1219 – Ray’s A Few of My Favorite Holiday Performings
Instead of whispers on kittens playing with strings, you’ll get a tour of his favorite performance things.
-
Ray / Seasonal
Vestigial Tail
https://www.britannica.com/list/7-vestigial-features-of-the-human-body
https://www.sciencealert.com/some-babies-are-born-with-tails-but-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think
Festival of Holidays
https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/disneys-festival-of-holidays/
https://www.sfgate.com/disneyland/article/disneyland-holiday-festival-food-17624577.php
Christmas Markets
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-christmas-markets-180981308/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/german-christmas-markets-nazis-tradition
https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/184645
California Adventure
https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-california-adventure-extinct/
https://www.micechat.com/281413-disney-california-adventure-20-tumultuous-years/
https://allears.net/2023/02/27/return-to-disneyland-california-adventure-has-finally-hit-its-stride/
DOWN TO BUSINESS
We rarely have guest hosts
Oh man, live performances are just the best, huh?
I know how it feels
Holiday performances in theme parks
Deep Dark Night United
Pam (Helix Sleep)
PLUGS
Hand in Hand; The Midnight Mission; Trevor Project; Patreon; SleepPhones; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline; Referral Program
SPONSORS
Wild Health; Hello Fresh; Polysleep; Odoo; Helix Sleep; Air Doctor Pro; Zocdoc; Progressive
INTRO
Thoughts on the mind
Whether you’re a student, a grown-up, or a kid
The Key Message of the Show
It can be lonely even when you’re not physically alone
Hopefully you can breathe a little bit more here
Some people will poo poo that idea
Magic Ones and Zeros, btw
It doesn’t work for everyone, and it’s also an acquired taste
Never Getting Started but Always Going
I’m always climbing the mountain
Like a marble trying to climb a spinning mountain
If I had a tail, chasing it would be my hobby
Never say that at a party, unless you want to create whispering on the other side of the room
I did a 90 second set at Vestigial Tail Con
There’s not enough experts to fill a whole con
Other hobbies including planning imaginary conventions
Niche Cons
You don’t have to say you’ll be back, I get it
You don’t have to listen to this
Even I don’t remember what I said ten sentences ago
You can trust me to be partially humorous
Providing a little bit of a sunset
STORY
A Ray episode coming up
The most well-adjusted man I’ve ever met
Experiencing life together in two different ways
Always with Ray, at least in my heart
Scooter’s Neighbor, Twice When He Moved
WPIX: 11 Alive
The Disney Festival of Holidays
We’ll go down every couple of years
Why do we love this?
It’s not an upcharge event – no extra cost for entertainment
When Disney wants to, they can provide joyous, world-class entertainment
We don’t really plan the snacking
An old Holiday Guide Map
Wow, this is old, it still has FastPass
Jingle Jamboree
Mickey and Minnie are in early 20th century Holiday outfits
The Tasting Passport
Sip and Saver Pass
Did we have any of this food?
Pork Belly Adopo
Southern Mac and Cheese
Ceylon Splash
Huckleberry Sangria and Sake
Lox and Everything Bagel Nachos
Curry Mac and Cheese with crispy garbanzos
Guava Melon Lassi
Rock Melon Syrup
Celebrating all December holidays
Visions of Sugarplum
Cranberry Chai Pisco Punch
Pina Hibiscus Mezcal Mule
Impossible Chorizo Queso Fundido
Slider Land
Scooter loves a pretzel roll
Holiday Ham Slider
Cherry Mango Punch – that sounds good
Grandma’s Recipes
Impossible Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
Pumpkin Layered Cheesecake
Hummingbird Cocktail
Blood Orange Pom Limeade with … Cookie Butter?
We definitely got the Gingerbread Man
Santa’s cookies inspired by The Santa Clause
Chicken Tikka masala
Mrs. Claus Hot Cocoa Macaroon
Holy Moly
Toffee Cold Brew Latte – that’s a moutful
Mary Mashups
Esquite Carnitas Mac and Cheese
Turkey Poutine with Sweet Potato Bites and Cheese Curds
Some of these are just way too overdone
I love hanging out at the Paradise Garden Grill
Not everything is in the Touring Plans app that you can pay for
Scooter was heartbroken to not see the Mariachi Divas
Impossible Albondigas Soup
Mango Tres Leches
Scooter didn’t have any of those
Bean and Cheese Pupusa – Holy Cow
Mickey Snowman Cookie Decorating Kit
Dairy Free Horseradish Cream and Cheese Scallions
Disney premixes the drinks, so Scooter coudln’t get any of these without alcohol
Hmm, a Stuffing Roll
Peppermint Bark Bread Pudding – oof, they were out of that one!
Cochina Cucamanga
Hot Chocolate Churro
Snack Molecules with winter flavors
We’ll have to do some independent research for our shows
2022’s performance schedule
Man, there’s no specifics here either!
Touring Plans, the old standard
Guy Selinger Jr, old reliable
World of Colors: Season of Light – this is a blast
Join the online queue at noon
Viva Navidad – half parade, half street party
You can sit down or stand
This show is so so good
Performed at least 5 times each day
Decorations at Cars Land
Mater’s Junk Yard Jamboree
Luigi’s Joy to the World
The bear at the raft ride has a holiday sweater on, which is cute
How come there’s nothing about the performers anywhere?
Toy Drummer Band – it’s so good
Disneyland News Today
Holiday Cavalcade sounds cool
Okay, this site has the news I need
Mariachi Divas have won the Grammy twice
Oh, they’re a daytime band and only perform twice? That’s a robbery!
Up and coming acts often perform at a place where you can also sit and eat
Mostly Kosher – this was so so so fun
This band is great for after dark
Blue 13 Dance Company – traditional Diwali dance
Mariachi Divas at 1:10, then walk over and see Blue 13
More music
Fat Cat Swinger – this band is popular beyond just the Disney podcast community
The Mistletoes – an R&b a capella holiday group
They changed the Pacific Wharf to Bay Max now
Tina and the Sounds of the Celebration – salsa, meringue, caribbean, latin rock
Disney, please don’t cut back on the performers for 2024
Hopping Tour Guide – showing some of the craft stations
There’s more than one cavalcade!
Mickey’s Happy Holidays
I forgot about the 12-foot long puppets
We’ve also seen the Mistletoes at the Paradise Park Stage
You gotta check the guide – this info is incomplete
WWD Prep School
Plaza de la Familia – where is that?
2019 – Disneyland had a Christmas Holiday Parade
I’m not looking for food reviews
On to D23.com
This is the same article just on a different website!
New Performances and Options (from 2019)
Blue 13 started in 2013
Mostly Kosher
The Sound, an old a capella group
The Suffragettes, a cover band
This Fairy Tale Life – from 2019
Scooter thinks we went in 2018
EPCOT 2019 Guide
All the way to Floridahh
We’ve never done the Candlelight Processional
Even in 2019, EPCOT didn’t have everything
Jammminators at Future World at 12:10
Then eat at that new restaurant where Scooter lost his hat
Joyful, a celebration of Kwanzaa with gospel and R&B at 1:15
Then to Mexico, Norway, and China, doing a soft walk
Mischievous Magical Barn Santa in Norway at 2:15
2:30 – go to Mexico for the Las Posadas Celebration
2:45 – is that cotton candy artist still around?
Go from Norway to Germany – Chilly Don Murer (?)
3:30 – Chinese Lion Dancers – about the Lunar New Year
4:00 – we could maybe make it to Italy
There’s a lot of backtracking and walking, which Scooter and Ray could definitely do
Sergio, the Italian mime and juggler
4:15 – La Bufina, a Kind-hearted spellcaster for the holidays
Oh boy, Dickens Carolers!
Scooter says let’s backtrack and start in Canada instead
Canada Holiday Voyagers at 1:40
A busy time in England
Rose and Crown Pub Musician at 2:15
I can’t guarantee that is holiday-themed
See UK Father Christmas at 2:40
3pm – British Revolution (this might be a new band now)
France used to have a comical waiter and wine steward show
Pere Noel at 3:40pm
4:05 – Hanukkah Storyteller
You don’t want to miss the storyteller shows!
