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Epcot Secrets: Hidden Gems, Fun Surprises and Mystery Characters · Ear Scouts Podcast

• Rob: In this episode of the Ear Scouts podcast, we're sharing our favorite secrets and lesser known tips about Epcot at Walt Disney World. 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 our makeshift studio here in Celebration, Florida. Also with me here in Celebration is the other half of Ear Scouts, Eric. Hi ho, Eric. Erick: Hiho everyone! Rob: So, Eric, as always, is going to be keeping up with the live chat over on Patreon. If you'd like to join us live as we record each episode of the Ear Scouts podcast and get access to the Patreon exclusive after party, head on over to patreon.com forward slash Ear Scouts. joining us today, not from the great state of Connecticut, from the neighboring state ⁓ of Pennsylvania is the host of Jessica Scraps on YouTube, our good friend Jessica. Hi ho, Jessica. Jessica: Hi ho everyone. Rob: How are things in in lovely Pennsylvania? Jessica: It is beautiful today and I've just sit in an office building in a hotel room the whole time. So it's been great. Rob: joining us from the great state of Indiana ⁓ is our resident Disney trivia guru, Quizmaster Craig. Hi ho, Craig. Craig: Hi ho everybody, getting excited to talk about my favorite park tonight. Rob: Yeah, I mean, this is your favorite park, and it's kind of lesser-known Disney things that we're talking about, which is kind of like your specialty. So this is gonna be ⁓ a fun episode. We did this already for Magic Kingdom. If you haven't heard that episode, you can check it out ⁓ here on the podcast wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. But today we're doing the second park at Walt Disney World, Epcot. ⁓ We've actually got a really long list of things. Now, some of these, obviously, it's a theme park that millions of people visit every year. There is not any such thing truly as a secret that, you know, one of us is going to know that no one else in the world is going to know. But we do have some things that when you come frequently, you discover. Maybe these are things that have become favorites for us when we visit that we feel like aren't as widely known. So we're going to share some of those things with you so that you can have An amazing visit next time you come to Epcot and use some of these lesser known secrets. Craig, why don't you go ahead and start us off? what is your first secret of or lesser known tip you'd like to share? Craig: Okay, well, first of all, coming up with these was fun, but I kept coming up with ones that are no longer there. Like you used to be able to segue through World Showcase and stuff. I was like, that's not there anymore. That would have been a good one. Anyway, but this one is definitely there. And my first one is World Celebration out behind Spaceship Earth, that whole area, that little courtyard area with the lights and the gardens and the seating areas. It's just a great place to relax. have a snack, great places to sit and eat. You can charge your phones. And my favorite thing is just to people watch. Like if you go to the Magic Kingdom and you're watching people come into the park, they're rushing, know, they're like ready in their ⁓ sight and hyped. But once they a world celebration in the gardens and such, they just kind of slow down. ⁓ I think it's just the combination the music, the mood. ⁓ it's a huge space. It's generally not a crowded or difficult one to get through. so I think does its purpose to just cough, offer like a decompression zone when you hit to park. ⁓ you can just, ⁓ chill a little and enjoy the day, which I think is more of an Epcot thing. It's not like do, do. just like experience. So, I appreciate World Celebration for that fact alone. Rob: I feel like that. So that's kind of the newest addition to Epcot, that that area. It was recently redone. And for me, I feel like it kind of harkens back. The original idea for Epcot was that it was going to be the city of tomorrow. Like that was the original concept that Walt Disney had. He wanted the experimental prototype community of tomorrow. And I feel like this is like the city park. You know, it's it's it. serves the exact same function as a city park does. It's a place with lots of seating. It's peaceful where there's a lot of crazy hustle and bustle going on around it. As you said, great spot to to grab a snack or people watch. but yeah I think probably in terms of the biggest secret though that a lot of people don't realize that you mentioned the great place to recharge your devices. ⁓ lots of opportunities to charge things there. Craig: Mm hmm. Yeah, they they did a great job of like making sure they put in outlets and they have wireless charging. I don't know if they have that in World Celebration. I they have it in Connections Cafe. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: so ⁓ you mentioned some things that ⁓ they used to have that went away. I want to mention something that they used to have and it went away and then it came back because this did go away right after the pandemic. But if you go to the which is also known as the C's Pavilion, this is where the finding Nemo attraction is. But you don't even have to ride the Finding Nemo attraction. You go around the side and enter. And it's basically this massive saltwater aquarium. When it was built, it was the largest saltwater aquarium in the world. it's currently ⁓ of the largest saltwater aquariums in the US. I think ⁓ the one in Atlanta is now definitely larger. But of things that you may not realize you can do at this aquarium is what is called. Dive quest, and that means you can scuba dive in this aquarium with the fish. In fact, sometimes I I haven't seen this in a very long time, so I can't guarantee that this part still happens. But it used to be that part of Dive Quest was sometimes Mickey would scuba dive as well in the aquarium. I haven't seen that in a very long time, so I don't know, but it it's possible you could get that surprise. But what you definitely can do. If you are scuba certified, you can reserve this. You definitely want to book this before you come. This is one of those kind of enchanting extras, I think Disney calls it. But these are separate paid tours and experiences. this one does require that scuba certification. But it's a really cool and unique thing that I think a lot of people don't realize you can do at Disney World. And if you're not there during that limited window of time when it's happening. You wouldn't even know it existed. The other thing, the other flip side to that I will mention, if you find out when Dive Quest is going on when you're there, it's also just really cool to see people doing the Dive Quest experience while you enjoy the aquarium. Jessica, Craig, Eric, have any of you guys ever seen Mickey Mouse scuba diving in the aquarium? Jessica: I don't think so. Craig: Afraid I'm not. I have seen divers go in through that tube. I don't know if they still do that, but that was a long time ago. But no, was never able to connect with Mickey in the water. Rob: I I've seen pictures of it. That's the only thing I've seen. And and maybe it's just one of those things that was only like a promotional thing that was done from time to time. But I have seen pictures of Mickey scuba diving in the tank. Jessica, ⁓ what is your secret of Epcot that you'd like to share? Craig: Mm-hmm. Jessica: Well, you you might not see Mickey, but I do have a way that if you are a Disney Visa card holder, you can get ⁓ usually really quick character meet and greet with one of the fab five. And that is over by Figment. If you go past the theater, there is a Visa card photo opportunity. And it is a character meet and greet, normally one of the Fab Five. We've met Minnie there, we've met Pluto there. I think we've met Goofy there. it is never longer like five minutes. ⁓ It it the quickest character meet and greet you will do. You just have to show your ⁓ visa card. And I believe you can take up to four people with you ⁓ to get in there and do a meet and greet. And you get it downloaded, it goes right to your photo pass and it is a really great way to those pictures. ⁓ I didn't realize it there for a very long time. I thought that was just part of the theater, the, you know, the Where they have the shorts. And I it took me a while to figure out, ⁓ no, if I can show my Visa Disney card, I can go get a picture. And I think actually one of our favorite pictures of us with many is the picture that was taken there. ⁓ so just a really cool place. So if you're looking for a great opportunity to get character photo quickly and you don't have to wait in a long line. Now the downside is you don't know which character you're gonna get until you turn the corner, which for some people is a lot of fun, but you will be able to go in and get that picture. So that's my first tip. Rob: Very nice. So I do want to mention to our friends who are joining us from Patreon. We would love to include any tips, questions, suggestions, or secrets that you would like to share, put them in the chat. And we'll be checking in with Eric after this next round to see secrets we have from our Patreon family. But Craig, ⁓ why you start us off on round two? What is your next secret ⁓ of Craig: Okay, well, this is kind of tip more a secret, but ⁓ on Guardians of the Galaxy, wait for the crowds in the pre-shows. There are two pre-show rooms, and those in the know know that eventually you're going to want to get over to the right side of whatever room you're in because that's how you get to the next line to get onto the ride itself. And it's a nightmare. ⁓ People are crowding in. elbowing each other, trying to get ahead of each other. My tip, my secret is to just wait, wait till they all go. it's ⁓ probably not to more than five minutes difference, seriously. I mean, if you're in a rush and you need to hit ⁓ a reservation or something, one thing, but do yourself a favor. Just don't engage with that. Take the time, enjoy the room. And it's ⁓ lot of cool effects go in that room. So you can kind of look around, see how they did it. instead of just rushing through with the big old crowd. ⁓ obviously it's kind of a secret because no one does it. Rob: Yeah. Jessica: Ha ha. Rob: So I used to be one of those people who I had sort of figured out my strategy to how to make sure I was going to be among the first people out of that room and into the next section of the queue. And now I am Team Craig. I do the same thing. I, in fact, I like to be completely apart from the crowd that's all gathered around the door. ⁓ And not going to give away this secret because I do think it's a fun thing to discover yourself. But pay attention when you're in that that. Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: Final pre-show room where you're gonna see guardians of the galaxy on the screen and you also see, you know, the the what do you call that thing? The giant creature thing that's that's keep that's holding Earth hostage. Yeah. Well the bad guy, right? When you're there, pay attention to cosmic ⁓ and Craig: Yeah, I couldn't even tell you the name of it. Yeah, the bad guy. Rob: ⁓ there's some fun things that you wouldn't even notice happening. You there's little details that happen that if you're just rushing through, you wouldn't notice. So ⁓ take Erick: So now I know they have changed procedures. I know they ⁓ are doing the extensions right now. So know that we have some cast members that are guiding you, which they, what you just Greg, like that ⁓ that went directly to the point. Like just take your time, enjoy and just follow ⁓ the flow. you know, like that you're having right now. I mean, actually Rob was just mentioning as well, like there's one section where the Guardians of the Galaxy crew just shows up on the screen and something happens over there that I never noticed it until like, well, literally years later. So yeah, just take a moment, enjoy and be amazed for what is happening over there. Rob: Yeah. So Craig's tip was to take your time ⁓ and and the moment. I've actually got a tip for when you don't want to take the time and you don't want to enjoy the moment. You want to just get what you need to get and move on. And that is in the Germany pavilion, there is a very popular snack that lots of people will tell you you should try. And it is delicious in it's Caramel Kucha is the snack shop there. And they have caramel popcorn that they make fresh with Werther's caramel. And it is delicious. But what you will also find because it's very popular, there's a huge line usually coming out the door. ⁓ the line moves somewhat quickly, but it's definitely going to interrupt the flow of your day to stand in that long line, especially when you don't have to. Because there is something called mobile order that I'm sure you're already aware of. But what you may not know is that you can use mobile order at Caramel Kucha. And double bonus when you use mobile order, if you have an annual pass or your DVC or you have any Disney discount, the mobile order will automatically apply it. And normally you don't get Disney discounts when you mobile order because you don't usually get them at quick service spots. But Caramel Kucha is considered a store. It's a retail location. So you get your Disney discounts there. If you wanted a bottle of water to be added to your order, you can apply that there. And then instead of paying the full price for your bottle of water, you're going to get your Disney discount applied to it if you have one. ⁓ best of all, really the biggest reason you want to do this, whether you have a discount or not, ⁓ it will tell you on the app when your order is ready. And you can just walk in essentially what is like the back door into ⁓ caramel kucha, skip that line altogether and grab your delicious caramel popcorn and or beverages and head along on your Epcot day. So mobile order, really, anytime you can use mobile order, it's a win. I can't think of any place where I don't like to use mobile order when it's available. So always use it when you can. Jessica, what is your next at Epcot? Jessica: Well, I'm gonna stay in Germany and I brought my German pretzel ears. ⁓ and I'm gonna talk about mobile ordering again because I think this is very important. I'm just gonna piggyback on yours. There is also Summerfest, and it is in the back of the German pavilion, ⁓ kind of like where you go to beer garden, and a lot of people don't see it. It's hidden back in the corner, ⁓ and you can mobile order So you don't have to stand in any of those lines to get beer. You can order mobile order the souvenir steins that they sell. So they sell these souvenir steins that they put the beer in. You can order mobile order those there. You can mobile order brats, full brats, and you can mobile order one of, I think when we did the very first podcast, I said one of my favorite desserts, the pretzel bread pudding. All of that can be mobile ordered right there at Summerfest. You don't have to wait in a line. Particularly when it gets hot in the summer, the beer lines, particularly in Germany, get super long. All of the good beer that they have in all of those lines are available on mobile order right there pretty quickly. ⁓ and I think that's just something people overlook. So always open your My Disney Experience app, hit the dining, and look for that mobile order symbol and take up take that opportunity because that German pavilion, multiple times we've had people that are waiting in this. long, long beer line and I mobile order go up and get it and come out before they've even gotten up to the register. So just a really good tip. So mobile order in Germany, ⁓ caramel corn and beer and you're just set to go. Rob: Mm-hmm. Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: Mobile order is your friend. Eric, what are we hearing over on Patreon? Do we have any early tips or questions or suggestions about Epcot? Erick: Yeah, have one question that's from Dennis and asks, there a or timeline for the live music in the back area of the UK pavilion? We just came across one day a year ago or so. they were playing rock music. Something I like, maybe ACDC. Jessica: Dennis, you're speaking my language. So I I this I will talk about this till every day. Command Performance. The band's name is Command Performance. They actually work for Epcot. They are there, ⁓ I believe, five days a week. ⁓ they schedule performances all day long. You can see it in the entertainment section of the My Disney Experience app. But I believe it is 3:30, 435, ⁓ 7 and 8. ⁓ or some variation of that. But it's basically 30 minutes at break, 30 minutes at break, 30 minutes at break. it's performance is great. During Wine and Dine and during Flower and Garden, they have another band that's an 80s cover band. It's the same exact people, but they do 80s music. And sometimes they'll be one of the local bands that'll be performing during those. If you can catch them there, they're amazing. But Command performance, those guys are amazing. ⁓ and it is all it is typically UK and rock bands, is what they do back in the back. My favorite, John and I, multiple times you will catch us on our way to command performance. ⁓ John just told me the name. He's sitting there listening. Their other name is the ⁓ eighties. So if you hear a band called the ⁓ eighties, that is Command Performances Alter Ego that does eighties covers. Thank you, John. Rob: Mm-hmm. Very cool. Very cool. ⁓ yeah, as soon as I heard the nature of that question, I was like, Jessica, Jessica's gonna feel this one because Jessica loves command performance. Craig: Hahaha. Jessica: I do, I love them. Rob: We all do. They're great. ⁓ but Jessica especially. So, moving on to our next tip. Craig, why don't you start us off? What is your next Epcot tip everyone should know? Craig: OK, so my next tip is to try out the space 220 lounge over the space 220 restaurant. I've done the dinner, ⁓ but I think overwhelmingly everyone I've ever talked every post I've ever read about it were like it was great. It was fine. It was one and done. It just wasn't worth the money. However, they also have a lounge that takes reservations separately and you can also walk up. and see if you can get in. They don't have a virtual walk up list, but you have to go actually to the umbrella near the entrance. So you can find out if maybe it'll be worth it for you to to wait and get in. But you get the same experience. You get all the special effects. You get the windows. You can order food. They're more like light bites, appetizers. Everything I've ever had there was quite tasty. Nothing I've ever disliked. Cocktails are are fine. I'm sure you'll find something you like. ⁓ But yeah, if you've always wanted to like check it out, and the cost was prohibitive, or you heard bad things about it, the lounge is great. doesn't take a huge amount of time. You're not having whole meal there. ⁓ But can stay and just enjoy the And I've done it many times. So it's just ⁓ that is a one and done for me. In fact, I should probably do this next tip. Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: This is on our list for our next trip. I think since you've told us this, this is on our list for the next trip. We've done like you're saying we're not we weren't interested in the prefix meal at Space two twenty, but doing the lounge I think is a great tip 'cause I don't think I I have it on my stakeout right now to try to get I think it'd be great. So good tip. Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: Yeah. Yeah, the the the experience of entering the lounge where you kind of you're bored, the the vehicle that takes you up the space needle and you get the experience of going into outer space is very cool. ⁓ and I've only ever done the lounge as well. I do have a bonus secret to that. of the bartenders who's there pretty he's usually there on the weekends, but he shared this tip with me, and that is Craig: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Rob: Unless you're just really in love with one of those drinks that's on the standard cocktail menu, consider asking the bartender to create something for you based on what you like. Because all of those drinks that are on the list are pre-made cocktails. They're pre-mixed. But what he said was just tell me what what do you like? You like fruity, you like something that's you know got more of a whiskey kick to it. Just give me your your flavor profile. And I'll make something for you and we'll name it after you'll be your own drink, ⁓ here at the Space Two Twenty Lounge, which was really cool. Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: I do a tip that is in that same area of the park. it's basically right downstairs. It's a mission space, which is across from space two twenty. This is an attraction that a lot of people just ⁓ will do because it's it's Very intense, especially the orange mission can make you feel very motion sick. But even the green mission, some people are just like, I can't do it. The movement and the screens, and it's just it's too much for me. But you may have some group, some part of your group that really wants to do it. And that's where my secret comes in. At the exit of that attraction, which you can basically walk around to the side and enter through the exit, there is what's called the space base. and This is kind of like a bunch of free like video games, basically, and kind of like interactive experiences. And especially if you've got little ones in your crew who don't want to do mission space, but you need to kind of keep them occupied while the rest of the crew is riding. This is great. It's air conditioned. I can tell you it's kind of like if you've ever ridden ⁓ Spaceship Earth, when you come off of Spaceship Earth, there's that little, you know, area there where there's just Different games and experiences. I don't ever see a huge crowd of people just hanging out there at the exit of mission space. There's some, but it's not as popular. This one, the the space base, it's usually jam-packed and those kids are having a blast. So I think this is a a lesser known ⁓ little secret spot. Even if no one's doing Mission Space, if you've got kids who love space and love video games, bring them back there to to get a little AC break and and check it out. So that is my next tip. ⁓ Jessica, do you got for us? Jessica: Since Dennis so kindly talked about one of my absolute favorite things to do in the UK pavilion, I'm going to talk about my second favorite thing to do in the UK pavilion, which is for those of you that don't know, Rosen Crown is actually available for seating during the lunchtime. It's available for seating from the time it opens till 3 p.m. And you can take your fish and chips or if you have a beer or if anything that you've purchased, if you go to the food carts. And you can go inside and sit in air conditioning, or you can sit under the fans outside if it's a cooler day, like if it's only in the 80s, and you still want to sit outside and look at the water. All of the seating for Rosen Crown is available up to 3 p.m. just for you to bring food into. I will say the bonus is there is a musician playing the piano back in Rosen Crown that has two sets. and he performs 130 and 230, which is why and the reason I know that you go straight from Kelly in Rosen Crown and then you go over to catch the first set of command performance. And this is something we do quite often. but the really the sitting inside and the the bonus tip is you can also sit inside the Mexican restaurant over in ⁓ Mexico. ⁓ is San ⁓ I you know This is Jessica doesn't pronounce these words correctly. Rob: They're they're they're all named San Angel, which is very ⁓ inconvenient because there's Cantina de San Angel, there's the I don't know, but base hacienda de San Angel, but they they all have the San Angel in their name, but it's if you go to the basic the quick service, the it's the indoor restaurant that's attached to the quick service. That's the one you're talking about, and that that that'll get people there. Craig: Yes. Erick: you Yeah. Craig: Hacienda. Jessica: Right. And so you can just go straight into that room and it's a whole room of air conditioning. You can take your quick service Mexican food and go straight in and ⁓ eat there. So I just think those two restaurants that have a really good air conditioned seating in the middle of the day, I think people forget about. And it's just a great place to take a break. It is my favorite spot in ro in the UK pavilion. And I will say if John and I, or even my mom and I now, because this is what my mom and I did. are in Epcot between twelve thirty and three, you can find us in Rose and Crown, listening to music and just hanging out. So basically that's where we that's where we vibe. Rob: Mm-hmm. Nice. What kind of vibes are we getting from our friends on Patreon? Eric, any any tips or questions or suggestions from Patreon? Erick: we do have some. So Jules was mentioning that right now we're having some annual pass ⁓ photo opportunities going where can meet like some of the characters like Donald, Daisy, and also they were mentioning that Chip and Dale. ⁓ Jessica: ⁓ wow. Where is that at? Does anyone know? Rob: Is it in the annual pass holder lounge that opened in the Morocco pavilion? Erick: I can imagine, they didn't mention where it was, but yeah, they were talking about like, I mean, that's the only place where I can think of where you can get the, past myths and grids. Rob: So I know Donald and Daisy right now are in their fiftieth anniversary outfits and they're meeting, I think, in the DVC lounge, right? ⁓ is is that where they're at? Jessica: So Dennis is saying it's not in the lounge. It's near the D Disney Visa Card meet and greet. So apparently there's two ⁓ you know what it is? It's in the lobby of where you go to the remember how you would go to the movie, The Pixar Shorts? In that lobby where they had the fiftieth meet meet and greet, remember that? I bet it's right there. Rob: Wow. To the pigs yeah, yeah, that big lobby area. Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: Mm-hmm. Erick: Yeah, it says that it's at the Magic Eye Theater in Epcot and that it runs between 10am to 6pm. ⁓ So, yeah. Rob: Okay, there you go. Beautiful. Jessica: Yeah. That's exciting. Craig: Mm-hmm. Jessica: Great. Rob: Perfect. So that that that's the one with that's the one with Donald and Daisy in the fiftieth outfit. Is that what that one is? Jessica: I think it's been fiftieth care fiftieth outfit characters and it's it's switched. I think this this week it was Donald and Daisy. I think it has been Chippendale. So we'll find out what it is. All of y'all on Patreon report back. Who is it this week? Next week. Rob: ⁓ huh. Okay, I see, got it. Yeah. So yeah, that's that's a great tip. So basically, this that's probably gonna be going on, I would guess, all cool kids summer. If you're there this summer, check the Magic Eye Theater. also there's the DVC lounge that is right by there. It's basically upstairs from the Imagination Pavilion. and then for the summer, is the annual Passholder Lounge, which is in the back of the Morocco Pavilion. So those are all Good things to take advantage of that we actually didn't have in our list. So thank you so much. That was Jules that shared that with us. Thank you, Jules. We appreciate it. we will come back to Patreon after another round here. Craig, why don't you start us off? What is your next tip or secret? Erick: Yes. Craig: Okay, well, I am going to go back to Germany since we all seem to have something going on in Germany. And this is about the little town with the trains. I a lot of people look at it they know about it and it's really cute, but really take a close look, ⁓ especially if there's festival going on. They have on all the little ⁓ lamp posts on the village streets. ⁓ They have appropriate banners whatever festival is going on. Festival of the arts, holidays, food and wine. flower and garden and that's really cool. Also, I mean, if you just look at the little figurines and try to make up your own story, because some of them are like placed weird and you're like, why is that person doing that? So that's just a little fun side activity I like to do and just really explore the village because they do take care of the details there. And that's kind of what I love about it is that that's one place that you still see like they didn't need to do that. It's so small, but they do it. And I love that. Rob: Yeah. And I just I love that they made that part of Epcot too, because I mean Epcot exists because it was Walt Disney's vision. I mean, that's really why Epcot is there. And model trains, that was Walt's greatest passion. So I do love that there's ⁓ a model train set there in the heart of Epcot, which is very nice. And you're right, they do a great job with it. So Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: Craig took us back to Germany. I'm going to take us back to the UK pavilion. I'm actually going to take us back there a couple times because I got some more things to share. But this next one is one that a lot of people have no idea is back there. If you go back where Jessica was talking about, where you see command performance. So this is basically just walk into the very back of that pavilion. going to see ⁓ exit essentially of the shop. the that is the the very back shop there on your right it looks