Critiquing People’s Disney Drama (Debt, Lawsuits and Club 33 Tea)

Summary

Episode Summary: Critiquing People’s Disney Drama (Debt, Lawsuits, and Club 33 Tea)

Podcast: Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel
Network: Ramsey Network
Date: March 12, 2026
Theme: Rachel and George dive into the magical—and sometimes chaotic—world of Disney, sharing firsthand stories, discussing pop culture drama, critiquing financial choices people make at Disney, and delivering savvy tips for making a trip to the Mouse House more affordable. The tone is lively, witty, and candid throughout.

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Episode Overview

In this fun and refreshingly honest episode, Rachel and George dissect the culture and costs around all things Disney—from club exclusivity and viral lawsuits to the ways families finance their vacations. The hosts balance lighthearted personal anecdotes with meaningful reflections about debt and the “compare-and-despair” cycle in today’s Disney fandom. They close by offering practical, crowd-sourced budget hacks for planning a magical (yet responsible) Disney trip.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Evolving Views on Disney Adult Culture

• George confesses his initial skepticism toward "Disney adults," describing how their extreme enthusiasm had “turned him off” from the parks for years.
  • Quote: “I historically have been turned off by the Disney adults... this whole thing isn't for me because of these specific subset of people.” (01:47, George)
• Rachel admits loving Disney, but draws the line at “going four times a year.”
  • Quote: “I’m not that extreme... but I love Disney.” (01:20, Rachel)

2. Disney Parks Trivia & Global Reach

• Rachel nails the trivia of naming all four Disney World parks and attempts to list the six worldwide Disney resorts (03:06–04:13).
• Comical exchange about Disney’s naming conventions and family legacy.
  • Quote: “Disney is a weird last name.” (05:57, George)

3. George’s Club 33 Experience: The Ultimate Disney Flex

• George describes spending a day as a Club 33 member—the ultra-exclusive, members-only Disney club:
  • Entrance through an unmarked door, custom drinks, personalized service, and near-empty lounges.
  • Quote: “There's like three people in there... you have it all to yourself, essentially.” (10:42, George)
  • Notable details:
    • Annual dues: $31,500 (plus initiation fees).
    • Strict rules on membership and succession: “Not like, transferable… you can’t, like, pass it.” (11:22, Rachel)
    • Invitation-only membership.
• Rachel and George joke about the exclusivity, the wild pricing, and a “social experiment” where George wore an “I Know Rachel Cruze” shirt.
  • Quote: “Every person that came up to me… went, ‘No, who's that?’” (14:04, George)

4. Disney Drama: Lawsuit Tea & Club 33 Fallout

• Discussion of a high-profile lawsuit where a couple sued Disney for revoking their Club 33 membership (16:18).
  • The Andersons frequented the park 60–80 times a year, spending $125,000/year on dues and travel.
  • Expelled for public intoxication (Scott) and explicit language (Diana).
  • Their failed lawsuit cost $400,000—Diana joked she’d “sell a kidney” to keep fighting.
  • Quote: “Nobody wins against Disney.” (16:19, George)
  • Quote: “Is there anything you love that much that you would spend half a million to fight?” (17:40, George)

5. Disney Debt: On-the-Ground Interviews

• George shares clips from his viral YouTube segment interviewing Disney guests about vacation debt (19:01).
  • Example #1: Couple with $60K–$75K+ debt, calling it “minimal,” spending $5K on a week at Disney.
    • Quote: “Almost $140,000 in consumer debt.” (20:40, George)
  • Example #2: Guest initially denies debt, then admits to a car loan (“I was high when I went to get the car”). (22:35)
  • Example #3: A family saves for years and pays $8K cash for a vacation, feeling empowered and stress-free.
    • Quote: “When you have a goal and… you come and there’s no stress.” (23:52, Interviewee)
• Rachel and George reflect on the normalization and risk of vacation debt—highlighting how common it is (22:17–23:38).

6. The Culture of Disney Comparison & Parental Pressure

• Rachel warns about the “comparison culture” pushing families into overspending for “magical” memories (25:54).
  • Quote: “The worst vacations you can go on are the ones that you get home and you get the credit card bill.” (26:29, Rachel)
  • Emphasize: Don’t bank on Disney to make your kids happy; don’t fall for guilt or pressure if Disney isn’t in the budget.

7. George’s Changed Perspective: Experience vs. Expense

• George concedes that spending money on experiences with loved ones can be justified—provided it's done with cash and thoughtful budgeting.
  • Quote: “This is how people want to spend their money on an amazing experience with people they love. That is actually one of the best ways scientifically to spend your money.” (27:10, George)

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Budgeting Disney: 7 Rapid Fire Tips & Hacks

(28:04–31:09)

1. Use a Disney Travel Agent – Many are free and specialize in finding deals.
2. Visit in the Off Season – Weekdays in November or February for the best prices.
3. Go for Character Breakfasts – Cheaper ($10–$20/person) than lunch/dinner.
4. Camp at Fort Wilderness – An economical on-site lodging option if split by group.
5. DIY Park Photos – Ask photographers to use your phone instead of pricey packages.
6. Bring Your Own Snacks and Souvenirs – Avoid Disney shop markups by buying from Amazon/Walmart.
7. Budget Early and Often – Plan costs for food, tickets, hotel, and use tools like EveryDollar to save up over time.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Club 33’s Cost:
  “The annual dues every year, $31,500… and that's just annual dues, that's not even initiation.” (11:00, Rachel)

• On Club 33 Rules:
  “One person's coming in. I think. Kick rocks and pound sand.” (10:52, George)

• On the Disney Lawsuit:
  “Diana has said she would sell a kidney to keep fighting.” (17:33, George)

• On Normalized Debt:
  “People are so desensitized by debt that it's so normal… they don't even pick it up on their radar.” (22:19, Rachel)

• On Saving for Vacations:
  “There's something really empowering about saving up and paying for things, even if it's Disney.” (26:38, Rachel)

