Post-Trip Report: Ashlee’s Dapper Disneyland Trip (April 2024)

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VIRGINIA: Welcome back to Where I Long to Be, a magical trip report podcast.

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VIRGINIA: My name is Virginia, and I am happy to be your host.

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VIRGINIA: For anyone who didn't get a chance to listen to Ashlee's pre-trip report, Ashlee was traveling to Disneyland with her husband Nathan to see some other Disney loving friends, visit Universal Studios Hollywood Resort, and most of all, participate in Dapper Days.

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VIRGINIA: That should get you all caught up.

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VIRGINIA: And now, here's Ashlee.

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VIRGINIA: Welcome back, Ashlee.

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ASHLEE: Hi, thanks for having me again.

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VIRGINIA: I am so excited to hear about this trip.

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VIRGINIA: I hope that you have rested and recovered from all your travel and that everything went well with the trip.

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VIRGINIA: Can't wait to hear all the details.

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ASHLEE: Absolutely.

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ASHLEE: I tell you, even though it was a quick weekend trip, I feel like anytime I go to Disney, it's like I need at least several days to catch up on sleep because nothing is tired like Disney tired.

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VIRGINIA: I try whenever I can to build in a vacation day that is there for me to just rest.

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VIRGINIA: In theory, I'm always like, this is the day I'll do laundry and unpack.

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VIRGINIA: Does that happen on that day?

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VIRGINIA: No.

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VIRGINIA: Generally, I'm not good for anything, but best of intentions.

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VIRGINIA: All right, let's get into all of the details.

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VIRGINIA: You were headed out to Disneyland with your husband Nathan, who is a ride junkie, you said, and two friends, Frank and Marty.

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VIRGINIA: Okay, well, let's start at the very beginning.

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VIRGINIA: The flight from Minnesota to LAX on Thursday, April 4th, how did all that go?

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VIRGINIA: Any delays?

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VIRGINIA: I know you were already delayed from the very beginning, right?

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VIRGINIA: Remember you had to change your flight time?

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ASHLEE: Yeah, luckily, Sun Country was really good.

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ASHLEE: We had no delays, no hiccups.

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ASHLEE: We got on, got off.

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ASHLEE: LA traffic actually wasn't too bad.

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ASHLEE: It was kind of what I expected.

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ASHLEE: Normally, it's around, I think, a 45-minute drive to Orange County if you don't count the traffic, but from experience, usually it's like an hour and a half if you're hitting peak traffic time, which is kind of what it was looking at when we got there.

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ASHLEE: But usually when you hop in an Uber, you're kind of tired anyway, and you just want to get to the hotel, so a little nap kind of fixed everything and made it go by.

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VIRGINIA: Were you all landing at the same time?

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VIRGINIA: I can't even remember if all four of you were on the same flight or not.

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ASHLEE: Oh, no.

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ASHLEE: So they actually flew in Saturday.

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ASHLEE: Yeah, Saturday, so a couple days later, just because they had to work through the end of the week.

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ASHLEE: So they literally joined us after they landed in LA and then checked into the hotel.

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ASHLEE: So we wanted to get there a little early just to, like I said, kind of check out Universal and kind of settle in before we went to Disney.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Well, before any part time, you told me that you were going to be having dinner that first night at the Palm Breeze Bar at the Disneyland Hotel, which I had never even heard of.

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VIRGINIA: So I'm really curious.

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VIRGINIA: How was that?

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VIRGINIA: Was the food good and how was the atmosphere at the Disneyland Hotel?

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ASHLEE: So one thing about, I mean, you've been to California, so you know the weather can change on a dime.

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ASHLEE: I always joke to my husband that I don't rely on that weather forecast at Disneyland until the day of, because it literally changes at the drop of a hat.

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ASHLEE: So that's kind of what happened when we got there.

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ASHLEE: We knew it was going to be a little cooler, but we didn't expect the rain and the wind to be as strong as it was that day.

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ASHLEE: So once we finally got into our hotel, we got checked in.

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ASHLEE: We were going to go over to the Disneyland Hotel and eat dinner.

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ASHLEE: As we were walking over there, we're like, it is really cold.

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ASHLEE: And this is an outdoor seating place.

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ASHLEE: So we're just like, I hope they have maybe some room inside.

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ASHLEE: And unfortunately, when we got there, they said, yeah, this is kind of outdoor seating only, but we do have this bar inside, which basically has the same menu, except for maybe a couple of things.

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ASHLEE: So they're like, if you don't mind waiting maybe like 10, 15 minutes, we can try to get you a seat at the bar.

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ASHLEE: So we're like, yes, because we were not about to eat our dinner outside in that rain and cold.

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ASHLEE: So we ended up waiting just an extra 10, 15 minutes.

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ASHLEE: And yeah, actually went into the bar and it was really good food there.

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ASHLEE: We just kind of got, it was kind of your standard bar food.

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ASHLEE: It was like pizza, wings.

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ASHLEE: I got a salad just because I wanted to be a little bit more on the healthy side since the park food to come was definitely going to be park food.

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ASHLEE: So yeah, it was actually really good.

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ASHLEE: And they had some pretty good entertainment there.

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ASHLEE: They had a live band.

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ASHLEE: So yeah, I was very impressed with what they had to offer.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: And you walked over there from your hotel?

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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ASHLEE: And then we Ubered back.

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VIRGINIA: How long a walk?

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ASHLEE: It was like literally maybe three quarters of a mile.

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ASHLEE: So it wasn't too bad.

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ASHLEE: But on the way back, we're just like, yeah, we'll pay the extra, you know, $8, even though it was like less than a mile down the road for an Uber because at that point we were just kind of tired and cold.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: Sometimes it is totally worth it.

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VIRGINIA: And, you know, $8.

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VIRGINIA: What is that?

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VIRGINIA: Like the price of a venti latte?

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ASHLEE: Yeah, for sure.

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VIRGINIA: Why not?

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Well, let's talk a little bit about where you stayed because you were going to be at the Alpine Inn.

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VIRGINIA: How was that?

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VIRGINIA: I think you had stayed there before.

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ASHLEE: I stayed there in February when I did my solo trip for Lunar New Year.

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ASHLEE: And we ended up getting not the same room, but just a couple doors down from when I stayed in February.

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ASHLEE: So it was pretty much the same setup.

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ASHLEE: Like I said in the previous episode, we're pretty basic when it comes to accommodations.

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ASHLEE: We just pretty much need like a place to sleep at night and just like a clean shower, clean bathroom.

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ASHLEE: And we're good.

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ASHLEE: We don't really need amenities because we're spending all of our time in the parks.

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VIRGINIA: So I did take a look because I was curious what it would look like because you had said that you were not somebody who needed amenities and that all it needed to be was clean.

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VIRGINIA: And I was like, I wonder what does this look like?

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VIRGINIA: And it looked more than clean.

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VIRGINIA: It looked very nice.

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VIRGINIA: So I would say that if it's a place that you've been to twice and have enjoyed, then listeners might want to check it out.

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VIRGINIA: And I will have the link in the show notes for anybody who's interested in an off property option, which we talked about in the previous episode, the off property options in Disneyland are plentiful.

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ASHLEE: Absolutely.

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ASHLEE: And especially if you can get away with it, being within walking distance of the park, you're saving a bunch of money, not having to pay for parking.

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ASHLEE: So that's always a plus.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Let's get into your park time.

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VIRGINIA: So Friday, April the 5th, you were actually doing a day over at Universal.

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VIRGINIA: So what time were you up and out of the room?

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VIRGINIA: And how long did it take you to get over there?

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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ASHLEE: So I was up at 5.30 just because I'm not a person where I want to be rushed in the morning.

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ASHLEE: I want to actually get ready.

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ASHLEE: I do my skincare routine and then I also at least like to eat breakfast.

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ASHLEE: I don't need to like sit down and eat, but I don't want to have to shovel it in my mouth and be rushed.

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ASHLEE: But yeah, I woke up at 5.30 because Universal, I believe the early entry was at 8 o'clock for the Super Nintendo World.

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ASHLEE: So I was like, okay, factoring in how long it's going to take us to get back to LA area and factoring in any traffic to we're going to want to get up really early so we can make this.

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ASHLEE: So I was up at 5.30 and kind of did my routine, ate breakfast.

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ASHLEE: We were ready to go around, I want to say, like 6.30 or so.

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ASHLEE: Called an Uber.

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ASHLEE: In retrospect, I think we would have probably stayed at a hotel in LA, seeing as how we flew into LAX instead of a bunch of back and forth and paying for Ubers.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, I was going to ask that during the free trip.

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VIRGINIA: It did occur to me, but then I thought she's literally about to leave on this trip and it's already all planned, so I'm not going to woulda, coulda, shoulda it.

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VIRGINIA: But yeah, I was curious about whether that would have been a good option for you.

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VIRGINIA: Does Universal have any hotels at their Universal Hollywood location, or is it only off property options?

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ASHLEE: That's a good question.

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ASHLEE: Seeing as how this is our first time that we were at Universal Hollywood, I'm not sure.

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ASHLEE: I didn't really look too much into accommodations since I had already booked the Alpine Inn before we had gotten our Universal tickets.

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ASHLEE: So yeah, I guess I'd be curious to see that.

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ASHLEE: I'd have to look that up.

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ASHLEE: But yeah, the thought crossed my mind after my husband said, oh, why didn't we just get a hotel in LA next to the airport or near it?

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ASHLEE: Instead of this back and forth, I was like, well, now that you put it that way.

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ASHLEE: Yeah, next time.

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VIRGINIA: Next time.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, I'm looking at the website and I don't see anything just right off the bat.

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VIRGINIA: I'm just taking two seconds to look and I don't see anything that indicates that they have.

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VIRGINIA: On-site options.

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VIRGINIA: So anyway, for anybody who was curious because I didn't want to forget to look.

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VIRGINIA: Right.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: So how long did that take you to get over there?

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ASHLEE: That actually, it wasn't too bad.

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ASHLEE: I want to say it was probably like an hour.

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ASHLEE: Again, I kind of took a little cat nap in the car.

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ASHLEE: So by the time I opened my eyes, it seemed like it was not too long at all.

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ASHLEE: That morning, it was a little cooler than expected.

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ASHLEE: It was better than the previous night because the rain had kind of done its thing overnight.

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ASHLEE: And it was just, if anything was damp when we left and arrived at Universal that morning, but it was still a little cold.

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ASHLEE: So I'm glad I brought, I ended up actually bringing three layers with me because I was just like, OK, I know it's only like 60 some degrees, but 60 degrees in Cali feels very different than Minnesota.

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ASHLEE: So I'm going to bring these just in case.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, good thinking.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Well, first impressions when you walked up to the park gates, because I know that you've done the Universal parks in Orlando.

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VIRGINIA: So what did you think in comparison?

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ASHLEE: Yeah, it's definitely, I would say similar in the sense that you still get welcomed by that Universal globe, you know, the fountain that turns and everything, the Universal logo.

