Disneyland Paris in the Headlines: Finances, Disability Access & Disney Adults

Ash: That's it for this episode, thank you for listening. If you're enjoying the podcast, please leave us a review wherever you listen to your podcast. Hello everyone, I'm Ash.

Holly: And I'm Holly and you're listening to...

Ash: Arcades and avenues.

Holly: If you want updates from us in between episodes, can follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube on arcades and avenues. And we'll see you in the next one.

Ash: Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Arcades and Avenue News, a podcast dedicated to Disneyland Paris, where we have a look at contemporary news as well as a fun look what makes DLP unique. ⁓ Ash and again ⁓ my co host Holly. How's it going?

Holly: Good, thanks. How are you?

Ash: Yeah, yeah, not bad. Not bad. How you been? What is up in the of Holly?

Holly: Well, off the back of the last episode, I successfully hatched five ducks. have five ducks ⁓ So we have Disney ducks at home. ⁓

Ash: Yay. do have Disney Ducks at home. ⁓

Holly: I do. I said I'd do it and I do it. So yeah, other than that, not lot ⁓ really mate. I've got the ⁓ ⁓ I've got covid ⁓ I apologise.

Ash: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Whoa got the Rona? What is going on? I thought COVID was so COVID is so twenty twenty. Why are you still why are you still into that phase now? What's going on? That's just like

Holly: I'm telling people it's vintage. It's retro. It's vintage. Yeah. So apologies to listeners. Did my sound rough? I don't even know. It's not like I leave the house. Yeah.

Ash: It's retro, yeah, yeah. So how the hell did you get that? Yeah. So it was it ⁓ really brutal or because of like the it was it was like less bad for

Holly: Listen, this is the third time I've had COVID in the last six years and every time it's been different. It's been different. Initially, I thought I had hay fever.

Ash: Yeah. Yeah. Well

Holly: But no, I've got, I've tested and I've got the, cause I had some tests in the cupboard so I was like, ⁓ I'll just do a test, why not? up straight away, they had the Rona, cause I did feel like a little bit achy. So I was like, and I felt like I was walking in slow motion. But I mean, it is what it is. But hopefully I'll feel a bit better cause in a few days I am off to Disneyland, so.

Ash: Yeah. Yes, good, good. Yeah, I hope you do you do feel better. ⁓ yeah, that sucks though. That I wonder who's still testing as well. That's very responsible of you, 'cause I don't know ⁓ if is still testing. ⁓ Okay. You to. ⁓ Yeah,

Holly: Here's hoping. So do I. Yeah. Well, I live with my dad who is vulnerable so that's why we always have tests in the house so yeah I'm not some weirdo that's like oh look I've got to do because I did actually have a few people be like well how did you know like did you test spread I'm like well yeah because just give a sense to

Ash: Yeah, because if someone's ill to just stay at home now, I ⁓ really like okay well I've just got but yeah. Hmm Well no ⁓ What have I been up to? I wish I could say a lot ⁓ really n not a lot ⁓ I ⁓ you know I'm still going in my stand up journey that's fun. You know, coming back from Miami took a bit of a break.

Holly: Yeah. What about you dude, what you been up to?

Ash: And now I'm easing myself in, writing gyms. a thing. I didn't know that was a thing. But we writing gyms where we flex creative writer muscles. ⁓ And ⁓ okay, got a joke, so he okay, so hear the premise. And then they ⁓ start riffing off. then people go, Yeah, yeah, it is, yeah. And so you test out new material and then they'll tell you if it's shit or not, and then you'll go, Alright, I'll go with that if it isn't and

Holly: Okay, so explain that. Okay, like that. ⁓ so it's like a group thing? Okay.

Ash: Test it out with the crowds. But ultimately, you know, the crowds are gonna be the ones that will tell you whether it's good or not, aren't they? So but that's a nicer little comedy is subjective, but you know, so is but if you're a joke and no one's laughing, that's ⁓ that's that's not so you need to s ⁓ do something about

Holly: Yeah, as I say, isn't it a bit subjective? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, so you take it to the gym and test it out first.

Ash: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then you're like, why is this not working? I've I've I've this is this joke is falling flat you two three two, three times now, what is wrong and then I'll say, Yeah, maybe because adding too many words, just shorten it to that or maybe say word before word or do you know what I mean? It's a lot of ⁓ people just think you go on talking shit. Which I mean you are, like very i there's a craft to it. ⁓ yeah.

Holly: Nice. Yeah. It's creative.

Ash: Yeah, yeah. So there we are. That is what both been up to, ⁓ for you. Not fun, but sure the ducks have been keeping you company and ⁓ making ⁓ Yeah, yeah, exactly. Lovely, lovely. ⁓ well a news filled this episode.

Holly: Nice. They have, they've been keeping me busy. Yeah. Yeah! Well, yeah.

Ash: everyone. We've we've got a lot to go over, in like just updates and main topics wanna cover. ⁓ I'll let start off with the first one. ⁓

Holly: Yeah, because Ash isn't excited about this at all. news item one is we are getting an annual pass party. Hooray! It's gonna be in Disneyland Park on the 9th of, no, the 11th of September. And it's gonna go from never forget, hashtag never forget. It's very odd choice of date, but we move on.

Ash: Never forget.

Holly: It's gonna be, yeah, on the 11th of September, 10.30 to 2.30 a.m. and the theme is Pirates and Princesses and the tickets go on sale on the 2nd of July. I'm excited for it. I've already booked my hotel, I've booked my Eurostar, I will be on my laptop and several other devices trying to get a ticket when they go live. But Ash was like, can keep me out of it.

Ash: Mm-hmm. I said Well, so said I'm not enthusiastic. It doesn't mean I won't go. ⁓ I'm mmming and aring about it. I'll see. But it comes very close to Halloween. ⁓ And anyone me, Halloween is my jam. That's my So I would have to sacrifice for this. And it better live to Halloween if I am gonna sacrifice it, which don't not I'm not say ⁓ don't I don't know if it will. So but it this a thing, you know, it's been done before and judging from the comments, are ⁓ really excited about it. It's it it was great, but I don't know, it seems a little bit juvenile, which is a th which is weird thing to say being at Disyland because you think, well, it's some things are gonna be kids and some things aren't. It's for the family. But I don't know, d ⁓ princesses and pirates

Holly: I don't think you will come. feel like that often. It goes on from 10 till Ash, I don't think it's for children. Or you just think the theme is juvenile. No. ⁓ yeah. ⁓ yeah.

Ash: No, I mean no, the theme, the theme. But even then there will be children there, d regardless of the time, 'cause it's But yeah, the theme the theme is what I'm alluding to. It's Yeah. who I mean you're gonna go 'cause it's the first time is this your first ever A P party? Okay.

