Episode 230 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Newell, Mike Scopa, Len Testa & Annette Owens

Topics:

• Listener Questions
• Len shares a story of a kid getting scared on the Great Movie Ride and winning dream FASTPASS's
• Matt shares a story of getting denied using expired FASTPASS's
• Mike Newell shares a story of exposing himself to Japanese tourists
• Annette shares a story of her boss winning a limo ride when Annette should have
• Mike Scopa shares stories of us teasing Scopa for not being at Walt Disney World
• Brian of CA mentions he saw Len's article in the San Francisco Chronicle
• Jonathon of FL sends us a very funny email
• Lisa of NY writes to Len
• Jeniifer of MI wants to know if her 5.5 year old daughter is going to enjoy her Disney experience
• Mike Scopa says he has to know the kid before he can say one way or another
• Mike Scopa says if her daughter is ok with characters at her local theme parks, she should be ok at Disney
• Annette says at Walt Disney World, there are more rides where the family can ride together than the local theme parks
• Matt says he advocates bringing anyone under 3 since they're free
• Jeniffer also wants to know which touring plan for the Magic Kingdom is good for her
• Len says any of the two day touring plans for the Magic Kingdom but also recommends the two day touring plan for the magic kingdom for adults with small children
• Mike Scopa asks what to do with a touring plan if an attraction on the touring plan is closed
• Len says you can skip it and go onto the next attraction or take a 20-30 minute break and continue with the touring plan since every attraction on the touring plan is slotted for 20-30 minutes
• Lori asks if you can get the dining plan if you're staying at Fort Wilderness
• Annette says if you get a Magic Your Way + dining package, then you can get the dining plan
• Rob of IN wants to know if the Prince and Princess package is still available
• Annette says the Prince and Princess package was from 3 years ago and it is not available any more
• Kevin wants to know if he can squeeze in a 6 year old as their fifth person on the floor of a room that only sleeps 4
• Len says it'll be fine
• Annette says the extra person won't get a room card
• Len thinks they can squeeze in the 6 year old for Extra Magic Hours
• Mike Newell says it depends on the Cast Member
• Kevin also wants to know if it would be cheaper to rent points at a DVC property or get two rooms at a deluxe resort with his Annual Pass
• Len says renting points will be cheaper
• Len says renting a points on the weekdays is very cheap
• Daniel of AZ wants to know if Len has changed his minds regarding Extra Magic Hours
• Len says it depends on the park and time of the year
• Len says during off season it's great, but when Extra Magic Hours start at 11 or midnight in June or July, it's not good
• Mike Scopa agrees with Len and says unless you hang around for the last hour of Extra Magic Hours, it's a waste of time
• Daniel also wants to know if going to EMH morning at the Magic Kingdom and then leave to go to Epcot is a good idea
• Len thinks it's a good idea
• Daniel also wants to know anything not to miss given the ages of the people in his group
• Matt says Kevin will want to ride attractions where everyone can ride in such as Soarin'
• Mike Scopa also recommends the Great Movie Ride
• Matt also suggests Ellen's Energy Advanture or Test Track

Running Time: 25:19

Episode 229 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Newell, Mike Scopa & Len Testa

Topics:

• Lack of the Future
• Matt says Future World and Tomorrowland have stopped being about the future and are now simply timeless
• Len says committing to staying on a futuristic track requires a vast capital investment
• Matt thinks Future World is better at keeping the futuristic theme than Tomorrowland
• Len says the Land tour hasn't changed much at all
• Mike Scopa recalls about 5 years ago there was a plan to change the name of Future World to Discovery World but never went through
• Matt found the House of Tomorrow tour is on the bleeding edge of technology
• Len is looking for a grand idea with an inspirational message and doesn't see it in either Tomorrowland or Future World
• Len says the Seas lacks a coherent message
• Mike Scopa thinks the Seas is subliminally trying to promote an appreciation of the oceans and what we have now
• Matt thinks Disney gave up on the idea of trying to keep with the theme years ago
• Mike Newell points out the placement of High School Musical pep rally in Tomorrowland
• Len thinks Stitch and Monster's Inc are flagrantly not part of Tomorrowland
• Len thinks Tomorrowland needs a major overhaul
• Mike Scopa doesn't think the name means much to the average guest
• Mike Scopa thinks when you have a timeless attraction, it doesn't bother him that much but thinks they need to change the name of Future World to Discovery World
• Matt contends that what seperates Disney parks from other theme parks is the attention to detail and cohesive theme and because of that, Disney must maintain a level of theme
• Mike Scopa wonders if the new movie Meet the Robinsons could be a perfect fit for Tomorrowland
• Mike Newell didn't even like the DJ in Tomorrowland during the Pirate and Princess party
• Mike Newell says Tomorowland has a lot of space

