The Book IS HERE! Disney Tale of the Tape is now available!

   I was sitting at my PC, when an e-mail came in from the publisher of Theme Park Press.  He asked me what I thought about writing a book based on my old column for the Disney Dispatch website.  I was a little surprised, and scared.  "Hmmm", I thought,  "the column was fun but book worthy?"  The uncertainty turned to curiosity, so we talked it over a bit.  That was July 8th 2016.

The book cover - DISNEY TALE OF THE TAPE - Theme Park Boxing

   Well, a little over 5 months later.... HERE IT IS!  Disney Tale of the Tape is my first attempt at writing a book, and I hope it won't be my last.  It has been an amazing journey in getting this project to press.  Here are a few of the twists and turns along the way:

  The Evolution of a Format  

   The Disney Dispatch Column's format featured only 1 judge.  I would write up the categories (rounds), and then score the bouts along with two fictitious judges scoring the bouts.  The bouts were decided by me, because it was fast, and it was the only way I could even have a shot at  meeting the bi-weekly deadline (that I sometimes missed) for the column.  Mr. McLain was very gracious, and really did not push the deadline.  I would do a little research, then make up the "Tale of the Tape" which would give some facts about the contestants.  I would think up some categories to use for rounds, and then score the bouts.  This was a few years before retirement, so time was not on my side, as I would come home from work exhausted, but it was so much fun, I would dig in, write up a battle, and send it in.

This was the logo for the original column at Disney Dispatch

   The book started out with the same idea in mind, just write up the battles, and score each "round" to come up with a winner.  Then I thought "Hey, who cares what I think?  Why not have some REAL Disney experts as judges!"  So I started reaching out to some of my favorites from the Disney Fan community to see if they would like to be part of this project.  Each bout features myself plus two "Disney Celebrity" Judges doing the scoring.

  Putting Together a Team    

   The first person I turned to was my friend Len Testa.  Len is the co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, and he was one of the co-hosts of the WDW Today podcast, he is still an occasional guest/co-host of the show in it's current format, and I love that show!  I had corresponded with Len in the past, and found that he's quite the boxing fan, so I pitched him about writing the foreword for the book.  He responded very enthusiastically, I just felt so honored, and a bit more confident having the Len Testa on my side!  At the time, I had not changed the format, so all I was asking for was a foreword for the book.  That changed later, and Len was totally on board with being one of my "Disney Tale of the Tape Boxing Judges"!

Next, the book needed some color, so I reached out to some friends from the world of pro boxing.

Ring Announcers:  Bob Alexander, Lupe Contreras, Henry Tafoya, and Dom Zarrella all said "Yes!" to using their names in the book.

Dan co-hosting "Rising Stars Boxing" with Henry Tafoya in 1999

You need Referees for any boxing match, so it was time to contact some of boxing's very best:  Rocky Burke, Laurence Cole, Russell Mora, Woody Kislowski, and Zac Young (Zac is also a judge for one of the matches, turns out he's a huge Disneyland fan!) all answered the call, and if you are not a boxing crazed nut, just check out the records of each of these guys in boxrec.com they are all World Class Referees!

And there is one "special" Referee - Retired Pro Wrestler Frank Goodman (The Masked Maniac) who works some of the bouts.  His Disney World Junkies facebook page has over 140,000 subscribers, and he has arms bigger than Gaston!  I wasn't about to say "no" to him refereeing some of the bouts!

Dan with his friend - Pro Boxing Referee Rocky Burke in 2012

You can't score a pro boxing match without the judges (I should know, I used to be one!), so again, I reached out to some of my personal favorites.  Some gave me a polite "No Thank You", but most gave me an enthusiastic "You Bet!" and the list includes some names that you will no doubt recognize if you are a true Disney Parks fan and what a line-up it is!






The Judges:

*JERRY CORNELL - Theme Parkology (themeparkology.com), and co-host of Living the Dream Podcast

*RANDY CRANE - Author of Faith and the Magic Kingdom, host of Stories of the Magic Podcast

 *JIMMY  HORNE - Owner of Once Upon a Time Travel, and co-host of The Disney Nerds Podcast

  *KRISTA JOY - Disneyways.com, and co-host of Living the Dream Podcast

*DAVE KENNEDY - Host of the Dave's Disney View Podcast, and a former Disney World cast member

*GARY MERRITT - Get this, he is a retired world class Pro Boxing judge who worked over 1, 600 bouts over 37 years, all over the world!  And... he has been to Walt Disney World over 50 times!