Holly: Yeah. Hmm. Yeah, I think that's why I'm excited to be honest. It's not necessarily so much like the theme Yeah, mean know that AP parties they're known for like rare character meet agrees. I'm not interested in any of that I just want to go and have a good time It'll be if you don't come with me, which it's fine. If you don't want to go I'm quite excited for my first sort of solo trip Like going on ⁓ on my by myself to Disney

Ash: Yeah, yeah. Mm.

Holly: I mean, once I get to the AP party, I'll know heaps of people there. Like, I've made some great friends online the community. So, yeah, I'm just excited to see what it's all about, ⁓ really. And it'll kind of... I suppose I'm sort of using it as a test to see if I'm going to renew my annual pass or not in December. Because at the moment, unless they announce something like groundbreaking the 35th, which, newsflash, they probably won't.

Ash: That's a good point.

Holly: I don't know if it's worth me. Yeah, I'm sure.

Ash: Really? You don't think they will? fifth is pretty significant.

Holly: Yeah, but they didn't read... Did they do much of the 25th?

Ash: Like it's the fifth o Yeah. What are you talking about? They They had the whole whole Calvary for Walt Disney World come over and they did the they had like eighty Yeah, but that's like the main Yeah, they will they will

Holly: It's a day of calm. I know, but that was just a one day thing. mean, like, is there going to be... Is it going to be big things happening? We'll see. We'll see.

Ash: Yeah, yeah they will. They usually will do that. The thirtieth, usually it's not it's on the fifth of the thing. So like same thing with the seventieth anniversary for Disneyland Resort. okay, they're doing things, but there gonna be a lot more bigger things for the seventy fifth. ⁓ I know why, but it's always on the fifth of whatever it is, is when they usually go all out. So yeah, the thirty fifth I'm assum I'm ⁓ I'm there to be big things for Disneyland Paris. ⁓ but

Holly: Yeah. Mm. Yeah. Yeah. Well, let's see what happens at D23. That will be coming up soon.

Ash: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let let's see about that 'cause you know, hi as history tells us, ⁓ they always make a big fuss about Dislab Paris in D twenty three. ⁓ but yeah. what else is going on? Four new scenes featuring new animals have been installed around rivers of America, which is good. ⁓ you're a big fan. ⁓ I you are, yeah. Yeah. ⁓

Holly: you Yeah. mean I'm pumped for this. I'm excited to see this. Yeah, when they said that they were going to do this I was like yes because I love a ride on the Molly Brown. I love seeing the weird creepy half-abandoned long forgotten scenes that are overgrown by weeds at the side of the rivers of America so who knows? Let's see what it's all about.

Ash: Yeah. Yeah, yeah you do. And we will go on the Molly Brown. go on the Molly Brown and the geysers geysers how do you put that so? ⁓ ⁓ the the geysers the geysers the won't be there. They won't be on. ⁓ And will be fully expected and they'll be dirty and then Holly will look at it and go, Geyser not on. I'm like, yeah? Geysers are not on ⁓

Holly: Geysers, geysers, no, geysers, geysers. They'll be dirty. I love the guys so much as well. Like, I don't play about-

Ash: And I'm thinking, what did you expect from D L P because they're never gonna put those guys on except for probably once a year. Cause they're just you know we are.

Holly: We'll have to wait and see. I'll let you guys know next week.

Ash: ⁓ okay, so with the launch ⁓ of Toy Story Five can now meet Woody and Jess with Lillipad at animation celebration with Bo Peep and Incredibles now over at Pittsar Place. Yes, of course. ⁓ Story

Holly: Okay. Yep. And that is a virtual queue. Have you seen it yet?

Ash: Mm No. refuse to see anything beyond ⁓ Story I won't ⁓ I won't it. ⁓ It was ⁓

Holly: are you gonna go see it? ⁓ I think you'd like it Ash. Four was not good. Four was... I mean I know. Because been and the other movies.

Ash: ⁓ maybe, but we'll never know. Yeah, you'll know if you like it, but we don't know if I'll like it. I don't know. I've never I won't I just it was of the best one the best trilogies in history. then you piss over that legacy by coming out with fourth and then five. Like I'm sorry. It shouldn't it be another and furious

Holly: Okay, well... Okay. saying give five a chance. It is fast and furious for Toy Story. is a little bit like that. But anyway, and Jesse and or Jesse are at animation celebration now, which I think is a virtual queue. I'm pretty sure it's a virtual queue. However, it's just a rock up and, you know, animation celebration, not animation celebration, Pixar place where you can meet Bo Peep randomly or The Incredibles. Bo Peep surely be an animation celebration, but I digress. ⁓

Ash: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Holly: We'll just roll with it, do you what mean? Like we usually do with old DLP and their characters. Continuing with Toy Story 5, there are snacks! No saw this coming! ⁓ So, Searchlight Car in world premiere now has exclusive Toy Story themed donuts. So that means that every single donut is Toy Story themed now, in there.

Ash: Exactly. Exactly. Yay Right.

Holly: I'm pretty sure they're the same donuts, they've just put different characters on them. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, the icing I think is the same. They've just like, you know, like the sugar or like the chocolate bits on them that's like slinky or whatever. I think so. I mean, I don't know. I've seen pictures of them, right? I haven't actually. I'll tell you what, I'll do some investigative work again next week and I'll find out.

Ash: Yeah, it's just different icing on it. really? They've gone that lazy. that's even worse. ⁓ ⁓ okay.

Holly: You can also get a Buzz Lightyear ice cream, which is essentially just a magnum with some Buzz Lightyear sweets on top of it. don't know what was going on with the hand motions there. And Jesse Bullseye themed macaroons at the Pixar food truck. There's also a Emperor Zerg burger at Hollywood Gardens. There we have it.

Ash: Making it. You know what? people will complain and they're justified. Maybe they are still naff. But at least they are bringing in full experience. Just like in the US parks where they'll have their ⁓ campaign, whatever is, then they'll have the snacks to go with it and that's how it should That's how it should be.

Holly: Right. Yeah. I mean, I don't always stand by that people only buy these snacks to take Instagram pictures with them anyway. They don't even care what they taste like, it's what they look like. And it works for Disney, clearly, so no tea, no shade. they look cool, so they're gonna sell.

Ash: Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I I I mean I would I would like them to improve on taste, but you know you know, what what can we do? exactly. He's asking a little bit too much for D L P yeah. ⁓

Holly: Yeah, well. We can't. We can keep, we can keep her being a broken record on this podcast and saying that we want it to taste better but that doesn't mean it's gonna happen, unfortunately. Stick with the bread bowl.

Ash: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. that are you gotta go and get it when you go back next week?

Holly: Well, I mean, have you looked at the weather forecast, Mae?

Ash: Yeah. You what you didn't think of nice hot scalding onion soup in a bread bowl and forty degree weather isn't a nice day out? ⁓

Holly: Absolutely. I just... ⁓ you want to go for an ice cream? No, sorry, I'm gonna go queue up at the soup stand.

