This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[1:12] David Alpert: Welcome to E-Ticket to Broadway, where Broadway meets Main Street.

[1:12] David Alpert: Here's your host, my pal, David Alpert.

[1:12] David Alpert: Ha ha! Thank you for joining for another episode of E-Ticket to Broadway. Here we all love the Disney parks. So on the count of three, I want you to shout out the name of your favorite ride. Are you ready? Okay. One, two, three.

[1:12] David Alpert: I really hope someone just screamed, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, in their car. I truly hope you're enjoying these episodes. It would mean so much to me if you could leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and share with all of your friends. Let's spread that Disney magic. Another way to support the podcast is by joining on Patreon. Not only do you get to help the podcast and Gilana's fund, you get really awesome gifts, like Miguel from Spain, one of our new e-ticket members, who gets to share his Disney journey with all of you.

[1:12] David Alpert: Thank you for being a supporter of E-Ticket to Broadway on Patreon, Miguel. You shared that the first Disney park that you went to was Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. So what was it like finally going to a Disney park? Was it just overwhelming?

[1:25] Miguel: It was. It is right now for me, just trying to remember. I have so many feelings right now, just by remembering them.

[1:46] Miguel: Right. Right? It's uh Yeah, you didn't start with the Magic Kingdom. It's not the pinnacle of Disney theme park. But um there was something um that I was so eager to see, and that was fantastic.

[2:06] Miguel: Um I had been reading for so many years about that show, I didn't know what it was like. Uh I don't think I ever saw a YouTube video before. Um so when I saw that in that um how to call that auditorium or the theater.

[2:29] Miguel: Yeah, exactly. There was an energy before uh the show was started, uh people making the waves and um the music. It was like a party, you know, and uh when the show started, oh my god, that music and and and and Mickey and well I I don't need to explain how the show works, yeah. Uh everybody knows it, uh but that ending, oh my god.

[2:57] Miguel: Um I I I cried, David. I literally cried. 37-year-old grown up. I know, yeah, but um, and I still feel that every time that I have the chance to listen to the music, which I do uh from time to time, um those feelings come back, and it's amazing, and uh that's I think that's why I fell in love so hard with the Disney theme parks because that was my first experience, and uh it was amazing.

[3:38] Miguel: I remember when Phantasmic opened in Disneyland, and it was you know, well before the internet, and when I came back to tell my friends about it, it was really hard to explain. I was like, it's lies. Yeah, because it's like animation, and yeah, it's like uh Bohemian Rhapsody in the sense that it's it's not a how can you describe that song? So it's it's so different.

[4:04] Miguel: There's so many different parts, and Phantasmic it's it's the same. It's there's two minutes, and then it's a completely different show, and then a completely different show, and you have like four or five different parts in it, and each of them so different. Do you have a favorite part of Phantasmic?

[4:25] David Alpert: Well, the ending, yeah.

[4:27] Miguel: I agree. And that at the moment that chip comes and uh full of characters, and the music begins with that fun fire, and when Biggie appears on top of the mountain, and that music I again uh it's it's it's amazing what that music makes me feel. Um and the fireworks, I think it was the first time that I saw like fireworks that were synchronized with the music.

[5:00] Miguel: Um I was just like with my mouth open and my eyes crying. I I said that before. Um I yeah, the ending, the ending. What can I say? It's my favorite part too. I love it, and Disney ruined fireworks for me because anytime I see fireworks without music, I feel very let down.

[5:26] David Alpert: I understand, yeah. But but Phantasmic's great, we love Mickey Mouse. We love the idea of fighting evil and it's the imagination. And you know, there's a lot of uh changes that have been made over the years, and sometimes we like them, sometimes we don't. But I think that ending that stays intact is just I I think I get you because I had the chance to see Phantasmic in Disneyland.

[5:51] Miguel: Uh when was it? 2016, 17? That was the new show. That was um, it was the new show already. And uh oh, those arrangements. It's not the same.

[6:08] David Alpert: Yeah, you can choose any episode of E-Ticket to Broadway to hear how I really feel if you listen to the subtext. So, Miguel, Stitch, your favorite character.

[6:19] Miguel: Yeah, you love him. I see him behind you right now on your shirt. It's great. You know, have you met Stitch in the parks?

[6:27] Miguel: I did, I did, yeah. Uh I think a couple of times, yeah. Because I I've been to Disney World twice. Um, the next day I went to Hollywood Studios, I went to Magic Kingdom, and I just I was looking for Stitch, basically. That was like my main goal that day, and uh it was great, but then this time was like way better because I I had like a whole uh interaction with him, and um I I I wore my hat here.

[7:03] Miguel: There you go. Oh, there it is. It's a great stitch hat. I had a Hawaii shirt, and uh well, you could definitely see that Stitch was my favorite character, you know uh so it was great it's it's like again that was like yeah it was uh I I was 40 years old when that happened I that was the reason I went to Disney World that second time by the way to celebrate my 40th birthday and um I I just felt like a kid it's amazing what they do and and it's uh how can I explain it I think I can't not with my English yeah no no no but everybody understands me it's true it's true and and we talk a lot about it on the podcast when we get to see Mickey in the parks or our favorite characters there's just like a we become that kid at heart and really just embrace the magic because it is Mickey.

[8:04] David Alpert: It is and it is Stitch it is that's right.

[8:06] Miguel: It definitely is and when I get to see Dopey in the parks again one day it is Dopey. You know unfortunately he's not around much being so close to Paris you have you gone yet or no yeah I I've gone twice but after that first um visit in to uh to 2000 uh 2015 yeah that's right I I forget the the years sorry it's been like twice in Disney World Disneyland twice in Paris and then Tokyo in just the last five years so it's like all scrambled in my in my head.

[8:47] Miguel: Um yeah, I I I went twice. The first time was in winter, which uh it can't be magical and nice, but not for me.

[9:02] David Alpert: I don't like it cold, yeah.

[9:04] Miguel: We have been there, yeah. It was very cold. Yeah it was because I grew up going to Disneyland in California. Going to a Disney park where there was snow or wearing winter jackets was very confusing for me.

[9:15] David Alpert: It it must be, it must be.

[9:17] Miguel: Um, then the second time was in June, so perfect weather, and it was also the 25th anniversary of the park.

[9:25] Miguel: So yeah, everything was um like refresh and repainted and well it felt it felt like uh um a big celebration that you had to go to. So yeah, and I I I like Disney Parks, don't get me wrong, but um there's nothing like the original.

[9:40] David Alpert: There's nothing like the original, yeah.

[9:53] Miguel: Or the original, sorry, I know that you're a land boy. Um but but for me, for me, uh it's like Disney World is also original, you know, in terms of comparing it with Paris.

[10:04] David Alpert: You can say like the parks where Walt really had a hand in the planning.

[10:08] Miguel: Exactly. He was very aware, of course, of Walt Disney World, and I think you can say like Walt's influence on those parks, it's clear.

