Pre-Trip Report: Amanda’s Triple Split Stay (March 2024)

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VIRGINIA: Welcome back for season two of 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: Today, you'll hear my interview with Amanda, who you may know from Instagram as amandadotdoes.disney16, as she talks through all the plans she has for her upcoming trip.

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VIRGINIA: If you have a trip coming up to any Disney or Universal property worldwide, I would love to hear from you.

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VIRGINIA: You can find the link to the trip report guest form in the show notes.

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VIRGINIA: And if your trip fits into my schedule, you might just be a future trip report guest.

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VIRGINIA: Just make sure to fill it out at least a month before your trip, but the sooner the better if you want a higher probability of being selected.

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VIRGINIA: And now let's dive into this episode.

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VIRGINIA: Here's Amanda.

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VIRGINIA: Welcome Amanda to the podcast.

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VIRGINIA: Thank you so much for being here today.

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AMANDA: Of course, thank you for having me.

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VIRGINIA: And Amanda, listeners may know her from Instagram.

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VIRGINIA: We were just talking about knowing or not knowing our actual handle based on your name versus like the actual handle you use.

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VIRGINIA: So you are Amanda.does.Disney16.

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AMANDA: Yes.

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VIRGINIA: Okay, all right.

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VIRGINIA: And that information will be in the show notes.

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VIRGINIA: So everybody, I would encourage you to go and give Amanda a follow to see all of her great content and also to see the photos from this trip that we're about to talk about.

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VIRGINIA: But before we get into all that, tell me who are you, Amanda?

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VIRGINIA: Where are you coming to me from in the world?

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AMANDA: I am from New Jersey.

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AMANDA: So Florida is not too, too far away.

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AMANDA: I'm just a quick little two hour flight.

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VIRGINIA: Do you mind if I ask where in New Jersey you are from?

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AMANDA: I'm from South Jersey.

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AMANDA: I'm near Philly, Pennsylvania.

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VIRGINIA: Okay, all right.

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VIRGINIA: I ask because my husband is a Jersey boy.

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VIRGINIA: So he is from Whippany, which is I guess a suburb of Morristown.

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VIRGINIA: Anyway, and I see from a photo that is hanging on the wall behind you that it looks like you have been a Disney fan from infancy because there's a photo of you with what looks to be a Mickey Mouse if my eyes are not deceiving me.

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VIRGINIA: Maybe it's Minnie.

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VIRGINIA: I'm not sure from this distance.

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AMANDA: Minnie and Flounder.

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VIRGINIA: Oh my goodness, okay.

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VIRGINIA: Adorable, adorable.

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VIRGINIA: So tell me, how did this all get started?

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VIRGINIA: Did you go to Disney a lot as a kid?

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VIRGINIA: Did your parents just decide that you were going to be a Disney person?

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VIRGINIA: How did that all come about?

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AMANDA: My parents pretty much decided I was going to be a Disney person.

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AMANDA: My first trip, I was only six months old.

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AMANDA: So I definitely don't remember anything about it.

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AMANDA: We went about every other year until I would say around 2006, my parents bought into the Disney Vacation Club and it became more of an annual or if we could go twice a year, we just started going as much as we could.

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VIRGINIA: Okay, so where is their home resort?

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AMANDA: Animal Kingdom Lodge.

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VIRGINIA: Okay, all right.

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VIRGINIA: I'm a DVC member myself and Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the few that I have not stayed at yet.

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VIRGINIA: So it's on my list.

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VIRGINIA: It's definitely on my list.

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VIRGINIA: So you must have stayed there a lot.

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VIRGINIA: So I'm gonna ask you the question that I continually Google and cannot decide for myself.

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VIRGINIA: Jumbo House or Kadani Village?

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AMANDA: So we own a Kadani Village specifically, but I will say they're pretty close together, but Kadani doesn't have a quick serve.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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AMANDA: So if you want food, you have to go to Jumbo House or have a sit down meal booked.

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AMANDA: I don't remember which one is at Kadani versus Jumbo because I'm too picky to eat at any of them.

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VIRGINIA: Kadani I know is Sana'a only because I've had a dining reservation there and it was delicious.

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VIRGINIA: And I actually heard recently, I get so mixed up.

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VIRGINIA: Was it on someone I interviewed or was it a different podcast I was listening to?

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VIRGINIA: I don't know, it all runs together.

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VIRGINIA: But I actually heard that they do like a quick service type meal now at Sana'a specifically for breakfast.

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AMANDA: I saw that in a Facebook group like a week or two ago and I screenshot it so that next time we stay there, I remember to try to look for that.

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VIRGINIA: Now I'm remembering where I heard this.

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VIRGINIA: It was on the Main Street Dish.

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VIRGINIA: Because they were talking about favorite meals and they mentioned that and I was like, oh, I did not know that that happened over there.

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AMANDA: Me neither and I've stayed there plenty of time.

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AMANDA: So I think it's a newer thing.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, I was gonna say it sounded like maybe it's a post-COVID thing, so.

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VIRGINIA: All right, so how many times would you say you've been to Disney at this point?

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AMANDA: Maybe 30?

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VIRGINIA: Okay, all right.

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AMANDA: I'd say 30.

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VIRGINIA: All right, so you are a really experienced Disney-goer.

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VIRGINIA: Have you been involved in the planning of your Disney trips?

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VIRGINIA: You know, how long has that been going on now that you're an adult?

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AMANDA: I've definitely been the main planner for as long as I can remember.

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VIRGINIA: Mm-hmm.

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AMANDA: Obviously, my parents have picked where we're going to stay and all of that, but after we bought into DVC, I was like about eight or nine years old, then I got more of a say.

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AMANDA: So now I'm pretty much the sole person.

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AMANDA: I'm like, I want to stay at this hotel.

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AMANDA: Can we book this one?

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AMANDA: Can we go this month?

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AMANDA: So they're kind of just along for the ride.

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VIRGINIA: Okay, so getting into this trip, who all is going to be joining you?

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AMANDA: It's just going to be me, my mom and my dad.

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VIRGINIA: Okay, and are you an only child?

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AMANDA: I am an only child, the whole fam.

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VIRGINIA: As a mom of an only child, how do you feel about that?

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AMANDA: It doesn't bother me, honestly.

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VIRGINIA: My son loves it.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, he loves it now.

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VIRGINIA: He did not initially want to be an only child, but now he will openly be like, no, it's the best because we can go anywhere and do anything.

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VIRGINIA: We never have to worry about fitting into a car together or anything like that.

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VIRGINIA: It's just easier.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: So mom and dad, all right.

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VIRGINIA: What are your trip dates?

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AMANDA: So our trip dates are March 2nd through March 12th.

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AMANDA: We are flying down a day early.

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AMANDA: We were supposed to arrive on the 3rd, but when we went to book flights, it was $1,000 for just the three of us to get there.

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AMANDA: And if we flew a day earlier, it was only $100 something.

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AMANDA: So it was cheaper to fly a day early and book a hotel than it was to fly on the day we originally planned.

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VIRGINIA: Wow.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: So $100 round trip or just the one way?

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: I mean, that's still really good.

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VIRGINIA: What airline are you flying?

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AMANDA: We fly Southwest because with such a long trip, you have to pay for bags on any other airline.

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AMANDA: So whenever we can, we fly Southwest because you get two checked bags, a carry on and a personal item.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: So are you flying out of Philly since you're in South Jersey?

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: I think that makes a huge difference because I will say, I don't think there are very many options on Southwest to go from any of the New York City based airports to Orlando because everyone's going to check up on it.

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VIRGINIA: I'm like, why am I not flying Southwest?

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VIRGINIA: And then I'm like, oh yeah, because there's hardly any options.

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VIRGINIA: And I want to fly at the Crack of Dawn and then come back as late as possible.

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AMANDA: This is actually the first time we're not flying at the Crack of Dawn just because my mom has to work because she already was taking off work to go on this trip that she didn't want to take another day.

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AMANDA: So we're flying at like six at night.

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AMANDA: So we're not going to go to the park or anything that first day.

