Pre-Trip Report: Rebecca’s Disneyland Paris Voyage d'Anniversaire (November 2024)

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VIRGINIA: Welcome back to another episode 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: For the second week in a row, I have a trip report guest who traveled to an international Disney park.

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VIRGINIA: This time, it's Rebecca, who you may remember from her previous episodes back in May that were focused around a family trip she took to Walt Disney World.

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VIRGINIA: I know I am thinking about a future Disneyland Paris trip, and I know many of you may be too.

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VIRGINIA: Or perhaps if you're not, this episode will inspire you to start to think about one.

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VIRGINIA: So let's get right to it.

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VIRGINIA: Here's Rebecca.

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VIRGINIA: Bonjour, Rebecca.

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REBECCA: Bonjour.

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VIRGINIA: Listeners, I'm very excited to have Rebecca back on the podcast, who you will have heard before from her May 2024 trip.

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VIRGINIA: And this time, you are going somewhere far away.

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VIRGINIA: Where are you headed?

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REBECCA: Paris, specifically Disneyland Paris.

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REBECCA: I think we're doing one night in actually downtown Paris, but really it's for Disneyland Paris.

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VIRGINIA: Very exciting.

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VIRGINIA: So first question, have you ever been to Disneyland Paris before?

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REBECCA: Not Disneyland Paris.

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REBECCA: I have been to Paris, but no, did not put eyes on Disneyland at all.

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VIRGINIA: Is this going to be your first non-Florida Disney Park?

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REBECCA: No, I have been to California.

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REBECCA: I have been to those ones.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: Who is going to be joining you on this trip?

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REBECCA: My college roommate, her name is Amber.

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REBECCA: She lived internationally, like in Dubai for like 10 years, and she recently moved back and happened to move back to my city, here in Wilmington, North Carolina.

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REBECCA: And so we've been reconnecting and going on trips together.

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VIRGINIA: Is it just the two of you?

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REBECCA: Yes.

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REBECCA: And it's for my birthday.

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VIRGINIA: It's for your birthday.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: When is your birthday?

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REBECCA: The day we leave, November 6th.

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REBECCA: So a really hard travel day, unfortunately.

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VIRGINIA: Well, you know what?

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VIRGINIA: There are worse things you could be doing for your birthday than sitting on a plane going to an exciting place like Paris.

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REBECCA: That's very true.

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REBECCA: And I get the day before off because we get off for election day.

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REBECCA: So I get even longer off for my birthday.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, fantastic.

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VIRGINIA: Election day is actually a day that I do not get off of work.

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REBECCA: Honestly, technically, we don't, like on the calendar, we don't have it off.

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REBECCA: But they're like, by the way, we want people to vote.

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REBECCA: So don't come into work that day.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, for us, it's like if someone needs the flexibility to take a little bit of the time to go vote, then they can have that flexibility.

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VIRGINIA: But it's not a full day off or anything.

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VIRGINIA: And I don't know, I think most people have, you know, polls that stay open pretty late or that sort of thing.

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VIRGINIA: So I tend to do it in the evening just because I can walk to my polling place from where we are.

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REBECCA: That's nice.

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REBECCA: I don't even know where ours is.

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REBECCA: I should probably know these things.

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VIRGINIA: By the time people are hearing this episode, the election will have come and gone.

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VIRGINIA: And so I was thinking, oh, I should encourage people to go vote.

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VIRGINIA: But the results will be...

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REBECCA: I don't want it to, yes.

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VIRGINIA: Right.

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VIRGINIA: The results will be what the results will be.

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VIRGINIA: And so we're just, you know, I hope that everybody is happy with whatever happened.

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REBECCA: And if they're not, I'm like, hey, I'm not going to be in Paris.

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REBECCA: So I don't care.

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REBECCA: I'm leaving.

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VIRGINIA: Leaving on a jet plane.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Let's get into some of the details.

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VIRGINIA: So first of all, where are you going to be staying on this fabulous trip?

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VIRGINIA: And will it be at the same place the entire time?

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REBECCA: It will not be at the same place the entire time because Disney does it, Disneyland Paris does it different.

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REBECCA: Where instead of, you know, two night and you can choose one or two park days.

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REBECCA: It's like if you do two nights, you get three park days.

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REBECCA: You always get one extra park day than the amount of nights you're staying.

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REBECCA: We did two nights at the Disneyland Paris Hotel, which is the one that's like at the very front of the park.

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REBECCA: And then we are, so we're going to utilize that third park day still.

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REBECCA: So I wanted to stay somewhere nearby.

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REBECCA: There is the Val d'Europe Shopping Centre.

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REBECCA: That's like a 15 minute walk from Disney, but then there's also shuttles and a train station that will take you there.

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REBECCA: So we're staying at Hotel Delecy, Val d'Europe, that third night.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah, they really get you in that way, right?

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VIRGINIA: Because you need to make the most out of that park time you're getting.

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REBECCA: Yeah.

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REBECCA: The last night I used, I think it's capital one points.

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REBECCA: I like credit card points.

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REBECCA: I just used that and ended up paying $10 for like a hotel right beside the Eiffel Tower.

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REBECCA: So we're staying there the last night before we fly home.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: Fantastic.

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VIRGINIA: If you don't mind, I don't need to know an exact price or anything.

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VIRGINIA: But in terms of park tickets, what is it comparably to Disney World?

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VIRGINIA: Are we talking approximately the same amount of dollars per day?

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REBECCA: I have a whole spreadsheet in front of me because I did want this to be a, originally is going to be a Walt Disney World, Florida trip, and it would have been fun, and that would have been fine.

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REBECCA: And then I started pricing it out.

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REBECCA: I'm like, we could go to Paris and go to the parks for cheaper than we can go to Walt Disney World, I've been to loads of times.

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REBECCA: And especially if we're going without the kids, it's a hike and it's difficult to get kids on that long of a flight.

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REBECCA: But if I'm doing a girls' trip, then I don't care.

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REBECCA: So we might as well go overseas.

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REBECCA: But yes, for basically the nicest hotel in Disneyland Paris, we are paying, and this is without flights, which I did find flights for about $500 round trip, which is good.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, wow.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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REBECCA: Yeah.

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REBECCA: So that was one of the factors in booking this trip as well.

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REBECCA: I'm like, well, man, flights are so cheap around my birthday.

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REBECCA: But for two nights and three park days included, for two people, it was $16.50.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, wow.

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VIRGINIA: So hotel and your park tickets.

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REBECCA: Yeah.

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REBECCA: And if I compare that, I feel like it's comparable to a deluxe resort.

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REBECCA: I was comparing it to the Beach Club, even though probably the Grand Floridian is the most on-par thing with it.

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REBECCA: And it would have been probably double that if not more.

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VIRGINIA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: And to remind listeners or to tell listeners for the first time who did not hear your previous episode, which I will link that in the show notes so that if anybody wants to go back and hear about your other trip, they certainly can.

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VIRGINIA: You are a travel planner.

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REBECCA: Yes.

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REBECCA: Magic For Me Travel Company.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: So we will make sure to have your information in the show notes as well, in case anybody else is looking for a travel planner who can help you find a great deal like this.

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REBECCA: Yeah.

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REBECCA: And unfortunately, I booked this before I was a travel planner, so I don't even get credit for it.

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REBECCA: But I still had a fun time planning it.

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REBECCA: And I still get to go and enjoy it.

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VIRGINIA: You still get to go.

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VIRGINIA: But yeah.

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VIRGINIA: Is there a part of you that's like, maybe I should just cancel and then rebook?