[10:15] David Alpert: Well, Miguel, because it's E-Ticket to Broadway. I want to play a quick game with you. This is Tweedledee or Tweedledum. I'm gonna give you two options. Just let me know which one you prefer, okay? And if you can't answer, that's okay. I don't want to give you pressure.

[10:29] David Alpert: So first one, Tweedledeer, Tweedledun, Epcot or Animal Kingdom.

[10:33] Miguel: Oh, Animal Kingdom.

[10:35] David Alpert: Okay, yeah, tweet uh Dweedledear, Tweedledum, Jack Sparrow, or Captain Hook.

[10:43] Miguel: Uh um. Hmm. Okay. I'm gonna say uh maybe it's it's hearsay, but I'm gonna say Jack Sparrow.

[10:57] Miguel: I'm not a big fan of Peter Pan in general.

[11:00] David Alpert: Oh wow.

[11:01] Miguel: Sorry. I mean, this was me really asking if you prefer Phantasmic 1.0 or 2.0.

[11:07] David Alpert: And you just answered 2.0.

[11:09] Miguel: No, it's okay.

[11:11] David Alpert: You tricked it.

[11:12] Miguel: I did trick you, I didn't. I did. But that's okay, Jack Sparrow is fine. But the thing is, uh, I saw Phantasmic in Hollywood Studios, and that has in it.

[11:24] David Alpert: Yeah.

[11:28] David Alpert: No Peter Pan.

[11:29] Miguel: No.

[11:30] David Alpert: Oh, that's right. I love Pocahontas.

[11:33] David Alpert: Tweedledeer, Tweedledum, the Lion King or Aladdin.

[11:38] Miguel: Um boy.

[11:43] Miguel: Let's say Lion King.

[11:45] David Alpert: Great. And the final one, Tweedledeer, Tweedledum, it's a small world, or the Enchanted Tiki Room.

[11:53] Miguel: Um, well, uh boy. This is hard. Um it's a small world.

[12:02] Miguel: It's a classic. I know Tiki is too, but I mean, that song, or well, I mean, I would say the same about Tiki.

[12:12] Miguel: Uh I just have to decide, you know. Um one of them. It's a small world. Has my vote. They're both great.

[12:21] Miguel: Sherman Brothers did a great job with the music.

[12:24] David Alpert: Exactly. But yeah, it's a small world. It's such an iconic. The message, you know, that message, it's so powerful even these days.

[12:34] Miguel: Or it should be.

[12:35] David Alpert: I agree. I mean, look, you're in Spain, I'm in the States, and we're chatting in the small world.

[12:41] Miguel: It's so small after all.

[12:43] David Alpert: E-Ticket to Broadway has brought us together, which is very exciting. Uh well, Miguel, thank you so much for supporting the podcast and Gilana's Fun.

[12:51] Miguel: My pleasure.

[12:52] David Alpert: And thank you for your time today.

[12:55] Miguel: And thank you. To learn more about the Patreon benefits and to sign up, as well as learn more about Gilana's Fund, please visit www.eticketpodcast.com.

[13:07] David Alpert: Now let's get to it. She was seen on Broadway in On the Town, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and American Idiot. Grab a dole whip and please welcome Alysha Umphress.

[13:27] David Alpert: Alysha, you beautiful Broadway Belter, welcome to the podcast. Are you ready to talk about uh Disney Parks?

[13:34] Alysha Umphress: Born ready.

[13:36] David Alpert: I know. I it's very bizarre that we haven't really talked about this because I don't know if you remember this. We actually met back in 2012 when I was doing a benefit that was cancelled by Hurricane Sandy, and I asked you to sing Zero to Hero in a benefit, and now we're talking about Disney. It's all very full circle.

[13:55] Alysha Umphress: I mean, that's how we roll.

[13:57] David Alpert: That's how we roll. When did you start going to the Disney Parks?

[14:01] Alysha Umphress: Uh, so I grew up in California in Northern California, and I so my first introduction was obviously Disneyland. And we would go, I don't know, I wouldn't say once a year, but like maybe once every couple years. And then when I was 11 or 12, we went to Disney World. We had a big vacation to Disney World. And I actually I might have been younger than that. This is such a great story already. I only remember I was ever I was the age that I was a little too young to go watch the MMC be recorded. Oh wait, that was a possibility. No, no, no, no. I did go, but we had to like convince them because they were like, uh that age demographic is just that they're gonna get bored. There's so much stopping and starting, it's not fun.

It's not like you're just watching an hour, you know, tape it. It's like it'll take hours, and they start, you know, we know we know how it goes now in the biz. Yeah, yeah. But um, they they recommend a certain age uh to watch the in studio tapings, and I was too young for it. But because I was so obsessed with um the Mickey Mouse Club, obviously we sweep where they were like, she's an actor, like she's a performer. It's all she wanted to do. It was like her number one thing she wanted to do when she came to Disney World. So they let me in, and my mom said classically that I was bored as hell in a matter of moments. It was like, Can we go, please? Can we leave? And so Disney knows best, I guess.

[15:28] David Alpert: They do sometimes, but like let's talk about MMC and how cool it was. I mean, like, I was obsessed with MMC as a kid.

[15:34] Alysha Umphress: Oh my god, yes. Christina, Brittany, Justin, Ryan Gosling. I mean, like it was Carrie Russell. What's funny is Didi Magno Hall, who was an MMC member and also in the party is a Broadway star. She was a guest on the podcast. I have to connect you two.

[15:51] David Alpert: Oh my god, a must, a must do.

[15:56] Alysha Umphress: Lindsay Alley. She was on the scene for a while. Yeah. We would um she'd come and sing at this thing I I used to host um years ago called the after party at the Laurie Beachman. And I was like so starstruck when I met her. Because I was like, oh my god, you were on MMC. She was like, I recognize you. You were really bored at my taping.

[16:14] David Alpert: Yeah, hardly. When you went to Disney World for the first time, was it crazy different for you than Disneyland?

[16:22] Alysha Umphress: Um, yeah, I just remember like how much bigger everything was and more spread out. I mean, I even now, because now I go to Disney World more often just because my uh husband's sister works there. So we go, we get, you know, we get free tickets and we get to go often. Um I went to Disneyland recently. I've actually been a couple times in the last maybe three or four years, but the first time I had gone back to Disneyland after sort of exclusively going to Disney World, I was like, whoa, this is tiny. Just the fact that you could be in line for a fast pass at one park and then be like, oh my god, our fast pass is almost ready at California Adventure, and you can just sort of like oscillate between the two parks in no time. Like you could ne you Disney World could never.

[17:09] David Alpert: They could never. And like I'm similar where I was at Disneyland growing up, and then my first time at Disney World, I was put off by I was like, I have to get on a tram and a monorail and a boat.

[17:20] Alysha Umphress: Yeah. I was like, but that's sort of part of the adventure. I guess it's just so humid for me. I'm so delicate. If you have that fast pass for Space Mountain, you can get on Soren. You can be there within 10 minutes.

