Episode #151: How we fell in love and continue to fall in love with Disney.

Embark on a nostalgic ride with us as we unravel the whimsy and wonder of our Disney enchantments. From the transformative trip that redefined our view of Disney's magic to the vibrant nights at Disney Springs and the majesty of Cinderella's Castle, we've packed this episode with personal tales that breathe life into the happiest place on earth. Marvel with us at the emotional highs and humorous lows of our theme park escapades, including those pesky haircut mishaps and the joyous thrills of 4D shows and character dining. It's a rollercoaster of memories that captures the unpredictable, yet always magical, Disney adventure.

Disney isn't just a place; it's a treasure trove of memories that connects the dots from our childhoods to the present. We stroll down memory lane, reminiscing about the Disney Channel, the Mickey Mouse Club, and how these icons of our youth colored our childhood dreams. Join us as we share how Disney's atmosphere lets us cast aside the worries of adulthood, embracing the park's vibrancy through the innocent eyes of our children, and the shared delight in parades, proposals, and the simple pleasure of oversized lollipops and people-watching.

Wrapping up our heartfelt journey, we reflect on the priceless lessons learned and the shared warmth of family trips to the parks—from the serenity of Animal Kingdom to the unexpected kindness of Disney's cast members. Hear how Walt Disney's legacy has shaped our family values and inspired us to create cherished moments with our children. Whether it's relaxing at the resorts or basking in the ambiance of the Polynesian beach, this episode is an ode to the Disney experience that keeps the magic alive and our love for the parks ever-growing.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:22

Hello and welcome to Circle of Parks podcast episode number 151. Today we are talking about how we fell in love with Disney and why we continue to love it. There is far too much to see and do. We are here to help guide you through. Now for this episode. It's a special episode. We're not going to have any Disney merch, we're just going to kind of dive right in, have a conversation about Disney.

Speaker 2: 0:50

Yeah, so the kids are at the grandparents this weekend. By the time you listen to this, we'll be on our way to Vero Beach. And if you go back actually don't go back and listen to episode number one where we talked about our introduction that because it is just horrible. I will try to go back and listen to it and it's just I can't. Yeah, it's so cringy and so bad. Now again, we were just starting out and just like anything, as you started something, you're not good at it.

Speaker 1: 1:17

Not that we're saying we're good at it now, but we're more comfortable talking and flows just much better, I think right, yeah, and not only like how our conversations flow, but even just you know how we do the podcast and the equipment we have and all that. It just sounds better.

Speaker 2: 1:33

Yes, so we're going to talk about how we fell in love with Disney, why we are continuing to fall in love with Disney, and we did touch on that in our first episode, but I don't think we really went that in depth with it.

Speaker 1: 1:46

Well, I think we did to an extent, but it's been such a long time, so long, and it's God, we're doing it.

Speaker 2: 1:51

It's been almost three years.

Speaker 1: 1:54

Since we started the podcast.

Speaker 2: 1:55

Since we started, yes, Almost three years and we've learned a lot. I think we've come a long way in our Disney journey and we're going to continue to grow and move forward and experience new things. But we just thought it would be a good time I've actually finally got some time off, yeah, brittany's done for the summer, yeah, and the kids are gone, so we thought it would be a good time to do this. We want to do it for a little while and now we have time, yes.

Speaker 2: 2:21

So, brittany, tell us you want me to start yes, you want me to start, okay so I only went to disney once as a kid I was five years old, I think, and I remember very little about it and never really grew up loving disney. That much wasn't a big. I grew up during the disney renaissance so obviously I liked those movies. But growing older I never really cared about Disney. Actually, I thought Disneyland was where Disney World is. Oh yeah.

Speaker 2: 2:53

And so Disney wasn't a thing for me. It just really wasn't. And I thought we would be a one-and-done family. I thought we would go experience it and that would be a one and done family. I thought we would go experience it and that would be it. And my brother and sister-in-law are big. Well, she is a big Disney person. She's from Brazil and Disney is just massive. It's huge, insanely popular with Brazilians, and so they're DVC members, annual pass members, all that stuff. So they invited us, essentially a free trip. We just had to show up, right, and they took care of everything else, and that was my first real trip, I mean, I guess my second trip to Disney, but one that I remember. Right right.

Speaker 2: 3:36

So I went into it. Yes, the dogs are barking. I went into it with zero expectations really I I was excited to go, but not really Remember that.

Speaker 1: 3:49

Yeah, I mean we were excited, but I mean we had no idea what to expect, we didn't really research it much or anything, and so in a way that was good for us. It was.

Speaker 2: 3:59

I think it was a great first time to go down with the boys, not researching a whole lot again. If you listen to previous episodes, I'll talk about how it was such a pain to go on and make a profile on the my disney experience stuff.

Speaker 2: 4:10

I was like okay, this is starting to become a thing like I don't want to do this right, like do I have to do this and my, my sister-in-law was like yes, you have, if you want to be a part of everything, like you have to do this. And I was like, okay, like it was becoming a thing and I was almost over it by the time we even got there.

Speaker 1: 4:26

Yeah, but it's so worth it though it was worth it. You don't have to go through all that each and every time.

Speaker 2: 4:31

So I think to better understand how it hit me so hard, I think you have to go back and understand a little bit about me. So I work in aviation. I'm not going to go into what I do but for 10 years prior to this I was working on the legislative side. So I was going to Washington DC a lot working on Capitol Hill, meeting with congressmen and senators and their staffers and all this stuff. So about a month prior to our trip I was in. Actually that was the last time I was in DC, because I don't do this stuff anymore and I was in Washington DC, hitting Capitol Hill all day.

Speaker 2: 5:06

And I remember the last night sitting in this swanky hotel lobby bar with I'm not going to name who, but congressmen and senators and the heads of our organization that I was with. And I just remember sitting there thinking what am I doing? This is like the most adult you can ever get, right, sitting in a swanky dc bar like a block from the white house, having drinks with congressmen and senators talking all politics. You don't get more adult than that, right, right. And I remember thinking this is about a month before we went to disney. I was like man, like I just wasn't enjoying it anymore.

