Mushfam Disney Family Vacation Vacation, June 2010; Day 4, Part 1: Let's Just Say It Wasn't a Good Day

When we last left the Mushfam oh so long ago, it was only Day 3, which you can read here.  It has been several months since I updated the report, and I apologize for that if you were following it.  As you will find out when you read it, this was one that I really didn't want to recap as it was one of the rougher days we've had; not just in the parks, but as a family.  Still, it was part of a memorable trip, so I buckled down and got this written.  With that....on with the next installment of the trip report!

 Day 4, Part 1 (link to the index of the entire report can be found HERE)

Yeah, you could imagine that we didn’t sleep too well at all that night.  I was fully expecting the worst – to hear that our cat didn’t make it through the night…alone…without us there.  I woke up every 25-30 minutes in a fit of restless sleep. I could tell Sheri wasn’t doing a whole lot better. 

The alarm goes off, but I’m already out of bed and on the computer working on stuff for the online class I’m teaching.  The boys are oblivious, which is a good thing…it helps seeing them jumping around and enjoying life.  We get dressed (it’s MK day, so that means Sheri has matching outfits for us…our Chicago Disney shirts!), contemplate cutting across the savanna for the 8^th time (and chickening out yet again) and make our way to the bus stops – we know we’ll likely have to catch the bus at the right time as we have 8:05 ADRs for the Crystal Palace.  If we miss the first one, we don’t know if there will be a second one that will get us there in time.  

As luck would have it, a bus pulls up just as we arrive at the stop.  A woman with an exasperated look on her face looked at us as though we had some sort of magic bus-conjuring ability as she complains that she had waited 45 minutes for an MK bus to get here (which meant she was out there around 6:20).  It’s a quiet ride over to MK…normally I’m like a little kid, excited to pass the toll booths and trying to catch my first glimpse of the castle spires, going under the water bridge past the Contemporary, hearing that all-too-familiar fanfare that the buses play as it makes the turn into the MK bus stops. 

Instead, I’m holding my phone, waiting for our neighbor to call.  The boys are a little tired this morning…Sheri and I both strain some humor as we pass the toll plaza…

Despite being tired, they’ve been here enough to know when to start looking for the castle.  They crane their necks to see who could find it first (I think it was Eric this time, which led to a well-timed elbow by Aaron).  We pull in, and they drop us off.  As we all pile out, the majority of those on the bus head up the monorail ramp for Chef Mickey’s. We head into the park along with a couple of other families.  We’re a little early (it’s about 7:45), so we let the boys explore a bit…

I pull out the video camera for the train station shot:

The people behind us in line got a kick about the sarcastic enthusiasm.

Around 7:50-7:55, they let us in, and we finally get to see the castle.  I try to get excited, but it’s just not working at the moment.  Still, we put the smiles on our faces and showed the boys that we’re HERE at the most magical place on earth.

I get in line to check in at the Crystal Palace, while Sheri and the boys do their routine here (pics of the castle and greenery).

We didn’t have to wait too long at all as we’re one of the first names called.  We head in and get seated.  Our server gets our drink order and asks if we’ve been here before.  We all shake our heads in the affirmative, and she then proceeds to drop a bombshell on me.

The menu has changed a little, and breakfast lasagna is no longer offered.

OH COME ON!!!!!!!!!  

This was one of the main reasons I chose to eat here!!!  Sheri loves the orange juice, and I love the breakfast lasagna.  Well, at least Sheri gets her orange jui…wha?  It doesn’t taste like it normally does, hun?  I taste it and agree that it seems to have lost its “freshly-squeezed” taste that it always had in the past.  As we go up to get in line for the food, our fears are confirmed as we actually saw the Minute Maid cartons through an open door to the kitchen.

Okay…eggs, biscuits and gravy, and bacon (to make Piglet all the more uncomfortable when he comes to visit our table).  I check the phone for the 87^th time this morning, hoping I didn’t miss a call.  We sit down and grab a sip of the coffee that was waiting for us.

My hair nearly curled at how strong it was.

I’m thinking that I’m just in a funk and am hoping that I’m just seeing things from a bad perspective.  Sheri nearly falls out her chair at her first sip.

We settle in and start eating.  Piglet comes in, followed by Tigger and Pooh.  The boys get pics…

Hey...they turned out pretty well!!

Okay…things are calming down a bit.  Maybe I’m just doing what I always do and assume the worst-case scenario.  Maybe things are improving and that the vet can figure out what to do to get Mac back on the path of healin…

RING

So much for that momentary lapse of reason.