[17:33] David Alpert: Oh, easy. Because Soren's like right towards the front, too.

[17:36] Alysha Umphress: Yeah, totally. Do you have a favorite ride at the parks?

[17:42] David Alpert: Yes.

[17:43] Alysha Umphress: I love Space Mountain. I mean, I love so many rides, obviously. There's like, it's so hard to choose, but I think my my the one I could probably ride the most, Space Mountain for sure.

[18:08] David Alpert: Alicia, you shared with me an amazing photo. It was actually a royal proclamation. Um that I just want to talk about. And this photo is on our Instagram page. But talk talk to me about what happened at Disneyland.

[18:23] Alysha Umphress: Well, I think I was like six in that picture. Um, and I went to the Sword and the Stone Sword and the Stone. I went to the Sword and the Stone ceremony, which they would do once a day. I think once a day. I I mean, I don't know. If we're being honest, I think they probably did it multiple times a day. I I'm gonna tell you after you tell the story that it's multiple times a day.

[18:45] David Alpert: Yeah, I figured. So, but in my just once. In the history of Disneyland, it was just one time. It was it. Only once. Sorry. I mean, yes, so in my six-year-old brain, I was I was the uh it was only once, and I we were happening upon it, and Merlin was there with all of these squires and knights, and you know, they had a bunch of what they would do is you know, they'd have a bunch of strong adult men come up and try to pull the sword from the stone, and then lastly, they call a child from the audience from the crowd, and that child was me, and they pull, and then they I'm assuming uh not to ruin the magic, but I'm sure I'm assuming that they press a button.

[19:26] Alysha Umphress: Yeah, I think I pulled the sword from the stone, and I got to be queen for the day, or at least for that hour block. Um, depending on how many they do a day.

[19:37] David Alpert: Yeah, well, it says by decree of Merlin of Fantasyland and young King Arthur, let it be acknowledged. Alicia the queer.

[19:47] Alysha Umphress: Queer. Queer. So I get this huge plaque with a Polaroid of me with Merlin and everyone of me uh in the in the afterglow of me pulling the sword from the stone. And Merlin must have been in in a rush to get on his 10 because honey, he just wrote Alicia the queer, which you know he's not wrong. Um, but it it's still hanging in my mom's den office, and I actually, when we were talking, and you're like, Do you have any older pictures of you at Disney? I said, Mom, can you please send the picture of me from with Merlin? And it surely my friend Nick used to make fun of me all the time, and he's gay.

[20:24] David Alpert: Well, it is a gift.

[20:26] Alysha Umphress: Yeah. Yeah. And it's funny, like you spell your name in a beautiful way. That's unique, and I don't think Merlin caught on to that.

[20:32] David Alpert: It's a little sloppy.

[20:33] Alysha Umphress: But I will say there was there was one time I was with my sisters um in middle school, and my older sister Gillana was obsessed with Merlin and said, Like, I know Merlin's an old wizard, but when you get close to him, he looks a little younger. You know, he's probably some you know, college student. And we went to that sword in the stone ceremony like four times because she wanted to be picked and never was.

[20:55] David Alpert: Oh, but you didn't pull it out all the way, it just kind of lifted like a foot.

[21:00] Alysha Umphress: Yeah, yeah. I wonder how they choose. It must be like where you're standing, right? Do you think they always pick someone in a certain location, or it's just like totally random every time?

[21:11] David Alpert: It's probably the queerest looking child.

[21:13] Alysha Umphress: Uh yeah, my at least in my case.

[21:29] David Alpert: Alicia, let's talk international. You've been to definitely Disney Parks. Have you been to some of the other international parks?

[21:36] Alysha Umphress: Ugh no, I'm dying to go to to Disney C. I really want to go there. Um I would love to go to Shanghai Disney. Um, you know, Hong Kong, sure. Uh, but I have been to Disney Parks twice in the last two years because I know so wild. I um I I did symphony work in Europe the last two Christmases and New Year's, and uh twice we were in Paris. Um, so we I went basically like two years ago. My husband and I got married three three years ago, and we delayed the honeymoon by a year, as many do. And so when I found out that I had booked these symphony gigs, I was like, okay, perfect. We'll go to London and we'll do London and Amsterdam, and then I'll go for New Year's to Strasbourg, France, which is kind of on this the French-German border.

[22:27] Alysha Umphress: And uh, we'd had two New Year's Eve and New Year's Day shows. And then from there, we went to Paris and then Morocco, which was like so. So we kind of did like those four sit those four country cities um with Strasbourg in the middle. So there was like the pre-honeymoon, the job, and then the post-honeymoon. And so we went to Disney Parks because my husband loves Disney too. He grew up going fanatically as a child. Like he really, I wish he could make a special appearance on this, um, but he's in a different location right now. I came to my office, my office space. And um he grew up going every all the time. They're Disney fanatics. Um, but so we were like, oh my god, we have to go to Disney Parks to kick off our honeymoon, and we surely did. And we got up the next day and flew to Morocco and we were so tired, but it was so fun.

[23:16] David Alpert: Yeah. Disney Parks is so beautiful.

[23:19] Alysha Umphress: It is. It's also just both times I've been in the last two years have also been in January, which is a really bizarre time to go because everyone's wearing coats and hats and mittens, and all the merch is like because you know, we're just so used to going in Southern California or Florida where it's everyone, it's hot almost always. And here it's like everybody has the glove and hat merch and like all the merch is sweaters and um just like warm weather or cold weather things. So and that's wild. And there's also weird limits on you can't just like loiter in restaurants or like walk in and sit down because you know it's cold, so they want to keep those for people that are actually eating. So it wasn't like that it was that freezing, but it's just a weird dynamic to be at Disney wearing a coat.

[24:04] David Alpert: Yeah, totally. When I was the last one I was at Disney Parks was in December and it snowed. You were like, this is weird, like it's snowing over the castle. But again, that uh listen, Disneyland and California is my heart, but the Disney Parks castle is is I think the most beautiful.

[24:21] Alysha Umphress: It's magical. And then like the dragon layer underneath is so cool. That's one of the my favorite things about Disney Parks for sure. That end, I think their Thunder Mountain is the best on their mountain I've been on.

[24:34] David Alpert: Yeah, it's cool. And honestly, their Space Mountain, it's like um uh it's like a totally different design. Uh it's not like really NASA-y, it's like more um I know Journey to the Center of the Earth, kind of like um what's the name of the um author, Verne?

[24:53] Alysha Umphress: Yes. Yes, oh Jules Verne.

[24:55] David Alpert: Jules Verne, yeah.

[24:56] Alysha Umphress: It's very Jules Verne. Yeah. And so you're like, you're there waiting to go on, and you're like, this is such a different feel. Um yeah, but it's cool.

[25:06] David Alpert: Yeah, Americans are like space and aliens and dark, and you know, the Europeans are like, this is a scholarly expedition.

