001. How Did We Get Here?

Steph and John, a married couple from Ohio, launch their podcast "We Did This to Ourselves," exploring their evolving love for Disney. Initially skeptical, Steph was won over during their first family trip to Disney World, despite her initial reservations about the cost. The couple shares their journey from planning to experiencing the magic of Disney, including favorite rides, snacks, and the ambiance that captivated them. They discuss how Disney has become a cherished part of their lives, with plans for future visits. The episode concludes with a fun "Lightning Lane" Q&A segment about their Disney preferences.

• Steph and John introduce themselves as a married couple from Ohio, launching their first podcast episode.
• The podcast theme is centered around overanalyzing their favorite place, Disney, and sharing personal experiences and observations.
• The couple aims to create a relaxed atmosphere by enjoying drinks during the podcast.

"This is a podcast where we overanalyze our favorite place on Earth and maybe judge a few park goers along the way from the porch with drinks."

• The podcast will explore their personal history with Disney, their vacations, and their love for Disney-related music, movies, and parks.

• Steph and John share how their love for Disney developed differently but became a significant part of their lives.
• They recount their recent trip to Disney and the feeling of "Disney blues" upon returning home.
• The couple discusses how Disney magic differs from their everyday life in Ohio.

"We just want to give you just a little bit of a background of who we are and how our love for Disney kind of crept up on us."

• John maintains a connection to Disney through music playlists, including jazz, piano, lo-fi, and orchestral Disney music.
• The couple's child has also shown an interest in Disney music, specifically the Country Bear Jamboree.

"I've got a plethora of Disney music playlists in different kind of genres. You know, jazz and piano music. I've got some lo-fi and some orchestral type stuff."

• Steph enjoys making different kinds of Joffrey's coffee as a way to bring a piece of Disney into her daily routine.
• The couple shares their tradition of gifting each other Disney-themed coffee for special occasions.

"I've been making a lot of Joffrey's. Pretty much every morning I'm making a different kind of Joffrey's coffee."

• They frequently purchase Joffrey's coffee from TJ Maxx, despite concerns about freshness.

"If people aren't checking for Joffrey's at TJ Maxx, they are really missing out."

• The couple discusses recent changes and updates at Disney parks, including the reopening of Test Track and new snack offerings.
• Test Track's reopening is anticipated by their youngest child, whose current favorite ride is Guardians of the Galaxy.

"Test Track was our youngest child's favorite ride the first time we went to Disney World. Now his favorite ride is now Guardians of the Galaxy."

• Steph expresses excitement about new snacks like the caramel apple funnel cake at Hollywood Studios.

"So after we were there, they came out with a new snack at Hollywood Studios. Caramel apple funnel cake."

• Steph shares her childhood experiences with Disney, highlighting her preference for Disney music over movies.
• She recalls singing Disney songs with friends and family, emphasizing her love for music.

"I obviously liked Disney. I mean, I don't know any kids who don't like Disney. I watched the movies. I listened to a lot of Disney music."

• The podcast will delve into their individual Disney experiences and how these have influenced their current interests and podcast topics.

"We want this first one to kind of be an intro to who we are and why we're doing the podcast."

• A's mother collected Disney VHS tapes for future grandchildren, not anticipating technological obsolescence.
• The collection was extensive but ultimately unused due to advancements in technology.

"Her future grandkids. Not realizing that VCRs would become obsolete."

• A's mother did not foresee the shift from VHS to digital formats, rendering the collection impractical.

• A recounts limited family vacations and Disney experiences, primarily through music and dance.
• B recalls a memorable but singular childhood trip to Disney World, highlighting specific attractions and fears.

"We never went to Disney. We rarely went on vacation."

• A's family had minimal direct Disney experiences, focusing instead on at-home activities.

"I remember going to the tiki room and hearing the birds and the thunder and lightning."

• B's vivid memories of Disney attractions reflect the lasting impact of childhood experiences.

• A initially judged frequent Disney trips as excessive but later embraced the Disney experience.
• B describes a childhood fear of large character costumes, including Disney figures.

"I thought she was a little crazy... to keep going back to the same place over and over again."

• A's perception of Disney trips evolved from skepticism to appreciation, highlighting a change in attitude.

• B spearheaded the planning of a family trip to Disney World, a reversal of typical roles in the relationship.
• The trip was initially perceived by A as a "once in a lifetime" experience due to cost.

"Disney is expensive. There's no sugar coating that."

• A acknowledges the high cost of Disney trips, agreeing to the plan to accommodate B's interest.

• B took on the planning responsibilities, engaging in extensive research and decision-making.
• A typically handled planning but deferred to B for this Disney trip.

"Normally, I am the planner of all things."

• The shift in planning roles demonstrates flexibility and adaptation in their relationship dynamics.

• The family planned to visit Disney World in summer 2020, but the pandemic disrupted these plans.
• The anticipation and preparation for the trip were significant, involving detailed research and booking.

"We were planning to go to Disney World in the summer of 2020."

• The pandemic's impact on travel plans underscores the unpredictability of external factors affecting personal plans.