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ASHLEE: So a lot of that is the same style as well as the, you got the city walk there, even though it's not quite as big as the one in Orlando.

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ASHLEE: There are a lot of elements that are still the same.

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ASHLEE: And I do remember you saying the one very big differences that Universal Hollywood does have that multi-tier kind of look to it.

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ASHLEE: Where you're basically going up and down four escalators just to get to like in between lands.

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ASHLEE: So I would say that was the most striking difference because it's very hilly over there compared to Orlando.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Well, what was your first order of business as soon as you got there?

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ASHLEE: Yeah, first order of business was definitely Super Nintendo World because we did get the early access tickets, which allowed us to get into the land earlier than regular park goers.

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ASHLEE: So that enabled us to do the Bowser's Challenge ride, which filled up very quickly.

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ASHLEE: Even though that was our first thing that we did, by the time we got there, the person who was in charge of basically announcing the time for the ride queue was saying that, oh, it's from this point, it's like 45 minute wait.

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ASHLEE: And we're like, oh, my gosh.

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ASHLEE: Luckily, it didn't take us that long.

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ASHLEE: But like you can tell it fills up very fast because that's kind of like the ride that people go early for.

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VIRGINIA: Now, I did see a photo from the ride, but I have not watched any videos or anything.

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VIRGINIA: So how would you describe it?

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VIRGINIA: Anything you can compare it to?

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ASHLEE: You know, I was expecting it to be a lot like the video game.

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ASHLEE: If you've ever played Mario Kart or you're basically having a race and everything, which it was, but we were a little confused.

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ASHLEE: I don't know if we maybe should have just read up on it a little before we wrote it, but it seemed like you were working collectively together to kind of defeat Bowser at the same time trying to race to the finish.

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ASHLEE: So it was still cool because you got to shoot things and like collect coins and everything.

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ASHLEE: And like the graphics were really cool.

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ASHLEE: But yeah, I was a little lost at times.

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VIRGINIA: Is the speed of the ride similar to, I don't know, Tomorrowland Speedway or Test Track?

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VIRGINIA: Like how fast does this ride go?

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VIRGINIA: Is it a thrilling ride?

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ASHLEE: I mean, it's a VR ride, so you're not physically moving.

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ASHLEE: It's not like a coaster if that's what you're asking.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, I thought you would be moving at the same time.

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ASHLEE: Yeah, I would say the best thing I can compare it to is like Toy Story Mania or Web Slingers where you have to put on 3D glasses and you're still moving, but it's not like you're on Tron or like any of those coasters because the movement comes from the screens where you feel like you're actually in a race and everything.

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ASHLEE: Which still feels pretty cool, especially, I don't know if people want a mild spoiler, but I don't know how much of a spoiler this is actually because it's to be expected at a Mario game, right?

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ASHLEE: But the part where you're going through Rainbow Road was probably the most thrilling just because it's one of the faster scenes when you're playing Mario Kart.

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VIRGINIA: Very cool.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Well, I look forward to trying that at some point.

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VIRGINIA: You had mentioned that you were going to try to get a reservation at the Toadstool Cafe.

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VIRGINIA: Did that work out for you?

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ASHLEE: Yeah.

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ASHLEE: So you walk in.

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ASHLEE: That's another thing that people tell you to do first thing when you go there.

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ASHLEE: So Bowser's Challenge.

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ASHLEE: And then as soon as you get there, there's this QR code in front of Toadstool Cafe where you basically click that and you select your party size and a return time to go eat lunch or dinner, whatever you want to do there.

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ASHLEE: So we chose kind of a more off-peak time, like 1030, just because we were told that just because you have a return time, that's not when you're going to eat necessarily.

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ASHLEE: It's basically when you're allowed to go in line.

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ASHLEE: So it's like a virtual queue system essentially.

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ASHLEE: So the queue could be long by the time you get there.

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ASHLEE: So that's why we chose kind of an earlier lunch.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: That's a good tip.

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VIRGINIA: So when you got in line, how long did you have to wait?

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ASHLEE: I would say it was maybe 15, 20 minutes.

00:15:20.268 --> 00:15:27.988
ASHLEE: It wasn't too bad compared to when I saw the line later in the day and it was definitely a lot longer as it crept towards noon.

00:15:28.648 --> 00:15:29.888
ASHLEE: And one o'clock.

00:15:30.228 --> 00:15:33.268
VIRGINIA: Did you eat anything that was worth mentioning?

00:15:33.348 --> 00:15:40.268
VIRGINIA: Like, is it worth going there for the food or is it purely just the atmosphere type thing?

00:15:40.628 --> 00:15:43.168
ASHLEE: Both my husband and I agree it's definitely the atmosphere.

00:15:43.188 --> 00:15:54.708
ASHLEE: It is super cool when you go inside there because the windows, quote unquote, are basically like if you've ever been to Space 220 at Epcot, you're not really in space, but they have windows.

00:15:54.728 --> 00:15:56.548
VIRGINIA: Wait a second, Ashlee, you're not?

00:16:01.168 --> 00:16:01.688
ASHLEE: I'm sorry.

00:16:01.708 --> 00:16:02.308
ASHLEE: I'm so sorry.

00:16:02.328 --> 00:16:03.928
ASHLEE: I should have put a warning.

00:16:03.948 --> 00:16:07.028
VIRGINIA: I know I'm going to have to put a warning on the podcast description now.

00:16:10.208 --> 00:16:15.888
ASHLEE: But basically, it's kind of like Space 220 where if you look out the window, you're looking into Mushroom Kingdom.

00:16:16.548 --> 00:16:22.928
ASHLEE: There's a bunch of little toads walking around and you can see little villages and the toads doing kind of everyday activities.

00:16:23.148 --> 00:16:26.448
ASHLEE: And then occasionally, stuff will appear.

00:16:26.948 --> 00:16:27.948
ASHLEE: Not always good stuff.

00:16:27.968 --> 00:16:33.148
ASHLEE: I'm not going to spoil that, but yeah, just like stuff will occur outside that you can look at.

00:16:33.208 --> 00:16:38.228
ASHLEE: And the decor in there is very, very Mario-ish as well with the power ups and everything.

00:16:38.248 --> 00:16:40.908
ASHLEE: So I would say it's definitely about the experience.

00:16:40.928 --> 00:16:43.208
ASHLEE: The food was, it was middle of the road.

00:16:43.228 --> 00:16:47.948
ASHLEE: It was what you would expect from theme park food, Universal.

00:16:48.108 --> 00:16:49.888
ASHLEE: We both got burgers, which were fine.

00:16:50.408 --> 00:16:53.988
ASHLEE: It probably tasted a little better to me just because at that point we were really hungry.

00:16:56.308 --> 00:17:00.548
VIRGINIA: Well, if you had been up since 530, I imagine even with an early lunch, you were ready.

00:17:00.568 --> 00:17:06.968
VIRGINIA: I didn't ask, but did you do anything between Bowser's Challenge and eating the lunch?

00:17:06.988 --> 00:17:09.308
VIRGINIA: Because it seems like maybe you had a little bit of time in there.

00:17:09.908 --> 00:17:10.868
ASHLEE: Yeah, for sure.

00:17:10.888 --> 00:17:15.388
ASHLEE: So I didn't know this until actually a day or two before we left.

00:17:15.408 --> 00:17:18.548
ASHLEE: I was like, oh, what else is there to do in Super Mario World?

00:17:18.988 --> 00:17:24.128
ASHLEE: And it turns out that at least this one, I don't know about the one overseas.

00:17:24.628 --> 00:17:29.188
ASHLEE: I know there's definitely going to be more to do in the Orlando one once Epic Universe is completed.

00:17:29.208 --> 00:17:41.288
ASHLEE: But basically it's Toastill Cafe, Bowser's Challenge, and then there are a bunch of mini games that you can do with the wristbands that they encourage you to purchase for $40.

00:17:41.308 --> 00:17:42.328
ASHLEE: It's like a magic band.

00:17:42.688 --> 00:17:45.828
ASHLEE: So it interacts with a bunch of things in the land.

00:17:45.848 --> 00:17:52.428
ASHLEE: So you can like use it to get coins from the little blocks and then you use them to play the little mini games.

00:17:52.428 --> 00:18:07.008
ASHLEE: So you can complete the dungeon challenge at the end, which involves Bowser Jr., which we got to play because you have to like get, I think, three keys or something from the little mini games in order to complete the final challenge.

00:18:07.188 --> 00:18:08.628
ASHLEE: So that was cool to do.

00:18:10.128 --> 00:18:18.928
VIRGINIA: I'm going to pause here and say that $40 for a wristband that only works in one land.

00:18:18.948 --> 00:18:22.808
VIRGINIA: I know that doesn't do things like open your room.

00:18:22.828 --> 00:18:36.268
VIRGINIA: And like I have a hard enough time wrapping my head around some of the magic band pluses and the price of those, especially if it's a unique design that that's a lot of money for what you're describing.

00:18:36.288 --> 00:18:43.968
ASHLEE: Yeah, they did say to it interacts if you have oh, gosh, I think they said on the back of the box.

00:18:43.988 --> 00:18:46.028
ASHLEE: It said something about like Nintendo Switch.

00:18:46.048 --> 00:18:54.068
ASHLEE: If you have a switch at home or something like that, it somehow you can interact with that or use it with that in some way, shape or form.

00:18:54.088 --> 00:18:58.548
ASHLEE: We don't have one, but I was like, OK, well, add it to your shopping list.

00:19:00.988 --> 00:19:02.908
VIRGINIA: So will it work in Orlando?

00:19:03.068 --> 00:19:05.168
ASHLEE: Yes, they did say it will work in other cities.

00:19:05.228 --> 00:19:06.628
ASHLEE: It will work in other Super Nintendo worlds.

00:19:06.908 --> 00:19:15.908
ASHLEE: So if we happen to go to the one overseas, which I mean, eventually we'll get over there to go to the other Disney parks, but not at this moment.

00:19:16.988 --> 00:19:22.808
ASHLEE: But yeah, we only got one band because we did hear from people that you don't need to.

00:19:22.828 --> 00:19:28.828
ASHLEE: You just need one amongst your party unless someone really, really just wants to like have their own band.

00:19:29.048 --> 00:19:36.468
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I can imagine if you had children who were really into Mario, maybe you might get it.

00:19:36.568 --> 00:19:45.028
VIRGINIA: When you said you needed to buy it and it was forty dollars in my head, I was like, I bet they just got one because that's yeah, that's a lot even for even for one.

00:19:45.348 --> 00:19:46.128
VIRGINIA: Was it cute?

00:19:46.468 --> 00:19:56.508
ASHLEE: Yeah, I mean, the lines since there's only oh gosh, I think there were four mini games since there were only a certain number of games.