Morocco has a new band now
4:45 – Morocco band
Then we’ll go to Japan to see Daruma storyteller around 6pm
The Taiko drummers are so amazing
There was a German storyteller, but i’m not sure where they are now
An amazing ending surprise to the German storyteller’s show
That’s a few shows you could potentially schedule
PATREON THANKS
Kristen, Jen, Wren, Robert, Keen, Nigel, Matthew, Dalton, Ellen, Olive, Aaron, Eve, Joanne, Darlene, Liz, Kathleen, Leslie, Marilee, Good C, Emily, Rebecca, Gail, Will, Scott, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Patrick, Allison, Heidi, Colin, Zach, Claudette, Robin
SUMMARY:
Episode: 1,219
Title: Ray's A Few of My Favorite Holiday Perfomings
Deep Dark Night United: Pam (Helix Sleep)
Plugs: Hand in Hand; The Midnight Mission; Trevor Project; Patreon; SleepPhones; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline; Referral Program
Sponsors: Wild Health; Hello Fresh; Polysleep; Odoo; Helix Sleep; Air Doctor Pro; Zocdoc; Progressive
Patreon Thanks: Kristen, Jen, Wren, Robert, Keen, Nigel, Matthew, Dalton, Ellen, Olive, Aaron, Eve, Joanne, Darlene, Liz, Kathleen, Leslie, Marilee, Good C, Emily, Rebecca, Gail, Will, Scott, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Patrick, Allison, Heidi, Colin, Zach, Claudette, Robin
Notable Language:
- Poo Poo
- Magic Ones and Zeros
- Acquired Taste
- Vestigial Tail
- Niche Cons
- Khan Con
- Awkward at Party Con
- Partially Humorous
- Scooter’s Neighbor, Twice When He Moved
- 11 Alive
- Jingle Jamboree
- Sip and Saver Pass
- Basmati
- Mariachi Divas
- Snack Molecules
- Obelisk
- Bollywood-Style Party (BSP)
- Floridahh
- Soft Walk
Notable Culture:
-
- sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou
- Vestigial Tail Con
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
-
- Mouseketeers
- WPIX
- Disneyland
- Disney’s California Adventure
- AllEars.net
- Country Bear Jamboree
- Three Caballeros
- Cars
-
- The Grammys
- Journey Into The World of Friends
- Charles Dickens
Notable Talking Points:
- Thoughts on the mind
- Whether you’re a student, a grown-up, or a kid
- The Key Message of the Show
- It can be lonely even when you’re not physically alone
- Hopefully you can breathe a little bit more here
- Some people will poo poo that idea
- Magic Ones and Zeros, btw
- It doesn’t work for everyone, and it’s also an acquired taste
- Never Getting Started but Always Going
- I’m always climbing the mountain
- Like a marble trying to climb a spinning mountain
- If I had a tail, chasing it would be my hobby
- Never say that at a party, unless you want to create whispering on the other side of the room
- I did a 90 second set at Vestigial Tail Con
- There’s not enough experts to fill a whole con
- Other hobbies including planning imaginary conventions
- Niche Cons
- You don’t have to say you’ll be back, I get it
- You don’t have to listen to this
- Even I don’t remember what I said ten sentences ago
- You can trust me to be partially humorous
- Providing a little bit of a sunset
- A Ray episode coming up
- The most well-adjusted man I’ve ever met
- Experiencing life together in two different ways
- Always with Ray, at least in my heart
- Scooter’s Neighbor, Twice When He Moved
- WPIX: 11 Alive
- The Disney Festival of Holidays
- We’ll go down every couple of years
- Why do we love this?
- It’s not an upcharge event – no extra cost for entertainment
- When Disney wants to, they can provide joyous, world-class entertainment
- We don’t really plan the snacking
- An old Holiday Guide Map
- Wow, this is old, it still has FastPass
- Jingle Jamboree
- Mickey and Minnie are in early 20th century Holiday outfits
- The Tasting Passport
- Sip and Saver Pass
- Did we have any of this food?
- Pork Belly Adopo
- Southern Mac and Cheese
- Ceylon Splash
- Huckleberry Sangria and Sake
- Lox and Everything Bagel Nachos
- Curry Mac and Cheese with crispy garbanzos
- Guava Melon Lassi
- Rock Melon Syrup
- Celebrating all December holidays
- Visions of Sugarplum
- Cranberry Chai Pisco Punch
- Pina Hibiscus Mezcal Mule
- Impossible Chorizo Queso Fundido
- Slider Land
- Scooter loves a pretzel roll
- Holiday Ham Slider
- Cherry Mango Punch – that sounds good
- Grandma’s Recipes
- Impossible Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
- Pumpkin Layered Cheesecake
- Hummingbird Cocktail
- Blood Orange Pom Limeade with … Cookie Butter?
- We definitely got the Gingerbread Man
- Santa’s cookies inspired by The Santa Clause
- Chicken Tikka masala
- Mrs. Claus Hot Cocoa Macaroon
- Holy Moly
- Toffee Cold Brew Latte – that’s a moutful
- Mary Mashups
- Esquite Carnitas Mac and Cheese
- Turkey Poutine with Sweet Potato Bites and Cheese Curds
- Some of these are just way too overdone
- I love hanging out at the Paradise Garden Grill
- Not everything is in the Touring Plans app that you can pay for
- Scooter was heartbroken to not see the Mariachi Divas
- Impossible Albondigas Soup
- Mango Tres Leches
- Scooter didn’t have any of those
- Bean and Cheese Pupusa – Holy Cow
- Mickey Snowman Cookie Decorating Kit
- Dairy Free Horseradish Cream and Cheese Scallions
- Disney premixes the drinks, so Scooter coudln’t get any of these without alcohol
- Hmm, a Stuffing Roll
- Peppermint Bark Bread Pudding – oof, they were out of that one!
- Cochina Cucamanga
- Hot Chocolate Churro
- Snack Molecules with winter flavors
- We’ll have to do some independent research for our shows
- 2022’s performance schedule
- Man, there’s no specifics here either!
- Touring Plans, the old standard
- Guy Selinger Jr, old reliable
- World of Colors: Season of Light – this is a blast
- Join the online queue at noon
- Viva Navidad – half parade, half street party
- You can sit down or stand
- This show is so so good
- Performed at least 5 times each day
- Decorations at Cars Land
- Mater’s Junk Yard Jamboree
- Luigi’s Joy to the World
- The bear at the raft ride has a holiday sweater on, which is cute
- How come there’s nothing about the performers anywhere?
- Toy Drummer Band – it’s so good
- Disneyland News Today
- Holiday Cavalcade sounds cool
- Okay, this site has the news I need
- Mariachi Divas have won the Grammy twice
- Oh, they’re a daytime band and only perform twice? That’s a robbery!
- Up and coming acts often perform at a place where you can also sit and eat
- Mostly Kosher – this was so so so fun
- This band is great for after dark
- Blue 13 Dance Company – traditional Diwali dance
- Mariachi Divas at 1:10, then walk over and see Blue 13
- More music
- Fat Cat Swinger – this band is popular beyond just the Disney podcast community
- The Mistletoes – an R&b a capella holiday group
- They changed the Pacific Wharf to Bay Max now
- Tina and the Sounds of the Celebration – salsa, meringue, caribbean, latin rock
- Disney, please don’t cut back on the performers for 2024
- Hopping Tour Guide – showing some of the craft stations
- There’s more than one cavalcade!
- Mickey’s Happy Holidays
- I forgot about the 12-foot long puppets
- We’ve also seen the Mistletoes at the Paradise Park Stage
- You gotta check the guide – this info is incomplete
- WWD Prep School
- Plaza de la Familia – where is that?
- 2019 – Disneyland had a Christmas Holiday Parade
- I’m not looking for food reviews
- On to D23.com
- This is the same article just on a different website!
- New Performances and Options (from 2019)
- Blue 13 started in 2013
- Mostly Kosher
- The Sound, an old a capella group
- The Suffragettes, a cover band
- This Fairy Tale Life – from 2019
- Scooter thinks we went in 2018
- EPCOT 2019 Guide
- All the way to Floridahh
- We’ve never done the Candlelight Processional
- Even in 2019, EPCOT didn’t have everything
- Jammminators at Future World at 12:10
- Then eat at that new restaurant where Scooter lost his hat
- Joyful, a celebration of Kwanzaa with gospel and R&B at 1:15
- Then to Mexico, Norway, and China, doing a soft walk
- Mischievous Magical Barn Santa in Norway at 2:15
- 2:30 – go to Mexico for the Las Posadas Celebration
- 2:45 – is that cotton candy artist still around?
