1469 – Hilton Buena Vista Palace | Scoots on a Balcony

Episode 1469 – Hilton Buena Vista Palace | Scoots on a Balcony

 

SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcast and the podcaster who’s here to keep you company, take your mind off of stuff from a balcony overlooking some stuff. I’m here to be your friend in the deep, dark night. Welcome to Sleep With Me, the podcast that’s here to help you fall asleep. If you're new, every episode we put out is a little bit different, and this is a show to be your friend in the deep, dark night. Kinda see how it goes if you're new. This particular episode I’ll just be observing stuff from a hotel balcony in a very relaxed way. So, yeah, I’m really glad you came by and you checked this podcast out. If you're a regular listener, welcome back. I’m really happy to try to help you out. This episode, I’ll get right into it, 'cause hopefully it’s gonna be a little bit longer on the episode side to carry you off into dreamland. Yeah, what we got coming up is support. That makes paying for the show optional.

 

Like, if you're new, you're going through a hard time, you're just in the middle of something, you only need this podcast for a little while, or you're not in a place where you could support the show, the people that benefit the most from the podcast, when they support it, everybody else gets the show, and that’s what the sponsors and the direct support of the podcast enable us to do. So, if you're one of those people, you come back night after night, you couldn't replace Sleep With Me if it was gone or you wouldn't want to, please consider supporting one of these sponsors or supporting the show on Sleep With Me+. Or if you just prefer a ad-free experience or a ton of other options, check out Sleep With Me+. Thanks.

 

Intro: 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. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. That could be thoughts on your mind, thoughts about the past, the present, the future, thoughts you're thinking about, it could be feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally related to those thoughts or feelings that are about the future, the past, feelings that are just making an appearance, it could be physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, you could be going through something, you could be in the middle of something. Whatever it is, I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off of it so you could fall asleep versus put you to sleep directly.

 

But I’m here to help out. That’s the main reason I make this show, is because I’ve been there; tossing, turning, mind racing, trouble getting to sleep, trouble staying asleep. If I can be of service to you…I know what it’s like for me when I can't sleep and how tough it is, so if I can help you out and offer you some relief so that you could get the rest you need, it’s important to me, but it’s also important to me that you feel seen and respected, 'cause in all my years of not being able to sleep, including way back when I was a kid, it didn't feel like a lot of people understood, or they were inadvertently dismissive about it. They were like, oh, that’s too bad, but you should try this, or, oh, that’s too bad, but you should try this. That didn't help me, I guess.

 

It was when people…I don't know, it was when I listened to something that took my mind off of what’s keeping me awake that really worked and when I listened to something that made me feel less lonely or less alone, even though it was indirect, like I knew other people were listening to something, and maybe they were smiling and relaxing along with me. The good thing is that’s the truth about Sleep With Me. There’s other people listening right now that really understand where you're at, and they really are hopeful that this podcast can help you out like it’s helped them out. They're wishing you well across the deep, dark night right now, and hopeful that you could get the rest you need so your life’s better tomorrow and the rest you need on a regular basis so you could be out there in the world flourishing, and if this podcast becomes a part of your life, that you could have the experience of wishing well the other new listeners or other people that are struggling in the deep, dark night, or you could receive those wishes when you need them.

 

So, that’s what the show’s about. The way it works is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents. So, I go off topic, I get mixed up, I forget what I was talking about. My voice is not traditionally soothing. A lot of times, the style of the show is not considered traditionally soothing because…I'll explain the other parts, but…right, the idea that I’m gonna be here on a balcony kinda looking at stuff, and there’s some background noise and stuff like that. At first you could be like, this is supposed to be a sleep podcast? I don't understand. That’s normal, a normal reaction to any of our styles of episodes, because if you were like me and you were out there looking for something to help you sleep, you were desperate, you searched, you tried stuff, it worked once or twice, you paid for stuff, it didn't help, I would be skeptical or doubtful if I found this podcast, and I’d probably be frustrated on the first listen, too.

 

So, alls I can say is see how it goes. That’s what most regular listeners said when they first got to the show; at first I wasn't so sure about it, and then I listened again. I said, I don't get…this is…and then the third time I fell asleep. So, give it two or three tries and just see how it goes. If it doesn't work out or you already know it’s not gonna work out…we put out a lot of variety of shows on a consistent basis. But if it’s already not a fit, that’s fine, too. We have a website set up, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou, where you could check out other sleepy stuff, other sleep podcasts and sleep audio. So, try that out if it doesn't work, 'cause I still want you to get a good night's sleep so that you don't have to dread bedtime anymore, that bedtime could be something you look forward to or at least feel neutral about. This show is also a podcast that you don't really listen to. You kinda barely listen. It’s…you can listen to it.

 

I’m here the whole time working and paying attention in a relaxed way, but you don't have to pay attention to me. It could be like a out-of-focus picture or a TV on in the other room or a show streaming under your pillow. So, I don't know, that’s a little bit different, but it is something…we’ve repurposed audio or a friend and you said, hey, tell me about your day. I’m just gonna kinda not bare…not really pay attention and drift off. So, yeah, that’s one part of the show, I guess, is that it’s a podcast you don't really listen to. It’s also a sleep podcast that’s not really here to put you to sleep directly. There’s no pressure to fall asleep with this show. I’m gonna be here over an hour. There’s over 600 different episodes ready to go in this…in the public, ad-supported, listener-supported version of the show, so there’s plenty of stuff 'cause there’s no pressure to fall asleep. I’m gonna be here to the very end. I’m not here to put you to sleep.

 

I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff, to be your friend, a distraction, because there are people listening who can't sleep at all or who need a break during the day or who have different sleep schedules, and I’m here to the very end whether you're awake or asleep for those listeners and for you, however you end up needing to use the show. ‘Cause my job is to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your neighbore, your borebie, your boreman, your Boris Borelaf, your best bore-friend f’eva, your chairman of the boreds, your bore-cuz, your bore-bruh, your friend, and to just hang out with you. So, that’s a little bit different, too. The only other thing I like to run through is the structure of the show just in case you're new or you're like, why is the show structured the way it is? It’s structured the way it is so it can benefit the maximum amount of people possible that we’ve kinda developed over the past plus…decade plus.

 

So, most people listen to this listener-supported, ad-supported version linearly because…and because they don't…it’s available to anybody, right, at no cost. I don't know, they just have it as a part of their routine, whether they listen all the time or they just listen when they're getting ready for an exam or they got something going on at work or they got something going on at home or they're new checking the show out. So, we structure the show with that in mind, because if it was just behind a pay wall or something, most of those people wouldn't get to benefit, and they can't sleep just like we can't, just like you and I can't. Or maybe you're one of those people that just comes time to time or whatever, and you appreciate the availability of the show. So, the show starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, so you feel seen and welcomed in. Then there’s support so that paying for the show is optional. I just kinda pointed that out.

 

Then there’s an intro, which is separate from the show. It’s a show within a show that’s meant to ease you into bedtime. It is a buffer between being awake and going to sleep so that you could listen as part of your wind down. While there is a small percentage of people that fall asleep fast — and those are the most essential people we need to support the show, ironically — most people are getting ready for bed, they're getting in bed and getting comfortable, they're winding down, they're petting their pets, they're doodling, they're doing something relaxing, and that just makes bedtime a little bit nicer, having a routine, a wind-down routine. That’s what works for me and what works for most…it works for me most of the time, not all the time. So, try it out and see how it goes, 'cause there’s no pressure. If this show doesn't work out, check out sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou. But…oh, no, sorry, I got mixed up 'cause I had to pause; there was some noise.

 

You could also try out…we have story-only versions of the show. There’s…in every podcast app is Bedtime Stories from Sleep With Me that has two story-only episodes twice a week. Also, if you listen on Sleep With Me+, there’s 900 or 1,000 story-only episodes on there as well as full…those are ad-free as well. There’s full ad-free episodes and a ton of other stuff. So, if…as you become a regular listener, you might find you develop preferences, and that’s the great thing about whatever podcast app you use or finding another podcast app, is that they're really flexible to allow you to build playlists, to set sleep timers, to build playlists of story-only shows and full shows or whatever it is that works best for you. But yeah, the…oh, the intro serves the purpose of being the middle time where we all hang out, kinda like a sleepover before you're like, okay, we all gotta go to bed, and then everybody falls asleep or whatever after the snacks and the giggling.