Running Time: 17:32

Episode 228 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Newell & Mike Scopa

Topics:

• Disney Announcements
• Full press release information on the announcements can be found here
• Matt says Disney has announced two new expansion projects
• Matt says the first project wont open until 2010
• Luxury Four Seasons Resort
  • Mike Scopa says the resort sounds like it will be classified as a deluxe and they are looking to add more deluxe rooms to the property
  • Mike Scopa is concerned with not enough value or moderate resorts
  • Matt assumes the new hotel will participate in resort benefits like Extra Magic Hours
  • Mike Scopa is concerned with this and other Disney Vacation Club additions will have a major impact on the queue lines in the parks
  • Mike Scopa mentions the possibility of the FASTPASS system changing in a scheme to draw folks to the Deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World
  • Mike mentions the resort will go where the Eagle Pines Golf resort currently is
  • Matt mentions there will also be a timeshare aspect to the new resort
  • Matt figures the theme will be lacking compared to the Disney resorts based on the theme you've found at the Swan & Dolphin
  • Mike Newell isn't a fan of un-themed hotels
  • Matt says this hotel is trying to compete with the ultra-ritzy off-site hotels
• Mixed Use Tourism District
  • Matt says it will be on the western portion of the property near Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Matt says the land will be as large as Animal Kingdom
  • Matt says the project will take 8-10 years and include value branded hotels
  • Matt compares this project to the Downtown Disney area
  • Mike Scopa wonders if a fifth theme park has been nixed in favor of this project
  • Matt feels Disney should focus on improving it's current four parks as opposed to adding a fifth park
  • Matt is excited about the project because it will be something else to do that will add some more options
  • Matt says this will benefit Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Mike Scopa says this project will entice guests to stay on property
  • Mike Scopa says Animal Kingdom Lodge did well its first year or so but people found its location and price an issue
  • Matt thinks this will open around 2015 or so

Running Time: 14:53

Episode 227 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Newell & Mike Scopa

Topics:

• Listener Questions
• Sara of FL wants to know how many adults dress up for the party
• Matt found there are adults who dress up, although not as many as Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween party
• Kyle of CA wants to know about information on golf at Walt Disney World
• Mike Scopa says the Funai Classic takes place in October
• Mike Scopa mentions resort guests get priority tee-times
• Matt mentioned WDWGolf.com
• Frank wants recommendations for his trip to Walt Disney World if he's been to Disneyland a lot
• Matt says Frank should do things that Disneyland doesn't have such as Animal Kingdom and most of the Disney-MGM Studios
• Mike Scopa recommends Downtown Disney or looking at the resorts
• Mike Scopa also thinks World Showcase might be another option
• A listener talks about a spot in Animal Kingdom and getting music for it
• Mike Newell says to try MouseBits
• Matt remembers the sounds you hear in the shrine on the hill at Expedition: Everest
• Mike Newell plans to ride Everest on his next trip
• Steve of KY wants to know what is the funniest story we've had at WDW
• Mike Scopa suggests we'll do a show on that topic
• Jeff wants to know if he's staying at a studio at Old Key West he should get the dining plan
• Mike Newell says in the studio, you only get a microwave and a mini-fridge and says you really can't make breakfast and for other meals you're limited to frozen foods
• Mike Newell says a one bedroom unit and larger offers a full kitchen
• Mike Newell says the studio is really only good for making a snack like a bag of popcorn and would recommend the dining plan
• Gordon wants to know if there any rules about putting wheelchaired guests on the bus
• Mike Scopa says there is limited capacity on a bus for wheelchair'd guests as there are only limited spots
• Mike Newell says if the guest is in front of you in line, it only makes sense
• Mike Newell says WDW is one of the most handicap friendly places
• Michelle of CT says the Main Street Electrical Parade was at Disney's California Adventure
• George wants to know why Disney offers the free Dining Plan
• Mike Scopa says Disney offers free dining to get guests to try their restaurants and come back
• Mike Scopa also thinks Disney offers free dining to help with room bookings during slow times of the year
• Matt says Len has mentioned that if free dining really brought in large numbers, Disney would offer free dining all the time
• Matt mentions with free dining, you have to pay the rack rate for the resort and shares a story between him, Mike Scopa and Dave Marx about the value of the dining plan
• Joe wants to know how to determine what version of Pal Mickey he has
• Mike Scopa says...
  • Version 1.0: the buttons on Mickey's shorts are white
  • Version 2.0: the buttons on Mickey's shorts are gold
  • Version 3.0: Pal Mickey in a Sorcerer's Costume
• Matt says VMK Central is a store on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom
• Bill of New England wants suggestions for things to do at night after the parks are closed
• Matt likes the Boardwalk area
• Mike Scopa suggests Pleasure Island and go to the Comedy Warehouse and the Adventurer's Club
• Mike Newell goes to Downtown Disney's Marketplace
• Mike Scopa says you can walk from Saratoga Springs to Downtown Disney
• Matt enjoys going to Animal Kingdom Lodge and going to Victoria Falls and then doing the night vision goggles