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VIRGINIA: Is that even allowed?

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REBECCA: It is allowed, but I looked up and the price for that package that I just said is over three grand now.

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VIRGINIA: Oh, wow.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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REBECCA: So I got it.

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REBECCA: And I looked for next year because I'm like, well, I'll tell people that and they're like, you got a good deal.

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REBECCA: But I looked at the same dates for next year and they're similar to what I paid to like 1700.

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REBECCA: So playing this out about a year in advance.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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REBECCA: All right.

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VIRGINIA: And that's how far in advance you started planning.

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REBECCA: Yes.

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REBECCA: And another difference is restaurant reservations open up 12 months in advance.

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REBECCA: So you really do need to do it about a year in advance to take advantage of all that.

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VIRGINIA: Very good to know because I was just talking to my friend Jeanette the other day doing her post trip interview for her trip to Tokyo.

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VIRGINIA: And it seems like from what I'm hearing about Tokyo, it's a lot less lead time for planning.

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VIRGINIA: So it's interesting to hear about the variation between all of these parks and how some of them you really do need to jump on it that far in advance.

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VIRGINIA: And some of them it's like they won't even let you buy tickets until three months before.

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REBECCA: Disney doesn't make it easy.

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REBECCA: Why can't I just have a rule across the world?

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VIRGINIA: No, well, that would be too easy.

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VIRGINIA: And just, I don't know, for a moment in time reference, everyone, this is literally the day after we got the information about the new premiere pass at Disney World and then the paid add-on membership benefits for Disney Vacation Club, like lots of announcements within the past 24 hours that have made people feel that even with Disney being as expensive a product as it is and how much we love it, it's just like, oh, wow, they're really, really making it expensive for people.

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REBECCA: And those products already exist in Disneyland Paris.

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REBECCA: They have premiere pass and it's not nearly as expensive.

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REBECCA: And you can do it just for a ride.

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REBECCA: So I could roll up to Big Thunder Mountain.

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REBECCA: And if I thought the wait was too long, which honestly the waits are never that long at Disneyland Paris, I could be like, oh, I'm just going to pay $11 right now on the app and then immediately skip the line.

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REBECCA: It doesn't have to be planned in advance.

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REBECCA: It's not very expensive.

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VIRGINIA: And I think that with this new premiere pass in Disney World, one of the benefits is that you could go and ride every single lightning lane once without having to make the reservation part of it.

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VIRGINIA: But to have to pay such a big cost for every single person in your party.

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VIRGINIA: And when you're talking about a park where they're like, let's say Animal Kingdom, paying that premium price and thinking about like tough to be a bug counts as one of those things.

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VIRGINIA: And that is something I would never pay money to do.

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VIRGINIA: And then Expedition Everest, I can get in at rope drop time and ride it with no weight.

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VIRGINIA: Like the first hour of the park, you can ride Expedition Everest with barely any weight.

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VIRGINIA: And so, I like the idea of it being more a la carte like that, so that you could decide whether it was worth it or not.

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REBECCA: Yeah.

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REBECCA: Like this just seems like, hey, do you hate planning and have all the money in the world to throw around?

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REBECCA: Then here's the product for you.

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VIRGINIA: Exactly.

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VIRGINIA: So, while we are on this topic, is there anything with this trip extra that you have paid for?

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VIRGINIA: So, any special privileges, any parties that they might be having, or anything that's an add-on?

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REBECCA: Nothing that I paid extra for.

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REBECCA: Although we were looking into doing the fireworks viewing areas, we hear is worth it.

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REBECCA: But we haven't booked it yet.

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REBECCA: Plus, we're there three nights, so we figure if we don't have a good viewing area one night, we can get there earlier the other night, or hopefully, it will still be available for us to purchase if we do it the first night.

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REBECCA: We're like, that was awful.

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REBECCA: So hopefully, we don't know.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: Has Amber been to Disneyland Paris before?

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REBECCA: No.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: So both of you experiencing this for the first time together.

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VIRGINIA: Is she a big Disney person?

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REBECCA: I would say not as much as me, but she loves Stitch, and Stitch is huge in Disneyland Paris.

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REBECCA: I don't know why.

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VIRGINIA: Really?

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REBECCA: But they love Stitch.

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REBECCA: Yeah.

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REBECCA: Almost all the products are Stitch, and they have Stitch.

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REBECCA: The meet and greet is like a three-hour line.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: I know that long-time listeners are cracking up right now because that has made it go down a couple of notches in my mind because I am so not a Stitch fan.

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VIRGINIA: Although, if the line to meet Stitch is three hours long, perhaps that makes other things easier to get on because everyone's so invested in Stitch and I could care less about Stitch.

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REBECCA: I feel the same way.

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REBECCA: Yes.

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REBECCA: They have a princess pavilion, which is where you meet the princesses, and those lines are three hours long as well.

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VIRGINIA: Yeah.

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VIRGINIA: I'm not waiting in line that long, especially if it's for a princess that I've met before somewhere else.

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REBECCA: We have zero.

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REBECCA: Well, I have zero interest in the characters.

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REBECCA: Other than maybe if there's a really specialty character that we don't get at Disney World, then I might get excited about it.

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REBECCA: I would die if there were Brista cats, like the little cats are there because that's so Parisian anyway, so I would wait probably in a pretty long line for that, but there's very few characters I'd wait in a line for.

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REBECCA: But it also frees up the rides.

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REBECCA: Disneyland Paris notoriously does not have that long of rides compared to people who are used to Disney World.

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VIRGINIA: If characters are not a priority for you, what are your specific priorities?

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VIRGINIA: Instead of rides general, are there specific rides that are your priorities, specific shows, just soaking in the vibes, what's really important to the two of you?

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REBECCA: Probably the rides first and then the vibes, like Big Thunder Mountain, top of the list.

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REBECCA: It was already top of the list before the announcement that they're closing Disney World for a year, but even more so now.

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REBECCA: This is supposed to be the best version out of all the Big Thunder Mountains around the world.

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REBECCA: That's what I hear.

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VIRGINIA: I've heard.

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REBECCA: Yes.

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REBECCA: Then the Hyperspace Mountain.

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REBECCA: It's Space Mountain, but Star Wars-y, so I'm looking forward to that one.

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REBECCA: I'm obsessed with any haunted mansion, so definitely that is top of the list.

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REBECCA: Not Jungle Cruise, I could care less about Jungle Cruise, which is controversial, but Pirates.

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REBECCA: I have to go on Pirates.

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VIRGINIA: Okay.

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VIRGINIA: Do you know, are most of the rides that have talking characters or narration, are they in French?

00:13:45.285 --> 00:13:53.665
REBECCA: Some of the shows have a symbol next to the flag, and it will say if this is a French version, or you could go to the English ones.

00:13:53.665 --> 00:13:56.585
REBECCA: Some of the showings, they will have an English show, and some they will have a French show.

00:13:56.965 --> 00:13:59.225
REBECCA: But for the most part, the rides are in French.

00:13:59.785 --> 00:14:03.465
REBECCA: But most of the people and characters, I think, like, could speak English.

00:14:03.465 --> 00:14:08.785
REBECCA: Because I did wonder, because they must get a lot of, especially England being right there, a lot of English kids.

00:14:09.765 --> 00:14:14.525
REBECCA: I bet it would bring a lot of questions if they're like, why can't Spider-Man speak to me?

00:14:15.765 --> 00:14:16.725
VIRGINIA: Yeah, it's-

00:14:16.725 --> 00:14:18.365
REBECCA: He's supposed to be from Brooklyn.