 

So, we’ve just…Sleep With Me is…we call them bore-giggles 'cause you don't actually get full giggles. So yeah, I think that’s it. Then after that will be some support, or after this there will be some support. This intro is a little bit shorter just 'cause it’ll be longer on the episode portion side, but not too much shorter; I just checked my time. Then, yeah, I’ll be here for about a hour looking out this balcony. So yeah, I’m just here to hang out with you, barely entertain you. I’m really glad you're here. I work really hard. I yearn and strive. So do a bunch of other people that work on the show. We really want to help you out. If this show does help you out night after night and you would miss it, please, please — we’ve been kinda asking in a really intense way since 2025 — if you're one of those people that does come back night after night or most nights, please consider supporting the show directly or our sponsors so we can be here, 'cause that’s the only way we are here, is when the people that get the most out of the podcast do support it back, kinda like you're paying for the service the podcast provides, the value it brings to your life. So, please, these are the ways you could do that, but only if the podcast has changed your life. If we haven't got to that point yet, don't worry about it. Thanks.

 

Hey everybody, this is Scoots. This is here to put you to sleep, so I recorded this in different segments. What I’m gonna do is order the segments so that the last segment is the most sleepy of all of them. So, continuity-wise, it’ll be confusing just like a regular episode of Sleep With Me. So, just in case your continuity brain perks up, you could always listen to this during the day, but it’ll be in the sleepiest order. But there’s really…I'm just looking off a balcony, so I may be referring to stuff that’s in the future or the past, so it’s a little bit of sleepy time travel, too. Thanks.

 

Alright everybody, this is Scoots here, and I’m here on a balcony and trying to record something in chunks. You could hear fountains, a little bit of music in the background, maybe other people out on their balcony enjoying it, because the view is spectacular. It’s sunset. I’m just laughing to myself 'cause the view is so good. It’s of…I got a view of Disney Springs and parts of Orlando beyond. The sun’s setting now. I’m gonna try to do a variety of these. This is like a bucket-list balcony view just 'cause there’s so much to look at, and I have my binoculars. So, that’s exciting. But it’s also…we're staying at the bucket-list hotel, which is the…and again, none of these episodes we do are sponsored. Paid for a regular room; nobody knows about it. This is the Hilton Buena Vista Palace, which Ray has joked about that I’ve thirsted after for years.

 

It’s on the edge of Downtown Disney, overlooks Disney Springs, and I think I talked about it; the reason I’ve always wanted to stay here is just because the picture of it was in burm balms kinda Disney World when we were kids that my aunt, I think, had. Maybe my mom had a copy of it before we ever even came here, and I was just enchanted with the idea. I don't know, I’ve always loved this kind of stuff. I don't know why. But there was just something about the hotel. As a kid I just found it interesting. I didn't think I’d ever stay at a hotel that cost more than $125 a night. This hotel is a great value. There is a conference here, so the price is a little bit…I think higher than normal, but they have a float lagoon, which is a lazy river. The property is way bigger. It does remind me a lot of the Hyatt Cypress Regency. This one’s just closer to Downtown Disney. It has a better view just 'cause it’s closer. But yeah, what I’ll do is give you kinda a overview at different times of the day and night.

 

But yeah, right now the sun is going down. Our room looks…if that’s east and left is west, I think I’m…I guess I’m looking south. Wait, it would be ‘we’, so I guess I’m looking northwest…is to my left. East is to my right. I don't know. But I have some…so, I have the Disney characters and flight balloons up. I could see two big Marriotts, the Marriott I first stayed at when I came to Orlando on my FBLA trip, if you listen to old episodes, at Marriott World Center. Then I can also see there’s a newer Marriott. I can't remember; it’s the luxury Marriott brand, and that’s in the Bonnet Creek Resort. I can see all the Bonnet Creek Hotels, which are also kinda…the ones with balconies are on my list. I guess I wouldn't mind staying at the Marriott World Center, though I did stay at it for a podcasting conference, and, I don't know, I think I was tired or I had a cold or…just 'cause of the conference I didn't do any recording or really enjoy the balcony or the views.

 

I could see all the other hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard, and then everything in Downtown Disney. Right now I don't have my binocs in, but…I can't see my…I can't see the Drury Plaza Hotel, but I could see the B Hotel, the Wyndham, the other Hilton. Can't quite see the DoubleTree. Or is that the Holiday Inn? And I didn't realize that there was two sets of buildings. Or, I guess I did when I was trying to book it, but I was confused 'cause I hadn't seen this. So, this is a larger property. It’s kinda tucked away here. There goes the sun. The sun is setting. I don't think I’ve…I've always wanted to record sun-setting episodes. I never have. But the sun’s about fifty percent below the horizon. Actually, it’s setting with the Twilight Zone Tower of Fun behind it…in front of it, and the Swan and a couple other buildings. It’ll be cool 'cause the lights will come on. I mean, I have a great view of the Rainforest Cafe and the…like I said, the Disney balloon.

 

I’ll shoot the videos separately, I guess, maybe thirty minutes at night, thirty minutes during the day. I don't have the sunset one right…I don't have a video going now 'cause I just checked in. I was gonna take a break and then I was like, this view…and as Ray would joke…since Ray’s not recording this, he would really give me a hard time because I was very distracted by the room number and, of course, getting into my head of like, is this room on the second floor? I thought we made sure we paid for a room with a view and a balcony. What if my room doesn't have a balcony? So, I could get into those old habits of less and deprivation and all that kinda stuff. But yeah, this will be nice. I can see the Gaylord Palms. I could see the Disney office casting center building, and the parking lot for the employees of Disney Springs. The parking garage is for Disney Springs. Yeah, a lot of great views, and it’s exciting to have views. There is music from the pool.

 

I don't know if that’ll be going all night long or when that shuts down. But yeah, I could see…right now I’m not using my binocs 'cause the sun’s going down and the sky is…okay, the sun has just…I think I’m seeing a little bit of a green flash. Yeah, or a green spot behind…where the sun just went down. I’ve never seen that before. Yeah, the sun just went down below the horizon, and it’s I guess more of a winter or maroon sunset. It almost doesn't look real. It does look like I’m inside of a gigantic IMAX dome, just 'cause everything is so flat, the horizon around me. But yeah, a really cool view of that. I could see a flat parking lot for Disney Springs, two different freeways, I think, or one freeway and one road, and then other hotels we don't even know about. Oh, there’s…is that…? The Marriott’s convention center is large. I could kinda see it laid out behind there, and of course, the Gaylord Palms. Alright, let me put on my binoculars and just…let’s do a little binoculing.

 

I do have to remember that I have a thing to help me keep my binoculars balanced, but it’s not a tripod. So, I do have to put the binoculars around me, too. Oh, I can also use it in my lap, right? So, let’s try it that way. Okay, yeah, and there’s a lot of music playing. Wow, okay, so right now I’m looking at the Gaylord Palms, which I guess is…they have other ones. It’s just such a interesting building. It has a giant inside…it’s kinda like a giant greenhouse lobby that we visited once, but I kinda forced the visit, or my dad did not want to be there. So…and it was at the peak holiday season, and parking was difficult. So, we got to go behind…in the employee area so we could get to the parking lot faster when it was time to go. Okay, I’m also looking at just…there’s a lot of radio towers, some other interesting smoke stacks probably from a power plant. There’s a set of swings for a property. I don't know where it is. Oh, there’s a little water park. Hm. Wait a second, where is that?

 

So, this is off the Disney property somewhere. Is that…? No, I don't think Margaritaville is in that direction. Oh yeah, it’s right on the other side of Disney Springs. There must be a little place with a little mini water park. Oh, right by Marriott World Center. I don't think it’s their pool, but maybe it’s related to their pool. We’ll have to look into that. Maybe another reason to try to stay there again. There’s the Hilton that’s across the way from us, so I guess the sister property of this one, the Wyndham. There’s a tall building a couple blocks that way. Oh, a lot of lights off. I wonder if that’s the airport. It’s either northwest from me or southeast. There’s also a really…pretty far away there’s a giant domed building like a field house or where they construct dirigibles. But the other thing is that we're close enough to the balloon that I can see the profiles of the people in the balloon. I can almost count; one, two, three, four, five…seven or eight people. A lot of other hotels…there’s the Marriott.

 

Yeah, I can almost pick out…I can almost start reading signs and stuff. Rainforest Cafe…we could watch the Rainforest Cafe and see when they're kinda…they have a little show that goes on. I’ll keep watching the Rainforest Cafe. I can also see where I ate my dinner, 'cause I ate my dinner the other night…I got a slice…two slices of pizza to go, and I ate it on the bridge before the Rainforest Cafe when I was walking back to the Drury Hotel. I could see UNIQLO, the T-REX restaurant. Just keeping an eye on the Rainforest Cafe. I could see the LEGO store, and they have this giant lagoon friend made of LEGOs. I see one…their holiday lights are starting to get put up, but it’s not fully decorated for the holidays. But yeah, still keeping an eye on the Rainforest Cafe. I want to see if that happened at twenty after the hour, the last time I saw it happen. Oh, I could see the boat dock. Now it’s forty after the hour, so maybe it happens on the twenty and the forty? I don't know.

