Dave's Disney View

 Today's podcast is a look at where to stay when you are at Walt Disney World. I talk about the categories of hotels, the amenities, and which hotels fall into these categories.  And I talk about some of the things that you might look for in each type of hotel. To me, the Art of Animation is probably has the best overall combination of amenities and price point, and is attractive for that reason. While this podcast lays out the basics, I do recommend visiting an authorized Disney travel agent to find the one that best suits your needs, and to price your vacation. One resource that I recommend is to contact Shannon over at thehttps://thewdwguru.com website.  She'd be delighted to talk about your next Disney vacation.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Today's podcast is a look at 4 fun things to do on the western part of what is now Disney Springs. Featured are a look at the AMC 24 theaters, Splittsville, DisneyQuest, and Cirque Du Soleil. Each has something special about it, and yet three of them are not Disney owned or operated. The cool thing is that they provide quality things to do. I encourage you to watch the videos and check them out on a future visit.   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 This week's show is another dose of Disney news. First, Downtown Disney's evolution into Disney Springs is coming together. Next, there was a groundbreaking for Avatarland. And finally, FastPass machines are gone from the Animal Kingdom, Studios, and Epcot…I talk about all of those, and a whole lot more!   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Today's podcast is a primer of sorts - a Disney World 101.  Over the last few weeks, I got a number of general questions about the resort.  So, I thought I'd help set the stage for what's what at Disney World, and give a sort of 'lay of the land'…hopefully if you've never been to the Orlando resort, this answers those general questions you may have about what a "theme park" is, and what else you can do for free and what else is ticketed. If you have more questions, please let me know!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Today's podcast is a movies review of... Saving Mr. Banks. Short version: I loved this film! I hope you did too.  My lone problem with it was that it was a slightly Disney-ised and revised look at the history. It didn't quite work out this way, and I fill in the proverbial blanks on that. Still, it was great, and I can only imagine what it was like to work for the Walt Disney studios at that time. Now I do have a couple of other Disney movies that I mention on this podcast (I was busy catching up over the last few weeks!).   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Today, I have still more information on MyMagic+. There's some new news, and a few updates….there is (as we expected) an active and passive RFID reader, and there isa requirement to have a biometric scan for park entrance. Meanwhile, old paper-based FastPass machines are being removed, and there are some increasing costs. Come on in and take a listen, and comment below.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Today's podcast is a look at the history of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, and how it works within Walt Disney World. Full disclosure: this is not an original work by me. I am reading from a work from the Florida State Law Review, MERGING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GOVERNANCE: HOW DISNEY’S REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT “RE-IMAGINED” THE TRADITIONAL DIVISION OF LOCAL REGULATORY POWERS by Chad Emerson. I present it for your consideration, but give full credit to Mr. Emerson for his work on the project. I personally love learning more about the history of Walt Disney World, and am fascinated by some of the things that happened to make the park we know and love.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Its a full dose of Disney news: Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland, a few MyMagic pieces, holiday "creep", movie news, and a whole lot more! Check out the candlelight processional video below.   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 I went up to the parks at the end of October, and had a chance to check out some of what's going on with MyMagic, so I talk about that. Plus, I went over to Epcot and ate some yummy food at the Food & Wine Festial. And there are a few other fun things to talk about!   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Today I have a double podcast! I take a longer look at the Magic Bands, and MyMagic+, and consider why Disney is spending this kind of money on something that has a limited return on it from Disney's point of view. My approach was to look at in this way: what is mymagic? How does it work? Rollout, costs, and questions Patents driving it customer relationship management Pros and Cons My thoughts In the podcast, I quote from several articles. Including: At Disney Parks, a Bracelet Meant to Build Loyalty (and Sales) Branding Lessons From Walt Disney World, Part 1: Designing the Customer Experience How the MagicBand and MyMagic+ Works --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 I have some audio left over from a recent trip.  I talk about the monorail being unavailable during off-peak times, and ride the ferry boat to the magic kingdom. Plus, I tell a few stories as I wander around. Of course, the fun part is the history of who Admiral Fowler is.  