Door Chimes And Introductions

Intro 0:03

Please stand clear of the doors. Please stand clear of the doors.

Alicea 0:24

Hello everyone. I'm Alicea.

Nathan 0:25

And I'm Nathan.

Alicea 0:26

And welcome to episode 233 of Adventures and Mouscapades. This week we are talking with Nathan.

Nathan 0:34

Wait, who?

Alicea 0:35

You.

Nathan 0:35

What? Me?

Alicea 0:37

You. Yeah. We are discussing your solo Disney trip when you were down in Orlando and Key West.

Nathan 0:45

Yeah.

Alicea 0:46

Um, just the Orlando part, though, we're not talking about Key West.

Nathan 0:49

Key West is off the record.

Alicea 0:51

But I do have to ask, sorry, did you have some key lime pie?

Nathan 0:56

I did have some key lime pie.

Alicea 0:58

That's all that matters, honestly.

Nathan 1:00

At a place called Lola's, which is a uh Michelin star earning chef from Chicago who quit the rat race and opened his own place, uh little spot like in an old house in Key West. And it's just him in the kitchen, and the kitchen is like in the main restaurant part. And he's got his daughter, Lola, is involved as one of the

Key West Food Detour

Nathan 1:30

like the hosts and and does some serving. Um there's another server there, and I think he has like a Sous slash like dishwasher person who helps out in back, and that's it. They do two seatings a night, and it was incredible.

Alicea 1:48

And is there is there a set menu or

Nathan 1:51

no It's whatever he picks up at the market.

Alicea 1:55

Okay, so that's okay. That's kind that's kind of what I mean, is like you're not ordering anything, there's a set menu.

Nathan 2:02

Um, I think it changes from time to time. When we were there a couple two, three weeks ago. Now it was we had a choice from five uh appetizers and five entrees, and it was it was incredible. And the freaking appetizers were entree sized. Like we we had a there was a duck option and it was like a teriyaki glaze. And I was like, well, I'm gonna try that, but I also they had a uh they had a braised short rib ravioli. Oh and I'm like, well, I want to try that too. And the server is like, well, get both. I'm like, oh it's like a it's like a it's like a Disney cruise. This is awesome. And so I got both, and they're both like entree sized. I'm like, okay, this is insane.

Alicea 2:53

But delicious, I hope.

Nathan 2:55

But delicious, yeah. Absolutely, absolutely. And the key lime pie, like the desserts were insane.

Alicea 3:01

Yeah, I bet. I mean, if you have a Michelin star chef tackling key lime,

Nathan 3:06

it was it was amazing. It was amazing.

Alicea 3:09

All right, so the meat of this conversation is going to be talking about your Disney portion of this trip.

Nathan 3:18

Oh, I thought we were gonna talk about the amazing band that was at the Green Parrot next door to where we were staying.

Alicea 3:24

No, I thought we weren't. I just wanted to ask about the key lime pie and then you just dove into other stuff.

Nathan 3:31

I will add though, just since I have the floor, uh Trey Pierce and the T-stones, if you ever are in the Southeast and

Solo Trip Setup And Disney Springs

Nathan 3:40

have an opportunity to hear them live at, you know, some club or bar or whatever, do yourself a favor and go. They are insanely good.

Alicea 3:50

Alrighty then.

Nathan 3:51

There you have it.

Alicea 3:52

All right. So for your Disney portion of all of this stuff, yes, this was this was a solo trip. Or did you did you meet up with the crew while you were there in the parks?

Nathan 4:03

No, I I went by myself. Uh and dear Mickey, I have sinned. It took me a week and a half to actually make it on property into one of the parks after being there.

Alicea 4:14

There was other stuff going on. You were visiting with friends.

Nathan 4:16

We're visiting with friends. Yeah. Did get a chance to go to Disney Springs. Okay. Um, before the uh the trip down to Key West. Uh I was down in the Orlando area. I flew down the Saturday right before Memorial Day and was there through the Sunday, June 7th. So I was there for like two full weeks. And I went to Splitzville with Bill and Rachel, Rachel from HR, um, for the first time. I'd never been to Splitzville. And it's one of their favorite places.

Alicea 4:47

I think we've never been either.

Nathan 4:48

No, it's one of their favorite places to go at Disney Springs. And this is a hot take, and I stand by it. The chicken tenders at Splitzville, I actually think are better than the ones on Disney Cruise line, and I love the ones on Disney Cruises. These were insanely good. So there's that.

Alicea 5:13

I wonder if they're made in-house. I know the ones on the cruise line have to be frozen.

Nathan 5:19

Sure.

Alicea 5:20

So I wonder if there's the freshness for them. Who knows? Who knows?

Nathan 5:25

Maybe. They're so good. So good.

Alicea 5:29

Okay.

Nathan 5:30

All right. So yeah, the parks. I didn't get to the parks until I think it was like the the second week, like the Wednesday or Thursday. Uh no, it was the Thursday. Like the Thursday and Friday, uh, right before I left on the the flew home on the Sunday. Um, that was the two days that I I spent in the parks.

Alicea 5:53

Okay.

Nathan 5:54

Just spent the rest of the time lollygagging around and hanging out with friends and and not being on property. So

Alicea 6:00

that's fine.

Nathan 6:00

Yeah.

Alicea 6:01

So was the goal of going on property at Disney relaxing rides, food, or a little bit of everything?

