Latest / Of Mice and Main Street Men / What We Love About Solo Trips with Our Friend Tia (Episode 228)

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What We Love About Solo Trips with Our Friend Tia (Episode 228) · Of Mice and Main Street Men

• 0:00
  There's a great big beautiful tomorrow.
• 0:04
  Shining at the end of every day.
• 0:08
  There's a great big beautiful tomorrow.
• 0:12
  Just a dream.
• 0:14
  And welcome to Of Mice and Main Street Men.
• 0:17
  I am Tristan.
• 0:18
  And I am Sean.
• 0:19
  And our good friend Tia is joining us.
• 0:22
  We've referenced uh Miss Tia on the show several times, and she's been on the show some last year.
• 0:28
  And uh, Tia, what's the anniversary episode?
• 0:33
  No.
• 0:34
  Good morning, or should I say good evening to you?
• 0:37
  Uh yeah, it's exactly a year ago.
• 0:39
  Um, I was doing the the dates, and we recorded on a Tuesday last year in May, and it's obviously a Tuesday night for you guys.
• 0:50
  Um, so it's exactly a year ago, which is crazy.
• 0:54
  Wow.
• 0:54
  Oh, that's crazy.
• 0:55
  Yeah, that's awesome.
• 0:56
  I love that.
• 0:57
  Right, because we talked about your your big solo trip for your birthday.
• 1:01
  Exactly, yes.
• 1:03
  And I was uh then I was in Disney World having an amazing time, and now I'm in Finland having an amazing time.
• 1:10
  Oh my goodness.
• 1:11
  But have they opened a Disney park?
• 1:12
  But Disney would be much funner.
• 1:16
  Do they have a Disney park in Finland?
• 1:18
  You should encourage there.
• 1:21
  Sadly, it's uh they have a I did drive past uh a theme park yesterday which looked interesting, but uh no.
• 1:28
  Closest is Paris, which I'm all eager to get to very soon.
• 1:33
  I am too, Tia.
• 1:34
  I'm looking at that next year.
• 1:36
  So well, and I we'll be having an upcoming uh episode because Emily and Aaron.
• 1:43
  I I have I have technically four clients that have all been within the last couple of weeks.
• 1:48
  So I'm gonna try to organize a little chat fest with them in the near in the next few weeks.
• 1:53
  Do you have clients there right now, Sean?
• 1:56
  Aaron and Emily?
• 1:57
  Are they you're no, they just got back.
• 2:00
  They just got back.
• 2:00
  Okay, I've been I was watching their their updates and it looks really cool.
• 2:04
  So I'm excited to hear about it.
• 2:06
  That's awesome.
• 2:07
  Well, I guess technically they flew today as as I've recording.
• 2:11
  Well, hello to Aaron and Emily, because that's exciting.
• 2:14
  That I'll give them a day to rest up and then I'll see when then we'll bother them about it.
• 2:19
  But today we have our friend from across the pond, Tia Tia, and and we're gonna talk um five things we love about solo trips because we've all taken those now.
• 2:29
  Um and uh, you know, they're they're just about doing what exactly matters to you at your pace, on your terms, and sometimes it's a magical way to experience the park.
• 2:42
  So we'll since you are our guest here, we'll let you kick it off.
• 2:46
  What's what's one of your five favorite things about taking a solo trip?
• 2:51
  Well, I've made a list, I'm prepared.
• 2:53
  Last time I wasn't prepared, I had so much going on in my head that I wanted to say and I completely forgot.
• 2:58
  So I've written it all down.
• 3:00
  And number one, sorry, number five is sitting in world celebration with a frozen cappuccino dream, listening to a Disney podcast, maybe, um, and people watching and just taking it in.
• 3:14
  I just love that area that they've done now with all the chairs and the music and they've got the charging stations, they've got some like nice like recl like reclined chairs.
• 3:25
  So it's just such a nice place to kind of like get away from it all and and and people watch and yeah, just sit and because it's all so busy, so it's sometimes nice just to kind of be there and just have some time out.
• 3:40
  And a wonderful beverage of choice, by the way.
• 3:43
  I miss them when you're in the UK.
• 3:47
  I'm sure I'd agree if I liked coffee, which I don't.
• 3:53
  Yeah.
• 3:55
  I'll have a diet coke.
• 3:57
  Yeah, you're a simpleton.
• 3:58
  You're a simpleton.
• 3:59
  Hey, I'm not sure that's a compliment.
• 4:03
  No, it is.
• 4:03
  It is.
• 4:04
  You just need to join the ranks of us that enjoy caffeine, sir.
• 4:07
  Tut tut.
• 4:08
  Oh, I do.
• 4:09
  I just prefer mine carbonated.
• 4:11
  That's fair enough.
• 4:12
  All right, Mr.
• 4:12
  McCall, what's your what's on your list?
• 4:14
  What's your number five?
• 4:16
  My number five, I get well, because I I didn't necessarily well, I mine's a little all over the place, but my I I really have no schedule.
• 4:26
  Oh, sure.
• 4:28
  So I'll I'll actually define that.
• 4:30
  Well, I still go to the parks early, I guess.
• 4:32
  It's not that I don't rope drop because I'm in a I'm in Disney, so I need to get to the park.