Speaker 2: 5:44

It just I just wasn't me anymore yeah but that's, that's like the pinnacle of being, like a boring adult sitting around talking politics, right, yeah, and so it couldn't have come at a better time. I guess is what I'm trying to say that you go from the pinnacle of being I don't say the pinnacle of being adult, but the most boring adult you could possibly be right to going to walt disney world a month later, and I'm not gonna lie, I've talked about our first experiences, when we went to saratoga springs, I was like why somebody gonna waste a day at the pool and stuff. But the first thing that we did is you and, uh, our sister in law went to get massages at the spa there at saratoga Springs.

Speaker 1: 6:22

Yeah, she wanted to start off the trip just relaxing. You know I'd been at the time for me I'd been working a lot and everything too, so I think that was her way of hey, let's, let's set the tone and relax.

Speaker 2: 6:34

Right, and so me and my brother we were at one of the buildings that you could. It was maybe what a five or 10 minute walk to Disney Springs, yes, so we took the boys and we all walked to Disney Springs and just kind of perused around and Disney Springs kind of I guess we were introduced to Disney Springs before anything- yeah, I mean other than Saratoga.

Speaker 1: 6:56

Yeah, because it was just, it was right there.

Speaker 2: 6:58

It was, and a lot of my coworkers had been telling me about Disney Springs and I had again. We did no research.

Speaker 1: 7:04

Right, and we were just thinking oh okay, you know some shops and some restaurants, but it was.

Speaker 2: 7:10

I was actually pretty impressed by it. And our first night there, we ate at STK Steakhouse. Take this Okay, the food was wasn't the best steak I've had. It was good food, but it is a nightclub and a steakhouse and when you're trying to catch up with your brother and sister-in-law that you haven't seen in what six months, that's not that's not the place to do not the way to do it.

Speaker 1: 7:36

And then kids, it just wasn't a good.

Speaker 2: 7:41

I mean, if that's your, go for it, but I don't think we would ever I don't know.

Speaker 1: 7:45

I mean like I thoroughly enjoyed it. But you know, I don't know how I would feel now, but at the time.

Speaker 2: 7:52

I thoroughly enjoyed it, so we have one here in Nashville now. Yes, would you go to the one in Nashville on a date night, just me and you? Well, you don't want to, so but I'm asking would you want to? Yeah, I would try it. Just blaring music and we're just sitting there eating.

Speaker 1: 8:08

I mean just to see if it's the same experience or not. Okay yeah. All right, well, maybe, maybe. But we also have another place. We love here Several good places.

Speaker 2: 8:17

Yes, so that was like our first real experience with Disney was at Disney Springs, and I remember going to the Lego store and World of Disney?

Speaker 1: 8:27

No, I did not go to World of Disney.

Speaker 2: 8:29

Maybe you and your sister-in-law went.

Speaker 1: 8:31

We did on the trip, because I remember thinking, wow, this is a huge Disney store.

Speaker 2: 8:35

Me and my brother did not go so that may have been just you and our sister-in-law that went to that, and I just remember how much like I remember watching by a wine bar, george, and just seeing all the like wine bottles, I'm like oh my gosh Like there's like so many cool places here and walking by the, what's that restaurant, that the boat? Boathouse, no, not boathouse Paddlefish, paddlefish.

Speaker 2: 9:03

Like that was impressive. Boat house no, not paddle fish, paddle fish. Like that was impressive. Which, knowing now, the history of paddle fish is truly amazing to me. The, the, this history of that boat is just truly amazing and it was just it was. I was overwhelmed from the beginning I was like wow right. What was your impressions that first night at Disney Springs?

Speaker 1: 9:25

Yeah, I mean, it was a lot to take in. You know, I remember thinking to myself okay, you know, this isn't your ordinary outdoor shopping area with restaurants. This is massive, it offers a lot, but definitely for all ages A lot going on, especially the nighttime scene. It just it comes alive.

Speaker 2: 9:42

It really does.

Speaker 1: 9:43

At night, but it was pretty pretty and I liked all the different offerings it had. And you know, the paddlefish restaurant was really, really good.

Speaker 2: 9:53

We definitely need to go back at some point we did go to it later in the trip, not this night, but we did go to it.

Speaker 1: 9:58

Yes yes, but, um, just seeing everything was like, wow, you know, and just a lot, of, a lot of music is played throughout, so not just at the steakhouse, but while you're walking through. But, and I loved how you can see. You know, at the time, since we were staying at Saratoga, I loved how you could see Saratoga Springs across the water.

Speaker 2: 10:20

You mean Disney Springs?

Speaker 1: 10:23

No. From Disney Springs looking back To Saratoga Springs.

Speaker 2: 10:26

Okay gotcha. And I know we hate. I don't say we hate, we don't like going to Disney Springs much anymore, but as a first-timer going I thought it was magical and it is magical.

Speaker 1: 10:42

Yeah, it is. I mean like it's just I don't know like on a resort day now, like I don't want to spend half a day there, you know, but I do enjoy going, but for like a limited time, like we definitely not a night. Yeah, we know what we like. We go to those stores. You know we try different places to eat each time, but we're not making like a day out of it.

Speaker 2: 11:06

No, but it was. I did get a sense of that Disney magic when we did go over there and I was like, okay, so this is like, this is pretty cool. Right. So I don't want like when we talk we don't talk bad about it, but we do kind of hate on it a little bit, like we're not spending a lot of time there anymore. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 11:24

But it was pretty magical, for that was the first experience really with being in Walt Disney World Was going to Disney Springs and the next day was Magic Kingdom Day. Well, actually I want to talk on something real quick Our room. So we had a two-bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs and our room overlooked Disney Springs. Yes.

Speaker 2: 11:44

And I think it was really cool with the balcony at night. I think that's kind of why I started like okay, like this is a magical place, right, because it was a beautiful view, especially lit up at night, it was, it was stunning yeah, the water reflect the lights reflecting off the water I think it was absolutely stunning yeah, and that's like.