Ash: Ha ha ⁓ my goodness. Yeah, that is gonna be tough. It's gonna be tough. ⁓ degrees. ⁓ hell. right, carry on with the news. Castle Stage has unveiled decorations in preparation for a new show, finally. Yay! no information has been shared publicly though. ⁓ about what it is. But yeah, it's it's it's looking exciting. looking exciting. ⁓ Holly, you're

Holly: see what it's like of an evening. Have I sent you the pictures or have you seen the pictures?

Ash: Shaking your head. I haven't seen the photos. But I did go on I did go on DLP report and I saw some. So

Holly: Yeah, it's basically like a blue and pink throne.

Ash: Yeah, yeah. so

Holly: So like, yeah, there's decorations, like, no, but do you know what it could be for though? And I've only just thought this. When we're there next week, it's Stitch Week. Could be Stitch Angel.

Ash: Who knew? Could be. What on the Princess Castle, ⁓ really? ⁓ ⁓ Yeah.

Holly: It could be on the castle stage. I think that yeah, I think maybe that's what because i'm just thinking like people like ⁓ it's for aurora, which yeah, like You would think that but i'm just thinking it's stitch an angel week next week And there was meant to be some kind of hullabaloo with them. So maybe it's for that but ⁓ no, we'll see

Ash: Yeah. Yeah, I mean if if it is the I would imagine they would have done something at Videopolis the stage there.

Holly: Well, and because of the weather forecast, but...

Ash: And yeah, you don't ⁓ really want fur characters out too much in that weather. I just saw recently Disney on Parade it's gonna be adapted and it's just gonna be face characters and dancers. think the only I think only Mickey's be there to to to, you know, hold fault the rest of the characters. So yeah, it's be it's gonna be a brutal if you're gonna be in

Holly: That's it. Yeah.

Ash: ⁓ Disneyland Paris week starting the twenty second of June 'cause ⁓ quite high temperatures. ⁓ so Holly Holly planned that well.

Holly: It must also suck to be the- Sorry, it must also suck if you play Mickey Mouse, if you're a friend of Mickey Mouse, because come rain, come shine, come abnormal heat wave of 40 degrees Celsius, you've got to be out there in that suit. Everyone else gets the day off, but Mickey's got to be.

Ash: I don't know what you're talking about, Holly. suit? Mickey Mickey.

Holly: Moving on.

Ash: Mickey is Mickey and he'll be fine. He'll have his shorts on his ⁓ know, they should bring out his outfit ⁓ he wears when he's in Orlani. You know, his like ⁓ Halloween shirt. ⁓ Yeah, yeah, Halloween. Hawaiian shirt, that's it. ⁓ Yeah, I've too much Halloween on the mind. I've too much Halloween on mind. ⁓ Next next

Holly: Yeah, her one shirt. You got Halloween on the mind, babe, didn't you? Yeah, you have. has. Do you want to bring this up or do want it to be me?

Ash: Otco. No, you can bring it up 'cause I'm gonna bring another one up after that, I've just remembered.

Holly: Okay, Silver Spur steakhouse Frontierland has unveiled an AI slop poster outside of it. Like, not, it's not AI slop poster outside ⁓ it's not like one of those posters where you can be like, I kind of tell. It's like, obviously AI. No steak looks like that.

Ash: Yeah. A yeah I slop. Ha ha.

Holly: not from Silver Spur steakhouse. I've never seen a double-ended bit of rosemary. That's all I've got to say. You guys can figure that out. I mean, I might get ashed actually in certain image because then you'll look at it and go, ⁓ god, yeah. And I'm just like, who okayed this? Why are we seeing AI in a Disney park? Disney is meant to be about creativity and imagination and the Imagineers

Ash: Yeah. ⁓ Ha ha. Yeah, yeah, I'll put an image up. Yeah.

Holly: and I'm seeing an AI slot poster outside of Silver Square's house in Frontierland. I just think this is absolutely dreadful. To the point where I sent it to Ash and I said, do I need to draft an email to somebody?

Ash: Yeah. it's getting a little bit worrying and I think they're just like testing the waters on something ⁓ like Silver which no one gives a toss about to see anyone would actually notice. But yeah. we would notice yeah, number one, the stakes look like that. So that's ⁓ all almost false information, and advertising right off the back.

Holly: Mm. I've never seen a perfectly round steak.

Ash: any of the Disney properties. ⁓ any of the Disney properties. so but yeah, it could be ⁓ the that's not a thing at all. That's not good. ⁓ And they could just a f a photo of men of they've got fourteen restaurants that do state, yeah. So ⁓ I don't know why they need do

Holly: No, never. No. Right, like they're literal food photographers. Just, you've got food photographers for Disney parks, like, they can take a picture and present something way better than, and like, immediately everyone's like, ⁓ yeah, that's AI slop. So. did you have to add, Ash?

Ash: Yeah, yeah. ⁓ not good, is it? Well, the time that we we had you know, dear guest on ⁓ and we spoke about how, know, the park needs a and that

Holly: ⁓ yeah. we did.

Ash: Things could things may be getting a bit stale and there needs to be a little bit of injection. then shortly that conversation, what was It was announced that ⁓ Natasha has left her her spot CEO and Christoph, Christoph Murphy, take the realm as ⁓ CEO. Is that is that actually right

Holly: Isn't it, I don't know, I don't understand it if Paris, which I probably should because we have this podcast, but isn't it like president of Disneyland Paris or something?

Ash: It's Yeah. President, there we go, yeah. So Natasha ⁓ Rafowski will now go another segment ⁓ within Disney and Christoph Murphy will take over president. president is the correct of yeah, Disneyland Paris. currently Christophe is operations ⁓ manager, I believe. ⁓ C O I CEO C O. or one of ⁓

Holly: Yeah, that's correct. Mm-hmm.

Ash: probably wrong. he's definitely ⁓ operations of park. And yeah, quite a a a big A big deal. ⁓

Holly: Yeah, I think so.

Ash: I don't know there been yay or ooh. The people have been very like let's just and see. You know, ⁓ what I've in the discussions. ⁓

Holly: I think a lot of Disney and Paris fans are going to be like that.

Ash: Yeah, we've not really seen as enthusiasm for a Paris president since Katherine Powell, who you know the 25th anniversary Disneyland Paris, kind of unfortunately got under with the whole Bob ⁓ management side of it and Chapek basically ⁓ pushed her out. So, Right it's ⁓ okay, let's just how it goes from a lot of a DLP veterans and fans alike. ⁓ yeah.

Holly: Mm. I mean, if you want my honest opinion, I'm just like, I'm happy that we've got someone new who also looking from like what he's done with Disney in previous years, I feel like it's nice to have a change. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Natasha. Like I think she did a lot of, she oversaw a lot of big changes at Disneyland Paris over COVID as well, which is, you know, nothing to, yeah.