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AMANDA: We'll just fly in and stay the night at All-Star Sports because that's what we could book last minute.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: So flying at 6 p.m.

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VIRGINIA: so you're going to arrive around eight or so.

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AMANDA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: Have you stayed at All-Star Sports before?

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AMANDA: Yes.

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AMANDA: It's been a while.

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AMANDA: I think the last time I did was on my senior trip.

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AMANDA: It wasn't really…

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AMANDA: We used to always stay at the value resorts until we bought DVC.

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AMANDA: Then it just hasn't been our top choice.

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VIRGINIA: Well, why would it be if you have access to the Deluxe?

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VIRGINIA: Right, but I will agree as somebody who frequently does that like adding on a night here and there that adding on at a value resort is the way to go if you can.

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VIRGINIA: I know that there are cheaper options off property, but to me, it's like you might as well get into the Disney bubble and start taking advantage of that.

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VIRGINIA: Go ahead and get your refillable mug and everything you would be doing once you get to your main resort anyway.

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VIRGINIA: So, arriving that late, do you have any plans that first evening besides just getting over there and getting to sleep?

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VIRGINIA: Nope.

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AMANDA: That's the plan.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: So, Sunday, March the 3rd, where are you going to be heading first?

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VIRGINIA: Are you a hit the ground running kind of family or are you a take it easy and ease into the trip?

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AMANDA: A little bit of both.

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AMANDA: We like to take it easy.

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AMANDA: We're not rope drop people.

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AMANDA: We never will be.

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AMANDA: But we do, as soon as we get there, we try to start getting things done.

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AMANDA: But we also like to relax and explore the other resorts and things like that.

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AMANDA: So I don't really know.

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AMANDA: We're kind of just whatever, wherever the trip takes us.

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VIRGINIA: So that brings us to where are you actually going to be staying after you leave your one night at All-Star Sports?

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VIRGINIA: Because I think you had mentioned this is a split stay.

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AMANDA: Yes, it is.

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AMANDA: So after you check out of All-Star Sports, we will be checking into the Riviera.

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AMANDA: It's our first time staying there.

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AMANDA: And when we booked this trip, our options through DVC were either Bay Lake Tower or the Riviera.

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AMANDA: And I was adamant that it needed to be the Riviera.

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VIRGINIA: I have not stayed at the Riviera yet, but I have stayed at Bay Lake Tower.

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VIRGINIA: And I agree with that decision because I haven't done either.

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AMANDA: So it's not the right choice.

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VIRGINIA: You know, Bay Lake Tower, like location, location, location, awesome, right?

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VIRGINIA: I just don't personally love it.

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VIRGINIA: I think, well, first of all, it needs a renovation desperately.

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VIRGINIA: And then also, I just don't feel like there's that much special about the pools or anything.

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VIRGINIA: It just doesn't feel, besides the Mary Blair mural in the main building and the monorail going through it, it doesn't feel anything, you know, special.

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VIRGINIA: It just kind of feels like a normal, modern hotel to me.

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VIRGINIA: And I hope I don't get any hate for that.

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VIRGINIA: But that's just the way I feel.

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VIRGINIA: I've heard that a lot.

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AMANDA: So I don't think you're the only one who thinks that.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: I mean, maybe if I stayed in one of the Incredibles themed rooms, maybe I would feel differently a little bit about it.

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VIRGINIA: But yeah, it just was not my favorite.

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VIRGINIA: So Riviera, that is exciting.

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VIRGINIA: And what size villa are you going to be in?

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AMANDA: We are in a deluxe studio.

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VIRGINIA: Are you going to be using Bell Services to get all of your belongings over to the Riviera?

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AMANDA: Definitely.

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AMANDA: We're not going to be lugging that ourselves.

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VIRGINIA: Some people just really like to know where their stuff is at all times.

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VIRGINIA: And so I trust Disney to do that.

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VIRGINIA: I do too.

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VIRGINIA: I do too.

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VIRGINIA: I mean, back in the day, we trusted them to take our things from the airport and put it in our room for us without us ever having to see it between the airport and the resort.

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AMANDA: So that's very true.

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VIRGINIA: I know.

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VIRGINIA: I missed that so much.

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VIRGINIA: I missed that too.

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VIRGINIA: We were talking about that on this last trip we took about how nice it used to be on your checkout day to just take it over there and leave it and not even have to worry about it.

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VIRGINIA: And it just made its way to the airport for you.

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VIRGINIA: The magic is gone.

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VIRGINIA: No, I'm kidding.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: So check in at Riviera into your Deluxe Studio and where do you think you'll be heading after that?

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AMANDA: So we are going to be going to the Magic Kingdom and we have a dinner reservation book at Liberty Tree Tavern.

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AMANDA: It's one of our favorite places to eat.

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AMANDA: We don't do a lot of sit down dining anymore.

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AMANDA: So what we normally do is each person picks one place to eat.

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AMANDA: So some of us will pick something new.

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AMANDA: My mom personally loves Liberty Tree Tavern so she picked a tried and true favorite.

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VIRGINIA: We used to eat at a sit down restaurant every single day and on a trip that we did, I guess it was probably a year ago now, I was like, no, we're not going to do that every single day.

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VIRGINIA: That gets to be a bit much.

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VIRGINIA: It's a lot of food.

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VIRGINIA: But we did the same thing where everybody picked one that was like your pick and then I executively picked one additional one that was someplace we had never been that we should all try.

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VIRGINIA: And I thought that was nice because then it was four sit downs and I think we ended up adding a sit down while we were there because we were like, we're tired of quick service.

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VIRGINIA: Let's do a quick little walk up to one of the one of the table service restaurants.

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VIRGINIA: But it worked out well.

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VIRGINIA: And Liberty Tree Tavern is an absolute favorite.

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VIRGINIA: Are you somebody who is obsessed with the ooey gooey toffee cake because...

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AMANDA: Absolutely not.

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AMANDA: I'm really picky.

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AMANDA: And I know everyone's gonna be like, oh my gosh, you don't like the ooey gooey toffee cake?

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AMANDA: No, I don't.

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AMANDA: I ask them specifically for the allergy friendly dessert, which is like an apple cake instead.

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AMANDA: And I like that a lot.

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AMANDA: So that's what I go for.

00:14:05.130 --> 00:14:08.070
VIRGINIA: Okay, well, is the allergy cake good?

00:14:08.390 --> 00:14:08.810
AMANDA: It is.

00:14:09.130 --> 00:14:10.570
AMANDA: I don't have any allergies.

00:14:10.810 --> 00:14:14.510
AMANDA: But to a person who doesn't need to have that, I think it's a good option.

00:14:17.230 --> 00:14:21.050
VIRGINIA: It's so good to me, but I only need like two or three bites.

00:14:21.290 --> 00:14:22.490
VIRGINIA: And then I'm good.

00:14:22.510 --> 00:14:23.270
VIRGINIA: It's so rich.

00:14:23.290 --> 00:14:24.370
VIRGINIA: It's really rich.

00:14:25.170 --> 00:14:28.570
VIRGINIA: Any other specific priorities that first day at Magic Kingdom?

00:14:29.350 --> 00:14:31.230
AMANDA: Probably just the fireworks.

00:14:31.250 --> 00:14:40.030
AMANDA: We always try to do the nighttime shows in the beginning of the trip because if it were to rain later on in the trip and it were to get canceled, then we miss out.

00:14:40.050 --> 00:14:46.110
AMANDA: So we always try to do the fireworks and the nighttime entertainment the first day that we are in each respective park.

00:14:46.490 --> 00:14:49.190
AMANDA: And then if it were to get rained out, then we have another opportunity.

00:14:49.830 --> 00:14:50.190
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:14:50.210 --> 00:14:51.650
VIRGINIA: So what time is your dinner reservation?

00:14:51.670 --> 00:14:52.990
AMANDA: 550.

00:14:53.170 --> 00:14:53.650
AMANDA: Perfect.

00:14:53.970 --> 00:14:57.310
VIRGINIA: When was the last time you went to Disney World?

00:14:58.070 --> 00:14:58.410
AMANDA: September.

