In this bonus episode Jason and Phil discuss  the first two episodes of Season 2 of the Mandalorian on Disney+ ....

Let us know what you think of these - and if you would want to participate in a "group watch" in the future

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Episode 031 ... Week in review of October 31st 2020 and this week we don't cover the news! Instead, of our usual format, you get to know us better as we share stories from our visits to Walt Disney World ...

1) Walt Disney World Memories:
- Favorite entertainment related memories (Topic starts @2:51)
- Favorite memory from the parks you have a photo of (Topic starts @14:29)
- Favorite Cast Member interaction (Topic starts @19:07)
- Favorite interaction with other guests (Topic starts @26:36) ...

2) When Disney enters your real life:
- Phil shares stories of how Disney has come related to his job
- Jason cheats a bit and talks about a great experience at his local Disney Store
Topic starts @ 35:52 ...

3) Favorite Background Music
- We have often talked about the park music helps create feelings of nostalgia, so we take this time to recall some of our favorite park music
- Phil has an exhaustive list of options, and then Jason shares which ones means the most to him
Topic starts @39:52

DBC Recommends:
- After his tweet encouraging people to vote was retweeted over 10,000 times, Josh Gad, as Olaf, retells the Star Wars Prequels.  Link to YouTube
- To help raise money for Cast Members impacted by the recent layoffs, Dreams Unlimited Travel donates a 4-night Disney Cruise to be raffled off  at Rally Up.  Use this link to enter!
Topic starts @55:10


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Episode 030 ... Week in review of October 25th 2020 and Rachel Goes to Disney joins us and we discuss the following topics ...

Reminder, link to ways to support Disney Cast Members (and Universal Team Members): Spreadsheet link from @themeparkettes

1) News of the week:
- Early 2021 WDW Discounts Announced (Source: All Ears Net)
- Halloween to be different this year at Fort Wilderness (Source: Blog Mickey)
- Details our for the Festival of the Holidays at EPCOT - including an Olaf scavenger hunt
- Taste of the Festival of the Arts announced - to start January 8th (Source: Blog Mickey)
- Disney to assume full control of the restaurants and shops in the Morocco Pavilion (Source: Blog Mickey)
- Disney to expand Downtown Disney into DCA due to expectation the California parks wont' be able to open for quite some time
- Tokyo Disneyland is suspending annual passes
- Expanded operations at Walt Disney World: All Stars Movies to open February 9th, Friendship boats to resume operations soon, and expanded park hours for much of the rest of 2020.
Topic Starts @2:17 ...

2) Rachel Reviews Hollywood & Vine
- Historically a buffet, it has reopened with an alternate dining style - is the food improved?
- Rachel shares her thoughts on the food and dining as a solo traveler
Topic Starts @19:30 ...

3) Draft: Walt Disney World Dining Locations!
-Today's draft see us picking a Table Service, a Quick service, a Bar/Lounge, and a Snack
- You will then be able to vote on who you feel had the best dining lineup! (link tbd)
Topic Starts @30:46 ...

4) Topic: Most memorable meal you’ve had at WDW
- We each share what was our most memorable dining experience we have ever had at Walt Disney World - some funny, some romantic - all entertaining!
Topic Starts @52:24 ...

5) DBC Recommends: Disney Paper Parks, Haunted Mansion
- Disney Parks Blog is presenting a four part series of paper cutouts to create your very own Haunted Mansion!
Link: Part 1
- Topic Starts @1:00:47 ...

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Episode 029 ... Week in review of October 17th 2020 covering the following discussion topics ...

Reminder, link to ways to support Disney Cast Members (and Universal Team Members): Spreadsheet link from @themeparkettes

1) News of the week:
- Bob Chapek says that Disney has still capped attendance at 25% of capacity … is this true?  The math says, yes - and we discuss this, but what are your thoughts? (source: NASDAQ)
- Disney confirms increase to minimum for member benefits for DVC to 125 points effective 10/19 (source: DVCFan)
- Rumors: More virtual queue coming (source: Blog Mickey) and Tron might not be ready for WDW's 50th anniversary (source: WDWMagic)
- Disney opens up reservations through the end of 2021 and the park reservation system continues into the first 2 weeks of 2022.  Phil and Jason discuss how this impacted their plans/what they have now booked (yeah - planning!)
Topic Starts @1:59 ...

