. Test track is right there. So those are easy to hit. If you're coming in from the back of the park, I've done it. I did it for a video. It's a hike to get up there to Guardians and Test Track. I don't know I don't know that I would recommend that as much, especially if you already had it booked for Lightning Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: Lanes, but maybe Remy would be a better choice. Remy and Frozen would be things you'd do if you came in from the back. but I I Erick: Yeah. Rob: completely agree. That's great great suggestions, Jessica. Erick: Lisa replied Rob: All right. Erick: and she said that the grandma will struggle with getting up early but the rest are ready to go and we will we will do all parks with two days and Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. also it it Rob: you're doing all four parks in two days? Erick: in six days. So it seems like they have two da yes, they have two days for Hol one for Hollywood Studios and one for Magic Kingdom. So yeah, I was scared. Yeah. Yeah. But well Rob: in sixth. okay. Craig: okay. phew. Jessica: shoot. Did you see all of us? Did you see the fear on all of our eyes? Lisa, that's six Rob: I was like, wow. Craig: Yeah. Jessica: days so much easier. Rob: Yes. Erick: And also Jules was throwing a recommendation on that. she said that for a scooter for a junk at heart grandma, since you will be trying to do all four parks. Like also like the yeah, scooter like also makes it a little bit easier to well it makes it more bearable. It's sometimes a little bit difficult just to go with it through the park, just to give you a heads Rob: Yeah. Erick: up. Rob: Yeah. my stepfather came and we convinced him to do a scooter. And it was a good thing we did because I know that there's no way he would have been able to do as many things in the park if he didn't have the scooter. But if you're not if you're not used to driving a scooter, let me tell you, Disney World is a heck of a crash course because with an emphasis on crash. Cause it's just constantly people jetting in front of your scooter and just, you know, figuring out how to not hit anything and still get somewhere. it can be challenging. But I didn't regret doing it, even though that was the case. Well, our next question is coming from I'm gonna S-E-A-N-E-S. Sinus Shaunus? Craig: Shaunice? Rob: Shaunus, we'll go with Shaunus. That sounds nice. I am a longtime viewer listener, but this is my first question. Well, thank you for sending in your first question. We're doing our first split stay, Easter week 2027, between Animal Kingdom Lodge and BLT. What is BLT? Jessica: Bay Lake Tower? Rob: Bay Lake Tower. There we go. I would love to know all the tips and tricks for a smooth transition. Also, how do dining and lightning lane reservations work for split stays? Thank you. So I have heard very conflicting things about the split stay and dining reservations and lightning lane reservations specifically. Because I I went and talked to Guest Relations about this to make sure I was giving you correct information. The official line from Guest Relations is that you you have to essentially restart your seven day out for lightning lane and your, what is it, 60 days for dining? What's the Craig: Uh-huh. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: yeah. So you essentially those are gonna restart for the beginning of your second stay. So you wouldn't be able to get the full you know, benefit of your early booking for the duration of both stays. You'd get it for your first day and then you get it again for the second. Now I say that this is a gray area because I have especially with DVC, I have heard D V C members tell me that they were able to call their DVC what what do you call that person, Craig, that helps you with your DVC reservations? Craig: I think it's guide is what they call it now. Rob: Yeah. So your your DVC guide, they claimed that their guide was able to set it up so that they bridged the two reservations Jessica: Hmm. Rob: together. but I have heard other people tell me, nope, there's that doesn't that didn't work for me. So I don't know if that's a DVC thing. I don't know if that's just a do you happen to get the right cast member on the phone who knows how to make that magic happen kind of a thing. I'm not sure. But I'd say if you have DVC, it's worth checking with your guide to see if they can link your split stay so that you can get the full benefit. but I wouldn't count on it because the the official answer from Disney, according to Guest Relations, is no. It's two separate things. as far as making a split stay tips and tricks for for getting the most out of a split stay, my biggest one, I love this. At any Disney resort, you can have them. You can even call from your room and they will come and pick up your bags and you let them know what resort you're going to and they will take them to your next resort for you. And you can, when you get into your new room, you can call and they will bring the bags up to you. And this is, I gotta tell you, huge because it means that not