Alicea: 0:23

Hello everyone. I'm Alicea, I'm Nathan and I'm Marielle. Welcome to this week's episode of Adventures and Mousecapades. Today's guest has us trading in our Disney pixie dust and park maps for a ticket to the brand new Universal Epic Universe, and we are dying to know if it lived up to the hype. So buckle up, buttercup, because we are diving into rides, vibes and maybe a few theme park secrets. First off, welcome!

Marielle: 0:54

Yeah, thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here.

Nathan: 0:57

Absolutely.

Alicea: 0:58

I know we are breaking the mold and talking universal, but tell us a bit about your Disney history. Did you grow up going to the theme

Marielle: 1:09

I did so my parents started taking me. I think I went to Disneyland when I was two for the first time and then we kind of went every two years after that and then growing up it was always Disneyland and I got a hold of the like disney world vacation planning video and I think I think I burned a hole in it from how many times I watched it, um begging my parents to go there, and um my, when I was nine my brother was born and we went shortly after he was born and it was like the greatest place I had ever been.

Marielle: 1:47

I was just like amazed the whole time, um, and so then we started going there. We became DVC members and we started going there more regularly than Disneyland, but I love them both equally.

Marielle: 1:59

I don't really have a favorite between the two. And then, growing up, I you know, when people asked what did you want to do, I always said that I wanted to work at disney, uh, and I ended up, uh, achieving that goal. I started with the disney college program yeah and I was on opening team for toy story mania in 2008 oh, wow yeah, just as a college program kid, which is almost unheard of, and because you have to like audition but you have to interview specifically for opening teams and so it was like it was fit and we got to work really closely with Imagineering and see all the back end stuff before it even opened and it was such a cool experience.

Marielle: 2:53

And then after that I worked for Disney Cruise Line for about six years on board the ships. I worked on the Magic, the wonder and the fantasy, so all three of those and I was there when the Dream opened and left, before they really expanded the fleet to what? Is that now, but I loved. I loved that too. That was amazing.

Nathan: 3:18

That's all right. We will absolutely be picking your brain later. Yeah, for sure. So let's shift gears a little bit, and you know we're going to talk about Universal a little today. So have you, I'm assuming? Yes, but have you been to the Universal Orlando parks before the existing ones?

Marielle: 3:40

I have Yeah. So I go there because they have more of the thrill rides than Disney does and I'm a big rollercoaster person. So I'm always like, okay, I gotta go. You know, gotta go on the Hulk, gotta go on Hagrid's. Um the.

Marielle: 3:57

I didn't go on Hagrid's until, as I think it's been like four years ago was the first time I went to that part um, and that just blew me away, but yeah, yeah. So then, when I heard epic universe was opening, I was like well one, it's a huge deal that there's a new theme park opening yeah and there's gonna be, you know, a chance to go to super mario. I'm gonna be there really close after they open to the public, so I was like I gotta go yeah I have to do it, of course.

Alicea: 4:26

Yes, it's a bright, shiny, brand new park. Um, give us details about the the trip. Who was with you? How long were you there? Did you stay on property?

Marielle: 4:38

I didn't stay on property at universal, I stayed on Disney property at Riviera.

Nathan: 4:43

You have some standards, then I get it, yeah.

Marielle: 4:49

I do get to my point where I'm like okay, get me back on Disney property but it's a fun, fun day to go to Universal. I was with my parents. So I actually crashed their trip that they were planning to go by themselves and I was like well, if you're going going, I'm gonna go to epic universe for a day and you guys can hang out.

Marielle: 5:07

Um, so they they dropped me off in the morning to go to. I just had the one day at epic universe, so it was like got there right when it opened and I tried to cram in as much as I could and I figured, you know, being by single rider would work to my advantage too for a lot of things. So it did in a way. I also was recovering from surgery, so I is a little bit kind of similar to Disney now but a little different.

Nathan: 5:47

Yeah, because Disney. I mean they've had the Disability Access Service or DAS, but it's changed a year or so ago and a lot of the physical limitations aren't qualifying anymore. It's more of the neurodivergent accessibility needs that Disney's catering to. So yeah, interested to hear what your experience was with universal and kind of the physical needs.

Marielle: 6:11

Yeah, so they have a program. You apply to it. Before you get there you have to upload a doctor's note, and then it looked like a bunch of theme parks use the same program. So you select the park from this list. Um, I uploaded a note from my doctor, um, and they kind of came back with the same initial response that Disney had of like, hey, all of our lines are accessible. So you know, that's that's going to be your best bet is, you know you can take a wheelchair through them? Um, the issue was I had an ECV instead of a wheelchair because I was going to be by myself, Um, and so I wasn't. Um, I had ankle surgery, so it wasn't at the point where I could do, you know, a theme park 10,000, 20,000 step day, Um, so I had, I had the scooter, but it could walk too, so it was like you know, toss-up and uh, when I got there I had to go to guest services and put my name on the virtual queue and just wait for guest services.

Marielle: 7:11

So that took a little bit of time out of my like initial getting to the park and wanting to to get on stardust racers right away right yeah, so uh, but they were, they were really accommodating.

Marielle: 7:24

Basically, their lines are accessible, but you do have to transfer to a manual wheelchair and that was where I was getting run into issues, because I was by myself, so I wouldn't have anybody to push me Liability issues. They can't push you through the line either. So they gave me kind of the same thing as Disney, where you get a return time for the rides.

Marielle: 7:49

They are a lot more strict than Disney is with the return times there, like if it says your wait is 180 minutes, then you come back exactly 180 minutes. I found that Disney has a little bit more leeway with that, where it's like 35 and they're like come back in 20. It's fine, you know, or something like that. But Universal was very strict 35 and they're like, eh, come back in 20. It's fine, you know, or something like that. But universal was very strict, and some of that could be because it's brand new and you know they don't want people taking advantage there. But it did work out just being by myself, and it allowed me to go use single rider line at some of the other rides and then also like have that in my back pocket, but that also meant I was going, you know, back and forth across the park to different areas.

Marielle: 8:29

So I got a lot in for sure.

Nathan: 8:32

We both have had knee replacements, so we're very familiar with needing to bring that ECV through the line, at least for most of the modern rides, at least, uh, maybe some of the OG stuff in fantasy land in like California. It's a little rough, but some of those lines are about 20 feet long anyway.

Marielle: 8:58

So, um, so yeah, that's interesting that they make you transfer to a manual chair as accessible as disney um, kind of the same familiar issues that the other universal parks have of, like, you know, being worried, uh, for people who are in bigger bodies to to fit in some of the rides. They did have a lot more like test seats outside that I haven't seen across universal before. So that was nice, um. But, like super Mario, there are stairs everywhere it's, it's all stairs, all you know, elevators, all um. I can't think of the word, uh, escalator, escalators, um, so that that was a big, a big hindrance there yeah um, but I mean, it didn't prevent me from anything.