2) Topic: Pick one ride at WDW and move it to another park:
- Thank you to everyone who contributed ideas on our various social media outlets!
- Lots of variety - though a general sense of moving IP out of EPCOT and moving things to DHS
Topic Starts @22:14 ...

3) Topic: Pick one WDW dining option and add characters or experience to it:
- Again, lots of great input!
- Some interesting and good ideas, and we also talk about a comment from Steve from Facebook who would like to see characters removed from restaurants rather than added
Topic Starts @30:47 ...

DBC Recommends: DSNY Deep Dive: Disney Park Clone Culture:
- First of a new series of shows where Jack from DSNY does a "deep dive" into a topic
- This one is focused on how Disney seems to be doing more and more "cloning" of attractions - brining something developed for one park and brining it, with little to no change, to another park
- Jason and Phil discuss this - do we agree with Jack?
Source: DSNY YouTube
Topic Starts @40:32 ...


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Episode 028 ... Week in review of October 10th 2020 covering the following discussion topics - and we try to keep it positive! (enough negativity in the world right now) ...

Reminder, link to ways to support Disney Cast Members (and Universal Team Members): Spreadsheet link from @themeparkettes

1) News of the week:
- WDW Restaurant Updates:  Les Chefs de France reopens, new menu at ABC Commissary, and Coronado Springs announces reopening dining options
- Winter Summerland Mini-golf to reopen Nov 6th (source: Blog Mickey)
- New paint job at the Magic Kingdom Toll Plaza
- Theme park Christmas trees staged for installation at Disney World (source: Blog Mickey)
- Wilderness Lodge Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt (source: Disney Food Blog)
Topic Starts @2:07 ...

2) Topic: Top 5 Best Things Happening at WDW right now
- Covered this week in the DIS Unplugged's Best and Worst show
- Focusing on all the positive things that are going on at Walt Disney World right now - Phil and Jason discuss our thoughts and which we hope stick around.
Source: DIS Unplugged YouTube
Topic Starts @14:29 ...

3) Topic: Top 5 Things we can’t wait to do again when you go back to WDW
- Building off the last topic, Phil and Jason come up with a list of 5 things that we just can't wait to do when we are able to get back to Walt Disney World
Topic Starts @31:15 ...

4) Topic: Which of the 4 Coasters coming to Central Florida in 2021 are you most excited for?
- Tron (WDW - Magic Kingdom), Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (WDW - EPCOT), Velocicoaster (Universal Orlando Resort), Iron Gwazi (Busch Gardens Tampa)?
Topic Starts @41:24 ...

DBC Recommends: Learn To Draw a Haunted Manion-Inspired Manor:
- Disney Imagineer Stephanie Jazmines teaches how to draw a Haunted Mansion-inspired manor.  She goes step by step, and makes it easy (well, relatively) and provides a bunch of neat tricks for how to do things.  Really informative and fun - lot's of details, the video is over 46 minutes long!
Source: Disney Parks YouTube
Topic Starts @49:34 ...

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Episode 027 ... Show for the week of October 3rd 2020 - part 2 of the Battle of the Parks! ...

Julie Guerrero from Dream to Stream (Links: Facebook Group, Twitter and subscribe to her YouTube channel to help her get to 1,000 subscribers!), Ryan Teetz admin on the DISboards and avid Disney runner (Links: Instagram, Twitter, WDW Info articles), and Alexis McLaughlin, from being Jason's sister and Annual Passholder join us to debate which of the four Walt Disney World theme parks is the best ...

Alexis is defending the Magic Kingdom, Phil has EPCOT, Julie has Hollywood Studios, and Ryan has Animal Kingdom ...