only do you not have to worry about like lugging the bags around, but it it frees you up to really enjoy that day that you're gonna have that day where you're straddling the two resorts and having less things on your plate to think about so you can just enjoy it like any other day is huge. So also you can some other things that that's just helpful to know if you have you know a magic band or really you need the app for this you don't even need have a magic band. You don't need to necessarily worry about checking in at the new resort. You can do all of that online so that when you come back from the parks and you know you your luggage is already there, your room will come through to your app. Once it's ready, you'll you'll get the notification. You can just go directly to your room, to your new room when you arrive. You can do that for your first day too. You know, it's not specific to splits days. you can check in on the app and and not have to deal with going to the front desk. but it's extra nice on a split stay day, just cause it's one less thing for you to have to worry about when you're trying to enjoy that day. Any other suggestions? Craig: Well, I've as I've done tons of split stays, and unfortunately, I'm going to rain a little on what you were just talking Jessica: Mm. Craig: about. So this happened to me once. and actually it was going from the Floridian to the Polynesian, and we used the service instead of literally could have walked it over, but we're like, they got they can just do it for us. Did not get our bags in time to go to dinner. It was it was anything but smooth. Let's put it that way. I know she was specifically asking about smooth transitions, but so be just because of that, what I do, and you know, this if it's in your budget, it's it's what I recommend, and that would be doing Lyft or Uber and going ahead and carting your stuff. Now, if you have a lot of stuff and you plan on being in park all all that day and you know, you won't even be planning on getting back to the room till later night, you should be fine. But if you have something specific, you know, maybe pack a day bag or something that cause I like I I spent the day in Universal, came home or came home, came back to the Polynesian. I guess it was home. I'm at DVC. Welcome home. soaking wet. I had nothing to change into. And no Jessica: Yeah. Craig: clothes, period. So Jessica: And I always rent a car so that we can just stick Craig: Mm-hmm. Jessica: our bags in the car and go to the next place. I I have major fear of not getting my clothes in time to go to the place that I need to go to. Rob: Okay. Craig: Mm-hmm. Jessica: And so that's if it depends on what your definition of smooth is. If your definition of smooth is Rob's definition, which is you don't have to think about it, you're gonna be in the park all day, you don't need anything in your bags, you can do that. If your definition is what Craig is saying, which is I need to be able to get to my bags to do stuff with them, change clothes, do my toiletries, whatever it is, my owner's locker, whatever that is, then I would take them yourself. So it totally depends on your definition of smooth. Rob: I am curious though, Craig, I mean, how many times have you had them transfer your luggage like successfully? Craig: that was I that was a maybe I think it was right before the pandemic that that happened. So but before that I had used it several times and never had an issue. But so Rob: Yeah. I've I've been lucky. I've never had an issue like now they do tell you what what time like to not expect your luggage before that time. So definitely ask that. And if if you're not gonna hit that time, then you definitely wanna make other plans. but I don't know. I I've had good experiences with it, but you know, as Craig has pointed out, things don't always go as planned. So yeah. I guess a way that Craig: Yeah, and the and the fact we're yeah, the fact we're going from the Grand Floridian to the Polynesian, which could not be closer, makes Rob: Right. Craig: me think it's all in a loop. So they did the Floridian, they went to every single other resort on property and Polynesian was the last stop. So if you're doing Animal Kingdom Lodge and Bay Lake Tower, you know, at least y there won't be the longest trip for them to make. So hopefully you'd you would be okay if you do choose to use that and it works with your timing. Rob: Well, Craig, what is our next question? Craig: Okay, so I do have an a couple now. Again, one that's real quick to answer and one that's gonna be a nice discussion. So from Heather Miller, she says we are flying in for the first time. They typically drive in from Cincinnati. Any recommendations on transportation from MCO, Orlando International Airport, to the Riviera? now personally, I it kind of depends on your party, the number of people in your party too. If you want to take a lift or an Uber, which is what I do now, it's usually around forty, fifty bucks, depending on the time of day, and how busy things are, and what day it is. and that usually seems to be the