Adventures of a Disney Dad: A Walt Disney World Trip Planning Podcast

Adventures of a Disney Dad
  • 4.9 (42)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Planning your dream Walt Disney World vacation? You’ve come to the right place! Adventures of a Disney Dad is your go-to podcast for expert tips, reviews, trip planning advice, and the latest updates to help you maximize the magic on your next Disney World vacation. In each episode, Matt from Adventures of a Disney Dad and Chip host the best podcast for planning your next Walt Disney World vacation. This show is dedicated to helping you learn how to get the most out of your Disney World vacation with the latest strategies and information. Each we share must-know strategies for multipass, Lightning Lanes, dining reservations, crowd predictions, and more! Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Disney pro, we’ve got you covered with: ✅ Plans to minimize wait times for any budget ✅ Budget-friendly Disney tips for tickets, hotels, and dining ✅ Honest restaurant & attraction reviews ✅ Seasonal events & festival guides (Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, EPCOT Food & Wine, and more!) ✅ Breaking Disney news & updates to stay ahead of the crowdsd We frequently feature creators and other Disney Parks enthusiasts for fresh perspectives on everything Walt Disney World. Subscribe now and let’s make your next Walt Disney World vacation stress-free. 🎧 New episodes weekly! For even more tips, visit www.adventuresofadisneydad.com

  1. Jul 9

    Your Disney Questions Answered: Booking Windows, Dining Plan, Skyliner, and Rope Drop

    How far in advance should you book your Disney World vacation? Is the dining plan actually worth it? And what is going on with those new MagicBand checks at Disney Springs? In this episode, I sit down with my co-host Chip to answer the listener questions that have been flooding our inbox, and if you’re a family planning a Disney World trip, these are probably your questions too. We start with the news everyone is talking about: Walt Disney World now requires a MagicBand check to ride buses and boats from Disney Springs to the resorts. I explain why 99 percent of vacationing families will never notice this change, what Disney is really trying to stop, and why I think the Skyliner and monorail could be next. Then we work through your questions one by one: the six to eight month booking sweet spot, how Disney discounts really work behind the scenes, whether the dining plan makes sense for your family, and how many park days a first trip actually needs. Chip and I also dig into a real client scenario from this week: Pop Century versus Coronado Springs when a 20 percent discount makes them the same price. I explain why most families overestimate how much they will actually use the Skyliner, and why paying up for a Skyliner resort with fewer amenities is usually the wrong move. We also share why the food budget is the first thing I cut on a Disney trip, and why Lightning Lanes are the last. Stick around to the end, where two dads with ten kids between us settle the rope drop debate and break down exactly when Park Hopper pays off, and when it is just money down the drain. I’ll even tell you how much I have lost on it myself. FREE: Beginner’s Guide to Lightning Lanes: https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/09205643ab Chapters 03:52  News: MagicBand checks at Disney Springs 05:54  Who this change actually affects (and who it does not) 07:15  The Grand Floridian gingerbread house and resort crowding 08:58  Should resort guests get dining priority? 09:53  What reservation availability says about Disney demand right now 14:00  Question 1: How far in advance should you book? 16:01  How Disney discounts really work behind the scenes 19:25  Question 2: Is the Disney dining plan worth it? 24:13  Cut the food budget first, never the Lightning Lanes 25:11  Question 3: How many days does a first trip need? 28:38  Question 4: Is the Skyliner worth it? Pop Century vs Coronado 31:17  Why families overestimate the Skyliner 35:22  Question 5: My daughter is terrified of characters 37:51  Question 6: Rope drop or stay late? 42:01  Question 7: When does Park Hopper actually pay off? 49:12  Wrap up and how to get free planning help 👉 Need help planning your Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or Disney Cruise Line vacation? Matt is a travel agent with The Magic for Less Travel, and his services are 100% free to you. 📩 Get a free quote: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote ⭐ Enjoy the podcast? Please take a minute to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more Disney families find us. Have a question? Email us: matt@adventuresofadisneydad.com ☕ Want to support the podcast? If this episode helped you, consider buying us a coffee or dropping something in the tip jar. Every bit of support helps keep the show going. https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/products/matthew-brandabur 📬 Have a Disney planning question? Leave a comment, send an email, or drop it on social. We read them all and use them for future episodes.

