Slow September Is Dead: Disney World News You Can Actually Use

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Pete is still on vacation.
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Ani already saved an episode last week, and I'm not making her doing it again.
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So this week, guess what?
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You're stuck with me.
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But Disney has actually given us enough news.
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We figured we'd try something different this week.
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Twenty minutes, Disney news, no 45-minute deep dive, no reading, press releases, just what happened?
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Do we care?
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Does it actually matter when you're planning a Disney vacation?
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In this episode, we're going to talk about Epcot's 2027 festival dates, candlelight processional celebrity narrators, Disney After Hours, The Strange Return of Turf Club.
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I don't know who asked for that.
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A callback to our worst rise episode, current crowds in September of 2026, and finally, one story gets named the worst Disney News of the Week.
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This is the worst Beyond the Magic.
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Alright, our first segment on the show, what happened to Slow September?
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So do you remember when September was the secret time to go?
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The secret remember I told you in previous episodes there are no secrets?
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Apparently everyone got the memo.
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Recent late September crowds have been heavy enough for annual pass holder reservations, availability to disappear at Epcot and Hollywood Studios with Magic Kingdom unavailable for some past types, while Cosmic Rewind, one of my favorite rides, approached a three-hour ride posted wait time during this September surge.
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Here's why September is a busier kind of year to go.
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Food and wine is going on, so we love the festivals at Epcot, of course.
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We talk all about it.
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It is Halloween season.
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It's a call back to our Halloween episode, and Mickey's not so scary.
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Go back and take a listen to that episode.
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Pass holders and local traffic.
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So all those who have annual pass holders are starting to come into the park because it's cooler now.
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Also, the summer crowds for spring break and summertime are gone, so it's more of a local crowd.
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And of course, on the weekends, the locals tend to come to the parks a bit more often now when they're not during the work week.
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So you have busier crowds on the weekends during this month.
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And then, of course, there are families that specifically choose September because they've been told it's slow.
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Here's the planning point, all right?
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This is why I don't like telling clients to go this month because Disney will be empty.
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It's not empty.
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There are better weeks, there are worse weeks.
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It's all about when your availability is for the time to go, not about what the crowdsourcing calendar says is best and what may or may not fit into your calendar.
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But there really isn't a guaranteed dead season anymore.
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I think we've talked about this over and over and over again.
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If TikTok or Instagram tells you September is empty and you show up and then three-hour guardians wait, TikTok or Instagram is not standing in line with you.
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Alright?
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What's the verdict in this?
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Do we care about it?
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Do we not care?
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I think we absolutely do care because actually this changes how people should plan.
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That brings us to our next segment.
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Disney responds to our worst rides episode.
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If you already listened to our worst rides episode, you already know that Aliens Warner and Saucers was one of my Hollywood Studios picks for the worst rides in Walt Disney World.
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Well, apparently Disney World took that personally.
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Disney has added LilyPad from Toy Story 5 to the new music at Aliens Warren Saucers.
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Does new music make this attraction better?
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I don't think so.
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So for those who don't know, Lillipad is in Toy Story 5, and the whole premise behind Toy Story 5 is that all the toys are being replaced by devices.
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Does that sound familiar in your family?
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My 13-year-old and my 11-year-old certainly seem to think so.
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They'd rather be on their iPad and their computer playing whatever game rather than being outside playing with the neighbors, playing with with her little sister.
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The devices is where we've gone.
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Days of coming in when the street light comes on of my age are long gone.
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The devices are now in, and that's what that movie's all about.
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So Lillipad is the device that's given to the little girl in Toy Story, and so that the toys are slowly feeling to be replaced by the devices.
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There is a large device or a large Lilypad out in front of Alien Sword and Siltrus now that acts as a DJ for this ride.
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So does it make it better?
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Does a small refresh like this make this ride better?
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I don't think it does.
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I don't think it does.
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I think it's cool that they added some uh from a movie that just came out over the summertime and they already added it to Toy Storyland.
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I think that part's cool.
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I think that brings a bit re uh nice refresh to the to the park and to that part of Toy Storyland.
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However, I don't think that makes uh that takes Alien Swear and Swosters away from one of the worst rides at Walt Disney World.
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It still reminds me of a Carney ride and the one that throws you around uh when you go to your local summer carnival.
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Still don't love it.
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Do I like Lilypad?
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You know, I think it's a good addition, but you have to go there and see for yourself.
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Should Disney do this more often uh with older or smaller attractions?
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I think it's nice, uh nice added refresh.