Ash: She did a great job in COVID. Like she used that time when it was closed to get a lot of stuff and mended and fixed and everything, yeah. So was ⁓ really good on her part.

Holly: done. Yeah. But no, it's nice to have something new, but I'm neutral and I'm not saying I'm not optimistic, but I'm neither optimistic either. It's just like you say, we will see what happens. When the change become effective, Ash?

Ash: I believe will be in July. ⁓ ⁓ ⁓ I it yeah, like a month or so of handover getting up to with the job then in July it'll be him the running the ship and she'll be so ⁓

Holly: Okay. Okay. Yeah, I suppose like then that kind of brings me back to, well, we'll see what happens with the 30th if.

Ash: Yeah. ⁓ I would imagine it be all of his decision. ⁓ Yeah. And would have been in a pipeline for a long time as well. Yeah, do know what I mean? Yeah, I I'm sure, you know, well not DeMarrow now, 'cause he's got bigger things to to to focus on. yeah, bigger fish to fry. Thomas Maslum will be like, Okay, what are your plans? And if says, Well, just this he'll be like, Nah, we need to do better. ⁓ or not, I don't know.

Holly: That's been in the pipeline for, yeah, no, yeah. It wouldn't have been his decision. Yeah. He's got bigger fish to fry. Mm.

Ash: But I I would I would imagine anything that has anniversary celebrations that needs to be discussed on a wider scale for it be approved. ⁓

Holly: Who knows? Yeah, I would have thought so. It's not like an internal, like, just down to DLP. No. I hope they go with a different colour scheme. That's how I'm gonna end that, new segment of... I'm tired of blue and pink. And purple. And ombra.

Ash: Nah. Exactly. Exactly. It's not happening. Yeah, no, well, it's not yeah. It's it's it's purple, it's blue, it's pink.

Holly: If they literally... If they said like, for our 35th anniversary, we're gonna do neon green, I'd be like, at least it's not pink and purple again. But, love you.

Ash: Yeah, but the the the the celebration with the music last year. What that called again?

Holly: ⁓ that was green and yellow, wasn't it? Music festival. I mean, I it was quite alright. ⁓

Ash: Yeah, did you like that? Music Festival. Yeah.

Holly: It was fine. There was some cute merch for that as well, believe it or not. As a merch naysayer, there was some cute for the music festival. There was some ⁓ really cute t-shirts.

Ash: Really? Interesting. Yeah, yeah.

Holly: It gave swing into spring vibes. I think that's why I liked it and I didn't hate on it straight away.

Ash: Yes, that's true. That's true. true. ⁓ yeah, the music thing, the the band. Mini's is not gonna be ⁓ performing. soon,

Holly: Yeah. No, July, but it's to It's for the princess calvcade. So it's while the princess calvcade is now going to be on in adventure world The band's going to take a hiatus. So when the princess calvade finished calvacade finishes Then band will come back So it's just going to be like that because when I first saw that I had to do some like Real digging because it was like, ⁓ my god, they're taking it away, but they're not it's just because there's going to be a so

Ash: Yeah. Mm. Right.

Holly: I don't know why they can't have both because the parade surely only comes around like what two or three times a day but could talk a whole podcast about that anyway about that kind of thing ⁓

Ash: There we are. It's true. true. ⁓ get to our main topics, Holly. I know ⁓ been frothing at the bit to ⁓ these there've been a lot of articles about Disney in the past month or so. ⁓ let's start with first one, Holly.

Holly: Yes. I have. I have. Mm-hmm. So just before we start, yeah, to premise, we've had, well, two out of three articles we're gonna be discussing today, two of them directly cite Disneyland Paris. So we thought, well, you know, the summer season is upon us and all died down, let's try a different angle. So we're actually gonna be talking about journalism today. the first story that came out was by The Guardian. I'm many of you would have seen it and... ⁓

Ash: Mm-hmm.

Holly: It the title of the article was Disney racks up 4.2 billion deficit on Paris parks So quite a shocking quite a shocking title ⁓

Ash: Yeah. That's a shocking development right there. I wonder I wonder how Disney are ever gonna recover. are they ever gonna financially recover from this?

Holly: Well, that's basically how it, that's essentially the guardians angle. Like basically saying Disney still hasn't made its money back from Disneyland Paris. So, but why is that? know, there's a lot of reasons behind it. If we rewind our minds back to when Disneyland Paris is being built, it was an agreement between the French government and Disney and

Ash: Yeah.

Holly: There was a lot of stakeholders or shareholders, if I'm saying that correctly. Now, listen, you guys know that me and Ash are not numbers people. So I'm not going to juggle on about numbers, pretending like I know the finances because I don't. All I know is the facts, right? So Disney only held a 49 % share of Disneyland Paris on opening day. The rest was between shareholders and the French government. And they were building Disneyland Paris, of course, we know Disneyland to be the most beautiful out of all the parks. A lot of it was paid for by bank loans. Disney did that to sort of protect themselves and their investment into Disneyland Paris. A lot of it was loans. So if you can imagine.

Ash: Yeah. And also wasn't ⁓ really they didn't have the biggest stake, so they weren't gonna invest loads of money in something they didn't have the biggest stake in, so they just le yeah.

Holly: right. It wasn't like Walt Disney World It wasn't like Walt Disney World where they could just Bankroll it to whatever they wanted to do. And there was a lot of loans. So That's the first reason so Disneyland Paris is being built Disney are not the main shareholder. They're using a lot of large loans to build it second overly optimistic So instance, my one of our favorite ones the hotels They thought that those hotels Newport was a no You had disneyland hotel. You had newport bay. You had support You actually had most were they all was it all of the hotels that we have to say none of them are new ⁓ From day

Ash: Yeah. They were all there. They're all they've been all there from opening.

Holly: And so they thought they were going to fill those hotels, knowing how easy it is for Europeans and Britons to travel within Europe. So were expecting people to fill up these hotels, taking extended stays when the reality was not that people would travel for a day trip and people were only saying one or two nights, not four to five nights. So. They were losing money on the hotels massively, massively straight off the bat. Cultural misunderstandings. they thought that Europeans didn't ⁓ really eat breakfast. That's one of my favourite fun facts. So there was loads of places that did not serve and then the places that did serve breakfast had massive queues. They didn't serve alcohol, obviously in France, which was a massive...

Ash: That's funny. That's wild.

Holly: thingy.

Ash: Which is ⁓ really, isn't it? You know, not serving breakfast. Europeans just don't eat that meal. That's that's an American thing, which is ⁓ really, really ⁓

Holly: Yeah. Well no, they had breakfast, but like it just wasn't... It just wasn't, erm... gosh, I've lost my, ⁓

Ash: Well, yeah, tha I mean th what they understand was the the like the continental thing. So yeah, that's that was kind of weird. And yeah, in terms of alcohol, they ⁓ really have alcohol. ⁓ That's due to you know, didn't yeah, because of, you know, what they thought being in American parks. But yeah, even though it's essentially American it needs cater to the French audience and the audience

Holly: didn't initially serve it. Mm.

