Parkside Breaks

Wine And Dine Half Marathon 2025 And Holiday Parties: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights

• Sarah Graves - Disney Travel Tips & Reviews • Season 4 • Episode 3

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We celebrate the Wine and Dine Half-Marathon with real talk on costumes, pace, and pre-dawn buses, then pivot to Disney’s holiday season to weigh Very Merry Christmas Party against Jollywood Nights. Costs, crowds, transport, and value drive the choices we make and the plans we recommend.

• Wine and Dine Half overview, course vibe, costumes
• How pace groups and balloon ladies really work
• Registration timing, sellouts, and charity bib options
• Resort picks and race-day transportation realities
• Price pressure at Disney and why overseas parks tempt
• Magic Kingdom’s fast flip to Christmas decor
• Very Merry features, exclusive snacks, and kid stamina
• Jollywood Nights for adults, short waits, cocktails, live shows

We’ll do a post on Instagram and ask everyone to give us their best Jollywood Nights. If you think we should go, maybe we do a poll: Should we go to Jollywood?


Thank you for listening to this week's episode! Please follow us on instagram @parksidebreaks and leave us a rating and review.

SPEAKER_00:

Hey everyone, and thanks so much for listening to this week's episode of Parkside Breaks. This week we are talking about the Run Disney Wine and Dine Half-Marathon. Yes, we are going to break down uh all of the weekend and just talk a little bit about everything that Elizabeth missed because yes, she missed a good time. So we talk a little bit about wine and dine, and then we're gonna jump into talking about the holiday season that is upon us. We're gonna discuss Jollywood Nights and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party and what all that entails, the dates, uh the festivities, uh, where it's located, um, and ponder whether or not we should go. So thanks so much for listening, and we hope you enjoyed this week's episode. Hello, everyone. Hello, and thank you for listening to this week's episode of Parkside Breaks. I'm Sarah. And I am Elizabeth. And we're gonna read the news.

SPEAKER_01:

We're gonna read the news, and I'm pulling up. We just had our pre we just had our pre-construction meeting. And um I told Sarah, she was like, okay, we're gonna talk about this, this, this. And then she said, What are you gonna talk about? And I said, It's a surprise. So now I have to pull up what I was going to tell you, but I want you to keep so I'm I'm focused, I'm distracted. Focus, okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Well let's see here. I think that we should um Sarah just got back. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

No, can I do that? Can I do that? Sarah just got back from um Run Disney. Do they have a do they have a jingle? I feel like I should make one for them. Run Disney, run. Did they just play the Milan soundtrack for everybody? They should. I mean, I would maybe consider it.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. They um they do play some bangers out there, not enough music when you really need it, I'm gonna be honest. Yeah, but uh they do have some really good, really good music.

SPEAKER_01:

I do feel like if the Emperor's New Groove had a soundtrack, which they don't. They don't? I don't think I knew that. Yeah, I mean, there's no there's no song. There's no music. I mean, there's like, you know, do do do do do background music, but there's no like I can go the distance. Oh man, that's such a good I know. There's no color of the wind, nothing. And um, I feel like that would have been a good Run Disney soundtrack. That would have been good, yeah. That would have been really good. Yeah. Um, anyway, so she just got back from this run. It's an intentional run. She signed up.

SPEAKER_00:

She excuse me, she paid money to run. I know that always gets you, and Lawton. He's like, okay, we're paying for this again.

SPEAKER_01:

We literally have a we literally have asphalt outside. And also, we are Disney annual pass holders. Yes.

SPEAKER_00:

So we could do all of this. I'm like, no, it's on a Sunday, and I just have a weekday pass.

SPEAKER_01:

So this is how I get to do it. This is how you get to go. Um, but tell us about the race because y'all got to dress up. No? Yes.

SPEAKER_00:

We did, we did. So we did the wine and dine. Um that started in the Epcot parking lot. Wine and Dine is kind of the start of the Run Disney season. It starts in the fall and then goes into January, February. January is Marathon Weekend, February is the princess, and then it goes into kind of April, which is springtime surprise. That's the last one. Um, and then they have some virtual runs here and there that kind of get you ready for the runs, which I think are always funny. Like you do pay a fee to run at home. To run at home. Some people make it fun.