 

Will I be able to see it from here? I think I will. Huh, I’m seeing a little mist. A lot of good water sounds…the Paddlefish restaurant. I could see boats docking at Disney Springs to drop people off. I guess I’ll probably walk to Disney Springs and eat dinner. I was contemplating going to…oh, I saw just…one of the boats flashed its headlights for the other boat, saying, hey, buddy. I can't see the flags on the boats to tell you where they're going. I should be able to, though. Oh, now…that one’s a green. I think purple and yellow go to the Port Orleans Resorts. Purple probably goes to just one Port Orleans Resort. Yellow goes to one. Green goes to Old Key West, and blue goes to Saratoga Springs or Saratoga Springs. There’s also a lot of other docks that aren't being used. Huh, I think that must have been the old docks to the resorts kinda near where the food trucks are. The docks are still there, but they're not enclosed anymore.

 

Then there’s a lot of outdoor seating areas for the Boathouse, and I think that’s Jock Lindsey's. Oh yeah, 'cause it looks like the back of a boat a little bit. I don't know if Jock Lindsey's story…you can see the smoke stack for the power house restaurant, which its name I forget even though we’ve eaten there. Oh, I almost had it. That had 1920’s singers. The Summer House by the Lake restaurant…there’s another amphibicar. Balloon’s still up there. Oh, I forgot I was…oh, yeah, there’s the show starting. Yeah, we just caught it, so it did start on the forty. The Rainforest Cafe, it’s like…oh wow, it’s really going. It’s like, it’s meant to look like…I don't know the story behind the show. I’m sure they've covered it on Podcast: The Ride, probably. But it’s…there’s a cano of voles, and then it says, hey, I’m steamy. I’m feeling steamy here. So, it puts on a little show there. Oh, I’m seeing some…what’s that? Oh, that’s…the top of the T-REX has a little rock structure.

 

Still steaming on the Rainforest Cafe, more steamy stuff saying, oh boy, we could cook your dinner with this stuff here if you wanted us to. Yeah. I don't know, is it over now? No; there goes another one. Toot, toot, toot, here we are, tooting our own horns at the Rainforest Cafe. Alright, watching…very busy there. There’s also a stage. Looks like they're doing some testing. I gotta go in the World of Disney and see if the sweater that Ray was saying that I was thinking about getting is available, if it’s a men’s or women’s sweater, and then if it’s available in my size…either way, I’m comfortable with that. There’s Jelao’s restaurant, the House of Blues. The House of Blues has its own water tower. Drawn to Life, the Cirque du Soleil, Splitsville in the AMC Theater…Splitsville is a bowling place. There’s an M&M store hidden behind Jelao. Yeah, the sun’s setting. The lights are coming on.

 

Yeah, I guess I’ll be back later to tell you more about what I see and…yeah, just returning to the Gaylord Palms now and looking at that. So, yeah, Scoots will be back. Alright everybody, this is Scoots, and I’m still on this balcony. I think this will probably be the second segment you're hearing. I’m just trying to balance…there’s no music at the pool right now, but there is kids enjoying the pool. Just trying to manage all the noises, you know? There’s also a band about to start playing all the way in Disney Springs, which I just walked over from. I do think I could give this balcony definitely Balcony of the Year Award. It’s not taking away from any other balconies. This may be the best balcony of all time for Sleep With Me just 'cause there is so many things with the binoculars to…for me to look at. But tonight we're gonna look for Christmas trees in Downtown Disney and just see how many thing…how many trees we may be able to find.

 

They have a Christmas tree…looking for certain trees thing with stickers and stuff. I didn't see where you could get the map. Wow, a full crowd for the band that’s about to take the stage. I think they were called Bing. Carousel going around circling in circles…yeah, so, I’m gonna start all the way at the left here. That’s garland. I see garland. I see rock work. Is that rock work? Oh, those are trees. Yeah, I’ll focus a little and they turn into trees. There’s the entrance for the side to Downtown Disney. There’s the Disney Springs Christmas store where it’s always Christmas. They have a little photo area out front. Just following the path closest to us to the boats…there’s a boat there. Not a lot of people. Oh, it’s pulling out; that’s why. Okay, so, first layer I’m not seeing any trees. Now I’m gonna go to behind Rainforest Cafe. That’s quite a big building. Okay, I see across from the entrance to Rainforest Cafe some garland. Too hard to tell at this distance if it’s ROYGBIV-compliant garland. Probably not.

 

I see some other lights, but I don't see any trees. A lot of the trees are gonna be blocked by buildings, which is what makes this even more exciting. Alright, then there’s a lane between…okay, so then there’s the carousel which marks the central area on this side of Downtown Disney. I don't know if this is the east side, the west side marketplace. I see a couple other wreaths, some regular trees with fairy…blinking fairy lights in…that lighting may be in all year long. Wow, I see some reflections on the water, and that band is just taking the stage. The lead singer…kinda looks like the Silvertone from here, the jazz singer back in the early days of the podcast, Chris, that I actually saw live who is a jazz singer, a crooner. I believe this is a crooner with three backup singers. I’m not hearing anything. Really the bass was the only thing that was travelling, and the percussion, last night, but we’ll see. He’s working the crowd, clearly. He may be singing, but we can't hear anything. Maybe holiday tunes.

 

I guess I should have stuck around. I was impressed by the amount of live music Disney Springs has. They have a roving troupe of holiday…well, drummers dressed in holiday…four drummers or four percussionists. They had a small stage with singer/songwriters, classical guitarists, two larger stages. They had a…they had a DJ, then they had a roving…a woman in a robotic sleigh or a sleigh that was self-driving, and she was kinda playing DJ and also interacting with people. She was kinda dressed like an…like Santa’s assistant. Seeing more bunting, or…what’s that called? Garland. So, we haven't…oh, and the show’s starting at Rainforest Cafe on the…so, it must be 7:00 on the nose. That’s when the band was gonna take the stage, too. On the back of the stage is garland, so let’s start there. That stage is in front of the World of Disney Store, and I’m just checking the area in front of the World of Disney Store for any trees that aren't blocked by buildings or…I do see…okay, so, behind the carousel we see some bushes that are decorated.

 

I do see something that could be a tree, but I’m not positive, as well as…what is that store? Toy Story…these aren't the trees…they have these themed, decorated trees. That’s what I’m looking for. But we got plenty of…oh whoa, that’s…oh, that was the entrance to the store we were looking at earlier. Huh, I’m surprised I can't see any trees, 'cause I did note some. Where do I leave Downtown Disney? Okay, right there. I could have sworn I saw a tree there, but I guess it’s blocked by buildings. Okay, 'cause you go out there right where that Toy Story thing is. Okay…oh, that…yeah, so there is…that’s the tree. So, on the way out, in front of Earl of Sandwich, maybe? Maybe. I don't know. Okay, so, let’s go back to…okay, now we definitely have trees. I mean, 'cause this is a busier area. So, let’s just say we’ve seen one tree. Okay, let’s double check the areas around Rainforest Cafe. Okay, nothing. So, we're gonna go back to the main stage at World of Disney. We're gonna proceed to my right.

 

I don't know if that’s towards the LEGO store. Okay, as we approach the LEGO store I can see one tree in World of Disney that’s not decorated. Then to the side of World of Disney and behind the LEGO store I can see two trees, one of which is an Encanto tree, 'cause I looked at it before I left. The other one seems to be…has white and purple lights, though that could be the Encanto tree. I was more mesmerized. I think that one’s behind it, though, by the…these kinda wood carving things they had. Okay, can I see any other trees? I think you could say that’s a tree, right? World of Disney to the left…eh, that’s a tough call, drew. I don't know. Okay, so, we can say we’ve seen three to four trees. We can say that, right? I mean, you can say whatever you want, but…okay, so, let’s keep looking. We have a definite tree in front of UNIQLO. That’s 100%. So, that’s a…totally a tree totally exposed to us. Then behind the LEGO store…between the LEGO store and UNIQLO we can't see anything.

