Welcome to Rope Drop Radio: A Disney Travel Podcast!

Rope Drop Radio

We are two midwesterners, Lauren Shields and Doug McKnight, who love Disney. Our goal is help you navigate all things Disney from the parks to the cruise. We want to share tips and tricks, travel plans, and must see's to help you have an amazing Disney trip!

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Recent Episodes

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Blind Ranking Disney World Table Service Restaurants | Our Most Stressful Disney Game Yet!
July 16, 2026

Blind Ranking Disney World Table Service Restaurants | Our Most Stressful Disney Game Yet!

🍽️ Would you rank your favorite Disney World restaurant #5 if you didn't know what was coming next? That's exactly what happens in this week's episode! This week on Rope Drop Radio, Lauren puts Doug (and herself) to the test with one of our favorite Disney games yet—Blind Ranking Disney World Table Service Restaurants! Here's how it works: each of us secretly picks five Walt Disney World table service restaurants. One restaurant is revealed at a time, and the other person has to place it somewh
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Disney Resort Roulette: 7 Resorts, 14 Things We Love, 7 Things We Don't
July 9, 2026

Disney Resort Roulette: 7 Resorts, 14 Things We Love, 7 Things We Don't

🏨 Thinking about staying at a Disney World resort? We're putting 7 popular resorts under the microscope and sharing 2 things we love and 1 thing we'd change about each one! This week on Rope Drop Radio, Doug and Lauren randomly selected seven Walt Disney World resorts and put them through a fun challenge: share 2 likes and 1 dislike for each resort. From deluxe favorites to value classics, we're breaking down the pros and cons that can help you decide where to stay on your next Disney vacation.
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The Ultimate Disney World Packing List (Don't Forget These!)
July 2, 2026

The Ultimate Disney World Packing List (Don't Forget These!)

Packing for Walt Disney World doesn't have to be stressful! This week, we're sharing exactly what we bring, what most guests forget, and the items that can save your Disney vacation. One of the most common questions we get is simple: "What should I pack for Disney World?" This week on Rope Drop Radio, Doug and Lauren break down their Disney World packing lists and share the items that make a huge difference during a Walt Disney World vacation. From park bag essentials and rain gear to cooling
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EPIC EPCOT Tips: What Disney Experts Do in Every Land
June 25, 2026

EPIC EPCOT Tips: What Disney Experts Do in Every Land

From Spaceship Earth to World Showcase, we're sharing our best tips for every land, pavilion, and country in EPCOT to help you save time, find hidden gems, and have a better Disney vacation! This week on Rope Drop Radio, Doug and Lauren take a lap around EPCOT and share their favorite tips for every section of the park. Whether you're entering through the front gate or International Gateway, EPCOT can feel overwhelming. Between World Celebration, World Discovery, World Nature, and all 11 count
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Bonus Episode: Lauren's Incredible Greek Islands Cruise Adventure
June 23, 2026

Bonus Episode: Lauren's Incredible Greek Islands Cruise Adventure

What happens when a Disney fan sails the Greek Islands on a National Geographic ship? Lauren joins us for a quick preview of her latest cruise adventure, sharing a few of her favorite moments from Greece and why this trip stood out from every cruise she's taken before. For the complete trip report—including the ship, ports, excursions, dining, and everything in between—check out the newest episode of Rope Drop On Deck. JOIN US ON OUR ROPE DRO TRIP AUG 30th - Sept 2nd. More Info Here. Support t
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Rope Drop Radio Awards: The Best and Worst of Attractions
June 18, 2026

Rope Drop Radio Awards: The Best and Worst of Attractions

The Ultimate Disney World Ride Awards: The Best & Worst of WDW! Teaser: What ride has the absolute worst queue line in Walt Disney World, and which iconic attraction boasts a soundtrack so good you can’t get it out of your head? This week, Lauren and Doug are handing out the first-ever Rope Drop Radio Awards to crown the true champions (and call out the biggest offenders) across the Disney Parks! Episode Summary: Planning a Disney vacation means deciding exactly how to spend your precious park
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About the Hosts

Doug McKnight Profile Photo
Doug McKnight

Co-Host

Doug is a life long Disney fan with more trips to WDW than he can count. Disney Cruises are his favorite type of vacation when he is avoiding work as The Disney Dentist. His favorite attraction at the parks is Aloha Isle for a Dole Whip float. Doug also hosts the spin off show: Rope Drop On Deck and Blue Devil Talk.

Lauren Shields Profile Photo
Lauren Shields

Co-Host

Lauren has been a huge Disney fan since she first went the parks at age 5 with her family.  Her love of Disney has only grown and she now visits the parks as much as possible with her own kids.  Her passion has spilled over to her professional life where she is a seasoned travel agent who specializes in all forms of Disney travel.  Her favorite pastime is riding the People Mover during the fireworks.

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