Disney is expensive. Everyone knows that.
But there’s a difference between Disney being expensive and you accidentally lighting your wallet on fire because you followed bad advice.

In this episode, Scott and Candice tackle the real financial mistakes guests make at Walt Disney World and Disneyland—not from a place of judgment, but from experience, observation, and plenty of hard-earned lessons.

Candice draws on her work as a travel professional to share what she consistently sees cost people real money, while Scott brings the skepticism, humor, and occasional Gen X side-eye to the conversation.

This isn’t about shame. It’s about smarter choices, better planning, and making sure your Disney money actually buys you joy instead of regret.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why lack of planning is often the most expensive mistake of all

• The hidden cost of not understanding dining reservations and cancellation policies

• How park hopper tickets frequently get overbought and underused

• When staying off-property can actually cost more than staying on Disney property

• Transportation confusion that leads to unnecessary Uber, Minnie Van, and time costs

• Social media pressure and the myth that you have to “do everything”

• Food FOMO and why ordering for Instagram instead of hunger gets expensive fast

• The truth about overhyped dining experiences

• Emotional support Loungeflys, impulse souvenir regret, and popcorn bucket realities

• Why trying to do everything leads to disappointment—even on expensive trips

• How a simple strategy (4–5 priorities per park) can radically improve your experience

• A practical budgeting tip for festivals: gift cards instead of open-ended credit cards

The core takeaway:

You don’t need to experience Disney the most expensive way.
You need to experience Disney the most intentional way.

Because the biggest mistake of all?
Spending thousands of dollars and coming home with more frustration than magic.

Episode DescriptionIn Part Two of our Festival of the Arts coverage, Scott and Candice finish the grand culinary tour around EPCOT with more booths, more opinions, and more brutally honest reactions. From surprise standout menus to “why does this exist?” moments, we’re walking through the rest of the festival booth-by-booth and sharing what sounds incredible, what sounds questionable, and what we’d personally prioritize if we were there today.This episode is your planning guide, your foodie fantasy, and your cautionary tale—served with sarcasm and seasoned with love.🍽️ What We Cover in This Episode🎨 Festival PerspectiveWhy Festival of the Arts continues to be visually the most stunning EPCOT festivalWhy pretty food does not always equal good foodWhy Disney appears to be listening to guest feedback this yearThe noticeable increase in new items across boothsHow presentation sometimes fights practicality🗺️ Booths & Highlights Discussed (Part 2)🇺🇸 The Artist’s Table (American Adventure) – The surprise MVPSteakhouse Lobster Caesar SaladPeppercorn-Crusted StriploinFlourless Dark Chocolate TorteVerdict: Best overall booth of the festival based on menu strength🇯🇵 Goshiki (Japan Pavilion)Taiyaki custard pastryTokyo Kawaii RollWagyu Bun (purple bao!)Sake flights with souvenir wooden cupsWasabi IPA (Scott would try, Candice would not)🇫🇷 France Pavilion – The emotional support boothWarm brie bread (“Breakfast of Champions”)Crab cake with lobster bisqueChocolate-orange eclairFrozen French MartiniVerdict: Still undefeated in consistency🇨🇦 Gourmet Landscapes (Canada Pavilion)Wild mushroom risotto (plant-based)Roasted bone marrowBeet tartareFrozen Scotch chai cocktailVerdict: Creative, risky, very “Arts Festival energy”🌍 Fictional Vittles (World Discovery)Grilled oystersEarl Grey tea dessertImpossible bites with ambitious flavor layeringVerdict: Experimental, maybe too experimental🍰 Deco DelightsVanilla mousse + caramel + apricot jam dessertButtercream Fresco beer (deep curiosity, questionable availability)Strawberry shortcake ciderEspresso martini🧀 Pop EatsClassic grilled cheese + tomato soupCroque Monsieur grilled cheesePixel Perfect PilsnerVerdict: Comfort food booth done right🍦 Swirl the ShowcasePink vanilla soft serveDole Whip flightsNerds-covered Figment conesLiquid nitrogen cake popVerdict: Instagram-ready, flavor mileage may vary🍷 Craftsman’s CourtyardBeef Wellington-inspired croissantCast iron PEI musselsCoffee old fashionedVerdict: Sneaky strong savory booth🍨 Sunshine Seasons (Architecture of Drip)Blueberry gelato with banana & berry whipped creamVerdict: Pretty, refreshing, harmless☕ Joffrey’sPop Art Latte with lavender whipped cream and candy toppingOptional Baileys upgradeVerdict: Aesthetic > practicality, but still fun🏆 Festival SuperlativesBest Overall Booth:→ The Artist’s Table (USA)Most Reliable Booth:→ France PavilionMost Improved Energy:→ Across the entire festival this yearMost “Why does this exist?” Moment:→ Cookie palette painting experienceBiggest Surprise:→ How strong the savory offerings were compared to expectations📣 Listener EngagementHave you been to Festival of the Arts this year?Did the items we said sounded amazing actually deliver?Did the questionable ones surprise you?Come tell us:InstagramFacebookDiscord (new community now live!)We genuinely want your takes.❤️ Closing ThoughtsWe love these menu episodes because they let us experience the parks through imagination, planning, and pure Disney joy. If you enjoy these episodes, thank you for sticking with us through the culinary chaos.And remember…There’s always a great big beautiful tomorrow.

