Disney World And Beyond – Details, episodes & analysis

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 their decor and atmosphere.

The atmosphere of a restaurant is almost as important as the food they serve - if the vibes aren't right, the meal just won't be enjoyable. When you add Disney's tendency to theme the heck out of everything, and write extensive background stories for every bathroom and snack stand to the equation, the atmosphere of a restaurant can sometimes even elevate an average meal to something more memorable than it deserves to be.

In this episode, we go around the virtual table and discuss some of our picks for Walt Disney World restaurants with the best atmosphere, as well as some that receive a special dishonorable mention and could use a refurb. In no particular order, some of the spots we talk about are Magic Kingdom's Skipper Canteen, Steakhouse 71, Oga's Cantina, Citrico's, Chef Mickey's, and Abracadar. Can you guess which get a thumbs up, and which a thumbs down? What restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort get your vote for best atmosphere, and which just don't pass the vibe check?

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World Travel's  expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!

Proud to be a Feedspot Top 100 Disney Podcast! https://bit.ly/GKASFeedSpotDisney 

Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, check them out at www.outervibe.com.

Don’t forget to  subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?

Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.

The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com. Make sure you follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldKeyAdventurersSociety, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gkaspodcast, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GKASPodcast.

Show The Gold Key Adventurers some love by buying the hosts a coffee (or two or ten?) at https://bit.ly/KofiDonateToGKAS

Better yet, try one of Expedition Roasters’ delicious theme park and pop culture inspired flavored coffees! Using our affiliate link will help keep the Gold Key Adventurers caffeinated and making great content for you! https://bit.ly/ExpeditionRoastersGKAS

Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!

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 guest rooms, plus mini golf and a ropes course and a surf rider and even an ice rink for a spectacular Icecapades style show at sea - there's something on board for everyone! And with unique "neighborhoods" housing innovative new styles of staterooms, everyone can find a spot on board to fit their unique cruising style. Join us and find out what makes a cruise on the Icon of the Seas a perfect vacation for you!

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World Travel's  expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!

Proud to be a Feedspot Top 100 Disney Podcast! https://bit.ly/GKASFeedSpotDisney 

Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, check them out at www.outervibe.com.

Don’t forget to  subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?

Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.

The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com. Make sure you follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldKeyAdventurersSociety, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gkaspodcast, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GKASPodcast.

Show The Gold Key Adventurers some love by buying the hosts a coffee (or two or ten?) at https://bit.ly/KofiDonateToGKAS

Better yet, try one of Expedition Roasters’ delicious theme park and pop culture inspired flavored coffees! Using our affiliate link will help keep the Gold Key Adventurers caffeinated and making great content for you! https://bit.ly/ExpeditionRoastersGKAS

Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!

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 enhance the overall experience by taking advantage of early entry and extended park hours, and hopping between parks to avoid the heat from the hottest ones, such as Animal Kingdom and Epcot. When it comes to seeking ways to escape the heat, we share with listeners the various indoor attractions that provide a good respite. The Magic Kingdom has indoor attractions like PhilharMagic and Enchanted Tales with Belle. In Epcot, indoor options like Living with the Land and The Three Caballeros boat ride are recommended. In Hollywood Studios, the light show at night is beautiful as is Toy Story Midway Mania. We also share our favorite cooling gear for staying comfortable and suggest using handheld fans, lightweight, rechargeable fans, and cooling neck gaiters. We also caution listeners against spending too much on overpriced cooling towels and suggest using a bandana or wet ball cap. Additionally, we share fun facts about the Disney parks, including some history and trivia. We also discuss some of our favorite pools and water attractions in Walt Disney World, including Stormalong Bay and the Big Blue Pool. We even suggest finding rest and respite at pool bars and sit-down meals on the hot days. We emphasize the importance of staying on-site to quickly return to the resort and avoiding traveling off-property during peak season. For those looking to relax and avoid the heat on Florida's hottest summer days, some tips include arranging for preferred parking or utilizing the Skyliner. We also recommend indulging in some treats like Dole Whip or a citrus swirl, and drinks from Trader Sam's, and the pool bars at Riviera and Nomad Lounge. We also discuss an upcoming Indiana Jones movie and share some alternative options for cooling down, taking a humorous note in the popular song and making a funny joke. We close the show with some recommendations for staying hydrated while visiting theme parks and for avoiding heat stroke and dehydration. We suggest bringing water bottles or simply asking for water at quick serve counters. We also discuss drinking electrolyte beverages like Powerade or smart water for salt replenishment. And we remind our listeners that it's important to stay cool and not party too hard during the hot Florida summers, and to take breaks when necessary. So go out there, follow these tips and have a great time at Walt Disney World!

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!

Proud to be a Feedspot Top 100 Disney Podcast! https://bit.ly/GKASFeedSpotDisney 

Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, check them out at www.outervibe.com.