00:19:56.608 --> 00:20:00.608
ASHLEE: And then, of course, there's a bunch of people who want to experience the land itself.

00:20:00.948 --> 00:20:08.908
ASHLEE: You end up waiting in a long queue if you don't do something like early access or if you don't kind of know what you're doing and plan out your day.

00:20:09.388 --> 00:20:11.128
ASHLEE: So luckily, we didn't wait too long.

00:20:11.148 --> 00:20:15.728
ASHLEE: I think the longest we waited for one of the games was like 15, 20 minutes.

00:20:15.728 --> 00:20:18.408
ASHLEE: But I mean, it was kind of a chill day.

00:20:18.428 --> 00:20:21.088
ASHLEE: We weren't trying to rush to get to other places.

00:20:21.688 --> 00:20:22.088
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:20:22.108 --> 00:20:23.388
VIRGINIA: So after that was lunch.

00:20:23.408 --> 00:20:25.368
VIRGINIA: And then where did you head after lunch?

00:20:25.808 --> 00:20:31.528
ASHLEE: So after that, we tried to go on some of the rides that were in that land.

00:20:32.068 --> 00:20:35.648
ASHLEE: I think Mummy, if I remember correctly, is over there.

00:20:37.308 --> 00:20:38.828
ASHLEE: Transformers and Fast and Furious.

00:20:38.848 --> 00:20:42.708
ASHLEE: My husband's not a huge VR ride person.

00:20:43.008 --> 00:20:49.128
ASHLEE: I think I mentioned that in the last episode, just because after a while it kind of starts to mess with your head and throws off your equilibrium.

00:20:49.128 --> 00:20:53.148
ASHLEE: So we were okay not doing the VR rides and I was totally cool with that.

00:20:53.148 --> 00:21:00.908
ASHLEE: So we tried to go on Mummy, but at this point, we're nearing kind of midday when a bunch of people are already in the park.

00:21:01.088 --> 00:21:07.008
ASHLEE: So we looked at the wait times, we're like, oh my gosh, it was like dang near an hour to wait.

00:21:07.048 --> 00:21:11.548
ASHLEE: And we didn't get any of the fast passes or anything for any of the other attractions.

00:21:11.568 --> 00:21:18.528
ASHLEE: And we're like, okay, we've been on the Mummy in Orlando before, so we like weren't dying to go on this.

00:21:18.668 --> 00:21:20.408
ASHLEE: And it wasn't going to make or break the day.

00:21:20.428 --> 00:21:23.328
ASHLEE: So like, okay, let's try to find something else to do.

00:21:23.328 --> 00:21:29.528
VIRGINIA: So yeah, focusing on the things that you can't do in Orlando seems like the best plan of action for sure.

00:21:30.148 --> 00:21:32.988
ASHLEE: So we ended up going on the Secret Life of Pets ride.

00:21:33.088 --> 00:21:34.748
ASHLEE: So that was really cool.

00:21:35.228 --> 00:21:37.588
ASHLEE: Yeah, that's something that's not in the Orlando Park.

00:21:37.668 --> 00:21:39.068
VIRGINIA: Yeah, that's a cute movie, too.

00:21:39.088 --> 00:21:41.828
VIRGINIA: I haven't seen it in a while, but I remember enjoying it.

00:21:42.528 --> 00:21:43.808
VIRGINIA: What kind of ride is that?

00:21:44.168 --> 00:21:49.108
VIRGINIA: Is it an interactive ride or is it just more of a dark ride?

00:21:49.288 --> 00:21:50.888
ASHLEE: Yeah, it's exactly a dark ride.

00:21:50.908 --> 00:21:59.288
ASHLEE: So you just get in a slow moving vehicle and the premise is your pets and you're trying to get adopted by the humans of the Secret Life of Pets world.

00:21:59.308 --> 00:22:06.168
ASHLEE: So at the end, you end up getting chosen by a family and they have like a big party and it's really cute.

00:22:06.508 --> 00:22:07.608
VIRGINIA: That's very cute.

00:22:08.908 --> 00:22:09.508
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:22:10.288 --> 00:22:12.208
VIRGINIA: And what happened after that?

00:22:13.188 --> 00:22:21.688
ASHLEE: We were also told by a couple of friends that the studios tour was something that is really unique as well as something you should check out too.

00:22:22.208 --> 00:22:35.488
ASHLEE: I was very impressed with it just because I was like, oh my gosh, like we're actually going to see sets from movies and TV shows that were filmed in the past such as like Psycho.

00:22:36.968 --> 00:22:44.408
ASHLEE: They had movie sets from, I don't know if you're a fan of Jordan Peele, but his set from Nope, we got to see.

00:22:45.208 --> 00:22:52.088
ASHLEE: And then a bunch of Netflix and like other streaming service television shows that I couldn't tell you the names of.

00:22:52.988 --> 00:22:57.408
VIRGINIA: Now, I'm trying to remember because I've taken, I think I've taken that tour.

00:22:57.468 --> 00:22:59.588
VIRGINIA: I don't think I went on anything separate.

00:22:59.668 --> 00:23:05.168
VIRGINIA: I think it was at Universal, but I recall it being a tram, first of all.

00:23:05.188 --> 00:23:06.148
VIRGINIA: So is that correct?

00:23:07.488 --> 00:23:16.348
VIRGINIA: And I recall riding past the fake town where the Gilmore Girls center of town is.

00:23:16.408 --> 00:23:18.868
VIRGINIA: And also they filmed some WandaVision there.

00:23:18.888 --> 00:23:20.468
VIRGINIA: It's like your la la land.

00:23:20.488 --> 00:23:22.528
VIRGINIA: Like you constantly see the same fake town.

00:23:23.628 --> 00:23:25.048
VIRGINIA: So is that on this tour?

00:23:25.528 --> 00:23:26.528
ASHLEE: Yes.

00:23:26.548 --> 00:23:28.548
ASHLEE: I think there were actually two versions of that.

00:23:28.568 --> 00:23:38.448
ASHLEE: There was one where it was like just kind of typical suburbia, middle of nowhere USA, that they use for a lot of TV shows.

00:23:38.468 --> 00:23:40.528
VIRGINIA: That was the Desperate Housewives one, right?

00:23:40.708 --> 00:23:41.168
ASHLEE: Yes.

00:23:41.368 --> 00:23:41.788
ASHLEE: Yes.

00:23:42.968 --> 00:23:48.768
ASHLEE: They said we use this because if we filmed on an actual block, like you can't do stuff like, oh, drive a car through somebody's house.

00:23:51.368 --> 00:23:58.528
ASHLEE: And ironically, the streets need to be a little bit narrower so you can get it all in one shot when you're filming.

00:23:58.548 --> 00:24:04.128
ASHLEE: And typical like suburbia streets are very wide in comparison.

00:24:04.148 --> 00:24:08.848
ASHLEE: So they're like, that's why we also film on a closed status so we can have the streets a little bit narrower.

00:24:09.748 --> 00:24:10.748
ASHLEE: That was cool.

00:24:10.948 --> 00:24:11.208
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:24:11.228 --> 00:24:18.628
VIRGINIA: Every time I see the fake town from Gilmore Girls slash One Division slash La La Land, I'm always like, I'm driven past that.

00:24:18.988 --> 00:24:21.988
VIRGINIA: And I just could not remember if it was the Universal Tour or not.

00:24:23.968 --> 00:24:24.588
ASHLEE: It's still there.

00:24:24.728 --> 00:24:47.768
ASHLEE: And they did point out another one where it was basically your kind of typical European town square where they film stuff like, I'm not going to get this right, but think like live action Beauty and the Beast, kind of stuff like that where you can kind of repurpose that same town square for a lot of like European towns and still make it passable for being historically accurate.

00:24:48.168 --> 00:24:48.508
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:24:48.688 --> 00:24:48.968
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:24:49.368 --> 00:24:49.988
VIRGINIA: Very cool.

00:24:50.008 --> 00:24:50.628
VIRGINIA: Very cool.

00:24:50.888 --> 00:24:51.208
ASHLEE: Yeah.

00:24:51.908 --> 00:24:52.408
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:24:53.328 --> 00:24:55.248
VIRGINIA: What else did you get yourself into?

00:24:55.248 --> 00:24:58.528
VIRGINIA: Did you take advantage of any of the shows that they had there?

00:24:58.668 --> 00:24:59.048
ASHLEE: Yeah.

00:24:59.068 --> 00:25:02.368
ASHLEE: So we went and saw, oh my gosh, the name's escaping.

00:25:02.388 --> 00:25:03.908
ASHLEE: Is it Waterworld?

00:25:04.448 --> 00:25:04.808
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:25:05.368 --> 00:25:05.768
ASHLEE: Yeah.

00:25:05.868 --> 00:25:06.328
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:25:06.648 --> 00:25:10.448
VIRGINIA: Which I don't like that movie at all, but the show is quite entertaining.

00:25:10.628 --> 00:25:13.488
ASHLEE: I had actually never seen or heard of that show before.

00:25:13.508 --> 00:25:14.668
ASHLEE: And Nate's like, what?

00:25:14.688 --> 00:25:16.308
ASHLEE: You never watched that with Kevin Costner?

00:25:16.328 --> 00:25:17.248
ASHLEE: I was like, no, I haven't.

00:25:17.728 --> 00:25:20.768
ASHLEE: I was like, well, you're going to get the abridged version today.

00:25:20.788 --> 00:25:23.548
ASHLEE: So yeah, I thought it was very entertaining.

00:25:23.568 --> 00:25:32.228
ASHLEE: The stunts people were very talented and stuff where I was just like, oh my gosh, I would probably die if I attempted any of those.

00:25:34.948 --> 00:25:35.288
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:25:35.288 --> 00:25:36.288
VIRGINIA: It's very cool.

00:25:36.308 --> 00:25:52.948
VIRGINIA: And I just remember thinking like this, this is such a cool show in comparison to the movie, which, I mean, I guess the movie had a lot of stunts and things like that, but the plot, I just, I can't get over a world of water where there's no land.

00:25:55.088 --> 00:25:56.608
VIRGINIA: It was not good, not good.

00:25:57.968 --> 00:26:01.248
VIRGINIA: You know, no judgment for anybody out there who likes Waterworld.

00:26:02.508 --> 00:26:04.368
ASHLEE: I'll have to Netflix that or something.

00:26:04.388 --> 00:26:09.968
ASHLEE: Because yeah, when Nate told me the premise, I was like, oh, it kind of sounds like Mad Max, but.

00:26:10.148 --> 00:26:12.568
VIRGINIA: Yes, it has that feeling to it.

00:26:13.008 --> 00:26:15.648
VIRGINIA: There's something about it because like everyone's dirty.

00:26:16.168 --> 00:26:19.508
VIRGINIA: There's lots of weapons and fire and stunts.

00:26:19.848 --> 00:26:21.708
VIRGINIA: And yeah, very Mad Max.