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Engaging Stories & Humor

• George’s “I Know Rachel Cruze” T-shirt social experiment (13:42–14:43):
  Even costumed Minnie Mouse doesn’t know Rachel—but George keeps planting seeds!
• Rachel’s Disney budgeting hack: take your kids to Disney Springs (“They won’t know the difference”). (27:59, George)
• Rachel’s confession: She used to hate Kindles, but now loves hers for travel (35:13–36:11).
• George admits buying Crocs out of “heroic” necessity and maintains Crocs with Jibbitz for adults are a friendship dealbreaker. (36:14–38:08)

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Takeaway Wisdom

Stick to your budget, don’t feel pressured by magical marketing, and be wary of turning Disney (or any vacation) into a debt-fueled comparison contest.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:20 – Rachel and George debate Disney adult culture
• 03:06 – Disney trivia challenge
• 07:36 – George’s Club 33 “elite” experience
• 11:00 – Club 33 real cost and exclusivity rules
• 13:42 – “I Know Rachel Cruze” shirt experiment
• 16:18 – Disneyland Club 33 lawsuit story
• 19:01 – Interviews: Disney vacationers and debt
• 25:54 – Rachel's advice on Disney comparison culture
• 28:04 – 7 Rapid Fire Disney Budget Hacks
• 35:13 – “Guilty as Charged”: Kindle vs. physical books
• 36:14 – “Guilty as Charged”: George buys Crocs

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For More

• Full YouTube segment: [linked in show notes]
• Recipes and resources: [referenced in show notes]

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Hosts’ Tone:
Playful, candid, and practical—heavy on humor but always circling back to financial wisdom and the importance of intentionality when making big family memories.

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Transcript

[A]

Today we are unpacking all things Disney. So lean into the magic and stick around. My mind has changed on Disney. I was an elite club, 33 member for a single day.

[B]

Okay, what was it like?

[A]

Don't quote me on this, okay? The Disney people are gonna come after me. Cause I don't know all the rules. George Hero. Here we go.

[B]

Hey, guys, I'm rachel cruz.

[A]

I'm george camel and this is sm money happy hour.

[B]

Cheers.

[A]

Cheers.

[B]

Ah, that's refreshing.

[A]

Zesty.

[B]

Well, this is the show where two friends who happen to be money experts talk about what you're talking about. So everything from pop culture, current events and money.

[A]

And today we are sipping on a pineapple blueberry margarita mocktail. That's a mouthful. And it's a delicious trunch.

[B]

Delicious.

[A]

So stick around till the end. We're give you our rating and reveal the cost per glass.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

All right, Rachel, you and I, we agree about a good bit. But one thing that we have been misaligned on in the past is Disney. Yes, you were very pro Disney. Yes, you were like, I'm taking my children. But it's really, for me, not quite Disney adult. I'm not going to put you in that category.

[B]

I was going to say I'm not that extreme. I'm not going like four times a year. I feel like we've known people and they go, no. And I choose to go other destinations around the world and. But I love Disney. Like, if someone texted and was like, hey, do you just wanna take you and Amelia, like one kid and uncle and let's go for three nights next week?

[A]

I would be like, let's go.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. Should we? Like, that sounds fun to me. That's not stressful. That doesn't sound miserable. That sounds fun.

[A]

All right. And I historically have been turned off by the Disney adults to where I went. This whole thing isn't for me because of these specific subset of people.

[B]

And people cry. I mean. Yeah. Have you seen the videos of adults crying as they're like hugging Winnie the Pooh and stuff?

[A]

Oh, that's a lot. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I thought it was like fireworks. Like the fireworks. That is magical. I can see someone feeling emotional. I cried hugging Winnie the Pooh.

[B]

I know.

[A]

I think you just. You're into some weird stuff at that point. If that, like, really is what makes you emotional. I know there's some childhood trauma there

[B]

to unpack as an adult. I agree.

[A]

Maybe Winnie was like your safe place. You know, you had the stuffed animal.

[B]

Oh, man. And what if they had a horrible childhood?

[A]

That's what I'm saying. That would track. And again, you need therapy, not Disney. Let's play some trivia. Can you name all four Disney parks in Orlando?

[B]

Yes. Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot.

[A]

Nailed it. Award.

[B]

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

[A]

There are six Disney resorts worldwide that house a total of 12 theme parks globally. That's pretty shocking. I did not know that.

[B]

I don't know if I can name it.

[A]

You know, California, Florida.

[B]

Yeah, you made that sound like one place. California, Florida.

[A]

Very different places, in fact.

[B]

Yes. We got Paris.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

We have Tokyo.

[A]

Keep focus on that region and you'll. You'll stay close.

[B]

Shanghai.

[A]

Yep. And one more.

[B]

Really?

[A]

And they rhyme. It rhymes.

[B]

Shanghai.

[A]

No, the next one, the final one, rhymes with Shanghai. No, they just. It's two words that rhyme.

[B]

Oh. Oh, no. Okay.

[A]

I threw her off. Now she's never gonna get it.

[B]

Hold on. Is it. It's a city.

[A]

Yep. I'll give you a hint.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

King.

[B]

King. Bing.

[A]

What would come after the word king? It's not king, but what would come after the word king?

[B]

All right, she's Princess King Charles. King Charles. King.

[A]

She's looking for Kong.

[B]

Hong Kong.

[A]

Hong Kong.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. Wow. Real ignorant geography question for you. Shanghai is China.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Wow. So both.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is that correct? Both of them in China. And then we got Tokyo in Japan. It's a big place. They got room.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

If we have room for two Disney's. Surely they do.

[B]

Yeah, I guess so.

[A]

Why haven't they?

[B]

I don't know why I keep the inside.

[A]

The big question is, like, why you got pair? I guess it's anywhere the Olympics have been. Is that where they focus?

[B]

Is that where they are? We need one in Atlanta then. Or the Atlanta.

[A]

Yikes. That would be a nightmare. Disney Atlanta. They have a Six Flags, though, don't they?

[B]

Yeah, I think so.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And the Coca Cola Museum.

[A]

They don't want that smoke from Six Flags. They can't compete.

[B]

Can't compete with that.

[A]

Okay. Do you know how much the first Disney ticket sold for in 1955?

[B]

Oh, man. I'm going to go $438.