00:14:58.930 --> 00:15:03.450
VIRGINIA: So it's been fairly recently, because I was going to ask things like, have you ridden Tron yet?

00:15:03.750 --> 00:15:04.870
VIRGINIA: I'm imagining you have.

00:15:05.590 --> 00:15:06.170
AMANDA: I have not.

00:15:06.590 --> 00:15:07.230
VIRGINIA: You haven't?

00:15:07.290 --> 00:15:07.930
VIRGINIA: Oh my goodness.

00:15:07.950 --> 00:15:08.070
VIRGINIA: No.

00:15:08.090 --> 00:15:11.610
AMANDA: So when I was there in September, it wasn't a family trip.

00:15:11.690 --> 00:15:16.670
AMANDA: I went for destination D23, so it wasn't as much park time as usual.

00:15:16.970 --> 00:15:19.370
AMANDA: So I did not get to do Tron.

00:15:20.350 --> 00:15:21.550
AMANDA: I don't know if I'm going to do it though.

00:15:21.810 --> 00:15:23.390
AMANDA: I'm indecisive.

00:15:24.350 --> 00:15:24.630
VIRGINIA: Why?

00:15:24.650 --> 00:15:28.810
AMANDA: Because I don't like Guardians and I've never done Rock and Roller Coaster.

00:15:29.230 --> 00:15:31.970
AMANDA: So I don't know how I'll feel about Tron.

00:15:32.790 --> 00:15:35.130
VIRGINIA: Are you just not a thrill person?

00:15:35.690 --> 00:15:37.250
AMANDA: I love Expedition Everest.

00:15:37.810 --> 00:15:39.550
AMANDA: Oh, okay.

00:15:39.930 --> 00:15:40.730
VIRGINIA: You're an enigma.

00:15:41.070 --> 00:15:41.450
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:15:44.830 --> 00:15:53.090
VIRGINIA: Because I think of Expedition Everest as like kind of an intense coaster with the backwards and the shakiness.

00:15:53.190 --> 00:15:58.970
VIRGINIA: Like Guardians is so smooth to me and I prefer the smooth coasters.

00:15:59.070 --> 00:16:04.410
VIRGINIA: Tron is so smooth and it's so short that you're done in like two seconds.

00:16:04.990 --> 00:16:05.470
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:16:05.530 --> 00:16:13.130
VIRGINIA: Well, you'll do what you want to do, but I would encourage you, if you're going to be up to do anything else at 7 a.m.

00:16:13.150 --> 00:16:19.450
VIRGINIA: anyway, to try for the virtual queue so that if you do choose to go, you've got a freeway to do it.

00:16:19.970 --> 00:16:24.990
AMANDA: Yeah, we're definitely going to try for the virtual queue because I know my mom and dad will want to do it.

00:16:25.990 --> 00:16:28.030
AMANDA: And honestly, I'm not a 7 a.m.

00:16:28.050 --> 00:16:29.130
AMANDA: virtual queue person.

00:16:29.370 --> 00:16:30.310
AMANDA: I know I should be.

00:16:30.870 --> 00:16:36.770
AMANDA: I try for the one o'clock or a lot of the nights that we have planned have the deluxe hours.

00:16:37.010 --> 00:16:37.370
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:16:37.470 --> 00:16:40.030
AMANDA: So there's the additional drop for those guests.

00:16:40.050 --> 00:16:41.270
AMANDA: So I usually go for that.

00:16:41.290 --> 00:16:46.290
AMANDA: And I don't typically have a problem getting guardians, so I'm hoping Tron will be just as easy.

00:16:47.550 --> 00:16:47.890
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:16:48.490 --> 00:16:48.810
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:16:48.930 --> 00:16:52.090
VIRGINIA: I mean, I would personally give it a go if I were you.

00:16:52.110 --> 00:16:54.190
VIRGINIA: It's not it's it's super smooth.

00:16:54.670 --> 00:16:58.590
VIRGINIA: I would say like rock and roller coaster, not smooth rock and roller coaster.

00:16:58.610 --> 00:17:00.190
VIRGINIA: Your head is getting jerked around.

00:17:00.430 --> 00:17:07.750
VIRGINIA: God forbid you forget and wear earrings with pointy backs while you're riding it because then you're like stabbing yourself the entire time.

00:17:08.270 --> 00:17:10.710
VIRGINIA: But Tron is just super smooth.

00:17:10.730 --> 00:17:16.210
VIRGINIA: And besides the takeoff, which is really fast, there's no huge drops or anything like that.

00:17:16.230 --> 00:17:17.110
VIRGINIA: It's just really smooth.

00:17:17.930 --> 00:17:21.090
VIRGINIA: So, like I said, so short, it's over before you know it.

00:17:21.210 --> 00:17:21.990
AMANDA: We'll have to see.

00:17:22.390 --> 00:17:28.090
VIRGINIA: If your mom and dad are interested in trying it, I'll be curious to see how they feel about it.

00:17:28.690 --> 00:17:29.990
AMANDA: My dad will love it.

00:17:30.090 --> 00:17:38.010
AMANDA: He will ride anything except I think the only thing he won't ride anymore is the orange version of Mission Space.

00:17:38.290 --> 00:17:38.790
VIRGINIA: Oh, God.

00:17:38.810 --> 00:17:40.110
AMANDA: But he used to love that.

00:17:40.750 --> 00:17:41.090
VIRGINIA: Really?

00:17:41.750 --> 00:17:42.170
AMANDA: Yes.

00:17:42.310 --> 00:17:43.250
AMANDA: So he'll be fine.

00:17:43.950 --> 00:17:49.810
AMANDA: My mom, she's not a ride person anymore, hates Space Mountain.

00:17:50.410 --> 00:17:54.570
AMANDA: But we dragged her on Guardians, hated it.

00:17:55.110 --> 00:18:00.230
AMANDA: But she very much has the mindset of I'm going to try every ride once and then I never have to do it again.

00:18:00.890 --> 00:18:02.050
AMANDA: I don't have that mindset.

00:18:02.070 --> 00:18:04.630
AMANDA: I'm content with never riding rock and roller coaster.

00:18:04.650 --> 00:18:07.630
AMANDA: I would have been content never riding Guardians.

00:18:08.370 --> 00:18:15.830
VIRGINIA: To each their own, to each their own, all right, so let's move into Monday, March the 4th.

00:18:16.310 --> 00:18:17.650
VIRGINIA: What is the park plan for that day?

00:18:18.250 --> 00:18:20.910
AMANDA: Epcot, and they have the deluxe hours that night.

00:18:21.050 --> 00:18:26.390
AMANDA: So hopefully we'll be able to get a lot done and Flower and Garden will have started by then.

00:18:26.390 --> 00:18:27.430
AMANDA: So I'm very excited.

00:18:28.230 --> 00:18:28.710
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:18:29.990 --> 00:18:31.710
VIRGINIA: Is Flower and Garden your favorite festival?

00:18:32.230 --> 00:18:33.490
AMANDA: It's so hard to choose.

00:18:33.610 --> 00:18:42.330
AMANDA: I love Festival of the Arts, but I've only done it once, and I haven't done Flower and Garden in like five years, but I would say they're probably my top two.

00:18:42.870 --> 00:18:43.810
VIRGINIA: Oh, yeah, for sure.

00:18:43.830 --> 00:18:44.490
VIRGINIA: My top two.

00:18:45.450 --> 00:18:47.850
VIRGINIA: I think the food at Flower and Garden is really good.

00:18:48.390 --> 00:18:50.290
VIRGINIA: I'm just, I'm not sure.

00:18:51.070 --> 00:18:57.690
VIRGINIA: I always say Festival of the Arts is my favorite, but the more I think about it, the more I'm like, is it or is it really a tie?

00:18:58.270 --> 00:19:03.230
VIRGINIA: I don't know, because I don't take advantage of like the Broadway performances when I'm in there.

00:19:03.250 --> 00:19:04.510
AMANDA: Oh, so that's what I love.

00:19:04.730 --> 00:19:16.690
VIRGINIA: Well, I love it too, but I live in New York City and I'm like, I could just literally walk down the street, well, I mean, across a river and down the street and go see a Broadway show any night of the week.