00:26:24.488 --> 00:26:24.868
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:26:25.748 --> 00:26:27.288
VIRGINIA: What else did you do this day?

00:26:27.648 --> 00:26:29.968
ASHLEE: So I'm trying to think.

00:26:30.008 --> 00:26:30.348
ASHLEE: Yeah.

00:26:30.368 --> 00:26:40.508
ASHLEE: So we walked around and I think I mentioned to in the previous episode, I was like, oh, I hope they have a lot of Roman characters, kind of like Disneyland has a lot of Roman characters versus Disney World.

00:26:42.128 --> 00:26:43.588
ASHLEE: Suspicions were confirmed.

00:26:43.608 --> 00:26:53.788
ASHLEE: They do have more Roman characters here, or at least the day that we were out and about that day, we saw Scooby and the gang, we saw Frankenstein and Dracula.

00:26:53.808 --> 00:26:54.648
ASHLEE: Who else was there?

00:26:54.668 --> 00:26:59.208
ASHLEE: Yeah, there are a lot of characters out that I wasn't expecting to be out.

00:26:59.228 --> 00:27:01.528
ASHLEE: And I was like, oh, well, this is really cool.

00:27:01.548 --> 00:27:05.468
ASHLEE: You just have the characters mingling kind of like they would at Disneyland.

00:27:05.508 --> 00:27:06.668
VIRGINIA: Yeah, that is very cool.

00:27:07.468 --> 00:27:12.088
VIRGINIA: I had forgotten that element of it, because it's been so long since I've been over there.

00:27:12.088 --> 00:27:17.308
VIRGINIA: But I like those classic, I like that they really incorporate those classic movie characters too.

00:27:17.468 --> 00:27:21.468
VIRGINIA: You know, the Frankenstein and the Dracula, all of those sorts of characters.

00:27:22.148 --> 00:27:28.628
ASHLEE: I kind of wonder, I don't know if they've kept these throughout the years, but you know, how generations change and cartoons change.

00:27:29.388 --> 00:27:35.288
ASHLEE: It made me kind of wonder how many kids that I saw there were like, oh, who is Scooby Doo?

00:27:35.308 --> 00:27:36.988
ASHLEE: Who is that person?

00:27:37.108 --> 00:27:38.388
ASHLEE: Like, you can see who they were.

00:27:38.408 --> 00:27:39.488
VIRGINIA: I don't know.

00:27:39.588 --> 00:27:44.708
VIRGINIA: Alex totally knows who Scooby Doo is because he used to be really into live action movies.

00:27:45.048 --> 00:27:45.828
VIRGINIA: Oh, that's great.

00:27:46.708 --> 00:27:51.308
VIRGINIA: Which, you know, they're entertaining, I guess, for a certain age group.

00:27:51.588 --> 00:27:56.528
VIRGINIA: I never really loved them, but he's watched multiple Scooby Doo movies.

00:27:56.828 --> 00:27:58.848
VIRGINIA: And so he would have been familiar with that.

00:27:58.868 --> 00:28:00.948
VIRGINIA: But I was trying to think, are there any characters?

00:28:00.948 --> 00:28:08.648
VIRGINIA: I know that in Orlando, I frequently question which kids know who Popeye is, right?

00:28:09.428 --> 00:28:10.928
VIRGINIA: Or Betty Boop.

00:28:11.088 --> 00:28:12.808
VIRGINIA: Those are not characters I think.

00:28:14.428 --> 00:28:15.608
VIRGINIA: Yeah, and Olive Oil.

00:28:16.088 --> 00:28:18.348
VIRGINIA: I don't think many people know who they are.

00:28:18.368 --> 00:28:24.708
VIRGINIA: But, you know, at my age, I grew up watching the old Robin Williams Popeye movie.

00:28:24.968 --> 00:28:27.048
ASHLEE: Oh my gosh, I totally forgot about that one.

00:28:28.068 --> 00:28:32.068
VIRGINIA: Yes, it's Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall.

00:28:32.808 --> 00:28:33.328
ASHLEE: Yes.

00:28:33.348 --> 00:28:35.008
VIRGINIA: And I can't remember who else is in it.

00:28:35.028 --> 00:28:37.608
VIRGINIA: But I remember it being good.

00:28:37.608 --> 00:28:57.448
VIRGINIA: And fun fact about that, and speaking of fake towns, the town that they built for that movie, I literally just within the past month or two, just randomly happened upon somebody's post that showed that the little town that they built to film that in was they just abandoned it.

00:28:57.468 --> 00:28:58.268
VIRGINIA: It's still sitting there.

00:28:58.288 --> 00:29:00.548
VIRGINIA: It's over somewhere in Europe, I think.

00:29:01.268 --> 00:29:04.488
VIRGINIA: And it's just sitting there, abandoned, the old Popeye town.

00:29:04.628 --> 00:29:05.228
ASHLEE: Geez.

00:29:06.368 --> 00:29:12.868
VIRGINIA: Anyway, if I can find an article about it, I will pop it into the show notes so everybody can see what I'm talking about because it's weird.

00:29:12.908 --> 00:29:19.248
VIRGINIA: It kind of fills a couple different buckets for me because I love fake towns and fake things like that.

00:29:19.268 --> 00:29:26.228
VIRGINIA: I mean, that's partly what I love about going to a theme park or eating at a restaurant that has theming to it.

00:29:26.368 --> 00:29:30.068
VIRGINIA: And I just think it's really cool that they make it look like something it's not.

00:29:30.508 --> 00:29:33.208
VIRGINIA: And then I also am fascinated by abandoned things.

00:29:33.568 --> 00:29:38.848
VIRGINIA: Like what happened that one day everybody just walked away and never returned again?

00:29:39.028 --> 00:29:40.128
ASHLEE: Yeah, so creepy.

00:29:40.788 --> 00:29:41.068
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:29:43.608 --> 00:29:44.128
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:29:44.888 --> 00:29:52.648
VIRGINIA: What else did you do on this day and what time did you end up leaving Universal to head back over to your own neck of the woods?

00:29:53.568 --> 00:29:57.308
ASHLEE: We hit up a couple of other attractions.

00:29:57.908 --> 00:30:03.488
ASHLEE: We did end up going to check out the King Kong ride.

00:30:03.508 --> 00:30:11.668
ASHLEE: We had gone on it in Universal Orlando before, but we're just like, oh, might as well, because it was one of the kind of lower wait times that day.

00:30:12.208 --> 00:30:23.248
ASHLEE: So we went on that one and didn't do a whole lot of other attractions, I want to say, just because, like I said, a lot of it is VR and we didn't want to overdo it too much on that.

00:30:23.548 --> 00:30:27.368
ASHLEE: We did check out the city walk just to see kind of what the offerings were there.

00:30:27.948 --> 00:30:35.828
ASHLEE: And one place that Nate really likes at Universal Orlando is the Voodoo Doughnuts, which fortunately they had here too.

00:30:36.328 --> 00:30:37.988
ASHLEE: So he's like, oh my gosh, we need to go in there.

00:30:38.008 --> 00:30:39.828
ASHLEE: So I ended up going in there.

00:30:39.848 --> 00:30:41.928
ASHLEE: He got a doughnut and he was happy.

00:30:41.948 --> 00:30:44.208
VIRGINIA: Does he have a favorite Voodoo Doughnut?

00:30:44.608 --> 00:30:47.948
ASHLEE: He kind of likes the classic Voodoo, which he didn't end up getting.

00:30:47.968 --> 00:30:54.448
ASHLEE: He got another one, which was like a kind of like a Boston cream, but like a little spin on it.

00:30:55.048 --> 00:30:56.428
ASHLEE: And I try to buy it.

00:30:56.448 --> 00:31:00.928
ASHLEE: I'm not a huge doughnut fan, but like if he gets one, I'll have just a bite and that's it.

00:31:01.508 --> 00:31:06.968
ASHLEE: And my teeth literally hurt after I took just one bite and he finished that thing.

00:31:06.988 --> 00:31:08.508
ASHLEE: And he's just like, that was really sweet.

00:31:08.528 --> 00:31:14.848
ASHLEE: And I was like, yeah, I could have told you that after I took one bite, because my teeth hurt like, oh, oh, oh.

00:31:15.708 --> 00:31:17.848
VIRGINIA: Oh my goodness.

00:31:17.868 --> 00:31:18.588
VIRGINIA: They are good though.

00:31:18.888 --> 00:31:20.088
VIRGINIA: I do love a good doughnut.

00:31:20.248 --> 00:31:20.508
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:31:20.528 --> 00:31:26.148
ASHLEE: He wasn't super impressed with that one, but he was like, all right, I guess I'll just stick with the classic from now on.

00:31:27.188 --> 00:31:38.428
ASHLEE: And we actually ended up leaving around maybe like five o'clock, just because by that time we were like, okay, we've done kind of all that we've came here to do and experienced it.

00:31:38.448 --> 00:31:39.548
ASHLEE: So we're ready to go.

00:31:40.268 --> 00:31:46.548
ASHLEE: And we didn't feel like eating like at Downtown Disney or anything, just because I don't know.

00:31:46.908 --> 00:31:50.228
ASHLEE: Some people might argue with me on this, but I just think the food there is okay.

00:31:50.868 --> 00:31:53.048
ASHLEE: So Nate was like, we're in LA.

00:31:53.168 --> 00:31:56.208
ASHLEE: This is like a foodie capital of the US.

00:31:56.228 --> 00:31:58.728
ASHLEE: So ask some of your friends, like, where should we eat?

00:31:58.748 --> 00:32:06.928
ASHLEE: So I texted one of them and I was like, hey, any good recommendations for kind of middle of the road price range restaurants in LA?

00:32:07.288 --> 00:32:09.628
ASHLEE: And one of my friends was like, yes, go to this place.

00:32:09.648 --> 00:32:11.048
ASHLEE: It's called Pasta Sister.

00:32:11.068 --> 00:32:20.508
ASHLEE: Yeah, it's in like a strip mall and it's very unassuming place, not super bougie, but oh my gosh, like the pasta.

00:32:20.628 --> 00:32:24.068
ASHLEE: First of all, they give you a lot.

00:32:24.068 --> 00:32:27.008
ASHLEE: And second of all, I was just like, this is exactly what I needed.

00:32:29.008 --> 00:32:29.728
VIRGINIA: I like the name.

00:32:32.048 --> 00:32:34.828
ASHLEE: So very like they make all their pasta in house.

00:32:35.888 --> 00:32:37.008
ASHLEE: They've got everything.

00:32:37.028 --> 00:32:40.528
ASHLEE: You choose your noodles and you choose your sauce.

00:32:41.028 --> 00:32:46.288
ASHLEE: And if you want to add a protein in there, you can like burrata or like any kind of meat.

00:32:46.328 --> 00:32:48.388
ASHLEE: But yeah, it was, it was delicious.

00:32:48.568 --> 00:32:54.128
ASHLEE: I ended up getting a pesto pasta and then he ended up getting like a fettuccine and it was delicious.