  2. Jun 26

    10 Advanced Lightning Lane Tips for Walt Disney World in 2026

    Lightning Lane is more expensive than ever in 2026. In this episode I share 10 advanced ways to actually get your money's worth using Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World. If you have ever felt like you are paying a lot and still not skipping enough lines, this one is for you. I am a dad of 5 kids, all 8 and under, and we go to Walt Disney World a lot. I have booked thousands of Lightning Lanes for families as a free travel agent, and these are the strategies I use on my own trips. These are not beginner tips. They assume you already know the basics of how Lightning Lane works, so we can go deeper on some strategies. FREE Beginner’s Guide to Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World: https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/09205643ab Chapters 04:43  Tip 1: The Real Grace Period for Lightning Lanes at Disney World Is Three Hours 07:41  Tip 2: Burner Rides at Disney World and Why I Skip Them 11:47  Tip 3: What to Do When a Ride Goes Down at Disney World 14:50  Tip 4: Single Pass Rides at Disney World Do Not Need to Be Early 16:39  Tip 5: Two Single Passes Per Park Per Day 17:53  Tip 6: Stacking Lightning Lanes for an Evening Park Hop 21:30  Tip 7: Which Park Day to Book First for Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World 25:15  Tip 8: One Person Should Book for the Whole Group 27:34  Tip 9: Anyone Can Use Someone Else's Lightning Lane at Walt Disney World 30:36  Tip 10: How Rider Swap Really Works at Walt Disney World 👉 Need help planning your Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or Disney Cruise Line vacation? Matt is a travel agent with The Magic for Less Travel, and his services are 100% free to you. 📩 Get a free quote: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote ⭐ Enjoy the podcast? Please take a minute to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more Disney families find us. Have a question? Email us: matt@adventuresofadisneydad.com ☕ Want to support the podcast? If this episode helped you, consider buying us a coffee or dropping something in the tip jar. Every bit of support helps keep the show going. https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/products/matthew-brandabur 📬 Have a Disney planning question? Leave a comment, send an email, or drop it on social. We read them all and use them for future episodes.

  3. Jun 18

    Stop Optimizing Your Disney World Trip and Start Enjoying It w/ Julie Voris

    This week I sat down with Julie Voris, a content creator and Disney cast member who works PhotoPass in the parks. This episode is for those who feel like the Disney World vacation is a giant to do list you are trying to survive. We talk about how to slow down, find the joy, and actually enjoy the vacation you worked so hard to plan. Julie is not a tips and tricks account, and that is exactly why I wanted her on. We get into how young is too young to take your kids, why your own memories matter just as much as theirs, and the trap of trying to do every single thing in one day. Julie shares what she sees from behind the camera in the parks every week, and I share a few stories from my own family trips that taught me the same lessons the hard way. We also dig into the stuff that quietly ruins good trips. Julie walks through how to plan a brutally hot August park day so nobody melts down, why heading back to the resort pool is not quitting, and how reading a little Disney history can change the way you see the parks. I get honest about the spreadsheet families I worry about, and we both agree that value at Disney is subjective, so the bubble wand and the chocolate on the shirt belong in the picture. Stick around to the end for the rapid fire favorites and two of my all time favorite reset tricks for a rough park day. Julie has a monorail move that gets you out of the chaos without going all the way back to your room, and I finally share my PeopleMover secret that I usually keep to myself.   Connect with Julie Voris: Instagram.com/julievoris  Substack :: substack.com/@julievoris (or on the app @julievoris) Website :: julievoris.com   Chapters 00:00  Welcome and Meeting Julie Voris 02:15  How Julie Fell in Love with Disney 06:28  How Young Is Too Young to Take Your Kids to Disney World 09:49  Why Your Memories at Disney World Matter Too 12:10  When Teenagers Act Too Cool for Photos at Disney World 15:06  What Makes Working at Disney World Special 16:48  Does Living Near Disney World Change the Magic 19:41  Spotting a Good Disney World Vacation in Five Minutes 22:13  Best Advice for First Time Planners at Disney World 23:50  The Real Point of a Disney Trip 27:08  Surviving a Hot August Park Day 32:31  Learning What Works for Your Family at Disney World 39:16  What Belongs in Your Disney World Budget First 41:32  Recognizing When to Take a Break 50:34  The Monorail and PeopleMover Reset Tricks 👉 Need help planning your Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or Disney Cruise Line vacation? Matt is a travel agent with The Magic for Less Travel, and his services are 100% free to you. 📩 Get a free quote: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote ⭐ Enjoy the podcast? Please take a minute to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more Disney families find us. Have a question? Email us: matt@adventuresofadisneydad.com ☕ Want to support the podcast? If this episode helped you, consider buying us a coffee or dropping something in the tip jar. Every bit of support helps keep the show going. https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/products/matthew-brandabur 📬 Have a Disney planning question? Leave a comment, send an email, or drop it on social. We read them all and use them for future episodes.