Nathan 6:08

Uh a little bit of everything. So I started off at Animal Kingdom because there was some food there that I wanted to go have.

Alicea 6:17

Okay.

Nathan 6:17

And there's a couple rides that are interesting. And yeah, that's that's where I I went first.

Alicea 6:23

Okay. I'm gonna change it up though. I'm gonna start at Hollywood Studios because I know you went there.

Nathan 6:28

I did go there. In fact, I went there uh in the evening after uh Animal Kingdom.

Alicea 6:33

Okay. What was your first move when you walked in?

Nathan 6:36

Well, my first move when I walked in was to go over to the lounge

Hollywood Studios Night And Lightning Lane Mistakes

Nathan 6:45

there at the Brown Derby.

Alicea 6:48

Okay.

Nathan 6:48

Because I wanted to see if I could get on the wait list uh and you know, have an old fashioned there in the park or at least get something at the outdoor bar.

Alicea 6:57

Yeah.

Nathan 6:58

And the wait list was closed uh and full, and it never reopened the whole rest of that night. And I was kind of bummed about that. Did you go to baseline instead? I did go to baseline instead, and I was killing time because that I want to say like around lunch that day, I decided that hey, I should just get a lightning lane for the day, uh, multi-pass. And I basically treated it like a one-time access pass because I wanted to make sure I was gonna get on the refurbished rock and roller coaster starring the Muppets. And so that was the one thing that I wanted to go do. And by the time I purchased that Lightning Lane, like all of the other interesting rides had already like were out of passes and all the rest of that stuff, or were in the same class of ride as rock and roller coaster. So I couldn't like do rock and roller coaster and Mickey Minnie's Runaway Railway as a pre-book before I tapped into the park. And by the time I got to that park, it was too late. Like I I did everything about managing a lightning lane multipass absolutely wrong.

Alicea 8:17

You basically got it as your your single, not single rider, but your single ride.

Nathan 8:23

I tried yeah, exactly. I I I treated it like a lightning lane single pass um because I I forgot and didn't think about any of the rules. Like if I was thinking, I would have like got this three days early and been able to do multiple rides and passes and all the rest of that stuff. I was also working those days, and so I wasn't exactly sure when I'd be making it over to the parks. Yeah. I'm still, you know, recovering my knees a lot better than it has been. In fact, I I wound up walking a lot. I did not do a cart. Um, I did bring my cane and that helped a bunch, but I didn't know how much stamina I'd have, and I didn't know when exactly in the day I'd be able to head over to the parks. And so it wasn't ideal, but it all worked out.

Alicea 9:17

All right. So you got to experience the updated rock and roller coaster starring the Muppets.

Nathan 9:23

I did.

Alicea 9:24

What did you think?

Nathan 9:25

I loved it.

Alicea 9:27

Awesome.

Nathan 9:28

They have absolutely not uh refurbished the track. I mean, they didn't, it wasn't down long enough to do that, but I was definitely sitting there going, like, hmm, I could see this track needing to get replaced on the next major refurb with it, which I think is like five years out, if I remember hearing something, somebody was talking about that. And they were saying, like, you know, the average lifespan of like a roller coaster's track is, and I don't remember, I was like 25 or 30 years. Yeah. And they're like, and that's gonna be somewhere around 2030, and they're gonna have to like completely refurb the whole thing.

Alicea 10:05

And they just did that with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, yeah. Magic Kingdom.

Nathan 10:09

Yep. And everybody's saying it's incredibly smooth and a joy to run. Rock and roller coaster, you're still bumping around and getting thrown a little bit. And um, but it was it was fun. The theming that they have done on that ride and the pre-show and everything is just so, so special. I I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Alicea 10:35

Awesome. I know there has been some regarding the pre-show. I know there has already been some issues with the pre-show. Like sometimes the scooter animatronic at the beginning has disappeared, and they're using a screen because he's apparently going down every once in a while.

Nathan 10:53

Interesting.

Alicea 10:54

Yeah. But it was up and running for you?

Nathan 10:57

That I could tell I had a show for everything. There were no hiccups, no issues, and it was a 115, 120 minute wait. And I did lightning lane, and I want to say that took me 20 minutes.

Alicea 11:14

Okay. Not bad at all. Yeah.

Nathan 11:16

Yeah. It's not bad. It was definitely a significant uh savings.

Alicea 11:20

I I haven't really looked at a lot about the update for Rock and Roller Coaster, Starring the Muppets, but I know there was a list ahead of time of the songs that they were gonna do for it. Yes. Now, is this a rotational thing, kind of like Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind, where you get a specific song, or are they doing all of them at once?

Nathan 11:41

No, it is it is a specific song.

Alicea 11:43

Okay.

Nathan 11:44

Um I got Walking on Sunshine with uh Electric Mayhem featuring Kelly Clarkson.

Alicea 11:50

Nice.

Nathan 11:51

Um the other ones are song two, uh, which is the woohoo!

Alicea 11:56

Yeah, by Blur.

Nathan 11:57

Um Born to Be Wild, featuring Camilla the Chicken, which those two would have been my my tops. Actually, these three, they're all really good. Love Roller Coaster.

Alicea 12:08

Makes sense.

Nathan 12:09

Uh yeah, Electric Mayhem featuring Jennifer Hudson and Quest Love.

Alicea 12:13

Oh, nice.