 

It’s just blocked. So, at the top of the tree…we can't tell that. Okay. Okay, so anything further up…then we can only see the parking garage. We can see a nice wreath on a building across from UNIQLO. But yeah, right now you're looking at rooftops only. Okay, so now we're moving towards the T-REX restaurant, and I gotta just adjust my…adjusting my…okay, now I got this thing on my lap really well. Is that a binocular in your lap? Well, kind of. It’s a monopod with feet that’s holding up my binoculars. So, the binoculars are a little bit heavy for it, so we gotta be…okay, so T-REX restaurant, I’m not seeing any trees. If I move above it I’m seeing wreaths, garland, snowflake projections. Okay, I’m just trying to see if I could hear that band or what’s the music being played at the pool versus that band, 'cause last night there was a R&B band playing that I could hear. Okay, the lead singer just took a step back. He’s snapping in tune. The backup singers are dancing. They're dressed in green.

 

He’s dressed in red or maroon. He’s…oh, now he just moved to the mic, so he’s probably singing something. He’s pointing to the audience. You better check it twice, probably. Santa’s gonna find out. Okay, so, we’ll return to that later. Okay, so, T-REX; nothing. Paddlefish…okay, Paddlefish is like a three-story restaurant on a boat. I think once upon a time…I don't know if it’s three restaurants now. Once upon a time Disney ran three restaurants out of this thing, I think. We went there once for brunch. But I think they had a fancy restaurant and then two other…they were all sit-down restaurants. Wow, the front of the second floor of Paddlefish seems like it’s got a crowd. It’s indoors. There’s some people lounging outside. The upstairs does seem like it’s pretty busy, but downstairs every window has a table with people sitting in it. It’s a little chilly for outside seating, so not a lot of outside seating. I don't know if it’s a seafood restaurant. You'd think it would be.

 

Okay, then there’s Morimoto and…what’s that thing called? Hollywood Squares, the restaurant? No, it’s called Planet Hollywood. Planet Hollywood dome, which is blue. The inside of Planet Hollywood was decorated, at least the lobby. So, I just peeked in there. I did eat at that Planet Hollywood with my sister’s family 'cause we were trying to find a place to eat maybe a little about a year and a half ago. They had openings. Okay, I’m…okay, so, Paradiso 37 I can confirm, while it’s a sliver of a tree, that I do see a tree. I can…can I get a tree check here, Scoots? Tree check. Yeah, I agree with you. That’s kind of…we got some green and purples on there. It’s a nice-looking tree. It’d be funny if there was two of us. I could go down and give a thumbs-up and see if you could see me. Yeah, we could do…we could have done that. Okay, then there’s the Boathouse restaurant. Checking around the Boathouse restaurant back to Morimoto. Not seeing any trees other than your Paradise…wait, is that a tree?

 

No, it’s just a triangle. Okay. Alright, no sign of trees. I remember one time parking on the top floor of one of these garages in the absolute pouring rain and then running back to the car. Okay, so, more tree check…outside of the second floor of the Boathouse, those are probably just lights, not…that’s not a tree. Okay, moving towards Sunglass Hut and Starbucks, the balloon…the Disney character balloon is coming down. Not seeing anything. Okay, we're at Summer House restaurant. Oh, is that where the food trucks are, across from Sunglass Hut? That’s where I had my dinner. There was a DJ playing. Oh yeah, that is. Oh yeah, we should look at the…for the roving sleigh, Santa’s sleigh-woman. Okay, so, Splitsville, Summer House, AMC, no lights. Jelao…I mean, no trees. A lot of people…wow, is that the line to get into…? Holy moly. Either there’s just so many people walking around Disney Springs or people are eating outside, or I guess…do you have to wait in line outside to get into Drawn to Life, or is there a line for something else?

 

‘Cause there’s a lot of people lined up there. I guess we could check back. But the one thing I’m not seeing; any trees. Alright, so that’s the end of Disney Springs, and no trees. So, let’s go back through that, and then…and move on to other things, I guess. Yeah. It doesn't only have to be a tree count. I definitely want to see if we could find that…either the drummers or the roving sleigh. There’s the amphibicar going through the water. Okay, there’s really no…oh, whoa, no, I got…I spotted a tree, maybe. I can't…no, I’m sorry, I can't confirm that’s a tree. It is…could be tree-shaped, but it could also be a spiral. There’s…'cause in front of us I see one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirt…all the light posts. So, there’s probably thirty light posts that are swirly, white lights. It does look like a tree just to the left of Sunglass Hut. I don't think it’s a themed tree. But here’s the thing; I think…I do agree…I can confirm it is a tree, a lighted tree. So, we’ll give it to you.

 

Is it one of the ones on the tree hut? Probably unlikely. There’s a Jock Lindsey's Bar. I think it was Halloween-themed and now it’s holiday-themed. I don't know if it’s always holiday…always themed in there. Wow, so…I mean, there’s a lot of buildings in the way. We're not in Disney Springs, but I did think that we’d be able to see more trees. But there’s plenty of other cool stuff we can look at. I like that sign for Paradiso 37. Yeah, so, I guess tree quest is over. We didn't see a lot of trees. Okay, so…oh, the drummers we won't be able to see, 'cause the drummers are usually behind those buildings. So, the only time we’d be able to see the drummers is…yeah, we're not gonna be able to see them. So…no, no…oh my gosh, I just saw the drummers. I’m not even kidding. Wow, I love being wrong. Yeah, what time is it? They must have just headed out on their route. I was about to say where they come out by World of Disney from backstage, and I saw them right before they went behind the LEGO store.

 

Wow, sometimes things…we gotta be more optimistic. Well, I was just trying to be realistic. Well, look where your realism got you. But yeah, it got us a nice, special moment for the podcast. Yeah, you're right. Okay, so, I do think we have a better chance of seeing a woman in the sleigh if she’s…well, maybe not. Where did you see her? Right around there, huh? Okay. I mean, I guess we would have to monitor the area pretty closely. Let’s check back with the band. Oh, they got some projections of snowflakes. The lead singer is…looks like the dancers are sitting down, or the backup singers, or squatting. He’s working to the side of the stage. Okay, now the dancers are…they just took something from him. They just left the stage. Oh, there’s one still left on stage, so maybe they're doing a duet. They're standing next to each other. What could be more Sleep With Me than commenting on a musical act with binoculars that we know nothing about? Where’s the green room? I don't know.

 

I’m trying to see where they went. They do forty-five minute sets when I asked for more information about the music, but I don't know if they meant every group. But that’s a lot longer than California Adventure, like the holiday stuff. They only do three or four songs. But yeah, I’m impressed with the number of live things at Disney Springs. But it’s like, 'cause they lease everything out. Okay, it’s still the two of them performing. Okay, sleigh check…we really can't see that much sidewalk. So…yeah, I don't know what to tell you. Okay, well, I say let’s go back to looking at some of the stuff we were trying to look at the other night as we…I mean, I don't think we…alright, so we have the swings and the hotel. I feel like I’m hearing Irish music now. I’m just trying to see if I can hear that band at all. Oh, there’s a sign on a hotel; what is that? Oh, that’s the Gaylord Palms again. Okay, then we got something blue there. What is that? Is that related to the Galaxy’s Edge?

 

I think that’s on the other side of the highway. Okay, so there’s the JW Marriott. Very impressive. Let’s go back to the Marriott World Center, though. That…so, one thing I was thinking today is…I think this is a really rare thing, and I guess it’s probably unique to not just Orlando but just the area around Disney World in Orlando, but probably it won't be forever…that you could really time travel in a very real way and visit hotels that are kind of somewhat time capsules. I wouldn't say the interior decor is time capsules, but the lobbies, the architecture styles, and even the grounds…so, this Buena Vista Palace, the Marriott World Center, the other ones on this Hotel Plaza Drive, the Hyatt Grand Cypress, just those kinda represent…I don't know what decades I’d put them at because I have…I don't really know much about anything. But they all are a little bit different. Like, this one does not have a super-grand lobby, but the Marriott and the Hyatt do, of these ones…I don't know, a very distinct style of hotel.

 

I don't know if those were hotels that were built in the eighties or the seventies. Maybe this hotel’s a little bit more of a sixties vibe? I don't know. So, I don't know, I just think it’s cool. Even the other ones, like being able to go to a hotel…I don't know, I just think it’s very rare because these hotels, they still generate revenue so they can get refurbished, and who knows what the deal is with the land underneath them…instead of just tearing them down. Oh, the same with the Drury Hotel, and they were able to keep one building and then…'cause these aren't gonna be on the register of historic places where people are gonna be like, oh, don't tear down Disney’s super-expensive…you know what I’m saying? Okay, let’s see…I can see the top of the theatre in MGM. That was one of the things I couldn't identify last night. Then, is that Blizzard Beach behind it? I can't remember. So, let’s go back to Typhoon Degloon? Typhoon Lagoon. Is that open? Tough to say.

