Disney World Restaurants Vibe Check If you've spent any time at all hanging out with the Gold Key Adventurers, you know we have a lot of opinions about the best places to eat and drink around Walt Disney World. For this week's episode, we're going to throw that all out. We're talking restaurants, but totally ignoring the food and beverage part - you know, their whole reason for exising. Instead, we're going to rate the best (and some of the worst) eateries on Disney property based solely on thei...
Apr 03, 2024•50 min
Icon of the Seas Trip Report Not only is Royal Caribbean Cruises' Icon of the Seas the world's largest cruise ship, it's also the perfect cruising option for families, couples, solo travelers, friend groups - anyone who wants to have a ton of fun at sea. Heather and Jeff recently set sail on this brand new floating theme park, and they're here to tell you all about what they saw, did, ate and drank. The Icon of the Seas is full of 7 pools, 40 restaurants and bars, 400 slot machines, and 2,800 gu...
Mar 01, 2024•56 min
Recently, Universal Orlando made the biggest theme park announcement of the year as they released the largest collection yet of information about Epic Universe- the new theme park and resort hotels they're opening in 2025. Join us for a look at all the details we have so far on the most exciting thing to come to Orlando theme parks in years. Check out Universal's official info page on this exciting new park, including a peek inside the Stella Nova and Terra Luna Hotels, and a virtual fly-through...
Feb 13, 2024•38 min
State of the Theme Parks 2024 It's that time of year when we look at the current state of the Disney and Universal theme parks in America, and talk about the most exciting changes, additions, and re-imaginings that have been announced for the coming year. Join us for the 2024 State of the Theme Parks Address! Topics covered incude: As of just a few days ago, theme park reservations are no longer needed for most guests at Walt Disney World, and park hopping is open all day long. To accommodate pa...
Jan 25, 2024•44 min
Travel Trends for 2024 It’s that time of year when we’re all figuring out what the next 12 months are going to look like, and the internet is full of suggestions on how to make sure our lives are on trend in 2024. Let’s take a look at the 10 hottest travel trends we’ve got our eyes on this year. The trends we cover include: Astro Tourism - Keep your eyes on the skies and seek out the best spots to view the Northern Lights, meteors, comets, and more as you explore the globe. Cool-cationing - Forg...
Jan 12, 2024•53 min
Disney World One Star Reviews 2023 Lately, we’ve been seeing a lot of posts on social media with hilarious one-star reviews visitors have left for some of America’s most popular and stunning national parks. That got us thinking - what do reviewers on popular sites like tripadvisor.com have to say about the Walt Disney World Resort? The results are definitely a mixed bag. Some of them are hilarious, some of them are infuriating, and most of them have at least a little bit of the truth tucked in b...
Nov 16, 2023•53 min
In this episode, we dive into our recent adventure at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights! Rain or shine, or even a tornado warning, we braved it all to experience this event without any interruptions. Armed with Express Passes, we conquered seven houses in just a few hours – now that's impressive considering the long lines! Our favorite picks this year? "The Last of Us" and "Stranger Things" blew our minds, as did Yeti:Campground Kills and of course the always terrifying Universal Monst...
Oct 26, 2023•47 min
Virgin Voyages, the Sequel:Key West and Bimini Ahoy! We’re back with another look at the fantastic cruising experience with Virgin Voyages. This time we’re joined by friends of the show, and first time Virgin Voyages cruisers, Cameron and Hannah Matthews! Virgin Voyages continues to impress and exceed expectations. Join us as we discuss why they’re industry leaders in cruise dining, entertainment, leisure activities, and all around experience. Find out our favorite restaurant, bar, and feature o...
Oct 07, 2023•1 hr 32 min
In this podcast episode, we are joined by a special guest, Cameron Matthews, to recount our remarkable Monorail Pub Crawl escapade at Walt Disney World. The Monorail Pub Crawl is an intriguing journey involving visits to diverse establishments situated within the hotels along the Disney World monorail line. During this adventure, we had the opportunity to savor delectable food and beverages offered at these venues. Commencing our crawl at the Polynesian Resort, our first stop was Trader Sam's Gr...
Aug 30, 2023•1 hr 7 min
In this episode, we explore the world of theme park dining, focusing on hot dogs, corn dogs, sausages, and more. We discuss unique offerings like the jalapeno popper corn dog and the diverse range of hot dogs at Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Universal parks. From exotic options like Korean bulgogi sausage to classic bratwurst, we share our excitement for trying different varieties. First, we’re amazed by the selection of unique, creative, and downright tasty corn dogs at Disneyland, and are ...