Nathan 12:14

That would have been pretty darn cool. Uh and Rock Rock Till You Drop, featuring Def Leopard, uh, along with the Electric Mayhem would have been pretty cool. But yeah, if if memory serves, like there was so much to take in.

Alicea 12:28

Yeah.

Nathan 12:28

But you when you sit down, that's when you and like the you get from the initial loading and then they do that stop to do the checks and stuff like that. That's where kind of like the show audio starts.

Alicea 12:43

Okay.

Nathan 12:43

That's when it's like, you know, hey, it's gonna be, you know, special guest Kelly Clarkson. I was like, okay, now I know which song it's gonna be. Yeah. And the the sign, like the road sign, the highway sign that's over um like the tunnel, like where you do that.

Alicea 13:02

It tells you to put your head back and everything. Yeah.

Nathan 13:04

Yeah. That's digital now.

Alicea 13:06

Okay.

Nathan 13:06

I don't think it was a screen before. I could be it's been a hot minute.

Alicea 13:12

It was a screen of some sort.

Nathan 13:13

Okay.

Alicea 13:14

Because it's yeah, it definitely was.

Nathan 13:16

Okay. Well, it it looks it looks new, it looks amazing. The graphics and everything, the like all of the little nods and everything that they've done, like they've redone that whole back alley thing across the way from you as you're uh you come out of the entrance and across the way, there's uh like a comedy club across the way, and then there's a little mini door like next to it called uh with a sign over it says it's the squeakeasy, because it's it's basically a speakeasy from for rats. Um like just all of the the touches are incredible and just so amazing.

Alicea 13:59

And I've heard Statler and Waldorf are still there and they are still bolted to the seats.

Nathan 14:04

They are towards the end of the ride. Like as you are um, like there's a stop point before the exit of the like the the dismount or whatever you want to call it. Um, and they're kind of like at that corner. They're in like a it's funny, they're in like an like a uh like an RV kind of like camper van kind of thing with like a big open window, and that's where that's where they're sitting.

Alicea 14:31

That's cool.

Nathan 14:32

It's it's all so very, very well done. There's a an actual fantastic picture. I'm looking at my my my pictures here. Um there's a framed like photograph

Muppets Rock And Roller Coaster Review

Nathan 14:45

print of um, and it's in like black and white, like sapia of Rolf singing in like the 60s, like in a studio. Like I I snapped a picture of it. Like, if I could ever find that somewhere, I would a hundred percent buy that and hang it somewhere in our house. Like it's it's so cool.

Alicea 15:08

Did the update change where the ride ranks for you in Hollywood studios?

Nathan 15:12

That's a great question. Like, I I really liked the rock and roller coaster with Aerosmith. It was getting a little long in the tooth just because Aerosmith's not in the the the

Alicea 15:24

They're not current anymore.

Nathan 15:25

The cultural milieu, if you will.

Alicea 15:27

Oh.

Nathan 15:28

Yeah. Big words here. Um, I don't know that I've ever had a ranking of rides in my head in studios. So to really specifically answer your question is really difficult. It will continue to be one of my favorite rides with the loop and everything that's in it as I get older. Like it is one that I am. I I didn't get to the point where I was feeling queasy. I got there was one point where I was like, eh, okay, I'm still okay here. I think the Muppet version of this will make me want to push through those feelings more and want to experience this. This is definitely a must, like on a must-do list for me.

Alicea 16:19

Yeah.

Nathan 16:20

When we're in Hollywood studios, um, where rock and roller coaster, I know we've missed on a couple times in that park, and I've not really felt horrible about it. Yeah.

Alicea 16:32

Yeah.

Nathan 16:32

I want to do rock and roller coaster with the Muppets every time we're there until it makes me feel horrible.

Alicea 16:39

Yeah.

Nathan 16:40

Um, you know, it's interesting when when I was getting banged around a little bit in a couple of the turns, what went through my head that I remember now is as I thought, like, I will still love this ride, but I will love it every like even more when they refurbish the track and it smooths that out.

Alicea 16:57

Yeah. Yeah.

Nathan 16:58

Because it really is the banging around that made me feel the most uncomfortable, not the loop.

Alicea 17:04

Yeah. Well, and as technology has been updated just with amusement park rides, with theme park rides, it's stuff has gotten so much smoother. Just the technology and the engineering and how it's all built has gotten better.

Nathan 17:17

Yeah.

Alicea 17:18

I wonder if we should start seeing if you would if a relief band or something would help you out.

Nathan 17:24

Yeah, maybe it it might be worth trying. Yeah. It might be worth trying. It's just uh one of those things about getting older. Yeah, yeah. You know, I did notice, you know, like I was able to get in just fine. One of the cast members uh took my cane and they walked it over to the exit so I didn't have to like fold it and put it on the floor or anything.

Alicea 17:43

Oh, that's awesome.

Nathan 17:44

But I did struggle getting in just a touch, and it was the most of these rides, it's a or most of the the um roller coasters that we've been on, it's more of a straight entry into the ride, or it's a step down into the the seat. And where I struggled was getting my left foot high enough to get over the side of the ride vehicle.

Alicea 18:14

Oh, okay.