- Go from Norway to Germany – Chilly Don Murer (?)
- 3:30 – Chinese Lion Dancers – about the Lunar New Year
- 4:00 – we could maybe make it to Italy
- There’s a lot of backtracking and walking, which Scooter and Ray could definitely do
- Sergio, the Italian mime and juggler
- 4:15 – La Bufina, a Kind-hearted spellcaster for the holidays
- Oh boy, Dickens Carolers!
- Scooter says let’s backtrack and start in Canada instead
- Canada Holiday Voyagers at 1:40
- A busy time in England
- Rose and Crown Pub Musician at 2:15
- I can’t guarantee that is holiday-themed
- See UK Father Christmas at 2:40
- 3pm – British Revolution (this might be a new band now)
- France used to have a comical waiter and wine steward show
- Pere Noel at 3:40pm
- 4:05 – Hanukkah Storyteller
- You don’t want to miss the storyteller shows!
- Morocco has a new band now
- 4:45 – Morocco band
- Then we’ll go to Japan to see Daruma storyteller around 6pm
- The Taiko drummers are so amazing
- There was a German storyteller, but i’m not sure where they are now
- An amazing ending surprise to the German storyteller’s show
- That’s a few shows you could potentially schedule
-
Episode 1219 – Ray's A Few of My Favorite Holiday Performings
[START OF RECORDING]
SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcaster who loves having…we don’t really have guest hosts on this show, but we have my neighbor Ray come in and talk about live performances. Holy cow, do we got some good ones. There’s nothing better, really, than chilling out, enjoying a little food, maybe a cool beverage, maybe a warm beverage, maybe a hot cocoa, listening to some music, hearing some storytelling, seeing some performers. So, tonight we got a coverage of a couple places you could do that at some theme parks and really enjoy yourself while you fall asleep. You get to be there hearing my recommendations through my neighbor Ray, and if you’re new, oh boy, am I so glad you’re here. Welcome. This is a very different podcast.
It is a podcast to put you to sleep. It is Sleep With Me. We’ve been around doing this for about ten years, and I love the opportunity to welcome you in. That’s kind of the most important part about this show. Come on in. Check it out. See what you think. See if the show works for you. Give it a try. It’s here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff because you deserve a good night’s sleep and because I and a whole lot of other people listening right now know how it feels in the deep, dark night. I’ve had…I’ve just been not sleeping great, to be honest. So, I know how it feels if you’re having trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep, waking back up. Whatever it is.
So, I’m glad you’re here and I really hope I can help so you get the sleep you need and you deserve. This show is a bit different, so give it a few tries. I’m not asking you to be open-minded. Just see how it goes, because you’re probably skeptical or doubtful anyway. You probably tried a ton of stuff to help you fall asleep. Maybe it hasn’t worked. Maybe you’re…you just are looking to sleep right now, and maybe you had a different expectation before you came here. But give it a few tries. It’s really a friendly show. I’ve got other options for you if this podcast does not work. But I’m really glad you’re here. I really hope I can help.
I really appreciate you coming by. The way the structure of the show works; we’ve got support coming up. The ad-supported show comes out free twice a week, then separate from the support is a long, meandering intro that helps ease you into bedtime whether you’re getting ready for bed or you’re already in bed getting comfortable or you’re doing something else to chill out. Then later on we’ll have a bedtime story where we’ll talk about holiday performances in theme parks, or a couple different theme parks. So, it’s gonna be nice, a little seasonal content, because this is not always the season…sometimes it’s not easy falling asleep in any season. So, I’m glad you’re here. I appreciate you checking this show out, and I really hope I can help you fall asleep. Thanks for making it possible, my patron peeps.
INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. It could be thoughts that you’re thinking about, thoughts, you know, things you’re…thoughts on your mind, things…thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, it could be anything coming up for you like feelings, feelings related to those thoughts or feelings that are just there, anticipatory feelings or feelings afterwards.
It could be physical sensations that are coming up or that you’re dealing with on a regular basis, it could be changes in time, temperature, routine, work schedule, you could work a different schedule, you could be going somewhere, you could be on a trip, you could have guests, or you could have something coming up whether you’re a student, a grown-up, or a kid. Whatever it is…and the only reason I go through all that…I don't go through everything, but I try to hit some general areas because I want you to know you’re not alone. That’s kinda the key message and the foundation of this show. If you ever listen to Episode 1200 and you want to listen to it during the day, it touches on how lonely it was for me when I couldn’t sleep, and it wasn’t because I was physically alone. I was in a house full of people.
I had my brother in my room. I could have talked to my brother; I could have woken him up. But for some reason, there’s something about this — at least for me and a lot of other people — that it can be terribly lonely even when you’re in bed with somebody else, even when you’ve got a dog right next to your bed like I do lately. It might not be your experience. Maybe it’s something different. Maybe it’s something similar. Maybe you could relate to the loneliness and say, well, I don't get lonely but I do feel this, which is also not easy. The reason I talk about the other stuff is because I want you to know not only are you not alone, but there’s someone listening right now who can relate to whatever it is that’s keeping you up, that could validate that for you, that could nod their head and say, yeah, I believe you. I know that’s tough.
That’s important because we’ve all been there in some different way, and even if I haven’t been through what’s keeping you up, I can probably relate to some of the feelings. But if I can’t, I know there’s someone listening right now who can, because I’ve heard a lot of stories from a lot of different people and I know everyone…finally when they get to the show…and they say, okay, yeah…once they become a regular listener, they say, okay, I can breathe a little bit more here. This is a place where I feel seen. I realize there’s part of us…each one of us and people outside of the show that are gonna pooh-pooh that idea because it is digital and it is pseudo, but that doesn’t make it any less true just because it’s different and non-traditional and, I don't know, it doesn’t make it any less true because it’s really a reflection of everything outside of this podcast, too.
It’s just that we’re able to gather here and I’m able to talk about it with you, and then other people are able to listen and say, yep, uh-huh. That’s a real thing that’s happening even though it’s distributed in digital and happening on your phone. It’s happening somewhere else, too. It is magic. I believe so. Maybe…yeah, some part of my brain just said, magical ones and zeroes, by the way. I say, okay, I’ll accept that. I’ll accept that. But it’s true. So, I just want you to know that. I know I’m spending a little bit more time on it than normal, but I know this is a tougher time of year for a lot of people, and the other thing is you deserve a good night’s sleep, and you may not always feel that way. That’s why I point it out every single episode.
Whether you’re new or you’re a regular listener — it’s good to see you, good to have you back — you deserve a good night’s sleep. You deserve a bedtime you don’t have to dread and a bedtime that you could feel neutral about or even look forward to, and you deserve the rest you need so your life is more manageable, and that’s all I want to do. That’s all I want to be a part of, is to take your mind off of stuff so you could get that. Now, the show does not work for everybody, but it is also an acquired taste, so give it a few tries and just see how…if your taste…it fits your taste. You say, okay…it just takes a couple times, and I’ll explain more in a little bit. Now, if you already know this isn’t your taste, I would still say stick around and give it a try.
But if you’re 100% sure, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou has tons of other sleepy stuff on there, so check it out and see if something else on there works for you. It has other sleep podcasts and other chill stuff. So, check that stuff out. What else do you need to know? What else do you need to know? I don't know why I’m blanking. Oh, what I do is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I’m gonna use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents. So, that means I’m gonna go off-topic, then I’m gonna get mixed up, I’m gonna forget what I was…and I’ll say, wait a second, what was I talking about? So, I’ll get mixed up, then I’ll ramble on and on and on like this, then I’ll backtrack. That’s all part of the method of the show.