It’s our neighbor….as we get the update, I can hear his constant meowing in the background – I won’t soon forget that.  I’ll leave out the specifics, but I tell our neighbor that he’s being picked up to be taken to the vet.  They apologize again for all that’s going on, and I immediately apologize back for them being the ones to deal with it.  It wasn’t supposed to be like this…he seemed to be doing better before we left.  As I heard his calls in the background, I pretty much knew what the vet was going to tell us, but I still held out a little hope.  I tried to sugar coat it a bit for Sheri, but my eyes were welling up just a bit, and she immediately knew it was bad.

Okay…don’t delve on this…we’re at the Magic Kingdom, and we need the diversion to keep our minds off of everything for the day.

It seems that something has changed at the Crystal Palace since the last time we dined here.  I’m not sure if it’s a changeover in management or an attempt at cutting costs a little, but Sheri and I were both disappointed at how the place has changed.  This is saying something because we have had nothing but great things to say about breakfast the other 3 or so times we have eaten here.  I hate saying this, but the Crystal Palace has moved from a “definitely recommend” to a “use extreme caution when recommending” status.  We pay and get out of there rather quickly.


Part 2 can be found HERE.

Hi there - I'm Mush, and it's nice to meet you!

Wow...it has been over 3 months since I last posted.  To the handful of you who actually read this (thanks, Mom and Dad), sorry!  This thing they call real life has floored me.  On a good note, I finished my first year serving the role as advisor, and I think I only ruined a couple of students' lives in the process.  On an even better note, I've made a lot of progress on that albatross around my neck known as the dissertation.  No, I'm not done yet, but I foresee the proposal hearing in the next 2 months, and I've even completed the tests needed for the 4th Chapter.


Another year of leading a Den for Cub Scouts has ended, with nearly all of the Den getting their Wolf badges.  The Bear is up next for them.  The time commitment for this seemed to be quite a bit more than last year, though I didn't hold as many meetings.  I think the most taxing part of this was trying to coordinate everyone to try to get them set up for the badges - if they missed a meeting where we did several achievements, well, it put them back that much farther, and I had to find a way to catch them up in subsequent meetings.  Aaron did really well - got the Wolf as well as 4 arrow point badges - they look pretty cool on his uniform.  Eric is up next for scouts.  While I'll continue on as Den Leader for Aaron, my assistant Den Leader will be taking on the Den Leader role for the incoming Tiger Cubs, and Eric will likely be with her.


As Cub Scouts has wrapped up, baseball has taken over.  I'm head coach for Eric's instructional league and, while not officially one of the coaches for Aaron's team, I help them out where I can (keeping the books, helping at practice, etc).  It's definitely time-consuming, but it's something I love doing with the boys.


As many of you know, I suffered a minor back injury in early April that had me laid up for a while.  Luckily, nothing was found in an MRI, so our best guess is that it was muscular that ultimately pinched a set of nerves.  I'm back to myself, though I still feel the slightest twinge every once in a while, just to remind me that it's there.  The pain is gone, at least.


Unfortunately, the podcast updates have fallen dramatically in the priority list.  I simply didn't have time and wasn't going to kill myself trying to do sub-par reviews.  Shawn has continued to do admirably in keeping the community updated with his Dis_Pod_Review updates over on Twitter, so the Disney Freaks have still been able to read what's going on with the shows.  I do plan on getting back into the reviewing in the coming weeks...hopefully once the dissertation proposal is defended and the last part is in on track to be completed, I'll start listening/writing up shows.  It pains me that I haven't even listened to a show for nearly 2 months - I used to listen to over 40 a week.  I want to get back on this with a vengeance!

Also in abysmal shape is my progress on the June 2011 WDW Trip Report.  I was able to get the first several days out with no problem; the next day in the chronology was a really tough one to write, however...if you've been reading the TR, you probably know what happens that day.  I've got it written and will start posting it again once I get the videos/pictures uploaded for inclusion.  I know there were quite a few who were reading every updated post on that report - sorry for leaving you hanging!


On a good note, I've kept up my running after the WDW Half marathon last January and have signed up to run the 2012 half.  Oh, and, yes, I have rejoined Team AllEars this year, so you can expect to see a number of posts on my fundraising efforts.  I'm going to be a little more aggressive this year as I missed the $1,000 mark last year by a mere $130.  You'll see a post about this in the coming days as I kick off my 2011 fundraising campaign for the Avon Walk.


Okay...so there's the update.  You can expect to see some more regular updates really soon with the podcasts, baseball, trip reports, a new trip (yes, folks, we're heading out to California to visit Disneyland this July!), and training/fundraising updates.


See ya (reading this) real soon!

Disney Podcast Updates, February, 2011 - Part 3

I'm just a bit later than planned for this round of updates.  Most of the 21 updates included are from around Feb 13-20.  Topics include a Marathon Weekend recap, a couple of shows/segments on flying (if you’re having a problem getting to sleep at night, feel free to read my update on Betamouse a few times…that’ll knock you out in no time), and lots of love!

