All things Disney, Part II - Park Strategy and Annual Passes

In this episode, Brittany along with Janice, Lauren and Nikki discuss strategic planning for Disney World vacations, contrasting the experiences of frequent visitors with first-timers. The speakers highlight Universal Studios' superior "rider swap" system and express mild disappointment over a recent Muppets-themed attraction update. They explain the financial logistics of annual passes, noting that out-of-state guests must visit for at least eight days to see a return on investment. Additional advice covers the complexity of the Disney Dining Plan, the benefits of using free specialized travel agents, and the utility of Lightning Lanes to avoid long waits with children. Ultimately, the dialogue suggests that consistent visits reduce vacation pressure, allowing families to prioritize relaxation over a frantic pace.

Book that trip!

Enjoy! 

~The VN Podcast XoXo

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:16

Hey everyone, welcome to the Voice Notes Podcast. I am Janice, your host, and with me are my co-hosts and besties, Lauren and Nikki. Each week, we bring you a relaxed chat with different takes on music, entertainment, fitness, and just all around life. So whether you're driving, you're at work, you're at the gym, or just lounging, let's get into it.

SPEAKER_04 0:38

What would you change at Disney? What would be the first thing that you would change at Disney if you work there?

SPEAKER_00 0:44

So let's talk about the parking lot.

SPEAKER_05 0:48

Yes. Yeah, because I'm more of like the park official.

SPEAKER_03 0:50

No, yeah, like you are the park official audience. So now you recently have been there, so you have boots on the ground observations. Yes. So to Nick's point, what would you what would you change?

SPEAKER_05 1:03

So going as an adult with no children and going as an adult with a child, and previously going last Definitely different. And last year we went to Universal for the first time because of Epic. And I will say Universal does one thing better than Disney. Okay. And Disney, I think, caught on to that because they are trialing it out. Their writer swap. Previously, you would go to Disney and you had to say, I'm gonna do a rider swap, and they would scan your band or your card, whatever it is you're using. And the one person would wait in line, whether you purchase a lightning lane or not, they would wait in line. Um and then this person who's switching to watch the kid would then go through the queue, but on a lightning lane, which is bypassing the majority of the line. But let's say I waited in line 30 minutes, and now Ben's got to wait in line 15 to 20 minutes. That's 50 minutes. Whereas universal, everybody goes through the line, and right before they put you on the ride, they stick whatever parent and the kid in a room. In an air-conditioned smart room with a TV. Oh, cool. So they with a cartoon playing, so you're in an air-conditioned room with a cartoon. So smart. Everyone's gone through the line. As soon as that person gets on, they put the other parent right on the room. Yeah. So you're not waiting this double time.

SPEAKER_04 2:20

Double time, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 2:21

And I did see we were able to sneak preview the Soren, the 250 Soren, which starts tomorrow.

SPEAKER_03 2:28

Who's Soren? That's such a great ride. And the Muppets and Muppet, yeah, she was giving me. Which also starts tomorrow. We were able to preview those two things. Got their own ride. Electric Mayhem got my own. That's awesome. It's not I know it's not great. It's a little disappointing.

SPEAKER_04 2:41

What's disappointing about it?

SPEAKER_03 2:44

Well, what did you like? You liked the video you told me.

SPEAKER_05 2:47

Like the so yes, so before it was the Aerosmith video, the theming is still the same, like, oh, let's get everybody a sh uh a stretch. It's not, they don't call it a stretch. Dr. Honeydew says it's uh it's like long something motor, whatever, and it spells limo as like a honeydew. Oh so the video was very good, like that intro video. You're on the ride, it's the same ride.

SPEAKER_03 3:11

Oh.

SPEAKER_05 3:12

They just put like beaker on a thing and they put like very small details to make it Muppets, but it's not just the same thing, but it's still the same ride.

SPEAKER_00 3:19

So they just took Arrow Smith down and put the Muppets. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 3:23

Which is why I was like a little let down.

