Mickeyphile Podcast Episode 173 - A Look Back at 2023
In news this week, Genie+ prices hit new highs, the temperature hits some more lows approaching the New Year, and there are changes to beloved offerings from Disney Cruise and Disney World. Then, we’ll take a look back at the year that was 2023 at Walt Disney World. On episode 173 of The Mickeyphile Podcast.
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Music: “Cân thema (Mickeyphile Podcast Theme)” copyright Scott Daves 2023
Mickeyphile Podcast Episode 173 - A Look Back at 2023
In news this week, Genie+ prices hit new highs, the temperature hits some more lows approaching the New Year, and there are changes to beloved offerings from Disney Cruise and Disney World. Then, we’ll take a look back at the year that was 2023 at Walt Disney World. On episode 173 of The Mickeyphile Podcast.
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/946434275769168/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickeyphile_podcast/
Music: “Cân thema (Mickeyphile Podcast Theme)” copyright Scott Daves 2023
In news this week Genie Plus prices hit new highs, the temperatures hit some more lows approaching the new year and there's changes to beloved offerings from Disney crews in Disney World. Then we'll take a look back at the year that was 2023 at Walt Disney World, on episode 73 of the Mickey Faw podcast.
Speaker 2:And welcome back for the last episode of 2023, Karen.
Speaker 1:I know Where's the year gone.
Speaker 2:Right down the toilet I don't know where.
Speaker 1:What? No, it's just it's. I don't know how is it the end of December already? I mean, a year ago we were getting on the Starcruiser.
Speaker 2:That is true. Let me clarify. The toilet statement is that I'm in a hotel room in Naples. Okay, literally right as I started talking, the toilet in the bathroom ran, because it has been like for the last two nights. Really annoying.
Speaker 1:Say anything to him.
Speaker 2:And what am I going to say? So anyway, yeah, it just happened to, so all I could come up with was right down the toilet.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So, before we go much further, I'm Scott, and with me is my lovely wife Karen. One more time.
Speaker 1:Hello everybody, how are?
Speaker 2:you, so I hope everyone had a good Christmas.
Speaker 1:Yes, I hope everybody did. Got lots of cool stuff, mm-hmm, or gave lots of cool stuff. One of the two.
Speaker 2:You know we didn't unwrap a single present other than the game we played Saturday night. Sunday night.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's true, Not one. And we didn't even unwrap it, it was everybody else did. It was games we had at our little game and we just started playing.
Speaker 2:Why we said we unwrapped the presents we ended up with.
Speaker 1:Oh, we did unwrap presents.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But you're right, we didn't. We handed out a bunch of Saved, a bunch of trees. Yes, Well, we did hand them out for your family on Christmas day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, which was Monday, and feels really weird.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but most of the stuff was in bags anyways, that is true.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so New Year is upon us, it is nigh.
Speaker 1:I know and can you believe, a year ago we were running around the Star Cruiser.
Speaker 2:Yeah, today, right, we did 28 food Today.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I mean at this time last year we were and in the news Well coming up?
Speaker 2:Yes, Not in news later in the episode.
Speaker 1:We'll reference it, we're in. We couldn't do it again. I know that we were in the bar going. We are in danger, we have to go. Rebecca was saying we're in danger.
Speaker 2:I'm pretty sure by now we were probably getting ready for dinner.
Speaker 1:Yeah, actually we were.
Speaker 2:We're a little late recording this week. We are Too many holidays and family stuff and other such nonsense traveling.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:My job. I was pretty sure I was going to be back in time for breakfast this morning I ended up being reading Get done till four o'clock, yeah, fun.
Speaker 1:Fun day. Yeah, that was a lot of fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's cold down here already.
Speaker 1:It feels a lot colder than it is right now.
Speaker 2:The sun finally came out like three o'clock.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's been a while and it's gone back away. I think we're going to get more. I think we're getting more rain, for some reason.
Speaker 2:You guys could. It was weirdly kind of coming from the south, yeah Southwest actually, but anyway, that's what's going on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's the exciting part that is our life. Yeah.
Speaker 2:So we were going to. There's a little bit of news, not a ton, because it's the week between Christmas and New Year's.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and very little happens.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and because very few people are working.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:And then we're going to look back at what happened at Disney World this week or this year I mean this year, yeah, so that's what we're doing.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:See how long it lasts.
