Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Because there's far too much to see and do. We're here to help guide you through. We are a married couple with two boys age 9 and 6 talking all things Disney World. This podcast will cover the tips and tricks we've learned along our journey, history of the parks and attractions, and most importantly why and how Disney makes us feel how we do while in the parks and that it's ok to feel that way.
Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Episode #203: Exploring Change in Walt Disney World: New Lands, Reimagined Classics
The landscape of Walt Disney World is shifting dramatically, with major transformations coming to every park. From Dinoland USA becoming a vibrant Central Americas-themed land featuring Encanto and Indiana Jones, to Tom Sawyer Island making way for a Cars attraction, these changes represent Disney's evolving approach to park experiences.
We dive deep into what these transformations mean for the Disney experience, exploring the tension between nostalgic attractions and Disney's push toward more recognizable intellectual properties. The upcoming Villains Land behind Big Thunder Mountain promises thrilling new experiences without replacing existing attractions, while Hollywood Studios will soon feature a Monsters Inc land with an innovative suspended coaster based on the door conveyor system from the beloved film.
These changes raise important questions: Is Disney losing some of its original magic by replacing unique Imagineering creations with movie tie-ins? Or is this evolution necessary to compete with Universal's Epic Universe and appeal to younger generations? We consider whether the Disney experience has improved or declined since 2019, discussing the loss of beloved perks like Magical Express and free FastPass while acknowledging the exciting new attractions on the horizon.
We also share our upcoming plans to test the new Multi-Pass system during our next trip, estimating we'll spend around $500 extra for our family of four to access all premium ride options. Will the convenience justify the cost? Is the Free Dining package actually saving money when factoring in required add-ons like Park Hopper tickets? These practical considerations reflect the changing economics of a Disney vacation in today's landscape.
Whether you're a Disney purist concerned about these changes or excited to experience the new attractions, this episode provides thoughtful perspective on what Walt Disney World's transformation means for different types of visitors. Connect with us on social media @CircleOfParks to share your thoughts on Disney's evolving future!
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hello and welcome to circle of Parks podcast, episode number 203. Today we are going to talk about the changes going on in Walt Disney World and answer some of y'all's questions. There is far too much to see and do. We are here to help guide you through. But before we do that we must talk Disney merch. So this week on DisneyStorecom there's a new Lounge Fly mini backpack. It's based on the Disney pets, so we have dogs and cats for inspiration on this Lounge Fly. Some of your favorite pets can be found on there, including pluto and lady and a few others. It's super cute and it is priced at 79 dollars.
Speaker 1:so I don't think so I don't know if I would on this one either, but it is super cute and if you love pets, and especially disney pets, and you're looking for a new lounge, fly this might be it. So that is this week's Disney merch.
Speaker 2:Thank you, everybody for joining us Episode number 203. We're back.
Speaker 1:Yes, we're back.
Speaker 2:It's been a few weeks. Yes, we apologize. I thought our life was going to slow down after middle school soccer stopped.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, no, it went into hyperdrive, yes, and it's still in hyperdrive, right now yes uh, this is just the first opportunity we've had to do an episode and it's going to be more of a discussion episode because we haven't really had time to put a formal episode out, like in an outline and everything. So it's going to be more of just a discussion about what's going on in the parks now and about our upcoming trip, not a trip planning episode, but just kind of a discussion about what we're doing. And again we apologize, I know we do this episode because we hope to break your week up and it's a break for us. Unfortunately, we did not get a break for us.
Speaker 1:Right, and I mean we did re-release an older episode, but then last week there wasn't, there was nothing.
Speaker 2:In that released episode we did. I talked about a family emergency. It's been an extension of that family emergency. Everything's okay, but it has taken away time that we've been able to do other stuff. Right. And soccer's gone into hyperdrive. We've had tryouts, we've had tournaments, we've got state tournaments coming up and out-of-town tournaments, and so our life has not slowed down. It's not going to until a week and a half.
Speaker 1:When we're in Disney.
Speaker 2:When we head to Disney World. Yes, I'm turning my phone off, except when we're doing some plans we have for when we're eating at the park, right? So we do have a lot of content coming up that we're planning on doing during the trip. So look forward to that. We're going to talk about that more next week on our trip planning episode. But if you're new here, thank you, we appreciate it.
Speaker 2:Sorry we haven't been around the past few weeks but, like we said, our goal here is to break your week up. Take you to Disney. It gives us a break usually and we hope to help you have a better Walt Disney World vacation. So this week normally we have more structured episodes, but this is more of just me and Brittany talking about what we think is going to be going on in the parks. We don't really do these types of episodes. It's not a criticism of Disney. It's more of what we feel and what we think they're going to be and how we feel about them, because we haven't really done this before and I don't think we've ever really talked about it since all these new changes have been announced.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like we shared the announcements and stuff several months ago, but other than that, yeah.