  4. Jun 5

    Split Stays at Walt Disney World in 2026: Are They Really Worth the Hassle?

    Planning your first Walt Disney World trip and feeling buried in news, discounts, and decisions? In this episode, Chip and I sort out what actually matters for your family right now. We cover the new Bluey experience, the best room discounts of the year, two changes Disney made without telling anyone, and a full breakdown of split stays. We start with Bluey’s Wild World at Animal Kingdom, because the hype and the reality do not quite match. I explain what the experience really is, why the virtual queue disappeared so fast, how long the whole thing takes once you add the train, and whether it should change your park plans at all. Then I get on my soapbox about why virtual queues are one of the worst experiences for first-time families. From there we move to money. The 2027 bounce back offers are live, and these are some of the best pure room discounts you will ever get. I walk through the value, moderate, and deluxe discount ranges, how to bridge dates that fall outside the offer, and a trick I learned this week for moving a bounce back to dates you have not even chosen yet. I also break down the quiet change to Princess Fairytale Hall, where Disney is now rotating a surprise visiting princess and not telling you who it is. We finish with the segment listeners keep asking about: split stays. Chip and I are both dads of five, so we talk honestly about the bag transfer headaches, the water park perk most families waste, the front desk check-in trick, and the resort combinations we would book if budget were no object. Chapters 01:30   Bluey’s Wild World Comes to Animal Kingdom 02:04   What the Bluey and Bingo Experience Is Really Like 10:08   2027 Bounce Back Offers Are Live 15:04   The Quiet Princess Fairytale Hall Change 17:38   Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Cuts Its Dress Options 22:38   Split Stays: Why We Book Them   👉 Need help planning your Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or Disney Cruise Line vacation? Matt is a travel agent with The Magic for Less Travel, and his services are 100% free to you. 📩 Get a free quote: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote ⭐ Enjoy the podcast? Please take a minute to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more Disney families find us. Have a question? Email us: matt@adventuresofadisneydad.com ☕ Want to support the podcast? If this episode helped you, consider buying us a coffee or dropping something in the tip jar. Every bit of support helps keep the show going. https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/products/matthew-brandabur 📬 Have a Disney planning question? Leave a comment, send an email, or drop it on social. We read them all and use them for future episodes.