Speaker 1:Exactly All right.
Speaker 2:If you got news, let's hear it.
Speaker 1:I got some news, so cold weather is coming again to Florida and Blizzard Beach is closing today, thursday the 28th through New Year's, and is scheduled to reopen on Monday, january 1st, so it's supposed to be cold.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I'm 160 miles south of Temple Terrace, mm-hmm. About 200 miles south of Disney.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And it's supposed to be in the 40s tomorrow when I get up here.
Speaker 1:Yes, the high. I'm looking at Disney Springs 50s. The high is on the first, which is going to be 68. It has new. It has the 30th in the lower 40s. New Year's Eve is in the mid 40s.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So good thing we're going to be going to those dance parties, because otherwise we're going to stay warm.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. That and drinking on drinking rounds and our friends all coming in from out of state are going to be like what's going on in Florida.
Speaker 1:I know Well, Alex and Andrew already sent me pictures of snow in Wisconsin. Oh well, yeah for sure, and there's really not much snow. It was just like a it's, but it was accumulating. He goes. Current weather just shows me the parking lot.
Speaker 2:Well, we had I don't know about an inch and a half of rain this morning.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know what that equates to in snow. Yeah, I'm not sure. But yeah, I've already got fire. I've already got the logs set up in the fireplace. With the going to be cold, I get you to be proud of me. I already pre did it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, very cool, yeah, oh. So here you go. On average, 13 inches of snow equals one inch of rain in the U? S.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Although it can vary from two inches for sleet to nearly 50 inches for very dry, powdery snow under certain conditions.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So that means we had like 18 inches of snow today in Naples.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's exactly what it means. At least it feels like it, yeah, because it's a lot heavier. Much more dense. There we go, okay. Um, genie plus prices continue on a record high. Christmas Day, magic Kingdom and multiple parks were $39 for the day. Yeah, and then Genie plus sold out for Hollywood Studios on the 27th of December, and it's the first time Hollywood Studios has ever sold out for Genie plus.
Speaker 2:Has first time anything to Magic Kingdom? I think right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think, I think so.
Speaker 2:I think, yeah. I know, for I don't know Like what was going on Hollywood Studios yesterday.
Speaker 1:I don't know. That's the part that was very weird, like what was going on studios. Just maybe people are working their days around that they're doing Hollywood, then they're doing animal today, then they're doing magic and then they're doing Understand you know doing different days in different parks. Right, but I'm just wondering if maybe everyone got there for the New Year's and decided to do Hollywood yesterday. Oh, oh.
Speaker 2:Remember, like a year and a half ago, everybody was like, oh, this Genie plus thing is stupid. Who's going to pay for it?
Speaker 1:I don't know. I'd pick anybody IRL, no matter what brand. And here we are $39. All right, and Festival of Fantasy Parade and Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade are changing their performance schedule for January 2024. The Festival of Fantasy Parade is only going to perform one time a day. Currently they perform twice and currently they are at noon and three, and then they're only going to be doing 3 pm performances in January.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Then the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade is now going to be performing twice a day at 10.30 and 11.45 am.
Speaker 2:There you go. I'm trying to understand why that would be, and I can't come up with a reason.
Speaker 1:I don't know. Yeah, yeah, it's just this way they give morning people, they get the Cavalcade, and then the afternoon people get the parade. I don't know, yeah, I don't know. I can't answer that. I don't know if you've ever been to the store the art of shaving at Disney Springs. Have you been there? You've been near it? Have you ever been gone in there at all?
Speaker 2:I've been to the one at International Mall in Tampa, oh okay.
Speaker 1:Well, the one at Disney Springs is permanently closing its doors. They've been there for eight years.
Speaker 2:So first of all, it's like a super expensive, I don't know super expensive. It's like, basically, sephora for men. Okay, but you can go in there and get shaved, which I clearly am not a fan of, clearly. So now I have not ever bought anything there, okay.
Speaker 1:I wasn't sure if you'd have your own.
Speaker 2:There's a couple of chairs, you can get a shave and paid for some pretty expensive stuff. And the fact of the matter is, just take a look around walking around Disney, a lot of guys aren't shaving.
Speaker 1:True.
Speaker 2:Especially while they're on vacation. If we're being honest, yeah, but men aren't shaving like they did.
Speaker 1:You're not wrong.