• 4:38
  Um, it's just when I go on a solo trip, the idea that I just can go choose to do anything I want anytime I want.
• 4:50
  It is just that's just pretty pretty amazing in my book.
• 4:57
  Because I do spend a lot of time trying to, especially when you go to a Disney park, I think, Tristan, you or I especially, it's like the people that I'm going with, I go, well, what do you want to see?
• 5:09
  How do we fix it?
• 5:10
  How do we fit in all the things that you want to do?
• 5:12
  And and uh I was like, you know, uh to not have to not and not that I don't enjoy that.
• 5:22
  I do.
• 5:23
  I really, you know, part of part of why I am a travel agent is because I go, how do I get you the Disney trip that you want?
• 5:31
  But there's something to be said for going, I think I want to go over here right now and listen to the voices of liberty.
• 5:38
  And it's like, I can do that because I'm just here to please myself.
• 5:43
  So my number five is no schedule, as they say, right, Tia?
• 5:48
  Yeah, yeah, that sounds great.
• 5:51
  Yeah, schedule, schedule, schedule.
• 5:54
  You do you put the hard C in.
• 5:57
  I swear I had a woman that we knew when I was a kid and she pronounced it schedule.
• 6:02
  It I guess it depends where you're from in the UK.
• 6:05
  It's all like scone and scone.
• 6:08
  Um, so it just depends where where like I guess technically it would be more like scone and shon.
• 6:16
  Schedule and schedule, but anyway, I digress.
• 6:21
  Um so uh my number five.
• 6:25
  I I put a solo doom buggy ride on the haunted mansion because there's something kind of uniquely eerie about riding the haunted mansion alone.
• 6:37
  There's like no there's yeah, there's like no side conversations, there's no like shared reactions, it's just like you and that like soundtrack and that atmosphere, and it makes the attraction feel a little quieter and darker, and somehow uh it's just it seemed more personal when I did it, and it's and I just was able to soak in so many more details, and every little oh, just I could look wherever.
• 7:02
  Not that I can't do that when I'm riding it with Savannah or Harper, but like we're having a thing, you know, like a communal uh experience, but this was just me.
• 7:12
  And I don't know, there's just something about a solo doom buggy ride that I really dug on my particular solo trip.
• 7:18
  So that's my number five.
• 7:20
  And that's because it's one of your favorite rides.
• 7:22
  I don't know if you remember last year I was too scared to go on the haunted mansion, and I didn't.
• 7:27
  So that would be that would be like my worst, my worst nightmare.
• 7:31
  Well, not nightmare, that's a bit too that's a bit too strong a word, but I would need someone for moral support to go on the haunted mansion.
• 7:38
  Um, and I know that makes me sound ridiculous, but I just bring myself to do it.
• 7:44
  I'm just such a scaredy cat.
• 7:46
  You're gonna do it one of these days.
• 7:48
  You will.
• 7:49
  Well, well, when me and Kimberly, uh side note, uh, you know, we've uh you've introduced us, we're besties now, we're twins, we you know, we talk most days.
• 7:59
  So when me and Kimberly do our um our trip together, um we'll do our do we'll do the haunches mansion together and then get a corndog.
• 8:08
  Oh, love that.
• 8:09
  I we gotta get this podcast trip going.
• 8:12
  That's what we gotta do.
• 8:13
  We really, we really do.
• 8:14
  And that's not that I didn't invite you both to D23 this year.
• 8:19
  I know Kimberly's the only one who took me up on it.
• 8:23
  Believe me, I would I I was oh my gosh, it's it's hard to talk about.
• 8:28
  I would have loved to have gone.
• 8:30
  I was so touched that you guys invited me, and it would have been absolutely amazing.
• 8:34
  But uh Kimberly is Kimberly love her.
• 8:38
  She says, Well, there's it's gonna happen in two years' time again.
• 8:41
  So it's true, it's true, and you don't even have to wait a year if you want to go to destination D23 in Florida, but no, no, I just need to I just need to have the vacation time and the money, and then it will be all be fine.
• 8:54
  I know I wasn't able to make it work either, Tia.
• 8:57
  So you're not alone, I promise.
• 8:58
  Um well watch we'll follow along, you know, and and live vicariously through them.
• 9:04
  Okay, yes, we will together we'll we'll mourn our our lack of D23.
• 9:10
  Um, what's your number four then?
• 9:13
  What's on your list?
• 9:14
  So number four is a day in the park, um, but just watching shows, parades, characters.
• 9:22
  I've done it a couple of times.
• 9:24
  Um, and it's just it's just nice to kind of like again, you you can, I mean, I haven't done Disney World with someone for a long time, so I would like to experience that, but it's um just to share that excitement.
• 9:38
  But like you, like Sean said, you can just do what you want when you want, and like not feeling you have to do the rides, and and I feel like I've been like enough times now that I've you know I've done the rides, and yes, I love doing them, but to go and see all the shows, and I think I a couple of years ago I spent a day in Magic Kingdom and I just didn't do one ride.
• 10:00
  I um I watched the flag retreat, um, I did um Hall of Presidence, which I've never done before, and I found it really interesting, obviously coming from the UK.