Ash: as a whole. So did a lot of things that just making them money. that put end ⁓ in two thousand seventeen. I ⁓ I I think I know when this was. It's when Bob Iger then visited C Operation Department's Tom ⁓ visited Tom Staggs to open ⁓ what was gonna be Ratatui

Holly: Mm. Ratatouille, no it wasn't Ratatouille.

Ash: Yeah, yeah. What's gonna be Ratatouille then? The well the whole area, Place de Rami. the whole area of Ratatouille. ⁓ and then ⁓ ⁓ no. Two twenty seventeen, twenty seventeen.

Holly: But Place Remy opened in 2014. No, Fraterture opened in 2014. I only know that because I got married and I went on my honeymoon and they were having the opening ceremony while I was on my honeymoon.

Ash: really? So Yes What am I talking about? Yes. Twenty twenty yes. and so with all that when came in twenty fourteen they looked at the parks and says, Yeah, this is not just can't do and in twenty seventeen is Disney filed to bio

Holly: No.

Ash: all of the remaining shares and basically became sole owner of Disneyland Paris. And since then they have been they been like improvements people go, well ⁓ what I've seen any improvements but, you know, here we are with an extension you know, Adventure World, what Walt Disney Studios.

Holly: shareholders. Mm.

Ash: and you know, the village is being completely. So are doing things. Yeah. It's slow, yes. No one's gonna with you, but we can't say not doing things. ⁓

Holly: I think as well, going back to sort of like off acts. So yes, it hasn't made its money back, but these are just some of the things that we're staying sort of like the hotels, too many hotels. But then I think a lot of people forget once it had opened in 1992, there was actually a recession. Then we had 9-11. Then we had the 2015 Paris attacks. Then we had COVID-19 and also loads of other geopolitical tensions. travel. it to go through a lot of, you know, it went through some hard times within its first 20, 25 years, essentially, first 30 years of Disneyland Paris, not only financially, but then like the odds weren't in its favour because of things that are happening around the world. ⁓

Ash: Yeah, but and usually, know, at the of the day, this is what this is what it boils down to that the article's trying to highlight is that Disney didn't make it hasn't made its money back. But Disney hadn't ⁓ really owned Paris since until twenty twenty seventeen. So you know, ⁓ trying to back thirty thirty debt in the space of a is is not

Holly: Mm. That's right. Yeah. But I mean...

Ash: surprising at all ⁓ really that it it's gotta be like that f for a while.

Holly: No. But if you look at the body of the article, their revenue did hit a record 3.4 billion. Disneyland Paris has a net income of 260 million euros. Disneyland Paris is Disney's best performing international resort, according to The Guardian. Obviously we know that it attracts 16 million guests annually. and Disney is also, has invested billions more into expansion, obviously, eventually eventually it was just the start of it. So if Disneyland Paris was genuinely a failure, it probably wouldn't be pouring more money into it. And I don't think that Disneyland Paris was ever intended to be a fast financial win. Do know what I mean?

Ash: No. No. yeah. It's the Dis Disneyland Paris will eventually make money. It's just gonna take a lot of time to do and certainly a of for Disney to get their money back from ⁓ a thirty year ⁓ It's just it just is what it is. ⁓ Don't know what to you. so yeah. ⁓

Holly: Mm. Yeah. I I don't know, I feel like a lot of people don't understand. If you watch Imagineering story, it kind of touches on it a little bit, but yeah, that we did not have Disney the entire park from day one. There was a point in time where it was a genuine possibility that they could close Disneyland Paris because of how much it was hemorrhaging money and that it wasn't fully owned by the night ash until 2017. But despite all of the things that it's been through as a resort, It is still coming up top dog like their best performing international park. So there you have it. Just thought it'd be quite interesting to discuss.

Ash: Cool. Alright, article to focus on is telegraph's how Britain's diagnosis epidemic has reached ⁓ Disneyland and this a negative article regarding disability usage of guests ⁓

Holly: Mm.

Ash: Particularly British guests they visit Disneyland, Paris. yeah. thoughts, ⁓ I'm which sure you've got a lot of.

Holly: But listen, I don't want to like ramble on too long. So if I do that, Ash, you are more than welcome to talk me. This article was the reason why I wanted to talk about how Disneyland Paris has been in the media recently. This article in particular, because quite frankly, I'm tired of the unwarranted attack on disabled people. article just so happened to include it at Disneyland Paris. Now. To prove to our listeners just how much this wound me up and just how much I wanted to unpick this article for you guys, because I have seen a lot of people sharing, a lot of yous have been sharing it across TikTok and Facebook and Instagram. It was behind a paywall. I paid to subscribe to the Telegraph so I could read this article. And it was literally just a rage baiting article. But since we're on the topic of discussion, I'm going to spread out a few facts.

Ash: Brutal.

Holly: while we're here. to give you all a few laughs, I'm going to read the first ⁓ ⁓ the article. Are you ready? Everyone listening? It's a sweltering morning at Disneyland Paris and the queue to collect a disabled pass is barely budging. Most of the people in the queue look and sound British. What is holding a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions? Many are wearing sunflower Yanmas indicate that their disability is invisible. Behind me, I hear a woman complaining that the whole point of getting her disability pass is for her not to queue. And yet we inch along. So already within the first paragraph, there's a lot of stereotyping going on. Do you know what I mean? There's a lot of stereotyping going on.

Ash: Yeah. Yeah. I don't think that conversation even happened. I think that's a lie.

Holly: No, I don't think it did either. And also there is not one singular place where you collect a disability pass within Disneyland Paris. and Ash have almost unique perspective, one that this journalist actually doesn't, whereas we have members within our family who are legitimately disabled. And there's one place where can pick it up. You can pick up at your hotel concierge, you can pick it up from reception. ⁓ I'm assuming she's about City Hall. from this article. She doesn't.

Ash: City Hall mm no, 'cause I don't even know if they do that at City Hall anymore. I think they do it at the guest At City Hall?

Holly: They do because we did it in March. did it in March. Yeah, at City Hall because, ⁓ yeah. ⁓ again, it doesn't say.

Ash: That's interesting. 'Cause you got told it's not here anymore, go to guest services, but that's D L P though, isn't it? So Yeah, you're right.

Holly: Yeah, I mean it changes, but like there's no, there's no one place where you can get your disability pass. It depends where you're staying and when you're visiting. So yeah, she never, she doesn't actually stay. However, I'm going to read the second part of this article because this is where it ⁓ really, ⁓ really wound me up. In order to get the two types of accessible passes that Disney grants for free, visitors must produce proof. The list of what counts for Britons, however,

Ash: Yeah. Not a result. Yeah. Ha ha ha.