  5. May 28

    Disney World Without Diet Guilt: A Fitness Coach Spills His Park Strategy

    Most families head into a Walt Disney World trip with a quiet fear they’ll come home heavier, sluggish, and totally off track. In this episode I sit down with Jake Mayes, a fitness and nutrition coach who runs Magical Transformations, to talk about food, fitness, and the mindset that actually works on a Disney vacation. Jake and I cover how to think about eating and movement at the parks without ruining your trip. We dig into the 80/20 rule, why crash diets like 75 Hard before a Disney trip almost always backfire, and how to build a step count gradually so you are ready for 15,000 to 20,000 step park days. Jake shares his favorite clean eating spots at each park, his honest take on what to eat when you actually want to feel good, and the snacks he refuses to give up no matter what. Jake also breaks down which Disney foods sound healthy but really are not, including the truth about vegan and gluten free menu items, and how to handle food allergies at Disney quick service and table service restaurants. We get into specific orders worth trying, from the rotisserie chicken plate at Sunshine Seasons to the grilled salmon at Columbia Harbour House to the chopped salad at Hollywood Brown Derby. We close with a lightning round on Jake's favorite Disney snack he would never give up, his hot take on Joffrey's coffee, the best Disney resort gym he has ever used, and the most underrated high protein order in all of Walt Disney World. Connect with Jake: https://www.instagram.com/themagicalfitcoach Jake’s Community: https://www.skool.com/magical-transformations/about Chapters 00:36  The intersection of Disney and fitness with Jake Mayes 02:49  Why deadlines and the Hero Habit Transformation Challenge 04:12  The biggest misconception clients bring about weight loss 05:38  Clean meals vs splurge meals at the parks 08:47  Snacks Jake recommends and the meaning of healthy 12:08  Mindset and habits before a 60 day Disney countdown 15:24  Building from 4,000 to 15,000 steps before your trip 21:00  The Friday whatever night strategy that actually works 24:50  Favorite snacks at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios 28:20  The Joffrey's coffee hot take and the best coffee at Disney 30:21  The worst Disney advice on social media and how to actually save money 33:49  One meal to hit your macros at each Disney park 35:26  Foods that look healthy but really are not 36:25  Eating vegan, gluten free, and managing allergies at Disney 37:52  Dining strategy, water intake, and the kidney stone story 39:23  Why Coronado Springs and Gran Destino Tower are underrated 41:37  Lightning round: snacks, coffee, gyms, and high protein picks 👉 Need help planning your Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or Disney Cruise Line vacation? Matt is a travel agent with The Magic for Less Travel, and his services are 100% free to you. 📩 Get a free quote: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote ⭐ Enjoy the podcast? Please take a minute to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more Disney families find us. Have a question? Email us: matt@adventuresofadisneydad.com ☕ Want to support the podcast? If this episode helped you, consider buying us a coffee or dropping something in the tip jar. Every bit of support helps keep the show going. https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/products/matthew-brandabur 📬 Have a Disney planning question? Leave a comment, send an email, or drop it on social. We read them all and use them for future episodes.

