Episode 9 - Disneyland and Budget Dining at the Animal Kingdom

On this episode the girls are joined by a very special guest, Mr Paul Barrie of Window to the Magic podcast.  Anyone would think that Michelle has a trip to Disneyland planned....we're sure this is her way of getting her research done!  Paul gives Michelle plenty of hints and tips of what to see and do for the first time visitor to Disneyland.

You can find out more about Window to the Magic by following this link www.windowtothemagic.com or by following them on Twitter @wttm

For the girls next feature they visit Animal Kingdom with a food challenge...to eat for the day on a $40 budget.  This was inspired by similar features on the Enchanted Tiki Talk podcast and Jesse Stephenson's blog Quest for the Vault Disney.  The feature also included contributions from Jesse, Safari Mike from THE Animal Kingdom podcast Radio Harambe as well as listener and friend from the world of Twitter, Alan who can be found at @NORMNB8S.  The girls both had a different approach to the day, and their budget, so tune in to find out who did what!

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Email us at info@disneydreamgirls.com, chat with us on Facebook and Twitter and get involved with the show.  Is there anything you'd like the girls to chat about?  Do you have a challenge for the girls?  We would love to hear from you...and if you give us a 5 star review over on iTunes we'll give you a shout out on the show!!

Episode 8 - Jim Korkis and more

On episode 8 we take a look at a classic attraction and have another of Michelle's fabulous interviews with the lovely Mr.Korkis.

Our first feature has the girls chatting all things Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover!  We give a brief history of this much loved attraction as well as talking about our own personal experiences.

We have Ciaran with some interesting Easter facts, before we listen to Jim Korkis chat about Minnie Mouse, the first Disney Dream Girl :)

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If you have anything you'd like to ask us, or perhaps a challenge for us or maybe just something you'd like to know more about you can always drop us an email to info@disneydreamgirls.com

We're on the radio!!!

The Disney Dream Girls are very happy and pleased to announce that we will now be appearing on the radio!!

The lovely people over at V24 Radio have asked to air our little show every other Friday, along with a whole host of other podcasts who all share the common theme of Disney!  Follow this link to find out more;
www.v24radio.com

Suffice to say we are really pleased with this development and hope it means that lots more people get to share in our fun and laughter!

Episode 7 - Let's run!!

So in this episode we cover the topic of running at Disney, which seems to have really taken off in the last few years and we have another Dining Plan challenge.

We are joined by our good friend Emma Godbold who gives us the low down on taking part in a run Disney event from a UK perspective.  Emma took part in this years Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend by running the half marathon.  She lets us know what is was like training in the UK, applying for the half marathon, actually running the race as well as everything else happening over marathon weekend.

Disney hold a number of 'runDisney' events over the year at both WDW and Disneyland.

At WDW the events are;

January - Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
February - Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend
May - Expedition Everest Challenge
October - The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler Weekend
November - Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

At Disneyland the events are;

January - Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend
August - Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend
November - The Avengers Superheros Half Marathon Weekend (this is new for 2014 and has just been announced!)

All events include the following;

·         Timed races

·         Disney characters and entertainment en route

·         Family reunion area with live entertainment and characters at the finish line

·         Event transportation

·         Tech shirt

·         Finisher medal

·         Digital event guide

·         iGift bag

·         personalized bib

·         on-course and post race refreshments

·         ChronoTrack B-tag timed race with live runner tracking signup for friends and family

·         Personalized results website

For more information check out the 'runDisney' website and be inspired.

So having run off a few calories our next feature looks at in-taking a few calories...yes it's time for another Disney Dining Plan challenge.  This time the girls are confined to eating at Downtown Disney; Michelle has the Table Service Plan whilst Jayne has the Quick Service Plan. Where would you eat and why?  Listen to the girls as they discuss their favourite places to eat and how to make best value of the Dining Plan.

And don't forget to find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @DisDreamGirls and you can always drop us an email to info@disneydreamgirls.com

Also remember to subscribe to us over on iTunes so you don't miss a thing!

Episode 6 - Dreams of Disney Delectable Delights Part Two

On this episode we talk more food and then tours!