If you are interested in listening to any of these episodes, I have links to subscribe for most of these shows in my post HERE.  Also, if you’re willing, you can help these shows out by posting a review over on iTunes.  The more they get, the higher up they appear on searches.  If you do start listening to a podcast as a result of what you’ve seen on here, please let the podcasters know!

As always, please note that this again is not a comprehensive list of the Disney Podcasts that are out there. Mike Hamilton has created Disneypodcastdirectory.net, which he periodically updates with new podcasts and removes dead casts. He also has the automated RSS (historical) feeds of the podcasts. This is more of a cross-section of what is currently being talked about…perhaps something may sound interesting, and you'll subscribe to listen to that topic.  Also, Shawn Rees does an absolutely amazing job posting more real-time updates on Twitter.  Follow @dis_pod_review if you aren't already doing so.

Any and all comments are welcomed!  Also, if you know of another podcast that fits here, let me know.

• Be our Guest
• 02/13/11 – Episode 307, When I saw the show topic, I made sure to carve out a little time to make sure I could listen to this one.  I lurk on the BOG forums and have only posted a couple of times; however, I did occasionally read a couple of topics over there about running and training for Marathon Weekend.  This show is focused on that very topic!  Former InnerMouse host Nicole Siscaretti, fellow Twitter freak and teacher Brett Young, and Chuck Hamrick (aka ‘ConstableMickey’ over on the forums) join the crew for a talk about what Marathon Weekend 2011 entailed.  Everyone reflects on the training as well as the races on that weekend.  Excellent show!  I wish I could have met up with y’all down there, but there just wasn’t enough time to do what we wanted to do (we flew down Thursday and back Sunday for work). Congrats to all the runners out there – I’ll remember that weekend with the rest of Team AllEars forever!  Time: 40:52
• 02/17/11 – Episode 307, this show gives exposure to one of the more overlooked moderate resorts at WDW…the Caribbean Beach resort.  The hosts examine several facets of the resort, including some of the newer themed areas (i.e. the Pirates rooms).  This is one we haven’t stayed at yet (the only moderate that we’ve stayed at was POFQ, though we looked at CBR when Magical Express dropped guests off).  Time: 35:53
• Betamouse
• 02/17/11 – Episode 53, Before talking about Betamouse gang signs in the Triad, we get to hear talk about the ever-present issue of flying vs. driving to get to the parks.  The hosts are split to a certain extent, with the dividing line drawn at how far away they live from the parks (Henry is the exception…I’m with Katie on this one).  Throughout the show, they talk about strategies for purchasing airline tickets, UI sites vs visiting the direct airline site, a short evaluation on mobile sites, and more.  There’s some good stuff on here- like what point in the “countdown” to check for lower fares.  As for what we do here – well, BMI is about 10 minutes away, and it’s pretty much hassle-free for us.  The only problem is that, being a regional airport, we don’t have a huge selection.  Luckily, we have both AirTran and Delta Connection fly in with non-stops to MCO.  Flying out to Anaheim, however, is a different story.  Being that we are 3 hours away from IND, STL, and ORD (MDW is a bit closer), those airports come into play.  It usually involves a preliminary look at Travelocity at all the airports to get a general feel for the current fares/times.  Then I usually hit the airline sites directly to watch for changes in the fares.  Being an economist, we’re always evaluating the cost of time and convenience…yes, we are often willing to pay a somewhat higher fare to leave out of BMI instead of a larger airport…especially with kids, travel cost to the airport, lodging (we often are on the first flight out), parking (yes, we look at park-n-fly hotels), etc.  As for the government rate. Well, let’s examine that (did I hear someone just snore?)  For the sake of argument, assume a 1,000 mile drive each way (2,000 miles total).  At $.50 / mile, that comes out to $1,000.  Now, deduct the price of gas – assuming 20 MPG and $3.35/gallon price, that comes out to $335, leaving $665.  Add in the “wear and tear”…you may as well be adding an oil change to the cost since it takes up the majority of the mileage between changes, so let’s make it $30.  Tires – not much, but for grins, let’s say $20.  Trade-in value?  Also fairly negligible, but I’ll throw in $20 less for the hell of it.  People often throw in the cost of dining, first off, that shouldn’t be coming from the Government rate (they also get a per diem for items like this), but I’ll include it – we shouldn’t include the total cost of dining…it should count only if the dining cost is different from what you would eat if you weren’t driving.  This reduces the overall “cost” of food by quite a bit.  The same goes for lodging – if you would be spending a night at a WDW/DL resort instead of a hotel on the road, then it’s a wash (likely, the hotel on the road will be cheaper).  If you were just leaving a day earlier by driving instead of flying, then the hotel cost becomes pertinent.  Oh, and there’s another item…do you end up taking an additional day or two of work off by driving?  If you lose wages, then that becomes a significant cost.  If you are taking vacation day, then no harm (unless that day could have been used elsewhere and you end up losing pay for that day off).  Add in the difference in the cost of convenience – do I want to be on the road for 16 hours each way…with my wife (complaining about how I’m driving) and my kids (asking “Are we there yet” every 10 minutes)…how does that compare to the hassle of the airlines/security checks/annoying passengers next to you/etc?  These last couple ones obviously are all “what-ifs”.  Regardless, the only time you’ll be getting that $.50/mile  is if you are on official government business…if a government job requires you drive to a Disney park, could you please send me an application?   