Marielle: 10:09

So I I kind of got to a point where I just parked it outside and I was like, whatever I'll walk, I'll walk through there.

Nathan: 10:14

Yeah, um, so yeah okay, I'm glad it worked out, yeah yeah, yeah.

Alicea: 10:34

What was your first reaction going into Epic Universe? Did anything surprise you right away?

Marielle: 10:39

It's the concept of each portal being into a different land of Epic Universe is very obvious when you first go in and there's a lot of space too, like it's a huge park. It's very spread out and then the center is the. I can't think of it.

Marielle: 11:00

I think it's Celestial Park is in the center and they have these big, grand fountains and statues and you can see the brand new hotel right there too the helios, I think, is what it's called yes, helios grand or something.

Nathan: 11:14

Yeah, something like that yeah but that's all just right.

Marielle: 11:16

When you walk in and you're just like wow, like this is, this is so pretty, and then it's almost overwhelming of like, where do I start? Like you know because you have super mario, that's super popular. You have how to train your dragon, which is very well done, like just in terms of theming. And then you have um harry potter, which is also like mind-blowing of just how well it's done. And and then I didn't go to Dark Universe, but I've heard good things about it. I'm just not a scary movie person. And.

Marielle: 11:53

I didn't really want to go by myself if anything was super scary.

Nathan: 11:57

Hey, I am right there with you. I am not all about the scary stuff, yeah.

Marielle: 12:02

Like I get freaked out on Haunted Mansion sometimes with those things that pop up in the graveyard, so I was like I'll skip that one. But I have heard very good things about that part too. So, it was just mostly like oh, where do I start? Because I don't even know where to go, but it was all just so well done, so so cool.

Nathan: 12:26

You did a great job. My next thing I was going to list off all of the portals and lands to everything. So, congratulations Exactly Um so celestial park like. How did that set the tone for your visit?

Marielle: 12:40

It's kind of interesting because it doesn't really fit with the rest of what is in the park, but it's kind of like the central hub if you wanted something you know, quick and easy. You could go on the carousel, which was like so pretty, um I. I also didn't stay at night, which I kind of wish I did, because I've heard very good things about just how pretty it is there, and it was a way to just kind of like get your bearings again.

Marielle: 13:21

If you were lost or didn't know where to go next, you could kind of just hang out there yeah there isn't a lot of shade, so it was very open, very sunny, central florida typical like 90 degree weather and 90 degree humidity, um. So that was kind of uh, like you could take a break there, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it unless you were sitting like really close to the fountain and could get some of the water.

Nathan: 13:47

Did it look like you're going to have a bunch of like trees grow in? Is it just because it's so young, or was there really not a lot of shade that they've put in yet?

Marielle: 13:56

It looked like, uh, from what I could tell, they didn't really have a plan to add more. It was all concrete. Um, and there's stores right when you walk into in a starbucks that has, you know, the epic universe cup there too, which I made sure to get to um but that part is all shaded and then it goes over towards how to train your dragon and stardust racers.

Marielle: 14:20

Stardust racers is probably, I think, and the Carousel are one of the only rides that I think are in Celestial Park, so they're not necessarily behind a portal, so they're kind of more out in the open and that's like an across from store. So there's a lot of space for you to just kind of like plan out your day there pretty much.

Alicea: 14:39

Yeah, you said you're a coaster person. Yes, so how was Stardust? It was Stardust Racers, right? Yes, yeah, so did you get on Stardust Racers?

Marielle: 14:48

I did and I did both sides. I did both the green and the yellow. It was amazing. I don't know if either one of you have been on VelociCoaster.

Alicea: 14:57

No, not yet. I want to Nathan will you actually go on VelociCoaster.

Nathan: 15:01

I mean maybe in another life, Sure.

Alicea: 15:03

I love coasters yeah.

Marielle: 15:06

Yeah. So VelociCoaster when I went on it I was a little freaked out because it doesn't have the shoulder restraints, it's just the lap restraint. Totally worth it. Like probably the best roller coaster I've ever been on. Like I would say that and Cosmic Rewind are like 1A, 1, 1b for me, and then I would put stardust racers at number two behind that and like probably hagrid's at like 2b.

Marielle: 15:31

so um, you know like getting really I can't pick, um, but yeah it it's. It's so good like I would have loved to go on that one at night because I feel like you could get more of the theming there, but it still came through that the two tracks are racing against each other. The music kind of immerses you while you're on the ride so you're not really thinking about anything and you do get really close to the track next to you so it keeps that competitiveness going between the two and I don't want to give too many spoilers about it. But there's there's a couple different launches that really, just like you know, send you back in your seat and it's like I got off and I was like I should just get in line again.

Marielle: 16:19

Like this is this is so good and, funny enough, it was the shortest wait from almost anything, which I thought was really interesting, given that it's, you know, a thrill coaster. Yeah, um, but I didn't see it get above. Probably like I think 40 minutes was the highest that I saw it all day so are the?

Nathan: 16:37

are the two sides symmetrical, just like opposite shaped, or are they actually doing a little bit different?

Marielle: 16:43

they're slightly different in terms of like the, the twists and like which direction you go and um, kind of some of that um, but they are pretty similar and you don't. It's like you can't really tell the difference until you go on both sides right.

Nathan: 17:01

I didn't know if it was like mission space where, like you, have an intense side and a gentle side, but you're still racing.

Marielle: 17:08

Yeah, they're both very intense, excellent, yeah. That kind of stuff.

Nathan: 17:14

I'm okay with it's. I can't do galaxy. Oh.

Alicea: 17:19

Guardians. Yeah.

Nathan: 17:20

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind just rewinds my gut and I just, it's the spinning, it's the. I just I can't handle it. Velocicoaster I think Alicia and I would both get on, quite frankly but we typically fall into that larger person bucket, where these rides and these seats just don't work for us. So I'm actually really happy to hear that they have more test seats out at the new park, cause that will well, that will save us from perhaps needlessly waiting in line.

Alicea: 17:54

Yeah, I think I could do Velocicoaster now. When we were at the park before I was much heavier and what just wasn't I was so bummed that I couldn't fit in. Yeah.

Marielle: 18:06

Yeah, yeah, I would, I would be too. Um, but Stardust is kind of the same seat. Uh, you sit up a little higher, but it's still the same kind of restraint.

Alicea: 18:16

Yeah.

Marielle: 18:16

Um and the same they. You know, locker, walk through a metal detector, can't take anything with you. Um, I know, which was also kind of a bummer, because I was like I want to, I want to take pictures, I want to like yeah tell everyone about this, but no I have to get one of those.

Alicea: 18:31

I wonder if they allow the the cameras that you basically strap on your chest oh they, they might.

Marielle: 18:38

Yeah, I didn't see anyone with them.

Alicea: 18:40

You can't hold anything, yeah, I haven't heard that track at night is phenomenal. Like the track isn't lit at all, it's only the cars themselves. So it really looks like comets going across and everything.