Nathan 18:15

And it took me a couple tries to like, oh yeah, okay, I got this. So it was worth it. I'm still glad I did it. Uh it was, yeah, it was just amazing. And there was a gorgeous sunset uh that was happening. And so I got some really good pictures. I saw some other pictures from that night that were on social media of people who clearly had better cameras and a better viewpoint than I did. And it was stunning. It was absolutely gorgeous. And speaking of the weather, there was uh a weather system that pushed through Florida earlier that week. And the last half of the week, like the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, was warm. Like it was in the upper 80s to maybe touching 90 degrees on the Saturday, but there was no humidity and there was a breeze going. It was like peak Florida weather. It could, if it could always be like that, like we would have zero issues doing parks.

Alicea 19:16

Yeah.

Nathan 19:17

Uh but the humidity does, of course, come back and it makes it just insane.

Alicea 19:22

Yeah. Um, did you hit Villains Unleashed at all?

Nathan 19:25

I didn't. By the time I got over there, the last show of the day had already happened. I think it was at like 5 30 or something. Uh in my or maybe yeah, I think it was a 5 30 show because when I had a six o'clock lightning lane. And when I was walking over towards Rock and Roller Coaster, there was a flood of people walking out from you know, out down sunset.

Alicea 19:54

Yeah.

Nathan 19:54

Uh clearly coming from you know, behind and past the uh um Tower of Terror. And I was like, oh no, did Rock and Roller Coaster go down? And it no, it wasn't that. It was the last show of villains

Animation Courtyard Changes Worth Seeing

Nathan 20:10

getting out.

Alicea 20:10

Okay, okay. Um, one of the other updates that they've done recently over in Hollywood Studios is the animation courtyard area. They took out the huge arch over there. It's like where Star Wars Launch Bay was, um, and they had that huge arch that just said Hollywood Studios. That is gone now. They are kind of reopening this in fits and starts, but right now the animation courtyard is open. It's a grassy area, has different um characters and just little statues around there. How is that? What did that look like?

Nathan 20:48

I think it looks absolutely fantastic. I know uh listening to some other podcasts that love to delve into the uh nostalgia of things and you know, hate change because it's not what they remember, that getting rid of that arch was, again, to some a very controversial thing.

Alicea 21:11

It was it it is. I mean, it's like when they got rid of the the sorcerer's hat.

Nathan 21:16

Yes. Well, ironically, the sorcerer's hat to a degree is back.

Alicea 21:21

Yeah.

Nathan 21:21

Because the sorcerer's hat is now above the main entrance uh to uh one of the the spaces that's that's there in animation courtyard. So there is a you know 35, 40 foot tall hat over there for your viewing and and pictorial pleasure. Uh but frankly, having those arches gone opens up that whole view of what's back there. And it doesn't make that space feel as closed in and cramped and constrained. And frankly, I think we'll invite many more people back into that Corner of the park than ever went back there before.

Alicea 22:04

Yeah.

Nathan 22:04

Because it doesn't look like it is back in some office space, which is what it used to be.

Alicea 22:12

Yeah.

Nathan 22:12

Um, that wasn't meant for the park guests to be in. I actually think this is a fantastic change. And they've made it styled after a lot of what's in the Burbank Disney studios. And it it doesn't look like the studios there, but it is absolutely of that theme. And they have this gorgeous little like grassy area. They have beautiful um brickwork, and the the sign is just stunning. Um, one of my favorite things that's back there, they have little character statues kind of like on overhangs, or uh there's uh a couple places like right in the grass where there's like um I think it's Hei Hei and Pua, or that's not right. There's Thumper and Pua.

Alicea 23:00

Yeah, it's unlikely duos, really.

Nathan 23:02

Yes. And it's just such a really cool touch. And I love that they brought um the concept of like character footprints and handprints over. So like you see on you know Hollywood Boulevard in California, you know, you've got uh uh celebrities who will, you know, leave their their handprints and things like that and sign in the concrete.

Alicea 23:28

Yeah, they have those over by Mickey Minnie's runaway.

Nathan 23:31

They have them by Mickey and Minnie's, and they're like actual you know actors and things like that who have been involved in Disney shows. These are animated characters who have left their signature and prints in the uh in the sidewalk. So you've got like Wreck It Ralph and Ursula and Cinderella. Like Cinderella is amazing because it's uh a left footprint of a high-heeled shoe, and then the right foot is a very demure actual footprint.

Alicea 24:12

Oh

Nathan 24:14

uh Mufasa and Simba, that one will make you cry uh because it's this little paw print inside a bigger one. Yeah. Um there's the beast and bell, Yen sid is over there, Pocahontas and Oswald, Bruno's over there. Like, yeah, it's Mirabelle's over there. There's just that's cool that they've done that. It's really cool. Maui and Moana, I know I could go on. You it's worth going to see. It's it's very, very cool.

Alicea 24:44

And that area is not done. There's still other things that they're going to be adding over there. Um, interested to see it all.

Nathan 24:50

Yeah, uh I think this is where a lot of the the you know animation show is gonna be over there. You're gonna have the Disney Jr. kind of more slant over there. I I think it's a really fantastic uh spot. I it reminds me especially, especially with the kind of grassy courtyard. And I can't remember if it's Astroturf or Grass. I think it's Astroturf. Well, it's not AstroTurf, it's but it's fake grass. Um, it reminds me very much of the bigger space that they've put in over in Toontown in Disneyland, where it's really made for a place for families to hang out and decompress and have some spot where the kiddos can run around and burn off some energy. It really gives off that kind of vibe. And you know, and it is another spot to it is a new spot rather for a photo pass opportunity because you can go up, and I did, I had my picture taken, you know, with the uh with the studio and the sorcerer's hat behind me. Like it, it's it's just a really gorgeous space, and I love seeing it get used way better than it was before. Because as much as I am a Star Wars fan, and there's nothing like waiting in line for 15 minutes to get a Wookiee hug on your birthday, this is a better use of that whole space. And I'm very excited to see how this continues to grow and evolve.