SPEAKER_00 3:25

I was like, Yeah, I would be disappointed too, because they didn't do really anything. And they were closed for so long. How often do you go to Disney?

SPEAKER_05 3:31

Um, so this year we got an annual okay. So here's the deal. Here's the break. Here's the things that you need to know if you're going to Disney. Tickets are one of the most expensive things. Probably next to the hotel. But you can get you can stay at a cheaper hotel. Yeah. Like on Disney property. You can do an all-star hotel. And if you're not spending a lot of time at New Hotel, then who cares? And do what you can afford, right? But outside of that, it's the tickets. For an annual pass, we are out of state. You only have one choice. If you're in the state, you have a plethora of choices in different tiers that you can choose. If you're out of state, you have one option. You have to be in the park eight days for that ticket to pay for itself. Eight. I can't.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

That's too much. Eight.

SPEAKER_05 4:17

We were there in October, we were there in March, we just got back yesterday. And you're right. And we're gonna go in September. Because it's the date you scan in, you have one year. She's cracked it.

SPEAKER_00 4:27

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 4:28

One year.

SPEAKER_00 4:28

So you have a year to fulfill that.

SPEAKER_05 4:31

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

Okay. I thought it was like eight consecutive. No, it's an annual pass. So just like if you get it for six flats. Six lacks.

SPEAKER_05 4:37

When you have to go twice for it to pay for itself. Yeah. You don't, you're not going twice on a weekend. You're going once this day and once this day and once twice a day. And a season. Yes. So you have one year. And as long as you go eight days, you have paid for yourself. I have outpaid. That thing is free at this point. But also when you have an annual pass, you get all of these discounts. So it's like the one we just went, we went because I got 40% off the hotel. 40%. 40%. That's a huge percent of the colour. 70% on the property. Because you told me that it was on season. Yeah. So they're sending it out to all the annual pass being people be like, well, this is not high traffic area for us. So if you want to come, we're going to give you this massive discount, probably because they're not selling those rooms anyway.

SPEAKER_04 5:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 5:19

Is because it's before summer? Probably. Oh, okay. Before the kids are out from school. Before the kids are off from school. It starts like the discount started like May 1st. Yeah. So it's after spring break, it's before all the kids are out. Yeah. It's getting hotter. Yes. So it was like, I think it was like up until June like 12th or something like that. But that must be when school gets out down there.

SPEAKER_03 5:40

Sure. I've known people in the past that have passes, and especially because you have kids, right? Yeah. You have your daughter, right? So years ago, uh, friends of friends that I know had three kids under 10, and I they were the first people I knew who lived in Jersey who got passes. And I remember them telling me that, and they were like, listen, we have three under 10. We're going to Disney World. We're not going to an island. We're not going to Europe. And I remember them telling me that, and it was like the mom was like, I mean, and I know that the program should all be changed and things like that, and Disney's always adapting. So when she was telling me that, I was like, No, that makes complete sense. Yeah. Because then there's so many savings. And like she was this was years ago, and I remember her like mapping it out and telling me now her kids are older and whatever else. But it was a way to access the convenience and do exactly what you're doing.

SPEAKER_05 6:24

And I think it also takes the pressure off. I feel so one of um the dance moms just went, she has three kids, and she jam-packed her days, jam-packed them. But they also stayed off property because they got an Airbnb because of food allergies. She wanted to buy her own food, and I totally understand that. Um but she was like, it was miserable for her. She's like, because I had to plan everything, and I like jam, I was like, why, why, why do you call it? You tortured yourself. No, we had a whole conversation, but she's like, no, this is the way I have to do it. I was like, good for you. Um, but like to me, the more the more frequent you go, the less you're pressured to do stuff. Like, I would be fine going in, grabbing a Joffrey's coffee, doing three rides, and going back to the pool.

SPEAKER_06 7:06

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 7:07

Because it essentially is free.