  6. May 8

    10 Listener Questions Answered: Halloween Party, After Hours, and Lightning Lane Strategy

    If you’ve been wondering whether Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is actually worth it, how to handle Magic Kingdom after hours events, or how to stop blowing up your day with Lightning Lane Multipass, this episode is for you! Chip and I are back together to dig into 10 real listener questions from families planning their next Walt Disney World trip. We’re halfway to Halloween, party tickets are about to go on sale, and the inbox has been overflowing with great questions, so we wanted to knock a bunch of them out in one shot. In this episode we cover whether the Halloween party is worth it for families, when tickets go on sale and which dates actually sell out, what happens to wait times during after hours events versus party nights, and how to plan your park day if you have an after hours event that night. We also tackle two big Lightning Lane Multipass questions, including whether you should buy it for Animal Kingdom if you’re rope dropping there and then park hopping to Magic Kingdom. And because we couldn’t resist, Chip and I share our must do Disney snacks and rank the four parks for toddlers and kids under five. I also walk through one of my favorite under the radar tips for Magic Kingdom after hours: you can actually watch two fireworks shows in one night, including Enchantment from a near empty hub, even if you don’t have an after hours ticket. We talk through how the data shows wait times on Halloween party days are some of the lowest of the year at Magic Kingdom, which makes those days a sneaky win for park hopper guests who are not attending the party. We close out the episode with what I think is the single biggest mistake families make with Lightning Lane Multipass, and it’s probably not what you’re expecting. If you’ve ever felt like your whole park day fell apart after one tap in, you’ll want to stick around for that segment. Chapters 01:49   When Halloween party tickets go on sale and which dates sell out 03:28   Is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party worth it? 07:46   How after hours events impact wait times 10:47   What to do during the day before an after hours event 15:22   How Halloween parties affect Magic Kingdom wait times 17:12  Our number one must do Disney snack or restaurant 22:21   Ranking the four parks for toddlers and kids under 5 25:43   Lightning Lane Multipass at Animal Kingdom or Magic Kingdom? 30:36   The biggest mistakes with Lightning Lane Multipass   👉 Need help planning your Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or Disney Cruise Line vacation? Matt is a travel agent with The Magic for Less Travel, and his services are 100% free to you. 📩 Get a free quote: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote ⭐ Enjoy the podcast? Please take a minute to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more Disney families find us. Have a question? Email us: matt@adventuresofadisneydad.com ☕ Want to support the podcast? If this episode helped you, consider buying us a coffee or dropping something in the tip jar. Every bit of support helps keep the show going. https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/products/matthew-brandabur 📬 Have a Disney planning question? Leave a comment, send an email, or drop it on social. We read them all and use them for future episodes.

  7. Apr 30

    Ranking All 20 Magic Kingdom Area Table Service Restaurants From Worst to Best

    If you've ever stared at the My Disney Experience app trying to figure out which Magic Kingdom area restaurant is actually worth your money, this episode is for you! We sat down to rank all 20 table service restaurants in the Magic Kingdom area, including everything inside the park plus the four monorail and boat resorts. We're going to tell you exactly which ones we'd book again and which ones we'd cancel today. In this episode, we walk through every single one of the 20 Magic Kingdom area table service restaurants using a tiered system: never eating there again, average and meh, good, and elite. We also rank each one from 20 to 1 so you can see exactly where it lands. We cover food quality, theming, cost, value for money, reservation difficulty, kid friendliness, and the would I book it again test. Whether you're planning your first trip or your fifteenth, this gives you a clear roadmap for where to spend your dining dollars. We also dig into some of the more controversial picks. Chef Mickey's lands lower than most millennials would expect, and we explain exactly why nostalgia isn't enough to save it. Be Our Guest has arguably the best theming of any Walt Disney World restaurant, but we break down why charging character meal prices without giving you a real character meet keeps it stuck in the average tier. Chip and I also disagreed on Kona Cafe, and you'll hear how he convinced me to move it up the list. And just when you think we're done, we close out with our superlatives: best for a milestone occasion, best for toddlers, best value, best fireworks view, easiest reservation to grab, easiest walk up, most overrated, most underrated, and the one restaurant we'd cut from any trip. Chapters 00:00  Intro and how we ranked all 20 Magic Kingdom area restaurants 00:53  The four tier system and our ranking criteria 03:44  Number 20: 05:08  Number 19: 06:38  Number 18: 07:52  Number 17: 09:09  Number 16: 11:32  Number 15: 13:11  Number 14: 16:25  Number 13: 19:39  Number 12: 22:39  Number 11: 24:53  Number 10: 27:55  Number 9: 29:31  Number 8: 31:13  Number 7: 34:10  Number 6: 35:14  Number 5: 36:18  Number 4: 38:18  Number 3: 40:00  Number 2: 41:30  Number 1: 42:55  Superlatives Plan Your Trip 👉 Need help planning your Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or Disney Cruise Line vacation? Matt is a travel agent with The Magic for Less Travel, and his services are 100% free to you. 📩 Get a free quote: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote ⭐ Enjoy the podcast? Please take a minute to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more Disney families find us. Have a question? Email us: matt@adventuresofadisneydad.com ☕ Want to support the podcast? If this episode helped you, consider buying us a coffee or dropping something in the tip jar. Every bit of support helps keep the show going. https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/products/matthew-brandabur 📬 Have a Disney planning question? Leave a comment, send an email, or drop it on social. We read them all and use them for future episodes.

