Disney Dream Girls 172 - Planning For A Disney Trip

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls podcast for show number 172 for Sunday 13th August 2017. If you wish to listen to the podcast, whilst reading this blog, all you have to do is click on the audio player below. Alternatively, our podcast can be found in most places that host podcasts such as iTunes (click here to subscribe) and Stitcher Radio.
 
Coming up on this weeks show, Michelle is joined by Ashley Kennedy Turn (from WDW Happy Place Podcast) and together with Jayne we look at some news items that caught our eye this week then we look at how Michelle has planned her Walt Disney World Trip.

WDW Happy Place Podcast

Wife and husband duo Sam and Ashley have been podcasting about their Happy place for over 300 episodes. They have been fortunate enough to travel to both American parks and have been on several Disney cruises. Michelle is incredibly fortunate to have met up with them on past trips as well as assembling with them to form the Earvengers Podcast.  To fin their podcast, click here WDW Happy Place.

Disney News
ED92 rumoured on Twitter that the Walt Disney Studios will be hosting a Cusine of France event in the area by the Ratatouille attraction. This will be held in September and will showcase the fine wine and delicious regional cuisine.

 Hong Kong Disneyland is to close its Buzz Lightyear attraction at the end of August and to retheme it to being Marvel based.   

19th August is PhotoPass day in Walt Disney World and as mentioned on the podcast, here is the full list of the photo opportunities and magic shots.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Character Experiences:

• Meeko joins Pocahontas at Character Landing on Discovery Island
• Timon joins Rafiki at Rafiki’s Planet Watch
• Princess Atta joins Flik at Discovery Island near Creature Comforts

Photo opportunities:

• Dream Big Princess photo backdrop before the park entrance (daylight hours only)
• Jungle Book Magic Shot near Yak & Yeti Restaurant
• Visit the PhotoPass photographer in DinoLand U.S.A. from 9-10 p.m. to have magical Mickey light effects added to your photo 

Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Character Experiences:

• The Queen from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” Maleficent, and Cruella de Vil will meet with guests at Sunset Showcase. This opportunity will be available from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Photo opportunities:

• Dream Big Princess photo backdrop outside the Theater of the Stars (daylight hours only)
• Poison Apple Magic Shot on Sunset Boulevard
• Fisheye lens in the Chinese Theatre Courtyard area.

Magic Kingdom Park
Character Experiences:

• Dopey joins Snow White at Town Square Courtyard
• Captain Hook joins Peter Pan in Fantasyland

Photo opportunities:

• Cinderella’s Coach in Fantasyland
• “Tangled” light painting photo opportunity near Ariel’s Grotto (available after dark)
• Mickey Mouse Magic Shot on the bridge near Fairytale Garden
• Main Street Vehicle near the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor (available in the morning and early afternoon)

Epcot
Character Experiences:

• Genie will join Princess Jasmine in the Morocco Pavilion
• Mushu will join Mulan in the China Pavilion

Photo opportunities:

• Dream Big Princess photo backdrop near Epcot Character Spot (daylight hours only)
• Baymax Animated Magic Shot with the PhotoPass photographer located near Mouse Gear and the Fountain of Nations
• Fisheye lens near the fountain close to the entrance to Spaceship Earth   

Disney Springs
Photo opportunities:

• Dream Big Princess photo backdrop next to the Marketplace Stage
• Fairy Wings Magic Shot from the PhotoPass photographer roaming around the Marketplace near Tren-D (available from 1-10:30 p.m.)
• You can also visit the Disney PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs to enjoy special $99.95 plus shipping pricing on a Personalized Storybook now through August 20!

Walt Disney World Trip
On 18th August Michelle will be travelling to Florida for a hopefully a memorable trip to Walt Disney World and join us for a walk through some of the highlights of the trip. Along the way we discuss how Fastpass Plus has improved scheduling, how to save money on flights and accomodation plus lots more!

Meeting Mickey 2016

Thomas Allison, Michelle Young, Ashley and Sam Turner 2016

We will be holding an informal meet up day in Walt Disney World at EPCOT on Thursday 31st August 2017 as we stroll around the Food and Wine Festival. 