Running Time: 22:30

Episode 226 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Newell, Mike Scopa, Len Testa & Steve Seifert

Topics:

• Death of the spontaneity of dining
• Steve says those on the dining plan book up a lot of the places early on
• Matt says the 180 day window of booking used to be for the extremely popular restaurants but now you need to book well in advance
• Len recommends booking at least 90 days in advance of your trip and in some cases closer to the 190 days for the prime dining times at the popular restaurants
• Len says he receives letters from readers about problems of getting into restaurants especially at Epcot
• Mike Scopa says during the last round of free dining, he had to book well in advance because there was no availability when he was at Walt Disney World during free dining
• Mike Scopa says if you're flexible, late lunches or late dinners are still feasbile
• Matt thinks better informed guests know they need to book reservations in advance
• Mike Scopa likes to have a fallback of Trails End if he's at the Magic Kingdom, or Morrocco at Epcot
• Steve says people are annoyed from long waiting times to be seated
• Matt thinks there are a fair amount of no shows for reservations
• Len says during peak times, less than 10% do not show up for their reservations
• Matt thinks Disney should have a credit card hold on reservations to ensure people show up
• Mike Scopa and Steve point out instances where credit card hold are required
• Steve says scheduling conflicts happen and sometimes missing a reservation happens
• Len says options are still out there for the secondary restaurants
• Mike Scopa recommends being well informed about the populairty of restaurants
• Mike Scopa says at the Disney-MGM Studios, if a restaurant is booked they check other restaurants for you

Running Time: 19:11

Live Show #11 is now available for download.

Audio: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3


Questions can be emailed to questions@wdwtoday.com or use this form

Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Scopa, Mike Newell, Len Testa

Topics:

• Live Show 11. Originally aired 02/25/07 on MouseWorld Radio 1

Running Time: 1:49:56

Episode 225 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Newell, Mike Scopa , Steve Seifert

Topics:

• WDW For Under $1600?
• We discuss the current WDW promotion of a vacation for 4 people for under $1600

Running Time: 20:23

Episode 224 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Newell, Mike Scopa & Len Testa

Topics:

• Listener Questions
• Tim of MA wants to know what not to miss at WDW
• Len recommends Philharmagic
• Matt likes Turtle Talk with Crush, Expedition: Everest, Tower of Terror, Soarin
• Pamela wants to know where to eat if her dad is a picky eater and enjoys sit down meals
• Len says there is a new chef at California Grill and recommends that
• Matt likes Alfredo's in Italy for dinner and Restaurant Marakesh in Morocco for lunch
• Mike Scopa recommends Concourse Steakhouse
• Sarah shares a bad story involving QuickSilver Transportation
• Stacey of MI wants to know how Gay Days affects crowd levels
• Len says Memorial Day Weekend brings crowds and Gay Days will bring 100,000 people
• Len shares the Gay Days schedule
• Steve mentions the Unofficial Guide was mentioned on the BoingBoing podcast
• Israel wants to know wants to know if there is a Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party touring plan
• Len says there are some
• Matt likes to use Len's plan to get him through the beginning of the night
• Julia of MD wants to know if there is a Food & Wine Festival cookbook is available
• Mike Scopa hasn't heard of any cookbook but mentions there are these kiosks at the Festival that might sell a cookbook
• Len thinks it's a great idea to have a cookbook
• Steve of FL wants to know if we've done a show for Florida locals who go on short trips
• Matt says he goes for short trips, like Steve
• Todd of TN wants to know if he should save some money by not getting the park hopper option
• Mike Scopa thinks once you get down there, his plans may change and he may need the flexibility of a park hopper
• Len isn't sure the money is worth it for the hopper
• Matt thinks with good planning, they will be fine
• Matt thinks maybe they should stay off site and save money there as opposed to staying onsite and sticking with the park hopper option
• Mike Scopa says the loss of flexibility is going to taking some getting used to