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It didn't take a lot of effort for them to add Lilypad to that ride.
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It's certainly something that uh was new and current, so they decided to add it, and I think it makes it a little bit better.
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The ride still sucks, by the way.
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Does this change my opinion of the worst rides?
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Absolutely not.
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I think I just mentioned that over and over again.
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I think it's a cool addition, but I don't think it changes my opinion on it.
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Pete is not here to defend it, so my ruling is legally binding until next week.
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What is my what's my ruling?
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It's not that much better.
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I think it's a cool addition.
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Get out your 2027 Epcot calendar.
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Here we go.
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We're gonna talk about our festivals and the rest of 2026 as far as the candlelight processional goes and what celebrities are gonna be there.
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Festival of the Arts, or as we lovingly like to call it as mature men, Farts.
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January 15th through March 1st of 2027.
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Pete and I will be there for this one.
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This was over Travel Mations annual retreat.
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So we will, of course, go to FARTS and we will report back how much Farts Festival was a lot of fun and how we miss you and how we'd love for you to join us next year.
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Disney has actually extended it an extra week for 2027.
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What's returning to Farts?
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19 Food Studios, Disney on Broadway, Animation Academy, Paint by the Number Mural.
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I remember that the last time I was there.
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That is so much fun.
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It's just like Paint by Number from when you were a kid, but that's a giant mural, and everyone gets a chance to add in their little bit of color to the giant mural.
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Artificial photo opportunities, the chalk art, which I know we've talked all about.
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That's coming back.
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The visiting artist, your opportunity to meet the artist, have a picture signed, or have one specially made for you.
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Disney Broadway Performers lineup hasn't been released yet.
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All right, so as Pete and I lovingly call it farts, this is actually gonna be the time of the year Pete and I go together, which we just talked about.
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It's over Travel Mations annual retreat.
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And uh if you're gonna be there during that time, we please reach out to us, let us know you're gonna be there.
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We'd be happy to meet up with the A4 beer.
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If not, put it in your calendar for next year.
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Why do we like this particular food festival?
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Well, the weather is so much nicer at the end of January.
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There's barely anybody there because schools are not out.
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Uh the art is beautiful, the entertainment's fantastic, uh, different vibe than all the other Epcot festivals.
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Of course, who wouldn't love going to a festival called Farts?
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Is Festival of Arts secretly Epcot's best festival?
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Um, you know, I think I think it's one of the better ones.
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Of course, food and wine is one of everyone's favorites out there, but I think Festival to Arts is unique.
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If you like more of the arts, and the arts just isn't just painting a painting or uh or sketching out something on a pad of paper.
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Arts is dancing, arts is music, uh, it's all those things encompass.
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It's Broadway, like I like I mentioned earlier.
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So I think it's uh it's all encompassing for those who enjoy the finer things and enjoy the arts, I think it's a fantastic festival to go to.
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What's next?
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What's next coming down the road?
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Flower and Garden is going to be March 10th through May 31st, 2027.
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Confirmed returning to this are character toporaries, which we always love to see.
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Gardens and exhibits, outdoor kitchens, garden rock concerts.
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So if farts isn't your thing, and I can't believe you just said that seriously, you've got to go to Flower and Garden starting nine days later.
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All right, so there's a tiny break there between farts and flower and garden.
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So take your pick.
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Festival of the arts or flower and garden.
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My vote is farts.
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For someone who's never experienced an Epcot festival, what would you go to?
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Let us know in the comments of the video.
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Let us know uh on email at the worst beyond the magic at gmail.com or hit us up on Instagram.
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I am at the number five underscore on the underscore fly.
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Hit us up there.
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Of course, we also have an Instagram for the show itself at the worst beyond the magic on Instagram.
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What would you rather go to?
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Farts or flower and garden?
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Let me know.
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All right, so moving on down the line.
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What else hasn't been announced?
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After hours party for 2027.
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Disney is also giving guests a long after-hour session.
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I know Pete and I talked about this on a Halloween episode.
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After hours, again, I think are worth their weight in gold.
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Why?
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Because you go to sleeping in the morning.
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You don't have to get up at the crack of dawn and try and rope drive to the park.
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You get to sleeping in and enjoying your morning and then enjoy the park in the evening.
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There are no landing lanes.
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You don't have to be glued to your phone the entire time trying to get a landing lane for your very next ride.
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There are none.
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So you go from ride to ride to ride.
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Most of the rides, except for the very popular ones, are straight walk-ons because the crowds are limited.
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Also, it's a different type of crowd.
