It's almost time! One of my favorite weeks of the year is just around the corner, and I couldn't be more excited! Each year, Disney Nerds from near and far make their way to Walt Disney World to spend a week together enjoying everything we love about Disney.
There is something pretty amazing about having a whole bunch of Disney Nerds in one place. We get to spend the week exploring the parks, riding our favorite attractions, enjoying the parades, attending some of Disney's special events and, most importantly, catching up with friends, both old and new. Of course, towards the end of the week are the formal annual Disney Nerds meet ups, which have become some of the highlights of our Disney adventures!
This year's official meet ups kick off on Thursday November 12th with our Annual Half Samplethon at EPCOT.
If you haven't experienced a Disney Nerds Half Samplethon before, you're in for a treat! It's one of those events that brings together so many of the things we love: great food, drinks, Disney trivia, great live music and entertainment, a little dancing, lots of laughter and, best of all, spending time with friends.
We'll be gathering at 4:00pm in Mexico, in the area across from the Odyssey building walkway along the water. Once everyone has arrived and we've had a chance to say our hellos, we'll head towards Norway and make our way halfway around World Showcase, sampling some of the delicious food and drinks offered at EPCOT's International Food & Wine Festival along the way.
One of the things I love most about the Half Samplethon is that we actually take the time to enjoy the countries as we go. Rather than rushing around trying to see how much we can fit in, we get to stop, explore the festival offerings, share recommendations and sample some of the wonderful flavors from around the world. I always look forward to finding a few of my personal favorites along the way, too, like the warm Werther’s caramel popcorn at Karamell Kuche in the Germany Pavillion. While I’m grabbing my popcorn, Jason is usually grabbing his German Grapefruit Hefeweizen, a wheat beer blended with grapefruit juice! It’s just so fun discovering (or rediscovering) those festival treats with a group of friends.
Of course, no Samplethon would be complete without our Disney Nerds traditions! The ladies are encouraged to bring out their light-up tutus and we'll be raising a glass or two to friendship and fun!
Expect plenty of laughs, some Disney trivia lovingly put together by Disney Nerd Ed, and probably a fair bit of dancing as we make our way around World Showcase!
Our destination every year is The American Gardens Theatre at 8:00p.m., where we'll catch the final performance of the Eat to the Beat concert series. There's an extra bit of excitement this year! John Stamos and his band have replaced the originally scheduled Beach Boys, so we'll be ending our Samplethon with some great music and entertainment before heading over towards Italy or Japan to enjoy EPCOT's nighttime fireworks, Luminous The Symphony of Us.
Last year, the fun didn't stop when the fireworks ended. Some of us continued the evening with a visit to see Yee-Ha Bob at Port Orleans Riverside, which was a fantastic way to keep the Disney Nerds fun going! I wonder where we’ll end up this year?
I have a feeling this year's Half Samplethon is going to be another memorable one. Great food, favorite festival treats, colorful tutus, good music and even better company. What more could a Disney Nerd ask for?
Of course, our Disney Nerds week wouldn't be complete without a few extra special Disney experiences along the way! This year, some of us are planning to attend the filming of the Christmas Day Parade at Magic Kingdom.We’ve got our outfits planned and are ready to bring lots of energy. What a fun way to be part of a little Disney Christmas magic!
We're also adding Jollywood Nights to our trip again this year! It's another opportunity to get together with our special Disney friends, enjoy the holiday atmosphere, and experience even more of what Walt Disney World has to offer. These traditions help Jason and I kick off the holiday season.
Let's not forget one of my favorite parts of our meetups, getting dressed up in our Disney Nerds gear! We love showing off our Nerds pride, spotting one another around the parks in our Disney Nerds T-Shirts, ears, and other swag. If you see a group of Disney Nerds sporting their gear, be sure to come over and say hello!
Friday is going to be another fantastic day for the Disney Nerds! Many of our group will be hitting the golf course during the day, enjoying some friendly competition, good conversation, and, of course, plenty of laughs along the way. It's another opportunity to spend time together outside the parks and enjoy the friendships that make these annual gatherings so special.
But the fun doesn't stop there!
Friday evening is the night we've all been looking forward to, our Annual Disney Nerds Meetup at Splitsville in Disney Springs.
Hosted by The Disney Nerds Podcast, this has become one of our favorite traditions, and we are so excited to bring everyone together again this year.
The food has already been ordered, the plans are coming together, and we are ready for a wonderful evening! We'll have our own private section upstairs at Splitsville, where we'll enjoy some delicious food, drinks, lots of laughter, and, most importantly, time catching up with our Disney Nerd friends.
For those joining us, admission is $89 per person, which includes an open bar featuring beer, wine, and liquor, along with a selection of light bar food including pizza, Parmesan chicken tenders, and sushi. A reduced rate of $39 is available for guests under 21 or those who don't drink.
These evenings are always such a highlight of our Disney Nerds week. It’s about bringing together people who share the same love of Disney, have made lasting friendships over the years, and look forward to this annual reunion as much as we do. We can't wait to see everyone, share some stories, raise a glass, and make even more memories together. It's going to be a fantastic night!
As you can see, it's shaping up to be another incredible week at Walt Disney World! From park days and favorite attractions to holiday celebrations, golf, special events, and our annual get-together at Disney Springs, there is going to be no shortage of fun, laughter, and memories.
One of the best parts of these annual meetups is the friendships. Some of us have been getting together for years, while others will be joining us for the very first time. It doesn't matter whether you're a longtime Disney Nerd or a new friend we've yet to meet, there is always room for another Nerd!
We would absolutely LOVE to see you there! If you're going to be at Walt Disney World this week, come and join us! Wear your Disney Nerds gear, introduce yourself, join in the fun, and don't be shy. We love meeting new Nerds and reconnecting with familiar faces.
We are counting down the days until we are all together again, making memories, sharing laughs, enjoying our favorite place, and celebrating the friendships that bring us back together year after year.
Until then, keep that Disney magic alive, travel safely, and we'll see you real soon!
Just Keep Disney’ing!
Terri Lee
