Episode 408 is now available for download.


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Show Notes

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

Topics:

• Toy Story Midway Mania
• Mike Scopa thinks Toy Story Midway Mania is what Walt Disney wanted....a ride the entire family can enjoy
• Len and Matt rate Toy Story Midway Mania as a D-ticket, 4 star ride
• Len thinks it's very easy to play
• Mike Newell thinks Toy Story Midway Mania is better than he anticipated and really liked the queue line
• Matt is impressed with the queue and think Disney did a great job
• Matt explains the premise of the attraction
• Mike Scopa mentions the single rider and FASTPASS line bypass much of the queue and has it's own queue area
• Len mentioned he had a bad experience with the single rider line
• Len makes suggestions to improve the single rider line
• Matt and Len discuss what else will be on Pixar Place
• Len thinks there could be one more game in the ride
• Len gives a tip on how to do better at the game
• Mike Scopa discusses his thoughts on Mr. Potato Head
• Matt describes how Mr. Potato Works
• Len was surprised by the pace of the ride
• Mike Newell was surprised by the details in the queue
• Mike Scopa wonders about future updates to the attraction
• Len talks about the attention to detail in the queue
• Matt mentions there is the family friendliness of the ride
• Mike Scopa and Matt talk about the ride fatigue
• Mike Newell talks about how smooth the ride is
• Mike Scopa gives his opinion of the noise issue some have raised
• Matt mentions a change he has noticed in the first few weeks of the ride

Running Time: 22:29

Episode 407 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Newell & Van

Topics:

• Guest Fleecing
• Matt goes over the price incereases for strollers, ECVs and tickets to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
• Matt mentions an episode where Mary Waring and Matt argued over price increases
• Van doesn't understand why the prices are increasing so substantially
• Van only thinks the ECV price increase is warranted
• Matt complains about the price increase with strollers
• Van discusses his stroller strategy
• Matt mentions Disney's recent revenue details
• Van discusses how the price increase affects his family
• Mike Newell doesn't think he will change his hard ticket plans because he goes solo
• Matt complains about the price increase with nothing new added
• Van thinks the price increases make competitors look more appealing
• Mike Newell mentions the price increases outside of Walt Disney World combined with these price increases are making it harder to go on a trip
• Matt mentions the price increases in new Disney World restaurants

Running Time: 21:51

Episode 406 is now available for download.

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

Show Notes

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

• Listener Questions
• Alex of TX wants to know the difference between an Annual Pass, Premium Annual Pass and a Seasonal Pass
• Bobby of VA wants to know a spot to watch Block Party Bash parade
• Doug of IN wants to know Christmas stuff in the parks in July
• Jeremy of OH wants to know if Extra Magic Hours are the same every week
• Brian of LA wants to know what kind of discount Cast Members get for dining
• Michael of MA wants to know if off site guests can have merchandise sent to for pickup to the front of the park
• William of VA thanks Mike Scopa's recommendation of Trails End
• Madison of NJ wants suggestions for getting her classmates to wake up early for park days
• Doug of IL wants to know our thoughts on Night Kingdom
• Angel of MI wants to know if the Christmas decorations will be up for his trip in mid November
• Amanda wants to know the restaurants policy on people who go but don't eat anything
• Nick of IN wanted to know about wireless internet in Pop Century
• Christina of GA wants to know the best ticket option for her daughter
• Lionel of GA wants to know if 5 people in a room is going to be too much
• John of WI wants to know if he can get Disney's Magical Express for just one leg of his trip
• Taylor of GA wants to know how crowded it is on Christmas in the Magic Kingdom
• Joey of TX wants to know if he can see most of the Star Wars Weekend events in one day
• Joey also wants to know the best water park for a 5 year old
• Joey also wants to know the sort of lines for Disney transportation

Running Time: 29:43

Finally here is the schedule for WDW Today trip to the parks...

Saturday (5/10):
Meet us around 12:30 at the entrance to Studios Catering Company.
We'll also be milling about at the Brown Derby around 5 pm.

Sunday (5/11):
Meet us before park opening at the rightmost turnstile at the
Animal Kingdom
We'll also be around Catalina Eddie's at the Studios for lunch,
sometime between 12 and 1 pm.
We'll be in Epcot sometime between 2 and 5 pm.
And we'll be at the MK evening EMHs, too. Meet us in front of
Space Mountain around 11 pm.

Monday (5/12):
We'll be in the Magic Kingdom all day. Meet us at the leftmost
*open* turnstile before park opening, at 12:30 at the Crystal Palace,
or look for us in our t-shirts throughout the day.

