Main Street Magic - A Walt Disney World Podcast

We’re building our ultimate Walt Disney World meal — pulling our favorite picks from all across property to create one perfect dining experience. From the location and atmosphere to the drink, appetizer, entrée, and dessert, we’re drafting the best bites Disney has to offer right now. We last did this episode awhile back, and let’s just say… a lot has changed. Over the years, we’ve tried new restaurants, revisited longtime favorites, watched menus evolve, and had some strong opinions shift along the way. With all that dining under our belts, it felt like the perfect time to update our picks and see what still holds up — and what’s earned a spot on the new list. To keep things interesting, we added a few ground rules: we can’t choose the same item, we can’t pick more than once from the same location, and we can pull individual items from family-style meals. The result is a fun, conversational episode filled with debate, nostalgia, cravings, and plenty of “almost picked this” moments. This isn’t about naming the “best” restaurant at Walt Disney World — it’s about what we actually crave, what we go back to time and time again, and what makes a meal feel memorable. If you’ve ever thought about what your perfect Disney meal would look like, this episode is guaranteed to get you hungry and spark a few ideas of your own.

We’re breaking down everything you need to know about using gift cards at Walt Disney World and why they might be one of the most underrated tools for planning and budgeting your vacation. Whether you’ve received a Disney gift card as a gift, plan to purchase them ahead of your trip, or are just looking for a smarter way to manage spending in the parks, gift cards can make a huge difference. We walk through exactly where Disney gift cards are accepted — from theme parks and water parks to resorts, Disney Springs, tickets, special events, and more. We also explain how to use Disney gift cards for mobile food ordering in the My Disney Experience app, making quick-service meals and snacks even easier. We’ll also discuss why gift cards are so popular with seasoned Disney travelers, including how they help control spending, simplify purchases, and even save money when you take advantage of discounts from places like Target or warehouse clubs. Plus, we cover how to use gift cards to pay off resort room charges, manage multiple cards by combining balances, and avoid common mistakes that can catch guests off guard. We even touch on using gift cards with kids, why they’re great for teaching budgeting, and what other types of gift cards may work around Walt Disney World. If you’re trying to stay on budget without losing the magic — or just want fewer surprises when the bill comes — this episode is packed with practical tips you can actually use.

We’re sharing our full review of the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, one of our favorite and most creative festivals of the year. Running from January 16 through February 23, 2026, this festival blends food, visual art, and live entertainment in a way only EPCOT can — and we’re breaking down everything you need to know before you go. We start with the basics, including when to visit, how long to plan for, and why this is one festival that truly benefits from multiple days. We also share practical tips like where to stay for easy access (hello, BoardWalk and Skyliner resorts), why weekends can be especially crowded, and how being comfortable, budgeting ahead, and sharing dishes can seriously improve your experience. From there, we dive into the heart of the festival — the visual art and galleries, interactive elements, and live entertainment offerings. We talk about the Once Upon a Stage: The Magic of Disney on Broadway exhibit and the Disney on Broadway Concert Series at the America Gardens Theatre, featuring show-stopping performances and Broadway talent like Adam Jacobs and Isabelle McCalla. Of course, no Festival of the Arts review would be complete without food. We cover the food studios, festival merchandise, and the always-fun Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, including how it works, whether it’s worth doing, and tips for completing it at your own pace. If you’re wondering whether Festival of the Arts is worth a dedicated visit — or how to tackle it the right way — this episode has you covered.

We’re breaking down our full VIP Tour experience and putting real numbers behind one of Disney’s most talked-about (and most expensive) offerings. We go far beyond the “it was amazing” review and dig into the math, comparing VIP Tours directly to Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass, Lightning Lane Premier Pass, After Hours events, and seasonal party tickets. You’ll hear how much we actually accomplished during our tour, how it compares to a well-planned Lightning Lane day, and when alternatives like After Hours events or party nights might make more sense. We also discuss who VIP Tours are truly designed for, who should absolutely skip them, and where the real break-even point starts to appear. We’ll walk through current pricing, hourly costs, per-person breakdowns, and dollar-per-hour comparisons so you can see exactly what you’re paying for — and what you’re not. We also talk about what VIP Tours include that Disney doesn’t always advertise, how group size completely changes the value, and why this experience is less about luxury and more about time, flexibility, and mental freedom. If you’ve ever wondered whether a VIP Tour is a bucket-list splurge, a smart group strategy, or just Disney pricing gone wild — this episode gives you the honest breakdown you’ve been looking for.

We’re setting the table for EPCOT’s most creative festival and getting you ready for opening weekend. Before we head into the parks for our full review next week, we’re taking a step back to talk expectations, favorites, and a whole lot of food. First, we break down where EPCOT Festival of the Arts ranks for us among EPCOT’s four annual festivals and why it continues to punch above its weight despite being the shortest of the bunch. From there, we each reveal our Top 5 returning Festival of the Arts dishes, sharing the items that have stuck with us year after year and seeing just how much overlap there is between our lists. These are the bites we still think about, still recommend, and would absolutely order again without hesitation. Then it’s time to look ahead as we each share our Top 5 new dishes we’re most excited to try this year, based purely on menus, descriptions, and presentation. No reviews yet — just hype, curiosity, and a little healthy skepticism. We wrap things up by talking about which booths we’re heading to first, which dishes have the most pressure to live up to expectations, and teasing our full opening weekend review coming next Friday. Whether you’re attending Festival of the Arts for the first time or already planning your must-do food stops, this episode is the perfect appetizer for what’s to come.