SPEAKER_01:

This is marketing genius.

SPEAKER_00:

Let's do it. Let's pay. Let's tell them. I've always wanted to know too. I'm like, does the virtual run sell out? Like, can you sell out of a virtual run?

SPEAKER_01:

Also, how do you know that it was really me?

SPEAKER_00:

I know, I know.

SPEAKER_01:

Like, what if I'm having Sarah run for me?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. Well, we have a friend who was with us, and he has done a lot. His name is Justin. He's a travel advisor. He um is the most Disney person I've ever met. He is so cool, and I'm like, I want your life. Yeah. He has been to so many different Disney like resorts around the world, and I like to live vicariously through him, honestly. But he's done a lot of Run Disney stuff, and he did a virtual one, and he's he's serious about it. He was like, No, I have to do this if I'm gonna get the medal for it. And like when you run, you're you know you feel the guilt. Those people don't want to cheat the system. They don't want to cheat.

SPEAKER_01:

Meanwhile, I'm like, if I cut across right here.

SPEAKER_00:

I know you and Chambers, yeah. You're like let me tell you that mile run in PE, I always got it.

SPEAKER_01:

I definitely got the Presidential Fitness Award, but you know that when I came around that track, I was like, we're gonna go in the end zone of the card.

SPEAKER_00:

We're just gonna cut a little corner and just get right there. Yeah, I was tempted, honestly. There were some some parts of this race where I was like, I could just turn right here and it could be over. Um, but we had a good time. We had a great time.

SPEAKER_01:

How many of y'all went?

SPEAKER_00:

Um, let's see. There were four, five, six, seven, seven of us?

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, and did y'all all pace together?

SPEAKER_00:

No. So we um had kind of groups of us. I do not love a pace run. No, although there are pace setters that Disney has. So if you want to stay on a pace, do they pay that person?

SPEAKER_01:

Because I could be the walking pace. I'll pay me to be the walking pace.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. Well, they have the balloon ladies that are in the very back, and if they catch you, then you've got to get on like the tram that sends you. I need to be that. Yeah, yeah. I've always wanted to see them, but also terrified to see them because of kids. Can you imagine?

SPEAKER_01:

You're you just get to heckle people while having balloons on you.

SPEAKER_00:

Pretty much.

SPEAKER_01:

Sounds like a dream.

SPEAKER_00:

No, what you would have done, these ladies that we saw. Yes. Oh my gosh, this was around mile nine. I don't know. It was on the highway. They were hilarious. Yes, they had microphones. Were that that's all you were teasing every person. They had microphones. Yes, they had microphones. I feel like I have a microphone in this room. Yes. Well, so we we had people who were walking, we had people who were running, we had people who were walk running. But it was it was I love that. It was great. I love that. Nobody felt pressure to do anything they didn't want to do.

SPEAKER_01:

And this, you've done this run with people. Like you have done runs with this with these people.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Okay. It was great. I mean, I do feel like I've been bitten by the Run Disney bug. I really do love it. I don't mind the wake up as much. This is my third run. I did the springtime surprise.

SPEAKER_01:

Do you know how much I'm judging her right now?

SPEAKER_00:

I know. I know. When I first did it, I was like, this is gonna be terrible. We gotta wake up at three o'clock in the morning. This is a big mistake.

SPEAKER_01:

And you're not even like going anywhere cool. I mean, you're going.

SPEAKER_00:

You are, but you're having to run to get there.

SPEAKER_01:

You're not like getting on a plane.

SPEAKER_00:

No.

SPEAKER_01:

This is not like Princess, this is not like Kate Middleton's wedding that you wake up at three o'clock in the morning to watch it. No, it's not from the comfort of your bed. Yeah. This is not watching the royal funeral. No. This is waking up at three o'clock in the morning intentionally.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, to go run.