[A]

Higher. $1?

[B]

A dollar?

[A]

Yeah. I thought she was pointing up. She was just pointing $1.

[B]

Is that not crazy?

[A]

That feels like it was, you know, more ceremonial, though. Yes. Did it stay a dollar? Like people could just get in for a dollar.

[B]

That's why, you know, it was bought by Walt's brother Roy, who actually stood in line on opening day. And Purchased it in cash and Walt had it framed.

[A]

What a king.

[B]

Till he died.

[A]

What a king. What a K. He had like the dollar framed.

[B]

Brother brotherhood.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Roy. Roy. What a hard name to say, by the way. Just like rural Roy.

[A]

That's tough for you. Three letters Roy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I think he was the business mind behind everything, right? Roy?

[A]

All of a sudden, you know everything about Roy Disney. Was his name Roy Disney?

[B]

I think he was, yes. I think.

[A]

Is that true?

[B]

I think Walt was the creative, Roy was the business guy.

[A]

Can we just say out loud, Disney is a weird last name Disney?

[B]

I don't know, but what if your name. What if your last name was Disney? What if you were Roy's like, great, great niece and you were like, I'm George Disney.

[A]

That'd be pretty epic.

[B]

That'd be like Rachel Walmart. You know what I mean?

[A]

You're like you. I don't think that's actually Rachel Walton.

[B]

I guess we are.

[A]

I was gonna say that's not actually their last name, but that's pretty impressive though.

[B]

Yeah, like, just like Obama, Bush. Like a name that's just like. Oh, everyone knows.

[A]

Yeah. Worldwide brand. Yeah.

[B]

Man. Are the. Are Disney's around? Like, are the kids in college? You think like, like, is their family still called Disney?

[A]

That's a good question. Did they lose the name at some point in the line? I wouldn't if that was his true given name. Did he have children name? Well, you have to have children and those children have to propagate.

[B]

And if it's all boys and you know what I mean, and then they marry you.

[A]

The Disney lineage.

[B]

But what if he had all girls and then they all get married and they don't keep their maiden name? That's what happened.

[A]

I bet I would keep my maiden name. I'd go and go, hey, we all agree I should keep this name.

[B]

Because I feel like you can get into restaurants.

[A]

I mean, you get Ramsey if people even didn't know, like, you accrues now, so you kind of lost that. Like, people are like, wait, related to Dave, you know?

[B]

Yeah, that's true. It's true.

[A]

But then you got Gordon Ramsay. So then it gets real confusing.

[B]

Very confusing.

[A]

Which Dave gets a lot of.

[B]

Yes, David.

[A]

Poor guy.

[B]

Mixed up a lot.

[A]

Stiff competition in the Ramsey world.

[B]

Oh, man.

[A]

Not a lot of famous camels that I have to deal with. Joe Campbell from the cigarette.

[B]

I'm gonna say the cigarette.

[A]

New relation, fictional character. Anyways, my mind has changed on Disney.

[B]

Why? What happened?

[A]

Because I was an elite club 33 member for a single day.

[B]

Oh, I've.

[A]

This was a recent experience. I hadn't been to Disney as an adult and I think that was the difference maker.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I went recently and I was like, oh, this was amazing. I don't know why I had this thing in my brain that.

[B]

Of what it. Yes. Of what you thought it was. Okay.

[A]

It's not full of Disney adults. I will say that yes.

[B]

If you didn't have that experience, you think you'd still have enjoyed it and been like.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Even without the Club 33, like elite experience.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Now, we did have a lightning lane for the rides. I do think without lightning lane, I would have different thoughts on the experience.

[B]

That is true.

[A]

If I was waiting in, you know, an hour to go on a ride.

[B]

Uh huh.

[D]

Uh huh.

[A]

I would have went on three rides, maybe instead of six.

[B]

Yes. Yeah. You got the full experience.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Did you go for one day?

[A]

Yeah, I was there for. It was like 10 to 5.

[B]

Drop, like rope drop, all that stuff.

[A]

I don't know what that is.

[B]

I was dropping the rope, the staff.

[A]

Okay. Is that the opening? Okay.

[B]

Rope drop.

[A]

No, I got there about 10. I slept in. Not gonna lie. Well.

[B]

Cause you had all your lightning lanes, so you could.

[A]

I was in no rush, man.

[B]

Okay, what was it like?

[A]

The experience is pretty wild. So Club 33 is this like elite club? Kind of hidden around each park there's a club and it's like a. Cool.

[B]

Can you tell us where they are? Did you go to.

[A]

There's one in each. I went to the one in Hollywood Studios and one at Epcot. Those are the two that I went to.

[B]

Okay. Okay, so where was.

[A]

Didn't go to Magic Kingdom.

[B]

Okay, where was the Hollywood Studios one? You don't know. Do you remember what ride it was next to?

[A]

Couldn't tell you.

[B]

Shoot.

[A]

Can you Google it?

[B]

You walk in? Yeah, I bet I could.

[A]

I know Epcot was like all the way around that little pond they have there. We had to go pretty far. It was a good hike.

[B]

Okay, so you were on the other side. Got my tail. Was it next to a country or in a country?

[A]

No, it was all the way from the entrance. Like if you go basically half circle away.

[B]

I know, George, but there's countries all. Like. Did you like walk into China in

[A]

between Germany and China? No, I have no idea.

[B]

You don't know.

[A]

It didn't feel near a country, if that makes sense.

[B]

That it. Okay, okay, hold on.

[A]

It was a whirlwind. I was booking it.

[B]

Okay, so give me what Happened. You walk in. What do you have to show?

[A]

An unmarked building slash, door. And all you see is a little 33.

[B]

Oh, it's in the American Adventure Pavilion.

[A]

Thank you. I didn't guess America.

[B]

Okay. Okay.

[A]

There you go.

[B]

Okay, go.

[A]

So anyways, you. Basically, it's just a. It's just a little circle next to a door. It says 33 on it. And so you wouldn't really know what that is unless you knew. And so the person I was with had a little. They just scanned with their phone and it lit up green. And all of a sudden, the door unlocks and you go in the door, and then someone greets you and takes you in.