00:19:17.950 --> 00:19:20.330
VIRGINIA: So that's really why I don't do that.

00:19:20.350 --> 00:19:22.710
VIRGINIA: But I love wandering around the art and everything.

00:19:22.710 --> 00:19:24.330
VIRGINIA: And it's the same thing with the topiaries.

00:19:24.350 --> 00:19:26.470
VIRGINIA: Like I love wandering around the topiaries.

00:19:26.650 --> 00:19:29.710
VIRGINIA: And I think the merch for Flower and Garden is super cute.

00:19:30.170 --> 00:19:30.550
AMANDA: Me too.

00:19:30.570 --> 00:19:30.630
AMANDA: Me too.

00:19:31.110 --> 00:19:32.830
AMANDA: I'm good with any merch.

00:19:33.170 --> 00:19:33.530
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:19:34.610 --> 00:19:37.090
VIRGINIA: What else do you like to do at Epcot?

00:19:37.810 --> 00:19:40.230
AMANDA: I'm a figment fan, huge figment fan.

00:19:41.290 --> 00:19:43.010
AMANDA: So I'm very excited to meet him.

00:19:43.510 --> 00:19:45.110
AMANDA: I didn't get to do that in September.

00:19:46.590 --> 00:19:48.670
AMANDA: There's so much new stuff to do at Epcot.

00:19:48.850 --> 00:19:49.470
AMANDA: I forgot.

00:19:49.930 --> 00:19:51.110
AMANDA: We haven't seen Luminous.

00:19:52.350 --> 00:19:54.170
AMANDA: We haven't seen the Walt statue.

00:19:54.570 --> 00:19:57.070
AMANDA: My parents haven't done Journey of Water.

00:19:59.150 --> 00:20:00.570
AMANDA: We all need to meet figment.

00:20:00.930 --> 00:20:06.770
AMANDA: And something else that I'm excited about is that Poo is back in Christopher Robin's room in the UK.

00:20:07.050 --> 00:20:07.350
VIRGINIA: Yep.

00:20:07.790 --> 00:20:12.750
VIRGINIA: I recently saw, I meant to do that on this last trip and I did not get around to it.

00:20:13.330 --> 00:20:14.670
VIRGINIA: So that's a lot of stuff to do.

00:20:14.690 --> 00:20:20.510
VIRGINIA: Have you ever done the, have you ever done the World Showcase Adventure, the DuckTales?

00:20:21.230 --> 00:20:22.950
AMANDA: I have not done the DuckTales version.

00:20:22.970 --> 00:20:26.930
AMANDA: I did it back when it was Phineas and Ferb and they would hand you a flip phone to do it with.

00:20:27.350 --> 00:20:31.830
VIRGINIA: Yes, no flip phone needed anymore, as long as you have a smartphone.

00:20:32.650 --> 00:20:33.510
VIRGINIA: It's really cute.

00:20:33.790 --> 00:20:34.510
AMANDA: I should do that.

00:20:34.710 --> 00:20:35.630
VIRGINIA: If you have time.

00:20:35.650 --> 00:20:37.730
AMANDA: I have seven days, why not?

00:20:38.290 --> 00:20:45.150
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I have not done it in every single country, but my friend Jeanette, who's been on the podcast several times, is a huge fan of it.

00:20:45.270 --> 00:20:51.050
VIRGINIA: And she had us do the Germany Pavilion when we were there in December.

00:20:51.650 --> 00:20:53.250
VIRGINIA: And that one was really cool.

00:20:53.570 --> 00:20:58.530
VIRGINIA: There was like stuff that happened in the Pavilion where I was like, I didn't even know that that was a thing.

00:20:58.630 --> 00:21:01.750
VIRGINIA: Okay, so definitely encourage you to do that.

00:21:02.190 --> 00:21:06.010
AMANDA: I think I did it a little bit when it was Kim Possible, too, now that I think about it.

00:21:06.850 --> 00:21:07.450
AMANDA: I think so.

00:21:07.470 --> 00:21:08.830
AMANDA: I don't think I did the whole thing.

00:21:08.890 --> 00:21:10.550
AMANDA: I think I did like one or two countries.

00:21:10.590 --> 00:21:12.950
AMANDA: And I think I did the whole thing when it was Phineas and Ferb.

00:21:13.790 --> 00:21:15.210
AMANDA: So I'm gonna add that to my list.

00:21:15.270 --> 00:21:16.430
AMANDA: I should have time to do that.

00:21:16.810 --> 00:21:20.070
VIRGINIA: Okay, I've literally never seen Kim Possible.

00:21:20.670 --> 00:21:25.990
VIRGINIA: And the only reason I've seen Phineas and Ferb is because my son did get into that for a little bit.

00:21:27.430 --> 00:21:30.710
VIRGINIA: But DuckTales, woo, love it.

00:21:31.330 --> 00:21:33.730
VIRGINIA: All right, we have a lot of days yet to get through.

00:21:33.750 --> 00:21:36.630
VIRGINIA: So let's walk through the rest of your plans.

00:21:36.710 --> 00:21:38.770
VIRGINIA: So Tuesday, March 5th, which park?

00:21:39.330 --> 00:21:40.350
AMANDA: Hollywood Studios.

00:21:41.070 --> 00:21:47.270
VIRGINIA: All right, anything you have not done in Hollywood Studios before that you are planning to try to do this trip?

00:21:47.810 --> 00:21:52.970
AMANDA: We're definitely going to do Phantasmic because my parents haven't seen it since they added new scenes to the show.

00:21:54.090 --> 00:21:56.090
VIRGINIA: All right, I love Phantasmic.

00:21:56.110 --> 00:21:57.850
VIRGINIA: Are you a Phantasmic fan?

00:21:58.290 --> 00:22:05.230
AMANDA: I am, and I'm even more of a Phantasmic fan because we have a friend of ours who actually works food and beverage inside Phantasmic.

00:22:05.490 --> 00:22:08.210
AMANDA: We're hoping we can coordinate and see her for a little bit, too.

00:22:08.650 --> 00:22:09.570
VIRGINIA: Okay, cool.

00:22:09.990 --> 00:22:10.490
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:22:12.070 --> 00:22:14.290
VIRGINIA: All right, anything else for your Hollywood Studios day?

00:22:15.010 --> 00:22:15.330
AMANDA: No.

00:22:15.890 --> 00:22:17.630
VIRGINIA: All right, Wednesday, March the 6th.

00:22:18.390 --> 00:22:22.790
AMANDA: So, the 6th, we are eating at Topolino's for breakfast for the first time.

00:22:23.710 --> 00:22:26.050
AMANDA: Figured, while we're staying there, we have to do that.

00:22:26.350 --> 00:22:26.830
VIRGINIA: Oh, yeah.

00:22:27.690 --> 00:22:32.210
AMANDA: And the plan for that is we'll eat and then we'll go back and we'll spend the day at the pool.

00:22:33.170 --> 00:22:36.910
AMANDA: And then Magic Kingdom is open until midnight for deluxe guests.

00:22:37.310 --> 00:22:41.330
AMANDA: So we'll head over to Magic Kingdom when we're done with the pool, even if it's just for a few hours.

00:22:41.710 --> 00:22:42.170
VIRGINIA: Perfect.

00:22:42.190 --> 00:22:46.430
VIRGINIA: You can get a ton done at Magic Kingdom on those deluxe after hours nights.

00:22:47.190 --> 00:22:48.670
AMANDA: Yeah, that's the hope.

00:22:48.950 --> 00:23:01.670
AMANDA: That way if we get, my thought is if we do a lot of the rides during the deluxe hours, then during the day, we can take our time really make sure we see all the shows, make sure we see all the topiaries and Epcot and really take our time doing the other things.

00:23:02.770 --> 00:23:04.410
VIRGINIA: Thursday, March the 7th.

00:23:05.170 --> 00:23:12.870
AMANDA: So that is the day we check out of Riviera and we check in to Old Key West, which again, a tried and true DVC favorite.