  8. Apr 16

    What Nine Days at Disney Taught Me About Slowing Down and Letting Go

    Matt just got back from nine days at Walt Disney World with his family of 7, including 2 babies, and somehow it turned out to be his favorite trip ever and his least stressful one. In this episode, we break down what actually made it work, including the room request at Saratoga Springs that changed everything and a Lightning Lane rule Disney doesn't tell anyone about. Matt walks through the full trip: driving down in a Sprinter van, a split stay between Animal Kingdom Lodge and Saratoga Springs, the Magic Kingdom day that fell apart and why leaving early was the right call, and the Animal Kingdom evening that turned into one of the best nights of the whole vacation. We also cover a current Disney Plus subscriber discount with rooms starting at $99 a night and a Savanna view at Animal Kingdom Lodge for $369, and we break down a listener question about whether to book that Savanna view room or a resort view at Boardwalk. Chapters 02:29 What Adventures by Disney actually is and why people love it 04:22 2027 reservations are open: what to book now and why 05:18 The Disney Plus subscriber summer discount and current room pricing 06:04 Room rates breakdown: All-Star Sports, Port Orleans, Art of Animation, Saratoga, Animal Kingdom Lodge 07:22 Listener question: Savannah view at Animal Kingdom Lodge vs. resort view at Boardwalk 12:44 Driving to Disney in a Sprinter van: what worked and what surprised him 17:00 Split stay recap: Animal Kingdom Lodge first night, then Saratoga Springs 18:55 Room requests at Saratoga Springs and why it was the most important decision of the trip 25:22 Knowing when to leave: the Magic Kingdom day that wasn't working 30:10 The thing families forget: characters and shows are mostly done by 5 p.m. 32:09 The Lightning Lane two-hour window Disney doesn't advertise 👉 Need help planning your Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, or Disney Cruise Line vacation? Matt is a travel agent with The Magic for Less Travel, and his services are 100% free to you. 📩 Get a free quote: https://www.adventuresofadisneydad.com/get-a-quote ⭐ Enjoy the podcast? Please take a minute to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more Disney families find us. Have a question? Email us: matt@adventuresofadisneydad.com ☕ Want to support the podcast? If this episode helped you, consider buying us a coffee or dropping something in the tip jar. Every bit of support helps keep the show going. https://adventures-of-a-disney-dad.kit.com/products/matthew-brandabur 📬 Have a Disney planning question? Leave a comment, send an email, or drop it on social. We read them all and use them for future episodes.

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Planning your dream Walt Disney World vacation? You’ve come to the right place! Adventures of a Disney Dad is your go-to podcast for expert tips, reviews, trip planning advice, and the latest updates to help you maximize the magic on your next Disney World vacation. In each episode, Matt from Adventures of a Disney Dad and Chip host the best podcast for planning your next Walt Disney World vacation. This show is dedicated to helping you learn how to get the most out of your Disney World vacation with the latest strategies and information. Each we share must-know strategies for multipass, Lightning Lanes, dining reservations, crowd predictions, and more! Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Disney pro, we’ve got you covered with: ✅ Plans to minimize wait times for any budget ✅ Budget-friendly Disney tips for tickets, hotels, and dining ✅ Honest restaurant & attraction reviews ✅ Seasonal events & festival guides (Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, EPCOT Food & Wine, and more!) ✅ Breaking Disney news & updates to stay ahead of the crowdsd We frequently feature creators and other Disney Parks enthusiasts for fresh perspectives on everything Walt Disney World. Subscribe now and let’s make your next Walt Disney World vacation stress-free. 🎧 New episodes weekly! For even more tips, visit www.adventuresofadisneydad.com

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