[B]

Okay. And then you go sit at a table.

[A]

Yeah. So it's kind of like a. Like a little lounge restaurant. And so you'll just, you know, you'll get seated and they have servers that will come up and ask you what you want. And they have custom drinks, mocktails, cocktails, food.

[B]

Free.

[A]

It's not free. You pay for everything. You pay for.

[B]

Pay for each drink.

[A]

It's like a country club.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

The key is what makes it. It's exclusive. So there's like three people in there.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I mean, it was like a ghost town. So you have it all to yourself, essentially. You're not.

[B]

You can't take in your whole family. Right. Like, if you are a member, don't you get, like, one guest?

[A]

I believe you get one guest you can take in.

[B]

Yeah. So if you, like, had your. Like, if you had a family of

[A]

five kick rocks and pound sand. One person's coming in. I think. Don't quote me on this. I don't think the Disney people are going to come after me because I don't know all the rules.

[B]

Okay. Are you ready for this? So the annual dues every year, 31, 500 is how much you pay for it.

[A]

That's hefty. That's just annual dues. That's not even initiation.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you have to. This is the craziest part. I think there's only like a thousand members total.

[B]

And I think you can.

[A]

Exclusive. Yeah.

[B]

And it's something like your spouse doesn't get it if you die. Like, it's like one of these things. Like, you can't.

[A]

It's not, like, transferable.

[B]

Yeah. You can't, like, pass it.

[A]

Well, it's really hard just to become a member. You have to become a member through referral and application process. So you can't just apply and get in even if you have the means to pay for it.

[B]

Great.

[A]

So it's really exclusive and, and, and I guess.

[B]

And it would be so helpful if you were someone that goes a lot and you live down there probably. Right. Like you.

[A]

You'd want to make it worth your while for sure.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Man, what a life.

[A]

Incredible. So it was one of those like once in a lifetime. I was so grateful, going like, I will never have this experience again.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So next time I'm here waiting in

[B]

line just like the peasants. Yeah, yeah. Just like us. Normal.

[A]

48th in line to get my food from a sad cafeteria. I'm going. Remember that time drinking a margarita.

[B]

Hey, they have sit down restaurants. They've got a great Mexican one in Mexico. Oh, it's delicious.

[A]

At Disney. Wow, I didn't know that.

[B]

Yeah, it's like out by the pond too. Like a good, like patio area.

[A]

That's beautiful.

[B]

It's wonderful.

[A]

I will tell you, I had a pot roast, grilled cheese sandwich that it changed my life.

[B]

Yum.

[A]

The food is really good. So I don't know.

[B]

I'm sure all the food is considered. Yeah.

[A]

But it was real good, so. And really cool. Each one has its own vibe based on the park and there's like memorabilia and custom merch that you can only get in that. So it's. It's a really cool experience.

[B]

I wonder why the name is Club33.

[A]

Do you know that I googled it and I already forget.

[B]

Okay. I bet Walt was significant. Three years old.

[A]

Don't think that's true. That's Jesus. You're thinking of thinking of Jesus as she always does. People, address of Disneyland. Got it.

[B]

The original address of Disneyland was 33.

[A]

I remember. Okay. Here's what I remember.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I asked the server at the first club 33 and she said, no one truly knows, but here's a few kind of legend and lore around it. And that was one of them. There was maybe two other things it could be.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Which makes it even more mysterious. I know.

[B]

I love it.

[A]

No one knows.

[B]

Love it. Oh my gosh.

[A]

Okay. One thing that I told you about the audience does not know about. So our connection there knows. Smart money happy hour. They watch the show.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And there was an episode where you were talking about your Disney experience and I was saying, hey, do people notice you and stop you. Yeah. Occasionally people would come up and I said for me to get noticed, I'd have to wear a shirt that said, I know Rachel Cruz.

[B]

Oh, is that where it came from?

[A]

So when I got to Disney, he Said, hey, I got something for you. And it was a shirt that said, I know Rachel Cruz. And I wore it through the park as a social experiment, George. And here's the funniest part. Every person that came up to me, I went, you know Rachel. They went, no. Who's that? They were like, I know you from, like, the Ramsey stuff. And I went, oh, you don't know Rachel. They're like, no. Even Minnie Mouse in the photo op was like, who's Rachel? I said, you need to Google Rachel. You'd love Rachel. I don't know why I was, like, talking you up to Minnie Mouse as if she was gonna Google you later.

[B]

And I don't even think she can talk. I don't think they talk.

[A]

No. But I knew in her.

[B]

She's just pointing.

[A]

I knew she was gonna Google it later.

[B]

She would.

[A]

I planted a seed.

[B]

Yes. Whoever. That girl Minnie Mouse about to be on budget. Yes.

[A]

Well, I kind of mentioned. I was like, you don't really need her stuff. Cause you got Mickey. You know, you're good. They're set. You know what I mean?

[B]

You're a mouse.

[A]

They're a power couple. They don't need budgeting tips. Okay. They need, like, generational wealth transfer tips.

[B]

Yeah. They're doing good.

[A]

So I just. I got so excited.

[B]

They're doing well.

[A]

Anyways, it was a hilarious social experiment.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. So good.

[A]

But not to knock you a peg, but no, they didn't know you. They didn't know you from Adam.

[B]

And they knew you, George. They ran up and thought, there is George Campbell. My life is made.

[A]

And I gotta say, the reason I got to have this experience was because of a connection at Fairwinds Credit Union, which is based in Orlando. Y. They're. I'm forever grateful for the kindness of that team. And we've got to hang out with them. And they're the real deal. And they're huge fans of the Ramsey principles.

[B]

Yes. Which is why we recommend people banking with them. Honestly, you guys, because they are a bank, a credit union. That is going to be for you and your financial goals. So many. Gosh, so many banks. Their whole goal is to, like, get you in debt and charge you high interest and make money off of you. I mean, that's how they make money. Where Fairwinds is here to help you. And the fact that they want to. Yeah. Pair with Ramsey and say, hey, let's work together and collab and make an entire banking experience amazing and seamless. The fact that they can do it and Deliver is incredible. So their smart bundle, which is their smart banking checking account. No Fee checking account. You get the beware debit card and then the high yield savings account along with it. You guys, it is. It is amazing. We've signed up. We are doing it. I love it. I love my debit card. My Beware debit card. And, um, yeah, not only are they amazing, but the product is.