SPEAKER_01:

Not to go pee.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. But to run. To run. Okay. But you are dressed up in fun outfits.

SPEAKER_01:

I do love that. What did you, what were you? What were y'all?

SPEAKER_00:

I um we kind of all picked a princess, and I was kind of bounding as Anna. So I had like dark blue leggings and then uh, you know, a top that was kind of in the style or design of Jewel tone. Yes. Joel tone. Yeah. So, and everyone else picked a princess and they were just wearing like the colors of that princess. I love that. So it was really fun. We had a great time. Um, at the end, you get, you know, a whole snack box and a banana.

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

Gatorade.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, I love a snack box.

SPEAKER_00:

You go and get a beer and it comes in a cool cup. And then you get to wear that.

SPEAKER_01:

It's like people in Jacksonville wearing their um, what's that run that we do? The river run. Yeah. And then they wear it for like three days. They wear the metal.

SPEAKER_00:

The metal, yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

And you're like, yeah, I know you ran.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Runners, unlike any other group of people, they love to talk about how they run.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

That they are runners, that they in case they just they they just ran anyone or that they're about to go for a run.

SPEAKER_01:

I need you to know that I do run, as you know.

SPEAKER_00:

Like away from your kids.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes. Literally. Right now, running away. I am actually, fun fact for all of you listeners, I am I run probably three days a week and have for what for long years. Yes. But I also loathe it. Yeah. It's like a love hate.

SPEAKER_00:

I think it's ridiculous that you do run and we can't convince you to come and do a run.

SPEAKER_01:

But I also want no one near me. Like when I run my little three-mile run. Yeah. I am in the back roads of 32257. I know, but you no one you don't have to be near anyone you know. I need to belt the Jay-Z lyrics. Yeah. And the only person hearing me is the sweet old lady who's walking her dog. She loves it. She is like, what song are you on today? And I'm like, I've got 99 problems.

SPEAKER_00:

But waking up at three o'clock in the morning is not funny. Anyone. It's not one of them. Well, it was fabulous. I think that you should definitely come and do at least a 5K because you would zip through that. And then it's like people. It's like two people-y. It is people-y, but there are, it is a fun atmosphere.

SPEAKER_01:

You would have a good time. One day she's going to convince me, and all y'all are going to be like, we're cashing in. It's going to be great. We're going to cash in on lottery tickets today. The way I'm going to convince you though is I'm going to convince your kids to do it. I'm still going to say no. I, you know, I'm a middle child, firstborn daughter.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

There is nothing you can do to bribe me to do anything. I know. It's a real problem.

SPEAKER_00:

There'll be something. There'll be something. I don't know what it is.

SPEAKER_01:

And it like, if you were to say to me Prince Harry is available for you, maybe I'd consider it. Which is obviously not realistic, but like, watch the day come. Someone's gonna listen to this and they're gonna be like, actually, I'm Megan Markle's cousin, and we're done with that. We're done with that. We need to plant Elizabeth there. Um, anyway, so I am glad because Sarah was telling me about their um how they are looking at doing the spring one again, but now it's closed off. So there are other avenues of how to get in. Um, but I just I just love it for how far in advance do you have to book?

SPEAKER_00:

So you you do need to be on it with the whole Run Disney, like you know, you have to go on the website, you have to know when they're going to post, when registration starts, and you've got to be on at a certain time to sign up for registration because it sells out very quickly. I see. So if you want to do anything now, you can do it with a charity. And you go and you pay a fee and then you raise money for that charity. Or, you know, if you want to don't make the donation yourself, you can do that. Um, so I think that we're thinking about doing that with a charity, maybe the American Cancer Society, and being able to do the springtime surprise. So if you want to go that route, it's it's still possible for you to do it. Okay. Um I will say we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Oh, that was my next question. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Because you've done this and you stayed at Payne Beach.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. I've done it, I've stayed at Caribbean Beach. And then the last time. Where did we stay the last time when I did this with this crew? Maybe as Beach Club.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, I feel like I feel like y'all stayed somewhere like that. Oh, Riviera. But did you? Have you not done a race and stayed at like Pop Century? No, we I did the first one, right?