SPEAKER_06 7:10

Free. And I also know that I'm going to be a good one.

SPEAKER_05 7:13

If I miss something this time, I'll do it next time. It's not a big deal. Right, right. And even as Scarlet was, are we doing that this time? I was like, no, we did it last time. She's like, Oh, yeah, we did. I was like, let's do something we didn't do last time. And have a vacation.

SPEAKER_04 7:23

That was another question I was gonna ask. Like, do you try to do something new every time you go, or do you go for your like your favorites all the time?

SPEAKER_05 7:31

I always shoot for the favorites. Okay. But I always pick lightning lanes because, again, she's five. She's not gonna wait in an hour line for in yeah. Well, she did once, but because she was no, I wasn't.

SPEAKER_04 7:43

And that's gonna be miserable for her and you.

SPEAKER_05 7:45

Well, the ride was down, and I told her the ride is down, and she was I wanna wait. It was Mickey and Minnie's runaway train. She loves Mickey Minnie's training. She and we waited like 45 minutes for it to come back. It wasn't even running for it to come back on. Oh, but outside of like her saying, No, I want to do this anyway, her waiting in an hour is miserable for everybody. Yes, yes. So I always pick the lightning lane, which is like a skip. You don't really skip the line, but if the line's 45 minutes, you went maybe 15, 20 minutes. Like assume it's half. Yeah. So there's you can only pick certain things from from those and there's there's tears. Oh, yeah, right. I remember.

SPEAKER_04 8:20

I do remember you saying that, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 8:21

That's why you have to talk to her because she's like, But I always pick, and you have to know which thing. I just had this conversation because another family went, and she's like, Oh, we're gonna lightning lane this, this, this. I said, You absolutely are not lightning lane those three things. I said, You're going to lightning lane this first. And she was, why? This is why you said Brittany. You might get, no, you will get these other two later in the day. But if you go out of that order assuming you're gonna get that later in the day, you absolutely will not. You have to know which there's like a nuance to it. And if you don't go to Disney, you're not gonna understand that at all.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

Yeah. I remember when I was asking you all these questions, but but you're like, you're not gonna understand, but I'm but wait, but wait, you're not gonna understand. Just go. Just go with what I say.

SPEAKER_03 9:05

It's like it's like when you do a shopping cart and you check it out. Give her the logins. And Brett and Begging be like, but I'm like, it's amazing to watch. She's fascinating.

SPEAKER_05 9:16

She's doing POC and MC and MK. And she'll be like, yeah, I'm doing POC and MK. Pirates of the Caribbean in Magic Kingdom. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 9:24

I would have never known that. I'm like, um, okay. Just give her your logins. Really good job. Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 9:32

So I want to touch on the food plan really quick. There's two Disney dining plans. One is a quick service plan, you get two quick service meals, which means you're not getting a waiter. You go to the counter, you order your food, they either call you back to the counter to collect your food, or they bring it to your table. Um, but there's no like wait staff coming to you. You can get some quality food at that type of establishment. Then there's the sit-down where you get one quick service and one sit-down dinner. Somebody asked me, they're like, Would you do you do a dining plan? And I was like, I have done a dining plan and I have not done a dining plan. It all depends on what you want to do. And some people think the dining plan is always worth it. The dining plan is not always worth it. If you're doing character dining, get the dining plan. If you're doing character dining that takes two table service, do not get the dining plan because you have to eat $140 worth of food, and there's no character dining that gives you $140 worth of food. So it's like it's very specific. You've got to do that. And the things like people ask me questions, I'm like, it's not a yes or no. So what do you want to do? What do you want to do? Tell me what you want to do, and I'll tell you. There's even websites that will have you put in your restaurants, and then it'll tell you, yes, get the dining plan or no, don't get the dining plan. Like it's gonna cost you all this without the dining plan, it's gonna cost you this with the dining plan. Like, we do not recommend, or we recommend the dining plan, but you pay out of pocket for this one because it's not worth it.