This is a podcast that’s never getting started but it’s always going. My personality and my thing…I’m more here to be your friend and to keep you company than to be some sleep guru. I’m more…I got…I’m the one…I’m having trouble sleeping right now, so I know how it feels more than I’ve…I’ve climbed the mountain. I’m always climbing. I must be on one of those…it’s like a mountain and the path is a corkscrew path, but the mountain is also rotating. So, I’m like a marble on a mountain that’s doing that. Probably magnets involved, too. So, yeah, that’s how I feel. You know, chasing my tail…if I was…that would be my hobby. If I had a tail, I’m pretty sure…is a vestigial tail…is that…? I know I have a spot. I’m not…I mean, I’m not a scientist, but I do believe I do have a place where I say, there could have been a tail there.
But probably for the best because…I’d say, well, I gotta…I’m gonna have to do…I’ve been…they say, what are you…? I say, I gotta do yoga twice a day now because I’ve been chasing my own tail. You say, so you can catch it? No, no, just so I can keep chasing it. It’s…really, I’ve been trying to do…I set a timer now because I chase my tail clockwise between waking up and noon. Well, I used to do it between waking up and noon, but then I realized that was only…that wasn’t a whole half of a day. That would be when I chase it clockwise, then I go counterclockwise. Then I tried alternating days of the week, but I just couldn’t keep…you know. So, I figure I’ll just do more yoga.
Here’s a free piece of advice for everybody; don’t ever say this at a party to anybody, even if…I mean, unless you want to clear the…unless you want to be…I mean, just trust me. Unless you want to create whispering on the other side of the room over the pretzel bowl where people are holding their hands over their mouths while they’re looking at you. You say, I don't know. First he said something about a vestigial tail, and then he…who is that? Oh…who’s that guy again? Oh, your cousin, huh? Okay, well…yeah, he’s…okay. I mean, he’s…okay. So, just don’t do it. Like most vestigial tail…unless you’re at…I could probably clear out a room at a vestigial…that would be…they’d say, where did you first decide to do stand-up comedy, Scoots? Vestigial Tail Con.
That was the only place I could get…I did a one-minute-and-thirty-second set about observations on scheduling chasing my tail. It didn’t go…believe it or not, it didn’t go well. I guess it was too on the tail, you know, as they…too on the tail that’s not there, as they say. Now, I did invent Vestigial Tail Con, but then once again, they said, I don't think that…you know what that word really means. I said, oh. Turns out, there’s not many form…it’s a limited number of foremost experts on that. Not enough to fill a convention, even an imaginary one within my own mind, but there’s…I mean, there’s nothing…you say, what other hobby…? That’s another thing that clears out…they say, what hobbies do you have? Well, I like to plan conventions. Oh, really? Is that your job, you’re a convention planner? Oh, no, no, no.
You know there’s Comic Con, right, and then there’s other…like gaming…all those things. I like to imagine niche cons. Khan Con; those are fans of the Wrath of Khan. Yeah, but that’s not…it turns out, that was…that’s better off…you have it at a convention. That was another thing; sub-conventions. I don't think I invented that, but…I haven’t followed…also, it’s a lot of work, so I just do it in my imagination so then I don’t have to do any work except imagining names. What are some of the…? Vestigial Tail. That’s when they walk away. I say, okay. I’ll be back. They say, don’t…you don’t have to say you’re gonna be back. I know…trust me, I’ve done this enough times. No, you won't be back. No worries. I mean, I’ll see you…we’ll probably pass by one another awkwardly later. It’s inevitable.
Awkward Talk Con; there’s another one. Awkward at Party Con. Party Con. You say, well, no, no, I’m not having…oh, that’s from the eighties band that was full of the second edition of Disney Mouseketeers? You’re having a…? No, I’m not having…that would be The Party Con. My sister was big into The Party. But no, no, no, this is Party…Awkward at Party Con was just too long and…even for an imaginary…oh, I’m supposed to be opening a sleep podcast? Oh, boy. So, I forgot. Whatever it is…oh, you might not like me. Sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou…structure…oh, a couple other things to know other than that you might not like me, it takes a few tries to get used to the show…structure…oh, no, not structure of the show; that’s too soon. This is a podcast you don’t really listen to.
You probably figured that out already. I don't often posit this, but I will say the whole idea of the show is that I’m here to just barely be listened to. So, I think there’s probably two things I could say for a lot of people’s experience listening right now. One, you probably…and I don't even remember half the stuff I was just talking about. Maybe the last ten sentences, but beyond that, I don't even remember it. So, I’m guessing you might not either, or you might remember thirty sentences ago, but you don’t remember ten sentences ago. That’s good. That’s part of the show.
But also, I probably took your mind off of stuff, right, with those pointless meanders and superfluous tangents, 'cause that’s really what I’m here to do; not be listened to, but to be barely listened to or barely heard, to barely entertain you and take your mind off of stuff, kinda to misdirect things so you could fall asleep, 'cause I’m not here to put you to sleep. There’s no pressure to fall asleep with this podcast. It’s over an hour so you have plenty of time to fall asleep. There’s over…no, there’s not over; there are 600 free shows in the archives, so you could listen to those ad-supported shows whenever you want or whichever ones work for you. I think somebody said that’s thirty days of 24/7 listening if you need it. So, that’s one thing. Oh no, that’s it.
Yeah, I’m here to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bestie, your neigh-bore, your Borbie, your bores, your bore-bruh, because I’m just here to keep you company. There’s people who are listening who can’t sleep or who need a break during the day, and I’m here to keep them company to the very end, but that means I’m here to keep you company to the very end, too, whether you’re awake or asleep. So, you could fall asleep whenever you want. So, just see how it goes. Those are two concepts that are…kinda take some getting used to. The other thing to know is the structure of the show. The show is designed in a very deliberate way, and we’ve adjusted over the years but we’ve kinda got it down to where most people listen in the way I’m gonna lay out, but you could adjust whether you sign up for a premium subscription or you kinda just adjust how you listen.
But this is just what we’ve found works for the most amount of people. That way we have this place where everybody can relate to one another. So, it starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, then I say something maybe silly or goofy so you feel seen and welcomed in and you say, okay, the tone of that show…I might check it out. I might check that out. I’m not so sure, but I’ll listen for a little bit longer. Then there’s sponsor support so paying for the show is 100% optional, and that benefits a ton and a ton, and ton, ton of people. Then there’s a long, meandering intro about fifteen to twenty minutes long, separate from the support, a show within a show, where we already covered a bunch of odd things.
It’s different every single time but it follows a familiar structure every time so you feel that relief; okay, there’s my bore-friend being goofy, getting mixed up…has odd pastimes and doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I don't even have to pay attention that much. I just kinda gotta barely listen. He’s here to keep me company. He’s here to make me feel less alone, and he’s barely funny, and I like that. He’s partially humorous and something about that just works for me. So, that’s the intro, but the intro really is kind of a buffer zone between getting ready for bed — or people are listening while they’re getting ready for bed — and then doing a wind-down or chill activity or being in bed and getting comfortable. So, the intro kind of follows that slow winding down. Now, there is a tiny percentage of people that are asleep.
There’s 2% to 3% of people that skip ahead to twenty, twenty-five minutes, thirty minutes, but most people listen in that manner and they use the intro to wind down, because that’s what’s been shown to work. This isn’t a podcast that puts you to sleep instantly. It’s here to keep you company while you drift off and to kinda provide that…a little bit of a sunset or whatever. Then there’s support, then there will be our bedtime story, which will be Ray’s holiday Disney park live performance tour or something. Then there’s thank-yous at the end. So, that’s the structure of the show. So, the end of the show where Ray talks is like, forty-five or fifty minutes long. But again, you could become a regular listener and you could see how you…what works for you.
In the premium version of the show, we have different edits of shows that we’ve seen work better, but for the majority of people, they just press Play, they start their wind-down, and eventually they’re listening and they drift off. So, see how it goes. I’m so glad you’re here. I work really hard; so do a team of people because we all yearn and strive and we really hope you can help…we can help you fall asleep. Thanks again for coming by, and here’s a couple ways I’m able to do this for you for free twice a week.
Alright everybody, this is Scoots here. This episode is a Ray episode. My neighbor Ray Perkins is gonna be coming by and talking about one of our favorite things. I think we’ve only done it…we’ve been able to do it twice, maybe three times over the past ten, twelve years. I don't know if we’ve covered it in Ray’s trip reports, but by far, some of my greatest memories with Ray at an amusement…or theme park. Ray Perkins is my neighbor. He’s the most well-adjusted man I’ve ever met. He’s comfortable who he is. He’s not like me; he’s outgoing, he’s friendly, he’s always looking to listen and talk at the same time, and he really experiences life, and that’s what I admire most about him.
