Disney Hotel Prices vs. Inflation

By Adam | August 20, 2025

Episode 506: In this episode of Traveling with the Mouse, we put on our accountant hats (don’t worry, they’ve got Mickey ears) and dive deep into Disney’s pricing strategy over the years. Resort hotels have always been a core part of the Walt Disney World experience, but just how much more expensive are they now compared to when the doors first opened in the early 1970s?

We track down standard room rates from the Polynesian and Contemporary all the way back to 1972, adjust them for inflation, and compare them to today’s 2025 rack rates. The results might surprise you… or maybe they won’t. (Spoiler: Disney’s prices have definitely outpaced inflation, especially at the Deluxe resorts.) Moderates and Values tell a slightly different story, but either way, the price of staying on property has changed dramatically in real terms.

And while we’re crunching numbers, we also take a look at the cost of seasonal events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Party tickets that used to be a budget-friendly add-on are now a serious investment. We compare today’s prices to past years and ask: at what point does spooky season at the Magic Kingdom start scaring away wallets more than ghosts?

It wouldn’t be Traveling with the Mouse without a healthy dose of Disney news:

The Beak and Barrel reservation launch at Magic Kingdom… let’s just say it didn’t go according to plan. We talk through what went wrong and what it says about Disney’s ongoing struggles with online systems.

Construction check-in: We look at progress across the big projects currently underway at Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. One project in particular looks like it’s flying ahead of schedule compared to the others, and we break down what that might mean for opening timelines.

Disney Starlight and Test Track: A Sparkling New Era

By Adam | July 30, 2025

Episode 503: Adam returns from his latest trip to Walt Disney World with fresh, first-hand impressions of two brand-new additions: the long-awaited Disney Starlight nighttime parade and the newly reimagined Test Track. Did they live up to the hype? Did Adam cry during the parade?

Disney Starlight is the newest nighttime parade to debut at Magic Kingdom. This dazzling spectacle combines elements of classic nighttime parades with modern tech and fresh character appearances. Does this parade get two thumbs up?

Test Track, which has gone full retro-futuristic in the newest version. Disney and Chevrolet have leaned hard into the legacy of World of Motion, and the results are a nostalgic dream for EPCOT Center fans!

Bay Lake Deep Dive and Disney News Roundup

By Adam | June 18, 2025

Episode 498: In this week’s episode of Traveling with the Mouse, we’re casting our nets into the beautiful, mysterious waters of Bay Lake! Don’t worry, it’s a metaphorical dive, no SCUBA gear required. But before we dip into history, we kick things off with some exciting updates from around the Disney Parks!

Test Track 3.0 Gets a re-opening Date!
The long-rumored reimagining of Test Track now has an official re-opening date of July 22nd! Not only are we getting a fresh new look at the exterior, but Disney has also given us a sneak peek at what some of the interior scenes will look like. We do know that there will be cast member previews as well as Annual Passholder and DVC but what we don’t know yet is exactly when. The other thing we don’t know yet is will Disney use Virtual Queue or Single Pass for Test Track for the first few weeks.

Construction World: Turbocharged Edition

As part of Disney’s promise to turbocharge the parks, we’re seeing a lot of construction progress across property:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is laying down new track faster than a runaway mine train.
Dinoland U.S.A. area is seeing a lot of construction activity as it transforms into the lush and vibrant Tropical Americas.
And right on the shimmering shores of Bay Lake, the Lakeshore Lodge is rising up with faced paces construction.

Deep Dive: The History and Legacy of Bay Lake

Now let’s row gently into the heart of today’s episode: Bay Lake the natural, spring-fed lake that predates Disney and has quietly witnessed every transformation of Walt Disney World since the very beginning. We take a look at the Past, present, and future of this natural wonder that is one of the best spots in all of Walt Disney World.

Catching Up on Disney News & A Trip to the Grand Canyon

By Adam | March 3, 2025

Episode 486: Welcome back to another episode of Traveling with the Mouse! We’re diving into the latest Disney news and I’m sharing details about my recent trip to the Grand Canyon. It’s a packed episode full of updates, insights, and, of course, a bit of travel inspiration!

Guardians of the Galaxy is officially off of Virtual Queue

It only took 1005 days but Guardian’s of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is officially off of Virtual Queue. We take a look at the first few days of Standy wait times and ask why did it take so long? What was different about this attraction that kept in on Virtual Queue longer than any other?

Disney’s Ticket Pricing Model Rumors

One of the biggest stories making waves in the Disney community is the rumor that Disney is considering a major shift in how they price park tickets. If this comes to fruition, it would resemble the airline industry’s dynamic pricing model, where ticket prices fluctuate based on demand, time of year, and other factors.

While Disney already uses some level of dynamic pricing for park tickets and Multi-pass, this rumored change could mean even more variability in what guests pay for admission. Could this mean cheaper tickets on slow days? Or will it create even more complexity when planning your trip?

Construction Everywhere

If you’ve visited Walt Disney World recently, you’ve probably noticed—there’s a lot of construction going on. Mostly, small projects right now like sprucing up the train station and plaza restaurant at Magic Kingdom. The Italy Pavillion at Epcot and Woody’s Lunchbox finally getting some shade. The bigger projects are just on the horizon though and we expect an announcement any day about the official closure of Rivers of America now that permits have been approved for construction. In future refurbishment news, The large guitar in front of Rock N’ Rollercoaster is scheduled for some work. It makes us wonder is any of this work in preparation for converting the ride over to the Muppets theme? Otherwise, why do this so close to the ride being re-themed?

A Grand Adventure at the Grand Canyon

Shifting gears from Disney, I recently took a trip to the Grand Canyon, and wow—it was an experience unlike any other. As someone who loves theme park magic, seeing nature’s version of awe-inspiring landscapes was a refreshing change of pace. We took the Grand Canyon Railway, a nostalgic and fun way to approach the park, and it added a whole extra layer to the trip. If you’re considering a visit, this is a must-do! The small route 66 town did give off a radiator springs vibe. As a Disney fan I couldn’t help but notice and I will always find a Disney connection!

Disney News + Mandalorian

By Adam | November 13, 2020

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.

The future of current projects at Walt Disney World

By Adam | April 22, 2020

Episode 264: Today, Jon and I take a look at all of the future projects that were either underway or in development before the Covid19 pandemic. We discuss whether we think they will continue as is, change significantly, or will be outright cancelled. We give our best guess as to when these projects will be completed and if some of them we even get off the ground. As we all adjust to this new normal we need to prepare for some significant changes coming to at least a few of these projects. Thanksfully some of these project are very near completion and we will hopefully still be getting some new attractions at least for the next few years.