Nathan: 18:53

Yeah, that's cool yeah.

Marielle: 18:55

Yeah, it's harder to see that detail in the day. You can see the comic or the comet part on the, you know, on the track or the train. But yeah it's. It's a little harder to see.

Nathan: 19:11

Got it Now. I know you didn't spend a ton of time in uh in Darkmoor over in the dark universe. Did you take a peek in there at all?

Marielle: 19:15

Uh I, I walked in really quick and I was like, oh, this looks cool, and then I I kind of walked out.

Nathan: 19:20

That's fair, that's totally fair. So, The question that that Alicia had prepared was did it remind you of Halloween, horror Nights? And so it sounds like yes, in that both you and I would say no, thank you.

Marielle: 19:33

Right, yeah, yeah. That was immediately the vibe that I got in when I walked in there. I was like, oh no, that's not for me. I'm more of a not-so-scary Halloween party girl.

Nathan: 19:45

That sounds fair. Yeah, all right. So Ministry of Magic TM Universal already has the Wizarding World of Harry Potter TM. It lands at both of its other two Orlando parks. So how does this iteration stack up against those?

Marielle: 20:05

I would say it's a. It's a good fit. It's kind of a bummer to me that they're not all combined um, because epic universe is on the complete opposite side of i4 from the rest of the which was surprising to me. I didn't know that going in and I was like driving through this residential area like am I sure there's a theme park over here?

Marielle: 20:25

yeah there it is, so it's kind of it's set in france okay so all of the theming is is very french um and you like, immediately when you walk in, you're just immersed in harry potter, like you feel, like you are a character in the movie. Um, there's so much. If you have a wand, there's like. I feel like there's way more to do there that's interactive than at the other parks um yeah, so, uh, that was really cool.

Marielle: 20:54

There's a lot more of the moving pictures. Um, it seemed like there was still some stuff that wasn't quite open yet or quite ready, and I'm not sure if they're still building on that. Um, because over the, the only ride over there, is ministry of magic, so the rest is street performers. There's, uh, the show which. I I didn't go to cause, I was maximizing ride time.

Marielle: 21:19

Right, Right Um but I've heard great things about it. I saw some of the street performers, which was really cool. There's a bakery, there's a chocolate store with all of the typical Harry Potter stuff. I would say there's a lot more to explore and kind of get lost in than Harry Potter at, uh, at universal um, because there's more like back alleys and things you can go down, and so you kind of get caught and interact with some of the pictures that call you out when you're walking by. Yeah, it's really fun, um, and if you're close to someone with a wand, that works in your favor too, cause then you get to see all of that. I didn't buy one but I was, you know, around people that had one.

Marielle: 22:05

It was it was so cool to see and, um and you could see all the kids just immediately like thinking that they were in Harry Potter, which was amazing.

Nathan: 22:16

What'd you think of the uh of the ministry magic ride?

Marielle: 22:19

Oh it's so cool, it's like it's, it's definitely worth the hype if it works the whole time. And that's where some of the issues are with the park is I don't think they're ready yet for the full capacity of what is going to come at them. Um, cause I think when I went I went the beginning of July I think there's still a limited capacity a little bit for capping ticket sales. Okay, um, so it was busy maybe yeah, Um, it was busy.

Marielle: 22:55

uh, like immediately, and you get early entry if you stay on property too, so like I didn't have that advantage too. Um, and every I think every day they open a ride for early entry, like a different part. Oh okay, yeah. So sometimes it's Ministry of Magic, sometimes it's how to Train your Dragon, sometimes it's Donkey Kong.

Marielle: 23:16

Oh, nice it just kind of depends on the day. Ministry of Magic was one of those 180 minute wait rides but I was like I'm here, I've heard it's worth it, I'm going to do it, so I got the return time. The ride went down while I had my return time, and so then they gave me an express pass, which I could have used at any other ride, but I was like nope, I'm going to wait until this comes back ride.

Marielle: 23:45

But I was like, nope, I'm gonna wait until this, this comes back up and this is what I'm gonna do and like the queue is, so you walk through and you go through the flu powder and you are in the ministry. Like I thought I walked into the movie wow that it's.

Marielle: 24:00

It's crazy. There's giant posters of professor umbridge and she's talking and um, because the the theme of the ride is that you're at the trial of dolores umbridge and so that's why you're in the ministry of magic and um. So you see all these characters as you're walking through um. Because I had express pass, I missed a little bit of the queue, but you could still see some of it, sure. And then getting on the ride. I know Disney has really sensitive ride systems. Like you know, haunted Mansion is pretty sensitive. Yeah.

Marielle: 24:33

This one is probably the most sensitive ride system I've been on. They have you, you're sitting in. It's kind of like a Tower of Terror elevator style. Ok. But your feet have to stay on the ground, otherwise the ride will stop interesting whoa, yeah, yeah, and you have to keep your back against the the thing, otherwise the ride will stop too.

Nathan: 24:56

So it's, yeah, it's that sensitive sounds like the designers and operations weren't quite talking to each other, right, right?

Marielle: 25:06

because, like you know, you got little kids on these rides I don't know how that works sometimes um, but I think you've run rides before.

Nathan: 25:14

I mean, imagine, if I'm like toy story mania, if, like I'm sorry, if little billy sits forward to, like you know, shoot the gun or whatever the the ride's gonna stop, like that would be a nightmare right, right, and I think.

Marielle: 25:28

I think that it goes down so much because of all the technology that's in it. So it's probably a combination of the screens and the ride vehicle and the um. I think there's animatronics in there. I would say like it's, it's. There's so much going on that it it is like it's comparable to rise of the resistance. I would say in terms of like theming and just like. Oh my gosh, I can't believe. I'm here right now, yeah.

Marielle: 25:58

That's, that's the level that it is, so it is like they're they're inching on Disney, uh, catching up there with that ride.

Nathan: 26:09

It sounds like it also is similar to rise of the resistance in terms of reliability. Yes, yeah, yeah, that's the other huh, yeah, right, you know that's actually perhaps a positive, for disney of everybody goes like man, why can't you just get rise to work?

Marielle: 26:23

and it's like well, nobody else can do a complex ride like this either exactly yeah, that's why there's a, because I mean I yeah yeah, right, I got off and I was like you know, at least disney has the b mode if kylo's not working right or you know, this doesn't have anything, it's just nope. You gotta come back later and hope for the best. So, yeah, yeah, interesting, and that one was probably like my top ride, that I was like I have to go on this, um.

Marielle: 26:51

So I was really glad that I got to go a through the full thing without anything happening yeah um, because I did get there, like really close to when it went back up, um, and I was behind, uh, a really famous, famous YouTuber, so they were kind of like crossing their fingers. Everything worked right for him. So I was like, all right, cool, I at least get to get that benefit, nice yeah.