Don’t forget to  subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?

Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.

The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com. Make sure you follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldKeyAdventurersSociety, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gkaspodcast, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GKASPodcast. 

Show The Gold Key Adventurers some love by buying the hosts a coffee (or two or ten?) at https://bit.ly/KofiDonateToGKAS

Better yet, try one of Expedition Roasters’ delicious theme park and pop culture inspired flavored coffees! Using our affiliate link will help keep the Gold Key Adventurers caffeinated and making great content for you! https://bit.ly/ExpeditionRoastersGKAS 

Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!

Come on down, for Draft Day Part 2, where the gang creates their perfect Disney theme park land the way Walt intended it-as part of a silly game! But first travel news, including Disneyland for all in June, Cruising with Royal Caribbean this summer, and the scariest bridge in China! Fill out your wishlist and meet me at Disneyland, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!

Links:

• Disneyland Resort will reopen to out of state visitors Jun 15 http://bit.ly/DisneylandOpenToAll 
• Royal Caribbean Cruise Line to resume sailing from the US June 20 http://bit.ly/RCcruisesresume 
• Halloween Horror Nights 2021 at Universal Orlando Resort schedule released http://bit.ly/HHN2021Schedule 
• The rise of vaccine tourism in the US http://bit.ly/VaccineTourists
• Park reservations to become permanent at Disney Parks,says CEO Bob Chapek http://bit.ly/DisneyParksResPermanent
• Man left clinging to rails on a glass bottom bridge in China after strong winds shatter panels http://bit.ly/ChinaGlassBridgeBreakage 

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!

Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, check them out at www.outervibe.com.

Don’t forget to  subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?

Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.

The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com

Show The Gold Key Adventurers some love by buying the hosts a coffee (or two or ten?) at https://bit.ly/KofiDonateToGKAS

Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!

Paging Mr. Tom Morrow! We continue our grand anniversary tour of the Magic Kingdom with a stop in Tomorrowland. But first, travel news, including California opens to everyone, cruising news, and a quick report on last week’s trip to Walt Disney World! Fire the booster rockets and say “Hi!” to Sonny Eclipse, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!

Links:

• California to fully reopen to out of state visitors soon. Will Disneyland allow out of state guests to visit next month? http://bit.ly/CaliOpenJune15 
•  Disneyland Hotel Reopening July 2 http://bit.ly/DLHotelReopenDate 
• Suspension of the Jones Act paves way for Alaskan cruises to resume in the near future http://bit.ly/JonesActSuspension 
• Quantas Supermoon/Eclipse Flight to Nowhere sells out in minutes http://bit.ly/QuantasSupermoonFlight 
• Walt Disney World Tomorrowland Wiki http://bit.ly/TomorrowlandWiki 

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!

Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, check them out at www.outervibe.com.

Don’t forget to  subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?

Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.

The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com

Show The Gold Key Adventurers some love by buying the hosts a coffee (or two or ten?) at https://bit.ly/KofiDonateToGKAS

Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!

Hola! We’re headed South of the Border again to catch up with Heather and Jeff’s further adventures in Mexico. But first, travel news, including Halloween fun at Walt Disney World,running with the pack on Universal’s Velocicoaster, and Dan needs help planning his Disney adventure! Swim up to the bar and don’t forget your sunscreen, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!

Links:

• Disney After Hours Boo Bash Coming to Magic Kingdom in place of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Courtesy of Theme Park Professor http://bit.ly/BooBashTPP 
• Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort eliminate temperature checks and reduce social distancing markers in parks and resorts http://bit.ly/UORTempCheck 

http://bit.ly/WDWTempCheck 

• US Cruise lines seek volunteers for “simulated cruises” to reopen cruising http://bit.ly/SimulatedCruises 
• Japanese town spends large portion of COVID-19 relief funds on life size giant squid statue to attract tourism http://bit.ly/JapanSquid 
• Bizarre Florida theme parks pre-Walt Disney World http://bit.ly/PreWDWFlaThemeParks 
• Expedia giving away replicas of Joe Jonas’ hand to help comfort anxious travelers http://bit.ly/JoBroHand 

Don’t forget! Dan needs help planning his Walt Disney World adventures this week! Share ideas for silly challenges to complete, exciting sights to see, and delicious snacks to eat, and we’ll give you a shout out in the social media posts about Dan’s experiences.  Email your ideas to the show (goldkeyadventurers@gmail.com), or leave us a comment on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or on our website!

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!

Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, check them out at www.outervibe.com.

Don’t forget to  subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?

Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.

The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com

Show The Gold Key Adventurers some love by buying the hosts a coffee (or two or ten?) at https://bit.ly/KofiDonateToGKAS

Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!

Extra, extra, read all about it! We have a whole bunch of theme park news to catch up on, plus the gang gets primordially silly with a game of Poetry for Neanderthals. Stop the presses and look out for wooly mammoths, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society! 