Alicea 26:26

I've seen a couple of things just through through socials and maybe some blog posts that there's a lot of really good character interactions there too. Not necessarily the meet and greets thing, but just the roaming characters. Like they started doing roaming characters over there like they do in Disneyland.

Nathan 26:42

Yeah. Which is again good. I I was there in the evening, so I didn't get a chance to experience that. Those things typically are happening, you know, in the mornings and in the afternoon, but I could totally see that happening, and it will feel like a very natural extension of that space because it to tell the kind of an imagineering level story, this is the animation courtyard. This is the animation studio where Cinderella and Oswald and Yensid and Pocahontas and you know Hercules and Pegasus, this is where they're making their movies and their shorts. And so this is where those kind of characters are going to go hang out. It makes a lot of sense.

Alicea 27:30

All right. Did you get your grilled cheese?

Nathan 27:34

I did not.

Alicea 27:35

Oh no, Woody's lunchbox this go around.

Nathan 27:38

Did not go back to Woody's Lunchbox. Uh the rides over in uh the Toy Story area were out of lightning lanes. Um I had spent earlier in the afternoon a bunch of time over at uh

Animal Kingdom Food Rides And New Show

Nathan 27:55

uh Animal Kingdom and just was not up for a ton of aimless wandering around. Uh I did want to go see some things.

Alicea 28:04

Yeah.

Nathan 28:05

Uh but yeah, I didn't go that direction because that was opposite direction of where I I wanted to go and and uh really focused on the Muppets Ride.

Alicea 28:13

Did you hit anything else while you were there? Or is that mainly it? Because I know it was a it was a truncated day there, I understand.

Nathan 28:21

It was a truncated evening. Yeah, I was only there for um maybe a uh couple hours, two, three hours. Um it was really like I took some time and just had a a snacky dinner over at uh um baseline and then toured the the animation courtyard a little bit and uh did the Muppets ride and then and and kind of meandered my way uh back on out.

Alicea 28:49

All right. All right. Well, you started this day over at Animal Kingdom, which we all know means one thing. Did you go to Nomad Lounge?

Nathan 29:00

Oh. Oh, yeah, I thought you meant I thought you were talking about uh the barbecue there over at uh Flame Tree Barbecue. I mean, because that's where you go for for a good, you know, dinner. No, that's not no uh yes, I I did make it over to Nomad Lounge. Uh that was the the primary goal, but I I did need to have kind of lunch slash dinner, late lunch, early dinner, or you needed you needed your healthy meal, right? I needed linner, yeah, exactly. Um so yeah, I went over and um and had flame tree, uh their kind of half and half barbecue plot. Actually, it's not half and half. There's like three different kinds of barbecue on there, and uh uh that was absolutely fantastic. Um I usually do that with a beer. I didn't get a beer, I got a bottle of water because I had a cane. Um

Alicea 29:56

yeah,

Nathan 29:57

it was okay. It was just

Alicea 29:58

I will say

Nathan 30:00

wish I had a beer.

Alicea 30:01

You can always ask for assistance.

Nathan 30:03

I know,

Alicea 30:04

but did you? You didn't

Nathan 30:07

no. I thought about it and I knew this is the conversation that we were gonna have. I knew I would get flack for this.

Alicea 30:13

They are happy to help.

Nathan 30:15

I didn't want to be a burden.

Alicea 30:16

It's not being a burden. And you missed out on a beer.

Nathan 30:20

I did miss out on a beer.

Alicea 30:21

But you went to nomad.

Nathan 30:23

I went, yeah, I made up for it because I did go over to nomad. Uh it was a five-minute wait, and uh it basically it was enough time for me to go use the restroom over there uh at Tiffin's, and then uh they were ready to seat me. And I had a beautiful two-top right on the railing outside under a fan. It was glorious. I had uh uh a Kongaloosh beer and the churros there. The churros are gluten-free. I will shout it from the mountaintops. That means they are healthy and good for you.

Alicea 30:59

That's why I said this is your healthy meal.

Nathan 31:01

Absolutely. Uh, and then I had another beer because I had no, like I was kind of at that point killing time before I headed over to Hollywood studios and things like that. Although I did take the opportunity while I was at Animal Kingdom to do a couple rides.

Alicea 31:18

Tell me what you did.

Nathan 31:19

Well, one of the first things I did, uh actually, I think it was before I actually had dinner, I went over and enjoyed the brand new show in the Tree of Life Theater that is the Zootopia Better Zoogether show. And it was cute. It it's a heck of a lot better than uh the bug's life show.

Alicea 31:49

It's tough to be a bug.

Nathan 31:50

It's tough to be a bug. It was very cute. I enjoyed it, I had a lot of fun.

Alicea 31:55

Nice.

Nathan 31:55

It's not on my must-do list. Yeah, it's a great filler ride. And um, that's about all I have to say about that.

Alicea 32:05

Alrighty.