00:23:12.950 --> 00:23:14.110
AMANDA: We love staying there.

00:23:14.250 --> 00:23:15.690
AMANDA: My mom could live there.

00:23:15.710 --> 00:23:17.410
AMANDA: It's her favorite place to stay, I think.

00:23:18.190 --> 00:23:18.610
VIRGINIA: Really?

00:23:18.650 --> 00:23:19.030
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:23:19.110 --> 00:23:21.210
VIRGINIA: That's another one I have not stayed at yet.

00:23:21.710 --> 00:23:22.430
AMANDA: She loves it.

00:23:23.090 --> 00:23:24.310
AMANDA: Just so relaxing there.

00:23:24.330 --> 00:23:27.390
VIRGINIA: Well, I hear really good things about the food that they have there.

00:23:27.390 --> 00:23:28.730
VIRGINIA: Isn't that where Olivia's is?

00:23:29.010 --> 00:23:29.370
AMANDA: Yes.

00:23:29.770 --> 00:23:30.750
VIRGINIA: People rave about it.

00:23:30.770 --> 00:23:31.550
AMANDA: I know.

00:23:31.550 --> 00:23:34.910
AMANDA: And no one, like, I feel like not a lot of people know about Olivia's.

00:23:35.810 --> 00:23:36.150
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:23:36.410 --> 00:23:38.830
VIRGINIA: Well, I'm gonna get around to all of them eventually, so.

00:23:40.170 --> 00:23:43.070
VIRGINIA: All right, checking into Old Key West, any part-time this day?

00:23:43.390 --> 00:23:44.530
AMANDA: We're gonna go to Epcot again.

00:23:45.130 --> 00:23:52.090
VIRGINIA: When you go to a festival like Flower and Garden, do you do most of your eating for the day at the booths?

00:23:52.850 --> 00:23:53.990
AMANDA: Yes, definitely.

00:23:54.810 --> 00:24:03.090
AMANDA: We honestly haven't done a sit-down meal at Epcot in years because we always want to eat the festivals because that's always a limited experience.

00:24:04.330 --> 00:24:08.830
VIRGINIA: I especially like that it was the booth that has the honey theme.

00:24:10.130 --> 00:24:12.650
VIRGINIA: I can't remember what on earth it's called.

00:24:13.450 --> 00:24:14.670
AMANDA: Is it Honey Bistro?

00:24:15.290 --> 00:24:17.130
VIRGINIA: Yes, Honey Bistro.

00:24:17.130 --> 00:24:19.610
AMANDA: I was looking at the menu and picking out what I want to try.

00:24:19.630 --> 00:24:25.710
VIRGINIA: Do you use just a website for that or do you have the festival app?

00:24:26.250 --> 00:24:27.290
AMANDA: I use the festival app.

00:24:27.370 --> 00:24:31.590
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I love marketing everything that I'm interested in trying on that.

00:24:31.630 --> 00:24:40.450
VIRGINIA: And I feel like they should also, I don't think they do, but they should have, especially for flower and garden, there should be like a little checklist for the topiaries.

00:24:40.870 --> 00:24:42.670
VIRGINIA: So you could just like mark them when you're done.

00:24:43.170 --> 00:24:43.750
AMANDA: I agree.

00:24:43.970 --> 00:24:49.190
AMANDA: I actually was thinking, I was like, I want to make my own topiary checklist to make sure that I see them all.

00:24:49.810 --> 00:24:50.150
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:24:50.970 --> 00:25:04.590
VIRGINIA: I was just talking yesterday, I have an upcoming interview that people will hear with the person who founded the Park Aesthetic Co, which is the temporary tattoos for like drinking and snacking around the world.

00:25:05.150 --> 00:25:08.930
VIRGINIA: That would make a good temporary tattoo, is a topiary tattoo.

00:25:09.290 --> 00:25:11.110
AMANDA: Yes, I love that idea.

00:25:11.130 --> 00:25:17.070
VIRGINIA: All right, I will put her link also in the show notes for listeners who are curious about those.

00:25:17.510 --> 00:25:19.730
VIRGINIA: All right, anything else on Thursday, March the 7th?

00:25:20.230 --> 00:25:21.570
AMANDA: Nope, not in particular.

00:25:21.590 --> 00:25:24.150
VIRGINIA: Okay, Friday, March the 8th.

00:25:24.930 --> 00:25:30.890
AMANDA: We're gonna go to Hollywood Studios and we're going to eat at Roundup Rodeo Barbecue.

00:25:31.410 --> 00:25:32.850
VIRGINIA: Okay, is this a first visit?

00:25:33.430 --> 00:25:33.830
AMANDA: Yes.

00:25:35.650 --> 00:25:37.750
AMANDA: My dad's a huge Toy Story fan.

00:25:38.110 --> 00:25:39.910
AMANDA: His favorite character is Zerg.

00:25:40.850 --> 00:25:41.090
AMANDA: Oh.

00:25:41.190 --> 00:25:43.770
AMANDA: Where he's lost the rails for most people.

00:25:44.270 --> 00:25:46.350
AMANDA: So he's very excited to go there.

00:25:46.370 --> 00:25:48.230
AMANDA: So that was his pick of a restaurant.

00:25:48.250 --> 00:25:50.330
AMANDA: And then I had chosen Topolino the other day.

00:25:50.650 --> 00:25:52.350
VIRGINIA: Okay, all right, so this is a lunch?

00:25:53.510 --> 00:25:56.190
AMANDA: It's the same menu all day.

00:25:56.330 --> 00:25:57.310
AMANDA: It's like four o'clock.

00:25:57.310 --> 00:25:59.050
AMANDA: I don't know if that's considered lunch or dinner.

00:25:59.330 --> 00:25:59.710
VIRGINIA: Liner?

00:26:01.770 --> 00:26:03.090
AMANDA: They have the same menu all day.

00:26:03.090 --> 00:26:03.550
AMANDA: It's fine.

00:26:05.990 --> 00:26:06.490
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:26:06.510 --> 00:26:08.750
VIRGINIA: Any other plans that day?

00:26:09.990 --> 00:26:17.850
AMANDA: That day, we think after we're done at Hollywood Studios for the night, we're going to park hop to Magic Kingdom because again, it's open till 11 o'clock.

00:26:17.990 --> 00:26:23.990
AMANDA: So if we've already seen Phantasmic, we'll beat the crowd out of there and head over to the Magic Kingdom for a little bit.

00:26:24.310 --> 00:26:30.510
VIRGINIA: And maybe you can get in some rides while they're doing Happily Ever After if you've already seen it the first night.

00:26:30.730 --> 00:26:31.730
AMANDA: Yeah, that would be ideal.

00:26:32.290 --> 00:26:32.650
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:26:32.670 --> 00:26:34.450
VIRGINIA: Saturday, March the 9th.

00:26:34.890 --> 00:26:35.750
AMANDA: Animal Kingdom.

00:26:36.210 --> 00:26:39.350
AMANDA: We will probably end up eating at Yak and Yeti.

00:26:39.570 --> 00:26:44.190
AMANDA: I don't have it booked, but we have the Landry's card, which I don't know.

00:26:45.130 --> 00:26:45.410
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:26:45.430 --> 00:26:48.730
VIRGINIA: Can you explain that for listeners who may not know anything about the card?

00:26:48.990 --> 00:26:49.290
AMANDA: Yeah.

00:26:49.310 --> 00:27:01.070
AMANDA: So the Landry's card is a membership to Landry's restaurants, which include Yak and Yeti, Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex and other restaurants across the country.

00:27:01.090 --> 00:27:08.850
AMANDA: And it's $25 to join, but you immediately get that $25 back as a credit on your first meal using the card.

00:27:09.370 --> 00:27:14.470
AMANDA: So when you have that card, you don't need a reservation and you get bumped to the top of the wait list.

00:27:14.850 --> 00:27:16.310
AMANDA: So you're seated very quickly.

00:27:17.330 --> 00:27:21.130
VIRGINIA: Is there any kind of fee annually or is it just that first joining fee?