 

I mean, the decorations on it are lit, but I don't see any other lighting, but it is blocked by trees and a building. Okay, I’m hearing some other music. I think that’s probably music that’s playing below me, but let me check the stage. Still singing. They got a couple…everybody’s on stage. Okay, let’s go back to Typhoon Lagoon. Tough to say. But if you can't even see some of Plummet, then it’s probably not open, right? ‘Cause it would be…I think that’s it, but…yeah, it’s tough to say, you know? Alright, let’s look at H2O. You think that one’s open? It doesn't look like it. It doesn't look lit up. Their downtown area is, 'cause they got their slide on. It’s got…there’s…their swing is red, white, and blue. Swing on the other side of town, which maybe is one of the fun spots…that one’s red, orange, green. So, then I can't…ROY. So, it’s not quite…it only has a red, yellow, and green, so it’s not ROYGBIV, but the closest thing we’ve ever gotten. Seems like the pool music got turned up again.

 

I don't know why they do that, but maybe that’s one of the bands? Could one of the bands really be that powerful? Don't think it’s the band we're trying to monitor just cause…yeah. They're still going, though. Oh, he’s…just held his hand out to the crowd like he was singing to them. Now he took a step back. Oh, are they taking a bow? They did. They just took a bow. He just waved to the audience. They're all waving. Okay, will they do an encore? This is essential Sleep With Me stuff. We can say that the music I’m hearing is…let me do a sleigh check while we're over here. No sleigh. There’s a woman in a robotic sleigh. It’s quite innovative, and she was playing music. She wasn’t actually DJing, but there was music playing. There was also advertisements for some sort of Jonas Brothers thing. I don't know if they have a new holiday album coming out, or a new special. I know they had a concert video, but I think that was on…I've seen those ads on a different service, the service Koa uses.

 

Okay, no encore as of yet. I don't know if you do encores in Disney Springs, 'cause you gotta come back on again at…every hour on the hour. Or, they were on the half hour. I think they were scheduled for 7:00. Okay, so, let’s do another check for the sleigh person. There’s something over there. I think that’s a person selling the night doo-dads, the light-up wands and stuff. Oh wait, is that…? I just saw something. I see something; looks like a headlight. Don't think that’s the sleigh woman. I think that’s some sort of vehicle. Okay, stage is still empty, so no encore. People are still sitting there, though, so they're waiting. About half the…half the seats are occupied. This is Scoots; I’m live here observing a stage from about…I don't even know, a half-mile away, a mile away. Could be a mile away. It does look like we may not have an encore. I also think…only think the name of the group was Bing, but I’m not even sure. So, yeah, nothing there. What else do we got here?

 

The windows of Downtown Disney…let me see what I can see there. No, let’s do another sleigh check. Okay, I’m seeing some blinking lights. No sign of the sleigh person. I do see a large number of people eating at…what was the sandwich place called? I remembered it and now I forgot. Yeah, I’ve already forgot the name of them. Sorry. Something Sandwich. Earl of Sandwich; there you go. Okay, I’m looking at the bridge by…okay, check the stage again; you're right. No encore. I still can't believe we saw the drummers. I really can't believe it, how stuff…so, the UNIQLO tree is really the only tree we have a full view of. Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree, how beautiful…they're your branches that I can't quite see. Your lights, they light up at night. They make my heart feel bright. Oh, Christmas trees, oh, Christmas trees, the buildings, my view of you they are blocking. I’d like to see you with my eyes so my listeners could hear my Christmas tree sighs as they shut, shut, shut their eyes.

 

Oh, Christmas trees, oh Christmas trees. I did not sing. That may have been sing-songy. Oh, woman in the automated sleigh, what do you do when you're home for the day? Do you wonder if I decorate my Christmas tree, my Christmas tree? I’m looking for you. Oh, is that moving? I see a batch of lights. I saw you in your robot sleigh. I thought to myself, I’ve never seen that any…today or any day. I thought I wish, I wish I might, to see some more Christmas trees for my listeners’ delight tonight. Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree. Okay, I don't see anything. No encore. Crowd’s clearing out. Even though I couldn't hear them, I would say probably pretty good. Most of the performers I’ve seen here have been really good. So, whoever was doing the booking and the planning…Downtown Disney is very, very busy, but this is…being a slow time of year, it’s very busy. But comparatively it’s relaxing, 'cause kinda the only times I ever visit here are busy times during school breaks.

 

This just happens to be a little…on my way to see my dad, I said, let me squeeze in some recordings. So, we're doing that. So, yeah, I think that’s about it from here from this balcony for tonight. I think we got a good view of everything. I’ll…I think I’ll turn this over to sunset Scoots, maybe, or this will be the end of the episode. I don't know, but you'll know, or maybe you're sleeping through it, maybe you're chilling with me. But yeah, I feel good. This is…oh yeah, let’s check that line of people. They still seem lined up. Maybe they're lined up for the House of Blues or maybe they're just standing drink…oh no, they seem like they're moving. They may be moving into the…that would make sense; maybe there’s a 8:00 show. Oh yeah, it was people lined up for Cirque du Soleil, and they just must have opened the doors now, I think. Or, I mean, again, we're talking about a sleep podcast, not accuracy. Are they moving? I don't know.

 

Yes they are, 'cause I’m using a pole as a milestone, and the last person just passed that pole in front of the House of Blues. Let’s count down. Let’s count down ‘til everybody gets into the thing. Do we count up, though? They stopped moving again, so…yeah, this must be where they're checking everybody’s…coat check, bag check-type thing. Okay, it did stop moving. So, they're letting people in a little bit at a time. So, yeah, Drawn to Life, that’s the Cirque du Soleil show. I don't think I’ve ever seen a Cirque du Soleil show except on TV when I was a kid, the first one, I think. Not that I object to it. I just haven't ever…I'd like…maybe I’ll come see this one. But yeah, I think that’s it for now. I’m gonna let Scoots take over or say goodnight. Well, I’ll say goodnight to everybody now. Okay, the line’s moving again, very slowly, though. I’ll say goodnight to everybody. We’ll do one last encore check. Encore check. I can't find the stage anymore.

 

Okay, no stage, and…mobile sleigh…not seeing the mobile sleigh. So, yeah. Well, I mean, I think overall, though, this had all the elements of something snoozy. So, either I’ll talk to you in just a few seconds, or goodnight, everybody. Hey everybody, this is Scoots. This is a update, because a lot of times…the whole idea of the on-location episodes and the balcony episodes is that it’s like a sleepy adventure, right? So…and I do try to keep you, the listener, in mind, not just of putting you to sleep but of taking you on a sleepy adventure. So, I wanted to say that, and if you're listening to this, you could listen to the episode during the day, or don't worry about it, 'cause this is still part of a sleepy adventure. You don't have to…I'll explain the context. But so, it’s the check-out morning. I just recorded the intro to the show. But last night I was recording a portion of the show which will probably be in the middle of the podcast.

 

There was…we were watching a singer, a crooner, and three backup singers, and I said it was about a mile away or something. I knew they performed every hour on the hour, and we were watching their 7:00 performance. So, after I got done recording, I said to myself, what would be a sleepy adventure…is to walk all the way back there and to watch the 8:00 show of the band. I was correct that they were called Bing, which I didn't know if it was some reference to a speakeasy, but I didn't realize that even though it’s December…or November 14th, last night was, that it’s the holiday season, right? We were looking for holiday trees and Christmas trees. So, it was a Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters kind of a cover band or a tribute. I guess a tribute. So, it was a singer and then the three Andrews Sisters. The singer’s voice was almost mind-bogglingly close to Bing Crosby’s voice in a way that my brain almost couldn't process. So…and yeah, I went over there. I watched their whole set.

 

I think they were trying…I don't know if they do a different set or they do the same set every time, but there was a lot of…thing I’m noticing here which is like…'cause it’s where you bring your kids…that Disney does really well, and Disneyland…has dance parties. Disneyland particularly, they have…and they're not…at Disneyland they're not cost add-ons. Like, they’ll have them…dance parties with the characters, even. But there was…the area in front of the stage, kids were dancing. It was really…and there was kids kinda running through the stands, having fun. So yeah, I just wanted to add that in, that I kept this adventure going a little bit. If this is the end of the show, this is the end of my time on this particular balcony, and I’m gonna…this was a good one. I think…I mean, I guess it is the best balcony we’ve ever done a episode on. It’s a smaller balcony, triangle shaped. The paint’s peeling and stuff like that, but it’s a view, and it’s a nice balcony. I’m not saying you can't…you gotta be perfect.

