The Gold Key Adventurers Society Podcast is the perfect resource for anyone interested in Disney World or travel in general. Join Dan, Heather, and Jeff as they share their wealth of knowledge and passion for all things theme parks, including insider tips and stories you won’t find anywhere else. From exploring new lands to revisiting classic attractions, they take you on a journey through the magical world of Disney and beyond. Whether you’re a seasoned theme park enthusiast or just starting your travel adventures, The Gold Key Adventurers Society Podcast has something for everyone. With a focus on Disney World, they cover everything from the newest attractions to the best places to eat and stay. But they don’t stop there - they also delve into other theme parks and travel destinations, offering valuable insights and recommendations to make your next adventure unforgettable. So tune in and join the fun! Make sure to visit our website at www.goldkeyadventurers.com for more information about the show and visit www.keytotheworldtravel.com for all your travel planning needs. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review our show on Apple Podcasts!Thanks for listening!
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 28, 2020
Tuesday Jul 28, 2020
Yummy yummy yummy, I’ve got some good eats in my tummy, and can’t wait to share the weird, wonderful and mouthwatering restaurants we’ve discovered to help make your summer road trips a success. But first, a Halloween Horror Nights update, historical butts, and a Mexican summer camp for adults. Tie on your bib and grab an extra toothpick, it’s time to hit the trail with tthe Gold Key Adventurers Society!
Links:
- Universal Orlando and Hollywood cancel Halloween Horror Nights
https://bit.ly/HHNCancelTPP - Battle of The Bums
https://bit.ly/BumBattle - Adults Only Summer Camp in Mexico
https://bit.ly/MexicoAdultSummerCamp - The Grave of Elmer McCurdy, Courtesy of Atlas Obscura
https://bit.ly/ElmerGraveAO - Tiki Bars:
-Mai Kai
https://bit.ly/MaiKaiGKAS
-Tonga Room
https://bit.ly/TongaRoomGKAS
-Tiki-Ti
https://bit.ly/Tiki-TiGKAS - Highlands Detroit, Tall Restaurant
https://bit.ly/HighlandsDetroitGKAS - Airplane Restaurant
https://bit.ly/3g65sNR - Safe House Milwaukee
https://bit.ly/SafeHouseMilwaukeeGKAS - Casa Bonita!
https://bit.ly/CasaBonitaGKAS - Chicago Magic Lounge
https://bit.ly/ChicagoMagicLounge - The Magic Time Machine
https://bit.ly/MagicTimeMachineGKAS
As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!
Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, check them out at www.outervibe.com.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?
Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.
The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com
Show The Gold Key Adventurers some love by buying the hosts a coffee (or two or ten?) at https://bit.ly/KofiDonateToGKAS
Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
Guess who’s back, back again...That’s right, it’s Walt Disney World, back open after all this time, and Jess, Heather, and Jeff are here with a grand reopening trip report. Plus clearing out some dead weight at Disney World, Icelandic Scream Therapy, how to get a job at Halloween Horror Nights, and the trippy world of Sid and Marty Kroft. Dust off your mouse ears and order a Dole Whip for me, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!
Links:
- Looks Like You Need Iceland Scream Therapy
https://bit.ly/IcelandScreamGKAS - Walt Disney World Attraction Closures, courtesy of Theme Park Professor
https://bit.ly/WDWAttractionClosuresTPP - Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights Auditions
https://bit.ly/HHNAuditions - The World of Sid and Marty Kroft courtesy of Atlas Obscura
https://bit.ly/WorldOfSidAndMartyKroftAO
As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!
Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, be sure to check them out at www.outervibe.com.
Make sure you subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?
Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.
The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com
Listen to The Gold Key Adventurers Society
Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!
Tuesday Jul 14, 2020
Tuesday Jul 14, 2020
Surf’s Up! Get ready for some wet and wild fun as the gang explore the next entry in our series of classic summer vacation destinations, the water park! But first, great news if you want to book a Disney World trip for 2020, a stuntaculous review of the Bourne Stuntacular, Robots that fetch your wine, Screaming inside your heart, and more strangeness involving robots and a Japanese cafe. Strap on your goggles and don’t forget your beach towel, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!
As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!
Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, be sure to check them out at www.outervibe.com.
Make sure you subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?
Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.