00:14:19.385 --> 00:14:20.905
VIRGINIA: No, he's supposed to be from Queens.

00:14:20.905 --> 00:14:21.925
REBECCA: Oh, sorry, I see.

00:14:21.945 --> 00:14:22.605
REBECCA: I got it wrong.

00:14:22.605 --> 00:14:23.145
REBECCA: New York.

00:14:23.145 --> 00:14:25.705
VIRGINIA: And I know that because I live in Queens.

00:14:27.165 --> 00:14:29.945
REBECCA: So, you're like, Spider-Man with a French accent?

00:14:29.945 --> 00:14:31.985
REBECCA: No.

00:14:31.985 --> 00:14:34.185
REBECCA: But they have Marvel, which is a difference.

00:14:34.185 --> 00:14:37.365
VIRGINIA: Yes, that is, yeah, very exciting.

00:14:37.365 --> 00:14:42.485
VIRGINIA: And you have at least one kid who's very into Marvel things, right?

00:14:42.485 --> 00:14:49.085
VIRGINIA: So, do you have anything on this trip that you are specifically trying to bring home for the kids?

00:14:49.085 --> 00:14:54.885
VIRGINIA: Any kind of merch you have in mind, or are you just going to see what calls to you?

00:14:55.145 --> 00:14:56.305
REBECCA: Yeah, nothing in mind.

00:14:56.305 --> 00:14:57.645
REBECCA: I'll see what calls to be.

00:14:57.645 --> 00:15:03.005
REBECCA: But my friend is being a little bougie and flying business class, and she's like, I get two free bags.

00:15:03.285 --> 00:15:07.405
REBECCA: If you want to bring back a ton of souvenirs, we can fit them in my bag.

00:15:07.405 --> 00:15:08.565
VIRGINIA: So, let's talk flights then.

00:15:08.565 --> 00:15:10.065
VIRGINIA: Are you flying together?

00:15:10.065 --> 00:15:12.425
REBECCA: No.

00:15:12.425 --> 00:15:16.145
VIRGINIA: Are you going to be in the back of the plane, and she's going to be in the front?

00:15:16.145 --> 00:15:18.185
REBECCA: Well, I jumped on these flights myself.

00:15:18.225 --> 00:15:21.345
REBECCA: I'm like, $500 flights, like, yes.

00:15:21.345 --> 00:15:23.405
REBECCA: And she drugged her feet a little bit.

00:15:23.405 --> 00:15:29.085
REBECCA: And I have American Points and stuff that I collect, and she does Delta.

00:15:29.085 --> 00:15:33.825
REBECCA: So we're like, we're going to both aim to, we don't care.

00:15:33.825 --> 00:15:37.825
REBECCA: I don't even barely sit with my husband on our flights, and we don't talk.

00:15:37.825 --> 00:15:40.345
REBECCA: So I don't care about the travel days.

00:15:40.345 --> 00:15:43.885
REBECCA: I'm like, but this is the time we're going to try to aim to get to Paris.

00:15:43.885 --> 00:15:46.205
REBECCA: And so our flights come in within an hour of each other.

00:15:46.745 --> 00:15:52.985
REBECCA: So then that's when we'll wait for each other, get our bags, and then take the train from the airport to Disneyland Paris.

00:15:52.985 --> 00:15:53.625
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:15:53.625 --> 00:15:57.745
VIRGINIA: So what is that approximate hour that you think you will both be landing?

00:15:57.745 --> 00:16:01.385
REBECCA: Around 8 a.m., the 7th.

00:16:01.385 --> 00:16:01.925
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:16:01.925 --> 00:16:03.405
VIRGINIA: Nice and early the next day.

00:16:03.405 --> 00:16:07.845
VIRGINIA: How long is the actual flight itself?

00:16:07.845 --> 00:16:09.865
REBECCA: Mine leaves at like 7 p.m.

00:16:09.865 --> 00:16:17.005
REBECCA: and gets there at like 7 a.m., but then subtract 5 or 6 hours for the time difference.

00:16:17.005 --> 00:16:19.765
REBECCA: So probably about a 6-hour flight.

00:16:19.765 --> 00:16:20.705
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:16:20.705 --> 00:16:28.985
VIRGINIA: And are you flying out of your most close airport, or are you going farther away to a bigger airport?

00:16:28.985 --> 00:16:30.425
VIRGINIA: Because I know that you're in North Carolina.

00:16:30.425 --> 00:16:33.005
REBECCA: I love our tiny little airport with nine gates.

00:16:33.005 --> 00:16:35.665
REBECCA: I was just at it yesterday.

00:16:35.665 --> 00:16:36.985
REBECCA: And yes, it's never any line.

00:16:36.985 --> 00:16:42.525
REBECCA: I could just park my car right there and no one like shoes you off when you're waiting for someone to come out.

00:16:42.525 --> 00:16:47.645
REBECCA: Like my dad was waiting an hour for me, just right outside the front door of the airport.

00:16:47.645 --> 00:16:49.385
REBECCA: No one shoot him away.

00:16:49.385 --> 00:16:54.565
REBECCA: So I am flying out of there and flying into Philadelphia.

00:16:54.565 --> 00:17:00.425
REBECCA: And that's where actually originally I had like a seven-hour layover, but I'm like, I don't care.

00:17:00.425 --> 00:17:01.605
REBECCA: It's a $500 flight.

00:17:01.605 --> 00:17:02.265
REBECCA: I'll do a seven.

00:17:02.265 --> 00:17:04.965
REBECCA: I could go into Philly for the day on my birthday.

00:17:04.965 --> 00:17:05.625
REBECCA: That sounds fun.

00:17:06.625 --> 00:17:13.845
REBECCA: But it was recently changed to more of like a four-hour layover, which I'm like, okay, well, actually that probably is better.

00:17:13.845 --> 00:17:17.645
VIRGINIA: Well, four hours, that's long enough to go grab a Philly cheesesteak.

00:17:17.645 --> 00:17:18.245
REBECCA: True.

00:17:18.245 --> 00:17:22.325
REBECCA: Or I'm thinking maybe I can go to the American Airlines lounge or something.

00:17:22.325 --> 00:17:24.905
REBECCA: Maybe I can pay to go in there for the day since it's my birthday.

00:17:24.905 --> 00:17:26.105
VIRGINIA: Oh, yes.

00:17:26.105 --> 00:17:27.025
VIRGINIA: Yes, you could.

00:17:27.025 --> 00:17:27.425
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:17:27.425 --> 00:17:29.825
VIRGINIA: So arriving around 8 a.m.

00:17:29.825 --> 00:17:32.505
VIRGINIA: on Thursday, November 7th.

00:17:32.685 --> 00:17:32.985
REBECCA: Yes.

00:17:32.985 --> 00:17:38.785
VIRGINIA: And then how do you get from the airport over to the Disneyland Paris Resort?

00:17:38.785 --> 00:17:39.105
REBECCA: Yes.

00:17:39.105 --> 00:17:40.465
REBECCA: So there are trains.

00:17:40.465 --> 00:17:42.305
REBECCA: So there's a TGV train.

00:17:42.305 --> 00:17:49.825
REBECCA: And I hear, don't book in advance because if you miss it, you miss it and you buy specific times.

00:17:49.825 --> 00:17:53.085
REBECCA: So you don't want to buy it and then not make it.

00:17:53.085 --> 00:18:00.885
REBECCA: And it's also way more expensive in advance when if you buy it a few, an hour or a few minutes in advance, then it's like 30 bucks.