Alicea: 27:16

Yeah, all right. Isle of Berk From what we've seen online, this seems like one of the most immersive lands at a theme park that we have ever seen, with all the character interaction opportunities. It kind of follows through and maybe beats the promises that disney made on galaxy's edge for star wars fans. Um, what did you think of this? How to train your dragon experience? And, more importantly, did you get to meet toothless

Marielle: 27:44

um I did not get to meet Toothless. The line was a little too long for me. Not having read the books or watched the movies, I was just going in there as like hey, I've heard this is really cool and I should go on it into epic universe. I was like, okay, my priorities are harry potter and super mario, at least for me. And then it was like if I have time, I will do everything else. Um, so, since I had those like return times, it was like, okay, let me go back and harry potter and super mario are on opposite ends of the park so it was like okay, I got my return time for harry potter.

Marielle: 28:23

let me go check out super mario and see what that's doing, and then I was like oh well, I either have to wait in line or because I can't get another return time. Right.

Marielle: 28:32

Or let me go see if something else is going on. So that's when I was like, okay, let me go into Isle of Berk. It's very close to Stardust Racers. So if you go on Stardust Racers you get a good bird's eye view of what that land looks like, which is really cool. Like you mentioned with galaxy's edge, I would say that it's it's very comparable to that, and probably beats it in terms of character interactions.

Marielle: 28:56

Um, like I, I saw toothless and I saw just the look on people's faces of just like I, wow, like I can't, a can't believe this is real yeah and b that it's like in a theme park, and I'm experiencing this.

Marielle: 29:10

I also didn't go on any of the rides in there, but I have heard great things about them too. Um, I had a friend who went to, uh, the cast previews and I would say that they're a little bit more unbiased than I am in terms of theme parks because I'm very much like Disney's the best and then everything else. But they had nothing but great things to say about that area and it was again very immersive when I was riding through on my scooter and if I had been with someone who was very into it like I would have been, like, absolutely, let's go do everything I'm glad that I went in and got to experience it, because I would feel like I missed out on a huge part of the park if I didn't at least go in and see what was going on.

Marielle: 29:58

Um, and the rides, I would say that that part has a lot of kid-friendly rides, especially if super mario gets overwhelming for people.

Marielle: 30:07

That's a good area to go in. You know there is, uh, they have a water ride in there, so that's a great way to like cool off in the middle of the day too. I would say, yeah, they definitely give galaxy's edge a run, a run for their money and kind of kind of beat dis Disney in terms of what they expected Galaxy's Edge to be or what they're trying for it to be yes, I think you nailed it.

Nathan: 30:31

Disney cast this vision before Galaxy's Edge opened of what it would be and how engaging it would be. And hey, if you got such and such a score or an achievement or something like that on Millennium Falcon, then when you go into Olga's or somewhere else, like the interactions would be based on your experiences and they, like there was just going to be this whole just super immersive, like you are diving into the land. That I think they did with the hotel that they had, yeah, and unfortunately it didn't last too long and was priced just astronomically pun intended, but they cast that vision and then their follow through on it has been you see some stormtroopers every once in a while or, yeah, like you're starting to see some characters out a little bit, but it just seems like it's so much more over the top and you've got like the blacksmith and the twins walking around. You have all of these characters that you know from the movies, that they're just train your dragon from how to train your dragon Right, not in star Wars.

Nathan: 31:49

Sorry, I'm mixing metaphors here. No, it just yeah, I think. I think universal you know we haven't been there yet, so this is just what we've seen from a bunch of stuff online and a lot of YouTube videos from folks that we, you know, frankly trust it seems like universal was able to execute a lot of the vision and the style of immersiveness that Disney had hoped to do and just didn't quite get there.

Marielle: 32:18

So, I'm excited to see that sometime.

Marielle: 32:21

Yeah, I would say that it feels more organic too, not that Galaxy's Edge doesn't feel organic, but I think because and maybe I missed this for mando and baby yoda to show up and you have people waiting around to see all these characters, whereas at universal they're just around, they're just walking like it is their home and they're supposed to be there, and you are like, why are you here? Not in a bad way, but just like you know. Hey, this is our place and this is where we're supposed to be. Um, and I I don't know if that's a difference in terms of, you know, like guest engagement or anything like that, but it does feel a lot more organic than Galaxy's Edge. Previews for the one in uh, for galaxy's edge at disney world, and I heard all those same things that you said of like, yeah, you know, just wait until it opens and then, with your magic band, it's gonna follow you around the park and it's gonna be like.

Marielle: 33:35

You know you can be an actual outlaw like han solo, and you know it was like, wow, this is gonna be amazing and and then it's still amazing. Right, but it's just not quite what it was hyped up to be. Yep.

Alicea: 33:49

Yep, I do wonder if the characters are going to continue to walk around at Universal or if it's just it's brand new. You know, we'll do this for the first six months and then tone it down a bit. I hope they keep it. Yeah, I do too.

Marielle: 34:05

Yeah, yeah we'll do this for the first six months and then tone it down a bit. I hope they keep it. Yeah, I do too. Yeah, yeah, I think I think they might, but just based on feedback from everyone of like how cool it is and you know that and super mario does have, you know mario and luigi out there too but, it's. It's a little more staged like. Disney is, of like sure in line.

Marielle: 34:22

Take a picture yep again, this feels more like organic, of like oh my gosh, I didn't expect you kind of, like you know, on the cruise ship, when you're walking around and there's a character you're just like oh, I wasn't expecting that yes, 100.

Nathan: 34:36

Okay, so you've mentioned super nintendo world tm. Uh, how immersive. And we were just talking about immersivity. Yep, I just made up a word with Isle of Burke, like how immersive is Mario world and Donkey Kong country? Like how does, how does that feel?

Marielle: 34:52

It also feels like you are in the video game.

Marielle: 34:55

Like I was really impressed at all these areas and how immersive it was. Um, because you know, disney always gets hyped up for that aspect of it. Like you can't tell, you don't know, you feel like you're somewhere else, you tune out the real world. I felt like that here, which I can't necessarily say about the other Universal parks, but I definitely felt that here I would say Super Mario is the most overstimulating out of all of them for sure, because right when you walk in, it plays the sound like you're going up the green pipe and you get on the escalator and there's Rainbow Road, right like you walk through peach's castle and then it's just like, oh my gosh, it's, there's the music, there's the game sounds. There's mario and luigi down there talking. There's the, the flowers that are chomping at you, there's, you know, the coin spinning around yeah um, everyone with their little um are they called power-up bands?

Marielle: 36:03

yeah something, yeah bands yeah all of those everywhere with the coin, things like it's.

Alicea: 36:09

It is crazy in a good way yes, yeah I've been to the one in california and it is extremely bright, very colorful. So much movement, loud, it is definitely over stimulation.

