Dana’s Solo/Work Trip to WDW (April 2023)

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VIRGINIA: Hello there, and welcome to Where I Long To Be, a Magical Trip Report Podcast.

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VIRGINIA: My name is Virginia, and I'll be your host.

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VIRGINIA: Today, we have Dana's report on her April 2023 trip, which was a combination solo trip and a work trip for some training for her job as a Disney travel planner.

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VIRGINIA: She's a great resource for anyone who is trying to plan a Disney vacation, and I'll have her info at the end of the show and also in the show notes.

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VIRGINIA: Our conversation was a lot of fun and included lots of pivots in the plans, a Keys to the Kingdom tour and more.

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VIRGINIA: As always, if you'd like to be considered as a Trip Report guest, the link is in the show notes.

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VIRGINIA: While you're there, I'd love it if you'd subscribe and even rate the podcast.

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VIRGINIA: And if you'd like what you hear, please share with others.

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VIRGINIA: And now, let's get to the interview.

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VIRGINIA: Welcome, Dana.

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VIRGINIA: Thank you so much for joining me today.

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DANA: Thanks for having me.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, you're welcome.

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VIRGINIA: Can you first just tell me a little bit about yourself?

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VIRGINIA: What state are you in and what kind of Disney person are you?

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DANA: Well, I live in Michigan.

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DANA: I wish it was in Florida, but it is not.

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DANA: I live in Michigan and I am a Walt Disney World Resort person.

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DANA: I've never been to Disneyland yet, but I am truly devoted to Walt Disney World.

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DANA: It's my favorite place and I can't really fully describe why you like going there so often or the feeling that it gives you.

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DANA: But it is just one of my very favorite places and that's why I do that for my job.

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DANA: I was planning other people's trips to get them there.

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DANA: That's why I wanted to start doing that because I obviously can't be there as much as I would want to be, but I want other people to experience that too.

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VIRGINIA: That's why I've started this podcast is because when I can't be there, I might as well just talk to other people about their trips.

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DANA: My husband is so sick of hearing me talk about it, and my kids are so sick of talking about it all the time.

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DANA: And I have my friend, my group of Disney friends, they love talking about it, but not everyone wants to talk about it all the time.

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DANA: So that's why Disney podcasts are so great.

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DANA: You can just listen to people talk and talk and talk, and you never get sick of it.

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VIRGINIA: Right.

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VIRGINIA: And you feel like these are my people.

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VIRGINIA: So being that you are a Disney vacation planner, I assume that you are the planner of your group that's going on this trip.

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VIRGINIA: Is anybody helping you or is it all you?

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DANA: Well, the trip that I'm going on this time, the first three days, it's just myself.

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DANA: Just like a solo trip.

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DANA: This will be my third solo trip.

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DANA: And then the second half of the trip is like a training trip with, I'm going with a fellow agent.

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DANA: So some of it is planned by Disney Destinations.

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DANA: Their agent education area does that for us.

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DANA: But some of those days, then I also plan out the rest of my day, like when the training is over.

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DANA: So it's mostly planned by me.

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VIRGINIA: Okay, so when you are there and doing your training, will you be with a group of other people you already know that you would consider to be part of your party, or it'll be a big mix of stuff?

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DANA: I'm just going to be with one other person that I know, a friend and co-agent in my agency.

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DANA: So when we are not having our training, we're going to be traveling together for two days.

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DANA: So we have some stuff planned together, assuming we keep those plans.

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DANA: As you know, sometimes Disney plans do change along the way based off weather or so many factors.

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DANA: But for the two days when we're not in our training sessions, we do have plans.

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DANA: So I would consider her and I traveling together for those two days.

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DANA: There will be like 100 some other travel agents there, but our plans outside of the training sessions are completely separate from theirs.

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VIRGINIA: And what are your trip dates?

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VIRGINIA: I know it's April.

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DANA: April 21st, so next Friday is when I get there.

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DANA: And then I come home on the 26th.

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DANA: So it's kind of like a split stay really, because it's two different resorts I have to switch, which that I've never done.

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DANA: So that will be new for me.

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VIRGINIA: Well, speaking of resorts, what are the resorts you're going to be staying at?

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DANA: For my personal portion, the first three days and nights, I'm staying at Pop Century.

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DANA: And then the agent part of it, we are being hosted at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

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VIRGINIA: Have you stayed at Pop or Animal Kingdom Lodge before?

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DANA: I have stayed at Pop before.

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VIRGINIA: Love it.

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DANA: It's my favorite value resort.

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DANA: But Animal Kingdom Lodge, I have not stayed at before.

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DANA: I've been there before just to walk around, see the lobby, see the animals on the savanna, but I've never stayed there before.

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DANA: So, and I've actually never stayed Deluxe.

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DANA: So, I'm really looking forward to staying Deluxe.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, you're gonna spoil yourself.

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DANA: Like once you go Deluxe, you're not gonna go back.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, I mean, it's a little bit like that.

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VIRGINIA: But at the same time, I just stayed at, we stayed at Pop on the last night of our trip before we came home in February.

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VIRGINIA: And it's still fantastic.

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VIRGINIA: So, I mean, you know, there's differences, but if I have to pick, I'm gonna pick Deluxe.

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VIRGINIA: But it's still, there's nothing like being in the Disney bubble.

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VIRGINIA: I'd much rather be in a value resort than down the road at a good neighbor hotel.

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DANA: Can I ask what kind of trip you want to have?

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DANA: You know, sometimes you're planning on doing a lot of resort days or, you know, every other, like a park day, resort day, park day, resort day.

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DANA: So, you know, a nicer pool or a nicer, larger room, like sit down restaurants at your resort might be more important to you versus sometimes your trip is you're on the go the entire time.

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DANA: You know, park open to park close, you're never in your room except to sleep and shower.

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DANA: So that might not be where you want to, you know, put a big chunk of your budget into your room.

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DANA: It just depends what kind of experience you want to have.

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VIRGINIA: So you're coming all the way from Michigan.

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VIRGINIA: I assume you're flying, not driving all that way.

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VIRGINIA: Do you have a direct flight?

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DANA: Yes, I have a direct flight from Detroit to Orlando.

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VIRGINIA: And what time do you, are you going to be arriving in Orlando?

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DANA: Pretty early, like 8.53, my arrival time.

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DANA: So right in the morning, which is what I prefer every time when I go there to maximize the magic, you know, I hit the ground running.

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DANA: I don't like to arrive late in the day because I'm like, well, that's wasted.

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DANA: I don't want, that's just more time spent at home.

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DANA: I'd rather spend the time there, you know.

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VIRGINIA: Also, I feel like the later your flight, the more likely you're going to be delayed.

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VIRGINIA: Like if you're first thing in the morning.

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DANA: Right.

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DANA: Yeah.

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DANA: Definitely everything is going to be delayed.

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VIRGINIA: Exactly.

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VIRGINIA: So once you get there, what is your local transportation going to be like?

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VIRGINIA: How are you getting over to the resort?

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VIRGINIA: And do you plan on using Disney transportation for the most part?

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DANA: Well, as you know, I'm sure you know, Magical Express is no longer available.

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DANA: So this time, I will be using the replacement, the Mears shuttle bus.

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DANA: I just attempted to Uber, but I don't prefer to do that alone, you know, as a woman alone.

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DANA: So I just feel a little bit nervous to do that.

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DANA: So I'll be using the Mears shuttle bus, which I've used before.

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DANA: It's fine.

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DANA: By myself, it's great.

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DANA: Quick, especially right in the morning, those first few arrival flights.

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DANA: It's very quick to get to your resort.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, I'll be trying Mears for the first time when I go in May.

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VIRGINIA: Up until now, I've been doing the Sunshine Flyer, which is great.

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VIRGINIA: But what I learned recently, because I'm actually doing a late night flight for this next trip, and because of the time I'm landing, Sunshine Flyer doesn't go that late, but Mears apparently is there all night.

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DANA: So yeah, Mears is 24 hours.

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DANA: So that's what I'm going to need when I come home.

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DANA: When I come home, I have to like, I have like a 3:30 a.m.

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DANA: pickup from Animal Kingdom Lodge because I have a really early flight.

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VIRGINIA: One other good thing that I noticed is when we flew into that new terminal in February was that because I was taking Sunshine Flyer, we had to do that long trek to get over to it, whereas Mears picks up in both the old terminals and the new terminal.

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VIRGINIA: So that would have been more beneficial if you're flying into, I think it's terminal C.

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VIRGINIA: It's a long hike.

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VIRGINIA: You get your Disney steps started early if you get into terminal C.

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VIRGINIA: So let's talk ADRs.

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VIRGINIA: What kind of ADRs do you have booked and are there any that you want but haven't been able to secure yet?

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DANA: Yes.

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DANA: So when I get there on the 21st, it's Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot.

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DANA: So and since I'm staying at Pop Century, I'm just going to take the Skyliner over to Epcot right away.

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DANA: That's where I'm going to start my day with my prep reservation for Epcot on the 21st.

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DANA: So I'm going to be starving by the time I get there.

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DANA: So I am definitely going to enjoy the Flower and Garden Festival for lunch or brunch.

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DANA: So then for dinner, I do have a reservation at Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney's Hollywood Studios.

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DANA: I do have a late dinner reservation that day.

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DANA: So so far right now, that's my plan.

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VIRGINIA: Have you eaten at Brown Derby before?

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DANA: No, not never.

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DANA: And everyone, everyone does.

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DANA: Everyone I know has eaten there and I just never, I don't know, I just never had the opportunity or never made it a priority.

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DANA: I just never fit into my plans.

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DANA: So I'm going to do that this time.

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VIRGINIA: Do you enjoy a good cocktail?

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DANA: Yes, I do.

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VIRGINIA: Okay, I'm going to recommend and you don't have to do this, but I recommend the Margarita Flight.

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DANA: Okay, I've seen that.

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DANA: My friend has had that recently.

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DANA: I saw her photos of that.

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DANA: So maybe I'll do that with the Cobb Salad.

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DANA: I got to get the Cobb Salad.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, yeah, that's a must do, must do.

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VIRGINIA: And those are good, I've had that exact meal multiple times.

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DANA: I probably will do that.

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VIRGINIA: That's Friday, Saturday.

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VIRGINIA: What are your plans for Saturday?

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DANA: Saturday, my plans are to go to Magic Kingdom to start my day.

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DANA: I'm going to hang out over there probably until like lunchtime.

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DANA: Then I'm going to go actually over to the Grand Floridian for their Wedding Feb.

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DANA: Open House.

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DANA: That is something I've never done.

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DANA: I mean, they only do it a few times a year.

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DANA: I think this year they're they were doing it like two weekends a month, maybe like January through now, I believe.

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DANA: It's a pretty random schedule, obviously, when there's no weddings in there.

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DANA: So I'm really looking forward to that.

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DANA: I've always wanted to go into the Wedding Pavilion, you know, you drive by on the monorail and the monorail recording, you know, says you're now passing the Grand Floridians Wedding Pavilion.

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DANA: You know, everyone wonders what it looks like inside.

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DANA: So I can't wait to go inside and see that, see what it looks like inside.

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DANA: It's a self guided tour.

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DANA: So I'm assuming you could just walk around, you know, I don't know.

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VIRGINIA: Is that something that a Disney, a vacation planner can help with if somebody is planning a Disney wedding?

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DANA: Not really.

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DANA: That's like they have their own whole Disney wedding planning department.

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DANA: I suppose you could help their guests, like the people attending the wedding.

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DANA: You could book their, you know, hotel stays tickets, whatever package they would want.

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DANA: So you could do that, but nothing really specific to the wedding.

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VIRGINIA: So you're going to be over there at lunchtime.

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VIRGINIA: Are you going to eat lunch while you're at the Grand Floridian?

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DANA: I don't know.

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DANA: I guess it depends how hungry I am.

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DANA: You know, I don't know.

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DANA: A lot of my Disney trips, I don't plan out all of my meals.

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DANA: I'll do like one dining reservation per day.

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DANA: Sometimes I'll cancel it if I know, you know, the night before I'm like, no, I don't want to do that.

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DANA: You know, you can cancel them now a little bit closer.

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DANA: Even sometimes like within two hours before they change the policy a little bit on that.

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DANA: I don't know what I'm going to do, I guess.

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DANA: It depends if I have a lot of snacks in the morning over at Magic Kingdom that I might not eat lunch over there.

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DANA: But I have eaten at the Grand Floridian Cafe several times, but later that day, I'm probably going to go back to Magic Kingdom for dinner because I do have a reservation at the Crystal Palace which is a little out of my comfort zone to do a character meal without my family, without my children with me.

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DANA: You know, some adults, Disney adults, are totally comfortable and fine.

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DANA: Like interacting with the characters, stirring up a conversation.

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DANA: I don't feel totally comfortable with that.

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DANA: So maybe it'll give me more practice to do that.

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DANA: I'm not sure.

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DANA: But at the Crystal Palace, you don't really have to interact with the characters if you don't want to.

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DANA: You know, they kind of come by the table and if they notice you want an interaction, then they'll do it.

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DANA: But if you're kind of just keeping to yourself, you know, eating your dinner, they won't really like come to the table.

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DANA: You know what I mean, unless you kind of like summon them over.

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VIRGINIA: I think you'll be fine.

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VIRGINIA: I mean, I think they're really good at picking up on how somebody's feeling about interacting with them.

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DANA: Yeah, I think so.

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VIRGINIA: So I'm guessing they'll try to make you as comfortable as possible.

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DANA: Right.

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DANA: Yeah, I mean, I shouldn't I shouldn't feel so awkward about it.

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DANA: I guess I just I don't know, I usually stand back and let the kids, you know, interact, you know, kids come first with the characters in my mind.

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DANA: So I usually just let the kids do what they want.

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DANA: And then I'm like, you know, I wave or I'll take a picture, but I don't like hold the conversation with them.

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DANA: So we'll see how it goes.

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DANA: But I've never eaten at the Crystal Palace.

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DANA: So I thought this was a good time to try it.

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VIRGINIA: Can you remind me which characters you'll see there?

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DANA: It's like the Hundred Acre Wood character.

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DANA: So Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Yor and Tigger was the last one.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, usually when I interact with characters, I usually just ask them a question about their storyline.

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VIRGINIA: You know, like if you see Winnie, maybe you would ask him if he can recommend anything on the buffet or it's a buffet, I think.

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DANA: Yes.

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VIRGINIA: Like, is there anything good with honey in it or like a little questions like that?

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VIRGINIA: So that that's usually and then they try to signal back to you in their nonverbal language.

00:14:48.575 --> 00:14:48.855
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:14:49.835 --> 00:14:50.135
DANA: Yeah.

00:14:50.455 --> 00:14:55.515
VIRGINIA: What you should be doing and, you know, and then if all else fails, just ask if you can get a selfie and that.

00:14:56.075 --> 00:14:56.415
DANA: Right.

00:14:57.295 --> 00:14:58.335
DANA: Yeah, that's what I think I'll do.

00:14:59.715 --> 00:15:09.395
VIRGINIA: So after after dinner, are you going to continue to stay at the park, do a little bit more late night action fireworks, anything like that?

00:15:09.995 --> 00:15:10.335
DANA: Yeah.

00:15:10.355 --> 00:15:18.175
DANA: So that night I in case I don't get to see happily ever after on Friday night, because it's going to be such an early, early morning.

00:15:18.195 --> 00:15:23.595
DANA: I have to wake up at like three o'clock in the morning, you know, to fly there and have the whole long day and everything.

00:15:23.835 --> 00:15:31.455
DANA: I don't know if I'm going to stay for the fireworks on Friday night because I do Saturday morning I do want to rope drop Magic Kingdom.

00:15:31.475 --> 00:15:33.475
DANA: So you know, I got to be up bright and early for that.

00:15:33.895 --> 00:15:37.015
DANA: So I don't know if I'm going to see them on Friday night.

00:15:37.035 --> 00:15:37.895
DANA: So Saturday night.

00:15:37.955 --> 00:15:47.075
DANA: Yeah, my plan is when I finish dinner at Crystal Palace to just stay right there and watch the fireworks and see happily ever after because I know obviously you just came back.

00:15:47.635 --> 00:15:51.915
DANA: So I can't wait to see that, you know, in person again.

00:15:52.815 --> 00:15:57.175
VIRGINIA: Were you an enchantment enthusiast or not so much?

00:15:57.815 --> 00:16:01.975
DANA: You know, I know so many people really didn't like it, you know, in the Disney community.

00:16:01.995 --> 00:16:04.455
DANA: And it's like a big talking point.

00:16:04.915 --> 00:16:07.635
DANA: But I didn't, I thought it was great.

00:16:07.655 --> 00:16:09.055
DANA: I didn't see any problems with it.

00:16:09.075 --> 00:16:13.235
DANA: I mean, it's just, you know, everyone's like, well, it didn't live up to happily ever after.

00:16:13.255 --> 00:16:16.795
DANA: But who said it was supposed to, you know, I mean, it was just something different.

00:16:16.815 --> 00:16:24.495
DANA: I didn't, it wasn't supposed to be like, I didn't think it was supposed to be a replacement or, you know, to override happily ever after.

00:16:24.515 --> 00:16:26.795
DANA: It was just a different show.

00:16:27.495 --> 00:16:28.475
DANA: So I liked it.

00:16:28.495 --> 00:16:29.255
DANA: I thought it was fine.

00:16:29.275 --> 00:16:33.635
DANA: I mean, watched it a million times in Disney blogs that I watch every day.

00:16:34.875 --> 00:16:36.775
DANA: Listened to the soundtrack a million times.

00:16:38.295 --> 00:16:41.575
DANA: Seen it in person eight, nine times.

00:16:42.015 --> 00:16:45.035
DANA: So, I mean, I thought it was great.

00:16:45.535 --> 00:16:46.035
DANA: I liked it.

00:16:47.735 --> 00:16:51.475
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I think that's all it is, is comparison, because I think it was fine.

00:16:52.275 --> 00:16:56.715
VIRGINIA: It's just I have that love for happily ever after.

00:16:56.735 --> 00:16:58.595
VIRGINIA: So it was like just the comparison of it.

00:16:58.835 --> 00:17:09.995
VIRGINIA: And then I think there was a little bit of, you know, I think maybe the thought that because it was the 50th anniversary, that maybe people had expectations for something specific because of that.

00:17:10.295 --> 00:17:12.595
VIRGINIA: And if it doesn't live up to your expectations.

00:17:12.955 --> 00:17:19.135
VIRGINIA: So, I mean, I feel like, you know, don't set your expectations too high for anything and you'll never be disappointed.

00:17:19.455 --> 00:17:19.755
DANA: Right.

00:17:20.055 --> 00:17:24.255
DANA: I do think it was a little bit, you know, better, I guess.

00:17:24.535 --> 00:17:32.395
DANA: When they added Walt the last couple of months, they added the Walt talking towards the end of the show.

00:17:32.795 --> 00:17:35.995
DANA: So I do think that that was great when they added that.

00:17:36.015 --> 00:17:37.555
DANA: I don't know why they didn't have that in the beginning.

00:17:37.715 --> 00:17:40.175
DANA: You know, who knows, whoever designed the show.

00:17:40.595 --> 00:17:43.495
DANA: But, you know, I do think that was great.

00:17:43.875 --> 00:17:48.415
DANA: I mean, I thought it was a nice addition to the show for the last few months of it.

00:17:51.295 --> 00:17:52.735
VIRGINIA: So that's Saturday.

00:17:52.755 --> 00:17:53.655
VIRGINIA: What's happened on Sunday?

00:17:54.155 --> 00:17:56.435
DANA: So Sunday is my exciting day.

00:17:56.455 --> 00:18:02.835
DANA: So I will also be back at Magic Kingdom really, really early for the Keys to the Kingdom tour.

00:18:03.795 --> 00:18:05.855
DANA: I'm really been wanting to do it for years.

00:18:05.875 --> 00:18:09.875
DANA: You know, it was gone for a while because of the COVID.

00:18:10.915 --> 00:18:21.635
DANA: So it was gone for a while and when it came back, I did have a trip planned, but I planned my trip last minute much sooner than a 60-day window.

00:18:22.175 --> 00:18:26.555
DANA: It was like a two-week notice that I planned my trip when I went back in November.

00:18:26.575 --> 00:18:29.135
DANA: So there was no availability to do it.

00:18:30.855 --> 00:18:35.215
DANA: And I need to do it on a solo trip because my children are old enough.

00:18:35.615 --> 00:18:38.195
DANA: I don't even know if they would be interested in that.

00:18:39.435 --> 00:18:46.935
DANA: So, you know, it's something that I want to do by myself so I can fully enjoy it and not have to worry if my family is enjoying it too.

00:18:47.115 --> 00:18:49.855
DANA: So this is the next time I was here by myself.

00:18:49.935 --> 00:18:52.035
DANA: So I'm so excited to do that.

00:18:53.375 --> 00:18:55.195
VIRGINIA: And how many hours will that take?

00:18:55.655 --> 00:18:56.635
DANA: It's five hours.

00:18:57.655 --> 00:19:01.095
VIRGINIA: Okay, so you're going to wrap that up right around lunchtime.

00:19:01.375 --> 00:19:03.215
DANA: Yes, I have the 830 tour.

00:19:03.235 --> 00:19:07.575
DANA: There's like an 8, 830, 9 and 930 most days.

00:19:09.035 --> 00:19:12.095
DANA: I did want the 930, but that one was sold out.

00:19:12.115 --> 00:19:26.335
DANA: So I had to take the 830 because I was told if you do the 930 tour, you get to see the characters getting ready for the festival fantasy.

00:19:26.855 --> 00:19:32.335
DANA: You get to see them getting ready and getting on the floats and getting their costumes on and things like that.

00:19:32.775 --> 00:19:36.295
DANA: So I really wanted to see that, but that one was sold out.

00:19:37.775 --> 00:19:43.315
DANA: So I did the 830 tour, but I don't know what extra things we will see on that.

00:19:43.355 --> 00:19:45.575
DANA: But yes, it's over at 130.

00:19:47.275 --> 00:19:51.935
VIRGINIA: I wonder if maybe you'll see them getting ready in some way for the Castle stage show.

00:19:52.195 --> 00:19:53.135
DANA: Yeah, maybe.

00:19:53.155 --> 00:19:58.835
DANA: And I have heard from several people that have done it that it kind of depends on your tour guide.

00:19:58.855 --> 00:20:00.935
DANA: Also, like not every tour is the same.

00:20:02.355 --> 00:20:03.755
DANA: They vary a little bit with your tour guide.

00:20:03.775 --> 00:20:05.575
DANA: Like the information varies a little bit.

00:20:06.295 --> 00:20:11.055
DANA: And the little bit of extra things that you get vary slightly.

00:20:11.715 --> 00:20:13.535
DANA: So I don't know.

00:20:13.555 --> 00:20:13.915
DANA: We'll see.

00:20:13.935 --> 00:20:16.995
DANA: We'll see who I get and, you know, how it is.

00:20:17.155 --> 00:20:18.875
DANA: And lunch is provided on it.

00:20:19.135 --> 00:20:21.275
DANA: So I'm assuming that's like halfway through.

00:20:21.295 --> 00:20:21.615
DANA: I don't know.

00:20:21.635 --> 00:20:22.355
DANA: It didn't say.

00:20:22.675 --> 00:20:24.735
DANA: But I know it's at Pegas Bills.