like it would just be a cast members only area that's really what it looks like but it's actually Christopher Robin's bedroom ⁓ and there will sometimes be a line there but a lot of times there's not you can just walk right up to that door and walk right in and there's Christopher Robin's bedroom all set up and Winnie the Pooh is there to meet Folks, and get your photo taken with Winnie the Pooh. I cannot tell you how many times I have gone and there has been no one in line for Winnie the Pooh, just because folks don't realize it's back there. So if you're a Winnie the Pooh fan, this is a must do for your Epcot day. Go to the back of the Epcot pavilion, go through that little little door in the back, and you will find Christopher Robin's bedroom and Winnie the Pooh. ⁓ Jessica, what is your next secret of Epcot? Jessica: I'm going continue talking about some characters. And this time it is there is a wall between ⁓ America and Italy ⁓ the world showcase. ⁓ if you see a random cast member kind of hanging out there, ⁓ lot of times that means some characters might be coming out to play. ⁓ we have multiple times been able to get ⁓ characters with no line. it is some of the best pictures we have. I think those characters are probably ⁓ out their ability to meet and greet people, maybe. ⁓ ⁓ they are having a great time and they're learning how to interact with people for photos, ⁓ it is a great way to get characters ⁓ kind of quickly. And some of the unique characters, I will say, ⁓ characters that might be Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: Planning to go to a Halloween party or planning to go to a Christmas party, might get a test run through the American Pavilion wall. ⁓ so just look over there if you ever happen to see kind of a cast member milling around, particularly if they happen to have a bunch of Sharpies in their pocket, you know, that might be a cast member that's about to have characters come out. So, ⁓ it's happened to us more than once where that's where we've met some really cool characters. So just be aware of that. And it's Rob: Ha ha ha. Jessica: between Italy and America. Rob: Yeah. It's basically right behind that Joffrey's that's there. Jessica: Yeah. Rob: speaking of Joffrey's, I just want to share this because this is random. ⁓ has anyone been to Costco recently? I've got a I've got a Costco secret, and that is that ⁓ selling Joffrey's coffee now at Costco. How crazy is that? Yeah. Maybe it's only regionally, but I discovered that I could get Joffrey's coffee at Costco, so I got some. So next time you're at Costco, check the coffee section. Maybe there's gonna be Jessica: Not at my Costco. I'm I mean I'm good I will go right now. Well I won't 'cause I'm not home. Darn it. Craig: Yeah, I need to go this week, so I'll look. Rob: ⁓ Eric, what is our question, secret or tip from Patreon? Erick: Well, Christina is going to take us back to Germany. She says that making glass ornament in the Germany pavilion is a little known thing, ⁓ but a cool souvenir, even ships it to you after you make it. Rob: Can I tell you it can I tell you an embarrassing thing? ⁓ I we had lived here for over a year, probably two years. And it was the start of Festival of the Arts. And I saw that ⁓ little booth where that you make your own ornaments. And I went over and I said, ⁓ this is so cool. ⁓ you guys doing this for Festival of the Arts? And she looked at me and she's like, No, we're always here. I was like, Really? Jessica: That's a great one. ⁓ no. Mm-hmm. Rob: How did I not know that this was here? Like I've lived here for years now and it you're right. It is like a secret. I walked right past it many times without realizing it was there. But yeah, thank you for sharing. Craig, ⁓ is your next thing that people might just walk right past if they weren't paying attention? Craig: OK, well, this is actually ⁓ going to Moana Journey of Water in World Nature. at the end, there's a section where you can raise your arms as if you are summoning a wave and this wave will come out at you. The idea is to get a whole bunch of people to do that. You can do it. ⁓ You'll a little splash toward you, and you don't even get wet. But the idea is to get everyone to do it at once. And then you get this huge wave coming out. It's really cool. ⁓ And no one pays attention. It's hard to bring like maybe ⁓ eight strangers who aren't paying attention. It's like, no, do it way. ⁓ I haven't managed to get them to do it correctly a couple of times and ⁓ everyone loved it. So and of course there's signs telling you to do, but I don't expect anyone to read that. So ⁓ if you have a big enough group, the idea is to So you're all raising your hands at the same time and summoning that big wave. Jessica: I see a jamboree activity. Craig: ⁓ yes, for sure. Rob: For sure, for sure. How big can we get the wave? So this is just like ⁓ it Seven Dwarfs Mind Train. Every time I ride Seven Dwarfs Mind Train, I it's my mission in life to get Snow White to appear on the ceiling. But that means everybody has to be spinning the barrels at the same time. And man o man, when it's a bunch of strangers in line who are like, what is why is this weird person telling me to put my hands on this filthy barrel and spin it? Jessica: Mm-hmm. Craig: Hahaha. You Rob: That's not happening. But it's it's it's like it it's like herding cats, but when you get it, when you get everybody in sync to do it, it is definitely worth it. So Craig: ⁓ Yeah, it's the same thing. Erick: You Rob: well, ⁓ next secret ⁓ ⁓ said we were gonna go back to the UK pavilion twice, and this is the second of those returns to the UK. If you're a planning to ⁓ see luminous the end of the night and you want the absolute best spot to see luminous from, now I will tell you you do have to do this pretty early. So this is gonna eat up. A little bit of the end of your Epcot day to get this spot. But if you go to the Rose and Crown, where Jessica was talking about, where you can sit inside and listen to the piano, basically walk down that sidewalk that's between the Rose and Crown and the little outdoor bar for Rosen Crown. It's like the little beer cart, and there's seating back there. And a lot of people think that that seating is for Rosen Crown. They don't realize that. Anyone can walk back there and sit. But those tables that are right along the water, there is no obstruction of your view. For Luminous, it is one of the closest places you can be to the core of Luminous, which is kind of the structure that comes out into the middle of the water. That's kind of the heart of the show. And it's right there. So you've got front row seats and you're able to sit. And you have a table where you can have drinks or maybe snacks set out. It is the perfect luminous spot. ⁓ now it's a secret, but it's not a total secret. So there are going to be other people who are aiming for that spot. So I would suggest if especially if you've got some folks in your crew who are just kind of exhausted by the end of the day anyway, maybe have them grab one of those tables for your crew at the end of the night. ⁓ because you will need to hold the spot for a little while. ⁓ but it's if you do it, it's great. It's it's my favorite place to watch Luminous. And especially at the end of a long Epcot day where you've done so much walking, it's so nice to be able to sit down and relax for that show. Jessica, what is your next Epcot tip? Jessica: So I think you guys know, and we've talked about it ⁓ a couple of times, John and I like to make our own little mini scavenger hunts. ⁓ recently we did the ride every color of monorail scavenger hunt that took us about a year to do, just to tell you to get through that. ⁓ another scavenger hunt that we like to do is getting all of the country passport photo ⁓ photo pass overlays. So each country has a passport-looking overlay with the country you're in that you can get. And it is typically in one day, not every country will have a photo pass photographer. So it's hard to find them all at the same time. But over the course of a trip, if you make it kind of your mission to go into Epcot and see which countries have a photo pass photographer today and try to get every one of those, ⁓ it's a lot of fun. And it's just kind of a mini kind of challenge to do on trips. ⁓ we've I think we've gotten I don't think we've ever gotten all of them in one trip, but we've gotten, I think, seven once in a trip over a couple of days. So it's just a lot of fun. So and it's something you can then maybe either put in a scrapbook or hang up on a wall to show. and it's even fun to do them in different trips to kind of have that as a memories of Epcot throughout your trip. So those country passport overlays. ⁓ and I would say make sure you ask your Photopest photographer to get you that if you're in the country. ⁓ just to make sure you don't miss it. ⁓ I don't think I've ever missed it though when I've taken when I've been there. But ⁓ just make sure you get that picture. But that's a lot of fun and it's one that ⁓ it's just something free and easy to do. That's just a fun kind of tip. So Rob: Yeah. And and that's a good secondary s tip, which is anytime you're getting a photo pass shot done, no matter where you're at, ask if there's anything special. Because especially when there's a long line or the or the the photographer is busy or maybe they're about to go take a break, they don't always, ⁓ go through single shot that's available there. But if you say, is there anything special here? Is there a magic shot? Is there an overlay? They will be happy to to give you all those shots. So you get a little extra fun on your PhotoPass session. Jessica: And I will say sometimes when you're two adults, they assume maybe you don't want all of the photo passes. Now, when John is wearing one of his crazy shirts, they assume