00:18:01.825 --> 00:18:06.345
REBECCA: And it's like a 10 minute train ride directly to the station is called like Chessy.

00:18:06.345 --> 00:18:07.565
REBECCA: So it doesn't say Disney on it.

00:18:07.565 --> 00:18:08.645
REBECCA: You just have to know.

00:18:08.645 --> 00:18:11.445
REBECCA: So the Chessy station is the one we'll get off at.

00:18:11.445 --> 00:18:11.725
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:18:11.725 --> 00:18:17.205
VIRGINIA: And when you get off at the station, can you walk from there into the resort?

00:18:17.205 --> 00:18:17.645
REBECCA: Yep.

00:18:17.645 --> 00:18:25.285
REBECCA: You immediately go out and it puts you into like their equivalent of like downtown Disney or Disney Springs, much smaller.

00:18:25.285 --> 00:18:27.805
REBECCA: But yes, you walk through that and then you're at the park.

00:18:28.385 --> 00:18:38.165
VIRGINIA: And how much baggage will you have with you, considering how far you're flying and having to do that walk from the train and everything?

00:18:38.165 --> 00:18:43.945
VIRGINIA: Are you trying to keep it as minimal as possible or are you going wild with the bags?

00:18:43.945 --> 00:18:51.545
REBECCA: I am keeping it to one luggage, like a rolling case, but it's small enough that could be a carry-on.

00:18:51.545 --> 00:18:59.485
REBECCA: That way if I did have a short layover and I didn't want to have to wait for bags or something, I could just claim it as a carry-on.

00:18:59.485 --> 00:19:02.005
REBECCA: And then I have a book bag that I'll use as a personal item.

00:19:02.005 --> 00:19:03.445
REBECCA: So still, I guess fairly minimal.

00:19:03.445 --> 00:19:05.485
REBECCA: We're only there five days.

00:19:05.485 --> 00:19:09.245
REBECCA: But I will utilize my friend's bag if I get some souvenirs.

00:19:09.245 --> 00:19:12.825
VIRGINIA: Listen, if she's offered, take her up on it.

00:19:12.825 --> 00:19:17.665
VIRGINIA: What are you going to be doing first after you drop your things at the hotel?

00:19:17.665 --> 00:19:21.065
REBECCA: So we get early park entry for staying on site.

00:19:21.065 --> 00:19:26.945
REBECCA: But I think the hotel or the park opens before we get there.

00:19:27.725 --> 00:19:30.005
REBECCA: So we won't be utilizing that.

00:19:30.005 --> 00:19:35.225
REBECCA: So we'll either drop our bags off if the room's not ready, or we'll drop our stuff in the room.

00:19:35.225 --> 00:19:42.625
REBECCA: And then there's actually a dedicated entrance just for those hotel guests into the Disneyland Paris Park.

00:19:42.625 --> 00:19:45.245
REBECCA: So we'll probably just go straight into the main park.

00:19:45.245 --> 00:19:45.825
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:19:45.825 --> 00:19:50.965
VIRGINIA: That is going to be so exciting to see another castle, to approach another castle.

00:19:50.965 --> 00:19:53.565
VIRGINIA: And I understand that that one is just gorgeous.

00:19:54.765 --> 00:19:58.905
VIRGINIA: What is going to be your first goal once you are through the park gates?

00:19:58.905 --> 00:20:02.105
REBECCA: I think it will just be to see the castle and castle photos.

00:20:02.105 --> 00:20:06.485
REBECCA: And I don't know if it's my first goal, but definitely a goal on the first night.

00:20:06.485 --> 00:20:13.165
REBECCA: It will be, I want a glass of champagne in my hand, looking at the castle because there's nowhere else in the world that you could do that.

00:20:13.165 --> 00:20:17.445
REBECCA: This is the only one you can have alcohol in a castle park.

00:20:17.445 --> 00:20:18.285
VIRGINIA: Very cool.

00:20:18.285 --> 00:20:24.585
VIRGINIA: So do you have anything special you are wearing for this first day for these epic photos?

00:20:24.585 --> 00:20:27.405
REBECCA: I did get specific outfits for each day.

00:20:27.405 --> 00:20:34.845
REBECCA: I think the first one I do have like a because I'm expecting it to be freezing and probably rainy.

00:20:34.845 --> 00:20:39.945
REBECCA: My theme was pink because this is the pink castle and it's a pink Disneyland Paris Hotel.

00:20:39.945 --> 00:20:41.985
REBECCA: So I have like a pink raincoat.

00:20:41.985 --> 00:20:45.825
REBECCA: I have a white sweatshirt with the castle on it.

00:20:45.825 --> 00:20:49.865
REBECCA: And I have like a pink furry plaid shacket.

00:20:50.725 --> 00:20:53.445
VIRGINIA: Shacket, I love that.

00:20:53.445 --> 00:20:55.705
VIRGINIA: Do you have any pink ears?

00:20:55.705 --> 00:20:56.285
REBECCA: Not yet.

00:20:56.285 --> 00:20:57.685
REBECCA: Maybe I can buy something.

00:20:57.685 --> 00:21:00.965
VIRGINIA: I think that's the one thing I'm hearing that's missing from this outfit.

00:21:00.965 --> 00:21:01.905
REBECCA: I know.

00:21:01.905 --> 00:21:05.705
REBECCA: But I do have hats and stuff because I might be too cold for ears.

00:21:05.705 --> 00:21:06.685
REBECCA: I don't know.

00:21:06.685 --> 00:21:07.245
REBECCA: We'll have to see.

00:21:07.245 --> 00:21:07.905
VIRGINIA: It might be.

00:21:07.905 --> 00:21:11.705
VIRGINIA: But in my opinion, it's worth it just for the photos alone.

00:21:11.765 --> 00:21:14.045
REBECCA: Yeah, true.

00:21:14.045 --> 00:21:17.725
REBECCA: My next day outfit is a good one though, and it does have matching ears.

00:21:17.725 --> 00:21:21.945
VIRGINIA: What else are you going to get into over in Disneyland this day?

00:21:21.945 --> 00:21:25.405
VIRGINIA: I should ask, do you have any dining reservations this particular day?

00:21:25.405 --> 00:21:27.345
REBECCA: We do.

00:21:27.345 --> 00:21:32.205
REBECCA: I said the difference is that the dining reservations open up 12 months in advance.

00:21:32.205 --> 00:21:38.925
REBECCA: They don't sell out immediately like they do at Disney World though, but some of the really popular ones were sold out six months in advance.

00:21:39.425 --> 00:21:43.625
REBECCA: But they don't penalize you for like canceling like day of.

00:21:43.625 --> 00:21:49.925
REBECCA: I'm just going to book as many different time slots as possible and see what works with our schedule that day.

00:21:49.925 --> 00:21:53.525
REBECCA: The first one I have Remy's.

00:21:54.245 --> 00:21:55.025
REBECCA: That's a fun one.

00:21:55.025 --> 00:21:59.885
REBECCA: It's not in the Disneyland Park, it's in the Studios Park next door.

00:21:59.885 --> 00:22:04.205
VIRGINIA: You're going to park hop to do that reservation or that reservation is a different day?

00:22:04.205 --> 00:22:04.885
REBECCA: It's the same day.

00:22:04.885 --> 00:22:06.085
REBECCA: You could park hop the tickets.

00:22:06.805 --> 00:22:09.745
REBECCA: When you do the package tickets, it comes with park hopping.

00:22:09.745 --> 00:22:10.085
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:22:10.085 --> 00:22:12.785
VIRGINIA: And remind me of the name of the other park.