00:20:24.735 --> 00:20:31.015
DANA: And when you check in for your tour, I believe you choose what you want off the menu for lunch.

00:20:31.475 --> 00:20:34.655
DANA: And they have it waiting for you, you know, when it's time to do that.

00:20:34.775 --> 00:20:36.355
VIRGINIA: So that's nice.

00:20:36.355 --> 00:20:38.275
VIRGINIA: I didn't realize that lunch was included.

00:20:38.295 --> 00:20:44.555
VIRGINIA: And Pegas Bill is one of my favorite quick services in the Magic Kingdom.

00:20:45.195 --> 00:20:46.255
DANA: I mean, you can't go wrong with it.

00:20:46.275 --> 00:20:47.595
DANA: You know, it's pretty good.

00:20:48.175 --> 00:20:48.555
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:20:48.575 --> 00:20:50.175
VIRGINIA: So what are you going to do after the tour?

00:20:50.955 --> 00:20:52.795
DANA: So after the tour, I'm not sure.

00:20:53.295 --> 00:20:54.575
DANA: I might go back to my resort.

00:20:54.595 --> 00:20:56.615
DANA: It's supposed to be really, really hot that day.

00:20:57.555 --> 00:21:00.195
DANA: You know, and when you're on the tour, you have to keep up with everybody.

00:21:00.215 --> 00:21:01.495
DANA: You can't be like, oh, I'm so hot.

00:21:01.855 --> 00:21:03.915
DANA: I need a shade break or sunscreen break.

00:21:03.935 --> 00:21:05.375
DANA: You know, you kind of got to keep up.

00:21:05.815 --> 00:21:07.815
DANA: So I'm not sure.

00:21:07.835 --> 00:21:13.535
DANA: I might go back to my resort and get some air conditioning or take a dip in the pool.

00:21:14.155 --> 00:21:15.175
DANA: I'm not sure.

00:21:15.195 --> 00:21:19.055
DANA: If I do do that, I will go back to a park.

00:21:19.075 --> 00:21:21.855
DANA: I'm not just going to call it a day, you know, at 1.30 or 2 o'clock.

00:21:22.395 --> 00:21:25.015
DANA: So I will go back to a park.

00:21:25.875 --> 00:21:35.995
DANA: So that night, I was looking for a reservation at Stakehouse 71, which I couldn't get because I just decided I wanted that, you know, too late.

00:21:36.335 --> 00:21:43.775
DANA: But so my hopes are that I will be able to get one of those, you know, the day of or the day before.

00:21:43.795 --> 00:21:52.255
VIRGINIA: Are you just continuing to check or do you also have some search features on like mouse dining or anything like that set up?

00:21:52.475 --> 00:21:53.175
DANA: No, I don't.

00:21:53.235 --> 00:21:54.635
DANA: I haven't used those yet.

00:21:54.655 --> 00:21:56.955
DANA: I haven't needed to for any of my guests or for myself.

00:21:57.195 --> 00:22:01.095
DANA: I just obsessively check many, many, many times a day.

00:22:01.115 --> 00:22:03.095
DANA: Anytime I have a free second, I check.

00:22:03.755 --> 00:22:08.535
DANA: And usually something opens up, you know, that I want or a guest would want.

00:22:09.595 --> 00:22:18.955
DANA: That's one of the things we do is we, or I do for my guests, is I just obsessively check to get everything that you want on your list every single day, all day long.

00:22:18.975 --> 00:22:28.675
DANA: Every time I have a free second, I will check because usually someone will cancel something that you want, within an hour or two of your preferred time.

00:22:29.435 --> 00:22:37.335
DANA: Especially now that they're letting you cancel a lot closer to the reservation time without any repercussions.

00:22:38.355 --> 00:22:40.355
DANA: So many people are canceling last minute.

00:22:40.715 --> 00:22:43.535
DANA: A lot of people will hoard their reservations.

00:22:43.735 --> 00:22:52.855
DANA: They'll make multiple reservations for the same day for dinner, three or four reservations, and they'll decide one or two days before what they want.

00:22:52.875 --> 00:22:57.815
DANA: So then they'll cancel the ones they don't want, which has pros and cons, I suppose.

00:22:57.835 --> 00:23:03.375
DANA: But usually something will open up for what you want.

00:23:04.535 --> 00:23:06.675
DANA: So I'm hoping for Steakhouse 71.

00:23:06.975 --> 00:23:13.415
DANA: If not, since it's just me, one person, if nothing opens up, I will try to just do like a walk up.

00:23:14.495 --> 00:23:19.395
DANA: And they do have a bar, like a lounge bar, that you can order off the full menu usually.

00:23:19.795 --> 00:23:25.035
DANA: So for one person, you know, usually they can just sneak you in at a little table.

00:23:25.055 --> 00:23:26.575
DANA: It's not like a family of six or something.

00:23:27.635 --> 00:23:28.575
VIRGINIA: Yeah, that's true.

00:23:29.075 --> 00:23:36.335
VIRGINIA: The lounge option is a good idea at several different restaurants where you might, someone might be in the same situation.

00:23:38.595 --> 00:23:47.535
VIRGINIA: Okay, so are you going to, after dinner, go back to Magic Kingdom or go back and get yourself packed up for your resort change?

00:23:48.055 --> 00:23:48.635
DANA: I don't know.

00:23:49.155 --> 00:23:52.535
DANA: I probably will watch Happily Ever After again.

00:23:52.915 --> 00:24:02.415
DANA: You know, if I'm in the area, you know, if I am over at Stakehouse 71, depending what time I'm done, I'll probably just come back over to Magic Kingdom.

00:24:03.335 --> 00:24:10.475
DANA: But because I do have a park hopper ticket for all the days, I do like to fully take advantage of that.

00:24:10.695 --> 00:24:17.275
DANA: So I feel like I have to go to at least two parks on every single day to make full use of my park hopper ticket.

00:24:17.995 --> 00:24:19.755
DANA: So I'm not sure.

00:24:19.775 --> 00:24:23.555
VIRGINIA: So okay, now that you've mentioned your ticket, I have a question.

00:24:23.575 --> 00:24:25.855
VIRGINIA: So you have a park hopper ticket.

00:24:26.455 --> 00:24:28.435
VIRGINIA: Are you going to roll this into an annual pass?

00:24:29.395 --> 00:24:30.155
DANA: I don't know.

00:24:30.335 --> 00:24:35.135
DANA: So I was just speaking about that yesterday with one of my agent friends.

00:24:35.535 --> 00:24:37.555
DANA: You know, I bought my three-day ticket.

00:24:37.575 --> 00:24:42.895
DANA: You know, I wanted an annual pass a while ago, but they were frozen forever.

00:24:42.935 --> 00:24:49.075
DANA: So I've been there three times wanting an annual pass when they weren't available.

00:24:50.075 --> 00:24:59.755
DANA: So, like, I went three times in 2022, and an annual pass would have been great because I bought, like, a six-day ticket and then a four-day ticket and then another four-day ticket.

00:25:00.415 --> 00:25:03.695
DANA: So I don't know.

00:25:05.175 --> 00:25:05.875
DANA: I might.

00:25:06.095 --> 00:25:16.775
DANA: I really have to figure out my rest of the trips, of my trips for this year, you know, if it's going to, you know, be a win to do that.

00:25:17.175 --> 00:25:18.895
DANA: So I am going again in November.

00:25:18.915 --> 00:25:21.215
DANA: I'm going in June.

00:25:21.835 --> 00:25:24.895
DANA: So I just don't know how many days.

00:25:25.015 --> 00:25:29.555
VIRGINIA: Just hearing you saying you're going twice, like, I don't even care how many days you're going.

00:25:29.555 --> 00:25:31.355
VIRGINIA: I feel like it's going to be worth it.

00:25:31.615 --> 00:25:33.015
VIRGINIA: Now, I'm saying that.

00:25:33.075 --> 00:25:37.975
VIRGINIA: And as I'm thinking about it, I'm thinking you're out of state, so you only have the option for the highest level.

00:25:38.455 --> 00:25:40.235
VIRGINIA: So maybe, maybe not.

00:25:40.255 --> 00:25:44.215
VIRGINIA: Because for me, like, I have the sorcerer because I have DVC.

00:25:45.475 --> 00:25:51.895
VIRGINIA: And I've luckily had an annual pass before the pandemic, and I just keep renewing it out of fear.

00:25:52.215 --> 00:25:56.215
VIRGINIA: It's well out of fear, and I'm using it enough for it to be worth it.

00:25:56.255 --> 00:26:03.235
VIRGINIA: But yeah, I think you could probably get some good Disney math done to make that happen.

00:26:03.255 --> 00:26:08.195
DANA: I know, I should clarify the in-credit pass, the out-of-state pass was the one that was frozen.

00:26:08.395 --> 00:26:14.795
DANA: The other ones you could, they did bring some of them back a while ago that you could purchase.

00:26:14.815 --> 00:26:17.195
DANA: But the one I am eligible for was frozen.

00:26:17.215 --> 00:26:22.775
DANA: Yeah, and they just announced that, you know, this week, and I'm like, oh my gosh, I just bought my ticket.

00:26:24.175 --> 00:26:24.895
DANA: So I might.

00:26:25.335 --> 00:26:25.855
DANA: I don't know.

00:26:26.495 --> 00:26:26.875
DANA: I might.

00:26:26.895 --> 00:26:28.075
DANA: It's very tempting to do it.

00:26:29.795 --> 00:26:43.395
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I saw it, I just saw recently, I wish I remembered where it was, but there was somebody that had like a calculator or something built that would help you within a couple clicks see is it worth it.

00:26:44.495 --> 00:26:44.995
DANA: Oh, okay.

00:26:45.095 --> 00:26:46.095
DANA: I'll have to look for that.

00:26:46.115 --> 00:26:53.675
VIRGINIA: Well, because I did it, because I mean, I know in my mind, mine is worth it, but I was like, let me just confirm.

00:26:53.695 --> 00:26:54.195
DANA: Right.

00:26:54.215 --> 00:26:57.815
VIRGINIA: Yeah, it's worth it.

00:26:58.495 --> 00:27:09.075
VIRGINIA: Okay, so Sunday, you might watch Happily Ever After again, and then the next day is when you transfer over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

00:27:09.155 --> 00:27:15.275
VIRGINIA: I'm making a big assumption that you're going to use the concierge service to get your stuff transported, is that correct?

00:27:15.535 --> 00:27:19.295
DANA: For sure, yes, I will, because I'm going to go to a park that morning.

00:27:19.375 --> 00:27:24.075
DANA: I'm going to go to Hollywood Studios that morning just to take advantage of the Skyliner being there.

00:27:24.095 --> 00:27:28.855
DANA: And that's the only morning I'm going to that park on this trip.

00:27:29.315 --> 00:27:32.095
DANA: So I'm going to go there.

00:27:32.115 --> 00:27:42.495
DANA: I think I kind of have to go somewhere to get to a Disney bus somehow, to get to Animal Kingdom Lodge later in the day to get my luggage.

00:27:42.995 --> 00:27:55.695
DANA: So unless I suppose I could Uber or use a minivan or something from Pop Century to Animal Kingdom Lodge, but my room probably isn't going to be ready early in the morning anyways.

00:27:56.335 --> 00:27:59.935
DANA: So I'm not just going to sit around the lobby and wait.

00:28:00.255 --> 00:28:01.135
DANA: I'm going to be in a park.

00:28:01.675 --> 00:28:04.315
DANA: So I'm going to go to Hollywood Studios.

00:28:04.875 --> 00:28:08.675
DANA: They transport my luggage to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

00:28:09.575 --> 00:28:18.295
DANA: And then that is when my agent friend that I'm going to be doing the two days with, she'll be arriving pretty much the same time I'm leaving my hotel.

00:28:18.675 --> 00:28:20.755
DANA: So she'll be getting to Animal Kingdom Lodge then.

00:28:21.175 --> 00:28:25.855
DANA: So then our together two days will sort of begin.

00:28:26.555 --> 00:28:32.875
VIRGINIA: So your agent friend is arriving around the same time that you're leaving your hotel that morning.

00:28:32.895 --> 00:28:34.535
VIRGINIA: She's going to meet you at Hollywood Studios?

00:28:35.495 --> 00:28:37.275
DANA: Yes, that's our plan as of now.

00:28:38.975 --> 00:28:50.855
DANA: Unless she wants to go to a different park, part of our training program that day is, or for this training program trip, is two complimentary park hopper tickets.

00:28:51.635 --> 00:28:52.215
DANA: Two days.

00:28:53.095 --> 00:29:00.835
DANA: So that's going to be the Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th.

00:29:00.975 --> 00:29:04.655
DANA: So she may pick a different park.

00:29:04.695 --> 00:29:13.735
DANA: She's not sure, because that's her first, she's just arriving that day, and she's never gone by herself before either.

00:29:13.755 --> 00:29:18.795
DANA: I don't want her to feel stuck, but she has to be with me or anything like that.

00:29:18.815 --> 00:29:21.435
DANA: I want her to fully enjoy her alone time from her children.

00:29:23.255 --> 00:29:25.115
DANA: So that's our plan.

00:29:25.795 --> 00:29:33.695
DANA: She may choose to do something else, but we will be meeting up no matter what at some point that day.

00:29:34.615 --> 00:29:35.255
VIRGINIA: I like that.

00:29:35.275 --> 00:29:39.595
VIRGINIA: I like that you're respecting the fact that that might be her only alone time.

00:29:40.095 --> 00:29:44.935
DANA: Yeah, I don't want her to feel like she has to be with me.

00:29:44.955 --> 00:29:49.395
DANA: I mean, that's perfectly fine.

00:29:49.635 --> 00:29:54.695
DANA: We both love it, so we just want to do what we want to do.

00:29:55.055 --> 00:29:58.615
DANA: And I will have had three days before by myself to do whatever I want to do.

00:29:58.635 --> 00:30:03.755
DANA: So I certainly don't want to ask her, hey, do you want to go do this at this certain time?

00:30:03.775 --> 00:30:07.755
DANA: And she might be like, well, no, this is my only one day.

00:30:07.855 --> 00:30:10.315
DANA: Please enjoy it because I already had three.

00:30:11.195 --> 00:30:13.475
DANA: Don't make any accommodations for me.

00:30:14.475 --> 00:30:16.735
DANA: But that's our plan as of now.

00:30:18.235 --> 00:30:21.135
VIRGINIA: So what's your plan in Hollywood Studios?

00:30:21.155 --> 00:30:22.215
VIRGINIA: Do you have any priorities?

00:30:23.115 --> 00:30:31.255
VIRGINIA: Because I feel like Hollywood Studios seems to be the most cutthroat park lately as far as doing things.

00:30:32.075 --> 00:30:37.275
DANA: Yeah, so I'm not a big, like, thrill ride person.

00:30:37.375 --> 00:30:41.035
DANA: I'm not going to be doing Tower of Terror.

00:30:41.215 --> 00:30:43.635
DANA: I don't do Rock and Roller Coaster, even though it's closed right now.

00:30:45.075 --> 00:30:45.955
DANA: I don't do that.

00:30:46.955 --> 00:30:50.215
DANA: Slinky Dog I will do with my children.

00:30:50.255 --> 00:30:51.695
DANA: I'm not going to do that by myself.

00:30:51.715 --> 00:30:53.515
DANA: It's not my favorite thing.

00:30:53.535 --> 00:30:56.535
DANA: I do like Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.

00:30:56.555 --> 00:30:57.495
DANA: I will do that.

00:30:57.515 --> 00:30:59.175
DANA: I will go immediately to that.

00:31:01.255 --> 00:31:03.935
DANA: I'll do Wrath of the Resistance if I can.

00:31:06.055 --> 00:31:11.155
DANA: So, but I, with Hollywood Studios, what I really like doing is just walking around.

00:31:11.595 --> 00:31:15.855
DANA: I really like the old Hollywood, you know, scenery, the vibe.

00:31:16.235 --> 00:31:20.135
DANA: I love anything vintage just in my normal daily life.

00:31:20.455 --> 00:31:28.375
DANA: So I really love just, you know, walking around there, just enjoying it, especially in the morning.

00:31:28.775 --> 00:31:41.655
DANA: It's so, you know, it's the most peaceful time of the day in Disney's Hollywood Studios because that park gets a little wild, you know, because everyone is in such a rush to get to all of the rides.

00:31:42.995 --> 00:31:52.735
DANA: So I'm looking forward to just walking around, enjoying myself, maybe, like I said, doing rides or runaway railway.

00:31:52.755 --> 00:31:54.395
DANA: That's probably it.

00:31:54.915 --> 00:32:18.955
DANA: I'm just going to sit on the bench and people watch for a little bit and then make my way to Animal Kingdom Lodge, either to meet up with her if she's still at the resort or see if my room is ready, you know, just let them know I'm there and maybe lay by their pool, lay by the Animal Kingdom Lodge pool until my room is ready.

00:32:18.975 --> 00:32:21.175
DANA: I might do that.

00:32:21.475 --> 00:32:25.855
DANA: That day is more of like a see what happens kind of day, I guess, you know.

00:32:26.235 --> 00:32:35.575
DANA: So usually what I'll try to do on my trips, especially my solo trips, is I'll try to pack a lot in, but then I will try to do a day where it's just, like I just take the day as it comes.

00:32:36.895 --> 00:32:48.775
DANA: Because when I do go with my husband and children, it is really, you know, pretty scheduled just to keep the kids busy, you know, so they're not like standing around, like, what are we doing next?

00:32:48.795 --> 00:32:49.255
DANA: I'm bored.

00:32:49.535 --> 00:33:04.595
DANA: You know, it is pretty rigid of a schedule those days, so I don't do that all of the days when I'm by myself because it is nice just to have the luxury of just deciding in the moment what you want to do, you know, where you want to go next.

00:33:06.035 --> 00:33:10.415
VIRGINIA: Yeah, no, that sounds like a really good plan, very relaxing.

00:33:10.435 --> 00:33:18.475
VIRGINIA: It sounds to me like maybe you'll be rope dropping the Starbucks or the Joffrey's Cart to sit and enjoy a coffee.

00:33:19.435 --> 00:33:21.575
DANA: Oh yeah, for sure, for sure.

00:33:21.995 --> 00:33:26.175
DANA: Yeah, that's my, like, semi-non-plan plan.

00:33:26.495 --> 00:33:28.075
VIRGINIA: I love a non-plan plan.

00:33:28.315 --> 00:33:36.475
DANA: Yeah, the Animal Kingdom Lodge pool is really nice, you know, tropical-y looking, so that is really nice.

00:33:36.495 --> 00:33:42.875
DANA: I'm looking forward to relaxing a little bit, you know, before the next day it'll be really busy with our training.

00:33:43.335 --> 00:33:48.155
DANA: So I'm going and hoping to stay by the pool that day for a little bit, a couple hours if it isn't raining.

00:33:48.935 --> 00:33:57.535
DANA: And then her and I do have plans, if we don't do anything during the day together, we do have plans in the evening though.

00:33:58.215 --> 00:34:01.035
DANA: So she can go see Happily Ever After, we're going to go do that together.

00:34:03.075 --> 00:34:18.015
DANA: We did consider, my friend Brittany and I, we did consider doing the desserts party, the Happily Ever After, there's like a pre-dessert party post and then I think there's like a during the fireworks party.

00:34:18.295 --> 00:34:32.035
DANA: We did consider doing that, but we kind of decided against it because then it is like a set plan, it's a set time, then it kind of takes away the relaxedness of just seeing what happened.

00:34:32.715 --> 00:34:34.755
DANA: So I don't think we're going to do that.

00:34:34.775 --> 00:34:36.995
DANA: I mean, you can always check at the last minute.

00:34:37.295 --> 00:34:41.335
DANA: There's usually a few openings for those, or a few days before usually.

00:34:41.635 --> 00:34:46.355
DANA: So if it's available, maybe we will as it gets closer to next week.

00:34:47.235 --> 00:34:54.015
VIRGINIA: Okay, so is Tuesday that is your departure day or that's just your last full day?

00:34:55.055 --> 00:34:56.035
DANA: That's my training.

00:34:56.555 --> 00:35:00.755
VIRGINIA: All right, so that's your training, and you are doing that, where does that happen?

00:35:00.855 --> 00:35:02.635
VIRGINIA: At Animal Kingdom Lodge, you do the training?

00:35:02.855 --> 00:35:11.655
DANA: No, so interestingly is they take us from Animal Kingdom Lodge to the Contemporary in one of the ballrooms.

00:35:11.835 --> 00:35:17.195
DANA: They have it set up like a classroom sort of situation, a classroom environment.

00:35:18.575 --> 00:35:34.575
DANA: And we have breakfast, like provided breakfast, and then training for a few hours, and a provided lunch, and then we have resort tours that we do all together, like 100 some, I think it's 140-ish agents will be on this one.

00:35:34.595 --> 00:35:38.935
DANA: I won't know any of them, I just know the one from my agency.

00:35:40.895 --> 00:35:47.895
DANA: So then we have resort tours at the Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian, different room styles.

00:35:47.915 --> 00:36:03.415
DANA: They didn't say exactly which room categories we're going to see, if it's the newer Mary Poppins rooms at the Grand Floridian, or I'm assuming it would be those, but sometimes it's just what they have available, that are not occupied at the moment.

00:36:03.435 --> 00:36:08.615
DANA: I'm not exactly sure which rooms we're going to see, but definitely at those three resorts.

00:36:08.895 --> 00:36:12.335
DANA: And then that's scheduled to be done about 3.30 or 4 o'clock.

00:36:13.415 --> 00:36:19.875
DANA: And then you're on your own for the day to go into the parks and do whatever you wish.

00:36:21.935 --> 00:36:24.835
VIRGINIA: Okay, and which park will you go to at that point?

00:36:24.855 --> 00:36:36.535
DANA: So, her and I have plans to go to Epcot, and we're going to go to Space 220, which neither of us have been before, so we're really looking forward to that.

00:36:36.975 --> 00:36:52.575
DANA: When it first opened, it looked really, really cool, and the whole thing looks like a really fun experience, and I really want to do that so I can explain that to my clients, especially if your kids are space lovers, so we're really looking forward to that.

00:36:54.795 --> 00:36:56.995
VIRGINIA: Are you going to be in the main dining room, or do you have...

00:36:57.875 --> 00:37:00.895
DANA: The lounge, yeah, her and I have the lounge.

00:37:01.435 --> 00:37:17.315
VIRGINIA: I ate in the main dining room the one time I've been, and if I went back, I think I would do the lounge, because you get to see basically the same view and have the same experience, but not necessarily be tied to a prefix menu.

00:37:18.035 --> 00:37:26.255
DANA: Right, and that's what we wanted, because we've already had planned activities and training all day long.

00:37:26.275 --> 00:37:28.495
DANA: We don't want to be sitting there eating another meal.

00:37:28.575 --> 00:37:30.615
DANA: They're giving us a big breakfast, a big lunch.

00:37:31.095 --> 00:37:31.975
DANA: I don't want to be doing that.

00:37:31.995 --> 00:37:32.755
DANA: It's so hot.

00:37:32.775 --> 00:37:37.015
DANA: We're just going to have a cocktail in the lounge, leave and go enjoy the parks.

00:37:37.615 --> 00:37:39.535
VIRGINIA: So that's our plan for that.