Here’s the bottom line: the explicit cost of driving is the gas, additional maintenance, and reduction in trade-in value.  Conservatively, let’s say that’s about $400.  That’s about the only thing you can compare to the government rate.  Everything else falls into the “implicit” cost/savings (ie potential foregone wages, difference in cost of dining/lodging, potential savings (if you would be renting a car down there and not taking Magical Express if at WDW, for example), the cost of being in trapped in the car with family instead of at home or in the parks, the side trip to Arizona to drop off your crotchety old aunt who died in your car on the way down (you took care of her dog earlier), etc).  There’s no steadfast number that determines whether you should drive or fly; each person assigns a different value to some of the intrinsic costs/savings.  Okay…you can wake up now.  During the outtakes, we find out the new motto for the show…“Betamouse: No Preparation Whatsoever!”  Time: 39:42
• Communicore Online
• 02/11/11 – Episode 42 (Hitchhiker’s Guide fans unite!), For some reason, this feed wasn’t updating for me, so I didn’t realize there were new shows out there until I unsubscribed and hopped back in.  In this show, Lester starts off with the news in the way only he can (I missed hearing his reports).  Afterwards, we get a ride-thru of Mike and Sully to the Rescue over in Disneyland.  Marissa Gordon then joins in for a talk about picking the right Disney resort when you have kids (keeping strollers in mind).  Steve Swanson from the Muppetcast then joins Shane for an intriguing discussion about the relationship between the Muppet franchise and the Disney corporation, which has had its ups and downs over time.  I thought Steve’s views of Disney’s handling of the muppets is really interesting!  Time: oops…deleted before I got it.
• 02/18/11 – Episode 43, Lester again starts off the show with the news (I seriously almost laughed out loud in the middle of the quad at a couple of his comments).  Afterward, Shane gives us a recap of the refurbs that are currently going on at the Disney parks.  Before Marissa has her segment on flying with children, we get to hear audio from the best pre-show in all of the parks (if you don’t know, then I may have to question your devotion to the parks – it’s Muppetvision!).  After that, Shane does some listener feedback before a reflection about the Sherman Brothers and, to a certain extent, the parallels in the relationship between Walt and Roy.  Time: 26:35
• The Disney, Indiana Podcast
• 02/20/11 – Episode 68, Oooooooooohhhhhh yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh…we’re going back to the 80s for this show, a time when the hair was big, fishnets were in, the legs were warming, and the ponytails were on the side (God, I loved the 80s…Lita Ford, Sheena Easton, Debbie Gibson, Sheena Easton in the “U Got The Look” video, Linda Ronstadt (okay, technically she was from the ‘70s, but she was still hot), Samantha Fox, Debbie Harry, most of the Bangles…oops, started daydreaming there).  They start off the show with a review of a really obscure 80s Disney-related movie (obscure for the 80s, which is saying something!).  Buzzy then comes on, and I nearly comb my hair into a Flock of Seagulls ‘do as he spins the records from a lot of 80s Disney songs.  I was just waiting for one of my students to pull up next to me on the same frequency that my iPod was on so I could bleed over “Hey Mickey” to their radio.  Sticking with the 80s theme, they provide a history and a lot of the audio from the Mickey Mouse Revue.  Listener feedback follow (including my report from their last show WOOHOO).  Time: 1:15:21
• The Disney Brit Podcast
• 02/15/11 – Vidcast 8, the Disney Brit team pays homage to Mickey’s ToonTown Fair, which recently closed forever.  This short video is a montage of pictures from the land…nice tribute, guys!  Time: 4:15
• Micecast
• 02/13/11 – Episode 196, as the show rapidly approaches its finale of 200 shows (they still may release shows…just not on a schedule like before), Greg, Mike, and Shaft discuss Disney’s lack of success in the 38^th annual “Annie” awards, which highlight excellence in animation.  The talk turns away from the Disney realm and goes to a good talk about the media and its coverage of world events (e.g. Egypt).  The end of show delves into podcasting for pay (referring to a recent change to a show hosted by Kevin Pollack).  Time: 1:47:23
• Mousetalgia
• 02/13/11 – Episode 120, Love….exciting and new….being right before Valentine’s Day, the fab 4 hosts talk about romance at Disneyland.  They bring up successes AND epic romantic fails at the parks.  Some of the more memorable ones include: getting wet on Splash Mountain with your loved one, floating through Montro’s gaping mouth, and (more in-line with the topic) dining at the Blue Bayou and watching fireworks.  An interesting note here: I’m willing to bet that this is the only podcast that can legally marry you in the parks (Kristen).  Their new motto: Moustalgia…they’ll marry ya!!  During the opening “bits and bytes” section, a recipe for valentine cupcakes is included – if done correctly, the middle of the cupcake will have a red valentine in it.  Good show!  Time: 50:57
• Mouse Travel Tips
• 02/17/11 – Episode 52, Rachel starts out the show with ideas on how to budget for an upcoming trip, with talk about driving vs. flying, on-site vs. off-site, and more.  They then take us over to Future World at Epcot to examine the Great Piggy Bank Adventure before ending with a review of the Sunshine Seasons counter service in The Land pavilion.  Time: 21:20
• MuppetCast
• 02/13/11 – Episode 193, This is one of those podcasts that I know has a big following, and, being a big fan of the muppets (I can do quite a few impersonations of the ones voiced by Frank Oz) I’ve downloaded it a couple of times but never got around to adding it to here.  It has been suggested a couple of times, and I’m pleased to say that you’ll see Steve’s show start popping up on here on occasion.  With it being Valentine’s Day, what better time to examine the age-old love story between a frog and a pig?  This show focuses on Kermit and Ms. Piggy’s tumultuous relationship, both on- and off-screen.  Lots of great audio here (it’s early in my listening of the show, but I’m already wondering how he finds this stuff!).  Time: 1:10:03
