Play It By Ears Podcast

Lace up your running shoes — we’re talking all things runDisney! In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re looking back at the history of runDisney, how it has evolved over the years, and what the experience looks like today. We cover the race locations and offerings, what it’s actually like to run a Disney race weekend, and our favorite tips and tricks for planning. But we’re also getting into the elephant in the room: the price. With registration costs climbing and the experience changing, does runDisney still deliver the value and Disney magic that made it so special? We’re sharing our honest opinions on what we love, what we miss, and whether runDisney is still worth the splurge. Whether you’re a seasoned runDisney runner or just curious about signing up, come join us for a conversation full of Disney nostalgia, practical advice, and a few spicy takes. 🎧 Play It By Ears — honest opinions, real strategies, spicy takes.

A whole land dedicated to Disney villains? We’re SO in. 😈 We’re talking about the upcoming Villains Land at Magic Kingdom, sharing our hopes for what Disney will bring to life, and then taking things into our own hands. What rides would we build? Which villains deserve their own restaurants? What immersive experiences and little details would make this land a must-do at Walt Disney World? We’re putting on our Imagineer ears and designing our ultimate Villains Land from scratch — and trust us, we have ideas. Listen in, then tell us: What’s the ONE thing Disney absolutely needs to include? Play It By Ears: honest opinions, real strategies, spicy takes.

It’s a listener Q&A! 🎧 You sent us your Disney questions, and now we’re answering them. From vacation planning and park strategies to Disney hot takes, favorites, and things you’ve always wondered about—we’re getting into it all. Come hang out with us for an episode full of honest opinions, real strategies, and, of course, a few spicy takes. 🌶️🏰 Have a question for a future episode? Send it our way! Play It By Ears — honest opinions, real strategies, spicy takes.

If you could steal your favorite attractions from ANY Disney park in the world and build your own perfect Disney theme park… what would you choose? 🏰🎢🌎 In this episode of Play It By Ears , we go head-to-head in the ultimate Disney ride draft! We’re picking attractions from Disney parks around the globe, one at a time, trying to create the greatest possible theme park. But once a ride is drafted, it’s OFF THE BOARD. 😈 From Walt Disney World and Disneyland to Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, some picks are obvious… and some choices might have you yelling at your headphones. Who builds the better park? What attractions are impossible to leave out? And which rides are we willing to sacrifice? Come draft with us and decide which park you’d rather spend your next Disney vacation visiting! Play It By Ears: honest opinions, real strategies & spicy takes.

Ready to take Disney all the way to mainland China? This week on Play It By Ears, we’re heading to Shanghai Disneyland and breaking down everything you need to know before making the trip. From the logistics of traveling to mainland China and navigating cultural norms to the park layout, on-site Disney hotels, Early Entry, unique attractions, ride strategies, and dining—we’re covering the practical stuff and giving our honest take on whether Shanghai Disneyland is worth adding to your Disney bucket list. We’ll cover: 🎢 The rides you can’t find at other Disney parks ⏰ How to approach Early Entry 🎯 Our strategy for maximizing your park day 🏨 On-site hotels and their benefits 🍜 Dining and food options 🗺️ Park layout & navigation ✈️ What you need to know about traveling to Shanghai 🤔 And, of course… is it worth it? Honest opinions. Real strategies. Spicy takes. 🎧

In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re taking you inside Hong Kong Disneyland and breaking down everything you need to know to plan your visit. We cover transportation logistics, Disney hotels and the perks of staying on property, unique merchandise, rides you won’t find at the U.S. parks, rope drop strategies, the incredible World of Frozen, cultural differences, and all the little things that make Hong Kong Disneyland such a unique Disney experience. Whether Hong Kong Disneyland is already on your bucket list or you’re just curious about how it compares to Disney parks in the U.S., we’re sharing our honest opinions, real strategies, and spicy takes to help you decide if it’s worth the journey. 🎧 Put on your Mickey ears and Play It By Ears!

Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea are unlike any Disney park in the world — but is it worth the trip? In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re giving you our complete Tokyo Disney breakdown, including how to get there, where to stay, Early (Happy) Entry, Premier Access, rides, food, and the strategies you need to maximize your time. We talk through what surprised us, what we loved, what we’d skip, and whether Tokyo Disney deserves to be a main part of your next vacation. In this episode: 🎢 The rides you can’t miss 🏨 Tokyo Disney hotels & whether they’re worth it ⏰ Early Entry strategies 🎟️ Premier Access / FastPass explained 🍴 Food & dining tips 🚆 Getting to the parks from both HND and NRT 🗺️ How to maximize your day / trip If Tokyo Disney is on your bucket list, listen before you book! 🎧 Play It By Ears — honest opinions, real strategies & spicy takes.

The Disney Dining Plan can be confusing—but does it actually save you money? 🍽️💰 In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about the Disney Dining Plan, including how the plans work, what you get, whether they’re worth the cost, and how to maximize your credits. We share our favorite tips and tricks, the restaurants where we think you can get the BEST value, how to make the most of your snack credits, and who we think should (and shouldn’t!) consider adding a dining plan to their Disney vacation. If you’ve ever wondered “Should I get the Disney Dining Plan?”, this episode is for you! 🎧 Honest opinions. Real strategies. Spicy takes. ✨

How did Disney REALLY do in 2026? 👀 In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re taking a look at Disney’s 2026 fiscal performance and everything the company has accomplished so far this year. We’re talking about the biggest wins, the things Disney got right, and the areas where we think they still have room to improve. From the theme parks and guest experience to movies, streaming, Disney Cruise Line, new experiences, pricing, and everything in between, we’re breaking down the year from our perspective. We’re sharing our honest opinions on what Disney did well, what could have been better, and whether we think Disney is ultimately moving in the right direction. Was 2026 a great year for Disney? Or are there some things they REALLY need to rethink? Tune in for our honest opinions, real strategies, and spicy takes on Disney’s 2026 performance! 🎧🏰✨ Play It By Ears — your Disney podcast for honest opinions, real strategies & spicy takes.

Disneyland Paris is unlike any Disney park in the world — but is it worth the trip? 🇫🇷✨ In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re giving you our complete Disneyland Paris breakdown, including how to get there, where to stay, Early Entry, Premier Access, rides, food, and the strategies you need to maximize your time. We talk through what surprised us, what we loved, what we’d skip, and whether Disneyland Paris deserves a spot on your next European vacation. In this episode: 🎢 The rides you can’t miss 🏨 Disneyland Paris hotels & whether they’re worth it ⏰ Early Entry strategies 🎟️ Premier Access / FastPass explained 🍴 Food & dining tips 🚆 Getting to the parks from Paris 🗺️ How to maximize your day 💰 Whether Disneyland Paris is actually worth the money 🇫🇷 How Disneyland Paris compares to Disney parks in the U.S. If Disneyland Paris is on your bucket list, listen before you book! 🎧 Play It By Ears — honest opinions, real strategies & spicy takes.

Is Disney Springs worth adding to your Disney vacation? In this episode, we dive into everything Disney Springs has to offer—from incredible restaurants and snacks to shopping, entertainment, parking, transportation, and planning tips. Whether you’re looking for the best places to eat, wondering how much time you should spend there, or deciding if it’s worth visiting without a park ticket, we’ve got you covered. Join us as we share honest opinions, practical strategies, and everything you need to know to make the most of Disney Springs.

What happens when every Disneyland attraction enters a World Cup-style tournament? In this episode of Play It By Ears , we seed Disneyland’s most beloved rides into a bracket and battle our way to one ultimate champion. From iconic classics to modern favorites, every matchup sparks debate as we decide which attraction deserves the title of Disneyland’s greatest ride. Expect bold opinions, surprising eliminations, plenty of Disney nostalgia, and a few controversial picks along the way. Would your favorite ride make it to the finals?