00:37:39.555 --> 00:37:43.895
VIRGINIA: And if you get hungry, you've got flowered and garden right there to take care of you.

00:37:44.415 --> 00:37:44.915
VIRGINIA: For sure.

00:37:47.355 --> 00:37:53.475
VIRGINIA: All right, so then Wednesday the 26th, so that is your departure day.

00:37:53.495 --> 00:37:56.815
VIRGINIA: What are you doing up until the sad moment when you have to leave?

00:37:57.355 --> 00:38:00.775
DANA: Well, that's the morning I have to leave really, really, really early.

00:38:01.155 --> 00:38:04.355
DANA: I think my pick up is like 3 or 3.30.

00:38:04.755 --> 00:38:07.255
DANA: I have a really early flight, like a 6-10 flight.

00:38:07.335 --> 00:38:10.555
DANA: I know I really want to stay.

00:38:10.575 --> 00:38:18.215
DANA: I was going to have that be like a resort day, at least until mid-afternoon and just relax by the pool.

00:38:18.235 --> 00:38:29.575
DANA: But my husband has a business trip that he needs to go on, so I have to be home for mine within an hour or so for him to go on his trip just because of our children.

00:38:30.675 --> 00:38:34.415
DANA: So unfortunately, I do have to leave really early, but that's okay.

00:38:34.435 --> 00:38:36.815
DANA: At least I get, you know, I'm getting to do what I'm getting to do.

00:38:37.735 --> 00:38:39.475
DANA: I'm thankful just to be able to do that.

00:38:40.595 --> 00:38:41.675
VIRGINIA: Yeah, definitely.

00:38:41.935 --> 00:38:43.235
DANA: How old are your kids?

00:38:44.195 --> 00:38:48.955
DANA: They are eight, almost nine, and then 12 and 15.

00:38:51.355 --> 00:38:51.775
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:38:52.435 --> 00:39:05.495
VIRGINIA: So they are old enough that there's a future not too far in the distance when you will have a little bit more freedom once the youngest is a little older, right?

00:39:05.515 --> 00:39:06.295
DANA: Right, right.

00:39:06.375 --> 00:39:10.415
DANA: Yeah, I still have some pretty strong mom duties, you know, around my home.

00:39:11.755 --> 00:39:15.655
DANA: So, but yeah, and I mean, they love, they love Disney World.

00:39:15.675 --> 00:39:18.835
DANA: You know, whenever I tell them we're going to Disney World, they love it.

00:39:18.855 --> 00:39:19.835
DANA: They don't get sick of it.

00:39:21.195 --> 00:39:24.255
DANA: You know, some people are like, oh, they're too old to go to Disney World.

00:39:24.275 --> 00:39:25.575
DANA: A 15-year-old doesn't want to go.

00:39:25.595 --> 00:39:26.495
DANA: No, she loves it.

00:39:26.895 --> 00:39:28.755
DANA: You know, there's always something new to do.

00:39:29.595 --> 00:39:31.235
DANA: Their perspective of it changes.

00:39:31.255 --> 00:39:38.275
DANA: You know, a little toddler going is totally different than, you know, an eight-year-old and then a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old.

00:39:38.295 --> 00:39:40.555
DANA: It's just the way they view things is different.

00:39:40.575 --> 00:39:42.475
DANA: The way they like to enjoy the parks is different.

00:39:42.875 --> 00:39:46.235
DANA: You know, the older they get, they want to go, go, go almost like an adult.

00:39:46.535 --> 00:39:51.735
DANA: You know, they don't need to stop for a nap or to use the bathroom or, you know, a snack every hour.

00:39:53.615 --> 00:39:57.195
DANA: You know, so it gets more fun.

00:39:57.215 --> 00:40:04.415
DANA: I don't know, I guess there's fun to both seasons, you know, like a young child and an older child.

00:40:04.915 --> 00:40:09.355
DANA: But when they're older, it's definitely more freedom.

00:40:09.375 --> 00:40:15.435
DANA: You know, I don't need to carry around a backpack with like snacks and a change of clothes and those kinds of things.

00:40:15.455 --> 00:40:19.075
DANA: You know, they can carry, if they want their own sweatshirt for the night, they can carry their own sweatshirt.

00:40:19.595 --> 00:40:22.275
DANA: I don't need to do that, you know.

00:40:22.295 --> 00:40:25.035
DANA: So it's just a totally different way to experience it when your children are older.

00:40:25.495 --> 00:40:25.855
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:40:25.875 --> 00:40:40.635
VIRGINIA: No, I think that's something that's important for people who maybe have not been to Disney before or have only been, you know, when their kids were a certain age, is that it really, your kids will grow with it and always find new things that they like.

00:40:40.655 --> 00:40:43.615
VIRGINIA: And I love that you get the chance to go by yourself.

00:40:43.735 --> 00:40:44.695
DANA: It's totally different.

00:40:44.715 --> 00:40:49.415
DANA: It's a totally different experience, you know, that I was a little nervous to do it the first time.

00:40:49.535 --> 00:40:51.355
DANA: Now I was like, this is weird.

00:40:51.435 --> 00:40:52.235
DANA: Do people do this?

00:40:52.255 --> 00:40:53.055
DANA: But people do that.

00:40:53.435 --> 00:40:54.495
DANA: People do that.

00:40:54.515 --> 00:40:59.475
DANA: I mean, there's a million Disney adults in the world that go to the parks by themselves.

00:40:59.815 --> 00:41:03.035
DANA: And when you're there, you'll be like, oh, he's by himself or she's by herself.

00:41:03.315 --> 00:41:04.595
DANA: Okay, I don't feel so weird.

00:41:05.335 --> 00:41:12.555
DANA: So the first time I did, my husband did it as a surprise for me for a big birthday milestone.

00:41:13.575 --> 00:41:16.195
DANA: So that I was having a hard time turning a certain age.

00:41:16.875 --> 00:41:23.955
DANA: So he planned that for me as a surprise to go by myself so I could fully, fully enjoy it without distractions from our children.

00:41:25.015 --> 00:41:27.795
DANA: And I was like, oh, my gosh, this is the best birthday ever.

00:41:27.855 --> 00:41:30.755
DANA: Like, it was so, so incredible.

00:41:31.235 --> 00:41:35.795
DANA: I went again for my next birthday, and then I'm going now.

00:41:35.815 --> 00:41:39.515
DANA: So my third time, like a year and a half, going alone.

00:41:41.115 --> 00:41:52.735
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I'm not too worried about being by myself only because I live in New York City, and I am very used to doing lots of things by myself, including going out to dinner at restaurants by myself.

00:41:52.735 --> 00:41:54.815
VIRGINIA: I have no hesitation about that.

00:41:54.835 --> 00:42:08.215
VIRGINIA: My only fear is that because I'm so used to going with my family that I'm going to see all the other families together and really start missing the fact that they're not there with me.

00:42:08.335 --> 00:42:23.595
DANA: Yes, I thought that too, but then when you see a three-year-old melting down, hanging out at a stroller, screaming, and the parents are all sweaty and getting so upset, I'm like, oh, bye.

00:42:23.615 --> 00:42:26.575
DANA: I'm going to go have my cocktail and go on a ride.

00:42:26.935 --> 00:42:29.095
DANA: Have fun with your melting toddler.

00:42:29.755 --> 00:42:33.835
DANA: So I see both sides of it.

00:42:35.115 --> 00:42:42.535
DANA: Now, you'll get over it quick and you'll be like, oh, I wish they were here, but they're not, but they will be next time or they'll be there again with you.

00:42:42.735 --> 00:42:47.575
DANA: So you deserve to fully enjoy it too without any distraction.

00:42:47.595 --> 00:42:49.595
DANA: And not everyone likes to do the same thing.

00:42:49.695 --> 00:42:53.375
DANA: My husband doesn't like to do what I want to do every time.

00:42:53.395 --> 00:42:58.775
DANA: And him and I have been there before alone without our children also for a day.

00:42:58.795 --> 00:43:05.515
DANA: He joined me on my birthday trip, that surprise birthday trip, and then my birthday trip just this past year.

00:43:06.295 --> 00:43:09.455
DANA: He joined me for one day as well.

00:43:09.475 --> 00:43:18.675
DANA: And I stayed the rest of the time by myself, but thankfully my sister-in-law babysat our children just for a day, and he just came down for a day and came back home to the kids.

00:43:18.675 --> 00:43:20.595
DANA: But that's incredible too.

00:43:20.615 --> 00:43:27.055
DANA: Just you think it sounds like why would two adults leave their kids at home and go to Disney World, but it's totally different.

00:43:27.055 --> 00:43:28.695
DANA: I mean, especially like an up-cott.

00:43:28.695 --> 00:43:30.955
DANA: It's bar after bar after bar.

00:43:31.195 --> 00:43:32.835
DANA: It's not what you think.

00:43:32.855 --> 00:43:36.955
DANA: Disney World doesn't need to be what you think.

00:43:36.955 --> 00:43:39.075
DANA: It's not always just the Castle and Mickey Mouse.

00:43:39.675 --> 00:43:40.655
DANA: It's not just that.

00:43:40.675 --> 00:43:42.235
DANA: It is that, but it's not just that.

00:43:42.975 --> 00:43:55.915
VIRGINIA: Okay, I guess probably the last question I have is just to ask whether you're planning on doing any Genie Plus or individual lightning lanes on the days that you're there.

00:43:57.175 --> 00:43:59.495
DANA: Yes, so I will be doing that.

00:44:02.255 --> 00:44:10.795
DANA: I will buy as many individual lightning lanes as I can just because that time is really precious.

00:44:10.975 --> 00:44:13.975
DANA: And I really want to maximize the time.

00:44:14.395 --> 00:44:19.475
DANA: Especially when I am alone, it's a bummer.

00:44:19.495 --> 00:44:20.955
DANA: You have to pay for it.

00:44:21.375 --> 00:44:24.995
DANA: But when it's just me, it's okay.

00:44:25.215 --> 00:44:26.315
DANA: I'm just buying it for one person.

00:44:26.335 --> 00:44:27.775
DANA: I'm not buying it for my family of five.

00:44:27.795 --> 00:44:35.635
DANA: I can swallow that pill and just bite the bullet and just pay for it to really maximize my time.

00:44:36.175 --> 00:44:39.275
DANA: Because I am by myself, it's boring waiting in line.

00:44:39.635 --> 00:44:44.595
DANA: You can only chit chat with the person next to you so much before it becomes awkward.

00:44:45.255 --> 00:44:47.795
DANA: Maybe they don't want to talk to you in a two-hour line.

00:44:50.555 --> 00:44:53.175
DANA: It's boring to wait and I don't want to wait in the hot sun.

00:44:53.555 --> 00:45:01.115
DANA: I'm just going to buy as many individual Lightning Lanes as I can and definitely buy Genie Plus just to get in and out of those lines.

00:45:01.535 --> 00:45:08.075
VIRGINIA: Well, I will cross my fingers for you that it will be less than $35 for the Genie Plus.

00:45:08.135 --> 00:45:08.495
DANA: Right.

00:45:08.535 --> 00:45:08.955
DANA: I know.

00:45:10.155 --> 00:45:10.695
DANA: I know.

00:45:10.715 --> 00:45:11.355
DANA: But you know what?

00:45:11.395 --> 00:45:13.895
DANA: I'm honestly, I'm a Genie Plus pro.

00:45:14.675 --> 00:45:21.555
DANA: For my clients, I just stack those Lightning Lanes all day long.

00:45:21.575 --> 00:45:23.155
DANA: So hopefully, I won't have to wait for anything, really.

00:45:23.175 --> 00:45:26.635
DANA: I just, I know how to work the system.

00:45:27.035 --> 00:45:29.735
DANA: So I will have them all stacked up and ready to go.

00:45:30.035 --> 00:45:31.795
DANA: So it shouldn't be too bad.

00:45:32.935 --> 00:45:35.935
VIRGINIA: Well, I guess that is it for now.

00:45:35.955 --> 00:45:39.215
VIRGINIA: When we speak again, you will have already come back from your trip.

00:45:39.215 --> 00:45:41.215
VIRGINIA: And I can't wait to hear how it goes.

00:45:43.255 --> 00:45:43.615
DANA: All right.

00:45:43.635 --> 00:45:44.095
DANA: Thank you.

00:45:47.255 --> 00:45:48.775
VIRGINIA: Welcome back, Dana.

00:45:49.455 --> 00:45:52.495
VIRGINIA: You have been back for, what is it?

00:45:53.075 --> 00:45:53.955
VIRGINIA: A week and a half?

00:45:54.415 --> 00:45:55.515
VIRGINIA: Two weeks almost?

00:45:56.295 --> 00:45:58.315
DANA: Tomorrow will be two weeks.

00:45:58.815 --> 00:45:59.215
DANA: A week?

00:45:59.655 --> 00:46:00.255
DANA: Oh my gosh.

00:46:00.415 --> 00:46:00.655
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:46:00.675 --> 00:46:01.615
DANA: Tomorrow will be 10 days.

00:46:02.235 --> 00:46:03.235
DANA: So a little more than a week.

00:46:03.335 --> 00:46:06.455
VIRGINIA: So have you adjusted back to normal life?

00:46:06.455 --> 00:46:08.215
VIRGINIA: Are you feeling the Disney Blues?

00:46:08.235 --> 00:46:09.055
VIRGINIA: How are you feeling?

00:46:09.515 --> 00:46:11.155
DANA: I like to call it re-entry.

00:46:11.535 --> 00:46:13.815
DANA: Re-entry was fine.

00:46:13.835 --> 00:46:17.975
DANA: You know, it takes a day, I feel, for me to get used to normal life.

00:46:17.995 --> 00:46:21.895
DANA: You know, you're not, like, paying with your magic band when you run to the store the next day.

00:46:21.915 --> 00:46:25.195
DANA: It's like, for a second, it's like, oh, you have to reach for a wallet or something.

00:46:25.215 --> 00:46:26.455
DANA: It's a weird transition.

00:46:27.815 --> 00:46:28.995
DANA: This was a shorter trip.

00:46:29.675 --> 00:46:31.575
DANA: You know, most people, 7, 10 days.

00:46:31.835 --> 00:46:34.355
DANA: This was 5 days, so it wasn't that long.

00:46:34.575 --> 00:46:34.955
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:46:36.595 --> 00:46:39.415
VIRGINIA: So let's just start at the very beginning.

00:46:39.475 --> 00:46:40.775
VIRGINIA: How was your flight?

00:46:40.835 --> 00:46:42.175
VIRGINIA: Everything go okay with that?

00:46:42.815 --> 00:46:43.435
DANA: It went great.

00:46:43.455 --> 00:46:44.395
DANA: It was excellent.

00:46:44.975 --> 00:46:45.795
DANA: Took off on time.

00:46:45.815 --> 00:46:46.435
DANA: No delays.

00:46:46.815 --> 00:46:49.275
DANA: And we landed early, about 15 minutes early.

00:46:49.755 --> 00:46:51.135
VIRGINIA: Did the whole plane applaud?

00:46:52.115 --> 00:46:53.315
DANA: No, they did not.

00:46:53.675 --> 00:46:58.335
DANA: But everyone was, seemed pretty happy to be, you know, arriving in Florida from Detroit.

00:46:58.775 --> 00:47:00.255
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I would guess so.

00:47:00.395 --> 00:47:00.935
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:47:00.955 --> 00:47:03.895
VIRGINIA: So you hit the ground running then, right?

00:47:04.435 --> 00:47:04.815
VIRGINIA: Oh, yes.

00:47:05.475 --> 00:47:07.515
VIRGINIA: What was your next move when you landed?

00:47:07.535 --> 00:47:15.235
DANA: Then I went to my shuttle, to the Mears shuttle, which is where Magical Express used to be, same spot.

00:47:16.475 --> 00:47:18.535
DANA: So I got on the shuttle for that.

00:47:18.555 --> 00:47:22.755
DANA: That was a little delayed, more delayed than the last time that I took it.

00:47:23.235 --> 00:47:27.255
DANA: So we waited about, I want to say about 40 minutes.

00:47:27.915 --> 00:47:28.475
DANA: Oh, wow.

00:47:28.775 --> 00:47:30.095
DANA: It was quite a bit of time.

00:47:30.115 --> 00:47:38.475
DANA: I mean, way more than I was anticipating, because my previous trip, I only waited about 15, maybe 10 or 15 minutes and we took off.

00:47:38.775 --> 00:47:41.055
DANA: And there was only three people on the bus and they still left.

00:47:41.795 --> 00:47:43.815
DANA: This time they were waiting for it to fill up more.

00:47:45.275 --> 00:47:47.635
DANA: So it was about half full and they took off.

00:47:47.655 --> 00:47:51.815
DANA: So it took about 40 minutes, which I was like looking at my watch.

00:47:52.615 --> 00:47:55.935
DANA: Like I should have just took an Uber because I would have been at my hotel by now.

00:47:56.775 --> 00:47:57.215
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:47:57.235 --> 00:47:59.895
DANA: But you know, I already had this planned and it was fine.

00:48:00.335 --> 00:48:05.075
VIRGINIA: But also the longer you sit there, the more it's kind of like, well, do I just change plans now?

00:48:05.315 --> 00:48:07.115
VIRGINIA: And then you've waited all that time.

00:48:07.115 --> 00:48:08.755
VIRGINIA: When do you make that call?

00:48:09.015 --> 00:48:09.515
DANA: I know.

00:48:09.575 --> 00:48:13.475
DANA: Like I already paid for it, you know, so it's fine.

00:48:13.495 --> 00:48:16.355
DANA: I tried to justify it because, you know, we landed early.

00:48:16.375 --> 00:48:19.275
DANA: So that was my extra time, I guess.

00:48:19.395 --> 00:48:21.195
VIRGINIA: That's the positive way to think about it.

00:48:21.715 --> 00:48:22.115
DANA: Yeah.

00:48:22.175 --> 00:48:23.415
DANA: I mean, it was fine.

00:48:23.435 --> 00:48:24.635
DANA: You're going to get there eventually.

00:48:24.655 --> 00:48:25.975
DANA: It's just you want to get there right away.

00:48:28.115 --> 00:48:28.495
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:48:28.515 --> 00:48:34.155
VIRGINIA: You got there and I think your plan was to Skyliner over to Epcot right away.

00:48:34.175 --> 00:48:35.655
VIRGINIA: Is that what ended up happening?

00:48:36.335 --> 00:48:37.515
DANA: Yes, that's what I did.

00:48:37.515 --> 00:48:38.915
DANA: So my room wasn't ready.

00:48:38.935 --> 00:48:42.315
DANA: I got to Pop Century about 10, 15.

00:48:43.055 --> 00:48:46.135
DANA: So I was I was figured my room wouldn't be ready, you know, that's fine.

00:48:46.575 --> 00:48:57.215
DANA: So I just went to the bathroom and changed into Florida clothes out of my Michigan clothes and then put my bags at Bell Service and then went to Epcot.

00:48:57.555 --> 00:49:04.175
DANA: So I got to Epcot, my notes say I got to Epcot at 11, which I do remember right at 11 scanning in.

00:49:04.535 --> 00:49:11.275
DANA: So I thought that was pretty successful, you know, like just being in Detroit, you know, five hours earlier and then I was there.

00:49:11.795 --> 00:49:13.075
VIRGINIA: That's right around lunchtime.

00:49:13.095 --> 00:49:17.495
VIRGINIA: Was your first order of the day to hit up the flower and garden booths?

00:49:17.995 --> 00:49:19.955
DANA: Yes, so I was starving when I got there.

00:49:19.975 --> 00:49:26.395
DANA: You know, I purposely whenever I travel to Disney World, I always go in the morning, you know, first flight of the day.

00:49:27.235 --> 00:49:31.995
DANA: I make it a point purposely to not eat anything until I'm on Disney property.

00:49:32.015 --> 00:49:36.915
DANA: It's just my little thing that I'm like, that's going to be my first meal of the day is a Disney meal.

00:49:37.395 --> 00:49:39.615
DANA: So I was starving by the time I got there.

00:49:39.795 --> 00:49:44.655
DANA: So yes, I did go to the food booths right away.

00:49:44.675 --> 00:49:50.435
DANA: I got a little distracted because when I first walked in, Daisy Duck was there doing a meet and greet.

00:49:51.455 --> 00:49:56.975
DANA: So I got distracted by her and then I started walking through and then Aurora was walking around.

00:49:56.995 --> 00:50:04.035
DANA: So I got distracted by her and was taking some pictures but then I made my way through World Showcase.

00:50:04.915 --> 00:50:07.975
VIRGINIA: I don't think I've ever seen Aurora just walking around.

00:50:07.995 --> 00:50:12.975
VIRGINIA: That's kind of unusual and at least in my experience.

00:50:13.235 --> 00:50:14.315
VIRGINIA: Have you seen her before?

00:50:14.495 --> 00:50:16.335
DANA: Yes, several times, usually by France.

00:50:16.775 --> 00:50:22.995
DANA: There's a little gazebo and she'll do pictures in there.

00:50:23.155 --> 00:50:26.435
VIRGINIA: Sometimes you do see odd characters back.

00:50:26.935 --> 00:50:29.235
VIRGINIA: Not that Aurora is odd, I'm not judging Aurora.

00:50:29.255 --> 00:50:30.675
VIRGINIA: I'm just like more rare.

00:50:31.655 --> 00:50:40.415
VIRGINIA: Sometimes back in that little area right by the International Gateway, there will be just random characters when they're practicing.

00:50:40.675 --> 00:50:45.675
VIRGINIA: Like when new characters are coming on board, they will do their practicing there.

00:50:47.015 --> 00:50:48.475
VIRGINIA: But I'll have to keep an eye out for her.

00:50:48.935 --> 00:50:50.255
VIRGINIA: I only ever see her in parades.

00:50:50.555 --> 00:50:51.355
VIRGINIA: Oh, wow.

00:50:52.535 --> 00:50:52.875
DANA: She's there.

00:50:54.495 --> 00:50:54.975
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:50:54.975 --> 00:50:57.635
VIRGINIA: So which booth did you hit up first?

00:50:57.795 --> 00:51:01.695
VIRGINIA: And what of all these festival foods would you recommend?

00:51:02.615 --> 00:51:06.395
DANA: So first I went to France because I was right there.

00:51:06.415 --> 00:51:09.155
DANA: And that one always has the longest line.

00:51:09.175 --> 00:51:10.595
DANA: I don't know why.

00:51:10.615 --> 00:51:11.395
DANA: It does.

00:51:11.455 --> 00:51:16.555
DANA: Besides Mexico, that's really their booth all the time, like the margarita stand.

00:51:17.395 --> 00:51:20.515
DANA: But the France food booth is always the longest at all the festivals.

00:51:20.995 --> 00:51:23.255
DANA: And I did get the cheese.

00:51:23.955 --> 00:51:29.635
DANA: I don't remember what kind of cheese, but it was like a cheesy beignet, like filled.

00:51:30.835 --> 00:51:35.235
DANA: It was good, but then as I was eating it, I was like, I'm so hot.

00:51:35.255 --> 00:51:36.675
DANA: Why am I eating hot cheese?

00:51:37.175 --> 00:51:38.515
DANA: It just made me hotter.

00:51:38.535 --> 00:51:40.975
DANA: It was already like 85 degrees.

00:51:40.995 --> 00:51:41.735
DANA: But it was good.

00:51:43.455 --> 00:51:45.315
DANA: It was a fine choice to start with.