00:32:56.348 --> 00:32:57.788
VIRGINIA: Oh, making me hungry.

00:32:58.528 --> 00:33:07.268
VIRGINIA: So the next day, Saturday, April the sixth, you were heading in to DCA for the day.

00:33:07.908 --> 00:33:13.268
VIRGINIA: And I noted that you were planning to meet up with two friends to do the sip and savor.

00:33:14.568 --> 00:33:15.448
VIRGINIA: Tell us all about that.

00:33:16.308 --> 00:33:20.828
ASHLEE: So I did not know that the shops were not open at Rope Drops.

00:33:20.848 --> 00:33:34.908
ASHLEE: So we couldn't go and get it because I think I mentioned this to the last episode where if you want to get your sip and savor pass, don't go to like the actual booth that has the sip and savor because the line tends to be pretty long.

00:33:35.668 --> 00:33:41.628
ASHLEE: So you can get it at like the Five and Dime or like one of those shops and like where Carthay Circle is and stuff and Winnebista Street.

00:33:41.628 --> 00:33:45.108
ASHLEE: So I didn't know that they weren't open right away and they weren't selling them.

00:33:45.268 --> 00:33:49.028
ASHLEE: So we're like, okay, let's just go on a ride and then wait until they open.

00:33:49.768 --> 00:33:53.368
ASHLEE: We had plans to Rope Drop and head straight to Radiator Springs.

00:33:53.428 --> 00:33:56.048
ASHLEE: Unfortunately, it was down solar.

00:33:56.068 --> 00:33:57.488
ASHLEE: It's like, okay, let's pivot.

00:33:58.068 --> 00:33:59.608
ASHLEE: Let's go to Incredicoaster.

00:34:00.268 --> 00:34:01.268
ASHLEE: Walked all the way over there.

00:34:01.288 --> 00:34:02.948
ASHLEE: We're like, it's a little quiet.

00:34:02.968 --> 00:34:04.168
ASHLEE: I don't hear any screaming.

00:34:04.168 --> 00:34:07.568
ASHLEE: The only screaming I hear is from Mickey's Wheel of Death.

00:34:11.888 --> 00:34:15.008
ASHLEE: So unfortunately it turns out, Incredicoaster was down too.

00:34:15.028 --> 00:34:16.948
ASHLEE: So we're like, oh my gosh, are you kidding me?

00:34:17.728 --> 00:34:19.728
ASHLEE: So we're like, okay, plan C.

00:34:19.748 --> 00:34:21.228
ASHLEE: We're over here in Pixar Pier.

00:34:21.248 --> 00:34:22.528
ASHLEE: Let's go on Toy Story Media.

00:34:22.528 --> 00:34:23.248
ASHLEE: We love that ride.

00:34:23.428 --> 00:34:26.108
ASHLEE: So we ended up going on that, had a great time.

00:34:26.348 --> 00:34:29.588
ASHLEE: By the time we were off of that, Radiator Springs had opened back up.

00:34:29.608 --> 00:34:41.108
ASHLEE: So we jumped on that and pro tip, go in single rider lane, even if you got a party that you want to be with, it's going to be so much shorter than just trying to wait in the regular line.

00:34:42.228 --> 00:34:48.708
ASHLEE: And then after that, while we were in line for Toy Story Mania, we actually ended up getting a lightning lane for Guardians.

00:34:48.728 --> 00:34:53.108
ASHLEE: And we were like, OK, it's time for Guardians line, so let's go on that.

00:34:53.128 --> 00:35:01.328
ASHLEE: And after we did that, we went to Animation Academy, which is one thing that I always have to do because I love learning how to draw.

00:35:01.448 --> 00:35:04.468
ASHLEE: And I have this little notebook that I keep all my sketches into.

00:35:04.488 --> 00:35:07.468
ASHLEE: So I like to try to do at least a couple on each trip.

00:35:07.488 --> 00:35:09.948
ASHLEE: So I went over to Animation Academy for a bit.

00:35:09.968 --> 00:35:12.268
ASHLEE: And that is usually like a 20 minute class.

00:35:12.288 --> 00:35:16.308
ASHLEE: So by that time, then the shops are open and then we got our sip and savor pass.

00:35:16.868 --> 00:35:20.428
VIRGINIA: Well, what did you learn how to draw at the Animation Academy this time?

00:35:20.628 --> 00:35:21.568
ASHLEE: Oh, yeah.

00:35:21.588 --> 00:35:24.428
ASHLEE: So it was Minnie Mouse, which I hadn't drawn before.

00:35:24.828 --> 00:35:25.208
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:35:25.728 --> 00:35:26.008
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:35:26.008 --> 00:35:27.848
VIRGINIA: I always do that when I'm well, not always.

00:35:28.028 --> 00:35:29.968
VIRGINIA: I try to do it when I'm in Animal Kingdom.

00:35:31.288 --> 00:35:34.728
VIRGINIA: But typically, because it's Animal Kingdom, you're doing animal characters.

00:35:34.868 --> 00:35:38.968
VIRGINIA: So I've never gotten to draw one of the Fab Five or anything like that.

00:35:38.988 --> 00:35:40.948
ASHLEE: Which is so unfair because they're animals, right?

00:35:41.168 --> 00:35:41.648
VIRGINIA: I know.

00:35:41.668 --> 00:35:42.388
VIRGINIA: I know.

00:35:42.448 --> 00:35:43.608
VIRGINIA: But they wear clothing.

00:35:43.628 --> 00:35:45.628
VIRGINIA: So I don't know if that discounts them from.

00:35:45.648 --> 00:35:47.468
VIRGINIA: I don't know.

00:35:47.488 --> 00:35:50.988
ASHLEE: I mean, the last time I was at Animal Kingdom, we drew Judy Hopps, and she definitely has clothes.

00:35:51.008 --> 00:35:51.368
VIRGINIA: Oh, really?

00:35:51.388 --> 00:35:56.528
VIRGINIA: It's usually, for me, been, like, thumper or flower.

00:35:56.548 --> 00:36:00.828
VIRGINIA: I can't draw animals.

00:36:01.128 --> 00:36:03.528
VIRGINIA: Yeah, like legit animals, you know.

00:36:03.548 --> 00:36:08.908
VIRGINIA: And when did the meeting up with these friends come into play?

00:36:09.248 --> 00:36:10.588
VIRGINIA: Were you with them for the entire day?

00:36:10.768 --> 00:36:22.968
ASHLEE: Yeah, so Frank and Marty, we met up with around, I want to say, like 11, because their flight had just gotten in that morning and they went into their hotel and they basically just went to set the parks right after they got into town.

00:36:22.988 --> 00:36:29.408
ASHLEE: And we ended up hanging out with them intermittently throughout the day because they had a couple of friends that were along with them as well.

00:36:29.588 --> 00:36:36.428
ASHLEE: And we had some other friends who we were meeting up with who are locals that were in the parks that weekend as well.

00:36:36.448 --> 00:36:41.308
ASHLEE: And then there were points during the day, too, where we all just kind of hung out briefly or went on a ride together.

00:36:43.208 --> 00:36:45.388
VIRGINIA: Did you stay in DCA the entire day?

00:36:45.548 --> 00:36:55.588
ASHLEE: No, but we spent a good chunk of it over in DCA just because by the time we got our sip and savor pass, it was closer to 1030 and that's when the food booths opened.

00:36:55.608 --> 00:36:59.188
ASHLEE: So we're like, all right, let's sip and save.

00:36:59.728 --> 00:37:01.188
ASHLEE: Yeah, for sure.

00:37:01.208 --> 00:37:07.148
ASHLEE: So we ended up getting two sip and savor passes for the whole weekend and each sip and savor.

00:37:07.328 --> 00:37:09.088
ASHLEE: Well, there's actually two options.

00:37:09.228 --> 00:37:15.528
ASHLEE: We opted to go with the sip and savor that had the eight tabs on it so you can get eight items from any of the booths.

00:37:15.788 --> 00:37:21.628
ASHLEE: So we ended up getting two of those because we're like, yeah, we're going to try everything this weekend.

00:37:22.948 --> 00:37:29.108
ASHLEE: Yeah, we just went around for a good couple hours trying a bunch of the stuff and it was good.

00:37:29.128 --> 00:37:30.408
ASHLEE: It was very good this year.

00:37:30.708 --> 00:37:31.988
VIRGINIA: What were some of your favorites?

00:37:32.648 --> 00:37:33.888
ASHLEE: We both really loved.

00:37:34.548 --> 00:37:37.768
ASHLEE: This was from last year and it was still really good this year.

00:37:37.788 --> 00:37:40.708
ASHLEE: The empanada was really good.

00:37:41.008 --> 00:37:47.508
ASHLEE: The first time we got it though, because we got it twice on this trip, the first time we got it, it didn't have a whole lot of filling.

00:37:47.868 --> 00:37:51.108
ASHLEE: The flavors were there, but we're like, we'd like a little more filling.

00:37:51.988 --> 00:37:54.708
ASHLEE: But the second time we got it, it was generously stuffed.

00:37:54.728 --> 00:37:57.808
ASHLEE: We're like, yes, this is how it should be.

00:37:57.828 --> 00:37:58.088
VIRGINIA: Nice.

00:37:58.768 --> 00:38:05.228
ASHLEE: And then the second item we got that we really liked was the Shrimp Papas Locas, which is basically shrimp.

00:38:05.248 --> 00:38:14.988
ASHLEE: And then it had like, I don't know if this is accurate because I don't have the description in front of me, but it was almost kind of like grits on the bottom, kind of like shrimp and grits.

00:38:15.528 --> 00:38:17.568
VIRGINIA: Like real grits or like a polenta?

00:38:17.768 --> 00:38:18.828
ASHLEE: Oh, that's a good question.

00:38:19.088 --> 00:38:23.428
ASHLEE: I want to say it's probably more like a grits texture.

00:38:23.788 --> 00:38:28.508
ASHLEE: Yeah, but it was very reminiscent of like, yeah, that's how they're called for food.

00:38:28.948 --> 00:38:33.608
VIRGINIA: Yes, I'm a shrimp and grits girl, so that sounds delicious to me.

00:38:33.728 --> 00:38:40.288
ASHLEE: Yeah, the problem was they only gave you three shrimp and there's two of us, so we had to fight over who was going to get that third shrimp.

00:38:41.508 --> 00:38:43.748
VIRGINIA: Did you not just split it down the middle?

00:38:43.768 --> 00:38:50.848
ASHLEE: We do, but anytime we try to share stuff, me and my husband is just like, that is not even, you got a bigger piece.

00:38:50.928 --> 00:38:55.428
ASHLEE: So our rule now is, and we learned this from one of my friends, Danny.

00:38:55.948 --> 00:39:00.908
ASHLEE: She was like, my significant other and I, one cuts and the other chooses.