I do want all of the photo passes. But when it's sometimes when we're just there, they're like, Do you and and I have to ask them, ⁓ no, I want the balloons, I want the figment, I want the every pose we can do, I want it. So that's a good tip just to say. Rob: That's right. Craig: Hehehehehe ⁓ Erick: Yeah. Jessica: You know, even if they're not in a hurry or anything, just to say, Yeah, no, I want all of them. I want all the crazy. It's a lot of fun. Erick: it. Rob: For for those who are listening and not watching, I I am one with John today. I'm wearing a a a a crazy figment shirt. ⁓ with Jessica: You ⁓ But I'm I'm wearing my ⁓ crazy Muppet shirt today. Rob: Eric, ⁓ what else we hearing from our friends on Patreon? Do we have any any more tips or suggestions or questions? Erick: Yeah, from Paula. is a very important one, especially now that we are hitting like a hundred degrees outside. ⁓ One secret is that there is a film called Awesome Planet in the Lampavillion, and it's actually a nice little film and a good place to relax in the AC for a bit. Which a lot of people forget that that exists over there, actually. Like sometimes when we are on our way to with the land like we pass by and once again we forget that it's there. Rob: Mm-hmm. Yep. For me Jessica: I try to get John to go in there, but I I I think I'm the only person that likes Awesome Planet. I enjoy it. I think it's fun. Rob: I think it's it's like one of those when you were in middle school and they had the like the projector, they'd wheel out the projector. Well, I don't know. I'm showing my age here. ⁓ Now the they all have like flat screen TVs in the rooms or something and they just play it. But when we were kids, they would wheel in the projector and that meant you were gonna see a nature film or something. And I feel like that's kind of the feeling you get from Awesome Planet. ⁓ yeah. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Craig: Hehehe. Jessica: It is. It needs to be updated. Rob: It could use an update, yes. Agreed. But I don't know, maybe it's eventually gonna ⁓ like for example, in the France pavilion, there's Impressions de France, which one could say that really needs an update, but I hope they never do because it's like it's like a time machine to Craig: Yeah. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Craig: Yeah, that's like. Yeah, that was gonna say that's like the only film from day one that's still playing. I think Awesome Planet is either third or fourth film to go into that space at least. But yeah, Impressions is still there and I think that's awesome. Rob: Mm-hmm. Yep, I love it. I love Impressions de France. Didn't put that on my list, but that's a good secret to mention, which is if you go there in the middle of the day, you would think the only thing that happens in that theater in the back of the France pavilion is the sing-along for Beauty and the Beast, because that's what it it looks like that theater is for. But if you go there right when Epcot opens, or you go there after dark, I think it usually starts around seven. ⁓ they switch it. To Impressions de France, which was the original ⁓ thing that was in that theater. And I love it. I just, it's relaxing. It's a tour around France circa 1982-ish. And the clothes that people are wearing, like the vibe, it's just it's it's brilliant, and I love it. Craig, what is your next secret that people should know for their next trip to Epcot? Craig: OK, and this is in the American Adventure Pavilion where they have a great show called the American Adventure. If you've never seen it, I highly recommend it. I hope that's next on an update as well. A refresh would be great. But in the lobby itself, you don't even have to go in and if you don't want to spend a lot of time the show, ⁓ in. They had the Voices of Liberty on a schedule. You can look that up on the app. It's an group and they sing in this rotunda. in the lobby and the acoustics are just amazing. owe it to yourself to least listen to them sing somewhat. And little known is they have an art gallery there. And there's always there's a different theme. Like right now, I know it's Native Americans. And every few years they update that. ⁓ But yeah, you can always see some great artwork and artifacts and such. It's just a little mini museum in the lobby of the American Adventure. And I think people just you know, if they're not going to see the show, they just walk by, but I highly recommend hitting the lobby itself. Rob: Yeah, I I agree with you on all of those that all three of those things are worth checking out. I also agree. I think most of American Adventure should stay exactly the way it is. Like the animatronic sections are awesome, but some of the film stuff that goes in between could use an update. So that that would be nice. So my my last two secrets that I have so are are kind of about getting around Epcot when you're park hopping or coming or going to your resort. the first of which ⁓ ⁓ Epcot is really weird compared to every other park when it comes to transportation. because Epcot is the only park that has an entrance at the front and an entrance at the back. So there's the international gateway entrance at the back, which is brings you into the world showcase. And then there's the main entrance from the front. And here's the thing if you come to Epcot from the boat or the Skyliner or one of the Epcot area resorts, you are going to come in through the international gateway, which is the back of the park. If you come in from a bus, or you come in, ⁓ From you know your car, if you drove in or you took an Uber or Lyft or minivan, then you're going to come in to the front of the park. ⁓ here's the problem with that. Sometimes people will say maybe they park at the front of Epcot and then they take the Skyliner, maybe over to Hollywood Studios, and their plan is to come back to Epcot and go back to their car. If the park is closed, the other situation, sometimes people don't have a a park pass for Epcot or they don't have a ticket for Epcot and they think that they can transfer to the bus to to get back to their resort. If you don't have the ability to go through Epcot, and it's a long walk too. I mean, that's the other thing to think about. You're gonna have a bit of a hike to get from the Skyliner slash boat slash resort area to the front. it's a something that trips people up a lot. And so much so that when you get on the Skyliner at Hollywood Studios, I don't know if you've ever noticed this, they're gonna ask you, ⁓ where are you Because if you tell them that you're going to ⁓ the front of if you're going to your to get your car at Epcot, they're gonna stop you if Epcot's closed because you're not gonna be able to do it. The other last little weird transportation quirk I want to mention. So with the Skyliner. Certain resorts rely on the Skyliner to get to Epcot. That would be Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Art of Animation, and the Riviera. If you're at one of those resorts, your only option to get to Epcot is going to be the Skyliner. But if there's weather, if there's lightning, if there's heavy wind, the Skyliner is going to shut down. And your transportation is going to become buses to those resorts. Here's the weird thing. Your bus will not be with all of the other buses. I have I had this experience where I was like, I saw the weather was really bad. I was like, ⁓ the Skyliner's not gonna work. So we're gonna take the bus instead. And I walked all the way to the front of the park and I went out and I said, Where's the bus? To to the resort because the skyliner's not working. And they were like, ⁓ well, it's at the Skyliner. So if you if you have a bus. That's that's taking you ⁓ instead of the Skyliner, you still take it at the Skyliner station. So transportation transportation at Epcot is just weird. There's a lot of weird things. ⁓ but I think I covered most of them there so that they won't trip you up when you're at Epcot. ⁓ Jessica, what is your next Epcot secret? Jessica: Well, I'm sticking on a scavenger hunt theme, and I'm gonna talk about my favorite scavenger hunt in all of Walt Disney World. And that is by using the Play Disney app in the World Showcase, you can play the DuckTales Scavenger Hunt Adventure. And it is it is a video screen, so it has videos of you're one of the DuckTales and you're going on an adventure. And as you're in the different countries, different things will happen. As you're playing in the app. And it will actually make things move and make noises and make music and characters will appear ⁓ in the different parts of world showcase. And I think people underestimate how cool it is sometimes, but it's also different because ⁓ it has like an algorithm depending on how many people are playing. which things may happen. So I've done it a couple of times and I get different things happening. And even if you've done it full round once, if you do it again, it's still fun. It's exciting if you're with new people. So ⁓ particularly if you have ⁓ kids or if you have adults that are old enough and I I'm right in that kind of weird age group that the duck tails was a huge deal to you. ⁓ it's a lot of fun. So the DuckTale scavenger hunt On the Play Disney app, I think is one of the best uses of technology I've seen in the parks for an interactive fun. It involves animatronics, music, you, and it's it's kind of what I think Epcot is supposed to be about. So I hope they update it and I hope they keep using it. And I think it's it's amazing. It's what I will wish what I wish Galaxy's Edge was, what I wish the bounty hunter hunter adventure was in Galaxy's Edge. I wish it was more like DuckTales, but Craig: You Jessica: That's that's what I'll say. Rob: Yeah. Some of those are so cool too. Some of the little things that happen. Yes. And I have seen many