Tuesday (5/13): We'll be in Epcot all day. Meet us at the leftmost open
turnstile before park opening, at 1 pm outside Coral Reef at The Seas,
or around 8 pm at Morocco for some espresso. Len is happy to buy an
espresso for everyone who shows up.

Wednesday (5/14): We'll be in the Animal Kingdom all day. Meet us before
park opening at the *rightmost* open turnstile, at 11:45 am outside
Tusker House, or around 4:30 pm in front of the Yak and Yeti sit-down.

Episode 405 is now available for download.


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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg, Mike Scopa & Len Testa

Topics:

• Creating a Studios Touring Plan
• Len explains the issue with working in Toy Story Midway Mania into the new touring plan
• Len mentions the first two steps of the Studios touring plan
• Matt describes the pre-Toy Story Midway Mania touring plan
• Len describes the next steps in the touring plan to minimize the back tracking
• Matt offers a solution that ensures the shortest waits, regardless of back tracking
• Len compares the crowd capacity of Toy Story Midway Mania to other attractions
• Mike Scopa talks about what families do in the morning at the Studios and how Toy Story Midway Mania will impact families
• Matt doesn't think backtracking is an issue with Toy Story Midway Mania versus Great Movie Ride
• Len spells out his touring plan for the Studios for the morning
• Matt suggests riding Star Tours before the Backlot Tour
• Len talks of a FASTPASS strategy for Voyage of the Little Mermaid
• Matt and Len discuss where to eat a counter service lunch
• Mike Scopa brings up a weather issue with when to work in Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
• Matt discusses his early afternoon strategy in the Studios
• Len discusses the remainded of the touring plan
• Len mentions when to see BlocK Party Bash
• Matt suggests a spot to see the parade at the last minute
• Matt suggests to Len a 2 day touring plan that combine the Studios and Epcot

Running Time: 22:29

Episode 404 - Everything Polynesian


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Show Notes

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

Topics:

• Everything Polynesian

Running Time: 22:09

Episode 403 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

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

• Listener Questions
• Nancy of NY wants a Star Wars Weekend touring plan
• Matt mentions an article about planning for Star Wars Weekends
• Shannon of NJ reports on NYPD Pizza
• Kayla of NV wants to know what we think of the incorporation of Disney characters in It's A Small World
• Matt of TX wants to know tips for making his trip more magical for first timers
• Matt also wants to know opinions of the time of the year he is going
• Mark of NC makes some suggestions on bags for bringing cameras and accessories to the parks
• Steve of NJ comments on a New York Times article
• Heather of WI wants to know when Disney announces free dining dates
• Bruce of NY wants to know where the sign in front of Sid Caheunga's is supposed to be in real life
• Ellen wants to know how FASTPASS works
• Bill of PA comments on his New Years Eve experience
• Scott of WI wants to know about the legitimacy of orlandofuntickets.com
• Enrique of FL wants to know special events for Mothers Day at Walt Disney World
• Nick of IL wants to know how we rank each of the parks
• Lois reports on trying to use two park days in one day
• Chuck of NY wants to know about the kiosks at Pecos Bill
• Chuck also wants to know how easy it is to drive to the parks and back to the resorts
• Andy of IN wants to know how the lines during Pirates and Princess party will be for his trip in late May/early June
• Andy also wants to know if the Magic Kingdom will be less crowded during a Pirates and Princess Party day

Running Time: 25:56

Episode 402 is now available for download.


Sponsored By:

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

Show Notes

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

Topics:

• The Weekend Getaway
• Len shares a story of his daughter's camping trip
• Keith writes in to suggest today's show topic and wants tips for quick weekend trips to Walt Disney World
• Matt mentions his weekend trips were born from good airfares that he's run across
• Len and Annette describe driving down for weekend trips
• Mike Scopa describes how a good deal on airfare can make weekend trips
• Matt talks about why he prefers weekend trips over longer trips
• Mike Scopa talks of how to tackle park touring for a quick weekend trip
• Len talks of the fun of spontaniety of weekend trips
• Mike Scopa compares dining options versus time in the parks
• Matt doesn't like taking up park time by eating a lot of sit down meals
• Len mentions a tip for using frequent flier miles

Running Time: 16:21

Episode 401 is now available for download.

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Show Notes

Hosts: Matt Hochberg & Timmy Britt
Topics:

• The Magic Makers
• Apologies for the audio quailty on this episode. This episode was recorded at a cast office at WDW, and we're testing a new portable recorder. But, don't let the audio quality discourage you from listening to a great Cast Member interview.
• Timmy Britt, a Disney artist at the Animation Academy attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios, shares some stories from his experiences working at the Animation Academy
• Timmy shares a number of stories that show notes can't do justice for. Listen and enjoy

Running Time:27:08