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All the little kids have gone home to sleep.
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It's more of an adult crowd.
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And uh you can move about the park without strollers being in your way, uh, people uh stopping to check the map or the uh the Disney app right away, like five feet in front of you when you're walking down Main Street.
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It's a bit more of a relaxed feel.
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Again, I think these things are worth their weight in gold.
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I highly recommend doing an after-hours party.
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So Magic Kingdom, the After Hours parties are going to be January 11th through January 19th, 2027.
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My favorite park, Hollywood Studios, are going to be January 16th through January 25th of 2027.
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Epcot is going to be January 21st through August 19th of 2027.
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After hours guests can enter through the park beginning at 7 p.m.
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before the separately ticketed events begin later that evening.
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So you have a just like the Halloween party and the Christmas party, you have a bit of extra time to enjoy the park with that mix-in crowd.
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So there's people leaving, and then when the park officially starts, all those who don't have a ticket for the after hours gets kicked out of, they get kicked out of the park, and all those who do have a ticket get to stay, thus clearing out the park a tiny bit, making it much easier to move around and get on rides.
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Or enjoy the food boost, if that's what you're after.
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This is where people need to understand what they're actually buying.
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If your priority is Mickey's Halloween party or the Mickey's Not So Scary, or the Christmas party, Mickey's a very merry Christmas party, rides dramatically have less competition in the after hours party.
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I know we've talked about this.
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Most rides are a walk-on with the after hours parties.
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What is the planning question we should factor here?
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Would I build an entire Disney trip around an after hours night?
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Yes, the answer is yes.
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Yes, I did.
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So in our upcoming trip here, coming in November with my family with 11 people going, I planned this entire Disney trip around the cheapest night to go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party.
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Why did I do that?
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Because if I would have waited to go a different night in that same week, tickets would have gone up$50 a person.
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I didn't want to pay that extra$50.
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I wanted to stay at the lowest rate I could.
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So I planned our entire week, our entire six night, seven-day vacation around that one night.
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It's a chill morning.
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Uh we get to sleep in, we get to go to breakfast at Olivia's, which is at Oaky West.
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Those that know that understand how wonderful that is.
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And then later on that night, we can move our way to the Magic Kingdom and enjoy and make his very Merry Christmas party at a lower pace than what we would if we were to do Magic Kingdom during a regular day.
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What's there to see during this time?
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Candlelight Processional is, of course, super famous, uh, made by Neil Package Harris.
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The 2026 Candlelight Processional runs November 27th through December 30th at America's Gardens Theater in Epcot.
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Performances are nightly.
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Performances start at 4.45 p.m., 6 30 p.m., 8 p.m., and the production includes a 51-piece orchestra, the voices of Liberty, choir of more than 150 performers, and celebrity narrators.
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And Disney did not miss around with the neighborhood lineup for this year.
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The woman who played Moana is going to be there.
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I don't even want to try to pronounce her first name.
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Is going to be there November 27th, the 28th of this year.
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November 29th and December 1st is Gary Sinise.
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December 2nd and 3rd, we don't know yet.
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It hasn't been announced.
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December 4th and 5th, none other than Whoopi Goldberg will be there, the narrator.
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December 6th and 7th will be Robert Roberts from ABC.
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December 8th and 9th will be Jason Kelsey.
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They got Jason Kelsey to narrate the Christmas story.com.
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That was not on my 2026 Disney Bingo card this year.
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That's going to be hilarious.
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I would love to go see that.
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Although I'm not an Eagles fan, I'm a Bears fan.
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Who doesn't love Jason Kelsey?
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December 10th and 12th, Neil Patrick Harris.
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None other than the biggest celebrity himself, one of the biggest names returning.
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Of course, because that's probably going to be the busiest one to go see.
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I will talk about how to do that in just a second, if not to see Neil Patrick Harris, but to see any one of the narrators and the best way to do that.
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December 15th and 16th is going to be Lauren Daigle.
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December 7th and 18th is Ralph Macchio, the karate kid, of course, for those myers who understand that.
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December 20th and 21st, Henry Winkler.
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December 22nd to 23rd, Lacey Shepherd.
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She's also new this year.
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December 24th and 25th, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day is Jodie Benson, none other than the voice of Ariel.
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Ariel will be narrating the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
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That's super nice.
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I'm glad she's doing that.
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December 28th and 30th is Evil Nangore.
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And the question is, who on that list would you actually make the move to Epcot to see?
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Personally, I want to see Jason Kelsey.
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I want to see Gary Sinise.