 

Interestingly enough, the tile on the balcony is the same tile on my living room and kitchen floor of my old apart…the apartment I moved out of in California. So, yeah, we got a lot in common, this balcony and I. We’ll be back on a balcony or a walk soon, and there will be different other on-location episodes coming out soon. Thanks so much for listening. I really appreciate it, and goodnight. Alright everybody, it’s Scoots. I’m back. Did I mention I’m using the binoculars? I have a good setup with…kinda like a combo mono-pod with feet. So, it really enables me…it’s the first time I’ve been able to just…it wasn't even a setup I had. I was like, huh, let me try this. So, right now I think it’s around 9:00 a.m., and the sun is to my left. So, that means that it’s east, which I think we figured out last night, anyway. So, I am looking south right at the east…was at my left. But I don't know, last night I was…we had already recorded a full episode yesterday, so I didn't have much left in me to record at night.

 

But yeah, I was really looking for some stuff we're gonna follow up on right now. So, right now I’m looking between two of the Bonnet Creek Resorts, and I can see Disney World of Sports. That’s something I’ve never been to. I’ve driven by it. The only reason I say I’ve never been to it with curiosity is it does have some interesting architecture from here. Now, the Bonnet Creek Resorts, that…my understanding is a piece of property that’s within…was the only piece of property Disney couldn't buy in this contiguous piece of parcels they bought to make Disney World. So, it’s like a piece of private property within Disney that for a long time I don't think was developed at all, and then…I don't know if it was ten years ago. I remember driving when they were building these hotels. They built…let’s see, one, two…I think three hotels in one complex and then the J Marriott or whatever, JW Marriott a little bit further away. Or maybe the Signia by Hilton has a separate property. Wait, what is that building?

 

There’s a W. Is that the…? There’s a Waldorf Astoria. Oh, so that must be that one. So, there’s a Signia. That must be the Waldorf Astoria that has a W on it, and then there’s two other properties. Those ones are the tallest and have the best balconies, it seems like. So, those are on my wishlist. It looks like some of the Waldorf Astoria rooms have balconies, and only a few of the Marriott rooms have balconies, maybe. It does seem like it has a restaurant on the top of it. But yeah, so, those…and it looks like they have plenty more room for development. Now, last night I was kinda looking over at…in the direction…oh, there’s some construction cranes behind Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster. But yeah, I was looking in the direction of Rock ‘n’ Roller…or not…yeah, the Twilight Zone Tower of Fun. Right now, with the sun, I could see all the Skyliner. I could see the Riviera Hotel. Behind the Twilight Zone Tower of Fun I can see a hotel complex. It looks like it’s off of Disney property.

 

Then I could see…oh wow, Summit Plummet. I did not see that yesterday. Summit Plummet’s the…what’s that thing called? Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Then we could see…everything looks more spread out and larger, I guess, at a distance, 'cause the distance between the Twilight Zone Tower of Fun and the spires for the Star Wars Black Rock Outpost or whatever it’s called, it’s pretty far apart. Then I could see the top of the theatre, which I couldn't see last night. I could see some neon, and I was trying to figure out where that was. I thought I could even see Gertie the dinosaur, but I guess that was my imagination, 'cause I’m not…oh no, there it is. I see Gertie. Just a little streak of green. I think that’s Gertie. Yeah, I could see all the Skyliners, another large hotel complex to the southeast of whatever that’s called, or condo complex. Oh, there’s…okay, there’s Miss Tilly. Okay, wow, we are getting some cool views. So, that’s Typhoon Lagoon.

 

I think…I don't know which one’s operating right now of the two water parks. I have a closer view of Typhoon Lagoon, but I can't see anything. But wow, it’s right to the side of…what’s that thing called? The Cirque du Soleil. But I could even see on the ground level the sign at the entrance. It also has a boat on it. So, having these binocs makes a huge, huge difference, 'cause with my bare eyes I can kinda see Typhoon Lagoon, but I wouldn't be able to identify it. Huh, there’s an interesting little tower. Oh, okay, that must be…yeah, we can't see really very much of the Caribbean Beach Resort. We could see the Riviera, but the mature trees kinda block most of it. I think I could see one top of one building in Trinidad and Tobago, but that’s it. Oh, there’s actually a hill, somewhat of a hill for Orlando behind Cirque du Soleil and the…what do you call it? Actually, the ground does go up a little bit. The horizon goes up. There’s construction on the top…or, not construction; buildings on the hill.

 

I can't see what they are. Now I’m gonna head back west following the Skyliner. Now I’m looking over Riviera. I don't…so, I could see…I can't tell if that’s Margaritaville behind the Twilight Zone Tower of Fun, 'cause there’s a swing that has a lot of really powerful lighting at night. I think they did shut it off for the fireworks, at least. I could see the turning station for the…what do you call that? The Skyliner. Then my view kind of ends. Oh, there’s some more construction cranes. I don't know if those are on Disney property or not. I could see the edge of…huh, what is that building? I could see the…is that the edge of the boardwalk, I guess? Oh no, that’s the American Adventure, right? No, it can't be. Now we gotta do a little bit more analysis. Oh, that’s a construction crane. That looks like it’s over Animal Kingdom, 'cause I think I could see the big rocks for Avatar, and then the roof line of Animal Kingdom Lodge. Is it that big? Yeah, that’s gotta be Avatar land. What’s that?

 

Okay, so that…I'm seeing some…I went back east again. I’m pretty sure that is Margaritaville, because Margaritaville has a water park attached to it. If I’m looking behind Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster where there’s two cranes, I’m seeing some things that look like they're part of a water park. Okay, so let’s just try to figure out if this is American Adventure. Wow, so…okay, I see the Swan, the Swan Reserve, the Coronado Springs tower. Oh yeah, there’s Morocco. I could see a couple of the rooftops of Japan. So, that’s probably the Remy building for France, and American Adventure…just 'cause my perspective’s off 'cause…I could see…what else can we see here? Definitely see Morocco. If I lean a little bit more, adjust my view…see a couple of the back side of Beach Club. It’s just weird; everything’s kinda packed together in the view I have. But yeah, that must be…there’s no way that could be Japan, then. I guess that one blue tower roof can be. I don't know the order of the countries, either.

 

But because everything is lined up in a weird way, it just looks like everything’s out of order. Like, the Swan and the Dolphin seem like they're far apart, but the Swan Reserve and the Coronado Springs Tower all seem like they're part of the same complex. Then, yeah, it seems like…oh, there’s the top of Italy. So, I see the top of the American Adventure, top of Italy. I can't see Canada. Oh yeah, I thought last night…I guess I was really leaning last night, but I’m sitting down now. Also, last night it seemed like they were projecting things onto the front of the Dolphin Hotel, probably for…they were having an event this weekend. Can't see…is that Beach Yacht Club? Must be. Yeah, just looking. Alright, now I’m gonna look in the…oh, the sun’s up in the other direction, so I can't go too far. Let’s see, Gaylord Palms looks pretty good during the day. Definitely have to stop there on my…at some point doing hotel explorations. Oh, what is that? There’s a big…oh, that’s a highway.

 

I thought it was a big, green area, but it’s just the side of the thing. There’s a nice billboard that I can't quite read. That’s too far away. Yeah, there’s a bunch of hotels in the same area as the Gaylord Palms over there. I can't quite make out any of the labels on them. Then we got all the bridges for Disney Springs. I was really enjoying…tonight what we’ll do is count the Christmas trees in Disney Springs, 'cause they're having a little Christmas tree adventure thing. Yeah, there’s a Disney…it’s so relaxing. I just realized that if I really like this hotel…I do get one credit with this chain, too, a year. So, I could stay here for two nights. I don't know if this would get too repetitive. But for me, recharging…ever since I lived in the Bronx and I lived on the eleventh or tenth floor of an apartment building, I personally found it so relaxing to just look out the window, hear all the sounds of the city, including the cars and the horns and just the constant activity. I don't know, for someone like me, that actually relaxes me.

 

I realize it’s not the case for everybody, but that’s why I do these…try to do these without too much background noise. Yeah, so, we could see the parking lot. Downtown Disney is not busy right now at all. I’m not sure if it opens at 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. or what. Oh, there’s the Coca Cola building. What’s that building? I don't know. Yeah, we’ll save Downtown Disney for tonight. Yeah, there’s that other water park that may or may not be attached to Marriott World Center, a large convention center, and more to my left is…I guess I’ll wait for that, too, for the sun to go down. There’s the…oh, there’s a couple different Disney and cast member buildings. So, there’s one that’s kinda like diamond checkered with two towers, and then there’s a parking garage, and then there’s another one, a little bit larger office building that’s a little bit more…I don't know if it was a Robert M. Stern design, but it’s got…it’s a little bit more impressionistic. It’s got a cupola.

