Thankful for the Magic: A Heartfelt Look at the People and Moments That Make Travel Special

Secret Santa: Holiday Fun with a Disney Twist

It’s Episode 55 of Going Beyond the Castle and it’s pure holiday chaos — because we’re playing Disney’s Secret Santa! Fred shows up totally unprepared (as tradition), Ashley brings the chaos wheel, and Lori tries her best to keep things somewhat sensible… but the gifts get ridiculous fast. We spin a wheel of Disney characters and decide what gift we’d give them — from practical to hilarious — featuring Belle, Stitch, Hades, Jack Sparrow, Donald Duck, Figment, Mickey Mouse, and more. We also squeeze in a few quick Disney World updates, including the plan to repaint Cinderella Castle, Trader Sam’s opening earlier at the Polynesian, and chatter about parade updates. If you love Disney podcasts, Disney World talk, and holiday Disney humor, this one’s for you. What we cover in this episode: * Disney’s Secret Santa: spinning for characters + gift ideas * Disney World news: Cinderella Castle repainting + Polynesian updates * Trader Sam’s changes and why we’re excited * Rapid-fire character gift picks (some wholesome… some chaotic) * Next week preview: Listener Awards (and the bribes are apparently open)

Lori’s Magical Trip Report: MVMCP, tour of the Disney Treasure, and more!

Pack your bags and grab your mouse ears! This week on Going Beyond the Castle, we are sitting down with Lori for an action-packed trip report that covers the best of Disney on land and at sea. From the snowy streets of Magic Kingdom to the high seas on Disney’s newest fleet member, this episode is bursting with first-hand insights, "must-dos," and holiday magic. ♥️🖤 Welcome to Going Beyond the Castle! Please be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes! 👀 New to the Podcast? Start with our favorite episode: [https://openinapp.link/f2pv1]https://youtu.be/kC0jwcLCc7M [https://youtu.be/kC0jwcLCc7M] 💫 Join the Going Beyond the Castle family: Website: [https://openinapp.link/f2pv1]https://openinapp.link/f2pv1 [https://openinapp.link/f2pv1] Facebook: [https://openinapp.link/f2pv1]https://fb.openinapp.co/pc7hw [https://fb.openinapp.co/pc7hw] Instagram: [https://openinapp.link/f2pv1]https://insta.openinapp.co/ywmh5 [https://insta.openinapp.co/ywmh5] TikTok: [https://openinapp.link/f2pv1]https://openinapp.link/v7tyw [https://openinapp.link/v7tyw] ✨ Planning a trip to a Disney park, Disney Cruise, or other destination? Have Fred and Lori book your trip for you (for free) and save you the time of getting those hard-to-get dining reservations, and ensuring you’re getting the best deal on your trip! Start planning your magical trip completing our travel request form: [https://openinapp.link/f2pv1]https://openinapp.link/321qm [https://openinapp.link/321qm] 👂Prefer to listen to the podcast? Apple Podcast: [https://openinapp.link/f2pv1]https://apple.openinapp.link/jrzz9 [https://apple.openinapp.link/jrzz9] Amazon Podcast: [https://openinapp.link/f2pv1]https://amzn.openinapp.co/he4g3 [https://amzn.openinapp.co/he4g3] Spotify Podcast: [https://openinapp.link/f2pv1]https://spotify.openinapp.co/jhy3y [https://spotify.openinapp.co/jhy3y] Pandora Podcast: [https://openinapp.link/f2pv1]https://openinapp.link/9xi39 [https://openinapp.link/9xi39]

BEST Holiday Attraction Overlays

Fred and Ashley break down the best holiday ride overlays at Disney and Universal, plus Fred recaps his 20-hour NYC trip to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with Tom Felton. From Haunted Mansion Holiday and Jingle Cruise to Grinchmas, Living with the Land, and Epic Universe holiday potential, this episode is packed with Christmas cheer, park news, and chaos. 🎄 New episodes every Thursday 🔗 Find all our links at beacons.ai/goingbeyondthecastle [http://beacons.ai/goingbeyondthecastle]

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Disney, Universal & Cruise Fans

🎄 WHAT TO GET YOUR DISNEY & UNIVERSAL LOVER FOR CHRISTMAS | CRUISE ESSENTIALS + LORI’S DISNEY AGENCY TRIP PREVIEW In this episode of Going Beyond the Castle, Ashley and Lori break down the ultimate holiday gift guide for Disney fans, Universal lovers, and cruise-goers — from stocking stuffers under $25 to big-ticket dream gifts like VIP tours, annual passes, and cruise onboard credit. Lori also shares a sneak-peek of her upcoming Disney agency fam trip, including: ✨ Disney Treasure ship tour ✨ Refurbished room previews at Port Orleans, Copper Creek, Boulder Ridge & Polynesian Island Tower ✨ Candlelight Processional with Susan Egan ✨ Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ✨ Animal Kingdom After Hours ✨ A bonus day at Universal’s Epic Universe and Helios Hotel If you love Disney parks, Universal Orlando, Disney Cruise Line, or need holiday gift inspo — this one’s for you!

Thankful for the Magic: A Heartfelt Look at the People and Moments That Make Travel Special

Welcome to Episode 50 of Going Beyond the Castle! 🎉 Tonight, Fred and Ashley are running the show princess-less and full of absolute chaos — and possibly even funnier because Lori isn’t here. In this milestone episode, we take a heartfelt dive into why travel matters, the moments that shape our vacations, and the people who make the magic come alive. We break down: ✨ The newly released 2026 Disney Military Salute Tickets & Universal Military Freedom Pass ✨ Why cast members, team members, and BDMs truly make or break a Disney or Universal trip ✨ Personal memories from Disney World, Universal Studios, cruising, and traveling with kids ✨ Heartwarming character interactions (Stitch, Daisy, Belle, Donald… and maybe a Stormtrooper mishap) ✨ How strangers in the parks create unexpected pixie-dust moments ✨ Why our community — YOU — is the heartbeat of our podcast ✨ The chaos of parenthood, theme-park meltdowns, closets (don’t ask), and travel-induced sanity PLUS: We celebrate 50 episodes of Disney talk, theme park chaos, and community growth — all thanks to you.