• 10:10
  Um and you can do that in in in Hollywood studios as well.
• 10:15
  Um, I know you've mentioned it before, but it would be so great to have the Street Mosphere guys back.
• 10:21
  Um, because I never got to see them in person.
• 10:23
  But like when you're interacting with with people like that, and like I love the Dapper Dans and the pianist in Casey's Corner.
• 10:31
  Um, it's just nice to go and you know, just like go from one thing to the other and just take a seat, escape the heat, and and you and because you're watching a show, you're not having you're not talking to anybody else, and and it's just nice to kind of like just take that all in and and because where everyone's like rushing, rushing, rushing to to go to rides and things, it's just nice to take your time and just sit and appreciate the the live entertainment.
• 11:00
  That's a great yes, that's that's very astute.
• 11:03
  I love that.
• 11:05
  Mr.
• 11:05
  McCall, what do you have on next?
• 11:08
  Uh oh, my number four.
• 11:11
  My number four is just sort of well, uh because I do I do enjoy a cocktail and I do enjoy, you know, sort of people watching.
• 11:20
  And while I have not done this on a solo trip, I would very much like to, you know, just sort of enjoy sitting in one of the lounges, either the Nomad Lounge, perhaps, on in on the East Coast or or the Carthay Circle Lounge on the West Coast, and just kind of people watching and maybe ordering.
• 11:43
  I did I did listen to Lou Mangello did an episode recently on all the food of Animal Kingdom, and he was he went on quite a bit about about how you know how the Nomad Lounge is no longer uh one of Disney's best kept secrets, like a hidden gem because everybody goes now.
• 12:04
  But but you know, just to take that break from the day.
• 12:08
  And, you know, when I'm with you know Jackie or friends or or whatever, you know, chatting is nice, but you know, just to reflect and to maybe listen to some of the conversations around you and feel the need to jump in and correct them if they're drastically wrong.
• 12:26
  So I'm sorry, I couldn't help but overhear, but Harry Potter is down the street at Universal, you're not gonna find him here.
• 12:36
  Yeah, she said that that's what popped into my head too.
• 12:40
  Yeah, so so my number four was was you know, a cocktail in a lounge and some people watching.
• 12:47
  I love that.
• 12:48
  So my number four, you're gonna make fun of me, Sean.
• 12:50
  I can already tell.
• 12:52
  Oh good.
• 12:55
  But it's uh riding carousel of progress as many times as I want.
• 12:59
  So this is uh this was my like peak solo trip indulgence.
• 13:05
  Uh because obviously it's not about thrills.
• 13:08
  For me, it's a like it's comfort, it's a nostalgia, and honestly, it's kind of just like taking a breather.
• 13:12
  But on a solo day, I could ride it once, twice, three times, or as I did on Christmas Eve, five times, and nobody's gonna question that decision.
• 13:22
  And it's why I feel wrong making fun of you over it because it's your solo trip and you get to ride it as many times as you want.
• 13:32
  Well, and I didn't, you know, like I can, it's hard for me to get uh Savannah and Harper to do it once.
• 13:38
  And so, but for me, it's like a nice, I don't know, it's a very it's it's inspirational, but also like a good reset.
• 13:45
  And sometimes it is exactly what I need and where I want to be.
• 13:49
  And so on a solo trip, you better believe I am riding carousel of progress as many times as I want.
• 13:54
  And that is my number four.
• 13:56
  Good for you.
• 13:59
  All right, what's what's your number three, Tia?
• 14:02
  Um, so it's I mean, most people do this anyway, but um on my trip a year ago, one thing I love doing was going to um World Showcase and just exploring every detail.
• 14:17
  So I got there like for rope drop, and uh while obviously um uh World Showcase is closed until maybe 11, I think it is.
• 14:26
  Um, everyone's like going on the rides and things, you know, at World Showcase is practically empty.
• 14:32
  So it was nice to kind of like go deep into Morocco and you know see like the market as it were, and take the take like lots of photos with no one there and just take in all the details.
• 14:46
  And then once you I've done one lap, um maybe grab a another frozen cappuccino dream or or a Diet Coke or whatever, and then make my way around again.
• 14:57
  And this time, like the shops are open, the restaurants are open, uh the rides are open, so you can like go in to you know, go in and explore and watch all the street, uh the street acts, the live performers, because I again I did I had the time to do that on the last visit.
• 15:15
  So I watched the Italian performer, the the Japanese, um, they were playing the drums.
• 15:21
  I'm not quite sure what they're called.
• 15:23
  I listened to someone in Morocco, uh the fabulous guys in Mexico.
• 15:29
  Um, and then the first thing for Voices of Liberty, which I had I've been wanting to do for a long time.
• 15:35
  You mentioned it earlier, Sean.
• 15:36
  Um, I managed to kind of line up my timings to go and watch a performance and and it made me cry.
• 15:43
  They were amazing, they were just absolutely incredible.
• 15:46
  And I've got that planned.
• 15:48
  Uh I know Sides, you know, going down a spoke here, but I've got that planned for my Christmas trip um to hopefully listen when they play it.
• 15:57
  Like they sing Christmas carols, I think they do.
• 15:59
  So um yeah, I'm l that's on my list for December.