Nathan 32:06

It was a cute story.

Alicea 32:09

Did you what else did you do?

Nathan 32:12

Uh I saw Kevin as I was walking around. Oh, nice. Uh in fact, what's

Alicea 32:17

Kevin? Kevin is from up.

Nathan 32:18

Kevin is from up. In fact, I saw Russell and Kevin. Oh. They happened to be uh kind of in the same area as Kevin, the bird was coming out. And Russell was there talking with uh a couple young uh younger ladies and got all excited when Russell saw Kevin and basically yanked and pulled this one younger woman by the arm over to introduce her to Kevin. It was the cutest interaction ever. Uh it was it was very awesome. Uh and then I uh yeah, I went over to Nomad and then I went over to Expedition Everest and saw Disco Yeti.

Alicea 33:08

Disco Yeti.

Nathan 33:09

Yeah, absolutely love that ride. Very, very, very good. And I walked back uh up towards the front past where tropical Americas were will be, uh, past all of the giant construction site. And uh very, very interesting. There the that is a big, big uh building that they are putting up right now. Uh Casita is going to be large, that is for sure. And very interesting. I'm pretty sure uh based on some of the artwork that was on the construction walls. I think Casita is in the Doctor Who universe because there was a sign there that says it's even bigger on the inside.

Alicea 33:57

Oh,

Nathan 33:57

and it had a picture, like an illustration of Casita above that. So I think Casita is a tardis.

Alicea 34:07

Well doesn't travel in time and space, but does have the uh transdimensional inside.

Nathan 34:14

I mean, that is that is magic.

Alicea 34:17

Okay,

Nathan 34:18

that is magic.

Alicea 34:19

Was all the bluey stuff open while you were there?

Nathan 34:22

The bluey stuff was open, I believe. It had opened that Monday.

Alicea 34:30

Okay.

Nathan 34:31

And I was there on the Thursday. I did not venture back in that direction for obvious reasons.

Alicea 34:36

Probably a good call.

Nathan 34:37

Yes. Uh I did not attempt to get on the uh the uh um uh virtual queue. Uh it's not something that I I wanted to do. That said, uh, from what we've heard, it does sound like the virtual queue and the logistics there are doing a lot better uh than people had feared it might, uh, but still a very popular thing and and a place to be, and not necessarily my demographic.

Alicea 35:06

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um any other rides while you were there?

Nathan 35:11

No, I just did those two. Um and then I just did the one ride over at uh Hollywood Studios. So it was a it was a three-ride uh afternoon and evening, um, but I still got my steps in. I did uh five miles according to my Apple Watch and um was was ready to be done at that point.

Alicea 35:35

Understandably. Yeah. All right. So you did Epcot on the other day,

EPCOT Day Remy Without 3D

Alicea 35:40

right?

Nathan 35:40

I did. The next day I went to Epcot and didn't necessarily have a huge list of things that I wanted to go do. I did earlier in the morning on that Friday do a lightning lane uh and I got a few assigned. I got, let's see, what did I do? I did Spaceship Earth, I did Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, and what was the other one I did that was

Alicea 36:09

Cosmic Rewind?

Nathan 36:11

No. No, I did Soarin Across America.

Alicea 36:17

Oh, nice.

Nathan 36:18

Yeah.

Alicea 36:19

I did not know you did that one.

Nathan 36:20

I did.

Alicea 36:21

All right,

Nathan 36:22

and yeah, it was all very good. And I actually ended up riding on the uh Finding Nemo um uh ride as well, dark ride.

Alicea 36:34

Okay.

Nathan 36:34

So yeah, I did a few, and I had lunch uh for the first time that I have been there over at Tutto Italia, which is kind of a nicer Italian restaurant there back in Italy on the world showcase.

Alicea 36:50

Yes, we haven't done that one.

Nathan 36:52

No, uh it's very good. The uh so yeah, I got into the park. I did Spaceship Earth First because it's right there.

Alicea 37:00

Yeah.

Nathan 37:01

Uh and then I walked, I went backwards.

Alicea 37:06

Hold on.

Nathan 37:06

Yeah.

Alicea 37:07

Very important question.

Nathan 37:08

Oh, yes.

Alicea 37:09

Did you thank the Phoenicians?

Nathan 37:11

Of course I thanked the Phoenicians.

Alicea 37:13

That is mandatory.

Nathan 37:14

Absolutely. Absolutely. Uh, and then I walked, uh, I went right. I went backwards. Because this was not a drinking around the world adventure.

Alicea 37:26

You went over to Living with the Land and did Soarin and all that stuff.

Nathan 37:29

Well, Soarin was the last thing I had.

Alicea 37:32

Oh.

Nathan 37:32

So I actually went

Alicea 37:33

You doubled back.

Nathan 37:34

Uh yeah. I the next thing that was on my list was Remy's.

Alicea 37:39

Okay.

Nathan 37:39

And so I did Spaceship Earth and then went right uh past Canada. I I may have uh stopped in the UK for a beer at the pub.

Alicea 37:52

May have.

Nathan 37:53

May have.

Alicea 37:54

Okay.

Nathan 37:54

Uh and then I went to Remy's. And this is the first time that I have been on Remy's since the 3D effects uh have been discontinued. So you don't need the glasses anymore.

Alicea 38:10

It's regular 2D now.