[A]

So check it out. You can go to fairwinds.org Ramsey to sign up for that Smart bundle and get that debit card along with it. You'll be glad you did. All right, Rachel, I want to get into some tea around this club 33. I saw this California couple sued to regain entry into Club 33 after being kicked out, and they lost.

[B]

Stop it. Why were they kicking?

[A]

Nobody wins against Disney.

[B]

Why were they kicked out?

[A]

Okay, I'm going to name drop Scott and Diana Anderson. I don't know who they are, but it says here, so, I mean, it's public knowledge. They visited The Anaheim parks 60 to 80 times a year.

[B]

Holy. That's multiple times a week.

[A]

Yeah. That's pretty wild.

[B]

Okay, how did they get kicked out?

[A]

Well, they often brought friends and colleagues. The center of their social Life at Club 33. This is, like, where they hung out. And per year they spent their identity.

[B]

I'm probably going to say, yeah, per

[A]

year, they spent nearly 125 grand on club dues and travel expenses for all these trips. And here's where it gets scandalous. Scott was publicly intoxicated on property, and they were permanently kicked out. So don't make a fool of yourself at Club 33. Standards in class.

[B]

No tolerance. Huh?

[A]

He must have been, like, wild enough. So Diana had briefly been suspended the year before for explicit language. Oh, no.

[B]

Scott, Diane, are y' all family friendly? Park wellness check on them.

[A]

Y' all fine. A California judge denied the request for reentry and financial compensation. The lawsuit cost them $400,000. And Diana has said she would sell a kidney to keep fighting.

[B]

Stop it.

[A]

She's just not that into you, Diana. All right? Club 33 said no.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Is there anything you love that much that you would spend half a million to fight?

[B]

No. And then you know what? I'd be so self conscious if you got back in. Everyone working there is going to be thinking, yeah, yeah. They're not going to probably, like, be very warm to you. You know what I mean?

[A]

They probably have your faces on the back of house going, hey, if they come in, be careful.

[B]

Yeah, good luck.

[A]

Diana's Got a mouth on her. And Scott likes to tip it back. You just know if I work there, like, oh, shoot, guys. We got an S and D situation.

[B]

It's S and D. Round in the corner, enter in Club 33.

[A]

But I get it. They poured so much money into this place, but they violated the rules. Yeah. I mean, I'm sure there's fine print. Disney lawyers are not fooling around.

[B]

Oh, God, no.

[A]

I'm sure they had to sign a billion.

[B]

I mean, there is a part of you that's like, all right, Diane, off your high horse a little bit.

[A]

Diana.

[B]

Sorry, Diana.

[A]

Diane would never. Diane. Pure class A Diana. Who knows that A changes everything, shifts the whole thing.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah.

[A]

Disney lawsuits aside, it is wild how many families go into debt for a Disney trip.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And I recently went to Orlando and interviewed people about this. In fact, it was right before my Disney trip.

[B]

Yes. And actually, this is great. And it did really well, George. I feel like it picked up a lot of steam on the Internet.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

It's like one of our top episodes on my YouTube channel. By far.

[B]

Over a million views.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

If you are a Ramsey person. I mean, I did this when I was at Disney. You do kind of look around and you're like. Like, we know inflation. People aren't able to afford homes. Like, it's just. Life is, like, really expensive. The job market's not great. Right. Like, even people trying to find a job, like, it's just. It's just a hard time economically. And then you're at Disney World and it's so expensive, and you're thinking, how did all these people afford that? Like, how do people afford this? Like, this many people. Right.

[A]

Spoiler. They don't.

[B]

I know they can watch Georgia segment,

[A]

so I thought we'd watch a few clips. Would you mind?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I want to see your reaction. You know what I realized after the fact, and I felt bad. The comments section was like, this guy's just out here ruining people's Disney trips, making them feel guilty. I was like, oh, I didn't. I didn't mean to do that.

[B]

Think about their credit card debt.

[A]

I'm just doing my job.

[B]

This is just what I do for a living.

[A]

All right, here we go.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Are you guys in any kind of debt right now? Mine's pretty minimal, I think. Credit card and a vehicle between the two, probably about 60. And that's minimal to you? No, it's a lot. That's a lot. It's pretty minimal.

[B]

I went.

[A]

I don't know where this guy. What kind of neighborhood this guy comes from, That's a lot of debt, maybe minimal. Meaning? Like, it's not super spread out, but just a lot. In a few places. It could be worse. A buddy of mine has got a bigger truck than I do, so. Right. Okay. How about you? How much debt do you have?

[B]

Probably 75,000.

[A]

Oh, that's why he said it's minimal. He's. Compared to her.

[C]

Compared to me, yeah.

[A]

He's. Yeah.

[B]

Are they married?

[A]

75 grand. Break that down.

[B]

Credit cards and then car loan as well.

[A]

What's your car?

[B]

Student loans. Yeah. What is my debt on my car?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like 60.

[A]

60. What are you driving? Well, you rolled over negative equity, didn't you?

[B]

I did, yes. I mean, where you go? Almost $140,000 in consumer debt.

[A]

Oh, yeah. That was a wild one. Oh, and they were really sweet, and I talked to them for a while after and got them some resources, so I'm not there to just rasp people.

[B]

Were they looking to change, though, you think, or were they.

[A]

They definitely. They were like, we know this was almost like a last hurrah.

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

It's almost like, hey, we know we're screwed. Let's just do one more wild thing, and then we'll get at it.

[B]

Then we'll deal with it.

[A]

So God bless them.

[B]

Did they know who you were?