best. Now they do have buses. Mears Connect does do a bus, but it's sixteen dollars per adult and thirteen dollars for each kid one way. And so if you have if you're a family of four, that's it's already gonna be probably cheaper to do a lift. you might do it on the XL depending how much baggage you have too. I was trying to find information on minivans. but what I what I could find, didn't find anything like official from Disney, but it was like and I couldn't find it on Lyft either. I was trying to like that's what they say you go on Lyft and that's how you order a minivan. But I couldn't get any to show up. So I don't know if that was because I'm definitely not in Rob: I think Craig: that area right now. Rob: I think minivan correct me on Patreon if any I I know we have some minivan frequent users on Patreon. I think you can get a minivan from Disney World to the airport. That is definitely a thing. I don't know if it's a thing from the airport to Disney World. Craig: Hm. Okay. That might be why. Rob: let us know on Patreon if if I'm wrong about that. But I I I do know that I for sure I know you can go from Disney World to the airport. Craig: Mm-hmm. Yeah, and there there's lots of town car services as well. They usually run around a hundred bucks one way too. So but if you like to have that peace of mind, you have it reserved, they're gonna be waiting for you. Pick up your bags and go. That's another good option. Just a little pricier. Jessica: And most of the town car services will stop at a grocery store on the way to the resort, which is a big plus for some people. I know. and and I'll just I mean, I'm a rental car person. I like to have control of my vac I'm a little bit of a type A person. I don't know if anyone can tell. But I I Rob: Ha ha ha. Craig: Ha ha ha. Jessica: I like to have control of my vacation. So it is a very rare trip when I don't have a rental car. So I'm not great on that, but I do know if we've not done a rental car, we want to be able to stop at a grocery store to get stuff on the way. And so the the different limo services, they will let you stop at a grocery store. Rob: Eric, did you have something from Patreon about Minivan? Erick: Yes, just heather growth that you're correct, Rob. And that we use away we go and it's awesome, especially if you need car seats. They will even do a stop at Publix on the way if you need. Rob: Okay. Yeah. So minivan possible to the airport. And and that is good to point out the car seat thing. That's why a lot of people like minivan specifically is because of they have a ridiculous number of car seats available for your use when you use minivan, that you won't find when you use an Uber or a Lyft. So good to know about away we go though, for the other way. Craig: Right. Very good. so my next question is from Renee Johnson. This is for pretty much all of us. We can chime in with our ideas. So they say we are going on a trip to Disney World for our twenty fifth anniversary without our kids. Congratulations. Shh, they don't know. do you have any suggestions for romantic or fun things for a couple to do or places to eat that have a romantic flair that are also affordable? we love the parks and rides and go yearly with our kids, just looking for something special to do that we may not have thought of. That's not just drinking in bars. just a nice quiet spot to have a lovely view and have a snack. I have a couple. first is Topolino's Terrace. I know that's not affordable if you're gonna eat at the restaurant, but if you can get into the bar, and you unfortunately you can't make reservations for that, you kind of have to go. You have to like ask at the check-in desks, hey, is there any room at the bar that I can just sit in? and you can order off the menu if you want to just get a nap or two. That's I've done that many times where I wasn't even that hungry, but I went up there, had a drink. But you're going to Topolina's Terrace for the Terrace for the View. you can see Epcot Fireworks if you're there at night, and the timing is right. You can even see Magic Kingdom fireworks from the terrace. even if you want to go during the day, if you want to do the breakfast, if if you're character people, it's the best character breakfast on property, in my opinion. and the views are just as lovely during the day. There's like seating areas, like little settees outside that you can sit at and just enjoy the views. So that would be my my number one. Number two is gonna be Dahlia Lounge at the Grandestino Rob: Mm-hmm. Craig: Tower at Coronado Springs. there you use you Don't need to worry about getting in. Like there's always gonna be room. But again, it's just a lovely terrace with incredible views and light snacks. So those are my two. Anyone else have some romantic, not too expensive ideas? Rob: Well, I think Grandestino Tower in general is just the the Coronado Springs is the best like cross section of not crazy expensive, but also feels elevated and you know has lots of romantic spots. I would also add to that, what's the what's the so there's there's the Toledo, which Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: I wouldn't say it's it's not cheap. It's but it's not it's not nearly as expensive as Other restaurants that feel in the same class. Does that make sense? Like Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: I think for the experience, I think it's a good value, but it's it's still not cheap. but there's also what's that one? there's is it is it three bridges with the one that's in the middle of the water? Yeah. Jessica: Three bridges. Mm-hmm. Craig: Mm-hmm. Yeah, three bridges. Rob: I think that's a lovely spot. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: And and you could just go there and get, you know, they have great sangria. and tapas and kind of things. I mean, that's a lovely you're sitting outside, you know, at the resort, but it's it's comfortable. I I I like that's a that's another option. But I think look at Coronado Springs generally is a lot of good options there. when we're talking about things with a view specifically. If you can catch it, and this is hard to catch, but I've done it the one time that I tried, so I have a hundred percent success rate so far. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: Go to the contemporary, there's the California grill. California grill, very expensive if you eat dinner there. But as Craig said, with Topolinos, there is a lounge there, like basically it's a bar. but they do. When we were there, they served some things a la carte from the bar, but they also had really great drinks. And when the fireworks happened, we were welcome to take our drink outside. There's a little outdoor area there and you could watch. and I feel like that's a great it's a it's it's a great way to get one of the the highest end experiences at Disney World for a good value if you just go to the to the lounge. The tricky part is you can't have reservations. You have to just kind of luck out that there's that there's space at the bar when you're there. but we did, and we did it right before fireworks too, which is the most difficult time to do that. So Jessica, do you have any suggestions? Jessica: Well, you know, she they said in their post not not just drinking and not just bars. So it almost took Rob: Okay. Jessica: all my suggestions out. But I'll just say I this to me is very romantic. It may not be romantic to everybody, but either the Starlight Safari or the Saver the Savannah, either one of Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: those, the Starlight Safari is at Animal Kingdom Lodge where you go at night and you get to see the animals. I just think that is, and I know you're not just alone, but it's it's it's romantic. If you're there and you're looking at the animals and it's at night, and then the Saver, the Savannah, you get your own personal tour of the safari, and then you end with like a charcuterie tray, and they have they have they do have wine, but you don't have to drink the wine, but you get to see the elephants close up and that one's a little bit on the pricey side, but either one of those to me are kind of a unique Disney experience that it would be great to experience with your partner. So those are the Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: two that came to mind. however my my original answer was going to be three bridges. So that was a hundred percent if just to plug what Rob was saying, if I wanted to go somewhere and not not a bar, that with those, because they have like comfy like smushy chairs right by Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: the water that you look out and there's like a the water has like a fountain in it. That was my fountain impression. that was Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: Yeah. Jessica: my fountain impression. but yeah, I think three bridges is a great option. but Dalula, all the ones we've mentioned are are are great. But if you didn't want a bar, that was the two things that I would say. Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: You know, you what you said made me think of another place you might want to consider, and that is Sanaa. Because you Craig: Mm. Rob: can go to Sanaa and just Jessica: great idea. Rob: get bread service and a couple of light, you know, apps. In fact, whenever I go to Sanaa, I don't really love their entree menu, but I love every single one of their appetizers. So I'll usually go and just get the bread service and a couple of apps. And what I recommend if you're doing Sana'a. Arrive early and tell them that you love to get a window seat if you can and you don't mind waiting. Because Sanaa is amazing no matter where you sit. But when you sit right by the window and those animals are right. So if you're not familiar, Sana'a is at Animal Kingdom Lodge and it has a whole wall of windows that overlook the savannah. And you know, you can sit there and enjoy the bread service is. one of the most legendary th food items at all of Disney World. You will not be disappointed. And to just relax and enjoy that bread service and some apps and see zebras and giraffes out the window Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: is just it's incredible. It really is. Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: and Sana, I wouldn't say it's cheap if you're getting a full meal, you know, and drinks and everything. But if you're just going to get bread service and some apps, yeah, it's not bad. Craig: Mm-hmm. I know they said not necessarily bars and drinks, but the bars are great places to get light bites. You can stay as long Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Craig: as you want. they're not gonna kind of, you know, get you your bill and get you out after dessert. and you don't have to drink. So to that end, I'm gonna add no bed lounge, especially the outdoor seating, and even enchanted rose, I think has a nice romantic vibe to it. Rob: I was thinking about Enchanted Rose too. Yeah. Jessica: enchanted Rose. Yeah, very romantic. Rob: Yeah. Yeah. All right. Well I think we got a lot of good options there. Did we hear anything from Patreon, Eric? Erick: Yeah, from Ray and Lauren, they suggested to grab a snack and sit behind the Canada Pavilion by the waterfall. Not a lot of people go back there and it is pretty peaceful. Also it's a very it's an alternative option on a budget. From Elizabeth, kickbake a special treat and ride a boat at sunset. And with riding about Rob: yeah. Erick: at sunset, also again if if you happen to be in Disney property or if you happen to be in the parks, and you can take transportation to either Port Orleans in Riverside and I believe in For wilderness. there is the carriage, with the horses. And there was one time that we did it, we went through it was Christmas, I believe, Rob. And honestly, yes, and Rob: Yep, we did that for the Christmas video. You can see that in the Christmas video. Erick: yeah, and I remember we saw the fireworks and honestly like just being able to be in the carriage and and see like the decorations on that it was like really peaceful it was it was very unique I have seen people doing it in Riverside and also usually like they are couples and the families that that they see them passing by they are always like congratulations on they they are very happy about seeing a couple riding Jessica: Mm-hmm. Erick: the carriage so Rob: Yeah, that's a great suggestion, the the carriage rides. And yet you're right. They're at Riverside and they're at Fort Wilderness. And at Fort Wilderness, if you can do it during the holidays or during I mean, it's not maybe not quite as romantic at Halloween because it's a different vibe, but it Erick: Yeah. Rob: is fascinating to see what the people who are staying there do to their you know yeah, you certainly won't run out of things to talk about on that carriage ride. Let's just say that. 'cause people go all out for Halloween at Fort Wilderness. But I I agree, both of those are lovely suggestions. Jessica, what is our next question Jessica: So the next question from Patreon is from Nicole. And she says, Okay, I'm gonna need some help. if getting one of those hat box ghost popcorn buckets is on the top of our priority list, how, in quotes, exactly, do you go about doing that at the party? What time? Where do people line up? I imagine it's one of those ones that only have a specific number per party. So I will say all signs point to the Hatbox Ghost popcorn bucket has not sold out. It has not been selling out the way some of the past popcorn buckets have. So the good news is it looks like we're safe. But let's just say it is your top of your priority. There's a couple of things that I would recommend. The number the first thing I would recommend is go get a locker. The very first thing is get a locker because you're not gonna want to lug that hot box ghost popcorn bucket around with you. And then I would go directly to the popcorn bucket stand that is on the right side of the castle as you're looking at it. And I would do that directly after at four o'clock after you get your wristband. And I would just stand in that line and get it. They have been selling the popcorn buckets starting at four, I believe. To people with wristbands, get it, put it in a locker, you're done. I've done that for the last few parties when a popcorn bucket was important to me. I will be doing it again September 11th because the popcorn bucket is important to John for the first time. For the first time ever. A popcorn Erick: Ha ha Craig: Mm. Jessica: bucket is not about me. It's about John. But we're going. and that's just basically what I would do. in general, This particular bucket seems to be available throughout the party at lots of places, but if you just want to make sure you get it, that's what I would do. Rob: Yeah, I would agree with that. I don't think I have heard of the the Hatbox Ghost having the inventory issues that some of the previous ones have had. So hopefully you won't have any issues getting that bucket. I've got two questions here that are kind of about the same thing. So I'm gonna lump them together. I think they're both from YouTube. the first is from Susie Parker, who says this