00:22:12.785 --> 00:22:14.265
REBECCA: Disney Studios.

00:22:16.325 --> 00:22:17.285
REBECCA: They're changing names.

00:22:17.285 --> 00:22:26.885
REBECCA: I don't know if they changed names yet, but that whole park is going through a big overhaul and renovations and a lot of walls are going to be up.

00:22:26.885 --> 00:22:29.165
VIRGINIA: What time is this Remy's reservation?

00:22:29.165 --> 00:22:30.985
REBECCA: We have one for lunch and we have one for dinner.

00:22:30.985 --> 00:22:33.685
REBECCA: So we're kind of going to go with the flow and see.

00:22:33.685 --> 00:22:41.665
REBECCA: I won't have to be rushing from park to park just to go to reservation, so I'll just cancel the lunch one if we're not feeling like we're going to be over there by then.

00:22:41.665 --> 00:22:44.945
REBECCA: That one is a fun one, not really, I mean, it's like French food.

00:22:44.945 --> 00:22:53.865
REBECCA: So obviously we're in France, but it's the exit of the Ratatouille ride and everything is scaled for like your rat.

00:22:53.865 --> 00:22:58.305
REBECCA: And like, so you're sitting on a, the seats are like, you know, like a wine cork.

00:22:58.305 --> 00:23:01.825
REBECCA: And so that's really the big appeal of that restaurant.

00:23:01.825 --> 00:23:07.765
VIRGINIA: When you hop over there, are you going to stay in the Studios Park for the second half of the day?

00:23:07.765 --> 00:23:08.765
REBECCA: I think so.

00:23:08.765 --> 00:23:13.025
REBECCA: They have a Tower of Terror there, which I normally am not a Tower of Terror person.

00:23:13.025 --> 00:23:17.525
REBECCA: I hated the one at Walt Disney World, but I love the one in California.

00:23:17.525 --> 00:23:19.485
REBECCA: It was like the Guardians one.

00:23:19.485 --> 00:23:22.525
REBECCA: And I hear this one is different as well.

00:23:22.525 --> 00:23:24.445
REBECCA: And it's like even more scary.

00:23:24.445 --> 00:23:25.285
VIRGINIA: Really?

00:23:25.285 --> 00:23:26.545
REBECCA: Yeah, that's what I hear.

00:23:26.545 --> 00:23:28.005
REBECCA: It's like more spooky.

00:23:28.005 --> 00:23:32.665
VIRGINIA: I don't know anything about this one, but it's not Marvel-themed.

00:23:32.665 --> 00:23:33.365
REBECCA: It's not Marvel.

00:23:33.365 --> 00:23:38.445
REBECCA: It's like Tower of Terror-themed, but just not Twilight Zone.

00:23:38.445 --> 00:23:40.465
REBECCA: It's not Twilight Zone.

00:23:40.465 --> 00:23:41.105
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:23:41.105 --> 00:23:42.845
REBECCA: That's all I know.

00:23:42.865 --> 00:23:46.525
VIRGINIA: It's like Saw, the Saw movie series.

00:23:46.525 --> 00:23:48.745
REBECCA: That would be great.

00:23:48.745 --> 00:23:51.365
REBECCA: Is there like a Parisian version of that?

00:23:51.365 --> 00:23:52.985
VIRGINIA: I have no idea.

00:23:52.985 --> 00:23:54.905
VIRGINIA: Le Saw.

00:23:54.905 --> 00:23:58.965
REBECCA: I think there's some creepy little ghost girls in it, something like that.

00:23:58.965 --> 00:23:59.325
REBECCA: I don't know.

00:23:59.805 --> 00:24:00.325
VIRGINIA: Oh, gosh.

00:24:00.325 --> 00:24:03.085
VIRGINIA: Now I'm tempted to watch a ride through.

00:24:03.085 --> 00:24:03.305
REBECCA: Yeah.

00:24:03.305 --> 00:24:05.425
VIRGINIA: I see this for myself.

00:24:05.765 --> 00:24:06.865
REBECCA: So we'll probably do that.

00:24:06.865 --> 00:24:09.205
REBECCA: There is a Cars ride.

00:24:09.205 --> 00:24:10.225
REBECCA: I don't think it's a whole area.

00:24:10.225 --> 00:24:12.625
REBECCA: I think it's just like one ride.

00:24:12.625 --> 00:24:15.405
REBECCA: I think it's a re-themed one for something else.

00:24:15.405 --> 00:24:17.805
REBECCA: But we'll go on that.

00:24:17.805 --> 00:24:23.405
REBECCA: Then probably the biggest ride there that has the longest wait is called the Crush's Coaster.

00:24:23.885 --> 00:24:25.765
REBECCA: Crush from Nemo.

00:24:25.765 --> 00:24:27.005
VIRGINIA: I've heard of that one.

00:24:27.005 --> 00:24:33.785
REBECCA: I don't know if we'll go on that first day, because I think you have to utilize early park entry to really not have to wait for it.

00:24:33.785 --> 00:24:35.765
REBECCA: So we'll probably do that first day.

00:24:35.765 --> 00:24:39.345
VIRGINIA: Or pay that per ride fee as well.

00:24:39.345 --> 00:24:41.165
REBECCA: Or pay it.

00:24:41.165 --> 00:24:42.325
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:24:42.325 --> 00:24:44.885
VIRGINIA: This first day, you have a lot on the agenda.

00:24:44.885 --> 00:24:51.865
VIRGINIA: The next day is Friday, November the 8th, also at the Disneyland Hotel.

00:24:51.865 --> 00:24:56.525
VIRGINIA: Are you going to start your day at Disneyland Paris or at the Studios?

00:24:56.825 --> 00:25:00.265
REBECCA: I think at Studios so we can rope drop Crush Coaster.

00:25:00.265 --> 00:25:02.545
REBECCA: This one truly is probably a half-day park.

00:25:02.545 --> 00:25:06.605
REBECCA: Really, we're probably just going to go that morning just to do whatever we didn't do that first day.

00:25:06.605 --> 00:25:08.705
VIRGINIA: Any dining reservations for this day?

00:25:08.705 --> 00:25:09.945
REBECCA: Yes.

00:25:09.945 --> 00:25:11.825
REBECCA: We have Walt's.

00:25:11.825 --> 00:25:18.965
REBECCA: Walt Disney has his own little diner on Main Street in Disneyland Paris, and it's called Walt's American Diner.

00:25:19.565 --> 00:25:23.125
REBECCA: It's weird that we're going there to have what they consider like American food.

00:25:24.025 --> 00:25:28.285
REBECCA: But I think it's supposed to be like Walt Disney's favorite food, so that's kind of sweet.

00:25:28.285 --> 00:25:28.665
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:25:28.665 --> 00:25:32.525
VIRGINIA: Is that lunch or dinner or two reservations to see where you land?

00:25:32.525 --> 00:25:45.265
REBECCA: I have one that day and two the next day for Walt's just to see where we land, because I want to time it with a parade down Main Street, so we can see the parade while we're having lunch or dinner.

00:25:45.265 --> 00:25:51.005
REBECCA: And the next day, they're having Christmas parades, so it might be good to see it then too.

00:25:51.865 --> 00:25:53.765
REBECCA: So that's why I have them for both days.

00:25:53.765 --> 00:25:54.125
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:25:54.125 --> 00:25:57.285
VIRGINIA: So where are you starting on Saturday, November the 9th?