00:51:46.255 --> 00:51:50.055
VIRGINIA: Did you have any of the drinks there, like the frosé?

00:51:50.075 --> 00:51:52.095
DANA: I did not from France.

00:51:52.115 --> 00:51:54.875
DANA: This year, I did last year flower and garden.

00:51:54.895 --> 00:51:57.655
DANA: I did have the frosé and that was delicious.

00:51:57.655 --> 00:51:59.975
DANA: I was so dehydrated though.

00:51:59.995 --> 00:52:00.815
DANA: I'm like, I need water.

00:52:01.075 --> 00:52:02.635
DANA: So I just got water.

00:52:03.155 --> 00:52:06.095
VIRGINIA: Was that your only booth for lunch or you got some other things?

00:52:06.975 --> 00:52:07.275
DANA: No.

00:52:07.295 --> 00:52:12.775
DANA: So after that, I went on Redatooey because the line was not that long.

00:52:12.795 --> 00:52:14.095
DANA: So I'm like, well, I'm already here.

00:52:14.675 --> 00:52:16.395
DANA: I'm just, it was like a 45 minute line.

00:52:16.515 --> 00:52:18.335
DANA: It ended up being like 35 minutes.

00:52:19.055 --> 00:52:20.295
DANA: So not too bad.

00:52:20.595 --> 00:52:21.595
DANA: So I went on that.

00:52:22.515 --> 00:52:25.695
DANA: Then it continued on my way down.

00:52:26.735 --> 00:52:31.455
DANA: Then I did, I didn't really eat anything else in World Showcase.

00:52:31.475 --> 00:52:39.075
DANA: I just kept going around till pretty much where it ends, where it starts to split into a future world.

00:52:40.775 --> 00:52:43.755
VIRGINIA: Whatever, it's called the World Neighborhood.

00:52:43.835 --> 00:52:45.675
VIRGINIA: I can never remember.

00:52:45.695 --> 00:52:47.435
DANA: Right, right.

00:52:47.635 --> 00:52:51.435
DANA: So then I went to the honey, the honey bistro.

00:52:51.915 --> 00:52:52.775
VIRGINIA: Oh yeah.

00:52:53.095 --> 00:52:53.775
DANA: That was great.

00:52:54.095 --> 00:52:56.315
VIRGINIA: I remember loving that one last year.

00:52:56.335 --> 00:52:57.435
VIRGINIA: So what did you have there?

00:52:57.455 --> 00:53:03.155
DANA: I did the chicken and waffle, which was a little spicier than I thought.

00:53:03.175 --> 00:53:04.495
DANA: The chicken was kind of spicy.

00:53:04.915 --> 00:53:05.755
DANA: Or it was the honey.

00:53:05.775 --> 00:53:07.875
DANA: It was like a spicy honey.

00:53:08.235 --> 00:53:09.635
VIRGINIA: Is it a sriracha honey?

00:53:09.655 --> 00:53:10.835
DANA: It might be.

00:53:12.955 --> 00:53:14.355
DANA: But it was worth trying?

00:53:14.535 --> 00:53:15.495
DANA: Not like too spicy.

00:53:15.515 --> 00:53:16.535
DANA: Yeah, it was definitely delicious.

00:53:16.555 --> 00:53:17.515
DANA: It was worth trying.

00:53:17.995 --> 00:53:20.715
DANA: And I had the cheesecake, the honey cheesecake.

00:53:21.175 --> 00:53:25.475
DANA: It had like a honey drizzle and a honey whipped cream and a piece of honeycomb.

00:53:25.495 --> 00:53:27.215
DANA: It was like all honey components.

00:53:27.695 --> 00:53:30.675
DANA: And it wasn't, I was like, this is going to be so sugary, but it really wasn't.

00:53:30.675 --> 00:53:34.615
DANA: It was like balanced well with the cream and whatever else they added to it.

00:53:35.115 --> 00:53:37.795
VIRGINIA: Oh, that's nice because honey is so sweet.

00:53:37.835 --> 00:53:42.175
VIRGINIA: And I've definitely had things from that booth before that have been a little too sweet.

00:53:43.315 --> 00:53:48.075
VIRGINIA: Okay, so over at the honey booth, you were near the violet lemonade.

00:53:48.095 --> 00:53:48.755
VIRGINIA: Did you get one?

00:53:48.775 --> 00:53:49.895
VIRGINIA: Yes, I did.

00:53:50.195 --> 00:53:51.095
DANA: I did get one.

00:53:51.315 --> 00:53:51.775
DANA: I did.

00:53:51.815 --> 00:53:55.495
DANA: And I posted that on my social medias and people went crazy for the picture.

00:53:55.515 --> 00:53:56.715
VIRGINIA: Oh, really?

00:53:56.735 --> 00:53:57.735
VIRGINIA: I have to go check it out.

00:53:58.795 --> 00:54:01.435
DANA: And it was a lot of comments about my nail polish.

00:54:02.375 --> 00:54:14.555
DANA: My nail polish color, I guess, the way I was holding the cup, like you could see my nail polish with like all the flowers, the floating, like impatience, I believe, like the floating flower arrangements in the background.

00:54:14.615 --> 00:54:17.335
DANA: And it was just like a really good color palette.

00:54:17.875 --> 00:54:19.315
DANA: So everyone was like, I love your nails.

00:54:19.335 --> 00:54:19.915
DANA: I love your nails.

00:54:19.935 --> 00:54:23.335
DANA: And then like, I got a lot of like DMs about, I love your nails.

00:54:23.355 --> 00:54:24.975
DANA: What nail polish color is that?

00:54:26.535 --> 00:54:30.075
DANA: I wasn't expecting like the nail love on that post.

00:54:30.395 --> 00:54:38.315
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I feel like everyone who gets the Violet Lemonade somehow always gets an artistic photo of the Lemonade.

00:54:38.335 --> 00:54:39.895
VIRGINIA: It's just so photographable.

00:54:39.915 --> 00:54:52.895
VIRGINIA: I remember doing a Lemonade photo shoot last year where I had it sitting on a bench and I was crouching down and trying to get, and I am not somebody like, I don't have a big Instagram following or anything.

00:54:52.915 --> 00:54:58.535
VIRGINIA: It was more like, oh, I can just take a beautiful photo and it always comes out well.

00:54:58.575 --> 00:55:01.515
VIRGINIA: So I'll have to check yours out.

00:55:03.655 --> 00:55:04.775
VIRGINIA: Okay, so what was next?

00:55:06.115 --> 00:55:12.975
DANA: So next, I gave up on the food for a bit because I was so hot and just full, you know, I'm like, this is enough, I'm moving on.

00:55:13.635 --> 00:55:22.715
DANA: So then I went and rode Spaceship Earth because, you know, it's just a few steps away and it's a classic, so I wanted to make sure I fit it in.

00:55:22.735 --> 00:55:24.055
DANA: I got to fit it in on every trip.

00:55:24.155 --> 00:55:26.495
DANA: So I'm like, I'm here, I'm going to do it.

00:55:26.515 --> 00:55:27.455
DANA: It wasn't a long wait.

00:55:28.255 --> 00:55:31.475
DANA: So, you know, it's a good time for some shade and some AC anyways.

00:55:32.135 --> 00:55:35.255
VIRGINIA: Yeah, and a nice chance to lay back after all that food.

00:55:35.275 --> 00:55:36.695
DANA: Oh yeah, for sure.

00:55:36.715 --> 00:55:44.315
DANA: Yeah, so I rode that and then I went back to my hotel, which didn't take too long because of the skyliner.

00:55:45.495 --> 00:55:47.575
DANA: So I went back, changed my shoes.

00:55:47.595 --> 00:55:59.975
DANA: I was like, I got to get out of these tennis shoes, put on sandals to be cooler and just stayed in the hotel for a little bit, finished unpacking and organizing my stuff because my room was ready at that time.

00:56:01.035 --> 00:56:03.515
DANA: And I went to Magic Kingdom for the rest of the night.

00:56:04.355 --> 00:56:06.135
VIRGINIA: Okay, Magic Kingdom.

00:56:06.835 --> 00:56:13.015
VIRGINIA: All right, so you did not end up going to Brown Derby?

00:56:14.355 --> 00:56:14.675
DANA: No.

00:56:14.695 --> 00:56:17.075
VIRGINIA: Okay, what happened to that?

00:56:17.095 --> 00:56:19.215
DANA: So many of my plans changed.

00:56:19.915 --> 00:56:27.435
DANA: So many of them changed because either I just didn't feel like it or there was a time farther into the days where it's pouring.

00:56:27.455 --> 00:56:36.115
DANA: So that morning when I was on the plane, I was like, you know what, I don't think I want to go to Brown Derby for dinner.

00:56:36.135 --> 00:56:39.615
DANA: I just want to stay at Magic Kingdom.

00:56:40.035 --> 00:56:43.155
DANA: So on the plane, I canceled that reservation.

00:56:44.695 --> 00:56:49.055
DANA: So now you can do it two hours before without penalty.

00:56:49.415 --> 00:56:52.675
VIRGINIA: So they let anybody do that two hours before?

00:56:53.515 --> 00:57:01.315
VIRGINIA: Because I used to do the thing where you would just modify it to another day and then cancel it to avoid the fee.

00:57:01.755 --> 00:57:03.055
DANA: Yeah, you can do it two hours.

00:57:03.075 --> 00:57:11.015
DANA: I'm not sure if off property guests, I'm assuming they could cancel, you know, within or outside of the two hours.

00:57:13.335 --> 00:57:15.055
DANA: But I'm not totally sure.

00:57:15.075 --> 00:57:16.675
DANA: But definitely resort guests.

00:57:17.815 --> 00:57:19.755
DANA: As long as it's greater than two hours.

00:57:20.435 --> 00:57:24.135
VIRGINIA: Yeah, well, I'm sure you made somebody really happy when they saw that reservation pump.

00:57:24.815 --> 00:57:26.255
VIRGINIA: Right, right.

00:57:26.275 --> 00:57:29.215
VIRGINIA: So headed over to Magic Kingdom, you took the bus, I assume.

00:57:29.455 --> 00:57:29.775
DANA: Yes.

00:57:30.755 --> 00:57:33.195
VIRGINIA: Everything good with the bus is this trip as a whole?

00:57:34.875 --> 00:57:35.875
DANA: Yes, great.

00:57:35.895 --> 00:57:39.875
DANA: Yeah, except the typical end of the night, you know, jam-packed, end up standing.

00:57:40.855 --> 00:57:44.055
DANA: Most of the time, you know, but otherwise, no, it was great.

00:57:44.935 --> 00:57:48.435
VIRGINIA: Okay, so walk us through your Magic Kingdom time that night.

00:57:48.955 --> 00:57:52.815
DANA: First thing I did was get coffee because that's usually what you do.

00:57:53.755 --> 00:57:56.595
VIRGINIA: Pause, Main Street or Joffreys?

00:57:57.035 --> 00:57:57.675
DANA: Main Street.

00:57:57.715 --> 00:58:00.815
DANA: So normally, I am Team Joffreys all the way.

00:58:01.395 --> 00:58:07.035
DANA: However, I just wanted my normal Starbucks order when I got there.

00:58:07.055 --> 00:58:12.615
DANA: I was like, I really want that because I didn't get it in the morning because it was an open-end time at the airport.

00:58:12.615 --> 00:58:16.795
DANA: I just, I had it in my mind that I, you know, I wanted, I wanted my normal Starbucks order.

00:58:17.575 --> 00:58:24.115
DANA: So I did get Starbucks at Main Street, which I normally do not suggest because you can get Starbucks anywhere.

00:58:24.595 --> 00:58:28.255
DANA: You know, so I tried to get Joffreys, but I was right there and I wanted it.

00:58:28.275 --> 00:58:29.375
DANA: So I got that.

00:58:30.415 --> 00:58:33.895
DANA: So then I just took my time walking around, went through the Emporium.

00:58:35.095 --> 00:58:39.995
DANA: You know, when you're by yourself, it's a little bit different than, you know, when you have your children, they're pulling you this way and that way.

00:58:40.295 --> 00:58:46.515
DANA: So you can't really take in everything and, you know, just people watch or look at all the new merchandise.

00:58:46.755 --> 00:58:48.975
DANA: Just enjoy everything, you know, at your own pace.

00:58:49.355 --> 00:58:54.855
DANA: So I did that for a while and then made my way, you know, down towards the Hub.

00:58:56.095 --> 00:58:57.795
DANA: Sat on the Hubgrass for a little bit.

00:58:57.815 --> 00:59:04.715
DANA: It was getting later, so they were starting to kind of, you know, shoot people into their fireworks corrals.

00:59:04.735 --> 00:59:08.275
DANA: You know, everyone gets there like so, so early for the fireworks.

00:59:09.115 --> 00:59:11.335
DANA: So they were starting to set up that.

00:59:11.875 --> 00:59:20.095
DANA: So I hung out in the Hub just for a little bit, then made my way to Adventureland, went on Pirates of the Caribbean.

00:59:21.215 --> 00:59:23.475
DANA: Then I wanted the spring rolls.

00:59:23.495 --> 00:59:27.755
DANA: I don't know if you've had the cheeseburger spring rolls, like they have a cult following.

00:59:29.555 --> 00:59:29.895
DANA: Right.

00:59:30.195 --> 00:59:33.295
DANA: The cult following of the spring rolls has me.

00:59:33.295 --> 00:59:37.415
DANA: So I got those, can't get those, you know, anywhere else.

00:59:37.435 --> 00:59:42.255
DANA: We have made them at home though, like a copycat from Pinterest and it's pretty close.

00:59:43.915 --> 00:59:47.715
VIRGINIA: I will have to get that link for you at the end so that we can put it in the show notes for people.

00:59:48.075 --> 00:59:49.955
DANA: Yeah, it's pretty, pretty close.

00:59:50.795 --> 00:59:57.155
DANA: So I had those and then I got a Dole Whip because you have to at some point in your trip.

00:59:57.795 --> 00:59:59.275
VIRGINIA: What is your Dole Whip order?

00:59:59.815 --> 01:00:01.755
DANA: So I prefer the coconut.

01:00:03.055 --> 01:00:03.855
VIRGINIA: It's my favorite.

01:00:03.875 --> 01:00:04.315
DANA: Yeah.

01:00:04.435 --> 01:00:06.895
VIRGINIA: Sorry, I just shouted into the mic for anyone's ears.

01:00:06.915 --> 01:00:09.935
DANA: I heard I do love the pineapple.

01:00:10.435 --> 01:00:12.715
DANA: I mean, you know, it's the original, I suppose.

01:00:13.155 --> 01:00:20.855
DANA: I love the pineapple, but usually I get the coconut a few times on each trip because there is an ice cream place by my house that has Dole Whip.

01:00:21.235 --> 01:00:23.295
DANA: They have all the flavors except the coconut.

01:00:23.315 --> 01:00:25.255
DANA: So I can't get that any other time.

01:00:26.015 --> 01:00:27.195
VIRGINIA: Do you just get it straight?

01:00:27.195 --> 01:00:27.935
DANA: Yeah, straight.

01:00:27.955 --> 01:00:28.975
DANA: Just a cup of coconut.

01:00:29.295 --> 01:00:30.355
DANA: I just love the coconut.

01:00:30.375 --> 01:00:31.335
DANA: I don't know what it is about it.

01:00:33.235 --> 01:00:34.035
VIRGINIA: So delicious.

01:00:34.095 --> 01:00:38.775
VIRGINIA: Nothing against the pineapple, but I'm sorry, coconut wins every time.

01:00:39.915 --> 01:00:40.455
DANA: For sure.

01:00:40.455 --> 01:00:40.935
DANA: I agree.

01:00:42.275 --> 01:00:47.495
DANA: Then I just made my way back to the hub and stayed for Happily Ever After.

01:00:47.515 --> 01:00:52.555
DANA: I just kind of found a spot to stand and just waited maybe 20 minutes.

01:00:52.575 --> 01:00:55.015
DANA: I don't get there very early or anything like that.

01:00:55.035 --> 01:01:01.575
DANA: 20 minutes really is early for me, usually when I'm by myself because one person can just squeeze in anywhere to watch it.

01:01:01.995 --> 01:01:02.635
VIRGINIA: That's true.

01:01:03.455 --> 01:01:05.595
VIRGINIA: Was this your first time seeing it since it came back?

01:01:06.235 --> 01:01:07.455
DANA: Yes, since it came back.

01:01:08.575 --> 01:01:15.955
DANA: I had seen it online, vlogs and Instagram posts, but not in person.

01:01:16.735 --> 01:01:18.215
VIRGINIA: Oh, you had never seen it in person?

01:01:18.235 --> 01:01:19.255
DANA: No, no, no.

01:01:19.275 --> 01:01:21.175
DANA: I mean, since it came back in person.

01:01:21.555 --> 01:01:21.975
VIRGINIA: Got it.

01:01:22.515 --> 01:01:23.355
DANA: I have.

01:01:24.255 --> 01:01:24.695
VIRGINIA: Okay.

01:01:24.715 --> 01:01:26.275
VIRGINIA: So how was that?

01:01:26.675 --> 01:01:28.575
VIRGINIA: I mean, were there tears?

01:01:29.515 --> 01:01:30.875
DANA: I did not have tears.

01:01:31.075 --> 01:01:31.595
DANA: I did not.

01:01:31.615 --> 01:01:38.455
DANA: I think because I had already watched it several times online, you know, in the past couple weeks leading up to this.

01:01:39.115 --> 01:01:43.355
DANA: So that bubble was already burst for me, you know, seeing it, you know, so.

01:01:44.875 --> 01:01:47.815
VIRGINIA: I'm specifically avoiding the recordings for that reason.

01:01:48.075 --> 01:01:48.315
VIRGINIA: Oh.

01:01:48.715 --> 01:01:51.895
VIRGINIA: Yeah, because I'm just like, I know that it makes me emotional.

01:01:52.515 --> 01:02:02.795
VIRGINIA: So I'm like, I don't want to watch it in advance because I want to just feel the feeling of seeing it again for the first time live in person, as much as I have wanted to watch it.

01:02:02.835 --> 01:02:06.635
VIRGINIA: And I've definitely listened to the song in my car multiple times.

01:02:06.775 --> 01:02:13.735
DANA: But when I watched online the cast member preview night, that was great because they went crazy.

01:02:13.755 --> 01:02:16.915
DANA: They went wild, you know, when it came on.

01:02:16.935 --> 01:02:23.135
DANA: So that was really great because you can relate to them, like the appreciation for the show, you know, relate to the cast members.

01:02:24.155 --> 01:02:25.575
DANA: But no, it was great.

01:02:25.595 --> 01:02:26.095
DANA: It was fine.

01:02:26.115 --> 01:02:28.075
DANA: Everyone went crazy.

01:02:28.095 --> 01:02:38.395
DANA: I mean, you can definitely tell in the crowd who, you know, that's their first trip and they have no idea what they're watching versus people who've, you know, watched it a hundred times and keep coming back for it.

01:02:38.415 --> 01:02:40.235
VIRGINIA: Oh, so good.

01:02:40.415 --> 01:02:40.995
VIRGINIA: Can't wait.

01:02:41.915 --> 01:02:42.355
VIRGINIA: All right.

01:02:42.375 --> 01:02:45.335
VIRGINIA: So after the fireworks, the park closed at 9 p.m.

01:02:45.355 --> 01:02:45.695
VIRGINIA: that night.

01:02:45.715 --> 01:02:49.515
VIRGINIA: So I assume you didn't stick around unless you did some shopping.

01:02:49.755 --> 01:02:50.775
DANA: No, I was done.

01:02:50.795 --> 01:02:52.975
DANA: I was really tired.

01:02:53.075 --> 01:02:53.975
DANA: Oh, I was just over it.

01:02:53.995 --> 01:02:55.715
DANA: You know, I had been up since like 2 30.

01:02:55.735 --> 01:02:57.355
DANA: I think my alarm went off to go to the airport.

01:02:57.795 --> 01:02:59.035
DANA: So I was over it.

01:02:59.055 --> 01:03:01.495
DANA: I was done for the night.

01:03:01.975 --> 01:03:03.155
VIRGINIA: Did you sleep well that night?

01:03:03.435 --> 01:03:03.835
DANA: I did.

01:03:03.855 --> 01:03:06.275
DANA: Yeah, I was totally zonked out.

01:03:07.295 --> 01:03:10.155
DANA: And the next morning, I actually planned on waking up really early.

01:03:10.175 --> 01:03:20.515
DANA: I think I told you to map out my, make sure the bus would be on time and everything in preparation for Sunday for my tour that I had to be on time for.

01:03:21.195 --> 01:03:27.075
DANA: But I looked at the bus times for my resort and I was like, that's going to be plenty of time.

01:03:27.095 --> 01:03:28.235
DANA: I'm not testing it out.

01:03:28.995 --> 01:03:30.355
DANA: I'll trust that it's going to happen.

01:03:31.275 --> 01:03:33.195
DANA: So I didn't wake up early to test it out.

01:03:33.215 --> 01:03:36.335
DANA: I just woke up whenever I woke up.

01:03:37.475 --> 01:03:38.335
DANA: Which wasn't late.

01:03:38.355 --> 01:03:39.615
DANA: It was like 8 o'clock.

01:03:39.655 --> 01:03:41.315
DANA: But that's late for me for vacation.

01:03:41.815 --> 01:03:44.055
VIRGINIA: And you weren't doing Genie Plus or anything this day?

01:03:44.375 --> 01:03:46.155
DANA: I ended up doing Genie Plus.

01:03:46.395 --> 01:03:47.595
DANA: Friday I did it when I got there.

01:03:47.615 --> 01:03:49.755
DANA: I didn't need to, really.

01:03:50.195 --> 01:03:51.995
DANA: But Saturday I did end up doing it.

01:03:52.015 --> 01:03:57.095
DANA: But it wasn't like I needed to get a certain lightning lane at 7 o'clock.

01:03:57.315 --> 01:03:58.055
DANA: I didn't care about that.

01:03:58.075 --> 01:04:01.535
DANA: I just did the regular Genie Plus on Saturday.

01:04:02.555 --> 01:04:04.695
VIRGINIA: Did you make it for rope drop then?

01:04:05.715 --> 01:04:08.275
VIRGINIA: Because the park open at 9 if you got up at 8.

01:04:08.855 --> 01:04:09.655
DANA: No, definitely not.

01:04:11.495 --> 01:04:21.795
DANA: No, I took my time that day just because I knew all the other mornings, I had no choice but to be wherever I was going very early.

01:04:21.815 --> 01:04:26.695
DANA: So that was my only day that I didn't really have to rush in the morning.

01:04:26.875 --> 01:04:31.095
DANA: I took my time getting ready and having my coffee and all that.

01:04:31.755 --> 01:04:32.775
VIRGINIA: You took the bus again.

01:04:32.955 --> 01:04:36.335
VIRGINIA: Did you go back to Starbucks or you had your coffee at the resort?

01:04:36.435 --> 01:04:41.015
DANA: Well, actually, I believe I told you I was going to Magic Kingdom on Saturday.

01:04:41.155 --> 01:04:42.795
DANA: That was my original plan.

01:04:42.815 --> 01:04:48.915
DANA: So right before I went to bed, I changed my reservation to Hollywood Studios.

01:04:48.935 --> 01:04:54.435
DANA: I was like, I'm just going to see if there's availability.