Speaker 2:And you know business. Look, I mean, when you've got Harry's or Dollar Shave Club or whatever, what do you need that for? That's true, Disney Springs rent is not cheap, so You're.
Speaker 1:You're not wrong on that one. So it's down by Oakley, right? Yeah, I think it's like right next to Oakley, Pretty close there by Oakley yeah. Yeah, and Savannah B, and that's the one the nest that I couldn't remember. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know you don't like to see people close, but that's a prime primo spot. It'll sell quick and oh yeah, I'm sure Some jewelry store or candle shop or something will take it.
Speaker 1:Disney's park. Excuse me, disney Parks blog is offering downloadable New Year's New Year's people mover Disneyland in Cinderella Castle 2024 wallpapers, but they're pretty cool. I'm looking at them, looking them up, right now the people mover, one I thought was really cool. Oh, you don't like them.
Speaker 2:All right. So, first of all, it's not the Disney world, people mover.
Speaker 1:Oh, I didn't notice that Because it's got a roof, oh okay.
Speaker 2:Um, whatever I mean, if you like that art style, well, there's people who like that art style.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know.
Speaker 2:I thought it was kind of neat.
Speaker 1:I wanted it to be photographs.
Speaker 2:Oh, not, not stuff coming and seeing the weird. You know, it's that style that looks like the end video at Spaceship Earth. Yes, you're right.
Speaker 1:That's. I was trying to think of what it looks like.
Speaker 2:And that's what it is wanting. Wanting photographs and getting that is kind of a let down, if I'm being honest. Okay, but I mean they're cool. Yeah, you know they're cool.
Speaker 1:They're cool.
Speaker 2:Available for desktop, ipad, mobile or Apple watch?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so there you go, has a lot of options, okay, cool. Disney Cruise Line has revised their eligibility requirements for castaway club membership Effective immediately. Castaway club members must book or sale on at least one eligible cruise within five years of their last Disney voyage in order to remain their castaway club status membership.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, when I first saw this headline I was a little nervous, oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Well that they were going to change because typically they take stuff away from us when they change things. So I was a little nervous. But yeah, they have to take one cruise every five years to be silver. It's not really that big a deal. Right Now I wonder. I don't know, I didn't go look for the article or anything, so I don't know. Like you know, if you're gold and you don't take a cruise for six years, do you go to nothing or do you go to silver?
Speaker 1:You go to nothing, you go to just castaway. That's it, so yeah.
Speaker 2:It's every five years. It's not like right. I think my hotel room points are only good for like two years, so yeah.
Speaker 1:There you go. I mean, I think it's fine.
Speaker 2:I mean, you know, instead of dragging people's membership status out forever, Exactly yeah, if take a cruise every five years, not a big deal.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:If you don't go that often, then the castaway club benefits aren't going to benefit you anyway.
Speaker 1:Right Right. Imagineers use 3D printing, recycled items and presents to create enrichment activities for animals at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Speaker 2:It's very cool. I'm just going to say that that article on the WDW news deal reads like hey, we need an article posted. We haven't posted anything in a few days.
Speaker 1:Yes, but some of the things that they're coming up with the animals is really cool. One of the things they had was a 3D printed, basically soccer ball, but it has a mechanism inside its remote control so they control, they send the ball for the cheetahs to go play. I think that's really cool.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it is very cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I'd like to see their 3D printer. I think that's a ball. It would take us like four days to print a soccer ball. Yeah, like, literally Right. But also like if we printed a ball and threw it to our dog, it would last like one throw. I'd really like to see what they're doing?
Speaker 1:Yeah, they're probably using, they're probably using the flexible material. I think that's probably what they're doing yeah. If you know that Santa.
Speaker 2:Goofy is replacing Santa Claus. Now for Epcot meet and greet.
Speaker 1:I thought it was Santa Duffy.
Speaker 2:No, that's a different one. Oh, okay, that's at Hollywood Studios.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, I didn't know that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Santa Goofy is now in where Santa Claus was.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, in the Odyssey.
Speaker 2:So they have been around the same time last year, oh, from 1130 to 3 and 330 and 410 to 7pm.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, yeah, but the festival ends on the 30th, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it's a couple more days yeah.
Speaker 1:All right, well, that's all the news. There's like no DVC news.