It’s festival season at EPCOT, and Scott and Candice are kicking off a two-part deep dive into one of the most overlooked (and shortest!) festivals of the year: Festival of the Arts.

This episode is not about the menus yet.
This is about mindset, strategy, expectations, and how to experience the festival in a way that actually feels meaningful.

If you’ve ever left a festival overwhelmed, overspent, or underwhelmed, this one’s for you.

In this episode:

Favorite Disney art
Candice shares her favorite piece of Disney art at home. Scott talks about the artwork in his office and the posters that line their bar walls, setting the tone for why this festival matters.

What Festival of the Arts actually is
This is not just a food festival with pretty plates. They break down the three pillars of the festival:
• Visual arts (artist booths, galleries, live signings)
• Performing arts (Disney on Broadway concerts, Voices of Liberty, live musicians)
• Culinary arts (creative and beautiful, but not always the best food)
Plus interactive elements like mural painting, scavenger hunts, chalk art, and PhotoPass art experiences.

Why you can’t “do it all”
You could spend an entire day in EPCOT doing only festival activities and still not experience everything. This is a festival that rewards intention, not speed.

How to prioritize your festival day
They walk through how to approach the festival depending on what you care most about:
• Attractions
• Visual art
• Live performances
• Food
The key takeaway: build your day around what matters to you, not what influencers say you “must” do.

Honest talk about festival food
Festival of the Arts food is often gorgeous, creative, and Instagram-friendly. That does not always mean it’s the most satisfying food of the year. Setting expectations matters.

Smart (and realistic) budgeting advice
• Rank your must-try items before you arrive
• Use gift cards to control spending
• Separate festival food budget from snacks and sit-down meals
• Don’t compare your experience to influencers who are being paid to eat everything

A reminder of what makes Disney different
They talk candidly about why live entertainment, storytelling, cast members, and immersion are the heart of Disney—and why supporting those experiences matters if we want them to continue.

Next week: Part Two – The Menus
What they would order
What they would skip
What sounds amazing but probably isn’t
What’s actually worth your money

If you enjoy thoughtful Disney conversations, honest opinions, and strategy without the hype, you’re in the right place.

And remember… there is always a great big beautiful tomorrow.

