Post-Trip Report: Daina & Kristina’s California Dream Trip (September 2024)

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VIRGINIA: welcome to Where I Long To Be, A Magical Trip Report Podcast.

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VIRGINIA: My name is Virginia and I am your host.

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VIRGINIA: Thank you for joining me this week.

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VIRGINIA: If you haven't had a chance to check out the podcast website, please make sure you take a minute to do that.

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VIRGINIA: And if you're looking for an episode about a specific hotel, or party, or really anything specific at all, I have a super easy to use search feature on the episodes page to help you find exactly what you're looking for.

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VIRGINIA: You can find it all at whereilongtobepodcast.com.

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VIRGINIA: In today's episode, you'll hear my conversation with Daina, who is 999happyhaunts here on Instagram, and Kristina, who is World Showcase Adventures.

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VIRGINIA: They recently got back from their trip to California, and I couldn't wait to hear all of the details.

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VIRGINIA: If you didn't listen to the pre-trip episode, they were traveling with Daina's husband Mark and daughter Ariel and Kristina's husband Brian.

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VIRGINIA: Their entire travel party are Orlando locals, so they are always in the parks together there.

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VIRGINIA: So when Daina and her family started discussing a possible trip to California, it only made sense to have Kristina and Brian join in on the fun.

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VIRGINIA: Kristina and Brian have been to Disneyland before, but this was Daina and her family's very first time.

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VIRGINIA: So that should be enough to catch you up.

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VIRGINIA: Let's get down to business.

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VIRGINIA: Here are Daina and Kristina.

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VIRGINIA: welcome back, Daina and Kristina.

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DAINA: Hello.

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KRISTINA: Glad to be back.

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VIRGINIA: Glad to be back.

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VIRGINIA: Really?

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VIRGINIA: I mean, well.

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KRISTINA: No, not really.

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VIRGINIA: That's fun.

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VIRGINIA: But this was a really exciting cross-country venture for two Walt Disney World locals to get to go someplace a little bit different.

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VIRGINIA: So Kristina, I know you have been to Disneyland before.

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VIRGINIA: We talked about that in the pre-trip interview.

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VIRGINIA: Any changes you've noticed?

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KRISTINA: Yeah, I mean, because we went right after COVID.

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KRISTINA: So you still had to wear masks and you still had to be separate, you know, the six feet rule.

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KRISTINA: So it seemed like it was back to like pre what I would assume would be pre-pandemic with crowd levels and just the experiences.

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KRISTINA: That's really all that I noticed that was different from the last time we went.

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VIRGINIA: And Daina, this was your first time.

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DAINA: Correct.

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DAINA: Yes.

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DAINA: Yes.

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DAINA: Very first time stepping foot in even the state of California for all three of us.

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DAINA: So it was definitely a new experience.

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DAINA: I'm already missing the weather so, so much.

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DAINA: The second I stepped out of MCO, I was like, take me back immediately.

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DAINA: Give me my sweater with the back.

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DAINA: Yeah, definitely.

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DAINA: I loved it.

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DAINA: California was amazing.

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VIRGINIA: Did it feel in any way more magical to you being the original park?

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DAINA: I think it definitely had a great nostalgic feel to it.

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DAINA: There's obviously lots of differences between the West Coast and East Coast Parks, which I'm sure we'll get into.

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DAINA: Thoughts on both.

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DAINA: But yeah, I mean, it was really great to walk the footsteps that we know Walt walked and to be able to see his apartment and things like that and just know he had had a presence and been in that park where we don't necessarily get that feel here in Disney World.

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DAINA: So definitely had a great nostalgic like old vintage feel to it walking through.

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DAINA: So it was really special.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: And then you all had some universal time, so that'll be fun to get into.

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VIRGINIA: So let's just start at the very beginning.

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VIRGINIA: So for anyone who did not listen to the pre-trip, this was Daina, Mark and their daughter, Ariel, and then Kristina and her husband, Brian, all going on this adventure together.

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VIRGINIA: So you were landing on Saturday, September 21st around 5 PM.

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VIRGINIA: Any issues with your flights?

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DAINA: Our flight did not have any issues.

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DAINA: We were non-stop from MCO and we flew into Long Beach.

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DAINA: Pretty much went off without a hitch, which was nice.

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DAINA: No delays or anything like that.

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DAINA: I have to say that the Long Beach Airport was probably my favorite airport I've ever been into.

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DAINA: Super small, only like 11 gates.

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DAINA: Yeah, it was like 11 gates total, which is, I'm used to these big, huge, I've always been out of like Dallas or MCO, which are huge hubs.

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DAINA: But it was like open air.

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DAINA: It had like a beachy area in the middle, open air.

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DAINA: The baggage claim was open air.

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DAINA: And I was like, wow, Florida could never do this type of airport style, but it was so nice and pretty and just a great way to be welcomed into the state of California.

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DAINA: So the flight was really nice.

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DAINA: And yeah, the airport was amazing.

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DAINA: So I definitely would fly back into that airport if given the option.

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VIRGINIA: That reminds me of what I view California high schools to be like, because whenever you see a California high school on TV, they're very open.

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VIRGINIA: You walk outside to change classes and stuff like that.

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VIRGINIA: And that's just not how it is here on the East Coast.

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KRISTINA: Right.

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DAINA: I'll let Kristina talk about her experience at her airport.

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KRISTINA: Yeah, we flew into a different airport.

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VIRGINIA: I feel like there's a story maybe.

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KRISTINA: Oh no, no, no.

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KRISTINA: We just flew from MCO through Dallas to Orange County, so the John Wayne Airport.

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KRISTINA: I like to take the first flight out just because it avoids any delays.

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KRISTINA: So we flew American.

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KRISTINA: We left at 5.30 from Orlando, got into Southern California at 9.30, almost 10 o'clock.

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KRISTINA: So we had a good while to wait for Daina and all them, but we had to go on some excursions to pick up Mark's Halloween costume.

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KRISTINA: So we got to go see different parts of the surrounding cities of Southern California.

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KRISTINA: So that was fun.

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VIRGINIA: Well, now I need to know, why was he getting his Halloween costume from California?

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VIRGINIA: And what on earth was it that you couldn't find it in Florida?

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DAINA: Okay.

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DAINA: So the drama there is all thanks to Spirit Halloween.

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DAINA: Not pleased with them.

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DAINA: I ordered his Hades outfit on Monday before we left.

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DAINA: Okay.

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DAINA: So I don't know what date that was, like, I don't know, the 17th or whatever.

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DAINA: Ordered it on Monday for overnight delivery to be there on Tuesday.

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DAINA: And so when I ordered the 16th, it was due to be delivered on the 17th the next night, right?

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DAINA: So I could pay like $28 in overnight delivery shipping.

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DAINA: Shipping label was created within like two hours of me ordering it.

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DAINA: And then no movement happened.

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DAINA: Tuesday, still no movement had happened.

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DAINA: I literally got on chat and like with guest services with Spirit, like every day through Thursday.

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DAINA: And then all of a sudden they're like, oh, there's a five day business processing time.

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DAINA: It's not guaranteed to go out.

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DAINA: And I'm like, then why am I paying $28 for overnight delivery with the 17th delivery day, if you're not going to ship it for five business days.

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DAINA: So checked on Amazon wasn't going to arrive in time.

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DAINA: So our only option was that there was one, like 15 miles from Disneyland area that had like two in stock.

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DAINA: So I had no choice but to order it for store pickup or he wasn't going to have his outfit for Oogie Boogie Bash.

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DAINA: So we didn't get in there early enough to like chance the traffic and everything.

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DAINA: So since they got in early, they were gracious enough to go Uber out there to grab it for us so that he was not costumeless and messing up our whole family outfit vibe.

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KRISTINA: And it was worth it after seeing, you know, it was obviously we were happy to do it, but it was definitely worth it and an experience.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: It feels almost like the amazing race, you know, where you have to complete the task to move on to the next thing.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: And then for that first night, you were staying at the Grand Legacy for just one night, which was a good neighbor hotel.

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VIRGINIA: Anything to report on that?

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VIRGINIA: Was it nice?

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VIRGINIA: Would you stay there again in a pinch?

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VIRGINIA: How far was it from everything, that sort of thing?

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DAINA: Yeah, I would absolutely stay there again.

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DAINA: I think it was a great option for a good neighbor.

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DAINA: You know, now that we've been on property, if I was looking to go for a cheaper trip to Disneyland and have an option, I would definitely consider Grand Legacy again.

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DAINA: We were in the front, I guess, like the newer tower.

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DAINA: And so we had a view of, like, we could see Mission Breakout and Space Mountain and Cars Land from our window.

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DAINA: So it was a really nice view.

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DAINA: And I would say the walk was, I mean, probably not even five minutes down the street to the entrance of Disneyland to get the security.

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DAINA: I mean, it was super convenient and a super, you know, accessible area.

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DAINA: And it was a nice little room and everything.

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DAINA: So I have no complaints.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: And you had dinner reservations for Goofy's Kitchen for the Halloween dinner for this night.

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VIRGINIA: Is that correct?

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DAINA: Correct.

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DAINA: Yes.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: So were you able to walk there because of the proximity of the Grand's Legacy?

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KRISTINA: Yes.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: Tell me about the dinner.

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DAINA: We walked through downtown Disney.

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DAINA: It was a really nice walk.

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DAINA: We actually got to see the entrance to both parks walking through.

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DAINA: So that was really a neat surprise.

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DAINA: I wasn't thinking necessarily we'd see those.

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DAINA: So that was exciting.

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DAINA: And we got over to Disneyland Hotel and lots of fun Halloween decorations and photo ops set up throughout the hotel that we were able to stop at on the way to dinner and check in.

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DAINA: And then dinner was a very high-energy, fun time, delicious buffet.

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DAINA: They had this creme brulee cornbread that I think was the table favorite that we all went back for seconds for.

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DAINA: It was, it sounds really interesting and really weird as a combo, but it was fantastic.

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DAINA: They also had this, what was that?

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DAINA: Like a s'mores dessert pizza thing that I thought was delicious.

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DAINA: Like a pumpkin s'mores dessert pizza.

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DAINA: And it was really good, but it was a great buffet.

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DAINA: Tons and tons of options.

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DAINA: Their ravioli and pumpkin ravioli.

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DAINA: Yeah, that was also delicious.

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DAINA: And I think that's like a seasonal thing offered for the Halloween dining part of it.

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DAINA: It was phenomenal and the characters were really great.

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DAINA: Had some really great interactions and got some fun pictures and videos and things that the characters went around.

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DAINA: Still kind of unsure of what Chippendale's costumes were, however.

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DAINA: We, we cannot figure it out.

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DAINA: We even asked Dale, he was acting out the Hitchhiking Ghost.

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DAINA: So I don't know if there's some version of that, but they have like, like the Hitchhiking Ghost, like blue translucent layers on, but then like a candy corn and a pumpkin underneath.

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DAINA: And so we still don't know what they were, but nonetheless, they were still cute and fun, but still confused on what their outfit was.

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VIRGINIA: By candy corn and pumpkin underneath, it sounds like they were dressed as a candy corn and a pumpkin and then had something on top of that.

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KRISTINA: Is that?

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VIRGINIA: Or am I getting it totally wrong?

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KRISTINA: I feel like they were like a ghost.

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KRISTINA: Their original costume maybe was like a pumpkin, but then they had like blue robes, like blue sheer on top of it.

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KRISTINA: So it looked like they were a ghost.

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KRISTINA: We're like, are you a ghost?

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KRISTINA: And of course, since they don't talk and there's no handlers, there's trying to play charades with, with Chippendale.

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KRISTINA: And we just said, you can be whatever you want because I don't know what you are.

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VIRGINIA: Well, I will be interested to see what those photos look like because now I am very curious.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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DAINA: We'll send you some pictures.

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KRISTINA: And if someone can tell us what they are, that would be great because we don't know.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: But maybe it would be fun to play that game Wrong Answers Only.

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DAINA: Maybe so.

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KRISTINA: Possibly, yes.

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DAINA: A good story game, maybe.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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DAINA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: So Sunday, September 22nd, you checked into the Grand Californian and you were heading over to Disneyland.

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VIRGINIA: So did you do the transition between the hotels first thing in the morning?

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DAINA: No.

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DAINA: We actually dropped our luggage at the Grand Legacy front desk and they held our luggage for us.

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DAINA: And we went into the park until we got, like that our room was ready at the Grand Californian.

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DAINA: And then we found a good break point.

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DAINA: We went back to switch our luggage and officially go into the room.

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DAINA: And I think we got an outfit change as well.

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VIRGINIA: How was your room at the Grand California?

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KRISTINA: Oh, I loved it.

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KRISTINA: I think it was, it was perfect.

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KRISTINA: The room was gorgeous.

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KRISTINA: We had two queens.

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KRISTINA: It had like a pull-out couch, pretty spacious, nice.

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KRISTINA: The shower was amazing.

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KRISTINA: Kind of had like a rainfall shower.

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KRISTINA: The vibe of it is, you know, I got like Northern California, kind of the redwood, that kind of vibe from it.

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KRISTINA: But everything was super comfortable and being that close to the parks is just unheard of here.

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KRISTINA: You know, you can only stay at certain hotels to be that close.

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KRISTINA: I would have to stay there again if the price was right.

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KRISTINA: I understand that it's the most expensive one in Disneyland, but I think it was well worth it, especially for this trip.

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VIRGINIA: Were your rooms close together?

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KRISTINA: They were right next to each other, so that made it very convenient.

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KRISTINA: Awesome.

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KRISTINA: They connected, so if we wanted to knock on the door and be like, are you ready yet?

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KRISTINA: Yes.

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DAINA: We had the nice, the woods courtyard view, so we had a balcony with some chairs and table, and out there was the courtyard with a bunch of beautiful trees, but also the monorail track.

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DAINA: We were able to catch the monorail going through the courtyard, so it was a really nice vibe to it.

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DAINA: I really enjoyed all the little hand details.

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DAINA: I will say it's the first hotel room I've ever been in that included two dental kits as part of their amenities that they provide in the room.

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DAINA: I've never had a full thing like that, so it definitely had that deluxe feel, like the little extras and things that they had included.

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DAINA: It had a brand new moisturizer bottle, and just different nice little add-ons that you don't normally get in just a generic non-deluxe hotel room.

00:13:21.765 --> 00:13:29.285
KRISTINA: The other thing I did like is in the outside, in that little courtyard, Daina was talking about, is they continuously played Halloween music.

00:13:29.285 --> 00:13:30.685
KRISTINA: It doesn't matter what time of day it was.

00:13:30.685 --> 00:13:35.125
KRISTINA: It could have been one o'clock in the morning or six o'clock in the morning.

00:13:35.125 --> 00:13:45.545
KRISTINA: It was just on a loop, so if you were outside sitting on your little patio, you would still get the music and still be in the theme of the season.

00:13:45.545 --> 00:13:46.285
VIRGINIA: That's fun.

00:13:46.285 --> 00:13:53.165
VIRGINIA: How would you compare it to Wilderness Lodge in terms of the room and the overall vibe?

00:13:53.165 --> 00:13:54.765
DAINA: I'd say very similar vibes.

00:13:54.765 --> 00:14:04.605
DAINA: I've not stayed in an actual room at Wilderness Lodge, so I can't speak to the inside of the room there, but we've popped in and stayed at Wilderness Lodge for game nights and things quite a few times to hang out.

00:14:04.605 --> 00:14:09.585
DAINA: I think the vibes are very, very similar and very comparable to each other.

00:14:09.585 --> 00:14:14.185
DAINA: Wilderness Lodge is actually my favorite resort at Disney World as well.

00:14:14.185 --> 00:14:15.105
DAINA: I would say it matched very closely.

00:14:15.285 --> 00:14:18.445
DAINA: The lobbies have that nice big grand welcoming vibe to it.

00:14:18.445 --> 00:14:23.465
DAINA: Just the beautiful, just like wood, everything's wood based and it's just really nice.

00:14:23.465 --> 00:14:24.525
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:14:24.525 --> 00:14:24.945
KRISTINA: Yeah.

00:14:24.945 --> 00:14:33.145
KRISTINA: Like the same craftsman style design, they both have the big fireplaces you can sit in front of, the nice leather couches to sit in.

00:14:33.285 --> 00:14:38.145
KRISTINA: So the wilderness lobby is bigger, size-wise.

00:14:38.145 --> 00:14:42.405
KRISTINA: It's definitely more grand when you walk in, but it's the same feel, I think.

00:14:44.425 --> 00:14:44.665
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:14:44.665 --> 00:14:45.965
VIRGINIA: Let's get into your park time.

00:14:45.965 --> 00:14:54.205
VIRGINIA: So on Sunday, you were heading into Disneyland, and I know that your main priority was really haunted mansion.

00:14:54.205 --> 00:14:56.325
VIRGINIA: So is that where you headed first?

00:14:56.325 --> 00:14:56.605
DAINA: Yeah.

00:14:56.605 --> 00:15:01.965
DAINA: So at Grand Legacy, when we were there in the morning, got up at 7 AM to grab the virtual queue and got group two.

00:15:02.685 --> 00:15:05.865
DAINA: So we ended up wearing much rope dropping.

00:15:05.865 --> 00:15:07.385
DAINA: Rope dropping haunted mansion.

00:15:07.385 --> 00:15:14.205
DAINA: So we got up that dress and immediately headed into the park, and we went straight to it because by the time we even got into the park, our group had already been called.

00:15:14.205 --> 00:15:17.225
DAINA: Wow, that was absolutely phenomenal.

00:15:17.465 --> 00:15:21.325
DAINA: Hands down the best layover and ride experience I've probably ever had.

00:15:21.485 --> 00:15:25.045
DAINA: I will self admittedly say I'm not the biggest NBC fan.

00:15:25.045 --> 00:15:26.305
DAINA: Ariel loves it.

00:15:26.305 --> 00:15:30.065
DAINA: So I watched the movie once a year for her, but it's not one that I just will watch on my own.

00:15:30.265 --> 00:15:34.185
DAINA: I like the songs, but that layover was absolutely fantastic.

00:15:34.185 --> 00:15:36.605
DAINA: I was completely blown away.

00:15:36.605 --> 00:15:41.365
DAINA: I had no idea how much work and effort goes into that layover out there at that ride.

00:15:41.365 --> 00:15:46.125
DAINA: I don't know what I was expecting, but I was not expecting that much and such.

00:15:46.125 --> 00:15:48.885
DAINA: It's like an entirely different ride.

00:15:48.885 --> 00:15:51.065
DAINA: You can hardly even tell that it's the Haunted Mansion.

00:15:51.065 --> 00:15:53.685
DAINA: It seems like a Nightmare Before Christmas ride.

00:15:53.685 --> 00:15:59.045
DAINA: So major props to the cast members who work on doing that layover because that cannot be an easy task.

00:15:59.705 --> 00:16:01.885
DAINA: We were all just stunned and blown away.

00:16:01.885 --> 00:16:04.825
DAINA: You can hear our reactions in some of the videos, like for the pre-show and stuff.

00:16:04.825 --> 00:16:06.285
DAINA: We're just like, what?

00:16:06.285 --> 00:16:07.605
DAINA: You can just hear our reaction.

00:16:07.605 --> 00:16:09.045
DAINA: We were just truly, truly blown away.

00:16:09.045 --> 00:16:10.205
DAINA: It was fantastic.

00:16:10.205 --> 00:16:20.585
VIRGINIA: I feel like I saw something at one point on Disney Plus that was sort of a behind the scenes of them doing that and getting everything ready.

00:16:20.585 --> 00:16:21.265
VIRGINIA: I could be wrong.

00:16:21.265 --> 00:16:23.945
VIRGINIA: Maybe I'm imagining it, but I feel like I saw it.

00:16:27.285 --> 00:16:31.905
VIRGINIA: It's so many details that you don't even necessarily think of.

00:16:31.905 --> 00:16:32.445
VIRGINIA: You're right.

00:16:32.445 --> 00:16:41.125
VIRGINIA: If you say you're going to give it a theme, you might imagine a couple of things here and there, but it's like Nightmare Before Christmas just exploded.

00:16:42.365 --> 00:16:46.445
KRISTINA: Yeah, they touched every single part of that ride.

00:16:47.665 --> 00:16:51.105
KRISTINA: Not just a little, they redid everything.

00:16:51.105 --> 00:16:57.285
KRISTINA: The narration, the pre-show, the Madame Lyoda room.

00:16:57.285 --> 00:17:01.325
KRISTINA: The only thing that's there is the Madame Lyoda ball and her table.

00:17:01.325 --> 00:17:06.585
KRISTINA: Everything hanging on around the room, those are all gone, those have been replaced.

00:17:07.965 --> 00:17:09.945
KRISTINA: Like Daina said, it's a completely different ride.

00:17:10.125 --> 00:17:13.545
KRISTINA: It's not like, oh, it's Haunted Mansion with a little bit of MBC.

00:17:13.545 --> 00:17:17.765
KRISTINA: It's a nightmare before Christmas ride, 100 percent.

00:17:17.765 --> 00:17:18.765
VIRGINIA: That's amazing.

00:17:18.765 --> 00:17:20.785
VIRGINIA: I need to see that at some point in my life.

00:17:20.785 --> 00:17:21.325
KRISTINA: Yes.

00:17:21.325 --> 00:17:23.245
KRISTINA: Oh, it's amazing.

00:17:23.245 --> 00:17:28.045
VIRGINIA: Did you get anything else done before your lunch reservation you had?

00:17:28.045 --> 00:17:28.485
DAINA: Yes.

00:17:28.485 --> 00:17:28.825
DAINA: Let's see.

00:17:28.825 --> 00:17:30.165
DAINA: I'm looking at pictures too.

00:17:30.165 --> 00:17:31.305
DAINA: We got quite a bit done.

00:17:31.305 --> 00:17:33.665
DAINA: I feel like before all this was before lunch.

00:17:33.665 --> 00:17:34.985
DAINA: Wow, I'm impressed.

00:17:37.505 --> 00:17:38.425
DAINA: We did Pirates.

00:17:40.625 --> 00:17:41.245
DAINA: I'm looking at time.

00:17:41.245 --> 00:17:41.505
DAINA: Yes.

00:17:41.505 --> 00:17:55.845
DAINA: We did Pirates and then as we were exiting Pirates, we aerial spotted the white head of Jack through a corridor thing and we realized that Jack and Sally were doing a meet and greet in this spot next to the shop with a whole setup.

00:17:55.845 --> 00:18:01.545
DAINA: They had already closed the line for that time, but we were told when we could come back and jump back in that line.

00:18:02.225 --> 00:18:08.405
DAINA: We went and we tried out the Pumpkin King Cold Brew, which was fantastic as a drink.

00:18:08.405 --> 00:18:10.145
DAINA: Definitely recommend that one.

00:18:10.145 --> 00:18:12.025
DAINA: We got a Chimichanga.

00:18:12.025 --> 00:18:14.205
DAINA: We rode Big Thunder.

00:18:14.265 --> 00:18:19.545
DAINA: I think we also did Indiana Jones, which fantastic.

00:18:19.545 --> 00:18:21.105
DAINA: I absolutely loved Indiana Jones.

00:18:21.105 --> 00:18:22.345
DAINA: I'm a hardcore dinosaur fan.

00:18:22.345 --> 00:18:25.585
DAINA: Like anybody who knows me on Instagram should know that I ride or die for dinosaur.

00:18:25.585 --> 00:18:26.425
DAINA: I love it.

00:18:26.425 --> 00:18:27.705
DAINA: It's one of my favorites.

00:18:27.705 --> 00:18:30.105
DAINA: But I did highly, highly enjoy Indiana Jones.

00:18:30.105 --> 00:18:31.005
DAINA: So it makes me excited.

00:18:31.005 --> 00:18:32.505
DAINA: I'm still sad we're losing dinosaur.

00:18:33.025 --> 00:18:38.145
DAINA: I am very excited to see what they're going to do with our dinosaur when they change at Indiana Jones.

00:18:38.145 --> 00:18:42.905
DAINA: It better be just as good or better than that Disney version, or I'm going to have words with someone.

00:18:44.245 --> 00:18:44.525
DAINA: Let's see.

00:18:47.185 --> 00:18:49.045
DAINA: Then we saw, let's see.

00:18:49.045 --> 00:18:52.225
DAINA: I think we then had lunch and Jack and Sally were after lunch.

00:18:52.225 --> 00:18:53.685
DAINA: If I'm looking at my pictures.

00:18:53.685 --> 00:18:54.165
KRISTINA: Yeah.

00:18:54.165 --> 00:18:57.885
KRISTINA: After it looks like just from my pictures, we went on Indiana Jones.

00:18:58.165 --> 00:19:06.405
KRISTINA: Then I think we came back over to New Orleans Square because it was getting close to the lunch reservation.

00:19:06.405 --> 00:19:10.725
KRISTINA: We checked out Tiana's, then went to lunch.

00:19:10.725 --> 00:19:18.565
KRISTINA: I think then you guys went back to get in line at Bengal Barbecue for that tea and then we took Ariel over.

00:19:18.565 --> 00:19:19.345
DAINA: Yes.

00:19:19.425 --> 00:19:22.965
DAINA: Another shout out for a drink, the Thai tea slush at Bengal.

00:19:22.965 --> 00:19:24.505
DAINA: Top drink of the entire trip for me.

00:19:25.125 --> 00:19:27.025
DAINA: Hands down, I recommend that if anyone's.

00:19:27.445 --> 00:19:28.965
DAINA: It's still there when people hear this one.

00:19:29.265 --> 00:19:30.525
DAINA: Don't get it.

00:19:32.325 --> 00:19:34.765
DAINA: I don't know if you had a Thai tea before.

00:19:34.805 --> 00:19:35.145
DAINA: I love Thai.

00:19:35.625 --> 00:19:37.025
DAINA: They normally have them.

00:19:37.025 --> 00:19:37.745
DAINA: Yes.

00:19:37.745 --> 00:19:41.345
DAINA: It's a Thai tea and then it has honey boba and it has a cold foam on top of it.

00:19:41.345 --> 00:19:43.325
DAINA: It was just absolutely delicious.

00:19:43.325 --> 00:19:47.345
DAINA: Like I said, definitely the best drink of the entire drink.

00:19:47.905 --> 00:19:50.305
DAINA: Absolutely recommend that one, 10 out of 10.

00:19:50.305 --> 00:19:52.085
VIRGINIA: How was the lunch at Blue Bayou?

00:19:52.085 --> 00:19:53.565
DAINA: It was delicious.

00:19:53.565 --> 00:19:54.505
DAINA: Definitely a great vibe.

00:19:54.885 --> 00:20:01.625
DAINA: Such a cool, nice, just calm vibe to step out of the sun and just be inside and see the boats from Pirates going by.