00:27:21.150 --> 00:27:25.390
AMANDA: Just that first and then you get it back right away and you earn birthday rewards and everything.

00:27:25.410 --> 00:27:28.450
AMANDA: So it's, they're paying you basically.

00:27:28.470 --> 00:27:29.790
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:27:29.830 --> 00:27:30.890
VIRGINIA: Why wouldn't you do it?

00:27:30.950 --> 00:27:37.710
VIRGINIA: And I asked myself that as you're talking about this, I've heard about this card a million times and I've never once gone to sign up for it.

00:27:37.730 --> 00:27:40.310
VIRGINIA: And I need to just do that because it's silly not to.

00:27:41.870 --> 00:27:43.630
VIRGINIA: What's your favorite thing to get at Yakin Yati?

00:27:45.410 --> 00:27:47.730
AMANDA: I just get chicken lo mein.

00:27:49.290 --> 00:27:49.910
AMANDA: Basic girl.

00:27:50.550 --> 00:27:52.230
VIRGINIA: No, that's a solid choice.

00:27:52.810 --> 00:27:53.570
VIRGINIA: Solid choice.

00:27:54.190 --> 00:28:02.730
VIRGINIA: I love the, they have an appetizer that's like, it's like a fried green bean thing.

00:28:02.750 --> 00:28:07.430
VIRGINIA: I want to call it like a green bean tempura, but I don't think it is tempura necessarily.

00:28:07.490 --> 00:28:13.750
VIRGINIA: But yeah, it's like fried and they have like a little dipping sauce that you use for it.

00:28:13.770 --> 00:28:15.770
VIRGINIA: So, very good.

00:28:15.830 --> 00:28:16.250
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:28:17.030 --> 00:28:20.010
VIRGINIA: And then you said you like Expedition Everest.

00:28:20.370 --> 00:28:20.810
VIRGINIA: I do.

00:28:21.130 --> 00:28:25.430
VIRGINIA: So are you going to try to ride Expedition Everest?

00:28:26.030 --> 00:28:26.470
AMANDA: Yes.

00:28:26.590 --> 00:28:27.330
VIRGINIA: Multiple times?

00:28:28.930 --> 00:28:29.350
AMANDA: Maybe.

00:28:30.270 --> 00:28:42.070
AMANDA: Well, so at Animal Kingdom, we were talking about it and we realized that we haven't done the animal trails like the Maharajah Jungle Trek and the Pangani Exploration Trail in years.

00:28:43.230 --> 00:28:48.030
AMANDA: So we said that because also Animal Kingdom is thankfully open until 8 p.m.

00:28:48.050 --> 00:28:50.170
AMANDA: We get nighttime Animal Kingdom while we're there.

00:28:50.190 --> 00:28:55.670
AMANDA: We're going to try to do as many animal trails and then rides towards the end of the night.

00:28:55.790 --> 00:28:58.530
AMANDA: So we'll see what we have time for.

00:28:59.670 --> 00:29:07.830
VIRGINIA: Are you a family that will do any Genie Plus purchasing on your trip or none at all because of these Deluxe After Hours?

00:29:08.850 --> 00:29:10.050
AMANDA: Probably not.

00:29:10.210 --> 00:29:13.530
AMANDA: We've done it a couple of times to try it out and see if we liked it.

00:29:14.830 --> 00:29:30.350
AMANDA: I think if we were to buy this trip, it would maybe be for one day at Hollywood Studios just because I feel like everything there always has a long line and there are no Deluxe Hours at Hollywood Studios.

00:29:32.270 --> 00:29:41.590
AMANDA: If anything, maybe one day there, but I think it's definitely going to depend on the cost because also we go enough that we don't feel the need to have to do everything every time.

00:29:43.370 --> 00:29:46.050
AMANDA: Only certain things that are potentially closing.

00:29:46.730 --> 00:29:49.390
VIRGINIA: Alright, Sunday, March the 10th.

00:29:50.230 --> 00:29:52.630
AMANDA: So the 10th is going to be a crazy different day.

00:29:52.650 --> 00:29:55.670
AMANDA: We are going to take our first trip to the Character Warehouse.

00:29:56.610 --> 00:29:57.970
VIRGINIA: Ooh, a first trip.

00:29:57.990 --> 00:29:59.110
VIRGINIA: Okay, which one are you going to?

00:29:59.130 --> 00:30:00.550
AMANDA: I don't know yet.

00:30:01.370 --> 00:30:03.510
AMANDA: I'm researching if one's better than the other.

00:30:03.510 --> 00:30:06.810
AMANDA: They're both like 10 to 15 minutes away from Old Key West.

00:30:07.670 --> 00:30:13.270
AMANDA: So whichever one YouTube says has the better merch consistently.

00:30:13.610 --> 00:30:15.690
VIRGINIA: I have only been to the Vineland one.

00:30:16.730 --> 00:30:30.670
VIRGINIA: So I can't really speak to what the other one is, but I have paid attention to vlogs and I interviewed the two ladies from Parents on Disney and they did both in one trip and agreed that they thought Vineland was better.

00:30:30.690 --> 00:30:37.350
VIRGINIA: I managed to get over there on this trip we did last week unexpectedly.

00:30:37.370 --> 00:30:44.470
VIRGINIA: I did not think I was going to have time to get over there, but we had a rainy day and apparently everybody likes to go there on rainy days.

00:30:44.650 --> 00:30:51.750
VIRGINIA: So just word to the wise because the queue where you wait to get into the store, only part of it is covered.

00:30:52.790 --> 00:30:53.510
VIRGINIA: It's not the whole thing.

00:30:53.530 --> 00:30:59.490
VIRGINIA: So we ended up standing there with umbrellas and anyway, I got some good deals, but just be prepared.

00:30:59.510 --> 00:31:01.750
VIRGINIA: It's smaller than you think it will be.

00:31:02.490 --> 00:31:02.790
AMANDA: Yeah.

00:31:03.770 --> 00:31:06.090
AMANDA: I'm just ready to go buy some cheap merch.

00:31:06.730 --> 00:31:07.050
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:31:07.070 --> 00:31:23.750
VIRGINIA: You can find $5, $10 ears, lots and lots of clothes options, but it seems like it's mostly the extreme ends of the spectrum, so lots of extra small and small, lots of plus sizes.

00:31:23.850 --> 00:31:27.630
VIRGINIA: It's a little harder to find a medium, a large.

00:31:27.630 --> 00:31:29.610
VIRGINIA: You can, but you have to dig for it.

00:31:30.370 --> 00:31:33.390
VIRGINIA: Manage expectations and you won't be disappointed.

00:31:34.410 --> 00:31:34.730
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:31:34.750 --> 00:31:41.410
VIRGINIA: They had some good stuff when I was there last week, so I'll send you good character warehouse vibes.

00:31:42.150 --> 00:31:46.390
VIRGINIA: Any other off-property adventures on this day when you're going to be out and about anyway?

00:31:46.950 --> 00:31:51.070
AMANDA: No, we're going to head back to property and we're going to split up for a little bit.

00:31:51.610 --> 00:32:05.990
AMANDA: My mom is going to head to the pool at Old Key West while I head to Coronado, which we'll talk about later, while my dad heads to yacht club because we booked him a guided bass fishing excursion.

00:32:06.590 --> 00:32:13.410
AMANDA: So he's going to be fishing in Crescent Lake, which is the yacht beach in Boardwalk Lake and World Showcase Lagoon inside Epcot.

00:32:15.790 --> 00:32:23.250
VIRGINIA: So will he have anyone else on that excursion with him besides a cast member?

00:32:23.470 --> 00:32:24.770
VIRGINIA: Will it be other guests?

00:32:24.990 --> 00:32:27.770
AMANDA: I believe he will have a few other guests with him.

00:32:29.270 --> 00:32:31.730
AMANDA: Because you get a discount if you're a solo fisher.

00:32:31.750 --> 00:32:35.470
AMANDA: So I think the way they do that is by putting you with other people.

00:32:35.550 --> 00:32:37.410
VIRGINIA: It's like a single rider, but for fishing.

00:32:37.430 --> 00:32:37.850
AMANDA: Exactly.