Speaker 1: 12:04

I liked the view from the room as well, but I also liked being at certain places at disney springs and looking back and seeing like our building.

Speaker 2: 12:11

Yeah, yeah, so the next day was Magic Kingdom Day. There was no rope drop at the time. Our nephew he was what? Six months old.

Speaker 1: 12:19

Six or nine months.

Speaker 2: 12:20

Yeah, he was, he was still, I want to say six months, maybe Because he was still a baby baby.

Speaker 1: 12:24

Because that was in March with his birthday. I don't know. Between six and nine, between six and nine months, yes, and so we ate breakfast at the resort.

Speaker 2: 12:33

Again, no rush, you aren't going anywhere quickly with Nolan. Was how old four?

Speaker 1: 12:39

Yes Three four I think he was four.

Speaker 2: 12:42

Four and Ryan was six, so we weren't going anywhere quickly with two younger boys and a baby Right. So we didn't get to imagine came to what Two younger boys and a baby Right.

Speaker 1: 12:52

So we didn't get to Magic Kingdom until what 10?

Speaker 2: 12:53

Yeah, 9.30, 10 o'clock, I'd say so it wasn't rushed, but I do remember when we were going down or before we got to the road that goes under the water by the. Contemporary. You could see the castle from the bus. I did get a little teary-eyed then. I'm not going to lie, yeah. Because, it was the first time I remember seeing the castle.

Speaker 1: 13:14

Right and I was like, okay, and it's that feeling like we're actually here.

Speaker 2: 13:17

It's like we're actually here and I will say this as many times as we've gone, as many? Times I've gone by myself to do book research, I still get a little teary-eyed every time I see the castle.

Speaker 1: 13:35

Yeah, it still gets me still magical, still magical. Yeah, so continue talking, yeah, no, so I probably won't go into that much detail. Um, so for me, I had went twice as a child, both times with my grandparents uh, one when I was once, when I was eight, and then again, I believe I was 11, I think, yes, and so the you know, the first time, um, there wasn't an animal kingdom yet. So you know, but we did Epcot and at the time it was MGM instead of Hollywood Studios and, of course, magic Kingdom.

Speaker 1: 14:10

And I don't remember, like from the first trip, like everything in detail, you know, I remember waiting in lines and stuff, but it wasn't like a big deal. I was just like, oh, I'm here with my grandparents and you know we would do like little trivia, questions of our own, or play games while we were waiting in line, or if we or we would eat our snacks while we were in line, uh. And then the 11 year old trip, uh, I remember a little bit more because, yes, and we also went to Animal Kingdom and I remember just really enjoying, you know, animal Kingdom and another park we hadn't been to. Yet now a lot has changed, uh, from then to now. But I mean I remember, you know, just really enjoying like, hey, there's another park, okay, and uh, it was just. It held some memories just because, again with with the grandparents, and so when we went and stayed at saratoga, like I was still exactly like I mean, I knew some basics but I didn't know, like, how we were going to go about our days.

Speaker 1: 15:10

Really, we were just going to go along with what they told us to do, you know yeah and um, you know, they were the ones that had made like dining reservations and all that, and we're like, yeah, sure, that sounds good, uh, but same thing, you know, once we were at magic kingdom for seeing the castle and everything and being there with the boys, it was a magical moment, for sure. And Disney Springs the night before, like I said, I enjoyed the steakhouse. I mean, if you are trying to catch up with people and stuff though, yes, it is hard, but I still enjoyed the experience.

Speaker 2: 15:48

It definitely was an experience.

Speaker 1: 15:49

Would I want to do it every time we had a special date night? No, but you know, every once in a while I think I would be good with that, uh. But yeah, and I'm pretty sure we we went at some point that evening to I want to think it was.

Speaker 2: 16:05

I think you and our sister-in-law went to the disney store and then me and my brother took the boys and we went to the lego store.

Speaker 1: 16:11

Maybe I think that's what it was yeah, yeah, because I I remember like a conversation going like, yeah, this is huge and everything, and this is a lot like the emporium in magic kingdom that you'll see, you know, later in the trip and I was like oh wow, so I think we had maybe had split, had split up right at that point yeah, so, um, but know, I wish that we knew then what we know now about like, yes, you can enjoy the pool when you're at the resort, you know, because while we were waiting on everyone else to get to Saratoga Springs, we could have used that time in the pool.

Speaker 2: 16:43

We could have, we just walked around.

Speaker 1: 16:45

Yeah, we just walked around.

Speaker 2: 16:46

Didn't even know Disney Springs was right there. Yeah, we had no idea.

Speaker 1: 16:49

Because we didn't go to that side of that end of the resort yet. Right. So, yeah, so we could have spent those couple hours over at. Disney Springs. But we didn't know. But now we do. And the bus, the bus.

Speaker 1: 17:06

Like hearing the music playing before we even got to Magic Kingdom that next day. That's what started getting you A little bit, you know. Know, put me more in the mood like, oh yeah, you know, because I I grew up, you know, like my favorite movies were little mermaid beating the beast, lion king, aladdin, all of those. So you know, it did bring back my childhood, you know then as well. But of course, seeing the castle, you know we we saw some of the stage show. We went and ate at crystal palace with winnie the pooh, so that was our first character dining experience.

Speaker 2: 17:33

We did, but the day didn't get off to a good start though.

Speaker 1: 17:36

No, I was trying to leave that part out. Well, I think it's important because it's not always going to go the way you want it.

Speaker 2: 17:43

So our sister-in-law, I think, got confused with the rules, so we stood in line at Guest Relations for gosh, what was it? 45 minutes.

Speaker 1: 17:51

Yes.

Speaker 2: 17:52

To make sure that our tickets were linked to our magic bands but there already were Right. And us? We didn't know any different. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 17:58

So that was about a 45-minute wait. And then we went to get the boys' haircuts, because they wanted to get our nephew's haircut for the first haircut at Harmony Barbershop. They do a special thing there, and all that. So they called nolan's name first instead of ryan's, and if you have a four and six year old, well, you know how that goes yeah, so ryan got in a mood. It was moody and got in a mood and then we got the haircuts done and then the parade was going by yes and nolan was four so it was extra loud.