00:20:01.625 --> 00:20:04.765
DAINA: We were on the second row of seats, so had a pretty good view.

00:20:04.765 --> 00:20:12.945
DAINA: Also a tip for anyone listening is that the water line of tables is sat basically for the first set of reservations that come in.

00:20:12.945 --> 00:20:24.205
DAINA: So those that have the earliest reservation, because we asked for a table at the water and they said it would be about 90 minutes because the auto reservations fill that in with the first, I guess, till they fill up and then it goes to the second row and so on and so on.

00:20:24.305 --> 00:20:33.665
DAINA: So if you're wanting a table seat guaranteed, snag like the very first time available when it has a lunch reservation, like the opening time essentially to have a better chance of getting that.

00:20:33.665 --> 00:20:40.425
DAINA: But I got the crab cakes as my meal, which is an appetizer, but it was more than enough for me as a meal since we were snacking throughout the day.

00:20:40.425 --> 00:20:42.045
DAINA: Crab cakes were delicious.

00:20:42.045 --> 00:20:48.365
DAINA: Then Mark got their ribeye, I guess that they're known for and he said it was the best ribeye he's ever had in his life.

00:20:49.065 --> 00:20:51.225
DAINA: That was top praise.

00:20:51.225 --> 00:20:51.885
DAINA: Yeah.

00:20:51.885 --> 00:20:52.165
DAINA: It was.

00:20:52.165 --> 00:20:55.725
DAINA: We all tried a bite of it and it was truly delicious.

00:20:55.805 --> 00:20:57.745
DAINA: Probably the best I've ever tried as well.

00:20:57.745 --> 00:20:58.625
DAINA: Definitely recommend that one.

00:20:58.625 --> 00:20:59.705
DAINA: I'm trying to remember what Ariel got.

00:20:59.705 --> 00:21:00.725
DAINA: I don't know what Ariel got.

00:21:00.725 --> 00:21:02.925
KRISTINA: I think she got the kids' meal.

00:21:02.925 --> 00:21:05.825
DAINA: Yeah, I think she got the kids' sauteed shrimp.

00:21:05.825 --> 00:21:09.085
DAINA: I mean, it was a basic kids' meal, but it was good, she said.

00:21:09.085 --> 00:21:16.325
DAINA: Then we had a drink that was the Louisiana lemonade that some of us got and then the 31 Royal Street Julep, maybe.

00:21:16.325 --> 00:21:17.505
KRISTINA: I think that sounds about right.

00:21:17.745 --> 00:21:19.785
DAINA: Yeah, and they were both good too.

00:21:19.785 --> 00:21:22.605
KRISTINA: Me and Brian shared the chicken gumbo.

00:21:22.605 --> 00:21:23.685
KRISTINA: I don't know what I was expecting.

00:21:23.685 --> 00:21:27.505
KRISTINA: I guess it's the first time I've ever had chicken gumbo, but it came like as a soup.

00:21:27.505 --> 00:21:29.165
KRISTINA: I mean, it was delicious.

00:21:29.165 --> 00:21:30.485
KRISTINA: Then we got-

00:21:30.485 --> 00:21:34.185
VIRGINIA: I mean, gumbo is like a chunky soup.

00:21:34.185 --> 00:21:38.165
VIRGINIA: You should try the one over at Port Orleans French Quarter.

00:21:38.165 --> 00:21:39.145
VIRGINIA: I know they have it there.

00:21:39.145 --> 00:21:39.385
KRISTINA: Okay.

00:21:39.385 --> 00:21:40.485
VIRGINIA: In the quick service there.

00:21:40.985 --> 00:21:42.045
KRISTINA: Then we also got-

00:21:42.045 --> 00:21:46.645
KRISTINA: they had a rosemary and sea salt brioche dinner rolls.

00:21:47.705 --> 00:21:52.645
KRISTINA: I would compare them to the rolls from Texas Roadhouse.

00:21:53.225 --> 00:21:55.165
KRISTINA: They tasted like that.

00:21:55.165 --> 00:21:59.545
KRISTINA: But both were good, again, because we were snacking, we didn't want something so heavy.

00:21:59.545 --> 00:22:06.345
KRISTINA: Knowing that this was probably going to be our longest day because we were going to be going until 12.

00:22:07.185 --> 00:22:13.325
KRISTINA: We didn't want to bog ourselves down with a super heavy lunch and then just be done for the rest of the day.

00:22:14.065 --> 00:22:15.725
KRISTINA: I think that was pretty much enough.

00:22:15.725 --> 00:22:17.605
KRISTINA: We ate just enough.

00:22:17.605 --> 00:22:25.185
VIRGINIA: When we spoke before, besides making sure you attended the fireworks at the end of the day, you were playing it by ear for the afternoon.

00:22:25.185 --> 00:22:27.425
VIRGINIA: You weren't sure what you're going to be getting into.

00:22:27.425 --> 00:22:30.605
VIRGINIA: I'm very excited to hear what you ended up doing.

00:22:31.185 --> 00:22:32.285
VIRGINIA: Where did you go from there?

00:22:32.285 --> 00:22:39.385
DAINA: Right after lunch is when we went and got the Thai tea slushie and then we saw Jack and Sally, which was probably Ariel's highlight.

00:22:39.385 --> 00:22:41.985
DAINA: She was stunned and amazed and all.

00:22:41.985 --> 00:22:43.625
DAINA: It was her favorite thing ever.

00:22:43.625 --> 00:22:45.205
VIRGINIA: How long was the wait to see them?

00:22:45.205 --> 00:22:50.245
VIRGINIA: Because in Disney World, that's what everybody talks about at the Halloween party.

00:22:50.245 --> 00:23:05.265
DAINA: Kristina and Brian took her over to get in line while Mark, because the bangle barbecue line was for the drinks and food that was super long for some reason, which is actually something that I noticed a lot, like just in Disneyland in general, the lines for food and drink were a lot longer than we're used to in Disney World.

00:23:05.265 --> 00:23:07.145
DAINA: We were probably in line for a good 30 minutes.

00:23:07.145 --> 00:23:09.165
DAINA: We saw the time was creeping up when they told us to be back.

00:23:09.165 --> 00:23:10.605
DAINA: We wanted to make sure we didn't get cut.

00:23:11.025 --> 00:23:20.745
DAINA: Kristina and Brian took her over and they got in line, I think around one, is when they had it, and then the meet and greet was supposed to start at 1.30, and they were about five families in.

00:23:21.385 --> 00:23:29.445
DAINA: I think we probably ended up meeting them around 1.40, 1.45, so about a 40-45 minute wait, so much less than what we get here.

00:23:29.445 --> 00:23:32.485
DAINA: Like Mickey's Not So Scary, where it's like four hours of time to wait.

00:23:32.485 --> 00:23:33.005
KRISTINA: Right.

00:23:33.005 --> 00:23:33.305
KRISTINA: Yeah.

00:23:33.305 --> 00:23:34.165
KRISTINA: Right.

00:23:34.165 --> 00:23:36.445
KRISTINA: Yeah.

00:23:36.445 --> 00:23:46.125
KRISTINA: They had cut the line, and then they said Jack and Sally were going to be leaving and that they would tell us when we can get back in line.

00:23:46.125 --> 00:23:52.285
KRISTINA: We were just all waiting as a group, on the other side from where the line was going to start.

00:23:52.285 --> 00:23:55.945
KRISTINA: Then when the cast member said, okay, you can line up, everyone just darted.

00:23:55.945 --> 00:23:57.085
KRISTINA: There was no organization.

00:23:57.085 --> 00:23:58.845
KRISTINA: It wasn't like, oh, you were here first.

00:23:58.845 --> 00:24:03.445
KRISTINA: So the organization to that was not, wasn't fair.

00:24:03.445 --> 00:24:08.905
KRISTINA: Some people who had just walked up, got in front of us where we had been waiting for maybe 20 minutes.

00:24:08.905 --> 00:24:11.505
KRISTINA: But I would say probably about 30 to 40 minutes.

00:24:11.505 --> 00:24:13.705
KRISTINA: We waited total, but it was well worth it.

00:24:13.705 --> 00:24:16.065
KRISTINA: I mean, it was such a great experience.

00:24:16.065 --> 00:24:19.265
KRISTINA: I know that was probably the top.

00:24:19.265 --> 00:24:26.625
KRISTINA: I didn't even think Ariel was expecting to meet them, but I know that that was probably, if you would ask her, that's probably a highlight of the trip.

00:24:26.625 --> 00:24:29.645
KRISTINA: It was cool because I never get to see him here.

00:24:29.685 --> 00:24:31.005
KRISTINA: Okay.

00:24:31.005 --> 00:24:32.325
VIRGINIA: Where did you head next?

00:24:32.325 --> 00:24:37.845
DAINA: After that, I think we pretty much let Lightning Lane dictate our plans since we didn't have a hard and fast thing.

00:24:37.845 --> 00:24:40.305
DAINA: It was like, oh, let's grab what we grab.

00:24:40.305 --> 00:24:43.805
DAINA: Every time we can grab something and then we just rolled with that.

00:24:43.805 --> 00:24:49.525
DAINA: I headed to Space Mountain after that, which is of course different than Disney World's Space Mountain.

00:24:50.285 --> 00:24:53.845
DAINA: I have to give the point to Disneyland's Space Mountain over hours.

00:24:53.845 --> 00:24:57.005
DAINA: I think it was much, much better.

00:24:57.005 --> 00:24:59.185
DAINA: I love just the theming and the queue line of it.

00:24:59.185 --> 00:25:02.685
DAINA: I love the two-seater versus the individual bobsled style.

00:25:02.685 --> 00:25:06.965
DAINA: It felt a lot smoother, a lot faster, and just longer.

00:25:07.785 --> 00:25:10.305
DAINA: In every aspect, I just find that their Space Mountain was better.

00:25:10.305 --> 00:25:17.565
DAINA: Maybe the only thing I don't like about is the music they're playing during it is a little odd, like a little, I don't know, it doesn't really fit the vibe of the ride.

00:25:17.645 --> 00:25:22.445
DAINA: But other than that, everything else was much better in my opinion than our version.

00:25:22.445 --> 00:25:23.565
VIRGINIA: What about you, Kristina?

00:25:23.565 --> 00:25:25.385
VIRGINIA: What did you think about it?

00:25:25.385 --> 00:25:26.045
KRISTINA: I agree.

00:25:26.045 --> 00:25:34.285
KRISTINA: Yeah, no, those seats on, I mean, as you get older, everyone knows those seats on Space Mountain are not the-

00:25:34.285 --> 00:25:35.005
VIRGINIA: So embarrassing.

00:25:35.005 --> 00:25:37.625
KRISTINA: The easiest to get in and out of.

00:25:37.625 --> 00:25:38.765
KRISTINA: The worst.

00:25:38.765 --> 00:25:39.945
KRISTINA: Just roll out.

00:25:40.665 --> 00:25:41.985
KRISTINA: Yeah.

00:25:42.005 --> 00:25:44.505
VIRGINIA: Army style crawl up onto the platform.

00:25:44.505 --> 00:25:44.925
KRISTINA: Yeah.

00:25:45.965 --> 00:25:46.505
KRISTINA: Yeah.

00:25:46.505 --> 00:25:51.245
KRISTINA: So having just a normal two seats, it makes it better.

00:25:51.245 --> 00:25:58.045
KRISTINA: Plus, if you have a bigger group, like we're a group of five, we never get any rides like that.

00:25:58.045 --> 00:26:00.105
KRISTINA: You never get pictures all together.

00:26:00.105 --> 00:26:04.365
KRISTINA: So with this one, we were all, I think we were all in the same-

00:26:04.365 --> 00:26:05.125
KRISTINA: Yeah.

00:26:05.125 --> 00:26:06.405
KRISTINA: I was looking at the ride picture.

00:26:06.405 --> 00:26:11.425
KRISTINA: We were all in the same car together, so we have that ride picture of all of us together.

00:26:11.425 --> 00:26:23.005
KRISTINA: I think maybe because it has the one track instead of the two, it is longer and it doesn't feel as like my arms are going to get ripped off if I put them up above my head.

00:26:24.245 --> 00:26:25.385
KRISTINA: I prefer Disneyland.

00:26:25.385 --> 00:26:28.225
KRISTINA: I will give the point to Disneyland on Space Mountain.

00:26:28.225 --> 00:26:28.705
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:26:29.165 --> 00:26:33.345
DAINA: After that, we went to Matterhorn.

00:26:33.345 --> 00:26:34.445
DAINA: That was an experience.

00:26:35.025 --> 00:26:35.285
KRISTINA: All right.

00:26:35.285 --> 00:26:40.825
DAINA: Back to Bob Sludd style.

00:26:40.825 --> 00:26:46.465
DAINA: I mean, it's obviously a beautiful, a beautifully themed ride like the mountain is beautiful.

00:26:46.465 --> 00:26:48.065
DAINA: It's got great theming.

00:26:48.065 --> 00:26:49.465
DAINA: Rough as all get out.

00:26:49.465 --> 00:26:52.005
DAINA: I'll keep my filter on for it.

00:26:52.005 --> 00:26:52.945
DAINA: Super rough.

00:26:52.945 --> 00:26:58.485
DAINA: All you can hear during the ride was all of us just grunting at the turns.

00:26:59.245 --> 00:27:02.725
DAINA: Obviously, everybody has warned us, like free chiropractor adjustment.

00:27:02.725 --> 00:27:04.725
DAINA: So we knew it was coming.

00:27:04.725 --> 00:27:06.725
DAINA: But yeah, that was probably a one and done for me.

00:27:06.725 --> 00:27:09.925
DAINA: It's not something I feel the need to ever really ride again.

00:27:09.925 --> 00:27:10.925
DAINA: It was great to do it once.

00:27:10.925 --> 00:27:19.805
DAINA: I would maybe ride it again at night, just because it seems like probably has a different super dark vibe at night, with it being so much daylight led into it.

00:27:19.805 --> 00:27:22.305
DAINA: But other than that, I'm good.

00:27:22.305 --> 00:27:24.725
DAINA: Cross that off the list, ride for me on that one.

00:27:25.925 --> 00:27:28.405
KRISTINA: Same.

00:27:28.925 --> 00:27:29.425
KRISTINA: I'm good.

00:27:29.985 --> 00:27:33.965
KRISTINA: I think I probably only went on this time because they haven't gone on it.

00:27:33.965 --> 00:27:39.005
KRISTINA: But if we were there, say our next trip, that is a hard pass for me.

00:27:39.005 --> 00:27:40.325
KRISTINA: Hard.

00:27:40.325 --> 00:27:41.465
KRISTINA: I'm good.

00:27:44.585 --> 00:27:50.965
DAINA: After that, while we were in line for Matterhorn, because even with Lightning Lane, we still had maybe a 10-minute wait or so for that one.

00:27:50.965 --> 00:27:51.745
DAINA: It was pretty backed up.

00:27:51.745 --> 00:27:55.865
DAINA: I think the normal line was like 85 minutes or something like that, and we were in the Lightning Lane.

00:27:55.865 --> 00:27:56.665
DAINA: So it was a little bit of a line.

00:27:56.665 --> 00:28:03.085
DAINA: So we mobile ordered from Idlevice, the Brat and the garlic cheesy bread.

00:28:03.085 --> 00:28:07.985
DAINA: I don't remember the drink they had there, Kristina, but we got the drink as well.

00:28:07.985 --> 00:28:10.465
KRISTINA: It looks like we mobile ordered from two places.

00:28:10.465 --> 00:28:16.225
KRISTINA: We got the Fantasyland garlic cheesy brats, and then just the naan.

00:28:16.225 --> 00:28:20.845
KRISTINA: It's basically just garlic bread with a bratwurst inside, and then one without the bratwurst.

00:28:21.385 --> 00:28:30.885
KRISTINA: We got both of those, and then from Galactic Grill, we got pumpkin pie chai tea and this Darth by chocolate.

00:28:30.885 --> 00:28:36.045
KRISTINA: That is layers of chocolate pudding, red velvet cake, chocolate mousse, and crushed Oreo.

00:28:36.045 --> 00:28:36.885
VIRGINIA: It sounds really good.

00:28:36.885 --> 00:28:42.125
KRISTINA: We gorged ourselves on that after the Matterhorn.

00:28:42.125 --> 00:28:42.625
DAINA: It did.

00:28:42.625 --> 00:28:45.765
DAINA: We earned it after riding Matterhorn and crawling out of that ride vehicle.

00:28:45.765 --> 00:28:47.305
DAINA: We had earned that snack and drink.

00:28:49.665 --> 00:28:54.345
DAINA: After that, we had gotten the text a little earlier in the day that our rooms were ready.

00:28:54.345 --> 00:29:05.745
DAINA: At that point, we decided to dip to the Grand Legacy to get our luggage and to go to Grand Californian and go into our rooms and check the rooms out and do an outfit change as well for some of us.

00:29:05.745 --> 00:29:22.285
DAINA: We actually Ubered from Grand Legacy to Grand Californian because we did not want to roll our luggage all the way across through security and through Downtown Disney because we probably had 8 suitcases among the 5 of us plus carry-ons so it just seemed easier to drive down the street to get into it.

00:29:22.285 --> 00:29:36.265
DAINA: We did that unpacked, changed, checked out the room and then scoped out the path to get back into the park which wow, those security lines, I'm going to knock a point down for Grand Californian for the prices we were paying to stay there.

00:29:36.265 --> 00:29:40.685
DAINA: The security lines to get through their exclusive entrances were wild.

00:29:40.845 --> 00:29:45.785
DAINA: I mean that first night we were probably in line at least 25 minutes to go through security.

00:29:45.785 --> 00:29:56.825
DAINA: And I credit that to Disneyland's awful security process, given a point to Disney World and security because we have, obviously, you walk through with your bags, it dings.

00:29:56.825 --> 00:29:58.905
DAINA: If your bag gets dinged, you go off to get it checked.

00:29:58.905 --> 00:30:10.245
DAINA: But Disneyland is still doing manual bag checks on every single person coming through security which to me with the amount of people coming through is wild and such a waste of time.

00:30:10.245 --> 00:30:17.745
DAINA: And then of course we had some cast members who moved more quickly with the bag checks versus some who moved more slowly and it was a very frustrating process.

00:30:17.905 --> 00:30:29.765
DAINA: And again, like spending so much money to be at a deluxe hotel to have that exclusive entrance to downtown Disney or into DCA and having to wait so long in security lines, to me was a little bit unacceptable personally.

00:30:29.765 --> 00:30:41.545
DAINA: Super convenient to be that close, but if you have to wait 25, 30 minutes in security to get into that, I don't know that that's that much of a help from staying at Grand Legacy where we walked and got in and through security in maybe 10 minutes.

00:30:41.545 --> 00:30:45.965
DAINA: I don't know, it just was a little bit of a not a high point for me on that.

00:30:45.985 --> 00:31:07.685
KRISTINA: Yeah, same and I don't think, and it's just like that here, people visiting resorts, but there was no separation for people who are actually staying at the resorts compared to people who just walked into the resorts, take a look and then want to go back out because there is, you're able to actually enter the resort through downtown Disney and look around.

00:31:07.685 --> 00:31:15.245
KRISTINA: But if you want to get back into downtown Disney, you'd have to go through the same security, which as hotel guests, we would be going through the same way.

00:31:16.625 --> 00:31:26.765
KRISTINA: We're paying the higher prices and we're still subject to the same weight, or just like Daina said, it didn't seem right.

00:31:26.765 --> 00:31:31.085
KRISTINA: Plus, the manual checking of the bags, like thorough checking, it's not like looking.

00:31:31.085 --> 00:31:33.965
KRISTINA: But they were like every pocket, unzipping everything.

00:31:33.965 --> 00:31:41.745
KRISTINA: So you have a family with a stroller and five bags, it's going to take, it just took a lot of time.

00:31:41.745 --> 00:31:42.205
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:31:42.205 --> 00:31:46.845
DAINA: Which I'll add, I appreciate the thoroughness, obviously for security purposes, we want them to be thorough, right?

00:31:46.845 --> 00:31:53.645
DAINA: But I just simply think they need to implement like what Disney World has with the scanners, to where they can then ping and check the ones that need to be checked, right?

00:31:53.645 --> 00:32:01.145
DAINA: Like let's upgrade our technology a little bit because I want the thorough checking obviously for safety reasons, but let's use the technology that's available, right?

00:32:01.145 --> 00:32:05.805
DAINA: And let's do the technology we have to make it faster and streamline that process a little bit better.

00:32:05.805 --> 00:32:15.525
VIRGINIA: That's kind of surprising for me to hear, especially considering the fact that the prices for the three Disneyland properties there that you can stay at the resorts.

00:32:16.605 --> 00:32:24.445
VIRGINIA: I mean, you're calling Grand Californian a deluxe, but in terms of prices, it's higher than staying at a deluxe in Disney World.

00:32:24.445 --> 00:32:31.965
VIRGINIA: To me, it's like a mega deluxe because their lowest level hotel, I think, is still like a moderate price or above.

00:32:31.965 --> 00:32:34.625
VIRGINIA: And then the Disneyland Hotel is a deluxe price.

00:32:34.625 --> 00:32:38.485
VIRGINIA: And then Grand Californian is just like even a step above that.

00:32:38.485 --> 00:32:48.145
VIRGINIA: So you really you expect to have a really good experience with every aspect of your stay when you're paying that kind of money.

00:32:48.145 --> 00:32:49.265
DAINA: Absolutely.

00:32:49.265 --> 00:32:52.965
DAINA: So we got through that security line and we headed back in, still in Disneyland.

00:32:52.965 --> 00:32:55.585
DAINA: We stayed in Disneyland that whole day, that first day.

00:32:55.585 --> 00:33:00.725
DAINA: And we saw the infamous Blinky was all lit up, the Mickey Pumpkin.

00:33:00.725 --> 00:33:09.065
DAINA: And another little snafu is that we wanted a picture, but the PhotoPass line was astronomical.

00:33:09.065 --> 00:33:12.005
DAINA: But even weirder was that Blinky is two-sided, right?

00:33:12.125 --> 00:33:17.305
DAINA: So there's one side facing down Main Street and then one side of him facing the other direction.

00:33:17.305 --> 00:33:20.745
DAINA: And instead of there being two lines, one for each side, it was one line.

00:33:20.745 --> 00:33:23.065
DAINA: Then they had everybody stopping on both sides for pictures.

00:33:23.065 --> 00:33:29.205
DAINA: And so I think that really messed up and made the line extra long instead of just having two for each side.

00:33:29.205 --> 00:33:32.745
DAINA: So we ended up not stopping for a picture and just heading on down.

00:33:32.745 --> 00:33:36.545
DAINA: And that was something we kind of noticed was a lack of PhotoPass photographers.

00:33:36.545 --> 00:33:40.865
DAINA: I don't know if we're just really accustomed to Disney World and they're just being PhotoPass photographers like every two feet.

00:33:41.565 --> 00:33:50.585
DAINA: When there's somebody with a camera ready to snap your picture on Main Street, there's at least six or so stationed, but then just in general, throughout the whole park, there's lots.

00:33:50.585 --> 00:33:54.885
DAINA: So we went down to the castle to take a picture because we hadn't really stopped to take a picture with it.

00:33:54.885 --> 00:33:58.805
DAINA: And we were expecting some photographers to be down there and there was none.

00:33:58.805 --> 00:34:03.505
DAINA: So we've whipped out our 0.5 selfie game, which we perfected and become really good at.

00:34:03.505 --> 00:34:07.365
DAINA: So the lighting was not fantastic.

00:34:07.365 --> 00:34:08.485
DAINA: So we got invented.

00:34:08.585 --> 00:34:12.185
DAINA: We have Ariel hold up her camera with her flashlight turned on to light us.

00:34:12.185 --> 00:34:14.065
DAINA: And then we did the 0.5.

00:34:14.065 --> 00:34:19.485
DAINA: And I have to say, the castle we took is probably our best 0.5 selfie we've ever taken to date.

00:34:19.485 --> 00:34:23.845
DAINA: Like it should literally, I think, be a Disneyland ad, you know?

00:34:23.845 --> 00:34:26.405
DAINA: Hit somebody, get us out there.

00:34:26.405 --> 00:34:27.005
DAINA: Feature us.

00:34:27.005 --> 00:34:28.285
DAINA: It'll be on my feed for sure.

00:34:28.285 --> 00:34:30.985
DAINA: We'll all be tagged in and collaborating on it.

00:34:31.165 --> 00:34:35.325
DAINA: It'll make a debut, but I legit think it's the best perfect selfie we've ever taken.

00:34:35.525 --> 00:34:38.545
DAINA: But yeah, it was nighttime at this point.

00:34:38.545 --> 00:34:45.945
DAINA: It was, you know, we got, it was cold, which is something we don't often get to say, never in September.

00:34:45.945 --> 00:34:49.245
DAINA: And so we did a little bit of like castle exploration.

00:34:49.245 --> 00:34:55.085
DAINA: And we went to then eat at the Pizza Planet, which is super, super cute.

00:34:56.125 --> 00:34:57.745
DAINA: I'll pause to see if there's anything I missed or anything.

00:34:58.505 --> 00:35:10.525
KRISTINA: No, I think just looking, just going through the pictures, I think, yeah, we looked at the castle and then went into Tomorrowland, which looks really amazing, like at night, which just like our Tomorrowland here, it looks really good.

00:35:10.525 --> 00:35:16.945
KRISTINA: But yeah, Pizza Planet, we want to eat there because we don't have that here.

00:35:16.945 --> 00:35:23.565
KRISTINA: I was kind of expecting a little bit more theming inside, like as an actual Pizza Planet when they had some aliens.

00:35:23.565 --> 00:35:27.765
KRISTINA: But I think they could have done better with the theming in there.

00:35:27.765 --> 00:35:31.125
KRISTINA: You know, when I think Pizza Planet, I expect what I see in the movie.

00:35:31.125 --> 00:35:33.625
KRISTINA: And this is just a pizza place.

00:35:33.965 --> 00:35:35.345
KRISTINA: But it was good.

00:35:35.345 --> 00:35:37.705
KRISTINA: I mean, it wasn't bad food.

00:35:37.705 --> 00:35:40.505
KRISTINA: None of the food that we've had was bad at all.

00:35:40.505 --> 00:35:42.765
DAINA: No, definitely not.

00:35:42.765 --> 00:35:50.165
DAINA: Disneyland, I think, has much better food and a much more wide array of options available when it comes to types of cuisine and food.

00:35:50.165 --> 00:35:53.765
DAINA: It's not just chicken tenders and hamburgers at every single place.

00:35:53.765 --> 00:36:00.025
DAINA: But there are options for like ramen or pasta, or just a nice wide variety of things.