The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com
Listen to The Gold Key Adventurers Society
Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
Hurry, Hurry, Hurry! Step right up to our discussion of that great American summer time tradition, the amusement park, and the roller coasters that thrill us and scare our pants off at the same time. But first, space balloons, super assassin stunts, the International Friendship Exhibition, and America’s deadliest water park. Keep your arms and legs inside the ride vehicle and win your sweetie a kewpie doll, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!
Links:
- Tickets now on sale for Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn To Life at Disney Springs, courtesy of Theme Park Professor
https://bit.ly/CirqueDrawnToLifeTPP - Tokyo Disneyland Reopens, courtesy of Theme Park Professor
https://bit.ly/TokyoDisneyReopens - Tourists can soon visit the far reaches of the Earth’s atmosphere in a “space balloon”
https://bit.ly/SpaceBalloonRides - Sir Richard Branson opens a new Virgin Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee
https://bit.ly/VirginHotelNashville - Solent Forts, Napoleonic era forts turned luxury hotels in Portsmouth, England
https://bit.ly/NapoleonFortHotel - Exciting stunts and brand new technology mean you won’t be able to tell where the real world ends and the screen starts in Universal Orlando’s Jason Bourne Stuntacular, courtesy of Theme Park Professor
https://bit.ly/BourneStuntacularTPP - North Korea’s collection of gifts to their supreme leaders at the International Friendship Hall Exhibition, courtesy of Atlas Obscura
https://bit.ly/AtlasObscuraIFE - Jess tells the harrowing tale of Action Park
https://bit.ly/ActionParkGKAS - Kings Island’s Orion giga coaster, YouTube link for watch party segment of show
https://bit.ly/OrionGigaCoaster
As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!
Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, be sure to check them out at www.outervibe.com.
Make sure you subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?
Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.
The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com
Listen to The Gold Key Adventurers Society
Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!
Tuesday Jun 30, 2020
Tuesday Jun 30, 2020
Hit the road, Jack! And doncha come back until you’ve had your own epic road trip adventure. We’re here to help you navigate the great American vacation, plus we’ll tell you about space age desert bubble hotels, a Spanish festival for daredevils, and the bleakest theme park ever dedicated to the works of Charles Dickens. Put the top down and gas up the tank, it’s time to hit the road with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!
As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!
Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, be sure to check them out at www.outervibe.com.
Make sure you subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?
Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.
The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com
Listen to The Gold Key Adventurers Society
Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Hiya Pals! We’ve finally cracked the code, and have all the info you need to plan your Walt Disney World vacation once they reopen next month, including a look at the new theme park reservation system. But first, stupid plane seats, Tomorrowland’s outhouse of the future, and Iowa is invaded by a band of friendly hobos. Pack your bindle stick and bring some taters for the mulligan stew, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!
As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!
Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, be sure to check them out at www.outervibe.com.
Make sure you subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?
Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.
The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com
Listen to The Gold Key Adventurers Society
Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020
That’s a wrap-on Universal Orlando’s temporary closure! Heather and Jeff bravely volunteered to go and see it, and they brought back a guest to help tell all about it! Oh yeah, and we finally know when Disneyland will be open, plus hotel remote controls in plastic bags, Knight Glamping, Gopher museums and the hottest peep show ever operated on Disneyland property. Grab you wands and phone home, it’s time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!
As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!
Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, be sure to check them out at www.outervibe.com.
Make sure you subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?
Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.
The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com
Listen to The Gold Key Adventurers Society
Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!
Tuesday Jun 09, 2020
Tuesday Jun 09, 2020
Greetings adventurers.This week’s episode sounds a little bit different from our usual globe trotting jackassery, but it’s very important, and I hope you’ll stick around to hear what I have to say. Our white, mostly male voices already speak from a place of privilege. Add to that the fact that someone thought it would be a good idea to give us microphones and let us speak to the world over the internet, and our voices are even louder. At this moment, there’s no better use for that volume than to add our voices to the crowds and help amplify the message that black lives matter. That’s why we’re taking a break from vacation plans and pixie dust this week-normally we deal in escapism, but fantasy loses its magic without reality. And the members of the Gold Key Adventurers Society stand with the countless people around the United States of America and around the world who are speaking up to say Enough. This is not the reality I want to live in.