Nathan: 36:27

I was not on that trip to california because I think that was halloween, horror nights when, yes, I was yeah I didn't go um like I'm imagining, with you two talking about this and what you're describing like the picture in my head is just like like cartoon land or like toon land, in like roger rabbit, and it's just you go behind the wall and it's just like insane and uh, yeah, I could.

Alicea: 36:50

I think overstimulating is 100 the right word for that it's amazing though yeah one in california is I don't know if, if the one in florida is a carbon copy of it.

Nathan: 37:00

Um, just that part of it, because I know there's no donkey kong country in california, but oh, um yeah, I think the one in florida is a carbon copy of what they have in japan, and then the one in california is pared down a little bit because they didn't have as much room oh, that's right, they don't have the yoshi ride there yep, yep, yep. So, speaking of rides, in nintendo world, there's minecart madness and there's Bowsers challenge. Did you get a chance to to do any of these rides?

Marielle: 37:28

I did both of those. Um, I didn't go on Yoshi, which I wanted to, because I am a big Yoshi fan, like I played that growing up. Um but I was also, like you know, half of it's in the sun and it's like two o'clock in the afternoon Like I don't really want to.

Alicea: 37:45

I don't want to deal with that.

Marielle: 37:46

It's 90 minute wait, like, uh, no, I'd rather wait 90 minutes for Bowser's challenge. So, um, that one, uh, like I walked in and I was like, oh, I'm literally in the the race from Mario Kart, like I am in Bowser's castle, um, and I did the single rider line with that one while I was waiting for return time for. Donkey Kong, so that one is one of the ones where people use the single rider line as like. Well, I'm going to bypass the regular line, so I don't really care.

Marielle: 38:19

It doesn't move very fast, so you could wait just as long as the regular line if you use the single rider line and it's a little deceiving because you can see where you're going to get on, but you just don't move as fast as everyone else. Yeah, and that one is. Also. I will say that that queue has a lot of stairs. There's a lot of twists and turns that you don't see when you go through the single rider line, so I may have missed some of the queue that I didn't see, um, when you go through the single rider line, so I may have missed some of the queue that I didn't see. Um, but the ride itself, uh, I also didn't have a power up band and it probably would have worked better if I did.

Marielle: 38:55

They do say you don't need one for the ride, so they're like it just keeps track of your points. I don't know what the points are used for either, um, but you don't need one to race and it is. I mean, you're, there's four people to a car, uh, and the actual system for how you're riding is pretty cool, because you put on a mario hat and then the visor is like magnetic, that the 3d visor sticks up to the hat and so yeah, it kind of just like clicks in and then you're ready to go and you don't click that in until you get into the ride.

Marielle: 39:29

So you pull out the visor from the car and put it on the hat that you've been wearing in line. Um yeah, and you, it has one of the twist things in the back. You can twist it to fit on your head and then you, you know you go through and you you're pretty much racing against another car next to you, but all four of you have different, all four of you in the car have different things that you can do. Your shells are different, that you're shooting. I didn't quite know what I was doing on the ride.

Alicea: 39:58

I'll be totally honest. They do not do a good job of telling you what to do on this in the queue, even the regular queue because yeah, I've done this one and it's fun, but I didn't know what I was doing yeah, I was just.

Marielle: 40:11

I was kind of just shooting things and hoping to like hit someone or something, and then I was like wow, that's cool um and I just thought it was.

Marielle: 40:19

Yeah, it was really fun. You know, I was just like I probably, you know, I wouldn't wait more than like a hundred. I mean, to be totally honest, I probably wouldn't wait more than 90 minutes for it, but since it was new, I was like it's a free pass for having the highway time. I'll suffer those consequences and do it. And you know, I I thought it was I ended up waiting, I would say probably 70 minutes, 75 minutes in the single rider line, Um, which, yeah, it was. It was long, but I was like I, I don't feel bad, I don't regret waiting that long either. It was totally worth it to me. Um, and it, it was really cool, yeah.

Nathan: 41:04

What you guys just described just described of not really know what you're doing. That's how I feel every time I get on web slingers in Disneyland. I'm just like I don't know, I'm flailing my hands around.

Nathan: 41:13

Did I win? I have no idea.

Marielle: 41:14

So I've heard, if you like chop, you like a chop motion that kind of helps. Oh yeah, that too, yeah yeah. And then I look like a crazy, like fruit ninja person, just like chopping everybody in the car does. So you're good.

Alicea: 41:32

Yeah, donkey Kong Country, I've heard it's a little bit different, maybe not quite as overstimulating. And then the Minecraft Madness is there. Did you get on that one, because that looks really cool to me. Minecart madness is there did you get on that one?

Marielle: 41:46

I did? Really cool to me it is um, that was one where I was like I have to go on this because it looks like you jumped the track and oh my gosh that is so cool.

Marielle: 41:54

Um, I also felt bad because my boyfriend is a huge mario fan and I was there without him and so I was walking through and I was like if you don't want me to go on and I won't go on it until you can come, and he was like no, it's fine, go on it. And I was like okay, thanks like bye, I'll tell you how it is.

Marielle: 42:14

Um, so I I did go on that one. Uh, donkey kong country, correct, is not as overstimulating as the rest of super mario. Um, but you do have a lot of the, the drums, uh, so that theming is there. The I forget what their signature like drink is called, but I did get that because I was like I heard a lot of good things about it.

Marielle: 42:37

It's in a donkey kong barrel with this huge like waffle cone thing on top, and yeah, it was um I forget what's all in and now it's. It's definitely like coconut, pineapple, like very tropical thing um happening, but I would say the line for that is almost as long as the line for the coaster like it was crazy, yeah, because everyone wanted that cup, so that's hilarious yeah, yeah, uh.

Marielle: 43:05

And then the the queue for minecart madness is kind of like tucked in the back a little bit um again, like I had a return time for that, but they sent me through the single rider line so I got on pretty quick when I was on there, um, and I happened to get on with a really friendly group of people, so that was fun.

Marielle: 43:25

Um, you have four people in the cart. It's a lot shorter than I thought it was going to be. So, um, kind of like Tron, where I was like, oh my gosh, this is going to be so cool and it's so fun, and then I was like wait, it's over already Like oh that's it.

Marielle: 43:47

Um, so that was kind of disappointing, but the animatronics are really cool. The ride is really cool. Um, I will say that one is one where you kind of have to be aware of like body, different body types sitting in that, because there's like this, there's like a knob thing in the middle which isn't like it goes. It's supposed to go between your legs but it doesn't really. It's kind of further back so it ends up going like up your butt a little bit, and so I'm just like that's a little, a little awkward and it gets. It is very bumpy too, so it's just kind of like not very comfortable while you're going through it.

Nathan: 44:15

Who thought this one through.

Marielle: 44:17

Yeah, it was like the test and adjust period was not long enough for this ride like yeah,

Nathan: 44:23

more testing and more adjusting, please.