*NATHAN PALMER - he's an Indiana Pro Boxing judge, who has been in the sport since 2003.  He's worked over 750 bouts, and going strong!  He is my fellow editor at boxrec.com and when I found out that he's a huge fan of Walt Disney World, he was an instant fit!

*JOHN SACCHERI - The host of Bigfatpanda.com, and one of the subjects featured in the Documentary The Disney Dream Finders

*MONICA SEGURA - This lady is a total Disney parks fan.  She has a degree in Physical Education and has attended quite a few boxing events.  She is totally qualified to judge these bouts.  Oh, and did I mention, She's my Daughter!

 *LEN TESTA - Host of the Unofficial Guide Disney Dish with Jim Hill Podcast, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World

We had no idea that this little Boxing Fan would grow up to become a judge for the Disney Tale of the Tape Boxing Commission!

There are also two dear friends of mine from the world of boxing that make an appearance:

*JOHN KLEMIATO - "Big John" is a boxing judge with the Nebraska Boxing Commission, and his role will be as Deputy Inspector of the Disney Tale of the Tape Boxing Commission

*DAN CUSHNER - Dan is a former Pro and Amateur Boxing Trainer, as well as one of Pro Boxing's top "Cut-men".  He will appear as the "Cut-man" for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

What an all-star lineup of officials to score the bouts.  It is Their remarks in the book that make it a fun read.

Dan with his Wife Tammy at Disneyland in 2011 (at the time, Dan had no idea that  one day in the future, that big mountain behind him would be taking on Big Thunder Mountain in a clash of titans!)

  The Match-ups!  
There are 14 Matches in the book.  It's a night of boxing (Disney Parks style) that you will never forget!  Take a look at the card, and if you have experienced them, go ahead and set the odds on who YOU think will win each of them:

Bout 1)  THE GRAND FIESTA TOUR Starring the Three Caballeros (Epcot - World Showcase)
vs
JOURNEY INTO IMAGINATION with Figment (Epcot - Future World)
(Our opening bout)
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Bout 2) LEFOU'S BREW (Magic Kingdom) vs DISNEYLAND MINT JULEP (Disneyland)
(Can this much sweetness be contained in one ring?!)
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Bout 3) CALIFORNIA SCREAMIN' (Disney California Adventure)
vs
ROCK 'n' ROLLER COASTER (Disney Hollywood Studios)
(For the Coaster Division Championship!)
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Bout 4) AMERICAN MUSIC MACHINE (Epcot - America Gardens)
vs
BRITISH REVOLUTION (Epcot - UK Pavilion)
(May the best group win!)
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Bout 5) HAUNTED MANSION (Disneyland) vs HAUNTED MANSION (Magic Kingdom)
(It's Brother vs Brother in this match that Disney fans thought would NEVER Materialize!)
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Bout 6) The PIRATE ROOM (Caribbean Beach Resort)
vs
The ROYAL ROOM (Port Orleans Riverside)
(For the Moderate Themed Resort room title belt)
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Bout 7) MONSTERS INC. - Mike & Sulley to the Rescue (Disney California Adventure)
vs
MR. TOAD'S WILD RIDE (Disneyland)
(Dark Ride division title belt is at stake!)
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Bout 8) IMPRESSIONS DE FRANCE (Epcot - France Pavilion)
vs
REFLECTIONS OF CHINA (Epcot - China Pavilion)
(a bout with national pride on the line!)
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Bout 9) THE JUNGLE CRUISE (Magic Kingdom)
vs
KILIMANJARO SAFARIS (Disney's Animal Kingdom)
(Who will become "King of the Jungle"?)
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Bout 10) CARTHAY CIRCLE (Disney California Adventure)
vs
HOLLYWOOD BROWN DERBY (Disney Hollywood Studios)
(A battle of classy theme park eateries... in Black & White of course!)
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Bout 11) DINOSAUR (Disney's Animal Kingdom)
vs
THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH (Magic Kingdom)
(Pooh puts his undefeated record on the line against a very HUNGRY contender!)
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Bout 12) DOLE WHIP vs MICKEY PREMIUM ICE CREAM BAR
(Snack Division Championship!)
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Bout 13) BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD (Magic Kingdom)
vs
THE MATTERHORN (Disneyland
(King of the Mountains Title Bout)
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Bout 14) PRINCE CHARMING REGAL CARROUSEL (Magic Kingdom - Fantasyland)
vs
STITCH'S GREAT ESCAPE (Magic Kingdom - Tomorrowland)
(A special GRUDGE match like no other!)
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The Author with his "Research Staff" (His "Disney Sweeties") - (L to R) Monica, Sadie, Tammy, and (front) Ava at Disney Springs in May, 2016