Aug 08, 2023•34 min
Beating The Heat at Disney World This week, the Gold Key Adventurers Society gathers to share some tips on how to beat the heat while visiting Walt Disney World in Florida during the peak summer season. To avoid the scorching heat, we suggest going to the parks early in the morning and late in the evening, taking breaks during the middle of the day, and spending time at the pool when it's hottest. For those staying overnight or longer, choosing to stay at a Walt Disney World resort hotel can enh...
Jun 26, 2023•52 min
Disney World Hotel Tour: Coronado Springs This week, we invite you to join us on a captivating tour of Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, a remarkable Moderate level resort located within the enchanting Walt Disney World Resort. We'll be showcasing all the compelling reasons why this resort should be your top choice for your next magical stay.Check out our video tour of the resort hosted by travel host extraordinaire Cam Matthews here . First and foremost, let's explore the captivating theme and ...
Jun 13, 2023•36 min
Favorite Disney World Restaurants 2023 Now that dining plans are back at Walt Disney World, it’s time to start planning all the tasted meals you’re going to use those dining credits on in 2024! We’re kicking off a summer of Disney Dining this week with a look at some of our favorite under rated quick service and table service restaurants around Walt Disney World, as well as the spots we think are totally over rated, and not worth spending your precious meal credits on. We also want to share with...
Jun 06, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Disney World/Travel News May 2023 We just wrapped up the month of May, which means it’s time to take a look back at all the biggest news stories that made the last few weeks so interesting. Here are the stories we’re discussing this week: Disney announces that the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser will make its final voyage this September, citing high operating costs and failure to meet expectations for booking performance. https://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/star-wars-galactic-starcruiser/news/18may2...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Universal Orlando+ We can’t let Disney World have all the fun! This week we’re taking a look at Universal Orlando Resort, to find all the ways you can “plus” your stay and make sure you’re getting the biggest bang for your buck! “Plussing” is a term used by Walt Disney and his Imagineers to describe the process of taking something that’s already great, and making it even better. The concept can be applied to your vacation as well, and we know all the best ways to have the best stay possible, no ...
May 22, 2023•42 min
Summer Vacation Ideas 2023 The school year is winding down, and we’re all getting antsy for summer vacation! The good news is, there’s still plenty of time to plan a sunny getaway. This week, we’re going to talk about some ideas for beating the crowds, heat, and expensive airfare so you can focus on relaxing and enjoying that perfect summer vacation. Discussion topics include: Road trips Domestic destinations-popular spots, off the beaten path, and beaches (especially alternatives to the mainstr...
May 13, 2023•32 min
Disney World/Travel News Roundup - April 2023 It’s been a long time since we had a good old fashioned news roundup! Strap in, it’s time to take a look at all the latest, greatest, and weirdest stuff that’s been going on in the world of travel and theme parks, then laugh as I fumble to improvise a decent segue between stories! Our first story is comin’ in hot! Dragon at Disneyland's Fantasmic! destroyed by massive fire The next hot story that we very well might have to cut by the time this episod...
Apr 29, 2023•1 hr 5 min
TRON Lightcycle/Run and Disney World Trip Report Greetings users! We recently spent an epic weekend in Walt Disney World, where we got uploaded to the grid for a spin on Tron Lightcycle/Run, saw the return of beloved nighttime spectacular Happily Ever After, and experienced some more of the thrills Disney has in store for this spring and summer. Let’s dig in and talk about our trip! TRON Lightcycle/Run is high speed thrill ride through a computer world, and we want to ride it over and over again...
Apr 18, 2023•56 min
Universal Studios Hollywood Trip Report Recently we were lucky enough to visit Universal Studios Hollywood to experience Super Nintendo World first hand. Last week we talked about our adventures in the Mushroom Kingdom. This week, we’re going to talk about what visiting the rest of Universal Studios Hollywood is like, how it compares to Universal Orlando Resort, and why it’s definitely worth a visit when you’re visiting the Los Angeles area. Since it’s so close to Hollywood and other famous LA l...
Apr 13, 2023•50 min
Super Nintendo World Trip Report The long awaited Super Nintendo World is finally open at Universal Studios Hollywood. This exciting new land brings the world of the Mario Brothers to life with interactive elements, thrilling attractions, and beloved characters from some of your favorite games. Guess who got to visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood? We did! Let’s hop into that warp pipe and explore the Mushroom Kingdom First impressions- what it’s like warping into the world ...