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But First, Disney announces they are laying off 28,000 Cast Members:
In response, we share a message to Disney Cast Members who unfortunately were laid off this week as well as share ways you can support them! 
Topic Starts @1:18 ...

Recap from Part 1:
- Reminder of how the "battle" will work and what the standings are entering into part 2
Topic Starts @2:53 ...

Topic 3: Entertainment:
- Which parks have the best entertainment?  This covers things not marked as an attraction/you can get a Fast Pass for - such as parades, night time shows, streetmosphere, etc
- Best for kids and adults? Best value?
Topic Starts @4:28 ....

Topic 4: Touring / Traveling:
- What park is the easiest/hardest to get to?
- Which park is best for planning how to visit?  Which is the best for just walking around? 
Topic Starts @45:24 ....

Closing Statements and winner announced!
- Each competitor gets to make their closing statement as to why their park is the best and Jason announces the winner based on his super scientific, and not at all random, scoring method!
- Which park will win? ... and you can vote on Twitter for the park you think should win!
Topic Starts @1:15:17 ...


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Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Episode 026 ... Week in review of September 26th 2020 and Len Testa president of Touring Plans.com, co-author of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and co-host to the Disney Dish Podcast joins us to discuss ...

Intro: We discuss the recent "Look and Listen" episodes of the Disney Dish Podcast
Topic Starts @1:44 ...

1) News of the week:
- Reviews of Magic of Animal Kingdom and Earth to Ned, new shows to Disney+ and we discuss the new WandaVision trailer
- Disney to add Inclusion as the 5th Key (source: @sweetnerjodi)
- Disney cancels runDisney Marathon Weekend and the Princess Half (source: Blog Mickey) and the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra's days at WDW are over (source: their page on Facebook)
- Josh D'Amaro pleads for California to allow Disneyland to open (source: Blog Mickey) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis moves Florida to Phase 3 (source: clickOrlando)
- Firework testing at EPCOT and Construction continues at Universal and Walt Disney World - what does this mean for future offerings for guests?
Topic Starts @4:04 ...

2) Len answers questions we ask all our guests:
- How will Tomorrowland Look with Tron when it’s done?
- Thoughts on the new castle colors
- What should be done with Dinoland USA in AK? (Len discusses the excavator project)
Topic Starts @32:09 ...

3) Topic: So Much for Low Crowds?  Len shares his thoughts on current crowd levels
- In talking about the future of Fastpasses, Len discusses the crowd levels he saw in Magic Kingdom earlier that day.
- Recently a  lot of chatter questioning if there is still value in paying the price to stay on Disney
- Discuss the current offerings
- Are the parks at the capacity levels they can handle until offerings expand?
Topic Starts @42:04 ...

4) Topic: New BatB ride at Tokyo Disneyland?  What Renaissance era IP should get a ride at WDW?
- Rumor: Epcot had a choice between Ratatouille and this Beauty and the Beast ride
- Is it time for a full complement of Disney renaissance era rides in MK? (e.g., Aladdin, Lion King, etc.)
Topic Starts @53:09 ...

5) New tools coming from Touring Plans and advice for longer stays at WDW
- Len shares info on new tools (and more coming in the future) at Touring Plans to help you plan your trip
- Also, prompted by a post by Cas Wil-Alex (link to his page/post) in the Facebook Group Walt Disney World Made Easy for Everyone, we discuss advice for longer stays at WDW
Topic Starts @56:43 ...

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Episode 025 ... Show for the week of September 19th 2020 - special Battle of the Parks episode! ...

Julie Guerrero from Dream to Stream (Links: Facebook Group, Twitter), Ryan Teetz admin on the DISboards and avid Disney runner (Links: Instagram, WDW Info articles) Instagram link), and Alexis McLaughlin, from being Jason's sister and Annual Passholder join us to debate which of the four Walt Disney World theme parks is the best ...

And we had so much fun we realized we needed to split this into two episodes, so this on only part 1! ...

Alexis is defending the Magic Kingdom, Phil has EPCOT, Julie has Hollywood Studios, and Ryan has Animal Kingdom ...