Speaker 2:There is DVC news, oh there is. Apparently, dvc has started canceling scheduled stays for boardwalk because the refurbishments not done yet. With the rest, the two restaurants that were supposed to open in 2023 that have not, neither is the refurbishment done, and so they are canceling some. Apparently they're offering like to put you in the other side of the hotel, the cash rooms.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay.
Speaker 2:And from the anecdotal story, we're offering like $100 a day. You know, gift card or whatever.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So, and of course the people was offered to thought it was just vastly unfair and I don't know, give me a hundred bucks a day and a deluxe hotel on, fine with it. Anyway, that's the DVC news oh, and your dues are due.
Speaker 1:Yes, by the 15th right January.
Speaker 2:Yep, yep so yeah, that's the DVC news. Yep, yeah thanks to Sam's or BJ's or whoever it was, for that sale priced gift cards.
Speaker 1:It was BJ's.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there we go.
Speaker 1:Yeah, those were some good deals. It was cheaper from BJ's than it was from Target Right and they were $500 increments rather than Target that only does know they do 100.
Speaker 2:They do $100 increments Pay your dues. That's a lot of hundreds.
Speaker 1:Yes, I know.
Speaker 2:Anywho. So yeah, the year's over, it is.
Speaker 1:I'm sad and excited for 2024, but I'm also sad that it's already over. Does that make sense? Yeah?
Speaker 2:I don't feel like it makes any difference to me what year I'm in. To be honest with you, I know it's just me like Okay, I'd like to stay in pencil time season for a lot longer, but Okay, anyway, all right. So we kicked off 2023 with quite a bit of stuff. We did.
Speaker 1:Genie Plus added the ride photos included, which was pretty cool, right, because Disneyland was already doing that, right?
Speaker 2:Well, disneyland already did it. I thought Disneyland gave you PhotoPass with Genie Plus.
Speaker 1:PhotoPass for the day? Oh yeah, for the day that you have it, but that's kind of where they started adding the ride photos. Yeah, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we got ride photos. Disneyland right, pretty sure, gets all of PhotoPass.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And also, I don't think, pays 40 bucks for the day. Probably not. The Walt Disney World Railroad reopened in January which made me very happy yeah. And, in return, splash Mountain closed.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, we knew Splash Mountain was closing. We did. It's not like they just said hey, tomorrow it's closed. You know it's.
Speaker 2:No, but I didn't give us a better if you go back and look they didn't give us a month. They did I feel like it was only like three weeks that they told us it's closing. Yeah, one last thing happened, which was free parking. Returned to Disney World Resorts.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:That was a failed experiment? I think yes, it was a dumb way to do it, and it's a dumb way for all the hotels at Disney Springs to do it, and it's just, it's a dumb way to do it.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:If you need the money, that bad, just charge me 25 bucks more for the room Right, which is what they're doing, by the way.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:You know, yeah. But anyway. So there was that, yeah, february, like nothing happened.
Speaker 1:Nothing big.
Speaker 2:Right, there was probably a fight at Disney Springs. Maybe somebody got into a fountain, probably, you know, somebody tried to climb up Mexico or in March. The 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World celebration ended on March 31st and Woody's Roundup Rodeo opened. It did, and also Disney Enchantment ended.
Speaker 1:I know Did like enchantment once it got to the second version.
Speaker 2:Actually did enchantment. Enchantment might have closed like.
Speaker 1:It was. It was technically, it was April, right, it was, I believe April 2nd or 3rd. It was the second, because April 3rd, april 3rd, happily ever after returned. Yes, and we were there. We were for the first show, did the part we were, I know, but the first show was wonderful. I cried, I know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's still disappointing.
Speaker 1:I'm just so that I'm just still heartbroken.
Speaker 2:And the big one is a big one probably for the year is that Tron opened.
Speaker 1:And that was on April 4th Right.
Speaker 2:It was hard for me to remember that because we had done previews like two, three weeks before that.
Speaker 1:But and we had done previews and then you had to I think you had to leave and go to work, and then I stayed and did Opening with Veronica and Alex and later yeah, probably.
Speaker 2:Then the summer came and they don't really do much in the summer, no, they don't. Mostly because they're waiting for D23 in September. But in June they did bring us a little mermaid meet and greet based on the live action movie. So new aerial, yes. Then we got to September. Yes, September. The big bad was the Star Wars Galactic Star Cruiser closed.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the last one was the end of September.
