Oh, they're saying, "from the Bob VARLEY studios"

[fakereadhed]

Snobby? That's a new one!

 

[Tir na nOg]

No one on the podcast owns (or even likes) Thomas Kinkade.

 

[MainStreetFireman]

Anyone else play air drums during the podcast opening theme?

My DW has invented her own little "happy dance" she does when she hears the opening guitar chords.

 

[dwaters]

Thank you Kevin for clearing things up a little.

Now if it seems like I'm listening to a family, it's because I am, sorta.

As I said on the survey, I really enjoyed the interviews with Samantha Brown and Marty Sklar and hope to hear more of those in the future.

You guys are so lucky to be able to go to the parks so often as part of your job. So many of us would love that opportunity.

Look forward to all the 2010 podcasts.

-Dave

 

[mainegal]

Kevin, thanks for explaining the "family tree".
I know this is one of those qestions you always get and hate to have to answer again because you have answered it before and before that and I am sure you will answer the same question again!

I offer a "Thank you!" in advance because I know in a few months there will be new listeners and you will have to answer the question yet again...


My question... If my memory serves me well, after Bob died, Pete said the podcast would be different. Shortly after, Kathy and Teresa joined the team. (Oh! Their accents were so unfamiliar to me!) I understand that Kathy was already a travel agent for Dreams and had a deep interest in the parks. But what were Teresa's qualifications? She seems to have so little experience or knowledge of Walt Disney World. Is her cluelessness and naivete why she is on the team? If so, then some of you should stop giving her a hard time! I really enjoy Teresa's presense on the show. She really adds another dimension to the show. Her project of planning a family trip is helpful to be her and the audience.

Cheers!

 

[DisneyKevin]

Is her cluelessness and naivete why she is on the team?

I'm not certain that you realize how this comes across in print.

If you are not sure how it comes across....I'll tell you so that you wont have to ask again.

This comes across as crass...so crass that I'm actually quite astounded

Neither Teresa's qualifications nor the hiring practices of the Dis or Dreams Unlimited Travel are any of your business.

 

[mainegal]

Kevin, I am sorry. To Teresa, I especially apologize!

I struggled to come up with the right words and obviously I chose wrong. I was not referring in any way about Teresa as a whole person. Only her knowledge of WDW, which seems to growing. (I hope I didn't just dig my hole deeper)

I was asking as a listener of the podcast. I really did not think I was asking about the hiring practices of the Dis or Dreams Unlimited Travel. When I listen to the podcast, I think I am eavesdropping on friends of mine. I sometimes forget that the podcast team is part of an internet site and a travel agency.

I love listening to Teresa and following along as she explores and discovers Walt Disney World.

She does get teased on the podcast - when she rode the "mail boat" (maelstrom) ride, on a recent podcast when she referred to certain attractions as "little", her use of glitter.

I really appreciate having Teresa as part of the team!

Added...
From the 2/18/2010 email podcast. Kevin asked if Teresa was visiting the "miniature Disney World becasue she referred to the little Stitch ride, the little people mover, little light up parade. I feel bad when I hear Teresa being teased. At the end of the podcast, when talking about a trivia/are you smarter than a podcaster contest, Teresa said "I know some things. Not necessarily about Disney. I'm learning." And, yes, indeed she is!!! Love you, Teresa!

 

[kaligal]

I miss Bob on the podcast. He was unique. His love of WDW came shining through. He seemed like a very nice man. And it's just different now.

I feel like we all got cheated a little. We're all missing out. Not that we grieve him the way those who knew him did. Just that...I don't know...I'd have liked more Bob. (And more cartcam.)

But that's what happens when people die. Voids are left.

A person could take 12 day cruises and eat in very expensive restaurants and have a gazillion dollars and not be a snob. You can also owe tons of money and be a snob. Snobbery is a mindset and has nothing to do with how much or how little money a person has.

As for the podcast music, I'll stick it in the "It's fine" column. I don't like it or dislike it. It's fine. There could be no music and that would be fine, too. At least it's not Bob Dylan.

 

[dwaters]

Snobbery is a mindset and has nothing to do with how much or how little money a person has.

I suppose, but you are much more likely to hear "what a rich snob" than "those guys in line at the soup kitchen, what a bunch of snobs".

I got off on the wrong foot way back when I started listening.
The first episode I heard was one where Pete was ranting about the cruise docking in a poor country like Jamaica and how inconvenient it was to see the natives and it was not a fun part of the vacation. The gist was "Disney needs to do something about all these poor people we see".
The point he was trying to make came across really unintentionally bad.

This was followed by news about a hotel offering a Thanksgiving meal for 50 bucks a person.

I thought "This just isn't my crowd"
It's true: I'm a burger and fries counter service/stay at the value resorts simple kind of guy.

I'm not the target audience and I realize that, but I do enjoy hearing about the parks and it keeps me in touch with WDW/Orlando area much like these boards do.
I am enjoying the current project of planning a vacation on a $2500 budget and look forward to hearing more about it as it progresses.