• The initial plan to visit Disney World was made in 2020, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the trip was postponed multiple times.
• The trip was initially rescheduled from 2020 to 2021 due to the pandemic, which included a mask mandate and limited operations at Disney.
• The trip was further postponed to 2022, resulting in a change of accommodations from the Contemporary Resort to the Wilderness Lodge at Copper Creek.

"In March of 2020, contacted the travel agent, who said, hey, I think we need to push this back a year."

• The pandemic caused the initial postponement of the Disney trip.

"Springtime of 2021 rolled around, and Disney still, I think, had a mask mandate."

• Continued pandemic-related restrictions led to another postponement.

• The trip to Disney World was initially met with reluctance but ultimately won over the participants with its ambiance and atmosphere.
• The experience at Disney is highlighted by more than just the rides; it includes interactions, music, food, and the presence of Disney characters.
• The first visit to Magic Kingdom, particularly the ride on Peter Pan's Flight, was a transformative experience.

"I was riding with our 7-year-old at the time, and he was yelling, this really is the most magical place on earth."

• The immersive experience of Disney World can be enchanting for both children and adults.

"Disney is more about the ambiance and the atmosphere, not, I mean, the rides."

• The overall experience at Disney includes a combination of elements beyond just the attractions.

• After the initial trip, there was a desire to plan future visits, with more involvement and wisdom from previous experiences.
• Discussions of future trips began shortly after returning from the first trip, indicating a lasting impression and desire to return.

"Not even an entire week, and I sent you a text message and was like, I think it's time for us to, like, think about going back."

• The positive experience led to immediate considerations for future visits.

"Still consuming, you know, Disney content online, still doing the podcast thing and the YouTube video thing."

• Continued engagement with Disney-related content reflects ongoing interest and planning.

• Disney smells are a memorable part of the experience, with Pirates of the Caribbean and Wilderness Lodge being highlighted.
• EPCOT was chosen as the preferred park to visit solo, despite Magic Kingdom being the favorite park overall.

"The first thing out of my mouth when we go down the drop and we, you know, turn the corner to the right and you're in that first room with the ships firing across the water at each other."

• The smells associated with specific rides and locations are a unique and memorable aspect of the Disney experience.

"The park that I would do solo is 100% EPCOT."

• EPCOT is favored for a solo visit due to its unique attractions and atmosphere.

• The speakers discuss their ideal experiences at Epcot, starting at the Canadian Pavilion and enjoying various snacks and attractions.
• One speaker expresses a desire to "drink around the world" but acknowledges the challenges of doing so alone in the Florida heat.
• They highlight specific snacks and attractions in different pavilions, such as fish and chips in the UK, quiche and brioche ice cream sandwich in the French Pavilion, and schnitzel in Germany.

"I would spend a lot of time in the French Pavilion. Have the quiche. I would have the ice cream sandwich. The brioche ice cream sandwich."

• The speaker emphasizes their enjoyment of specific foods available in the French Pavilion, indicating a preference for unique and flavorful snacks.

"Certainly would hit, you know, the United States Pavilion and then work my way around to take some time in Germany. Get some schnitzel and some caramel cookies."

• The speaker outlines a plan to visit multiple pavilions, highlighting a methodical approach to experiencing Epcot's offerings.

• The discussion includes preferences for tea, specifically mentioning brands like Harney and Sons and Twinings, and exploring the UK Pavilion's tea offerings.
• There is a brief exchange about the origins of certain tea brands, indicating an interest in cultural authenticity.

"I like Harney and Sons and Twinings. I think Twinings is the. Yeah. The English tea."

• The speaker shares their preference for specific tea brands, aligning with a broader interest in exploring cultural elements at Epcot.

• The speakers discuss their favorite rides at Epcot, including Remy's Guardians and the Frozen ride, while expressing disinterest in the Grand Fiesta tour.
• They mention the enjoyment of rides that allow for a more relaxed pace and personal exploration.

"And I really like the Frozen ride."

• The speaker highlights their enjoyment of the Frozen ride, suggesting it provides a memorable and entertaining experience.

"If you were to do Epcot by yourself, would you go on the Grand Fiesta tour?"

• The speaker questions the appeal of the Grand Fiesta tour, indicating it may not be as engaging or enjoyable as other attractions.

• The conversation shifts to discussing rides they would skip, such as the Mad Tea Party and Smugglers Run, due to personal preferences and negative experiences.
• They express a dislike for rides that involve spinning motions or intense experiences that can cause motion sickness.

"I think the ride that I would always skip is Mad Tea Party. I am not like, a spinny person."

• The speaker explains their aversion to rides with spinning motions, indicating a preference for more stable attractions.

"That's when I took the Dramamine because I knew we still had rock and roller coaster ahead of us for sure."

• The speaker describes their experience with motion sickness on Smugglers Run, highlighting the need for precautions like Dramamine.

• The episode wraps up with a discussion about the podcast's future topics, including their first trip and further exploration of Disney World experiences.
• They encourage listener engagement through social media and feedback.

"Next time, we'll talk about our first trip, like John said. If you would like to rate us, that would be appreciated."

• The speaker outlines plans for future episodes, inviting listeners to engage with their content and provide feedback.

"We have an Instagram profile. It's called we did this to ourselves. There is a period in between each one of those words."

• The speaker provides information on how listeners can connect with them on social media, indicating a desire to build a community around their podcast.