Speaker 1: 18:26

He got a little freaked out, overstimulated by everything.

Speaker 2: 18:29

So he's starting to cry and everything. We have a fast pass for space mountain again. Yes, back, fast pass right back in those days. And finally we quickly made our way out of main street usa across to tomorrowland so, like nolan, could chill out a bit. And it quickly did change once we got to ride space mountain. Their attitudes kind of changed a little bit.

Speaker 1: 18:53

Well, nolan did not, but ryan did. But was that before we went to eat? At crystal palace yes really okay.

Speaker 2: 19:00

For some reason I thought it was after we did that and because I remember, I remember briskly walking from town square to get nolan away from the.

Speaker 1: 19:10

The music to tomorrowland okay, yeah and I mean then we had lunch yeah, and I think, like we took, like we because no, I didn't write, did I write? Space mountain that you did yes so that's when we were like taking turns with who stayed with nolan right as well, and so you know, we we took him to like the little I think it was three of us me, you and ryan wrote space mountain right and then my uncle and mother, uh, sister-in-law wrote it again with ryan not your uncle sorry, my brother and sister-in-law wrote it with ryan again I believe that's right

Speaker 1: 19:45

that's what happened and then, you know, no one was a lot better. You know, just kind of chilling in the stroller. But we also took to what's that store's name over there In Tomorrowland.

Speaker 2: 19:55

Oh gosh, I'm horrible with store names.

Speaker 1: 19:57

Yeah, well, anyway, the store in Tomorrowland that's next to like Buzz Lightyear and all that, yes, yeah, so you know. So he was entertained and stuff. But then once we all ate, you know, experienced the character dining for sure. Then nolan was a little more into it as well yeah, so we were, because I think he was bored still during that. He still didn't get to do anything right?

Speaker 2: 20:19

so we were waiting in line in a stroller for an hour getting a haircut, not doing space mountain and then eating lunch. So to to nolan. He's like what are we really doing here? Like it wasn't much he was doing, yeah, but what really got me was going to go watch mickey's philharmonic harm, vicky's philhar magic I was getting there okay, you go for it well, no, it's fine, you've already started.

Speaker 1: 20:43

You talk about it well, no, I was just gonna say like. For me, though, with the character dining even though we weren't a real big like winnie the pooh family that also for me anyway, was like oh, this is what you do, okay, like, because I had heard some people talk about character dining and so it was a fun experience, you know, to get the pictures with the characters and see the boys reactions and stuff, and there and you finally started seeing a lot more smiles, you know, with everyone, not just a few of us, and uh. So, but yes, philhar magic, I think, is what really did it for for both of us, but especially you well, going back to crystal palace, I think that's when my hate, hate relationship with character writing started.

Speaker 2: 21:24

Oh my goodness, because it kept interrupting me eating well, yeah yeah, that's how it is, though I don't like that anyway. So philhar magic, talk about well, um philhar magic.

Speaker 1: 21:37

So it's a 4d right. Yes, yes, 4d experience. So it's donald is in it and he takes Mickey's. What are those called His?

Speaker 2: 21:51

orchestra thing.

Speaker 1: 21:53

Yeah, like the stick, like how you conduct an orchestra? Yes, whatever that name is, yes, yes, and so he takes it and he's like on a journey kind of chasing after it and it takes you through all of these Disney movies from you know Peter Pan, little Mermaid, aladdin, lion King and now in Fantasia, not in Kanto. Not in Kanto Coco.

Speaker 2: 22:18

Coco.

Speaker 1: 22:19

But back then that wasn't in there, it wasn't in there that was just recent, but it takes you through all these movies, like some of your favorite scenes from all these movies, and the songs and everything. Oh, beauty and the Beast.

Speaker 2: 22:28

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 22:32

And it's just know again that those were the movies that we grew up with.

Speaker 2: 22:34

So it was all of them.

Speaker 1: 22:35

It was bringing back like so many memories, you know, for me it was, you know, childhood, from best friends, or watching the movies with my mom, or like lion king, you know, it was like my whole dad's side of the family went to see it in the theaters, you know. So, like all those memories kind of came back while watching philhar magic and it was just a really cool experience because again, it's 4d and like, even though you're wearing the glasses, like I didn't realize it was 4d. So when you get little splash here and there, a little heat yeah, it was like oh, okay and uh.

Speaker 1: 23:04

So that was just like, wow, okay, disney has done a lot more throughout my life than I really realized, and it just kind of hit.

Speaker 2: 23:12

So originally we didn't want to do this. Right, Our sister-in-law was like, hey, let's go do this show. And I'm like, really Like, is there something else we can do? Yes, I remember you saying that and I remember my brother going Pirates is only 20 minutes and she just kind of would give him a look every time he would say that yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 23:30

And so, echoing what Brittany was saying about the movies, and I really enjoyed the show. And then at the end, when Mickey finally got everything together and got the orchestra together and they did the ending of M-I-C-E-K-E-Y, that's what got me. Oh okay, and it immediately took me back to my grandmother's wood panel den when I was six years old, because growing up we did not have the Disney Channel at my parents' house. My grandmother had it. Now, remember I spent a lot of weekends with my grandmother, just like you did. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 24:05

Watching the Disney Channel and watching the Mickey Mouse Club. What was it called?

Speaker 1: 24:13

Oh, why am I drawing a blank?

Speaker 2: 24:15

The Mickey Mouse Club.

Speaker 1: 24:16

Yes.

Speaker 2: 24:16

Because that was the one with Justin Timberlake and Britney, like all of them right and Christina and all the yeah. So that's what I grew up watching and watching all those shows, and I did watch all the Disney movies, but it immediately took me back to my childhood, and when you become an adult you forget about that stuff, right. Right, yeah, so that's why I talked about it being important of me being as much of an adult as you can possibly get talking politics with politicians.