[A]

They actually follow some of the Ramsey stuff. I think they just kind of started getting into it, realizing, hey, there's a major problem here.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And so they were really nice. So we talked for a while. They've seen the show and all of that, so it's very kind of them. But they were the. The couple that was, like, roasted in this episode. Like, people in the comments going, like, oh, my gosh, what are they thinking? You know what I mean? Because they're. I asked them, hey, how much are you spending? And it turned out to be about 1000 bucks a day. And they were there for, like, a week. So this was a, you know, $5,000 trip.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Not cheap. So there's one. Shall we continue?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

How much debt do you have right now? Like, do you owe anybody anything? Any kind of loans?

[D]

I don't right now.

[A]

No credit card debt? No. How'd you pay for the trip? Just cash.

[D]

Cash. Been saving for a while, so I did have a credit card, but I paid it off, so I might get a new one soon just to.

[A]

Why do you need a new one?

[D]

Just to keep working on my credit.

[A]

What do you need the credit score for at this point, I just got

[D]

a car, but I want to get a house soon enough. But you pay cash for the car now. I'm paying. I'm paying monthly.

[A]

You just told me you didn't have any debt.

[D]

You're right. You're right, you're right. I do.

[A]

Is everybody lying to me out here? Come on. I thought we were friends. I got a car. I was.

[B]

Okay. That's classic.

[A]

I like that guy.

[B]

That's classic, though. Of like, are you debt free?

[A]

Yes. And I look at. Do you owe anybody anything?

[B]

No, no, I'm good. And they're like, oh, yeah, I do have a car loan. You're like, people are so desensitized by debt that it's so normal, and it flows just, like, here and there, and it's just like. They don't even pick it up on their radar. When you ask them that, the best

[A]

part, not best, but the most hilarious part, was I was like, hey, do you know how much you're paying in interest? And he's like, how long the term is for? He went, no. Why? He said, well, I was high when I went to get the car. Stop it. I was like, oh, bro, maybe we shouldn't be under the influence when we make big financial decisions, huh?

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

But he was really fun to talk to. I liked him as a person.

[B]

Yeah, he's a cool guy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You got one more?

[A]

Yeah, I got one more more where that came from. Last one. Here we go.

[B]

It's good.

[A]

What does a trip to Disney cost in 2025? I have no idea.

[C]

This is our first time here, and we decided if we were gonna do it, we were gonna do it right. We wanted just Lightning Lane, everything, light hotel. We've been married for 10 years, though, and this is our first big vacation in 10 years. So it's probably going to cost us around $8,000, I would say.

[A]

How many days at the parks is that?

[C]

That's eight days at the park.

[A]

Eight days at the park. So about a thousand bucks a day all in. How was your daughter?

[C]

Eight.

[A]

Okay. That's a great eight. And did you pay cash?

[C]

Yeah, we just paid cash for our trip and made sure it wasn't going to affect anything. We work really hard. I mean, we're blessed. We have great jobs. We have parents that taught us finances. But it did take us a couple years to save and do it right,

[A]

so I'm so proud of you guys. Do you think it means more once you save up and pay cash for a trip versus just swiping the card.

[C]

Absolutely. When you have a goal and you and your spouse are both working towards it and two, you come and there's no stress. And so there's no, like, how are we going to pay for this? Or how is it going to affect us when we get back? We just knew like we could do it and it fit our budget.

[B]

George. Hero. Look at her.

[A]

I needed to win that day. Cause it was pouring rain. I'm out there with umbrellas trying to convince people in lines to talk to me. And so she gave me some hope.

[B]

Oh my God.

[A]

That there are. It's not everyone there.

[B]

That's right. That's right.

[A]

Is in crippling debt.

[B]

No.

[A]

Some people paid cash and they're having the time of their life. And I'm happy for it.

[B]

You have a few years to save

[A]

for it and people go, oh my gosh, $8,000. I would never. Well, good for you. Some people want to live their life and they saved up and they put their money where it matters.

[B]

Yeah. The moral spending. Listen, do it where you like it, you know? Oh, man, that is good, George. That is really good.

[A]

And you know what? We'll link the full episode in the description because I know people are gonna wanna watch the whole thing. It was a good time.

[B]

Yep. Well, I know next time I go to Disney, I wanna be comfortable.

[A]

That is Paramount.

[B]

And be cozy. So I probably would go to cozyearth.com,

[A]

shop around a little pre Disney shopping.

[B]

Yes, I know. Cause Cozy Earth has the most amazing clothes, you guys. Sweatshirts, the pants, the socks, the shirt. I mean everything.

[A]

And it's like temperature regulating and moisture wicking. All of the good stuff.

[B]

I'm telling you, the material is incredible. I love that. Love a Cozy Earth blanket. Give me like a big, that, that cuddle blanket. Heavy. The weighted one. Amazing. The sheets I love. You know what, they have like a beauty section too. And I got like a face mask.

[A]

I need to look into that.

[B]

Love it. Amazing. So yeah, there's like, there's some great stuff on cozyearth.com yeah. So if you want some quality products, you guys, it's going to last you check it out.

[A]

Absolutely. Go to cozyearth.com smartmoney and use our code. Smart money. You'll get 20% off. Or just use the link in the description. And if they ask you in the post purchase survey, where'd you hear about us? Let them know it was from Smart Money Happy Hour. That would mean the world to us.

[B]

Yes, you would. Love their stuff. Love It. Love it. I think there is a Disney comparison culture out there. I think there's some pressure that families feel of, like, oh, gosh, we gotta do Disney. If we don't do Disney, fill in the blank. And yeah, number one, I would not put that pressure on you by any means. And any trip you do, any magical moment in life, right? Just like that lady was saying, is to save up and pay for it. Because I think that is some of the worst vacations you can go on are the ones that you get home and you get the credit card bill.

[A]

They follow you home with a credit

[B]

card, and you have it for months, you know, to pay it off. Some people years. So there's something really empowering about saving up and paying for things, even if it's Disney. Right. But don't let the motivation to go to Disney be because you feel like it's gonna, like, do something for your kids long term of, like, oh, my gosh, finally they're gonna be happy or whatever. Right? And I know you probably don't believe that. Like, I think as adults, like, kids

[A]

are not going well, they're bad parents because they're not taking me to Disney this year. Right?

[B]

Yes. But it feels like, you know, a lot of people go.

[A]

They feel the pressure.