Speaker 2:All right, so let's get right into it. Brittany, our favorite park, animal Kingdom Park, is getting Dinoland USA completely rethemed to the Central America's theme. There's going to be an Encanto attraction, there's going to be dinosaurs going to be turned into Indiana Jones and there's going to be what's that carousel? Oh, it's going to be like that animal carousel instead of the primeval world right, yes, no well primeval world was the old one. What is?
Speaker 1:it. You said instead of that one but triceratops spin, that's it yeah, that's not a carousel. That was a ride like Dumbo. Yes, Dumbo.
Speaker 2:That's gonna be a carousel. Now what do you? What are you thinking about this? Are you down on it? Are you looking forward to it? Are you meh about it like? What are your thoughts on?
Speaker 1:this. Well, while we're on the theme of carousel, I think it's it will be interesting, especially if they put the details into it, like they did on the tree of life, you know, because I believe they're going to be like wood carvings.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And so I think that that would be. You know, it would go along with how they're planning to do this new re-theming with the Central Americas and all that. I think you know I will miss the dinosaur ride because it's just been a ride that the whole family has tended to enjoy, but I think, as far as the whole land itself, I think it needed either some additional love or some retheming. Okay, because you've got, you know, the dinosaur ride eventually being rethemed to Indiana Jones. And then, you know, I know some people are like, oh, this IP and all that. But you gotta you, you have to change with the times and what these current, more more younger generations are going to be more familiar with that is a great segue to what I was going to talk about.
Speaker 2:Dinoland USA is none. None of it is disney intellectual. When we talk ip we're talking intellectual property stuff that's based on disney movies or whatnot. Right, right, none. Nothing in dino land is okay. You could make the argument dinosaur is. It was changed from countdown to extinction to dinosaur to promote the movie the the dinosaur a long time ago. You could make that argument, but for the most part there is no disney ip in dino land usa, actually in any of animal kingdom aside from like lion king, show lion king show, but the lands themselves are not.
Speaker 2:You have the characters walking around right, right, but Pandora is Disney IP now. But Exhibition Everest, dinosaur, tree of Life, like none of this is Disney IP.
Speaker 1:Right, except for Nemo and the Lion King shows.
Speaker 2:So the argument is, or the discussion can be they're getting away from non-Disney intellectual property and going full force into Disney IP. They're getting away from non Disney intellectual property and go and go in full force into Disney IP. We're seeing. We're seeing that with all the new rethinks we're going to be talking about soon and especially in Donnellan USA, we're going to Indiana Jones, uh oh and Kanto and all that. But there are some iconic attractions that are based on non-Disney IP that did become Disney IP Pirates, haunted Mansion, big Thunder Mountain, tower of Terror, like. None of that stuff is based on Expedition Everest, space Mountain. I don't know if I said that or not. These are not Disney IP based attractions and they are some of the most iconic in the parks Do. Are we missing some of that now and going full on Disney IP? That's not original figment, original. You know that's not Disney IP. Are we missing that now?
Speaker 1:Well, I think in the animal kingdom kingdom? No, because you still have some of those other things that you just said, like expedition everest, for example, and the safari the safari and you know a few other attractions there. So I don't think so, but I think that this, some of this area, like the carnival area and everything I can't chest chesters what was it chester and hester's?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yes.
Speaker 1:Like I think that was just getting a little outdated some. And you know you're spending a lot of money Sorry, disney, you're spending a lot of money to go to Disney already, and then you're trying to spend even more, to be like an actual carnival and spend more money, and more money, and more money, and your kids are crying because you're not getting the stuffed animals that they're trying to win. You know, that part I experienced if you can hear it in my voice several times with our youngest. But then we've also had a good time with it too, where, hey, mommy won me a dinosaur, you know, and stuff. But um, it's just I think that part of it at least needed to be taken out. And I think the triceratops spin and all that too.
Speaker 1:I think it was just starting to show that it was really outdated and you either needed to give it a lot of love or bring something else in Now. Like it is sad that, like dinosaur area, because, like a lot of kids love dinosaurs Like it is sad that the whole thing is eventually going away, but at the or the whole land. But at the same time you've got to think how, how everybody, most everybody, really loved in Kanto, ok, and they're still trying to tie in animals with that, because you have to think Antonio has that gift of communicating with animals, so I'd be I'm really interested to see how they're going to tie that all in. And I think they're transforming certain areas of that part into supposedly like a rainforest. Okay.
Speaker 2:You know, because Hopefully they'll have, like some rainforest type animals on exhibit there as well, maybe.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because, like it's saying, including Antonio's room, which has been transformed into a rainforest.
Speaker 2:I'm back and forth on this. I always go back to what Walt said, that the parks will never be finished, right? They're always going to be evolving with the times.
Speaker 2:Right, and this is this is and I really try to keep that in my mind when I'm thinking about how I feel about these rethemes and and whatnot. I think we went on record very early on in this podcast of donald and usa being our least favorite land in all of alt disney world. Yeah, I have since changed that opinion. Now take away hester and chester, the parking lot. The more and more I learned about the backstory of Dinoland USA, the more and more I appreciated it. And it's not based on Disney IP, right? Yes, I will be a critic on the parking lot in the carnival games. I don't think that was very Disney ish to do. I think they just threw it in there to kind of go along with the theming. But the backstory to Restaurant-O-Saurus and Dinoland and the whole area the more and more I learned about it, the more and more I just fell in love with it. And when we are replacing these original Imagineering stories with Disney IP, I think it kind of takes away some of what makes Disney magical, right?