was incredibly helpful. I'm assuming she's talking about the video this was posted on. Can you do an updated lightning lane strategy for Disneyland and DCA, which is Disney California Adventure? I am so lost on how to change my rope drop and general strategy for the West Coast. That was the first question. And the second is I'm planning a trip. Trip to Disneyland or California Adventure, but I'm planning it for May of 2027. I'm very familiar with Disney World, including Lightning Lane, restaurant reservations, early entry, the app, etc. but I don't know if Disneyland is different. Is there a different app, different tips and tricks, different system for Lightning Lanes? Could you spend some time on those differences and similarities? what about hotel suggestions for staying in the bubble out there? All right, so I'm gonna speed through this because we were just at Disneyland. I felt like this is the perfect moment to answer this because it's all fresh in our heads. so the biggest difference with Lightning Lane between Disney World and Disneyland is that Disneyland is still using what we thought of as Genie Plus. So if you ever use Genie Plus before it changed to Lightning Lane multipass, that's the same system that they have at Disneyland. They just Change the name, but left everything else exactly the same. Quick rundown on what that means. Instead of having three slots like you do at Disney World, you just have one slot. But you do have the two-hour rule, which went away when we got Lightning Lane Multipass. What the two hour rule means is if you book a lightning lane, you can wait two hours. Even if you haven't used that lightning lane, you can book another one after waiting two hours. Of course, if you use that lightning lane before the two hours is up, then You can book another one right away as soon as you use it. another thing that's unusual, you cannot pre-book lightning lanes at Disneyland the way that you do at Disney World. You have to basically wait until you tap into the park, and that's when you can book your first lightning lane. Another weird quirk that you might not be used to if you are been using to used to the Disney World system. Disney World, you can modify a lightning lane from one park into a lightning lane for another park. You cannot do that at Disneyland. If you want to book a Lightning Lane for another park, you have to wait until you have a Lightning Lane available, or you have to cancel the Lightning Lane that you currently have and then book from scratch in the other park. The good news is, however, Lightning Lane works in both parks. If you have a park hopper ticket, you can use it in both, even if you purchased it in one or the other. Now, in terms of the app, yes, Disneyland has its own app. But it works very similar to Disney World. So just download the Disneyland version. It's all going to be mostly familiar. but there are some some differences, you know, in terms of basically Disneyland's tech is not as up to date, I would say, as Disney World's tech. So, for example, you can use a Magic Band if it's the newest version of Magic Band, but it can't open your hotel room door, for example. You you can you can use it. To tap into the park and to tap into lightning lanes, but it's it's not going to do all the same whiz-bang stuff that it does at Disney World. The other thing that I would say it's important to know about Disney World versus Disneyland, you don't get the same perks. So if you're staying on property at Disney World, you get access to early entry every day at every park for 30 minutes. If you're staying at a deluxe hotel at Disney World, you can do extended evening hours at Select. Parks select evenings, none of that do you get at Disneyland anymore. Now all you get at Disneyland is a single lightning Erick: Okay. Rob: lane for each member of your party that's staying in the room. And I don't mean lightning lane for the day. I mean one lightning lane for each person in your party. And if you're staying there for 21 days, you still get one lightning lane. If you're staying there for one day, you get one lightning lane. I think that's kind of weird. I'm not sure why that's the direction they chose to go with that, but that is what they've done at Disneyland. So if you're thinking you want to stay inside the bubble for the perks, it is definitely not that there aren't perks anymore that make it worth staying inside the bubble. Having said that, I feel you. I also I I feel a need to be inside the bubble when I'm at a Disney park just because that's the vibe I want. And so we have stayed at every single hotel. So you've got the Disneyland Hotel, you've got the villas at Disneyland, which is the D V C side, you've got the Grand Californian, and you've got the Pixar Place Hotel. I would say best bang for your buck, no question about it, is Pixar Place. It was completely renovated recently. It's the best value. And I'm gonna be honest, it is kind of their version of I would I wouldn't say it's value. I'd say it's a moderate resort, but it is very nice for a moderate. I