Holly: is longer than the other countries includes documents such as certificates of vision impairment as well as evidence that the visitor receives disability living allowance or personal independent payment. pip. doesn't have a disability, the journalist, just so we're clear. At the I show the chirpy Disney employee a garbled NHS document on my phone. showing that I had an MRI scan back in 2024, which found some erosions on my spine. The NHS app Gobbledygook is not on the list of approved documents, but when it shows I have a form of arthritis, she grants me an easy access pass. So she's complaining about Britain's, it's not like she's complaining about disability passes, which she admits in the article, you need to have

Ash: Okay. That's very different then.

Holly: proof, right? You need to have proof of a disability. She turns up, complains that the queue's busy and inches along and shows that she had an MRI in 2024 and that she's got a form of arthritis and she gets an easy access pass. Just so we're clear for those listening who may not know the difference, a priority card is what you get when you have a disability. That's designed for guests with recognised disabilities or long-term medical conditions. The easy access pass is intended for guests who have a temporary or situational health need, but do not qualify for the priority card. Just so we're clear. That could be pregnancy as well. So a lot of girls, you you get your bambi banned when you're expecting. The way they run it is completely different. She goes on in the article to basically say, I mean, you're more than.

Ash: Right. Yeah. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Holly: I don't want to drag this on for too long because I want to get to the point of which is a very real thing. And that basically she says that we're there's there's where everyone's abusing all the Britons. It's all the Britons. All the all the Brits are abusing Disneyland's priority disability system and that people there for anxiety. That the rise, the rising diagnosis of autism and ADHD. and basically provides no real proof that her whole article about how people are gaming the system, right? This is something that has been in the media a lot recently that disabled people are gaming the system that, you know, there's, there's fraud. She provides no solid evidence of her day at Disneyland of

Ash: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Holly: Anyone committing any kind of fraud. No, there's no solid evidence. What she uses instead are anecdotes from passers-by or cast members on priority queues the queues that she mentions a crushes coaster and Peter Pan's flight, which we both know we all know anyone who's disloyal pattern knows These low capacity rides. So of course the priority queue is going to be busier than normal in those rides

Ash: Yeah. Yeah.

Holly: yeah. Do you have anything to add to that Ash before I brown ⁓ some facts?

Ash: So don't wanna Okay. I'm do the whole advocate thing and saying ⁓ is she saying this because this a or she like is it is it is is an argument to say a lot of people are coming out with

Holly: Well, I'm going to say no, because you have to have approved documentation to obtain a priority card. It's simply not a case of self declaring when you get there. Do you know what I mean? Despite the journalist in the article getting an easy access card with, with proof that is not on the, on the list of documentation.

Ash: You know, ⁓ yeah. Yeah, yeah. So here's here's my here's my thoughts now I've done the whole devil's advocate thing. Here's my actual thoughts on it. think the article ⁓ nonsense best. So that's me being

Holly: Yeah. Yeah.

Ash: That's just me being polite, basically. I think it's nonsense at best. I again it's way of demonizing disabled people, because it or not, this ⁓ really doesn't like disabled people. Right? They're always stripping them of benefits, they're always making things hard for them, whether it's the PIP process, whether it's you know there was whole debate even on about motability like a year ago or so of people go, well

Holly: Yeah, agreed. ⁓ she does mention that in the article as well.

Ash: People are getting f are getting free BMWs I'm like, no, they're not, you idiot. And no one's a free call. Like, what are you talking about? So this country ⁓ really hates disabled people. And this is another way of you know showing which no no no surprise from the the the The the whole point is Disneyland Paris probably the strictest park terms of

Holly: Free course! No they're not. Mm-hmm. Mm.

Ash: Bringing evidence for your required ⁓ remember when we went to go and get the pass for Noah. Noah is visibly, know, disabled, ⁓ and still we to go through a whole list that we had to write, we had to bring proof and get questioned before cast member decided ⁓ it w you know, hands you over the card. ⁓ And that card then is only valid for the days that you at that park.

Holly: Yeah. hands you over that card. Yep, this is it. Mm-hmm.

Ash: Only valid for the days that you're at that park. it's just nonsense to that the people are to be taking advantage of it because you can't it's not easy to get it. ⁓ Second of all, ⁓ are you getting point that ⁓ w majority of it is Brits? It's br it's reached to Disneyland Paris. But how do you know that? ⁓ Compared to ⁓ which to German Dutch Spanish visitors, and how you know discrepancies between them?

Holly: No. She includes absolutely no data at all. None from the NHS, none from Disneyland Paris itself.

Ash: Have you been speaking to No. Where are you getting it from? Is that base Yeah, well are you getting that from? Have you spoke to guests other countries? How do know that it's a a British thing? How do you know it's it's it's so it it's just a very cheap crap article. and lazy if it can be called journalism. it's it's just it's terrible ⁓ really.

Holly: No. Journalism. I just think, mean, you've on the head and saying that you do have to provide proof and you do then have to queue up and have a conversation with the cast member before you're granted that card. But people are not even saying that before that, you've got to then get a diagnosis. The waiting list for an autism or ADHD diagnosis in the UK is something ridiculous. Isn't it like ⁓ five years long now ⁓ get that diagnosis? Like with my daughter.

Ash: Yeah. Five years. Yeah, it's five years.

Holly: I say, oh, I'm lucky that we only had to wait one year, but she is visibly and profoundly autistic and it was picked up very early because she couldn't, she did not act like other two year olds. You know, so to get to that point, you've got a barrier, right? Then you've got to get the documentation. I started applying, on a real note, I started applying for DLA for my daughter back in January. I still haven't sent off their forms because they're horrific. So the only thing that I have to go on is NHS dated forms from her doctors when I visit parks and get her priority pass for her. I think the that winds me up the most, it creates this us versus them mentality, which we have too much of. And I don't want to see in the Disney community, I don't want to see an us versus them, disabled people are just lazy mindset. because...

Ash: Wow.

Holly: I think how it always starts because it's been quite a prominent discussion point within the theme park community all year, right? It's always about, well, they're getting to skip the cues and it's about, you know, well, I don't get to skip the cues and what annoys me is the wrong starting point, right? Cause a disability pass or a priority card isn't a reward. It's not a VIP benefit. What you're seeing when people... don't have to wait as long as you is an accommodation, right? It's not a purpose to give disabled guests a better experience than an original guest. It's giving them a comparable experience to everybody else because, you know, that's the important distinction. It comes focused on cues, but they don't actually see the actual issue. The issue might be sensory overload. It might be anxiety. It might be an inability to understand why they're waiting. It might be distress that builds up, but also it could be people standing for a period of time that causes... No.

Ash: Course. Absolutely. Did she mention the crowds? Did she did she did she mention the crowds at Tales of Magic and where a wheelchair would be if there was to sit in the middle of Main Street? Completely crowded, wouldn't see anything.