• 16:04
  Oh, you're gonna love it at Christmas time.
• 16:07
  It is the most especially I went to I went to Epcot on Christmas Day and it was the most magical thing ever.
• 16:13
  Well, it's you're it's you're the reason that I actually booked this trip because when we spoke last year, I didn't even have a trip booked, and even up until Christmas, I didn't have a trip booked.
• 16:21
  And then I heard your your episode and saw I think your posts on on Instagram, and I'm like, why can't I go to Christmas next um go to Disney next Christmas?
• 16:32
  So I've I've um I've I booked, I just booked Disney and then a cruise came into the idea as well.
• 16:38
  So I'm going to Disney for seven nights and then going um on my uh first Disney cruise, which is a maritime cruise, as well, very married cruise.
• 16:47
  Oh wow, good for you.
• 16:50
  God bless her.
• 16:51
  She she tried to book it through me, but because of various US travel agent laws, it's like I can't book I can't book UK residents.
• 17:01
  That's weird.
• 17:03
  But you and Kimberly said I just need to move to the States and then you can get the football.
• 17:08
  Well, there you thank you, Kimberly.
• 17:11
  I appreciate that.
• 17:13
  Yes, she's absolutely right.
• 17:16
  But thank you both and and Sean, you've been very helpful.
• 17:19
  I bothered you a lot with like past dates for Christmas parties and things.
• 17:24
  So um when when that comes out in July, um um because I'm as you say, plussing the trip continuously.
• 17:32
  So um it's gonna be the most epic uh magical Disney Christmas adventure ever.
• 17:39
  Are you going on Christmas itself?
• 17:42
  Yeah, so I'm flying out on the uh I want to say it's the 15th of December and then doing seven nights.
• 17:49
  Um no, so seven seven nights at Disney.
• 17:54
  Um so I'm hoping to do like the both Christmas parties, um, the Epcot festival, the holidays, the candlelight processional, everything just embrace all things Christmas, and then I board the Disney Fantasy on the 23rd, um, and I'm at uh Castaway Key on Christmas Eve, and then Lighthouse Point on Christmas Day, and then the 27th, no 20 Boxing Day is a day at sea, and then I can't, it's only a four-night cruise um because I then I come back to port on the 27th and fly home.
• 18:28
  So um, yes, I'm very much looking forward to um.
• 18:32
  Wow, we will have to we have we'll have to have you come tell us all about it once you are in the new year.
• 18:39
  Yes, that's exciting.
• 18:41
  All right, Mr.
• 18:42
  McCall, I think we're up to you.
• 18:44
  I don't know where we went after that.
• 18:45
  Uh we did have a that was her number three.
• 18:48
  Yes, yeah, number three.
• 18:50
  Yes.
• 18:51
  So I I brought up the single rider line, which goes without saying, I guess.
• 18:57
  But there's there's just something about doing the single rider line when you're on a solo trip that doesn't because most of the time when we do single rider line, it's because we want to get through an attraction and we're usually with our friends or family standing in line, but then they separate you.
• 19:16
  And it's like, and honestly, well, dang it, I should I'm gonna tweak my number one actually.
• 19:22
  Um because I was like, oh, I should have said it this way.
• 19:26
  But but I will say, and I don't know if either of you have heard this, but I just read an article this week, and they seem to know what they were talking about.
• 19:35
  In that Expedition Everest is doing a new test.
• 19:40
  Yeah, I saw this, yeah.
• 19:42
  Yeah, that that may what?
• 19:47
  Disappointing.
• 19:48
  Well, I'd do that in single rider before, but if you're with a group, then it's better, I guess.
• 19:54
  Well, and just uh for anyone who hasn't seen, apparently they're testing, and it makes perfect sense.
• 20:01
  It's that in the last room you divide yourselves into even-numbered parties and odd-numbered parties.
• 20:09
  And that way they're not necessarily looking for a single rider.
• 20:13
  They're going, okay, you're a group of three, and you're a group of three or five.
• 20:17
  So you're gonna fill those rows, and they don't need a single rider.
• 20:22
  And that you know, and they keep alternating, and I go, that's it.
• 20:26
  How many years has it taken them to consider this?
• 20:30
  Because it's really oh, it makes it really pretty brilliant, but it's gonna make some people sad, I know.
• 20:38
  But but still, I do enjoy the single rider line when I am on a solo trip.
• 20:44
  I did it on Rise of Resistance.
• 20:47
  I did it.
• 20:48
  LTS But I was a little sad that I missed some of the stuff because Yeah, you do miss some of the Q or the pre-show stuff.
• 20:56
  Yeah, so all right, what is yours, Tristan?
• 20:59
  So I'm gonna piggyback right on that because mine is uh I titled it single single rider without a second thought.
• 21:06
  But um because that's clever.
• 21:10
  Clever, Tristan.
• 21:11
  Because uh single rider lines I do dig, but they are almost tailor-made for solo trips because like we use them as well, like the when the three of us are of me and Harper are there, but you're not were as worried about splitting up the group or missing shared more moments or coordinating those weird reunions afterwards.
• 21:30
  You can just jump in, move fast, experience it, you know, in less time, and it's efficient, it's a little more guilt-free when you're on your solo trip.