Apr 08, 2023•36 min
Disney World Moderate Resorts, But “Plus” It Last week, we started talking about how to “plus” your stay at a Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort. Plussing is a term used by Disney to mean taking something great, and making it even more betterer. This week, we’re going to continue the conversation and up the challenge a little bit. Let’s look at a Moderate level resort, and talk about about ways you plus your vacation to make it feel a little more Deluxe, while staying within a more “middle of the r...
Mar 27, 2023•44 min
Disney World Deluxe Resorts, But “Plus” It “Plussing” is a term used by Walt Disney Imagineering dating back to Walt Disney and productions meetings at the movie studios. Plussing means to make an idea, even an already good one, even better. To add that little touch that elevates the great to iconic status. We want to try to show you how you can plus your Walt Disney World Resort stay no matter what your budget is, so that every vacation feels deluxe. We’re kicking our new series off with a stay...
Mar 13, 2023•38 min
Adventures by Disney 2023 So you’ve been to Walt Disney World or Disneyland a few times. Maybe you’ve branched out to sailing on Disney Cruise Line, or visited Aulani resort in Hawaii. What’s the next step for a globe trotting Disney fan much like yourself? We’d like to suggest an expedition with Adventures by Disney. These guided, immersive tours allow you to explore the world while enjoying the special brand of hospitality and storytelling that you’ve come to love on other Disney vacations. Th...
Mar 10, 2023•47 min
Like A Virgin Voyage Ahoy sailors! We just got back from a week on the high seas, sailing with Virgin Voyages on the Scarlet Lady on their 5 night Dominican Daze itinerary, which means this show is a rare occasion for us- a trip report that the whole group can contribute to! We’re going to talk about what we did, saw, and ate, share our honest opinions on the whole experience, and talk about why Virgin Voyages is the cruise for everyone, as well as a great value and something different in the wo...
Feb 15, 2023•1 hr 35 min
The Return of the Gold Key Adventurers Society! It’s been a long time! We’ve all been busy traveling for the last couple months, and we’ve finally found a chance to sit down and talk about it! Stay tuned for a firsthand look at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Disney company which just kicked off in Disneyland. But first, let’s talk about where else we’ve been, including snow covered mountains, intergalactic voyages, maritime voyages, Antarctica Part 2:Penguin Boogaloo, and Univer...
Feb 11, 2023•1 hr 20 min
Disney World/Travel 12-13-2022 It’s beginning to look a lot like time to cover some news! We’ve got Broadway in EPCOT, and Disney Cruise Line anniversaries, tons of people traveled for Thanksgiving, and Italy would really really really like you to move in. Plus discounts on the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, Moana has nearly arrived at EPCOT, Disney bought a really really really big boat, and find out where your letters to Santa go! Disney announces lineup and dining packages for Disney On Broa...
Dec 13, 2022•51 min
Disney/Travel Gift Guide 2022 Just in time for Cyber Monday, here it is- The Gold Key Adventurers Society guide to gifts for the Disney fans and world travelers in your life. From Imagineering books and guides to Disney Adventures around the world, to quality travel gear and gadgets, we have a little bit of everything to keep you exploring the world into the new year. Amazon links for some of the items on our list: The Imagineering Story book by Leslie Iwerks https://bit.ly/imagineeringstorybook...
Nov 28, 2022•42 min
Disney World/Travel News 11-23-2022 This week we’re thankful for a heaping helping of news stories!. In this episode we cover new dolls in Disneyland’s it’s a small world attraction, the price of tickets at Walt Disney World and the return of Bob Iger to replace Bob Chapek as CEO of Disney. Plus changes to Walt Disney World dining reservation rules, Christmas offerings at Universal Orlando Resort, Travel + Leisure’s destination of the year for 2023, snakes on planes, cruises around the world, fl...
Nov 24, 2022•51 min
Disney World/Travel News 11-15-2022 If there’s one thing we always have plenty of, it’s travel news. This week we cover changes to COVID testing requirements on Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney World holiday treats preview, and a trip report from Dan’s recent fact finding mission to Disney World. Plus, exciting news from Wales, the friendly skies are going to be busy for Thanksgiving this year, and please stop licking toads and stuffing chickens with hand guns! Disney Cruise Line will soon no lon...
Nov 15, 2022•1 hr
Off to Neverland:Disney World Edition We spend a lot of time telling people what we like to do when we visit theme parks. This week, we’re gonna get crazy. That’s right, we’re off to Neverland for this episode. Sometimes it’s too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of a theme park vacation. When you’re focused on making sure everyone checks off as many rides and attractions as possible from their personal lists, you lose sight of all the other fun and thrilling experiences the resorts...
Nov 12, 2022•41 min