SPEAKER_04 10:52

Um, we would just go to you, bro.

SPEAKER_01 10:56

I mean, I want to go to beer guests.

SPEAKER_04 11:00

Only the people she likes.

SPEAKER_01 11:02

Do not DM me any questions. Thank you. Go through the number to know the channel. You can DM me and I'll ask before you. We're gonna go through the voice notes podcast.

SPEAKER_04 11:14

Go through the voice notes podcast and we will talk to our contacts.

SPEAKER_05 11:18

But also, like, there's all of these Disney travel agents that you do not pay. It's the same price as if you booked Disney.com. And as soon as you check into your hotel, Disney pays them. And they do all of the legwork for you, and they will answer all of your questions. Check that out. Disney pays them. You don't pay an extra percentage or anything. That is, and I used one when we went to Universal because we were going from you I don't know Jack about Universal. I do now, but I still wouldn't. Yeah, you know, whatever. Um, and I didn't want to have to figure out what car service to use. I'm like, well, what if I pick a crap one and you know they don't show up and they have my money. So I booked it through a lady who's actually in New Jersey, I found out. Um, and she did all of the legwork for me, even the Disney stuff, because it was all under one trip, and it was fine. And they do it for free.

SPEAKER_04 12:06

Wow.

SPEAKER_05 12:07

I mean, not for free, but it doesn't, it's not it's not at a cost to the person booking because it's almost like a commission.

SPEAKER_04 12:13

Kind of once you check in, they get that money. I'm not surprised. That is genius.

SPEAKER_03 12:18

Because it has gotten Disney. I feel like uh you need an expert to book the trip to have the best experience.

SPEAKER_05 12:26

If you haven't done it and you don't know.

SPEAKER_04 12:28

That was my other thing, too. Like the first time someone goes there, what what do they need to know? Oh yes, and what do they I was a timer?

SPEAKER_05 12:38

Janice, tell us what you wish you knew. Yeah, Janice.

SPEAKER_00 12:41

Well, I wish I knew it's just overwhelming because it's just it's Disney and there's so much to do. But I get it when people say it is one of the happiest places in the world. It is because it was like everywhere you turned and looked, even though it's a good one. Your money was the kids everywhere. It was enough space, enough breathing room, just enough of everything for you to not even feel that effect. Like, you know, you go to theme parks and you have like kids all over the place. Disney's just not like that. So I felt so happy when I was there. Like if you're in a background, you got a problem. And the weather was perfect. Now when did you guys? When did the three of you go? Late March. Late March was it? Yeah, I feel like it was spring. Yeah, it was definitely spring. But it was before spring break. Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_05 13:27

So it was March because I was a year ago then, because we were planning a friend trip and it didn't happen. It was a year. So it was a year ago.

SPEAKER_00 13:33

We were gonna go February of this year, but it didn't get too much. But it was March of last year. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 13:38

I thought it was the fall.

SPEAKER_04 13:40

Uh-uh, no, it was definitely. Uh-huh. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:43

I could tell you the perfect weather. I was very scared because it's the unknown, right? So I didn't know what I was going to expect. And like I would ask Brittany so many questions, and she'd be like, you're just not gonna understand. Just book it where it is. You want me to book it? Do you want me to book it? Okay. She's like, and we're doing this. A B. But what's you? Because I wanted you to have the whole experience. But when we were there, it was fantastic because to see her and uh Ben in action. I was like, I am slow, we're impressed. Are you? Are you? You better be here in five minutes or we're done. We're out. This segment is sponsored by Michaela Barr's cookies are fantastic. That's not a euphemism. She's 16 and she makes cookies. They're great cookies. There's a whole lot of cookies out there you could get, but you want to get Michaela Barr's cookies. Go to Mickey's.sweet.treats on Instagram. Michaela Bar Cookies. It's not a euphemism. Michaela Bar Cookies, it's not a euphemism. It was so impressive.

