347 - The Seth Kubersky Unofficial Guidance

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls Podcast, show number 347, for Sunday 17th January 2021.

If you want to listen, whilst reading these notes, just click the player below or alternatively find us on iTunes, Libsyn, Stitcher Radio, or any good podcast catching apps.

This week we welcome our friend (and former podcast guest)  Seth Kubersky back to share the latest from our favourite Orlando theme parks.

Seth is the author of The Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando 2021 and is an avid theme park visitor. 

If you are not aware of these guide books, they offer a wealth of advice. This one, is based around Universal Orlando and has touring advice and exclusively patented, field-tested touring plans that save hours of standing in line in a single day. The guide book is packed with detailed, specific information on every ride, show, and restaurant in the resort. Their Walt Disney World guide will be out soon - so keep looking for it!

Find Seth on Twitter @Skubersky as well as via the Unofficial Guides pages on Facebook and their own website -  https://theunofficialguides.com 

On the show, Seth starts by sharing his opinions on Walt Disney World right now and what is coming ahead. Then, he moves over to Universal Studios and shares his thoughts about there also. 

That is about it for this week and we hope you have enjoyed reading this blog as well as listening to the podcast. You can find us @DisDreamGirls on Instagram and Twitter. We have the Disney Dream Girls page on Facebook as well as the Disney Dream Girls Podcast Family.

You can also subscribe via iTunes to ensure you never miss a show and also, whilst there, why not leave us an iTunes review? Click here for the iTunes page for the Disney Dream Girls.

If you wish to support us financially and keep the show advert free then pop over to Patreon and find out the benefits of doing so, including some additional podcasts.

That's it for this week, so thank you for reading and listening to our Disney musings.

Much love,
Michelle & Jayne xxx

318 Seth Kubersky's Guide to Universal Orlando Re-opening

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls Podcast, show number 318, for Sunday 7th June 2020. If you want to listen, whilst reading these notes, just click the player below or alternatively find us on iTunes, Libsyn, Stitcher Radio, or via any good podcast catching apps.
On this week's show, we celebrate BBC television coming back on the air - after World War 2 and share the Disney connection to this, remember the birthdate of a Disney Legend and welcome back to the show Seth Kubersky to talk about the next level of theme park openings in Orlando.  

Mickey's Gala Performance
On 7th June 1946, British Broadcasting Company came back on air following World War 2 and on this day in history, this cartoon was shown. 

It was directed by Burt Gillett, produced by Walt Disney and the music was by Frank Churchill. It was originally released on 1st July 1933 and runs for seven minutes, twenty-one seconds. What makes this special is that this feature was the final item shown on the BBC on 1st September 1939 as it then stopped broadcasting.  

Milt Albright
Born on this day in 1916, Milt went on to be the first Disneyland employee.

Hear us on the show share his legacy was much more than that. We detail some of his achievements on the show but invite you to visit the Disney Parks Blog and read this fascinating piece about his life - Milt Albright.

Seth Kubersky

We are joined once more by the travel writer - Seth Kubersky. He joins us to review opening day at Disney Springs and then in detail share his experiences of visiting Universal Orlando on their re-opening day. We end our discussion looking ahead to what we can anticipate when Walt Disney World starts to re-open from the 15th July 2020. 

Photo Credit Seth Kubersky Unofficial Guides

On show 315, Seth spoke about the parking and it appears to be running just as smoothly now the main theme parks are open. 

Photo Credit Seth Kubersky Unofficial Guides

As he walked in, there were no park maps. He urges everyone to ensure they have the Universal Orlando app downloaded and ready to go prior to visiting. 

Photo Credit Seth Kubersky Unofficial Guides

He details the ride reservation system and shared the ease he found in obtaining on the day passes to ride his favourite attractions. 

Photo Credit Seth Kubersky Unofficial Guides

Mask compliance was good: all staff wore them however, he did see guests with lowered masks during his visits. Characters were able to be seen in the park but there were no photo opportunities and they wore themed/co-ordinating masks.

Top Tips:
Consider the ages of your family grouping - there isn't very much for younger children to do as they play areas are not currently opening. 
Travel light - lockers have been seeing a delay as much as 30 minutes to store and then to retrieve items. 
Arrive early and once in the are you should be able to obtain your first ride reservation 15 minutes prior to park opening. 

