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Episode 54: Star Wars Land and the Future of Disney Parks
Episode 53: Disneyland Diamond Celebration Trip Report
Episode 52: Animated Films in the Parks – The 1990s
Episode 51: Mad Q Party
Episode 49: Oh Snap! Photography at the Parks
Episode 48: Top 5 Musical Moments at Walt Disney World
Episode 47: D23 Expo Extravaganza
Episode 46: Previewing the D23 Expo

Episode 54: Star Wars Land and the Future of Disney Parks

This week we talked a lot about the hike in Annual Pass prices. One article we referenced quite a bit is from Frommer’s. You can find “The One-Percenting of Disney” here.

Episode 53: Disneyland Diamond Celebration Trip Report

Here are some of the highlights from Jeremy and Derek’s trip to Disneyland to celebrate the park’s 60th anniversary.

First, there is no doubt that the resort is celebrating 60 years. From the decorations to the merchandise, everything shines with diamonds.

Even Mickey and Minnie appear in their formal diamond wear.

Of the three new nighttime shows, Paint the Night Parade is our favorite.

Some food highlights include the chocolate mud pie from Flo’s V8 Cafe, the lobster nachos from Cove Bar, and the toffee Mickey rice crispy treat.

Our meals at Club 33 and Napa Rose did not disappoint, to say the least. We hope to post a blog about our experiences, but until then, here are a few pictures of what we ate.

We love the special photo ops set up for the Diamond Celebration.

And of course, CHARACTERS!

Thanks for following along in our adventures. We couldn’t have asked for a better time at the happiest place on earth!

Episode 52: Animated Films in the Parks – The 1990s

In “It’s the Small Things After All,” we each spoke about an often unnoticed gem at Walt Disney World that we appreciate. Jeremy gave a shoutout to the Dapper Dans, who open Tony’s Town Square every morning. Check it out below.

Matt gushed over the fake debris in Pirates of the Caribbean, and Derek expressed his love for the hot air balloons in The Land pavilion at Epcot:

Episode 51: Mad Q Party

1. If some sort of emergency required guests to remain where they are for eight hours, what queue would you least want to be trapped in?

Matt: Ariel’s Grotto
Jeremy: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Derek: Haunted Mansion stretching room

2. Let’s say Disney World is getting its first trackless ride, a la Pooh’s Hunny Hunt in Tokyo. What character would you theme it to, or what original story would you give it?

Matt: Journey Into Imagination (a complete overhaul)
Jeremy: WALL-E
Derek: The Incredibles

3. If you could have a birthday party anywhere on property, where would you have it?

Matt: Ballroom scene in Haunted Mansion
Jeremy: Cottage in Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Derek: Polynesian Village Resort pool (outdoor roast, s’mores, luau, fireworks)

4. If you could create an attraction for Toy Story Land, what would it look like?

Matt: A 3D, trackless “escape from Sunnyside Daycare”
Jeremy: A “lift and drop” attraction themed to The Claw
Derek: A randomized coaster themed to an airport’s baggage conveyor belts

5. Let’s say Disney World brought back the Year of a Million Dreams. What special prize would you offer?

Matt: A dinner with a fireworks view aboard the yacht on Seven Seas Lagoon
Jeremy: An overnight stay in a special Tower of Terror suite
Derek: The ability to narrate and conduct a loop around the WDW Railroad

6. If you could bring back one extinct show or ride, what would it be and how would you update it to fit the current decade?

Matt: Horizons in Epcot (Horizons 3000)
Jeremy: Mickey’s Magical TV World in Magic Kingdom
Derek: Skyway in Magic Kingdom (air-conditioned)

7. If you were able to scrap and completely re-theme one Walt Disney World hotel, which one would it be and what new theme would take over?

Matt: Old Key West Resort will become Tortuga Pirate Island Resort
Jeremy: All-Star Sports Resort will become a hotel themed to TV shows, with each suite designed to look like a set from a popular TV show
Derek: All-Star Sports Resort will become All-Star Cartoons, featuring Disney’s best cartoon TV shows (Darkwing Duck, TaleSpin, etc.)

8. If you could give a Halloween overlay to one attraction at Walt Disney World, which attraction would you choose and what changes would you make?

Matt: Jungle Cruise will become Jungle Cruise: Voodoo River Expedition, featuring witch doctors and special effects
Jeremy: Enchanted Tales With Belle will become Enchanted Tales With Belle and Zombies
Derek: Soarin’ will become Scarin’, in which you battle Disney villains

9. If Walt Disney World opened a new table service restaurant, themed to an under-represented animated movie, what would the movie be and what kind of restaurant experience might we expect?

Matt: The Black Cauldron, a fondue restaurant at the Horned King’s castle
Jeremy: Meet the Robinsons, a futuristic restaurant featuring the frogs as a swing band
Derek: Phil’s Grill (Hercules), a Greek restaurant featuring the Muses as entertainment and the highlight menu item: Zero to Gyro

10. If you were going to die anywhere on Walt Disney World property, where would it be and why?

Matt: On the ferry, headed toward Magic Kingdom
Jeremy: Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Derek: Lights, Motors, Action! while trying to save a child

Episode 49: Oh Snap! Photography at the Parks

This week we spoke with Mark Willard about his photos of Walt Disney World. Be sure to check out Mark’s work online. You can find him at markwillardphotography.com and on Twitter @MarkWillard85 and @MWillardPhotos. Here are the two shots we specifically mentioned on the show:

Episode 48: Top 5 Musical Moments at Walt Disney World

There are so many great musical moments at Walt Disney World to choose from, but here are our favorites:

Jeremy

5. Go With the Flow (from Finding Nemo: The Musical)
4. Blood on the Saddle (from Country Bear Jamboree)
3. Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing (from Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room)
2. Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah (Splash Mountain, after the drop)
1. Princess Medley (from Fantasmic!)

Matthew

5. Hapa Duniani (Kilimanjaro Safaris radio music)
4. Space Mountain Entryway
3. Wishes Finale
2. Fantasmic! Finale/key change
1. Pirates of the Caribbean (first scene after the drop)

Derek

5. Upbeat “Grim Grinning Ghosts” in the Haunted Mansion graveyard scene
4. Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah (Splash Mountain, after the drop)
3. Illuminations Finale
2. Magic Kingdom entryway (also the Disneyland esplanade)
1. Children’s choir in Wishes (“Starlight, star bright…”)

Episode 47: D23 Expo Extravaganza

A special thank you to Guy Selga of Touring Plans for chatting with us about the D23 Expo. Guy is on Twitter @guyselga, and you can check out touringplans.com for tips and blogs about Disney vacations.

This week we discussed lots of big news, but for Disney parks fans, the biggest announcements from the D23 Expo related to park expansions, namely Star Wars Land (in both Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios) and Toy Story Land (in Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Check out the concept art below.

Episode 46: Previewing the D23 Expo

This week we shared our picks for The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly parade floats at Walt Disney World. Here are a few shots of the floats we mentioned.

Jeremy’s “Good” – Maleficent (Festival of Fantasy Parade)

Derek and Matt’s “Good” – Haunted Mansion gravediggers and dancers (Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade)

Jeremy’s “Bad” – Elliott (Main Street Electrical Parade)

Derek’s “Bad” – Frozen (Festival of Fantasy Parade)

Matt’s “Bad” – Peter Pan (Festival of Fantasy Parade)

Jeremy’s “Ugly” – To Honor America (Main Street Electrical Parade)

Derek’s “Ugly” – All of Move It Shake It Dance & Play It

Matt’s “Ugly” – Pleasure Island (Main Street Electrical Parade)