00:25:57.285 --> 00:26:02.385
REBECCA: Probably Disneyland Paris or whichever park we didn't already early park in tree.

00:26:02.385 --> 00:26:03.345
REBECCA: But you know what?

00:26:03.345 --> 00:26:09.725
REBECCA: That's going to be the first night or the first day of Christmas stuff.

00:26:09.825 --> 00:26:14.045
REBECCA: And I'm actually really excited about that, because we are in Disneyland Paris Hotel.

00:26:14.045 --> 00:26:16.685
REBECCA: I'm like, am I going to actually see them put up this tree?

00:26:16.685 --> 00:26:18.365
REBECCA: Because you could see the park from the hotel.

00:26:19.145 --> 00:26:21.385
REBECCA: So it's kind of exciting that they close early the night.

00:26:21.385 --> 00:26:25.585
REBECCA: So that Friday night, they close the park early, so they could be putting up all these decorations.

00:26:25.585 --> 00:26:28.645
VIRGINIA: What time do they close the park early on Friday night?

00:26:28.645 --> 00:26:30.385
REBECCA: I think they close at 7.

00:26:30.385 --> 00:26:41.005
REBECCA: But we have dinner reservations at 8 at one of the Marvel hotel, has a buffet called Downtown that's like New York themed.

00:26:41.005 --> 00:26:43.945
REBECCA: And that's supposed to be harder to get reservations for and supposed to be nice.

00:26:43.945 --> 00:26:45.925
REBECCA: And it's a buffet.

00:26:45.925 --> 00:26:46.385
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:26:46.385 --> 00:26:47.665
REBECCA: So that's at 8 p.m.

00:26:48.145 --> 00:26:49.225
REBECCA: Yeah, on the Friday.

00:26:49.225 --> 00:26:53.825
REBECCA: So I'm like, oh, that worked out because we wouldn't have been staying in the park anyway because we have these dinner reservations.

00:26:53.825 --> 00:26:54.385
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:26:54.385 --> 00:26:54.545
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:26:54.545 --> 00:27:03.705
VIRGINIA: I wonder if you could do a little bit of Googling and see like, is there a designated place that people tend to gather to watch the Christmas transformation?

00:27:03.705 --> 00:27:04.865
REBECCA: I don't know.

00:27:04.865 --> 00:27:19.765
REBECCA: I know the like really nice suites at Disneyland Paris Hotel have park views from their balconies, but I don't know if there's, because there's the Fleur de Lis like hotel bar, and there's a few other areas that I'm like, I wonder.

00:27:19.765 --> 00:27:20.325
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:27:20.325 --> 00:27:28.265
VIRGINIA: I mean, regardless when you wake up the next morning, if you really wanted to, you could make sure you're taking photos for that purpose.

00:27:28.265 --> 00:27:28.725
REBECCA: Yeah.

00:27:28.725 --> 00:27:34.685
REBECCA: Or maybe we can stay up late enough Friday night and watch them at least decorate the hotel because I'm sure they decorate the Disneyland Paris Hotel too.

00:27:35.645 --> 00:27:36.065
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:27:36.065 --> 00:27:46.425
VIRGINIA: So the morning of Saturday, November 9th, do you check out of the Disneyland Paris Hotel before you go have your park fun?

00:27:46.425 --> 00:27:57.285
REBECCA: I'm not sure when the hotel checkout is, but either we'll go into the park for early entry and do some things and then go back into the hotel and actually pack our bags and check out.

00:27:57.485 --> 00:27:57.825
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:27:57.985 --> 00:27:59.885
VIRGINIA: I meant, is that the day you're leaving the hotel?

00:28:00.105 --> 00:28:00.705
VIRGINIA: Oh, yes.

00:28:00.705 --> 00:28:02.685
VIRGINIA: I didn't mean like literally checking out.

00:28:02.685 --> 00:28:05.725
VIRGINIA: I just wanted to make sure I was clear on where you were staying what days.

00:28:05.725 --> 00:28:06.145
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:28:06.145 --> 00:28:07.805
REBECCA: Yes, we are checking out that day.

00:28:07.805 --> 00:28:08.225
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:28:08.225 --> 00:28:15.325
VIRGINIA: So you likely would put your stuff with the Bell Services or whatever until you were actually ready to come back and take care of that.

00:28:15.325 --> 00:28:16.365
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:28:16.365 --> 00:28:20.545
VIRGINIA: Anything else you're doing in the parks on that Saturday?

00:28:20.545 --> 00:28:25.625
REBECCA: So they put up the Christmas stalls, like a Christmas market type of thing all over.

00:28:25.925 --> 00:28:41.185
REBECCA: So probably just going to try to do everything that's new and Christmas specific that day, whether it's they have new Christmas shows, new Christmas characters, like they have Jack Skellington in his Christmas outfit and they have Stitch in a Christmas outfit.

00:28:43.545 --> 00:28:45.545
REBECCA: You're a huge fan of.

00:28:45.545 --> 00:28:47.545
VIRGINIA: Love him so much.

00:28:47.565 --> 00:28:52.925
REBECCA: If my friend wants to wait in a three-hour line, I'm like, okay, I'm going to go ride these other rides again.

00:28:52.925 --> 00:28:54.565
REBECCA: I'm not waiting three hours for me there.

00:28:55.025 --> 00:29:02.525
VIRGINIA: I would enjoy seeing Jack Skellington, however, and I have no desire to wait any length of time to see him in Florida.

00:29:02.525 --> 00:29:07.465
VIRGINIA: So if I had the opportunity to see him for a lesser wait time, that would be great.

00:29:07.465 --> 00:29:08.205
VIRGINIA: Question.

00:29:08.205 --> 00:29:11.565
VIRGINIA: Do you watch Nightmare Before Christmas before Halloween?

00:29:11.565 --> 00:29:14.245
REBECCA: Yes, because we've already watched it once this year.

00:29:14.325 --> 00:29:14.685
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:29:14.965 --> 00:29:18.985
VIRGINIA: I wait until after Halloween has passed and then I'm like, now you're allowed to watch it.

00:29:18.985 --> 00:29:19.345
REBECCA: Yeah.

00:29:19.345 --> 00:29:22.605
REBECCA: I don't have a rule, but I do agree it's more of a Christmas maybe than a Halloween maybe.

00:29:24.705 --> 00:29:24.905
VIRGINIA: 100%.

00:29:27.005 --> 00:29:31.325
VIRGINIA: Listeners, if you disagree, feel free to argue about it in the comments.

00:29:31.325 --> 00:29:33.065
VIRGINIA: Rebecca and I will tell you why you're wrong.

00:29:33.065 --> 00:29:35.625
REBECCA: I responded to a poll and I'm like, what?

00:29:35.625 --> 00:29:37.805
REBECCA: Why are there more people that think this is a Halloween movie?

00:29:37.805 --> 00:29:39.805
REBECCA: It's just a spooky Christmas movie.

00:29:39.805 --> 00:29:40.965
VIRGINIA: Yep.

00:29:40.965 --> 00:29:42.445
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:29:42.445 --> 00:29:45.245
VIRGINIA: Let's move into the next day.

00:29:45.245 --> 00:29:57.285
VIRGINIA: So Sunday, November 10th is when you are staying at the, I can't remember how you pronounced it, the Val d'Europe?

00:29:57.285 --> 00:29:57.985
REBECCA: Yeah.

00:29:57.985 --> 00:30:02.365
REBECCA: Well, it's the night of November 9th, so that Saturday, yeah.

00:30:02.365 --> 00:30:03.005
VIRGINIA: Oh, okay.