00:39:01.588 --> 00:39:04.308
ASHLEE: Yeah, so that keeps everything fair.

00:39:04.728 --> 00:39:06.848
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I have to do that with Alex.

00:39:06.968 --> 00:39:13.868
VIRGINIA: I can't say that Charles would really care if I happened to take something that was slightly bigger on occasion.

00:39:14.388 --> 00:39:20.608
VIRGINIA: But with Alex, you know, with a kid, I'm like, okay, if you're cutting, I get to choose, or if I cut, you get to choose.

00:39:21.348 --> 00:39:22.088
VIRGINIA: Which one do you want?

00:39:22.228 --> 00:39:23.288
VIRGINIA: What is your role for this?

00:39:23.568 --> 00:39:24.628
VIRGINIA: And then he can pick.

00:39:25.328 --> 00:39:26.528
VIRGINIA: Yeah, exactly.

00:39:26.928 --> 00:39:27.708
VIRGINIA: The way to do it.

00:39:28.108 --> 00:39:31.628
VIRGINIA: Did they have sweet offerings at these booths as well?

00:39:31.708 --> 00:39:39.248
ASHLEE: Yeah, we didn't get too many desserts just because a lot of them, at least this year, it seemed like they were very rich.

00:39:40.188 --> 00:39:43.528
ASHLEE: So we only ended up getting maybe a little handful of them.

00:39:44.148 --> 00:39:48.588
ASHLEE: Two of them were churros, which we really enjoyed the shortbread churro.

00:39:48.608 --> 00:39:51.348
ASHLEE: It was like a spiced shortbread flavored churro that they had.

00:39:52.968 --> 00:39:55.808
ASHLEE: Yeah, and it came with like a cookie butter dipping sauce.

00:39:55.808 --> 00:39:56.488
VIRGINIA: What?

00:39:56.908 --> 00:39:57.668
VIRGINIA: Oh, my God.

00:39:58.228 --> 00:39:59.448
VIRGINIA: This sounds amazing.

00:39:59.848 --> 00:40:01.668
VIRGINIA: And Disneyland knows how to do churros.

00:40:01.948 --> 00:40:04.008
ASHLEE: Yes, absolutely, for sure.

00:40:04.468 --> 00:40:10.368
ASHLEE: If I had to put both churros head to head with each other, I would definitely always pick the Disneyland churros.

00:40:10.928 --> 00:40:14.528
VIRGINIA: Yes, the only ones that can possibly compare are Nomad Bound.

00:40:14.668 --> 00:40:16.448
ASHLEE: I don't think I've had those before.

00:40:16.668 --> 00:40:17.168
VIRGINIA: You haven't?

00:40:17.688 --> 00:40:19.248
VIRGINIA: Oh, you have to.

00:40:19.288 --> 00:40:26.408
VIRGINIA: Add it to your to-do list for your next trip, because they are, in my opinion, the only good churros in Orlando.

00:40:27.108 --> 00:40:31.328
ASHLEE: Are those the ones that are small and they come with the chocolate dipping sauce?

00:40:31.528 --> 00:40:32.608
VIRGINIA: Yeah, they're little.

00:40:32.668 --> 00:40:37.808
VIRGINIA: They come in like a little cup or something with, I don't know how many there are, maybe like three or four of them.

00:40:38.448 --> 00:40:41.468
VIRGINIA: And they are heavenly, and they are gluten-free.

00:40:42.568 --> 00:40:43.808
ASHLEE: We'll definitely put it on my list.

00:40:44.868 --> 00:40:45.348
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:40:45.948 --> 00:40:48.908
VIRGINIA: What else did you do in DCA before hopping?

00:40:49.628 --> 00:40:55.828
ASHLEE: Yeah, so pretty much just stuck with all the foods, I would say, like trying a good chunk of those.

00:40:56.128 --> 00:41:01.368
ASHLEE: And then usually when I'm with my husband, he's not a huge character person.

00:41:01.388 --> 00:41:12.788
ASHLEE: Like if we see characters, he's okay stopping, but versus like if I'm on my solo trips or like with other besties in Disney, we kind of stop for characters a little more and kind of geek out.

00:41:12.808 --> 00:41:14.688
ASHLEE: But characters aren't really his thing.

00:41:14.808 --> 00:41:21.268
ASHLEE: But we did stop because we saw after we got off Mission Breakout, Groot was out meeting and greeting.

00:41:21.288 --> 00:41:24.108
ASHLEE: And I've been trying to catch that tree for some time now.

00:41:24.128 --> 00:41:26.688
ASHLEE: I'm like, we need to stop and get a photo with him.

00:41:26.688 --> 00:41:28.688
ASHLEE: So we actually did.

00:41:28.848 --> 00:41:31.128
ASHLEE: And it was really cool.

00:41:31.568 --> 00:41:35.208
ASHLEE: Yeah, I don't think I've actually seen him out when I have been there.

00:41:35.228 --> 00:41:37.448
ASHLEE: I've only seen him in like TikTok videos and stuff.

00:41:38.608 --> 00:41:40.648
VIRGINIA: Yeah, he needs to put down some roots.

00:41:40.768 --> 00:41:41.328
ASHLEE: He does.

00:41:44.268 --> 00:41:50.568
ASHLEE: After I think at this point, it was like nearing about two, three o'clock when we hopped over to Disneyland finally.

00:41:50.868 --> 00:41:59.968
ASHLEE: And then that's when we met up with a couple of friends and then did just a couple of rides because one of them could only stay till like five o'clock.

00:41:59.988 --> 00:42:05.228
ASHLEE: So we ended up doing your rides and then just kind of catching up and talking with them.

00:42:05.688 --> 00:42:08.008
ASHLEE: We hadn't seen them since February.

00:42:09.008 --> 00:42:12.508
VIRGINIA: Was this the Main Street Gals and Mickey with the Minis?

00:42:13.108 --> 00:42:13.508
ASHLEE: Yes.

00:42:13.708 --> 00:42:14.008
ASHLEE: Yep.

00:42:14.528 --> 00:42:15.008
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:42:15.108 --> 00:42:15.448
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:42:15.468 --> 00:42:17.408
VIRGINIA: I will make sure to link them in the show notes.

00:42:17.428 --> 00:42:20.088
VIRGINIA: So if anybody wants to follow some new Disney friends.

00:42:20.108 --> 00:42:20.728
ASHLEE: Absolutely.

00:42:20.748 --> 00:42:27.728
ASHLEE: And then we actually hadn't seen the tree house yet that had just opened up a few months ago.

00:42:27.748 --> 00:42:34.288
ASHLEE: I wanted to see it in February, but it ended up being a really rainy day the day I wanted to go see it.

00:42:34.308 --> 00:42:43.368
ASHLEE: So we went up there and were able to check that out and look for hidden Mickey's that I had seen in some other people's videos and everything.

00:42:43.388 --> 00:42:49.008
ASHLEE: So definitely recommend checking that out if you ever want like really good views of the parks.

00:42:49.368 --> 00:42:53.188
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I was going to say about the photo opportunities up there are amazing.

00:42:53.208 --> 00:42:53.808
ASHLEE: Absolutely.

00:42:53.988 --> 00:42:58.668
VIRGINIA: How late did you end up staying in the Disneyland Park that day?

00:42:58.688 --> 00:43:00.628
VIRGINIA: Because you've already had a long day at this point.

00:43:00.808 --> 00:43:08.448
ASHLEE: Yeah, because we rope dropped earlier that morning and then I didn't want to stay too late because our goal for the next day was to do rope drop to close.

00:43:09.268 --> 00:43:15.268
ASHLEE: So I think we stayed around till fireworks went off and we're like, okay, we can probably head back now.

00:43:15.288 --> 00:43:21.608
ASHLEE: At least get a decent amount of sleep before we have to get up tomorrow and do it all over again.

00:43:21.628 --> 00:43:26.128
VIRGINIA: So did you watch the fireworks or you exited as the fireworks are happening?

00:43:26.868 --> 00:43:31.168
ASHLEE: Yeah, we kind of exited as fireworks are happening just because we wanted to beat the rush.

00:43:31.948 --> 00:43:41.348
ASHLEE: Part of me wanted to stay for Wonders Journeys just because it was only there for a limited time, I want to say for maybe a couple of weeks before PixarFest started.

00:43:41.408 --> 00:43:52.568
ASHLEE: But I was told that they weren't doing the flyover with Baymax and Blue Fairy, which in my opinion, I think those two kind of made the show special and kind of what it was.

00:43:53.348 --> 00:43:59.088
ASHLEE: I mean, the projections and the music were very cool too, but those were kind of the two things that I was looking forward to.

00:43:59.108 --> 00:44:00.828
ASHLEE: And I was like, oh, they're not doing it.

00:44:01.108 --> 00:44:07.628
ASHLEE: So I was OK saving two hours of my life waiting for a spot and not viewing fireworks at that point.

00:44:08.988 --> 00:44:11.488
VIRGINIA: Well, the next day is a very full day.

00:44:11.488 --> 00:44:16.688
VIRGINIA: So Sunday, April the 7th was the official Dapper Day.

00:44:16.708 --> 00:44:25.168
VIRGINIA: So that was really kind of what brought you to Disneyland was anticipation of Dapper Day.

00:44:26.148 --> 00:44:31.708
VIRGINIA: So tell us who were you wearing and how did the day go?

00:44:33.008 --> 00:44:33.588
ASHLEE: Absolutely.

00:44:33.648 --> 00:44:43.348
ASHLEE: So if any of you guys have ever been to Disneyland recently, since they brought back the Magic Happens Parade, I am a huge, huge fan of that parade.

00:44:43.368 --> 00:44:46.228
ASHLEE: It's probably the best parade that Disney has done, in my opinion.

00:44:46.248 --> 00:44:49.048
ASHLEE: And I hope they keep it around for a very, very long time.

00:44:49.188 --> 00:44:52.348
ASHLEE: The first part of the parade is with the Magic Happens Unit.

00:44:52.608 --> 00:44:57.888
ASHLEE: And they're wearing these, what I would describe as Hunger Games-esque kind of costumes.

00:44:59.028 --> 00:45:08.648
ASHLEE: And I actually ended up having a dress, one of the dresses that one of the gals are wearing, commissioned by someone on Etsy, custom-made.

00:45:08.968 --> 00:45:13.288
ASHLEE: And she kind of turned my vision into this beautiful work of art.

00:45:13.608 --> 00:45:15.728
ASHLEE: And I was so happy with how it turned out.

00:45:16.368 --> 00:45:21.108
ASHLEE: It's one of the dresses with like all the lyrics from the parade on there.

00:45:21.728 --> 00:45:24.588
ASHLEE: So yeah, I thought it was fantastic.

00:45:24.608 --> 00:45:31.888
ASHLEE: And then my husband, he just wore kind of like a regular tailored suit that he owns, which happened to complement it very well.