Holly: Right. I'm, I was about to get to that. It could be that there's a complete inability to remain safely in that environment. Right. For, for, for families like you and I, Ash, you know, profound autism example, challenge simply isn't the way waiting is inconvenient. The challenge is if we have to wait too long, ⁓ might not be able to participate at all, you know, and that's what this kind of coverage misses. starts and ends with.

Ash: Right. A hundred percent.

Holly: Why should this person get on before me? So they've already framed it as being disabled, having a special privilege, right? That's not what these systems are designed to do. They're designed to remove barriers. Those barriers aren't always visible. And do you know what the irony is? With good accessibility, it often does look unfair. think, like I would say Disneyland Paris's accessibility is probably one of the best ways to do it at a theme park.

Ash: Yeah, yeah.

Holly: like, I guess with autism, we'll face challenges that are completely invisible. Somebody in a wheelchair, maybe less so. Someone with a heart condition, unable to stand for long periods of time. Someone with chronic pain may look perfectly healthy to you and I whilst experiencing, you know, severe physical I'm probably rambling too long. I just, ⁓ really reject the ideas of these articles where they're saying, Too many people are disabled. People are misusing disability benefits. just, it opens a can of worms where it is unfair to people with all disabilities. know? ⁓

Ash: But it's it's not it's not it's not a new thing with with journalism in the UK because it's it's it's been doing you know, you'll watch if you know, you're not working or f or you're watching daytime TV, disability bandits. you know what I mean? And they'll do these undercover BBC one shit T V shows of people trying to you know, and she was yeah, yeah, look here now ⁓ we see ⁓

Holly: Yeah. She was doing ju-ditsu.

Ash: Margaret applying for a disability, but look, ⁓ she's walking ⁓ the shop without a zimmer frame. ⁓ we're gonna confront her. Do you know what I mean? It's all of these just awful, new you ways of, you know, demonising disability you know, ⁓ disability is not visible. you know, people with MS. ⁓ People with MS. That's a right. ⁓

Holly: Mm. No. I just think who...

Ash: is disability and w you wouldn't know unless you you actually spoke to him 'cause this is to do with you mean, the whole so it's yeah. It's ⁓ sad.

Holly: Yeah. And I'm sick of people thinking that they can be judge and jury about this. Do you know what I mean? Like who gives you the right to be judge and jury? If you've got medical proof, which you have to have at Disneyland, then that's the end of it. You don't need to then start judging people who are in the priority queues and just deciding whether or not you think they deserve to be in there or not. You know, I like to think that most people, know, normal people, they would never question why a wheelchair ramp exists, right?

Ash: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, exactly.

Holly: You immediately understand that there's a barrier. There's a barrier and the ramp, the wheelchair ramp removes it, right? So having an accessibility, this is how I'm going to end this guys, before we move on to something a bit more lighthearted, Accessibility passes, alternative weighting arrangement, companion access, sensory accommodations, any other provision is the same idea. It's addressing barriers that aren't as obvious as a flight of stairs, right? So.

Ash: Yeah. No you wouldn't. You wouldn't. Yeah. Yeah.

Holly: I just think we need to have less of that of who deserves to be in a disability line. It's not for you to be judge and jury. I'm gonna end it with Disneyland Paris have accessibility. different done it wonderfully well. And ⁓ think they do it in a way that is fair because little do people know there's several there's two different tiers of pass as well as having an easy access pass as well as having a Bambi band pregnant people. So ⁓ You know, we just all need to be a bit kinder and gives the Telegraph the right to think that they're judge and jury? It's got me all riled up. ⁓

Ash: segment ⁓ three.

Holly: yeah, should we end it with something a little lighthearted? This one kind of made me laugh. So the last article I want to cover is, Next Level Scary Inside the Ultra Competitive World of Disney Adults. Now, wouldn't know it from the title. This was actually a very incredibly positive article about Disney Adults. Did you read it, Ash?

Ash: I read a bit of it, yeah. ⁓ there were there were talking about how some families maybe getting priced out because of the capitalistic of Disney, but generally, ⁓ it wasn't it wasn't a it it well, I mean it was in the article, but it was nothing to do with the ⁓ Disney adults they were talking about. ⁓ it was just like ⁓

Holly: But that's nothing to do. Yeah, I did think that when I read it. It was, although it was a positive article, just, actually the title of it made me laugh. Next level scary ultra competitive Disney adults. Now listen, me and Ash have been Disney adults since the turn was coined, basically. We didn't wake up one day and think, we're gonna be Disney adults. Did we Ash?

Ash: No, no, there wasn't one of those times where like, yeah, this you know what, this is what I'm gonna do now. just within you. ⁓ your blood. ⁓

Holly: It's in your blood. I mean, I think for a lot of us, we grew up with Disney, fascinated by the parks and Imagineering. Somewhere along the way in like the 2020s, the media and the internet decided we needed a label and not a very complimentary one. But I'll go through some of the points. I've bullet pointed some bits of the article. So the article argues that Disney adults are unfairly mocked and stereotyped in popular culture. Hard agree. How do you feel about that point?

Ash: I agree a hundred per cent. Yeah. just sick of just people just ⁓ I'll never get Disney adults. I'm like but what dude, cares whether get it or not? Why do you have to get it? What's the point? Why do you why is this something that you have to understand? It's got nothing to do you. It affects you in zero capacity. ⁓ So get with your life. like will never get people ⁓ who love ⁓

Holly: Well.

Ash: anime, for example. I I don't know, I'm making something up, but I don't care. I don't wanna understand it. Like if they're happy and they're not hurting anyone, yeah. you know what I mean? then fine. But I'm I I don't you know not I'm not kidding myself to understand people that love anime. It's just ⁓ that's a th that's a fact and let them get on with it ⁓ really.

Holly: No. I mean, the article does actually point out that society now rarely judges other adult hobbies such as football, because it's the World Cup, gaming, comic suppose, anime, or like music fandom with the same level of ridicule. And hard agree because it's, mean, I've chose this at end to be like a little bit silly because I am a proud Disney adult. And like I say, me and Ash been Disney adults since before the term was coined. Yeah, I'm kind of sick of all the like the hate and the yeah, because there has been a few articles as well I probably could drag them up about Disney adults, but realistically are we any different some major football fan? Do you know what I mean?

Ash: Yeah, no, we're not. not. I've never seen any Disney adults do anything ⁓ the scale of what World Cup are doing right now. And to fair to World Cup fans, football fans, ⁓ a lot what I'm seeing online is pretty cool, ⁓ right? Korea dancing with fans and Mexican fans dancing that's pretty cool. That's great. But it's not ⁓ Disney adults are on that scale and not doing ⁓ as half of that. you know, ⁓ the the the Knicks

Holly: Right. No.

Ash: won basketball title after fifty three years and look what's happened to whole of New York City. Dizzy hasn't done anything close to that, do you know what I mean? And yet Dizzy adults are always in the bloody about ⁓ well I don't understand like what are you talking about bro? That was for ball being put through a net ⁓ and ⁓ this an place that we go and experience through all sensories. Taste, feel

Holly: Yeah. Yeah.