01:04:54.495 --> 01:04:55.435
DANA: I'm going to change it.

01:04:55.435 --> 01:05:01.715
DANA: I just felt like going there because I was like, I really should take more advantage of the Skyliner being right here.

01:05:02.695 --> 01:05:03.735
DANA: I'm going to do that instead.

01:05:03.995 --> 01:05:05.255
DANA: So I switched that.

01:05:05.815 --> 01:05:14.235
DANA: I don't necessarily recommend switching your stuff exactly the way I did last minute, especially if it's your first time.

01:05:14.255 --> 01:05:17.535
DANA: I don't recommend to my clients to switch their stuff like that.

01:05:17.555 --> 01:05:21.995
DANA: It's a little risky, but it's just me and I know what I'm doing.

01:05:22.335 --> 01:05:24.155
DANA: It's fine for me.

01:05:24.895 --> 01:05:33.275
VIRGINIA: I would not recommend that for a first timer, but that's kind of the beauty of not being a first timer is that you can pivot when you change your mind about something.

01:05:35.215 --> 01:05:40.395
DANA: So I got my coffee at my beloved Joffrey's Skyliner Coffee Station.

01:05:41.035 --> 01:05:44.455
DANA: I got my coffee there and then went to Hollywood Studios.

01:05:44.875 --> 01:05:47.975
DANA: But I did get there by 9.45, I think.

01:05:47.975 --> 01:05:49.215
DANA: So I mean, not too late.

01:05:49.935 --> 01:05:53.775
VIRGINIA: What were your priorities there that day in Hollywood Studios?

01:05:54.235 --> 01:05:57.495
DANA: So the first thing I wanted to do was Runaway Railway.

01:05:57.515 --> 01:06:01.435
DANA: I love that ride and it's right there when you walk in.

01:06:01.455 --> 01:06:06.755
DANA: So I was able to get a Genie Plus Lightning Lane for that while I was riding over on the Skyliner.

01:06:07.095 --> 01:06:12.535
DANA: They had one available within a few minutes of me getting there, the opening window for it.

01:06:12.935 --> 01:06:14.895
DANA: So I was like, OK, perfect, I'll do that.

01:06:15.315 --> 01:06:21.415
DANA: So I did that first, then checked Genie Plus again for more Lightning Lanes.

01:06:21.675 --> 01:06:26.815
DANA: And then I was able to make one for Toy Story Mania right when I got off Runaway Railway.

01:06:26.835 --> 01:06:27.795
DANA: So that was perfect.

01:06:28.635 --> 01:06:32.955
DANA: And then right when I got off that, Alien Swirling Saucers had a Lightning Lane.

01:06:33.375 --> 01:06:34.415
DANA: Did that right away.

01:06:34.435 --> 01:06:36.355
DANA: So it was just, it was really working out.

01:06:36.935 --> 01:06:43.335
DANA: Even with the last minute switch and not really any planning for it, it just, everything worked out fine.

01:06:44.355 --> 01:06:48.055
VIRGINIA: Do you think it makes a difference that you were a party of one?

01:06:48.455 --> 01:06:52.995
DANA: You know, I wonder about this all the time, and I do have people ask me this.

01:06:54.235 --> 01:07:01.215
DANA: You know, I've seen a lot of like vlogs where this is like debunked, where it doesn't matter how many people are in your group.

01:07:01.775 --> 01:07:11.175
DANA: But I feel like it must matter because if you have a group of 10 versus a group of one or two, I mean, that's going to add to the length of time in line.

01:07:11.655 --> 01:07:15.455
DANA: And I feel like they only allow so many spots per hour window.

01:07:15.475 --> 01:07:17.335
DANA: So I'm not sure.

01:07:17.355 --> 01:07:24.355
DANA: You know, I know people have tested it with huge parties versus one or two people, and everyone says it doesn't matter.

01:07:25.795 --> 01:07:26.475
VIRGINIA: I don't know.

01:07:26.855 --> 01:07:35.095
VIRGINIA: Yeah, it just seems like my experiences at Hollywood Studios with Jeannie Plus, because there's not that many rides in total, right?

01:07:35.115 --> 01:07:35.995
VIRGINIA: Right.

01:07:36.635 --> 01:07:41.875
VIRGINIA: And usually when I'm trying to get lightning lanes over there, I rarely see one that's for that moment.

01:07:42.395 --> 01:07:44.895
VIRGINIA: So for you to have three in a row like that.

01:07:44.915 --> 01:07:47.135
DANA: Right, yeah, but it worked out for me.

01:07:47.535 --> 01:07:47.835
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

01:07:47.855 --> 01:07:49.235
VIRGINIA: All right.

01:07:49.235 --> 01:07:51.755
VIRGINIA: So after Alien Swirling Saucers...

01:07:52.795 --> 01:07:55.435
DANA: So then I was like, OK, well, I'm hungry.

01:07:55.455 --> 01:07:58.515
DANA: It was like 1130, 1145.

01:07:59.035 --> 01:08:05.095
DANA: I was like, I'm going to do Brown Derby because I'm here and I'm just going to see, you know, because I canceled the reservation the night before.

01:08:05.555 --> 01:08:10.275
DANA: So I went on the app, did join walk up list, and it said 10 minute wait.

01:08:10.975 --> 01:08:11.715
DANA: No problem.

01:08:12.535 --> 01:08:18.215
DANA: Yeah, and it was really like three minutes because then I got a text, you know, please come to the hostess stand and it was perfect.

01:08:18.235 --> 01:08:21.115
DANA: And then when I went in, it was empty in there.

01:08:21.135 --> 01:08:26.615
DANA: There was like maybe three or four tables that had large groups, and there were so many tables open.

01:08:29.135 --> 01:08:30.075
VIRGINIA: Were you in the main room?

01:08:30.375 --> 01:08:31.255
DANA: Yes, the main room.

01:08:32.055 --> 01:08:35.935
VIRGINIA: Okay, all right, and this was your first time I made a note going to Brown Derby.

01:08:35.955 --> 01:08:37.775
VIRGINIA: So what did you order?

01:08:37.795 --> 01:08:38.655
VIRGINIA: What did you think?

01:08:38.795 --> 01:08:39.635
VIRGINIA: Will you be back?

01:08:39.755 --> 01:08:41.615
DANA: So I got the Cobb salad, of course.

01:08:42.395 --> 01:08:43.975
DANA: No, that's what you got to get.

01:08:43.995 --> 01:08:47.475
DANA: According to everyone, you know, that I've ever spoken to.

01:08:47.775 --> 01:08:48.695
DANA: So I got it.

01:08:48.715 --> 01:08:50.215
DANA: It was fine.

01:08:50.235 --> 01:08:53.275
DANA: I got it without the blue cheese because I don't like blue cheese.

01:08:54.415 --> 01:08:55.555
DANA: But it was perfect.

01:08:55.575 --> 01:08:56.275
DANA: It was great.

01:08:57.075 --> 01:08:58.215
DANA: I would definitely get it again.

01:08:58.235 --> 01:09:12.835
DANA: And I thought it was so light for something, you know, in a theme park or like a greasy burger or, you know, even the stuff at the food booths, even though you're getting smaller portions, it is still pretty heavy food.

01:09:12.875 --> 01:09:18.075
DANA: You know, lots of sauces and fillings and things where this was like really light.

01:09:18.295 --> 01:09:20.815
DANA: It was nice that it was cold because it was so hot outside.

01:09:21.175 --> 01:09:30.975
DANA: So to have like a cold salad and it was like real fresh food, you know, it didn't seem like when you get quick service, you know, it's just like mass produced fried stuff.

01:09:31.415 --> 01:09:33.375
DANA: So it was great.

01:09:33.395 --> 01:09:35.095
DANA: It was I would definitely recommend it again.

01:09:35.115 --> 01:09:37.835
DANA: I don't know if my children would like going there.

01:09:37.855 --> 01:09:40.335
DANA: I mean, they do have other things like kid friendly things.

01:09:40.695 --> 01:09:47.755
DANA: I don't know if they would go or appreciate the significance that, you know, that's a staple in Hollywood studios that you need to do.

01:09:48.235 --> 01:09:51.915
DANA: But I would definitely go, like my husband and I would definitely go there.

01:09:52.455 --> 01:09:53.555
VIRGINIA: Did you get anything to drink?

01:09:53.815 --> 01:09:54.875
DANA: No, I just got water.

01:09:54.895 --> 01:09:56.755
DANA: I didn't get anything.

01:09:56.775 --> 01:09:58.455
DANA: Because I wanted the Margarita flight.

01:09:58.475 --> 01:10:00.775
DANA: I saw like people next to me had it.

01:10:01.515 --> 01:10:02.895
VIRGINIA: I know, and we had talked about it.

01:10:04.355 --> 01:10:07.535
DANA: It looked tempting, but I'm like, I got to do all this walking around.

01:10:07.555 --> 01:10:11.555
DANA: I'm like, I don't I hate to be so full walking around and everything.

01:10:11.575 --> 01:10:15.255
DANA: So I wanted to be able to have other things throughout the day and not be stuck.

01:10:15.275 --> 01:10:16.535
DANA: So I'm like, I'm just going to get water.

01:10:16.555 --> 01:10:17.795
DANA: But it was tempting.

01:10:17.815 --> 01:10:21.495
DANA: If I would have been with my husband or a friend, I think I would have got it because we could have shared them.

01:10:21.815 --> 01:10:27.855
DANA: You know, just, I bet I'm not going to drink three margaritas at lunch, you know, by myself.

01:10:28.135 --> 01:10:29.275
VIRGINIA: So by yourself.

01:10:29.295 --> 01:10:35.375
VIRGINIA: Yeah, well, you can always hit up the bar that's outside if you really want to get something later.

01:10:35.475 --> 01:10:38.995
VIRGINIA: I don't know that they do the flight there, but you could probably get one of them.

01:10:39.015 --> 01:10:40.095
DANA: Yeah, yeah.

01:10:40.355 --> 01:10:43.515
VIRGINIA: All right, after Brown Derby, where to next?

01:10:44.095 --> 01:10:50.715
DANA: Then I went back to Pop to change my shoes again because I started the day with tennis shoes and it was so hot.

01:10:50.975 --> 01:10:52.535
DANA: So I went back to change my shoes.

01:10:52.555 --> 01:11:01.915
DANA: I put my feet in the pool and just rested in the room for about an hour, hour and a half just to get AC, get out of the sun, you know, just rest.

01:11:02.075 --> 01:11:03.455
DANA: I always have this battle with myself.

01:11:03.475 --> 01:11:07.115
DANA: Do I keep going and going and going or do you go back and relax?

01:11:07.115 --> 01:11:12.095
DANA: I mean, it is vacation, but it's not like a beach vacation where you're just like laying around.

01:11:12.115 --> 01:11:18.735
DANA: You know, it's like Disney World is a very unique vacation because there really isn't a lot of relaxing involved.

01:11:20.475 --> 01:11:26.255
VIRGINIA: I mean, there can be, but it's really just, especially when you're spending as much money as you are to be there.

01:11:26.775 --> 01:11:31.155
VIRGINIA: In most cases, you kind of feel like you want to get the most bang for your buck.

01:11:31.175 --> 01:11:32.495
VIRGINIA: So you're like, I got to go, go, go.

01:11:32.515 --> 01:11:37.475
DANA: Yeah, I mean, unless you have a designated resort day and you're like, this is we're not leaving this resort today.

01:11:37.495 --> 01:11:38.575
DANA: We're laying here by the pool.

01:11:38.595 --> 01:11:41.775
DANA: We're relaxing, you know, and I didn't have any of those on this trip.

01:11:41.795 --> 01:11:43.275
DANA: That's not what this trip was for.

01:11:43.855 --> 01:11:47.075
DANA: So, you know, so I did rest there for a little bit.

01:11:47.535 --> 01:11:50.095
DANA: And then I went to Magic Kingdom.

01:11:50.695 --> 01:11:55.515
DANA: So I was going to do the tour at the wedding pavilion.

01:11:55.655 --> 01:11:57.235
DANA: That was my whole original thing.

01:11:57.655 --> 01:11:59.795
DANA: And then I was like, no, I'm not going to do it.

01:12:00.115 --> 01:12:01.075
DANA: I'm not going to go all through it.

01:12:01.095 --> 01:12:03.855
DANA: I was reading more about what it would entail.

01:12:03.875 --> 01:12:06.155
DANA: It was really for like potential brides.

01:12:06.695 --> 01:12:10.635
DANA: I just kind of wanted to see it, but I was like, I'll get another opportunity sometime.

01:12:11.195 --> 01:12:12.355
DANA: I just didn't do it.

01:12:12.715 --> 01:12:16.755
DANA: So I'm telling you, I changed the plans so much from my original itinerary.

01:12:18.435 --> 01:12:19.935
VIRGINIA: That's totally okay.

01:12:19.955 --> 01:12:28.855
VIRGINIA: And I think that's what makes this interesting is to find out what actually happened, what worked, what didn't, what did you just simply change your mind about.

01:12:28.875 --> 01:12:39.415
VIRGINIA: And it kind of will help people know that you don't have to stick to a plan because I know that a lot of people will plan their Disney trips and will have spreadsheets.

01:12:39.435 --> 01:12:43.255
VIRGINIA: And I'm using that word and I know anybody who knows me in real life will be like, Virginia, you have spreadsheets.

01:12:44.495 --> 01:12:50.035
VIRGINIA: But I don't have spreadsheets that are like, at this hour, I'm doing this thing.

01:12:50.055 --> 01:12:53.655
VIRGINIA: And I think that's probably something I would have done years ago.

01:12:54.975 --> 01:13:07.335
VIRGINIA: But when you are there, as long as you know what your options are and kind of have a sense of what's going on, it's okay to change your plans and not be down to the letter of your schedule.

01:13:07.955 --> 01:13:14.435
VIRGINIA: And you probably will have a much better time if you're not so stuck to, this is the plan and I can't stray from it.

01:13:14.475 --> 01:13:14.775
DANA: Right.

01:13:14.795 --> 01:13:25.935
DANA: Especially, I mean, what I would recommend to people is, if you know you can only go once every five years, and you really have a checklist, you should stick to that, because you're going to regret it.

01:13:26.415 --> 01:13:35.295
DANA: But I can go more often than that, and I have done almost everything at least once before.

01:13:35.875 --> 01:13:42.355
DANA: So, you just don't feel that pressure, you know, that you have to get it all done, because you know you can't.

01:13:42.835 --> 01:13:46.275
DANA: So, you know, it's just a little less pressure on yourself, I guess.

01:13:47.475 --> 01:13:47.875
VIRGINIA: Right.

01:13:47.895 --> 01:13:57.535
VIRGINIA: And I do think there's a difference in having, like, a checklist of the things you want to get done, but being flexible enough to be like, you know what, I don't feel like doing that today.

01:13:57.555 --> 01:14:02.255
VIRGINIA: I'm going to do this other thing that I also wanted to do on my checklist, and then I'm going to switch my perk days like you did.

01:14:02.275 --> 01:14:11.455
VIRGINIA: And just, you know, you keep chipping away at it, but I think a lot of people will get very stuck in their original plan, at least if they're a newbie.

01:14:11.475 --> 01:14:22.235
VIRGINIA: But I think that's why they will tap into the expertise of a travel planner or a trusted friend or somebody who knows what they're doing to try to help them out.

01:14:22.255 --> 01:14:24.615
DANA: Yes, yes.

01:14:24.635 --> 01:14:31.715
DANA: So I went over to Magic Kingdom, you know, after park hopping began, and then I did Peter Pan, which I love that ride.

01:14:31.735 --> 01:14:33.075
DANA: That's one of my favorite rides.

01:14:33.575 --> 01:14:42.195
DANA: And same thing with Genie Plus was, you know, I was almost there and I'm like, let me see what I can get, you know, right when I get here so I can do something right away.

01:14:42.635 --> 01:14:43.475
DANA: And it was available.

01:14:43.495 --> 01:14:51.235
DANA: I mean, you probably know that Peter Pan is difficult to get, especially after two o'clock, just to have, you know, a lightning lane sitting there.

01:14:51.255 --> 01:14:55.635
DANA: So maybe, you know, because I was one person, it was easy to get.

01:14:55.655 --> 01:15:03.095
DANA: But I always feel bad when you walk over the lightning lane because people are waiting like two hours for this short little ride.

01:15:03.115 --> 01:15:06.475
DANA: But, you know, but that's what you paid for.

01:15:06.935 --> 01:15:08.635
DANA: I'm like, just get GD Plus, everybody.

01:15:08.655 --> 01:15:13.135
DANA: I try to tell everybody just get it because it's so much, you know, it's so worth it.

01:15:13.675 --> 01:15:15.955
DANA: But so I did that right away.

01:15:15.975 --> 01:15:18.735
DANA: And then I did get another Dole Whip.

01:15:18.755 --> 01:15:20.775
DANA: I got another coconut Dole Whip.

01:15:22.275 --> 01:15:22.695
DANA: I did.

01:15:23.495 --> 01:15:27.275
VIRGINIA: I'm glad you got to ride Peter Pan because, like you said, that does fill up.

01:15:27.615 --> 01:15:34.955
VIRGINIA: And if you don't get it sometimes, it's it's not going to happen unless you wait till like really late at night or during the fireworks or something.

01:15:34.975 --> 01:15:35.235
DANA: Right.

01:15:35.255 --> 01:15:35.455
DANA: Yeah.

01:15:35.475 --> 01:15:37.235
DANA: We went a few years without riding it.

01:15:37.255 --> 01:15:41.535
DANA: Maybe two or three years worth of trip because I was just it was never a good time.

01:15:41.555 --> 01:15:46.935
DANA: You know, we didn't get there early enough or, you know, it wasn't available at a good time on Genie Plus.

01:15:47.455 --> 01:15:50.375
DANA: So we went we went a few years out riding it.

01:15:50.395 --> 01:15:53.375
DANA: But I have now the past three trips I went.

01:15:53.395 --> 01:15:57.615
DANA: I made it a point to ride it to make up for the years that I missed it because I really do.

01:15:57.695 --> 01:15:58.935
DANA: I really do love that ride.

01:15:59.775 --> 01:16:00.595
DANA: So I just did that.

01:16:00.615 --> 01:16:03.595
DANA: I just had I just rode Peter Pan and had a dole up and then I left.

01:16:04.015 --> 01:16:06.455
DANA: I went to the Monorail Resort.

01:16:07.135 --> 01:16:07.995
DANA: It was really hot.

01:16:08.015 --> 01:16:10.835
DANA: I wanted to get out the sun, get in the air conditioning.

01:16:11.255 --> 01:16:22.515
DANA: So I went to all three and spent time in each, you know, just sitting in the lobby, answering some emails on my phone, just relaxing, you know, just sitting there, talk to my family.

01:16:22.535 --> 01:16:29.175
DANA: And then I got, you know, got in the Monorail, go to the next one, relax, look at their gift shops, even though most of the gift shops are all the same.

01:16:29.195 --> 01:16:33.715
VIRGINIA: Yeah, but you can sometimes find something special in each of them.

01:16:33.735 --> 01:16:35.515
VIRGINIA: That's the fun of the hunt, right?

01:16:35.935 --> 01:16:44.695
DANA: Yeah, I mean, especially the deluxe resorts, they do have a little bit of their own merch, you know, a couple shirts or maybe some ears that are just, you know, just theirs.

01:16:46.755 --> 01:16:50.935
DANA: So I did that, and then by then it was dinner time.

01:16:51.175 --> 01:16:54.015
DANA: So my last stop was the Polynesian.

01:16:54.955 --> 01:17:00.675
DANA: I love their nachos from Captain Cook's, the pulled pork, like Hawaiian pineapple nachos.

01:17:01.315 --> 01:17:02.215
DANA: I love them.

01:17:02.515 --> 01:17:10.215
DANA: So I got those and I took them out to the beach, ate them on the beach and it was like almost sunset.

01:17:10.235 --> 01:17:11.635
DANA: It was so great.

01:17:12.615 --> 01:17:13.735
DANA: That was relaxing.

01:17:13.755 --> 01:17:14.635
DANA: It was perfect.

01:17:14.755 --> 01:17:15.895
DANA: Yeah, that was great.

01:17:17.115 --> 01:17:20.675
VIRGINIA: So the original dinner reservation, you had a Crystal Palace.

01:17:20.695 --> 01:17:20.955
DANA: Right.

01:17:21.135 --> 01:17:23.335
VIRGINIA: Was that canceled altogether or rescheduled?

01:17:23.355 --> 01:17:28.035
DANA: That one I also canceled and that was actually within an hour.

01:17:28.595 --> 01:17:31.535
DANA: It was not outside of the two hours.

01:17:31.935 --> 01:17:38.775
DANA: I did cancel it on the app and really if it's too close where they're not going to let you cancel it, it won't let you cancel it.

01:17:38.935 --> 01:17:41.175
DANA: So it still let me cancel it.

01:17:41.195 --> 01:17:44.095
DANA: So I was like, okay, I don't think I'll get charged and I didn't.

01:17:44.975 --> 01:17:46.035
DANA: So I canceled that.

01:17:46.055 --> 01:17:50.335
DANA: I know I switched all these plans around, but I was like, well, I really want those nachos.

01:17:50.695 --> 01:17:55.255
DANA: And I didn't know if I was going to get back over there, like the timing would work out.

01:17:55.335 --> 01:17:57.855
DANA: So I just did that.

01:17:58.375 --> 01:18:01.815
VIRGINIA: I just want to say that I think that those nachos are so good.

01:18:01.835 --> 01:18:04.875
VIRGINIA: They are worth a trip over to the pollination just to have them.

01:18:04.895 --> 01:18:05.055
DANA: Right.

01:18:05.075 --> 01:18:07.215
DANA: And we have actually made those ones at home too.

01:18:08.335 --> 01:18:15.095
DANA: And now that one is not as close as the cheeseburger egg rolls or spring rolls, but it's pretty close.

01:18:16.195 --> 01:18:19.335
VIRGINIA: Well, they home make their chips.

01:18:19.735 --> 01:18:25.975
VIRGINIA: And for anybody who's not familiar with these nachos, it's a bed of potato chips, not regular nacho chips.

01:18:26.255 --> 01:18:30.215
DANA: It's like a kettle-cooked potato chip also with wonton chips.

01:18:31.255 --> 01:18:31.735
VIRGINIA: Yes.

01:18:31.955 --> 01:18:40.575
DANA: So the wonton chips I could not find at a grocery store, so we'd just go to our local Chinese restaurant and buy the soup strip wontons.

01:18:41.235 --> 01:18:43.355
DANA: And it tastes the same, it's just a different shape.

01:18:44.115 --> 01:18:45.535
VIRGINIA: You do that.

01:18:45.615 --> 01:18:47.895
DANA: So we go all out because we really love them.

01:18:47.915 --> 01:18:49.315
DANA: My husband and I love those nachos.

01:18:49.475 --> 01:18:52.895
VIRGINIA: So it sounds like you do a lot of Disney-themed dinners.

01:18:55.875 --> 01:18:56.195
DANA: I know.

01:18:56.235 --> 01:19:01.795
DANA: We have tried the homemade dill lip, but that broke our blender, so we haven't tried that thing.

01:19:05.275 --> 01:19:11.015
DANA: So it's just those two recipes, but I know it sounds kind of weird, but yeah, it's just those two that we remake at home.