SPEAKER_00:

Well, Pop Century, no, I mean, Pop Century isn't bad. I don't think I have to see if they allow like the skyliners and stuff. That was it. I remember I know what you were saying.

SPEAKER_01:

You I remember this for you. One of the times we talked about this, it was talking about making sure that the transportation, because some resorts do not have transportation to the race. That's right. That's right. So you would have to drive to whatever hotel to get on the bus. Yes. Or whatever to go. Right.

SPEAKER_00:

So you have to pay attention to those things when you're booking it. You have to pay attention. You have to know that it's going to be mostly buses. I don't even think the skyliner is running. I don't think any other transportation is running because they want to drop you off at a certain location so you can get to the Epcot parking lot. Okay. So getting on the drive the Skyliner wouldn't even be helpful. Okay. So they're not going to let you enter and through the back. So how was the Animal Kingdom Lodge? The Animal Kingdom Lodge was beautiful. I love I do love the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

SPEAKER_01:

Was it decorated for Halloween? Um, not really. I love that. I love that they kind of kept the fall, they just kind of kept it unique to itself.

SPEAKER_00:

Right. It's not, it's not, and there's not a lot of resorts, I feel like, that are decorated for Halloween except for good old Fort Wilderness. I know.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, did you that's the one? I'm sorry for interrupting you. Did you see the pictures from the parade? The golf card parade? Yes. Y'all, I just want to move in.

SPEAKER_00:

I know. I do want to do that.

SPEAKER_01:

I next year, you know, maybe if you told me that I could have like a month in Fort Wilderness, and then I wouldn't be actually abandoning my home responsibilities, no one would miss me. So I don't maybe like when my kids grow up. Yes. And then they can come visit you. Yeah. It's Oak and Scott at the campground. Scott's gonna be like, I'm not coming to visit you.

SPEAKER_00:

I've already looked into this. I'm pretty sure that our school is closed for maybe a weather day or something next year on October 30th. And I think that's shut the front door. Yeah, and I think immediately trading schools. I know I think that's when they do the golf cart parade. So I was like, we could still make it back for Halloween and we could go down just for like two nights and stay at the card.

SPEAKER_01:

You have to stay in the you have to stay because they don't let non-like. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, they're like, get out of here. Get out. Um anyway, Animal Kingdom Lodge was great. It's just far away. Yeah. So it whenever we um, you know, whenever we were trying to get somewhere, we usually took an Uber. And um, because you know, they just have the buses, and you know, you it's fine if the bus arrives and you can go. But for the most part, we took Ubers and then in that morning everybody had to take a bus to get, and the buses came quick to be able to get to the run, but it just takes a little bit more time. Yeah. So Animal Kingdom Lodge is great. I think it, I think it's beautiful. It was just kind of far for all the Run Disney stuff.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, yeah. Um, but not as much time as this. I'm going to show we're gonna hit I'm gonna hit pause on recording because I'm gonna show you this video and then we're gonna talk about this. The timing was perfect. Okay. Update everyone. The video that I was looking for that I was so excited to show Sarah, she sent it to me. Yes.

SPEAKER_00:

She started showing it to me. I was like, I just sent this to you.

SPEAKER_01:

I thought Lauren sent it to me because her and I were talking about it the other day. And we were like, we should just do like a like how much would it cost? So the video that I showed her was this guy flew into Shanghai and he took the metro from the airport terminal to Shanghai Disney, yep, and talked about just like that whole experience, and it was 80 cents to take the metro. Yes, and then the ticket to get in the park is like$50. Yeah. American dollars. Yes. And all of that to say, I don't Lauren and I had this conversation the other day because we were talking about the Alan Jackson final tour concert and the George Strait final concert all next year. And I told Scott, I was like, I would be happy to go to either one of those. Yeah. Like I'm not asking for a lot. Right. We'll come to find out I'm asking for a whole lot. Because Alan Jackson for a nosebleed seat is wait for it. Six thousand dollars for one ticket. Are you kidding?