So take a listen and find out.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 On this week's podcast, its a dose of Disney news.  I've got some info on Cars Land, Star Wars Land, and Avatarland.  And I talk about the changes to the Guest Assistance Card, some resort updates, and a whole lot more! I also mention Sam Genneway's book, The DisneyLand Story, which is off to print. You can "hear" the entire story in Episode #147, where Sam and I discuss it.  And you can pre-order (or order if its available when you read this) a copy of it "here" --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 On today's show, I hop onto the monorail at WDW that is heading from the Transportation and Ticket Center (or TTC as they call it in Disney 'code') and head over to Epcot. Then, I make the return trip. Come along and take a listen, and enjoy the ride! Remember that Disney World has three monorail loops: the Epcot loop, the Resort Loop (which you can hear in my last podcast), and the Express Monorail (which everyone knows so well when they head into the Magic Kingdom, and then back to their car). All three originate from the TTC, and make their way around to their destinations.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Today's show is quite simply a ride on the monorail. Come along, close your eyes, and pretend you are there! A couple of thoughts: I don't really like the new narration. Its not as interesting and the host isn't as personable. He sounds almost mechanical in nature. And - I talk about the renovations that were recently unveiled at the Contemporary....at the time I recorded this, the new "Top of the World" as it used to be called was still under construction.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Today is my 150th podcast! So, to commemorate the moment, its sort of a double length show! I welcome Curt, Gary, and Doug to a roundtable discussion, where we talk about our favorite Disney vacations. Come and take a listen and see if you catch some themes that match with your experiences. We are all different ages, and have experienced Disney in our own ways - and yet there's a common thread about our experiences that keeps us coming back! Enjoy the show. On the podcast, I mention the Great Disney Scavenger Hunt. Here are my podcasts on that experience: The Great Disney Scavenger Hunt, Part 1 The Great Disney Scavenger Hunt, Part 2 Wrapup from the Hunt And here is the complete story in writing: My Blog entry about the hunt   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Want to save a few bucks and still have a memento from your trip? I've got you covered! Today's podcast is a look at some of free souvenirs you can find in the Walt Disney World Resort, and a few that have a nominal cost. You can find a lot of things around that have little or no cost that will help you make a memory.... I have 30 items on the list, that are under $20. I do them in descending price order, so it starts with the more expensive items, and ends with the free stuff. Disney's outlet stores: Disney’s Character Premiere store, located at Orlando Premium Outlets, Vineland Avenue Disney’s Character Warehouse store at Orlando Premium Outlets, International Drive(formerly  known as Prime Outlets Orlando, originally Belz Factory Outlet World). Character Corner store at Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores (and they have printable coupons!). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 On today's podcast, Dave is off playing games in the park. I'm not talking frisbee or football here, but rather the Pirate League Adventure in the Magic Kingdom, and the Agent P experience in Epcot. Come join me as I try out the activities, and tell you what I think about them. I will tell you that the Pirate adventure was kind of like Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom: cute and clever, but doesn't hook you in. ...and you can hear all about that activity back in Podcast #103. The Agent P experience was a different story all together. It was a lot of fun and I highly recommend it!   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Today's Podcast features Sam Gennawey, author of The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney's Dreamto talk about Walt Disney's vision for DisneyLand, how it came to be, and how it shaped the future of the parks and the company. It was fun talking with Sam, since he has such a wealth of knowledge about the history of DisneyLand. I think you'll enjoy hearing it - and reading the book.   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 Come along with me as I head out on a 4-park adventure. That's right, I was recently at the WDW resort, and visited all 4 parks in a day. The twist this time is that I only used busses and my feet to get between the parks. Take a listen as I tell stories and wander in and out of the parks. The order of parks for me was Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, and the Studios. The rationale was to catch Soarin' early in the day - and to end at the Studios for Hyperspace Hoopla (it was Star Wars Weekend). And I wanted to catch lunch at the Flame Tree, so that worked out pretty well.   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message

 I'm trying a different feature. Rather than news, instead I'm brining you the odd news related to Disney. I hope you enjoy!   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daves-disney-view/message