00:32:38.790 --> 00:32:39.910
AMANDA: A single rider for fishing.

00:32:41.450 --> 00:32:46.050
VIRGINIA: So do you know, do you get to keep anything you catch or is it a catch and release or how does that work?

00:32:46.070 --> 00:32:48.610
AMANDA: Catch and release only, but he's just excited.

00:32:48.610 --> 00:32:54.290
AMANDA: He did it probably like 20 years ago in Bay Lake and he hasn't done it since.

00:32:54.310 --> 00:32:55.110
AMANDA: So he's been asking.

00:32:55.130 --> 00:33:00.010
AMANDA: So we surprised him with that just the other day and now he has to pack fishing clothes and everything.

00:33:00.650 --> 00:33:01.650
VIRGINIA: Oh, that's really cute.

00:33:01.750 --> 00:33:02.090
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:33:03.090 --> 00:33:05.230
VIRGINIA: And let's hear what you're doing at Coronado.

00:33:05.570 --> 00:33:13.130
AMANDA: So later that night, we are going to Splitsville for D23's 15th anniversary event.

00:33:13.910 --> 00:33:19.830
AMANDA: So we have to pick up our party gifts from Coronado so that they don't have to hand them out at Splitsville.

00:33:19.850 --> 00:33:25.950
AMANDA: So I have to pick up our lanyards, our pins and whatever our Splitsville surprise gift is.

00:33:26.390 --> 00:33:30.510
AMANDA: They said it's too big and awkwardly sized to hand out at Disney Springs.

00:33:32.370 --> 00:33:33.610
VIRGINIA: Well, do you have any guesses?

00:33:34.230 --> 00:33:37.830
AMANDA: I believe it's a Sorcerer Mickey statue.

00:33:38.150 --> 00:33:38.690
AMANDA: Not sure.

00:33:41.010 --> 00:33:50.110
VIRGINIA: Now for this D23, what is the membership level that you have to be to be included in these events like this?

00:33:50.790 --> 00:33:58.530
AMANDA: You have to be a gold member, which costs $100 a year, but there's always Black Friday deals and everything on it.

00:33:58.570 --> 00:34:11.190
AMANDA: We definitely didn't pay that, but I think it's super worth it because just with your membership you get four quarterly magazines, magnets, and you get a really nice membership gift every year you renew.

00:34:11.610 --> 00:34:16.350
AMANDA: The first year I bought it, it was a pin set of the eight different pins.

00:34:16.370 --> 00:34:19.050
AMANDA: It was one pin from each Disney park around the world.

00:34:20.650 --> 00:34:25.970
AMANDA: And this year, it's like a, well, this past year, it's like a 10-foot Mickey statue for the hundredth.

00:34:27.110 --> 00:34:28.830
VIRGINIA: Wait, a 10-foot?

00:34:29.710 --> 00:34:30.710
AMANDA: Oh, 10-inch.

00:34:31.750 --> 00:34:34.090
VIRGINIA: It's like, wow.

00:34:34.110 --> 00:34:37.410
VIRGINIA: That's like the size of something that would be in the park.

00:34:37.750 --> 00:34:38.570
VIRGINIA: That's crazy.

00:34:38.590 --> 00:34:43.710
AMANDA: I was looking for it as I was talking to describe it better, but I don't have it at the moment.

00:34:43.730 --> 00:34:44.370
VIRGINIA: 10-foot.

00:34:44.390 --> 00:34:45.410
AMANDA: I distracted myself.

00:34:47.110 --> 00:34:51.310
VIRGINIA: So when you pay for this membership, is it good for an entire family?

00:34:51.850 --> 00:34:59.310
AMANDA: So, it's good for one person, but when you buy tickets to the additional events, you can get tickets for more than just you.

00:35:00.710 --> 00:35:01.810
AMANDA: Sometimes it's limited.

00:35:01.830 --> 00:35:08.610
AMANDA: Like when I went to Destination D23 in September, you were allowed the gold member plus one guest.

00:35:08.830 --> 00:35:14.170
AMANDA: Bowling, because bowling is more of a family event, it was the gold member plus up to five guests.

00:35:15.630 --> 00:35:17.310
AMANDA: And everyone gets the gifts.

00:35:18.030 --> 00:35:22.070
AMANDA: And it's three hours of unlimited bowling and games and food.

00:35:23.450 --> 00:35:30.030
AMANDA: And then you get the pin, the statue, exclusive merch opportunities and photo ops.

00:35:30.930 --> 00:35:34.730
VIRGINIA: And this is not any additional money on top of your membership fee?

00:35:35.090 --> 00:35:37.610
AMANDA: It is, but it was only $50 a person.

00:35:37.670 --> 00:35:40.010
AMANDA: So I think for what you get, it was a super little bit.

00:35:40.030 --> 00:35:41.050
VIRGINIA: Yeah, not bad at all.

00:35:41.730 --> 00:35:42.970
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:35:43.750 --> 00:35:44.090
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:35:44.110 --> 00:35:50.110
VIRGINIA: All right, so no park time on this particular day because you guys will be busy.

00:35:51.190 --> 00:35:51.630
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:35:51.650 --> 00:35:53.890
VIRGINIA: So Monday, March 11th.

00:35:54.650 --> 00:35:58.630
AMANDA: We're gonna go to Animal Kingdom again and do whatever we didn't do the first time.

00:35:59.030 --> 00:36:16.010
AMANDA: And then once the park closes, we're going to pack because we've got to pack everything back up so that you're ready for Bell Services to take everything in the morning and then head back to Epcot for deluxe hours because we don't want to go to Epcot before that because that's Rick Springfield night.

00:36:16.370 --> 00:36:17.870
AMANDA: I don't want to be anywhere near that.

00:36:21.390 --> 00:36:25.590
VIRGINIA: Are you going to be eating before you go to Epcot for those deluxe after hours?

00:36:25.930 --> 00:36:31.390
VIRGINIA: And I ask because the last time I did the deluxe after hours at Epcot, there were very limited food options.

00:36:31.790 --> 00:36:41.990
AMANDA: My thought is we'll probably end up eating at Olivia's just because we'll be at the hotel packing real quick anyway and we'll probably just can't be that hard to get a walk up at Olivia's.

00:36:42.570 --> 00:36:43.010
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:36:43.710 --> 00:36:51.750
VIRGINIA: No, I think the only thing that was open the last time I did Epcot deluxe after hours was the fish and chips stand in the UK.

00:36:53.110 --> 00:36:59.150
VIRGINIA: Which is fine, but you either have to love fish and chips or at least be in the mood for it.

00:37:00.650 --> 00:37:00.890
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:37:02.790 --> 00:37:03.330
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:37:03.510 --> 00:37:06.990
VIRGINIA: All right, so Tuesday, March the 12th is your departure day.

00:37:08.330 --> 00:37:09.750
VIRGINIA: What time of day is your flight?

00:37:10.310 --> 00:37:11.010
AMANDA: 8 p.m.

00:37:12.010 --> 00:37:16.150
VIRGINIA: So you've got nearly a full day to enjoy something.

00:37:16.190 --> 00:37:17.090
VIRGINIA: What will you be doing?

00:37:17.750 --> 00:37:18.510
AMANDA: Magic Kingdom.

00:37:19.090 --> 00:37:19.550
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:37:19.970 --> 00:37:22.730
VIRGINIA: Are you a Magic Kingdom on your last day?

00:37:22.750 --> 00:37:24.110
VIRGINIA: Like, that is your tradition?

00:37:24.650 --> 00:37:24.970
AMANDA: Yes.

00:37:27.670 --> 00:37:32.530
VIRGINIA: Same with a lot of people and you went to Magic Kingdom on your first park day as well.

00:37:32.550 --> 00:37:36.470
VIRGINIA: So it seems like maybe that's your thing is first and last.

00:37:36.610 --> 00:37:52.590
AMANDA: First day used to be our thing, but now it's just, I feel like the park hours vary so much sometimes that it just makes sense to go to a different park because also we know that most people who don't go frequently, they go to Magic Kingdom on a Monday.