• The Pixar Podcast
• 02/17/11 – Episode 35, in the premiere on the updates, Derrick brings on viral video creator Ivan Guerrero to talk about his “pre-make” trailer of the movie “Up” (if you’re one of those living under a rock and haven’t seen it yet, click here).  Ivan talks the “what”, “why”, and “how” with his collection of videos.  Time:
• Running to Disney/This Running Life
• 02/14/11 – Episode 16, This show is almost more of an extension of show 15 where he talks about mental games we play with it comes to distance running.  The actual topic deals with tapering before a marathon (and, yes, he does talk about WDW Marathon weekend a few times in here).    The discussion evolves from struggles with trying to stay slow during tapering to becoming complacent with  .  In true Gordon form, he keeps the recording running despite what’s going on with his surroundings or whatever tangents tend to occur (e.g. the near road rage incident thanks to a texting driver; offering love advice to teens that might be listening; or hearing Gordon nearly experience his own road rage at the expense of his garage door opener).  He gets into a really thought-provoking talk about structured training plans vs. “off-the-cuff” plans and offers a hypothesis that bases the preferred type of training plan as the opposite of the type of job you have (i.e. if your job is really structured, you want a loose plan, or vice-versa).  Good show!  Time: 52:24
• 02/16/11 – Audio Extra, I’m including this show because there is a large number of Disney running fanatics who are trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon.  The BAA (Boston Athletic Association) changed the registration procedure as well as the minimum times for a BQ.  This episode gives his reaction/response to the news.  Time: 16:24
• WDW Radio Show
• 02/13/11 – Episode 209, Beci Mahnken’s on the show, which means that it must be time to work on the overflowing mail bag.  Questions about where to find characters (especially in AK), pros and cons of a LONG WDW trip before or after a DCL cruise, scuba-diving in the Seas w/ Nemo, lodging for a crew of 6 (2 hotel rooms vs, villas), and more!  Time: 1:14:25
• 02/16/11 – WDW Newscast rebroadcast – in this one, Lou and the Boxpeople talkabout D23’s upcoming Destination D.  Time: 21:39
• WDW Today
• 02/14/11 – Episode 838, Len is in the spotlight for this show as he discusses changes to the MK touring plans now that Fantasyland Toon Town is now closed.  He provides updates on several MK plans.  The visual of Henry standing at the entrance of Toon Town going “BLAH BLAH GO AWAY!!” to simulate its closure still has me laughing.  It’s interesting that Len mentions using a short-cut to get from HM to Jungle Cruise – we found that for the first time over Marathon weekend when we were heading to the Tiki Birds to meet up with some friends.  Time: 20:06
• 02/16/11 – Episode 839, Listener question day!  Some of the questions/highlights include the bus service at Ft. Wilderness, strategies at the Food & Wine Festival, how to drive Emily at Babycakes crazy, Star Tours 2011 and Star Wars Weekend, those Dyson hand dryers that pull your skin off, and more.  Time: 27:14
• 02/18/11 – Episode 840, Disneyfoodblog author AJ Wolfe is back on this show to talk about the changes to the dining plan menu.  With the increase in prices without any changes to benefits, they again question the actual savings that could be obtained by using this.  There are also other changes to the plan that they discuss – particularly the bump up to Signature status for Le Cellier.  One of the interesting items brought up is the fact that, quite often, people will try to get an ADR but can’t; however, they are able to walk up the same day.  At the risk of going on a rant here, I’ll just say that I think a lot of this is people making multiple ADRs so that they’re covered for whatever park they’re at…they show up for only 1 ADR, but this practice blocks out others from getting reservations.  Time: 25:20
• WEDWay Radio
• 02/19/11 – Episode 61, We’re rollin’ down the bayou today with Matt and Nate as they take a look at Disneyland’s New Orleans Square.  We’ve come to expect a well-researched show with these guys, and they do not disappoint at all here!  How many people here know about Fortune Red the fortune-telling pirate?  How about the reason Club 33 is called that and why it’s located where it is?  Lots of good discussion about the various shops currently and historically there on Royal Street.  Time: 1:05:26
• A Window to the Magic
• 02/16/11 – Episode 265, Paul and Tairy (smooch) start off their honeymoon in Disneyland and meet up with Enrique – this is a special trip for Tairy (no, not for the honeymoon, though I guess you could technically consider that too (groan))…it’s her first time there since (smooch) the unfortunate fall a while ago.  Since Tairy no longer lives in Las Vegas, a discussion ensues on whether to ever (smooch) visit there again (seeing friends, celebrating birthdays/anniversaries, buying overpriced tickets (aka “losing money”).  Tairy admits to (smooch) not being a gamber, to which Enrique responds what everyone was thinking (“Of course you’re a gambler…you’re with Paul”).  His ego bruised, Paul then spends the (smooch) rest of the show talking with a limp!  In this show, some breaking news about what has happened to the yeti over at Animal Kingdom – apparently they are now making boots out of him.  Also in this show, we get to hear audio from the cruise that Paul promised Tairy on their honeymoon, though I don’t think that what she got was quite what she was expecting.  I do have a question, though, for the host: what aisle in WalMart can you find the Astro Orbiters?  I have always loved hearing Paul’s sense of humor, and he was in rare form in this show – a great one to listen to!  Time: 41:33