Sometimes we experience life together but in two different ways. He’s experiencing it in his way and I’m experiencing it in my way. So, yeah, Ray’s one of the most popular guests we have on the show and…by far, and…but he’s not everybody’s cup of tea. But for most people he is, and he’s who I go on vacation with the most. You might say, always. Whenever…always with Ray, at least in my heart. I was gonna say…Ray’s laughing 'cause he knows I would say something deprecating if he wasn’t here, self-deprecating. But without further ado, it’s my neighbor Ray Perkins.
Hello, hello, hello everybody. This is your neighbor Ray, your friend Ray, Scooter’s neighbor Ray. Nice to meet you. My name’s Ray Perkins. I’m Scooter’s neighbor twice…not twice removed, but twice…when he move…once when he moved; neighbor twice, once when he moved. Scooter moved; we found out. We realized it was in 2018 because we were reviewing the podcast. When I’m recording this, it’s been almost ten years. Well, more than ten years of Scooter producing the show, just not releasing it. I don't think Scooter realized it, but somebody from Parkchester…eleven…he’s entering his eleventh year, which is 11Alive…WPIX’s call sign was way back in the day. That was Scooter and I’s first cosmic connection, was the super-station WPIX, which Scooter talks about a lot. I don't know.
But here tonight, I’m here to talk about…well, we’re gonna see how it goes, Scooter said. See how long it takes, Ray. So, we’re gonna talk about…now, there’s Disneyland and then there’s Disney’s California Adventure, and I’ve gone on trip reports for Disney’s California Adventure, but this is more of an itinerary to one of Scooter…as Scooter already said, what an experience. They have something there called The Festival of Holidays over the holiday season, and we don’t get to go super often, but maybe every three or four years we get to go down there and go to The Festival of Holidays. As Scooter said, I do believe we’ve been there three times, but…over the past ten years, though I may not be…I tried to find ephemera that Scooter had held onto, and I did find a couple pieces of ephemera, but we didn’t do a deepest…the deepest dive we could have.
So, what we’re gonna do, I think, is…oh, and why do we love this? What’s the itinerary? So, the thing we love about this is the thing I talk about a lot now, and where we’ve seen cutbacks or upcharges. This is not a upcharge event. If you go to Disney California Adventure in the evening in the holiday season, you would pay for food but the entertainment is free, a part of your admission. Yeah, it’s not free, Ray. This is, again, a thing where when Disney wants to, they can have world-class enjoyable performances that you could continually go to see and fill your time and fill your heart with joy. A multitude of different style performances, as we’ll see, from anything…from Toy Soldiers all the way to just musical numbers to street parades, and a lot of snacking, though we don’t…the thing is it’s very popular, so we don’t always do the snacking.
Also, it’s just…'cause you can buy in bulk, and then a lot of people have some cocktails or other things. But one, Scooter doesn’t like to wait in line, and two, it’s not a guarantee. I guess there’s so much food that it’s hard to read the reviews. We don’t ever go into it with a plan, I guess is what I’m saying, other than to try to see all the performers. Okay, so, what do I have here? I have a guide map, a holiday guide map, for Disney’s California Adventure. I’m not sure what year it is. So, the first thing I’m gonna do is…oh no, this is an old one, Scooter, 'cause this still has FastPass. Oh, boy. So, this is an older one. Cut the line with FastPass. Oh, and they had Max…this is back when they had MaxPass and FastPass, Scooter.
Now, we don’t have the time thing on here, but it says, experience the holiday magic, The Disney Festival of Holidays…Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, Santa Claus at the Redwood Challenge Trail…Scooter, that might be all in here for the thing. I don't see anything about…okay, that’s all with the guide map for the holidays. There’s Mickey and Minnie; they’re dressed in kinda 19…I don't know, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s holiday outfits in front of a holiday tree. Then we have the Tasting Passport. This is from the last time we went, which was 2022. This was a time where Scooter said, Ray, we’re gonna try to go to all the performances and then we’ll try to report on it. Okay, so, let’s just look through here. There’s festival shopping, so if you like shopping, there’s different things you could do.
There’s a Sip and Saver Pass; this is what we were talking about. Eight coupons for one eligible food and non-alcoholic beverage. I don't see a price on there, but you could buy that pass, then you don’t have to worry about paying each time. Okay, then they have…we’ll just run through some of the food. Now, I know everybody…some people like to avoid the food, so I’ll go quickly. But I just want to see if Scooter and I had any of this. Pork belly adobo; we may have had that. Southern mac and cheese that has Andouille sausage and Panko crunch; didn’t have that 'cause we don’t…somebody doesn’t eat…then a Ceylon splash; that was Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea, and then one with huckleberry sangria with sake. Locks and everything bagel nachos; that sounds pretty good.
Curry and mac and…curry mac and cheese with crispy garbanzos. Then a Guava Melon Lassi; that’s…that does sound good. Rock melon syrup…and again, they have…if you want to celebrate with the foods of…they have everything also marked. You got Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Navidad. Also vegetarian, plant-based, kid-friendly, and if…can you get it with that pass. Visions of sugar plum…sweet potato corn muffin, chocolate bourbon-flavored tart. That means it probably doesn’t have real bourbon in it. Yeah, with Twix cookie bar pieces, Scooter. You could have had that. I think there was just a line. Okay, then Cranberry Chai Pisco Punch, but that…does it have…Scooter, is that non-alcoholic? No, it has brandy. Pina Hibiscus Mezcal Mule, then Brews and Bites.
We’re gonna skip most of this, but…food; Impossible Chorizo Queso Fundido. We did have that; that was good. Then Slider Land. Brisket slider; smoked onions, horseradish, ketchup on a pretzel roll. Scooter, do you know if you got that? Scooter loves a pretzel roll. Holy cow. Scooter, we gotta look up a time for this, too, but I know we got internet research, so don't worry. Holiday Ham Slider, then a couple of cocktails. Oh, this one’s non-alcoholic; Cherry Mango Punch. That sounds good; cherry syrup, mango and peach nectars, lemon juice, frozen peach. Okay, here’s the map of all the places, but it doesn’t have the performers on here. Grandma’s Recipes; Impossible Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes. Classic gravy, crispy shallots. Pumpkin layered cheesecake…Hummingbird Cocktail; Blood Orange Pom Limeade, Scooter.
You would like it with cookie butter. Well, that’s a little strange to have in an orange and lime. Cookie butter and blood orange syrups, lime wheel. I don't know about that. I mean, I love the cookie butter, but not in that. Mickey-Mouse-shaped gingerbread cookie; we definitely got that. That was delicious. That’s just also popular. Santa’s Milk and Cookies Hot Cocoa, inspired by the series The Santa Clauses. Whole milk, cookies and cream, white chocolate, topped with flavored whipped cream. Chicken tikka masala with cardamom Basami…why can’t I say that right now? Basamati rice. Oh, Scooter, look at this one. You missed that, too. Mrs. Claus’ Hot Cocoa Macaroon; red macaroon filled with chocolate hot cocoa filling and ganache. Holy moly.
Scooter…I think Scooter just may have…that’s a macaroon, not a macroon. Scooter likes…loves macaroons. He made…that was one of his best holiday dishes this year, was he made fake tree macaroons. They were…Scooter, those were wonderful, by the way. I was very impressed. Okay, Coffee Turo Cold…Churro Coffee Cold Brew Latte. That’s a mouthful. Demera sugar…that’s at Joffrey’s, and then you could make it also as a cocktail. Okay. Scooter, we got…we gotta do our research if we go back to this thing ever. We won't be going back this year, I don't think. Okay, Merry Mashups. Esquites Carnitas Mac and Cheese; that sounds pretty good. Spiced puff rice, freeze-dried corn, chopped cilantro, salsa macha. Turkey poutine; I think we…no, we didn’t get that 'cause it has sweet potato bites and cheese curds.