[25:12] Alysha Umphress: Yeah, very Galileo.

[25:15] David Alpert: Yeah.

[25:15] Alysha Umphress: It was cool though. And then our favorite ride at Disney Parks is Crush's coaster. Have you been on it?

[25:23] David Alpert: I haven't.

[25:24] Alysha Umphress: I think it's new-ish, but it's uh it's in um the studios part. So there's like, you know, it's very much like Disneyland in that way. And it's, you know, Crush from Finding Nemo. And it's so fun because it's almost like um a uh a slightly more youth, it's like a younger version of Space Mountain, so it's not as scary. But you get in a tortoise shell, and so there's two in the front and two in the back. So you either spend half the ride, um, the first half of the ride facing forward or backward, and then there's a shift in the middle of the ride, and then you do the last half backwards or forwards. But it's inside, it's outside like test track for a little bit, but it feels like you're riding the stream, like how cr how crush, how the turtles in the movie are like riding on the stream.

And so the whole it's very like fluid and bouncy. And my favorite part of that ride is when you're waiting in line, um, and you get to like closer and closer as the ride, the line ends. Um, you're in like a dock and you see all of the seagulls from the movie, and they're all like, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine. Um, and it's kind of annoying because you're waiting for a long time and you just hear it over and over again, but it's really cute that they're all like, mine, mine, mine. Highly recommend.

[26:39] David Alpert: Yeah, when finding Nemo in the musical comes to Broadway, Alicia Umfris as the Seagulls.

[26:45] Alysha Umphress: I'll do it. I'll play the I'll play them all. Also, I I wish that the podcast was a visual journey because the way you demonstrated with your body that ride and how it moved was she's a dancer. It was very exciting.

[27:00] David Alpert: Thank you.

[27:00] Alysha Umphress: Uh mover, mover, a mover.

[27:15] Alysha Umphress: Alicia, I'm joined by some of our listeners, including uh HTTPS dot Janelle and Jay Collister, and asking, do you have a favorite Disney song?

[27:26] Alysha Umphress: Oh, I mean, anything from Hercules, probably. Cause like the battle. Yeah, it's the best. Um, and I do love When You Wish Upon a Star. It's just like it just reminds you of dis the Disney parks and like just Disney all encompassing, probably because it's also before it's the the graphic for the production. It's like doo doo doo doo doo doo doo. But it's magical.

[27:51] David Alpert: It is, and also when you go through the Disneyland Castle, that's the song you hear.

[27:56] Alysha Umphress: Yeah, it is. It's a great song. But anything I love go the distance. Um, it's like my favorite lead, you know, one of my favorite I want songs.

[28:04] Alysha Umphress: Um, and I love oh, I love Baby Mine from Dumbo. It's the sweetest song.

[28:14] David Alpert: Oh, what's the bad boy?

[28:36] David Alpert: Alysha, it's time for fast pass answers. I'm gonna put 30 seconds on the clock after I ask the first question. Are you ready?

[28:45] Alysha Umphress: Yes.

[28:47] David Alpert: I have faith in you, it's gonna be great.

[28:49] Alysha Umphress: Okay.

[28:51] David Alpert: It's just like pulling a sword out of the stone. You can do it. Alysha, what is your favorite Disney movie?

[29:02] Alysha Umphress: Uh Hercules.

[29:04] David Alpert: Name a ride in California Adventure.

[29:07] Alysha Umphress: Sorin.

[29:08] David Alpert: Name any Disney bird.

[29:11] Alysha Umphress: Uh Zazu.

[29:13] David Alpert: Who is your favorite Disney princess?

[29:16] Alysha Umphress: Um, I guess Ariel.

[29:21] David Alpert: Name a song from American Idiot.

[29:24] Alysha Umphress: Too much too soon.

[29:26] David Alpert: Favorite snack in the parks.

[29:28] Alysha Umphress: Dole Whips.

[29:30] David Alpert: Name any toy in Toy Story.

[29:32] Alysha Umphress: Um Buzz Lightyear.

[29:34] David Alpert: Oh, did I make it? Judges.

[29:38] Alysha Umphress: Yes, you made it.

[29:39] David Alpert: That's so exciting. Well done.

[29:41] Alysha Umphress: Zazu. I didn't expect that. That was great.

[29:44] Alysha Umphress: Well, I that was just the first one that popped into my head. I think I was thinking of Iago, and then Zazu just came.

[29:50] David Alpert: What are other famous birds?

[29:52] Alysha Umphress: Well, Madam Cluck.

[29:54] David Alpert: Oh, yeah.

[29:58] Alysha Umphress: Uh-huh.

[29:59] David Alpert: Like half of the supporting cast from Snow White and Cinderella.

[30:02] Alysha Umphress: Yeah, it's true.

[30:04] David Alpert: So let's talk about this. Dole Whips. You're a fan.

[30:06] Alysha Umphress: It's my favorite.

[30:08] David Alpert: Have you ever made them at home?

[30:11] Alysha Umphress: I've never made them at home. But David, boy, do I have something to tell you. So at our wedding.

[30:17] David Alpert: Okay.

[30:18] Alysha Umphress: Uh, we wanted to have a little homage to, you know, we didn't want to, we we're not, we're not di we love Disney, but we're not like Disney wedding people.

[30:27] Alysha Umphress: No Tino Shade, no judgment for those who are. Live your dreams, live your truth.

[30:32] Alysha Umphress: Um, but we did want to have a little homage to it somewhere. And uh my friend um Zach Young, who I went to college with, who is now a big deal pastry chef and like famous on the food network.

[30:45] Alysha Umphress: He like judges all of those cake baking, whatever. But um, we went to the Boston Conservatory together. He so graciously did the most amazing dessert spread for our wedding of just all of my favorite things, like sugar cookies, you know, lavender flavored marshmallows, like everything.

[31:03] Alysha Umphress: So it was like little bites of all of these things, and then like a fun fetty cake covered in galactic. It looked like the galaxy.

[31:10] Alysha Umphress: Um, it was just like a bride and groom cake because we didn't really have formal cake, we just had something to cut and then be like dessert is served.

[31:15] Alysha Umphress: But the only thing extra that we did on the side was we hired a woman and she came in and brought her Dole Whips machine and made Dole Whips floats, or you could you could you could get a number of ways.

[31:29] Alysha Umphress: You could get regular Dole Whips, you could get Dole Whip Floats, and you could also get Dole Whip Floats with floaters of alcohol, like they do at Animal Kingdom.

[31:39] Alysha Umphress: California Adventure.

[31:40] David Alpert: Oh, yeah.

[31:41] Alysha Umphress: Or Cal Yeah. Um, and so you could have a float of tequila or rum in your Dole Whips float, and they were a hit, honey.

[31:48] David Alpert: Yeah, of course.

[31:49] Alysha Umphress: That's so cool.