00:36:00.025 --> 00:36:01.385
DAINA: If you want a sandwich and soup, I don't know.

00:36:01.705 --> 00:36:06.785
DAINA: It just felt a much more things to choose from than what we have going on out here.

00:36:06.785 --> 00:36:11.305
VIRGINIA: While we're talking about food, did you have the opportunity to have any churros while you were there?

00:36:11.305 --> 00:36:16.885
KRISTINA: Yes, not as many as I think that we wanted to based on our list.

00:36:16.885 --> 00:36:22.945
KRISTINA: But I know that I think we've only, I only remember us getting two churros.

00:36:22.945 --> 00:36:25.925
KRISTINA: I think Mark had a churro on our last day at Disneyland.

00:36:27.105 --> 00:36:30.845
KRISTINA: That was a churro with sweet potato cheesecake dipping sauce.

00:36:32.465 --> 00:36:37.165
KRISTINA: That was over by the KC Junior ride in Fantasyland.

00:36:37.165 --> 00:36:39.925
KRISTINA: Then Brian got a churro in DCA.

00:36:39.925 --> 00:36:47.045
KRISTINA: It was like a poison, it was like a Granny Smith Apple sugar churro with, I think, a dipping sauce.

00:36:47.045 --> 00:36:49.045
KRISTINA: But that's it.

00:36:49.045 --> 00:36:51.985
KRISTINA: We had way more on our list to try and we didn't get to it.

00:36:51.985 --> 00:36:53.145
KRISTINA: Our list was way too long.

00:36:53.145 --> 00:36:56.705
KRISTINA: I think it was too ambitious, way too ambitious.

00:36:56.705 --> 00:36:58.865
VIRGINIA: Too many churros, not enough time.

00:36:58.865 --> 00:36:59.985
KRISTINA: Too much food and not enough time.

00:37:00.025 --> 00:37:06.645
VIRGINIA: But the churros there are so much better there, with the exception of Nomad Lounge, in my opinion.

00:37:06.985 --> 00:37:11.165
VIRGINIA: The Disney World churros are awful.

00:37:11.165 --> 00:37:11.745
KRISTINA: They are.

00:37:11.745 --> 00:37:12.765
KRISTINA: They're just...

00:37:12.765 --> 00:37:13.385
DAINA: They are.

00:37:13.385 --> 00:37:15.645
DAINA: They are subpar at best.

00:37:15.665 --> 00:37:21.805
DAINA: After Pizza Planet, we headed to Star Tours, I believe.

00:37:21.805 --> 00:37:23.305
KRISTINA: That sounds right.

00:37:23.305 --> 00:37:27.045
DAINA: Star Tours and then Buzz's Astro Blasters.

00:37:27.505 --> 00:37:33.945
KRISTINA: Yeah, because we utilize the Lightning Lane, kind of like the quick ones we can get in and off of.

00:37:33.945 --> 00:37:35.865
DAINA: Star Tours is pretty much the same.

00:37:35.865 --> 00:37:38.045
DAINA: I don't really notice any differences there.

00:37:38.045 --> 00:37:41.385
DAINA: It makes me sick on both coasts, so you can mark that on the list.

00:37:43.585 --> 00:37:46.885
DAINA: And then I did Buzz a lot more out there.

00:37:46.885 --> 00:37:52.685
DAINA: I liked their targets that are more like LED lit up, like I don't know, vibes in like hours.

00:37:52.685 --> 00:37:58.445
DAINA: I don't know, their ride just seemed a little bit better for buzzes, so I would give them the point for that one.

00:37:58.445 --> 00:38:12.225
DAINA: And then we headed through to Big Thunder to ride Big Thunder again, because I believe we didn't stand by earlier in the day for Big Thunder, and then we lightning-landed it for nighttime, because we wanted to have a daytime and a nighttime ride for that one.

00:38:12.225 --> 00:38:28.705
DAINA: And it was perfect timing on that one, because as we were riding and we came out of this one spot, the fireworks just exploded, and it was a super magical like core memory moment, because we ride all the time at Magic Kingdom, we ride Big Thunder during fireworks, like that's where you'll find us usually during fireworks, that are pirates.

00:38:28.705 --> 00:38:32.705
DAINA: And so we weren't even planning for this to be a firework Big Thunder moment, and it just happened.

00:38:32.705 --> 00:38:35.045
DAINA: So that was pretty magical and awesome, because it was unexpected.

00:38:35.045 --> 00:38:37.565
DAINA: And I was like, oh, it was a beautiful view.

00:38:37.565 --> 00:38:38.285
DAINA: It made it for super fun.

00:38:38.285 --> 00:38:41.345
DAINA: Everybody was like, ooh-ing and aw-ing and cheering on the ride and stuff.

00:38:41.345 --> 00:38:43.685
DAINA: So that was a super fun moment for everybody.

00:38:43.825 --> 00:38:47.045
VIRGINIA: So you compared Space Mountain on each coast.

00:38:47.045 --> 00:38:51.045
VIRGINIA: So what are your thoughts on Big Thunder Mountain?

00:38:51.305 --> 00:38:54.625
DAINA: I'm going to give the point to Disneyland's Big Thunder also.

00:38:54.625 --> 00:38:57.725
DAINA: I think their Big Thunder is much better.

00:38:57.725 --> 00:39:02.285
DAINA: Yeah, it would just, again, I think the setting of it is really pretty.

00:39:02.285 --> 00:39:05.225
DAINA: I think it fits into the area that it's in really well.

00:39:05.225 --> 00:39:08.445
DAINA: And I just think the ride itself just feels so much longer to me.

00:39:08.445 --> 00:39:14.565
DAINA: I don't know what the actual comparison of length of track is, but it felt just like maybe double the length to me.

00:39:14.565 --> 00:39:16.405
DAINA: And it felt a little bit like maybe more high speed.

00:39:16.405 --> 00:39:18.725
DAINA: It just felt more like a thrill coaster versus ours.

00:39:18.725 --> 00:39:21.785
DAINA: It feels a little bit more, a little more tame, I guess.

00:39:21.785 --> 00:39:28.805
DAINA: Yeah, I definitely body slammed Kristina at one point on it because the corner threw me into her uncontrollably.

00:39:28.805 --> 00:39:34.625
DAINA: So that aspect is the same on both where you get thrown around, you know, side to side, but in a good way, a good fun way.

00:39:34.625 --> 00:39:36.945
DAINA: But yeah, I think it was it was it was much better.

00:39:36.945 --> 00:39:38.105
KRISTINA: I agree.

00:39:38.105 --> 00:39:47.585
KRISTINA: And the effects like the the effects when you're going up the hill with like the explosion, like I keep hearing that we're supposed to get that here, but like maybe eventually.

00:39:47.585 --> 00:39:52.885
KRISTINA: But I think that just added to it just a little bit, just like the little things that make it different.

00:39:52.885 --> 00:39:58.785
KRISTINA: And then, of course, we did the, you know, the goats, you know, when you have to stare at the goat when you're going around the turn.

00:39:58.785 --> 00:40:02.165
KRISTINA: So yeah, so we did that.

00:40:02.165 --> 00:40:05.585
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I don't know what I was supposed to do, but I don't know about the goat trick.

00:40:05.585 --> 00:40:08.565
VIRGINIA: Do you want to just explain it so that it makes sense to them?

00:40:08.685 --> 00:40:14.125
VIRGINIA: Because I think anyone who's not heard of that will be like, what are you talking about?

00:40:14.125 --> 00:40:16.165
KRISTINA: To be honest, I don't know what it was supposed to do.

00:40:16.165 --> 00:40:17.605
KRISTINA: It didn't do anything.

00:40:17.605 --> 00:40:19.485
VIRGINIA: So it's supposed to make it feel faster.

00:40:19.485 --> 00:40:23.245
VIRGINIA: So there's a goat on top of one of the peaks.

00:40:23.245 --> 00:40:33.685
VIRGINIA: And supposedly, if you stare at the goat and just continue staring at them while you go over and around, it makes it feel super fast.

00:40:33.685 --> 00:40:35.565
VIRGINIA: I don't know.

00:40:35.565 --> 00:40:36.165
KRISTINA: It was fast.

00:40:36.165 --> 00:40:36.945
KRISTINA: I thought it was fast.

00:40:37.165 --> 00:40:40.505
DAINA: Well, yeah, it felt faster to us naturally.

00:40:40.505 --> 00:40:43.865
DAINA: So we'll say it was the power of the goat.

00:40:47.925 --> 00:40:49.705
DAINA: Oh, my gosh.

00:40:49.705 --> 00:40:54.245
DAINA: After that, we went and grabbed the pumpkin spice.

00:40:54.245 --> 00:40:56.465
KRISTINA: The pumpkin spice fritters.

00:40:56.465 --> 00:40:57.425
DAINA: Yes, fritters.

00:40:57.425 --> 00:41:00.665
DAINA: And I got another pumpkin king cold brew as well.

00:41:00.665 --> 00:41:02.845
DAINA: So we sat and watched that.

00:41:03.825 --> 00:41:07.145
DAINA: There was the water show thing going on during that time.

00:41:07.145 --> 00:41:10.205
KRISTINA: Yeah, I think it was like the fireworks.

00:41:10.205 --> 00:41:12.385
KRISTINA: Was it phantasmagic?

00:41:12.385 --> 00:41:18.445
KRISTINA: No, we came into the end of phantasmagic, but then this is just our, this is what I think it is.

00:41:18.445 --> 00:41:19.905
KRISTINA: I think we talked about it.

00:41:19.905 --> 00:41:25.285
KRISTINA: I think that they do the same firework or projections that are like in.

00:41:25.285 --> 00:41:28.705
KRISTINA: Because the castle, I don't think that they can do projections because it's so small.

00:41:28.705 --> 00:41:33.725
KRISTINA: But whatever show that they do for Halloween, they do over where they do phantasmic.

00:41:33.725 --> 00:41:38.265
KRISTINA: So there was the water show, there was Halloween music.

00:41:38.265 --> 00:41:39.825
KRISTINA: I'm assuming that's what it was.

00:41:39.825 --> 00:41:44.125
KRISTINA: But that was going on while we were eating.

00:41:44.305 --> 00:41:50.565
KRISTINA: Just for if anyone is wondering, those pumpkin spice fritters are at the Royal Street Veranda.

00:41:50.565 --> 00:41:52.865
KRISTINA: They also had a really good cold brew.

00:41:52.865 --> 00:41:55.025
KRISTINA: It was called the Pumpkin King Cold Brew.

00:41:55.025 --> 00:41:57.685
KRISTINA: Was that the one that tasted like the pumpkin pie?

00:41:58.205 --> 00:41:59.145
DAINA: Yeah, that had cinnamon.

00:41:59.145 --> 00:42:01.045
DAINA: I think it had cinnamon and it was really good.

00:42:01.065 --> 00:42:05.345
DAINA: I ended up getting two of those because it was probably one of the better coffees that we had tried.

00:42:05.345 --> 00:42:09.665
DAINA: I had one that morning and then had one with the pumpkin fritters.

00:42:09.665 --> 00:42:10.885
DAINA: Both very good.

00:42:10.885 --> 00:42:12.865
DAINA: We watched whatever the water projection music thing was going on.

00:42:12.865 --> 00:42:16.785
DAINA: I don't know what it was, but it was really good and really cool to watch.

00:42:16.785 --> 00:42:22.165
DAINA: We then walked over to Haunted Mansion to get some nighttime pictures because we had obviously rope dropped it, so it was bright and early.

00:42:22.165 --> 00:42:23.465
DAINA: Actually, it was not bright.

00:42:24.565 --> 00:42:34.865
DAINA: Every morning was foggy-ish until for the first few hours, so we went over night to get some nighttime pictures, walked through Galaxy's Edge.

00:42:34.865 --> 00:42:38.765
KRISTINA: Let's talk about how Galaxy's Edge is a ghost town.

00:42:38.765 --> 00:42:41.485
KRISTINA: Anytime, it's 11 o'clock at night.

00:42:41.485 --> 00:42:47.405
KRISTINA: We are walking through Galaxy's Edge and there is not another person, nowhere.

00:42:47.845 --> 00:42:57.505
KRISTINA: The people, the cast members working on Rise of the Resistance were just like, I don't know if they were hoping we would come on the ride, but they were just standing there.

00:42:57.505 --> 00:43:05.245
KRISTINA: None of the food places are open, like Docking Bay was not open, Cat Sakas was not open, nothing.

00:43:05.245 --> 00:43:07.705
KRISTINA: It was just the two rides and Ogas.

00:43:07.705 --> 00:43:09.705
KRISTINA: Ogas was empty.

00:43:09.705 --> 00:43:17.165
KRISTINA: So I don't know if this was just a one-time thing or if this is every night, but that was the weirdest thing.

00:43:17.525 --> 00:43:19.185
KRISTINA: I think that we saw.

00:43:19.185 --> 00:43:20.705
KRISTINA: We're like, what is going on?

00:43:20.705 --> 00:43:23.565
KRISTINA: We're like, did we go into an alternate universe?

00:43:23.565 --> 00:43:25.285
KRISTINA: This can't be real.

00:43:25.705 --> 00:43:26.925
DAINA: It was very strange.

00:43:26.925 --> 00:43:29.345
DAINA: We felt like we had wandered in somewhere we weren't used to be.

00:43:29.345 --> 00:43:31.225
DAINA: We kept checking, are we not supposed to be this close?

00:43:31.225 --> 00:43:33.005
DAINA: We didn't know it.

00:43:33.005 --> 00:43:35.185
DAINA: What is happening?

00:43:35.185 --> 00:43:41.005
DAINA: We had walked through on our way to Toontown because we had a runaway railway, Lightning Lane.

00:43:41.005 --> 00:43:46.685
DAINA: We know the ride wasn't really different, but we want to see the queue line because everything we've seen showed that their queue line is way better than ours.

00:43:47.625 --> 00:43:56.985
DAINA: But when we got over there, it was temporarily closed, so we had to pivot over and did, oh boy, we did Roger Rabbit.

00:43:57.745 --> 00:44:01.085
DAINA: Wow.

00:44:01.085 --> 00:44:03.125
DAINA: That's a one-and-done for me as well.

00:44:03.125 --> 00:44:04.025
DAINA: I've seen the movie.

00:44:04.025 --> 00:44:04.985
DAINA: I used to love the movie.

00:44:04.985 --> 00:44:10.665
DAINA: I've even dressed up as Jessica Rabbit from Halloween before, and I had no idea what was happening that entire ride.

00:44:10.665 --> 00:44:11.365
DAINA: I still don't know.

00:44:11.365 --> 00:44:12.385
DAINA: I still have no clue.

00:44:12.385 --> 00:44:14.865
DAINA: Ariel's never seen the movie, so she really had no idea what was going on.

00:44:14.985 --> 00:44:18.645
DAINA: She was just like, no, she has not.

00:44:18.645 --> 00:44:22.345
DAINA: But like I said, I've seen it, and I still didn't understand what was going on in the ride.

00:44:22.345 --> 00:44:26.585
DAINA: That one's crossed off my list, and I will probably not ever be partaking.

00:44:26.905 --> 00:44:28.245
KRISTINA: I don't know what the plot was.

00:44:28.245 --> 00:44:29.665
KRISTINA: I don't know what the whole storyline was.

00:44:29.665 --> 00:44:31.925
KRISTINA: I don't know what we were trying to do.

00:44:31.925 --> 00:44:40.905
VIRGINIA: It almost sounds like you all went to a park in another part of the globe where you were riding a ride in a different language, and you're like, I don't know.

00:44:40.905 --> 00:44:42.265
KRISTINA: We all got off of the ride.

00:44:42.265 --> 00:44:44.165
KRISTINA: We're like, do you know what was going on?

00:44:44.365 --> 00:44:45.565
KRISTINA: No, I don't even know.

00:44:45.565 --> 00:44:47.825
KRISTINA: We were just looking at each other so confused.

00:44:47.885 --> 00:44:49.165
KRISTINA: We're like, all right.

00:44:50.505 --> 00:44:52.045
KRISTINA: Well, that was that.

00:44:52.045 --> 00:44:56.525
VIRGINIA: That is the one that I'm like, I can't recall that I've ever written it before.

00:44:56.525 --> 00:44:57.305
VIRGINIA: Maybe I have.

00:44:57.305 --> 00:44:57.745
VIRGINIA: I don't know.

00:44:57.745 --> 00:45:02.045
VIRGINIA: I'm going to have to watch a ride through to be reminded if I've actually written it.

00:45:02.045 --> 00:45:02.345
DAINA: Yeah.

00:45:02.345 --> 00:45:04.625
VIRGINIA: But I don't know.

00:45:04.625 --> 00:45:06.445
DAINA: Well, I mean, I don't think you missed anything.

00:45:06.445 --> 00:45:07.025
DAINA: So don't worry.

00:45:07.025 --> 00:45:09.545
VIRGINIA: I was a huge Roger Rabbit fan when I was younger.

00:45:09.545 --> 00:45:11.825
VIRGINIA: It was one of the video tapes we had.

00:45:11.825 --> 00:45:13.105
VIRGINIA: We would play it on repeat.

00:45:13.245 --> 00:45:15.885
VIRGINIA: And I just quoted it the other day to somebody.

00:45:15.885 --> 00:45:16.945
VIRGINIA: I was somebody at work.

00:45:16.945 --> 00:45:18.545
VIRGINIA: I said, I'm not bad.

00:45:18.545 --> 00:45:20.345
VIRGINIA: I'm just drawn that way.

00:45:21.465 --> 00:45:23.465
KRISTINA: I don't think she was anywhere in the ride.

00:45:23.465 --> 00:45:24.465
DAINA: I don't even have a Facebook album.

00:45:24.465 --> 00:45:26.785
KRISTINA: I don't even think she was anywhere in the ride.

00:45:26.785 --> 00:45:27.605
DAINA: Maybe once.

00:45:27.605 --> 00:45:29.045
DAINA: She was in the queue line a couple of times.

00:45:29.045 --> 00:45:29.365
DAINA: I don't know.

00:45:29.365 --> 00:45:30.625
DAINA: Like I said, I used to love the movie, too.

00:45:30.625 --> 00:45:31.745
DAINA: I dressed up as her as Halloween.

00:45:31.985 --> 00:45:36.045
DAINA: I have a photo album on Facebook from college that's called I'm Not Bad, I'm Just Drawing That Way.

00:45:36.045 --> 00:45:39.845
DAINA: And I had no idea and I did not love that ride personally.

00:45:39.845 --> 00:45:41.785
DAINA: So anyone who does, I'm sorry.

00:45:41.785 --> 00:45:42.405
DAINA: More power to you.

00:45:42.565 --> 00:45:45.725
DAINA: We will not be in line taking up space so you can get on faster.

00:45:48.025 --> 00:45:55.165
DAINA: After that, Runaway Railway had opened back up, so we were able to go through and check out the queue line and check out the ride.

00:45:55.165 --> 00:45:56.925
DAINA: Ride is still super cute just like it is out here.

00:45:56.925 --> 00:46:01.545
DAINA: The queue line is definitely way cuter, has way more nostalgic throwbacks and things.

00:46:01.545 --> 00:46:03.205
DAINA: So they definitely get the point for the...

00:46:03.205 --> 00:46:09.885
DAINA: Even though like just the whole Toontown area and the thing, they get the point for that.

00:46:09.885 --> 00:46:10.765
KRISTINA: Pretty sure that's it.

00:46:11.565 --> 00:46:18.625
DAINA: I think, yeah, we point five selfied Blinky because like I said, we were not getting in that wild photo pass line.

00:46:18.625 --> 00:46:29.245
DAINA: We checked again on the way out, still had not got any better, so we point five selfied that and then went back to the hotel to shower and get some sleep and get ready to go the next morning.

00:46:29.245 --> 00:46:30.165
VIRGINIA: That was a big day.

00:46:30.165 --> 00:46:31.325
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:46:31.325 --> 00:46:36.285
VIRGINIA: So Tuesday, September 24th, was this your Oogie Boogie Day?

00:46:36.285 --> 00:46:37.305
DAINA: Well, I think we had Monday.

00:46:37.305 --> 00:46:38.805
DAINA: That was Sunday, the 22nd.

00:46:39.025 --> 00:46:41.885
DAINA: So then Monday, we had a DCA.

00:46:41.885 --> 00:46:42.645
VIRGINIA: Oh, yes.

00:46:42.645 --> 00:46:43.945
VIRGINIA: We are on Monday.

00:46:43.945 --> 00:46:45.005
DAINA: That was all just one day.

00:46:45.005 --> 00:46:45.925
DAINA: It was a long day.

00:46:46.005 --> 00:46:48.405
VIRGINIA: I scrolled too far down in my notes.

00:46:48.425 --> 00:46:50.065
VIRGINIA: So I got ahead.

00:46:50.065 --> 00:46:50.425
DAINA: All right.

00:46:50.425 --> 00:46:59.185
VIRGINIA: So Monday, September 23rd, DCA and the first thing I have noted in your plans for that day was the lunch at Lamplight Lounge.

00:46:59.185 --> 00:47:01.445
VIRGINIA: But I know you got there earlier than lunch.

00:47:01.445 --> 00:47:04.365
VIRGINIA: So what was your first thing that you did in DCA?

00:47:04.365 --> 00:47:05.425
DAINA: Yes.

00:47:05.425 --> 00:47:09.405
DAINA: So we pretty much rope dropped Mission Breakout that morning.

00:47:09.405 --> 00:47:10.465
DAINA: Looking at my pictures to make sure.

00:47:10.545 --> 00:47:12.905
DAINA: Yes, because we had the early morning hours.

00:47:12.905 --> 00:47:14.625
KRISTINA: So we utilized that.

00:47:14.625 --> 00:47:18.225
KRISTINA: So we got our early morning hours from 730 to 8.

00:47:18.225 --> 00:47:27.805
KRISTINA: So again, we were going to use our entrance into DCA because that is a benefit of staying at Grand Californian.

00:47:27.805 --> 00:47:30.305
KRISTINA: But when we get down there, they said the line is too long.

00:47:30.305 --> 00:47:33.525
KRISTINA: You're better off going the regular entrance.

00:47:33.525 --> 00:47:40.025
KRISTINA: Just like if you're going into Downtown Disney to go to Disneyland, and then enter the park through the normal entrance.

00:47:40.025 --> 00:47:49.405
KRISTINA: So again, we paid for a benefit that we thought we're going to have, but then ended up having to just use the same line.

00:47:50.645 --> 00:47:53.285
KRISTINA: So we had to wait in line for security and then wait to get in.

00:47:53.485 --> 00:48:08.125
KRISTINA: Then as we're walking to go to Avengers, then we were able to separate from the normal people, the normal people, the regular non-Gun, the non-Calecranian, the non-Rizorkas.

00:48:08.125 --> 00:48:11.685
VIRGINIA: I should note that Kristina is wearing a top hat and a monocle for this interview.

00:48:11.685 --> 00:48:15.325
KRISTINA: Yes, yes, those normal people.

00:48:18.985 --> 00:48:20.125
DAINA: The non-Grand Californian.

00:48:20.385 --> 00:48:21.545
KRISTINA: The non-Property.

00:48:23.705 --> 00:48:27.205
KRISTINA: But, so it was frustrating.

00:48:27.205 --> 00:48:29.445
KRISTINA: It took extra time.

00:48:29.445 --> 00:48:39.405
KRISTINA: I mean, we probably wouldn't have done anything more than what we did, but it's still kind of disappointing when you pay for a benefit and have to deal with that.

00:48:39.405 --> 00:48:40.825
KRISTINA: But again, still worth it.

00:48:40.825 --> 00:48:42.785
KRISTINA: I would still, it's still perfect.

00:48:43.805 --> 00:48:45.585
VIRGINIA: How was Mission Breakout?

00:48:45.585 --> 00:48:48.305
VIRGINIA: Especially for you, Daina, having not written it.

00:48:48.305 --> 00:48:49.305
DAINA: Yeah.

00:48:49.305 --> 00:48:50.965
DAINA: I think it was a super great ride.

00:48:50.965 --> 00:48:58.245
DAINA: Obviously, again, anybody who knows me should know that Tower of Terror is my main, it's tattooed on my whole tower, it's tattooed on my arm.

00:48:58.245 --> 00:49:00.325
DAINA: I love Live or Die by Tower of Terror.

00:49:00.325 --> 00:49:02.705
DAINA: It is my absolute favorite.

00:49:02.705 --> 00:49:06.385
DAINA: The OG will always be it for me, the original version.

00:49:06.385 --> 00:49:08.485
DAINA: But I was highly impressed with this version.

00:49:08.485 --> 00:49:09.805
DAINA: I think it was super, super fun.

00:49:10.325 --> 00:49:15.785
DAINA: I think the Rocket animatronic in the pre-show was fantastic and so well done.

00:49:15.785 --> 00:49:16.985
DAINA: It had just a super fun vibe.

00:49:16.985 --> 00:49:18.985
DAINA: So this one is so different in how it works.

00:49:18.985 --> 00:49:22.645
DAINA: It doesn't have the different elevator shafts that it likes moving us through like Tower of Terror does.

00:49:22.645 --> 00:49:24.085
DAINA: Like it's all in the one thing.

00:49:24.085 --> 00:49:27.705
DAINA: Like you just push back, go up and down, come back and unload in the same spot.

00:49:27.705 --> 00:49:31.165
DAINA: So the whole like, you know, logistics of the ride were very different.

00:49:31.165 --> 00:49:34.985
DAINA: And this one is very, a lot more movement oriented.

00:49:34.985 --> 00:49:43.185
DAINA: So like as you're doing your drop sequence, it's constantly bouncing in between those moments, whereas Tower of Terror is just straight drop or it's pulling you up, right?

00:49:43.185 --> 00:49:44.745
DAINA: Like there is no movement in between.

00:49:44.745 --> 00:49:49.365
DAINA: When you're just kind of chilling, waiting for the next part, you're, you're stopped essentially.

00:49:49.365 --> 00:49:52.565
DAINA: And this one was just like, you know, you're bouncing as you go through the whole thing.

00:49:52.565 --> 00:50:00.185
DAINA: So I think this one could definitely be tougher for people to ride possibly if they're bothered by those kinds of motions or, you know, any other things going on.

00:50:00.185 --> 00:50:07.965
DAINA: But I personally, because I like the motions like that, I thought it was super fun, super high energy and a really great version of it.

00:50:07.965 --> 00:50:13.945
DAINA: And we did Ride Monsters After Dark at one point, which we'll get to whenever we get to that part of it as a comparison.

00:50:13.945 --> 00:50:17.365
DAINA: But I think it was really fun with the Guardians movies.

00:50:17.365 --> 00:50:19.665
DAINA: You know, I don't really have any many complaints about that one.

