Episode #159: Live from Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

Ever wondered how a coast-to-coast Disney adventure feels like from start to finish? Join us as we recount every twist and turn of our journey, starting with a surprisingly extended flight to Orlando. Experience our first-hand impressions of the Grand Californian in California, and hear how its atmosphere compares to Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. We thoroughly explore the themed areas like San Francisco in Disney California Adventure, share laughs from our Jungle Cruise escapades, and offer tips for an enchanting visit to Oga's Cantina. Transitioning to Florida, we brave the unpredictable weather to enjoy cooler evenings and recount thrilling moments on rides like Expedition Everest and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Our adventure continues with an unforgettable safari at Animal Kingdom, where we spotted a baby zebra, and indulgent dining experiences, from refreshing breaks at Nomad Lounge to unexpectedly delicious pizza at Via Napoli's window. We tackle the chaos and fun of Magic Kingdom nights, provide insights on managing crowd levels and wait times, and share the joy of watching the boys appreciate Epcot’s international pavilions. Finally, we touch on the thrills of Typhoon Lagoon and discuss the excitement surrounding the Yeehaw bot and strategies for planning extended hours at events. Tune in for a treasure trove of tips and stories that will make your next Disney adventure magical!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Alright, it's Zach here, circle of Parks Podcast coming to you live from Typhoon Lagoon in Walt Disney World and Brittany. So this is towards the end of our trip. This has been our coast-to-coast Disney adventure, and quite the adventure, it has been right.

Speaker 2: 0:19

It has definitely been an adventure.

Speaker 1: 0:21

Yeah, especially on the way to Orlando.

Speaker 2: 0:22

Definitely been an adventure.

Speaker 1: 0:22

Yeah. Especially on the way to Orlando, and so if you've been following us on Instagram, you'll notice or you would have seen what we were talking about Got diverted on the way here. A five-hour flight turned into an eight-hour flight, but we got here, that's what matters. That's all that matters, and so, starting in, California.

Speaker 2: 0:46

How did you? What was your first impression of california? My first impression of california, like grand californian, yes, uh, beautiful. Reminded me a lot of wilderness lodge and a little bit of animal kingdom lodge too it did.

Speaker 1: 0:58

It did have some animal Animal Kingdom Lodge mixed into Ruralness Lodge, mixed into its own thing too.

Speaker 2: 1:07

Yes, for sure, and the room was very nice.

Speaker 1: 1:11

Great room.

Speaker 2: 1:12

Yes, very spacious the amenities there.

Speaker 1: 1:18

Very good amenities. Yes, yes, I. First, when we walked in, I was like, oh wow, this is nice. And then the vibe of an all-star resort immediately hit me. It was packed.

Speaker 2: 1:31

What Grand.

Speaker 1: 1:31

California. So crowded, so many people in there, Like it was a deluxe resort, but it was. My first impression was that it was very crowded.

Speaker 2: 1:39

See, I didn't really get that too much. I think the time that we got there was like checkout time, so it's just a lot of people coming in and coming out. So right when we got there, it was checkout time. Now the pool is like any pool in the summer it's going to be crowded, but as far as I didn't feel that way.

Speaker 1: 1:58

Maybe it's just me.

Speaker 2: 1:58

Yeah, but I think it was the timing that we got there, though, yeah.

Speaker 1: 2:07

Well, we started out at dca. San francisco was amazing. I loved it. I think that was. My favorite part to dca was san francisco yes, they.

Speaker 2: 2:12

They did a really great job with the theming and the food, everything, everything was great.

Speaker 1: 2:18

Disneyland was great. It was and I'll save my comments for dis for Disneyland versus Magic Kingdom in a little bit, but Disneyland was great. We need a Bengal barbecue. There's a little place in the Arabian village across from the flying carpets of Aladdin. Put a Bengal barbecue there.

Speaker 2: 2:38

There is definitely room for a Bengal barbecue. The food is good, reasonable. We had the chicken, the beef and a spicy beef and they were all very good.

Speaker 1: 2:48

Just so delicious, so good. Disneyland was great. Ryan and I stayed until about 10. Our skipper cruise, our jungle cruise skipper I said that backwards, she was just average.

Speaker 2: 3:03

I wrote it earlier in the day with Nolan and we had a really good one.

Speaker 1: 3:07

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 3:08

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 3:08

So I don't know. I guess it all just depends Last time we were there, not this trip time before last she was, I mean, amped up.