• 21:39
  But it's oddly satisfying because you know, you can do Remis three or four times doing that, or test track.
• 21:46
  I you know, my test track weight because it was relatively new still.
• 21:50
  Uh and my weight was you know a fraction of what it would have been.
• 21:55
  Um, and Harper and I do have done you know, single rider when it's just been the two.
• 22:00
  us and you know she's older now so it's it's it's not as like scary if she gets in a different car but um but as a single you know a solo trip I was like oh I I there's no worry about this there's no anxiety it's just like I can get in and get out exactly so that's my number three single rider without a second thought wow that was one of my honorable mentions oh sure sure um you know I I made I had honorable mentions prepared as well because I know what you guys are like so I thought you wouldn't you wouldn't mind uh so we're now number two right yes yes my number two is do a tour uh so whether that's Wild Africa Keys to the Kingdom a Segway tour at Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness whichever one it is um but it's um I did Wild Africa on my birthday last year solo and it was a small group and there was another solo person there and there were families but because of like you're in like a nice little group you get to know each other um and it's just something that's you know a bit different and Keys the kingdom is next on my list um but probably not Christmas probably when I've got a bit more chill time probably probably not running at Christmas actually but yeah doing a tour is number two.
• 23:26
  Well I will admit that I was I've been looking into tour things recently and I am not going to discuss this in any detail at all because I have not discussed it at all with my wife or with Kimberly but but I I need to chat with them once my wife is done with her golf outing I will bring it up to both of those ladies because I've been I've been in a I've been in a bit of a tour conundrum this week.
• 23:54
  Is it is I'll leave it at that but but I do have a quick question for you Sean um as a dis for Disneyland um do I did read a a while ago a couple of years that they did a a train tour um on the the the trains that go around um Disneyland do you is that still a tour is that still something or is that stopped now completely?
• 24:19
  I was just looking at the list recently I mean very recently um I believe that the train is a part of some of the other tours I don't know Tristan have you noticed do they have they got one that's specifically now just the train I'm not sure actually that I'm kind of curious to look that up though because um that would be rad and really cool but I don't know I don't know I think that is an excellent recommendation to you because those tours are just awesome and if you're there by yourself you just sort of get to uh you know you get to choose what tour you want to go on and yeah I think that's a great addition to your list.
• 25:07
  I did try to do when I was on my solo trip I tried to do the the behind the scenes tour but they were sold out they did have them on Christmas day but they were sold out so oh wow sounds a bummer so that was what was that was that everybody's number three that was my number that was my number two and yes oh what was your number two was that your number two Sean the tours or did you just piggyback on that no it wasn't the tours it was oh right I had not I had not discussed disclosed it yet um oh well there we go I said that's that's where we were there we go um my number two I just I I just said the leisurely pace the the idea that you're not usually rushing from place to place when it's just you I mean I suppose that that can be different for different people different travelers but but part of part of what I enjoy on the solo trip is just sort of going well I'm gonna go over here and look in this shop and I'm gonna go over here and get a snack and I'm gonna sit down and do this and then I'm gonna you know there's there's really no timeline unless you say you know well I want to see this show at this time or or whatever but it's just it's a lot more relaxed and laid back in my opinion.
• 26:35
  Yeah yeah I'm gonna so my number two if uh it kind of goes into that but also something you said earlier Sean was it's the ultimate choose your own adventure day because you know you want to pivot you can pivot like do whatever you want like hop on the Skyliner do it you feel like grabbing a snack instead of writing something do it lobby tour let's go you know whatever you want there's no like committee there's no compromises or just like following you your own little happiness instincts from moment to moment and it's Disney you know stripped down to its most personal form and the day can kind of unfold however you want it and I think there's uh there's a certain magic to that I think and I've heard you know both of you talk about that and uh so I'm gonna we've kind of all talked about that a little bit but that's my number two is the choose your own adventure day aspect of it all.
• 27:32
  Also I do have an update the Disneyland Railroad guided tour is temporarily unavailable according to okay but it does exist in that it does all right you bet it's what your friendly travel agent does all right all right we're up to number one Tia what you got just take the trip you know take the solo trip it's um like it's it's uh like last year I was on the solo trip and Sean was saying how you know it was great and obviously you know Kimberly had done it and and at that time um like Tristan you were like oh yeah it's probably gonna happen soon and you hadn't done one and now now that you've done one it's um it's like you you you can see obviously I know you missed uh Savannah and Harper and it's it's not quite the same without them but like you've just said it's you can do your own thing it's magical and do your own adventure but it's just um and I probably spoil this for myself because I've been on so many solo trips now um that I'm just used to doing it solo.
• 28:46
  But yes that that podcast trip would be would be fantastic.
• 28:50
  But it's just uh you know anyone that's scared of doing it they should just do it.
• 28:54
  I see in loads of the Facebook groups like people saying oh I'm thinking about a solo trip you know are people lonely is what should I do?
• 29:03
  Is that all right?
• 29:04
  And then there's so many people that reply saying do it I do it every year I do it every couple of months um and and you're never truly alone at Disney you can talk to the cast members you know we um we spoke about it last time you know you're in a skyliner of people you get chatting to people you get chatting to people in the lines um or if you're Sean and in nomad lounge you correct them when you hear something that's not well it's just a service I provide.