Marielle: 44:25

Yeah definitely more adjusting, so, uh, but the and the part where you jump over the track like it's kind of like a blink and you'll miss it moment too, so you really have to pay attention, but you do get a nice. Uh, there's a little bit of water during that too, so that's a nice in the florida heat. Yeah, um, that one was uh really immersive too, like you have all the different um, I mean, I think diddy kong was in there, definitely donkey kong, and then the, the old guy that I can't remember his name now, but papa or something

Marielle: 45:04

Yeah, yeah, he's, he's there too with, and his animatronic, I think is the most prominent, which is is very cool. Um yeah, and that again I would say also, like downside of super Mario is there's hardly any shade anywhere unless you're in line, so that that kind of is rough.

Alicea: 45:23

And so that kind of is rough, yeah yeah. Uv umbrellas for the win. Yes yeah.

Nathan: 45:29

All right. So we've talked about a whole bunch of rides. Which one stood out to you the most and why? Was it the thrill or the theming? Was it something that you just were completely unexpected and surprised by?

Marielle: 45:43

I would say that, stardust Racers, I was surprised by. Um, I would say that, uh, stardust Racers, I was surprised by like I.

Marielle: 45:50

I knew going in that it was a, it was a thrill ride, but I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was, uh, so that kind of that was a pleasant surprise for me. Um, and I would say, uh, ministry of Magic was also a really big surprise because I I purposely went in like not knowing anything about what the ride was about. I didn't watch any videos, I didn't even know that it was, you know, the trial of Dolores Umbridge, until I walked in Um, and that.

Marielle: 46:23

That was just like my mouth was open the entire time I was on that ride. It was just like every, every new screen, every new turn was like oh my gosh, how are they doing this? This is so cool, like I I can't say enough good things about that ride and I think, overall, like the theming of super mario, like if I was, if I was a kid, like that would be the coolest place I had ever been.

Marielle: 46:48

I think like it, especially a kid that plays super mario like yeah wow, like, and the amount of souvenirs they have there is crazy

Nathan: 46:58

They took a page out of disney's playbook on that one?

Marielle: 47:02

yeah, they did and they got me good like

Nathan: 47:07

I don't know, I unfortunately I don't really connect with any of the uh nintendo stuff. I just I never had one. I had a friend who had the original nes, but I, I just I just I had an atari 2600 and yep that, that was my thing. A little, a little simpler graphics, not quite as impressive.

Marielle: 47:27

Yeah, I was always a big Mario Kart person, and so when I heard there was a ride that you could like it's going to be like you're racing I was like oh man, like. I gotta, I gotta do that, as long as it's not rainbow road, because I always fall off on that one, but anything else.

Alicea: 47:46

Yeah, amazing Any standout snacks or meals while you were there.

Marielle: 47:55

So I didn't eat a lot. I brought a lot of food with me Because I also wasn't. I didn't do a lot of research on that before and I was really trying to maximize my time for rides while I was there. Sure, but I would say that whatever special drink they have at Donkey Kong, like definitely yeah definitely go get that. They did have different like the Coke Freestyle machines and you can get a refillable cup and and do all that.

Marielle: 48:28

And there was apparently there was different um specialty drinks for different parts of the park, like celestial park had a special drink and then I think dark universe had a special one um which I saw I just didn't get because I was like Nope got to go. I gotta. I gotta go on rides.

Nathan: 48:47

You're a woman on a mission.

Marielle: 48:48

Yeah, yeah. So that was my. I can't provide too much there, but um.

Marielle: 48:53

I've also heard really good things about um. I think there's a pizza place that's right by celestial park. I've heard really good things about that um, and I did spend a bit of time on you know like reddit or places before just seeing people's experience of like, okay, what time did you get in, how long did it take you, what rides were down? Um, funny enough, I think during the week is busier than the weekend for epic universe and I'm not quite sure why, um, I don't know if they have passed like their annual pass holders are blocked out you know, um I'm not sure yeah, but I'm I'm not sure, but that was definitely the case when I I was there on a tuesday, and it was super busy well,

Nathan: 49:44

Well as as a former disney cast member, you have a perspective that alicia Alicea I don't. You know where we are general, you know part going public, but you have been on the inside of of. You know what it takes to really have an amazing guest experience. How does epic universe compare, uh, against disney in terms of that guest experience and storytelling?

Marielle: 50:09

um, I have really high standards with this because I come from Disney. So there were, like I had experiences that were on both ends of the spectrum. I had experience that were really great, like the initial cast members I talked to, or team members since we're universal yeah, friendly. When I first came in, um, I will say, when I was talking to the guest experience team about you know, like, hey, I'm by myself, how am I supposed to get through these lines?

Marielle: 50:42

You know, in a manual wheelchair, I really had to advocate for myself in that aspect with them, like, and I had to specifically say like, hey, I know you have something where I can get a return time. Is that an option? They were happy to just let me be like yep, well, figure it out, that's your option, sorry. So I really had to like bring that up or ask if there was anything else that that could happen. So that was a little bit of a bummer, but I'm glad that I, you know, really brought that up to them and once I did, they were like oh, yeah, actually, yeah, that's something we can do. And I was like thank you, that'd be super helpful yeah um, it definitely seems like you know the.

Marielle: 51:27

They're not at a point where they're tired of guests or anything yet, so they're, they are really excited. Um, I will say the team members in harry potter, I think, because that ride goes down so much they get a lot of the same questions, the same people. And that that was the one place where I did have a pretty negative experience. Um, you know, I went up to ask because they tell you, okay, okay, you have your return time, and I'm like, okay, I can't get another return time until this one is redeemed and the ride is down.

Marielle: 52:01

So I genuinely don't know what to do, and so I went over there to ask, and as I was asking, there's 10, 12 other people around me asking what to do, what to do, and the team member was just like, hey, everyone, the you know, the ride's not going to come back up just because you're standing here, and yeah. And she was like you have a lot of time, like go spend your time doing something else and check the app, and it'll tell you when, when you come back up. And the cast member part of me is like, well, you know one, people aren't always glued to their phones- when they're at the parks.

Marielle: 52:39

That's a pretty big like piece of feedback people give yeah both for disney and universal I don't want to be on my phone the whole time, yep. Second, like they don't know, like a lot of there was a lot of foreign guests that were there they don't know. They're just asking a question, like they don't have all the information that you have and so kind of like you know, I feel like there's a little bit of that like shift in perspective or like you know, remembering the audience that you're talking to, or remembering that it's their first time, it's their vacation, it's their like they don't come here every day like you do, yeah, um.

Marielle: 53:15

So part of it I was just my brain was just like that would never happen at Disney. Like even if you were the worst day you had ever had, like I can't imagine a cast member ever saying you know, go spend your time doing something else to a group of people at Disney. At least not in that way, like right right, there would be a much you know nicer way to say that yes um, the team members at stardust racers.