We urge you to keep up to date with the theme park news by visiting https://theunofficialguides.com/also, follow them on Facebook. Seth can be found on Twitter @Skubersky 

That's about it for this week. You can find us @DisDreamGirls on Instagram and Twitter. We have the Disney Dream Girls page on Facebook as well as the Disney Dream Girls Podcast Family. If you wish to support us financially and keep the show advert free, visit us at https://www.patreon.com/DisneyDreamGirls and there you can find out the benefits of doing so.

Travelling to Orlando with kids

Janine Pipe is back with another blog and this time she uses her experiences on travelling to Orlando with a child to advise, inform and general help everyone out!

For myself, the planning side of a Florida holiday is almost as exciting as the trip itself. The build of anticipation rises every time I make a dining reservation or book a Fast Pass: even buying sun-cream is a lot more exciting when you know you’ll be using it in Orlando! As with everything though, planning a trip overseas with a small child in tow, isn’t quite as easy and straightforward. Now I know that everyone parents differently. For some families, they won’t need to change much: they will still eat at California Grill because little Bobby will just doze happily in his stroller and they will still do full park days whilst little Suzie naps peacefully in her buggy. But whether you are a parent who fits around your child or who’s child fits around you, there are still some important things to think about before and during your Florida visit.

First, plan, plan, PLAN!!! Let’s presume we are talking about a pre-schooler or younger school aged child here especially. Think about their likes and dislikes. Consider their stamina. Which attractions will they enjoy, appreciate, be terrified of … for example – Tink is petrified of most insects but especially spiders so It’s Tough To Be a Bug! was immediately struck off the list.

It's Tough to be a Bug! Photo Credit WDW Website

Location – I am a huge advocate for staying on-site but the cost can be restrictive for some people. If you can not afford to stay in Disney or Universal itself, try to stay as close to the parks as possible. This will save you time in travelling and will make breaks from the parks a lot easier. Try to ensure your hotel has a fridge and maybe even a microwave. At 2 years old Tink was still incredibly fussy and prone to not eating in restaurants so we ended up buying the odd kiddie meal in Target and heating it up in the room for her. 

Character Meets - Fun For Kids (Minions at Universal Resort)

Flight – don’t be frightened of taking a baby/small child on a long-haul flight. Just be prepared that boredom will likely settle in once the initial excitement has worn off, so have plenty of tricks up your sleeve to keep them entertained. A small bag of treats that you bring out every couple of hours might help. Have their favourite toy and/or a pillow to snuggle up with and don’t under-estimate the power of an iPad/tablet. Walk around the plane with them and swap seats within your family. The little changes will keep things fresh for them. You might want to pack some snacks in your flight bag in case they don’t like the plane food too. And don’t stress, even if your child is fussy and has ‘a moment’, this is a family destination. If people expect everyone to be silent on a flight, don’t go to Florida!

Stroller – whilst I am not an advocate for numerous amounts of buggies in the parks and am glad that they have banned the enormous wagons, I do recommend a stroller for under 5’s. Even if your child hasn’t used a pushchair in the UK for ages, their little legs will be glad of the rest. The parks are HUGE and add in the heat, time difference and massive amount of stimulation, then a stroller will be a blessing in disguise. You can also store the ridiculous amount of paraphernalia that kids require in it too. 

Character Meets at Walt Disney World

Park bag – that huge amount of stuff changes dependent on the age and demands of your child, but a lot of parents end up carting around everything but the kitchen sink when they have kids. A change of clothes is a good idea for even under 8’s as they might get wet, sticky, covered in ice-cream. Wet wipes and tissues are essential as are snacks and drinks. Even if you are on a Dining Plan, I would advise having something like some raisins or trail mix to hand as you never know when Junior might suddenly announce they are starving and it’ll likely be when you’re in line for something and no where near a vendor. Drinks can add up and it is very important to stay hydrated. You can bring water in with you, fill up from the fountains or ask for iced-water for free from any Quick Service location. Another must have for you bag is sun cream – please keep your child and yourself topped up as that Florida sunshine is intense and no one likes sun-burn.