SPEAKER_00:

Where?

SPEAKER_01:

Uh in Nashville. Yeah, right? A private concert at my house. Six thousand dollars for one nosebleed ticket. One. Uh no.

SPEAKER_00:

One. Well, he's really going out with a bang. He's like, I'm gonna make some money.

SPEAKER_01:

But I don't think it's him, I think it's these ticket brokers. Yeah, that's a whole nother story. That's a conspiracy. I love conspiracy. George Strait is going to Clemson and he's playing in death in Death Valley, and that for a nosebleed ticket is$800. What? And I'm like, listen, y'all, who is buying these tickets? I know. Because I feel like I feel like I am very fortunate to be able to do a lot of things like go to Disney. Right. But I just don't know if I could ever be in a position to spend six thousand dollars on a nosebleed ticket. No, no, no.

SPEAKER_00:

So we can't do that. All of that is saying.

SPEAKER_01:

So then we talked about Lauren and I talked about how there is just this weird, like, look at this. She said she's like, I've have you seen where Taylor Swift people they go to Europe and it's cheaper for them to go fly to Europe, yeah, stay in a hotel, and buy the Taylor Swift ticket over there.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

And so then that translated into Disney and how Disney has this, you know, they have, I'm sure that everyone saw it. They wait for it, jacked their prices up again.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

And they're still as busy as can be. Yeah. And um so when you look at, and we'll have to get, we need to get Emily in on this. I would love to see what a flight, and not just not like a first class flight, just like average seat at an average hotel, what that looks like, because I feel like it may or may not be significantly more affordable than flying from like, I don't know, Idaho to Orlando.

SPEAKER_00:

That's true. I've seen someone post something before and they said that they went to either Shanghai Disney or Tokyo Disneyland. And they weren't from Florida, so they had to fly anyway. And I do think that it was less expensive for them to go over to an Asian Disney park than it was to come to Walt Disney World.

SPEAKER_01:

And I don't know. I don't under I I don't I don't, I don't, I don't know. I don't get it.

SPEAKER_00:

I don't get it. I mean, we need to just experience it just because we need to experience it.

SPEAKER_01:

I'll do that before I run a race. Oh my god. And just so we're clear, I don't even know if my passport is valid. So never forget I've never been to New York City. And it's not because the opportunity did not present itself. It's because I need a passport to put in the um, yeah. I yeah, anyway, I just so all of that to say, Sarah, I'm so glad that I surprised you with that video.

SPEAKER_00:

Listen, I love it still.

SPEAKER_01:

It is still crazy, and then you also think the convenience of that, I would love to know if anybody has a genius idea for people to get from the Orlando airport to Walt Disney World. Because you know, all of like mirrors is gone. Yeah. Like what are people doing? How are I feel like we need to figure that out? I know. What is the most effective way or efficient way to get from the airport to Disney World? And then those people, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00:

I don't know. I mean, my sister has to do that. They usually end up just taking an Uber.

SPEAKER_01:

Really? Because it But again, that's another added cost. It is, it's another added cost.

SPEAKER_00:

Right. Right. Um, I don't know. You know, what part of the reason is because you know, Disney, they just don't have to. They don't have to. Just like they can charge people to virtually run. Right.

SPEAKER_01:

They're charging people to virtually and never forget Sarah is doing that. She is part of the problem. She's part of the problem.

SPEAKER_00:

I am part of the problem. It's true. Okay, done a run Disney like a virtual one, but I probably will. Yeah. I know.

SPEAKER_01:

I know you all. I know you all. Um, wait, tell me your news and let me see if I send it to you. Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. So as all of you know, the Christmas season is upon us. It's so good. The holidays. So the Magic Kingdom, um, they did their usually what they do is October 31st, you know, it's Halloween. And November 1st, it starts to become Christmas. And they might still have, you know, some fall things up with Christmas, but they start that night making that, yeah, that night.

SPEAKER_01:

Which by the way, I'm pretty sure you can watch that on Disney Plus. Yes.

