Walt Disney World and the Florida Shore, April 2017: Part 3

By Nick

Part 1
Part 2

Monday, April 24th 

We slept in a bit before heading to Disney's Hollywood Studios to use our FastPasses for Toy Story Midway Mania and Tower of Terror.

 Me, Barbie, Jill, Zach, and Trevor

We headed to Star Wars Launch Bay where we were met by my Disney Exchange Podcast co-host Dave. We got pictures with Chewie, BB-8, and the always terrifying Kylo Ren.

Please note Trevor isn't in the photo with Kylo Ren. That's because he showed Kylo his Rebel Alliance logo tattoo and was sent to stand alone off to the side!

We had a very good lunch at Brown Derby before heading over to Epcot the guys heading to the HP Lounge that is located above Mission Space courtesy of Zach and Trevor, while the girls went shopping.

We all met up again, and got a bunch of pictures of the Flower and Garden displays. Love the portrait mode on the iPhone 7!

At one point Barbie and I were having our picture taken by a PhotoPass photographer when Jill and Zach happened to start walking in front of the picture. They apologized, but I said, no, please keep going through, and asked the Cast Member to keep snapping as they did. He said in the years he'd been a PhotoPass photographer, he'd never had anyone request this.

We hopped a monorail over to the Ticket and Transportation Center, where we disembarked and took a walk over to the Polynesian.

While the girls went to the BouTiki shop and Trevor to Disney Springs, Dave, Zach and I went to the Tambu Lounge for cocktails.

Once the girls returned, we headed over to the Top of the World, a Disney Vacation Club lounge located at Bay Lake Towers, where we had a light dinner and enjoyed Wishes one last time, as it has been replaced by a new show, Happily Ever After.

Don't Do That at Walt Disney World - Episode 115 of The Disney Exchange

The Disney Exchange is Lisa, Dave and me, Nick

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We start off thanking our listener Kathy who left us a new 5 Star review on iTunes, and Lisa answers
a question she mailed in concerning Club Level Rooms at the Beach Club. Well, technically we start off the show talking about chips, but then really and truly discuss Disney.

We "seamlessly" transition into our main topic of things that people do that make us crazy at Walt Disney World, also known as pet peeves, including the ever popular kids on shoulders, litterbugs, and personal space invaders.

The Wheel of Distiny topic this week: BB8 is going to be appearing at Star Wars Launch Bay in Disney's Hollywood Studios. What is your favorite Star Wars Droid?

You can send us an email at info@thedisneyexchange and reach out with show suggestions, submit Wheel of Distiny topics, or request a listener number on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedisneyexchange, Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneyexchange

If you would be so kind as to leave us a 5 star review on any of the social media sites, such as Facebook or iTunes, we'd really appreciate it. Thank you!

Thank you for listening to The Disney Exchange!

Walt Disney World Buddy Trip 2016, Part 3

By Nick 

Who: Me and my friends Joe and Josh 
Where: Walt Disney World, stayed Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village  

Part 3
Thursday, May 12th   


Despite getting to sleep very late the night before, we woke up early and made it to Disney's Hollywood Studios a little after rope drop.

We headed to Toy Story Midway Mania, but the line was already over 45 minutes, so we went to Star Wars Launch Bay, and got pictures with Chewbacca and Kylo Ren.

I'm just gonna come out and say it. I find Kylo Ren to be an interesting character, but I feel the meet and greet to be awkward. He is just more intimidating somehow than even Darth Vader. Am I the only one that feels that way?

Halfway through our Star Wars experience, I received a text from our new friends Alison and Jim with a photo of tickets to the After Hours Magic at the Magic Kingdom event for that evening that they had bought for us! 

We were floored by such an incredibly generous gift! 

We went on to see the First Order Troop March, and after a quick snack at the Backlot Express, met up with Jim and Alison just as the Star Wars: A Galaxy Far Far Away stage show was beginning. 

 

Afterwards we all went and got photos with Olaf at the Celebrity Spotlight.

Josh, Joe and I headed to Epcot on a Friendship Boat for a late lunch/early dinner at Biergarten.

We walked around World Showcase to try and digest the huge meal we just ate before heading to Future World. We rode Spaceship Earth, and while Josh and Joe rode Mission Space, I met up with my friend Betsy for a quick hello.

We headed to the Magic Kingdom, which took forever as the Monorail was down between the Ticket and Transportation Center, so we had to wait for a ferry. 

When we finally arrived at the MK after what felt like about 6 hours, we contacted Alison and Jim and met up with them at Be Our Guest. 

We were initially only meeting to get our passes for that evening, as Alison and Jim had ADRs for Be Our Guest, but then Alison suggested we join them! She went to the check in station and was able to add us on!

The After Hours at the Magic Kingdom event deserves a whole separate post, so please stop back tomorrow for Part 4!

Part 1 and Part 2

Wordless Wednesday : Star Wars Lightsabers, the Light Side

Princess Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World; Part: 1

By Nick

Part 1 : Thursday, February 18th

My last trip to Walt Disney World may have been another trip without my wife, but I don't necessarily consider it solo, as I spent a lot of the time with friends and family.

I set out very early and right off the bat ran into a long time friend, Timmy, at the airport!

When I arrived at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, I was very happy to find my room ready. It was a standard view, but with a nice view of trees at least.

I unpacked my carry on bag, and then headed for Epcot, where my first stop was La Cava del Tequila followed by a ride on Gran Fiesta Tour.

This was followed by lunch at the Tangierine Cafe in the Morocco Pavilion.

I walked around World Showcase enjoying the absolutely gorgeous day before heading back to the room to change.

I was contacted by my wife's cousin Jill and her husband Zach, who were visiting at the same time! This was a happy coincidence. They were visiting to support their friend Amber, who was doing the Princess Half Marathon.

We met at Disney's Hollywood Studios and hit a few rides using our FastPasses, and got a photo with Kylo Ren at Star Wars Launch Bay, who I must say, is more intense and intimidating than Darth Vader!

 Amber and her husband Ryan arrived a little later, and we all were treated to an excellent dinner at The Hollywood Brown Derby by Zach. Thanks Zach!

 Amber, Ryan, Jill, Zach and me.

It was a great start to another great trip.