Take a break – this is something that I personally feel is a good idea for everyone not just children. Our first trip with Tink was when she was only 2 years old and she still needed a day time nap. Never being one to doze off in her stroller, especially when surrounded by Mickey, we took her back to the hotel after lunch each day. This not only recharged her batteries nicely, but allowed us to have a rest and relax too. Whether it was catching up on laundry (another fab idea with a kiddo in tow) or just chilling out for a bit before heading back to the hustle and bustle of the parks, it was a great way to escape the midday madness of crowds and heat.

Rider swap – you might think that if you have a baby or younger child with you, then the thrill rides are out of the question. However, fear not as the rider switch/child swap allows each parent to ride in turn whilst the other one waits in a special area/room with the child who cannot ride. This works well too if you have an older child as they can ride with each parent whilst the other waits. However, this is another one where you should consider to how your child might react even just in the line. Tink hated the queue for The Forbidden Journey as walking through Hogwarts was quite dark. She also found the line for Transformers quite intimidating. Sometimes it might just be best for one parent to head off to their favourite ride whilst the other endures yet another turn on It’s a Small World.

Budget – kids are like magpies, they like shiny new things and every shop in WDW and Universal is full of wonders for the small people. So to TRY to stop a melt down after every attraction by letting them know what they can or can’t have that day. A daily treat can work, as can limiting the amount they can spend. If they are a bit older, having their own money helps too. As Tink was 8 last trip, she saved her pocket money for over a year and ended up with around $25 each day to spend on anything she wanted. It doesn’t have to be that much – if they know they have a $5 maximum then it really does help with expectations. 

Most of all with children, try to go with the flow a bit more so that you can all have fun. There will be tears and they will test your patience. But overall you will create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Take photos and videos, keep a diary of what you get up to. It will be a holiday to remember and you will soon be saving up for the next one!!!

DDG 224 - WDW Family Trip Planning with Craig Lucas

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls Podcast, show number 224 for Sunday 26th August 2018. If you want to listen, whilst you read these notes, all you have to do is press the green triangle on the audio player below. Alternatively, why not listen via iTunes, Stitcher Radio or any podcast catching place!
Apologies in advance these are much briefer show nates than usual due to Michelle's travel commitments. 

This week our guest is Craig Lucas of the Dis After Dark Podcast and we believe this show is one of the best guest chats we have had because it really showed a different side to Craig - the Disney family trip planner!

We all joke about going to Disney being an almost military proceedure well when you are planning a trip for 17 people it absolutely is! Craig shares details about his past trips and how he managed to negotiate an amazing deal for his next trip in 2019.  

That then wraps up this weeks show. We hope you have enjoyed listening and as usual our social media links are:

Instagram and Twitter @Disdreamgirls
Facebook.com/disneydreamgirls
Email info@disneydreamgirls.com
Patreon - to join our circle of friends that support the show financially and to receive extra podcast content 
https://www.patreon.com/DisneyDreamGirls 

So until next time, it is goodbye from us!

DDG 223 - World Showcase

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls Podcast, show number 223 for Sunday 19th August 2018. If you want to listen, whilst you read these notes, all you have to do is press the green triangle on the audio player below. Alternatively, why not listen via iTunes, Stitcher Radio or any podcast catching place!

Due to Michelle's holiday... the next few weeks show notes will be briefer than usual - please accept our apologies!

World Showcase

We all have our favourite places and foods and a lot of them can be found right here in World Showcase. Having 11 different countries to explore, a visit here is a must but be warned... a day is never enough! As you leave Future World you have a choice before entering World Showcase - left or right. Left takes you to Mexico and then to Norway, China, Germany whereas right takes you to Canada, the UK and France, Morocco, America and Italy. There is also a boat that takes your across Showcase Lagoon.

During  your travels around the world, you will find new cuisine and beverages to try - so indulge! Also, find the time to look for the details in the pavilions as well as chatting to cast members about their home countries.

That then wraps up this weeks show. We hope you have enjoyed listening and as usual our social media links are:

Instagram and Twitter @Disdreamgirls
Facebook.com/disneydreamgirls
Email info@disneydreamgirls.com
Patreon - to join our circle of friends that support the show financially and to receive extra podcast content 
https://www.patreon.com/DisneyDreamGirls 

So until next time, it is goodbye from us!

Disney Dream Girls 142 - WDW Food, Trips and Disneyland Final Checkout

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls podcast for, show number 141 for Sunday 15th January 2017. As always, if you wish to listen to the podcast, whilst reading this blog, you can click on the player below.