01:19:11.675 --> 01:19:15.555
DANA: So I had those on the beach, and then I was like, you know what?

01:19:15.575 --> 01:19:16.255
DANA: What should I do?

01:19:16.275 --> 01:19:24.335
DANA: I really wanted to go back to the hotel, but I'm like, well, I can't go back to the hotel from the Poly, unless I was going to Uber.

01:19:24.355 --> 01:19:28.715
DANA: I'm like, I got to go somewhere anyways to get the bus to get back.

01:19:28.795 --> 01:19:31.055
DANA: So I'm like, what should I do?

01:19:31.095 --> 01:19:35.095
DANA: And then on the beach, the boat going to Magic Kingdom is right there.

01:19:35.115 --> 01:19:36.055
DANA: The boat dock is right there.

01:19:36.335 --> 01:19:39.835
DANA: So I saw the boat coming back and I was like, okay, this is perfect.

01:19:39.855 --> 01:19:40.515
DANA: This is my sign.

01:19:40.535 --> 01:19:43.735
DANA: I'm just going to go back to Magic Kingdom because the boat was coming right there at that moment.

01:19:43.755 --> 01:19:45.295
DANA: There was going to be no waiting or anything.

01:19:45.735 --> 01:19:55.495
DANA: So the boat came back, I hopped on the boat, then I went back to Magic Kingdom, watched Happily Ever After again, then went back and went to bed.

01:19:55.875 --> 01:19:58.195
VIRGINIA: Well, that sounds like a fantastic evening.

01:19:58.755 --> 01:20:03.355
VIRGINIA: Exploring the resorts is sometimes really fun and what you need to do for a break.

01:20:03.375 --> 01:20:06.555
VIRGINIA: You don't always have to go back all the way to your resort for your break.

01:20:07.035 --> 01:20:08.875
VIRGINIA: You can go to someone else's resort for a break.

01:20:11.215 --> 01:20:16.895
VIRGINIA: All right, so the next morning, the very exciting Keys to the Kingdom morning.

01:20:17.195 --> 01:20:18.415
VIRGINIA: Tell us all about that.

01:20:18.435 --> 01:20:20.415
VIRGINIA: So was your bus on time, first of all?

01:20:20.435 --> 01:20:21.095
DANA: Yes, actually, yes.

01:20:21.135 --> 01:20:22.715
DANA: It worked out perfectly.

01:20:23.715 --> 01:20:26.195
DANA: The Skyliner starts running like just a few minutes before 7.

01:20:26.755 --> 01:20:31.455
DANA: So and I knew I wanted coffee from the Joffreys Skyliner.

01:20:31.475 --> 01:20:34.175
DANA: I love that they have like toffee flight latte is what they have there.

01:20:34.195 --> 01:20:35.475
DANA: That's like a special toffee syrup.

01:20:35.495 --> 01:20:37.315
DANA: They don't have it any of the other Joffreys stands.

01:20:37.795 --> 01:20:41.855
DANA: So I wanted that latte to start out my very fun day.

01:20:42.575 --> 01:20:49.795
DANA: So I was thinking, I was like, well, I'm not going to go get my coffee and then take the Skyliner back and take the bus from Pop.

01:20:49.815 --> 01:20:51.075
DANA: That would be such a waste of time.

01:20:51.195 --> 01:21:04.575
DANA: I just walked over to Caribbean Beach to their bus pickup, to take the bus from there, because that would save me at least 20 minutes going back on the Skyliner and walking all the way to the front of Pop to get on the bus there.

01:21:05.115 --> 01:21:05.875
DANA: That would be silly.

01:21:05.895 --> 01:21:14.475
DANA: So I just took the bus from Caribbean Beach, and it actually worked out perfect because right as I walked up, the Magic Kingdom bus pulled up.

01:21:15.235 --> 01:21:19.195
DANA: There was no one on it, no one waiting for it, just me.

01:21:19.455 --> 01:21:21.375
DANA: And I sat down and then the driver took off.

01:21:21.395 --> 01:21:23.375
DANA: So I had my own personal bus.

01:21:25.275 --> 01:21:25.795
DANA: Right, I know.

01:21:25.815 --> 01:21:32.695
DANA: And I've had that a few times over the years, but like later, like the middle of the day, not the first or second bus of the morning.

01:21:33.935 --> 01:21:38.215
DANA: But it wasn't by the lobby or by a bunch of rooms.

01:21:38.235 --> 01:21:44.075
DANA: It was the one at Caribbean Beach that's in the front, like closest to the guard station.

01:21:44.455 --> 01:21:46.435
DANA: So I think a lot of people don't even know that one's there.

01:21:46.455 --> 01:21:47.835
DANA: It's covered by a lot of trees.

01:21:47.855 --> 01:21:54.675
DANA: I knew it was there because I've stayed at Caribbean Beach many times, but if you didn't already know it was there, I mean, it's not going to stick out to you.

01:21:56.295 --> 01:22:04.215
VIRGINIA: I was going to say, in my mind, when you said you took the bus from there, I was picturing you walking all the way up to the main lobby bus.

01:22:04.235 --> 01:22:11.555
DANA: This one's in the parking lot, where you would self-park, and then it's kind of on that little outer road that connects Caribbean Beach to Riviera.

01:22:11.975 --> 01:22:14.355
DANA: So really, I mean, I don't think a lot of people know it's there.

01:22:14.655 --> 01:22:15.555
DANA: So I just walked up.

01:22:15.575 --> 01:22:17.175
DANA: It was like my own purse.

01:22:17.195 --> 01:22:18.175
DANA: It was like an Uber bus.

01:22:18.475 --> 01:22:20.295
DANA: I mean, it was right there.

01:22:20.315 --> 01:22:23.375
DANA: I'm like, all this day, I was like, this day is starting out perfectly.

01:22:23.395 --> 01:22:24.335
DANA: This is meant to be.

01:22:24.355 --> 01:22:25.255
DANA: It's going to be a great day.

01:22:25.875 --> 01:22:26.795
VIRGINIA: And was it a great day?

01:22:26.815 --> 01:22:27.295
DANA: It was great.

01:22:27.315 --> 01:22:29.035
DANA: It was so great.

01:22:29.055 --> 01:22:30.795
DANA: I mean, it was one of my best Disney days.

01:22:31.475 --> 01:22:34.035
DANA: The Keys to the Kingdom tour was fantastic.

01:22:34.355 --> 01:22:37.475
DANA: So I got to Magic Kingdom like really early.

01:22:37.495 --> 01:22:38.915
DANA: I mean, because I was the only one.

01:22:38.935 --> 01:22:41.415
DANA: You didn't have to wait for strollers or anyone else to load on.

01:22:41.415 --> 01:22:44.695
DANA: So I got there at like 740.

01:22:44.715 --> 01:22:45.575
DANA: I mean, pretty early.

01:22:46.455 --> 01:22:48.415
VIRGINIA: And you had to be there at 830, right?

01:22:48.435 --> 01:22:52.715
DANA: The tour started at 830, but they wanted you to check in 15 or 20 minutes before.

01:22:52.735 --> 01:22:54.855
DANA: I got right in.

01:22:54.875 --> 01:23:00.475
DANA: Really, the park opened at 830 that day for the extra hours.

01:23:00.895 --> 01:23:01.815
DANA: Early entry, they call it.

01:23:02.015 --> 01:23:04.935
DANA: But they start letting you in like around 745 or so.

01:23:05.315 --> 01:23:08.855
DANA: You just kind of, you know, you got to kind of stay on Main Street in the hub area.

01:23:09.235 --> 01:23:10.615
DANA: So that was perfectly fine.

01:23:10.635 --> 01:23:15.175
DANA: I got in and then you go to the Town Square Theatre to check in.

01:23:15.875 --> 01:23:16.995
DANA: Checked in around 8.

01:23:17.435 --> 01:23:19.475
DANA: I mean, the check in takes two minutes.

01:23:19.835 --> 01:23:25.295
DANA: You get a name tag, like an audio listening device so you can hear your tour guide.

01:23:26.355 --> 01:23:27.775
DANA: And then you pick what you want for lunch.

01:23:28.235 --> 01:23:32.515
DANA: There's like a cast member that helps you pick it and kind of takes your order basically.

01:23:32.535 --> 01:23:33.975
DANA: And they submit your order.

01:23:34.035 --> 01:23:36.575
DANA: And then you just wait for your group to be called.

01:23:39.735 --> 01:23:40.155
VIRGINIA: Nice.

01:23:40.395 --> 01:23:43.895
VIRGINIA: I'm sitting here feeling like I should book this.

01:23:43.915 --> 01:23:48.615
VIRGINIA: But I promised my son that we would go together and he's about to be 13.

01:23:49.395 --> 01:23:50.995
VIRGINIA: So I've got a couple more years to go.

01:23:51.015 --> 01:23:52.775
DANA: Yeah, one of my daughters wants to do it too.

01:23:52.795 --> 01:23:54.475
DANA: I'm like, I'll do it again with you.

01:23:54.935 --> 01:23:56.495
DANA: She's also about to be 13.

01:23:56.515 --> 01:23:58.835
DANA: So I'm like, I'll do it again with you in a few years.

01:23:59.035 --> 01:24:00.595
DANA: But it was great.

01:24:00.615 --> 01:24:02.955
DANA: It's really a good value, honestly.

01:24:04.275 --> 01:24:05.795
DANA: Not that I'm trying to sell it.

01:24:05.815 --> 01:24:08.075
DANA: I don't make a commission on the Keys to the Kingdom tour.

01:24:08.495 --> 01:24:10.715
DANA: But it is a great value.

01:24:10.735 --> 01:24:11.815
DANA: I think it was $114.

01:24:12.595 --> 01:24:16.075
DANA: And for what you get, I think it's great.

01:24:16.095 --> 01:24:21.155
DANA: I would have paid $114 just to go backstage, not including any other stuff.

01:24:22.255 --> 01:24:23.075
DANA: It was really great.

01:24:23.095 --> 01:24:28.995
DANA: And for five hours, lunch, a couple bottles of water, two ride walk-ons.

01:24:29.675 --> 01:24:39.175
DANA: So we walked on Jungle Cruise, not even like Lightning Lane, like VIP tour walk-on, where you go in the exit, just walk on.

01:24:39.195 --> 01:24:45.215
DANA: Like they stopped other people from entering the ride just so we could get on, because you do have a schedule to maintain.

01:24:45.755 --> 01:24:52.695
DANA: So walked on Jungle Cruise and walked on Haunted Mansion with the history of both, you know, included in it.

01:24:53.215 --> 01:24:55.815
DANA: And then, of course, the rest of the tour was a lot of history.

01:24:55.835 --> 01:25:06.775
DANA: And about 90% of it, I did already know the information from the thousands of hours of vloggers that I have watched have already said that information.

01:25:06.795 --> 01:25:15.655
DANA: So I didn't know it, but it was so special to be in the tour group, you know, with your tour guide doing it.

01:25:16.075 --> 01:25:24.335
DANA: And then the backstage stuff, of course, I mean, that was, I don't want to say once in a lifetime, but it was once in my lifetime so far that I've gotten to do it.

01:25:24.915 --> 01:25:25.835
DANA: And that was great.

01:25:25.835 --> 01:25:27.635
DANA: I mean, that was priceless.

01:25:28.195 --> 01:25:31.995
VIRGINIA: Now, I know you were hoping that maybe you'd see them getting ready for the stage show.

01:25:32.015 --> 01:25:32.955
VIRGINIA: Did you end up seeing that?

01:25:33.135 --> 01:25:33.675
DANA: No.

01:25:33.955 --> 01:25:34.795
DANA: Well, we did.

01:25:34.815 --> 01:25:38.815
DANA: I don't want to ruin any magic, but we did.

01:25:39.075 --> 01:25:40.555
VIRGINIA: No, don't spoil anything.

01:25:40.575 --> 01:25:51.335
DANA: We did see a little bit of, I mean, we did see them sort of testing one of the parade floats, a very popular moving float.

01:25:51.575 --> 01:25:53.255
DANA: We did see that getting tested.

01:25:53.595 --> 01:25:57.815
DANA: I'm sure it's like a safety test before the parade would be going out in an hour or two.

01:25:58.435 --> 01:26:00.395
VIRGINIA: Is it something that might catch fire?

01:26:00.755 --> 01:26:01.095
DANA: No.

01:26:01.975 --> 01:26:06.835
DANA: So that day they actually didn't do, we did see that getting like oiled up.

01:26:06.835 --> 01:26:13.935
DANA: We did see her getting oiled up, but actually that was the day that it caught on fire in Disneyland, I guess.

01:26:13.955 --> 01:26:15.195
VIRGINIA: Disneyland, yeah.

01:26:15.215 --> 01:26:25.335
VIRGINIA: So this is for anybody who's curious, we're talking about the Maleficent float that's in the parade, but in Disneyland, the Maleficent for Fantasmic caught on fire.

01:26:25.355 --> 01:26:28.235
DANA: Right, so they actually didn't do the fire that day in World.

01:26:28.675 --> 01:26:31.495
DANA: They just didn't do it, I guess.

01:26:31.515 --> 01:26:35.055
DANA: And out of respect or something, I read, they were like, we're just not going to do the fire today.

01:26:35.395 --> 01:26:36.595
DANA: But no, it wasn't that one.

01:26:36.615 --> 01:26:39.655
DANA: It was, Walt, do you want me to say it?

01:26:39.675 --> 01:26:39.855
DANA: Sure.

01:26:39.975 --> 01:26:45.215
DANA: It was the Tangled float where the Flin Rider swings on the hammer.

01:26:45.975 --> 01:26:47.275
VIRGINIA: That was my next guess, yeah.

01:26:47.275 --> 01:26:53.795
DANA: It wasn't Flin Rider doing it, but it was just a testing, a maintenance guy was really swinging on it, the way he does.

01:26:54.255 --> 01:26:55.795
DANA: So I'm assuming it was a safety check.

01:26:57.735 --> 01:26:58.195
VIRGINIA: That's cool.

01:26:58.255 --> 01:27:02.375
DANA: But there's so much other stuff that I don't want to say because I'm sure people want to do that.

01:27:02.395 --> 01:27:05.215
DANA: So I don't want to say it, what I saw.

01:27:05.595 --> 01:27:07.855
DANA: But it was definitely so special.

01:27:09.335 --> 01:27:11.535
VIRGINIA: How was it being on the tour by yourself?

01:27:11.555 --> 01:27:17.635
VIRGINIA: Did you have opportunities or did you even want to socialize with the other tour group members?

01:27:18.355 --> 01:27:28.635
DANA: I was just talking to a friend about this yesterday actually, and I do think it would have been slightly more enjoyable if you were with a friend or spouse or something, or a child, you know, your child.

01:27:30.755 --> 01:27:32.775
DANA: It was fine, it was totally fine.

01:27:32.795 --> 01:27:40.595
DANA: I mean, I made small talk with the people, you know, the couple was kind of, we kind of walked together through it, sat at lunch together.

01:27:40.615 --> 01:27:50.295
DANA: There were two other people, two other women, they were by themselves too, but I thought maybe they were going to talk to me because they were by themselves and I was by myself, but they didn't.

01:27:50.315 --> 01:27:52.715
DANA: But this nice couple was chit-chatting with me.

01:27:53.655 --> 01:28:01.775
DANA: So, you know, we kind of talked about really, you really can't because you are listening to the tour guide and you can't really chit-chat because you'll miss what they're saying.

01:28:02.415 --> 01:28:04.295
DANA: But we did have bathroom breaks.

01:28:05.835 --> 01:28:13.275
DANA: You know, there was little breaks, our city host, he was like, okay, we're going to sit for 15 minutes if you want to get a drink or whatever, use the bathroom.

01:28:13.495 --> 01:28:21.775
DANA: So people did chit-chat, but people really mostly kept to themselves or were adjusting their lightning lanes for later in the day.

01:28:21.795 --> 01:28:23.855
DANA: We did have the lunch, and I did sit with this nice couple.

01:28:24.135 --> 01:28:26.875
DANA: So we did chit-chat, so it wasn't like I was totally alone.

01:28:27.355 --> 01:28:31.435
DANA: But I do think it would be more enjoyable if you did it with a friend.

01:28:33.195 --> 01:28:34.935
VIRGINIA: Okay, all right, good to know.

01:28:35.835 --> 01:28:38.075
VIRGINIA: So what time did that tour wrap up?

01:28:38.475 --> 01:28:39.755
DANA: About 1.45.

01:28:40.535 --> 01:28:42.035
VIRGINIA: What was your goal after that?

01:28:42.055 --> 01:28:45.395
VIRGINIA: Were you trying to go back and take a nap or anything that day?

01:28:45.415 --> 01:28:48.795
DANA: Yes, so I did go back because it was just so hot.

01:28:48.815 --> 01:28:51.695
DANA: And we were in the sun for so long.

01:28:51.715 --> 01:28:56.515
DANA: I mean, he did, the tour guide did try to steer us like to the shade as much as possible.

01:28:57.195 --> 01:29:00.675
DANA: But you know, you can only get so much shade in Magic Kingdom.

01:29:01.535 --> 01:29:04.655
DANA: So I did go back to the hotel to relax, get some air conditioning.

01:29:04.675 --> 01:29:07.635
DANA: I did go in the pool for a little bit, cool down.

01:29:07.655 --> 01:29:09.395
DANA: I did do that.

01:29:09.995 --> 01:29:12.595
DANA: And then what did I do in the evening?

01:29:12.675 --> 01:29:14.875
DANA: Oh, then I went to Epcot for the night.

01:29:15.895 --> 01:29:17.035
DANA: But I didn't go till late.

01:29:17.055 --> 01:29:20.895
DANA: I mean, late, what I would say late, like 630.

01:29:20.915 --> 01:29:21.115
DANA: I went.

01:29:21.135 --> 01:29:24.875
DANA: So I was back at the hotel for quite a while, about three hours, four hours.

01:29:25.455 --> 01:29:29.235
VIRGINIA: I have a note here that you had been trying to get a Steakhouse 71 for dinner.

01:29:29.635 --> 01:29:31.675
VIRGINIA: Did you end up doing that at all during this trip?

01:29:31.695 --> 01:29:31.855
DANA: No.

01:29:31.855 --> 01:29:32.775
DANA: So I didn't.

01:29:32.975 --> 01:29:33.895
DANA: I did not.

01:29:33.915 --> 01:29:34.855
DANA: And I was like, you know what?

01:29:34.875 --> 01:29:37.795
DANA: I'm going to save that for next time when I come with my family.

01:29:38.095 --> 01:29:38.755
DANA: We'll go there.

01:29:39.975 --> 01:29:41.775
DANA: So I probably could have.

01:29:41.795 --> 01:29:45.115
DANA: I think they would have probably had room for one person, especially at the lounge.

01:29:45.715 --> 01:29:47.115
DANA: But I didn't.

01:29:47.735 --> 01:29:51.695
DANA: I did go back to Epcot because Steakhouse 71 is going to be there.

01:29:51.695 --> 01:29:53.155
DANA: The flower and garden booths aren't.

01:29:53.555 --> 01:29:56.695
DANA: So and I didn't really get to do as many as I wanted on the first day.

01:29:57.255 --> 01:30:01.035
DANA: So I did go back and do a few of those.

01:30:01.055 --> 01:30:01.935
VIRGINIA: All right.

01:30:01.955 --> 01:30:02.615
VIRGINIA: What did you try?

01:30:03.175 --> 01:30:07.715
DANA: So well, I did have one thing that's not from the food booth, which was the fish and chips in the UK.

01:30:08.275 --> 01:30:09.615
DANA: So I love that.

01:30:10.375 --> 01:30:18.095
DANA: You know, there's really nowhere else that has something like that by me, you know, the giant piece of fish.

01:30:18.115 --> 01:30:19.655
DANA: It's just it's just fun to get.

01:30:20.475 --> 01:30:22.135
DANA: I always get that when I'm at Epcot.

01:30:22.155 --> 01:30:23.575
DANA: So I did get that.

01:30:24.195 --> 01:30:28.295
DANA: I only ate like half of it, though, because I like I got to go to these other food booths.

01:30:28.855 --> 01:30:35.055
DANA: So I did go to Italy, the Italy food booth, which I know everyone's like doesn't like the Italy food booth.

01:30:35.075 --> 01:30:36.995
DANA: It gets like it has like a bad reputation.

01:30:37.475 --> 01:30:38.195
VIRGINIA: I thought it was fine.

01:30:38.215 --> 01:30:40.135
DANA: I got the ravioli like it was fine.

01:30:40.595 --> 01:30:41.055
VIRGINIA: It's fine.

01:30:41.155 --> 01:30:44.155
VIRGINIA: I just don't think there's much that's special about it.

01:30:44.415 --> 01:30:48.915
VIRGINIA: And it's, for whatever reason, always a lot more expensive than the other booths.

01:30:48.935 --> 01:30:49.635
DANA: Right, it is.

01:30:49.715 --> 01:30:50.875
DANA: Yeah, I don't know why.

01:30:50.895 --> 01:30:56.395
DANA: I don't know why, but it was fine.

01:30:56.535 --> 01:30:57.895
DANA: It just sounded good to me at the time.

01:30:57.915 --> 01:30:58.975
DANA: I was like, I'm just going to get that.

01:30:59.275 --> 01:31:07.275
DANA: And then I went to, I think it's Canada, the one that has the like beef.

01:31:07.695 --> 01:31:10.595
DANA: It's like beef tips, mashed potatoes, I think it's Canada.

01:31:12.335 --> 01:31:15.375
DANA: Another Violet Lemonade, walked by, couldn't resist that.

01:31:16.535 --> 01:31:17.475
DANA: And I think that was it.

01:31:18.475 --> 01:31:19.695
VIRGINIA: Was that the end of the night?

01:31:19.955 --> 01:31:21.015
DANA: Was the end of the night.

01:31:22.295 --> 01:31:26.595
DANA: I did walk back the other way through World Showcase.

01:31:26.615 --> 01:31:31.895
DANA: I did stop in Germany, got a treat, got my favorite butter bar and the gingerbread.

01:31:31.915 --> 01:31:32.515
DANA: The gingerbread.

01:31:33.795 --> 01:31:34.615
DANA: The gingerbread.

01:31:34.675 --> 01:31:36.335
VIRGINIA: The gingerbread cookie sandwich.

01:31:36.715 --> 01:31:37.055
DANA: Yes.

01:31:37.895 --> 01:31:38.575
VIRGINIA: So good.

01:31:38.595 --> 01:31:43.455
DANA: Got those to bring back for later for, you know, for like a dessert in my room.

01:31:44.055 --> 01:31:48.295
DANA: And it happened to be a concert, you know, because the Garden Rocks tour.

01:31:48.535 --> 01:31:53.555
DANA: So it was Jody Messina who I didn't even realize was like still performing.

01:31:53.875 --> 01:31:54.855
VIRGINIA: Are you a fan?

01:31:54.875 --> 01:31:58.215
DANA: I'm not not a fan, but I'm not like a fan.

01:31:58.355 --> 01:32:00.095
DANA: So I was like, who is this?

01:32:00.375 --> 01:32:02.735
DANA: And then I was like, oh, it's Jody Messina.

01:32:03.015 --> 01:32:07.015
DANA: But there were apparently a lot of fans that people were going crazy for her.

