Lisa Drops Her Son Off at Walt Disney World -164 of The Disney Exchange Podcast

The Disney Exchange is Lisa, Dave, and me Nick

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Have you heard the rumor about what they want to call Disney's Hollywood Studios?
Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
No?
Oh, Disney Cinemagine?
I prefer Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
What is your opinion?
Please let us know on social media. You can find the links below.

Lisa shares the highlights and lowlights of her recent trip to Walt Disney World, when she dropped her son off for his stint in the Disney College Program.

Megan, Raymond, Joseph, and Lisa

Our mascot, Flash.

The Wheel of Distiny topic this week: Have you seen the Lego Cinderella Castle, and would you consider buying it?

You can reach out with show suggestions and Wheel of Distiny topics, or just comment on the show, tell me how great I am, or request a listener number on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedisneyexchange  or 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!

Please stop back next week for Lisa's trip recap!

Bay Lake Tower Weekend - Episode 162 of The Disney Exchange

The Disney Exchange is Lisa, Dave and me, Nick 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week we discuss my recent long weekend at Walt Disney World. My wife and I stayed at Bay Lake Tower for the first time (hence the title of this episode), and LOVED it! 

I discuss the Epcot Festival of the Arts, relaxing, great food, booze, and more!

And we met several, (ok, a bunch) (ok, a few) of our listeners, plus old friends, new experiences, and that was wonderful too!

The Wheel of Distiny topic: In case you were not Nick'd out by the trip recap, the "random" wheel question this week also focuses on moi! Where should I have dinner at Walt Disney World on my 50th birthday in August?

You can reach out with show suggestions and Wheel of Distiny topics, or just comment on the show, tell me how great I am, or request a listener number on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedisneyexchange  or 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!

Coming Clean About Disney - Episode 141 of The Disney Exchange Pocast

The Disney Exchange is Lisa, Dave, and me Nick

Podcast: Play in new window | Download 

Dave talks about his latest trip to Walt Disney World. Apparently it was HOT.

And CROWDED. And people left their trays and trash on the tables at Pinocchio's in the Magic Kingdom.

Don't do this!

Did I mention it was hot and crowded?

Did you see the Eclipse?

Disney has switched from individual toiletry products in some rooms in various resorts to soap, shampoo, etc., dispensers.

We share our opinions as well as random social media posts. WOW.

Photo : WDW News Today

Discuss. Really, please share your thoughts, social media links are below!

The Wheel of Distiny topic this week: Disney and AMC Theaters are teaming up to bring us Dream Big Princess. Participating AMC Theaters will be showing the animated classics Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, Tangled, The Princess and the Frog, and Brave. Will you go see any of these? 
I know I will!

Please reach out with show suggestions, comment on the show, tell me how great I am we are, 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!

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.

Walt Disney World, January 2017, Part 6

By Nick

Thursday January 26th 

On our last full day we were up early and meeting the Walsh family at Disney's Animal Kingdom for rope drop.

As we were watching birds being fed on Discovery Island, who should walk up next to us but Gaylin!

≠

Barbie, Meghan, Todd, Flynn, Gaylin and me

She had taken a DVC tour the day before, so had 3 FastPasses to use, and accompanied us on the Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Afterwards, we took a walk through the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. Or is it now Gorilla Falls?!

Following this adventure, we stopped at Zuri's Sweets for a snack before making our way over to the Maharaja Jungle Trek.

The Walsh's, Barbie and I had lunch at Yak and Yeti Local Foods. There was nothing on the menu for Gaylin, who is gluten intolerant, beyond a dessert offering, so she headed off to Flame Tree Barbecue.

As we were leaving, I noticed a bird eyeing up a woman's french fries. I mentioned this to the girl, and as she looked up I was amazed to see this was my friend Nina! Her husband Brandon walked over a few minutes later. We'd met Nina and Brandon a few years earlier at La Cava Del Tequila at Epcot's Mexico pavilion. In fact, Nina can be seen sipping a cocktail in this post: http://disneymusings.blogspot.com/2014/05/epcots-la-cava-del-tequila.html

Barbie and Todd decided to hit the single rider line of Expedition Everest while Meghan, Flynn and I enjoyed the waterfront seating area for the (as of then) unopened Rivers of Light show.