Marielle: 53:42

They seem to love their lives like they just are. Like, I think they feel like they lucked out and that's the coolest ride to work at. Um, same, with, uh, super mario, like you know i't, they were really good at moving people through, answering people's questions, managing the really long queues that spilled out of the regular queue line um redirecting people, like a lot of the guests were willing to take pictures, uh, for you, if, if, everything else was busy. Yeah, um, you know the team members. I didn't, you know I don't see as many of them walking around as I do at at disney, um, and there is just like that slight difference of like, oh, there's a little bit of like something magical missing, but it was a much more positive experience than the other universal parks, I'll say.

Nathan: 54:43

Yes.

Marielle: 54:43

Yeah, yes.

Nathan: 54:44

Yeah, it sure sounds like it, and I think we've both experienced that as well, especially of the two legacy universal parks in orlando. We'll call it the yeah like it's just there's just that disney magic is just not quite there. Typically, you will see it shine through every once in a while and it like at least to us. We go like oh, you used to be at disney, didn't you?

Nathan: 55:13

like yeah, we could tell like the folks who have been through traditions but are now at Universal, versus the people who have never been at Disney and now work at Universal. There was a clear differentiation.

Marielle: 55:27

Yeah, it's either you've worked at Disney before, or you're a double dipper where you work at both at the same time yeah.

Alicea: 55:35

Would you go back?

Marielle: 55:38

I would wait to go back. I would say I think they need to work out some of the kinks in terms of crowd management. You know, ride load management, and it's not a fault of the park, I just think it's so new. It's not a fault of the park, I just think it's it's so new. And they, um, you know, I think they maybe underestimated how excited people were going to be about it. Uh, may 22nd, I think, yeah, yeah, yeah, something like that. So I would you know, I would give it a year or so.

Marielle: 56:11

Until you know, let them work out some of those kinks, get some feedback from guests. Um, the crazy thing to me is that you know, I know the I guess I'll call them legacy universal parks. Uh, they've also gotten feedback about accessibility and lack of shade and they didn't seem to take any of that into account in opening this park and that's probably the biggest piece of feedback I had to them.

Marielle: 56:35

Like you really need to listen to your guests in that regard, um, because you'll, it'll just be a better experience for everyone yeah um, yeah, like I've. I've never seen so many people get heat stroke in the time that I've been in florida it was a little.

Marielle: 56:50

It was a little scary, um, honestly, I mean, I used to live there in the middle of the summer and this was the first time, I mean, I saw probably four or five people that were affected by it while I was at Epic, and so that was like wow, you know, and I don't know if shade would have made a difference but it is something that I know that people complain about and have given them feedback about.

Nathan: 57:14

So yeah, when you do go back, is there anything that you do differently? Uh, something else that you'd prioritize? Or maybe is this a like is this a one day park? Is this a two day park?

Marielle: 57:27

Um, I would say it's probably a two day park. Um, I'm not sure.

Marielle: 57:33

If you do today, I don't think you need to do express pass I'll say that, um, if, if I was with other people, I probably and only going for one day, I probably would have sprung for the express pass even though it's it's pricey yeah but you know, if I'm with people where again we're like we want to maximize our ride time, I'm only here for one day and I I did leave um like early evening too, so I didn't do like a full, you know, park day, and that's probably something I would change if I went back to. I would stay later yeah too, because I've also heard, you know, like dark universe and uh, harry potter, like those lines mean they die down at the end of the night.

Marielle: 58:16

So you know you can go on those multiple times if you you know, go after 830, nine o'clock, so I would probably change that. And to just see the park at night too. I think that would be really cool and maybe, you know, I would stay on property so I could get the benefits of early entry. But that would depend on pricing for the hotels. Since I'm DVC, it's like, well, why would I pay for the hotel if I already have this?

Nathan: 58:49

So yeah, we understand that calculus.

Alicea: 58:54

Do you have any tips that you would give somebody planning their very first trip to Epic Universe?

Marielle: 59:01

I would say to figure out what you want to do first and start there, yeah, and definitely pack your patience if you're going and also kind of determine what you're okay with skipping, because if you are only going for one day you're bound to not hit everything there, especially because you know like Bowser's Castle will go down at the same time as Ministry of Magic and so then you know everyone kind of floods, those other rides, and you're kind of just like stuck. So you kind of have to be okay with missing some things.

Marielle: 59:43

And I would say, you know, bring a fan If you're going in the summer, bring your own water, but really kind of make a plan of how you want to go around the park and what you want to do and what's a priority for you and also realize that you're going to be walking back and forth a lot and you may not get to do everything, but I feel like I hit a lot of the big things and was pretty lucky to do so while I was there.

Marielle: 1:00:16

So yeah, and if you can only go on one Stardust Racer, I would say go on the green side instead of the yellow. There you go.

Nathan: 1:00:25

Pro tip right there. Yeah. Well, speaking about being a professional and we're going to shift back to Disney here it's now time for Alicea’s patented Disney torture test. But you've been a cast member, you know all of the inside stuff. But seriously though, Muriel, good luck.

Alicea: 1:00:44

All right, this is just your Disney favorites. From Disney, pixar, star Wars, marvel, anything under Mickey's umbrella.

Marielle: 1:00:53

Okay, my favorites, my favorites,

Alicea: 1:00:55

your favorites, your favorite character

Marielle: 1:01:00

Sergeant Calhoun Okay, from Wreck-It Ralph. Wreck-It Ralph. Yeah, very underrated, I'd say she's my favorite underrated character. Favorite princess is Cinderella, mostly because Walt's favorite piece of animation is when she transforms in the dress um. And I was like, oh yeah, um. And growing up my family always told me that I kind of looked like cinderella and they would call me marielle cinderelli.

Marielle: 1:01:29

So that was like a yeah um, and then underrated princess is probably Magara from Hercules, nice. Pixar character is ooh, that's a tough one. I would say Barbie from Toy Story Nice yeah, because I love pretending to be tour guide, barbie, when I'm at. Disney with people. It's one of my favorite things to do. Star Wars,

Alicea: 1:01:58

oh no, no, no. Just your overall. I'm just saying you can choose from all of them.

Marielle: 1:02:02

I was like I can keep going if you want. I can pick every, I can go. Marvel.

Nathan: 1:02:08

We're going to go through the whole Disney catalog of all 500 or so movies and I want you to tell me which character?

Marielle: 1:02:16

Yeah disney renaissance and then you know, keep going, yeah no overall, and then yeah, no overall your favorite overall or no, I would say overall, cinderella is my my favorite yeah, because that was, you know, a main driver of me. Like I gotta go to florida and see her castle like this is of course, this is yeah, it's the best

Alicea: 1:02:38

favorite movie

Marielle: 1:02:41

um emperor's new groove all right yeah, yeah,

Alicea: 1:02:47

I don't think nathan likes that one. I'm calling him out.

Nathan: 1:02:52

Thank you Alicea.

