Main and Magic Podcast

In this episode Katie joins me to discuss the details of her research trip to Walt Disney World. She reports back on her first experience staying at the Contemporary Resort, details about mobile ordering food, and she dives into the intricacies of using Disney Genie plus. We also touch on things like transportation, comparisons of standby queues to lightning lane queues and we get a breakfast revi...

In this episode my brother Nick joins me to talk about our favorite Disney Resort Hotels and why we love them so much. We also look near and far to talk about Disney hotels that are at the top of our wishlists to stay at someday. Then later in the episode my Dad pops in to share his picks as well.   Please join us in supporting Give Kids the World https://give.gktw.org/mainandmagic   Visit us at ...

In this episode Katie joins me to talk about the holiday season at Walt Disney World. We cover events and specialties across all 4 parks, Disney Springs and even the resort hotels and share some of our personal favorites. Stay tuned at the end of the show for a special announcement. It's Christmas 101 at Walt Disney World!   Please join us in supporting Give Kids the World https://give.gktw.org/ma...

In this episode Katie joins me to talk about Walt Disney World dining recommendations. We share menu items we love from across the resort including in park and hotel dining. We also share price points and other important details and considerations about our choices. If you want to be delighted by the food as much as the attractions, this episode is for you!   Start planning your next magical vacat...

Serpents and spiders, tail of a rat, call in the spirits, wherever they’re at! It's the spooky season and in this episode Katie joins me to talk about the Disney characters that give us the creeps. From legendary figures to notorious villains, we're bringing the creepy, the scary, the bone chilling...and...admittedly some offbeat characters to the conversation.   Visit us at  mainandmagic.com We s...

In this episode Katie and my brother Nick join me for a philosophical discussion on Walt Disney World thesis attractions. We visit each park and choose the attraction we believe represents the essence of that park. We also discuss the thought process we used to come to our decision and explain our choices.   Start planning your next magical vacation with Katie! picturesandpostcardstravel.com   Vis...

In this episode Katie joins me to talk about things guests do to make their trips extra special. We share ideas for things you can bring with you to pixie dust your trip, ways to participate in guest to guest magic moments, fun surprises for all budgets and so much more.   REFERENCES Disney Floral and Gifts http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgifts.com/ Capture Your Moment https://disneyworld.disney...

In this episode Katie joins me to discuss the new Disney Genie options coming to Walt Disney World's My Disney Experience app as well as the Disneyland app. We discuss each level of service and share our thoughts, good and bad, about what we know so far.   REFERENCES Introducing Disney Genie on the Disney Parks Blog   Disney Genie at Walt Disney World Disney Genie at Disneyland Josh D'Amaro talkin...

In this episode Katie and I sit down with a teen and a tween to discuss Disney vacation planning from a teen's perspective. We learn what they'd like to be consulted about during planning, what their ideal Disney day looks like, what they love and hate doing and what's on their Disney wish lists! We hope this is the conversation starter that'll help you and your teens plan the best trip ever.   St...

In this episode Katie and I sit down to discuss our top 5 Walt Disney World Hotels to stay at with kids age 9 and under. We list out our choices and dive into all the reasons they made our top picks, from amenities, to theming and everything in between. Throughout our discussion we also mention details to consider about choosing a particular resort, like the time of year you'll be visiting, transp...

Welcome back to our Cast Member stories series and part 2 of a 2 part episode with Vet Services Intern Alumni Janine. We continue our discussion about some of the unique cases she witnessed and took part in caring for. She shares how she got to be in the room as a silverback Gorilla underwent surgery for a foot injury, assisting in the aftercare of an African elephant that had to undergo an episio...

This is the 3rd installment in our Cast Member stories series, and part 1 of a 2 part episode. The Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom has been a huge hit for Disney+ and has captured the hearts of both Disney and Wildlife fans everywhere. So I reached out to my friend and former roommate Janine to talk about her Disney Professional Internship as a Vet Services intern. We dive into what her training...