Speaker 2: 3:16

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 3:17

She was like.

Speaker 2: 3:17

Anyway, I guess it just depends on the time of day, probably the time in their shift, honestly too.

Speaker 1: 3:28

But I'm glad we did do all of the Star Wars Galaxy's Edge stuff out there, because we did not do any of it here in Walt Disney World.

Speaker 2: 3:31

Yeah, and we went to Oga's Cantina and had a good time. And they need to add some things from that menu to the one in Walt Disney World.

Speaker 1: 3:38

That cheese bread. Was it a cheese bread? It was a cheese pretzel bread.

Speaker 2: 3:41

No, it was like a cheesy garlic bread. It was like a cheesy garlic bread. I forgot the exact name We'll have it when we do a more thorough episode, but I wish they would bring that to Walt Disney World.

Speaker 1: 3:48

It was so good. So we had a great time and came here to Orlando. We got diverted due to storms. Central Florida it's rained every day, except yesterday. No, it did rain on us yesterday too.

Speaker 2: 3:59

Oh, maybe For a little bit. Well, see the way me and Nolan went, we kind of split up some yesterday, but we could see it in the distance, so it must have been where you guys were, yeah but we got a little bit.

Speaker 1: 4:11

Right now I don't think it's supposed to rain today. It is hot, humid. The rain has been welcomed. Just be prepared ponchos. Whatever, you will welcome it in July.

Speaker 2: 4:21

Yeah, like you don't really want it to storm, but the rain usually cools it down and it's usually a little breezy.

Speaker 1: 4:29

The evenings haven't been that bad. The evenings have not been bad.

Speaker 2: 4:31

Like 6 o'clock after has been okay. It's been comfortable and then like before 10 o'clock in the morning, Brutal.

Speaker 1: 4:40

It's brutal here, but overall it's been good Monday great day at epcot, such a good day.

Speaker 2: 4:48

We did really take our time. We did as far well with the boys. We took our time we did take our time, like we could take our time more if it's just us there's never enough time in epcot, no but the boys are thoroughly enjoying it more and enjoying looking at the countries more.

Speaker 2: 5:00

We tried some of the foods and we'll talk about that more at a later time, but some of them that we mentioned on one of our previous episodes and I did mess up the virtual queue, but I will go more into depth on that.

Speaker 1: 5:13

But ryan and I did get to ride cosmic rerunning twice, so we did do it twice. The goal was three times, but we did do it twice.

Speaker 2: 5:18

Right and well, I'll go more into depth on that in the trip recap, zach did jinx us when he was saying last week that oh you know, the crowds haven't been that bad, the wait times haven't been that bad. I still haven't. On a couple of days this week the crowds have been here.

Speaker 1: 5:34

They still haven't been that bad. Now it's packed here, yeah.

Speaker 2: 5:39

Earlier in the week.

Speaker 1: 5:41

Yeah, and then Certain days too. Tuesday we went to Magic Kingdom and that was in Hollywood Studios. That was a little crazy. It was crazy Now, as crowded as Disneyland gets Disneyland Park Compared to as crowded as Walt Disney World. I'm sorry, Magic Kingdom gets Disneyland is not nearly as crowded as Walt Disney World, it just seems that way because it's a smaller park.

Speaker 2: 6:05

That's what I was going to say. It might feel just as much, but I think it is the size. But, like different times of the day, you're like you think back if you've been to both locations and you're like, oh, if this was in Magic Kingdom, like you would be crammed in right here.

Speaker 1: 6:20

Yeah, Magic Kingdom is a whole other level of just craziness and we noticed that a lot more last night at the fireworks. But we got to do Tiana's.

Speaker 2: 6:29

Yes, so Tuesday we did do Tiana's and let me tell you, like I wasn't, you know, all the videos looked great, but even the videos don't show all the detail, like there was a lot more detail than even the video show. So I think, as far as the details, they did it right.

Speaker 1: 6:47

I think they did a really really good job. I will save my opinion for it versus Splash Mountain for next week, but I think they did a really good job.

Speaker 2: 6:56

Yeah, they didn't. I don't think they slacked in it and I know some people have complained that their screens but there's only in a couple of places and it's really when you're just transitioning to an another big scene. It's not like it's all that. There's a lot of animatronics and they did a really good job they did.

Speaker 1: 7:14

They did do a good job. I will say that they did a very good job.