Dan with boxing promoter - Don King.  Mr. King NEVER put together an event like this!

  Other Content   
There is also a foreword by Len Testa, and appendix's which feature My Disney Side, and My Boxing Side, a listing of all the officials who contributed to the book, and even a crash course on How to score a professional boxing match. 

Dan with legendary "Hands of Stone" (like Matterhorn Mountain) - Roberto Duran

   The Hardest Part  
The hardest part of the whole project was the final days.  The waiting to see the final proof copy, then the cover art, then waiting for the book to actually become available.  It was tortuous.  I felt a bit like an expectant father waiting for his new child to be born!  I'm too old for this!  But its finally here, and I really do hope you will have some fun with it.  But watch out - you just might get hooked on Disney parks, or the sport of Boxing!  One can only hope.

The back cover pretty much tells "The Tale of the Tape" for the book!

It took nearly half a year to put together, but here it is.  I hope you will pick up a copy, and most of all, I hope that you will get some enjoyment out of it!  Reviews are always welcome, no matter how you score the book!

Dan with one of the judges from the book (Monica) blasting off on Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

To purchase the book directly from Amazon:
Click HERE to order direct from Amazon

or

For signed Copies ($14.95 + 3.00/shipping) contact me at:
Disneyguru@outlook.com

  

   

A FEW "FIRSTS" ON OUR SEPT. 2016 WDW TRIP!

   I know, I know.  Most of you think that we have done EVERYTHING there is to do at Walt Disney World since we go so often.  Well, my answer is "NO WAY", "NOT EVEN CLOSE"!

   With 43 square miles of territory to cover, it's not likely that we could achieve that goal in a lifetime (and we started late!).  Here are a two of the "firsts" we experienced on this last trip, but you can call it a "2-for-1 Special":

Only a 90 min. Standby time - Thank You Fast Pass!

Our first ride (or should I say 4/5 ride) on the new FROZEN Ever After
 
   We finally got to experience Epcot's newest attraction, and I have to give it an "A".  The Animatronics are pretty impressive, it's colorful, and fun.  I think our Granddaughters' eyes are going to be popping out of their heads when they see Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Sven and the gang on this cool boat ride.

   When we arrived at the loading area, the stand-by wait time showed 90 minutes, but we had our Fast Pass + ready to go on our Magic Bands, and we were on board in under 15 minutes!

It's pretty dark in that queue area!

   We did not see what the Stand-by Queue has to offer, but we both liked what we saw in the Fast Pass line.  The village setting is nice.  It's dark in there, but I like that mysterious night time setting.  I personally could not help but remember that spinning light from the eye as we were climbing the lift area in our viking boat.  I was having flash backs of Maelstrom.  But as soon as we saw that first scene with Olaf singing and moving around, we knew this was going to be a great addition to Epcot.

   It was going smooth, everything was fantastic on the ride, until Elsa waved her hands, and we went backwards down a little drop.... and we were frozen.... LITERALLY.

Our first ever "RIDE 101" - Evacuation

   It was strange to be sitting there, with the song "Let It Go" echoing through the cavern as we just sat there in the boat.  We could see Elsa off in the distance from where we had just rafted backwards.  Surreal.  While the others behind us on the boat were saying "Oh no, I hope they don't shut down the ride", I was telling my Wife "Oh Boy, I think we might get evacuated!"