Anyway, time to wrap up this show and until next time, it is goodbye from us but don't forget to keep up to date with us by ensuring you follow along on all of our social media sites:

Twitter @DisDreamGirls and @JaynePhipps
Facebook - search for Disney Dream Girls
Email - info@disneydreamgirls.com
Instagram Disney_Dream_Girls
If you choose to support us financially (via Patreon) we offer a range of incentives and our eternal thanks for your support. 
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/DisneyDreamGirls 

Disney Dream Girls 171 - Walt's Love of Trains

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls podcast for show number 171 for Sunday 6th August 2017. If you wish to listen to the podcast, whilst reading this blog, all you have to do is click on the audio player below. Alternatively, our podcast can be found in most places that host podcasts such as iTunes (click here to subscribe) and Stitcher Radio.
 
Coming up on todays show we look at some news items that caught our eye this week, before  we talk about the Magic of our Steam Trains Tour with our special guest - Becky Manion. We also include details of the trains at Disneyland, what it is to be an engineer and a new exciting tour coming to that park!

Becky Manion 
Becky has been visiting Walt Disney World from the UK since 1995 and is obsessed by all of the details you can find. On her bucket list is to stay in every Disney Resort. Becky has been a guest on the podcast several times and always brings fun, facts and stories from her travels. To find our more and join in with her trips, her blog can be found What_Becky_Did_Next.

The Magic of Our Steam Trains Tour
The tour is priced at $54 and starts at 7.30am (though you need to be at the specified meeting point for 7.30am). It is a walking tour for ages ten and above lasting approximately 3 hours. Part of the tour is backstage and will reveal some of the magic, so if you do not want the illusion spoiled - consider this. 

Arrival at the Magic Kingdom at this time means the ability to take pictures very early or a near empty park - this is a very cool thing for the Disney obsessive! The tour begins at the Mickey floral with introductions, name badges and the issuing of the whisper set headphones. Then you enter the park and are free to take pictures for a few moments before catching the train.

Due to the early start time, no other guests are able to ride the train so as you board you have the entire train to yourself. The train takes you to the roundhouse (where the trains are kept). Here you get to the find out how the trains are prepared each morning for service. Michelle discussed her favourite part - climbing into the cab. Whilst Becky prefered the 'pop off' (see video link below).

Throughout the tour, the guide sews together the history of the trains in the park and also Walt's love of them. The tour finishes in the Main Street Station and guests are given a souvenir momento of a steam train tour pin.

During the podcast, we used audio from two Disney Parks links, as well as youtuber Steven Ford. The links for these can be found below. 

Walt's Love of Steam Trains
Published on Oct 13, 2011
Let Disney historian Jim Korkis, author of The Vault of Walt, be your guide for a fact filled journey 'round the Magic Kingdom Park and into the heart of what brought joy to the man who brought so much joy to others.

'Pop Off' Test

Published on Mar 21, 2013

During a roundhouse tour at Walt Disney World, one of the locomotives conducts a steam pop-off valve test before entering the Magic Kingdom. The tour was "The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains" experience, in which guests can see the Magic Kingdom trains up close. The pressure test that is performed each morning on all the trains in operation is a way for the engineers to test the safety features of the high-pressure boilers.

After recording it was announced that Disneyland would be starting a new tour! This is based on Walt's love of steam trains. Priced at $85 it includes early entry to the park to enjoy a complimentary speciality donut and beverage. Also the tour will include access to the Lilly Belle train carriage. No other details as yet but we will keep you updated!

Disneyland Steam Train Engineers

Published on May 20, 2010

At the Disneyland Resort, every role is a starring role. The Disneyland Railroad's steam train engineers and maintenance team keep the park's locomotives running smoothly.

Until next time, it is goodbye from us but don't forget to keep up to date with us by ensuring you follow along on all of our social media sites:

Twitter @DisDreamGirls and @JaynePhipps
Facebook - search for Disney Dream Girls
Email - info@disneydreamgirls.com
Instagram Disney_Dream_Girls
If you choose to support us financially (via Patreon) we offer a range of incentives and our eternal thanks for your support. 
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/DisneyDreamGirls

Disney Dream Girls 170 - Disney News, Views and Questions Answered

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls podcast for show number 170 for Sunday 30th July 2017. If you wish to listen to the podcast, whilst reading this blog, all you have to do is click on the audio player below. Alternatively, our podcast can be found in most places that host podcasts such as iTunes (click here to subscribe) and Stitcher Radio.

 
Coming up on todays show we look at some news items that caught our eye this week, before moving on to answer some of our listeners questions (and what a mixed bag they were!).

We were very excited by the news that Yak and Yeti Counter Service were going to start offering breakfast items - yay! As you can see from the abridged menu below, there are a wide range of options but we are definately intrigued by the kids options of food on a stick!