Well, Scooter didn’t…frozen…frosted cranberries. So, some of this I do feel like…I’m not trying to be…I think they were just overdoing it. Okay, now, this is one of our favorite places to hang out, The Paradise Garden Grill. Not to…so, here’s a issue, okay? Just…Ray’s being honest. With the Disney app…we encountered this with the other episode we did about staying cool, is that not everything is in both the Disney app and then the app you can pay for through Touring Plans, Lines. One of the main things is this thing we’ll talk about that happens at The Paradise Garden Grill, along with also performances…so, one of the heartbreakers for Scooter, the performance we’ve seen in the past but we didn’t get to see was Mariachi Divas.
Part of that was just these…the way the schedule is, and then Scooter did not think that Festival of the Holidays festival was happening which happens near The Paradise Garden Grill, and there’s other musicians there, which we did catch. But they have…how do you…? Scooter…Impossible Albondigas Soup, tinga arepas, yucca fries, pozole dipped torta, chicken tinga burrito, mango tres leches. Scooter, you didn’t…did you have any of those? No, he doesn’t think he did. Watermelon Candy Cocktail…we did get…oh, gingerbread cake; molasses glaze, gingerbread man, and sprinkles, Scooter, and a bean-and-cheese pupusa. Wow. Holy cow. Then a Mickey Snowman Cookie Decorating Kit, and then the hot cocoa in another place. We got lockers with smoked brisket, dairy-free horseradish, cream, and scallions.
Scooter, that sounds like something you would like. I know I would…oh, Colombian empanadas. Ashe vede…cabbage salad, cilantro dressing…escabeche…Mistletoe Mule…the thing with Disney is they pre-mix all the drinks, I believe, so you couldn’t order any of these non-alcoholicly, 'cause some of them sound interesting. Like, rosemary, cranberry, agave…chicken tortilla soup; that’s always good. Holiday Sandwich; ham, mustard, cranberry mayo, arugula on a stuffing roll. Now that’s interesting, a stuffing roll. Scooter, you got this, right? Peppermint bark bread pudding. Yeah, that was at…oh no, Pacific Wharf Cafe? I don't know if you did…oh, they were out. Oh yeah, now I remember. I’m sorry, Scooter. Yeah, so, they were out of that one. So, I’m sorry. Scooter remembers going there.
Now, all these places are gonna be renamed, a lot of them. Cocina Cucamonga…let’s see what they have. Capirotada…bread pudding, raisin, peanuts, walnuts, and green apples, fresh bananas, condensed milk, and toasted coconut. That sounds good. Then a non-alcoholic Holiday Ponche. It’s a holiday spiced guava drink; fresh fruit and sugarcane. Then a cappuccino cart with a horchatta cold brew, Scooter. Holy cow. Hot chocolate churro at the Pym Tasting Lab…snack molecules with winter flavors. I think there’s one page stuck together, Scooter. No? Okay. It looks like it, but…okay, that’s too bad they don’t have the performance in there. But we have plenty of research, so don’t you worry, everybody. You’re in good hands. We’ll just see how we’re organizing all this.
We also looked up from 1999, so if we have time, then we can go back in time, because Scooter’s like, huh, I wonder if it was different. Okay, this is for 2023, Scooter. So, let’s look at what…it goes, November…oh no, this is…this was this last year that we went to; 2022 to 2023. Okay, they have the food marketplaces, they have…did they say what time it starts? This is on allears.net. It has a list of the things, the food things, Merry Mashups…okay, here’s the performers, but it just has pictures. What do we have? Yeah, no, it’s…no specifics. Santa’s visit at the Redwood Challenge…craft-making stations for Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and Three Kings Day. We don’t have a little one, though, so we don’t…okay, so that’s…that one doesn’t work there. Okay, here’s the old standard Touring Plans.
Oh, boy. Old Guy Selga Jr. He loves Country Bear Jamboree. We heard him on Podcast The Ride talking about it. So, let’s see what Guy has for us here. So…okay, so, the first thing Guy talks about is World of Color, Season of Light. We did see the show. It is a blast. All-time holiday songs…water display, lights display…must-see offering. Now, you do have to join a virtual queue which opens at noon on the app. Again, this was from last year. Okay, then they have Disney’s Viva Navidad. Yeah, and we’re gonna try to find the times for these just so we could recreate…and this show is unbelievable. It’s kind of like a parade and a street party, and it has…oh, well, we’ll just…dancers, drummers, Mariachi band, Disney characters, there’s also…oh, drummers; they had said that. Three Caballeros, Mickey and Minnie, all dressed up.
It ends with everyone singing a song together. I think it snows and there’s confetti, and it’s right on the street and there’s plenty of places. So, you could sit down or you could stand and be right at the tape where they say…oh, maybe it’s even a crack in the sidewalk. You could get your food at the Pacific or whatever…is that…? Paradise Gardens Grill…or a drink or something. Back when Scooter used to drink, there was a beer stand across from where we liked to sit. This show is so good. I mean, I’m not kidding. Now, there was a time when it would parade…it wasn’t just here 'cause Scooter thinks that we followed it one time, but I’m…I don't see it confirmed on here. Now, that’s performed at least five times each day at the Paradise Park area of DCA. But what you have to do is…this says…Guy says get there early, thirty minutes early.
So, it just kinda depends on things. Then you have decorations at Cars Land. This is Guy’s breakdown here. Hold up; I got a little pop-up ad I’m dealing with here. You’d think that would be blocked, but…okay, so, yeah, Cars Land is very decorated. Oh, and that’s another place we like to go, is The Cozy Cone. That’s where you could get soft-serve. Okay, so you have Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi's Joy to the Whirl. I think we went on that Joy to the Whirl many, many years ago after it switched over, but that’s where…Luigi's Rollickin’ Roadsters. So, it’s Mater singing silly songs. You can also meet a Santa Claus Mater. You can meet Mickey and Minnie dressed up, characters in holiday outfits. You could meet Santa Claus.
There’s holiday decorations and Christmas trees. Oh, also, the bear at the raft ride has a big holiday sweater on, which is always cute. Then it goes all-out with the food and the festivals. But I’m looking for the performers. Okay, celebrate holidays around the world…huh, it doesn’t have anything about the performers. This is too bad. It does have the first performance we caught which does happen during the day, where a lot of them, they don’t start ‘til the evening, which is the Toy Drummer Band. So, these are march…like March of the Wooden Soldiers, and they come marching in and they do a drumming holiday show. It was so good, and it has a bit of comedy in there. It’s just a really good show. Okay, so now we’re trying Disneyland News Today. So, we’ll see what theirs is.
Holiday Cavalcade…oh wow, I don't know if we saw that, but that’s cool, a Holiday Cavalcade with…oh, when…the toy drummers are also in the Holiday Cavalcade. Okay, this site is good because it has…okay, so, it has the Holiday Toy Drummers, and they play at this…oh, they play in different places. We saw them not at either one of…Paradise Park Obelisk, or the Carthay Circle. We saw them at…oh, I guess that’s the Paradise Park Obelisk. It’s now Pixar Pier, though. But there’s something…they call it a obelisk. It looks like a wire…what do you call that? Lighthouse, and it’s before you go over the bridge into Pixar Pier. That’s where we saw the show and that’s where the picture was taken here. Then the Mariachi Divas. Now, they’ve won the Grammy twice, and this…okay, so, this is good.
Now, they were another daytime act, so that’s too bad. Four times a day; 11:00 AM, 11:55 AM, 1:10 PM, and 2:05. So, that may have been why we missed them. So…okay, let’s see, do they have a time for the drummers? They don’t. So, if I was gonna catch the Mariachi Divas, I’d say catch the 11:55, the 1:10, or the 2:05, and align that with your lunch. Now, they’re probably gonna be performing in one of two places, and this is what is also nice about some of these upcoming acts, is that they perform in places where you can enjoy your meal. So, you can have your lunch meal and see the Mariachi Divas, but you just gotta figure out which stage they’re gonna be performing on or which plaza. Okay, now, this next one is for snacking because we saw them at night and we were able to time it with other things, Mostly Kosher.