 

I thought there was a building with the seven…the dwarves in front of it, too, on the front of it. Maybe that’s it. I don't see them. I know there is, right? Oh, then there’s a building that says Princess something, an office building. I saw the sign last night. It is in Disney script, so, I don't know what that means. I thought it was a outside company, like Princess Cruising or something, but it seems like it’s in Disney script. Maybe…huh. Okay, maybe there’s another building somewhere that I’m not seeing. But yeah, so, we're just out here chilling. It’s warming up. I’m actually gonna go swimming, and then Ray…it will be very hard to stop myself from recording, but we are gonna go out and do some location scouting. Probably…I keep debating whether to bring the recorder, but the thing is I want to finish this episode, so I don't want to tire myself out. So, yeah, I will try not to do that, but I might have to bring the recorder just in case.

 

Looking back at…it’d be great if I could determine which of these water parks is open. Maybe they don't open ‘til 10:00. Not seeing anything at whatever that one’s called. Now I have no…oh, and there’s…and then Blizzard Beach is pretty far away, so…yeah. Can we see any of…? Oh no, the…oh yeah, I can see…so, I was trying to see if I could see any of the All-Stars or Pop Century or anything. Okay, I can see one of the bowling pins on the other side of the Bonnet Creek Resorts. So, that must be one of the All-Star Sports. Then I can definitely see the backs of some signs that may be for Pop Century. I don't know, is Pop Century right across the street from the World of Sports? Oh, balloon’s up. The balloon’s up. Looks like there’s only a couple people on it.

 

Wow, with these binoculars, everything seems way closer. When I did the test first recording, I think I was just over-excited or something. Oh, there’s another interesting hotel. Yeah, I’ll have to check my map on that. It’s got a couple towers as well. Yeah, the balloon is up, and a couple people on it. It doesn't go that much higher than this hotel. It does go higher, but…yeah, alright. Well, I think that’s a good stopping point for now, and then I’ll be back later tonight or something for more. Thanks and goodnight, everybody. Oh no, take it away, Scoots, or maybe I will…actually, everybody, I will say thanks and goodnight, 'cause maybe this is the best suited for the end of the episode anyway.

 

[End of recording]

Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes

Balcony / On Location

 

How Camera Focus Works

https://petapixel.com/2025/09/14/a-beginners-guide-to-focusing-how-camera-autofocus-works/

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/how-focus-works

https://www.photoworkout.com/camera-focus-points/

 

Rainforest Cafe

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-true-story-of-the-rainforest-cafe-is-even-wilder-than-you-thought

https://thehustle.co/originals/the-wild-tale-of-the-man-who-founded-rainforest-cafe

https://www.tastingtable.com/2120455/1990s-restaurant-rainforest-cafe-decline-explained/

 

Hilton Buena Vista Palace

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/buena-vista-palace-hotel-spa-review/

https://www.wdw-magazine.com/a-stay-at-hilton-orlando-buena-vista-palace-perspective-from-a-value-gal/?srsltid=AfmBOooE-v_08jXMiOLyvniJSDaeR3BhDWchM-ed0U7bwTo1oj0yltu0

https://seconddadtotheright.com/blog/hilton-orlando-buena-vista-palace-review

 

Binoculars

https://www.uoosd.com/the-history-of-binoculars

https://www.zeiss.com/corporate/en/about-zeiss/past/history/technological-milestones/binoculars.html

https://www.luxxoptica.com/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-japanese-binocular-production?srsltid=AfmBOop2y2a_Rv8POXypRoWnlXlchXniTvSs8_6IAY2_DkMxU6RQSNXV

 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Recording from a balcony

Observing stuff in a very relaxed way

 

PLUGS

Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline

 

SPONSORS

Health Matters Podcast; Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; AquaTru; Talkiatry; Quince; DripDrop; Cozy Earth

 

INTRO

Thoughts you’re thinking about

Or heck, even feelings

I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off it

I’m just here to help out

I can relate to what you’re going through

Feeling less lonely or alone

Other people are wishing you well across the deep dark night

Not Traditionally Soothing

Like an out of focus picture under your pillow

No pressure to fall asleep

Explaining the show structure

Easing you into bedtime with an intro buffer

It’s like a sleepover, after the snicks, before the giggling

I’ll be looking out of this balcony

Please consider supporting the show directly

I recorded this in different segments

The last segment will be the sleepiest of all of them

Old Continuity Brain

 

STORY

I’m here on a balcony, recording in chunks

You might hear other people or the fountain or music

A spectacular view

A view of Disney Springs and Orlando beyond

Bucket List Balcony View

Staying at a bucket list hotel

I’ve thirsted after the Hilton Buena Vista Palace for years

Ever since I was a child

They’ve got a float lagoon

I guess I’m looking east?

I can see multiple Marriott’s

I’d like to stay at the Bayou Creek hotels

I went to a conference at the Marriott Center once

I can’t see the Drury Plaza Hotel at this time

I’ve always wanted to record some sunsetting episodes

The Twilight Zone Tower of Fun is in front of the sunset

I got really distracted when I was checking in

Gaylord Palms

Disney Casting Building

A lot of great views

Some live music from the pool

A Winter Maroon Sunset

The horizon looks like I’m inside an IMAX dome

Let’s do some binocling

A giant greenhouse lobby at the Gaylord Palms

There’s a lot of radio towers and smokestacks

Oh, a little water park

Huh, where is that?

I think there’s a fieldhouse nearby where they construct dirigibles

I could always just watch the Rainforest Cafe

LEGO Store

I have a giant lagoon friend made of Legos

A lot of docks aren’t being used

The smokestack for the Powerhouse Restaurant

I see an amphibi-car!

Cano of Vols

The Rainforest Cafe show has begun

Tooting our horns at the rainforest cafe

I gotta see if I can get the sweater I’m interested in at Disney Springs

Splitsville, a bowling alley

I guess I’ll be back later

I think this’ll be the 2nd segment you hear

Balcony of the Year Award

There’s so much stuff to look at

Tonight, we’re going to look for Christmas trees in Downtown Disney

I think there’s a band called Bing

Disney Springs Christmas Store

I see a boat

Any trees behind the Rainforest Cafe?

I see some garland

ROYGBIV-compliant garland

Some cool reflections on the water

That singer looks like the Silvertone!

He’s working the crowd

A self-driving robotic sleigh

Oh, the show is now officially starting at the Rainforest Cafe

Garland and bunting

I see some decorated bushes

That might be a tree, but I’m not positive

Let’s look towards the LEGO store

I see an undecorated tree

That’s an Encanto tree

We can probably say we’ve seen 3 trees so far

A nice wreath on top of Uniqlo

Is that a binocular in your lap? Well, kind of

Lots of snowflake projections

Last night there was an army band playing

Paddle Fish restaurant

I think Disney ran 3 restaurants out of this place at one time

Planet Hollywood Dome

I ate there once

I remember parking in one of these garages in the absolute pouring rain once

Is that where the food trucks are?

Oh, I’ve spotted a tree! Wait, nevermind

I can confirm it is a lighted tree of some sort

But it might not be seasonal

Jock Lindsey’s restaurant is always seasonally themed

We won’t see any drummers. Wait, YES WE WILL!

Look where my realism got me

Can we find the woman in the sleigh?

What could be more SWM than describing a musical act we know nothing about?

Is that blue thing related to Galaxy’s Edge?

You can really time travel in a very real well

These hotels are kind of time capsules

I’m not sure what era these hotels are from. 70s? 80s?

They’re not historic places, but they’ll keep going

The top of the theatre at MGM

Is Blizzard Beach beind it?

Typhoon Gloon

That’s tough to say

Could one of the bands really be that loud?

The woman in the robotic sleigh is quite innovative

An ad for a Jonas Brothers album

Do you do encores in Disney Springs?

I still can’t believe we saw the drummers

Oh Christmas Tree, how beautiful you are

What are people lining up for?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a live Cirque du Soleil show

I’m back

I’m using a binoculars with a monopod with feet

I think it’s around 9am

I’m looking south at the moment

Disney World of Sports has some interesting architecture

Bonnet Creek Resorts

My understanding is that Disney couldn’t buy that property

Some of the Waldorf Astoria rooms have balconies

It looks like there’s plenty more room for development

Construction cranes behind the Rock n Roller Coaster

A hotel complex behind the Twilight Zone Tower of Fun

Summit Flummit at Blizzard Beach

Everything looks more spread out at a distance

Okay, I see Miss Tilly

A closer view of Typhoon Lagoon

These binocs make a huge difference

We can’t see much of the Caribbean Beach Resort

Something of a hill (for Orlando)

Is that construction crane actually over Animal Kingdom?