01:32:07.775 --> 01:32:11.815
DANA: So yeah, they were like rocking out to Jody Messina.

01:32:12.495 --> 01:32:15.735
DANA: But I really didn't realize she was still like doing that.

01:32:15.755 --> 01:32:16.055
DANA: I don't know.

01:32:16.075 --> 01:32:20.135
DANA: I guess I just you don't really hear it on the radio, at least where I live anymore.

01:32:20.155 --> 01:32:26.275
DANA: So I just didn't really realize like she was still in in the industry, but she is and people loved her.

01:32:26.295 --> 01:32:28.315
DANA: They were going crazy and she was there for two nights.

01:32:28.335 --> 01:32:29.435
DANA: I think that was the first night.

01:32:29.975 --> 01:32:32.475
DANA: And then she was going to be there the next night too.

01:32:33.155 --> 01:32:35.095
DANA: So yeah, so I sat and watched that for a little bit.

01:32:35.575 --> 01:32:42.155
DANA: It's fun to like come across a semi-famous artist while you're there.

01:32:42.415 --> 01:32:44.275
DANA: You know, just like it's like a free concert.

01:32:44.615 --> 01:32:45.835
DANA: It's kind of unusual.

01:32:46.295 --> 01:32:48.875
DANA: You know, just a concert in the middle of Epcot.

01:32:49.675 --> 01:32:51.495
VIRGINIA: Did you hit up any other booths?

01:32:53.375 --> 01:32:56.375
DANA: I think that was it for that day.

01:32:56.395 --> 01:32:57.495
VIRGINIA: And no rides this night?

01:32:57.735 --> 01:32:58.675
DANA: No, I did not.

01:32:58.855 --> 01:33:00.255
DANA: I know.

01:33:01.175 --> 01:33:05.195
DANA: And I didn't get Jeannie Plus that day either because, you know, I do the tour.

01:33:05.215 --> 01:33:07.395
DANA: The tour was going to take up so much time.

01:33:08.115 --> 01:33:10.695
DANA: And then I left shortly after that.

01:33:10.835 --> 01:33:12.135
DANA: Oh, I did ride the train.

01:33:12.155 --> 01:33:12.775
DANA: I forgot about that.

01:33:12.975 --> 01:33:14.715
DANA: I did ride the train after my tour.

01:33:14.735 --> 01:33:22.855
DANA: I just did one loop around around the park and then because it ended at it ended where we began at the Town Square Theatre.

01:33:23.215 --> 01:33:27.535
DANA: So I was at the front and I didn't want to forget to ride the train or, you know, sidetrack those plans.

01:33:27.955 --> 01:33:33.295
DANA: So I rode that around once and then that was when I went back to my hotel.

01:33:33.615 --> 01:33:34.975
DANA: So I guess you can count that as a ride.

01:33:35.975 --> 01:33:36.515
VIRGINIA: Totally.

01:33:36.995 --> 01:33:37.575
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

01:33:37.695 --> 01:33:39.215
DANA: And then that was it.

01:33:39.235 --> 01:33:47.095
DANA: Then I was done because the next morning was when I had to transfer to my other hotel and that was going to be a whole process.

01:33:47.115 --> 01:33:51.855
DANA: So I had to like pack everything back up, fit it all somehow in my suitcase.

01:33:52.335 --> 01:33:57.455
VIRGINIA: You packed up all your stuff, you managed to get it together and took it over to Bell Services.

01:33:58.135 --> 01:33:58.935
DANA: Yes, Sunday morning.

01:33:58.955 --> 01:34:01.415
DANA: So yes, change those plans also.

01:34:01.895 --> 01:34:04.855
DANA: So I was like, well, how am I going to do this?

01:34:04.915 --> 01:34:12.215
DANA: I really don't want to have to take a bus somewhere and take another bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

01:34:12.595 --> 01:34:14.835
DANA: Like I don't know what time myself was going to be transferred.

01:34:14.855 --> 01:34:16.775
DANA: They couldn't guarantee it before 6 p.m.

01:34:17.135 --> 01:34:19.135
DANA: So I was like, no, I don't want to wait that long.

01:34:19.435 --> 01:34:23.255
DANA: What if I want my other shoes or what if I want to swim?

01:34:23.275 --> 01:34:26.915
DANA: You know, I just didn't want to wait that long for my luggage.

01:34:27.435 --> 01:34:29.175
DANA: You know, and it's floating around property somewhere.

01:34:29.195 --> 01:34:31.375
DANA: I can't get it, you know, quickly if I need to.

01:34:32.375 --> 01:34:36.275
DANA: So that day, I don't know, what did I tell you was my part?

01:34:36.355 --> 01:34:37.215
VIRGINIA: Hollywood Studios.

01:34:37.655 --> 01:34:39.095
DANA: Okay, didn't do that.

01:34:39.475 --> 01:34:48.135
DANA: I changed that reservation to Animal Kingdom because my agent friend that I was continuing on this journey with, she was going to Animal Kingdom.

01:34:48.175 --> 01:34:56.575
DANA: So I was like, okay, so I decided to go to Animal Kingdom and then we decided to meet up and do some stuff together before we separated for the rest of the day.

01:34:57.995 --> 01:35:01.755
DANA: I was like, you know, how am I going to make this happen quickly?

01:35:01.775 --> 01:35:06.495
DANA: I just want to get my bags to Animal Kingdom Lodge and then move to the park and just move on with my day.

01:35:06.975 --> 01:35:11.055
DANA: So I was a big girl and I did an Uber for the first time.

01:35:12.155 --> 01:35:14.835
DANA: My husband's like, just do it, you can do it, you'll be fine.

01:35:14.855 --> 01:35:15.695
DANA: You know, I believe in you.

01:35:15.955 --> 01:35:19.895
VIRGINIA: Wait, this was your very first time doing an Uber at all or at Disney?

01:35:19.935 --> 01:35:20.695
DANA: At all, ever.

01:35:20.995 --> 01:35:21.815
VIRGINIA: Oh, wow.

01:35:22.135 --> 01:35:25.315
DANA: Because where we live, you don't really Uber that much.

01:35:25.335 --> 01:35:28.355
DANA: Maybe if you're going to a concert or something like that, it's not.

01:35:29.335 --> 01:35:30.395
DANA: You don't really do it that much.

01:35:30.595 --> 01:35:33.675
DANA: Or just to go to the airport, but I haven't needed to do that yet.

01:35:34.395 --> 01:35:38.395
DANA: Someone was always able to drive me to the airport, so I've never done it before.

01:35:38.635 --> 01:35:44.175
DANA: But I did have the app on my phone already installed and to go because there's a couple of times in the past where I thought about doing it.

01:35:44.675 --> 01:35:47.275
DANA: So I already had it all set up, so I'm like, I'm just going to do it.

01:35:47.915 --> 01:35:50.115
DANA: So I did it, and it was so great.

01:35:50.655 --> 01:35:51.755
DANA: It was so fast.

01:35:51.775 --> 01:35:56.975
DANA: I got from Pop Century to Animal Kingdom Lodge in like eight minutes or something.

01:35:57.295 --> 01:35:57.815
DANA: So quick.

01:35:58.055 --> 01:35:59.275
VIRGINIA: Do you remember how much it cost?

01:35:59.295 --> 01:36:01.775
DANA: It was $9.45 before.

01:36:01.795 --> 01:36:02.895
VIRGINIA: Oh, wow.

01:36:02.915 --> 01:36:04.595
VIRGINIA: You remember exactly how much it cost.

01:36:04.715 --> 01:36:08.095
DANA: I remember exactly because I was like, wow, that's like so reasonable.

01:36:08.115 --> 01:36:09.615
DANA: Basically, it was like a dollar a minute.

01:36:09.775 --> 01:36:15.795
VIRGINIA: Yeah, it depends on what time of day usually, like how many people are trying to get rides, how busy things are.

01:36:16.295 --> 01:36:18.855
VIRGINIA: So it can vary, but yeah, I thought it was fine.

01:36:18.875 --> 01:36:20.715
DANA: I'm like, it's fine with me.

01:36:20.735 --> 01:36:23.895
DANA: You know, as long as I arrived safely where I wanted to go, I didn't care.

01:36:24.435 --> 01:36:26.695
VIRGINIA: I'm sure Uber has this function too.

01:36:26.975 --> 01:36:30.175
VIRGINIA: I have used Uber before, but I normally prefer Lyft.

01:36:30.235 --> 01:36:32.215
VIRGINIA: And I can't even tell you why I do.

01:36:32.235 --> 01:36:36.555
VIRGINIA: I just years ago was like, no, Lyft is my app.

01:36:36.635 --> 01:36:38.675
VIRGINIA: And so that's what I use.

01:36:38.855 --> 01:36:48.475
VIRGINIA: But I know that on Lyft, I have some safety settings set up that whenever I catch a Lyft, it texts my husband.

01:36:48.595 --> 01:36:49.735
VIRGINIA: Or you can have it text anybody.

01:36:49.755 --> 01:36:50.775
VIRGINIA: It's not like a spouse thing.

01:36:50.795 --> 01:36:56.595
VIRGINIA: But I personally have it text my husband just to say that I'm getting in a Lyft and where my destination is.

01:36:56.715 --> 01:37:07.715
VIRGINIA: And then if when it says that I've been dropped off, I haven't marked that I made it there safe, it pops a notification on my phone to say, did you make it there safe so that I can hit that?

01:37:07.735 --> 01:37:09.895
VIRGINIA: And then it sends it to him like, okay, she's there.

01:37:09.955 --> 01:37:10.335
DANA: Okay.

01:37:10.515 --> 01:37:12.415
DANA: Well, he did know because I was like, should I do it?

01:37:12.435 --> 01:37:13.215
DANA: Should I not do it?

01:37:13.235 --> 01:37:13.715
VIRGINIA: Should I do it?

01:37:13.735 --> 01:37:14.735
DANA: He's like, just do it.

01:37:14.755 --> 01:37:15.575
DANA: Just be an adult.

01:37:16.635 --> 01:37:18.855
DANA: So I just did it and it was perfectly fine.

01:37:18.875 --> 01:37:24.455
DANA: And I'm so happy that I did it because now I will do that in the future to get somewhere quickly.

01:37:24.795 --> 01:37:29.415
DANA: And that's usually a reason that I really don't go to Disney Springs that often is because it takes so long.

01:37:29.435 --> 01:37:30.355
DANA: I just don't want to deal with it.

01:37:30.795 --> 01:37:34.215
DANA: But I will do that next time I want to go to Disney Springs just to get there so much faster.

01:37:34.695 --> 01:37:39.355
VIRGINIA: Yeah, the only thing to know about Disney Springs is there's the drop off points are at either end.

01:37:39.375 --> 01:37:40.495
DANA: I heard that, yeah.

01:37:40.515 --> 01:37:43.335
VIRGINIA: So it's, I mean, it's one end or the other.

01:37:43.355 --> 01:37:46.175
VIRGINIA: It's not like where the buses, they drop off right there in the middle.

01:37:46.295 --> 01:37:48.035
DANA: So yeah, it was great.

01:37:48.055 --> 01:37:49.715
DANA: It was so quick and fine.

01:37:50.495 --> 01:37:55.615
DANA: You know, left my bag with Bell Services and then did take the bus to Animal Kingdom.

01:37:55.915 --> 01:37:58.515
VIRGINIA: What was your first priority at Animal Kingdom?

01:37:58.535 --> 01:38:00.815
VIRGINIA: Was she already there or you were still waiting for her?

01:38:01.335 --> 01:38:05.915
DANA: No, so her plane actually got delayed and then she missed her shuttle.

01:38:06.415 --> 01:38:07.855
DANA: She did Sunshine Flyers.

01:38:07.975 --> 01:38:11.875
DANA: So I guess theirs isn't as often as Mears'.

01:38:12.055 --> 01:38:13.575
DANA: So like Mears', if you miss it, it's okay.

01:38:13.595 --> 01:38:17.895
DANA: There's going to be another one in a second going to the general area of your resort.

01:38:18.655 --> 01:38:20.235
DANA: Mears' tries to cluster them together.

01:38:20.255 --> 01:38:25.755
DANA: You know, like if you're going to Pop Century, there will be people on your bus also going to like Art of Animation.

01:38:26.195 --> 01:38:28.135
DANA: So the driver is kind of going to the same area.

01:38:28.515 --> 01:38:39.255
DANA: I'm not exactly sure how Sunshine Flyers does it because I haven't used them before, but she did say that she had to wait like 30 minutes for the next one because she missed hers because her flight was late.

01:38:39.655 --> 01:38:40.735
DANA: So that was kind of a bummer.

01:38:40.815 --> 01:38:46.595
DANA: So I was already at Animal Kingdom Park when she got to Animal Kingdom Lodge to drop her stuff off.

01:38:47.295 --> 01:38:51.475
DANA: So I bought Genie Plus because I knew I was going to be park hopping that day.

01:38:52.255 --> 01:38:54.455
DANA: And then there was a safari right away when I got there.

01:38:54.475 --> 01:38:58.775
DANA: So I went on the safari, did that, walked around.

01:38:58.795 --> 01:39:04.175
DANA: I normally don't do like animal treks, like the gorilla trek.

01:39:04.195 --> 01:39:08.275
DANA: And I didn't I don't normally do that, but I did this time and it was great.

01:39:08.295 --> 01:39:15.155
DANA: It was it was nice to just, you know, be able to see the animals and nature and just not be on like a rushed schedule.

01:39:15.435 --> 01:39:18.155
DANA: So I did that while I was waiting for her to get over to the park.

01:39:19.635 --> 01:39:21.115
VIRGINIA: So what time did she end up arriving?

01:39:21.855 --> 01:39:23.575
DANA: She got to the park about 12.

01:39:24.575 --> 01:39:27.855
DANA: And then we did Dinosaur, which I had never done before.

01:39:28.615 --> 01:39:29.735
DANA: And she loves that, right.

01:39:29.755 --> 01:39:30.995
DANA: So she's like, let's do Dinosaur.

01:39:31.015 --> 01:39:34.115
DANA: There was a Genie Plus waiting for us or Lightning Lane.

01:39:34.515 --> 01:39:36.075
DANA: So we did that.

01:39:36.095 --> 01:39:37.015
DANA: And that was so fun.

01:39:37.035 --> 01:39:38.735
DANA: It wasn't scary.

01:39:38.755 --> 01:39:40.175
DANA: Everyone's like I was here.

01:39:40.195 --> 01:39:41.195
DANA: People say how scary it is.

01:39:41.555 --> 01:39:43.235
DANA: I didn't think it was scary at all.

01:39:43.815 --> 01:39:49.615
VIRGINIA: It's just that one moment where they take your picture, where I think a lot of little kids get scared.

01:39:49.675 --> 01:39:54.175
VIRGINIA: I like to just act super scared at that part because it's funnier in the pictures.

01:39:54.195 --> 01:39:54.475
VIRGINIA: Right.

01:39:54.495 --> 01:39:55.655
DANA: Yeah, it was fine.

01:39:55.675 --> 01:39:57.975
DANA: It was fun and it was great.

01:39:58.395 --> 01:40:01.455
DANA: And then when we were done with that, we just walked around a little bit.

01:40:01.475 --> 01:40:04.095
DANA: Then we went to Pandora.

01:40:04.115 --> 01:40:09.735
DANA: We got a rum blossom from the Pangu Pangu stand, which is delicious.

01:40:09.755 --> 01:40:11.315
DANA: I don't know if you've ever had one before.

01:40:11.715 --> 01:40:13.595
VIRGINIA: So I'm a night blossom person.

01:40:13.675 --> 01:40:17.395
VIRGINIA: I love the night blossom, which is the same thing, but without the rum.

01:40:18.995 --> 01:40:19.835
VIRGINIA: I like rum.

01:40:19.855 --> 01:40:30.775
VIRGINIA: The night blossom is so good on its own that I've never felt like I wanted to add something to it because I think I'm afraid, like, what if I don't like it as much as I just like the pure night blossom?

01:40:32.055 --> 01:40:32.795
VIRGINIA: But we'll see.

01:40:33.195 --> 01:40:34.395
VIRGINIA: I'll give it a try at some point.

01:40:34.415 --> 01:40:34.995
DANA: Yeah, it was great.

01:40:35.275 --> 01:40:36.115
DANA: It was good.

01:40:36.175 --> 01:40:37.075
DANA: I've had both ways.

01:40:37.655 --> 01:40:39.915
DANA: My kids have gotten the night blossom and I've tried theirs.

01:40:40.735 --> 01:40:42.135
DANA: But yeah, so we got that.

01:40:42.575 --> 01:40:45.395
DANA: And then we just really just walked around and then it started raining.

01:40:46.555 --> 01:40:51.015
DANA: So by this time, it was maybe one thirty or two.

01:40:51.895 --> 01:40:55.815
DANA: She was park hopping for the rest of the day, whether it was raining or not.

01:40:55.835 --> 01:40:56.475
DANA: She was in it.

01:40:56.655 --> 01:40:58.875
DANA: You know, she was in it for the long haul.

01:40:59.535 --> 01:41:01.375
DANA: So I was like, well, shoot, it's going to start raining.

01:41:01.395 --> 01:41:01.935
DANA: What should I do?

01:41:02.795 --> 01:41:07.055
DANA: So ducked into a gift shop, tried to let it pass, but it wasn't passing.

01:41:07.075 --> 01:41:07.955
DANA: It had been 30 minutes.

01:41:07.975 --> 01:41:10.435
DANA: I'm like, I want to go.

01:41:10.455 --> 01:41:13.315
DANA: So at this point, I got a notification that my room was ready.

01:41:13.335 --> 01:41:15.095
DANA: So I'm like, I want to see this room.

01:41:15.115 --> 01:41:16.195
DANA: I had never stayed Deluxe.

01:41:16.455 --> 01:41:19.415
DANA: I'm like, I want to just go enjoy this hotel.

01:41:19.655 --> 01:41:27.315
DANA: So I just ran in the rain as fast as I could to the bus, got on the bus and then got to my hotel.

01:41:28.095 --> 01:41:29.915
DANA: So maybe about 3, 3.30.

01:41:29.935 --> 01:41:32.295
DANA: My room was ready like a little bit before 3.00.

01:41:32.315 --> 01:41:36.755
DANA: So at this point, it was probably about 3.30 when I got back to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

01:41:37.615 --> 01:41:40.395
DANA: And then it was really raining the entire rest of the day.

01:41:40.955 --> 01:41:44.755
DANA: So I just stayed there.

01:41:47.375 --> 01:41:51.135
DANA: Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have bought Genie Plus just for the safari and dinosaur.

01:41:51.675 --> 01:41:53.735
DANA: But that's what happens sometimes.

01:41:54.435 --> 01:42:01.355
DANA: So I just stayed there the rest of the day, which I've never really done before for that amount of time.

01:42:01.635 --> 01:42:05.355
DANA: Coming back at 3.30 and not leaving again, I never done that before.

01:42:05.935 --> 01:42:09.255
VIRGINIA: Were you put into a Savannah View room?

01:42:09.275 --> 01:42:13.495
VIRGINIA: Because I know that you were hoping that maybe that would happen.

01:42:13.515 --> 01:42:20.175
DANA: So when I got the text that my room was ready, I looked it up on the resort map and I was like, okay, I can't really tell.

01:42:20.195 --> 01:42:21.855
DANA: It looks like it might be a Savannah Room.

01:42:22.215 --> 01:42:32.195
DANA: I wasn't sure because the map is kind of confusing because it looks like there's Savannahs all around, but just because it looks like it on the map doesn't necessarily mean you can see it.

01:42:32.635 --> 01:42:39.315
DANA: So I get my room, I open the door, I go to the balcony, open the blinds, the curtains, Savannah View.

01:42:39.475 --> 01:42:42.815
DANA: I couldn't believe it, giraffes right there.

01:42:42.835 --> 01:42:47.495
DANA: I open the door and I was like, oh my gosh, I FaceTimed my husband, I was like, you're not going to believe this look.

01:42:48.295 --> 01:42:51.835
DANA: Giraffes right there, zebras a minute later.

01:42:51.875 --> 01:42:53.395
DANA: It was unbelievable.

01:42:53.735 --> 01:43:02.075
DANA: And other people are probably like, you're such a nerd, like it's fine, we stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge all the time, but I don't and it was super special for me.

01:43:02.115 --> 01:43:03.815
DANA: It was so amazing.

01:43:03.835 --> 01:43:06.835
DANA: I mean, I wouldn't stay there without a Savannah View now.

01:43:07.355 --> 01:43:08.495
VIRGINIA: Yeah, that's what I hear.

01:43:08.735 --> 01:43:11.675
VIRGINIA: That is one resort that I have not stayed at yet.

01:43:11.695 --> 01:43:17.755
VIRGINIA: And I'm hoping, you know, because we're DVC, that eventually we will, because we're trying to get around to all of them.

01:43:17.775 --> 01:43:22.815
VIRGINIA: But there's nothing wrong with being excited about staying someplace for the first time.

01:43:22.955 --> 01:43:31.235
VIRGINIA: It's really, I think, annoying when people, the phrase that I heard somebody use once that I liked was when they yuck your yum.

01:43:31.955 --> 01:43:38.035
VIRGINIA: So you think something's good, who cares if you think it's good and they don't?

01:43:38.055 --> 01:43:41.575
VIRGINIA: Mind your own business and let somebody enjoy it.

01:43:41.595 --> 01:43:47.535
VIRGINIA: I think it's wonderful that you were so excited and impressed by that.

01:43:47.735 --> 01:43:50.235
DANA: I wish that I could have seen that too.

01:43:50.675 --> 01:43:54.155
DANA: It was so great because it was pouring, absolutely pouring.

01:43:54.695 --> 01:44:05.095
DANA: I'm sitting on this balcony, covered balcony, in the pouring rain with my feet up on the other chair and just watching these animals.

01:44:05.115 --> 01:44:07.055
DANA: It was just so great.

01:44:07.075 --> 01:44:12.075
DANA: It was just something that I always thought would be cool, just never did, and it was like a dream.

01:44:12.495 --> 01:44:17.495
DANA: I'm glad it was raining because I wouldn't have stayed there to enjoy the Savannah view.

01:44:17.895 --> 01:44:20.035
VIRGINIA: Yeah, it was amazing.

01:44:20.755 --> 01:44:24.075
VIRGINIA: What else did you enjoy at the resort since you were there for the rest of the night?

01:44:24.095 --> 01:44:28.635
DANA: I sat there for a little bit, talked to my husband, FaceTime my kids from school, and I was like, look at this room.

01:44:28.655 --> 01:44:33.355
DANA: They were so jealous they weren't there, but it was like, one day you can come here.

01:44:35.075 --> 01:44:36.655
DANA: Then I just really explored the resort.

01:44:36.675 --> 01:44:37.715
DANA: I walked all around it.

01:44:37.735 --> 01:44:41.155
DANA: I went outside even though it was still raining.

01:44:41.175 --> 01:44:44.195
DANA: I walked around by the pool just to see everything.

01:44:45.375 --> 01:44:52.755
DANA: Went through the gift shop and sat in the lobby, and they have a beautiful fire, like a fire pit in the lobby.

01:44:52.775 --> 01:45:04.555
DANA: I had never been, I had been there years ago just on the Savannah outlook when you walk through the main lobby, just keep going out the other door at the end.