[B]

So I'd say relieve that pressure. And that's with anything in life and parenting with kids, but especially the Disney thing. For some reason, that is like, a monumental big hill to climb. And for some people, it may not be the reality. Right? And that's okay. That's totally fine.

[A]

Yeah. And for the Disney haters out there, I will say I have changed my tune on this. I used to think, wow, what a waste of money. And now I go, you know what? This is how people want to spend their money on an amazing experience with people they love. That is actually one of the best ways scientifically to spend your money. So as long as you're saving up doing it with cash, you know, you can still find ways to save. You can do a Disney trip that is, you know, on this side of the spectrum, or you could go all out and spend this much. And so there's different strokes for everyone. And so do what's in your budget. And if you can't afford the fancy Lightning lane or Club 33, there's always an experience that's upper tier that you can't afford. So don't feel bad about that 100%. If you need to stay off property, you need to go for one or two days instead of five. That's okay.

[B]

Yes, absolutely. Yeah. The thing is, yeah, it can be tailored to a lot of different budgets, which is great. To your point. You can kind of pick and choose

[A]

and if the kids are young, you can take them to Disney Springs. They won't know the difference. That's my life hack for you.

[B]

It'll all be the same. We do have seven rapid fire budget hacks though. As you're planning your next Disney trip, we have some people here at Ramsey Solutions that are Disney fans, we'll say that much.

[A]

We asked, hey, you guys got any hacks? They went, oh, how much time do you have?

[B]

They have it. So I'll go number one. Use a Disney travel agent to help plan your trip and find deals for free. This is what these people do for a living, some of them, and they are good at it. You don't have to pay extra and they're amazing. So take advantage of it.

[A]

Yep. Next one. Cheapest time to book weekdays in November or February. That's the off season and so you know you don't want to go during the peak season and expect to get decent tickets. So if you want to save some money weekdays in those months for sure.

[B]

Character breakfasts feel special and exclusive, but only costs about 10 to $20 a person. So the breakfast is actually one of the cheaper meals you can do for a character meal.

[A]

So breakfast it is versus a lunch or dinner.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Is that the idea? Okay, how about this one? Fort Wilderness campsites are a cheap on site option when split by group or family.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And it feels rustic. How exciting is that?

[B]

So fun. Ask photo past photographers or fellow guests to take your pictures with your phone instead of buying the fancy photo packages. So you will on the app when you go on the R or like

[A]

you get which is really cool technology.

[B]

They like. Yeah, they scan it and they like and it shows up in your app. So it is great. But also half that camera out. You know, you're, you're a photographer. You don't have to buy the, you know, the fancy pictures.

[A]

That's a good, good hack right there. And then next this one might seem obvious, but you can pack your own snacks, bring your own water bottles, get Disney toys from Amazon or Walmart before you go to avoid markups and the souvenir shops on site. You don't have to let your kid wander through the shop there to get 17 things that they absolutely need.

[B]

I know. Yeah. And it's so expensive. I've done that one or two times on a trip where I've Let them. Like I usually am, like, no, no, no. And I was with a friend actually, and she's like a yes mom. So she was like, get the bubble wand. Get the all this. And I was like, kids, you get to pick out one thing.

[A]

Do they still have it or use it?

[B]

The Moana doll they have. Yeah. And the Moana pit. Yes, I think they do actually. Yeah, it's a round.

[A]

Now they're doing girl math. Gone. Mom. I use it every day. It's a round. That's the trip I actually made money.

[B]

So listen, it's actually free. It's actually free. All right, last but not least, make sure you budget for your trip in advance. We kind of mentioned this earlier, but for real, like know, okay, ideally, like here's probably what we're gonna spend on food. Here are the cost of tickets. Hotel, like plan it out. And sometimes when you're booking it, remember that some things are gonna be caught. You're gonna have to pay for things in advance, right? Whether it's like the hotel, sometimes they make you put like a down payment kind of, you know, situation to hold the reservation. The meal package, the meal plan. Sometimes you have to pay for it with the tickets in advance. So like your costs probably will be spread out before you actually get to the parks. But just plan it all out and you can. And the Disney planner can help you too if you are using that. But also, everydollar is a great budgeting app and you can actually plan it month to month with your expenses, whether it's any trip. Right. Not just Disney, but yeah, you can

[A]

mark it as a fund, which is really nice. And so you can just set it up to go, hey, my goal, $4,000. I'm gonna put 400 bucks away for the next 10 months and then you have the money you pre planned for it instead of going like, ah, how do I save up for this? Yes, it's gonna take time and the more you can save, the faster you'll get there. But if you can only put away 200 bucks a month, well, that just tells you the timeline needed to make this trip happen with cash and it's worth it.

[B]

And one of the line items in my everydollar budget is for delete me because a plan and actually comes out to like nine bucks a month when you use our code, because it's. It's not that expensive. But delete me is a great service to have in 2026, you guys, because they go in and remove your information from data broker websites because these data Brokers collect your data, and it's everything from your name, your kids names, phone numbers, your address, your old addresses. Like, it's just crazy. But they have the information, and they go in and clean off those websites with your information. Which is great, because when spammers and scammers and stuff try to get people's information to spam them or scam them, they go to these sites sometimes. So if your name's not on these sites, it's gonna be harder for you to be found, which is what we like.

[A]

Yeah. It helps reduce the risk and protect your privacy online. And our whole life is online these days. So this is a plan that is well worth having. And to make it easier for you, we got a great discount for you. Just go to joindeleteme.com smartmoney and you'll get 20% off any of their plans. Or you can always click the link in the description below.

[B]

All right, before we spill the tea on our guilty as charged segments, let's talk about our mocktail margarita.

[A]

Cause it was so lovely.

[B]

It was so good.

[A]

Oh, man. Okay. This was the pineapple blueberry margarita mocktail. It's got lime juice, pineapple juice, blueberry syrup, homemade, I will add, and sparkling lime.

[B]

I love a salted rim, and it

[A]

comes out with the salted rim. If you want to be fancy in a beautiful glass with the pineapple wedge, garnish. The blueberry garnish.

[B]

I mean, that. That's a. That's someone that you work with that loves you.