SPEAKER_00:

If you haven't yet, you need to. Um, that is I will watch that every year. My kids watch it in like July. Yeah, I love it. Um, but this year they started on November 2nd. They had all the fall decorations down, and then November 2nd is when all the Christmas most of the Christmas stuff was up. The tree was not up yet, but the tree's up now. But they had one day that was still kind of fall-ish. Like a lay day. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Was it because of how Halloween fell this year?

SPEAKER_00:

I don't know. I don't know if it was just, you know, um or if they're a cast member issue. Maybe Disney's just tired.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

I mean I'm tired.

SPEAKER_01:

I know. The fact that my Christmas decorations aren't up right now is alarming.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, well, you are going through an addition and renovation of your house. So by the way, the plumbers are here.

SPEAKER_01:

Shout out to Holland Sons. Yes.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you. We appreciate your work. Okay. So the official uh Walt Disney World holiday season runs from November 14th to December 31st. Magic Kingdom. It's gonna start November 2nd.

SPEAKER_01:

When you're saying, are you saying Mickey's not so scary? What do you mean the official season? Um is that when they're done? They have to be completely done by November 4. What did you just say to me? November 14th?

SPEAKER_00:

November 14th is when the holiday season kind of starts. Okay. So I think that's when um let's look up when like maybe they change the menu. Yes, like when all of the official kind of Christmassy holiday things start. So let's look at you know, a very merry Christmas party. Oh gosh.

SPEAKER_01:

Don't worry, I am insta-searching. Thank you, Emily Doss.

SPEAKER_00:

A very Merry Christmas party um at Walt Disney World. That takes place at the Magic Kingdom. Um, those parties start on November 7th.

SPEAKER_01:

Can I ask you a dumb question? Always. This is I can't wait for someone to hear this, specifically, probably Emily Doss. Actually, you know who's gonna hear this? Ashley Draper. And she's gonna be like, why am I friends with you? Can you please explain to everyone the difference from a not so scary party and a Merry Christmas party? Because in the not so scary party, it is Halloween, right? So you're trick-or-treating, quote unquote. What does and then they have the parades at both. Yeah, but what does the Merry Christmas party have that like the Halloween party does not have? Do you see what I'm asking you?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, yeah. I mean, I they obviously don't have trick-or-treating, but they do have um, they do have different treats that you're gonna have across the park. Like um, it says savor tasty holiday treats as you explore Magic Kingdom, enjoy enchanting entertainment, favorite attractions, characters. Um I'm sorry, why is Instagram hearing me right now? Because it always is listening to you.

SPEAKER_01:

Y'all. So, y'all, it I literally just said, I just asked that question and I'm on Insta Search, and the first thing I just clicked on the first video, what you need to know about Mickey's very Merry Christmas party in 60 seconds. See, that's that is weird.

SPEAKER_00:

That is helpful. That is the man being helpful. I mean, I think the biggest thing, the differences are there's not any kind of like obviously trick-or-treating, trick-or-treating is just gonna be for the Halloween party, and maybe for very Merry Christmas there is more now, there's snope, right? Some people love it, some people hate it. That's just okay. You get to see the characters in their holiday gear. Right. Sorry for interrupting you. No, I mean that's but that's the same as the Halloween Halloween party too. Oh, yeah. The characters are wearing like Halloween fall stuff, but I wonder if there's more stuff to eat.

SPEAKER_01:

Has its own virtual cue for the party.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_01:

There are a lot of snacks.

SPEAKER_00:

That makes me concerned. The party Tron has to have a virtual queue.

SPEAKER_01:

Some exclusive holiday snacks. Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

So I wonder if they have more snacks, more things like that at the Christmas party. Um and merch that you can only get at the Christmas party. Okay. Versus the Halloween party. Maybe they do have some of that kind of snack stuff, but they don't have quite as much. Because I know that you can purchase special Halloween snacks and treats at the Halloween party that are not available during the day, but I don't think that they're giving it out as, you know, yeah, part of your party ticket. Part of your party ticket comes with the trick of treating. So maybe part of your party ticket for the Christmas party is some of these, are some of these treats. Yeah. There's a lot of cookies happening. Yeah, a lot. A lot of cookies. A lot of cookies. Um, I've actually never been to a Christmas party.