This band, it was so fun. People were dancing. They play a bunch of different styles of music to celebrate Hanukkah but also to just celebrate having fun, and they kinda…they perform in a little tucked-away place where there’s plenty of seating, and again, you could take your food and sit down or you could stand and dance. People were dancing. I cannot strongly recommend this band enough. All the bands…everything’s good, but this is a good one for after dark. So, they play at…typically 3:15, 4:25, 5:35, 6:30, and 7:40. I’m pretty sure Scooter…I don't know if his daughter came, but we saw them…it was probably 5:30, 6:30, or 7:40. Okay, next up is the Blue13 Dance Company. They play…they do a Diwali traditional dance, like a Bollywood-style party, and that is also in the afternoon.
Now, this is at Paradise Gardens Park which is on the water. Again, this one you don’t want to miss, either. So, 1:30, 2:30…so, you could probably do…you could go to the Mariachi Divas at 1:10 or 2:05 and then walk over and see this, is what I would recommend. Okay, next up we got more and more music. So…and these are all strong recommends. So, Phat Cat Swinger; now, this one…this band is so popular that people talk about it on other podcasts and stuff. It’s a big band, swinging music, kinda like…I don't know, like Phat Cat Swinger. You could figure it out. It doesn’t have any times. They perform in the evening, though. I know they perform more than one set because I heard them say come back for our next set. It’s high energy, a lot of dancing. That’s at the same place as the Blue13 Dance Company.
Again, this one is not to be missed, either. Then, this is what we had our dinner with last year, with The Mistletoes. Hear the magic of The Mistletoes celebrating Christmas in the spirit of Kwanzaa. This is a a-capella vocal ensemble…re-imagines holiday hits with rhythm and soul, but also just a great show. Great music and a great show. A-capella is still…you can’t get enough of it, I don't believe. Okay, they perform in the evening, but the early shows are at 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 5:45, 7:00, and 7:00…7:00 PM and 8:00 PM. So, I would recommend this for a dinner for 5:45 or 7:00 or 8:00, depending…and then go to see Mostly Kosher. Oh, I guess you’d see Mostly Kosher…4:25, 6:30, 7:40. That must have been what we did. Or maybe we saw them…just unrelated times. But they’re pretty close to one another.
Well, this was at the Pacific Wharf and there’s a stage there, but I don't know if they’ll change that, because they reimagined it to Baymax. They changed the Pacific Wharf to Baymax Frisco, Tokyo Frisco or something, from San Frantokyo, I think. Okay, next up is Tina and the Sounds of the Celebration. This is powerhouse vocalist Tina and a dynamic music show. Salsa, merengue, Caribbean, Latin rock. This one you also are gonna go to The Paradise Gardens Park. We don’t have any times on that one, either. Let’s look at this next one. What is this Disney parks thing? Oh, this is for 2019. This is a food guide, though. So, does it have any of the entertainment? This just has pictures of the food. Let’s see if we click on the link to the thing, does it come…? Yeah, this is for 2024. Okay, so this is what’s coming up this year.
It shows…it better have all the bands. Disney Viva Navidad to Holiday Toy Drummers. Oh boy, please don’t…Disney, please don’t cut back on the performances right when we’re trying to praise you. Okay, that one does not have anything about it. Okay, so, what do we got here? Oh, a Hoppin’ Good Guide to 2020…oh, this is where we buy our tickets sometimes; undercovertourist.com. Okay, so, this is their guide to The Festival of Holidays. Oh, they show the craft stations and some kids working there. They love that. You can make a dreidel, a Diwali Akash…a Diwali Akash Kandil, which is a lantern. You can make a decorative mat, a papel picado, you could color…do some coloring pages, do more crafts during Three Kings Day…okay, so then, what is The Festival of Holidays, Three Kings Day, Paradise Gardens…decorations, characters…oh, there’s Maribel.
Maribel, Chip and Dale…oh, maybe even the Country Bears Santa Claus…ride overlays…did they have any ride overlays, Scooter? Oh, Luigi's Joy to the World and Mater’s Jung…Jingle Jamboree. Okay, here’s the entertainment. So, they have the…they have more than one Cavalcade. 4:55 is the tree-lighting, then they have Cavalcades, Mickey’s Happy Holidays. Check that out for show times. Viva Navidad…twelve-foot-long puppets. I forgot about the puppets, Scooter. That is…was cool, too. Then the Holiday Toy Drummers as we talked about, Mostly Kosher…oh wait, this has just musical entertainment, but that’s Mostly Kosher, we know. They’re in front of the Winery restaurant, and there’s the…oh, here it is, yeah; Blue13, Mostly Kosher, Mariachi Divas, Phat Cat Swinger, Holiday Toy Drummers, Mistletoe…The Mistletoes, and Tina and the Sounds of Celebration.
But also, The Mistletoes, we saw them…and this picture confirms it, Scooter. We’ve seen them at the Paradise Park stage, as well. So, you do gotta check the guide because it can be frustrating, you know, if you’re trying to see everybody. Fresh candy canes…other tips…okay, that’s all for that one. Let’s just go through a couple. This is WWD Prep School, seasonal parties…holidays…Plaza de la Familia; that’s what Paradise Parks Gardens used to be? Oh no, this is for…here’s Festival of Holidays. I don't see anything specific there. Okay, well, that’s okay. So, we’ll keep going. Okay, this is more food reviews. We don’t need that. 2019…Festival of Holidays playlist. They had a Christmas Fantasy Parade in…that was in Disneyland, though, I believe.
Festival of Holidays in Disneyland, Festival of Holidays in…Next Level Churros…oh, so these are all different ones. This is a Disney playlist for The Festival of Holidays. That didn’t bring us anywhere, actually, Scooter. Review; that’s for the punch. We’re not looking for punch. Churros, tomales, yeah. We’re looking for entertainment. Full menus…let’s see. Festival booths…okay, so, that didn’t bring anything up. Here’s d23.com…oh, this is a foodie guide. I think this is the same one just re-posted on a different Disney website. Okay, new performances and options. This is from 2019, Scooter. Okay, so, it returns November 8th. This was back in 2019. Blue13 was new in 2013. Mostly Kosher, The Sound…that was the a-capella group back then.
Mariachi Divas and everyone’s favorite Toy Story Drummers…Holiday Toy Drummers. Also a cover band, The Suffragettes, playing on the stage as well as Phat Cat Swinger. Then Mickey’s Happy Holidays is some sort of party. Okay, so, that’s a little bit more information. Here’s another one; This Fairytale Life, 2019 at the Disneyland Resort Holidays. Okay, this is a food…when to go…festival marketplace so you can buy different crafted items, menus…I think this thing has been growing and growing, too. Oh, you can order from…oh, this is from 2019, so it’s not accurate. They had the…back then, they had braised pork belly adobo, too, Scooter, and chorizo fundido. But now it’s Impossible Chorizo Fundido.
I really want to see what…I mean, I guess we got an idea of the bands that were playing in 2019, 'cause I think we probably went in 2019 or 2018 or 20…was 2020…? No, we didn’t go during 2020. Huh. Scooter thinks it was 2018, maybe. Okay, well, I’m just scrolling through. But yeah, I don't…I’m sorry, Scooter, I don't see anything. There’s another one of the Disney ones…okay, but don’t you worry, 'cause we have Epcot 2019. We found these guides, so we’re gonna go through Epcot. We’re gonna travel all the way to Florida, as they say on…Florida, on the Journey into the World of Friends. We’ll just run through the…well, this is the Epcot International Festival of Holidays. They have holiday storytellers and musicians. That’s really what we’re looking for. They have other things; candlelight processional…we’ve never done that.
We’ve seen it running in the background, but…so, okay, so this is the hours when it runs, but it ended…Scooter did not realize it ended, and then when he came…he wanted to do it all one night, and I don't think we had a park-hopper or something. So, we didn’t get to do all of the…now, they’ve even cut back…even in 2019, they didn’t have the full things, but let’s run through them because…yeah, and let’s see the times and stuff. So, Future World, they have Jammminators, which we always recommend anyway, and that is a really fun show. It’s drumming, percussion…Jammminators with three Ms. That goes from 9:20 ‘til 3:35. So, you want to see that one early in the day. 9:20, 10:10, 11:10, 12:10, 1:35. Okay, we’re gonna do…then you go to Showcase Plaza…oh yeah, you could do this.