[31:51] Alysha Umphress: I really'm with you. You know, I I'm not married, but I always think like everyone's like, you want to get married at Disneyland? It's like, no, that's not.

[32:00] Alysha Umphress: But the only Disney influence I want at my wedding is I want Mickey Mouse to be the usher.

[32:04] David Alpert: That's it.

[32:05] Alysha Umphress: Fabulous. That's all. I just think it'd be super fun as you come to my wedding and it's like Mickey Mouse is the one to be like silently, just like gesturing to like sit down, hands you a playbill.

[32:14] Alysha Umphress: Playbill. Hands your appropriate.

[32:18] David Alpert: That's what this podcast is Disney Meets Broadway.

[32:20] Alysha Umphress: Yeah, but that's the thing. When you design your own wedding, you can do whatever you want because it's your day.

[32:26] Alysha Umphress: And uh we were like, this will be our nod to Disney. And also it's delicious.

[32:29] Alysha Umphress: And also the reason the big reason we wanted to have Dole Whips, Dole Whips, the M fat the emphasis, um, was because it uh we wanted to have a vegan dairy free option for our friends that are vegan and dairy free, and that ticked all the boxes.

[32:46] Alysha Umphress: We're like, it's delicious, and you can get it with alcohol if you don't drink without if you're vegan, great. If you're dairy free, great. So it just ticked all the boxes.

[32:54] Alysha Umphress: So there was just um, if they couldn't have any of the other desserts, they could have that.

[33:07] David Alpert: Oh boy.

[33:10] David Alpert: Alysha, here is your moment of trivia, and I have total confidence that you're going to nail this. Of all of the international parks, which Disney Parks features the fastest Space Mountain as well as the fastest big thunder mountain?

[33:28] Alysha Umphress: Oh, the fastest. I mean, I want to say maybe Shanghai because it's the newest.

[33:38] David Alpert: That's incorrect. You literally earlier on talked about how great it was in this park.

[33:44] Alysha Umphress: Paris.

[33:45] David Alpert: I know. I wanted to go there, but the problem is I haven't been to the other one, so I don't know.

[33:50] Alysha Umphress: You know? What's funny is this question I came up with earlier before we had this interview, and as you were talking about how great their Big Thunder is, I was like, does she know?

[34:00] Alysha Umphress: Well, it is so great though, because the what I what I can say about that Big Thunder that will not get me any bonus points, but what is so cool about it is that it's wait, judges?

[34:10] David Alpert: No, you actually can get bonus points.

[34:11] Alysha Umphress: That's okay, great. Thank you so much.

[34:13] Alysha Umphress: Yeah, you can't do it. Well, wait, wait till you hear it first.

[34:16] David Alpert: No, is that it's it's on its own island. So it like actually goes over you like it's so cool.

[34:22] Alysha Umphress: And you see the haunted mansion, Phantom Manor as they call it at Disney Parks.

[34:25] David Alpert: Bonus Manail.

[34:28] Alysha Umphress: Um is like up to the left of it, and you see that when you like come out and you're like going in the water, and it's so cool.

[34:34] Alysha Umphress: It's so funny. Beautiful. I mean, like again, Paris has so much beautiful landscape. It's just cool.

[34:41] Alysha Umphress: But but yeah, I mean, like Big Thunder, you immediately just go underwater and then you emerge on this island.

[34:46] David Alpert: But yeah, and Space Mountain in Paris is the only one that has an inversion.

[34:52] Alysha Umphress: Oh yeah, yeah.

[34:53] Alysha Umphress: But it's hard because I have a handicap because I haven't been to three of the parks in Asia.

[34:57] Alysha Umphress: So I d I just figured, oh, you know, the new the technology, they would like make it.

[35:03] Alysha Umphress: Although I do hear, where is it supposed to have the best pirates? It's like Shanghai.

[35:06] David Alpert: Shanghai.

[35:08] Alysha Umphress: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[35:10] David Alpert: It's time for some tough choices. Let's play Tweedledee or Tweedledumb.

[35:17] David Alpert: Alysha, here comes our next game. It's called Tweedledee or Tweedledum. I'm going to give you two options, and you let me know which one you prefer.

[35:25] David Alpert: The first Tweedledee or Tweedledum. The Enchanted Tiki Room or It's a Small World.

[35:31] Alysha Umphress: Enchanted Tiki Room, hands down, no contest.

[35:35] David Alpert: Is that because it's proximity to the Dole Whip Stand?

[35:38] Alysha Umphress: It is that. It is also the vibe. It is also, I love it.

[35:43] Alysha Umphress: So my my husband and I recently bought a we bought a car, um, like an old beater, an old 2002, you know, just to get us from point A to point B.

[35:51] Alysha Umphress: Um, because we live in New York City, so it's, you know, silly to have a car in New York City. This is why it's like, you know, anyway.

[35:57] Alysha Umphress: And uh Cody had been gifted, or or I think his sister had sent it to him one time, and it's a double disc CD of all of the music from the parks.

[36:07] Alysha Umphress: So from all the rides, yeah, you know.

[36:09] David Alpert: And so I have the six album from the 50th.

[36:13] Alysha Umphress: Oh, well, there you go.

[36:14] Alysha Umphress: Yeah. Ours is a pe uh uh uh a measly too.

[36:17] Alysha Umphress: But um when we got the car, you know, it's a 2002 Camry XLE, so it was really nice in 2002.

[36:23] Alysha Umphress: It was like the nicest model, but it has a tape deck and a CD player, and we were like, okay, let the good times roll.

[36:30] David Alpert: Yep.

[36:30] Alysha Umphress: And that's the only fun fact, it's the only CDs that we have in the car in the glove compartment is the double disc from Disney Parks.

[36:39] Alysha Umphress: So it's just like the grim grinning ghosts.

[36:42] David Alpert: I mean, it's so good.

[36:43] Alysha Umphress: Um, but the tiki room, it just puts me in a good mood. I just like I love it.

[36:48] Alysha Umphress: It's so fun.

[36:49] David Alpert: Tweedledee or Tweedledum, Under the sea or Friend Like Me.

[36:55] Alysha Umphress: Oh, um, Under the sea.

[36:58] David Alpert: Okay, I'm with you there.

[37:00] Alysha Umphress: Yeah.

[37:00] Alysha Umphress: So fun. I mean, so is Friend Like Me, but Yeah.

[37:05] Alysha Umphress: What's funny is at the end of Under the Sea, when you go back to watch it and like the big climactic, they're all pointing at Ariel and she's gone.

[37:10] Alysha Umphress: When you watch it, you're like, oh, it kind of ends in a sad moment.

[37:13] Alysha Umphress: Because like the fish worked so hard on that production number.

[37:17] David Alpert: When you just listen to the song in your CD player, it's great.

[37:20] Alysha Umphress: Yeah.

[37:21] Alysha Umphress: 100%.

[37:23] David Alpert: Tweedledee or Tweedledum, Olaf or Mushu.

[37:28] Alysha Umphress: Oh, so this is very controversial.