00:30:03.005 --> 00:30:03.225
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:30:03.225 --> 00:30:08.045
VIRGINIA: So you're grabbing your things after your park day, going to this new hotel.

00:30:08.045 --> 00:30:16.345
VIRGINIA: Sunday, November 10th, you're waking up and going over to your hotel that you got for $10 with points.

00:30:16.405 --> 00:30:18.685
REBECCA: Yeah, near the Eiffel Tower.

00:30:18.685 --> 00:30:20.065
VIRGINIA: Near the Eiffel Tower.

00:30:20.065 --> 00:30:23.485
VIRGINIA: So what are you going to be doing during the day on Sunday?

00:30:23.485 --> 00:30:27.745
VIRGINIA: I presume taking as many photos as possible by the tower.

00:30:27.745 --> 00:30:37.825
REBECCA: Probably, because I have been to Paris before, but we were with friends who live there and said, they were like, here's Eiffel Tower, and we only saw it at night from a train station.

00:30:37.825 --> 00:30:42.505
REBECCA: So I haven't seen it up close, and I haven't seen it during the day.

00:30:42.505 --> 00:30:44.525
REBECCA: So yes, just doing, I think, touristy things.

00:30:45.385 --> 00:30:59.185
REBECCA: I think you can book a tour and stuff like that, but I just don't want to be tied down to times because Val d'Europe is supposed to be a really big shopping centre, and we probably want to do some shopping that morning if we didn't get a chance to the day before because we are still in the park.

00:30:59.185 --> 00:31:11.545
VIRGINIA: No, I think that having a day where you really have tons of flexibility to do what you feel like doing, when you feel like doing it, you walk past a bakery and want to get a baguette or whatever.

00:31:11.545 --> 00:31:13.305
VIRGINIA: You just do it because you feel like it.

00:31:13.465 --> 00:31:24.905
VIRGINIA: So that will be an excellent way to end much of your trip time by having the chance to do some things that you want to squeeze in at the last second.

00:31:24.905 --> 00:31:25.265
REBECCA: Yeah.

00:31:25.265 --> 00:31:27.265
REBECCA: And I don't think we'll do any.

00:31:27.265 --> 00:31:29.245
REBECCA: We're probably not going to get to the Louvre or anything like that.

00:31:29.245 --> 00:31:31.305
REBECCA: Probably nothing too time consuming.

00:31:31.305 --> 00:31:35.205
REBECCA: Probably just walking around and stumbling into cafes and stuff.

00:31:35.205 --> 00:31:37.605
VIRGINIA: And Hermes and whatever.

00:31:37.605 --> 00:31:37.845
REBECCA: Yeah.

00:31:37.925 --> 00:31:39.105
REBECCA: I'm just kidding.

00:31:39.105 --> 00:31:40.525
REBECCA: Not me, maybe my friend.

00:31:40.525 --> 00:31:41.385
VIRGINIA: No, no.

00:31:42.085 --> 00:31:47.265
VIRGINIA: I feel like every other video I see on TikTok lately is people buying their Hermes.

00:31:47.265 --> 00:31:49.445
VIRGINIA: And I'm like, what are these people doing?

00:31:49.445 --> 00:31:50.905
VIRGINIA: Doesn't feel worth it to me.

00:31:50.905 --> 00:31:52.765
REBECCA: No, I won't even buy lounge flies.

00:31:52.765 --> 00:31:58.745
VIRGINIA: So I don't buy lounge flies for another reason only because I think they're too small.

00:31:58.805 --> 00:32:00.365
REBECCA: Yeah, that's true.

00:32:01.425 --> 00:32:07.825
VIRGINIA: And I know it would be a very slippery slope for me because, again, I live in New York City and starting a collection of any type.

00:32:07.825 --> 00:32:08.705
REBECCA: It's dangerous.

00:32:08.705 --> 00:32:09.985
VIRGINIA: Yeah, I really have to want it.

00:32:09.985 --> 00:32:11.605
VIRGINIA: And I already have an air collection.

00:32:11.605 --> 00:32:17.025
REBECCA: Oh, speaking of bags, I did buy a special bag, but it wasn't a lounge fly.

00:32:17.065 --> 00:32:24.305
REBECCA: I just bought like a plain pink sling bag, and I had my sister paint it to match one of my outfits.

00:32:25.385 --> 00:32:34.605
REBECCA: Because I'm wearing an Alice in Wonderland-bound because there is this whole Alice in Wonderland labyrinth behind the castle.

00:32:34.605 --> 00:32:38.825
REBECCA: And so I thought it would be cute photos and very fitting with the park.

00:32:38.825 --> 00:32:39.465
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:32:39.465 --> 00:32:41.965
REBECCA: Oh, and so it's a pink Cheshire Cat bag.

00:32:41.965 --> 00:32:43.405
VIRGINIA: Oh, so cute.

00:32:43.565 --> 00:32:44.525
VIRGINIA: Okay.

00:32:44.525 --> 00:32:51.485
VIRGINIA: My friend, Jeanette, is going to be so excited to see that because she's probably the biggest Alice in Wonderland fan I know.

00:32:51.485 --> 00:32:54.445
VIRGINIA: And she loves, like she does a lot of sewing and stuff.

00:32:54.445 --> 00:32:57.045
VIRGINIA: So she loves like crafting things and stuff like that.

00:32:57.045 --> 00:33:03.245
VIRGINIA: So I will tag her so that she will see it, although she's literally the first person who listens to the episodes every Monday morning.

00:33:03.285 --> 00:33:08.625
REBECCA: Oh, well, I'm looking forward to that outfit because I'm like, man, I want to do some sort of Disney bounding.

00:33:08.625 --> 00:33:10.085
REBECCA: But what can I do?

00:33:10.085 --> 00:33:12.085
REBECCA: What that's like in the winter?

00:33:13.005 --> 00:33:20.245
REBECCA: So I have like a big white sweater and stuff and then like the thick fleece tights that I can wear and with like a dress over it.

00:33:20.245 --> 00:33:22.825
VIRGINIA: Do you have any other special outfits planned?

00:33:22.825 --> 00:33:25.705
REBECCA: That's the big day is the Alice in Wonderland one.

00:33:25.705 --> 00:33:28.585
REBECCA: And that's another reason it's great being so close.

00:33:28.585 --> 00:33:30.505
REBECCA: The hotel is right there by the park.

00:33:30.505 --> 00:33:32.745
REBECCA: So if I did need to make an outfit change, I could.

00:33:32.745 --> 00:33:41.905
REBECCA: But I do have like a Mandalorian themed outfit one day, probably the Saturday because I have like a Grogu Christmas sweater.

00:33:41.905 --> 00:33:45.205
REBECCA: But I also have like a Mandalorian flannel that I'll probably wear.

00:33:45.205 --> 00:33:47.085
REBECCA: And then I have a Grogu bag as well.

00:33:47.085 --> 00:33:48.105
VIRGINIA: Oh, perfect.

00:33:48.105 --> 00:33:48.825
VIRGINIA: OK.

00:33:48.825 --> 00:33:49.785
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:33:49.785 --> 00:33:56.225
VIRGINIA: Well, what time on Monday, November 11th, is your return flight leaving from Paris?

00:33:56.225 --> 00:34:00.545
REBECCA: I believe it's pretty early, but not too crazy, like 10 AM.

00:34:00.545 --> 00:34:05.205
REBECCA: And both of ours are around the same time, within a few hours of each other.

00:34:05.265 --> 00:34:12.265
VIRGINIA: OK, how early do you have to get to the airport there in terms of going through all of the things that you have to go through?