Then we discuss a piece from the Daily Mail newspaper where Emily Simpson shares her £15,000 Disney 'addiction'. At first we agree, that figure is quite shocking but as any Disney fan will tell you... Disney is not a cheap hobby and also when you start adding everything up £15,000 is a drop in the ocean! As mentioned on the show, if you want to read more about Jayne's sleeve, here is the link to her blog JP2MK.

We also discuss the newly opened Captain Jack's Les Restaurant Des Pirates, which replaces the Blue Lagoon restaurant in Disneyland Paris. As you can see from the menu below, there are set price options and a la carte. Set price options at DLP usually give the best value. Apologies, I haven't as yet found an English translation of the menu!

New Theming inside the restaurant

Then we move on to answering some questions set by our listeners. Kevin Curtis Allen wanted to know what you would find in a Yorkshire based theme park. Well of course he came to the right place! 

We would have an eatery called Puds, which would serve Yorkshire Puddings with sweet and savoury fillings and of course we had to have a propery Fish and Chip Shop and a place for afternoon tea. As to attractions, we thought it would have to be an inclement weather based attraction!

Then Paul Towarnicki asked us about our treasured Disney items. As I'm sure you will agree, this is a difficult task so instead of just mentioning three... we kinda listed a whole long list!

Finally, Aisha McKinney asked us to dine at Disney for $40 and what would we eat from any Disney park. We chose to visit Animal Kingdom and we both managed three meals and a snack - very impressive!

Dino Bites Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich

As to our favourites, Jayne chose Tonga Toast and Michelle a Dole Whip.

We hope you have enjoyed this show and if you are looking to book a Disney or indeed any holiday, why not get in touch with our friends over at Holiday Hamster for a quotation  by clicking here.

Until next time, it is goodbye from us but don't forget to keep up to date with us by ensuring you follow along on all of our social media sites:

Twitter @DisDreamGirls and @JaynePhipps
Facebook - search for Disney Dream Girls
Email - info@disneydreamgirls.com
Instagram Disney_Dream_Girls
If you choose to support us financially (via Patreon) we offer a range of incentives and our eternal thanks for your support. 
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/DisneyDreamGirls   

Disney Dream Girls 169 - News, Views and Lots of Disney

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls podcast for show number 169 for Sunday 23rd July 2017. If you wish to listen to the podcast, whilst reading this blog, all you have to do is click on the audio player below. Alternatively, our podcast can be found in most places that host podcasts such as iTunes (click here to subscribe) and Stitcher Radio.


Coming up on this weeks show, we review some of the news that came out of D23. Some the announcement of the name of the upcoming Star Wars lands to new attractions for the theme parks. 

 

Whilst we do not cover every piece of news of the show, we give our take on some of the announcements. 

Sadly, to enable the new attractions, we will see on 13th August 2017 the closing of Ellens Energy Adventure and The Great Movie Ride. Due to yet another attraction closing at DHS, Michelle decided to downscale her number of visits to that park from four to one as there isn't that much to do there.

We hope you have enjoyed this show and if you are looking to book a Disney or indeed any holiday, why not get in touch with our friends over at Holiday Hamster for a quotation  by clicking here.

Until next time, it is goodbye from us but don't forget to keep up to date with us by ensuring you follow along on all of our social media sites:

Twitter @DisDreamGirls and @JaynePhipps
Facebook - search for Disney Dream Girls
Email - info@disneydreamgirls.com
Instagram Disney_Dream_Girls
If you choose to support us financially (via Patreon) we offer a range of incentives and our eternal thanks for your support. 
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/DisneyDreamGirls 

Disney Dream Girls 168 - Trackless Attractions Throughout the World of Disney

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls podcast for show number 168 for Sunday 16th July 2017. If you wish to listen to the podcast, whilst reading this blog, all you have to do is click on the audio player below. Alternatively, our podcast can be found in most places that host podcasts such as iTunes (click here to subscribe) and Stitcher Radio.
 
Coming up on this weeks show, we are joined by Kat and Lewis and together we look at the many trackess attractions there are in the many different Disney theme parks. 

Poohs Hunny Hunt
This is a trackless dark ride that is found in Fantasyland in Tokyo Disneyland. It opened on 4th September 2000 and was the first of the 'pure' trackless ride systems.

Aquatopia
This opened on the 4th September 2001 and can be found in the Port Discovery Area of Disney Sea, Tokyo. These 'hovercrafts' can seat up to three and appear to skim across the 2" of water. In summer, the attraction may get you incredibly wet!