mean, they've got the what's the name of the piano, the the the lead character from Soul, the piano player. Cannot remember his name right now, but Craig: Mm. Rob: he comes every single afternoon and plays piano in the in the lobby of the Pixar Place Hotel. It it does not feel like a moderate. It feels like it should be a you know a higher-end resort, but it's priced like a moderate. So that would be my best budget pick. If your goal is to have. A really luxe lobby and to have great access to the parks. Grand Californian all the way. That one feels kind of like Wilderness Lodge, not quite as cavernous. it feels like a little bit more of a luxurious wilderness lodge, I would say. the downside to that one is the rooms haven't been renovated in forever and they feel kind of dated for what you pay to be in there. But the upside is you have direct access, you can go directly into the park from that hotel to California Adventure. It has its own entrance. It also has its own dedicated entrance into downtown Disney. so those are big perks, to be honest, when you're staying at Disneyland. Then finally you have the the Disneyland Hotel, which is the original. I would say I love the villas at Disneyland, which is the DVC side, because they're brand new and they feel that we just stayed there. It was magical and I loved it. When we stayed at the older Disneyland hotel rooms, They also, much like Grand Californian, but even more so, feel kind of dated. I feel like that room, that that hotel is ready for a renovation. but the upside to that one is it's the original. You know, if you want to stay classic, you know, mid-century modern Disney, that's where you would go. But I think the the villas are a a much better spot. Anything else I should we should we should prepare our our friend for for their Trip from Disney World to Disneyland. Jessica: I was just gonna say I was gonna put in a plug for off site hotels. There are so many of them Rob: We don't Jessica: and they every possible hotel chain has one and it's they're just right there, they're walking distance. so I know you it the bubble is It's not quite the same bubble at Disneyland as it is here. I think a lot of hotels are within the distance of a bubble. So just bear that in mind. Rob: Craig, we have one final set of questions that you have for us. Well, what do we got? Craig: Yeah, I got a couple questions. Same topic. so Kelsey asks, I believe from YouTube, she says, How does it work when you're first booking for single pass lightning lanes? Can you just choose a later time? So what I think she's referring to is when you first get your lightning lanes set up, you're gonna tell it what park you want, what lightning lane, single pass you want, and this is gonna give you a time. And then you can go in and modify that time quite easily, as soon as you're done purchasing, you can go back and pick different times. then Debbie GB from Patreon wants to know. She says, Do you know if you can assign a single pass to a different person as well? Or does it need to be the same person, but you can change the ride. So yeah, I think Charlie knows, yes, you can actually you can do all that with single pass. you can change the ride. There might be a price difference, so you have to pay for that. If you're going from a ride that is more expensive to a cheaper one, you do not get a refund. This is Disney. Never forget. Rob: Mm-hmm. Craig: but yeah, you can assign it to somebody else. You can assign different times. I've actually I did this with Rob. I think I was there and I just wasn't able to do a single pass that I had bought. So I assigned it to him and we just kept kicking the time down the road. So Rob: Mm-hmm. Craig: even though he couldn't use it like within the first couple of days, but we were able to like keep kicking the time down. And the date down. So yeah, that's a nice thing about single pass. They are very flexible. Jessica: But you cannot, like if Rob had already ridden that single pass that day, you couldn't have given him a second time to do the single pass. Rob: Correct. Jessica: So like Craig: Yes. Jessica: if if you guys are together, you can't, it's not like you can't hack the system to get two lightning lanes for the same ride. So that that just to clarify, you still can't ride the same single pass on the same day, Craig: Mm-hmm. Jessica: even if you trade it. So that's one of the people try to hack the system. Disney's learned you can't do that. Craig: Yeah. Yeah, Rob: Yeah. Craig: like same with 'cause you only have two single passes per day. So if Rob had two single passes, I could not have given it to him for that day. I Jessica: good point. Craig: could make it for the next day though. Rob: excellent. I do see we have some more questions that have come in from Patreon that we will talk about in the Patreon exclusive after party. If you'd like to join us, just head over to patreon.com forward slash Earscouts and you can be part of our Patreon chat as we record each episode and take part in the Patreon exclusive after party. but before we head to that after party, we