SPEAKER_03 14:51

It's like Ben and Britt's love language. Yeah, even their love was amazing.

SPEAKER_00 14:55

But what was even more impressive is that there was no like cattiness going on. There was no drama. Like, of course, you get tired.

SPEAKER_04 15:04

Yeah, but we had the best time together. It was so we had so many different laughs and everything. It was so good.

SPEAKER_01 15:10

Would you say it was laughs and sass?

SPEAKER_04 15:12

Laughs and sass.

SPEAKER_01 15:13

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 15:14

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:14

So as a first timer, I'm so thankful that you planned it all and you just told me what to pay. I planned it if I'm not going. Like you partnership if I'm not going. Okay with that. Yes. I find such cheaper.

SPEAKER_04 15:27

One thing he would change, would you stay on property next time?

SPEAKER_00 15:30

I liked where I stayed. And it didn't bother me because where I stayed, so we stayed off property. Yeah. But um I loved it because they had the transportation you needed. Like they the hotel per box. Did you have a rental car? Yeah, so we would have a rental car. But they have also the ability to get on the bus looking for a new space. You could get on the bus and it takes you to be reliable.

SPEAKER_05 15:56

Finish, finish, finish. And then I'm gonna I'm gonna make a it just we just did this.

SPEAKER_00 16:01

What we learned is that if we're gonna put money into a rental car, then you could put that money, save the money on the rental car, and stay on property. So that way you save that money. Yeah, that's what I asked. Equals out like would you do that next time? It equals out. Okay. Next time we would stay on property, and it's much more convenient to stay on property. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 16:21

So we went, Ben had a work thing, which is why we were there in March. We it was we were on property, off property. Like it's part of Disney's property, and they had a shuttle service, but it's not Disney's shuttle service. And it was very specific times. Like we leave the hotel at eight, we pick up at 8:30, we leave the hotel at nine, we pick up at 9:30. We leave Epcot at 2, there's no bus again till 4. And I was like, I can't handle that. Because what happens if like I have a kid who's having a meltdown, and I'm like, well, you gotta make it another two hours. Like, we already missed that butt. Right. I'm not down for that. Right. That was the only thing that like staying on off with the shuttle. I was like, Because that was doesn't work for me.

SPEAKER_03 17:01

Let's talk about the hotels real quick because that's an interesting one. Because I I didn't go with you guys, but I saw the listing. That was a Disney branded hotel. How did they do the licensing of that? That's a Hilton.

SPEAKER_05 17:11

So it's a Hilton on Disney property. Okay. So there's like it's the official there's a lot of things on Disney property that Disney does not own. I don't know how it's do they pay a rent, do they pay a fee? Did they make a partnership? I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 17:25

Where I say, do they own it? Coronado Springs? Yes, that's a Disney property. That's a Disney property.

SPEAKER_05 17:29

That's a Disney property. Um beautiful. Anywhere that buses pick up, the majority of the time is a Disney property. There's even a military thing on the uh shades of green. You have to be a military partner. It's right across from the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian, and it has very nice gold there. But if you're staying there, you have to be either active or retired as well. Okay, so there's there's plenty of there's a four seasons in Golden Oaks. Like there's plenty of things that are not owned by Disney that are on Disney property. Um so I think this was one of those things. It's not owned by Disney, it's on Disney property, or it's very closely adjacent to Disney property, um, right next to Disney Springs. I probably, if I was on the other side, could have seen fireworks at night. Like that's how close we're we're you're you're kind of in the bubble. Okay. Um the hotel was fine. Sure. It was fine, like for me and Scarlett to go by ourselves while Ben did his thing. Like, I just think it worked out well.

SPEAKER_03 18:28

It could be misleading because you're like, oh, like it's a hill, and but you're like, yeah, but it's you know what I mean? There's like a greater area.

SPEAKER_04 18:33

It is a yes, a lot to know about.