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I want to see who else might I want to see?
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Ruff Machio would be cool.
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I think you'd be cool.
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I think I think the biggest one I want to see is is Jason Kelsey.
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And Neopatra Curse, of course.
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So let's talk for a second how to get that seating.
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So just like at Phantasmic, if you book a dining reservation for special seating for this event, you then have a spot or a reserved spot for you at the Candlelight Processional.
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The same works for Phantasmic.
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I did this for my trip upcoming here in November.
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We booked a restaurant for lunch.
00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:36.879
I believe it was 50s prime time during the day.
00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:40.080
And attached to that is Phantasmic seating.
00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:47.440
So later on in the evening, when we go to see Phantasmic, because we chose that dining reservation, it doesn't cost any more for that.
00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:50.399
For those on the dining plan, it's still one dining credit.
00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:53.679
For those of you paying by cash, it does not cost any more to do that.
00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:56.559
It gets you your own reserve seating to see that show.
00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.960
The same goes for the candlelight processional.
00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:12.879
So when you go to look book at dining for your December or your November trip coming up or for 2027, look to see what offers a specialty package for seating for the candlelight processional and choose that dining spot.
00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:15.679
It's most likely going to be a breakfast or lunch dining reservation.
00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:20.960
And when you do that, you have your own reserve seating area for when you go see Candlelight Processional.
00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:22.559
That is the best way to do that.
00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:27.440
And again, it doesn't cost you any more to do that, and it reserves you a spot for that show.
00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:30.879
You could do that for Fantasmic or the Candlelight Processional.
00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:31.519
All right.
00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:41.519
Remember, and this is our important penning tip, and I just talked about just a moment ago, regular seating for that is first come, first serve, and popular narrators can draw serious demand.
00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:49.679
Candlelight Processional dining packages also go on sale October 14th and include a meal at a participating upcot plus reserve seating.
00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:51.519
That is the best way to do that.
00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:59.360
So if Jason Kelsey, whoever you want to see as a person, and the reason you're going, this is one of the times where I'd seriously look at that dining package.
00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:06.720
That's what you want to pick if you want to make sure you get a great spot for the Afghan life professional to see whoever it is you want to see.
00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:08.319
For me, it's Jason Kelsey.
00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.000
Our next segment.
00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:13.599
What the hell is Turf Club?
00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:22.559
Alright, so this next piece of Disney news made me say something like a lot of you are going to say, What the heck is Turf Club?
00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:27.680
Turf Club is a restaurant at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.
00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:34.160
Specifically, it's tucked away into the resort's main building near the Lake Buena Vista Course Clubhouse.
00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:46.400
It's table service diner restaurant themed around the turn of the century upstate New York and horse racing culture with equestrian memorabilia and views of Lake Buena Vista Golf Course, Lake Buena Vista, Disney Springs.
00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.400
What did it used to be?
00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:51.680
Turf Club Bar and Grow was already a restaurant.
00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:53.119
It was already there.
00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:55.599
It isn't being converted into something else.
00:17:55.759 --> 00:18:00.480
What changed substantially is the adjoining Turf Club Lounge.
00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:07.519
Before their refurbishment, the lounge's bar was basically a window in the wall where you ordered drinks.
00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:16.559
Now Disney has built an actual full bar extending to the room where the bar seeing new furniture, carpet racing themed decor, and a new DVC shop.
00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:24.079
The lounge reopened August 31st, the actual turf club and bar reopened September 30th after its refurbishment.
00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:27.119
Why would we care about this?
00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:33.359
Because Turf Club has had a, let's say, complicated reputation.
00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:37.920
This wasn't exactly California Grill closing for refurbishment.
00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:44.319
Our friends over at Disney Food Blog, give a listen to them as well as a view on them on YouTube, have been particularly brutal about them.
00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:53.119
They ranked Turf Club dead last among Walt Disney World restaurants, hotel restaurants, and called them the least favorite, if possibly one of the worst restaurants.
00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:59.599
I love that, the worst restaurants at Walt Disney World, criticizing the old experience as dull themed and meteoric food.
00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:06.400
But to be fair here, the reviews have not universally been terrible.
00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:14.319
The other reviewers and guests have called an overlooked hidden gem praised by its service, steaks, burgers, and a relaxed atmosphere.
00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:26.319
So apparently, Turf Club is either one of those Disney World worst hotel restaurants or a hidden gem nobody knows about, which obviously means Pete and I eventually need to eat dinner to get you the real deal.
00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.599
Is it one of the worst?