Is that the Remy building from France?

Maybe Morocco?

Backside of a Beach Club

From this angle, everything looks out of order

Tonight we’ll count the Christmas trees in Disney Springs

It’s just so relaxing

I do get one credit with this chain per year

Maybe I’ll be back

Ever since I lived in the Bronx, I’ve been relaxed by listening to all the sounds of the city

An impressionistic office building

Ray and I will do some location scouting later

I don’t want to tire myself out

Are those signs for Pop Century?

Oh, the balloon is up!

Wow, with these binoculars everything seems so much closer

The balloon is officially up

It doesn’t go much higher than this hotel

One more update

These kinds of episodes are always a sleepy adventure

Last night I saw a crooner and his band

I decided to go watch their 8pm show after I ended recording

The band is called Bing!

A Bing Crosby/Andrew Sisters tribute act

The Bing Crosby singer’s voice was mind-bogglingly close to the real deal

I’ll miss this balcony

The best balcony we’ve ever recorded on

 

SUMMARY:

Episode: 1469

Title: Hilton Buena Palace | Scoots on a Balcony

Plugs: Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Story Only Feed; Emily Tat Artwork; Crisis Textline

Sponsors: Health Matters Podcast; Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; AquaTru; Talkiatry; Quince; DripDrop; Cozy Earth

Notable Language:

• Old Continuity Brain
• Bucket List Balcony View
• Winter Maroon Sunset
• Binocling
• Giant Lagoon Friend
• Cano of Vols
• Balcony of the Year Award
• ROYGBIV-compliant garland
• Typhoon Gloon
• Cupola

 

Notable Culture:

• • Disney Springs
  • Orlando
  • Hilton Buena Vista Palace
  • Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
  • Margaritaville
  • Christmas
  • Silvertone singer

• Encanto

• Jock Lindsey
• The Jonas Brothers
• “O, Christmas Tree” song
• Cirque du Soleil
• Bing Crosby
• Andrews Sisters

 

Notable Talking Points:

• Thoughts you’re thinking about
• Or heck, even feelings
• I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off it
• I’m just here to help out
• I can relate to what you’re going through
• Feeling less lonely or alone
• Other people are wishing you well across the deep dark night
• Not Traditionally Soothing
• Like an out of focus picture under your pillow
• No pressure to fall asleep
• Explaining the show structure
• Easing you into bedtime with an intro buffer
• It’s like a sleepover, after the snicks, before the giggling
• I’ll be looking out of this balcony
• Please consider supporting the show directly
• I recorded this in different segments
• The last segment will be the sleepiest of all of them
• Old Continuity Brain
• I’m here on a balcony, recording in chunks
• You might hear other people or the fountain or music
• A spectacular view
• A view of Disney Springs and Orlando beyond
• Bucket List Balcony View
• Staying at a bucket list hotel
• I’ve thirsted after the Hilton Buena Vista Palace for years
• Ever since I was a child
• They’ve got a float lagoon
• I guess I’m looking east?
• I can see multiple Marriott’s
• I’d like to stay at the Bayou Creek hotels
• I went to a conference at the Marriott Center once
• I can’t see the Drury Plaza Hotel at this time
• I’ve always wanted to record some sunsetting episodes
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Fun is in front of the sunset
• I got really distracted when I was checking in
• Gaylord Palms
• Disney Casting Building
• A lot of great views
• Some live music from the pool
• A Winter Maroon Sunset
• The horizon looks like I’m inside an IMAX dome
• Let’s do some binocling
• A giant greenhouse lobby at the Gaylord Palms
• There’s a lot of radio towers and smokestacks
• Oh, a little water park
• Huh, where is that?
• I think there’s a fieldhouse nearby where they construct dirigibles
• I could always just watch the Rainforest Cafe
• LEGO Store
• I have a giant lagoon friend made of Legos
• A lot of docks aren’t being used
• The smokestack for the Powerhouse Restaurant
• I see an amphibi-car!
• Cano of Vols
• The Rainforest Cafe show has begun
• Tooting our horns at the rainforest cafe
• I gotta see if I can get the sweater I’m interested in at Disney Springs
• Splitsville, a bowling alley
• I guess I’ll be back later
• I think this’ll be the 2nd segment you hear
• Balcony of the Year Award
• There’s so much stuff to look at
• Tonight, we’re going to look for Christmas trees in Downtown Disney
• I think there’s a band called Bing
• Disney Springs Christmas Store
• I see a boat
• Any trees behind the Rainforest Cafe?
• I see some garland
• ROYGBIV-compliant garland
• Some cool reflections on the water
• That singer looks like the Silvertone!
• He’s working the crowd
• A self-driving robotic sleigh
• Oh, the show is now officially starting at the Rainforest Cafe
• Garland and bunting
• I see some decorated bushes
• That might be a tree, but I’m not positive
• Let’s look towards the LEGO store
• I see an undecorated tree
• That’s an Encanto tree
• We can probably say we’ve seen 3 trees so far
• A nice wreath on top of Uniqlo
• Is that a binocular in your lap? Well, kind of
• Lots of snowflake projections
• Last night there was an army band playing
• Paddle Fish restaurant
• I think Disney ran 3 restaurants out of this place at one time
• Planet Hollywood Dome
• I ate there once
• I remember parking in one of these garages in the absolute pouring rain once
• Is that where the food trucks are?
• Oh, I’ve spotted a tree! Wait, nevermind
• I can confirm it is a lighted tree of some sort
• But it might not be seasonal
• Jock Lindsey’s restaurant is always seasonally themed
• We won’t see any drummers. Wait, YES WE WILL!
• Look where my realism got me
• Can we find the woman in the sleigh?
• What could be more SWM than describing a musical act we know nothing about?
• Is that blue thing related to Galaxy’s Edge?
• You can really time travel in a very real well
• These hotels are kind of time capsules
• I’m not sure what era these hotels are from. 70s? 80s?
• They’re not historic places, but they’ll keep going
• The top of the theatre at MGM
• Is Blizzard Beach beind it?
• Typhoon Gloon
• That’s tough to say
• Could one of the bands really be that loud?
• The woman in the robotic sleigh is quite innovative
• An ad for a Jonas Brothers album
• Do you do encores in Disney Springs?
• I still can’t believe we saw the drummers
• Oh Christmas Tree, how beautiful you are
• What are people lining up for?
• I don’t think I’ve ever seen a live Cirque du Soleil show
• I’m back
• I’m using a binoculars with a monopod with feet
• I think it’s around 9am
• I’m looking south at the moment
• Disney World of Sports has some interesting architecture
• Bonnet Creek Resorts
• My understanding is that Disney couldn’t buy that property
• Some of the Waldorf Astoria rooms have balconies
• It looks like there’s plenty more room for development
• Construction cranes behind the Rock n Roller Coaster
• A hotel complex behind the Twilight Zone Tower of Fun
• Summit Flummit at Blizzard Beach
• Everything looks more spread out at a distance
• Okay, I see Miss Tilly
• A closer view of Typhoon Lagoon
• These binocs make a huge difference
• We can’t see much of the Caribbean Beach Resort
• Something of a hill (for Orlando)
• Is that construction crane actually over Animal Kingdom?
• Is that the Remy building from France?
• Maybe Morocco?
• Backside of a Beach Club
• From this angle, everything looks out of order
• Tonight we’ll count the Christmas trees in Disney Springs
• It’s just so relaxing
• I do get one credit with this chain per year
• Maybe I’ll be back
• Ever since I lived in the Bronx, I’ve been relaxed by listening to all the sounds of the city
• An impressionistic office building
• Ray and I will do some location scouting later
• I don’t want to tire myself out
• Are those signs for Pop Century?
• Oh, the balloon is up!
• Wow, with these binoculars everything seems so much closer
• The balloon is officially up
• It doesn’t go much higher than this hotel
• One more update
• These kinds of episodes are always a sleepy adventure
• Last night I saw a crooner and his band
• I decided to go watch their 8pm show after I ended recording
• The band is called Bing!
• A Bing Crosby/Andrew Sisters tribute act
• The Bing Crosby singer’s voice was mind-bogglingly close to the real deal
• I’ll miss this balcony
• The best balcony we’ve ever recorded on