In the midst of very weird and tumultuous times for Disney (lawsuits, political enemies, media battles, Galactic Cruiser closure announcements, park reservations going away, Genie+ under scrutiny), we're here with Episode 4 of Season 2! For this recording, we basically decide to bypass the crazy happenings (except briefly in the introduction) and just focus on our topic of the month (recorded May 2023) ! This month, we're looking at the other side of splurging—Disney World on a budget! Join us as we talk about our tips, tricks, and philosophies about sticking within a budget while you're on a Disney parks vacation. The take-home point? You can absolutely have a magical trip without bells, whistles, gadget, gizmos, and whoseits & whats its galore! Let us know what you think, and share your ideas with us!

In this episode, we dive into our Splurging Philosophy at WDW! What are the things on a WDW trip that are fun to spend a little extra on, to save up for, to make part of your traditions? What are some "one and done" splurges or things we regret springing for? Listen in as we get nostalgic for past splurges and excited for future extravagances! Like the platinum Mickey ears visitors are donning for the 100 Years of Wonder, we're dripping with excitement to talk about this decadent topic!

On this episode, we talk about the magic and beauty of Walt Disney World at night. From the parks, to the resorts, to Disney Springs, each little corner of the resort at large has a distinctive flair after the sun goes down. Appreciate the designs of the Imagineers in a new way as the lightscapes and soundscapes start transforming the lands and neighborhoods of the parks. Enjoy the excitement of the Nighttime Spectaculars, the cooler quiet of the streets in Harambe Market in Animal Kingdom, the gorgeous LED lightshow on Spaceship Earth, or the special energy of Sunset Blvd in Hollywood Studios as the art deco street signs shimmer under the spectre of the haunted Hollywood Tower Hotel. Listen in as Liz, Danica, and Liza discuss finding little magical nocturnal moments while on vacation at our favorite place!

Welcome to Season 2 of the Symposia Disney podcast, where we talk parks, pools, princesses, and more through the lens of feminism, parenthood, creativity, and culture. Season 1 ran from Spring 2021 to Spring 2022, and now we're ready to head straight into 2023 with a new season of episodes. Over Season 2, we will do deep dives into why we love the Disney parks, how we approach Disney films & content in current cultural contexts, and how we see Disney fitting in with our journey as parents. In our Season Opener, we recap 2022, talk about what's on our minds in the present, and set our sights on what's on the horizon for us & Disney in the future. Come along with us on our journey!

On this episode, we have a conversation about Genie+, Individual Lightning Lanes, and what we're thinking about the Galactic Starship Cruiser!

In Episode 14, we dive into the wonderful world of Disney Bounding! Find out what it is, tips and tricks, and ideas to immerse yourself in Disney lore on your next trip to the parks (or the grocery store, or wherever your heart desires!).

We also begin with a special message to let everyone know that we at Symposia Disney stand with and love the LGBTQIA+ community, and we are friends and allies.

• Music: Highballers by Gyom. License through PremiumBeat.

In Episode 13, UnTangling Masculinity in the Disney Canon, we do a deep dive into representations of masculinity in the Disney princess franchise films.

Beginning with the early princess films such as Snow White and Cinderella, moving into the renaissance films, and then concluding with an in-depth look at Tangled, the Frozen franchise, Moana, and Raya and the Last Dragon, we continue to trace and evaluate the evolution of gender representation in the Disney canon.

While doing all this brilliant stuff ^^, we laugh, profess our love for Flynn Ryder, Kristoff, and Daniel Dae Kim, and make jokes about gender at the expense of husbands (just kidding, we love you).

Show notes:

• This is our 3rd segment in our "Free Belle!" series in which we examine gender representation in the Disney princess franchise and in the Disney canon at large.
• For Part I, see Episode 4: Free Belle, Part I: Feminists on Princesses.
• For Part II, see Episode 9: Free Belle, Part II: Raya and the Last Dragon.

• Music: Highballers by Gyom. License through PremiumBeat.

Symposia Disney is back for Part 4 of our series on the parks, "Isn't It Neat?" In this episode, we talk about Animal Kingdom and its magnificent approach to exploration, nature, and community. Also, we answer some age-old questions:

• Does Liz secretly love Animal Kingdom, despite her claims to the contrary?
• How many Wilderness Explorer scavenger hunt items can a family accomplish in one day?
• Is Avatar a good film?
• Should Up and other Pixar films have an "emotional distress" warning label on them?

Show notes:

• This episode was recorded in the spring of 2021, prior to Danica's, Liz's, and Liza's summer 2021 WDW trips.
• To hear Danica's, Liz's, and Liza's trip reports from the summer 2021 trips, please see Episodes 5 & 6.
• Music: Highballers by Gyom. License through PremiumBeat.