Speaker 2: 24:39

A month before A month before to being here and literally taking me back to my grandmother's wood panel den. That's what really got me. Right. I was balling after that. Yeah, I, that's what really got me Right. I was balling after that. Yeah, I still get teary-eyed thinking about it, you know. Yeah. That's when everything changed, for me. I don't know if you noticed or not after that attraction or not, but I was, like all in for anything.

Speaker 1: 25:03

I did. Well, I saw the emotions and then, yeah, you were definitely different and like, let's do this, let's do that all the time.

Speaker 2: 25:10

So you just never know. Disney has such a way of getting a hold of your childhood and just bringing that out in you that you forgot about.

Speaker 1: 25:18

Yes.

Speaker 2: 25:20

And so that was the moment, right then, that I fell in love.

Speaker 1: 25:23

Yeah, and for me too, like throughout the day, for me there were just reminders and stuff. You know like even though a child was freaking out about the parade and stuff, what, what I did get to see of the parade, I loved, you know that was a parade that we loved, wasn't it?

Speaker 2: 25:38

with the music?

Speaker 1: 25:39

and I just really enjoyed, you know, the whole experience. But again, you know, I was, I just I loved disney throughout my whole childhood and and again throughout the day. It was bringing back certain memories of when I went as a child, but PhilharMagic is what really, really tied it all in. But, yeah, it's just when, when you're at Disney, like when we're at Disney now. Yes, we're still parents to our boys and everything, but we act more childish.

Speaker 1: 26:07

You know, we enjoy it, we try to see it through the eyes of our own kids and you know, if they want to go do a ride, then we go do that ride, you know. Or if it's one that I don't prefer, then zach does it. But, um, you know, but we make, we make it happen. And you know, if they want one of those big suckers, they get a big sucker yeah so and it's just, you know.

Speaker 1: 26:30

I also like just people watching because it really truly is amazing, like when you can take a step back, especially closer to the castle. I know it can get very crowded at some points during the day, but when there's not a show or anything going on, like hang around there for a little while because it's amazing to see like families that maybe it's a surprise and and half the family didn't know four other people were going to be meeting them there on the trip and all of a sudden they show up and their reactions and stuff and get in. You see these photographers taking their pictures or other family members taking the pictures, but it's just like very sentimental, you know, and you know just watching some people sometimes, you know, get proposed there and or people saying their goodbyes, you know like maybe that was their last day in Disney and they're parting ways now. I mean it's just, you know, like the emotions are there but everybody's still so happy that they are getting to experience it, or experience it for that day.

Speaker 2: 27:26

Yes, yeah. So if you can hear our dogs in the background, I apologize. Yes, but anyway we can't get rid of all the kids. Right.

Speaker 2: 27:33

So that was day one, I think. Once that happened, the rest of the day went so much smoother and we just let go, we just relaxed, I just I stopped caring about so again going back to being just like an adult, being in politics. You care what other people think, you care how you look. All that I didn't care about. I don't know if you notice how my, my wardrobe changed. Oh yeah, I wear disney shirts and shorts now. Before it was always like nice shirts and slacks and all that stuff.

Speaker 1: 28:02

I see that like a couple of times a year on.

Speaker 2: 28:05

You now Excuse me, yeah, but I'm much more like it. Just it changed. Yeah, it changed how I looked at everything, and so that was our day one, and before we go to day two, I just want to say real quick again this podcast is sponsored by Main Street Travel Company. We use them for all of our Disney non-Disney travel needs. Go check them out If you want to make magical moments or fall in love with Disney, like we did reach out to them. They're on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube and their website's wwwmainstreettravelcocom. And again, call them 1-800-593-1262 and take advantage of those special offers. We're not going to go over all of them right now, but just go check them out. They're amazing. They're exclusive offers only for Circle of Parks listeners.

Speaker 1: 28:48

Yes, and they truly are amazing. We don't stress about hardly anything for the trip planning anymore.

Speaker 2: 28:57

And we're driving down 14 hours on Monday and Erica brought us just a ton of goodies. She's so thoughtful. She's just an amazing agent. We can't say enough great things about her yeah, very personable.

Speaker 1: 29:06

She wants to really get to know you, know what you want to do on your vacation, but really just get to know you. You know because, like we didn't hint around that we needed anything for this trip, she just actually felt guilty that she brought us stuff. I'm like we don't need anything yeah, but she brought, like the boys, favorite snacks and some toys for the for the pool. Yeah, yeah, that's a.

Speaker 2: 29:29

I have a hard time accepting gifts from people right that's the thing I need to work on, isn't it?

Speaker 1: 29:34

I just need to say thank you you just need to say thank you, but I mean, it's okay to say oh, you didn't have to, but thank you so much. It's not that I'm not appreciative, I just I feel guilty because I don't have to.

Speaker 2: 29:40

but thank you so much. It's not that I'm not appreciative, I just I feel guilty because I don't have anything to give them.

Speaker 1: 29:44

Right, anyway, sorry, I was going back to our pictures of our first trip Way, way back yeah.

Speaker 2: 29:50

So, going to day two, we decided to skip Epcot because I did not think the boys would have appreciated it at that time, which I think probably wasn't the right call. At the time yeah At the the right call at the time. Yeah, at the time, and we went to lego land. Now, if you want to go to lego land on your walt, disney world trip.

Speaker 2: 30:12

I would say this do it first yeah, because the expectations of a theme park after going to magic kingdom are very different. Not gonna say lego land was bad, but it was not the Magic Kingdom.

Speaker 1: 30:24

Right, so I'm not going to talk too much about it. It's good in its own way. Now they've added a lot since we've been there. This was back in spring of 2019. So they've added some things since we've gone, and I mean, the boys still thoroughly loved it. I think we were the ones that felt like oh, this is it. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 30:40

But at the time the boys were huge into Legos, so I think they did enjoy it and I think we did have a good time. It's just after going to the Magic Kingdom and then going to Legoland the next day. It's kind of like eh, yeah, okay yeah.