For me, the last couple weeks have included some hard conversations. It’s difficult to explain to a 5 and 7 year old why so many people are upset, and angry, and hurting right now, and why black people and brown people have to be careful even taking a walk in their neighborhood, because they could be arrested, or hurt, or even killed just for having the wrong skin. At 5 and 7, hate is still a vague idea, a word they try out on vegetables and bed time, without knowing the full furious power of it. And after all, some of their best friends at school have black or brown skin, and there’s nobody they’d rather play kitchen or soccer with. I wish the world worked with the simple wisdom of my children, who look shocked and sad when I explain to them why a crowd of people not that far down the road from our house is yelling in the streets, and tell me how wrong and stupid it is. They tell me that black and brown are just colors, and nothing makes those people worth any less than people with “peach” skin as my daughter says.
Unfortunately, the world isn’t that simple. Children grow, and somewhere along the path, they become adults, prone to bias, and irrational fears, and sometimes hate. And so I’ve been trying to educate myself, and examining my life and my part in the state of the world. It’s one of the hardest things in the world to admit to myself, let alone our dozens of listeners, that in some way I’m part of the problem. It never dawned on me until recently the difference between not being racist, and being anti-racist, and the importance of being both. After all, from a young age we heard in school how 60 some years ago, Rosa and Martin Luther did a lot of hard work, and now we live in a world where black children and white children can go to the same school and play together and use the same drinking fountains. Somehow, white people got very lazy, and decided that the work that started with the heroes of the Civil Rights movement was enough, that we had fixed those evils and could rest easy. Clearly, that work isn’t done. And as we all buckle down to do our part, I’d like to reiterate few tips for fighting these battles that have been shared countless times recently, but bear repeating. Once more for the people in the back, as it were.
For the love of God, don’t counter the statement “Black Lives Matter” with “but All Lives Matter”. Nobody said they didn’t matter, or that white lives matter any less. You can take your pick of your favorite metaphor, whether it’s the burning house or the broken arm that needs more immediate attention. Yes, all lives do matter. But that’s only true if black lives matter, and right now they’re the ones that need the extra help and attention.
Please, don’t ask your Black friends to explain current events to you, or to tell you whether or not something is hurtful or helpful or racist. They’re exhausted from fighting for their lives, and it’s not their job to educate you. Do the work-there’s been countless posts all over social media with great suggestions for books and movies and podcasts to help learn how to be a good ally.
While we’re on the subject of the arts, take a look at your book shelf, and your DVD collection, and your podcast subscriptions. How many of the works are by black artists? How many of your favorite shops or restaurants are owned by black people? Make a conscious effort to diversify the content you take in and the businesses you support. But, this is very important- don’t be a tourist. It doesn’t count if you just try these new experiences out while the protestors are marching and giving you daily reminders. This is about giving voice to those artists and chefs and business owners. Bonus, you enrich your life too.
As crass as it sounds, money makes the world go round. If you’re able, give. And give again. Support organizers, and bail funds for protestors, and Civil Liberties groups. Think outside the box. What are you passionate about, and how does that intersect with the issue of diversity? If you love the theater, donate to a group that promotes diversity on the stage. Love music? Give to a fund for music and art education in inner city schools. I think you get the idea.
Most important, don’t be silent. This is where the anti-racist bit comes in. Speak up against injustice and hate whenever you can. But also, listen. Listen to black people, they’ll tell you when and how you can help. Too often, white people think they’re being a good ally, when they’re really just making the issue about themselves.
I’m including some helpful links in the show notes. Take this week to do some reading, and some learning, some listening, and some talking. Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you next week.
Links:
- Support Black Lives Matter National here:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019 - For more resources on anti-racism and ways to help fight police brutality, check out:
https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ - For an easy way to send a couple dozen petitions to demand justice in change in just a few minutes, visit:
https://emailforblm.com/ - A list of books, films and podcasts to help learn more about racism:
https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/06/06/871023438/this-list-of-books-films-and-podcasts-about-racism-is-a-start-not-a-panacea - 50 Childrens’ Books that celebrate diversity:
https://theeverymom.com/diverse-childrens-books/ - Sunshine Behavioral Health, Mental Health Awareness in the Black Community and Effects of Racism on Mental Health: https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/mental-health-issues-facing-the-black-community/
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
Walt Disney World Reopening Plans, Summer 2020
Or
What, No FastPass+ or Dining Plan?