Speaker 1:Well, yeah, that's my opinion of it. I get it, but then that's why I said they either needed to revamp it with a lot of love or do something different. Because, like, I get where you're saying, like what is that restaurant called?
Speaker 2:Where.
Speaker 1:In.
Speaker 2:Dinoland Restaurant-a-saurus.
Speaker 1:Yes, restaurant-a-saurus, like the theming in it and all the details and stuff, yes, like once you realize that the history of it on that and everything, then okay, yeah, it's, it's great what the imagineers did. But I just I don't know as far as if, going back to wall and you know it's always changing, always evolving, and stuff I think I think for me, I think just some type, this type of change is it the right change? I don't know, we will, we will find out, but I think something did need to change in that area so, and here's I'm going to harp on this quite a bit.
Speaker 2:While we're talking about this, the average couple, family from, let's say, middle ohio is not going to go to walt disney world because they did restaurant of stores or they did dino dinosaur, right? Oh, there's a new indiana jones attraction coming. Oh, there's an incanto attraction coming. Okay, that's getting their attention now, right? Right people like me. I get it. There's a lot of people like me who appreciate this stuff, but your average family doesn't care. Right. And I try to keep that in perspective as well.
Speaker 1:And that's what, as a business, disney needs to keep up with those times you have to keep in mind it's still business, it is, it's still a business.
Speaker 2:So my final thought on this is I hope they do it right.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:I really hope they do it right and tie it in and they do. Usually when they do things like this, they do it well.
Speaker 1:Especially something this big.
Speaker 2:I just I hope they do it right. I am anxious, not anxious. Excited to see what it looks like when I was there last month and just saw nothing behind the construction walls, like the dinosaurs gone, like all that's gone. Yeah. It was surreal to see it that way. So yeah, I just hope they do it right. All right, moving on, what do you think of the retheming of Tom Sawyer's Island and the theming in Frontierland in general? I?
Speaker 4:have strong opinions on this. Yes, I know you do. That's my way.
Speaker 1:So as far as like what Frontierland and Liberty Square area and all of that represents, I to take Tom Sawyer's Island away and the whole retheming of that air, some of that area it. That part of it is hard because there is so much history there and I feel to a certain extent, especially being in education, that I still feel, even though it might not attract as many of the younger generations, that the kids still need to see that in some shape or form so do they even read huckleberry finn anymore in elementary school?
Speaker 1:uh, depends on where you are, but usually not okay. But I get it, I get it yeah um, you know that, but they but the time periods and stuff they still talk about you know, in some, some areas may, but anyway, moving on um. So you know that aspect of it is kind of like uh, you know they're, they're taking, you know away the education aspect of it and the relaxing environment of it too, because all of that area, it it makes you slow down it's an oasis, right, it really is, really is, and like Tom Sawyer's Island.
Speaker 1:I think we've talked about on a few episodes before that. You you know we've seen families go over there and there's kids napping. Parents are like ow. Yeah, you know, and it's just so you know you're not going to have that anymore, but I like the fact that they're re-theming for a Cars attraction.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Because you know, having two boys, especially our oldest, he was really big into Cars. I just hope that they do it right, because they've already said it's not going to be like it is in DCA in California, so, but there's two separate Cars attractions too, so I'm just wondering exactly how they're going to do it and are they going to do it right?
Speaker 2:uh, yeah I this is really and I wrote about this extensively in in my book writing about frontierland because, again, why I fell in love with walt disney world is the storytelling here. Liberty Square, fantasyland actually ties into it, but Liberty Square and Frontierland tell one big story. It's the expansion of America westward right. Right.
Speaker 2:And the storytelling here is just so well done and looking and thinking about it right now and in the past, I think this is why I don't. I'm not a big fan of Tiana's bayou adventure, because it does not fit in this land right right when they built splash mountain.
Speaker 2:Splash mountain is set in, you know, the 18th 1800s in the south. Right, well, that doesn't fit in with the 1800s in the wild in the west, but the way they themed it it fit the time period and the way they colored the rocks it did blend in, so it did fit in there. Tianus does not fit there.
Speaker 1:No no it just doesn't and I hate to say that, but it does not so it, and some of this is just also a sign of the times, and unfortunately so. So the reason why I was wording what I was wording earlier is because the adventures of Huckleberry Finn, like it's been banned a lot just because of things that are are mentioned in it and words that are used and stuff, and so I don't know if that's another reason behind them going ahead and changing this up, you know, because again it's, it's.
Speaker 2:it's the sign of the times changing, as we talked about not only with ip and all that more and what's going to attract families, but then even things like this right but when we talk about them getting away with liberty bell, the rivers of america and tom soars island, it this is kind of the heart of the park Kids could go and it was built for kids to go roam around and get lost, kind of like Animal Kingdom. You're supposed to get lost here. Parents can relax. It's got an old fort. That is interesting and fun. It is historical.