Two "Disney Geeks" hoping to get Evacuated

   The canned voice kept coming on telling us to remain in the boat, and the ride would begin shortly.  But it never did.  YES!  Our first Ride Evac!  A Cast Member came over and told us that they were going to have to shut down the ride.  First, they had to drain the water level.  We sat in the boat and watched the water level drop down.  The ride audio stopped, and it got quiet.  A little eerie but fascinating to see the procedure take place.

   We watched as the people from the boat behind us came walking along the walkway on the side and head out the door near our boat.  Led by Cast Members, they went through a door in the rocky facade and away they went.  We were next.

Our vantage point while being frozen on Frozen Ever After

   The Cast Members came over and told us what to do.  We exited the boats, and headed out that door through the side exit, outside, down some stairs and back in to the building where we were given "Anytime Fast Pass" tickets to come back and ride when things were up and running.

What's behind "Door #1"?  Our evacuation exit.

   As I suspected, there was nothing especially remarkable to see "back stage" of the ride.  It's just a novelty that is appreciated only by Disney Geeks (like us).  A parking lot outside, some storage lockers for the employees, nothing exciting.  There was no Pluto character with his head off, taking a cigarette break, nothing like that.

The Captain was not allowed to "go down with the ship".

   Just what looked like break rooms, and locker rooms, just another day at work for the Disney Cast Members.  The ride area does look very different when the sound is off, and the lights come on.  That is something I can really appreciate.  I would hate to have been at the top of Expedition Everest when something like this happened! 

   When we worked our way through the halls and finally merged with the regular exit, we found ourselves outside saying "What just happened?"  We left with our anytime fast pass tickets in hand with a smile on our faces.  

Happily being kicked off of the ride!

Were those little snowmen taunting us?

   We had gone through most of the ride before the breakdown, so we felt like we were getting two rides for the price of one. 

   From what I've heard, they have been having a lot of problems with the new ride.  When we returned the next day to use our fast pass tickets, the CM that took them said "Oh no, yesterday too?"  So this seems to be a regular occurrence with the new Frozen Ever After.

   It was all tied up in a neat little package.  Our first ride on Frozen Ever After and our first Ride Evacuation at Walt Disney World.

  

Move along, nothing to see here.

Going back in to the building

I think the CM's were getting a kick out of seeing a 56 year old man getting so tickled over being "86'd" from the ride.

BABY "X-FACTOR"... "2.0"

   It was over 5 years ago, that I wrote about the "X-Factor" trip - our first WDW trip with a toddler.  It was the trip with our only (at the time) Grandchild, and I just was not sure how it would turn out.  With some good planning, and good fortune, it turned out to be a great trip, and our little 15 month old "Grandy #1" did really well.  She would fall asleep in the stroller, and wake up in a great mood.  It all went pretty smooth.

Grandy #1 - Jan. 2011 - Mission accomplished!

   It was now time for the "rematch" with Grandy #2.  She was 8 months older than her big Sister was for her first WDW trip.  She had been to Disneyland 8 months before this trip, and we were veterans of multiple WDW visits.  We had plenty of confidence, but still, you just never know!  Daddy had to work, and would not be with us on this visit, so it was just "Grandpa Dan & his 4 Sweeties"!

The group for the May 2016 trip

   We got a non-stop flight and went for it!  I would say that non-stop is the only way to fly when you have a younger child.  We didn't have to go through the boarding process twice, and a taste of freedom could have been hard on her.  She did great, a little bit of crying was hardly noticed, since we were on a plane full of kids heading to Orlando.  She pretty much just blended in, and really didn't fuss very much!  Step 1: GETTING THERE.  No problem!





    Her little body clock adapted pretty well, and she was up and running for our few rope drop days.  Since our first 2 nights were at The Polynesian Village resort, we took advantage of being so close to The Magic Kingdom and started the trip with an arrival evening, and a Sunday "Rope Drop" spent at MK.

The "First Ride Look" never gets old, and Big Sister STILL has it!

   Our first Grandy had her first ever WDW ride on The Gran Fiesta Tour at Epcot, and we never forgot that.  For Grandy #2, her first ever WDW ride was The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, we will always remember that now!

