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Episode 509: This week on Traveling with the Mouse, we’re shaking things up and letting spontaneity take the wheel. Sometimes the best Disney trips are the ones where you don’t over plan every second, and that’s exactly what we’re diving into.

A Tale of Two Trips

We’ve got two very different adventures on the horizon, and each comes with its own approach:

Jon’s Walt Disney World Trip – Jon is keeping things budget-friendly while also testing out some of the “underdogs” of Disney dining. You know those restaurants that always seem to get roasted in reviews? Jon wants to find out if they’re really that bad—or if maybe they deserve a little redemption. Consider it his very own “Disney Food MythBusters.”

Adam’s Disneyland Trip – On the other side of the country, Adam is taking the no-plan plan. That means going with the flow, making decisions on the fly, and embracing a relaxed Disneyland experience. Sometimes the magic is found in the moments you didn’t script out weeks in advance.

Spontaneity in the Parks

We chat about the balance between planning and winging it. With Lightning Lane systems, dining reservations, and virtual queues, Disney can often feel like a military operation. But there’s still plenty of room for unplanned surprises—the kind that make the best memories.

The Beak & Barrel Time Limit

Yes, our favorite new pirate-themed watering hole at Magic Kingdom has a time limit, and we break down what that means for guests. Is it fair? Is it frustrating?

✨ Special thanks to our friend Jolly Jolly, an expert travel advisor who can help make your next adventure stress-free. Whether you’re planning a Disney vacation or looking beyond the parks, Jolly Jolly takes care of the details so you can focus on the fun. https://www.foratravel.com/advisor/jolly-jolly

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Episode 437: Welcome back, Disney enthusiasts, to another episode of the Traveling with the Mouse Podcast. Episode 437 is packed with the latest Disney news, updates on Universal’s Epic Universe, legal battles, and our thoughts on the new Pixar Place hotel. We’ll also dive into some practical trip planning advice, including the best parks to visit on a rainy day. So, buckle up for a magical journey through the latest happenings in the world of Disney and beyond.

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Episode 416: Pack your bags, don your Mickey ears, and prepare to journey across the country with us in this exciting episode of “Traveling with the Mouse”. Our co-host, Jason, recently embarked on a captivating trip to Disneyland, California with his son Andrew. Jason takes us along, regaling us with tales of his adventures in Walt’s original theme park. One of the highlights of his trip, and certainly a segment you won’t want to miss, is Jason’s experience on the Main Street tour. It wasn’t just any tour; this unique journey culminated in a visit to Walt Disney’s very own apartment above the fire station on Main Street. To stand in the space where Walt once stood. The highlight of the Trip for his son was Avengers Campus at Disney’s California Adventure park. They spend a lot of time there and got a lot of merch there too! But, as all Disney aficionados can attest, every Disney park visit brings its own set of comparisons, especially for those of us who have Walt Disney World engraved in our hearts. The discussion inevitably veers towards comparing similar attractions between Disneyland and Walt Disney World. We also hit on something that does make Disney World truly special, Epcot. That is what Jason seemed to miss the most while visiting Disneyland and one thing that proves just how unique and groundbreaking Epcot truly is.

Use our special link TWTM to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid
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Episode:413 Hello, Mouseketeers! Prepare for an exciting episode of “Traveling with the Mouse” this week as we delve into all the Disney news that’s been making waves and offer a sneak peek into Jason’s upcoming adventure at Disneyland!

First up, we venture into the world of Disney news, which has been anything but quiet recently. The ongoing feud between Disney and the state of Florida continues to capture headlines. We break down the latest updates in this complex saga, shedding light on what it means for the theme park and its guests. Next, we tackle a rather unusual piece of news. In a surprising twist, a Disney hotel has been branded as one of the ugliest buildings in America! We dive into the details of this article, questioning the criteria used for such a dubious honor, and discussing whether we agree or disagree with this controversial claim. But it’s not all drama in the Disney universe. We share some happier news for Disney Vacation Club members, who are being treated to discounted VIP tours. We break down what this means for members and how it might enhance their Disney experience.