times, especially the Mexico Pavilion. That's a really good one. I have seen people be like, ⁓ my gosh, did you see what just happened? Like they're not playing the game. They have no idea the game even exists. And someone's like, What? Like, Scrooge McDuck just came out of the volcano and they're like. Jessica: They're so much fun. Rob: ⁓ I think you've had a few too many margaritas. There's no way that Scrooge McDuck just came out of that volcano. But it's 'cause they have no idea that this game exists and you can in fact, if you get the right algorithm, yeah. Y Scrooge McDuck may Jessica: ⁓ yeah. Craig: Ha Jessica: And I'll just put spoiler alert, Rob. You should have done spoiler alert. Spoiler alert. But it is super cool. I it I loved every second of it. Rob: ⁓ I'm sorry. Spoiler alert. Spoiler alert. But yes. It really is. Yeah. I agree. I think that's the that's probably the best of the different scavenger hunt games that that they've done ⁓ at the different parks. Eric, what do we got going on on Patreon? Any more tips or suggestions or questions? Jessica: ⁓ yeah. Erick: Yeah, from Jessica P. tip, if an Expresso Martini fan, go to the GEO82 and ask about menu offerings. They have like varieties, yeah, sounds good. Jessica: Woohoo. Rob: I did not know this secret. That's exciting. Jessica: I didn't know the secret. That is exciting. Craig: I usually do espresso martinis because I don't do vodka. And they have one at Brown Derby in the studios made with tequila, which I can't have and it's amazing. But yeah, that's some I to remember that next time. Rob: you. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: Craig, what is your next secret from ⁓ Craig: But just outside of the International Gateway, you all the Epcot resorts. You have Dolphin, Swan, Swan Reserve, Boardwalk, and Beach Club. ⁓ And some restaurants that have some things that you're not going to get in Epcot. ⁓ There's a booth ⁓ in Boardwalk, Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs. best corndogs on property, in my opinion. that's not hard, that's not really a high bar to hit, ⁓ but are really good. I really like them. You have the Beaches and at the Beach Club. If you're into ice cream sundaes, you got the kitchen sink there. If you've never heard of that, ⁓ I won't into it, but it's just this enormous sundae with how many cans of whipped cream? Rob: ⁓ it's ⁓ it's I think it's ⁓ isn't it a it's that's a whole can. Yeah, it's a whole can. A whole can of whipped cream. Yeah. Craig: Is it two? I can remember now. Darn it. I was hoping somebody knew that. Is it just a whole, it's a whole can. Yes. Yes. Right. Right. Jessica: I think it's a whole can a whip a whole can a whipped cream. Craig: So we all know that Epcot has a wealth of restaurants and great food options, the food booths, even a lot of the quick services is better than a lot of other parks. ⁓ So another thing is the cake bake shop. They have wonderful pieces of cake. They are high price, but I've never tried one just because I don't do sweets. But honestly, everyone that I've heard that has tried them said it was worth it. So. Rob: I I have found them to the the cake is the best things to wood I've tried the pie and the cake there. The pie was just kind of okay, but the cake is usually very good. not not a hundred percent, but I'd say eighty percent of the time the cake is very good, yes. Jessica: And there's another good espresso martini is is cake bake shop. So just if we're talking about espresso martinis, which I'm still talking about espresso martinis, just say it. Craig: ⁓ good to know. But yeah, just don't count out. Rob: And you gotta mention Tratary Alf you gotta mention Tratary Al Forno, right? Craig: ⁓ well, yes, as a near scouts podcast, so it wouldn't be complete without a mention of tutorial for now, which is our favorite restaurant, our favorite breakfast. One of my favorite dishes, the eggs, El Forno. Jessica: Which you can get without meat. Craig: Yes. Rob: And I'm gonna try that next time. I'm excited. It's like a secret menu item. ⁓ this is another secret menu item. It used to be the most popular drink on the menu. I have no idea why they took it off of the menu, but they will still make it for you. It's the iced coffee at Tratery Al Forno. It is the best iced coffee anywhere at Disney World. I would I would argue it's probably the best iced coffee you're gonna get anywhere in Orlando. It is a mix French press coffee, ⁓ drip coffee, and espresso. They take all three types of coffee and they turn it into one iced coffee drink, and then they sweeten the whole thing with espresso flavored syrup. So it's just, if you're a coffee lover, it's just a punch ⁓ of sweet and creamy coffee. And I love it. Craig: Mm Yeah. even Swan and Dolphin, if you're, if you like Mexican food or Italian food, ⁓ Il Molino is an Italian restaurant at the Swan. ⁓ and I would take that over of the restaurants in Italy any day personally. ⁓ same with Rosa Mexicano at, ⁓ the Dolphin. I ⁓ much prefer that to either the ⁓ the San Anel or the San Inn, which is inside the Pavilion. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Craig: But yeah, don't sleep on the resorts. Rob: Agreed. Actually, Jessica, I think you have a you have a Mexican food recommendation though from Epcot. Well well, we're gonna jump out of order real quick so you can share your Mexican suggestion. Jessica: Well, yeah, my my last kind of suggestions are two of the bars at ⁓ in the world showcase. And ⁓ the first one is in the Mexican pavilion and it is actually the stand, the Chosa D de Margarita. Dark I you know what? I should never be asked to say Spanish words. How would I say that? Rob: That was that was pretty good. That was pretty good. Yeah. That was pretty good. Erick: I believe in you, I believe in you, you got this. ⁓ Jessica: I got this. Mmm, Chose a Day Margarita. Okay. Per perfect. So the ⁓ margarita stand, the Chose a Day Margarita. People think you can only get margaritas there. Here's the key. The best quick service food in the Mexican pavilion is the chicken tostadas and guacamole from that stand. I will eat there for lunch more often than I will go to any of the quick services. That chicken tostada is Rob: Mm-hmm. Erick: ⁓ Yeah, you got it. Jessica: Amazing. And the guacamole there, it's as good as I think it's probably the same guacamole they have inside of the La Cavadic tequila, which is better than the guacamole they have in the quick service. I don't know why, but it's slightly different guacamole. And I just think going to that stand and actually ordering the food, people think it's just a margarita stand and it's a long line of people drinking around the world having margaritas. Stay in the stand. Stay in the line, it's worth it for the tostadas. And then my ⁓ yeah, tacos. The tacos. And they have corn, right? They have corn. They have all kinds of food. It's really good food stand and nobody seems to realize there's food there. So ⁓ and then my last tip, I'll just go because I think you have one more and then we're done. But ⁓ my last tip is the other bar that people ⁓ skip out on is spice road table. Rob: I love the tacos there actually. The tacos are really good there too. And yeah, I the mm-hmm mm hmm. Jessica: Which is the sit-down restaurant in Morocco. If you go in and straight into Spice Road Table, there is a full bar, a full walk-up bar that has real bartenders serving real drinks that is much quicker than Rosen Crown. It's much quicker than any of the other drink stands. And it's a full bar with good drinks. So if you're looking for a good solid cocktail that's not overly sweet, that's not pre-made. I think last week ⁓ Craig talked about how Beacon Barrel has the only real pre-made cocktail that I've ever tasted that is a good. He talked about the barrels of blaze. This is where you could get actual if you're a cocktail drinker, good cocktails, go in the spice road table straight back and and actually they have real bartenders making drinks almost never a line because people don't realize you can just go back and order from there. So that's my last tip. Craig: You Rob: Mm-hmm. Ca can you order any of the food items there as well? Can you get the deep fried hummus or is it only drinks? Only drinks. Okay. Yeah. I recommend going there to get the the deep fried hummus, but it sounds like you have to get a table for that because the deep fried hummus is delicious. Jessica: No, it's just a bar. Just a bar. It's just like Rose and Crown. It's the No, you have to get a table to get the deep fried hummus, but it's like the equivalent of Rosen Crown Bar, except it's not seven people deep. It's I don't understand why more people aren't doing that. I g it's not a lot of beer, but it's a cocktails. Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: Yeah. Craig: And I will add if you are looking for a snack and a drink in Morocco and I've talked about this before at the Oasis, which is their little. It's another little bar that's like pastries. They have like Moroccan desserts so you can get a snack there and then I'm going to talk about it again. The Moroccan ice or Moroccan frozen mint tea and you can get that with gin and it's fantastic. We can get it without. It's great either way. Oh and another tip about that is they use those plat those paper straws. So this is a tip that I got from Jessica years ago. Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Jessica: Mm-hmm. Craig: about bringing your own biodegradable straws. And I always keep some in my bag because there's nothing that will ruin a good frozen drink than a paper straw for me. Rob: Yeah. That that oasis, that oasis, every single baked good I've gotten from that Oasis little bakery pastry stand has been delicious. Just they're all good. There's you can't go wrong. ⁓ so and they have like a deal where it's like if you buy one, it's one price. If you buy three, it's a little bit cheaper. If you buy five, it's a little bit cheaper. So ⁓ bring your crew and just get a bunch of little things there because they're all so good. Jessica: Yeah, always have ⁓ in your bag. Rob: my final before we go back to Patreon and see if we have any any follow-ups from there ⁓ is ⁓ secret you're gonna find at the back of Epcot. You're gonna go back out through the International Gateway where Craig was talking about. There's all those great resorts back there. The other thing that's back there that a lot of people don't realize is a walking path that will take you to Hollywood Studios. ⁓ And To my knowledge, I'm pretty positive there is no other walking path that connects two parks at Walt Disney World. You can't get, you can't, you can take the monorail from Magic Kingdom to Epcot. You're not going to walk from Magic Kingdom to Epcot. it's a pretty cool, unique thing that only ⁓ Epcot and Studios have is that connection by path. It's not a super long walk. I want to say if you go really leisurely, it's probably 10-15 minutes, probably 15. but if it's a beautiful day, especially if it's a beautiful afternoon as the sun is setting, it's a lovely walk and it is faster than the skyliner, which is most people go. it's also probably faster than the boat, because the boat is gonna stop. at every single resort on the way over to Hollywood Studios. so if you were getting on the boat at Epcot, you'd probably have a faster time walking than stopping at all those different resorts. So if you want to take a leisurely stroll between the parks or if you just want to ⁓ get there faster than everybody else, the walking path is the secret. Anything else that we have from Patreon before we move on to questions of the week? Erick: Yes, This is from Lassie Scout. Can you park at the and take the Skyliner to the gateway at Epcot for park entry? Rob: Yes, you can. the of that is then could take either ⁓ form of you wanted to get back to your car. Because at studios, you could take the boat to studios, you could take the Skyliner to Studios, or you could take the bus, because there is a bus that no, actually there's no bus. There's no bus that goes between Epcot and Studios because you have to take the Skyliner a boat instead. But you could take either of those ⁓ and ⁓ to your car. It's just the other way that you have a problem. So if you go, if you're trying to get from studios to your parking lot at Epcot, that's when there's an issue. Erick: Is a specific time of day where it is more likely that you will see those special characters pop up by the American Pavilion? Rob: ⁓ I feel like it's usually to afternoon, don't don't you guys feel like that's usually when you see it? Jessica: Yeah. I don't it's never first thing in the morning is never last thing at in the af at night. So I would say ⁓ middle of the afternoon is probably ⁓ right about the right time. But it's they they're not gonna be on the schedule, so you just have to be looking for them. Rob: Yeah. Right. Well, with that, let's move on to ⁓ our questions of week. Because we got a few questions ⁓ that came in from Patreon and YouTube. If you would like to have your question answered here on the show, just leave it as comment on one of our videos. Or if you're a member of our Patreon family, you can ask it in the chat and we will answer it either here or in the after party. ⁓ Jessica, why don't you start us off? What is our first question of the week? Jessica: So our first questions comes from Kyle Blackwell, 2253, and it's on a YouTube video that we had. And he says, Rob, I have a question. I hear you talk about turning the slots into a fun game between your party to see who can book the best time. Does that mean that anyone in your party can book lightning lanes on behalf of everyone? If so, is there a best practice to avoid stepping on each other's toes in that someone modifies a tier one to a tier two or someone makes a mistake? so here here's what I say. ⁓ the first answer to your question is yes. Anybody can make anybody in your group can make lightning lane changes to your lightning lanes. So theoretically, ⁓ if was at the park tomorrow and had lightning lanes, I could sit in Pennsylvania and screw up his lightning lanes if I wanted to. Right. I mean, theoretically, because we're attached on the My Disney Experience app, I could go in and do that. Rob: Yeah. Craig: hahahaha Jessica: ⁓ so you do have to have some sort of I I wouldn't give it to your five year old, but so you do have to understand that that is part of the the thing. But what I like to do is it you have three slots, and if you have three people, I like to give each person a slot. So I say, Hey mom, you work on backing up this ride and getting the earliest time you can. Hey dad, we we have you know, we have runaway railway. We really want Slinky Dog. You focus on trying to modify runaway railway to Slinky Dog. And I'll work on getting Millennium Falcon to later in the night so we can walk out of the park after it. So each of us works on something different of those three slots and we focus on one at a time so we're not overlapping each other. To me, that's the best way to utilize other people. But another thing that you can do is if if you've been the one doing the lightning lanes most of the day, you can just say, Hey, I'm I'm done for now, dad, mom, you know, John, whoever it is, why don't you take over for a little while and you can do it? And they can do it from their phone. You don't have to give your phone to somebody. They can take over. ⁓ another thing that you you can do is I know I kind of joked about Rob was in the parks, but if you have a friend of yours that's in the park and they're not used to lightning lanes, Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: Or they're not, they don't want to be on their phone all day and it's fun for you to play the slots, you could be there at home, slot playing lightning lane person and get it for them. I actually, when my parents had a day where they were by themselves at the parks, I backed their lightning lanes up for them. Sitting, you know, sitting at a restaurant, we can back the lightning lanes up. So the fact that you can play each other's, you know, play the slots for each other is a really good. Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: kind of tip, but it it is possible to accidentally mess somebody up. I will just say that. So with great power comes great responsibility. So just remember that. Rob: Mm-hmm. Yes. Yeah. So that I do want to just tack on to that because Eric and I do this a lot where ⁓ we will both play the slots and we try to do what you say, which is one of us is focused on one, the other's focused on the other. But there are those some times where there's only one that matters, right? We're happy with everything, there's just that one. And here's the risk. When you're when you're if you if you tap in Jessica: Mm-hmm. Rob: on a lightning lane and you grab a a time and at that exact same moment your compatriot who's also playing finds the perfect time pop up and then they try to tap in on it, it's gonna error out because you've already you've already kind of secured something using the the lightning lane that you're modifying and it won't let that other person get that Jessica: Mm. Rob: perfect time that finally showed up. So I I I maybe have had an experience where where Eric was very displeased with me because the perfect lightning lane appeared and he could not book it because I maybe had clicked through on something else. So ⁓ yes. ⁓ Craig, what is our next question of the week? Jessica: Mm-hmm. Craig: Hehehehehe Erick: Okay. Craig: OK, so I have question from Alyssa from YouTube and she asks, am I in trouble if I'm staying off property and I can't book lightning lanes until three days prior? Basically, no, you're not going to be in trouble. You should be just fine. You might not get the exact times you want right away, but you can play the slots, redo that. They're constantly adding more lightning lanes throughout the days. Now, in the morning of the day of, they don't add lightning lanes before park opening, but that's also a great time to check because it just becomes very volatile because people are dropping things, people are changing things left and right. So you might luck out with something doing that in the early in the morning. yeah, I recently I've done my last couple of trips have been off property and I was able to do just fine with just the three day. Rob: Yeah. I I will say we mention this usually in the videos, the lightning lane videos that we make. Nine times out of ten, every single lightning lane that we start with in those videos, we booked that morning. Literally the morning of our visit. It is rare that we have the perfect lightning lanes, you know, in advance. And here's the thing: even if Even if you're a hotel guest and you can book seven days out and you got a long stay, meaning that for some of your days you're maybe booking like 12 or 14 days out, you're only going to be able to get one really perfect lightning lane because it's going to stop you from overlapping. So you might have the perfect lightning lane, maybe you have Slinky Dog Dash for right at the moment that the park opens, but your next lightning lane is going to be at least an hour after that. Because it's not going to let you overlap those lightning lanes. And, you know, Slinky, you're going to be on and off of that thing in minutes. It would be great to have another lightning lane early, right? To tap into. The only way you're going to do that is by playing the slots on the morning of your visit, or you could stay up until midnight the night before and play the slots then. But most people do it in the morning of your visit. So yeah, don't worry