Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel
Disney Reality Check: The Good, the Bad and the Magical
Thu, 24 Apr 2025
📈 Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a free personalized plan. If you’re willing to go into debt for limited-edition Mickey Mouse ears 🐭 . . . it’s time to stop the madness. In this episode, Rachel and George reveal Disney adults’ top hacks so you can enjoy the most magical place on Earth without breaking the bank. Next Steps: 🎥 Watch our video What Are “Vacations” Really Costing You? 🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour 📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! Send a DM to @rachelcruze or @georgekamel on Instagram! Be sure to type “GUILTY?” at the top of your message so we don’t miss it. 💵 Start your free budget today. Download the EveryDollar app! Connect With Our Sponsors: 🔒 Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe. 🌿 Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth. Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍸 La Tourista Recipe: @taco.dia 2 ounces tequila 1/2 ounce St-Germain elderflower liqueur 1/2 ounce Aperol 1/2 ounce simple syrup 1 ounce lemon juice 2 dashes bitters Instructions: In a cocktail shaker, add all the ingredients and shake to combine. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange peel or rosemary sprig if desired. Explore More From Ramsey Network: 💡 The Rachel Cruze Show 💰 George Kamel 🎙️ The Ramsey Show 💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights 🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 🪑 Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman 📈 EntreLeadership Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chapter 1: Who are the hosts of Smart Money Happy Hour and what is today's topic?
Today, we're either going to make you feel seen or triggered. We're talking Disney. So is that worth the money to stay in one of the, like, character hotels?
And literally, I sat there and I, I mean, I almost cried. I mean, teared up. Had to, like, because it just makes you feel like anything's possible. Hey, guys, I'm Rachel Cruz.
I'm George Camel.
And this is Smart Money Happy Hour. Delicious. Lovely. Just like the topic of today's episode. Well, this is the show where two friends who happen to be money experts talk about what you're talking about. Everything from pop culture, current events, and money.
Now, before we dive into the belly of the beast, let's talk about what we're sipping on, Rachel. It's the La Turista.
Whoa, look at that, George. I thought we'd go a little tropical. You claim to be Middle Eastern. I don't know.
You got a little salsa in you. I took a year or two of Spanish. A little salsa in you. Don't have to be dangerous.
Love it.
A little biblioteca never hurt anybody. Yeah. So stick around till the end. We're going to give you our rating and reveal the cost per glass. And that alone is worth the price of admission.
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Chapter 2: What are the pros and cons of visiting Disney according to the hosts?
Unlike Disney.
Okay, George, we're pretty opposites in life.
Yeah.
Actually, polar opposites in life, including the topic of Disney. So we'll just give a little like, just a little snapshot. Sure. I'm going to use one word to describe Disney. I'm going to go with its tagline because it is true. It is magical. There's just something magical about it, unlike any place on Earth. All right, George, go and be the Grinch.
Well, we're going to talk about, obviously, the financial aspects of Disney. What?
Boo, I know we are. It's called Smart Money Happy Hour. Can we just, like, have a little fun right now? Yes. And you just vent about how much you hate Disney.
I thought you'd have fun with this. Hmm? I want to see how many of these you would agree with.
Do you have, like, statements you're about to give me?
Several.
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Chapter 3: How do Disney prices compare to general inflation and what justifies the cost?
Yes.
Wow. That really deflates the story, George.
Yep. Or my dad. I don't even know which parent was with me, but I know that apparently I misremembered.
Somebody was with you.
And that I was going to be okay either way.
And you were going to be fine. Okay.
But this is back before you could just call on a cell phone.
Well, sure, yeah. I mean, back in the early days, I don't know. Okay, do you have any characters, though, at Disney that you're just like, oh, yeah, pretty cool?
More from the movies than the actual characters. Like, I loved Aladdin growing up, as you may know. I had a huge crush on Jasmine, still do. So if I was going to meet, I think I did a meet and greet with Aladdin and Jasmine once. That was fun. Okay, there you go. As a grown man.
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Chapter 4: What are some personal Disney experiences shared by Rachel and George?
Uh-huh.
And Tower of Terror. That one hits.
Oh, good. Hollywood Studios. Different park. But it's fine.
Can't win them all, Rachel.
I love critiquing you in my Disney knowledge.
Oh, my gosh.
Okay. Would you, have you done Universal before?
Yes. Not Disney though.
I've not done, yeah.
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Chapter 5: Which Disney parks and characters do the hosts prefer and why?
Oh, wow.
So if you stay on a Disney resort, like on property, certain resorts, you get the exclusive hours at night. So they'll open up Epcot from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. But it does add on.
Was that with the Fast Pass, though, where you've experienced the entire park in half a day because of that? Yeah.
Not Magic Kingdom. That takes a full day. Animal Kingdom, yeah, could be half a day.
I think the reason was you could spend a whole day there and still not see anything. That is true. You can't save money. Okay, next one.
BYO, everything. So you can stay off property, pack your own snacks and water, pack your own toys and activities. Don't buy the memorabilia there. Just buy everything. Bring it yourself. And I do agree with this. So I will Amazon Ears. Okay. Yeah, I, yeah.
I think like the Walmart, you just go there and get all the gear and then head to the park.
Yes, I mean, seriously, because it is so expensive there. I will say the food elements, last trip, I did less like bring your own bottle of water and all of that because there are water stations and different things. And again, if you're on a tight budget, then yeah, you could totally just like bring your own snacks, 100%. But like have a little bit, if you can, to enjoy some of the snacks there.
Because some of like, there's some like famous foods, I feel like, at the Disney parks.
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