Disney Podcast Updates, February 2011 - Part 2

Another week, another round of podcast updates (I think Matt the Esquire may faint at my temporary consistency).  Most of these shows were released February 7-12^th.  I know that next week I’ll have a Communicore show from the 11^th, but, for now, here you go!  This was an interesting week…lots of hoarse voices are heard here, a kidnapping occurs on one podcast, more Dream talk, law students screaming like little girls, a much-anticipated wedding recap by a cat and a dude, and instructions on how to thwart a zombie takeover at WDW (told you it was an interesting week!).    Enjoy!

If you are interested in listening to any of these episodes, I have links to subscribe for most of these shows in my post HERE.  Also, if you’re willing, you can help these shows out by posting a review over on iTunes.  The more they get, the higher up they appear on searches.  If you do start listening to a podcast as a result of what you’ve seen on here, please let the podcasters know!

As always, please note that this again is not a comprehensive list of the Disney Podcasts that are out there. Mike Hamilton has created Disneypodcastdirectory.net, which he periodically updates with new podcasts and removes dead casts. He also has the automated RSS (historical) feeds of the podcasts. This is more of a cross-section of what is currently being talked about…perhaps something may sound interesting, and you'll subscribe to listen to that topic.  Also, Shawn Rees does an absolutely amazing job posting more real-time updates on Twitter.  Follow @dis_pod_review if you aren't already doing so.

Any and all comments are welcomed!  Also, if you know of another podcast that fits here, let me know.