[37:32] Alysha Umphress: Because I've, David.

[37:34] David Alpert: You've never seen Frozen.

[37:35] Alysha Umphress: I've never seen Mulan.

[37:37] Alysha Umphress: Frozen.

[37:39] David Alpert: Wait.

[37:40] Alysha Umphress: I know.

[37:41] Alysha Umphress: Twist, right? Plot.

[37:43] Alysha Umphress: Well, here's the thing. I'm so excited to see the live action.

[37:47] Alysha Umphress: And also, I I know my friend Ashley Park, yes, she's Asian.

[37:51] Alysha Umphress: Um, but she was she is horrified that I've never seen Mulan.

[37:54] Alysha Umphress: And I think we made a promise that I would my first time watching it would be with her.

[37:59] Alysha Umphress: So I think I'm just waiting for that day to come.

[38:02] David Alpert: But at least I knew who Mushu was, though.

[38:04] Alysha Umphress: I mean, like, that's good for not knowing I I have never seen it.

[38:08] Alysha Umphress: I know it's crazy.

[38:10] Alysha Umphress: Listen, Mulan has some problematic things that we are very aware of in 2020.

[38:15] Alysha Umphress: However, that movie is so great.

[38:18] David Alpert: No, I know it's good, and she's like a warrior, and it's very like female empowerment, and I need to watch it.

[38:23] Alysha Umphress: I want to.

[38:24] Alysha Umphress: You know what? Ashley be damned.

[38:26] Alysha Umphress: Ashley be darned. Maybe tonight I'll just Disney Plus it and I'll watch it.

[38:31] David Alpert: Yeah, that's right.

[38:33] Alysha Umphress: Yeah.

[38:33] Alysha Umphress: So I guess by default, Olaf.

[38:37] David Alpert: Okay.

[38:39] David Alpert: That's funny.

[38:40] David Alpert: Okay. Final Tweedledee or Tweedledum.

[38:43] David Alpert: The Incredicoaster or Space Mountain.

[38:47] Alysha Umphress: Oh.

[38:48] Alysha Umphress: I mean Space Mountain, but the Incredicoaster is so lit, Mary.

[38:53] Alysha Umphress: It is so fun.

[38:54] Alysha Umphress: Cause it's like the biggest fast, it's just like a real old school roller coaster.

[39:00] Alysha Umphress: I do love it. It's so fun.

[39:01] Alysha Umphress: But I think also because it's a Disneyland and like it's only a Disneyland, which makes it a novelty.

[39:07] Alysha Umphress: But you know, Space Mountain is my girl.

[39:09] Alysha Umphress: She's my OG.

[39:10] David Alpert: Okay.

[39:11] Alysha Umphress: Yeah.

[39:12] Alysha Umphress: But Incredicoaster is incredible.

[39:14] Alysha Umphress: So it is.

[39:15] Alysha Umphress: And also any ride that drops me off by a cookie stand is my favorite.

[39:20] David Alpert: Yeah.

[39:21] Alysha Umphress: Plus, you gotta give it up for the single rider rides.

[39:24] David Alpert: Oh.

[39:24] Alysha Umphress: And Incredicoaster is a good single rider.

[39:27] David Alpert: Yeah, it is.

[39:28] Alysha Umphress: Crush's Coaster, fun fact, is also a single rider.

[39:31] David Alpert: Yeah so know that when you go.

[39:33] Alysha Umphress: Sometimes I'm hesitant about telling my friends and listeners what are what's single rider or not, just because I don't want those lines to get too long.

[39:40] David Alpert: Okay, cut it out. Edit it out.

[39:41] Alysha Umphress: No, no, no, no, no. Tell no secrets.

[39:55] David Alpert: Alysha, you sang I Can Cook 2 on Broadway when you starred in the revival of On the Town, and so many Disney characters can also cook. So it's time to play I Can Cook 2 Disney edition.

[40:07] David Alpert: I'm going to share the name of a dish or treat that a Disney character is known for making, and I need you to tell me which character makes or cooks that. So put on your apron and here we go.

[40:20] David Alpert: I can cook too. Beignets. Who is known for making beignets in the Disney catalog?

[40:27] Alysha Umphress: Uh Tiana.

[40:30] David Alpert: You are right. It is Tiana. Well done. You're doing well.

[40:34] Alysha Umphress: I'm gonna say it right now. These get a little challenging because I bet I probably don't know the names of like, I know like the chef from Ratatouille's probably in there.

[40:43] Alysha Umphress: I'm not sure his name.

[40:44] David Alpert: I don't know.

[40:45] Alysha Umphress: Okay, like let's calm down.

[40:46] Alysha Umphress: But like as long as we like stay in the world, I'm here to help.

[40:50] David Alpert: Okay.

[40:50] David Alpert: I can cook two a gooseberry pie.

[40:50] Alysha Umphress: Gooseberry pie.

[40:59] Alysha Umphress: Is that one of the flora fauna or merryweathers?

[41:04] David Alpert: It's not.

[41:06] Alysha Umphress: You're really close.

[41:07] Alysha Umphress: You like aimed right for like the same kind of era of Disney.

[41:11] David Alpert: Yeah.

[41:12] Alysha Umphress: Uh, is it Gusgus?

[41:15] David Alpert: No.

[41:15] Alysha Umphress: No.

[41:16] Alysha Umphress: I'm just gonna tell you, it's Snow White.

[41:19] David Alpert: Oh, really?

[41:20] Alysha Umphress: I know. Because remember when she's making a pie and then the the evil old hag comes. She's making a gooseberry pie.

[41:26] David Alpert: Wow.

[41:29] Alysha Umphress: And like, what is a gooseberry? That is the question of the podcast.

[41:33] Alysha Umphress: What is a gooseberry pie? It's actually a real thing. I looked it up, but I believe it's a real thing.

[41:38] Alysha Umphress: Huckleberries are real too, but it's like, what do they taste like?

[41:40] Alysha Umphress: And don't forget, she um, with you know, like the rest of the crust, spells out grumpy, which is really cruel.

[41:47] David Alpert: She's choosing favorites.

[41:49] Alysha Umphress: Yeah.

[41:50] Alysha Umphress: Well, here's number three.

[41:52] David Alpert: It's anticlimactic.

[41:54] Alysha Umphress: I can cook too. Ratatouille.

[41:58] David Alpert: It is.

[41:59] Alysha Umphress: That's the name of the dish, Ratatouille.

[42:03] David Alpert: What's his name?

[42:04] Alysha Umphress: Yeah.

[42:04] David Alpert: The rat's name is Remy, and the human is Linguini.

[42:09] Alysha Umphress: So good job.

[42:10] David Alpert: You knew the movie. And have you been on that ride?

[42:13] Alysha Umphress: Yes, it's so fun. It's like one of the most lit rides at Disney Parks.

[42:18] David Alpert: And actually, they're building it at Epcot, right?