   The "Rider Switch" (aka "Baby Swap") worked to our older Granddaughter's advantage, giving her back-to-back rides on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for her first time on the new coaster! Grandma got a 2nd ride too!  It was a great evening which included a little dancing with Frozone & The Incredibles in Tomorrowland at the Dance Party.

We told our older Grandy to "thank" her little Sister for that 2nd ride!

   The next morning's Rope Drop went smooth.  And after hitting 5 straight "walk on" rides, it was time for lunch at Be Our Guest, and then we stuck to our game plan, and went back to the Polynesian.  Grandy #2 (& Mommy) had a nice little nap, while Grandy #1 got some pool time with Grandpa & Grandma.  Then a refreshed Mommy was able to take Grandy #1 back to the MK, while Grandpa/Grandma rested with Grandy #2.  We then met up for a wonderful dinner at The Grand Floridian Cafe, and then a nice early evening after dinner stroll from The Grand Flo back to The Poly.

Beach time at The Polynesian is fun  ...even if you can't go into the water!

Minnie was so glad we came to see her again!

    After our 2nd and last night at The Polynesian Village, we took our luggage to Bell Services for transport to The Boardwalk, and headed out to Chef Mickey's.  This was one of those "Should we or Shouldn't we" parts of the trip planning.  We just didn't know how Grandy #2 would react to those gigantic characters, but we decided to go for it.  So glad we did!

Yes, she wasn't too thrilled about having the characters come up close to her, but as long as there was a little distance between them, she was fine, waving and clapping along with everyone else in the place.  Of course Grandy #1 loved reuniting with the "Fab Five".  It turned out to be a highlight of the trip!

   After Breakfast, we bused it over to Disney Hollywood Studios.  Another attraction we weren't too sure about was The Frozen Sing-A-Long.  We just weren't sure how well the little one would do waiting in the Queue area and then sitting through a show.  Hey, it's FROZEN! C'mon now, she did great!  Both girls were fascinated with the show, and a little air conditioning goes a long way in making your touring day pleasant!

Do you think "Grandy #2" was awestruck by the Frozen Sing-A-Long?

   We enjoyed using our fast passes, Star Tours was down, so they gave us a fastpass for other attractions, and we headed for The Great Movie Ride.  "Baby X-Factor 2.0" loved it!  We thought the Alien section might scare her, but... no problem!

Not only was she not "scared"... she LOVED The Great Movie Ride!

   After a nice time at The Studios, we took the walk over to The Boardwalk to check in to our room, and get some dinner.  The Boardwalk (like The Polynesian) was a first for all of us, and we were greeted with a little surprise.

Pool View was a nice surprise!

We booked a standard 1 BR villa, but were given a Pool/Water view room on the top floor, and it was wonderful!  They brought us our luggage, and groceries from Garden Grocer, and we were all settled in.  Dinner at Big River Grille, and a nice dip in the pool.  A great day.

   It was Epcot Flower & Garden Festival time,  we weren't sure how our stroller girl would do spending hours roaming around Epcot's World Showcase.  She passed another test.  She didn't care much for the offerings from the food booths, but as long as she had her snacks to nibble on, she was a happy camper.  She was rewarded with rides on Journey into Imagination with Figment, and The Seas with Nemo & Friends.  Her big Sister was rewarded with back-to-back rides on Test Track thanks to the "Rider Switch", and Grandpa got in on that!  A Fast Pass for Spaceship Earth and we were ready to head back to The Boardwalk.

Plenty of water is always important at WDW!

 
   We didn't have an ADR for Via Napoli, but we figured on the way out we'd give it a try, and we were able to snag a table for that amazing Pizza and Pasta!

   Wed. was our "non-park" day, so we headed over to Disney Springs.  Lunch at Morimoto Asia was wonderful.  Grandy #2 handled it pretty well, Lap Napkins and Chopsticks can be pretty fun!  The food was great, and we spent most of the day wandering around this newly renovated Shopping/Dining/Entertainment district.  They have done a great job and there is still more additions going on.

Chopsticks are FUN!