Speaker 2:It's an area where kids can kind of be kids, kids can really be kids and parents can relax knowing their kids are going to be fine, right, like you don't have to always keep tabs on them all the time, right? The problem I have with the re-theming is it's going to take away a lot of the character I think of Liberty Square and Frontierland. I think like the whistles, the steam of Liberty Square and Frontierland. I think the whistles, the steam whistles from the Liberty Bell right. Right.
Speaker 2:Hearing that paddle wheel slap in the water. Right, that's going to be gone and that's a lot of the character of that area. Yeah, so that I'm hesitant on. Also, we already have a Cars Land. It's in DCA. I know this is a Cars attraction, but I don't necessarily think we need it here, especially not in the Magic Kingdom. If they were going to put it somewhere, I think Hollywood Studios would have been a better park to do it.
Speaker 1:Right, but here's the thing there's so much going on in Orlando, with other parks as well, they're trying to keep up with all of that.
Speaker 2:Right, I was going to talk about that at the end.
Speaker 1:Oh, sorry no it's okay, yeah.
Speaker 2:But I don't. I know they're by the concept art in what the Imagineers have said they're going to tie it into Frontierland. I don't know. Yeah, have said they're going to tie it into frontier land. I don't know.
Speaker 1:I don't know how you take the car's intellectual property and put it into 1800s southwest I just I mean, I think it's just the aspect of it being in the southwest, but I I mean yeah, you know I get it. Yeah, it's tough for me to swallow that I know, and again I mean and don't get me wrong like I have enjoyed going to Tom Sawyer's Island before and riding, you know, the riverboat and all of that. Is it something we do all the time? No, I think we've done it once, but Done a couple times.
Speaker 1:Well, anyway. Well, the island, I think we've, maybe with the boys. So, um and again, yes, slow down. You know, take a moment, all of that stuff, but again as well. I see, like I've said, I'm echoing it again you've got to keep up with what's going on in other parks as well as what families are looking for, and you know like our generation still wants to keep, keep it, as is more so than the younger generations, because the younger generations that are now having the younger kids that are being taken to the park aren't as big on that. So some are, don't get me wrong, but a lot are not I'm just looking at it from a storytelling point of view.
Speaker 2:I just don't think it's. I just hope they do it right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, just do it right right and I get it like, yes, from storytelling point of view, but at the. But I mean we know, like the, the times are changing, like everybody, especially younger generations, are like they want it. They want it now. They don't want to slow down as much, even though that is needed in the parks. But you know that it's just like go, go, go, go go so all right.
Speaker 2:What do we think of the new villains land to be built behind big thunder mountain?
Speaker 1:I am excited. Okay, I am not big on villains, but the villains have needed some love other than just at halloween time. You know, I know they have like the villains stage show that they do and Hocus Pocus, the Sanderson sisters and all of that sisters.
Speaker 1:But I think that, as big of a following that the villains have, there are so many people that just absolutely love the villains, you know, and so I think that this is a good way to show them some love and and bring even more people to the park, which I know magic kingdom doesn't really need more people, but it gives it another land to get people to, so maybe certain other areas of the park won't be such clusters like frontier land is going to be when they build the Cars attraction and Villainsland.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because everyone's got to get to it.
Speaker 1:So I don't know, but I just. But I think I am excited because something more needed to be done for these villain characters, because, again, they have such a big following.
Speaker 2:I am meh on this. I'm not a big villains person. However, I do like that they are using the land outside behind Big Thunder Mountain. They're not taking stuff away for this, or? Putting it in the middle somewhere else, so to be its own separate land, which I do like, and I'm excited to see how they're going to tie everything in and I think Maleficent's going to be the main Maleficent yeah, Maleficent's fence gonna be the main Maleficent, yeah, melissa to be the main character based like a roller coaster based on Melissa Fenton and oh, you've heard that.
Speaker 1:That's what I've heard. Yeah, okay so.
Speaker 2:I just again what I've heard. Don't take this to well. Zack and Brittany said this like this is just what we've heard, so I'm. I'm mad on it. But then like okay, what are they gonna do with it?
Speaker 1:type of thing right at the same time right so yeah, I again, I'm, I'm excited, like the concept art looks exciting, like it looks villainous, for sure, you know, um, and you're gonna have like, since this is it, since it is its own land, you're going to have not only attractions but dining and shopping and all of that as well. So I get they've had such a big following. I, I mean, one of our neighbors is a big villain fan, you know, and so she's a melissa thing, right, yes, yes yes, maleficent, but then her favorite movie is also snow white erica is a big melissa fan too, right
Speaker 2:a little bit yeah, erica, correct us if we're wrong, yeah, I mean, I know she likes the maleficent movies, she likes cinderella, but I think melissa fits her favorite villain and then, like I said, our neighbor likes maleficent but her favorite movie is snow, snow white.