We walked over to DinoLand where Barbie and Meghan took a ride on Primeval Whirl while the men took a break on a bench.

The Walsh's decided to head back to their resort, the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a rest and/or a swim, and we were going to go back to the Boardwalk, but as we exited, decided that if we laid down we possibly wouldn't get up and over to Disney's Hollywood Studios for our early dinner ADR at 50's Prime Time. So Barbie and I hopped a bus over to DHS.

We visited something we'd noticed earlier in the week, Red Carpet Dreams, where we queued up to meet Mickey and Minnie.

After our visit we went over to the Tune-In Lounge for a Coke and an adult beverage (guess who had which) while we waited for the rest of our party and ADR time.
Friends Kandi, John, their kids Grayson and Sawyer arrived about the same time as the Walsh's and we were all seated shortly thereafter.

Another great meal, we had a really entertaining server and fun neighbors!

After dinner we went to Star Wars Launch Bay.

We found a good spot for the Walsh family to enjoy the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular, and Barbie and I said goodnight, as we were pooped, and still needed to pack for departure the next day.

Friday, January 27th

We dropped our carry on luggage at bell services and went over to DHS to take one last spin on Toy Story Midway Mania, selfies with Buzz and Woody, and a drop on Tower of Terror.

We grabbed breakfast at Starring Rolls, splitting a ham sandwich and red velvet cupcake. We had no idea this would be the last time we'd ever get to eat there, one of our standard stops since we started to come to Walt Disney World together in 2006. It closed just a few days later!

After eating we slowly walked back to the Boardwalk to await Tragical Magical Express to the airport.

Thanks for following along, and please enjoy Parts 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - and 5.

Walt Disney World, January 2017, Part 5

By Nick

Wednesday January 25th


Up early and over to Disney's Hollywood Studios to meet our friends Meghan, Todd and their son Flynn, our Godchild.

We met at the entrance and followed a majority of the crowd to Toy Story Midway Mania at opening.

We headed to Tower of Terror next.

Flynn was somewhat reluctant to ride.

He did indeed ride however, and , well...

Flynn recovered quickly, and we managed to catch the First Order March, before heading to Star Tours, where everyone except me took a trip to a galaxy far, far away. Darn motion sickness!

We went to Muppet Vision 3D next, and made sure to get our last photo of the Kermit balloon, which was recently removed, as it would be visible from the upcoming Star Wars themed area.

We had lunch at Backlot Express before watching Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.

After the show we hopped a bus to the Magic Kingdom, where we went right to Tomorrowland and rode the People Mover before using our FastPasses for Buzz.

Making our way around the park we hit Fantasyland next, where those who can stomach spinning rides rode the Mad Tea Party followed by a trip Under the Sea.

We made one last stop to Haunted Mansion before hopping a boat over to the Wilderness Lodge.

Since we were a little early for dinner at Whispering Canyon, we took a nice rest in the lobby.

We met up with Kandi, John and their kids Sawyer and Grayson for what turned out to be my favorite meal of the trip. The adults all shared the house specialty the All You Care to Enjoy Skillet, which includes family-style Mixed Greens tossed in an Apple Vinaigrette Dressing and Fresh-baked Cornbread. Featuring Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Chicken, Oak-roasted Beef Strip Loin, and Western-style Sausage served with Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables, Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Corn on the Cobb, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans and it was excellent, especially the strip loin, which I'd say is on par with any steak I've ever eaten at WDW!

We'd eaten dinner there with Kandi and John several years ago, but were not impressed with the service, and we didn't even enjoy the food that much.

This time, our server was hilarious and entertaining, and, in fact, every server seemed to be on point. If you are not familiar, the Cast Members here are what some might call "surly" and loud, which is part of the theme. Get it, Whispering Canyon. 

After dinner we headed to the dock where we were about 30 seconds late for the boat back to the Magic Kingdom, but a boat for the Contemporary was just boarding, so we decided to take a ride there and walk to the park to try and work off a bit of the bloat.

We used our last FastPass of the evening on Pirates, before taking a walk through the Castle and out for the evening.

Please check out:
Part 1 
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4