Shifting gears from the buzz of Disney news, we join Jason as he previews his upcoming trip to Disneyland! As a seasoned Disney Ride Challenge runner and co-host of “Traveling with the Mouse”, Jason’s trip previews are always packed with valuable insights and tidbits. From planning strategies to must-visit attractions, Jason shares his expectations and goals for this exciting journey to the Happiest Place on Earth.

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Episode 389: Today the gang is all back together and we discuss the latest Disney news! Splash Mountain is now closed at Walt Disney World and work on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has already begun. We discuss that and how people are reacting to the new Parking lot sections at Epcot. Enchanted Tales with Belle is finally returning as is some more meet and greets that previously hadn’t returned since covid. Is this finally everything that has been closed since covid started nearly 3 years ago? We learned that Bob Chapek got a $20M severance package. The Starcruiser is starting a non-discount, discount promotion. It is still having trouble filling the very expensive 2 day cruises.

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Episode 369: We catch up on the Disney news of the week. Disney had a big earnings call this week and the profits are back up to pre-pandemic levels. We talk about how the parks are a big reason for that and what it could mean for future developments. Disney remains silent about magic key renewals as they try to increase guest yields. We discuss how that could impact things in a negative way in the long term. Meanwhile a new update to Genie plus creates a problem with park hopping and securing lightning lanes. Also, what’s up with Chapek’s Beard?

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5339BB03-F63A-494A-A821-B8C0CFB3AC39Episode 258: On Today’s show Jason took an impromptu visit to Disneyland in California! He gives us a live trip report as he is experiencing Disneyland for the first time. Apologies in advance for the audio quality of this episode…We had to sacrifice some quality in order to bring in Jason live at Disneyland. We did discuss some news including the new Chewie mode for Smuggler’s Run that is breaking the Disney internet, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway ride-through details and the New Disney Cruise-line Itineraries for 2021. Don’t worry, we will cover the big news that broke this week soon!

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TWTM_Episode_242Happy Friday! We have a special bonus episode for you with a special guest! Nathan Firesheets @A_Coaster_Story recently completed the #everyridecoastocoast challenge where he rode a total of 94 rides in 36 hours! He started by completing every ride at Disneyland and then hoped on a red eye flight to Orlando and rode every ride at Walt Disney World. We break down this historic run and also discuss his previous completions which among others includes an oxygen free run on Galaxy’s Edge opening day. Nathan talks about what it was like to be in the massive crowd for rope drop at Disney’s Hollywood studios on that day. Nathan also raised over $1,200 for Give Kids the World during this challenge. You can still donate through his page here 

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In Today’s episode we give a general comparison of Disneyland to Walt Disney World! In previous episodes we compared attractions from Disneyland to the ones at Walt Disney World but today we compare and contrast the parks as a whole. We discuss the geographical location of each park and things like the weather at Disneyland vs Disney World. We also get into things like the queue lines and some of the more subtle differences between the two. While we agree that Disneyland and Magic Kingdom are similar…we also agree that there’s enough differences that it is definitely worth visiting them both!

 

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In this episode we narrow down the attractions that are at Disneyland but are not at Walt Disney World. We decide on a top 10 and discuss what of those attractions make our top 5. As I say in the episode, if you haven’t been to Disneyland…Jon and I give you 10 reasons why you need to go. What attractions made your list? Let us know.

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We conclude our comparison of Disneyland attractions with Walt Disney World attractions. Which park came out ahead? You’ll have to listen to find out. Send us your feedback Podcast@travelingwiththemouse.com

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In this episode Jon and I compare some of the most popular attractions that are both at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. We give our opinions on which versions are better and why. We had so much fun discussing this topic that we are dividing it into two episodes.  (Check out Episode 12 for Part 2). Let us know if you agree or disagree with our picks. Thanks for Listening.