if you're not a hotel guest. Craig: Mm-hmm. Rob: You're going to get great times the morning of. In fact, hotel guests are also going to be getting great times the morning of to back those up. so I have a question here from YouTube. ⁓ Tyler Welch, 377, actually started with in all caps, question coming in for podcasts. So if you really want to hear your question answered on the podcast, that's the way to do it. ⁓ so his question is. Craig: Hahaha Jessica: Ha ha ha. Rob: If you get an experience redemption and you're park hopping, does the experience go across parks or is it the same park only? So it depends. If it's late in the day and you get an experience redemption, before we answer this, I should specify for those who are not familiar with the terminology. An experience redemption is what Disney gives you if you have a lightning lane booked and that ride goes down. When you were supposed to be riding it, you get, I call it a bonus lightning lane. But basically, it's gonna let you tap in at a list of rides that'll show up in the experience redemption. You can tap on it and see the list, and you just tap in at any one of those rides as if you had a lightning lane, and it'll just glow green and you can go in. You don't have to book it, it's just a free lightning lane, basically. ⁓ but what Tyler's asking. Do you have to use it in the same park that you're in? If it's late in the day, Disney's going to assume that you may not have time to use it that day. So they will make that lightning lane available across parks, and they will make it available usually for the following day as well. So, but you'll be able to see that on the experience redemption. It's going to say, Where can I go? And you'll see. That it shows all of the parks available and the rides that are in the different parks that are that are ⁓ compatible with this experience redemption. It'll also tell you when it expires. There'll be an expiration on it. So you know if you have to use it that day or if you can do it the following day. In most cases, however, if it's earlier in the day, it's not going to be like that. It's going to be for the park that you're in only. but If you go speak to a cast member, either in guest relations or at one of the guest experience blue umbrellas that you're going to see stationed throughout the parks, if you just ask them, say, you know, I got this experience redemption, but we've got to get over to our next park. Can I use it there instead? They will either modify it for you to be able to be used at a number of rides to that other park, or they will tell you. I can't do that for you. It's up to that park. So go ask them at that park. But I always check first before I leave. ⁓ mainly because it's kind of like when you're a kid and you want to ask mom and mom says no, then you can go ask dad. I mean, it's the same kind of deal here. If you ask at at Epcot, if I can use it at Hollywood Studios, they're like, I don't know if we can help you with that. ⁓ you know, go ask at Hollywood Studios, then you have a second. ⁓ a second shot at getting yes. But I'll be honest, they've never said no to me. They've always allowed me. Sometimes I have to go to the second park to do it, but they've always allowed me to use that lightning lane in the other park. It will still be a limited list, though. It's not gonna be anything. It's gonna be a certain list of attractions at that second park. Well, that's all the time we have for questions this week. But again, if you have a question you'd like us to answer, just leave it as a comment on one of our YouTube videos on YouTube or here on Twitter. patreon.com forward slash earscouts. ⁓ but right now we're going to move to our final segment that we like to call a happy thoughts because we just like to end each show with a little burst of positivity, something good that happened this week, usually related to Disney, but not always. what is your happy thought this week? Jessica: So if you listen to the podcast last week, you'll know that I talked about the Run Disney race. And last week was supposed to be Princess Run Disney signups. ⁓ crashed the system because there were so many of us. So it ends up today, a week later, is Run Disney signups. And I, as we've all discovered, was on my way ⁓ a business trip. So ⁓ Jennifer from our Patreon and Lisa and Heather. all kind of rallied and they were able to get John and I registered ⁓ for the 5K. So thank you so much to this wonderful set of women who came together and made sure that we we got in the 5K. So it was great. So we actually got registered. and ⁓ I already told Jennifer, because she's the one who actually got John registered, that he's now gonna love her more than me, maybe because Tiana is favorite princess. Craig: ⁓ Jessica: So big shout out, big shout out to Jennifer and Lisa and Heather. And it was a great opportunity for us to kind of ⁓ bond. With a lot of text texting going back and forth. And and when we got it, there was a big yay. So and and John said, Thank you, thank you, thank you. He's over there saying it it it was a big deal. He really wanted this Tiana race. So thank you guys so much. That is my happy thought. And to everybody who didn't get in, I I'm I'm sorry. And it was it's crazy. This is my first real Run Disney sign up experience. And Rob: Mm-hmm. Jessica: It was a crazy day, but there's still charity bibs available. Last time we had to do a charity bib, so ⁓ but it was it was a great it was kind of great for us that they were able to help us out with that. Rob: So I I always call Patreon my Patreon family. and it really is, it's a family. It's a little, it's a little family, and everyone just jumps in to help each other out. And it's so wonderful to see and to be a part of that. So thank you all on Patreon for being such amazing people and so helpful. And we appreciate each and every one of you. so that's awesome. I love that. Craig, what is your happy thought this week? Jessica: It is. Craig: Mm-hmm. Okay, so I think a lot of you know that I come from a theater background and my work is taking me to New York City. I'm very brief. I like literally was there Saturday and with yeah with my boyfriend and he gets to come with me because he's helping us with this and but the job itself is very short. So we were able to go and come back in the same day. But next month, we're going to spend the night and we got a hotel not in Manhattan in Queens. And Jessica: ⁓ wow. Craig: I can't believe I did this. have tickets to see Cats on Broadway. And Cats has got to be my least favorite show ever. I saw it once on a cruise ship, left it in intermission, just did not like it at all. But this new production, if you saw the Tonys last night, you saw part of it. ⁓ It's just a whole reimagination of the New York ballroom scene where folks ⁓ would get together in a safe space and come up with these amazing performances. Rob: Mm-hmm. Craig: So that's how Cats has been reimagined. And I am just so excited to see it because it just looks like one big party. Everyone's on their feet the whole time, fans and just cheering what's on on stage. And ⁓ I'm so excited. I get to see that finally in another Rob: That's awesome. Well you have to let us know ⁓ how it is when you when you finally get to see it. We'll look forward to hearing about that. Eric, what is your happy thought this week? Erick: This past weekend, we were able to go to Animal Kingdom finally after looking multiple times for this, we found it, which is the blue E-Pin. ⁓ It took so long for us to be able to get it. So I'm very happy that we were able to ⁓ one now. And also I got one of the mini ⁓ things. ⁓ can't remember the name of it. but it's like a mystery box, but it's going to come with a squishy toy like this. I bluey. So that also made me super happy. Yeah. Rob: So Bluey merch is at Animal Kingdom. ⁓ we actually we haven't made it to the Bluey experience yet. Cause you have to be there pretty early in the day for that. but they do have the merch. Even if you're not able to make it to the Bluey experience, you can see the merch ⁓ at I think it's it's is Island Mercantile, I think is where it's at. My happy thought this week actually isn't about Disney World. It's about Disneyland Paris. And over at they are reporting that they are constructing a new berm. ⁓ which berm is like theme park nerds speak for a big mound of dirt that circles ⁓ a theme park ⁓ to kind of block out the sound and the the visuals of the outside world and kind of keep you in that themed world that you're in. ⁓ it appears that they are building a a substantial berm ⁓ for what could become a third theme park ⁓ at Disneyland Paris. And I gotta say, I love Disneyland Paris. It's my we've only been ⁓ beyond the United States. We've been to Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disney. And most people tell you that Tokyo is their favorite in the world for me. I love Disneyland Paris. It's just a beautiful park. And I can't wait to hear whatever they're going to eventually announce that they're doing. Who knows? It could just be, you know, something like a ⁓ a Disney Springs kind of thing or a parking lot. You never know. ⁓ but it's also possible that there's going to be another new theme park at Disneyland Paris, and that would be amazing. So we will keep our eyes peeled to news. From Paris. Probably maybe there'll be some announcements at the D23 Expo in Anaheim this August. ⁓ we will be covering that ⁓ live for our friends here on Patreon. So if you'd like to be a part of that, just join us at patreon.com forward slash Earscouts. Well, that is all the time we have for happy thoughts this week, but I do want to thank all of you so much for joining us. ⁓ we will see you again next week with a brand new episode. Until then. Keep thinking happy thoughts, everybody. We'll see you again real soon.