Speaker 2:Yes, we're around the 28th, but I can't remember for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right around there.
Speaker 2:So we, we did not get to do it a second time, try as we might.
Speaker 1:We tried, we did.
Speaker 2:Instead, we put the cruise.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:As I keep telling people on accident.
Speaker 1:It kind of was on accident, because we were actually now, because I think we were just driving on property and Mandy finally said I can't, they're all full, it just not going to happen.
Speaker 2:And that's on us, because we we could only do a Friday to Sunday and it was just a mess.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:There weren't that many of those you know, like one every two weeks or whatever. So right, but yeah, so we missed out. We tried to do it again, but we missed out. Yes, so now it's, I don't know, giant warehouse or something. A giant hotel is what it is.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a giant empty hotel In the Hollywood studios. Cast member.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean that always was I know.
Speaker 1:I was just being funny.
Speaker 2:We finally, after like two days short of a year from the announcement time, got our figment meet and greet. It actually started during D23 Expo, yes, so after having been announced the previous year at D23.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was what just right out of year like a day short, I think. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it was. I think it was 364 days. Yeah, Still unbelievable to me that that's how long it's a yeah, I know. And the Disney 100 celebration started in Epcot, which was funny because it was pretty much winding down in California.
Speaker 1:Yeah, pretty much was.
Speaker 2:It was like it was weird. There were a lot of announcements at the D23 Expo. Yes, there were Country Bear Jamboree refeming, so it looks like all the characters are going to stay the same. The songs are going to change. One character is changing. They're changing liver lips, whatever his name is name.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Still the same dude, just new name.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Test Track is going to be rethemed.
Speaker 1:Did they say what it's going to be rethemed to it?
Speaker 2:sounds like it's going back to what it used to be, which was good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, instead of what it is now, it was good yeah.
Speaker 2:I think it's going to be rethemed. Yeah, I think it's going to be rethemed. Um Zootopia show is coming to replace. It's tough to be a bug in Animal Kingdom. I am very happy about that. I am too.
Speaker 1:I had no emotional attachment to a Bugs life whatsoever. None are tough to be about, yeah.
Speaker 2:Bugs life. I think I saw it once. Um, I think it was the same movie, but not my Disney Right, so I couldn't tell you for sure. Right, I think ants was the one with Woody Allen right.
Speaker 1:Um, okay, I don't know, I don't know.
Speaker 2:Dinoland, they say, is going to be rethemed to include Indiana Jones and Incanto.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you know we've gotten into the.
Speaker 2:Uh, it's not behind the attraction. Is it behind the attraction? Yeah, it is. Yeah, I'm going to the attraction thing Right. So this second season Mm. Hmm, they did one on Indiana Jones in the parks Right, and not even a pack, to the fact that, um, the two rides are the same ride with different stuff inside them, which I thought was just odd. What the oh really yeah, like when they did big Thunder. Mountain.
Speaker 1:Railroad?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it was the same ride. I think it was the same ride, like when they did big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Yeah, they talked about all the big Thunder Mountain Railroads and how they're all different and not even all have the same name and Right, but they totally ignored the dinosaur ride, despite doing like more than half of uh behind the attraction about the Indiana Jones ride out there, oh yeah. And then it was like oh, by the way, uh, there's a stunt show at Hollywood studios.
Speaker 1:Yeah, which that's the coolest one?
Speaker 2:I liked the stunt show Um it is. It's very cool. Well dated, but it's very cool.
Speaker 1:It's dated, but it's still I mean.
Speaker 2:I mean, there's still talent, movies are.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:The good movies are 40 years old, so Right, maybe not 40. 30.
Speaker 1:Okay, so then the other question I have is I'm going forward to the acanto part is where's that going to go in?
Speaker 2:Well, I don't know. You know, this was all that blue sky stuff that Josh has been doing for the last two years when he talks about Disney world. Okay, right, mm, hmm. So the logical thing is you just bring in the new animatronics and you make dinosaur ride, indian Jones ride.
Speaker 1:Okay, that makes sense Right.
Speaker 2:Right, but if you actually go back and watch what he said, there was nothing in there that said you're getting an Indiana Jones ride. They said they're going to bring Indiana Jones into that area.
Speaker 1:Oh Okay.
Speaker 2:So you know who knows. I mean the logical thing is very simple change over to a ride that's already the same.