• Be our Guest – the best podcast for s’mores! (Go Jay…Go Jay!)
• 02/10/11 – Episode 306, When the show starts, you immediately feel sympathy for Mike, whose voice is pretty much gone from the get-go.  Today, LOVE is in the air as the group talks about romantic things to do at WDW.  As an expression of their love, they all want to burn Debbie at the stake for her take on the beautiful Florida weather (when the rest of the country is stuck in the deep freeze).  Most of the romantic ideas, as expected, deal with things that are relaxing.  Nothing says “romance” like taking in the luxuries at  a spa; taking a horse and carriage ride at one of the hotels; hitting one of the beaches (like at the Poly); or kicking your significant other’s ass in checkers at Wilderness Lodge (?!).  One of the things that interested me was that dining wasn’t really mentioned, other than Beaches and Cream.  I could see places like Jiko, Victoria and Albert’s…places where there likely won’t be as many kids that are suited more for adults…as romantic spots too.  Good show!  Time: 34:32
• Betamouse
• 02/10/11 – Episode 52 (that makes it a year, right?  Well, close, so CONGRATS!!!).  Mike Newell and Beci Mahnken join the Betamouse team for a first look at the technology behind the Disney Dream ship.  Both had great things to say about the new items on the ship, including the television transmission (all IP now), the enchanted art, the Wave phones (the general agreement is that they hope it is a test for a newer model…interesting how they set it up so that the phones work both on the ship as well as on Castaway Cay), and more!  Time: 44:36
• Magic Never Ends
• 02/11/11 – Episode 81, WHOAH!!!  Dust off the cobwebs, because Will and Shannon are back from a hiatus to bring you their review of Disney on Ice.  They got to see the “Toy Story 3” version of the show and had a great time.  The big hits included the Green Army men as well as the couples-skating of Ken and Barbie (I never thought I’d type that in my lifetime).  This was an immediate feedback show as they recorded it on the way back from seeing it.  Time: 29:24
• Mouse Guest Weekly
• 02/12/11 – Episode 290, this episode is a news/feedback/listener question show.   After updating what’s going on in the Disney theme parks (including some discussion on Magic, Memories, and You), they get into feedback, including a split decision on the Villains Tonight show on the DCL ships, questions on going solo vs going with friends, pros and cons of DCL, a listener-provided Blue-sky concept for a Tangled attraction, questions on fitness apps (Brian LaFrazia chimes in – knowing him in passing on Facebook leads me to trust whatever he says about fitness).  The show ends just about the same time Eric’s voice ends…he was a trooper to make it all the way through the show.  Time: 56:07
• Northern Mouse
• 02/09/11 – Episode 60, Carlos has an amazing interview with former imagineer and Disney Legen…wha?  He “falls asleep” as other hosts smuggle in Tim Devine from The Magic in Pixels website.  Before they get into some great photography talk (I would SO love to head down there in October for their meetup), they get into a lively discussion about changes in DVC – specifically, they talk about changes to purchasing via resale over direct from Disney.  Being that I’m a Wyndham owner, this is typical for a timeshare program – the only way they make money (other than overages on the annual maintenance fees) is to either continually build and sell new shares or buy back shares at a discount and resell at a premium. I’m still fully interested in eventually becoming a DVC member, and this news doesn’t really change my views.  We’ll see what the impact is on  resale prices and whether Disney ups the amount of ROFR usage.  They leave just as Carlos “wakes up”.  Really good show, guys…this one was a fun one to listen to!  Time: 50:53
• Those Darn Cats/Dudes
• 02/08/11 – Episode 139, Jennifer takes a respite as Lisa brings on new Hubby Trace to talk about the Disney Wedding.  They provide a chronology of what happened and included their views on particular items.  Some of the interesting things I gleamed from this episode include: what exactly is the proper etiquette the day of the Wedding – are you allowed to text?; is not realizing that there’s an open bar considered alcohol abuse?; does the Grand Floridian have flood insurance?; and everyone cheer if Trace stole a Brazilian tour group “little souvenir”?  In all seriousness, congrats to the two of you on your marriage – may you have a lifetime of happiness together!  Having the ceremony on Tuesday actually helped me be able to watch it as it streamed live.  It was a beautiful ceremony!  One thing I did have to comment on: I was really interested in hearing Lisa’s take on how Disney often “plusses” things (freebies) and how some people in the online community feel slighted if they don’t get free things that they heard about from others.  This is one of the reasons I only lurk at Disboards and why I have a running joke about everything ruining my vacation while down there.  You’ve got it the right perspective there – don’t go in expecting to get special things, and you’ll be surprised if/when things happen.  Time: 1:34:06
• WDW Radio Show
• 02/09/11 – Newscast repost – Lou entertains the Box People from the Boardwalk with friends.  The discussion revolves mostly around the demise of ToonTown and what’s to come.  Time: 21:03
• WDW Today