Mystic Manor 
To may, this is the best example of this technology. It is a dark ride in the Mystic Point area of Hong Kong Disneyland that officially opened on 17th May 2013. It utilises the trackless system and is a take on the Haunted Mansion however, there is no mention of departed spirits or the afterlife (due to Chinese culture differing to American). It brings to life a new narrative rovolving round Lord Henry Mystic and his trusty monkey sidekick Albert.

Exteria - Photo Credit HKDL Website

Ride Vehicle - Photo Credit HKDL Main Street Gazette

Ratatouille: L'Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy
This attraction can be found in Toon Studios at The Walt Disney Studios in Paris. It opened on the 10th July 2014 and there is going to be a similar version placed into the France Pavillion in EPCOT.
 
We hope you have enjoyed this show and if you are looking to book a Disney or indeed any holiday, why not get in touch with our friends over at Holiday Hamster for a quotation  by clicking here.

Until next time, it is goodbye from us but don't forget to keep up to date with us by ensuring you follow along on all of our social media sites:

Twitter @DisDreamGirls and @JaynePhipps
Facebook - search for Disney Dream Girls
Email - info@disneydreamgirls.com
Instagram Disney_Dream_Girls
If you choose to support us financially (via Patreon) we offer a range of incentives and our eternal thanks for your support. 
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/DisneyDreamGirls   

Disney Dream Girls 167 - D23 Expo Mini Show

Welcome to the mini show notes for the Disney Dream Girls podcast for show number 167. This was an additional show looking ahead to the D23 Expo, which was held between the 14th and 16th July 2017.
 
If you wish to listen to the podcast, whilst reading this blog, all you have to do is click on the audio player below. Alternatively, our podcast can be found in most places that host podcasts such as iTunes (click here to subscribe) and Stitcher Radio.

We hope you have enjoyed this show and if you are looking to book a Disney or indeed any holiday, why not get in touch with our friends over at Holiday Hamster for a quotation  by clicking here.

Until next time, it is goodbye from us but don't forget to keep up to date with us by ensuring you follow along on all of our social media sites:

Twitter @DisDreamGirls and @JaynePhipps
Facebook - search for Disney Dream Girls
Email - info@disneydreamgirls.com
Instagram Disney_Dream_Girls
If you choose to support us financially (via Patreon) we offer a range of incentives and our eternal thanks for your support. 
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/DisneyDreamGirls   

Disney Dream Girls 166 - Brian, Brut and Chef Mickey

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls podcast for show number 166 for Sunday 9th July 2017. If you wish to listen to the podcast, whilst reading this blog, all you have to do is click on the audio player below. Alternatively, our podcast can be found in most places that host podcasts such as iTunes (click here to subscribe) and Stitcher Radio.
 
Coming up on this weeks show, Michelle and Jayne share a listeners experience of a family trip to Disneyland Paris, look forward to the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival menu and finally discuss the moving of Chef Mickeys to a conference room whilst its usual location is refurbished.

Firstly, we share some feedback from our listener Meaghan, who has recently returned from Disneyland Paris with her son. Whilst her trip to the Earl of Sandwich was not meant to be, she did love our other suggestions! Her son loved Mickey and the Magician as well as seeing all of the characters in the parade. Oh and she also got a picture of the fire-breathing dragon too!

This year, the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival will run for a staggering 75 days and starts on 31st August. As Michelle will be in Orlando at that time, the girls look ahead to what Michelle should try and what she wouldn't be!

Have you been to the festival? What top tips can you share? As this year will bring new booths too; it's all very exciting!

The final segment explores how much does the environment of the eatery feed into the experience. This idea was brought about due to Chef Mickeys relocating for around two weeks to a conference suite. What do you think? Would you cancel your advanced dining reservation?

We hope you have enjoyed this show and if you are looking to book a Disney or indeed any holiday, why not get in touch with our friends over at Holiday Hamster for a quotation  by clicking here.

Until next time, it is goodbye from us but don't forget to keep up to date with us by ensuring you follow along on all of our social media sites:

Twitter @DisDreamGirls and @JaynePhipps
Facebook - search for Disney Dream Girls
Email - info@disneydreamgirls.com
Instagram Disney_Dream_Girls
If you choose to support us financially (via Patreon) we offer a range of incentives and our eternal thanks for your support. 
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/DisneyDreamGirls