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Hello Disney enthusiasts and travel aficionados! Welcome to another magical episode of Traveling with the Mouse. This week, we’re thrilled to have Jason with us. We Dive into the Disney realm as we cover some spellbinding news that’s sure to pique your interest. Spirits and spirits collide! Disney is bringing a hauntingly delightful experience for fans with a new Haunted Mansion-themed bar on the soon to set sail Disney Treasure. We discuss the potential themes, drinks, and unique offerings we hope to see. With more enchanting details unveiled, Jollywood Nights is shaping up to be a must-attend event. From captivating entertainment to themed treats, we delve deep into what guests can expect from this festive event. Of course, we touch on much more in the episode, from hidden gems to exciting announcements. With Jason’s trip on the horizon, we also chat about his plans, what he’s looking forward to most, and if any of our discussed news items will make it onto his itinerary.

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Episode 425: Welcome back, fellow Disney enthusiasts, to another episode of “Traveling with the Mouse”! This week, as we navigate through the sea of recent Disney developments, we anchor down on a topic that many of you have asked about: doing Disney World on a budget. Yes, it’s possible, and no, you don’t have to miss out on the magic! Many believe a Disney vacation means a hefty price tag. But we’re here to tell you, with a little savvy planning and some insider tips, you can experience all the wonder of Walt Disney World without breaking the bank. We look at things like, Staying at Disney Value Resorts vs. off-site locations and the perks of considering vacation rentals. Disney is one of the few places where you can bring your own food into the parks and we also discuss our most economical dinning choices at Walt Disney World. We also discuss some other ways of saving money that are a little outside of the box but can really add up savings if things line up the right way.

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Episode 423: This week’s episode of “Traveling with the Mouse” is dedicated to the trip planners! Those ones who scour the internet with queries and curiosities about the most Magical Place on Earth.To start off our deep dive, we tackle one of the most frequent questions: Where to stay? From luxurious resorts with monorail views to budget-friendly options that still let you bask in the magic, we weigh in on our top picks and why. Genie Plus, how do you maximize it? Is it worth the cost? We break down strategies to make the most of this new offering, ensuring you can hit those top attractions without wasting a precious Disney minute.Disney World can sometimes feel like it’s emptying your wallet faster than you can say “Scrooge McDuck.” But with a sprinkle of know-how, you can experience the magic without breaking the bank. We delve into top tips for those on a tighter budget—from dining hacks to souvenir shopping secrets. We also cover the age-old debate of the Disney Dining Plan’s value. With its mix of quick-service meals, snacks, and table service options, is it truly worth the investment? We dish out our thoughts, along with some anecdotes on our own dining experiences. So, whether you’re a seasoned Disney vet looking to catch up on the latest or a first-timer keen to soak up all the tips, Episode 423 is your trusty guide!

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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 405: Welcome back to another exciting episode of the Traveling with the Mouse podcast. Today, we have an exhilarating lineup as we delve into our summer trip previews. Our first adventure takes us to the enchanting wilderness of Fort Wilderness, where our co-host, Jason, previews his memorial day weekend trip. We will hear more about that next week. Next, Jon is eagerly counting down the days until his visit to Orlando. With Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort on his itinerary, he will be staying at an Air bnb in the Windsor Hills area. I will also be returning in a few weeks with Jason back to Disney but this time we will be staying in a treehouse villa. Of course, we can’t forget the latest news from the ever-evolving world of Disney. In this episode, we’ll be discussing some exciting updates, including the upcoming VIPassholder days in June. This exclusive event is a fantastic opportunity for Annual Passholders to enjoy extra perks, unique experiences, and unforgettable moments within the parks. Star Cruiser is now sold out and the Pixar Place hotel concept art is interesting. So, fellow travel enthusiasts, join us on this episode of Traveling with the Mouse podcast as we embark on incredible journeys, discuss the latest news, and fuel our wanderlust. Whether you’re camping at Fort Wilderness, exploring the magical parks of Orlando, or eagerly awaiting your next adventure, this episode is sure to ignite your passion for travel and all things Disney.

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Episode 403: As the world recovers from the pandemic, Disney is making some updates to enhance your visit to the most magical place on earth. Here are the top five updates announced by Disney that will make your visit easier starting in January 2024. We discuss these and give our opinion on them. A few of these are pretty vague but we talk about what we hope these updates will mean.

Park Reservations Will Slowly Be Going Away in 2024
One of the biggest changes announced by Disney is the gradual phasing out of park reservations in 2024. Starting with dates based tickets on January 9th.

Annual Passholders and Cast members Will Have “Good to Go” Days
Annual passholders and cast members will have special days to visit the parks without making a reservation. This is a great perk for those who like to make spontaneous visits to the parks or for those who want to avoid the hassle of making reservations. However, no details are given as to how many “good to go” days will be available. It is a step in the right direction at least.

The Dining Plan Is Coming Back
After being suspended during the pandemic, the dining plan is finally making a comeback. This popular feature allows guests to prepay for meals and snacks at select restaurants throughout the parks and resorts. To start with there will only be 2 plans available to book.

Genie Plus Will Be Available for Advance Purchase
Genie Plus is a new feature that allows guests to skip the regular standby lines for select attractions by paying an additional fee. Disney has announced that Genie Plus will be available for advance purchase. No further details have been given about how far in advance and how many lightning lanes could be reserved in advance. Sounds a lot like they are going back to the way Fast Pass plus was but just with a price tag now.