Speaker 1:So anyway, but uh, you know, I mean, there are so many villains, think of it. I mean you have the queen of hearts from alice in wonderland, jafar from aladdin, you know, um, just naming a few cruella deville, captain hook, gaston, mother gothel, ursula hades. You know, there's in the evil queen from snow white. You know, those are just a few of them. I think there's like 13 or 14.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, yeah, gothel, ursula Hades and the evil queen from Snow White. Those are just a few of them. I think there's like 13 or 14. Yeah, yeah, and so I think the reason Disney's doing this is because, right down the road at. Shmurnaversal Epic Universe. If you haven't seen Epic Universe yet, now, with all the YouTubers doing everything, it does look really, really cool. I don't know anything about how to train your dragon and I don't really care about Dark Universe because I don't like the old horror movie stuff. Right.
Speaker 2:But Super Nintendo Land looks awesome, yes, looks really cool. So Disney had to respond. They just had to. So they had to make these big new attractions to bring your average family from like Central Illinois or Ohio or New York or wherever york or wherever right, like, oh they're going, we need to go do that. They don't care about a re like a re-theme or not a re-theme, but a rehash of figment or or making that attraction better. They don't care about that. This is what they're going to care about. So I I do get it from a business standpoint.
Speaker 1:I just really hope that they do it right. They do it right.
Speaker 2:And they keep the storytelling of these lands in mind when they're doing it. All right.
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Speaker 1:We're thrilled to have Travel Planner Erica as the official sponsor of this podcast, and exclusively for Circle of Parks listeners. When you plan your next Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation or your next run Disney racecation with Erica, you'll receive a Disney gift card based on the value of your trip on your arrival day to put towards your Disney snacks.
Speaker 2:So if you're dreaming of a magical Disney trip, she's the expert you want on your side, ready to plan. Reach out to Erica at TravelPlannerEricacom, or follow her on Facebook and Instagram at Travel Planner Erica. To erica at travel planner ericacom, or follow her on facebook and instagram at travel planner erica. Yeah, and when this episode is released, she'll be doing her multi-passes yes she can plan all your multi-passes for you and we're gonna be. We'll talk about that in a little bit yeah, I was like you're holding, we're jumping ahead.
Speaker 2:All right, we're gonna move on to things we'd like to see. Come back to the parks that are no longer there. Brittany, do you have any things on your mind?
Speaker 1:I think the old FastPass system.
Speaker 2:The paper FastPass or the free FastPass, where you did them like 60 days out or 90 days.
Speaker 1:Either really they both. Anytime I see old videos on it or something, I'm just like, oh yeah, that would be nice.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I don't know you know more of the details on those two things, but like the first time we went, we had the, the three, the free, yeah, the free, three free that you did them, was it 90 days. I can't I can't remember.
Speaker 2:I think it was 90 days out yeah, um, and then if you uh, I forgot the youtuber's name defunct land. They did like an hour and a half hour and 45 minute documentary on fast passes and they did like these computer models and all this stuff. When there's a history of how they got developed and all this stuff, great, go check it out, defunct land on youtube. They concluded that the old paper fast pass system was the best system to keep ride times lower but still have a little bit of a advantage of skipping the line, but it being fair for everybody. So the old paper fast pass system was they had a booth set up outside the attractions and you would go and pull a, pull a ticket out and have a. It would have a return time on it, right?
Speaker 1:right and then, once they were out, they were out right, and I remember seeing those machines the first time we went. We didn't use them, but I remember seeing them and so that was so.
Speaker 2:Whenever the park opened, you ran to whatever attraction you wanted and you pull the ticket right yeah, so I think it was the most fair for everybody, but then there was only a limited amount of them, and so it kept the standby wait times low.
Speaker 1:Right, because it wasn't like thousands and thousands could get them yeah.
Speaker 2:And so now you see longer standby wait times because they're adding more multi-passes now, and so, yeah, I'm kind of meh on that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I just, I don't know Like. I just feel like when we've watched, you know vloggers that were doing it back then they just it seemed like it was. It was just a good experience you know. And then, when we first went, you know the fact that you didn't have to pay extra for those three rides. You know. I think, that was the big part is how expensive it can be nowadays be nowadays. Yes, we're gonna talk about that in a little bit I would love to see the magical express come back.
Speaker 2:Yes, for sure they are inching that way, I think, with the luggage stuff now at the value resorts right, slowly getting. I hope it comes back because that was when you got off the airplane in the airport you were in the bubble.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the minute you got to the magical express area you were, even though you weren't in disney yet, you were in the bubble. Yeah, the minute you got to the Magical Express area you were, even though you weren't in Disney. Yet you were in Disney.
Speaker 2:You were in that because as soon as you got on the bus there was like Disney cartoons playing or like it was some behind the scenes things about your favorite songs or something Right, and you were immediately thrust in that bubble. It was great.
Speaker 2:And then, as you leave, I cry yeah, it was great. And then, as you leave, I cry yeah, because they play the mickey mouse march, you know, at the end and see you're like oh man, you're like whoa, yeah the trip's over, it's over like, but you're in that like the whole time. I loved everything about it.