     
   We made it back in time to get a table at Trattoria Al Forno on The Boardwalk for dinner.  We went up to our room and enjoyed sitting out on the balcony talking and enjoying the view.

   Thursday was our Animal Kingdom day.  We got there early enough to do a "Rope Drop" and were able to do two rides on Expedition Everest before our first fast pass time arrived.  I made sure to pick FP+'s that our little Grandy #2 could enjoy.  Kilimanjaro Safari, It's Tough to be a Bug, and a FP for The Festival of the Lion King were all good picks that the whole group could enjoy.  Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ, a ride on Triceratop Spin, and we were ready to head over to The Boneyard.

The kids really "dig" this place!

   This is a must for anyone with little ones.  Slides, bridges, a big sandpit with plastic shovels and buckets.  Both Grandys loved every minute of exploration here.  Another must for little ones is Rafiki's Planet Watch.
You ride a train over to it, and it has animal exhibits that little ones just can't get enough of.

Little ones can't get enough time at the petting zoo

We even got to meet Rafiki his self! 
The petting zoo is a must for kids of all ages, and if you are really into wildlife, there are cast members who can answer all of your questions about the whole park.

   We had a 4:20pm ADR for Beaches & Cream at The Beach Club, so we headed over to The Beach Club Resort for our dinner.  This place is colorful, and fun for the whole family.  Good diner food, and awesome ice cream treats are their specialty.  Famous for it's "Kitchen Sink Sundae" which is made with 8 scoops of ice cream, every topping in the house, and a whole can of whipped cream! 

The "No Way Jose"

Along with some brownies, nuts, and other goodies, all served in an actual... "Kitchen Sink"!  We didn't have enough stomachs for the Kitchen Sink, but we did share a "No Way Jose Sundae" (Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Fudge & Peanut Butter).

Grandpa made a great hammock on the bus!

   We strolled around and enjoyed the charm of The Boardwalk/Beach Club/Yacht Club area before heading back to the room.

   Friday was our last full day of the trip.  We wanted to go back to Epcot for some more Flower & Garden Festivities.  Lunch consisted of treats from the different food booths around The World Showcase. We were amazed at how uncrowded the lines were for the food booths compared to the annual Food & Wine Festival.  Even though there aren't nearly as many booths, the lines are practically non-existent and that's really a plus.

    

Grandpa invited Grandy #2 to watch boxing with him

   
   

...but she preferred to watch cartoons with Grandma!

   Grandpa & Grandma were a little worn out, but not too tired to trek back to Epcot and see The Spinners in Concert at the American Gardens Theater.  Mama entertained the kiddos while the oldsters were enjoying some classic pop sounds!

Grandma & Grandpa ready for The Spinners!

What a great way to end a fantastic WDW trip!

 
   
    Saturday was our departure day, but we were not finished with the fun.  Our flight didn't leave until 4:55pm, so we had until almost 2pm before we had to be at the Magical Express Bus Stop.  We had something to eat at The Boardwalk Bakery, and walked over to Disney Hollywood Studios.

Heading over to The Studios for one last "blast"!

    Finished up with Tower of Terror, and Rock n' Rollercoaster for the big kids, then headed over to the ABC Commissary for lunch.

Somebody was dreaming about Walt Disney World on the way home

   The flight back turned out to be pretty good.  Again, another non-stop flight, but this time, Surprise! - "Baby X-Factor" fell asleep about half way home!

   If anyone reading this is debating about taking a toddler to WDW, I would suggest that you stop wondering, and start planning.  These two trips did take a little extra strength, and planning, but it was SO WORTH IT!  We have memories that will be with us for the rest of our lives.  Do the kiddos remember the trip?  Probably bits and pieces, but WE remember these trips, and someday we can share stories with our little Grandys about their first times at Walt Disney World.  They will look at the photos and say WOW!

Pool Time!

   Now if you will excuse us, Grandma and I have to start planning our next Disney trip... before the Grandys get too old!

MY DISNEY PODCAST LIBRARY... 5 Years Later!

   It was in 2011 that I wrote a blog about my Disney Podcast Library.  I was not yet retired, and Disney Podcasts on my iPod kept me going through my work day, every day!  I've since retired, and my iPod gave up the ghost (just weeks before I retired).