00:37:53.870 --> 00:37:55.410
AMANDA: So we try to avoid that.

00:37:55.750 --> 00:37:56.110
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:37:56.630 --> 00:37:58.850
AMANDA: So Magic Kingdom always last day.

00:37:59.410 --> 00:38:02.750
AMANDA: We try to make Magic Kingdom the first day, but it doesn't always work out that way.

00:38:03.210 --> 00:38:03.550
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:38:03.570 --> 00:38:10.590
VIRGINIA: I think that sometimes, you know, you hear these things about like most people do this and I feel like it's going to be busy regardless.

00:38:11.130 --> 00:38:11.730
AMANDA: It's March.

00:38:11.810 --> 00:38:13.670
AMANDA: It's going to be spring break crowds.

00:38:13.910 --> 00:38:14.990
VIRGINIA: It's March madness.

00:38:15.930 --> 00:38:16.870
VIRGINIA: In more ways than one.

00:38:17.070 --> 00:38:17.430
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:38:18.090 --> 00:38:18.450
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:38:18.490 --> 00:38:28.410
VIRGINIA: Any other last day plans and if not, what time do you feel like you'll be leaving property to head to the airport?

00:38:29.190 --> 00:38:34.090
AMANDA: So we go through Mirrors Connect because they used to run Magical Express, so we just booked through them.

00:38:34.470 --> 00:38:37.510
AMANDA: It's not that expensive, especially for the luggage.

00:38:38.190 --> 00:38:40.590
AMANDA: We could never fit all our suitcases in an Uber.

00:38:40.950 --> 00:38:41.370
VIRGINIA: I know.

00:38:41.390 --> 00:38:49.470
VIRGINIA: If you get an Uber even with a family of three with luggage like that, you're going to have to get like the XL or something like that.

00:38:49.910 --> 00:38:54.070
AMANDA: So they usually still follow the same rules that Magical Express follows.

00:38:54.090 --> 00:38:59.850
AMANDA: They pick you up like three and a half hours before your flight so they have plenty of time to get you to the airport.

00:39:00.430 --> 00:39:08.050
AMANDA: So we'll probably be in the part, head back to Old Key West around like 4.30, 5 o'clock to then head to the airport.

00:39:08.710 --> 00:39:11.350
VIRGINIA: Well this is going to be a nice long trip.

00:39:11.990 --> 00:39:12.410
VIRGINIA: Yes.

00:39:12.650 --> 00:39:14.130
VIRGINIA: That's really exciting.

00:39:14.230 --> 00:39:20.810
VIRGINIA: I can't wait to hear all about especially the Flower and Garden Festival things that you get into.

00:39:21.390 --> 00:39:21.730
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:39:21.750 --> 00:39:24.090
AMANDA: And we'll very go with the flow too.

00:39:24.110 --> 00:39:28.810
AMANDA: So if I didn't say we were park hopping, we could wake up that day and say, you know what?

00:39:28.870 --> 00:39:32.470
AMANDA: We want to hop to Animal Kingdom today and go do this.

00:39:32.870 --> 00:39:37.870
AMANDA: Especially because I have a couple friends, I mentioned one earlier who works at Hollywood Studios.

00:39:37.890 --> 00:39:40.090
AMANDA: I have two other friends who are cast members.

00:39:40.290 --> 00:39:42.190
AMANDA: One works in the Epcot parking lot.

00:39:42.210 --> 00:39:48.890
AMANDA: So if I can go ride her tram, even though we take Disney transportation, I will.

00:39:49.510 --> 00:39:53.930
AMANDA: And my other friend, he is a performer in multiple of the parks.

00:39:53.950 --> 00:40:00.350
AMANDA: So if I can go catch him in Festival of Fantasy or Festival of the Lion King, I will park hop to make that happen.

00:40:01.950 --> 00:40:04.790
AMANDA: But we don't know their schedule until like that day.

00:40:05.410 --> 00:40:05.730
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:40:05.750 --> 00:40:16.390
VIRGINIA: So if he's doing that kind of variety of shows, is he somebody who like just slots in where he's needed for the day or does he have a main show that he does?

00:40:17.110 --> 00:40:19.110
AMANDA: His main show is Festival of the Lion King.

00:40:19.470 --> 00:40:25.790
AMANDA: In addition to performing in various shows, sometimes he's found hanging out in Neverland over with Peter Pan.

00:40:26.090 --> 00:40:29.890
AMANDA: So anytime I can go visit him, absolutely love to do that.

00:40:30.950 --> 00:40:31.390
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:40:32.070 --> 00:40:34.670
VIRGINIA: I just saw Festival of the Lion King recently.

00:40:34.670 --> 00:40:38.550
VIRGINIA: Does he have like a distinct part in that that I would recognize?

00:40:39.610 --> 00:40:45.390
AMANDA: So, he's one of the dancers, depending on the day he's either, I believe it's a water buffalo.

00:40:45.630 --> 00:40:46.030
AMANDA: I don't know.

00:40:46.050 --> 00:40:49.130
AMANDA: Some of the animals are kind of crazy in that, or the crocodile.

00:40:49.930 --> 00:40:51.310
VIRGINIA: I definitely noticed the crocodile.

00:40:51.330 --> 00:40:59.270
VIRGINIA: I was trying to pay attention to all of the different dancers' costumes because some of them, you're right, it's like, what are you again?

00:40:59.890 --> 00:41:02.630
AMANDA: Yeah, I didn't realize until he was in that show.

00:41:03.110 --> 00:41:05.730
AMANDA: And I was like, is that an elephant?

00:41:05.750 --> 00:41:07.530
AMANDA: Like I don't know what some of them are.

00:41:08.090 --> 00:41:12.290
VIRGINIA: Yeah, there was one female dancer who had like two tusks.

00:41:12.350 --> 00:41:16.350
VIRGINIA: And I was trying to figure out like, are you an elephant or are you something else that has tusks?

00:41:16.370 --> 00:41:18.750
AMANDA: I believe she's a purple elephant, is what it is.

00:41:18.790 --> 00:41:20.770
AMANDA: I remember hearing, I couldn't get on.

00:41:21.130 --> 00:41:23.350
AMANDA: But I know there's some crazy ones in there.

00:41:25.010 --> 00:41:26.450
AMANDA: They're a little hard to decipher.

00:41:26.470 --> 00:41:28.210
VIRGINIA: She's a heffalump or a woozle.

00:41:28.730 --> 00:41:29.050
AMANDA: Yes.

00:41:32.050 --> 00:41:37.690
VIRGINIA: All right, well, I am going to be so excited to hear all the details of your trip, listeners.

00:41:37.870 --> 00:41:44.950
VIRGINIA: If you want to head on over there now, that post trip episode will be live at the same time as this one that you're listening to.

00:41:44.970 --> 00:41:46.230
VIRGINIA: So you can hear all the details.

00:41:46.850 --> 00:41:47.670
VIRGINIA: No need to wait.

00:41:48.150 --> 00:41:49.230
VIRGINIA: It's right there for you.

00:41:49.290 --> 00:41:54.010
VIRGINIA: So thank you so much for sharing all the plans with me, Amanda.

00:41:54.170 --> 00:41:56.950
VIRGINIA: And we will talk very soon and hear how it all went.

00:41:57.490 --> 00:41:57.990
AMANDA: Thank you.

00:42:00.610 --> 00:42:03.370
VIRGINIA: Thank you to Amanda for taking the time to sit down with me.

00:42:03.890 --> 00:42:07.290
VIRGINIA: Listeners, please go ahead and give Amanda a follow over on Instagram.

00:42:07.470 --> 00:42:09.470
VIRGINIA: Her information is in the show notes.

00:42:09.930 --> 00:42:16.090
VIRGINIA: And if you're ready to hear all about how Amanda's trip turned out, you're in luck because that episode is coming up next.

00:42:16.210 --> 00:42:18.070
VIRGINIA: And I hope that you'll give it a listen.

00:42:18.930 --> 00:42:24.450
VIRGINIA: Until next time, don't forget to always keep daydreaming about where you long to be.