This just in! We have an opening date for Walt Disney World, and we're talking about how a WDW vacation will look a little different for a while. Plus skunk apes,giraffes,and Japanese cowboy robots. Dust off your magic bands and pack your favorite ears, it's time to hit the trail with the gold key adventurers Society!
Topics and Links:
- Jess updated us on reopening plans for several theme parks, including Sea World, Legoland Orlando, Universal Orlando, and 6 Flags (GASP!)
- Gator Land is open! And they have an unbelievable new mascot to promote health and safety, the Social Distancing Skunk Ape!
https://bit.ly/SDSkunkApe - Melissa, a travel planner with Key to the World Travel, shared a great idea for helping kids budget their souvenir money in this week’s edition of Just The Tips!
- Dan wasn’t kidding about the Dutch rollercoaster teddies!
https://bit.ly/RollerCoasterTeddies - Dan took us to Nairobi’s Giraffe Manor hotel
https://bit.ly/GiraffeManorGKAS - Jess took us to Japan’s abandoned Western Village theme park
https://bit.ly/WesternVillageGKAS - We discuss the impending reopening of Walt Disney World Resort, and the new temporary rules and procedures they’ve put in place to help reduce crowd size and promote social distancing and public health.
- National Park Service News Page
https://bit.ly/NPSNews - Guidelines for visiting National Parks in 2020
https://bit.ly/NationalParksGuide2020 - Yosemite National Park reopening information
https://bit.ly/YosemiteInfoGKAS - RVing is back, baby!
https://bit.ly/RiseOfTheRV
As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!
Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, be sure to check them out at www.outervibe.com.
Make sure you subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?
Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.
The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com
Listen to The Gold Key Adventurers Society
Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!
Tuesday May 26, 2020
Tuesday May 26, 2020
No more pencils, no more books, and before you know it no more travel restrictions! Before making our oral presentations about theme parks, we talk about the travel industry starting to wake up from the quarantine blues. Strap on your magic band and say hi to Shamu, it's time to hit the trail with the Gold Key Adventurers Society!
- This week in theme park history, courtesy of our friend the Theme Park Professor, includes a whole bunch of park firsts, including the opening of it’s a small world in Disneyland, Pandora in Animal Kingdom,Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, 7 Dwarves Mine Train, and Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort
https://bit.ly/WeekInTPHistory525 - Heather shared the TSA’s updated airport security procedures
https://bit.ly/TSANewRulesCovid - Our theme park news roundup included Universal Orlando’s recently revealed plans for a phased reopening in June
https://bit.ly/UOReopeningPlanTPP - Our random adventure in the Atlas Obscura took us to a temple in Thailand constructed mainly of millions of green and brown beer bottles
https://bit.ly/BeerBottleTempleAO - Jess’s terrifying international theme park of the week was Haisingdang Park in South Korea. Warning:Definitely not Safe for Work in regular times. Since we’re all stuck at home, proceed at your own risk!
https://bit.ly/AtlasObscuraDongPark - For her oral report, Heather told us about why she loves the roller coasters at Sea World, of all places
https://bit.ly/SeaWorldCoasters - Jess told us about Monster Mansion, the dark ride at 6 Flags Over Georgia that rivals rides at Disney parks, and has been called a mix of Splash Mountain and The Haunted Mansion
https://bit.ly/MonsterMansion6Flags - Dan shared the bizarre history of Winnie The Pooh’s 4 campaigns for President of the United States of America between 1968-1980, complete with rallies held daily in the Disney Parks and a killer campaign song
https://bit.ly/PoohForPresident
As always, a huge thank you to our sponsor, Key to the World Travel. For all your travel needs, Key to the World's expert travel advisors are standing by. Make sure you tell them the Gold Key Adventurers sent you!
Thanks to Outer Vibe for the use of their song Hoka Hey off of the album Hoka Hey as the intro and outro of our show. For tour dates, merch, music and more, be sure to check them out at www.outervibe.com.
Make sure you subscribe to the show to make sure you don't miss a single week of adventure. While you're at it, how about leaving us a rating and review?
Word of mouth is the best way for us to grow our society of intrepid adventurers-if you have a friend or two who might enjoy our particular brand of adventure and silliness, send them our way.
The Gold Key Adventurers Society is always looking for new members! Find all our episodes, links and info at https://www.goldkeyadventurers.com
Listen to The Gold Key Adventurers Society
Remember, life is short and the world is wide. So go have an adventure!