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Opening Statements:
- Sum up why your park is the best
Topic Starts @3:50 ...

Topic 1: Attractions:
- Which parks have the best attractions?  Most nostalgic?
- Best for kids and adults?
- Best value?
Topic Starts @9:56 ....

Topic 2: Food/Dining:
- What is the best Quick Service and Table Service in your park?
- Best park for food for kids and adults?
- Best value?
Topic Starts @45:39 ....

Part 2 will be in 2 weeks as we have a special guest scheduled for next week!

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Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Episode 024 ... Week in review of September 12th 2020 covering the following discussion topics ...

1) News of the week:
- November brings New park hours at Walt Disney World (Source: Disney Tourist Blog)
- Walt Disney World Resort Holidays start Nov 6th (Source: Disney Parks Blog)
- Hershey Park announces Halloween and Christmas plans (Source: Hershey Park on Twitter)
- Universal may have some HHN houses after all, and it looks like the talk of demise of Voyage of the Little Mermaid was premature
- Disney CFO highlights construction priorities (Source: Blog Mickey)
Topic Starts @2:16 ...

2) Five Things I Noticed in the Empty Disney Parks
- Article by Spencer Wright discusses things that he has noticed in the parks with the lower crowds that he never did before (source: WDW Info)
Topic Starts @21:54 ...

3) Crowds are increasing and Disney is courting more ... do they need to add more to make it worthwhile to come if no longer "empty parks"?
- Labor Day weekend brought the crowds, and other days have been much more crowded than when Universal and Disney first reopened - and Disney is ramping up their advertising to attract even more crowds
- What would be our "wish list" of added benefits to off set these increased crowds?
Source: discussion on DISboards
Topic Starts @33:30 ...

4) What to do with a problem called "Rise of the Resistance
reliability"?
- Rise of the Resistance is an amazing attraction, but it continues to be plagued by technical issued causing frustration in the parks
- What can be done? or Should anything done?
Topic Starts @44:59 ...

DBC Recommends: Princess and the Bear
- Great follow on social media and YouTube, especially for their videos about vegan dining in at Disney, Universal, etc.
Source: Twitter: @Princess_n_bear ... YouTube: PrincessandtheBear
Topic Starts @50:47 ...

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Episode 023 ... Week in review of September 5th 2020 and Lauren Guertsen from Positive Latitude joins us and we discuss the following ...

1) News of the week:
- Support for furloughed Cast Members (source: Orlando Sentinel)
.... donate to the Cast Member Pantry via Venmo @castmemberpantry (link to Facebook Group)
- Additional dining options to open at Disney - would you eat at Cinderella's Royal Table with no characters? At what price point? (source: Thrill Geek)
- “I love Christmas Movies” coming to Gaylord Palms for Holiday 2020 (source: Thrill Geek)
- Disney continues construction work (Tron canopy, refurb to Big Blue Pool, etc) and announces delay to Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad at Disneyland.  Lauren shares a rumor she heard related to the opening of Ratatouille in EPCOT
- New Walt Disney World discount offers - what offer would entice you to travel now? (source: WDW Info)
Topic Starts @4:33 ...

2) Discussion Topic: Staying on or off Property
- What are the pros and cons of staying on property at Disney vs off?  Does the reduced benefits currently (no FP+ so no 60 day benefit, no Extra Magic Hours, etc.) impact your decision?
Topic Starts @34:17 ...

3) Draft: Best songs from Disney animated movies
- Taking inspiration from a recent episode of the Spitballers Podcast, we "draft" what we feel are the best songs from Disney animated movies.
- Vote on twitter for who wound up with the best team of songs! (link tbd)
Topic Starts @40:43 ...

4) DBC Recommends: Touring Plans Dining Reservation Finder
- Jason has used this for years and finds it very useful and efficient for snagging that key dining reservation for your Walt Disney World Trip
Link: Touring Plans Dining Reservation Finder
- Topic Starts @55:28 ...

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