00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.440
We should probably find out for you.
00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:33.200
What else is new on this menu?
00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:36.160
Disney refreshed the entire restaurant menu.
00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:48.319
The new menu includes French onion soup, sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts, crispy chicken wings, gold fried calamari, slow roasted prime rib, char grilled steak, that sounds good.
00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:53.759
And a turf club the all famous turf club burger, which is one of the worst on the menu before.
00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:57.920
New updated pasta and seafood dishes as well.
00:19:58.240 --> 00:19:59.759
What's the question here?
00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:01.680
Do we care?
00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.759
Should we plan our day around it?
00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:04.640
Would you?
00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:07.119
I don't think I would go out of my way.
00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:15.440
Would you either A make a special trip to Saratoga Springs to Turf Club, or B walk or boat over to Disney Springs and eat somewhere else?
00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.559
You know what I'm gonna do?
00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.839
I'm gonna go to Disney Springs.
00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:21.039
I'm gonna skip the turf club, I'm gonna go across Disney's Disney Springs.
00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:28.559
I'm gonna go to Regland Road, get one of my favorite beers, enjoy the Irish music and the fair, and make a friend over there.
00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:32.559
Also, one of my other favorites over at Disney Springs is Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar.
00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:34.559
We'll talk about that in another episode.
00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:39.440
I think I may have just accidentally found a future worst restaurant review.
00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:42.799
Pete and I will have to check that for out for you in the future.
00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:44.079
What else is new?
00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:46.559
What else is going on in Magic Kingdom?
00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:49.279
Casey's Corner has a new pianist.
00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.400
Do we care?
00:20:51.440 --> 00:21:00.000
This isn't exactly somewhere you build a vacation around, but live performance like this are part of what makes Main Street feel like Disney instead of an museum or park.
00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:03.200
If one of the piano players are out there playing, of course I'm gonna stop.
00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:07.759
I'm a musician myself, I'm gonna listen to them, I'll cheer them on, I'll sing, I'll dance.
00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:09.440
I think it's one of the cool things.
00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:16.960
I'm not playing my park day around it, but if it's going on while I'm there at like the Dapper dance route down Main Street, of course I'm gonna stop and listen to them.
00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:19.039
That's all part of the experience.
00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.039
Pirates permits.
00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.759
That's what's next.
00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:23.279
That's what's going on in Magic Kingdom.
00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:26.880
Construction permits have been filed involving pirates to the Caribbean.
00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.000
What does that mean?
00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:31.680
But there's been no announcements in some giant pirates overhaul.
00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:33.759
Disney permit Twitter can stand down.
00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.880
Do we care about this?
00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:38.079
Call me when Disney actually actually announces something about this.
00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:42.160
And last but not least, the worst news of the week.
00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:44.160
A namesake of our show, the worst?
00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:45.440
Here it is.
00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:47.920
Three hour Guardians wait.
00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.920
The death of Slow September.
00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:53.680
Aliens frolling saucers still being alien swirling saucers?
00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.559
Yep.
00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:58.240
Turf Club somehow getting this much airtime on our podcast.
00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:00.000
What's our winner?
00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:03.039
The death of slow September.
00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.960
The secret is out, folks.
00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:09.839
There are no mer secrets in this space, thanks to the internet, thanks to TikTok, thanks to Instagram.
00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:13.599
A nearly three-hour Guardians wait in late September.
00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:18.400
Maybe that has something to do with Earth, Wind, and Fire on the 21st of September?
00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:20.400
I think it does, maybe a little bit.
00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.359
Maybe it doesn't.
00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:24.319
Maybe people are just choosing to go in September more often now.
00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:28.480
Congratulations, three-hour wait, you are the worst.
00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.240
And I don't mean the podcast.
00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:32.319
Alright, to close this out, that's it.
00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.240
No Pete, no Annie.
00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:37.119
Just me talking Disney news for 20 minutes.
00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:41.279
Pete will finally be back next week, assuming he remembers that he has a podcast.
00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:43.039
And then how about you?
00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:45.599
Did you like this instead of our regular episodes?
00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:51.599
But when Disney gives us enough actual news, would you want a quick worst Disney news episode every couple of weeks?
00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.079
Let us know.
00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:57.279
Hit us up at the worst beyond the magic at gmail dot com or on Instagram at the worst beyond the magic.
00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:00.400
Until next time, we're here to give you the real deal.
00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:02.480
Mouse dropping's included.
00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:04.960
This has been The Worst Beyond the Magic.
00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:05.759
See you next time.