[42:21] Alysha Umphress: Yeah. That's gonna be so fun.

[42:22] David Alpert: Yeah.

[42:26] Alysha Umphress: In the back of France.

[42:28] David Alpert: Okay, yes. Sorry. I can cook too, number four. The gray stuff.

[42:32] Alysha Umphress: Oh.

[42:36] David Alpert: Lumiere.

[42:37] Alysha Umphress: I mean the whoever the chef on staff at the Beast Castle is.

[42:43] David Alpert: Yeah, I think you would answer that perfectly. Well done. You are three out of four. Really nice.

[42:47] Alysha Umphress: Okay. I'm really sad about this next one. I can cook two porridge with bacon and eggs that is happy to see you.

[42:52] David Alpert: Porridge with bacon and eggs that is happy to see you.

[43:05] Alysha Umphress: Winnie the Pooh?

[43:07] David Alpert: No, it's Mooshu. When you watch Mulan finally, you're really gonna love that moment. Take my word for it.

[43:17] Alysha Umphress: I can cook two, number six, spaghetti with meatballs.

[43:22] David Alpert: Oh, this is the night.

[43:25] Alysha Umphress: It's a beautiful night. But what's the chef, what's that guy's name?

[43:29] David Alpert: His name is Chef Tony.

[43:31] Alysha Umphress: Oh, Chef Tony. Oh, right, Tony's. Yeah, of course. Yeah, great.

[43:34] David Alpert: Lady and the Tramp. Good job.

[43:35] Alysha Umphress: Horace.

[43:37] David Alpert: Doing very well. Number seven, stuffed crab.

[43:41] Alysha Umphress: Oh, um, uh the chef from Little Mermaid.

[43:45] David Alpert: Correct. Technically, his name is Chef Louis.

[43:48] Alysha Umphress: Oh, also Louis. Oh no, that's yeah, no, Tony. Louis. It's like the stereotypical. It's like, name a French guy. Uh Louis?

[43:56] David Alpert: Louis? Name an Italian guy.

[43:58] Alysha Umphress: Tony. Wait, do you know what I want to talk to you about, David?

[44:02] David Alpert: Yeah.

[44:02] Alysha Umphress: This is one of my favorite things, Disney thing to like of trivia, or like, let's just get to the bottom of it to talk about.

[44:09] David Alpert: Yep. Where does the Little Mermaid take place?

[44:13] Alysha Umphress: Okay. I literally watched this movie with my nephews recently and looked into it and I was like, that is correct.

[44:20] David Alpert: Because there's palm trees, right?

[44:23] Alysha Umphress: Which is bizarre that put it more Mediterranean. However, the source material is more like, you know, in the Netherlands.

[44:30] David Alpert: Denmark.

[44:31] Alysha Umphress: Yeah, but there are palm trees and all that waterway. And the Caribbean Sebastian's Caribbean, but then there's a French chef, but then Grimsby is British. I mean, like ever it is just a hodgepodge of nonsense.

[44:47] David Alpert: Where are they?

[44:48] Alysha Umphress: I know. You're right. And I look to Disney for all my geographical research.

[44:53] David Alpert: Like the forefront.

[44:55] Alysha Umphress: If I had to th I actually think it's like in the Caribbean. I think it's like an I it's like a French founded um a French colonized island in the Caribbean. That's what I think.

[45:08] David Alpert: Yeah. Because but again, like then you have to like, we've already suspended our disbelief that the crab speaks English.

[45:17] Alysha Umphress: Right. So then actually maybe I take it back. Maybe it's like the South maybe it's like France or it's like the south of France.

[45:25] David Alpert: Like he's in like the you know, yeah, like Capri. It's just weird because like most every other movie, you're like, oh yes, they're here. Like Sleeping Beauty is France.

[45:36] Alysha Umphress: Or yeah. Snow White's Germany, right?

[45:39] David Alpert: Mm-hmm.

[45:40] Alysha Umphress: Yeah. You're just like, where is the Little Mermaid though? Because it is supposed to be Denmark. I mean, that is the source material.

[45:46] David Alpert: Mm-hmm. It does not seem like Denmark. Final three for I Can Cook Two.

[45:52] Alysha Umphress: Okay. A towering birthday cake with three cups of flour.

[45:59] David Alpert: Uh Alice in Wonderland?

[46:05] Alysha Umphress: Or is it Cinderella?

[46:07] David Alpert: It's neither.

[46:09] Alysha Umphress: Oh. In which movie is there a towering birthday cake with three cups of flour?

[46:10] David Alpert: Towering birthday cake.

[46:22] Alysha Umphress: I don't know why I'm drawing a blank.

[46:25] David Alpert: It is from Sleeping Beauty.

[46:27] Alysha Umphress: Oh.

[46:29] David Alpert: Aurora's turning 16.

[46:30] Alysha Umphress: Oh, right. I said that one before.

[46:32] David Alpert: You did. I know you did. That's okay. Oh my gosh. Okay, these next two are getting a little more challenging, believe it or not. Um, but I'm in this with you, and the good news is it's just for fun.

[46:44] Alysha Umphress: So I can cook two, many different dishes, a salad, a casserole. It's hard to tell because the ingredients fly into the air.

[46:53] David Alpert: I'm gonna give you a hint. This Disney character was purchased into the Disney world.

[47:03] Alysha Umphress: Oh.

[47:08] David Alpert: So someone from Star Wars?

[47:12] Alysha Umphress: You're in the right mindset. It's not Star Wars.

[47:15] David Alpert: Uh-huh.

[47:19] Alysha Umphress: Flying in the air. Lots of different types of food. In this character's name is the word chef.

[47:31] David Alpert: And he's a Muppet.

[47:33] Alysha Umphress: Oh, sh uh, yeah. Chef.

[47:36] David Alpert: And he's the Swedish chef.

[47:37] Alysha Umphress: Oh, Swedish chef, yeah. Yeah. That one was hard. But how funny?

[47:40] David Alpert: Oh, because he's always like, Yeah, yeah, that's exactly right.

[47:48] Alysha Umphress: And the final one in one of my favorite Pixar movies, Tamales.

[47:55] David Alpert: Um tamales?

[48:02] Alysha Umphress: Yeah.

[48:08] David Alpert: I'm gonna tell you.

[48:09] Alysha Umphress: Well, it's from Coco.

[48:11] David Alpert: That's well, I that's what I was thinking, but I couldn't remember the name of it.

[48:15] Alysha Umphress: And the character is Abuela.

[48:19] David Alpert: Yeah, Abuelita.

[48:20] Alysha Umphress: Abuelita.

[48:21] David Alpert: It's a mini abuela.

[48:24] Alysha Umphress: Yes. That's exactly right. Well. You did very well for I Can Cook 2 Disney Edition. Thank you for playing along.

[48:30] Alysha Umphress: I don't know. I think I did just okay if we're being honest.

[48:39] David Alpert: Now let's hear from some of you. Uh-huh. Alicia, here come some questions from your fans.