Speaker 1:Now we uber and I agree, though, like maybe they are going to eventually it would be wonderful. I think most people would say they want it back.
Speaker 2:I would even pay for it. Yeah, I'd pay 30 bucks each way, right Per person, to have that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because of everything that Zach said, and you know the fact that they are doing the luggage thing at the resorts, where that your luggage is taken directly there and all of that or to into the airport, right.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:You know that was so the fact that they're slowly reintroducing- that maybe just so.
Speaker 2:You check your bags at the resort and you don't see them till you get to your desk, till you get home yeah at the carousel baggage carousel, yeah, yeah um anything else you'd like to see come back that we miss I don't know you I would like to see the flotillas and animal kingdom.
Speaker 1:Oh yes, they took them away I know, you know, I know, they did it during the pandemic, the pandemic and everything um, but they kept it for a couple years you know, and uh, it was just so cool to like look out on the river and what is the river called?
Speaker 1:rivers of rivers of light yeah, and just you know, you don't, you didn't know if you were gonna see, like, uh, the up characters on a flotilla or a pocahontas or Chippendale or whoever you know, and it was just cool because they'd be playing music as they're coming by and yeah, I would agree to that. Yeah.
Speaker 2:All right. So do you think going to Walt Disney World is better or worse now than when we started going in 2019? Ooh, this is a tough question.
Speaker 1:Yeah, ooh, I don't know, that's hard because, like our boys are different. Now yeah, it's like the ages of our kids in our very first experience, you know, like we didn't know anything.
Speaker 2:It was great. You know, ignorance really is bliss because we didn't stress over stuff.
Speaker 1:It was just like going with the flow, you know, uh. And then the next time we went, in 2019, we did no more and that was a trip, that was a blur, and disaster well, we just planned too much in such a short time.
Speaker 1:But, um, anyway, uh, I don't know. I think I feel like some of the magic isn't quite there, but I don't know if it's because our kids are older too. Yeah, you know, because you come across some really great cast members still and it's all magical, and then you have others that are, you know, all magical, and then you have others that are, you know, um, but again, it was it more, was I seeing more of that because the kids were little and they're more. Hey, how's it going with younger ones? Like I don't know?
Speaker 1:I don't know, um, the, the fast passes as I talked about, I feel like back then I like it better than now. I just feel like we're just constantly paying more and more and more money, you know, for things, but you also don't want to wait half a day in lines either. So, uh, I think certain things are better and certain things are worse I agree.
Speaker 2:I think you're spending a lot more than you did in 2019 even adjusted for the inflation right. They're just nickel and diming you more than they were back then. I think, yeah, I definitely think you got more for your money in 2019 than you are now. Right, but, like you said, it's different because our boys are different now. So we're not rope dropping now, right, we're not doing the things we did seven years ago, six years ago, yeah. The parks have changed too.
Speaker 2:There are more attractions now as well, a lot, some really great attractions now right yeah, I so I I don't know, this is our trip we're doing is gonna be. It's gonna be the first like take it easy seven day only walt disney world trip we've done in a few years Because we've focused so much on Disneyland in the past couple years, we haven't done just a full seven days only doing four park days Disney World only. So I think we need to re-answer this question after.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:What do you think?
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I mean already though, this trip is different because of our boys' ages, and we're not going to be rope dropping and we're doing quick service and not a lot of sit down, you know, and so I don't really know how we can compare it. Yeah, because it's just completely different in so many ways, you know, because we're only doing like a couple of sit downs, um, in one, just one character me and nolan. Yeah, are we all doing what?
Speaker 1:no, we're not all no, we're not, I'm out, okay, so again, there you go. The only character dining that's going to be happening is just one, with me and nolan, and so I I don't know if we can really compare it. Okay. Because of some of what I just said. Okay, you know, but I mean it's still going to be a great trip. It's just going to be a different type of trip, with the timings that we wake up and all of that stuff.
Speaker 2:What do you think of the new Monsters Inc land and the retheming of Rockin' Roller Coaster to Muppets? I am excited, yes.
Speaker 1:I am excited. Yes, I am excited because you know, I know initially everybody's like no, all the Muppet stuff is gonna go, but then you hear, oh well, they're still giving them some love on another attraction. So I think that kind of helped with that. Put a bandaid on that. Right you know the new theming for Monsters Inc. I think you know that. I think that area needed to be updated. Whether I ride the suspended roller coaster with the doors or not, I don't know.
Speaker 1:But I think a lot of people are going to really love that ride and are excited for that ride and you know it's going to take you like. Think of the movie when all the doors are on, like the conveyor belt, kind of thing.
Speaker 1:You know, not a conveyor belt, but you know what I'm saying yes and um, so that's a bit of track, yeah, so that's. You know what this coaster is going to be modeled off of and everything and the concepts of it that they've been sharing. You know, I think it will. It will be fun. I just don't know if I'm going to do it. Uh, and then I think they're going to have it. Is it one more ride too?
Speaker 1:I think so yes and then, just you know, since it's going to be more of a monster zinc land, there's bound to be some dining and shopping experiences japanese restaurant.