Running Time: 20:51

Episode 223 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Newell, Mike Scopa , Len Testa & Michelle Scriber-Maclean

Topics:

• Getting in and out of Orlando International Airport
• Michelle likes getting the earliest flight in the day because if there are delays later int eh day, it wont affect you
• Matt prefers to get the last flight out so you have a full first day
• Michelle says since she gets there early, the room isn't ready so she has a bag packed that is ready to go to the parks
• Matt says the day you fly has to do with how crowded your flight is
• Matt says a lot of folks stay at a hotel near the airport the night before their flight
• Matt loves flying out of the "glorified bus stop" of White Plains Airport because it's so much easier than the big airports
• Landing at Orlando
  • Matt enjoys the monorail ride between the gates and the main part of the airport
  • Len likes the Starbucks that is right when you exit the secured area
  • Matt usually doesn't check luggage so he can go right out of the airport
  • Michelle has a strategy where one parent gets the rental car while the other gets the luggage
  • Len recommends signing up for the often free rental car programs where you get to skip the line
  • Matt shares an annoying story with Hotwire
  • Michelle loved using Magical Express
  • Matt uses Magical Express when he has a late night flight because it's empty
  • Matt says if someone is going to pick you up at the airport, it's best to meet at an easy to find location like one of the Disney stores
  • Mike Scopa loves using the Emerald Club from National car rental and prefers using 417 south
  • Len mentions 417 south is a toll road
  • Matt says the main toll booth has people but the off ramps don't have cashiers
• Coming back to Orlando
  • Michelle says returning cars is very easy
  • Michelle says the lines for security can be long during the daytime
  • Michelle recommends very early or very late flights to avoid the long lines
  • Len says according to his research from 11am to 5:30pm is where you have peak lines at security at Orlando
  • Matt likes the no luggage line Airtran has
  • Matt says Magical Express drops you off on the ground level so you'll take a huge escalator up to the departures level
  • Mike Scopa says it's worth a few dollars to drop off his luggage with the Skycap because you'll avoid great lines

Running Time: 21:58

Episode 222 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Newell, Mike Scopa, Steve Seifert

Topics:

• Annual Pass Q&A
• Robert wants to know if you can book a room with an annual pass voucher
• Matt says he's booked a room with an annual pass voucher
• Mike Scopa says sometimes the Cast Member doesn't ask for the annual pass
• Matt proposes a crazy theory on an Annual Pass voucher
• Matt says at the time of booking you don't even need a voucher
• Steve says you're supposed to have the pass and not the voucher
• Nate wants to know is there anyway to get a discount on an annual pass without moving to Florida
• Mike Newell says you get $100 off an annual pass for being a Disney Vacaction Club member
• Nate also wants to know where to go to redeem an annual pass voucher
• Matt says you need to go to any guest relations at any of the parks to redeem it
• Rita are their any discounts on a Premium Annual Pass
• Mike Scopa says DVC members get $125 off a Premium Annual Pass
• Matt says you need to really work to get your moneys worth if you're getting an Premium Annual Pass
• Mike Scopa says the lifeguards at the wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon are impossible to talk to
• Brian shares a tip for getting a good rate for annual passholders online
• Brian wants to know if there is a link to a site that is isn't limited to the special range of discounts for annual passholders
• Mike Scopa says the best solution is MouseSavers
• Gary wants to know if you can upgrade a 3 day pass from a convention to an annual pass
• Mike Scopa doesn't think it will be a problem
• Steve shares an annual pass holder story

Running Time: 16:47