Ash: Right? And you're and and it's multi generation, so mum tucked me, I'm taking my children. So don't how there's there's just double standard, ⁓ basically. it just make any sense.

Holly: Yeah. I it sort of suggests that the criticism stems from a broader discomfort with adults expressing enthusiasm sentimentality and like reconnecting with childhood. You it's just, I don't I just feel like it's unfair because, you know, people are like put their babies in like football kits, don't they?

Ash: Ha yeah, they do, yeah, yeah, they do. Yeah, it's true.

Holly: But this is the only thing I have to compare it to because like I'm not ⁓ really... Yeah, did like...

Ash: Well, they will say Disney i yeah, but Disney's for kids and you know, you just ⁓ yeah, it's immature and you you just wanna be a kid again and completely stupid. It's based on what? What it based on? Is go Epcot drinking around the world for kids? Do you know what I mean? Is ⁓ is Space and ⁓ Tower of ⁓ these all just babies? Are these just for kids? No. Like what are you what are you based on?

Holly: It's immature. They'll say it's immature. It's not. No. No.

Ash: It's just absolute nonsense. So it's people that are just it's just humans ⁓ a preconceived notion of what they think it is, it's wrong and then basing that their hatred something that was wrong in the first place. Like it's just Like like ⁓ Walt did for

Holly: They think that we all queue up in like... Yeah. I think they think we all queue up for like three hours. Yeah, he did. I think there's always this assumption that we're all queuing up to meet Mickey Mouse and crying over Mickey Mouse, which is like, I'm not a character person at all, but yes, Ash, sorry. Walt did say famously, it's for the young and the young at heart. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you.

Ash: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. you know, what where where can I just go and I enjoy it, you know, with my kids 'cause that's was what he wasn't experiencing. So he's he's ⁓ really the first Disney adult. Right? He's like, Okay, I can enjoy this. I I wanna come in I wanna see Main Street, all right, my hometown, home I wanna have a train around. So he did things that he wanted to what he liked.

Holly: Mm.

Ash: And that appealed to everyone. so yeah, this is what it's ⁓ really all about, you know. if if was to go to like Thought Park you know, Alted ⁓ or in the the US equivalent would be Sitz right? ⁓ Or Cedar Pot, right? and and a lot of those are just adults going there and no one bats an island. No one bats island figure that.

Holly: I towers. Yeah. Yeah. But there are like There are people that dress up as the rides from Orton Towers if you're not seeing it on tik tok There's like girls that dress up like it's no it's quite cool like people dress up as their favorite rides from Orton Towers and they get ⁓ really creative with it like see a girl she had like a whole Smiler themed outfit she had like red and black not red and black yellow and black tights and stuff that and like What people you know, she's just a theme park enthusiast, but I'm a Disney adult

Ash: No, I've not seen that. That's pretty funny. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. That's awesome. Yeah, yeah.

Holly: to see what I mean.

Ash: Yeah. So And it's like, ⁓ but one person has Mickey Mouse and other person doesn't. I'm like, but mate, ⁓ you your brain. Not everything is not everything is yeah, yeah. You know. but yeah, it was ⁓ it's it's to see journalism backing ⁓ Disney for

Holly: Yeah. What's the diff? I'm always repping my boy. Yeah and I think a lot of it... yeah sorry. Yeah, it was a it was I mean it did go on a bit though I'd have to admit like did have to pay for I had to pay for this article as well and it's just You know say it argues that some disney fans can be intense or over the top And that sometimes people spend too much money and get themselves into naughty debt for buying the latest merch But I felt like that part sort of leaned more into like the scalpers and not so much as like fandom ⁓ I mean, I'm sure there are people that like have to have the latest bit of park merch. and Ash aren't them. If learned anything from listening to this podcast over the last year, ⁓ we're going to be fighting people for a fleece ⁓ the it comes out. ⁓ Disney me is much more sentimental than that and actually going on the train, looking at the colours, know, listening to the music, just being there and looking around me is...

Ash: No,

Holly: is what I love Disneyland for. That's why I'm a Disney adult. And I mean, I'm sure there are plenty of other people. And people love Disney for different reasons as well, because it's such a broad thing. You know, you've got Disney parks, Disney films, Disney music, you know, there's so many different... people are just like animation buffs. Like, I want to know where the animation buffs are. Do you remember when people used just love animation, they'd be like, wear their animation shirts and stuff.

Ash: I know someone who's just Disney theatrical. Just Disney theatrical. That's all they care that's all they care about as a theatre. Disney theatre. So will seek out

Holly: I dunno, I felt like a- for the theatre. ⁓ they'll be excited that Newsies is coming back then. Is it Newsies? Newsies is coming back to the West End, isn't it?

Ash: Yeah, yeah, newsies, yeah. So apparently, apparently so. I I've not heard much about it, but is ⁓ good news for a lot of people. ⁓ ⁓

Holly: Yeah. Newsies is not a favourite musical of mine. So there we go. We could all have different opinions. It's not my favourite Western musicals. But yeah.

Ash: we are. ⁓ anything else to add,

Holly: Yeah. Um, no. Sorry if this one's felt like a bit of a ranting session that is kind of all mushed together, but just thought we'd try something different this time, guys. Also, I've been poorly, so it was like trying to think on the spot of what I could talk about this week. Anything from you, Ash?

Ash: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, no. no, thank you, Holly, for powering through 'cause ⁓ you know, your medicinal sprite there, getting you through it all. but yes, no, thank you. Yeah, it's true. So there you go, it works. thank you everyone for sticking through with us, of course. we always like to jump on pod, give you updates and whatnot.

Holly: Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. I haven't coughed since I've had the sprung.

Ash: Thank to the ones that saw us on our live for first time on TikTok. That was fun. ⁓ yeah, we may do it again. We may do it again, do you know what I mean? ⁓ even on who knows, do you know what I mean? ⁓ when we get time. just to connect with you guys 'cause we we do we do like to connect with the community. So ⁓ thank you everyone.

Holly: ⁓ yeah. It was. I could go live next week from the park.

Ash: Could do. There we are. So

Holly: could do a little cheeky live next week if there's anything you guys want to see let me know and I'll see if I can jump on for that whether it be million splashes or cascaded lights or just a general chit chat

Ash: Well, yeah, this will be edited and will be edited and put out, but keep you if if Holly does ⁓ ask that, keep an eye out on stories on TikTok and and ⁓ reach back to see if you know, you see. but yeah, that'll be that'll a good idea.

Holly: ⁓ yeah. Yeah, I'll put it on our stories and our socials while I'm there, so. It'll be fun. All right then.

Ash: Yeah. Alright. There we are. you very much everyone. We will see you ⁓ the next episode Over Out.

Holly: Oh, it's done. Bye!