00:50:19.665 --> 00:50:21.125
DAINA: I think it was really cool.

00:50:21.185 --> 00:50:29.665
VIRGINIA: And Kristina, you had mentioned that Brian is really into the Avengers campus area in general.

00:50:29.665 --> 00:50:31.425
VIRGINIA: So yes, yes.

00:50:31.425 --> 00:50:32.805
VIRGINIA: He must have been loving it.

00:50:33.625 --> 00:50:33.925
KRISTINA: He is.

00:50:33.925 --> 00:50:35.525
KRISTINA: He's not a fan of elevators.

00:50:35.525 --> 00:50:39.465
KRISTINA: So this ride in particular is not his favorite.

00:50:39.465 --> 00:50:42.925
KRISTINA: He just has, he does not do elevators well.

00:50:42.925 --> 00:50:44.025
KRISTINA: But he did.

00:50:44.025 --> 00:50:44.665
KRISTINA: He did do.

00:50:44.665 --> 00:50:49.305
KRISTINA: He did do this one for everyone just to just to do it.

00:50:49.305 --> 00:50:52.585
KRISTINA: But no, he he definitely this was his.

00:50:52.585 --> 00:50:53.965
KRISTINA: He enjoyed this day.

00:50:53.965 --> 00:51:01.985
KRISTINA: But then on our last day, which we'll get to, he he really did enjoy just spending time in Avengers campus and just taking it all in.

00:51:02.625 --> 00:51:05.265
KRISTINA: Whereas last time we kind of just rushed through it.

00:51:05.265 --> 00:51:10.765
KRISTINA: He was able to take in all the characters and all the details.

00:51:10.765 --> 00:51:12.445
KRISTINA: It was nice, especially early in the morning.

00:51:12.445 --> 00:51:14.065
KRISTINA: There's not that many people there.

00:51:14.065 --> 00:51:17.605
KRISTINA: You can really take the time, get some good pictures.

00:51:17.605 --> 00:51:25.705
KRISTINA: There's some really good photo spots, like the Doctor Strange illusion with the floor, it looks like you're falling into the floor.

00:51:25.705 --> 00:51:27.265
KRISTINA: We got some really good pictures over there.

00:51:27.485 --> 00:51:34.665
KRISTINA: And then in the Sanctum Sanctorum or whatever that area is.

00:51:34.665 --> 00:51:35.265
KRISTINA: So it was fun.

00:51:35.265 --> 00:51:43.125
KRISTINA: I think he obviously would have liked to spend more time there, but he enjoyed what time we did spend there.

00:51:43.365 --> 00:51:43.885
VIRGINIA: What was next?

00:51:43.885 --> 00:51:46.485
VIRGINIA: Was it lunchtime at this point?

00:51:46.485 --> 00:51:47.905
KRISTINA: I think it was breakfast.

00:51:48.965 --> 00:51:49.905
DAINA: It was still breakfast.

00:51:49.905 --> 00:51:50.665
DAINA: Yeah.

00:51:50.665 --> 00:51:55.765
DAINA: Because we had that ride done by, let's see, like by 7.50-ish.

00:51:56.245 --> 00:51:57.225
DAINA: We were already on and off.

00:51:57.225 --> 00:51:58.845
DAINA: Mission breakout because we had the early entry.

00:51:58.845 --> 00:52:01.525
DAINA: So the park hadn't opened yet for everyone else.

00:52:01.525 --> 00:52:02.605
DAINA: So we walked around.

00:52:02.605 --> 00:52:05.205
DAINA: Like she had took a lot of pictures of people free, which was really nice.

00:52:05.205 --> 00:52:10.145
DAINA: I'm glad we got that chance to do it because later on in the day, there was lots of people there.

00:52:10.145 --> 00:52:13.025
DAINA: Then we headed to Pym's for breakfast.

00:52:14.085 --> 00:52:16.005
DAINA: They have a really great breakfast.

00:52:16.005 --> 00:52:17.165
DAINA: I highly recommend.

00:52:17.165 --> 00:52:20.965
DAINA: They had a French toast breakfast that I got.

00:52:21.665 --> 00:52:23.845
DAINA: French toast is my absolute favorite breakfast food.

00:52:23.845 --> 00:52:28.825
DAINA: I don't love sweet breakfast, but if I'm going to get a sweet breakfast, it's going to be French toast.

00:52:28.825 --> 00:52:33.765
DAINA: I really love it when it has that taste, that it's actually soaked in the stuff it's supposed to soak in.

00:52:33.785 --> 00:52:36.545
DAINA: It's not just a dry piece of bread with powdered sugar on top.

00:52:36.545 --> 00:52:38.085
DAINA: Well, that's not French toast.

00:52:38.085 --> 00:52:39.965
VIRGINIA: That's not the dry.

00:52:39.985 --> 00:52:40.225
DAINA: Right.

00:52:40.225 --> 00:52:40.665
DAINA: Exactly.

00:52:40.665 --> 00:52:44.085
DAINA: It's like imposter, but people try to sell it and say, hey, this is French toast.

00:52:44.085 --> 00:52:45.965
DAINA: I'm like, no, it's not French toast.

00:52:45.965 --> 00:52:47.445
DAINA: But this had that really great taste to it.

00:52:47.445 --> 00:52:47.985
DAINA: It was delicious.

00:52:47.985 --> 00:52:49.685
DAINA: It came with some bacon.

00:52:49.705 --> 00:52:50.665
DAINA: Huge, massive.

00:52:50.905 --> 00:52:56.285
DAINA: I should have shared with someone because it was probably two of my hands put together, at least, size wise.

00:52:56.285 --> 00:52:57.145
DAINA: Of course, it's from PIMS.

00:52:57.245 --> 00:52:59.585
DAINA: It had been enlarged.

00:52:59.585 --> 00:53:01.665
DAINA: Then they had that cold brew.

00:53:01.665 --> 00:53:02.965
DAINA: I can't remember the name of that drink.

00:53:02.965 --> 00:53:06.005
KRISTINA: It was like a cookies and cream cold brew.

00:53:06.005 --> 00:53:06.245
DAINA: Yes.

00:53:06.245 --> 00:53:06.945
KRISTINA: It was delicious.

00:53:06.945 --> 00:53:10.905
DAINA: It was also fantastic and delicious.

00:53:10.905 --> 00:53:12.245
DAINA: Very top breakfast.

00:53:12.245 --> 00:53:13.685
DAINA: It was a delicious breakfast option.

00:53:13.685 --> 00:53:19.205
DAINA: Definitely recommend that to anybody who's looking for a quick service breakfast option to hit up PIMS for breakfast in the morning.

00:53:20.045 --> 00:53:20.405
KRISTINA: Yes.

00:53:20.405 --> 00:53:25.745
KRISTINA: You had your sweets and then they also had like, you can get eggs two ways.

00:53:25.745 --> 00:53:28.225
KRISTINA: It came with just like regular scrambled eggs.

00:53:28.225 --> 00:53:33.265
KRISTINA: Then because you're at PIMS, stuff is either supersized or it's super small.

00:53:33.265 --> 00:53:38.945
KRISTINA: It did come with this itty bitty egg along with your regular eggs.

00:53:38.945 --> 00:53:45.805
KRISTINA: It's just the novelty of, and I think Daina's, didn't the French toast come with a little baby fork?

00:53:45.805 --> 00:53:46.145
DAINA: It did.

00:53:46.145 --> 00:53:47.345
DAINA: It had a little baby fork in it.

00:53:47.605 --> 00:53:50.285
KRISTINA: I ate a couple of bites of it.

00:53:50.285 --> 00:53:55.805
KRISTINA: Either something was super big or super small, so it's just the novelty of that eating there.

00:53:55.805 --> 00:54:02.885
KRISTINA: But again, if you didn't want to go the street route, you want to go more of a savory route or just a normal breakfast.

00:54:02.885 --> 00:54:13.825
KRISTINA: It had eggs, tater tots, bread, and bacon, so again, big enough to share and again, that cold brew again was really good.

00:54:13.825 --> 00:54:15.685
VIRGINIA: Yeah, that's my understanding.

00:54:15.685 --> 00:54:16.325
DAINA: It was delicious.

00:54:17.265 --> 00:54:24.765
VIRGINIA: Every time I talk to my friend, Jeanette, who goes out to Disneyland on a fairly, I would say she probably goes every year maybe, I'm not sure.

00:54:24.765 --> 00:54:29.085
VIRGINIA: But she just always talks about all the different kinds of cold brews you can get.

00:54:29.085 --> 00:54:34.445
VIRGINIA: So I think their cold brew game is top-notch compared to Disney World.

00:54:34.445 --> 00:54:36.465
KRISTINA: I will give them that, yes.

00:54:36.465 --> 00:54:37.945
DAINA: Yeah, I would agree.

00:54:37.945 --> 00:54:41.585
DAINA: They have way, way more coffee options than we have out here.

00:54:41.585 --> 00:54:42.885
DAINA: Just way more.

00:54:42.885 --> 00:54:50.205
DAINA: Yeah, after breakfast, we saw Spider-Man was out doing a meet and greet, so we hopped into line to see Spider-Man.

00:54:50.205 --> 00:55:00.585
DAINA: Did not realize how far down Spider-Man goes for his superhero pose, because we had attempted that with him to pose for a picture, and RIP my knees getting back up.

00:55:00.585 --> 00:55:04.085
DAINA: It was not as easy as Spider-Man makes it look.

00:55:04.085 --> 00:55:07.825
DAINA: But I technically did it, so we'll say yay.

00:55:09.585 --> 00:55:15.545
DAINA: Then I think Ariel and Mark and Brian also attempted it at some point.

00:55:18.505 --> 00:55:25.305
DAINA: Then we made our way over to, looks like we were walking through, and we took some pictures of San francisco.

00:55:25.305 --> 00:55:32.165
DAINA: A cast member had drawn a Lightning McQueen and a Kachow on the sidewalk with the water, like they do, which was really cute.

00:55:32.165 --> 00:55:39.025
DAINA: We headed over to Pixar Pier area, because we had an incredicoaster Lightning Lane to do.

00:55:39.025 --> 00:55:40.165
DAINA: We went and rode that.

00:55:40.165 --> 00:55:41.285
DAINA: That's a fantastic ride.

00:55:41.285 --> 00:55:42.145
VIRGINIA: I love it.

00:55:42.145 --> 00:55:44.685
VIRGINIA: It's so well themed.

00:55:46.265 --> 00:55:51.845
VIRGINIA: You think about an outdoor coaster and think, how much theming can you possibly do?

00:55:51.845 --> 00:56:00.565
VIRGINIA: But they have done, in my opinion, everything they could do with an outdoor coaster to really give you a storyline, which is I think what makes it a better coaster.

00:56:00.565 --> 00:56:01.225
DAINA: Absolutely.

00:56:01.225 --> 00:56:02.125
DAINA: Yeah, it was fantastic.

00:56:02.205 --> 00:56:05.225
DAINA: A great length, great theming, like you said.

00:56:05.525 --> 00:56:08.865
DAINA: For it being a smooth ride.

00:56:08.865 --> 00:56:15.165
DAINA: Normally outside ones aren't always smooth, but that one, they did a great job with the steel track to make it smooth and get a loop in there.

00:56:15.165 --> 00:56:17.145
DAINA: So yeah, the coaster lover and me loved that one.

00:56:17.145 --> 00:56:18.885
DAINA: It was fantastic.

00:56:18.885 --> 00:56:23.545
KRISTINA: I think we made our way down Pixar Pier.

00:56:23.545 --> 00:56:27.705
KRISTINA: I think Anger was out, so I know we took pictures with Anger.

00:56:29.105 --> 00:56:33.085
KRISTINA: Then I think we went on the Pixar Pal around.

00:56:33.085 --> 00:56:33.685
DAINA: We did.

00:56:33.685 --> 00:56:35.345
VIRGINIA: It was time for Wheel of Death.

00:56:35.785 --> 00:56:36.385
VIRGINIA: Swinging.

00:56:36.385 --> 00:56:37.645
KRISTINA: Yes.

00:56:37.645 --> 00:56:38.325
DAINA: Yes.

00:56:38.325 --> 00:56:38.785
DAINA: Yes.

00:56:38.785 --> 00:56:40.925
DAINA: So Kristina, Errol and I did the swinging.

00:56:40.925 --> 00:56:44.825
DAINA: Mark and Brian went on the stationary, so we split in the two lines there.

00:56:44.825 --> 00:56:50.985
DAINA: We were going to video and try to do like straight face challenge and they would not let us have our own car.

00:56:50.985 --> 00:56:56.345
DAINA: Despite me asking three times trying to have our own car, we were not able to.

00:56:56.345 --> 00:56:57.945
DAINA: So we were all sitting on the same side together.

00:56:58.045 --> 00:57:02.805
DAINA: So I do have some selfie video footage that I may be putting on Instagram at some point.

00:57:02.805 --> 00:57:07.145
DAINA: I got here to prove it and see if they're okay with me posting it.

00:57:07.145 --> 00:57:09.525
DAINA: But we're all smiles and laughter, all fun.

00:57:09.525 --> 00:57:10.645
DAINA: Nobody was sick or anything like that.

00:57:10.645 --> 00:57:13.445
DAINA: The people we were running with were hilarious.

00:57:13.445 --> 00:57:19.085
DAINA: You can probably hear them in the background if I post it with our real audio, hear them in the background screaming no.

00:57:19.085 --> 00:57:21.825
DAINA: It was fantastic, super fun time.

00:57:21.825 --> 00:57:24.645
DAINA: Great views from up there.

00:57:24.645 --> 00:57:30.165
DAINA: To me, I wasn't scared by any means, but I can see why it would not be for everyone.

00:57:30.405 --> 00:57:32.825
DAINA: Like I said before, I'm a thrill seeker, so to me, I loved it.

00:57:32.825 --> 00:57:34.605
DAINA: I'm all about it.

00:57:34.605 --> 00:57:44.045
DAINA: But I can see why some people would just prefer the stationary to just sit and chill and take a gorgeous roundabout the first wheel.

00:57:44.045 --> 00:57:47.245
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I'm a thrill seeker and I don't love it.

00:57:49.005 --> 00:57:50.805
DAINA: Yeah, that's fair.

00:57:51.065 --> 00:57:51.765
DAINA: I can totally see why.

00:57:51.805 --> 00:57:53.265
VIRGINIA: Right off that wheel.

00:57:54.445 --> 00:57:55.165
KRISTINA: It does.

00:57:55.165 --> 00:57:56.025
DAINA: Yeah.

00:57:56.025 --> 00:58:09.585
DAINA: There were some on that going down the other side where it was like you just see straight down coming out of your car from that upswing and so yeah, it was, yeah, I think the hardest part of it is the nerves of not knowing when you're going to shift because it kept feeling like we were going to, we're like, oh, here it comes.

00:58:09.585 --> 00:58:10.825
DAINA: And then we didn't hardly move.

00:58:10.825 --> 00:58:15.445
DAINA: But then like all of a sudden it was like, boom, here we go, like full speed, like, okay, now we're seeing the ground below us.

00:58:15.445 --> 00:58:20.785
DAINA: So definitely have a little bit of a, you don't know what to expect kind of factor coming through.

00:58:21.385 --> 00:58:24.225
VIRGINIA: So were Mark and Brian off the ride before you?

00:58:24.225 --> 00:58:28.605
VIRGINIA: Like is there, is it faster to go through the stationary line?

00:58:28.605 --> 00:58:30.085
VIRGINIA: Did they get onto a car first?

00:58:30.085 --> 00:58:32.605
DAINA: The day we split the wait times, they did get on first.

00:58:32.605 --> 00:58:34.685
DAINA: They got off slightly before us.

00:58:34.685 --> 00:58:39.245
DAINA: It did show the same wait time for both, because there's a wait time for the swinging and for the stationary.

00:58:39.245 --> 00:58:41.245
DAINA: And this time they happened to be matching.

00:58:41.245 --> 00:58:52.925
DAINA: Although normally when I checked the wait times, like leading up to the trip, I was checking often just to see what things, and normally I saw the swinging side had a lower wait time than the stationary, but for this day, it was the same, but they did get on and off faster than us.

00:58:52.925 --> 00:58:56.445
DAINA: They were also able to go just them in their car.

00:58:56.445 --> 00:59:03.245
DAINA: And I was told that the swinging ones are supposedly more in demand, and so that's why we couldn't have our own car.

00:59:03.245 --> 00:59:06.585
DAINA: I don't know that I agree with that based on what I've seen, but it all worked out.

00:59:06.585 --> 00:59:08.725
DAINA: We had fun, but yeah, it seems like they made it through.

00:59:08.725 --> 00:59:11.645
DAINA: Even though it said the wait time was the same, they did make it on and off faster than us.

00:59:11.645 --> 00:59:13.485
DAINA: So take with that information what you will.

00:59:16.045 --> 00:59:20.045
DAINA: Then we headed to the emotional whirlwinds.

00:59:20.045 --> 00:59:23.605
DAINA: It was a cute little fun ride, super cute theming.

00:59:23.605 --> 00:59:24.845
DAINA: Love anything inside out.

00:59:24.845 --> 00:59:27.325
DAINA: That was fun to hop on.

00:59:27.325 --> 00:59:30.865
KRISTINA: Then I think it was lunchtime because my next picture show Landfly.

00:59:30.865 --> 00:59:32.205
DAINA: Yeah.

00:59:32.205 --> 00:59:33.265
DAINA: That is what my show too.

00:59:33.265 --> 00:59:33.645
DAINA: Yes.

00:59:33.645 --> 00:59:34.385
DAINA: We went to Landfly.

00:59:34.385 --> 00:59:39.465
DAINA: We actually went and asked if we had a reservation for 12.25, but we asked if they could see this early.

00:59:39.465 --> 00:59:46.585
DAINA: I think we checked in around 11.45 because we had some lightning lanes that were going to clash with that reservation time.

00:59:46.585 --> 00:59:48.725
DAINA: We didn't want to have to be rushed and stressing out.

00:59:48.725 --> 00:59:50.205
DAINA: We asked if they could see this early.

00:59:50.205 --> 00:59:52.165
DAINA: They checked us in and said no guarantee.

00:59:52.165 --> 00:59:53.565
DAINA: Then they actually ended up sending us sealers.

00:59:53.565 --> 00:59:56.485
DAINA: Our table was ready five minutes after I checked this in.

00:59:56.485 --> 00:59:57.505
DAINA: They were able to accommodate us.

00:59:57.505 --> 01:00:05.405
DAINA: We got a super fantastic couch seating spot down on the lower level right next to the water.

01:00:05.405 --> 01:00:09.285
DAINA: We did not want to get up on those couches because they were fantastic.

01:00:09.565 --> 01:00:12.065
DAINA: Just the cool breeze and we were in the shade.

01:00:12.065 --> 01:00:14.665
DAINA: You could see all the beautiful sights of Pixar Pier.

01:00:14.745 --> 01:00:16.965
DAINA: I could have vibed there all day to be honest with you.

01:00:16.965 --> 01:00:18.885
KRISTINA: Yeah.

01:00:18.885 --> 01:00:20.425
KRISTINA: I don't think any of us wanted to get up.

01:00:20.425 --> 01:00:22.705
KRISTINA: It was just the perfect.

01:00:22.705 --> 01:00:27.985
KRISTINA: The California weather, you were being able to sit in the couches.

01:00:29.065 --> 01:00:35.345
KRISTINA: I think the only thing that would have made it better is if it maybe was dark, like if it was in the night time.

01:00:35.345 --> 01:00:37.785
KRISTINA: It had a little fire pit.

01:00:37.785 --> 01:00:40.625
KRISTINA: It looked like it had a fire pit in the middle.

01:00:40.705 --> 01:00:45.265
KRISTINA: If that would have been lit, you could have just left me right there for the whole night.

01:00:45.265 --> 01:00:46.305
DAINA: Absolutely.

01:00:46.305 --> 01:00:49.125
DAINA: We're night time people, so we thrive at night time in the park.

01:00:49.925 --> 01:00:53.645
DAINA: That would be the only thing I would like to eat there at night too.

01:00:53.645 --> 01:00:53.885
DAINA: Let's see.

01:00:53.885 --> 01:00:58.545
DAINA: I got a drink, I think the 2319, which was super delicious.

01:00:58.545 --> 01:00:58.985
DAINA: Really weird.

01:00:58.985 --> 01:01:00.465
DAINA: Not the prettiest drink to photograph.

01:01:00.665 --> 01:01:01.205
DAINA: We took pictures.

01:01:01.605 --> 01:01:03.125
DAINA: It's not a gorgeous drink by any means.

01:01:03.125 --> 01:01:05.345
DAINA: It has great presentation, but it has a great taste.

01:01:05.345 --> 01:01:07.025
DAINA: That's what matters.

01:01:07.025 --> 01:01:08.945
DAINA: Then I got the lobster nachos.

01:01:08.945 --> 01:01:10.445
VIRGINIA: I hear such good things about those.

01:01:10.445 --> 01:01:11.925
DAINA: I thought were fantastic.

01:01:11.925 --> 01:01:15.285
DAINA: Yes, if you like seafood and lobster, they were fantastic.

01:01:15.285 --> 01:01:18.645
DAINA: Then Mark got the Brussels Caesar.

01:01:18.645 --> 01:01:22.485
DAINA: It's like a Brussels sprout Caesar salad kind of thing.

01:01:22.485 --> 01:01:23.485
DAINA: It was fantastic.

01:01:23.485 --> 01:01:27.665
DAINA: It's not something I normally would ever look and be like, I'm going to order that, but I tried his and it was really good.

01:01:27.785 --> 01:01:34.305
DAINA: So I honestly would probably get it if we ever go back again, I would definitely try it again because it was really delicious.

01:01:34.305 --> 01:01:36.605
DAINA: And then I don't remember what Ariel got.

01:01:36.605 --> 01:01:39.685
KRISTINA: She got the big, she got the potato skins.

01:01:39.685 --> 01:01:40.865
DAINA: The potato skins.

01:01:40.865 --> 01:01:42.085
DAINA: Yes, potato skins.

01:01:42.085 --> 01:01:44.185
DAINA: So she grabbed the potato skins.

01:01:44.665 --> 01:01:44.845
DAINA: Yeah.

01:01:44.845 --> 01:01:46.265
DAINA: So ours were all delicious.

01:01:46.265 --> 01:01:48.645
KRISTINA: Me and Brian shared the nachos.

01:01:48.645 --> 01:01:51.405
KRISTINA: I don't like lobster, so I just had him take off.

01:01:51.405 --> 01:01:56.225
KRISTINA: Basically, he just had chips with lobster because he just ate all of the lobster.

01:01:57.105 --> 01:02:02.925
KRISTINA: And then I also got the 2319 and then Brian got, I don't remember what he got.

01:02:02.925 --> 01:02:03.545
KRISTINA: It was really good though.

01:02:03.545 --> 01:02:08.685
KRISTINA: It was like lemonade and I think mango puree, but it was really good.

01:02:08.685 --> 01:02:09.865
VIRGINIA: So that sounds good.

01:02:09.865 --> 01:02:15.805
KRISTINA: Definitely the last time we went to Disneyland, we ate at Land Plate and it was not a good experience.

01:02:15.805 --> 01:02:21.365
KRISTINA: So it was good to try it again and have it be a much better experience.

01:02:21.365 --> 01:02:24.205
KRISTINA: So I will definitely, I would go back.

01:02:24.205 --> 01:02:26.125
KRISTINA: And the framing inside the restaurant was super cute.

01:02:27.525 --> 01:02:27.785
DAINA: Yeah.

01:02:27.785 --> 01:02:36.645
DAINA: So then after lunch, our friend Kat, who is not so wicked stepmom on Instagram, she's a Canadian friend of ours.

01:02:36.645 --> 01:02:39.585
DAINA: She was also in town at Disneyland at the same time.

01:02:39.585 --> 01:02:47.605
DAINA: And so we were able, she had a Land Plate Lounge reservation shortly after hours, so they were waiting for the reservation, her and her family, as we were ending hours and leaving.

01:02:47.605 --> 01:02:53.705
DAINA: So we got to stop and chat with her and get a hug and say hi, which is fantastic because we all live so far apart.

01:02:54.245 --> 01:03:01.445
DAINA: So the odds of uniting on the West Coast together at the same time was pretty wild and I feel like it was meant to be, that we got to see each other.

01:03:01.445 --> 01:03:05.425
DAINA: So that was a super fun and a nice moment to add in there.

01:03:05.425 --> 01:03:12.725
DAINA: And then we went to Web Slingers, we had a Lightning Lane for Web Slingers, which is the one that we didn't want our reservation to clash with.

01:03:12.725 --> 01:03:14.225
DAINA: So we went to do that one.

01:03:14.225 --> 01:03:17.605
DAINA: Obviously, my first time on that one, we don't have anything to compare that to.

01:03:17.605 --> 01:03:18.805
VIRGINIA: Here, how did you do?

01:03:18.805 --> 01:03:20.485
DAINA: But I thought it was a super fun ride.

01:03:20.485 --> 01:03:22.445
DAINA: Definitely an arm workout.

01:03:23.025 --> 01:03:24.505
DAINA: Let's see, what is my score the first time?

01:03:24.505 --> 01:03:29.825
DAINA: I want to say it was 184,600, my first one.

01:03:29.825 --> 01:03:35.805
DAINA: Then I single wrote it a couple of days later, and I got 222,000 the next time.

01:03:35.805 --> 01:03:37.665
DAINA: So I did better the second time.

01:03:37.665 --> 01:03:40.105
DAINA: But I didn't know what to expect the first time to be fair.

01:03:40.105 --> 01:03:41.705
KRISTINA: It is an arm workout.

01:03:41.705 --> 01:03:45.645
KRISTINA: Just the movement of the arms, it's not a normal movement.

01:03:45.645 --> 01:03:56.805
KRISTINA: If you're trying to do that over and over, if you think that your arm hurts after Toy Story Mania, this is a new level of pain that you need to be good for.

01:03:56.805 --> 01:04:02.985
KRISTINA: I think Mark figured out that you could do finger guns and still get the same results.

01:04:02.985 --> 01:04:03.705
VIRGINIA: Oh, really?

01:04:03.705 --> 01:04:06.445
KRISTINA: So he cheated and was doing finger guns.

01:04:06.445 --> 01:04:06.825
DAINA: Yeah.

01:04:06.825 --> 01:04:08.045
VIRGINIA: Top tip.

01:04:08.045 --> 01:04:09.705
DAINA: Is he cheating?

01:04:10.165 --> 01:04:11.545
DAINA: I was beating him.

01:04:11.545 --> 01:04:17.785
DAINA: I was beating him into the last scene because he was next to me, but I maintained proper Spider-Man form the entire time.