Alicea: 1:02:53

I, I love it. I think it's great .

Marielle: 1:02:54

Yeah, they have a for Halloween. At Disneyland they have a little poison bottle, drink bottle that has the llama on it and I was like somebody, please get me this and send it to me, otherwise I'm going to.

Alicea: 1:03:08

I have a purse, that is that.

Marielle: 1:03:10

Oh my gosh, I love that

Alicea: 1:03:13

Favorite ride.

Marielle: 1:03:14

Oh, Cosmic Rewind for sure. All right. Yeah, rock and Roller Coasters is second. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I have been on that one with the lights fully on and fully off. Wow, so not like fully off, nothing glowing. Whoa, you are in pitch. Yeah, it was really freaky, but it was also one of my favorite things I've ever done, because it's so cool.

Alicea: 1:03:36

It's a deep space mountain there.

Marielle: 1:03:37

Yes, yeah, yeah

Alicea: 1:03:42

Disney World or Disneyland?

Marielle: 1:03:46

I would say Disney World, and my justification is that I know everyone says that Disneyland was like. Well, it was Walt's baby. Yeah. My justification is like Disney world was Walt's dream that was, you know. He bought that land. He had so many ideas for what to do there, and so we. The fact that we get to live in that and experience that is so cool.

Nathan: 1:04:09

I love that perspective.

Alicea: 1:04:10

Yeah, yeah, I do too. That's nice. Out of all the individual parks that you've been to, which one is your favorite?

Marielle: 1:04:35

I would say Magic Kingdom. There’s just something about the castle being bigger and it being so separated from the transportation and ticket center and it's just like on its own little island and there's more space and it just feels like you know, this is how it was meant to be yeah yeah

Alicea: 1:04:45

favorite hotel or resort oh yeah.

Marielle: 1:04:49

No, that's a tough one. Probably the Polynesian. That's the first resort that we stayed at on my first trip and then I just think the theming there is unbeatable, I think, and it being on the monorail and you can go to the beach there. They have the pool, you don't have to go to the park to go to get a dole whip but Riviera.

Marielle: 1:05:19

I was also present, pleasantly surprised with like, in a really good way, like I was expecting it. I tour, we toured it and I was expecting it. Like, oh, it's like a hotel. You know it's not really DVC, but it doesn't feel like a hotel when you're in the room and I could watch the Epcot fireworks from my balcony, like that was so cool, like yeah.

Alicea: 1:05:42

Favorite DCL ship

Marielle: 1:05:45

the magic. Yeah, she's. She was the first one I worked on and she's the original and I think I, just I like this. I prefer the smaller ships to be totally honest yeah um, and you know, I think she has a lot of charm in a really cute way. Um, I like how intimate it is. You can get to know the crew members better than the larger ships. You get to know the people you're sailing with. Um, it doesn't feel as overwhelming or like, oh, there's too much to do. I think it's the perfect amount of what to do and she used to have the cool itineraries and now they moved them to the dream.

Marielle: 1:06:33

oh, that one's tough because because I don't eat on property that much Okay got it. Yeah, we're more of like an eat-off-property type family, but I do love me some Disney snacks.

Alicea: 1:06:51

So what’s your favorite snack?

Marielle: 1:06:51

A churro for sure,

Alicea: 1:06:53

from where

Marielle: 1:06:55

Disneyland actually has superior churros yes, I do, and there was a carrot specifically, there was a carrot cake churro they had a couple years ago uh, during halloween beating heart yeah, and it was at the churro cart outside of haunted mansion and I got to experience haunted mansion holiday for the first time and to the magic of a carrot cake churro and it was like wow. It was a core memory in my brain for sure, yeah, that's yeah well yeah, the one.

Nathan: 1:07:25

The one thing I will, I will share with you, if you haven't already. Go to Nomad Lounge next time you're in Animal Kingdom.

Alicea: 1:07:33

Oh yeah.

Nathan: 1:07:34

And get the churros there. Okay, they are. Arguably. I could say they are actually better than the Disneyland churros. Oh, wow. And they're gluten-free, which means they're healthy and good for you, right, yeah?

Marielle: 1:07:51

Right and good for you, right yeah.

Nathan: 1:07:53

Right. So like my happy place is Nomad Lounge with an order of churros and a beer, and like, yeah, I'm set. Like if the kids want to go ride Avatar and all the like go have fun, I will be right here.

Alicea: 1:08:13

And they're better because they're made fresh right there.

Marielle: 1:08:15

They're not sitting out yeah.

Alicea: 1:08:18

Because it's a part of the Tiffin's restaurant right there too, yep, okay.

Marielle: 1:08:22

Good stuff I'm going to have to see. My go-to at Animal Kingdom was just the dole whip with the shot of rum, and so now I'm going to have to. Oh, that's good too, also.

Alicea: 1:08:32

Yeah, yeah, I may have done that,

Marielle: 1:08:41

Yeah, that's right yeah.

Nathan: 1:08:42

Well, Marielle, congratulations you survived the torture test.

Alicea: 1:08:46

Yay,

Marielle: 1:08:47

that was one of my favorite torture tests, yeah, not that I've had a lot, but I love a Disney one.

Alicea: 1:09:03

Well thank you so much for spending some time with us and talking about Epic Universe, or sorry, Universal Epic Universe.

Nathan: 1:09:03

Universal's right,

Alicea: 1:09:04

no, no, no, there's no S.

Nathan: 1:09:10

Which corporate naming committee was involved in that. Okay, fine, whatever,

Marielle: 1:09:13

the same one that designed Donkey Kong, I guess, yeah.

Alicea: 1:09:16

But thank you, it was so fun to hear your perspective of it and I want to go yes.

Marielle: 1:09:24

I know. Hopefully this makes people you know excited to go and gives them a little bit more boots on the ground experience. Yeah. Thanks for having me. I really enjoyed talking with you both and if you ever want a deep dive on cruises or opening a ride, hit me up for sure.

Nathan: 1:09:44

We will be in touch 100%. Thank you so much, Marielle.

Alicea: 1:09:49

Thank you. Please remember we are not affiliated with Disney, universal or any of their subsidiaries. These are personal opinions and suggestions based on our own experiences. We recommend working with a travel agent or contacting Disney or Universal directly to plan your perfect vacation.

Nathan: 1:10:06

If you have questions or suggestions or would like to be interviewed on our show to share your vacation experience, please send an email to podcast at ourmouscapadescom you can follow us on socials.

Alicea: 1:10:19

We are at Our Mouscapades. You can find us on Instagram, facebook threads and YouTube.

Nathan: 1:10:24

And please give us a rating and review in your podcast app. That really helps people find us.

Alicea: 1:10:31

Of course, don't hesitate to share us with your friends and fellow Disney lovers of all ages.

Nathan: 1:10:36

Thanks for listening. We'll be in your ears next week. Thank you for flying Star Tours. Bye-bye.