• Everything You Need To Know About The Disney Cruise Line Wish http://bit.ly/DisneyWishDetails 
• Disney College Program Returning to Walt Disney World Summer 2021 http://bit.ly/WDWCPReturnsTPP 
• Disney’s Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Details http://bit.ly/GalacticStarcruiseDetails 
• Jungle Cruise Changes going live http://bit.ly/WDWJungleCruiseChangesLive 
• WDW and Orange County keeping COVID health and safety precautions in place despite Gov DeSantis’ order http://bit.ly/WDWKeepingCOVIDSafetyMeasures 
• Universal Studios Hollywood Now Allowing Fully Vaccinated Visitors from Out of State http://bit.ly/UniversalHollywoodOutOfState 
• T Rex Photo Op Returns to Islands of Adventure http://bit.ly/IoAtrexPhotoOp 
• Universal Orlando announces May Reopening for Sapphire Falls Resort http://bit.ly/UORSapphireFallsReopening

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!

Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, check them out at www.outervibe.com.

Don’t forget to  subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?

Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.

The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com

Show The Gold Key Adventurers some love by buying the hosts a coffee (or two or ten?) at https://bit.ly/KofiDonateToGKAS

Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!

We’re living la vida local, as we help you find ways to take it slow and get a deeper experience at Walt Disney World. But first travel news, including Disneyland’s opening, summer travel to Europe, and Hungary’s festival of masked monsters! Stock up on boysenberries and hop on the People Mover, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!

Links:

• European Union Set to ease travel restrictions for vaccinated US citizens this summer http://bit.ly/EUTravelSummer2021 
• Tourists in Hawaii renting Uhaul Trucks as rental car stock dwindles and prices exceed $700/day http://bit.ly/HawaiiUhaul 
• Weird Festival-Busojaras, Hungary http://bit.ly/BusojarasHungaryDevils 

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!

Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, check them out at www.outervibe.com.

Don’t forget to  subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?

Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.

The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com

Show The Gold Key Adventurers some love by buying the hosts a coffee (or two or ten?) at https://bit.ly/KofiDonateToGKAS

Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!

Hot dog! We’re walking right down the middle of Main Street USA, and you’re coming with us. But first travel news, including Knott’s Berry Farm opening soon, NPH teaches us how to be human, and Zach is back with the Disney history lesson! Grab your boater and hop on the trolley, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!

Links:

• Knott’s Berry Farm announces reopening dates for 100th anniversary http://bit.ly/KnottsReopenDates 
• Neil Patrick Harris presents “How to be human again”, etiquette tutorial videos to guide travelers as they re-emerge into the world http://bit.ly/NPHTravelEtiquette 
•  Weird Festivals International, Food Fights Part 3:La Batalla del Vino http://bit.ly/WeirdFestWineFight 
• France to ease travel restrictions starting Summer 2021, hopefully leading the way to more destinations in Europe opening up to vaccinated travelers http://bit.ly/FranceEasesTravelRestrictions 
• Main Street USA Wikipedia Entry http://bit.ly/MSUSAWiki 
• 10 Secrets about MSUSA the average guest doesn’t know http://bit.ly/MSUSA10Secrets 
• For The Love of Main Street USA http://bit.ly/LoveOfMSUSA 
• Main Street USA Then and Now:History, Planning, and Inspiration http://bit.ly/MSUSAThenAndNow

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!

Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, check them out at www.outervibe.com.

Don’t forget to  subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?

Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.

The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com

Show The Gold Key Adventurers some love by buying the hosts a coffee (or two or ten?) at https://bit.ly/KofiDonateToGKAS

Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!

Turn on, tune in, and get ready to test your earballs as we play a game of name that tune, theme park style. But first, travel news, including a new happy haunt at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, wasting away again in Times Square, and another festival featuring an epic food fight. Grab a q tip and plug in your headphones, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!

Links:

• Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion got a refurb just in time for reopening, via Theme Park Professor http://bit.ly/DLHauntedMansionRefurb 
• Wasting away again in the new Margaritaville Times Square Resort http://bit.ly/MargaritavilleTimesSquare
• Disney announces new Disney Look guidelines as part of new Inclusivity key to their business operations. http://bit.ly/DisneyInclusivity 
• Weird Festivals, International Edition:La Tomatina, courtesy of Atlas Obscura http://bit.ly/LaTomatineAO 
• Get Paid Up to 200 Euros to Visit Malta This Summer, via Travel+Leisure http://bit.ly/GetPaidToVisitMalta 

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!

Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, check them out at www.outervibe.com.

Don’t forget to  subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?

Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.

The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com

Show The Gold Key Adventurers some love by buying the hosts a coffee (or two or ten?) at https://bit.ly/KofiDonateToGKAS

Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!