• 29:32
  It's very very good of you Sean I I I would be I would be doing the same I've just probably not tell them um because I'd be too scared to go up to them but um I uh yeah it's just it's I highly recommend it to to everybody to do at least once if you can't get someone to go with you or if you just have a little bit of time especially if you're over in the States and you can do Disney for a couple of days it's nothing to be scared of you're in you're in your happy place.
• 29:59
  So um just you know all the reasons that we've said just enjoy it and and see what happens.
• 30:06
  Amen to that amen to that's a it's a lovely segue into mine.
• 30:12
  Although I will jump back briefly because I was going down the list there is an amazing tour at Disneyland called Women Who Make the Magic guided tour which I think they brought on maybe back during National Women's Month or whatever we have here.
• 30:28
  But I'm like good for you Disney for giving a tour that talks about the women con the female contribution to Disneyland also.
• 30:37
  So take that one next time you're out there Tia but I have a little getting back to uh what I said coming off of what Tia said my number one that I wrote down is is talking to people because on a solo trip I do end up talking to a lot of people around me.
• 30:59
  You know either they'll see something on my shirt or whatever and they'll ask a question or they'll be talking about something and I will actually say you know I'm I couldn't help but overhear you and da-da-da-da-da or I'm a Disney travel agent.
• 31:14
  Sorry we can't say that that's not what we say I'm a travel agent specializing in Disney.
• 31:27
  I know I know I know my I know my boundaries Josh um but but you just did as Tia said Disney is a lot of people's happy place and a lot of people want to talk about it and a lot of people want to share and there's especially a lot of people there that maybe can't talk freely to anyone else in their lives because I mean about Disney because nobody else quite gets it.
• 31:52
  And clearly if you're in the park you probably get it.
• 31:57
  And especially if you're a solo traveler I think you probably get it.
• 32:00
  And I've had some just delightful conversations as we've said with people in the skyliner and stuff.
• 32:06
  And and I do enjoy helping them and you know asking them if they have any questions.
• 32:11
  And you know they'll be like well we were thinking of going to you know downtown downtown Disney.
• 32:18
  I'll pretend that they were in California when they asked me that um or Disney Springs and saying you know well I've heard about this place or this place or what what can you tell me?
• 32:29
  And it's like well I'll recommend Chef Art Smith's homecoming in a heartbeat but but you know I also have a passing knowledge of some of the other stuff and can say you know I've just had some delightful conversations and and that happens much more when I'm on my own.
• 32:46
  You know I that happened to me too um quite a bit the guy the guy who recognized your hat even though he doesn't listen to the podcast.
• 32:54
  Yeah that's a great story but but that happened to me quite often like I was because I was just by myself and you know people get talking to you and it's it's always interesting how that happens because if I'm with other people it doesn't happen as much but we're with you on that.
• 33:10
  So what is your number one sorry?
• 33:12
  Hey so mine my number one is rope dropping living with the land now there is something deeply peaceful about being at Epcot first thing in the morning in general you mentioned that Tia but heading straight for living with the land there that's a ghost town I'm like it's um it's calm and this was on Christmas day and it you know busy day and it's still but it was it was calm it was uncrowded and it was so meditative and again there was no debate with my teenage daughter about whether or not we should do it there was no convincing Savannah that a slow moving boat ride is secret secretly one of Walt Disney World's gems.
• 34:02
  And on a solo trip I don't have to justify it.
• 34:05
  I just do it when I was gonna say it probably because I was like well when you said that I was like well have you ever rope dropped carousel of progress but I don't think they would let you sit in the theater and spin around all by yourself.
• 34:18
  I think they would wait until there were enough people there before they loaded I will tell you can I tell you on Christmas and I did talk about this I did get a solo ride on that on Christmas Eve did right maybe before I left I think maybe you did say that.
• 34:36
  Yeah um I have a picture of it somewhere but yeah it's just because I was the last ride of that was my last ride of the night and nobody else was there but uh the cast member was telling me if somebody's there they have to play the show.
• 34:49
  So like amazing wow way to make them stay a little later on Christmas Eve Tristan no I did not stay later it was okay but yes I did get a solo ride on that which I thought was cool but not as cool as my solo boat ride Christmas morning on yeah it's like what did Santa bring Tristan yeah he really delivered the day as well it's because it is slow moving it's like a gentle if you're still feeling a bit sleepy it's it's a gentle way into you know your day and and it's so calming and relaxing and it's just um yeah it's a nice start to the day.
• 35:26
  I agree with you there.
• 35:28
  And and I will say as much as I loved my solo trip uh it also it was like interesting because it reminded me like why Disney is so important to me and you know it like as magical as that trip was I did miss Savannah and Harper a lot even though like they were literally doing other things that day or that you know those couple days so like I couldn't be with them anyway.
• 35:56
  But Disney alone that's a special thing but Disney shared with like other people that's like what really matters so like I'm like so conflicted on the Disney solo trip of it all because I'm like in one I'm like I got to do living with the land all I wanted but then I'm like oh but that's sad I miss them you know so there's room for both in the universe Tristan yes and one doesn't necessarily have to be better than another yes sharing with other people is wonderful and amazing but I will say one the thing that I bumped out of my first slot because I kind of covered it ish but also I realized I hadn't said talking to people which really is you know high on my list.