   Back in April of 2011, I listed 9 awesome podcasts, but of those 9, 5 years later, only 5 remain (that I know of).  The WDW Fanboys, Beta Mouse, Magical Definitions, and Intercot Insider Live have all gone the way of Maelstrom (An attraction at Epcot that is no longer there).  Magical Definitions still remains (in a way) - Nathan Rose & Jim Hill were the hosts, but Jim Hill now does a podcast with Len Testa.

   I've trimmed my iTunes podcast library dramatically, and it's down to 4 podcasts now.  I listen to a few of the others every once in a while, but I just get those shows from their websites rather than downloading them to iTunes.

   The 4 podcasts remaining in this "Battle Royal" of Disney Podcast loyalty are (in no particular order):

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Hard to imagine Len Testa as "Straight Man", but Jim Hill knows all - tells all.

   The Unofficial Guides Disney Dish Podcast with Jim Hill

   This has now become my favorite of all podcasts.  Len Testa emerged as one of my favorite Disney podcast personalities, as co-author of the text book of  WDW touring books - The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, he knows his stuff, but the true Guru of all things Disney is Jim Hill, and the two have a great chemistry during their shows.  They tackle subjects that hard core Dis fans want to know about, and Jim Hill knows his stuff like no one else, and delivers it in a way that makes you feel like you are walking alongside of him touring the parks.  Two "Disney Rock Stars" who make for an awesome Podcast.

Visit the show's website: https://disneydish.bandcamp.com/

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The Disney Nerds Podcast  

   This is one that I found after I wrote that blog posting back in 2011.  I'm not sure how I found them, but I'm glad I did.  These guys fill the void left by the departure of the original WDW Today podcast.  Sam (from Sam's Disney Diary), Jimmy, Ed, and Jen are a great group of folks who love Disney parks as much as I do.  They take you on audio tours of attractions & parks, share thoughts on the goings-on at Disney World, and just make for a fun time on every podcast.

Check out the show's website: The Disney Nerds Podcast

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Dave's Disney View Podcast
   This is another podcast that I found after 2011.  It's not "serious" in nature, but it's not as "silly" as other Disney World podcasts.  Dave was an actual Cast Member at WDW, so he has an insight that I just love to listen to.  He's a man who makes me proud  to be a Disney World Nerd.  He obviously has a love for and loyalty to Walt Disney World, but is not afraid to express his feelings when he does not like something.  He has a positive way of talking about WDW attractions and events.

Check out the show website:  Dave's Disney View Podcast

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   Walt Disney World Today
   This Podcast is the same in name only.  The original lineup included 5 legends of Disney podcasting:  Annette Owens, Len Testa, Matt Hochberg, Mike Newell, and Mike Scopa.  This was by far my favorite podcast in the world.  All good things must come to an end, and WDW Today came to an "end", but re-emerged with new hosts, and a little different format.  It took me a while to get used to it, but eventually I accepted the fact that "Matt, Mike, Mike, and Len (& Annette)" were not coming back.  The new hosts are Logan, Terry and Will and the show is still fun.  And... one of the "originals" from the show - Len Testa still makes appearances on the show to answer listener questions!  They take on subjects and give their takes on things, it's fun and made "the cut" to remain in my iTunes library.

Check it out:  http://www.wdwtoday.com/

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Those are the 4 that remain in my podcast library (along with 3 boxing podcasts, and Calvary Chapel Albuquerque).  But that doesn't mean that I don't listen to other podcasts by visiting their websites.  Lou Mongello's WDW Radio Show, The Be Our Guest Podcast, Disney Parks Podcast and The Mighty Men of Mouse are 4 others that aren't in my personal iTunes library, but I would suggest you track down and listen to them if you are really into Disney Parks & Walt Disney World!  And of course, if you are into Disneyland in Anaheim, California, you have to listen to the Mousetalgia podcast.

   I no longer need to feed off of my Disney podcasts to get me through a dreary and life draining job (can you tell I was more than ready to retire?), but I still LOVE to listen to my Disney Parks podcasts as I plan for the next visit to Disneyland or Walt Disney World.  Pick one, and give it a listen, you might just get hooked!