00:45:31.908 --> 00:45:35.048
ASHLEE: So I was very happy with how it turned out.

00:45:35.708 --> 00:45:46.188
VIRGINIA: So is the dress basically an exact replica of what they're wearing, or is it different enough that it doesn't look like you're trying to pretend to be a cast member?

00:45:46.208 --> 00:45:51.788
VIRGINIA: Because would that be considered being in costume, which I know as an adult is not allowed?

00:45:52.488 --> 00:45:53.468
ASHLEE: Yeah, absolutely.

00:45:53.488 --> 00:45:56.468
ASHLEE: So it wasn't an exact replica, but it's pretty dang close.

00:45:56.628 --> 00:46:08.208
ASHLEE: Obviously the gal who commissioned it, she couldn't get the exact lyrics on there, but she chose a fabric that had just fancy script on there, so it looked like the writing that's on the dresses.

00:46:08.228 --> 00:46:14.308
ASHLEE: And I'd say it's very close because all day people were like, oh my gosh, it's Dapper Magic Happens.

00:46:14.368 --> 00:46:17.708
ASHLEE: And they're like, oh, I love people else.

00:46:17.728 --> 00:46:19.948
ASHLEE: There was no question like who I was.

00:46:20.528 --> 00:46:22.948
VIRGINIA: What kind of accessories did you wear?

00:46:23.208 --> 00:46:30.768
ASHLEE: Yeah, so I wore a teal fascinator that I got actually at Disney Springs on our last Walt Disney World vacation.

00:46:30.788 --> 00:46:34.988
ASHLEE: And I was like, oh my gosh, that would go perfectly with my dress because it's like the right color.

00:46:35.028 --> 00:46:37.428
VIRGINIA: Where did you find a fascinator in Disney Springs?

00:46:37.508 --> 00:46:41.528
ASHLEE: I can't remember the name of the hat shop, but you know the one that's kind of by that bakery?

00:46:42.168 --> 00:46:47.688
ASHLEE: It's like that, it's not called the Habitashary, but it's like that fancy hat shop.

00:46:48.168 --> 00:46:49.388
VIRGINIA: Oh, yeah.

00:46:50.648 --> 00:46:53.008
VIRGINIA: Is it kind of near Boathouse?

00:46:53.348 --> 00:46:53.928
ASHLEE: Yeah.

00:46:54.128 --> 00:46:58.368
VIRGINIA: It's like the chapelle, something like that.

00:46:58.948 --> 00:46:59.808
ASHLEE: This is going to bug me.

00:46:59.828 --> 00:47:00.628
ASHLEE: I need to look it up now.

00:47:00.648 --> 00:47:01.028
VIRGINIA: I know.

00:47:01.348 --> 00:47:03.668
VIRGINIA: I'm Googling hat shop Disney Springs.

00:47:03.668 --> 00:47:06.988
VIRGINIA: I feel like it has the word chapelle on it only because I think that is...

00:47:07.928 --> 00:47:08.268
VIRGINIA: Mm-hmm.

00:47:08.508 --> 00:47:08.848
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:47:09.048 --> 00:47:09.728
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:47:10.148 --> 00:47:21.428
VIRGINIA: Well, I assumed it was called chapelle hats because I know that the French word for hat, I think is chapelle, but it's spelled C-H-A-P-E-L.

00:47:21.448 --> 00:47:26.168
VIRGINIA: So is it chapel hats or is it actually chapelle hats?

00:47:26.288 --> 00:47:27.148
VIRGINIA: I'm not sure.

00:47:27.328 --> 00:47:29.148
ASHLEE: I guess it could be either or maybe.

00:47:29.708 --> 00:47:30.028
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:47:30.048 --> 00:47:36.588
VIRGINIA: I hardly ever stop in that shop, but now that I know that they have fascinators, I might have to stop in there.

00:47:37.728 --> 00:47:47.968
ASHLEE: This was actually in the window, and I wouldn't have gone in there otherwise, but I was like, oh my gosh, we need to go in there because that is the exact shade of blue that the dress has in there, and it would complement it very nicely.

00:47:47.988 --> 00:47:57.628
ASHLEE: So we ended up getting that, and I got some, because the main colors in the dress are teal, white, purple and gold.

00:47:58.848 --> 00:48:04.148
ASHLEE: I ended up getting some just kind of fancy gold gloves off of Amazon to wear.

00:48:04.548 --> 00:48:14.168
ASHLEE: And for my footwear, this is one thing I will not compromise on, even though it's Dapper Day, kind of the standard is to wear heels for that fashion.

00:48:14.588 --> 00:48:18.908
ASHLEE: I will not do that, not even for pictures, because I don't want to have to hull around two pairs of shoes.

00:48:18.928 --> 00:48:30.568
ASHLEE: So I just went with my purpley Skechers, and that was fine, because I was just like, oh, it matches the purple in here and it's colorful, so why not?

00:48:31.268 --> 00:48:36.628
VIRGINIA: Yes, you have to be comfortable when you're going to be walking as much as you will in a Disney day.

00:48:36.788 --> 00:48:37.748
ASHLEE: Absolutely, yeah.

00:48:38.048 --> 00:48:44.888
ASHLEE: And I don't know how those ladies who wear the heels, even for like photos, because my feet would be screaming, and yeah.

00:48:45.408 --> 00:48:58.788
VIRGINIA: I mean, my theory, I don't know if you've seen the Barbie movie, but my theory is that some people just have feet shaped like that, and so it feels very natural to them to wear heels, and I am not one of those people.

00:48:59.408 --> 00:49:01.288
ASHLEE: And their heels just don't touch the ground ever.

00:49:01.668 --> 00:49:02.628
VIRGINIA: Right, right.

00:49:02.648 --> 00:49:08.808
VIRGINIA: So it's just like, it doesn't even feel like they're wearing heels when they're wearing heels, because that's the natural foot shape they have.

00:49:09.408 --> 00:49:12.188
VIRGINIA: And that is so far from my situation.

00:49:13.328 --> 00:49:13.808
ASHLEE: Same here.

00:49:13.828 --> 00:49:22.528
ASHLEE: I was a ballroom and swing dancer back in high school, college, grad school, and that was enough on my feet where I'm just like, all right, I'm never going to wear heels ever again.

00:49:23.208 --> 00:49:24.148
VIRGINIA: Yeah, yeah.

00:49:24.388 --> 00:49:25.328
VIRGINIA: No, thank you.

00:49:25.388 --> 00:49:25.988
VIRGINIA: No, thank you.

00:49:27.108 --> 00:49:27.408
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:49:27.748 --> 00:49:28.208
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:49:28.228 --> 00:49:33.028
VIRGINIA: Well, did you see any other amazing outfits that stood out to you?

00:49:33.628 --> 00:49:59.988
ASHLEE: So there's actually a couple of, we saw a couple of quote unquote, I guess, well-known Instagrammers who are, I assume are locals, but it's always interesting to see what theme people will pick from year after year, or if they just decide to go solely dapper, which we saw a lot of too, people just dressed in dapper clothing, but we saw people dressed as Mary and Bert from Mary Poppins.

00:50:00.008 --> 00:50:00.908
ASHLEE: That was really cute.

00:50:01.228 --> 00:50:02.788
ASHLEE: Like Alice in Wonderland.

00:50:03.128 --> 00:50:07.908
ASHLEE: There was, yeah, a family that actually went as like White Rabbit and Alice in Mad Hatter.

00:50:07.928 --> 00:50:14.788
ASHLEE: It was just super cute to see like the little kids all dressed up in their dapper attire and having it be Disney too.

00:50:14.808 --> 00:50:17.288
VIRGINIA: Oh, that's very cute.

00:50:17.448 --> 00:50:18.088
VIRGINIA: Very cute.

00:50:18.268 --> 00:50:18.728
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:50:18.748 --> 00:50:21.548
VIRGINIA: And you had another friend you were meeting up with that day, right?

00:50:21.568 --> 00:50:22.348
VIRGINIA: Kingdom Dreams.

00:50:22.608 --> 00:50:23.068
ASHLEE: Yes.

00:50:23.368 --> 00:50:27.208
ASHLEE: So they actually got stuck in a bit of a traffic jam getting there.

00:50:27.288 --> 00:50:31.048
ASHLEE: It must have been really busy just Sunday overall.

00:50:31.168 --> 00:50:35.868
ASHLEE: But eventually we ended up meeting up with them more towards like 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

00:50:36.108 --> 00:50:38.788
ASHLEE: And originally they weren't going to come and dapper attire.

00:50:38.808 --> 00:50:42.928
ASHLEE: But last minute they're like, yep, we'll be there with our dapperness.

00:50:45.168 --> 00:50:47.028
ASHLEE: So that was a pleasant surprise.

00:50:47.108 --> 00:50:56.228
ASHLEE: And I was very glad that they decided to participate because yeah, I was just like, you can't come to dapper day and not be dressed up because everyone else is doing it.

00:50:57.208 --> 00:50:58.968
VIRGINIA: Yeah, you have to get in on it.

00:50:59.548 --> 00:51:02.288
VIRGINIA: So did you get a lot of group photos?

00:51:02.468 --> 00:51:06.188
ASHLEE: Yeah, we got definitely stuff in front of the castle.

00:51:06.928 --> 00:51:10.128
ASHLEE: When we were over in DCA, we got stuff on Buena Vista Street.

00:51:11.088 --> 00:51:12.968
ASHLEE: And trying to think what else.

00:51:13.028 --> 00:51:19.828
ASHLEE: Oh, yeah, over in Fantasyland, there's a big giant teacup by the Alice in Wonderland ride.

00:51:20.328 --> 00:51:24.048
ASHLEE: We got a lot of photos in that because it seemed very appropriate given our attire.

00:51:24.068 --> 00:51:25.148
VIRGINIA: Oh, perfect.

00:51:25.688 --> 00:51:38.748
VIRGINIA: I know I saw your photos that you were posting come up sort of in passing, but I'm looking forward to going and looking at any photos that you posted in much more detail now that we've walked through this amazing trip.

00:51:38.828 --> 00:51:41.348
VIRGINIA: Anything else to note for that Sunday?

00:51:41.368 --> 00:51:45.148
VIRGINIA: Did you do anything attraction-related to note?

00:51:45.748 --> 00:51:53.048
VIRGINIA: I'm wondering, I guess, being in dapper attire, how much did that affect the rest of your activities for the day?

00:51:53.348 --> 00:51:56.788
VIRGINIA: Because you wore comfortable shoes because you're smart, Ashlee, you're smart.

00:51:56.808 --> 00:51:57.788
VIRGINIA: You're not going to be...

00:51:57.968 --> 00:51:58.688
VIRGINIA: You're no fool.

00:51:59.188 --> 00:52:07.188
VIRGINIA: But I mean, sometimes those dapper outfits, you know, are not the sort of outfits you can just kind of do anything you want to in.

00:52:07.388 --> 00:52:08.048
ASHLEE: Absolutely.