[48:50] David Alpert: The Lauren Vaughn asks, which Disney princess would you want to visit Smokey Joe's Cafe?

[48:58] Alysha Umphress: Oh. Um. Probably Tiana, because she's from New Orleans and like she could get she could get down with the music, right?

[49:10] David Alpert: Yes.

[49:11] Alysha Umphress: Yeah. She could hang.

[49:12] David Alpert: Yeah. She's cool.

[49:14] Alysha Umphress: Yeah. Emma Dody 10 asks, what is your favorite sit-down restaurant in Walt Disney World?

[49:22] Alysha Umphress: Ooh, Walt Disney World. Yes. Ooh, this is a good one because there are so many. Because like it you could pick something off, you could pick something at one of the resorts too, right?

[49:36] David Alpert: Yes.

[49:37] Alysha Umphress: Um, oh, I think Ohana at the Polynesian.

[49:41] David Alpert: Okay.

[49:42] Alysha Umphress: That food is so good. Except you always leave there being just so full. But it is delicious.

[49:48] David Alpert: Ohana means family.

[49:49] Alysha Umphress: That's right.

[49:50] David Alpert: Yeah. It's the Olive Garden.

[49:52] Alysha Umphress: That would be a great overlap.

[49:54] David Alpert: Yeah. Marley underscore Armstrong asks, what is your Disney dream role in either a movie or musical?

[50:03] Alysha Umphress: Oh, easy. I mean Meg for sure. But probably Ursula eventually, too.

[50:11] David Alpert: Okay.

[50:14] Alysha Umphress: Just the range.

[50:16] David Alpert: Your range.

[50:18] Alysha Umphress: What am I saying? The magnificent.

[50:20] David Alpert: The mobile.

[50:22] Alysha Umphress: Oh, mad madam!

[50:24] David Alpert: Yes.

[50:24] Alysha Umphress: That's final answer.

[50:26] David Alpert: Yeah. The kid called Potsy asks, if you could option up any iconic Disney line, what line would it be? And please demonstrate.

[50:34] Alysha Umphress: Oh my god. Um.

[50:43] David Alpert: Your way off base.

[50:45] Alysha Umphress: I wanna say it. Get off my case, I will say it.

[50:52] David Alpert: Yes. I support that very much.

[50:56] Alysha Umphress: That was very exciting. Wow.

[51:14] David Alpert: Alicia, do you have any crazy stories of any of your trips to the Disney parks?

[51:18] Alysha Umphress: I mean, probably a bunch, but the that's appropriate for the podcast. Yes, I have one. Um, that uh my friends uh Danny and Connor before um before I met my husband and went a lot to the parks with him. Um, I started going pretty annually for food and wine with my two good friends, Connor and Danny. Um, because Danny's from Orlando, so we would stay with his family, and um his stepdad would ride the boat from the transportation center to um Magic Kingdom. So we got free passes because he was an employee. Um, and we were on Splash Mountain one time, and we had already finished the ride, like we'd gone down the big drop. We were like nearing the end. The end was so near for us to get off, and it shut, it stopped, and it was like we're experiencing hey partners, we're whatever it is.

We're experiencing technical difficulties. Stay inside the log and we'll be moving shortly or whatever. For like what felt like an eternity, but probably in actuality was like 30 minutes, which is such a long time.

[52:22] David Alpert: Yeah, especially if you're still like kind of wet and uncomfortable.

[52:26] Alysha Umphress: Yeah, and it was like later in the day. It wasn't like it was scalding hot Orlando time, it was like probably in the evening, like seven ish, and so it was getting kind of cold. Anyway, that's just to say that we were in the boat for so long, and I noticed that there was an outlet in the ride, like kind of up a little bit, and I grabbed my phone charger from my purse, and I my phone was losing juice, and I took I seized the moment, I took the moment, and I plugged in my phone and I charged it.

[52:56] David Alpert: Nope.

[52:57] Alysha Umphress: Until they made us get out of the logs and we had to walk off of the ride and go through the set and it lost all its magic.

[53:03] David Alpert: So did any of the very least I could do.

[53:06] Alysha Umphress: Uh-uh. I don't think so. Like, that's like it's literally like when that audience member at hand to God went on stage to charge their phone.

[53:15] David Alpert: It's exactly like that.

[53:16] Alysha Umphress: But it is. It was on a piece of stucco near a log that and no one was around. So and that outlet actually worked.

[53:25] David Alpert: Yes, exactly.

[53:28] Alysha Umphress: Alicia, if you were to be in a Disney parade singing for that entire stretch of Main Street, what song would you be singing and what characters would be on the float with you?

[53:40] Alysha Umphress: Um, probably I would have a new float and I would do like a very um fresh take on the tiki room uh song, and then I'd have all of the birds from the tiki room around me. I'd be like, ooh, in the tiki tiki tiki tiki tiki room, in the tiki tiki tiki tikgy tiki room. Oh, the birds sing words and the flowers bloom in the tiki tikky diggy diggy tiki room.

[54:14] David Alpert: Hey.

[54:15] Alysha Umphress: Yes. I would listen to that for like the thirty minutes of that parade. I'd just follow you.

[54:20] David Alpert: Now, would the birds be like Mickey Mouse and the park size birds or like tiki room size birds?

[54:29] Alysha Umphress: Um, I think they'd be like tiki room size birds. Like I would be like on the float in like some sort of Polynesian-y tiki gown, and then they would be like all around me, and I'd be like, if you haven't, it'd be sort of like a walking advertisement for the tiki room. I'd be like, if you haven't been, if you're like David and you haven't been to the tiki room since 2015, what are you waiting for? Grab your Dole Whips and let's go.

[54:50] David Alpert: I would hear you singing that beautiful vocal line and be like, I don't know what's happening, but I want to be there because that was lovely.

[54:59] Alysha Umphress: Thank you.

[55:00] David Alpert: Alicia, what's the first thing you're going to do the next time you go to the parks?

[55:06] Alysha Umphress: Uh get Dole Whips.

[55:08] David Alpert: Great.

[55:10] Alysha Umphress: Great.

[55:11] David Alpert: Moving on. Thank you, Alicia. I love that we finally were able to share our love of Disney parks together and chat about Space Mountain and the tiki room. This has been so fun. Thank you so much.

[55:22] Alysha Umphress: My pleasure. I had the best time.

[55:27] David Alpert: You know? We'll have to do another episode. Thank you again, and we'll see you at the parks.

[55:45] Alysha Umphress: My favorite villain, however, is the magnificent.

[55:49] Alysha Umphress: The marvelous Mad Madam.

[55:52] David Alpert: Oh.

[55:53] Alysha Umphress: She's the best.

[55:55] David Alpert: That was really exciting.

[55:57] Alysha Umphress: Thank you.

[55:57] David Alpert: She's such a wackadoo.

[56:00] Alysha Umphress: Oh boy. Thanks for listening!