01:45:04.575 --> 01:45:05.615
DANA: You can see the animals.

01:45:05.655 --> 01:45:09.655
DANA: We did that when our children were really little, but I never really looked around.

01:45:11.015 --> 01:45:14.435
DANA: I didn't know Gico and Boma were right there by each other.

01:45:14.455 --> 01:45:19.495
DANA: I didn't know exactly where they were in the resort, so now I know that.

01:45:19.595 --> 01:45:22.095
DANA: I can tell clients the convenience of that.

01:45:22.115 --> 01:45:29.515
DANA: I went down to the quick service, filled up my mug that I had from Pop Century.

01:45:29.535 --> 01:45:33.215
DANA: Just checked everything out, and it's really cool.

01:45:33.955 --> 01:45:38.675
DANA: The lobby is really relaxing and cozy, and I really liked it a lot.

01:45:39.195 --> 01:45:40.175
VIRGINIA: Oh, that's so exciting.

01:45:40.535 --> 01:45:41.695
DANA: Yeah, it was great.

01:45:41.975 --> 01:45:51.775
DANA: And then I just sat in the lobby for a while, and then just people watching, playing on my phone, and then I was like, okay, I probably should figure out something for dinner.

01:45:51.775 --> 01:46:04.035
DANA: So then I just did their quick service, just got chicken strips, and then took it up to my room and head out on the balcony watching the animals, which you can't do that in value or moderate.

01:46:04.055 --> 01:46:07.475
DANA: I mean, I guess you can, but it's not really your own private balcony.

01:46:07.715 --> 01:46:12.015
DANA: It's just an outside walkway, I guess, between all the rooms.

01:46:12.715 --> 01:46:15.935
DANA: So that was really unique for me.

01:46:16.455 --> 01:46:21.855
DANA: Like I said, that was my first time staying in a deluxe resort and having a balcony like that.

01:46:21.855 --> 01:46:25.995
DANA: So that was really great.

01:46:26.015 --> 01:46:27.435
DANA: I wish my husband and kids were there.

01:46:27.455 --> 01:46:36.115
DANA: I wish you guys could see this because this is so different than staying in a value or moderate, which we normally have always done because we're just so focused on park time.

01:46:36.475 --> 01:46:39.655
DANA: We don't really take the time to slow down and stay at the resort very much.

01:46:40.215 --> 01:46:42.675
DANA: If we do, it's just for the kids to swim and we're by the pool.

01:46:42.915 --> 01:46:48.395
DANA: We don't stay in the room because there's five of us and five people in a little hotel room.

01:46:49.395 --> 01:46:50.415
DANA: There's nothing fun about that.

01:46:51.635 --> 01:46:53.935
DANA: We don't even stay in the room.

01:46:53.955 --> 01:46:56.955
DANA: It's the pool or the park and that's it.

01:46:56.975 --> 01:47:15.715
VIRGINIA: Do you think that having had this experience, there may be a time when you would go as a family and even though you still want to get a lot of park time because you've experienced this, that maybe you would want to do that again knowing that you're not going to spend a ton of time in the room, but just to get that deluxe experience?

01:47:15.735 --> 01:47:16.435
DANA: Yes, I definitely would.

01:47:18.615 --> 01:47:26.635
DANA: We do have a reservation in June to stay at the Yacht Club, so that would be my kids' first time staying deluxe.

01:47:28.315 --> 01:47:35.195
DANA: Kids don't really know the difference, value, moderate, deluxe, but my kids are getting older and I do this for my job.

01:47:35.335 --> 01:47:37.695
DANA: My older children, they do know the difference.

01:47:38.095 --> 01:47:41.655
DANA: They have their little princess vision in their mind of the Grand Floridian.

01:47:41.995 --> 01:47:43.455
DANA: All little girls want to stay there.

01:47:44.095 --> 01:47:46.855
DANA: They want a balcony, so we will.

01:47:47.675 --> 01:47:55.195
VIRGINIA: Listen, staying in the Yacht Club in June, when you're really going to want to be in that pool, that's going to be nice.

01:47:55.215 --> 01:47:57.415
DANA: I know, yes.

01:47:58.055 --> 01:47:59.135
DANA: They're looking forward to that.

01:47:59.435 --> 01:48:04.215
DANA: There's definitely a time and place for why you choose your resort, different features.

01:48:04.895 --> 01:48:05.975
DANA: Your kids are into different things.

01:48:05.995 --> 01:48:07.215
DANA: They're really into characters.

01:48:08.015 --> 01:48:12.675
DANA: At Animal Kingdom Lodge, you're not going to see characters on the walls, on the bed.

01:48:12.855 --> 01:48:14.535
DANA: There's a few hidden Mickey's.

01:48:14.855 --> 01:48:20.835
DANA: In the room, there's a slight Lion King theme, but it's not like Pop Century.

01:48:20.855 --> 01:48:24.395
DANA: You walk outside, the giant lady in the tramp, the giant Mickey phone.

01:48:24.415 --> 01:48:25.655
DANA: It's not going to be like that.

01:48:26.015 --> 01:48:31.555
DANA: It's just different things for different times of your life or your children's lives.

01:48:32.635 --> 01:48:40.115
VIRGINIA: I think sometimes that getting to experience all those and letting them have those different experiences, like you want them to see it all.

01:48:40.135 --> 01:48:42.015
VIRGINIA: I don't know.

01:48:42.035 --> 01:48:43.615
VIRGINIA: For me, I'm trying to raise a Disney kid.

01:48:43.635 --> 01:48:45.535
VIRGINIA: So I'll let you know.

01:48:45.555 --> 01:48:46.655
VIRGINIA: You have to know all of them.

01:48:48.035 --> 01:48:48.355
VIRGINIA: Right.

01:48:48.555 --> 01:48:49.635
VIRGINIA: Well, that's really cool.

01:48:49.655 --> 01:48:52.555
VIRGINIA: So what time did your friend get back to the room?

01:48:52.575 --> 01:48:54.775
VIRGINIA: Was she out until part closed?

01:48:55.275 --> 01:48:55.595
DANA: Yes.

01:48:55.675 --> 01:48:56.975
DANA: She stayed out really late.

01:48:56.995 --> 01:48:59.635
DANA: I believe she closed down Epcot.

01:48:59.975 --> 01:49:00.575
DANA: She did.

01:49:00.595 --> 01:49:00.775
DANA: Yes.

01:49:01.055 --> 01:49:02.335
DANA: She stayed at Epcot for late.

01:49:02.355 --> 01:49:05.155
DANA: So yes, she didn't get back till like 11 or 12.

01:49:06.455 --> 01:49:06.975
DANA: Really late.

01:49:06.995 --> 01:49:09.435
DANA: But she just had that one full day.

01:49:09.455 --> 01:49:11.175
DANA: So she really wanted to maximize that.

01:49:12.275 --> 01:49:16.835
VIRGINIA: And the next morning, you all were heading off to your training over at The Contemporary.

01:49:17.135 --> 01:49:18.355
VIRGINIA: How was the training?

01:49:18.375 --> 01:49:18.635
VIRGINIA: Yes.

01:49:18.895 --> 01:49:26.555
VIRGINIA: Do you feel like for anybody who is a vacation planner that that was worth doing the training?

01:49:28.035 --> 01:49:28.535
DANA: Definitely.

01:49:28.555 --> 01:49:38.635
DANA: Yeah, this was mostly focused on marketing what you have to offer to your clients and tips and tricks on how to do that for like the classroom portion of the training.

01:49:39.115 --> 01:49:46.255
DANA: And then after that was done, we did have room tours at the Polynesian, the Grand Floridian and The Contemporary.

01:49:46.695 --> 01:49:50.515
DANA: That was helpful because I hadn't seen the inside of those rooms.

01:49:51.255 --> 01:49:55.395
DANA: So that was great to be able to see actually how much space is in them.

01:49:55.415 --> 01:49:58.915
DANA: You know, because the picture you can only guess so much on the space.

01:49:59.355 --> 01:50:12.075
DANA: But being in it, you can see the difference between the rooms and the configurations, you know, the king bed versus the two queens and, you know, just how you could tailor it to what a family would need to fit their needs best.

01:50:12.415 --> 01:50:12.815
VIRGINIA: Okay.

01:50:13.455 --> 01:50:16.595
VIRGINIA: Anything else you want to share about the training?

01:50:17.295 --> 01:50:17.895
DANA: It was great.

01:50:17.915 --> 01:50:19.235
DANA: I mean, they gave us breakfast.

01:50:19.575 --> 01:50:23.215
DANA: There were Mickey waffles included in the breakfast.

01:50:23.555 --> 01:50:26.755
DANA: And then we had a really nice lunch, not like a theme park lunch.

01:50:26.775 --> 01:50:28.955
DANA: It was like roast beef and mashed potatoes.

01:50:28.975 --> 01:50:31.215
DANA: And it was really nice.

01:50:31.855 --> 01:50:34.735
DANA: And oh, and the dessert for lunch was the great stuff.

01:50:35.095 --> 01:50:38.175
DANA: So that was a nice little surprise.

01:50:39.115 --> 01:50:41.075
DANA: You know, a nice little touch at the end of it.

01:50:41.735 --> 01:50:43.695
VIRGINIA: So you headed to Epcot.

01:50:43.715 --> 01:50:44.295
VIRGINIA: Is that correct?

01:50:45.795 --> 01:50:47.155
DANA: We went to Magic Kingdom, actually.

01:50:47.935 --> 01:50:49.555
VIRGINIA: Well, that works because you were right there.

01:50:50.655 --> 01:50:53.235
DANA: Our last stop was the Grand Floridian.

01:50:53.875 --> 01:50:56.015
DANA: So she wanted to go to Magic Kingdom.

01:50:56.035 --> 01:50:56.875
DANA: So I was like, okay, fine.

01:50:56.895 --> 01:50:58.395
DANA: We'll just, I'll go to Magic Kingdom too.

01:50:58.415 --> 01:50:59.995
DANA: So changed my reservation.

01:51:00.015 --> 01:51:01.275
DANA: We figured that out the night before.

01:51:01.295 --> 01:51:03.015
DANA: So I did change my reservation the night before.

01:51:03.335 --> 01:51:06.515
DANA: We got there not too much later.

01:51:06.575 --> 01:51:07.595
DANA: It started pouring.

01:51:07.615 --> 01:51:10.915
DANA: I don't even think, I don't even think we rode anything.

01:51:13.115 --> 01:51:17.515
DANA: We went in, we walked around, and then it started pouring.

01:51:17.535 --> 01:51:20.495
DANA: So it's like, well, what should we do?

01:51:20.755 --> 01:51:21.675
DANA: She's like, well, I'm here.

01:51:21.695 --> 01:51:22.395
DANA: I'm doing it.

01:51:22.415 --> 01:51:24.095
DANA: She was doing it in the rain.

01:51:24.435 --> 01:51:29.415
DANA: So we did do Pirates of the Caribbean, even though it was pouring.

01:51:29.715 --> 01:51:33.535
DANA: But we did Pirates of the Caribbean, and then it started even pouring even harder when we got out.

01:51:33.795 --> 01:51:39.495
DANA: So we ran to the Tiki Room, did that really quick, thought that would buy us some time.

01:51:39.895 --> 01:51:40.415
DANA: It didn't.

01:51:40.435 --> 01:51:41.235
DANA: It was still pouring.

01:51:41.255 --> 01:51:43.295
VIRGINIA: It was pouring inside the Tiki Room too.

01:51:44.555 --> 01:51:44.975
DANA: Yeah.

01:51:45.455 --> 01:51:45.775
DANA: Yeah.

01:51:46.235 --> 01:51:50.755
DANA: So she continued her day at Magic Kingdom, and then I was like, well, I'm going to go to Epcot.

01:51:51.915 --> 01:51:54.575
DANA: I'm hopping over there because I still had a Space 220 reservation.

01:51:55.635 --> 01:51:57.835
DANA: So she was like, well, I'm not going to do it.

01:51:57.855 --> 01:51:58.455
DANA: I want to stay here.

01:51:58.475 --> 01:51:59.095
DANA: I'm like, okay, fine.

01:51:59.815 --> 01:52:06.435
DANA: So because of all the rain delays, I ended up missing the reservation.

01:52:07.155 --> 01:52:12.695
DANA: So I was like, I'm going to try it anyways because I want to go.

01:52:12.715 --> 01:52:14.115
DANA: I really wanted to do it.

01:52:14.335 --> 01:52:17.655
DANA: So I'm going to try to see if they'll let me in, and they wouldn't let me in.

01:52:18.635 --> 01:52:23.235
DANA: I know, and I was really surprised because it was just one person, and they wouldn't let me in.

01:52:23.535 --> 01:52:30.715
DANA: But the monorail was so delayed because everyone was wanting to get out of the park, get out of Magic Kingdom because it was raining.

01:52:31.715 --> 01:52:37.175
DANA: So I waited in the line for a bit, and I'm like, I'm not going to wait in this line, the express monorail.

01:52:37.195 --> 01:52:43.875
DANA: So I got on the resort monorail and did it that way, but that takes a lot longer because then you have to transfer at the TTC.

01:52:45.715 --> 01:52:47.435
DANA: So I was like, well, it's pouring.

01:52:47.455 --> 01:52:50.755
DANA: At least while I'm doing this, maybe the rain will stop.

01:52:51.855 --> 01:52:54.915
DANA: So I got there too late.

01:52:54.935 --> 01:52:55.855
DANA: I was so bummed.

01:52:55.895 --> 01:52:59.475
VIRGINIA: I'm really surprised they wouldn't let you in since it was only just you.

01:52:59.515 --> 01:53:01.855
VIRGINIA: I mean, you'd have to take up a table for two, but...

01:53:01.875 --> 01:53:03.455
DANA: I know.

01:53:03.475 --> 01:53:05.015
DANA: Well, it was the lounge anyways.

01:53:05.195 --> 01:53:10.035
DANA: I mean, so they could just suck me at the little bar somewhere, but it's okay.

01:53:10.055 --> 01:53:11.595
DANA: I mean, I was really late.

01:53:11.615 --> 01:53:12.955
DANA: I mean, 45 minutes is pretty late.

01:53:13.015 --> 01:53:18.555
DANA: So like next time, but they didn't charge me or anything for like a missed reservation.

01:53:19.395 --> 01:53:20.615
DANA: So, yeah.

01:53:20.635 --> 01:53:22.455
DANA: So, but then I did ride Frozen.

01:53:22.475 --> 01:53:28.075
DANA: I'm like, Frozen didn't have that long of a wait, and I hadn't done that this trip, but I do love that ride.

01:53:28.235 --> 01:53:33.635
DANA: Then I went back to meet her at Magic Kingdom for Happily Ever After because she hadn't seen it yet.

01:53:34.795 --> 01:53:37.315
DANA: But we ended up watching it separately because we couldn't...

01:53:38.075 --> 01:53:40.335
DANA: Like by the time I got there, it was 8.59.

01:53:40.355 --> 01:53:42.815
DANA: It was just about to start, and she was recording it.

01:53:43.215 --> 01:53:47.835
DANA: So she wanted to record the whole thing, so she couldn't text me back, like where she was.

01:53:48.555 --> 01:53:50.595
DANA: So I just tried to guess where she was.

01:53:50.615 --> 01:53:55.275
DANA: I wasn't too far off, but we didn't end up meeting up till it was over, which that's fine.

01:53:56.075 --> 01:53:58.935
DANA: Then we just walked around the rest of the time.

01:53:59.355 --> 01:54:05.075
DANA: We just walked around, enjoyed it, chit-chatted, sat by the castle, and then we left like right at 11.

01:54:05.735 --> 01:54:11.535
DANA: Went back to the hotel, and then my bus or my airport shuttle came at 2.30.

01:54:11.555 --> 01:54:12.195
VIRGINIA: 2.30?

01:54:12.215 --> 01:54:13.835
VIRGINIA: I thought it was 3 o'clock.

01:54:14.055 --> 01:54:15.815
VIRGINIA: I mean, not that that's that much different.

01:54:16.295 --> 01:54:17.955
DANA: No, it was 2.30.

01:54:19.375 --> 01:54:23.315
DANA: Actually, it said 2.40 for my pickup time, but I got down there a little bit early.

01:54:23.335 --> 01:54:26.995
DANA: I got down there at 2.30, and she was already waiting, like the shuttle driver.

01:54:27.015 --> 01:54:29.075
DANA: She's like, I've been here since 2.20.

01:54:29.095 --> 01:54:32.755
DANA: I was like, oh no, well, my reservation said 2.40.

01:54:32.775 --> 01:54:39.795
DANA: I thought that was already way, way too early, especially having only a carry-on and TSA pre-check.

01:54:40.335 --> 01:54:47.475
DANA: You know, I didn't need to be there that early, but that's just how they schedule theirs to allow for, you know, any mishaps so you don't miss a flight.

01:54:48.695 --> 01:54:51.655
DANA: And we did have a few other people to pick up at Coronado Springs.

01:54:52.035 --> 01:54:56.375
DANA: So after she picked me up, we went there, picked them up, and then we did get to the airport.

01:54:57.315 --> 01:54:58.875
VIRGINIA: Was anything open there?

01:55:00.275 --> 01:55:01.215
DANA: No, no.

01:55:01.235 --> 01:55:04.595
VIRGINIA: So you're there super early and you're just sitting in an airport with everything closed.

01:55:04.915 --> 01:55:06.715
DANA: Yeah, with a bunch of people sleeping around me.

01:55:07.855 --> 01:55:13.315
DANA: And like security didn't open until 4, and then the pre-check line didn't open.

01:55:13.335 --> 01:55:14.895
DANA: They said 415, it was going to open.

01:55:15.415 --> 01:55:22.675
DANA: So I just waited for the pre-check line because I wasn't really packed correctly for the regular line with like liquids and stuff.

01:55:23.055 --> 01:55:30.275
DANA: So yeah, so got through there, and then the Starbucks there opens at 430, in case anyone wants to know.

01:55:31.015 --> 01:55:34.955
DANA: So I got in the Starbucks line, got that, and then just waited at my gate.

01:55:35.575 --> 01:55:38.195
DANA: And then I think we boarded like 525, 530.

01:55:39.295 --> 01:55:42.835
DANA: That was not fun, you know, going home so early.

01:55:42.915 --> 01:55:43.895
DANA: I didn't even go to bed.

01:55:43.915 --> 01:55:47.575
DANA: I just stayed up because I was so scared that I wouldn't sleep through my alarm.

01:55:48.075 --> 01:55:55.275
DANA: So I just watched TV, and packed everything and took a shower, and then I'm like, I'm not even going to bed.

01:55:55.295 --> 01:55:57.015
VIRGINIA: Were you able to sleep on the plane at least?

01:55:57.435 --> 01:55:58.435
DANA: For like 10 minutes.

01:55:58.695 --> 01:56:01.775
DANA: I can't really sleep on there sitting up.

01:56:01.795 --> 01:56:03.835
DANA: I closed my eyes for like 10 minutes, but that was it.

01:56:04.475 --> 01:56:08.095
DANA: So yeah, and then it ended, and then it's back to reality.

01:56:08.735 --> 01:56:16.255
VIRGINIA: But you have your June trip coming up, so that's the cure for the Disney Blues, is to have the next one in the planning phase.

01:56:16.635 --> 01:56:16.915
DANA: Right.

01:56:18.955 --> 01:56:27.315
DANA: One of the reasons I became a Disney travel planner was because I can't go all the time, but somebody's always going, so I can help them.

01:56:27.575 --> 01:56:30.035
DANA: It's like you're still in the magic a little bit.

01:56:30.055 --> 01:56:36.035
DANA: You're still checking the app on a random day at home because you need to, because your client's there.

01:56:36.035 --> 01:56:37.795
DANA: You're still doing it.

01:56:37.815 --> 01:56:39.355
DANA: It's just you're not there.

01:56:39.375 --> 01:56:39.635
VIRGINIA: Right.

01:56:39.935 --> 01:56:40.295
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

01:56:41.035 --> 01:56:46.215
DANA: But it keeps it going in your life a little bit until the next time that you can go there.

01:56:46.935 --> 01:56:57.375
VIRGINIA: Well, I will definitely get your information and put it in the show notes so that if anybody is looking for a travel planner, they can tap into your expertise.

01:56:57.995 --> 01:57:17.595
VIRGINIA: They can obviously hear through all of our conversation that you know what you're talking about, and it would probably be really helpful for somebody to have an expert on their side, and especially somebody like you who has that Genie Plus experience and is willing to help with that sort of thing, because not everybody is.

01:57:17.895 --> 01:57:19.675
VIRGINIA: Oh, yeah.

01:57:19.795 --> 01:57:23.735
VIRGINIA: Anyway, well, anything else you want to share before we say goodbye?

01:57:24.475 --> 01:57:26.235
DANA: I hope everyone loves when they go there.

01:57:26.355 --> 01:57:31.955
DANA: You know, one of the things I hear people every now and then say, like, oh, I'm never going back to Disney World.

01:57:31.975 --> 01:57:33.895
DANA: It was so busy or we waited in line.

01:57:33.915 --> 01:57:35.675
DANA: We didn't get hardly on any rides.

01:57:35.695 --> 01:57:36.955
DANA: And I'm like, well, then you did it wrong.

01:57:36.975 --> 01:57:38.635
DANA: I just want to tell them you did it wrong.

01:57:38.655 --> 01:57:40.035
DANA: If you didn't like it, you did it wrong.

01:57:40.055 --> 01:57:40.895
DANA: You did something wrong.

01:57:41.315 --> 01:57:45.035
DANA: You know, you should have used a travel planner, or if you didn't want to, you should have researched it.

01:57:45.795 --> 01:57:52.315
DANA: There's so many ways to make it magical that if you didn't like it, you did something wrong.

01:57:53.955 --> 01:57:55.515
DANA: That's always how I feel.

01:57:56.415 --> 01:57:59.175
VIRGINIA: Well, it has been so nice chatting with you.

01:57:59.195 --> 01:58:03.095
VIRGINIA: Thank you so much for taking the time to be here and to tell us your story.

01:58:04.455 --> 01:58:05.735
VIRGINIA: And I'll get all your information.

01:58:06.015 --> 01:58:07.735
VIRGINIA: And thanks again.

01:58:07.755 --> 01:58:08.395
VIRGINIA: Have a great night.

01:58:08.555 --> 01:58:09.255
DANA: Thank you.

01:58:09.275 --> 01:58:09.715
DANA: Bye-bye.

01:58:12.155 --> 01:58:15.115
VIRGINIA: Once again, thank you to Dana for joining me on the podcast.

01:58:15.495 --> 01:58:27.975
VIRGINIA: If you are in the market for a Disney travel planner, you can find Dana on Instagram at Dana underscore plans underscore Disney or by email at Dana at unlock themagicllc.com.

01:58:28.415 --> 01:58:30.815
VIRGINIA: You'll find that information in the show notes.

01:58:31.415 --> 01:58:34.375
VIRGINIA: She would love to help you plan your next Disney vacation.

01:58:34.535 --> 01:58:37.355
VIRGINIA: And if you email her, she'll get you a free vacation quote.

01:58:37.735 --> 01:58:42.375
VIRGINIA: Thank you all for listening, subscribing, sharing with friends, following on social media.

01:58:42.955 --> 01:58:47.115
VIRGINIA: And with that, until next time, keep daydreaming about where you long to be.