It's officially summer and it's no secret that Florida summers are hot hot hot! So today Katie joins me and we share our tips for staying cool at Walt Disney World on your summer trip. We discuss everything from products we use to keep cool, simple tweaks and tactics for snacking and dining, and park conquering strategies that save you time, energy and sweat! ----more---- Visit us at  mainandmagic...

Today in celebration of Fathers Day, I'm joined by my brother Nick Barr and we share some fun memories about doing the Disney Parks with our dad. Nick also shares some of his feelings on taking his own son to the Disney Parks and what he's looking forward to sharing with him as he gets older. We hope this inspires you to reminisce about your own Disney memories with Dad.----more---- Visit us at  m...

Today my dad and I continue our discussion about his first Disney park visit in 1978. We cover how fantasyland and tomorrowland were different, he discusses what attraction he was devastated to lose, and shares his thoughts about the Carousel of Progress. Plus he tells me what it was like visiting Disneyland just a couple years later and how that experience cemented his love for the Florida Projec...

Today we're going back in time to 1978 and the first Disney Park visit for a young couple, my parents, that would kick off generations of magic. My dad joins me to talk about growing up seeing Disneyland on TV, what he remembers about Walt's passing, and learning there'd be a new park in Florida and that there would be so much more coming in the future. And of course we reminisce how it felt for h...

Today Katie Fisher from Pictures and Postcards Travel joins me to review her recent trip to Walt Disney World. She shares a synopsis of the good, the bad, and the magical. We discuss the pros and pitfalls of mobile ordering, the bus situation on property, and queueing. Katie also shares how they were able to tackle E-ticket attractions with little to no wait, and a secret about lockers for anyone...

Today I'm joined by Steve Sanders from the Monorail Tales podcast and we're sitting down to talk about his experience visiting Shanghai Disneyland during it's inaugural year. With the 5th anniversary of the park quickly approaching I thought this would be a great time to share a first hand account of visiting this unique international park. We talk about everything from getting there, what's diffe...

Today we're talking about how to book a Walt Disney World vacation in 2021. Disney vacations are logistically different right now and our travel advisor Katie joins me to give us the details you need to know before you try to go. She gives us the low down on booking a package and the benefits that accompany them, park reservations and park tickets, new rules for park hopping, dining reservation lo...

Today we're talking about extinct Walt Disney World attractions that we miss. As we approach WDWs 50th anniversary, it's hard not to look back at some of the attractions we've loved and lost along the way. The attractions that shaped our childhoods, gave us loads of memories and even became soundtracks to our lives. We cover a wide gamut of favorites from wild rides, illuminated spectacles, and ev...

Today we're talking about the things we always do when we visit Walt Disney World. These are those special things that have become a habit and things we specifically try to make time for. They help us have that "I have arrived at Disney" feeling or that have a special meaning to us, that bring a little something extra to our visit, or that, even though we might be able to do it at home, it's just...

This episode is all about luck! We go back in time to 2006 and the kickoff of the luckiest celebration in Disney Parks history The Year of a Million Dreams. We cover what it was, how it worked and many of the prizes awarded to the lucky winners. Then we recall some of ours and our listeners lucky moments from past Disney vacations...those spontaneous moments where we just happened to be in the rig...

Katie returns for this episode and we discuss what documentaries and docuseries on Disney + we recommend watching first. With so many options to choose from we help narrow down where to start. We share info about our picks and who we think they'd be best for. There's something for everyone and we can't wait to hear what you pick first! ----more---- The Imagineering Story Magic of Disney's Animal K...

Today Katie and I continue our discussion about what's headed to Disney Parks and Experiences around the world in 2021 and beyond. In episode 7 we covered the vast array of exciting things in store for Walt Disney World including tons of new attractions and even a park transformation. But WDW isn't the only Disney destination with exciting things on the horizon! From webslinging adventures, a runa...

Just a few episodes in an we already had to do a two parter. Katie  returns to help me break down what's headed to Disney Parks and Experiences around the world in 2021 and beyond. Even with the year we all just experienced and the uncertainty surrounding many of Disney's plans there is still so much to look forward to in the years ahead. So for part 1 of our very first 2 parter, we're covering al...