Resort Guests Will Continue to Have Early Entry and evening hours for Deluxe resorts
If you’re staying at a Disney resort, you’ll continue to have the perk of early entry times. This means that you can enter the parks before the general public and enjoy shorter wait times for popular attractions. Deluxe resort guests will continue to have extra evening hours for select days. This isn’t anything new but at least they are extending this perk through 2024.

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Welcome to the latest episode of Traveling with the Mouse, where we discuss the best ways to save money on a Disney vacation! While there may not be many discounts on ticket prices, one area where you can save money is where you stay. Disney has a variety of resort types, each with their own unique experiences, but there are also options outside of Disney that can save you money. First, let’s discuss Disney’s resort options. From budget-friendly options like the Value Resorts to the luxurious Deluxe Resorts, there is something for everyone at Disney. We’ve personally stayed at many of these resorts and have found that they all have their own charm and benefits. When it comes to saving money, it’s important to consider the trade-off between cost and convenience. While staying off-site may save you money, it can also mean losing valuable time. You’ll need to factor in the cost of transportation and the time it takes to get to and from the parks. On the other hand, staying on Disney property can be more convenient, we still recommend driving your own car as bus transportation can be very slow. In the end, the best way to save money on a Disney vacation will depend on your individual preferences and budget. Whether you choose to stay on or off Disney property, there are options available that can help you save money without sacrificing the magic of a Disney vacation.

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Episode 374: This week Jason joins us as he is about to go on a solo Walt Disney World trip. We get his take on the some of the news from D23 as well as some of the News stories of the week. There was a very intoxicated woman who was slowly escorted out of Epcot this week. Kite Tails is officially ending at Animal Kingdom. Mysteriously there was roof work going on at the Play pavilion sight even though there was no update on this project at D23. For the first time there will be cocktails served at the Magic Kingdom over at Skipper Canteen. In Jason’s trip preview we try to guess which song he will get at Guardians of the galaxy. He also discusses his initial plans to see both nighttime shows and see which lounges he can hit up along the way. We will see what all happens next week for his trip report. He will be staying that the Boardwalk in a DVC studio facing the boardwalk/Epcot.

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Episode 359: This week we are all traveling to Disney in different ways. We have a cruise, a land and sea cruise and we have Walt Disney World trips. Between the four of us we have a lot of Disney travel this month! Jon and I first discuss the first two episodes of the Obiwan series. This was the most watch premiere of a Disney Plus show ever. We discuss some other parks news and then we go into our trip previews. This is my first cruise so I have a lot to learn but the biggest hurdle right now seems to be getting cleared to get on this ship. Once I make it on the ship with Cape Canaveral behind us, then I’ll share that sentiment. Jon talks about his upcoming trip and how he used a crowd calendar as his guide for selecting which parks he reserved for each day of his trip. Look foward to trip reports in the coming weeks!

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Episode 341: This week we talk about some news and we give some reviews of some of the recent things we’ve watched on Disney+…We also go through some park strategy from a listener’s email. We get started with some news…We don’t talk about Chapek, no, no, no. (but we kinda do, a lot) The CEO recently talked about the 3 pillars for success in the Walt Disney Company and we go through each one. We cover some of the other recent news and then move into our Disney Plus reviews of Encanto and Book of Boba Fett. We wrap the show by going through a listener’s email about park strategy in 2022. We weigh in with our thoughts on a 2 day strategy for fitting in all 4 parks.

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Episode 316: In this episode we talk some Disney news and then preview an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World this weekend! We start with some Disneyland news…Soon out of state guests will be welcomed back. Also, Disneyland’s newly reimagined Jungle Cruise will be opening in July. The big news of the week out of Disneyland however, is that the Spiderman Adventure attraction will require a boarding group once it opens. This means that guests will have to choose between Spidey and Rise of the resistance at the start of the day. In Disney World news, we continue to see restrictions lifted and talks of capacity expanded. It looks like Minnie Vans could be returning and the monorail had a Badger problem. After the news, Jason and I discuss our upcoming trip this very weekend to Walt Disney World. We are trying out a DVC resort and are staying together in a 2 bedroom villa. Look out for us on social media this weekend!

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Episode 292: After a week off we are back to discuss the latest Disney news & rumors and give a quick review of the Mandalorian Season 2. We also do a preview on Jon’s upcoming Walt Disney World trip! In the news this week we talk about a price increase for DVC fees that will take effect in 2021. The Grand Californian will re-open to DVC guests in early December. We got a first look at the new roller coaster trains for the Guardian’s of the Galaxy coaster at Epcot. The Muppets are back at Liberty square in the Magic Kingdom and we give a construction update on the various projects that are still ongoing at Walt Disney World. We discuss some start wars news before diving into our review of the first 2 episodes from season 2 of the Mandalorian. Finally, we preview Jon’s upcoming trip to Walt Disney World. He talks about his strategy and expectations about going to Walt Disney World during this pandemic.

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192626CA-E6E6-434D-8411-FD658FE03860Episode 254: With the news of Smuggler’s Run adding fastpass soon we thought it would be a good time to do a refresher on the Disney World Fastpass plus system. A few things have changes since our last episode and we wanted to go over everything all in one episode. We do start by going over the most recent news as there were several stories that caught our attention this week. The parks in China are currently closed, Disney is now selling sporks in Galaxy’s Edge and Disney much more.

 

 

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Episode 206: Today we answer the age old question…How do I decide which Walt Disney World theme park to visit for each day of my vacation? We talk about the factors that go into making that decision. We try to break down those factors in a simple way to help make the choice a lot easier. We know that there are a lot of complexity to planning a Walt Disney World vacation but if you take some time to do a little research then you can save time and money but more importantly add more fun to your vacation!