01:04:18.285 --> 01:04:27.725
DAINA: So to be fair, that was my score with proper form, and he was like Shooter McGavin in it, like at the end there, which I would imagine lets you move a little faster.

01:04:27.725 --> 01:04:28.525
KRISTINA: Yeah, and less pain.

01:04:28.525 --> 01:04:30.085
KRISTINA: You're not as much pain.

01:04:30.105 --> 01:04:33.265
DAINA: Yeah, and less pain, less full arm motion.

01:04:34.805 --> 01:04:35.265
VIRGINIA: Yes.

01:04:35.265 --> 01:04:36.225
VIRGINIA: Oh my gosh.

01:04:36.225 --> 01:04:39.485
DAINA: So yeah, fun tip if you may want to try that version.

01:04:39.485 --> 01:04:41.085
DAINA: Go for it.

01:04:41.085 --> 01:04:54.805
DAINA: Then after that, we were waiting to see the Spider-Man show, and while we were in line, I headed over to Pym's test lab, and got a delicious alcoholic espresso drink.

01:04:54.805 --> 01:04:57.725
DAINA: It was so pretty, but it's also fantastic tasting.

01:04:57.725 --> 01:05:00.765
DAINA: Normally, they're not sweet enough for me, but I wanted to give it a try.

01:05:00.765 --> 01:05:05.925
DAINA: Everybody always talks about the drinks there being really good, and I'm glad I did because it was a really, really good one.

01:05:05.925 --> 01:05:07.565
DAINA: So definitely recommend that one.

01:05:08.285 --> 01:05:09.285
DAINA: Ariel got a drink there.

01:05:09.285 --> 01:05:10.725
DAINA: She got the non-alcoholic drink for me.

01:05:10.725 --> 01:05:12.645
DAINA: I think they only had one.

01:05:12.645 --> 01:05:14.285
DAINA: She got that one and she really enjoyed that one too.

01:05:15.025 --> 01:05:17.545
DAINA: And then we watched the Spider-Man show.

01:05:17.545 --> 01:05:18.705
KRISTINA: Which is super fun.

01:05:18.705 --> 01:05:19.105
KRISTINA: I love it.

01:05:19.105 --> 01:05:21.065
VIRGINIA: It looks cool.

01:05:21.065 --> 01:05:22.245
VIRGINIA: I haven't seen it myself yet.

01:05:22.245 --> 01:05:24.805
DAINA: It was super awesome to see him fly across.

01:05:24.805 --> 01:05:28.445
DAINA: He comes and gives high fives to the people in the front of the line after the show or whatever, so that's fine.

01:05:28.445 --> 01:05:37.105
DAINA: So if he has a little one that wants a, or a big child who wants a high five, then stand in the front so he can get one when he runs by at the end.

01:05:37.105 --> 01:05:39.845
VIRGINIA: I haven't heard any mention of Cars Land yet.

01:05:39.845 --> 01:05:42.745
DAINA: No, we had not made it there yet at this point.

01:05:43.685 --> 01:05:44.425
DAINA: Almost, though.

01:05:44.425 --> 01:05:51.405
DAINA: Next up after Spider-Man show is we went to San francisco, and top of the list was there was to meet Baymax.

01:05:51.405 --> 01:05:54.185
DAINA: So we got into line to meet Baymax.

01:05:54.185 --> 01:05:55.905
DAINA: It was a pretty long wait.

01:05:55.905 --> 01:05:59.325
DAINA: He switched sets probably two times, I think, while we were in line.

01:05:59.325 --> 01:06:05.465
DAINA: So we probably spent an hour on that meet and greet, which to me worth it.

01:06:05.465 --> 01:06:07.225
DAINA: We love Baymax, we want to hear what characters.

01:06:07.225 --> 01:06:15.565
DAINA: Kristina and I both have Baymax tattooed on our arms, so we showed Baymax our tattoos, and he said he wanted one too, essentially.

01:06:15.565 --> 01:06:22.045
DAINA: I think Hiro compromised to put a sticker on his armor, his armored suit instead for him instead of a tattoo.

01:06:22.045 --> 01:06:27.465
DAINA: But super fun interactions with Baymax, super fun individual and group photos.

01:06:27.465 --> 01:06:29.125
DAINA: So it was a great experience, it was worth the wait.

01:06:29.125 --> 01:06:32.545
DAINA: The only down part was that a lot of the line was in direct sun.

01:06:32.545 --> 01:06:36.225
DAINA: I was not hot in California unless I was standing in the line in direct sun.

01:06:36.225 --> 01:06:38.245
DAINA: That was the only time I felt hot.

01:06:38.245 --> 01:06:39.805
DAINA: So the line was a little bit rough.

01:06:39.805 --> 01:06:41.165
DAINA: So just keep that in mind.

01:06:41.245 --> 01:06:47.985
DAINA: Anyone who doesn't love standing in the line, maybe wait for it to be shorter or catch them at a different time, possibly of the day.

01:06:47.985 --> 01:06:53.785
DAINA: I think we were there midday, let's say we were at the pictures show, 421, so like 3.30-ish.

01:06:53.785 --> 01:06:55.665
DAINA: So maybe don't go there if you don't want to be in a long line.

01:06:55.665 --> 01:06:58.085
DAINA: But worth the experience, super great.

01:06:58.085 --> 01:07:00.705
DAINA: I believe we then went, is that when we went and took a break?

01:07:00.705 --> 01:07:02.265
KRISTINA: I think we might have gone back.

01:07:02.265 --> 01:07:06.725
KRISTINA: I think we went back to the hotel because I think we wanted to freshen up.

01:07:06.725 --> 01:07:13.105
KRISTINA: I think Ariel wanted to freshen up her makeup because it had come off.

01:07:13.105 --> 01:07:23.845
KRISTINA: So I think we headed back for a midday break just to rest because I think we were all, it was starting to hit us just being a little bit tired and...

01:07:23.845 --> 01:07:28.765
DAINA: That's a lot of getting up so early and going on like five hours of sleep on average every night and then open and close.

01:07:28.805 --> 01:07:30.145
KRISTINA: We're not used to that.

01:07:30.145 --> 01:07:31.045
DAINA: I catch that too.

01:07:31.045 --> 01:07:35.845
DAINA: Remember, we're usually at a zero for a few hours at a time in the evening only.

01:07:35.845 --> 01:07:37.625
DAINA: We very rarely go do full park days.

01:07:39.025 --> 01:07:41.045
DAINA: We had to readjust our bodies back to that.

01:07:41.545 --> 01:07:43.105
DAINA: We went back, freshened up.

01:07:43.105 --> 01:07:48.365
DAINA: Ariel and I headed back down just a smidge early because we were dressed as a Lightning McQueen and Mater.

01:07:48.365 --> 01:07:51.445
DAINA: We wanted some Cars Land pictures before the sun went down.

01:07:51.445 --> 01:07:58.645
DAINA: We were going to head back to all meet up and be there in time for the shaboom for the lighting of the street at Cars Land.

01:07:58.645 --> 01:07:59.885
DAINA: We went and took some pictures.

01:08:00.905 --> 01:08:03.545
DAINA: It was very people-y for this experience.

01:08:03.825 --> 01:08:08.865
DAINA: When we had left Cars Land, there was not nearly, left the Saber and Sokyo area, not nearly as many people.

01:08:08.865 --> 01:08:14.505
DAINA: Then this is a very popular event, we found out because there was a lot of people coming back.

01:08:14.505 --> 01:08:22.585
DAINA: But yeah, we stood there and had some spots right in front of flows for the lighting and that was super awesome and fun to see, such a fun experience.

01:08:22.845 --> 01:08:25.825
DAINA: That land is absolutely fantastic.

01:08:25.825 --> 01:08:27.185
DAINA: I have no complaints.

01:08:27.765 --> 01:08:30.965
DAINA: The theming is just absolutely spot on.

01:08:30.965 --> 01:08:34.905
DAINA: I don't think I've ever seen something replicated so well as Cars Land.

01:08:34.905 --> 01:08:39.305
DAINA: It's just absolutely gorgeous, especially at night with everything lit up in the neon.

01:08:39.305 --> 01:08:42.325
DAINA: I think it was absolutely fantastic to see all that.

01:08:42.325 --> 01:08:43.085
KRISTINA: I agree.

01:08:43.085 --> 01:08:43.325
KRISTINA: Yeah.

01:08:44.245 --> 01:08:45.965
KRISTINA: It's like you're in the movie.

01:08:45.965 --> 01:08:52.925
KRISTINA: They did such a good job of taking those scenes out of the movie and putting it in real life.

01:08:52.925 --> 01:08:59.185
KRISTINA: When we were here the last time, the lighting, the shabooms, is just like it is in the movie.

01:08:59.185 --> 01:09:14.685
KRISTINA: I like the Halloween, the spooky aspect that they do, that they just have a different song, and just the little effects to that, just make it a different experience than during the non-holiday times.

01:09:14.685 --> 01:09:22.925
KRISTINA: If our Cars Land can look half as good as this, I think they will be hanging out and magicing them a lot more.

01:09:22.925 --> 01:09:23.325
VIRGINIA: Absolutely.

01:09:23.325 --> 01:09:26.245
VIRGINIA: That will be very interesting to see how ours turns out.

01:09:26.245 --> 01:09:26.745
KRISTINA: Yes.

01:09:26.745 --> 01:09:31.165
DAINA: It makes me even more excited and pumped for that, just because seeing how well done this one was.

01:09:31.165 --> 01:09:35.465
DAINA: We also wanted to ride the Racers at night, more than we wanted to ride at the day.

01:09:35.465 --> 01:09:39.045
DAINA: It had a long line all day, like 60 to 90 minutes all day long.

01:09:39.045 --> 01:09:44.385
DAINA: So right after, we wanted to buy a Lightning Lane for it, because that one is a purchase one, right?

01:09:44.385 --> 01:09:58.925
DAINA: So it was like $21 a person, and we wanted to buy it for a nighttime ride, and we thought we'd have to get it early in the morning, but we had been watching all day, and the time slots were literally just like for the current time, like it wasn't selling out in advance.

01:09:58.925 --> 01:10:02.725
DAINA: So we actually just bought them right after we did the lighting experience.

01:10:02.725 --> 01:10:06.045
DAINA: We bought them and immediately went and tapped into the ride.

01:10:07.125 --> 01:10:09.065
DAINA: It was absolutely worth the $21 percent.

01:10:09.065 --> 01:10:11.225
DAINA: I normally will never pay for rides, but we're on vacation.

01:10:11.285 --> 01:10:13.545
DAINA: This is not something we get to do all the time.

01:10:13.545 --> 01:10:17.585
DAINA: So at Disneyland, I was willing to, in DC, I was willing to do that.

01:10:17.585 --> 01:10:18.185
DAINA: It was well worth it.

01:10:18.185 --> 01:10:20.745
DAINA: That ride was absolutely fantastic.

01:10:21.405 --> 01:10:22.925
DAINA: The big bull thing scared me.

01:10:22.925 --> 01:10:23.545
DAINA: It got me.

01:10:23.545 --> 01:10:26.805
DAINA: They had me distracted with the tipped over tractors.

01:10:27.905 --> 01:10:29.845
DAINA: But it was so cute and so fun.

01:10:29.845 --> 01:10:33.465
DAINA: And I would absolutely ride it a bazillion times if I could.

01:10:33.465 --> 01:10:34.685
DAINA: Just over and over again, just leave me on it.

01:10:34.685 --> 01:10:35.945
DAINA: Let me ride it all day.

01:10:35.945 --> 01:10:39.285
DAINA: So next time we go back, we'll have to ride during the daytime because we did not ever get a daytime ride on it.

01:10:39.885 --> 01:10:43.625
DAINA: So that's on the list for our next Disneyland and DCA trip for sure.

01:10:43.625 --> 01:10:51.905
KRISTINA: Then it looks like since we didn't have a park reservation for Disneyland, we got into the virtual queue for Haunted Mansion at 12 o'clock.

01:10:51.905 --> 01:10:55.045
KRISTINA: And I think our group, we got born in group 223.

01:10:55.045 --> 01:11:03.325
KRISTINA: So we had no idea what time that was, but it actually ended up being as soon as we got off of Radiator Springs.

01:11:03.325 --> 01:11:06.605
KRISTINA: Within the next 30 minutes, our time was going to be called.

01:11:06.605 --> 01:11:17.785
KRISTINA: So then we hopped over back to Disneyland to go on Haunted Mansion again, which again, the convenience of being able to hop over is just amazing.

01:11:17.785 --> 01:11:24.005
KRISTINA: And then if we wanted to, we could have hopped back over to DCA because I think it was open until 10 that night.

01:11:24.005 --> 01:11:26.045
KRISTINA: So is that the only thing that we did?

01:11:26.345 --> 01:11:31.605
KRISTINA: Oh no, I think you guys also did Space Mountain again.

01:11:31.605 --> 01:11:32.785
DAINA: I think so.

01:11:32.785 --> 01:11:32.965
DAINA: Yeah.

01:11:32.965 --> 01:11:34.145
DAINA: I'm trying to look at my pictures.

01:11:34.145 --> 01:11:40.325
DAINA: I also, I did get to say hi to an Instagram friend, Tina, also in Cars Land before we dipped out.

01:11:40.325 --> 01:11:45.525
DAINA: She's the alt Disney on Instagram, so I got to say a quick hi and hug and get a picture with her, which was really nice.

01:11:45.525 --> 01:11:49.605
DAINA: It's always so nice to meet people in the Instagram community when you talk so often online.

01:11:49.605 --> 01:11:52.405
DAINA: Most of the time, we've been talking for like a year or more, right?

01:11:52.405 --> 01:11:54.525
DAINA: Because my Instagram is like three or four years old at this point.

01:11:55.045 --> 01:11:57.685
DAINA: So, so many people I've talked to in that community we built.

01:11:57.685 --> 01:12:02.685
DAINA: It's so nice when you can bring that community in person and be able to actually say hello to people.

01:12:02.685 --> 01:12:04.345
DAINA: It's always so fun to be able to do that.

01:12:04.345 --> 01:12:06.085
DAINA: So, I did get to say hello to her.

01:12:06.085 --> 01:12:17.045
DAINA: Then, yeah, looking at pictures, Haunted Mansion, and then I believe we ate at that Rancho restaurant that night, right, Kristina?

01:12:17.045 --> 01:12:17.785
DAINA: Looking at my pictures.

01:12:17.785 --> 01:12:18.825
KRISTINA: It would have to be.

01:12:18.865 --> 01:12:20.485
KRISTINA: It would have to be because...

01:12:20.485 --> 01:12:25.665
DAINA: Yeah, it looks like, yeah, Haunted Mansion, then Pirates, or we ate, and then we did Pirates.

01:12:25.665 --> 01:12:31.125
DAINA: And we also, that's when we also got to say hello to Becca as well from Instagram.

01:12:31.125 --> 01:12:34.685
DAINA: She is Bex in the Parks on Instagram.

01:12:34.685 --> 01:12:36.265
DAINA: So, we got to say hello to her as well.

01:12:36.265 --> 01:12:37.725
DAINA: So, two people that day.

01:12:37.725 --> 01:12:39.605
DAINA: Actually, maybe, was it also Lamplight Day?

01:12:39.605 --> 01:12:40.245
DAINA: Three people that day.

01:12:40.245 --> 01:12:41.925
DAINA: We got Kat, Tina and Becca that day.

01:12:42.845 --> 01:12:45.565
DAINA: So, it was a really great day for saying hello to people.

01:12:45.565 --> 01:12:48.925
DAINA: A couple of people I didn't end up timing wise get to say hello to.

01:12:48.925 --> 01:12:50.205
DAINA: Hopefully, next time.

01:12:50.205 --> 01:12:56.905
DAINA: But yeah, it looks like we had, we did Haunted Mansion, ate dinner, and then did Pirates again.

01:12:56.905 --> 01:13:01.385
DAINA: And yes, Space Mountain, because I have a ride picture in here from it.

01:13:02.405 --> 01:13:04.225
DAINA: Yes, and that was the end of the night, I believe.

01:13:04.225 --> 01:13:05.265
VIRGINIA: Okay.

01:13:05.265 --> 01:13:09.405
VIRGINIA: The next day was Tuesday, September 24th, and that was your Oogie Boogie Day.

01:13:09.405 --> 01:13:10.105
DAINA: Correct.

01:13:10.105 --> 01:13:11.025
DAINA: Yes.

01:13:11.025 --> 01:13:11.845
VIRGINIA: Okay.

01:13:11.845 --> 01:13:14.525
VIRGINIA: So did you do anything before the party?

01:13:14.525 --> 01:13:18.765
DAINA: We originally had brunch scheduled at the Grand California and the Mickey's Autumn Brunch.

01:13:18.765 --> 01:13:23.885
DAINA: However, we were all feeling the fatigue of just rope drop to close.

01:13:23.885 --> 01:13:26.025
DAINA: The last two days plus travel day, we were feeling it.

01:13:26.025 --> 01:13:34.385
DAINA: So we all kind of wanted to sleep just a little bit more because we had also wanted to go check out Pixar Place Hotel and go see Bing Bong and check out what they had over there.

01:13:34.825 --> 01:13:41.725
DAINA: So we actually canceled brunch and we got up and headed over around 10 to Pixar Place.

01:13:41.725 --> 01:13:45.465
DAINA: We were able to just go out and through downtown Disney and walk over to visit.

01:13:45.465 --> 01:13:47.605
DAINA: And as soon as we walked in, Bing Bong was there.

01:13:47.605 --> 01:13:49.725
DAINA: So we jumped in line and met Bing Bong real quick.

01:13:49.725 --> 01:13:51.885
DAINA: I showed him my Bing Bong tattoo.

01:13:51.885 --> 01:13:53.785
DAINA: He loved it, of course.

01:13:53.785 --> 01:13:55.125
DAINA: So that was a super fun meet and greet.

01:13:55.125 --> 01:13:56.345
DAINA: He looks spot on.

01:13:56.345 --> 01:13:58.705
DAINA: I mean, he is perfection.

01:13:58.705 --> 01:13:59.485
DAINA: So, so cute.

01:13:59.485 --> 01:14:05.305
DAINA: And then we actually had breakfast at the Great Maple that's inside of Pixar Place, which I believe is a chain restaurant.

01:14:05.305 --> 01:14:08.705
DAINA: I had, I was not aware of it, but it looked like a chain when we looked it up.

01:14:08.705 --> 01:14:11.425
DAINA: And it was a delicious breakfast.

01:14:11.425 --> 01:14:17.285
DAINA: I highly recommend checking it out if you might be looking for a, it was a sit down, but like we didn't have a reservation.

01:14:17.285 --> 01:14:19.265
DAINA: We just walked in, asked for a table and they were able to seat us.

01:14:19.305 --> 01:14:20.745
DAINA: It was a party of five.

01:14:20.745 --> 01:14:23.565
DAINA: So it's not one you have to really plan ahead.

01:14:23.565 --> 01:14:27.425
DAINA: And again, we got a French toast dish that they had.

01:14:27.425 --> 01:14:32.045
DAINA: And then I also got a like egg scramble bowl with potatoes.

01:14:32.425 --> 01:14:34.465
DAINA: And it was also fantastic.

01:14:34.465 --> 01:14:36.605
DAINA: And Ariel had a Caesar salad.

01:14:36.605 --> 01:14:37.585
DAINA: That was also really good.

01:14:37.585 --> 01:14:39.325
DAINA: And then Kristina, I think y'all got...

01:14:39.325 --> 01:14:44.465
KRISTINA: Yeah, I got the same egg scramble with the probably one of the best potatoes I've had.

01:14:44.465 --> 01:14:48.625
KRISTINA: It was like a sour cream and chive gala potato bake.

01:14:48.625 --> 01:14:51.245
KRISTINA: And then Brian basically got like pancake pops.

01:14:51.245 --> 01:14:57.745
KRISTINA: So they're like the, you know, you've seen them in like the frozen food, like the pancakes, but with the sausage in the middle, like pancake corn dogs.

01:14:58.565 --> 01:15:04.925
KRISTINA: They have those and they were, it was delicious, very filling.

01:15:04.925 --> 01:15:07.345
KRISTINA: And I didn't think it was like overpriced or anything.

01:15:07.345 --> 01:15:11.805
KRISTINA: It was standard breakfast, you know, standard prices for a restaurant.

01:15:11.805 --> 01:15:19.805
KRISTINA: So definitely a good choice if you don't want to go to downtown Disney or you don't want to go to any of like the character meals.

01:15:19.805 --> 01:15:21.465
KRISTINA: This was a very good alternative.

01:15:23.045 --> 01:15:25.005
DAINA: We just kind of explored the resort.

01:15:25.005 --> 01:15:29.625
DAINA: We checked out like the lobby, a lot of cute little hidden details in the doors and on the floor.

01:15:29.625 --> 01:15:32.365
DAINA: Lots of great paintings and pictures around.

01:15:32.365 --> 01:15:35.205
DAINA: They have a sketch pad cafe that I got a coffee at.

01:15:35.205 --> 01:15:37.865
DAINA: They had like a specialty pumpkin drink that was going on.

01:15:37.865 --> 01:15:40.645
DAINA: And it was absolutely fantastic as well.

01:15:40.645 --> 01:15:48.805
DAINA: And then we went up to the pool deck to check out their pool deck because we knew they had a Lava U fire pit thing from the Lava U short.

01:15:48.805 --> 01:15:51.105
DAINA: And I, Mark and I have those tattooed on us.

01:15:51.205 --> 01:15:53.625
DAINA: Like I have the girl volcano, he has the boy volcano.

01:15:53.625 --> 01:15:56.145
DAINA: So we really wanted to make sure we saw that because it's one of our favorite shorts.

01:15:56.145 --> 01:16:00.385
DAINA: And that whole pool deck, I'd say the whole hotel, I would absolutely stay at Pixar Place.

01:16:00.385 --> 01:16:04.605
DAINA: That was originally where we were scheduled to stay until the deal came out to switch to Grand Californian.

01:16:04.605 --> 01:16:11.825
DAINA: But going back, if the price, if there was a great price for Pixar Place, I would absolutely take it because that hotel was super, super cute.

01:16:11.825 --> 01:16:13.465
DAINA: The theming was spot on.

01:16:13.465 --> 01:16:21.905
DAINA: The pool deck had such great like vibe areas to just kind of hang out, chill perfect for if you want to do a game night or just have a relaxing resort day.

01:16:21.905 --> 01:16:22.965
DAINA: Zero complaints about the hotel.

01:16:22.965 --> 01:16:25.445
DAINA: I think it's absolutely adorable and would absolutely stay there.

01:16:25.445 --> 01:16:35.065
VIRGINIA: I'm really looking forward to getting to check it out at some point because I've stayed there once, but it was before it became Pixar Place, when it was called Paradise Theater, I think.

01:16:35.065 --> 01:16:36.725
DAINA: Yeah, so definitely stay there.

01:16:37.045 --> 01:16:44.545
DAINA: I would definitely recommend it to anyone just from, I can't speak to the rooms, obviously we didn't go into those, but everything else we went into, all the common areas were fantastic.

01:16:45.085 --> 01:16:50.685
KRISTINA: And again, still close to, still walking right through downtown Disney.

01:16:50.685 --> 01:16:55.385
KRISTINA: And I'm pretty sure Pixar, they have their own entrance into DCA as well.

01:16:55.385 --> 01:16:58.065
KRISTINA: I think you go actually into Pixar Pier.

01:16:58.065 --> 01:16:59.965
KRISTINA: So there's a good benefit.

01:16:59.965 --> 01:17:04.485
DAINA: From there, we went back across the street to Grand Californian, so it was time to get ready for Oogie Boogie Bash.

01:17:04.485 --> 01:17:07.245
DAINA: We did stop by the displays in the lobby.

01:17:07.405 --> 01:17:14.325
DAINA: So they have like a huge Evil Queen and Cauldron like made out of cake and things like that in the lobby.

01:17:14.325 --> 01:17:16.725
DAINA: And they also have a little treat stand set up.

01:17:16.725 --> 01:17:19.805
DAINA: So it's called the Grand Californian Great Hall Cart.

01:17:19.805 --> 01:17:23.745
DAINA: And it had, looking at the list, about 10 things to choose from.

01:17:23.745 --> 01:17:26.965
DAINA: So like Poison Apple Cookies, Pretzel Sticks, Rice Krispies.

01:17:26.965 --> 01:17:33.165
DAINA: And they had chocolate chip cookie shots that you could get with milk or with liqueur in it.

01:17:33.165 --> 01:17:33.965
DAINA: Those were delicious.

01:17:33.965 --> 01:17:35.365
DAINA: So I did one with Baileys in it.

01:17:35.585 --> 01:17:37.385
DAINA: And then like Ariel got one with milk.

01:17:37.385 --> 01:17:38.585
DAINA: I think Mark had Baileys.

01:17:38.585 --> 01:17:41.645
DAINA: And Kristina Brown, I think, did the milk options.

01:17:41.645 --> 01:17:46.345
DAINA: So did a little cute cheers, like super cute little cookie shot glass looking thing with sprinkles around the edge.

01:17:46.345 --> 01:17:48.685
DAINA: It was really pretty, really cute and really tasty.

01:17:48.685 --> 01:17:50.025
DAINA: The cookie was delicious.

01:17:50.025 --> 01:17:51.665
DAINA: Yeah, exactly.

01:17:51.665 --> 01:17:54.785
DAINA: And then it was time to go upstairs and get ready for Oogie Boogie Bash.

01:17:54.785 --> 01:17:59.485
DAINA: So we went up and transformed into our Oogie Boogie Bash selves.

01:17:59.485 --> 01:18:01.785
DAINA: Mark, Ariel and I, so Mark was Hades.

01:18:01.785 --> 01:18:04.165
DAINA: And Ariel was Panic and I was Pain.

01:18:04.845 --> 01:18:05.985
DAINA: So that we were a little trio.

01:18:05.985 --> 01:18:09.545
KRISTINA: And me and Brian were Young, Carl and Ellie from Up.

01:18:09.545 --> 01:18:11.865
VIRGINIA: Oh, so sweet.

01:18:11.865 --> 01:18:12.965
VIRGINIA: I love that.

01:18:12.965 --> 01:18:13.705
DAINA: Yes.

01:18:13.705 --> 01:18:18.545
DAINA: So we went in like right at three when you can get in with your Oogie Boogie Bash ticket.

01:18:18.545 --> 01:18:24.145
DAINA: We did use the Grand Californian entrance into DCA for Oogie Boogie Bash.

01:18:24.145 --> 01:18:25.785
DAINA: And we went in and just started kind of taking pictures.