You could go…huh. Yeah, you could go to 12:10 in Future World, see the Jammminators, then eat your lunch at the…that new Disney restaurant in Future World where Scooter and I cooled down. Scooter lost his hat there, though, or on the bus. We don’t know. But anyway, then you’ll go see Joyful Celebration of the Season. Feel the joy of Christmas and Kwanzaa with uplifting gospel R&B and holiday songs from this vocal ensemble. That you could see at 1:15, 2:20, 3:25, and 4:30. Okay, so, Scooter wants to pretend like we’re gonna try to see everything, so we’ll…we saw the Jammminators at 12:10, then we ate. Now we’re seeing the 1:15 of Joyful. Okay, now’s…okay, so then we’re turning, and now we’re gonna have to…it may not be possible, Scooter. I’m just gonna let you know.
Okay, so next up…we’re gonna go left into the country. So, we have Mexico and Norway and China…are kind of in the same vicinity, and we’ve seen Joyful. Maybe that’s…so, we’re at 1:35, we’ll say. There’s no way you could make the 1:20 for Mexico, so looking at the 2:15…or maybe not. So, yeah, let’s just say we’ll do a soft walk and we’ll try to go to Norway. Is there anything at 1:40? No. Okay, so, yeah, what we’ll do is we’ll try to go to…so, we’re gonna…first up are the performers at Mexico, Norway, and China. Now, China’s got a couple different options, so you’re gonna want to come see all of them. But so, first thing we had to do…this is definitely in the top three, though, is this Mischievous Magical Bon Santa who visits Siegrid. It’s a comedy…holidays of Norway storyteller, and it’s very funny.
Kids and adults can laugh. That’s at 2:15, so you’re gonna see that in Norway. Then at 2:30 we’re gonna go…right after that show, you’re gonna have to hustle, but you’re gonna go to Mexico and you’re gonna see The Las Posadas celebration, and that has dancers, pinatas, and Mariachi Cobre, which is their Mariachi band. A strong, strong recommend. Okay, so then we’re at 2:45 or so. So, we have…we can’t make anything…there’s a cotton candy artist that…I mean, this was once upon a time, but this is if everything at Epcot’s going full-bore. You could go there and get your cotton candy. Let’s see, 3:00…what time did we see that? 2:30. So, 3:10 in Germany, and then we could backtrack, I guess. So, then you’re gonna go straight from Norway to Germany and you’re gonna go see [inaudible]. Which, this was fun. We saw this one.
It was a German vocal group and they played folk and pop music, original songs. You’re gonna see that at 3:10. Again, you could be snacking during this time or whatever you wish, and you could split this up over other nights. We’re just trying to do it as an experiment. Okay, and then Italy…we’ve got two things…well, we don’t have to see both, though. Okay, so we want to see the Chinese lion dancers. So, 3:10…that’s at 3:30. So, let’s just pretend we get there. We really hustle. I think [inaudible] probably plays a fifteen-minute set. Maybe they play a longer one. So, don’t rush. You could always redo it. But you want to see the Chinese lion dancers at…I’ve already lost track of time. 3:30, I think, and that’ll be about the Lunar New Year.
We haven’t seen the acrobats in China, but maybe they…Walt Disney will get them back. But they don’t…they’ll perform later in the evening. They used to perform throughout the year. Okay, next up…so we’re at…what time was that? 3:30, right? Okay, so, we’re looking at 4:00 PM. Okay, perfect; 4:15. Okay. Oh, 4:00 PM. Right? 3:30. If we could, we could make it to Italy to see Sergio. So, there’s a lot of backtracking and walking here. So, ideally this is just…if it was just me and Scooter and we’re imagining we could do this…but at 3:00…what did we say? 3:50, we would go see Sergio, the Italian mime and juggler. That would…that’s about a ten-minute show. Very entertaining. Then we have at 4:15 the Holiday La Befina, and that’s a kindhearted spell-caster that comes on the eve of the epiphany.
So, that’s another storyteller for the holidays. Again, you don’t want to miss these holiday shows. So, if you have to sacrifice Sergio…no offense; I love Sergio. We see him every time. But prioritize these holiday ones. Okay, so, then we’re in Italy. Now, Dickens carolers. Oh boy, Scooter, we…what time are we at? Oh, so, we missed it. So, on another time, on another day, we would try to go see the Voices of Liberty as Dickens carolers. They play at 11:30, 12:15, 1:00 PM, 1:45, 2:30, and 4:00 PM. Oh, okay, Scooter just said, why don’t we back up and go to Canada? Scooter, Canada’s…oh, yeah, they…okay, so, let’s pretend we started from the other way, like, we saw Joyful at 1:15 and now we’re starting in Canada. Okay, Scooter said, let’s do it. Okay, so that would work out. So, we’d go see the Canada Holiday Voyages.
That’s a musical tour of Canada’s holiday traditions in the great, white north. That’s at 1:40, so…1:40. Now, we got a busy time in England, here. So, let’s see how we’re gonna do this. 1:40, 2:15, 3:00, and 2:40. So, we can do this. So, you’re gonna go…after the Holiday Voyages, you’re gonna go to the Rose & Crown Pub Musician, which we talked about…I don't know if it came out yet, but for the time being, they don’t have waitstaff in there. So, you could just get a drink, get some food, and sit down. That’s at 2:15. Now, I have not seen the Pub Musician due…at the holiday season, so I can’t make any guarantees, but I could say it’ll be fun either way. Maybe there will be holiday songs; maybe there won't be.
Then you’re gonna go meet…you’re gonna see Father Christmas, which is the traditions of the United Kingdom. That’s at 2:40, okay? Then…oh, wait a second. Maybe we’ll try to squeeze something else in here. I think we will. What do we say, 2:00…? Oh no, we won't be able to do that, Scooter. Okay, so, that’s 2:40. Then at 3:00 PM we’re gonna see British Revolution, which I think it’s a different band now. But that was a British…it’s still a rock band, and maybe they play some holiday songs. I assume they do. So, then you got the UK done. Now you’re gonna go to France, France. Okay, but again, we’ll have to figure out the Dickens carolers. Maybe start there? I don't know. Maybe this is a three-day thing. Now, in France, unfortunately they used to have this comical waiter and wine steward show that has not returned.
So, hopefully that’ll return. But they do have Pere Noel, which is another great holiday show. What time? We’re at 3:00 PM. So, 3:00 PM…3:40 PM, you’re gonna go see that. There’s actually…if they would have the comic and wine steward show, that would be at 3:55. Okay, so, let’s say 3:55. Oh, perfect. 4:05 is the Hanukkah storyteller. That’s between Morocco and France. Tells tales and sings songs. So, these storyteller shows are really…again, you don’t want to miss these ones. So, that’s gonna be at 4:05 or 3:00…5:05, 6:05, 6:50. So, you want to go to that show. Okay, then Morocco…they changed the band, too. So, it’s a different band now. I can’t remember 'cause we just saw them. But let’s just say…okay, so, we went…3:30, so 3:40, 3:55, then…okay, so, then we saw the 4:05 Hanukkah storyteller.
So, 4:45 you could see the band of Morocco, and it does say ‘celebrate the fun of street festivals and holiday season across Morocco’. Then we’re gonna go to Japan to see the storyteller. Daruma Doll…Daruma storyteller. What time are we at now? 4:00…like, 6:00 PM, right? Now, you don’t want to miss the drummers, but you can hear…they’ll be done for the day at this point. Those are the Taiko Drummers, one of my favorite things to hear across the…whatever they call it, the Epcot Lagoon of Unity or whatever they call it. But you do want to see this storyteller, so you’re gonna see that one probably at 5:05, 5:40, or 6:15. At some point, we may have backtracked to see the Voices of Liberty.
Now, the only thing missing on here; there was a German storyteller, because when Scooter’s daughter was just a baby and I didn’t know Scooter, Scooter said there used to be a German storyteller. Then the reason he remembers it is there’s a big surprise at the end of the storytelling show that amazes adults and kids alike. He said it was probably one…now, Scooter was also…he wasn’t clear-headed, but he said it was one of the coolest reveals. It’s just really fun. So, I don't know. So, that’s a couple of different things you could do if you were at one of these theme parks at the holidays. Oh, that we loved to do and we wanted to share with you. The scheduling is particularly sleepy, you know. So, thanks so much for listening, everybody. This is your friend Ray saying goodnight and sleep well.
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