Speaker 1: 30:53

But they enjoyed it.

Speaker 2: 30:54

They did. Is that a picture of them driving the car? Yeah, so the next day was Hollywood Studios. Not too much to talk about at Hollywood Studios, except before we left, ryan and I. It just really cemented the fact that we were Disney people. Ryan wanted to oh, at the the picture where you're all at the Disney Junior dance? Yes, so that was the time where Nolan was still like watching Disney Junior and like puppy dog pals. Ryan had a good time. Yeah, and Ryan wanted to go ride Hollywood Tower of Terror.

Speaker 2: 31:33

We did not have a Fast Pass for it and we had a VIP seating area for Fantasmic and we did not have. It was like a 90 minute wait. We did not have time to wait in line and Ryan was devastated. Yes, I felt like the worst, most horrible parent in the world. We're walking away, ryan just screaming and crying, and this person tapped me on the shoulder and we turned around and he got down on one knee and said it's okay, little boy, you don't have to cry, I have fast passes, passes you and your dad can come running with me. I was like, oh my gosh, so thank you so much. Bubble, you know, yeah, ended up being a cast member on his day off or I don't know if it's cast members day off. I don't know if they even do this anymore, but I guess at the time they would look around and find kids that were upset and make their day right. Right.

Speaker 2: 32:26

Just that magical part of Disney right.

Speaker 1: 32:28

The pixie dust.

Speaker 2: 32:29

But no, that was our last day. But anyway, we'll talk about it anyway, and we'll go back.

Speaker 1: 32:32

You skipped a day, I skipped a day, yeah.

Speaker 2: 32:35

And I didn't know at the time. I just thought it was just like this random generous person at the park by himself generous person at the park by himself, right right, like.

Speaker 1: 32:46

Who does that though? Well, there are some. I mean, I go by myself, yes, but at the time.

Speaker 2: 32:49

You didn't think at the time I'm like who anyway? So he loved it. We love tower of terror and that was just a very probably the most magical moment for us on that trip and I was like man. This is, this is truly amazing, but I skipped over animal kingdom, sorry it's okay, how do?

Speaker 1: 33:05

you see, this was the last day this was 2019, so that's part of why I brought up the pictures because I was like what order did we do what?

Speaker 1: 33:12

um, but yeah, and you know, back to hollywood studios. So he had mentioned, uh, the dance party, disney, junior, junior dance party. Because back then again the boys were young, they, you know, were still watching a lot of the shows. Ryan was starting to get out of it a little bit but even at the time that he wouldn't enjoy it now, but at the time he and he enjoyed the party. It was very fun, very interactive, lots of dancing bubbles in the air.

Speaker 2: 33:36

It's different now than it was yes, but that's how it was then. Like back then it was like mic Mickey, roadster Racers and that stuff, right.

Speaker 1: 33:43

Yes, and Doc McStuffins and all of that. Now you know we did eat at Hollywood and Vine.

Speaker 2: 33:51

First and last time.

Speaker 1: 33:52

That was another character dining, but we did it like because they planned it so we could get the package for Fantasmic, get the, the package for phantasmag, and so you know. But we got to meet the. You know the characters, goofy donald, mickey, uh daisy and minnie mouse, and so that was good and the boys really thoroughly enjoyed that, like they're smiling huge in these pictures and everything and uh, phantasmic, amazing show. And that was the first time we rode the Pew Pew ride, as Nolan calls it. But, it's Toy Story Mania.

Speaker 2: 34:25

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 34:26

And they got to meet Olaf, and even though they don't really care for Frozen, back then they loved Olaf too.

Speaker 2: 34:33

But that was when we did the show the Frozen after after show yes, the first time it was good. Yes. And then me and Ryan snuck out and went to go do Indiana Jones.

Speaker 1: 34:41

Yeah, but yeah, so you know that day was fun. We got to meet like the Incredibles. We did do Slinky Dog Dash. You know it was a good time. Yeah, it was.

Speaker 2: 34:54

So that was our last day. Sorry, I skipped over Animal Kingdom.

Speaker 4: 34:56

I thought Animal Kingdom was our last day. Again, this is back from 2019. I know.

Speaker 2: 34:59

Animal Kingdom. I fell in love with Animal Kingdom. The second we got there, just how it was set up, how peaceful it was. The Tree of Life I fell in love with the Tree of Life Again. I didn't know any of this stuff. I had no idea about anything about Animal Kingdom. Right.

Speaker 2: 35:17

Fell in love with the music, fell in love with the Tree of Life. What are you looking at? Just that one when we met Mickey and Minnie yeah, In their safari outfits and we had a fast pass for Flight of Passage Expedition Everest. And what was the other fast pass for? Was it Dinosaur? No, because Safari.

Speaker 2: 35:34

The safari yeah, I wanted to do Dinosaur and our sister-in I was like wanting to know more about how they did all this stuff right like how did they do this? How did they do that? Like, is this real? Did they just make this stuff look like it was really old or do they really buy all this really old stuff and put it up in animal kingdom like it? It was fascinating to me yeah I loved every bit of it. Exhibition everest was great flight of passage.

Speaker 1: 36:16

We were crying getting off that we had no idea that that was amazing.

Speaker 2: 36:20

Just truly amazing at how they did this. The safari was great. I fell in love with Animal Kingdom.

Speaker 1: 36:28

Yeah, the safari was awesome. Like everybody loved it. I think it definitely surpassed what I thought the safari would be.

Speaker 2: 36:36

I didn't know what it was going to be.

Speaker 1: 36:37

Yeah, I didn't realize we were going to see as many animals, how close you could get to some of them while on it, you know, and I think at the time I still didn't know like if that was my favorite park or not, you know, because I was still so like, oh, the castle and all that right but I mean we definitely uh, enjoyed it. And yes, getting off of flight of passage was just. Yeah mean I was in awe of that ride.