01:18:25.785 --> 01:18:28.485
DAINA: Like the tree trails and things weren't open yet until six when the event starts.

01:18:28.945 --> 01:18:34.525
DAINA: So we took, you know, advantage of that and just went around the park, took some pictures of different areas, did like a photo pass.

01:18:34.525 --> 01:18:42.725
DAINA: In Cars Land, we made sure to eat, like grab some dinner before the event because we didn't want to have to stop and take a whole lot of time out of the event to stop and have dinner.

01:18:42.725 --> 01:18:50.265
DAINA: So we got some hot dogs and things before the event started while we waited for the Hades line to open because that's where we wanted to start was Hades.

01:18:50.265 --> 01:18:56.665
DAINA: So we ate nearby so we could see when the line opened and get in just to be there like as soon as it was ready to go, which is what we did.

01:18:56.665 --> 01:18:58.205
DAINA: So we did the Hades Treet Trail.

01:18:58.465 --> 01:18:59.145
DAINA: He's super awesome.

01:18:59.145 --> 01:19:02.345
DAINA: They did such a great job bringing him to life for the event.

01:19:02.345 --> 01:19:03.525
DAINA: Just super fantastic.

01:19:03.525 --> 01:19:08.165
DAINA: The whole stage, LED, the technology, everything was really, really awesome.

01:19:08.165 --> 01:19:09.665
DAINA: He's a fantastic character.

01:19:09.665 --> 01:19:13.325
DAINA: It's nice to see him have some have the main stage for once.

01:19:13.325 --> 01:19:15.985
VIRGINIA: Did you bring back any candy?

01:19:15.985 --> 01:19:19.345
DAINA: Okay, yes, but not nearly as much as we were expecting.

01:19:19.345 --> 01:19:27.425
DAINA: So one of the things that we had multiple people tell us tip wise, including cast members that night when we came in, was that you need multiple bags, right?

01:19:27.485 --> 01:19:30.785
DAINA: Did they give you like the little Oogie Boogie Bash treat bag to take?

01:19:30.785 --> 01:19:32.565
DAINA: And everyone's like, that's not going to be enough.

01:19:32.565 --> 01:19:38.705
DAINA: You're going to feel that you're going to need like at least one whole extra bag, maybe a backpack to pour it into, things like that to keep refilling it.

01:19:38.705 --> 01:19:40.945
DAINA: And we did not find that was the case.

01:19:40.945 --> 01:19:45.865
DAINA: I mean, we got a lot of candy, more than I'm not a huge candy person, I'm more of a savory salty person.

01:19:45.865 --> 01:19:49.865
DAINA: And so it was plenty of candy for me, but we only needed one bag.

01:19:49.865 --> 01:19:51.245
DAINA: We did not need the multiple bags.

01:19:51.245 --> 01:19:55.985
DAINA: I don't know if, but we also didn't just loop through treat trails the entire five hours of the event.

01:19:56.105 --> 01:20:00.625
DAINA: Either we were taking pictures or we were doing, you know, like we were doing and walking around and doing other things.

01:20:00.625 --> 01:20:07.045
DAINA: So maybe if you were just hitting the treat trails back to back the entire event, then perhaps that's the people bringing home that kind of candy.

01:20:07.045 --> 01:20:11.625
DAINA: But we just didn't get as we were just did not get as what we were expecting based on what everyone had told us.

01:20:11.625 --> 01:20:17.205
DAINA: And again, it could have just been so hyped to us that we were just expecting way more just based on on the things that people had told us.

01:20:17.205 --> 01:20:19.545
DAINA: But I got plenty to satisfy my sweet tooth.

01:20:19.545 --> 01:20:20.025
DAINA: Let's put that way.

01:20:20.025 --> 01:20:22.025
DAINA: It's not like we were hurting for candy by any means.

01:20:22.025 --> 01:20:23.545
DAINA: We even got some carrots.

01:20:23.545 --> 01:20:24.485
KRISTINA: I did like the assortment.

01:20:24.785 --> 01:20:31.885
KRISTINA: Like they gave us like, yes, yes, we got goldfish, like goldfish, regular crackers, pretzels.

01:20:31.885 --> 01:20:38.225
KRISTINA: So there was a lot more assortment than from like Mickey is Not So Scary where it's just candy.

01:20:38.225 --> 01:20:40.745
KRISTINA: This one had an assortment.

01:20:40.745 --> 01:20:52.565
KRISTINA: The only thing I did not notice and maybe it is because I was paying attention as I know at Mickey's Not So Scary, if you have an allergy that there's like separate tree trails or their separate treats you can get based on.

01:20:52.805 --> 01:20:57.205
KRISTINA: But I did not see that anywhere at Oogie Boogie.

01:20:57.205 --> 01:20:58.945
KRISTINA: Also, like I said, I wasn't paying attention.

01:20:58.945 --> 01:21:07.045
KRISTINA: But normally, even on the map, I didn't notice like, okay, if you have an allergy, you need to go to this tree trail.

01:21:08.565 --> 01:21:17.565
KRISTINA: I don't know if that's just something that's not advertised or because I would assume that they'd have to have something for allergies.

01:21:17.565 --> 01:21:30.065
KRISTINA: Maybe if anyone is listening that is going that has a child or has someone with allergies, maybe look into that because it wasn't highly available.

01:21:30.065 --> 01:21:31.285
VIRGINIA: Okay.

01:21:31.285 --> 01:21:37.885
VIRGINIA: At the end of the day, comparing Oogie Boogie and Mickey's Not So Scary, which one wins?

01:21:38.045 --> 01:21:40.865
DAINA: For me, I'm giving it to Oogie Boogie.

01:21:40.865 --> 01:21:45.505
DAINA: I'll be completely transparent though, we have not been to Mickey's Not So Scary since Ariel was a baby, so 2010.

01:21:45.525 --> 01:21:47.745
DAINA: It's been 14 years since I've been to Mickey's Not So Scary.

01:21:47.745 --> 01:21:49.625
DAINA: We did Boo Bash in 2021.

01:21:50.545 --> 01:21:55.465
DAINA: Which is obviously like the post-COVID version before they brought Mickey's Not So Scary back.

01:21:55.465 --> 01:21:57.485
DAINA: That was very lackluster in my opinion.

01:21:57.485 --> 01:22:04.705
DAINA: So I have not been to a recent Mickey's Not So Scary, but obviously I see tons of reels, photos, people's thoughts on it, follow it very closely.

01:22:04.705 --> 01:22:07.565
DAINA: To me, Oogie Boogie Bash takes it for me.

01:22:07.565 --> 01:22:09.365
DAINA: I think, well, I'll say it takes it for me.

01:22:09.365 --> 01:22:25.045
DAINA: If you're a character person, if you're someone who does not care about characters whatsoever, I don't know that Oogie Boogie Bash would be it for you, because I feel like it's very heavily character-based with the treat trails being the main focus and those characters having such a massive stage and being part of those treat trails.

01:22:25.045 --> 01:22:37.285
DAINA: But I just feel like the production value, the immersion of Halloween vibes, the assortment of candy that's given out to you, and just the overall experience, I just feel is so much better at Oogie Boogie Bash than Mickey's Not So Scary.

01:22:37.285 --> 01:22:43.845
DAINA: In fact, I won't really pay to go to Mickey's Not So Scary, because I don't feel it's worth the money in my opinion, personally.

01:22:46.485 --> 01:22:49.845
KRISTINA: So we have gone to Mickey's Not So Scary in 2022.

01:22:49.845 --> 01:22:57.165
KRISTINA: So fairly recently we've gone, and I will say I will prefer Oogie Boogie more.

01:22:57.165 --> 01:23:01.565
KRISTINA: Again, if you're not into characters, then this is not going to be for you.

01:23:01.565 --> 01:23:12.505
KRISTINA: But I think the problem with Mickey's Not So Scary is that they have so much between the stage show, the fireworks, the parade, and characters that you can't do everything all at once.

01:23:12.985 --> 01:23:15.485
KRISTINA: I think that you need to pick one or the other.

01:23:15.485 --> 01:23:24.045
KRISTINA: Whereas here at Oogie Boogie, I think the only character we did not, the only true show we did not go through by choice was Sid.

01:23:24.045 --> 01:23:26.965
KRISTINA: And that was just because it was much too long.

01:23:26.965 --> 01:23:32.505
KRISTINA: But I did not miss a stage show, the fireworks.

01:23:32.505 --> 01:23:35.345
KRISTINA: I did not miss any of that because I think that just takes time.

01:23:35.805 --> 01:23:41.065
KRISTINA: So you're having to take time, you know, waiting 20 minutes for a spot for fireworks.

01:23:41.065 --> 01:23:41.565
KRISTINA: Yeah.

01:23:41.565 --> 01:23:47.545
KRISTINA: And another tip that everyone kept giving was go to the second parade.

01:23:47.545 --> 01:23:50.665
KRISTINA: You'll be able to just find a spot with no problem.

01:23:50.665 --> 01:23:51.745
KRISTINA: That was not the case.

01:23:51.745 --> 01:24:00.825
KRISTINA: We started probably all the way from where the parade ended and had to walk all the way to where the parade started just to find a spot.

01:24:00.825 --> 01:24:03.405
KRISTINA: So and I don't know if that's just because they sold more tickets.

01:24:04.065 --> 01:24:08.165
KRISTINA: But the parade though, I will give to not so scary.

01:24:08.165 --> 01:24:12.665
KRISTINA: Just because there's more characters, there's more floats.

01:24:12.665 --> 01:24:16.285
KRISTINA: But if I did pay, if I did choose which one to pay money, it would be Uggie Buggy.

01:24:16.285 --> 01:24:21.785
KRISTINA: I wish that we would have something similar as an option here.

01:24:21.785 --> 01:24:23.365
KRISTINA: So take that for what you will.

01:24:23.365 --> 01:24:23.865
DAINA: Yeah.

01:24:23.865 --> 01:24:26.045
DAINA: And they had like bonus characters in addition to the tree trails.

01:24:26.045 --> 01:24:28.085
DAINA: Like the tree trails were advertising on the map.

01:24:28.085 --> 01:24:31.265
DAINA: But then we also got to see like Scarlet Witch in Avengers campus.

01:24:31.265 --> 01:24:35.525
DAINA: For example, during that we got to see Lotso at Pixar Pier as a meet and greet.

01:24:35.525 --> 01:24:43.845
DAINA: So characters that aren't out during the day that were doing meet and greets and available during Oogie Boogie Bash, but not on the map that you could run into and go see.

01:24:43.845 --> 01:24:45.725
DAINA: So I just, I think that's an added bonus.

01:24:45.725 --> 01:24:48.605
DAINA: So I really do just think that event offers a lot more.

01:24:48.605 --> 01:24:55.545
DAINA: And like I said, I just feel like the decorations and the how in depth the immersion to Halloween is, is just so much better.

01:24:55.545 --> 01:24:59.765
DAINA: In Disneyland in general, both of those parks, I feel, is so much better than what we have.

01:24:59.765 --> 01:25:03.565
DAINA: I hear where it's just MK and it's just some decorations slapped up.

01:25:03.565 --> 01:25:06.345
DAINA: And it's not music being pumped into resorts and things like that.

01:25:06.345 --> 01:25:09.425
DAINA: But like they do the whole 360 kind of everywhere you go.

01:25:09.425 --> 01:25:11.725
DAINA: It's Halloween time at Disneyland and DCA.

01:25:11.725 --> 01:25:13.985
DAINA: There is no escaping it, so to speak.

01:25:13.985 --> 01:25:18.165
DAINA: Whereas here, I feel like you could easily be in a park and not realize it's Halloween time at Disney World.

01:25:18.165 --> 01:25:21.305
DAINA: So I just give them the credit for that, yeah.

01:25:21.305 --> 01:25:22.545
VIRGINIA: Okay.

01:25:22.545 --> 01:25:22.925
VIRGINIA: All right.

01:25:22.925 --> 01:25:25.765
VIRGINIA: Let's move into Wednesday, September 25th.

01:25:25.765 --> 01:25:28.365
VIRGINIA: So this was a hopping day.

01:25:29.265 --> 01:25:35.425
VIRGINIA: And before you hopped, you had plans to start with some yoga, early morning yoga.

01:25:35.425 --> 01:25:37.985
VIRGINIA: Did you make it to early morning yoga?

01:25:37.985 --> 01:25:43.525
DAINA: Happy to report we did make it to the 7:30 AM yoga, which we had to check in for at 7.10.

01:25:43.525 --> 01:25:51.005
DAINA: So I give us major props for what, four days into vacation of open to close that we made it to this yoga class.

01:25:51.005 --> 01:25:52.185
DAINA: But I'm so glad we did.

01:25:52.185 --> 01:25:55.065
DAINA: It was such an awesome experience to do.

01:25:55.065 --> 01:25:58.065
DAINA: I don't know that it's well advertised, so I don't know that a lot of people know about it.

01:25:58.165 --> 01:26:02.105
DAINA: So hopefully people listening to this can know it's called Yoga and Redwood Creek.

01:26:02.105 --> 01:26:05.245
DAINA: And it's through the Taniya Stone Spa at the Grand Californian.

01:26:05.245 --> 01:26:10.245
DAINA: And they have other fitness classes like a power walk and different yoga things at different times of the year, all this good stuff.

01:26:10.245 --> 01:26:11.285
DAINA: So definitely check them out.

01:26:11.285 --> 01:26:15.225
DAINA: But our instructor, she was absolutely fantastic.

01:26:15.225 --> 01:26:17.865
DAINA: Her name was Shinobu and she's from Japan.

01:26:17.865 --> 01:26:23.105
DAINA: And her high energy, I've never met someone who had such good energy at seven o'clock in the morning.

01:26:23.105 --> 01:26:25.745
DAINA: And she had just come back from a two mile power walk class.

01:26:26.305 --> 01:26:30.905
DAINA: And she just set the vibe and they gave us a towel, they gave us a yoga mat.

01:26:30.905 --> 01:26:32.665
DAINA: We checked in and we got a little wristband to show that.

01:26:32.665 --> 01:26:39.685
DAINA: And then she just walked us through that exclusive DCA entrance from Grand Californian straight into the Redwood Creek area, which that area didn't open till 10.

01:26:39.685 --> 01:26:41.185
DAINA: So it was just for us.

01:26:41.185 --> 01:26:47.545
DAINA: We went up to a platform and later, it was eight people in the class and we were six of them because Kat had joined us who was in town.

01:26:47.545 --> 01:26:50.885
DAINA: She had joined us for the old class, was us and two other people.

01:26:50.885 --> 01:26:52.265
DAINA: And it was just the eight of us plus her.

01:26:52.805 --> 01:26:58.985
DAINA: And we set up our mats in this gorgeous setting right in the middle of all these beautiful trees and did some yoga.

01:26:58.985 --> 01:27:00.085
DAINA: I mean, it's a beginner class.

01:27:00.085 --> 01:27:00.945
DAINA: It's for all levels.

01:27:00.945 --> 01:27:01.645
DAINA: You can modify.

01:27:01.645 --> 01:27:03.645
DAINA: You can do what you need to do if you can't do that.

01:27:03.645 --> 01:27:04.885
DAINA: She gives challenging options.

01:27:04.885 --> 01:27:06.545
DAINA: She gave beginner options.

01:27:06.545 --> 01:27:09.265
DAINA: So everybody was able to just kind of do what worked for them.

01:27:09.265 --> 01:27:15.225
DAINA: No pressure to push yourself or do something you couldn't do because I'll be the first to admit I have zero flexibility.

01:27:15.225 --> 01:27:18.565
DAINA: I think I'm probably in the negative when it comes to flexibility.

01:27:18.565 --> 01:27:20.925
DAINA: And it was still a very enjoyable class.

01:27:21.405 --> 01:27:22.985
DAINA: It did warm up very quickly doing the yoga.

01:27:22.985 --> 01:27:23.885
DAINA: I had a sweater on.

01:27:23.885 --> 01:27:25.945
VIRGINIA: Still tried to be the Spider-Man.

01:27:25.945 --> 01:27:26.925
DAINA: Yeah, exactly.

01:27:26.925 --> 01:27:27.765
DAINA: Exactly.

01:27:27.765 --> 01:27:29.265
DAINA: I'll give it a go, you know?

01:27:29.265 --> 01:27:30.145
DAINA: It warmed up quickly.

01:27:30.145 --> 01:27:30.925
DAINA: I was in a sweater.

01:27:30.925 --> 01:27:37.025
DAINA: I quickly shut it that down to a sports bra because it was a little toasty as we got into the yoga.

01:27:37.025 --> 01:27:38.665
DAINA: But fantastic experience.

01:27:38.665 --> 01:27:39.805
DAINA: We'll definitely be posting about it.

01:27:39.805 --> 01:27:49.125
KRISTINA: And the price for what you got for being able to go into a park before it's open, have that exclusive experience, it was what?

01:27:49.125 --> 01:27:49.325
DAINA: $40.

01:27:50.225 --> 01:28:01.265
KRISTINA: So, I mean, even if you weren't into like, none of us go to yoga or into yoga or anything like that, but that just to have that experience, what I think was well worth it and I would definitely do it again.

01:28:01.265 --> 01:28:06.065
KRISTINA: And isn't there, there is one that is sometimes in front at Disneyland, correct?

01:28:06.065 --> 01:28:06.865
DAINA: There is.

01:28:06.865 --> 01:28:09.565
DAINA: It was not on the rotation when we were there for us.

01:28:09.565 --> 01:28:16.725
KRISTINA: If that's the same price, I would definitely, even if it was a little bit more, I think just having that experience is well worth it.

01:28:16.725 --> 01:28:17.225
VIRGINIA: Sounds like it.

01:28:18.085 --> 01:28:18.785
DAINA: Absolutely.

01:28:18.785 --> 01:28:20.465
DAINA: The Power Walk one is on my list for next time.

01:28:20.465 --> 01:28:21.185
DAINA: I will be doing that.

01:28:24.385 --> 01:28:25.425
KRISTINA: Hard pass.

01:28:25.425 --> 01:28:26.925
VIRGINIA: Such opposite reactions.

01:28:26.925 --> 01:28:31.005
VIRGINIA: Okay.

01:28:31.005 --> 01:28:38.965
VIRGINIA: So after the yoga, I imagine that you needed to go back and get yourselves ready to start your day, get cleaned up and everything.

01:28:38.965 --> 01:28:43.705
VIRGINIA: So after that, I think your plan was to start in DCA this day for your park time.

01:28:43.705 --> 01:28:45.005
VIRGINIA: Is that what you ended up doing?

01:28:45.005 --> 01:28:47.085
DAINA: We had actually switched it to Disneyland.

01:28:47.905 --> 01:28:53.685
DAINA: Because there was some breakfast items that we had wanted to try, that we didn't get to the first time in Disneyland for breakfast.

01:28:53.685 --> 01:28:58.525
DAINA: So since they're only obviously in breakfast time, we had switched to go into there first.

01:28:58.525 --> 01:29:01.005
DAINA: So we went back and changed, and then Ariel and I headed back.

01:29:01.005 --> 01:29:06.445
DAINA: We had gotten the virtual queue again early that morning, like the 7 AM, virtual queue for Haunted Mansion.

01:29:06.445 --> 01:29:15.005
DAINA: So Ariel and I headed back in to do Haunted Mansion again, one last time, while the others headed to the breakfast spot to get breakfast.

01:29:15.345 --> 01:29:17.245
DAINA: And then we reconvened.

01:29:17.245 --> 01:29:20.445
KRISTINA: Was it Red Rose Tavern in Fantasyland?

01:29:20.445 --> 01:29:23.305
DAINA: So we went and had breakfast there.

01:29:23.305 --> 01:29:24.505
DAINA: It was an okay breakfast to me.

01:29:24.505 --> 01:29:26.565
DAINA: It wasn't anything like spectacular.

01:29:26.565 --> 01:29:27.665
DAINA: It was just kind of average.

01:29:27.665 --> 01:29:28.045
KRISTINA: Yeah.

01:29:28.045 --> 01:29:34.745
KRISTINA: So the items that we really wanted to get were, they had a maple French toast sandwich.

01:29:34.745 --> 01:29:38.705
KRISTINA: So it sounds better than it actually was.

01:29:39.885 --> 01:29:41.945
KRISTINA: For me, it was pretty dry.

01:29:41.945 --> 01:29:43.045
KRISTINA: I don't know if I would have.

01:29:43.805 --> 01:29:49.425
KRISTINA: There's other breakfast options at the Park that I would probably have chosen to get.

01:29:49.425 --> 01:29:50.725
KRISTINA: There was also a cold brew.

01:29:50.725 --> 01:29:55.025
KRISTINA: This is the first time that a cold brew was not good.

01:29:55.025 --> 01:29:59.965
KRISTINA: For what it was advertised, it was supposed to be a pumpkin cheesecake cold brew.

01:29:59.965 --> 01:30:05.085
KRISTINA: And the description says, caramel vanilla and cinnamon cold brew with pumpkin cheesecake topper.

01:30:05.085 --> 01:30:05.725
KRISTINA: It was not good.

01:30:06.325 --> 01:30:11.365
KRISTINA: I think Daina and Mark went and actually traded theirs in because it was not.

01:30:11.385 --> 01:30:15.025
VIRGINIA: Oh, it was that bad that you went and asked for a trade.

01:30:15.165 --> 01:30:15.865
KRISTINA: Okay.

01:30:15.865 --> 01:30:16.405
DAINA: Yeah.

01:30:16.405 --> 01:30:19.725
DAINA: We traded it for a strawberry lemonade that they had.

01:30:19.725 --> 01:30:21.285
DAINA: That one was really, really good.

01:30:21.285 --> 01:30:26.245
DAINA: But yeah, that cold brew, I took one drink and I was like, that's a lot to pay for coffee.

01:30:26.245 --> 01:30:27.005
DAINA: I'm not going to drink it.

01:30:27.005 --> 01:30:30.765
KRISTINA: And then we also got the enchanted pumpkin stuff.

01:30:30.765 --> 01:30:34.025
KRISTINA: So we tried to mark off the seasonal items.

01:30:34.565 --> 01:30:35.945
KRISTINA: And again, it was just okay.

01:30:35.945 --> 01:30:40.365
KRISTINA: Like it wasn't anything to write home about.

01:30:40.365 --> 01:30:42.585
KRISTINA: But glad we tried it.

01:30:42.585 --> 01:30:46.545
DAINA: From there, we kind of went to mark off some of the rides from Fantasyland that we hadn't hit yet.

01:30:46.545 --> 01:30:49.725
DAINA: Some of like the, I guess, kid rides, what you want to call them.

01:30:49.725 --> 01:30:50.565
KRISTINA: The OG rides.

01:30:50.565 --> 01:30:51.025
DAINA: So we did.

01:30:51.025 --> 01:30:52.045
DAINA: And then we did.

01:30:52.045 --> 01:30:53.285
DAINA: Yeah, the OG rides.

01:30:53.285 --> 01:30:55.385
DAINA: We did Pinocchio.

01:30:55.385 --> 01:30:56.125
KRISTINA: Snow White.

01:30:56.565 --> 01:30:59.185
DAINA: Snow White and Mr.

01:30:59.185 --> 01:31:00.625
DAINA: Toads.

01:31:00.625 --> 01:31:02.005
DAINA: Really, right?

01:31:02.005 --> 01:31:03.865
DAINA: So we did those.

01:31:03.865 --> 01:31:05.045
DAINA: Those are cute and fun.

01:31:05.045 --> 01:31:08.765
DAINA: And then we went and did Big Thunder for one last time again.

01:31:08.765 --> 01:31:12.805
DAINA: And then went to Galaxy's Edge because there was some treats there that we wanted.

01:31:12.805 --> 01:31:14.505
DAINA: There was a puff dessert.

01:31:14.505 --> 01:31:15.485
KRISTINA: You guys did get that?

01:31:15.485 --> 01:31:17.245
DAINA: Absolutely delicious.

01:31:17.245 --> 01:31:18.065
DAINA: Yes.

01:31:18.065 --> 01:31:21.685
DAINA: So it was a green cream puff, a green crunch and ube cream inside.

01:31:21.745 --> 01:31:26.765
DAINA: So it had a purple ube cream inside and it was one of the best treats probably that we did have.

01:31:26.765 --> 01:31:27.685
DAINA: So highly recommend that one.

01:31:27.685 --> 01:31:31.005
DAINA: I don't know if that's seasonal or if it's one they always have.

01:31:31.005 --> 01:31:33.045
DAINA: But it was delicious and definitely worth getting.

01:31:33.045 --> 01:31:34.665
DAINA: Did y'all have anything else?

01:31:34.665 --> 01:31:37.825
KRISTINA: No, I think Brian got the drink.

01:31:37.825 --> 01:31:40.145
DAINA: Oh, the shake thing, the Darth, the Dothemir.

01:31:40.165 --> 01:31:41.225
KRISTINA: Yes.

01:31:41.225 --> 01:31:41.885
DAINA: Ariel got it too.

01:31:41.885 --> 01:31:43.005
DAINA: That one was fantastic.

01:31:43.005 --> 01:31:47.025
DAINA: It was like a red and white swirled.

01:31:47.025 --> 01:31:52.645
KRISTINA: Yeah, it was like a watermelon and lemon and lime slush with a popping boba.

01:31:52.645 --> 01:31:54.225
KRISTINA: So that was really good.

01:31:54.225 --> 01:31:55.625
DAINA: From there, we did the storybook.

01:31:55.625 --> 01:31:56.805
KRISTINA: The storybook, canal boat.

01:31:56.805 --> 01:31:58.385
DAINA: Storybook, canal boat.

01:31:58.385 --> 01:31:59.485
VIRGINIA: Oh, I love those.

01:31:59.485 --> 01:32:00.945
VIRGINIA: They're so cute.

01:32:02.705 --> 01:32:04.865
KRISTINA: That line is very narrow.

01:32:04.865 --> 01:32:07.025
KRISTINA: Like you're very, very, very height.

01:32:07.025 --> 01:32:10.685
KRISTINA: You get to know your fellow writers in that line.

01:32:10.685 --> 01:32:20.485
VIRGINIA: Well, I mean, because it's the original park and there's so much less space, it's like the lines are smaller, the sidewalks are more narrow, all of that.

01:32:20.485 --> 01:32:22.585
KRISTINA: Very much.

01:32:22.585 --> 01:32:28.245
DAINA: Especially those kid rides, like we noticed, they were very, very windy and narrow together, but it's good.

01:32:28.245 --> 01:32:28.845
DAINA: They were still fun.

01:32:28.845 --> 01:32:30.125
DAINA: They were good.

01:32:30.125 --> 01:32:32.805
DAINA: Then we park hopped and then Kristina and Brian, I think you all changed.