00:52:08.108 --> 00:52:10.128
ASHLEE: And I took that into consideration as well.

00:52:10.368 --> 00:52:11.268
ASHLEE: I actually brought...

00:52:11.548 --> 00:52:13.928
ASHLEE: Because we were in dapper attire on Saturday too.

00:52:13.948 --> 00:52:15.488
ASHLEE: We were dapper Mickey and Minnie.

00:52:16.468 --> 00:52:22.688
ASHLEE: And for both dresses, I had brought petticoats for underneath in case I wanted to.

00:52:22.708 --> 00:52:30.648
ASHLEE: But then once I put it on both mornings of, I was just like, you know what, this is going to be a pain in the butt, first of all, to try to go to the bathroom.

00:52:32.208 --> 00:52:38.268
ASHLEE: For as much as I drink water throughout the day, especially at Disney, I take frequent bathroom breaks.

00:52:38.288 --> 00:52:46.748
ASHLEE: So I was just like, I'm not about to try to manage all of this fluff and puff while I'm going to the bathroom.

00:52:48.168 --> 00:52:49.808
VIRGINIA: That's a good way to describe it.

00:52:50.448 --> 00:52:58.548
ASHLEE: Yeah, let alone trying to get in and out of rides, especially the rides where it's a little more cramped as it is.

00:52:58.568 --> 00:53:04.048
ASHLEE: And yeah, just having like all this dress and skirt to try to manage.

00:53:04.268 --> 00:53:08.188
ASHLEE: So I was just like, you know, it'll look fine without the petticoat.

00:53:08.208 --> 00:53:15.768
ASHLEE: So I did not end up using it either of those days, which I am grateful for because I think it would have been hard.

00:53:16.308 --> 00:53:21.068
VIRGINIA: So how much space were they taking up in your luggage only not to be used?

00:53:21.368 --> 00:53:23.928
ASHLEE: Yeah, so I was kind of kicking myself for that too.

00:53:23.928 --> 00:53:42.748
ASHLEE: I tried to ball it up as best I could in a plastic bag, and it took up more space than I wanted to, but in the end, it kind of it worked out because, like we said, it's more fluff and puff than solid things, so it can squish down pretty easily.

00:53:42.768 --> 00:53:55.308
ASHLEE: But yeah, that was something I did consider, and I'm glad that I didn't end up doing that because it made getting on and off rides a lot easier and not having to worry if it was going to get caught somewhere.

00:53:55.328 --> 00:54:05.688
ASHLEE: One thing that was challenging on at least Sunday, because Saturday I didn't have anything on my head except mini ears, which are very easy to take on and off.

00:54:05.708 --> 00:54:14.268
ASHLEE: But Sunday I had the Fascinator, which the one that I had is only basically in my hair or my head by like a little stretch.

00:54:14.868 --> 00:54:20.728
ASHLEE: So I had to hold on to that on like in Credit Coaster and Space Mountain.

00:54:20.748 --> 00:54:30.408
ASHLEE: So I was kind of like sitting there holding my Fascinator to my head because I didn't want to take it on and off because I've done that before, and I ended up like pulling out strands of my hair, which is not fun.

00:54:31.808 --> 00:54:36.928
ASHLEE: So yeah, that was just kind of one adjustment I had to make when I was going on rides.

00:54:38.008 --> 00:54:41.208
VIRGINIA: I only own one Fascinator and it's a headband style one.

00:54:41.228 --> 00:54:49.488
VIRGINIA: So it is easy to take on and off, but at the same time, you could very easily ruin it by tucking it into something while you're going to go on a ride.

00:54:49.968 --> 00:54:53.308
VIRGINIA: So, I mean, there's pluses and minuses to both styles.

00:54:53.508 --> 00:54:54.048
VIRGINIA: For sure.

00:54:54.308 --> 00:54:54.788
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:54:55.328 --> 00:54:57.608
VIRGINIA: Anything else on on that Sunday?

00:54:57.988 --> 00:55:07.088
ASHLEE: So Sunday, we actually spent most of our time at Disneyland just because we hadn't spent much time on Saturday because we were at DCA most of the day.

00:55:07.108 --> 00:55:10.968
ASHLEE: So we went on a ton of rides at Disneyland.

00:55:11.368 --> 00:55:13.608
ASHLEE: Right now, Season of the Force is going on.

00:55:14.048 --> 00:55:17.108
ASHLEE: It actually started, I think, the Friday before we arrived there.

00:55:17.128 --> 00:55:22.608
ASHLEE: So Star Tours had new scenes in there with Ahsoka as well as Mandalorian and Grogu.

00:55:23.528 --> 00:55:25.328
ASHLEE: So that was really cool to see.

00:55:26.008 --> 00:55:32.128
ASHLEE: It was kind of a bummer because my 3D glasses actually broke as they were about to shut the door.

00:55:32.128 --> 00:55:34.788
ASHLEE: So I didn't end up having glasses to experience that.

00:55:35.568 --> 00:55:36.428
VIRGINIA: Oh, no.

00:55:36.848 --> 00:55:37.408
ASHLEE: Yeah.

00:55:37.408 --> 00:55:40.628
ASHLEE: So that was kind of a bummer, but I mean, it was still fun.

00:55:40.868 --> 00:55:45.468
ASHLEE: And then also unique to Season of the Force this year.

00:55:45.708 --> 00:55:52.548
ASHLEE: Well, they do it every year that they have Star Wars, but it only comes around this time of year is Hyperspace Mountain.

00:55:53.148 --> 00:55:53.568
VIRGINIA: Oh, yes.

00:55:53.988 --> 00:55:54.888
ASHLEE: That was cool to see.

00:55:54.908 --> 00:55:58.568
ASHLEE: I've never ridden Space Mountain with any type of overlay before.

00:55:58.588 --> 00:56:05.068
ASHLEE: So, yeah, that was really cool to see with just the music and some of the scenes from Star Wars and everything.

00:56:05.528 --> 00:56:06.868
VIRGINIA: I really want to do that.

00:56:07.088 --> 00:56:08.268
VIRGINIA: It looks so cool.

00:56:08.288 --> 00:56:08.888
ASHLEE: There's still time.

00:56:09.088 --> 00:56:10.188
ASHLEE: You got till the end of May.

00:56:11.828 --> 00:56:17.748
VIRGINIA: Unfortunately, my schedule will not allow for that, but one day, one day.

00:56:17.768 --> 00:56:18.568
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:56:19.088 --> 00:56:30.408
VIRGINIA: Well, Monday, April the 8th was your departure day, and you had what I didn't consider to be an early flight, but it is early if you consider that you needed to drive over to LAX.

00:56:30.648 --> 00:56:35.608
VIRGINIA: So what time did you end up getting out the door to head back to the airport?

00:56:36.188 --> 00:56:44.048
ASHLEE: I think we left around like eight because I think I mentioned in the last episode, flight was around 11, 1130.

00:56:44.348 --> 00:56:45.168
ASHLEE: I was mistaken.

00:56:45.188 --> 00:56:48.408
ASHLEE: It was actually around more 1230.

00:56:48.428 --> 00:56:49.888
ASHLEE: So it wasn't quite as early.

00:56:50.388 --> 00:56:53.788
ASHLEE: So, but we still left right after breakfast and ended up getting there.

00:56:54.168 --> 00:56:55.228
ASHLEE: Plenty of time to spare.

00:56:55.248 --> 00:56:56.908
ASHLEE: Traffic again wasn't too bad.

00:56:56.928 --> 00:56:59.628
ASHLEE: It was what I expected on a Monday morning for LA.

00:57:00.368 --> 00:57:09.068
ASHLEE: So yeah, ended up getting there a few hours early and just, you know, like any other airport, hurry up and wait.

00:57:10.128 --> 00:57:10.468
VIRGINIA: Yep.

00:57:10.648 --> 00:57:15.608
VIRGINIA: Enjoying all the offerings of the Hudson News or whatever stores you're popping into.

00:57:15.768 --> 00:57:17.028
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:57:17.548 --> 00:57:19.028
VIRGINIA: How was your flight on the way back?

00:57:19.048 --> 00:57:20.208
VIRGINIA: Did everything go okay with that?

00:57:20.408 --> 00:57:22.248
ASHLEE: Yeah, it was pretty straightforward.

00:57:22.428 --> 00:57:26.948
ASHLEE: Again, no delays or hiccups or anything like that, which is always nice.

00:57:27.008 --> 00:57:29.768
VIRGINIA: Well, it seems pretty seamless, this trip.

00:57:29.988 --> 00:57:31.148
ASHLEE: Yeah, absolutely.

00:57:31.548 --> 00:57:34.668
VIRGINIA: Congratulations on a trip job well done.

00:57:34.688 --> 00:57:38.448
VIRGINIA: And I hope that that we'll get to talk again at some point.

00:57:38.468 --> 00:57:46.368
VIRGINIA: I would love to talk to you after one of your other trips because I know that you go to other parks and different parts of the country and world at different times.

00:57:46.448 --> 00:57:50.268
VIRGINIA: So keep us keep us up to date on all your adventures.

00:57:50.288 --> 00:57:54.508
VIRGINIA: And I really appreciate you taking the time to come and be part of the show.

00:57:54.788 --> 00:57:57.228
VIRGINIA: And I'm looking forward to seeing all those pictures.

00:57:58.448 --> 00:57:59.728
ASHLEE: Thanks so much for having me again.

00:58:01.148 --> 00:58:04.148
VIRGINIA: Thank you to Ashlee once again for joining me on the podcast.

00:58:04.468 --> 00:58:09.528
VIRGINIA: Listeners, please make sure you give Ashlee a follow and be sure you check out some of her trip photos.

00:58:09.848 --> 00:58:11.928
VIRGINIA: Her Instagram is linked in the show notes.

00:58:12.368 --> 00:58:15.248
VIRGINIA: If you have a magical trip coming up, I'd love to hear from you.

00:58:15.528 --> 00:58:18.988
VIRGINIA: I'm currently looking for people traveling in July and beyond.

00:58:19.428 --> 00:58:26.648
VIRGINIA: If you're interested in being a guest, you need to reach out at least a month in advance of your trip so that you have a better chance of fitting into my recording schedule.

00:58:27.108 --> 00:58:34.468
VIRGINIA: We sit down for an interview both before your trip and after so that we can hear all about your plans and how it actually turns out.

00:58:34.948 --> 00:58:36.808
VIRGINIA: It's pretty simple and a lot of fun.

00:58:37.148 --> 00:58:38.488
VIRGINIA: So what are you waiting for?

00:58:38.948 --> 00:58:39.728
VIRGINIA: Be my guest?

00:58:40.248 --> 00:58:41.328
VIRGINIA: That's all for today.

00:58:41.688 --> 00:58:47.208
VIRGINIA: Thank you all so much for listening and whatever you're doing, keep daydreaming about where you long to be.