Speaker 2: 37:03

It was definitely my favorite park. Yeah, there was no hands, no questioning that. That was my favorite park that day. Right. It was like I fell in love with every bit of it.

Speaker 1: 37:13

Yeah, but as far as, like, I think we did the right thing by not doing Dinosaur that time, because I think even the first time that we did do it with Nolan he was definitely clingy and closed his eyes some and stuff. Yeah.

Speaker 2: 37:27

Yeah, but I remember. So that was our first trip and we were just we don't talk about Disney blues, oh gosh, yes, wow. And I remember flying back. I never pay for a wife on an airplane. That day, as we were flying back, I paid for my flight and was looking at when can we come like I've got some time off in the fall when can we come back and where are we going to stay at and how much will it cost? Yeah, that's how much, like it made an impact on me yeah, and we did go back that fall.

Speaker 1: 37:58

We went back that fall and it was the worst disney trip we've ever took well, yeah, it was enjoyable in the moment, kind of, I would say it was just, it was a blur, that's a whole. We've talked about it several times on different episodes and that's a what not to do. Yeah, it was just go, go, go, hurry, hurry, hurry, go, go go and like barely getting sleep and and stuff.

Speaker 2: 38:22

So not not recommended, but it was still memorable so the reason that was because I watched so many youtube videos on everything. That was when I was really like, really getting obsessed with we gotta do this, we do that, we gotta do this, we gotta do that. We had three days. I was like we gotta cram all this into this three days and it just yeah, we learned a lot of what not to do. Yes, and that's when we found that you have to stop and relax, and I think if we did not go to the Polynesian beach that night to watch the fireworks, I don't think we've ever gone back. Right, what do you think?

Speaker 1: 39:01

I think we would have at least one more time. But I mean the polynesian added to, added a another level of love for disney yeah, we fell in love with the polynesian, if you ever just like.

Speaker 2: 39:16

We were like we want to go watch fireworks. We had to leave magic kingdom early because we were up all night long the night before. We didn't get any sleep. We're at the park at rope drop and they're all day long, and it was just a miserable night for everybody. And so the next night we promised ryan we'd go watch fireworks. And we're at epcot and we're getting tired. I was like let's just go to the polynesian and watch them. I had heard somebody say watch them from the polynesian beach. I had no idea what we were doing. We actually took the monorail to the transportation ticket center and instead of walking to the Polynesian which we would have done if we knew, we took the monorail one stop to the Polynesian. Anyway, I think that saved that trip. The boys were just enjoying playing in the sand. We got to relax, we got a couple of drinks and watched the fireworks and everybody was like yes, yeah, it was needed.

Speaker 1: 40:10

Like the boys' moods changed and everything. They weren't tired and grumpy and they still enjoyed the fireworks.

Speaker 1: 40:16

You know the music was pumped in, you know all of that, but it made us realize, realize, okay, there's other ways to enjoy things from the park yes and it's okay to sit back and relax, and even when we're at the parks you know we say this now like we, there's certain places we go and we sit and chill for 30 minutes an hour, you know, and um, and that's what you need to do sometimes and go back to listen to the, our favorite place to hang out.

Speaker 2: 40:42

Yeah, yeah. And so that's how we fell in love our trip in 2021. Well, 2020 got delayed to 2021 and that was we did it right. We had full seven days we're not going to get into detail on that, but a full seven days and we took our time had resort days Resort days, yes, and that is how we continued going and why we continue to fall in love with Disney Brittany.

Speaker 1: 41:13

No, I agree, Like 2021, like, even though, yes, the parks were a lot less crowded and certain things weren't open and things like that, but it, but, like Zach said, we did it right as far as planning resort days not, you know, park park, park, park park open to close, open to close, open to close and that that trip allowed us you know again, yes, the crowds were lighter, but it allowed us to really find spots within the parks too to rest and relax and, and you know, we still do that now. But it had that 2021 trip not happen that way. You know, I don't know yeah, the.

Speaker 2: 41:53

the reason I keep falling with disney is I really got into listening to biographies of Walt and learning of the struggles that he had growing up. He grew up dirt poor. He had a very interesting childhood Even for the time. Right. Very interesting childhood and it's just. The lesson you get from Walt is you have to work hard and no one's going to give you anything. Brittany and I are very successful. We have had help along the way, but nobody's given us what we have earned right now. We had to work for it for ourselves.

Speaker 2: 42:32

Same thing for Walt, and I think that's a message that I work hard for our boys to know, and I think they are getting it and they know who that Walt is an actual person. Yeah. I feel like now a lot of kids Probably don't think Walt's a real person anymore Because you're just so far removed from it.

Speaker 1: 42:54

Now, right, I mean there's yes, so being in the library and stuff Like I see a little more with certain books are out there, especially that who was series. So if, if you have kids that are into that, that's the way that they really learn like, oh, oh, he was real. But other than that, unless you you have books like the who was series or other, like children biographies that are displayed like a lot of them don't know yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 43:27

Another that keeps me falling in love is just learning so much more about the history. The more layers you peel back, the more you appreciate it, the the more details that I learn and find out the disney that I do the book I'm writing, like all that stuff. I'm doing it because I love everything about it.

Speaker 1: 43:47

Yeah Well, and you know, every time we go, you know, and when we're in different resorts and stuff, just something about you know they know how to get you. You know you walk in and no matter where you're staying, there's something that's going to catch your eye in the entrance, the lobby, you know the smells, just the music playing Like that immediately gets you. Oh yeah.

Speaker 1: 44:10

And even before that, once you enter the bubble and you see the signs, I miss Magical Express. But you know, you're just like oh yes, we're here. But the resorts really know how to just get you in that Disney spirit as well.

Speaker 2: 44:26

And you've got to be in the right resort too for your family. The Caribbean Beach was not it for us.

Speaker 1: 44:31

Yeah, no, now there were some great things about it. The pool was wonderful, their food court area was great. The cast members were very nice.

Speaker 2: 44:39

Right.

Speaker 1: 44:40

But just the layout of it and stuff, even though it is a Skyliner resort it's just not one that we'll go back to.