00:34:12.265 --> 00:34:13.985
REBECCA: Probably still about three hours.

00:34:13.985 --> 00:34:16.325
VIRGINIA: Will you have access to the lounge there potentially?

00:34:16.325 --> 00:34:18.365
VIRGINIA: Or I guess you won't have to be.

00:34:18.365 --> 00:34:20.405
REBECCA: No, yeah, I shouldn't have to be.

00:34:20.405 --> 00:34:21.425
REBECCA: Yeah, and I think our-

00:34:21.425 --> 00:34:22.665
VIRGINIA: Sitting around for too long.

00:34:22.665 --> 00:34:28.045
REBECCA: Yeah, and our hotel has a nice breakfast that I was going to try to do before we left.

00:34:28.045 --> 00:34:31.185
REBECCA: So I'll probably do the breakfast and then get to the airport just when I need to.

00:34:33.285 --> 00:34:38.285
VIRGINIA: Do you think that you will be taking a taxi there or is there a shuttle from the hotel?

00:34:38.285 --> 00:34:42.025
REBECCA: Yeah, I'll probably let the hotel order one either.

00:34:42.025 --> 00:34:46.885
REBECCA: Sometimes I think when I was looking for hotels, I was looking for one that had some sort of service.

00:34:46.885 --> 00:34:51.405
REBECCA: You had to pay for the service, but still, it seems a little more trustworthy and not like-

00:34:51.465 --> 00:34:52.565
REBECCA: What is it?

00:34:52.565 --> 00:34:54.285
REBECCA: Taken.

00:34:54.385 --> 00:34:55.945
REBECCA: It's about the Paris.

00:34:57.385 --> 00:35:07.085
VIRGINIA: Yeah, better safe than sorry, because if they think you are a tourist in any way, then you can potentially get scammed.

00:35:07.085 --> 00:35:19.145
REBECCA: I've heard horror stories, especially with Disneyland Paris, about people taking your stuff from your room in the Disneyland Paris Hotels, and then there's a law that you have to keep your passport on you if you're not Parisian.

00:35:19.505 --> 00:35:20.885
REBECCA: But there's also pickpocketers.

00:35:20.885 --> 00:35:23.525
REBECCA: You're like, do I want to have my passport on me if there's so many pickpocketers?

00:35:25.085 --> 00:35:35.145
VIRGINIA: I think you just have to be very careful with your bag and keeping it on your person, like if you can have a crossbody bag, that sort of thing.

00:35:35.145 --> 00:35:40.225
REBECCA: All three of my bags are all crossbody slings that have the inside pocket.

00:35:40.225 --> 00:35:47.045
VIRGINIA: And then I've seen people do, you know those zip ties that you can use to close things?

00:35:47.605 --> 00:35:55.465
VIRGINIA: When you clasp it closed, I've seen people use the zip tie to just like give it extra protection on the clasp so that nobody can unclick it.

00:35:55.465 --> 00:35:58.385
VIRGINIA: But I would always just like have my hands on it.

00:35:58.385 --> 00:36:01.205
VIRGINIA: And just be aware.

00:36:01.205 --> 00:36:01.505
REBECCA: Yeah.

00:36:01.505 --> 00:36:02.585
VIRGINIA: I think you're just aware.

00:36:02.585 --> 00:36:10.525
REBECCA: I'm less worried about being pickpocketed than I am like, you know, leaving things in the room and then like that can't be helped.

00:36:10.745 --> 00:36:12.505
REBECCA: I would like to know that, yeah.

00:36:12.505 --> 00:36:22.105
VIRGINIA: And make sure you take a photo of your passport on your phone, like save it to, if you have an iPhone, save it to the cloud and all that kind of stuff so that you can access it.

00:36:22.105 --> 00:36:24.325
VIRGINIA: And I would probably have a paper copy.

00:36:24.325 --> 00:36:25.365
REBECCA: That's what my friend said.

00:36:25.365 --> 00:36:32.545
REBECCA: She's like, I think I'm just going to maybe not have it on my person, but have a paper, like a printed copy in case it is actually legal.

00:36:32.545 --> 00:36:34.365
REBECCA: And then you could say, well, I have it.

00:36:35.045 --> 00:36:36.025
REBECCA: Here it is.

00:36:36.025 --> 00:36:36.685
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:36:36.685 --> 00:36:38.785
VIRGINIA: Well, this is so exciting.

00:36:38.885 --> 00:36:43.285
VIRGINIA: You've made me think like maybe I should do a girl's trip to Disneyland Paris.

00:36:43.285 --> 00:36:49.425
REBECCA: It's less than $1,000 a person after we split it for like basically a Grand Floridian in Paris.

00:36:49.425 --> 00:37:05.645
VIRGINIA: Well, one day I know I'm going to get there and I'm just so thrilled to hear about your adventure and kind of start to plan in my head because I think all of us, people who love to plan Disney trips, that's one of the joys of this is noodling on all the possibilities.

00:37:07.525 --> 00:37:13.705
VIRGINIA: I don't want to say it's as much fun as being there, but it's nearly as much fun to be in on the planning.

00:37:13.705 --> 00:37:14.365
REBECCA: I know.

00:37:14.445 --> 00:37:19.485
REBECCA: My toxic trait is if somebody starts doing it, I might actually book it and that's what happened.

00:37:19.485 --> 00:37:21.665
REBECCA: That's how this trip started.

00:37:21.665 --> 00:37:22.165
VIRGINIA: Right.

00:37:22.165 --> 00:37:22.905
VIRGINIA: Yeah.

00:37:22.905 --> 00:37:25.765
VIRGINIA: No, my toxic trait is somebody says, do you want to go to Disney?

00:37:25.765 --> 00:37:27.705
VIRGINIA: I'm like, okay.

00:37:30.205 --> 00:37:36.665
VIRGINIA: All right, Rebecca, this has been a lot of fun to talk to you and have a little bit of catch up time before we started recording.

00:37:36.665 --> 00:37:40.485
VIRGINIA: I will talk to you very soon and we'll hear how all of this went.

00:37:40.485 --> 00:37:40.745
REBECCA: I know.

00:37:40.745 --> 00:37:42.425
REBECCA: It's getting here quickly.

00:37:42.425 --> 00:37:43.885
REBECCA: I don't know if I'm ready.

00:37:44.405 --> 00:37:46.405
REBECCA: I'm already packed, actually.

00:37:48.105 --> 00:37:48.625
VIRGINIA: All right.

00:37:48.625 --> 00:37:51.925
VIRGINIA: Well, safe travels and we will see you when you get back.

00:37:51.925 --> 00:37:53.185
REBECCA: Thank you.

00:37:54.405 --> 00:37:57.205
VIRGINIA: Thank you, Rebecca, for coming back on the show.

00:37:57.205 --> 00:38:07.905
VIRGINIA: Listeners, don't forget that Rebecca is a travel agent who specializes in Disney, Universal, and other theme park trips, as well as cruises and pretty much anything you could think of.

00:38:07.905 --> 00:38:15.245
VIRGINIA: If you are looking for help with an upcoming trip, whether it's across the globe or to one of our US parks, she would love to hear from you.

00:38:15.245 --> 00:38:18.225
VIRGINIA: All of her information is in the show notes.

00:38:18.225 --> 00:38:23.085
VIRGINIA: The post-trip episode is coming up next, so don't go anywhere.

00:38:23.085 --> 00:38:26.325
VIRGINIA: As always, keep daydreaming about where you long to be.