01:32:32.805 --> 01:32:33.585
KRISTINA: Yeah, I think.

01:32:33.585 --> 01:32:34.405
DAINA: Right?

01:32:34.405 --> 01:32:34.805
DAINA: Yeah.

01:32:34.805 --> 01:32:37.405
DAINA: Because my next picture is at San francisco for food.

01:32:37.405 --> 01:32:39.125
KRISTINA: Yeah, my next pictures are from there.

01:32:39.125 --> 01:32:39.325
DAINA: Okay.

01:32:39.325 --> 01:32:41.525
DAINA: Yeah.

01:32:41.525 --> 01:32:51.165
DAINA: We park hopped over to DCA and had the infamous Bria tacos everyone always talks about from San francisco and they did live up to the hype.

01:32:51.165 --> 01:32:51.765
KRISTINA: Very good.

01:32:51.765 --> 01:32:52.985
DAINA: Very, very good.

01:32:53.605 --> 01:32:56.605
DAINA: Had the Bay Mac Macaron Macaron, however you want to say it.

01:32:56.605 --> 01:32:58.025
DAINA: That was also very, very good.

01:32:58.025 --> 01:32:59.065
DAINA: Loved that one.

01:32:59.065 --> 01:33:04.165
DAINA: Mark had a ramen from the Lucky Fortune Bakery, I believe it's what it's called.

01:33:04.165 --> 01:33:05.185
DAINA: That was also delicious.

01:33:05.225 --> 01:33:11.805
VIRGINIA: Is the Bay Mac's thing coconut based or is it like a cookie?

01:33:12.105 --> 01:33:14.105
DAINA: I know it had hazelnut spread in the middle.

01:33:14.105 --> 01:33:17.265
KRISTINA: I think it was like a sandwich type cookie.

01:33:17.265 --> 01:33:18.445
VIRGINIA: Yeah, so it's a macaron.

01:33:18.445 --> 01:33:19.465
KRISTINA: Yeah, like a macaron.

01:33:19.465 --> 01:33:21.865
DAINA: Yeah, like the, yeah.

01:33:21.865 --> 01:33:22.745
KRISTINA: That was really good.

01:33:22.745 --> 01:33:24.645
DAINA: All the food there was delicious.

01:33:25.245 --> 01:33:31.685
KRISTINA: We had the San francisco street style corn, so it was like Mexican street corn, but Japanese style.

01:33:32.025 --> 01:33:40.225
KRISTINA: So it had like Japanese mayonnaise, fear cocky, and whatever chips or chicharonis that came with it were delicious.

01:33:40.225 --> 01:33:41.405
KRISTINA: Like everything.

01:33:41.405 --> 01:33:47.385
KRISTINA: Again, DC, the food there, the choices at DCA and at Disneyland, I can't get over.

01:33:47.385 --> 01:33:51.905
KRISTINA: Just the different types and the quality was really good.

01:33:51.905 --> 01:33:56.225
DAINA: I mobile ordered the peanut butter cold brew that I always had seen everybody talking about too.

01:33:56.345 --> 01:34:00.905
DAINA: While we were there, you can mobile order it from the like the Joffrey stand that's right outside of San francisco.

01:34:00.905 --> 01:34:05.805
DAINA: That was also super fantastic and delicious.

01:34:05.805 --> 01:34:12.805
DAINA: Then from there, we went and we were stalking Avengers Campus for Loki to come out.

01:34:12.805 --> 01:34:21.625
DAINA: One of the weirdest things to me about Avengers Campus is that they will not give you solid information about when a character is going to be out and where they're going to be.

01:34:21.625 --> 01:34:31.605
DAINA: I guess that's just Disneyland and DCA's way of doing things with the characters, whereas Disney World, you can look in the app, you look for that character, here's their set place, and here's their times they're going to be out.

01:34:31.605 --> 01:34:35.425
DAINA: So I know I can be there to get in line, and I'm guaranteed to see them.

01:34:35.425 --> 01:34:39.265
DAINA: Ariel was dressed for Loki and really wanted to see Loki as one of her top people.

01:34:39.265 --> 01:34:43.265
DAINA: It said in the app 3 PM to 9 PM, that's all the information it gave.

01:34:43.265 --> 01:34:51.665
DAINA: Every cast member we asked trying to get information on where is he going to be, when is he going to be there, vague answers every time from every person.

01:34:51.665 --> 01:34:53.985
DAINA: They would not confirm any information.

01:34:54.245 --> 01:35:02.325
DAINA: It was very frustrating because when you're there on vacation, if it's not your park, you're there at all the time and you're there for a limited amount of time, this is our one night to catch him.

01:35:02.325 --> 01:35:07.785
DAINA: I don't want to just sit for two or three hours hoping he's going to come by or I'm going to run into him to try to get a picture.

01:35:07.785 --> 01:35:14.025
DAINA: I want to know where should I be, when can I be there, get in line to make sure I see this character for pictures and stuff.

01:35:14.025 --> 01:35:17.525
DAINA: That aspect was very frustrating for me, especially as somebody with anxiety.

01:35:18.925 --> 01:35:21.365
DAINA: I like order, I like things organized.

01:35:21.365 --> 01:35:24.145
DAINA: I don't like to be like, oh whimsical, it will happen, it will happen.

01:35:24.145 --> 01:35:26.965
DAINA: If he shows up, he shows up, that doesn't work for me.

01:35:26.965 --> 01:35:33.805
DAINA: That's why the roaming free for all mobs of character pictures also stressed me out and raise my anxiety through the roof.

01:35:33.805 --> 01:35:35.965
DAINA: It was frustrating, we could not get any solid answers.

01:35:35.965 --> 01:35:41.365
DAINA: Then we did finally spot him, we saw a crowd of people congregating all of a sudden.

01:35:41.705 --> 01:35:45.485
DAINA: In the one spot we were told he would not be, we saw a crowd congregating.

01:35:46.925 --> 01:35:52.725
DAINA: I ran over, literally started fast-walking over to him, and sure enough, there he was.

01:35:52.725 --> 01:35:56.545
DAINA: I texted and signaled everybody to come from all, we were all in different waiting spots.

01:35:56.545 --> 01:36:01.825
DAINA: Ariel was in the sanctum, because we were said he could be in the sanctum of the gardens, and they were on the steps in the middle.

01:36:01.825 --> 01:36:04.225
DAINA: Then I ran over here, and so we gathered everybody and got in line.

01:36:04.225 --> 01:36:07.405
DAINA: Thankfully, they cut it right after me because Loki loves to talk.

01:36:07.405 --> 01:36:16.865
DAINA: He talks probably more than anyone to people and his interactions, which is fantastic, but thankfully, got in line just in time, so we didn't miss him and got to do it.

01:36:16.865 --> 01:36:19.385
DAINA: It was a really great meet and greet and experience.

01:36:19.385 --> 01:36:22.865
DAINA: He has all the swag he has in the movies at Avengers Campus.

01:36:22.865 --> 01:36:24.545
DAINA: Love him.

01:36:24.545 --> 01:36:29.445
DAINA: Meet and greet actually was causing us to be late for our Monsters After Dark Lightning Lane, however.

01:36:29.445 --> 01:36:40.265
DAINA: The kind cast member like VIP escorted us over there to help us make sure we could still ride the Monsters After Dark version of Mission Breakout, because we had been trying for like three days to get to Lightning Lane for that ride.

01:36:40.265 --> 01:36:42.125
DAINA: We did not want to miss that one.

01:36:42.125 --> 01:36:48.245
DAINA: So we did make it over and get on that, and that version was super awesome.

01:36:48.405 --> 01:36:51.045
DAINA: It's very different than the daytime one.

01:36:51.045 --> 01:36:54.765
DAINA: I would say I prefer Monsters After Dark over the daytime version, to be honest.

01:36:54.765 --> 01:37:09.605
DAINA: It's just a much more like adult darker vibe, like the cast members had on bloody vests, like the vests had like blood marks on them and stuff, and it's about like the monsters have gotten out of containment in the facility and they're trying to get baby Groot.

01:37:09.605 --> 01:37:11.385
DAINA: So you're trying to like rescue baby Groot.

01:37:11.385 --> 01:37:12.845
DAINA: So it has like a really cute fun story.

01:37:12.945 --> 01:37:23.225
DAINA: So it's like a darker storyline but a fun aspect of trying to rescue baby Groot and I don't know, I think it was just a really fun dark, I just like dark rides and stuff too, like I just like darker storylines.

01:37:23.225 --> 01:37:25.185
DAINA: So to me, I really enjoyed it.

01:37:25.185 --> 01:37:26.045
KRISTINA: Yeah, I did too.

01:37:26.065 --> 01:37:34.425
KRISTINA: And something that's not really monsters of the dark, but their tower of terror version has a second story.

01:37:34.425 --> 01:37:38.665
KRISTINA: We're like going in and they're like go up the stairs, we're like, where are these stairs taking us?

01:37:38.665 --> 01:37:42.965
KRISTINA: There's a whole separate like loading area on a second level.

01:37:42.965 --> 01:37:49.445
KRISTINA: So it's like, that just was like bogging our like trying to figure out how the ride is set up.

01:37:49.445 --> 01:37:51.005
KRISTINA: Because I wouldn't have even thought of that.

01:37:51.005 --> 01:37:54.145
KRISTINA: But I prefer the monsters of the dark.

01:37:54.145 --> 01:37:55.665
KRISTINA: Brian did not partake in that.

01:37:55.665 --> 01:37:58.305
KRISTINA: He would not, he said one is good.

01:37:58.305 --> 01:38:01.385
KRISTINA: So he was able to spend some time in Avengers campus.

01:38:01.385 --> 01:38:07.185
KRISTINA: I think he saw Captain America, like he came out and was like walking, on top of the Avengers area.

01:38:07.405 --> 01:38:12.225
KRISTINA: So he enjoyed having a little time by himself in that area.

01:38:12.565 --> 01:38:12.965
DAINA: Cool.

01:38:12.965 --> 01:38:14.585
DAINA: From there, we went over to Monsters Inc.

01:38:15.565 --> 01:38:18.165
DAINA: We had actually modified our lightning lane for Monsters Inc.

01:38:18.165 --> 01:38:23.205
DAINA: Two monsters after dark because it popped up and we'd had such a time, like a hard time getting that one.

01:38:23.205 --> 01:38:26.945
DAINA: So we went over and just did, we had grabbed a later one eventually for Monsters Inc.

01:38:26.945 --> 01:38:28.665
DAINA: So we went and did that.

01:38:28.665 --> 01:38:32.045
DAINA: Then I think we ended the night going back to Cars Land.

01:38:33.005 --> 01:38:37.285
DAINA: And we got on Luigi's Costa de la Tires.

01:38:40.045 --> 01:38:42.365
DAINA: That ride was so fun.

01:38:42.365 --> 01:38:43.725
DAINA: So it's like the Halloween version.

01:38:43.725 --> 01:38:45.565
DAINA: So it was so much fun.

01:38:45.565 --> 01:38:49.865
DAINA: I was not expecting much because it just looks like a simple little ride.

01:38:49.865 --> 01:38:51.425
DAINA: But man, I absolutely loved it.

01:38:51.425 --> 01:38:53.925
DAINA: Like it might be my top five of rides out there.

01:38:53.925 --> 01:38:54.725
DAINA: It was just such a blast.

01:38:54.725 --> 01:38:58.005
DAINA: I know we have tons of fun videos from all of us filming each other.

01:38:58.005 --> 01:39:04.545
DAINA: So we were like, I was in my own car and Kristina and Ariel were in one car and Mark and Brian in another car and we were all dancing and swirling together.

01:39:04.545 --> 01:39:07.645
DAINA: So I know we have a lot of fun videos from that one that hopefully people will get to see.

01:39:07.645 --> 01:39:08.945
DAINA: But yeah, it was a blast.

01:39:08.945 --> 01:39:09.785
DAINA: I absolutely love that one.

01:39:09.785 --> 01:39:11.465
DAINA: It was a great way to end the night.

01:39:11.465 --> 01:39:15.785
DAINA: I think Ariel, Mark and I did jump over to do Pirates one more time.

01:39:15.785 --> 01:39:20.245
DAINA: After that, we hopped back over because Disneyland is open until midnight and DCA was 10.

01:39:20.245 --> 01:39:23.585
DAINA: So we did hop over because Ariel really wanted to do Pirates one more time.

01:39:23.585 --> 01:39:25.185
DAINA: We want to check the shops one more time.

01:39:25.185 --> 01:39:27.365
DAINA: So we did do that and then ended the night for us.

01:39:27.785 --> 01:39:29.065
VIRGINIA: All right.

01:39:29.065 --> 01:39:42.165
VIRGINIA: So Thursday, September 26th, that was your checkout day and you were heading over to the Universal Area and I think, Daina, you said you and Mark were going to Halloween Horror Nights that night?

01:39:42.165 --> 01:39:42.605
DAINA: Correct.

01:39:42.605 --> 01:39:43.045
VIRGINIA: Okay.

01:39:43.045 --> 01:39:47.365
VIRGINIA: So what did everybody do during the day before you all headed off to that?

01:39:47.365 --> 01:39:47.585
DAINA: Yeah.

01:39:47.585 --> 01:39:50.205
DAINA: So we transferred.

01:39:50.205 --> 01:39:54.925
DAINA: Kristina had booked us a nice little private like passenger van type transport to get us over there.

01:39:55.385 --> 01:40:00.565
DAINA: It was only like 38 miles from Disney, but it took us an hour and 28 minutes because of traffic.

01:40:00.565 --> 01:40:07.005
DAINA: So even though they're close, definitely plan for your transportation time if you're doing both of them in one time together.

01:40:07.005 --> 01:40:10.985
DAINA: We checked into the Hilton Universal City, which fantastic hotel.

01:40:10.985 --> 01:40:12.545
DAINA: I absolutely love that hotel.

01:40:12.545 --> 01:40:14.245
DAINA: Our rooms had gorgeous views.

01:40:14.245 --> 01:40:16.785
DAINA: The room was huge, felt like a little mini apartment.

01:40:16.785 --> 01:40:20.685
DAINA: It was much cheaper than what we were paying at the Disney hotels.

01:40:20.685 --> 01:40:22.405
DAINA: It's super easy walk over to the park.

01:40:22.405 --> 01:40:23.245
DAINA: So we got checked in.

01:40:23.785 --> 01:40:25.585
DAINA: We dropped our bags because our rooms weren't ready yet.

01:40:25.585 --> 01:40:29.045
DAINA: We were there at 9.20 in the morning, so the rooms weren't ready yet.

01:40:29.045 --> 01:40:31.385
DAINA: So we all came dressed, ready to go to the parks.

01:40:31.385 --> 01:40:35.125
DAINA: We checked in, dropped our bags, and then we jumped on the shuttle.

01:40:35.125 --> 01:40:39.465
DAINA: They have a shuttle that will take you and drop you off in the city walk area.

01:40:39.465 --> 01:40:43.345
DAINA: So we got dropped off and headed into the park for the day.

01:40:43.345 --> 01:40:49.345
DAINA: Got there around, let's see what my picture timestamp is, 10.16, we were at the Globe entering the park.

01:40:49.345 --> 01:40:53.225
DAINA: So pretty good for, I think, transferring that morning and getting all that taken care of.

01:40:53.225 --> 01:40:56.825
KRISTINA: And I don't think we had much plan because of the promotion.

01:40:56.825 --> 01:40:58.145
KRISTINA: It was like a buy one, get one free.

01:40:58.145 --> 01:41:00.685
KRISTINA: So this technically was our free day.

01:41:00.685 --> 01:41:06.565
KRISTINA: So it was like, whatever we can do kind of hits and mark off the list, but we weren't rushing around.

01:41:06.565 --> 01:41:09.585
KRISTINA: We didn't have any like express pass.

01:41:09.585 --> 01:41:12.125
KRISTINA: We were just going with the flow.

01:41:12.125 --> 01:41:18.705
KRISTINA: So it kind of was a nice, it was a nice compared to being, I want to say on the run, you know, rushing with Disneyland.

01:41:18.705 --> 01:41:22.865
KRISTINA: It was just a more laid back day, which was much needed.

01:41:24.085 --> 01:41:25.705
DAINA: Yeah, yeah, it was great.

01:41:25.705 --> 01:41:32.305
DAINA: As someone, I mean, Universal Hollywood is, is much, much, much smaller than Universal Orlando.

01:41:32.305 --> 01:41:35.505
DAINA: So if this was obviously our first time at the Hollywood one.

01:41:35.505 --> 01:41:41.965
DAINA: And I knew it was smaller because I had been looking at the app and things like that, but I didn't realize how much smaller really till we got there.

01:41:41.965 --> 01:41:43.685
DAINA: That everything's just kind of together, right?

01:41:43.685 --> 01:41:49.565
DAINA: Like there's, there's the upper lot and then you, you know, we learned that there's a whole escalator thing, five minute escalator thing to go down to the bottom lot.

01:41:49.645 --> 01:41:51.805
DAINA: And the other rides are down there.

01:41:51.805 --> 01:41:57.605
DAINA: But absolutely gorgeous views from that park, probably the prettiest views I've ever seen in Athene Park.

01:41:57.605 --> 01:42:01.465
DAINA: Just absolutely breathtaking daytime and nighttime.

01:42:01.465 --> 01:42:03.685
DAINA: And we got a ton of rides that we also met Dracula.

01:42:03.685 --> 01:42:04.485
DAINA: He was there.

01:42:04.485 --> 01:42:06.885
DAINA: The scooby Gang was out when we got in and took pictures with.

01:42:06.885 --> 01:42:12.825
DAINA: We got some Starbucks and then we hit up the Minions Ride followed by Secret Life of Pets.

01:42:12.825 --> 01:42:15.385
DAINA: Both pretty much walk on, checked out the shops.

01:42:15.385 --> 01:42:16.505
KRISTINA: The Kung Fu Panda Show.

01:42:17.005 --> 01:42:19.345
KRISTINA: So they have like a DreamWorks Theater.

01:42:19.345 --> 01:42:24.865
KRISTINA: And I guess right now, I don't know if it's like it all the time, but they have like a Kung Fu Panda Show.

01:42:24.865 --> 01:42:34.165
KRISTINA: But you go into a theater and the seats, they move like, I don't know how they're like, they're not crazy movement, but it's an immersive show.

01:42:34.165 --> 01:42:40.765
KRISTINA: But like there's images like on the walls and it's, it's like they took PhilharMagic and like stepped it up a notch.

01:42:41.645 --> 01:42:46.185
KRISTINA: Yeah, you know, it's, it's, Disney really needs to do something like this.

01:42:46.185 --> 01:42:55.665
VIRGINIA: We have, or I should say, they have theaters like that now in, in certain cities and we have one here.

01:42:55.665 --> 01:42:59.085
VIRGINIA: And I think they call it 4D.

01:42:59.085 --> 01:43:09.385
VIRGINIA: And we went and saw, I went with some of my friends and saw Inside Out 2 in, in that, which, I mean, there was some movement, especially like during the hockey game and stuff like that.

01:43:09.385 --> 01:43:15.405
VIRGINIA: But they had a preview before the movie that showed you, like, this is what your seats do.

01:43:15.405 --> 01:43:17.245
VIRGINIA: And we didn't know it was coming.

01:43:17.245 --> 01:43:21.865
VIRGINIA: And so we're all sitting there just kind of like chit-chatting and like getting settled with our drinks and our popcorn.

01:43:21.865 --> 01:43:29.105
VIRGINIA: And suddenly it was like we were on a roller coaster with like popcorn flying and it was insane.

01:43:29.105 --> 01:43:40.285
VIRGINIA: So that's what I'm imagining when you say that the seats moved and that things portrayed on the walls, like the whole theater was kind of set up to make you feel like you were in the scene.

01:43:40.285 --> 01:43:40.725
KRISTINA: Yeah.

01:43:40.725 --> 01:43:43.085
DAINA: It was definitely like that 4D experience.

01:43:43.085 --> 01:43:44.105
DAINA: Super impressive.

01:43:44.105 --> 01:43:45.505
DAINA: And it didn't just do Kung Fu Panda.

01:43:45.505 --> 01:43:49.325
DAINA: It had like Shrek characters and Madagascar characters and stuff.

01:43:49.325 --> 01:43:51.685
DAINA: Popped the mirror in the pre-show.

01:43:51.685 --> 01:43:54.825
DAINA: Like it incorporated a bunch of DreamWorks characters and things into the pre-show.

01:43:54.825 --> 01:43:57.705
DAINA: And then the show was really cute and like I said, really immersive.

01:43:57.705 --> 01:44:03.485
DAINA: So I would love to see something like that done to feel hard magic to make it even more 4D of an experience.

01:44:05.085 --> 01:44:06.725
DAINA: And then we went to Wizarding World.

01:44:06.725 --> 01:44:13.125
DAINA: I don't know if they call theirs Wizarding World, but the Harry Potter area and had lunch at the Three and Broomsticks.

01:44:13.125 --> 01:44:18.885
DAINA: I got my favorite meal here at Three and Broomsticks in Orlando is a shepherd's pie with the butter beer potted cream.

01:44:18.885 --> 01:44:21.705
DAINA: Got that same meal out there and it was just as delicious.

01:44:21.705 --> 01:44:25.465
DAINA: So I can now fully endorse that meal on both coasts.

01:44:25.465 --> 01:44:27.505
DAINA: Highly recommended east or west.

01:44:27.505 --> 01:44:28.065
DAINA: Go for it.

01:44:29.685 --> 01:44:32.945
KRISTINA: I think we just me and Brian just split a kids meal.

01:44:32.945 --> 01:44:35.105
KRISTINA: Just like a chicken tunder kids meal.

01:44:35.825 --> 01:44:36.765
KRISTINA: Nothing too crazy.

01:44:37.005 --> 01:44:38.765
KRISTINA: Nothing Harry Potter themed.

01:44:41.865 --> 01:44:44.085
DAINA: Then I believe we did Forbidden Journey.

01:44:44.085 --> 01:44:46.945
DAINA: The Forbidden Journey is pretty much exact like their castle and Forbidden Journey.

01:44:46.945 --> 01:44:50.325
DAINA: Q-line everything is exactly the same as Orlando's.

01:44:50.325 --> 01:44:52.585
DAINA: So nothing really different to report there.

01:44:52.585 --> 01:44:55.325
DAINA: Butter beer is also just as delicious on both coasts.

01:44:56.045 --> 01:45:01.525
DAINA: Then I think we did the Flight of the Hippogriff, little family coaster thing.

01:45:01.525 --> 01:45:02.985
DAINA: It's a fun little one to do.

01:45:02.985 --> 01:45:04.665
DAINA: Then we went down to the lower lot.

01:45:04.665 --> 01:45:08.765
DAINA: So this is where we discovered that there's like, oh, there's an upper lot of the park and a lower lot.

01:45:08.765 --> 01:45:09.485
DAINA: There's like what?

01:45:09.485 --> 01:45:12.725
DAINA: Four, probably four large escalators down.

01:45:12.725 --> 01:45:13.885
DAINA: Four or five.

01:45:13.885 --> 01:45:15.585
DAINA: That's where the breathtaking views are.

01:45:15.585 --> 01:45:22.265
DAINA: They even had like an HHN photo op set up on the scenic view area of that, which is like a bloody director's clipboard.

01:45:22.265 --> 01:45:24.605
DAINA: So we took some fun things there.

01:45:24.705 --> 01:45:31.265
DAINA: Because if people don't know, if you go to Universal during HHN time, you'll see props out in Orlando or in Hollywood.

01:45:31.265 --> 01:45:35.305
DAINA: You'll see some of the props from the scare zones and things like that out during the daytime.

01:45:35.305 --> 01:45:37.105
DAINA: So you can see elements of HHN.

01:45:37.105 --> 01:45:42.105
DAINA: There's just nobody acting or scaring you or anything, of course, but there are some of the props out there.

01:45:42.105 --> 01:45:49.325
DAINA: From that little escalator, you could see down, you could see all of Nintendo World, Super Nintendo World, you could see into it and see all the sound stages and things like that.

01:45:49.845 --> 01:45:51.285
DAINA: It's a very cool, fun escalator ride.

01:45:51.285 --> 01:45:52.445
DAINA: I think it's pretty neat.

01:45:52.565 --> 01:45:54.785
DAINA: Let's see, we did the mummy on the lower lot.

01:45:54.785 --> 01:45:57.905
DAINA: Their mummy is better than our mummy, in my opinion, for anyone listening who can hear them.

01:45:57.905 --> 01:46:00.445
VIRGINIA: Everybody thinks their mummy is the best, Daina.

01:46:03.065 --> 01:46:08.785
DAINA: I mean, I probably so, well, I'm going to say that Hollywood's is the best, so I'm going to give it to the other coast.

01:46:08.785 --> 01:46:11.545
DAINA: I'm going to say ours is not the best after writing that one.

01:46:11.545 --> 01:46:18.165
DAINA: Then we did Transformers, again, pretty much the same ride as what we have out here, so nothing really different there.

01:46:19.045 --> 01:46:21.885
KRISTINA: Then we also did Jurassic Park, Jurassic World.

01:46:21.885 --> 01:46:22.845
DAINA: Yes.

01:46:22.845 --> 01:46:24.465
DAINA: I know I talked about that in the pre-trip.

01:46:24.465 --> 01:46:26.225
DAINA: That was the one I was most looking forward to.

01:46:26.225 --> 01:46:28.105
DAINA: It did not disappoint.

01:46:28.105 --> 01:46:39.325
DAINA: It was absolutely so good, such an amazing ride and Universal Orlando needs to get on it and close River Adventure immediately and start converting it to that version.

01:46:39.505 --> 01:46:42.265
DAINA: Because, man, it was top-notch.

01:46:42.265 --> 01:46:46.645
DAINA: The animatronics of the Indominus and the T-Rex and the Mosasaurus.

01:46:47.925 --> 01:46:48.505
DAINA: Oh, man.

01:46:48.505 --> 01:46:52.525
DAINA: It was just so cool and so realistic.

01:46:52.525 --> 01:46:53.985
DAINA: It was just absolutely fantastic.

01:46:53.985 --> 01:46:55.765
DAINA: It exceeded my expectations.

01:46:55.765 --> 01:46:58.205
DAINA: So I highly recommend that ride.

01:46:58.205 --> 01:46:59.145
KRISTINA: You do get wet.

01:46:59.145 --> 01:47:00.325
DAINA: Very wet, however.

01:47:00.325 --> 01:47:05.285
DAINA: Way more wet than on River Adventure because we ride River Adventure and I feel like I get maybe a drop or two.

01:47:05.285 --> 01:47:07.285
DAINA: This one, my whole left side was soaked.

01:47:07.685 --> 01:47:09.765
DAINA: So just be prepared.