SPEAKER_01:

You know, then I really want to go. I can't wait to tell you the story. This is if my dad is listening to this and my husband, and if you if you run into them and they tell you otherwise, so we went, my dad took us, I think it was it was my mom passed away in 2015, and then it was the following Christmas. So not 2015 Christmas, it was the year after that. Okay. And my dad took us, maybe it was the year after that, maybe Reed was two. And both if everybody is shocked by this, both my husband and my father were complaining because it was cold and there were people, and why are we staying here? What I don't understand. And I was like, this was all of y'all's idea. None this was this was not my idea. I know, and then we were not staying the night there, okay, so we were driving back, and they were like, This is we should just go. And I was like, Okay, let's go. Seven o'clock at night. Literally all. We'd been there for like two hours. The parade hadn't happened yet. We get in the car, we are on I-495. We've can we've gone over, and I kid you not, my husband says, We didn't even get to see the parade. And my dad goes, I know that's all I wanted to see. And to this day, both of them are like, We didn't even stay for the parade. I'm like, I hate, I I actually hate both of you. Yeah. Um, but it was very, I will say, it was you on a night that was very cold. It was freezing. Yeah. And it wasn't like you know, it was a Florida cold. It was it was cold cold.

SPEAKER_00:

It was like 34 degrees. We had little kids, so it's hard to do all that with little kids. Yeah. Unless you're skiing and they have the proper clothing and that sometimes. Yeah, just let me tell you, we were not.

SPEAKER_01:

I mean, but all of that to say, we've been, it was great, it was beautiful. I loved it. I do, I will say, if you're traveling, all of that to say, if you're traveling with young kids, I don't know. I don't know, Sarah. I don't know if I would recommend doing that because it is a late night and you are paying up to$200 for a ticket. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

And oh, more than that. Yeah. More than that. Um, now it the November dates are already gone. Um when she says gone, she means sold out. Sold out, yeah. So now we we're running into list price of$209 to$219 a ticket uh in the month of December. So, you know, look at that if you if you want a little like Christmas holiday um, you know, special event, but also Jollywood Nights, okay? Jollywood nights has been a little bit of a controversial event. Is this the one at Hollywood Studios?

SPEAKER_01:

Did you just say that to me?

SPEAKER_00:

Uh no, I didn't, but you knew because you know I know more than I think I do. Yes, you do. Jollywood Nights is at Hollywood Studios. Those are on um Select Nights between November 8th and let's see here. When they're looks like December 22nd, right now is the last party for Jollywood Nights. Jollywood Nights is kind of controversial because the first time they had it was like three years ago, two or three years ago, and it was a little bit of a bust. There were really long lines for everything. Um, they just didn't have everything kind of in order the way that they probably should have, you know, but it was a new thing. You have to kind of give some. I'm sorry, I'm I'm insta-searching. Yes, Jollywood Nights. So Jollywood Nights is it says it's Yule Tide Entertainment, including a musical variety show and a nighttime spectacular, swanky venues, and hot spots where you can dance the night away.

SPEAKER_01:

I wonder if this is geared towards more of the adult Disney crowd. Absolutely, absolutely to kind of take some of that out of not so scary. Uh no, very merry. Very merry. Because this does, to your point, like all of the I'm looking, I insta-surged everyone. I'm looking at the rides and they're all decorated accordingly. It looks like they have some really great um drink beverage options on this one Instagram page, the Park Prodigy, it's giving the average wait time of each ride. And I'm gonna go with a big one. Where is a big one? Rock and roller coaster, average wait time, 10 minutes. Yeah, so it's a great Slinky Dog Dash, 20 minutes.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, it's a great opportunity just to do some of those attractions in a fun festive environment, and you don't have to wait in the really long lines and do lightning lanes.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, like this person is literally walking around with what looks to be like a Christmas cocktail.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. So it is geared, it is your ultimate Disney adult Christmas time, holiday time.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, it looks like people there are people who dress up for this, like wear Christmas. They have a lot of live shows and music, a lot of live music, which I know you said. I'm sorry. Um, and a lot of food and drinks. Okay. Yep. I feel like I do you want to go?