• 36:40
  But the thing I had bumped out is kind of that reflection that I do that I have if I'm you know solo and watching like a fireworks or a parade or or phantasmic.
• 36:54
  And it's just in that moment I'm kind of thinking about my my history of being at Disney and you know yes that includes so many trips with friends from high school with my parents with my grandparents and you know and just what it has meant to me over the last several decades and what an important part of my life it is and just to be there one more time and sort of be there by myself and and sort of remembering what the park is to me um is is is something that that I feel is sort of part of that.
• 37:31
  So beautifully said and what about you Tia any final thoughts?
• 37:37
  So I did have a few honorable mentions um but just on that or just what you just said solo trips are great obviously because I do them all the time but it's it's like you also said it's um kind of like you can you can talk freely and you know you can be the person you are because back at home I'm I'm really the only kind of Disney person.
• 38:01
  I am finding Disney adults as I go along um I broke down a few weeks ago and there was my the guy that rescued me uh the recovery driver he was going to Disney in a couple of in next month actually and he was excited and what we were talking about that but it's um I would like to share it with someone um and that's you know when like what like you said when you get excited to share with um with your friends and family and especially if something's new so I do have I do have trips that I want to do with with certain people um obviously our our podcast trip as well my my trip with Kimberly where we meet on Main Street and have a porn talk.
• 38:44
  But um yeah it's um yeah I I I I get what you mean Tristan it's I'm so used to doing solo but I I do you know I do wish I could have those moments with with people as well.
• 38:58
  Quick honor quick honourable mentions um I was talking to Kimberly yesterday actually and we were talking about resort activities um so you can do tie-dyeing t-shirts at uh pop century build like do mosaics at certain ones so I've never done them before um but she was mentioning it and how fun it was so I thought that would be quite fun because again you can you don't have to be with anyone to take part you can just do them and then you probably get talking to people as well um I had single rider lines on there after hours event um I had that on there resort hopping um oh yeah that's good yeah seeing the Christmas trees seeing the Easter eggs at different times of the year or just you know just you know going to try different restaurants that you hear about but you you haven't tried because you're always in the park and then lastly boardwalk because it's just such a nice vibe and it's so chilled.
• 39:54
  It is and they should try hiding Easter eggs in the Christmas trees I think that I think that would be awesome.
• 40:02
  And I was also going to say Tia I hope you took advantage of your distress and recommended our podcast to the guy who picked you up so that so that he can become a listener and then someday go on our on our podcast trip.
• 40:15
  Well well we were talking uh I gave him lots of recommendations um and I was saying that well I've been telling quite a few people that I've discovered Disney adults that I was on a Disney podcast and you know give it a listen and I was playing it just I was replaying my episode recently and oh my gosh Sean you I think you both should talk about a drinking game or something.
• 40:40
  If you ever want to play a drinking game listen to my episode and whenever I say how hot it was or hot how hot I am you'll you'll be drunk very quickly because I can't believe how many times I said it and I do apologize.
• 40:53
  Well I I will say you'll have a lot less of that in December.
• 40:58
  Yeah and you told me that's what you said a year ago you said you said you should go at Christmas time and it'll be a lot cooler it will be um you know great time to try the corn dog so we did talk about you know well going I'm glad you took my advice and I can't wait to hear how this goes oh yeah that's gonna be so exciting and it's getting me through to the to the end of the year.
• 41:21
  Yeah I I was telling clients today I do always like to have my next trip planned when I go it it just it it makes parting a little easier and and so and that's true of anywhere that I'm going in the world but especially Disney.
• 41:39
  I told that to Savannah the other day because like we're going in June a couple weeks but we don't know past that when we'll be back because Harper and I are going on the adventure around the holidays and then we're going to hopefully Disneyland Paris for spring break next year.
• 41:55
  So Disney plans Disney World itself because Harper asked when we were going back to Disney World already and I was like calm down like you're gonna have some Disney vacations it's because we've gone she's gone like three or four times in the last year just because of the way things have kind of worked out in our schedules and but it is true I do like the fact when I am like it's like it's always when you hit the last day of your trip is when you're like oh but uh when is the next one and so Sean do you have yours booked before you go on your I try to if my wife will let me well we have that we both have that um I mean cuz because you know because what was my last one?
• 42:47
  Um I guess technically well I I do think we'll be doing a Disney cruise with the agency in January so when I go to Disneyland this summer it's like well and I I also admitted to Jackie like a week ago I was really trying to sneak something in like in November or December that's maybe just us we both have non-expiring tickets that we bought as far back as they were selling the non-expiring tickets which you know has been a long time but because they don't expire it's like well we've each got we've each got like eight days left on those oh sure they're non-transferable so if we die with them then they're just wasted and that would be yeah you gotta use them gotta use them.
• 43:36
  Yeah so so I was like well we've we could you know use some frequent flyer miles we've got our DVC I don't know I will let you know if I convince her I love that for you I also just want to say watch this space because I'm looking at a double Shanghai and Hong Kong trip next year and possibly my second Disney Cruise.