Speaker 2: 7:17

And then we went to hollywood studios and by that point we were just getting exhausted the sun has been brutal this week I'd say like 12, one o'clock to especially four o'clock, like you are feeling that sun and the humidity and so if you're, if you're not able to be inside, it just really takes a toll on you. So we didn't really do nearly as much as we thought we would at Hollywood.

Speaker 1: 7:38

Ryan and I did do Tower of Terror and Rock and Roller Coaster and we did get to do Toy Story Midway Mania.

Speaker 2: 7:44

Yeah, and Nolan and I did that as well a couple times.

Speaker 1: 7:47

But after that I think we were all just like no, we're just done.

Speaker 2: 7:50

Yeah, we were all done. We all needed a long day.

Speaker 1: 7:53

Everybody was happy. We got to do everything we wanted to do.

Speaker 2: 7:55

We did eat at ABC, Commissary though, Now that sandwich Mm-hmm. Oh my gosh, yeah, so don't let the menu throw you off. Like when you first glance at it you might be more like really this is all they have. And even Ryan was like kind of upset with why are we choosing to eat from these choices? But then he loved what he got. He scarfed it down.

Speaker 1: 8:16

Yes, he wanted more, yes, and we did not get to. Rope dropped Space Mountain, it was down, yep, but you know, you just have to go with it, go with the flow.

Speaker 2: 8:26

Yeah, Earlier that morning there were some things that didn't open with rope drop, but it kind of forced us to do things a little differently and we really ended up enjoying it.

Speaker 1: 8:39

And we did get to do everything we wanted to do, even though it was a crowded day. And I will say this If the line for Ha haunted mansion is backed up outside of the main queue, don't fret, it moves very fast. Yes and so, yeah, that was that. And then yesterday was animal kingdom day, and animal kingdom is always the hottest park. It was. It was brutal and we're used to the heat and it was. It was brutal yesterday, but we did get everything we wanted to do done.

Speaker 2: 9:05

Yeah, rode what we wanted to ride, ate what we wanted to eat including the best churros. Yeah, we'll get yeah, we'll talk about that more later.

Speaker 1: 9:14

We'll talk about that next week. The safari we did not rope drop, but we got there about an hour after park opening and the safari was still great.

Speaker 2: 9:21

It was we after park opening and the safari was still great. It was. We saw so many animals and if you were following our stories, you probably saw and heard me on the video. Look at the baby. So there was a baby zebra, not sure exactly the age, but it was only its fourth day out on the actual savannah for you to be able to see on the safari probably a few months yeah, probably, I would think at least two months anyway yeah, uh, me and the boys did Expedition Everest a few times.

Speaker 1: 9:45

We got to do Flight of Passage. We only did it once. But amazing, great, and I will go ahead and say this Cosmic Rewind, great coaster, mission Breakout, all the Guardians attractions are just amazing. They did such an amazing job with that and they're so good.

Speaker 2: 10:00

Yes, Well for you guys. Yes, Flight of.

Speaker 1: 10:02

Passage, though it's a different experience. It's such a different experience.

Speaker 2: 10:06

And.

Speaker 1: 10:06

I will say it is still my favorite attraction on both coasts.

Speaker 2: 10:09

It's a calming experience, you know in a good way, and it's still exciting. It's exhilarating in a different way. Now the boys, though. I think their favorite is Expedition Everest Ryan's.

Speaker 1: 10:20

I think is Incredicoast.

Speaker 2: 10:22

Okay, oh, and.

Speaker 1: 10:23

Nolan did not do it in Credit Coaster.

Speaker 2: 10:24

No, you know we were talking a few weeks ago and saying he was so excited to do it. Well, the closer we walked to in Credit Coaster, you can see it from a good distance and I could tell his walk was slowing. He was kind of like fidgeting with his hands and in my mind I'm like he's not going to do it.

Speaker 1: 10:42

And he's afraid of that launch, but he'll do Expedition Everest. Expedition Everest is way more intensive a coaster than Incredicoaster. So much more.

Speaker 2: 10:50

He kept looking at the launch, but then I would see his eyes flicker up to where you go upside down. Yeah, anyway.

Speaker 1: 11:02

But Animal Kingdom Ryan and I did when we were going to do Dinosaur. It went down. But Ryan and I did do it one last time. After you and Nolan had left, we did go to Nomad Lounge. Let me tell you, sitting down inside after that hot day, oh man, it was such a good, we needed it.