do have one final segment that we like to do at the end of every podcast episode, and that is happy thoughts. Jessica, why don't you start us off this week? What is your happy thought? Jessica: Well, my happy thought, and for all of you Run Disney people out there, and you know who you are that have helped us with every one of the Run Disney race signups, tomorrow is the scrapbook equivalent of signing up for a Run Disney race. Tomorrow is the release of the Allie Edwards December Daily collection. I know what you're thinking, it's only August, but just just think, if Disney does Halloween in August, scrapbookers do Christmas in August. But tomorrow Rob: Yeah. Jessica: at 10 a.m. is the release of the December Daily collection, and I will be on a queue. They sell out in minutes. The collections sell out in minutes. So that is what I will be doing tomorrow at 10 a.m. And I am so excited. It is my favorite scrapbooking project every year. And about this time every August, we start getting excited about it. So it is Christmas early at my house tomorrow, and that's what I'm happy with. Rob: Awesome. Craig, what is your happy thought this week? Craig: Okay, yeah, so my happy thought is I was able to go back to New York, it was a work job, Eric came with me, and I got to see Cats, the Jellico Ball again, the night before they closed. And, you know, when I say this was just a special show for me, I I I'm not exaggerating, you I'm theater person. I grew up with a theater and this show just meant so much to me more than anything I've ever seen. But we had seats They have like bleachers on the stage itself. So we were like sitting on a Broadway stage watching a Broadway show. And the cast members would come up the aisles and we were in the back row and they like stood behind us. I I got a a hug from Rum Tum Tugger just 'cause I asked for one. Jessica: Hmm. Craig: Like in the show he like loses a competition and he's like coming up the aisle where we were sitting. He came right behind us and I said, Hey, do you need a hug? 'Cause he was looking all dejected that he lost and he's like, Yeah. So I like I got a hug in the middle of the show. So it was just one of those experiences like did this actually happen the whole night was just fantastic. and they have these Christmas ornaments. And I'm sorry, you can only see these on. if you're watching on YouTube, Jessica: So cute. Rob: Wow. Craig: but it's a it's a disco ball, mirror ball in the shape of a cat's head. And it's the most adorable thing ever. So but yeah, it's it's it's just been a an amazing couple of weeks here. So very happy about that. Rob: Awesome. Eric, what is your happy thought this week? Erick: So Disney Photopass social media decided to share my story about my journey with the company. so I felt very happy that they did that. So that's my happy thought today. Rob: It was very cool. So you can see that video where Eric tells a story of of his photo pass journey on the Disney Photo Pass social media pages. we also posted that over on Patreon. So if you're a member of our Patreon family, you can find the link there. But yeah. It was a really it was a really cool video and I think you did a great job. well, my happy thought this week is that I got to meet one of my idols at D23, and that is Joe Roadie. Everyone knows that Animal Kingdom is my favorite park, Expedition Aver Everest is my favorite ride, and Joe Roadie is the imagineer principally responsible for for both of those things, and it was just an incredible honor to to meet him briefly. And I got to attend a talk that he gave about his career in imagineering, but really it was just kind of a talk about creativity in general. And one of the things that that he talked a lot about, and you can see we put some some clips of of his talk on our Patreon page, and they're free. You don't have to pay anything. You can see them at patreon.com forward slash earscouts for free. but He talks about the importance of having a flat organization. And what he meant by that was that, you know, when you have hierarchies, when you have people who are clearly in charge and people who are clearly subordinate, that information gets siloed and you just you never know where that great idea that's gonna make the difference is gonna come from. It might come from someone at the top, but it also might come from, you know, someone who would normally be at, you know, a lower end of the totem pole and wouldn't be heard and he talked about the importance of tearing down those hierarchies and and kind of especially with creative work having everyone on an even playing field. And I just it was it was very inspiring and it's something that I'm definitely gonna try to to to follow in my life in that, you know, the works that the work that I do to try to to tear down those walls and and to keep it flat, as Joe Rhody says. So That is my happy thought this week. we will be back next week with a brand new episode. and we hope to see you there. Until then, don't forget to think happy thoughts, everybody. We'll see you again real soon. Craig: Yeah.