Speaker 2:I forgot the name of it, but yeah, yeah so so I'm excited.
Speaker 1:I'm excited for it. Now I don't ride rock and roller coaster, but zach and I have talked about like oh, it'd be awesome if they added this at this part of the attraction, and so I think if they do it well, then I think that it can be a good, exciting fit too I'm excited for monsters inc land.
Speaker 2:Um, I think disney needs to make the muppets more appealing to the new generation, because it's not I don't think no, it's not so I think disney needs to do a better job of marketing the muppets and doing more muppet content. I think that's my opinion, but I'm excited for the new monsters, inkland, I think actually I think I said this on one of the first few episodes it would be awesome to have a roller coaster that's through that scene yeah I think I said that a long time, yeah, you did, and then now they are now and I think it'll be so much fun.
Speaker 2:I love the re-theme of rock and roller coaster to muppets, because nobody knows who aerosmith is anymore, except for our generation, right right newer kids, like you ask our kids, and they have no clue who he is yeah who the band is, and so, I think, re-theming it to muppets again.
Speaker 1:I don't, the new generation, I don't think nearly knows a lot of the muppets no, but the fact that it's a roller coaster and all that right, and I think it will keep it going with, like the you know animal and and all of that.
Speaker 2:I think that would be cool and I just remind like animal on drums. Yeah, I just imagine when we're sitting ready for launch. You just hear and then just take off, like that would be so fun right right, and so I I'm looking forward to all this.
Speaker 2:You know and I know there's a lot of discontent with Muppet Vision 3D going away, because that was the last attraction Jim Henson himself worked on. I get it, but I've read that they are like the Imagineers are storing all of this stuff and they're going to keep it for preservation, to be maybe in like a museum or something, because it was Jim Henson did work on that. So I get it, but yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Yeah. I think, it's gonna be fun.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I was trying to think it's called Monstropolis.
Speaker 2:Monstropolis.
Speaker 1:Okay, yes, the city that the yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, all right. Oh, you got an earring problem there. Yes, all right. Do you think we'll enjoy using the new multi-pass on our upcoming trip? So we are doing multi-passes for all the parks. I know we've been staunchly against using them for Animal Kingdom and Epcot, but we're doing them for all the parks. And we're doing all the single passes as well.
Speaker 1:Yes, we're doing all of them.
Speaker 2:Yes, erica, you might have to type all this out for me. We've already. Yes, we are estimating the cost to be around 500 extra for all four of us to do all of this stuff yeah do you think we'll enjoy it?
Speaker 1:I do think, as far as not waiting in line as long and all of that will help, because even though our boys are older, they still get very antsy waiting for a long time. Then they start being brothers and kind of picking on each other, pushing, shoving a little bit if it's a certain amount of time. So I think it's going to help with that, okay for sure. So, as a parent, a little less stressful, um is it worth the 500?
Speaker 1:I don't know I will get back to you I will get back to you on that one okay, I sure hope so yeah I sure hope so um I am money aside.
Speaker 2:That's a lot of money. I am looking forward to having the day kind of planned out, because with the old lightning lane system you did not have that. Right.
Speaker 2:You're constantly on your phone what can I get next? What can I get next, what can I get next? And it doesn't really allow for any kind of structure. To the day when we're talking about the old fast pass system where you picked them, you know, 90 days out, whatever it was, you had a structure that you're like okay, at this time we got this, at this time, we got this right, so now you can add in filler attractions in between those or relax and take your time right, not on your phone as much not on your phone as much, so I'm looking forward to that aspect of it of okay.
Speaker 2:At this time we have this we don't have anything else until this time, this time so we have these three hours to do an attraction, go to a show, relax, sit down. So I think I do think it will, just on the face of it, force us to slow down a little bit, because we're not going to be so rushed to do everything right right yeah, um because before it would be like okay, now that we've ridden this ride, now back on the phone, right exactly, find the next one I'm not going to be.
Speaker 2:We're not going to be doing that. Yeah, and I'm really. We've been staunchly against lightning lanes or anything for animal kingdom, because there's just not that many attractions right now. We've always been advocates of getting the single pass. Now it's called single pass for flight of passage, but everything else I don't think you needed it for, but we are going to use it for this. So I'm wondering, I'm curious, how much extra time we're going to have for nomad lounge shows or just sitting around the tree of life doing nothing right.
Speaker 1:Hopefully more than last time, I felt like I didn't get quite as much time as I wanted to to do some of those things you just mentioned on our last trip.
Speaker 1:So well, we were so beat up by that point as well after that trip, yes, I don't recommend doing that well, and what he's talking about for those of you that are new is we did a coast to coast trip. Basically, we started off in disneyland for a few days and then went straight into disney world and the jet lag got us and it the heat.
Speaker 1:It was super, super hot it it wore us down yeah so, but yeah I, so I hope that it will give us more time, like I'd like to see lion again, I would like to spend more time around the Tree of Life, the otters, you know, I could watch them all day. You know, of course, the trails we've talked about and everything. So, yeah and yes, nomad Lounge.