SPEAKER_05 18:36

I think the Swan and Dolphin is a Hilton, but it's Disney. Okay. Like that is Disney. Hilton on, I think it could be Marriott. It's on Disney property. Um boardwalk, right? By boardwalk. It's by the boardwalk. So like if you can book it on Disney.com, it's it's on Disney property. That's a good barometer. If you cannot book it on disney.com, it might be on their property, but it's not, it's you're not in the bubble with the buses to keep in mind. Because the four seasons definitely on Disney property, but you can't book it on Disney.com. Gotcha. You have to book it off, and I they have shuttles, yeah, but it's not a Disney shuttle. Yeah, yeah. Okay. Is there restrictions on time? I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 19:16

That's good to know. That's good to know.

SPEAKER_00 19:17

We had a blast.

SPEAKER_04 19:18

We had a blast. Yeah, your photos are great. We go again. I definitely want to go back. So much fun, too.

SPEAKER_00 19:23

Yeah, I definitely want to go again. Um sometime next year. So, for all our listeners who will be first time, excuse me, uh, it'll be the first time for them going to Disney. What's the art like itinerary? Am I saying it right? Itinerary. Thank you. Um problem. What would you say would be the right order of things? Is it Magic Kingdom, Epcot? Like what should be done first? That was one of my questions too. That's a great question. Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_06 19:52

It depends on what day they arrive.

SPEAKER_00 19:55

Exactly. She's like, It depends on what you want to do. No, it depends on what day you arrive. Oh, the day you arrive.

SPEAKER_05 20:00

The day you arrive. You never, let me not say never. I, me, then we won't do it because you wouldn't have to do it. Oh no. Who? Because all the locals who just turned 21 drinking around the meeting. Drinking around the world.

SPEAKER_03 20:22

And the weekends are always much more crowded. And because all the locals. So tell them about so you said this before too about locals. You mean like what is the rule for Disney for people who live in Florida? Do you know what the So if they have an annual?

SPEAKER_05 20:34

So it's even me as an annual pass holder, I now have to make a reservation to get in the park. Okay. Even if I'm staying on property, which makes me annoyed because if I was not an annual pass and I'm staying on property, like I wouldn't have to is this a new rule change? It happened after COVID.

SPEAKER_00 20:48

Yes.

SPEAKER_05 20:49

Colour changed everything. So there's no like as long as you as long as they have a reservation and they're not blocked out, they can go. Okay. Um, but you're gonna see a lot more activity on the weekends. The lowest park on the weekend is usually Animal Kingdom. So if you get there on a Friday night and you're gonna go, I'd say Saturday maybe do Animal Kingdom. Okay. And then go from there. I think they say the highest for Magic Kingdom is usually like a Monday because people get there on the weekend, and the first one they do is Magic Kingdom. Okay. So I would leave Magic Kingdom until like a Tuesday or Wednesday.

SPEAKER_04 21:24

Um I feel like we did Epcot. Maybe did we know Thursday or Friday? Um because I came in on a Wednesday. Yeah. I don't know Wednesday.

SPEAKER_05 21:33

Yeah, maybe we did Friday. I remember I felt bad because they had that the power thing and like closed. Yeah. And then I was like, can you buy the hopper so we can go get real food? And she's like, I just want chicken fingers. I was like, no, Epcot is not the place for chicken fingers. No. This is the foodie part. Yes, yes. You can eat sushi. And not get sick. The best food.

SPEAKER_00 22:06

Your sign and everything online was so. We really, really had a blast. Yeah. So, what are any last words that you want to tell anyone who's listening who's planning a trip to Disney?