• 44:00
  I haven't even been on the first, but I'm already planning the second.
• 44:03
  Um yeah, yeah.
• 44:06
  You'll you'll be anxious to plan your second.
• 44:09
  And as your travel advisor from the US who can't actually sell you travel, I will tell you that you'll definitely you definitely want to get that place saver that is only available to you while you're on board because it's 10% discount uh on a future cruise, and it just you know, and if you don't use it, you can get it refunded back to you, but you'll use it.
• 44:34
  You have two years to use it.
• 44:35
  So yeah, I'm already saving up for the placeholder.
• 44:39
  So I wanted to do I wanted to do all the Disney ships in order, um like an order if they came out, but then this this fantasy trip happened, and I'm like, okay, it's one of the four kind of original ones, so I it's not like jumping to the wish or the treasure.
• 44:55
  Um, but I'm also looking at going to Singapore and doing the adventure because obviously you did your episode, Tristan, uh, which was so like so interesting, and what a great opportunity you had.
• 45:07
  And I can't wait to listen to your episode when you and Harper go, but that looks incredible as well.
• 45:13
  So there's there's always something in the pipeline, it's just a case of of uh getting getting it booked, but there's just too much, too much to do.
• 45:22
  Oh, and also Sean and and Tristan, sorry, I'm going down another spoke here.
• 45:27
  Have you um have you done have you done Vero Beach or what's the other one?
• 45:33
  Um Hilton Head.
• 45:36
  Sorry.
• 45:37
  It's called Hilton Head.
• 45:38
  Yeah, yeah.
• 45:40
  Have you had to it all?
• 45:42
  I d I did go with my mom and her husband to Vero Beach years ago.
• 45:48
  And it's I mean it's it's lovely and it has a vague Disliness about it, but it's you know, it's it's not a true Disney vacation.
• 46:01
  It's nice, it's a lovely property and it's nice to spend some time there, and there are some Disney touches.
• 46:08
  But I would probably go to Shanghai first.
• 46:13
  Well, yeah, that's definit definitely on the list.
• 46:16
  If you're in the neighborhood and want to see like some turtles, then by all means.
• 46:21
  Oh, interesting.
• 46:23
  I love turtles, so yeah, I've I will make a note of that.
• 46:27
  Yeah, if you go the right time of year, uh uh Hilton Head, I guess.
• 46:32
  Is Hilton Head where the turtles are?
• 46:35
  Maybe it's both.
• 46:36
  I don't remember, but yes, they they like hatch on the beach and run down to the ocean and stuff, yeah.
• 46:44
  Oh wow, I have to research that.
• 46:47
  Yeah.
• 46:48
  And is Aulani, is that on your list?
• 46:51
  Oh, yeah, that's I've already been.
• 46:53
  Oh right, you have.
• 46:55
  But I I it was the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disneyland and Alani obviously has to be repeated again, so um I will I will be going back.
• 47:04
  Uh, but yeah, like I said, there's just too much to do.
• 47:08
  And then you want to go back, like Tristan said, you want to go back to Disney World because it's it's just that magical place, but then it's like, you know, there's too many other things to do as well.
• 47:17
  So even I've been looking at like um I want to do um May the 4th, I want to do like a short trip on May the 4th.
• 47:24
  I even want to, I'm I'm crazy and I want to do 4th of July because I've seen that the 4th of July fireworks at Epcot are uh are are amazing.
• 47:33
  So I that I want to do the different times of year as well.
• 47:37
  So I just need to Well Kimberly's right, you really should just move here then.
• 47:42
  Then I can sell you your vacations.
• 47:44
  I should, I should.
• 47:45
  I'll I should just uh yeah, I'll pack my bags and I'll I'll uh instead of flying home on Saturday, I'll just fly to the States.
• 47:52
  There you go.
• 47:55
  Well Tia, it is always a pleasure, and we should not wait a year before we no, we shouldn't.
• 48:01
  Um, I've spoken to to each of you separately on like several times over the past year.
• 48:10
  And thank you for your time and and just you know answering my questions and and uh your patience with me and and it's just always such a joy, and it's just uh it's just part of you know, it's nice to be part of your your little community and um and all your shout outs that you you give me.
• 48:28
  I'm always so touched, and you know, it's and now I've got a new Disney Bessie as well in Kimberley.
• 48:34
  So it's uh you know, it's been fantastic, and I I can't thank you both enough for having me on again.
• 48:40
  It's it's you know, thank you so much.
• 48:42
  Of course.
• 48:44
  It does it does remind us that this journey has taken trajectories we never could have imagined, and and having someone listen to our podcast every week from the UK is is amazing.
• 48:56
  And the fact that you and Kimberly talk is amazing, and it's all because of the Disney verse where we all exist, and so we're just grateful to you.
• 49:06
  Thanks so much.
• 49:07
  Yeah, thank you, Tia.
• 49:09
  But you know, uh, if you're not following us already out there, you know, follow us on the social media of Mice and Main Street Men and look us up.
• 49:17
  And if you're in the States, you can use Sean to book your travel.
• 49:21
  You can't, and uh and uh as we say on this show, as we all know, we'll say uh bye bye, you friends.
• 49:31
  Thank you all for listening, and we will see you.