Nathan 38:11

It is regular 2D now. You don't have the issue with 3D screen effects not matching up with what your body's doing, because that is a guaranteed ticket to motion sickness.

Alicea 38:23

Yeah, this is this is one of the very few rides that I got motion sick on.

Nathan 38:28

It was actually quite fantastic. It is, it lived up to everything I thought it could be and wanted it to be after riding it with 3D a couple times and going like, this could be a really great ride, but I feel horrible and I hated it.

Alicea 38:45

Yeah.

Nathan 38:46

And it is a wonderful experience when you don't have that mismatch between 3D and physical motion. I really enjoyed it.

Alicea 38:56

Nice.

Nathan 38:56

Uh highly recommend it. If if folks who are listening have ever done Remy's when it was 3D and didn't like it because of some motion effects and things like that, give it another chance. It really has breathed new life into that attraction. Uh loved it. Absolutely loved it.

Alicea 39:16

And you also did Soarin Over America.

Nathan 39:19

I did.

Alicea 39:20

How was that? I have heard um conflicting reports from folks on this.

Nathan 39:27

I know I did Soarin Over America and I actually liked it. I thought it was great. There's not the smell o vision aspect of the other two shows. So there is I think there was one scene that had some smell in it. I can't remember which that one was, but um, I didn't think it was horrible. I think the use of special effects and some CGI that's on there um is uh way better done than on um some of the other ones where it was very obvious that uh some things were being added in. I I didn't really have a a problem with it. Could there have been more things to represent more of America? Sure, but you're they're also trying to cram all these things into a ride that is in a movie that is still the same length as the other ones. These aren't vast experiences. So, you know, I think it would have been cool to have some some more stuff about, you know, Washington, DC, or or Philadelphia, or Boston, or like just show some some some more things. Wasn't there, it was still very enjoyable. Yeah. I mean, Soarin is a great ride.

Alicea 40:48

Yeah.

Nathan 40:48

Excuse me. Attraction. Forgive me.

Alicea 40:52

You are forgiven.

Nathan 40:53

Yes. I did live with the land as well.

Alicea 40:56

Oh, of course, you have to do that.

Nathan 40:59

Mandatory.

Alicea 41:00

It is a good one. Um one of these days we should do the behind behind the seeds tour.

Nathan 41:05

Yeah. In fact, I'm pretty sure there was a behind the seeds tour happening while I was in there on the boat, and and there were there were folks at a table, um, not next to the water, um, but uh clearly getting some um refreshment samples if you were. And um I I could have used a drink, it would have been great.

Alicea 41:27

Now we did something, I think it was on one of the VIP tours that they don't offer anymore a long time ago. And we got to go, I'm fairly certain, somewhere back behind all that area. It was not a behind the seeds tour. I vaguely remember seeing like a boat scene. Like they'd used something for like I think it was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or something like that.

Nathan 41:55

I think this was that in Hollywood Studios. I think this was you're thinking of I'm I'm with you, I'm tracking with you. This was when we did, I forget what it was called. It was something like the adventure, yeah, the IP Thrills and Adventure Tour or something like that. And it was you hit all the biggest rides in all of the parks, and there was uh a private van transportation between the parks that went backstage, and I'm pretty sure the van picked us up or dropped us off in Epcot back behind the land.

Alicea 42:31

It was it was like right around there. Yeah. Yeah.

Nathan 42:33

Yeah.

Alicea 42:34

One of these days we'll do do the behind the seeds.

Nathan 42:36

Yeah.

Alicea 42:37

Okay. Was there a festival going on while you were there?

Nathan 42:40

There were no festivals.

Alicea 42:42

Oh, dang it. I thought you were there at the tail end of something.

Nathan 42:46

No, I I did I missed Flower and Garden.

Alicea 42:49

Okay.

Nathan 42:50

And uh yeah, there was no festivals, uh, which meant that there was no frozen lemon cello margarita. I was uh distraught.

Alicea 42:59

Yeah.

Nathan 43:00

I did stop and see uh Mickey and Goofy uh at the uh the the Disney Visa photo op opportunity. So uh that was fun. And um yeah, it was uh it was a good day. And then I I had originally thought of uh maybe trying to do um like Epcot on the Saturday, and I was gonna do like Magic Kingdom on the Friday, and I just decided like I really wanted to just go do Epcot instead because you with an annual pass, you can't you have to have a Magic Kingdom reservation. And actually, I could have had a reservation, I just didn't, and I felt okay. Like it's fine. Saturday was definitely the hotter of those three days that I kind of had free and So I spent I spent the day lounging outside next to our friend's pool and uh you know taking a couple swims and chilling out with all the puppers. So um I had uh uh the their dogs are just so amazing. Um and I I miss them dearly.

Alicea 44:18

Well, was there anything that stood out the most about doing Disney solo this time?

Nathan 44:24

Um it I don't know about Stand Out. It was it was definitely a reminder of the the park experience can be really amazing and magical when you don't have any pressure on you to go do a thing.

Alicea 44:44

Yeah.

Nathan 44:45

There was no debating of who wants to go do what and the kids want to do this, and all like it just if I wanted to go do

Soarin Notes And Lunch In Italy

Nathan 44:55

something, I went and did it. If I decided, you know what, I'm gonna skip that other park, I did it, and nobody complained.

Alicea 45:02

Yeah.