Speaker 2: 11:16

It was such a good relief Because they did have an outdoor table ready for us when they first called us back and normally, as we've talked about before, that's where we would want to sit. You know, it's very relaxing and everything, but it was just so hot. We were like is there any way we can wait for an indoor table and within?

Speaker 1: 11:33

five ten minutes.

Speaker 2: 11:34

We had one and it was the one you know with the cushion seats and all that stuff. And they were very accommodating. You know like, oh, are you ready to order, or let me bring you waters first. You enjoy your waters for a few minutes. I think they could tell like we needed that, so yeah, it was great.

Speaker 2: 11:54

We spent about an hour and a half there and then you and Nolan went back to Epcot. Well, we went to the. A lot of walking guys, anywhere from eight to ten miles a day or more, yes. So we went to the resort, nolan and I did for a little over an hour, rested our feet a bit, relaxed, pulled off, changed shoes. Then we went to Epcot and we rode Remy's. Now, this is the other thing I've noticed. Before I talk about this is some of the rides, the wait times. They may be posted, say, an hour. They would be 30, 40 minutes sometimes Remy's. When we first got in line it was 50 minutes. Then, after we wrapped around a little bit, we saw that the sign said 45 minutes. We waited 33 minutes.

Speaker 2: 12:36

I timed it and so we rode that walked around. A couple of countries ended up eating in Italy the little pizza window to the side of that main restaurant, via Napoli, yes, and I've heard people say that this window doesn't have nearly as good a pizza as Via Napoli does. Well, let me tell you the pizza was really good, so Via Napoli must really be amazing.

Speaker 1: 13:02

So it sounds like y'all had a better night than we did, ryan and.

Speaker 2: 13:05

I Hold on, go ahead. Then after that, nolan surprised me. He really wanted to. He kept saying let's go to Spaceship Earth, let's go to Spaceship Earth Nice. And so we rode that Nice. And so we rode that. And then after that we went back to World Showcase. We were trying to beat the crowds after the fireworks, but as we were walking to the side entrance we kind of watched the fireworks in the process and that was our evening.

Speaker 1: 13:28

So Ryan and I went to Magic Kingdom real quick and let me tell you the crowds there it was nuts. Last night was crazy at the Magic Kingdom and we were walking through the hub to go from Tomorrowland. We did Carousel of Progress to go back to eat at.

Speaker 1: 13:44

If you hear that we're at Typhoon Lagoon and that's the sound for the big wave coming, Miss Tilly yes, and it was crazy Like we thought it was crazy fireworks in Disneyland when we were walking across the hub. No, it was nowhere near the amount of madness last night at the Magic Kingdom. So we did do Big Thunder. We ate at Pecos Bill. It's okay, it was alright and we're learning some with the dining plan, but it's been nice having it.

Speaker 2: 14:12

I will say it has, you know, and certain things that are covered surprise you and certain things aren't going be covered. But there was a Certain drink that no one wanted yesterday with the pizza, and I was like, oh, it's probably not covered but I'll pay it.

Speaker 1: 14:28

So we're currently at typhoon Lagoon and it's huge. It's really cool. I think, if you have an opportunity to come, it's great. I will say this, quoting a famous youtuber, that it is a big bowl of people soup.

Speaker 2: 14:40

When you're in that wave bowl and the lazy river.

Speaker 1: 14:42

It's a lot of people.

Speaker 2: 14:43

A lot of people, but it is very nice. The theming, of course, is on par.

Speaker 1: 14:47

The theming is great. They did a great job here. We've been really enjoying it. We're probably going to stay a little favorite Yeehaw bot.

Speaker 2: 14:59

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 14:59

Love Yeehaw bot. You got to see him. You have to.

Speaker 2: 15:03

What I know, I know, but you've seen him several times yeah.

Speaker 1: 15:07

He's great every time.

Speaker 2: 15:09

But yeah, no, it's great, but I think you'll kind of learn to those extended hours like this. Good to have, but tons of people go to it.

Speaker 1: 15:15

There's a lot more people that went to it than I thought would be, and if we're going to do that, we need to break the day up. Yeah, like go back to the resort for a while or something. So we'll have a more in-depth report next week at a regular scheduled time. But right now that'll be it and we'll talk to you next Wednesday.

Speaker 2: 15:32

Talk to you next week.