SPEAKER_00:

I do want to go. You want to go? Yeah. Let's go. I think we should go to this. Um, we've never been us as adults, not us with our children. Not as not us with our husbands. No way. Um, I think that we should go and do a review of this because I mean, I just want to go because I think it'd be fun. And I've heard from this crew that I did the run with, they've done it before and they had a great time. Hey Emily, do you want to come with us?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Ashley. She already said yes. Ashley's definitely in.

SPEAKER_01:

Also, I do people who are listening to this, do you like who we just decided? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Right now. Well, now that because we just said it, you have to go.

SPEAKER_01:

I wonder if um I wonder if we should surprise Scott and tell him he's coming.

SPEAKER_00:

This would be awesome. And but he definitely has a jacket for this.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, he would wear one of his sequel or velvet. Scott has seven tuxedo jackets, never forget. Yeah, he could definitely go to this. Y'all, these food and drinks look real good.

SPEAKER_00:

I know, I know. So that's what we have um for you know this holiday season coming up. Um, you know, it starts November, what did I say? November 7th is very Merry Christmas. And then for Jollywood nights, I think it's probably around that. Oh, November 8th is when Jollywood night starts. So that's that's this weekend. Okay. So the holidays, I know. So the holidays are upon us. Um, everybody goes.

SPEAKER_01:

It does look like people dress up, and I'm gonna be honest with you, I will probably still wear my oh, they have espresso martinis. Yeah, girl, we gotta go. I know. I know this got out of town next. Yeah. I hope somebody listens to this and like secretly reports back that I plan off my Disney around when he's out of town. Well, what else do we have? Girl, I'm gonna be honest with you. I was so excited to tell you about Shanghai Disney, and you told me about Shanghai Disney. So I'm not saying that I have a bust right now.

SPEAKER_00:

I am saying that I think that I'm an unreliable source. No, you are not. You're excited about very similar things.

SPEAKER_01:

And we're also I'm excited about very similar things that I will never ever do. We could though. We in theory.

SPEAKER_00:

In theory. Um, if our husbands would just I don't even think it's the husband.

SPEAKER_01:

I don't think I think that it's just like who's gonna take I guess that that would be the husband. Who's gonna take care of who's gonna take care of the kids and them for that long for us to go to China? Yeah, to go to Disney. This is great. Okay, I'm sorry. I am these she's deep. I am deep in Jollywood. Yeah, I love this. Yeah, okay. Well, well, I would love if you've been to Jollywood, can you please just like send us a little message, a little message and let us know. We want to know more reviewers about Jollywood nights. And then we'll go. I mean, listen, we will go. Yes. I'm not saying we won't. I just want to know what you experienced. Did you like something? Was there a show that was good? Yes. I'm probably not gonna do the Muppets. I don't know why I'm on an anti-Muppet kick right now, but I think I am. I will not be doing Tower of Terror. I don't care how happy this looks.

SPEAKER_00:

It does look a lot happier and cheerful in Hollywood Tower of Terror. Yes, if you have gone and you have some suggestions where to eat, where to hang out, what drinks are good, what drinks are not good, um, let us know. We will find it. Find a way. Call us.

SPEAKER_01:

Call meet me if you want to reach me and if you understand where that came from. Do you know where that's from?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

What possible okay? Good. I just wanna make it.

SPEAKER_00:

So we'll we'll do a post on Instagram and we'll ask everyone to give us their best Jollywood nights.

SPEAKER_01:

And if you think we should go, maybe we do it, maybe we do a poll. Should we go to Jollywood? And if y'all all say no, I'm you're not my friend. You're not my friend.

SPEAKER_00:

We're gonna go anyway. Okay, we'll see you guys for this week's episode of Parkside Breaks. Thanks so much for listening, and we'll catch you next time. Love you.