01:47:09.765 --> 01:47:15.385
KRISTINA: Apparently, Mark knew this and forgot to tell us, especially Brian.

01:47:15.385 --> 01:47:19.705
KRISTINA: So in the Mosasaurus scene is when you get, you can get soaked.

01:47:19.705 --> 01:47:23.725
KRISTINA: And so yeah, that was fun that we weren't expecting.

01:47:23.725 --> 01:47:29.565
KRISTINA: And again, the temperatures, it was in the 70s, but it wasn't, there was no humidity.

01:47:29.565 --> 01:47:41.165
KRISTINA: So you did feel you were wet longer and you did feel chillier than, say, if you got wet here, because you would just, it would be evaporated within minutes.

01:47:41.165 --> 01:47:44.465
KRISTINA: So, but again, it was a super fun ride.

01:47:44.465 --> 01:47:47.205
KRISTINA: Very, very well done.

01:47:47.205 --> 01:47:54.425
DAINA: And from that, I think we just pretty much wrapped up the day part of it and headed back to the hotel to get change ready for the night.

01:47:54.425 --> 01:47:57.945
DAINA: And then Mark and I were getting ready to head to HHN for the night.

01:47:57.945 --> 01:48:01.825
VIRGINIA: And Kristina, what did you all get up to while they were in Hollywood Horror Nights?

01:48:02.265 --> 01:48:07.865
KRISTINA: We all met up and then me, Brian and Ariel, we just went to CityWalk, grabbed something to eat.

01:48:07.865 --> 01:48:10.065
KRISTINA: I think Ariel wanted firehouse.

01:48:10.065 --> 01:48:15.805
KRISTINA: So we grabbed some firehouse, hung out, and then just went back to the hotel and just hung out in the lobby.

01:48:15.965 --> 01:48:23.045
KRISTINA: And we uber-eat some boba tea because I guess why not.

01:48:23.045 --> 01:48:31.745
KRISTINA: So that was fun and we just hung out till 11, and then just went our own separate ways and got some sleep.

01:48:31.745 --> 01:48:34.745
KRISTINA: So our night was not eventful at all.

01:48:34.745 --> 01:48:40.625
VIRGINIA: And Daina, for the Horror Nights, how does it compare to what you've done in Florida?

01:48:41.105 --> 01:48:43.385
DAINA: Yeah, so their Horror Nights is less houses.

01:48:43.405 --> 01:48:46.345
DAINA: They had eight haunted houses whereas Orlando has 10.

01:48:46.345 --> 01:48:51.105
DAINA: But again, I have to give the point to Universal Hollywood for HHN.

01:48:51.105 --> 01:49:00.145
DAINA: I think their event is much better than Orlando, especially this year because I went to the Orlando one a couple weeks ago on September 7th.

01:49:00.145 --> 01:49:02.565
DAINA: So it's fresh in my brain.

01:49:02.565 --> 01:49:08.465
DAINA: And the set pieces and the characters here just did such a great job.

01:49:08.465 --> 01:49:10.045
DAINA: Like the sets are absolutely phenomenal.

01:49:10.445 --> 01:49:16.825
DAINA: And even the houses that are the same, so like the quiet places in both parks and Ghostbusters is in both parks.

01:49:16.825 --> 01:49:22.585
DAINA: We didn't get to Insidious in Hollywood, but the two we did do like Ghostbusters and Quiet Place to compare them.

01:49:22.585 --> 01:49:26.265
DAINA: Two different houses, like they were completely different sets and things like that.

01:49:26.265 --> 01:49:29.225
DAINA: And these were just so, so much better.

01:49:29.225 --> 01:49:31.885
DAINA: The scares were so much better.

01:49:31.885 --> 01:49:45.365
DAINA: And then like in the scare zones as well, like the characters were, you could tell they were passionate about scaring the crap out of people because they were literally just hunting people down to get in their face and scare them, especially people who they didn't think they could scare.

01:49:45.365 --> 01:49:46.965
DAINA: Like you could tell they were going for it.

01:49:46.965 --> 01:49:49.605
DAINA: So they were very, very amped.

01:49:49.605 --> 01:49:55.365
DAINA: Hollywood does a really awesome thing where they take their studio tour tram and they turn it into terror tram at night.

01:49:55.365 --> 01:50:01.225
DAINA: And they basically take you a little bit on the tram and then they dump you off into a scare zone and you have to walk through this huge scare zone.

01:50:01.225 --> 01:50:07.905
DAINA: And they had photo ops like a bloody Hollywood sign set up and the Norman Bates like Psycho House with photo opportunities set up.

01:50:08.045 --> 01:50:11.185
DAINA: And Orlando just doesn't offer that type of stuff.

01:50:11.185 --> 01:50:18.685
DAINA: So I have to give it to them on sets, the scares, the vibes, the food markings, like the signage was so much better to find.

01:50:18.685 --> 01:50:27.205
DAINA: In Orlando I feel like I could never find any of the specialty foods that I was looking for, but here the signs were very apparent about where to find them, where the drinks were and they were at multiple locations throughout.

01:50:27.205 --> 01:50:30.805
DAINA: And of course it's just a smaller park so it's easier to navigate.

01:50:30.805 --> 01:50:37.065
DAINA: And I have to say that my little mini Ghostbusters puff s'mores that I got was fantastic.

01:50:37.165 --> 01:50:41.565
DAINA: It looks just like the picture, the advertisement picture, like it was spot on.

01:50:41.565 --> 01:50:42.965
DAINA: So major props to them for that.

01:50:42.965 --> 01:50:50.285
DAINA: So yeah, long story short or maybe not so short, HHN and Hollywood, I'm going to give it to them for the win.

01:50:50.285 --> 01:50:51.325
DAINA: I think there's as much better.

01:50:51.325 --> 01:50:55.045
DAINA: So any HHN fans listening, go hit up Hollywood to see what you think.

01:50:56.385 --> 01:51:03.885
VIRGINIA: All right, Friday, September the 27th.

01:51:03.885 --> 01:51:07.985
VIRGINIA: So this was your all day Universal day.

01:51:07.985 --> 01:51:11.445
VIRGINIA: Did you get over to Nintendo World for this day?

01:51:11.445 --> 01:51:12.045
KRISTINA: Yes.

01:51:12.045 --> 01:51:15.885
KRISTINA: So we had purchased, they offered like an early entry.

01:51:15.885 --> 01:51:20.265
KRISTINA: So I think for $25 per person, you got to enter the park an hour early.

01:51:20.945 --> 01:51:23.905
KRISTINA: So today, on this day, the park would have opened at 9.

01:51:23.905 --> 01:51:25.985
KRISTINA: So we were able to get in at 8.

01:51:25.985 --> 01:51:30.145
KRISTINA: And you had exclusive access to the Super Mario World.

01:51:30.145 --> 01:51:41.065
KRISTINA: So we know we wanted to do that because we wanted to make sure that we were able to ride the, was it the Bowser like Mario Kart ride?

01:51:41.065 --> 01:51:43.685
KRISTINA: So of course, the Super Mario World is on the lower level.

01:51:43.685 --> 01:51:51.645
KRISTINA: So it takes you a good 20 minutes to just get down to the level from there because you have to take all the elevators.

01:51:51.645 --> 01:52:00.905
KRISTINA: But I mean, once you get down there and you go through the, the tube and you just enter into Super Mario World, it's, it's amazing.

01:52:00.905 --> 01:52:03.865
KRISTINA: Like the details were just perfect.

01:52:03.865 --> 01:52:06.745
KRISTINA: Everywhere you look, there was just, just so much.

01:52:06.745 --> 01:52:08.305
KRISTINA: You couldn't just take everything in.

01:52:08.305 --> 01:52:10.545
KRISTINA: The ride was super fun.

01:52:10.545 --> 01:52:15.065
KRISTINA: Really hard to understand exactly what the, what you were doing, you know, once you got on.

01:52:15.245 --> 01:52:22.465
KRISTINA: But the, the fact that it was, you were steering, but it was like a 3D ride.

01:52:22.465 --> 01:52:28.585
KRISTINA: But it was a personal 3D ride because like you wore this visor and you got to see, you know, the different characters.

01:52:28.585 --> 01:52:29.885
KRISTINA: It was super fun.

01:52:29.885 --> 01:52:30.585
KRISTINA: I enjoyed it.

01:52:30.645 --> 01:52:35.725
KRISTINA: Again, I didn't exactly know what the whole point is or what we were supposed to be doing, but it was still fun.

01:52:35.725 --> 01:52:36.045
DAINA: I agree.

01:52:36.045 --> 01:52:36.585
DAINA: It was a blast.

01:52:36.585 --> 01:52:39.405
DAINA: It makes me super excited for it to come to Orlando.

01:52:39.405 --> 01:52:41.805
DAINA: Ariel and I rode it twice within that one hour.

01:52:41.805 --> 01:52:46.665
DAINA: We were able to get out twice because there was basically maybe 10-minute wait tops during that time.

01:52:46.665 --> 01:52:55.565
DAINA: A lot of that was just walking through the queue line because it has a really long but a really fantastic themed queue line that you want to stop and take pictures as you walk through and things like that.

01:52:55.565 --> 01:52:58.785
DAINA: That extra hour early entry was definitely worth it.

01:52:58.785 --> 01:53:02.225
DAINA: It also allowed us to scan in for Toadstool Cafe.

01:53:02.225 --> 01:53:10.965
DAINA: They have a Toadstool Cafe dining option within Super Nintendo World and you can only join it if you have a park reservation kind of thing for it.

01:53:10.965 --> 01:53:16.925
DAINA: You had to scan a QR code that morning and reserve your time slot for your party size and you can't get in unless you have that.

01:53:16.925 --> 01:53:18.165
DAINA: That did fill up.

01:53:18.165 --> 01:53:20.985
DAINA: We checked a little bit later in the morning and that had filled up with spots.

01:53:20.985 --> 01:53:27.325
DAINA: By getting in early and scanning it first thing, we were able to secure the time we wanted for our party size without any issue.

01:53:27.325 --> 01:53:31.845
DAINA: Another added perk is if you want to eat there, it's a great way to do it for the whole park.

01:53:31.845 --> 01:53:33.245
DAINA: Rushes down there and scans that code.

01:53:35.125 --> 01:53:36.185
KRISTINA: There's a lot of stuff to do there.

01:53:36.185 --> 01:53:46.345
KRISTINA: If you purchase, they have magic bands that you can purchase and then you can go around the land and play different games and try to get coins and keys.

01:53:46.345 --> 01:53:56.385
KRISTINA: We didn't do that, but they also have character meet and greets, so you could also meet Mario and Luigi, Princess Peach, and probably the best meet and greet was Toad.

01:53:56.385 --> 01:53:58.685
KRISTINA: Toad is adorable.

01:53:58.685 --> 01:53:59.845
KRISTINA: We will be posting pictures.

01:54:00.025 --> 01:54:03.365
KRISTINA: This was the absolute cutest meet and greet.

01:54:03.365 --> 01:54:04.185
KRISTINA: I can't get over it.

01:54:04.185 --> 01:54:08.185
KRISTINA: I'm looking at the pictures now and it was so small.

01:54:08.185 --> 01:54:13.905
KRISTINA: So like if you think of a perfect meet and greet for Toad and how small it would be, he's adorable.

01:54:13.905 --> 01:54:14.765
KRISTINA: I can't get over it.

01:54:14.765 --> 01:54:17.365
DAINA: Oh, I finally got to be taller than someone.

01:54:17.365 --> 01:54:19.385
DAINA: It was fantastic.

01:54:19.385 --> 01:54:21.145
DAINA: Taller than Toad, I can officially say that.

01:54:21.145 --> 01:54:23.125
VIRGINIA: That's so exciting.

01:54:25.865 --> 01:54:30.865
VIRGINIA: Do each of you have a background with the Mario World?

01:54:30.865 --> 01:54:35.325
VIRGINIA: Like are you people who grew up playing the Super Mario Brothers and stuff?

01:54:35.325 --> 01:54:36.525
KRISTINA: Oh, yeah.

01:54:36.525 --> 01:54:37.045
DAINA: Oh, yeah.

01:54:37.045 --> 01:54:38.185
DAINA: Yes.

01:54:38.185 --> 01:54:42.505
DAINA: We still play, Mark Earl and I play Mario Kart on our Switch all the time.

01:54:42.645 --> 01:54:47.545
DAINA: If we have a family like video game night at home, we're just hanging out, we're either do that or Mario Party.

01:54:47.545 --> 01:54:48.505
DAINA: That's our top two games.

01:54:48.505 --> 01:54:51.525
DAINA: So we're all huge Super Nintendo fans.

01:54:51.525 --> 01:54:52.525
DAINA: So it's really cool to see all that.

01:54:52.605 --> 01:54:54.225
DAINA: Like they literally brought it to life.

01:54:54.225 --> 01:54:57.145
DAINA: So anybody who's a Nintendo fan would absolutely love it.

01:54:57.145 --> 01:55:02.825
DAINA: I was able to get a super awesome pink Bowser sweater because, I mean, whoever thought pink and Bowser would be together.

01:55:02.825 --> 01:55:04.505
DAINA: Bowser is my absolute favorite.

01:55:04.505 --> 01:55:05.905
DAINA: So that was like an immediate purchase.

01:55:05.905 --> 01:55:08.365
DAINA: I actually bought it on the way to HHN because I was freezing.

01:55:08.365 --> 01:55:10.025
DAINA: And I was like, oh, that's going to be mine.

01:55:10.565 --> 01:55:12.365
DAINA: The merch was super cute.

01:55:12.365 --> 01:55:15.565
KRISTINA: They have so much cute like Super Nintendo merchandise.

01:55:15.985 --> 01:55:17.665
DAINA: Yes, took way too much money for that.

01:55:17.665 --> 01:55:20.285
KRISTINA: Yes.

01:55:20.285 --> 01:55:20.545
DAINA: Yeah.

01:55:20.545 --> 01:55:27.025
DAINA: So after Nintendo World, again, we had done a lot of stuff the day one, even though we weren't there for a full day because the park is smaller.

01:55:27.505 --> 01:55:28.725
DAINA: We had managed to do a lot of it.

01:55:28.725 --> 01:55:32.665
DAINA: But one thing we had left to do for Friday was the studio tour.

01:55:32.665 --> 01:55:41.985
DAINA: Because if you do the early entry Nintendo add-on, I think it was like 20 a person, but it includes an express pass entrance to the studio tour if you go before 11 a.m.

01:55:41.985 --> 01:55:46.365
DAINA: So we wanted to make use of that because the studio, yeah, super good deal.

01:55:46.365 --> 01:55:49.065
DAINA: The studio tour was obviously high on our list.

01:55:49.065 --> 01:55:51.765
DAINA: Probably most people who go there are looking forward to the studio tour.

01:55:51.765 --> 01:55:57.245
DAINA: So we went and around 1040, we made it up there and used our express pass to the studio tour.

01:55:57.245 --> 01:56:00.125
DAINA: While that was absolutely fantastic.

01:56:00.125 --> 01:56:01.385
DAINA: That tour is so cool.

01:56:01.385 --> 01:56:11.385
DAINA: Last about an hour, I would say, that we were on it and got to see so many cool sets and learn so many cool facts about things and where they filmed, and who had been there filming, and what shows.

01:56:12.525 --> 01:56:18.625
DAINA: You have a couple of throwback ride experiences like with Earthquake and Kong.

01:56:18.625 --> 01:56:19.885
DAINA: The Jaws portion was down.

01:56:19.885 --> 01:56:22.865
DAINA: It was being cleaned, so we didn't get to do that portion.

01:56:22.865 --> 01:56:25.305
DAINA: It's got some Fast and the Furious and stuff.

01:56:25.305 --> 01:56:28.445
DAINA: Just a really, really awesome experience to do that studio tour.

01:56:28.445 --> 01:56:32.105
DAINA: I would go to that park just to do that alone, honestly, because it was so cool.

01:56:32.185 --> 01:56:35.205
VIRGINIA: Yeah, anything else that you do this day.

01:56:35.205 --> 01:56:37.945
VIRGINIA: You had a full day and then you were done with your park time.

01:56:37.945 --> 01:56:47.985
KRISTINA: I think after the tour, we were making our way back down to Super Mario because I think our lunch reservation was at 12.30.

01:56:47.985 --> 01:56:51.965
KRISTINA: We stopped and did some meet and greets with the Transformers.

01:56:51.965 --> 01:56:55.345
KRISTINA: Did Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron.

01:56:56.645 --> 01:56:59.445
KRISTINA: Did that, then went down to Toadstool Cafe.

01:56:59.445 --> 01:57:04.485
KRISTINA: I'm not a fan of how it's set up as in the whole ordering and seating.

01:57:04.485 --> 01:57:10.965
KRISTINA: So just if it was ever listening, you actually go and you have to reserve a time to go in.

01:57:10.965 --> 01:57:11.925
KRISTINA: It's a quick service.

01:57:11.925 --> 01:57:21.065
KRISTINA: Then you wait in line, you place your order, and then you wait in another line to get seated and it's seated by just whoever comes available.

01:57:22.425 --> 01:57:30.765
KRISTINA: We had placed our order, we were in the back of the line and they're like, party of five, so then we get taken before people in front of us.

01:57:30.765 --> 01:57:33.585
KRISTINA: It was just a weird and then they bring the food out to your table.

01:57:33.585 --> 01:57:39.425
KRISTINA: So I'm sure it could have been done better, but it was super cute in there.

01:57:39.965 --> 01:57:50.685
KRISTINA: All the food was themed around Toadstool and there's videos of him, like all the Toadstools were like cook making the soup or whatever.

01:57:50.685 --> 01:57:54.145
KRISTINA: So it was really just a cute eating area.

01:57:54.145 --> 01:57:55.465
KRISTINA: The food was pretty good.

01:57:55.465 --> 01:57:58.785
DAINA: Super cute themed, like super, it looked just like the menu.

01:57:58.785 --> 01:58:04.085
DAINA: A lot of times they have really cute food on menus and then you get it and you're like, whomp, whomp, that's not it.

01:58:04.085 --> 01:58:06.525
DAINA: But this was spot on to what the menu showed.

01:58:07.125 --> 01:58:08.085
DAINA: It was exact theming.

01:58:09.125 --> 01:58:14.205
DAINA: That was a nice surprise to actually meet expectations of what it looked like.

01:58:14.205 --> 01:58:15.465
DAINA: It was pretty yummy too.

01:58:15.465 --> 01:58:16.865
DAINA: It was pretty good.

01:58:17.885 --> 01:58:29.805
DAINA: So ate there and then we just relaxed and we caught the 4 o'clock Waterworld show to watch that, which was pretty cool, really cool stunt show.

01:58:29.805 --> 01:58:37.445
DAINA: I also got to say hello to my friend, Kara, who lives out there right by Universal, another Instagram friend that I've been friends with for a while, Caramander.

01:58:37.445 --> 01:58:39.405
VIRGINIA: I'll make sure to tag her along with the other people.

01:58:39.405 --> 01:58:40.225
DAINA: Kind of like Charmander.

01:58:43.725 --> 01:58:44.365
DAINA: Yes.

01:58:44.365 --> 01:58:49.365
DAINA: Then we went back for a little bit and we decided to go to City Walk to get dinner.

01:58:49.365 --> 01:58:51.525
DAINA: We just went to do a quick service.

01:58:51.525 --> 01:58:56.285
DAINA: We went to Pink's Hot Dogs and it was super good.

01:58:56.285 --> 01:59:02.065
DAINA: I got this bacon chili burrito dog thing, which was massive.

01:59:02.065 --> 01:59:03.225
DAINA: It was like a huge burrito.

01:59:03.225 --> 01:59:06.505
DAINA: It had like four hot dog wieners in it, which I was not expecting.

01:59:06.705 --> 01:59:09.765
DAINA: Definitely a very filling meal.

01:59:09.765 --> 01:59:13.385
DAINA: Yeah, it was a large and in charge burrito there.

01:59:13.385 --> 01:59:15.745
DAINA: Then we got a donut at Voodoo Donuts.

01:59:17.845 --> 01:59:20.125
DAINA: Yeah, that pretty much wrapped up the night.

01:59:21.145 --> 01:59:22.005
DAINA: Sad times.

01:59:22.005 --> 01:59:23.105
VIRGINIA: Oh my goodness.

01:59:23.105 --> 01:59:25.745
VIRGINIA: Well, what an amazing trip you've had.

01:59:25.985 --> 01:59:33.485
VIRGINIA: Now, the last thing left is, how was your return trip, which was only yesterday?

01:59:33.485 --> 01:59:35.165
DAINA: Yeah.

01:59:35.665 --> 01:59:41.665
DAINA: Other than being sad of it being the return trip and vacation being over, that always sucks.

01:59:41.665 --> 01:59:49.145
DAINA: Other than that, everything like we ubered the airport, got checked in, bags dropped, and took off without any issue.

01:59:49.145 --> 01:59:56.305
DAINA: Although we all three set separate because we were on Southwest and we had C boarding group and I was not going to pay 120 again to upgrade us to the A group.

01:59:56.305 --> 02:00:00.765
DAINA: So I took the I'll exit row seat and I enjoyed five hours of peace and quiet.

02:00:00.765 --> 02:00:01.885
DAINA: So I actually enjoyed it.

02:00:01.885 --> 02:00:03.565
DAINA: It was very nice for me.

02:00:03.565 --> 02:00:05.945
DAINA: I don't know if Mark and Ergo would say the same.

02:00:07.405 --> 02:00:10.005
DAINA: But yeah, it was good and smooth and made it home.

02:00:10.005 --> 02:00:11.665
DAINA: Then today we picked up our dog, Loki.

02:00:12.445 --> 02:00:14.045
DAINA: All good.

02:00:14.045 --> 02:00:14.985
VIRGINIA: What about you, Kristina?

02:00:14.985 --> 02:00:16.665
VIRGINIA: Your travel was okay?

02:00:16.665 --> 02:00:17.585
KRISTINA: Ours was fine.

02:00:17.585 --> 02:00:18.025
KRISTINA: Yeah.

02:00:18.025 --> 02:00:26.385
KRISTINA: We ubered back to Orange County, and we were planning on it taking a lot longer, so we did have a little bit extra time in the airport.

02:00:26.385 --> 02:00:29.645
KRISTINA: That is what it is, but no delays.

02:00:29.645 --> 02:00:34.945
KRISTINA: Got home probably after we got our bags and everything, we were back to our house around 1130.

02:00:34.945 --> 02:00:38.865
KRISTINA: So it's a long day, but it's not the weather.

02:00:39.585 --> 02:00:42.065
KRISTINA: Walked outside, not ready for the humidity.

02:00:43.145 --> 02:00:45.045
KRISTINA: No, not at all.

02:00:45.045 --> 02:00:48.325
VIRGINIA: Yeah, that California weather is so nice and mild.

02:00:48.325 --> 02:00:49.265
KRISTINA: It's amazing.

02:00:49.265 --> 02:00:50.025
DAINA: So nice.

02:00:50.025 --> 02:00:54.865
VIRGINIA: Well, when do you think each of you might be getting back to California?

02:00:54.865 --> 02:00:59.885
VIRGINIA: Do you have any plans in the near or somewhere down the road future?

02:00:59.885 --> 02:01:01.525
DAINA: Definitely at some point in the future.

02:01:01.965 --> 02:01:07.805
DAINA: My next goal would be to go during Christmas, to do a Christmas comparison, just because it's our favorite time of year.

02:01:08.765 --> 02:01:15.585
DAINA: But we have so many things on the books, like Japan next year, and then we're talking about possibly like Disneyland, Paris in 2026, like lots of things coming up.

02:01:15.585 --> 02:01:22.465
DAINA: I think I would like to let some of their new stuff possibly get built and open just to make sure we can maximize going out there.

02:01:22.465 --> 02:01:26.125
DAINA: So maybe like four years out or so, but you never know.

02:01:26.125 --> 02:01:26.565
DAINA: Who knows?

02:01:26.565 --> 02:01:29.585
DAINA: We may book a random weekend trip at some point.

02:01:29.585 --> 02:01:32.845
DAINA: I'll never say never, but definitely going back, I'm just not sure when it will be.

02:01:33.925 --> 02:01:45.845
KRISTINA: We were talking about it, and I know for us, we want to wait till the new Avengers roads open and that doesn't look like they're going to start those till like 2026 or 2025.

02:01:45.845 --> 02:01:48.705
KRISTINA: Then the Olympics are going to be there in 2028.

02:01:48.705 --> 02:01:54.925
KRISTINA: I definitely don't want to touch them anywhere around the Olympics.

02:01:54.925 --> 02:01:57.945
KRISTINA: I would say probably four years.

02:02:00.105 --> 02:02:02.085
VIRGINIA: It's a long flight to get out there.

02:02:03.105 --> 02:02:07.245
VIRGINIA: I feel like you can almost go to Disneyland Paris in the same amount of time.

02:02:07.245 --> 02:02:07.925
KRISTINA: Yeah.

02:02:07.925 --> 02:02:09.105
VIRGINIA: It's a commitment.

02:02:09.145 --> 02:02:10.325
VIRGINIA: You have to plan for it.

02:02:12.525 --> 02:02:16.105
VIRGINIA: Well, thank you both so much for joining me on the show.

02:02:16.105 --> 02:02:25.365
VIRGINIA: I've really enjoyed talking to you and finally getting to know you a little bit after watching from afar for so long.

02:02:25.365 --> 02:02:29.285
VIRGINIA: So hopefully, we will at some point be able to meet up in the park.

02:02:29.285 --> 02:02:30.245
KRISTINA: That's definitely right.

02:02:30.245 --> 02:02:31.405
DAINA: Thank you so much for having us.

02:02:33.805 --> 02:02:38.085
VIRGINIA: Thank you again to Daina and Kristina for being such amazing guests.

02:02:38.085 --> 02:02:45.505
VIRGINIA: If you have a trip coming up and are interested in being a trip report guest, please reach out through the podcast website, which is whereilongtobepodcast.com.

02:02:47.045 --> 02:02:51.745
VIRGINIA: No experience is necessary, just an excitement to talk about your trip.

02:02:51.745 --> 02:02:56.325
VIRGINIA: I'm currently looking for people who are traveling in early 2025.

02:02:56.325 --> 02:02:59.145
VIRGINIA: While you're on the website, don't forget to leave a rating and a review.

02:02:59.525 --> 02:03:01.685
VIRGINIA: It would be much appreciated.

02:03:01.685 --> 02:03:08.385
VIRGINIA: And with that, I hope you all have a happy Halloween this week and that you only get treats with no tricks.

02:03:08.385 --> 02:03:12.205
VIRGINIA: And don't forget to keep daydreaming about where you long to be.