• 02/07/11 – Episode 835, This show is dedicated to those forgotten restaurants in WDW.  No, not those that have shut down…we’re talking about those places that we’ve eaten at and just didn’t see a reason to go back.  As you could probably imagine, this topic led to some interesting discussion.  For example, Scopa mentions that San Angel is on his list, while Len disagrees.  Matt brings up Yak-n-Yeti, and the others disagree.  I headed over to the comments section of the website, and, as expected, there was a lively discussion taking place there.  I’ll throw my $.02 in here.  Mama Melrose...if you read our experience from our trip report back in 2007, you’ll see that this place fits perfectly in here.  San Angel?  I have to side with Testa on this one.  I think it gives a more authentic experience (no, I’m not talking about the themeing around it).  You don’t see chalupas, nachos bell grande, etc there…the recipes seem simpler there, which is probably more realistic than most “authentic” Mexican restaurants in our cities.  Granted, I love me some Tex-Mex (slop on tortillas, beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream, & then add a ton of refried beans, and I’m happy); however, I think this might be what a menu would look like if I were actually south of the border.  Rose and Crown – I liked the place…probably because I can’t find a place around here to get good fish and chips (when you’re as far away from the ocean as you can be, it tends to happen).  Tony’s Town Square…Len, if you haven’t read my Marathon weekend survey on TouringPlans, take a look to see my take on that place.  Crystal Palace has fallen from grace a little (it will be in my next trip report update, once I finally get it posted), and the only reason we’d go there is to make it in the park ahead of everyone else.  Garden Grill – eehhhhh.  Good topic!  Time: 24:11
• 02/09/11 – Episode 836, Wednesday show, which means it’s Listener question day!  First off, Elgin is pronounced EL-jin (sorry, Matt).  Second, zombies – can’t wait to hear where this one goes (hint to the readers: this is foreshadowing). Third: the $180 “Sweetheart Package”… I started laughing around the same time Len did, so that can only mean we were thinking the same thing there (Narcoossee’s anyone?).  Third, my mind was really hitting the gutter with the Zelinski/Lewinski gaffe!  I’m guessing Newell was glad he was out for this one (guessing it was recorded during his “Dream” time).  Time: 29:27
• 02/11/11 – Episode 837, Oh boy.  If you thought there were a lot of comments from # 835, wait ‘til you see the ones for THIS show!  Taking the idea from the last show, the hosts determine the best places in WDW to survive the impending zombie apocalypse (friendship boats in Epcot with Twinkies!!)!!!  Check your pulse if you don’t laugh at least a little at this show.  I LOVED reading the suggestions on Twitter and Facebook, though I still stand firm that POTC is my place to be.  You’ve got the fortresses, you’ve got the cannons (they’re real, right?), you’ve got seagulls, crabs, pigs, donkeys, cats, dogs, and prisoners to eat, and you’ve got water everywhere.  Besides, once they see Johnny Depp, they’ll just stare and take flash pictures of him (everyone else does!).  While they’re staring, you can hit ‘em with a broadside…Fire At Will!! (Who’s Will?).  AWESOME Show!!! There are too many quotes from this episode, but I have to mention the Line of the year: “Word comes out that zombies are spotted in Kissimmee, and you don’t have time to get back to your hotel because Disney Transportation is essentially broken down”  Time: 17:43
• WEDWay Radio
• 02/09/11 – Episode 60, Matt and Nate take a stroll to the past to look at the idea/concept/design/need/reasoning behind Disney’s MGM Studios.  There’s some exceptional information in this show about this park, and most people will probably pick up some new tidbits about the park (e.g. Streetmosphere, old park boundaries, the showdown with Universal, very similar ideas of attractions making its way into current attractions (backlot tour), Eisner’s approach/background, the reason MGM was brought in, and, yes, the “Star of the Day”.  Really good show, guys!  Time: 1:00:20
• Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Pod
• 02/10/11 – Episode 58, Aaron brings us part 2 of the Spring Break 2010 trip report, only this time, Courtney is missing (not from the park audio…just the recap part).  The first piece is an “interesting” eavesdrop of someone complaining about a DHS attraction always being down the same week that they’re on vacation (I wonder if she was wearing lime green).  Other highlights include something about helping an elderly lady out in the bathroom (I can’t make that stuff up!), a Yak-n-Yeti review, an MK experience (including an accidental run-in with Tiana…which, in the process, ticked off dozens of patrons (probably wearing lime green), a wet ride-thru of Splash Mountain (protect the equipment at all costs!!!...it sounded like Aaron actually went underwater!), a ride-thru of BTMRR with a nice malfunction at the top of the second hill, a review of Paradiso 37 (I thought the 37 was the # of tequila brands…I stand corrected), and, finally, the audio we’ve all been waiting for – hearing Aaron screaming like a little girl as he rides the Tower of Terror for the first time if you listen to anything else, fast-forward to around 1:07:00 (“Are we about to drop?  Are we about to drop?  Oh no…oh no  OHHHHHHHHHHHHH  WHHHHHOOOOOOOAAAAAHHH SWEEEET LORD!!!….whoahwe’regoingBACKUP!!!!”).  The show ends with a little pixie dust sprinkled down on the hosts  (she wants him).  Time: 1:25:01

2010 Archive of Podcast Updates

This post chronicles the updates done here on the blog for Disney Podcasts in 2010.  I was able to maintain a continuous set of updates to the end of August.  After that, the decision was made to cut losses and not do the last 1/3 of the year (it was so far past when the episodes posted that nobody was reading them).


01/07/2010
01/15/2010
01/22/2010
01/31/2010

02/07/2010
02/14/2010
02/21/2010
02/28/2010

03/15/2010
03/31/2010

04/15/2010 
04/30/2010

05/15/2010
05/31/2010

06/15/2010
06/30/2010

07/15/2010
07/31/2010

08/15/2010
08/31/2010

No further updates for 2010.