Episode SummaryIn this festive episode, Scott and Candice take you on a full tour of EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays, exploring entertainment, food, drinks, seasonal overlays, and all the cozy extras that make EPCOT sparkle even brighter during Christmas. From Santa meet-and-greets to musical performances, from savory bites to cookie stroll sugar highs, the hosts break down everything you can expect when visiting EPCOT during the season.They also share their own stories from attending last year—crowds, weather, the iconic Living with the Land holiday overlay, and navigating EPCOT during a bout of the Disney crud. And yes…they definitely have opinions about roasted chestnuts, festival beer flights, and which cookies are worth your precious stomach space.This episode also marks the final show of the year before the Hangar Bar team takes their annual holiday break—so listen for some updates on what’s coming in Season 6.What We Cover✨ Opening Thoughts: Why EPCOT at Christmas Just Hits DifferentThe “glowiness” of the parks after darkHoliday ambiance, cooler temps, and elevated energyEPCOT décor differences across pavilionsReflections on their 2024 December trip🎅 Holiday Entertainment at EPCOTMeet & GreetsSanta Claus at CommuniCore HallSanta Goofy at The OdysseyLive PerformancesJOYFUL! A Celebration of the SeasonGospel, R&B, and soulful Christmas & Kwanzaa musicHoliday StorytellersCultural holiday traditions reenacted in every World Showcase pavilionHighlights include Mexico’s Feliz Navidad festivities and Norway’s mischievous holiday legendsA must-do next time for the hostsCandlelight Processional. One of EPCOT’s signature holiday experiences🍽️ Festival Booths & Food HighlightsScott & Candice walk through literally every booth in detail. 🎄 Extra Seasonal MagicLiving With the Land Holiday OverlaySpaceship Earth nightly Christmas light showReindeer chow, Dole Whip specials, holiday eggnog, gingerbread drinksCommuniCore experimental holiday cookiesSavory festival booths that are easy to miss but worth prioritizing🎧 Tips from Your HostsFocus on savory first, then choose sweets intentionallyShare plates—the portions are generousConsider skipping table-service meals to prioritize boothsUse dining packages for the Candlelight ProcessionalCheck Storyteller schedules early if you want to see severalEPCOT during the holidays = crowds + cooler nights + pure magic✨ End-of-Year AnnouncementsThis is the final episode of 2025The show will return in early January with the launch of Season 6During the break, Scott & Candice will be active on social media—engaging, posting, and planningThey invite listeners to share:Favorite parts of this episodeWhich festival food sounded bestWhat topics they want to hear in 2026And whether the podcast should do more “for science” research trips🎁 ClosingWishing all Hangar Bar listeners a warm, joyful, magical holiday season.Thank you for an incredible year—and remember…There’s always a great big beautiful tomorrow.We’ll see you real soon.Happy Holidays!

🎙️ Holiday Whiplash: A Disney Adult’s Coping GuideEpisode Summary:Scott flies solo this week as Disney does what Disney does best — moving from pumpkins to poinsettias at record speed. With Halloween candy barely gone, the parks are already twinkling for Christmas, and Scott explores what that means for Disney adults trying to keep up with the most magical seasonal whiplash on earth.From the overnight transformation of Main Street, U.S.A. to the logistics of flipping a whole resort’s décor in one night, this episode dives into the magic (and the madness) of Disney’s holiday season. Scott breaks down the major events coming to Walt Disney World in 2025 — including Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Frozen Holiday Surprise, Jollywood Nights, EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays, gingerbread displays at the resorts, and the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll — and offers a practical, heartwarming guide to surviving it all without losing your joy or your budget.He reflects on the balance between doing it all and just being in the moment, finding your personal “start line” for Christmas, and letting the magic be a little messy — because sometimes the best Disney memories aren’t captured on your phone, they just live in your heart (and maybe in your bag of prepackaged cookies).✨ Key TopicsWhen it’s socially acceptable to start watching Muppet Christmas Carol and Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band ChristmasThe insane logistics behind Disney’s overnight transformation from Halloween to ChristmasAll the major 2025 Disney World holiday happenings:Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (Nov 7–Dec 21)Frozen Holiday Surprise nightly at Magic KingdomJingle Cruise overlay in AdventurelandDisney Jollywood Nights (Nov 8–Dec 22) at Hollywood StudiosEPCOT International Festival of the Holidays (Nov 28–Dec 30)Candlelight Processional with celebrity narrators and choirsResort gingerbread displays at Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Beach ClubDisney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll and seasonal diningSanta meet-and-greets across parks and resortsNavigating overlapping festivals, ticketed events, and the fear of missing outSetting your Disney holiday budget — because magic isn’t freeWhy “living in the moment” beats documenting every one of themScott’s heartfelt take on when it finally felt like Christmas for him — standing in Magic Kingdom last year💭 Favorite Quotes“If it feels like Disney flips faster than you can put away your pumpkin Mickey mug, it’s because they literally do.”“There’s something very Disney about watching the seasons change in a single night.”“Disney might be running on turbo speed into Christmas, but your holiday joy doesn’t have to.”“Let the magic be a little messy — because no photo ever captures it quite like your memory does.”🧭 Episode MoodTone: Warm, witty, and reflectivePerfect for: Disney adults trying to plan a holiday trip, fight FOMO, or just decide when it’s acceptable to cue up “It Feels Like Christmas.”📣 Call to ActionWhen does your Disney Christmas season officially begin?Tell us your favorite Disney Christmas movie or song on our socials:🎧 Instagram — @hanginatthehangarbar🎧 Facebook — Hangin’ at the Hangar Bar