Todays show is packed full of Disney for you to enjoy! We start the show with a feast of delicious breakfast offerings from the Magic Kingdom!

Donut Sundae - Photo Credit Disney Parks Blog

Yes my friends this is the headlining act of the breakfast offerings. The other offerings include a hotdog topped with hash browns and corndog bites from Caseys Corner. Cereal and ice-cream (not in the same bowl - unless you are feeling particularly inclined!) from the Plaza. 

Hash Brown Hot Dog - Photo Credit Disney Park Blogs

Finally, a ham, egg and tomato waffle from Sleepy Hallow. What are your thoughts? Both of us welcome the quick service additions but wish they would be rolled out to other parks - particularly the Animal Kingdom.

Ham, Egg and Tomato Waffle - Photo Credit Disney Parks Blog

Having finished our breakfast, Michelle announces her 2017 Disney trip plans. In August 2017 she has booked a trip to Walt Disney World and will be staying in the Wilderness Lodge. Due to her research, she managed to save just under $3000/£2423! So make sure you listen for her top tips!

Wilderness Lodge - Photo Credit Walt Disney World Website

For our final feature, we are joined by James from the Creepy Kingdom Podcast. He was fortunate enough to be at Disney California Adventure for the Final Check Out of The Hollywood Tower of Terror Hotel. 

James H Carter II Checking Out - Photo Credit J Carter

James queued for three hours to be amongst the last few park guests to ride the attraction. Michelle was very lucky to catch up with him to talk about the experience. However, if you want to hear an expanded explanation, you can hear it on his own Podcast - The Creepy Kingdom Podcast.

Ready To Ride - Photo Credit

We hope you enjoy listening to the podcast, and until next time, it is goodbye from us! Don't forget to keep upto date with us by ensuring you follow along on all of our social media sites:

Twitter @DisDreamGirls
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 Show 126 - Questions Answered and a Trip to The Boathouse

Welcome to the show notes for the Disney Dream Girls Podcast, show number 126 for Sunday 25th September 2016. As always, if you wish to listen now, whilst looking at these pictures, click on the player below.

 
On the podcast, we answer two listeners questions. The first being a request for the perfect gift from Walt Disney World and the second was a select restaurants to dine in at Disneyland Paris. To hear our answers, listen to the show.
 
Then we moved on to review the Boathouse Restaurant, which opened in Disney Springs earlier this year. Firstly, the scenery was reminiscent of an actual boathouse. Very light and airy, despite all of the wooden trim and the boating artefacts. From checking in to wait staff everyone I saw dealt with me courteously - making me feel very welcome.

Gin and strawberry based drink

As we had arrived at the table early, I ordered a drink from the bar. It was very refreshing and quite strong too. Just the ticket on a warm late August afternoon in Florida. 

Appetiser number 1

Appetiser number 2

 

My Main from Maine

Finale - our dessert

The starters we had were Florida style smokehouse fish dip with white corn tortilla chips and also hoisin chilli calamari. The dip was very light and the chips weren't greasy. It worked really well with the slight kick of the calamari. The two started amply served the four of us.
My main was the 1 1/4lb split baked crab filled lobster served with asparagus and Creole butter sauce. The lobster was cooked perfectly and melted in my mouth. However, as in the case of all lobster, extraction of the lobster from the shell was tricky but the claws had been pre-cracked to make matters easier. We ended our meal with the smores baked alaska. Each and every item was flavoursome and in my opinion good value for the quality and quantity of food served.  I must add... the baked alaska was huge and made a ceremonial entry to our table. Our waiter prepared our servings table side and I swear I heard intakes of breath due to its huge size! 

Shotski Time

Our evening ended with the management organising a shotski to be drunk on the jetty - a perfect and a fun ending to the evening. Each glass with filled with blueberry vodka and was good fun - if not a challenge due to my friend Stephen being over a foot taller than me!

View from the jetty

The show ended with a massive birthday shout out to the wonderful Tom Ameen and I shared his rendition of Firework by Katy Perry.

We will be back next week with some more Disney fun, but until then, keep upto date with us by ensuring you follow all of our social media sites:
 
Twitter @DisDreamGirls
Facebook - search for Disney Dream Girls  
Email - info@disneydreamgirls.com