Speaker 2:Hours at Nomad Lounge Hours Well, alright, so we got the free dining package on this trip.
Speaker 1:We did the quick service.
Speaker 2:We're staying at Coronado Springs and with that you have to get the uh park hopper ticket, so it's one big package. Do you think we will save money by doing that, or do you think we will not have saved money?
Speaker 1:for the, for the dining, I think Quick service If you have like, because it includes a beverage too right.
Speaker 2:Correct Alcoholic, one alcoholic beverage.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So if you I'm saying you because you know- me in the heat. I can't handle alcohol that much in the heat. You know me, in the heat I'm. I can't handle alcohol that much in the heat. So if you use that credit and me on occasion, then yes, but I think it may also surprise us. Now you mentioned so it is park hopper we have park hopper tickets you have.
Speaker 2:You had to get the park hopper tickets to get the free dining. That's where they get you, because we're not going to be park hopping on this trip, but we paid for park hoppers.
Speaker 1:How much was park hopping? I don't know.
Speaker 2:So we're going to do an episode that's going to break all of this down and find out did we save money by booking the free dining or did we not? I'm going to go. We did not.
Speaker 1:Because of the park hopper aspect of it that's going to be a not if we don't park hop at all.
Speaker 2:Now, if there's a day, I think we might on the animal kingdom, that's what I was gonna say what?
Speaker 1:does animal kingdom close at six or eight when we're there? I don't know. But the only reason why I'm asking for those of you that are new is a lot of times throughout the year animal kingdom closes like six or seven, but later or not later, but like times where it's usually less crowded, like the off times. Sometimes they're open until eight. So if it's an, if it's a day that we're there and they close at like six or seven, then we might would hop over to say magic kingdom and catch the fireworks or something I don't't know.
Speaker 2:Closes at six.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So we would be going to Magic Kingdom to hang out, yeah.
Speaker 1:Or do we go back to resort and just chill? We'll see how we feel at the end of the day.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, with it being the quick service, there's a lot of quick service restaurants. You don't get the full value of that credit, right, so it's easier, it's more convenient to have it, because we're going to go to different, uh, restaurants that we haven't been to before.
Speaker 1:Right, and we're talking about this earlier, we're going to be doing live dining reviews from some of these quick service restaurants, not all of them but some ones we haven't been to yet and it is a little less like stressful, for sure, because you're not like, oh, like, if you're debating okay, well, I'm debating between these two meals and this one's 15 and this one's 10, like you don't really have to think about that get to 15 yeah, but I mean I'm just saying like, but if you were paying cash on the spot, you would look at that.
Speaker 2:Yes, so yeah I'm gonna say we're not, I'm saying I'm gonna say we're losing money by doing this. Yeah.
Speaker 2:But it's more convenient. I'm also saying we're going to lose money because we're taking two full off days. One would be a full pool day, so we'll just be eating quick service from the quick service restaurant at Coronado Springs and then the next day you and Nolan will have an off day, but me and Ryan we'll be going to Smirnoversal the next day, you and Nolan will have an off day, but me and Ryan will be going to Smirnoversal, so that's one day of dining credits. We're not even going to use.
Speaker 2:Right For me and Ryan.
Speaker 1:Me and Nolan for one of our meals. That is a character dining that's not included with this dining package.
Speaker 2:Right, but y'all still have lunch and dinner to use it on Right. But I'm just saying but that's one meal, though, like right where you're not going to use, I have to pay. Yeah, yeah, but we have three. We're gonna have three sit downs yeah, I know, but I mean like talking about the days you were saying that we're off right, though, yeah, so yeah, I think we're gonna lose money on it, but it's all in one package, it's done we don't have to worry about it.
Speaker 2:So is it worth it for that? Maybe, but we'll do an episode of breaking down how much we paid for our trip and how much it would have been if we get everything. We did not do the free dining because we have all of our receipts from the quick service restaurant, so we'll go from there. Okay, what do you think? Yeah, all right. Anything else you'd like to talk about?
Speaker 1:No, I think that.
Speaker 2:No, Well again. Thank you so much for joining us. Sorry, the past few weeks you haven't been around.
Speaker 1:It's just a busy season.
Speaker 2:Life just gets you. But we're going to be back to normal and look forward to some great content coming up. We're going to document our travels and we're going to do some live reviews from the quick service places.
Speaker 1:Right, and next week will be trip planning, trip planning.
Speaker 2:Next week. Yes, can't wait. All right. So if you want to support the podcast, the best way to do that is to book your next vacation with Travel Planner Erica. Tyler Reese sent you. Take advantage of that gift card. Her website's wwwtravelplannerericacom. She's on Facebook and Instagram. At Travel Planner Erica. You can email us circleofparks at gmailcom. Our website is wwwcircleofparkscom and we're on Facebook, instagram and X all at circle of parks. Don't forget, go to Apple. Leave us a five-star rating If you really do appreciate it. Thank you so much. We'll talk to you next week. Talk to you soon, thank you.