We are joined once again by the fabulous Thomas Allison of DisGeek podcast to talk all things food at Disneyland. Michelle's trip to Disneyland is getting closer and now we talk counter and table service.

We then look at one of the Magic Kingdom's long standing attractions and ask is it a hit or a miss?  The attraction in question is the Astro Orbiter in Tomorrowland; what do you think?  Is this a must do ride for you or one you keep at arms length?  Let us know, contact us on Twitter @DisDreamGirls, via Facebook or drop us a line info@disneydreamgirls.com

And don't forget to subscribe to us on iTunes so you don't miss a thing!

Epsiode 5 - Dreams of Disney Delectable Delights

On this episode we talk food and then ask whether an attraction is a hit or a miss.

We are joined by the fabulous Thomas Allison of DisGeek podcast to talk all things food at Disneyland. Michelle's trip to Disneyland is getting closer and she needs all the inside information that she can.  On this episode we talk about the all important snack options on offer!!

We then take a tour of the tours available at the Magic Kingdom as we answer one of our twitter followers questions.  Did you know that Walt Disney World offer 56 different tours of all descriptions, 18 of which are in the parks!  We take a look at the 5 options that are available at the Magic Kingdom.  Check out these websites for some excellent information on all that there is on offer.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/#/park-tours/

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/

http://www.wdwinfo.com/

http://allears.net/index.html

http://touringplans.com/

And don't forget to subscribe to us on iTunes so that you don't miss a thing!

Episode 4 - Value Resorts and more

So here comes episode 4 which sees the ladies embark on a couple of discussions; the first being all about Disney's Value Resorts and the second covers the new Disability Access Service Card with special guest Kathy Kelly from Special Mouse Podcast

So what Value is there to Value Resorts?

Basically Disney have a recipe for what a value hotel looks like, e.g. a pound or vanilla sponge and for each hotel add a flavour such as chocolate chip for movies, or lemon poppyseed for Pop. So each resort has the same basics but with some slight differences. Standard rooms have the basic facilities of the usual items plus: a tiny table/2 chairs, TV, drawers, hanging space, wall safe, iron and ironboard & hairdryer. You will also find a food court, choice of pools and larger than life themeing. Standard rooms are approximately 260 sq foot though at Art of Animation is 277 sq foot. Art of Animation and Pop both have their one bus stop; whereas the All Star Resorts share a bus between the three, which can be disadvantageous.

Jeremiah Good from Window to the Magic, contacted us with his thoughts about value resorts;

Downsides to the Value resorts are

1. You get what you pay for, don’t be expecting a spa!

2. No room service other than pizza, but that’s not just the values that offer that.

3. It is a value resort and as such it attracts a lot of $ conscious guests and families

4. The placement of the hotels, Pop and Art of Animation are pretty close to the parks so they are not too bad, but All Star Resorts are put down in the south point of the property which, unless you're going to Animal Kingdom, is quite a distance from the other parks.

5. Large groups tend to use the values whether cheerleaders or bands, if they are on property they are at a value because that is, as it states, the best value for them.

Upsides to the Value resorts are

1. Themeing is great in all the values, they have the most "fun" theming with the large icons and fun pools.

2. Food Courts (I know this can be a downside also) offer a variety of food offerings to the point where even the pickiest kid can find something.

3. Most visitors go to WDW to go to the parks, while it would be great to be able to spend hundreds a night to see the Castle across the Seven Seas Lagoon, I would rather save the money and be able to see the Castle in person while playing every day. I have always said that if you are on a Disney Vacation you need a bed and a shower because most of the time is in the park so why not book a value?

4. You may be paying for the value resorts, but no matter what you are still at Disney so you have a CM just a phone call away.

5. Disney, even value, is better that off property hotels!

Have a listen and see what you think!

Kathy Kelly from Special Mouse Podcast then joins the girls as they talk about the recent changes to the Disability Access Service offered by Disney and whether the new system is working as well as previous systems.

Check out the Disney Parks Blog for more information about the Disability Access Service Card.

You can follow both Kathy & Jeremiah on Twitter @KathyKellyRN and @jeremiahgood