Nathan 45:03

Um, it is you know, we've talked about this on the show before, like it is a very privileged point of view and perspective on going to the parks, especially when you have an annual pass.

Alicea 45:14

Yeah,

Nathan 45:15

that uh and have been there a bunch. You there's no pressure to go do a thing. Like you can just enjoy the vibes, and I I enjoyed the walk. You know, I did another five miles around Epcot, um, full lap around the world, and uh it was it was a fantastic day. And I there's a bunch of stuff I didn't go do, and I'm okay with that because I know over time I will be back, I will do some of those things. There will be other festivals,

Alicea 45:44

yeah.

Nathan 45:46

It it's just yeah, it was a reminder that being there by yourself doesn't have to be a weird or awkward experience, it can be whatever you want it to be. If you're by yourself and you want to go do a bunch of rides, then you can go get in the single rider line, and you are like you're not leaving anybody behind. You don't like have uh an issue about getting broken up with somebody. Um, it is very interesting how many groups or families get in single rider lines.

Alicea 46:21

Yeah.

Nathan 46:22

Those single rider lines, I don't think, are as much of a shortcut as they used to be.

Alicea 46:28

They're not.

Nathan 46:28

Because there are big groups getting in the single rider line and they just don't care that they're not riding all at the same time.

Alicea 46:34

Yep. Makes sense.

Nathan 46:36

That was an observation.

Alicea 46:37

Yeah. No, there's um, I'm pretty sure on a couple, I don't know, one of the podcasts or a couple of the podcasts that we've listened to, that's been talked about. Like single rider lines sometimes take even longer than a regular standby just because people are trying to just get on there and it doesn't

Why Disney Solo Feels Different

Alicea 46:55

save you any time.

Nathan 46:56

Yep. Um I think the other learning that I had, it's not necessarily a Disney learning, but you know, we have avoided the early morning flight home from Orlando in the past. And we've taken like a it's I think it's a 5 or a 5:30 p.m. flight uh out back to Seattle rather than the 8:30 or 9 a.m. flight just because we didn't want to have to get up early and things like that. I did the early flight coming home and it was actually really quite enjoyable. Yes, I had to get up earlier and get to the airport and everything, but the delta lounge was relatively empty.

Alicea 47:36

Yeah.

Nathan 47:37

And it was glorious. Now, the downside. In Florida, evidently, you can't serve alcohol on Sundays before 9 a.m. And so I was not able to acquire a mimosa at the bar in the Delta Lounge before my flight. And I was quite put out. These are the sacrifices we make.

Alicea 48:00

These are the sacrifices we make. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and I think we had avoided doing the early flights also before because our kids were younger. And I think now that they're a little older, it's easier to do that.

Nathan 48:16

And I also think we were trying to maximize our time with friends.

Alicea 48:20

Yes. Yeah.

Nathan 48:21

You know, so we'd get back from a cruise like on a Saturday, and we wanted to just have more time uh with everybody. And these are all valid decisions.

Alicea 48:31

Yeah.

Nathan 48:32

Um, and if you really want to get that mimosa at the at the lounge, you're gonna need to take the evening flight.

Alicea 48:39

Or not go on a Sunday.

Nathan 48:42

That's that's also true. Yes, I could have stayed till Monday. You're right.

Alicea 48:46

Yes. Anything anything we missed? Anything else you want to talk about?

Nathan 48:52

I don't think so. Um there are a couple like funny things that we were talking about with uh with our friends uh there locally, especially about Key West. As I think the as great as the the one band I was mentioning was, we came across uh this other vocal and guitar duo, a couple of young women who were just horrible.

Alicea 49:21

Everybody has to start somewhere.

Nathan 49:22

Everybody has to start somewhere, but it was to the point where the like there was a group that walked into the bar and heard them singing, and I heard somebody just go, abort, abort, abort. They all walked out. So uh as as I muttered to the bartender and he kind of lost it, I said, Well, somebody's parents were a little too supportive.

Alicea 49:46

It does happen, I guess.

Nathan 49:48

It does happen. Hey, but we all start somewhere.

Alicea 49:51

This is true.

Nathan 49:52

Yes. Just maybe don't start at

Early Flight Wins Mimosa Losses

Nathan 49:55

a bar.

Alicea 49:56

Yeah.

Nathan 49:57

Yeah.

Alicea 49:58

All right. Well, as we wrap up, a reminder that we are not affiliated with Disney or any of their subsidiaries. Everything you hear on the show is based on personal experience, opinions, and questionable snack choices. We are, however, proudly affiliated with fun.

Nathan 50:15

And mimosas.

Alicea 50:16

And mimosas.

Nathan 50:18

If you're planning a Disney vacation, we always recommend working with a travel advisor or reaching out to Disney directly to help make the magic happen. And if you enjoyed today's episode, please take a second to rate and review the show. It really helps other Disney fans find us.

Alicea 50:34

If you have a question, a topic suggestion, or a Disney story that you'd love to share, please send us an email at podcast at our mousecapades.com.

Nathan 50:44

You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads over at Our Mouse Capades and on YouTube at Our Mouse Capades Pod. And don't forget to share us with your friends,

Disclaimers Thanks And How To Reach Us

Nathan 50:55

your family, and Disney fans of all ages.

Alicea 50:58

Thank you so much for listening. We will be back in your ears next week.

Intro 51:02

Thank you for flying Star Tours. Bye bye.