Speaker 1:Right, right. And then what? Expand an area to put in Canto, or is that that in Canto part is blue sky?
Speaker 2:Is that theming? Or is that a ride or a show where better not be a show where Finding Nemo is, but no, that one's very popular. But you know, I mean.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're right. Yeah, I guess we'll just wait and see.
Speaker 2:There's lots of stuff that, yeah, yeah, that's what they're talking about. Okay, pirates of the Caribbean, a themed tavern opening in Magic Kingdom. That will continue the story of the ride, right. Even really old as much Will it have alcohol.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we don't know.
Speaker 2:Is he going to be You're? Certainly not going to put another restaurant in Adventureland right.
Speaker 1:I can't, I can't imagine they would do that.
Speaker 2:Not a table service anyway.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:So presumably that's going in where Tortuga canteen is Right. And in celebration of the announced re-seeming of the country, Bear Jamboree, A live bear came and visited Disney World and shut down Magic Kingdom for a morning. I know A couple hours anyway.
Speaker 1:A couple of hours. So he just he wanted to go ride everything before he changed over.
Speaker 2:Tom Sawyer Island is where he wanted to go.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I wanted to go to Tom Sawyer. I think he was getting ready to go on Big Thunder Mountain, you know.
Speaker 2:But so they took him and or her and dumped him in the Ocala National Forest. Yeah, I find it kind of funny. A cool video of that actually. Yeah, that was really cool. In October, the journey of water inspired by Moana opened up, along with a Moana meet-and-greet.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:I have to say it is more interesting than I thought it was going to be.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:But I've now been in there three times, maybe four, I think three. I think I'm good for a long while now.
Speaker 1:Okay, like, if it's not busy, I don't mind walking through there, because now I like looking for the characters and the carvings.
Speaker 2:Right, Right. But I mean, you know it's very cool but it is not in every trip. Yeah, it is not an every time I go to Epcot thing I need to do Right. In November we got Jollywood Nights, the After Hour Christmas party at Hollywood Studios.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Obviously, we got Mickey's very merry Christmas party and the hat box ghost finally showed up at home in mansion On November 30th. They said November. They said November, they did say November and they did make it.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:So I guess we were there in the first thing, weren't we? Yes, it's a very cool effect. As I said, I was a little shocked about how short he is. Yes, but it's a cool effect. I wish they could speed up the length of time between transitions.
Speaker 1:So you could see it both ways while you're coming through that part. Yeah, because we did miss it going through Right Right.
Speaker 2:Other than that, it's very cool. I'm happy he's there.
Speaker 1:And Jollywood Nights. I would like to see it come back next year.
Speaker 2:Absolutely would. I thought it was a great event. We just talked about it, but you can go back. I think two weeks ago we reviewed Jollywood Nights. I thought it was everything it needed to be almost.
Speaker 1:There were a few little things I think they could do, but nothing major.
Speaker 2:Motorcade or cavalcade or whatever they call them over there. Put Santa in the convertible and drive them around In the convertible have the citizens.
Speaker 1:If they could have the citizens of whatever, Because that's very much that time frame, so the theming of it would be perfect, Right.
Speaker 2:But it was good, so I enjoyed it. I hope it comes back when you do it again. Yes, In December the walls came crumbling down in the World Celebration Area of Epcot. The whole new area opened up, including the Dreamers Point statue of Walt Disney.
Speaker 1:And all the light event.
Speaker 2:All the light stuff worked for like a day or two.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Then they decided to pressure wash them and ruin it Now. So I actually listened to our friends at the Disney Crush, Dave and Tony Ann, talk about this specific thing. So we have seen it. It's a couple lights that are out.
Speaker 1:Yes, it's not like a whole tire section.
Speaker 2:It is not a section, it is not a color, it is not. It's a couple of lights on the ground that are out Right, and the truth of the matter is it makes no change in the experience whatsoever, none, it needs to be fixed because it looks crappy. Yes, but it doesn't change, not like actual appearance, looks like the impression that comes apart. It's bad when you have something like the Yeti or the original Hapbox Ghost or whatever. Worked for two days and never worked again.
Speaker 1:Right Right, this is an easy, this is a should be an easy fix. And these are lights, right Right, but and I mean, the lights are constantly moving on the ground, so it's not like you're going. Oh my gosh, that one light being out, it ruins everything.