Keep up the good work guys.

 

[OKW Lover]

In defense of Teresa, not that she needs any from me, I think she plays a valuable role in the Podcast. Not all the listeners are as knowledgeable as the folks that frequent this board. I think Teresa does a great job of asking those questions that wouldn't occur to us.

I don't doubt that every (well almost) question that Teresa asks probably echo's one that a listener is shouting at their iPod about while listening.

I also love the different perspective that Teresa brings to the show since she's a mom with 3 children of varying ages. I have no doubt that Pete's current challenge to Teresa to plan a one week trip to WDW for $2,500 is intended to leverage that experience, to the benefit of those listeners that are in a similar situation.

As much as we love Kevin & John, they have a different perspective on the parks than a mom would have. (And this isn't to slight Kathy's contribution either, she's just at a different stage in life.) I see this myself because the visits that Val & I make to WDW are very different when we are alone as compared to when we have our 7YO grandson with us.

In short (too late?) Teresa's role brings a different perspective and broadens the appeal of the show.

[stepping down off soap box]

 

[safetymom]

Trust when I say I am a burger and fries type of person when I visit WDW. When we first started coming to WDW one of the best times we had is when we were on a very tight budget. My kids still talk about that trip. I was doing this as a single parent.

Now that I live here I still enjoy the simple foods at WDW. I have stayed at WL but that wasn't me paying for the trip.

I agree with Kevin. We do have to try certain things at WDW so we can talk about them on the Podcast. When I am on my own time I am all about value.

 

[kaligal]

I prefer burgers to the food they sell in expensive restaurants. I was just saying this on another thread. I'd rather have Shake-n-Bake with some Mrs. Dash than Chicken Cordon Bleu with frizzle. That's what I like.

I also stay in expensive hotels...and not because I have to or someone else paid for it. I can afford it. I make no apologies for that. That's what I like.

I don't think there's anything wrong with Chicken Cordon Bleu with frizzle or cheap hotels. I just don't like them. If other people like that, good for them. If they'd rather have Frizzle Chicken, but have to eat Shake-n-Bake because they can't afford the Frizzle, that's life. At least you're eating. Don't slam the Frizzle Chicken people for eating what they like to eat. Don't call them names. Don't be a snob.

There is nothing wrong with liking what you like and doing what you want to do with whatever amount of money you have. Nobody should be calling anyone names.

Pete is a big boy and doesn't need me to defend him, but I don't recall him ranting about having to see poor people. I admit that I'm not one of the best podcast fans. I don't wait for each new show. I still haven't listened to the last one. I'll go six months of listening and then bail for a few. I catch up, generally, but I may have missed a few here or there. And I never got to the end of that Disneyland one with all the background noise.

Maybe I missed it, or maybe someone is putting words in Pete's mouth. I'm not sure. But I don't recall him saying that. And I'd remember.

I do remember him saying he didn't want people waving things in his face or physically accosting him. Frankly, I wouldn't, either. In fact, the surest way to be certain that I wouldn't buy whatever you're trying to sell would be to physically grab me. I suppose it works or people wouldn't do it...but it wouldn't work on me.

I sure didn't blame Pete for that and neither would most of the world. If everyone actually preferred this, this is how all sellers would operate. But very, very few people would like it.

 

[newmouse2008]

Kevin, I am sorry. To Teresa, I especially apologize!

I struggled to come up with the right words and obviously I chose wrong. I was not referring in any way about Teresa as a whole person. Only her knowledge of WDW, which seems to growing. (I hope I didn't just dig my hole deeper)

I was asking as a listener of the podcast. I really did not think I was asking about the hiring practices of the Dis or Dreams Unlimited Travel. When I listen to the podcast, I think I am eavesdropping on friends of mine. I sometimes forget that the podcast team is part of an internet site and a travel agency.

I love listening to Teresa and following along as she explores and discovers Walt Disney World.

She does get teased on the podcast - when she rode the "mail boat" (maelstrom) ride, on a recent podcast when she referred to certain attractions as "little", her use of glitter.

I really appreciate having Teresa as part of the team!

Added...
From the 2/18/2010 email podcast. Kevin asked if Teresa was visiting the "miniature Disney World becasue she referred to the little Stitch ride, the little people mover, little light up parade. I feel bad when I hear Teresa being teased. At the end of the podcast, when talking about a trivia/are you smarter than a podcaster contest, Teresa said "I know some things. Not necessarily about Disney. I'm learning." And, yes, indeed she is!!! Love you, Teresa!

Lyn,

I have received your private messages and just need to say "let it go". Let's move on, shall we?

T.

 

[k5jm]

I'll just chime in that, having met all of them, they are definitely not snobby. They are fun people to be around. Just as you would expect from listening to the banter on the podcast.

What Jeff said!!