SPEAKER_05 22:17

Don't overcommit. Even if, like, if you have little kids and you just want to take them to Disney, they don't know that there's four parks. If you can only afford to go for three days and go to one park, take them to the one park and spend a couple days at the pool and enjoy it. Like, don't push yourself to the max or think I can't afford to go because I can't afford to do it. You're not gonna get to do everything anyway. Pick a couple things that you have to do, and if you accomplish those things, then it's a great trip. Yeah. Like Scarlett thinks the bus is a ride. She thinks the monorail is a ride. She's like, we're not an experiment. She thinks it's an experience for them. Smears transportation. It used to be free with Disney, but after COVID, everything changed. Um, but it's like a $32 round trip to take the bus from the airport. Scarlett thinks that's a ride. She's like, oh, are we taking the bus? That's like our first ride. Yeah, yeah. It's great. So I mean, like, if you've never been and you're taking small kids, just pick a couple things. Pick a great restaurant, a character thing.

SPEAKER_04 23:19

Make it an experience for whatever you're doing.

SPEAKER_05 23:21

Do what you can. Like, don't think you have to do everything. Because you don't have to do everything. Even if you know you're not going back. Like, just enjoy the little bit that you can do. If you can do it all, great. If you can't, just that's okay too. I've seen people be like, I can't do all four parks. I don't have the fun.

SPEAKER_04 23:37

So just do one. Do one. They don't know that. They're missing out on anything. Exactly. They have no idea.

SPEAKER_05 23:42

So look it up. See what you want to do and then go from there.

SPEAKER_04 23:46

That's even for adults.

SPEAKER_03 23:48

The last time we went, which was uh I think fall 2024, um, we only did one park. We only did Hollywood Studios. Hollywood Studios because of Star Wars. And we were just not there for that long. And and yeah, like two days, right? Three days.

SPEAKER_05 24:03

Like you flew in. Yeah. Oh, we did mini golf. You flew in, we did mini golf. We did mini golf. Then the next day we went to the park, and then I think you guys left.

SPEAKER_04 24:10

I think for the for the five year we only did one park. Me and Dan were at the tiki bar.

SPEAKER_03 24:14

You guys were Dan and Nikki were making friends at the time. Making friends at the tiki bar.

SPEAKER_05 24:18

Well, you definitely went to Epcot because that's where dinner was. We did a dinner that night. Yeah, yeah. Where is there a tiki bar? Okay, at our hotel. Oh, I was gonna say, where is there a tiki bar at Epcot?

SPEAKER_04 24:29

Because one day you guys went to Animal Kingdom and uh Dan and I didn't go, but we definitely went to dinner on the Italian restaurant that night. Oh, it was so good.

SPEAKER_03 24:35

It's like you said, do what you can.

SPEAKER_05 24:37

Also, the other thing I will say, Disney has the best customer service. Even when something so that trip, for example, there was a big snafu when we checked in. The next day, they like come up to the room. We're so sorry that happened to you. It should not have happened. Um, for that, because of your inconvenience, we're gonna give you a fireworks cruise. I love it. And we're like, um, we're like 17 people, and they're like, we'll give you two boats.

unknown 25:02

Wow.

SPEAKER_05 25:02

The cost of that today would be a thousand dollars. Yeah, and they gave it to us because there was an innocent mistake. Wow. I love it. And I'm not saying every inconvenient thing, they give you something, but their customer service, they will go above and beyond to make it right if they can. Oh, that's awesome. I love hearing that. And I that's like one of the things that I love. Like their customer service actually ruins me for other things because I'm like Disney would never. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 25:28

I was at Disney.

SPEAKER_05 25:30

Seriously, I'm like, um, this is not up to my standards. I go to Disney. Okay?

SPEAKER_04 25:36

They have great customer service. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 25:38

But we love it. Thank you for talking up in Disney. Thank you, Chris. We love having you. So we got a hot thought. We need a little bit. Go for it.

SPEAKER_00 25:50

We're taking it back a little bit. Way back. How far? How far? Late 90s, early 2000s. You know, because you had a personal encounter with him. Oh something like a phenomenon. Something like a phenomena.

SPEAKER_04 26:03

And he licks those lips.

SPEAKER_01 26:06

There you go. Like, no fucking. This is for women. This is for everybody. If you're taking your kids to school, what do you always say? You live comfortably, leave comfortably in the comments. L L Cook.