Speaker 2:No, I mean be honest with you. People will make fun of it because they should turn them off. Yeah, who cares?
Speaker 1:Well, actually I kind of like them on the ground. They're kind of cool how they're moving.
Speaker 2:I do, I do too. But if they can't fix the ones that they broke, pressure watching them, just turn all the lights off because they don't even matter. Right, that's my opinion. Like they just don't make that big a difference.
Speaker 1:The bigger difference are the rest of the lights in world celebration that make that difference the lights are not on the ground.
Speaker 2:Yes, right Are a bigger deal Now. The last time we were there at night Couple weeks ago, I guess.
Speaker 1:Can't remember yeah.
Speaker 2:Chefs to France right. Trip it in the 15th, I think yes, yeah, I felt like spaceship Earth should have been doing more.
Speaker 1:It was actually well Okay, when I was there earlier. It was like when I was there on the fifth and then I was there again, like on the 10th or whatever.
Speaker 2:We were there on a 15th and it was like locked into white lights from Right but the amount large chunks right, which was unusual.
Speaker 1:So I don't know if something was going on with it. But the other two times that I was there it was constantly every Ten minutes it was, you know, doing another little show. So I don't know something was going on with it.
Speaker 2:Yeah right.
Speaker 1:Yes, we'll find out go over this weekend.
Speaker 2:Also, in the last couple days, few days, they have announced a new little mermaid show at Hollywood Studios, same place as the old one used to be, mm-hmm. They have announced it will be based on the animated film, which I'm glad about. Yeah, I hope it's. I said this before. I hope it still has the puppets. Yes, because now I've seen how the puppets can be done well, mm-hmm, and I would like to see that.
Speaker 1:Yes, I agree, and that's coming to the space that the show was in previously at Hollywood Studios, so they're redoing the inside of that for that would be a good time for them to do Something with that area which it would once you put a line of people in there waiting for a show, right, it necessarily will have a different feel and yes and use. Yes, I agreed.
Speaker 2:That area right now is like a huge waste of space in a theme park.
Speaker 1:Yes, I mean. So it really is. They could do so much in there.
Speaker 2:In my mind. I mean, I know you've got the Star Wars launch Bay and you've got a couple character mates, but Right even during the jollywood nights party. I think then the area of the space was used much better than it was.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, they probably could have set up a fourth. They probably could have set up a fourth meet and greet in there, off to the side, remember the side where yeah, yeah, they could have definitely set up a fourth meet and greet in there, right yeah?
Speaker 2:for sure, there was tons of room in there.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, so so that was that was not shell of 2023.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we will be there to ring out 2023, sunday night.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm and ring in 2024. Yeah.
Speaker 2:So it'll be fun be with a bunch of our friends yes, coming in from around the USA.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm, Texas, North Carolina, Wisconsin.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, uh, I'm excited about it, looking forward to it seeing everybody.
Speaker 1:I know I am true. Yeah, so we'll do Magic. Kingdom on the New Year's Eve Eve, eve, eve. And then I've cut on New Year's Eve.
Speaker 2:So exactly.
Speaker 1:Yep, I'm probably gonna be wearing the same Hat and gloves I wore at ice at Gaylord Palms, Because it's gonna be cold yeah yes, I don't think it's gonna be that cold. Yes, it's gonna be in the 40s.
Speaker 2:We'll see, yeah, well. I'm taking planning on opening the water park the next day, so I don't think it's gonna be that cold by Sunday.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So anyway, um, thanks again to everyone who's listened to us another year in the books. Yes, check us out on Instagram At Mickey file underscore podcast. Our Facebook group is the Mickey file improvement district. Podcasts were available on Apple podcast, youtube podcast, now nice I heart radio and or Spotify anywhere else you find podcasts. Easiest way to support the show is just subscribe, like follow. Tell somebody you know about us. We wouldn't say no to another five star review. We haven't had a review in a while, so no, we would appreciate that.
Speaker 2:Yes they say it helps people find us. So who knows? That's a good thing. They may or may not be true, but that's what they say. So that's what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:That's what they say, so I saw it on the Internet.
Speaker 2:So you know it's true.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly, 100% true.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's all I got. If you want to reach out, email address is Mickey file podcast at gmailcom. Goodbye.
Speaker 1:Good night everybody. Happy New Year. Thank you you.