Speaker 2: 44:49

It just didn't have that Disney. I just didn't feel that. It just wasn't us. Yeah. Wasn't for us. Right. But when we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and that trip I really felt like this is at Disney Magic.

Speaker 1: 45:02

Yeah, it really was. We have felt it, I think more at Wilderness Lodge, animal Kingdom Lodge and Polynesian.

Speaker 2: 45:10

I really felt it too at Riverside.

Speaker 1: 45:13

Port Orleans Riverside yeah To an extent it was that quaintness like it, just I don't you know, yeah, so to an extent, but but yeah, I mean, and just, you know, we still get the disney blues when we leave yeah, you know, uh, we've been getting them real. I've been getting them really bad lately yeah, but like christmas time was when, because, because it was Christmas time and we were leaving the Wilderness Lodge and it was just magical being there at Christmas time and you know it was what? Two days, yeah, two days before Christmas. And.

Speaker 1: 45:47

I was not as happy on Christmas as I normally am because I mean, like I still enjoyed it Don't get me wrong and you know stuff but it was just like oh you know, the wilderness lodge was just magical this time of year and, uh, animal kingdom, you know we could talk about that for hours. It's just animal kingdom lunch is just something else? Yeah, so, and the Polynesian has that as well. Uh, we've stayed at other resorts, but those are the ones that that do it more for me.

Speaker 2: 46:17

So, and I think when I hear people talk about they didn't have a good time, I don't think they said at the right resort it might be that they didn't stay at the right resort.

Speaker 1: 46:24

It could be they like that october trip that we did.

Speaker 2: 46:27

They just did that, and so that's why we started the podcast was to try to like keep people from having horrible vacations right yeah, yeah, yeah, because I mean there have been times where it wasn't maybe as memorable or enjoyable.

Speaker 1: 46:44

But you've got to do what's best for your family and even if you go into it like we're going to do everything, just know that might not happen and, depending on what your family's going through that day and stuff, you might have to just prioritize and be like we're gonna do this and this and this and then my family needs to rest if you go into it with the mentality of we're going to beat disney, disney's going to beat you down yeah, it is just go with the flow, because we've done both ways and disney will beat you that.

Speaker 2: 47:17

That second trip we took, disney beat us bad, yeah, yes, and so relaxed find. That's why we talk about the resort so much, because there's so much, so much variety to them. And again, caribbean beach if that was our first time going, we didn't like we did enjoy it, but it wasn't like ah yeah this is it for us, or staying at the Dolphin. That wasn't magical at all.

Speaker 1: 47:45

No, and maybe if it was our first trip it might have been a different story for that one as well, but it didn't have that Disney magic to it.

Speaker 2: 47:55

No, it did not. But Saratoga Springs did. I remember walking in and like oh okay, like, this is a very different lobby very different check-in experience.

Speaker 1: 48:04

Oh yeah, and they gave like tons and tons of stickers to the kids and yeah, like it, just it.

Speaker 2: 48:09

Immediately. You're like, okay, this is going to be different than a normal resort. Mm-hmm so. Yeah, anything different than a normal resort. So yeah, anything else you want to add.

Speaker 1: 48:18

No, you know we're uh. So next week we're we're going to a Disney resort at Vero beach. You know we'll see if it brings the same kind of Disney magic feeling while we're inside, uh, or even around the pool and stuff. And then, you know, later in the summer we've got a big trip between Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Speaker 2: 48:36

I'm looking forward to both of those. I have zero expectations for the trip next week Vero's Beach. I just want to go and do nothing.

Speaker 1: 48:43

Well, and I think we go about the beach trip like we do any other beach trip. You know, it's just going to have a little Disney in it.

Speaker 2: 48:50

Yeah, yeah, and then I'm really looking forward to the trip in July. I think it's going to be awesome doing coast to coast and really getting to compare and experience both. Yeah, I think that's going to be a great trip. And, yeah, I think that's going to be great, it's going to be very epic.

Speaker 2: 49:12

Except for the long flight, but yes, Well, you know, because going from Disneyland to Walt, to walt, disney world is but I just think it's going to be cool, like in the morning going from the grand california to that evening being able to watch the fireworks from the beach club at epcot yeah, like that's pretty epic, I think yeah, I agree, and you know, even though there's tons of stuff that we want to do at disneyland, in disney's california adventure, like we know, we've already kind of prioritized what we want to do if we don't get it all done and using genie plus.

Speaker 2: 49:49

I think out there it works the way it's supposed to. So I think we going to have a lot more like relax and chill and downtime.

Speaker 1: 49:57

Yeah, yeah, I'll just like a DCA relax in Cars Land, that's fine.

Speaker 2: 50:03

That's just fine, and Tiana's going to be open when we go.

Speaker 1: 50:09

Walt Disney World.

Speaker 2: 50:09

Yes, tiana's opens June 28th, june 28th so that adds a level of complexity to our park hopping. It's okay.

Speaker 1: 50:18

It's okay.

Speaker 2: 50:18

It's okay, all right, anything else you got?

Speaker 1: 50:21

No, it's just you know again, take your time at some point, take a break for your family, whether it's if you are, if your resort is close to whatever park you're at that day and going back there for two hours and then hitting the park hard again, or just finding some relaxing places throughout the day while in the parks yeah, so I want to say thank you to all of our listeners for listening to our podcast.

Speaker 2: 50:46

Really appreciate it. I especially want to say thank you to those listeners that have been with us from the beginning. Yes. I don't know why you're still with us, cause those episodes were horrendous to listen to those first 20. Yeah, brutal, don't know why you're still with us, because those episodes were horrendous to listen to those first 20 yeah, brutal.

Speaker 2: 51:00

So especially thank you to to those. Thank you again so much for listening. We really appreciate it. We hope you have a great memorial day weekend and we're going to talk to you from the beach live next not live, but pretty close to live on wednesday. Yes, have a great rest of the week yes, talk to you soon.

Speaker 1: 51:16

Bye, thank you.