[A]

11 out of 10 for presentation, and it's a dollar and 58 cents, which is actually very affordable considering you've got real fruit juices in here. And I will say this is a 10 out of 10 for me. I don't know that I've had a better mocktail on this show in real life. Maybe.

[B]

But can I tell you, it tastes like a margarita. Like. Do you know what I mean? Like, you don't.

[A]

Yeah. What's causing that?

[B]

You also got it. You don't have, like, the tequila hit, but, like, there's. Or something too. I don't know if it's the salt or what, but I'm like, if you're eating this with chips and salsa.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You don't know.

[A]

I think it's the lime and pineapple. Because most cocktails, they've got some acid and some sweet, and so you really have it all working for you in this drink. The only downside is this tiny straw which keeps falling into the drink. It's so little. It's like half the length of a normal straw, but I think presentation wise, it really helps.

[B]

It is. It's beautiful.

[A]

But it's a 10 out of 10 for me.

[B]

I'm with you.

[A]

Slam dunk. Home run.

[B]

Yeah, but I think she made blueberry syrup producer Kelly shout out.

[A]

She did the most and it worked out. So get the recipe in the show notes. Give it a try this weekend if you're up for making your own blueberry syrup.

[B]

All right, now it's time for guilty as charged. And this is where we ask each other a guilty as charged question every week. And if we're guilty, we take a sip. Okay, so Georgia, you hated on Disney and then you came to your senses and said, actually it's great. So the question is, have you ever become a fan of something that you used to be a hater about?

[A]

Oh, you can't use Disney.

[B]

You gotta do something else.

[A]

Okay, I'm let you go first.

[B]

I'm going. Okay. I did. I love to read. I'm a reader. Leaders are readers.

[A]

Let's be clear. The type of books you're reading. Sh. They're not like biographies of presidents.

[B]

Hey, I read spare. That was.

[A]

That is as close as you'll get to a historical documentary novel. Okay.

[B]

Documentary, his biography.

[A]

I read the documentary.

[B]

His autobiography.

[A]

I read the whole Taylor Swift docuseries in one night.

[B]

Okay. Okay. I used to really harp on like having a physical book that there's a art to read. There's something about reading a physical book that like you just don't get in a digital watching a screen. I was very much a hater of a Kindle. And then I was convinced to get the paper white because it looks like a sheet of paper.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

And that Kindle, it's wonderful.

[A]

You've got some use out of it.

[B]

I know because I. When I travel and stuff, I would literally pack George, like three books or something.

[A]

Like I would like historically very light packer carry ons.

[B]

Yeah, I'm always. I'm always packing a carry on. Yeah. Checked bag is a lost bag. Remember that, America.

[A]

That's wisdom.

[B]

You're welcome.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

So, yeah, I'd be packing books, you know, and now it's just that little Kindle and it's great. And I swear I read faster on it. I know that sounds crazy, but I think it's something with like, you can actually see that the width of the. I don't know what it is, but I swear you can. I read faster, so I believe it. So mine's Kindle.

[A]

Good for you. For me, I'm going Crocs.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Because I have to admit to the public that I now own a pair of Crocs. Yes. Now, they're not the classic Crocs. Cause I'm still vehemently against the aesthetic of that shoe.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

But I got a different slide. But it's the Crocs brand that I exclusively use to take my dogs outside to potty. Okay.

[B]

Is it a clog?

[A]

It's more clog. Like, okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Kind of like the Nike slide looking one. Does it feel good? They're comfortable. Yeah. And the key is they're easy to clean. Because, you know, I'm in the backyard, might step in. Who knows what. I might step in. And when I do, inevitably.

[B]

Do people have a fence?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Do you not just let your dogs out in the backyard?

[A]

Well, I don't know if you know this, Rachel. My dog is handicapped, so I need to physically carry my dog right into the grass.

[B]

Did you buy Crocs when all this happened?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. So this was a purchase out of, like, a heroic means.

[A]

Yeah. In a time of grief.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I purchased Crocs, which I think is how most people purchase Crocs. No one does it, like, when they're peaking. They're like, I'm doing great in life. Let me buy some Crocs. But they are comfortable. I am still against Crocs in public. Yes. From adults. If your kid is in Crocs in public, you're happy for you. Totally normal.

[B]

But once you hit puberty, no more.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

School age.

[A]

I'm gonna say I feel like high schoolers make pretty bad fashion choices, so I'll let that slide.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I'm gonna say college and beyond.

[B]

Okay. So you're hitting that, like, 19 years old and you're done.

[A]

Yeah. If you're on salary and you have Crocs out in public, I have issues. And here's the thing. We meet people that come from all over the country, visit us here, and they have Crocs. I hold my tongue, but if you have Jibbets in the Crocs as an adult, I don't think we're gonna be friends. You know what I mean? I can get along with you in the time being. I'm not gonna text you to hang out.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

What's up with the Jibbitz in Crocs for adults?

[B]

I know.

[A]

What are we doing?

[B]

I don't. Yes. I don't know. Do you know Winston has Crocs?

[A]

That makes sense. But Are they the camo ones?

[B]

They are the camo. And they're like the house shoe ones. They're like. So he just wears them around the house? Yeah, but there's like. Like, there's, like, lining inside of them.

[A]

Like a fur kind of.

[B]

Yes. I'm like, can't you get, like, an L.L. bean house shoe?

[A]

You know, it's not rock and roll.

[B]

It's a camo croc. He swears by them, though.

[A]

I wanted to get the camo crocs, but I thought, no one's gonna believe this. You know what I mean? Like, it's like, why I don't get tattoos. Cause I know people would just look at me and go, no. And I go, well, dang it.

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

It was permanent.

[B]

Just sand.

[A]

I don't buy it.

[B]

Oh, my God. That's too good. Too good. Well, make sure to DM us your guilty as charged question if you have one. Cause we use them, so. Thank you. You can DM me at rachelcruise, oregecamel. And if you loved this episode, make sure to leave a review. And you're gonna love our next episode, comparing Disney villains to sneaky financial industry traps. We will link it for you and make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an all new episode of Smart Money.

[A]

There.