A great quick service meal can make your Disney day—and a bad one can leave you wishing you’d picked somewhere else. This week on Play It By Ears , we’re ranking our favorite quick service restaurants across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. We also give Disneyland some love with our best snacks. We discuss the best food, biggest surprises, overrated spots, and where you’ll get the most value for your money. Whether you’re looking for the perfect lunch between Lightning Lanes or trying to decide where to grab dinner after a long park day, this episode will help you narrow down your options and avoid disappointing meals. Join us for honest opinions, real strategies, and a few spicy food takes along the way.

Disney’s resort restaurants are some of the best places to eat at Walt Disney World—but knowing where to go (and how to get a reservation) can make all the difference. In this episode of Play It By Ears , we’re sharing our favorite Disney resort table-service restaurants, the character meals we think are worth booking, and our best tips for snagging even the hardest dining reservations. Whether you’re planning your first Disney vacation or you’re a seasoned visitor looking to try something new, we’ll help you find the meals worth making time for. Expect honest opinions, practical strategies, and a few spicy takes along the way.

Ready to eat your way through Walt Disney World? In this episode of Play It By Ears, we’re breaking down our favorite sit-down restaurants inside the Disney parks and discussing which dining experiences are truly worth your time and money. From signature dining experiences to family favorites, we’re sharing where we’d book, where we’d skip, and the reservation strategies that give you the best chance of snagging those hard-to-get dining reservations. If you’ve ever wondered whether Space 220, Takumi-Tei, Cinderella’s Royal Table, California Grill, or other Disney favorites are worth the hype, this episode is for you. Honest opinions. Real strategies. Spicy takes.

Is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party worth the ticket price? This week on Play It By Ears, we’re diving into Disney World’s most popular Halloween event. From the Boo-to-You Parade and Halloween fireworks to trick-or-treating, rare characters, exclusive snacks, and lower ride wait times, we’re covering everything you need to know before you go. We’ll also share our favorite planning strategies, common mistakes to avoid, and whether we’d recommend spending the money on this separately ticketed event. If you’re planning a fall Disney vacation, this episode will help you decide if Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is right for your family.

The countdown continues! After ranking the bottom 25 rides at Walt Disney World, we’re flipping the script and discussing the attractions that truly deserve the hype. From thrilling headliners to beloved Disney classics, we’re counting down our top 25 rides across all four parks. Expect strong opinions, controversial rankings, and plenty of Disney debate as we determine which attractions belong at the very top of Walt Disney World. Did your favorite make the list? Tune in and find out. Play It By Ears: Honest Opinions. Real Strategies. Spicy Takes.

Everyone talks about the best rides at Disney World—but what about the worst? In Part 1 of this two-part ranking episode, we’re counting down the 25 worst rides at Walt Disney World. Some are outdated, some are skippable, and some might be controversial picks that have loyal fan bases ready to come after us. We’re sharing what doesn’t work, why these attractions landed on our list, and whether they’re worth your precious park time. Agree? Disagree? Either way, you’re probably going to have opinions. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll flip things around and rank the top rides at Walt Disney World.

Thinking about visiting Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii? We’re answering the questions we hear most often and sharing our honest opinions about one of Disney’s most unique destinations. From dining reservations and activities to character experiences, costs, and first-time visitor mistakes, we’re breaking down everything you need to know before your trip. Plus, we’re sharing a few controversial hot takes that might change how you plan your Aulani vacation. Whether you’re actively planning a trip or just dreaming about Hawaii, this episode is packed with practical tips, insider advice, and real talk about Disney’s tropical paradise.

EPCOT’s festivals are some of the most popular events at Walt Disney World, but each one offers a completely different experience. In this episode, we’re diving into Festival of the Arts, Flower & Garden, Food & Wine, and Festival of the Holidays. We’ll discuss what makes each festival unique, our favorite experiences, planning tips, common mistakes, and a few hot takes along the way. If you’re trying to decide when to visit EPCOT or simply want to get more out of your next festival visit, this episode is packed with practical advice and insider perspectives to help you plan the perfect trip.