SPEAKER_04 26:21

Sexy ball. Yes. Yes. I can attest that I actually dissed him. You did. You did. At Great Adventure. Oh, that was a great story. So I was at Six Flags. Six Flags. And um, I was uh playing a game and I won like a really big teddy bear, and I was really excited about that. My friends were already at the ride centipede, so I was gonna meet them. So I was walking with my big teddy bear that I just won on one of the games. I can't remember what it was, and then I heard out of the on the side, it was like somebody said, Can I have a hug? And of course I just ignored it. I just kept walking, and I just I think I like sucked my teeth too, like please. So I just kept walking. And then um the voice came out again, like can I get a hug like that bear? Again, just ignored it, just kept walking. I'm like, who is this? Like, nobody's hitting on me at like 9 30 at night at you know, great adventure or whatever, and just some like some stupid boy. So got to the ride centipede, and so we're about to get on the ride, and then um one of my friends was like, LL is behind us, and I was like, No, he's not. LL is not in a line at Great Adventure. Wait a second now.

SPEAKER_03 27:37

What year is this?

SPEAKER_04 27:38

Um This is the height of LL. Oh, this is the height of LL. I was like uh 17, 18. So early. Early 90s. Yeah, so back. I was in like 90, 91. Okay, yeah, height of LL. So they had the concert at Great Adventure, Great Adventure, which was huge, whatever. So she was like, LL's behind us, and I was like, he's not not behind us, okay. And she kept tapping me, and she was like, he's behind us. Yes, he is. LL is behind us. I turned around, and then I hear, so can I get a hug now?

SPEAKER_01 28:11

I was like, that was you. I was like, Oh yes, you can. Well, so there you go.

SPEAKER_04 28:21

You had an opportunity. Gave him a hug. He got on the ride with us. He was so cool. His bodyguard was a little bit like, oh, we gotta go. He was like, no, it's really chill. Gone a ride with us, took pictures with us afterwards. You have pictures. I have uh I have receipts.

SPEAKER_03 28:36

I have pictures. This ricocheted around people's friend groups for years ago. L L L. Yeah, totally dishonest. He walked into our car, everything. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 28:45

He was so down to earth, so chill, everything. It was really cool. But we love LL. Yeah, we love him.

SPEAKER_03 28:51

Still to this day. He's uh married, has a few kids. Yeah, right. So L.

SPEAKER_00 28:56

He's been married to his wife for years. Is it his sweetheart? Okay, yeah. Okay, okay. His cool sweetheart. Yeah. He's hosted many award shows. Yeah. Yeah. He's been on TV.

SPEAKER_04 29:07

Um, I've never watched the show that he's on. I've never watched NCIS. Do you watch it? No, never watch. My grandma's a huge fan of NCIS, but I never watch it.

SPEAKER_00 29:14

Always watched the lip sync one. Oh. Oh, the hands one. Yes. John Legend's wife. Yeah. What's the DJ? He was the host. Is that still on? No, it stopped. Okay, okay, okay.

SPEAKER_04 29:24

I only watched it if it was like a good person I wanted to do.

SPEAKER_02 29:28

He's been with Simone since 1995. Three kids. Four kids. Three kids. Najee, Nina, Italia, and Samaria. Four kids. Four kids. Awesome. We love him. James Tom Smith.

SPEAKER_00 29:39

Our hot dad of the week. Hot daddy. We love him. Keep licking those lips.

SPEAKER_01 29:44

Hot, hot dad of the week.

SPEAKER_03 29:47

I have a hair that takes a point to my TV.

SPEAKER_04 29:53

Oh, you're monkey.

SPEAKER_00 29:56

Okay. And that's a wrap. Thank you so much for hanging out with us today. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone you know. Make sure to follow us on our Instagram page at the underscore voice notes podcast. And remember, voice notes are just podcasts with zero editing. See you next week.