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Episode 512: On this week’s episode of Traveling with the Mouse, Jason is back in the co-host chair, and he has a lot to share about his latest adventures. Fresh off his cruise aboard the brand-new Disney Treasure, he gives us all the details on what it was like sailing on Disney’s newest ship. From dining and entertainment to exploring the ports of call, Jason paints a picture of what makes this ship unique compared to the rest of the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

Then, I jump in with a recap of my own recent trip to Disneyland. Anytime we get the chance to talk Disneyland versus Walt Disney World, you know it’s going to be a lively discussion. We dive into the similarities and differences between the two resorts, comparing some of the iconic rides that exist on both coasts. Which version of Pirates of the Caribbean reigns supreme? How does Space Mountain in California stack up against Florida’s? And why does Disneyland’s smaller size sometimes give it a charm that Walt Disney World’s sprawling scale just can’t replicate?

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Episode 510: This week on Traveling with the Mouse, we’re asking the question: What would you do if you had Walt Disney World all to yourself? Not with your family. Not with friends. Just you, the parks, and the freedom to do whatever you want.

In this episode, we dive into our dream solo itineraries. whether that means spending a full day lounging at your favorite resort, snacking your way around World Showcase without anyone rushing you along, or finally doing those overlooked attractions you always skip when traveling with a group. Spoiler alert: going solo has its perks!

But before we daydream about Mickey-shaped snacks in solitude, we break down some of the latest Disney news:

  • Lakeshore Lodge Construction Update
    Disney’s newest resort continues to rise along Bay Lake. We share what’s happening on-site and what this means for future guests looking for another deluxe option.
  • Polynesian Entrance Construction
    Getting in and out of the Poly is currently… let’s just say, not the smoothest arrival experience. We’ll talk about the work underway and how it impacts both resort guests and those just stopping by for a Dole Whip or dinner.
  • Disney Cruise Line Delay
    The newest ship in Disney’s growing fleet won’t be setting sail as soon as expected. We’ll share what we know about the delay, what it could mean for future itineraries, and why excitement for the ship is still running high.
  • Park Improvement Projects
    All across Walt Disney World, refurbishments and fresh updates are happening. From new facades to refreshed pathways, we discuss the little changes that add up to keeping the magic looking its best.

Finally, we circle back to our main topic: solo Disney trips. Whether it’s finally getting that perfect castle photo without feeling rushed, snagging a seat at La Cava del Tequila, or just hopping on your favorite ride over and over again, sometimes the best Disney memories are the ones you create on your own.

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Welcome back, time travelers! In this episode of Traveling with the Mouse, we delve into the history and evolution of Disney World’s skip-the-line offerings over the past 25 years. From the original paper FastPass to the current Genie Plus and Lightning Lane systems, we discuss the pros and cons of each. Plus, we cover the exciting news about the new Disney Destiny cruise ship and celebrate Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster’s 25th anniversary. Let’s dive in!

The paper FastPass system was introduced in 1999, revolutionizing the way guests experienced attractions at Disney World. This system allowed guests to obtain a paper ticket with a return time, effectively reducing wait times at popular attractions. In 2014, Disney introduced FastPass Plus, a digital system that allowed guests to book FastPasses in advance using the My Disney Experience app. In 2021 the era of paid offerings began with Genie Plus, a service that allows guests to pay for access to shorter wait times via the Lightning Lane. Recently, Disney introduced the Lightning Lane Single and Multi-Pass options.

We also cover the exciting announcement of the new Disney Destiny cruise ship. This latest addition to the Disney Cruise Line promises innovative features, magical experiences, and destinations that will captivate Disney fans of all ages. We discuss what we know so far and our excitement for this new venture on the high seas. Finally, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. This thrilling ride has been a staple at Disney’s Hollywood Studios but how much longer will this ride stay in its current form?

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Episode 449: Welcome back, Disney fans, to another episode of Traveling with the Mouse! Today, we’re packed with fresh news and exciting updates from across the Disney universe. From anticipated attractions to anniversary celebrations and beyond, we’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s dive in!

First up, we discuss the much-anticipated Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Disney enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the official opening date, and rumors are swirling about possible preview dates. Disney’s Hollywood Studios just celebrated its 35th anniversary with new Merch and that’s about it. Speaking of anniversaries, can you believe it’s been 25 years since “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” was released? We discuss our thoughts on the film looking back 25 years later and if we want to see it again in theaters while it is on it’s limited run.

In Disney Cruise line News, Disney has recently shared the map of their new private island, Lookout Cay. It is definitely impressive but will we miss seeing the ship off in the distance while we are chilling on the beach? Lastly, Adam vents some frustrations with the Run Disney registration process. Many fans have encountered challenges and complexities when signing up for these popular events. Adam shares his personal experiences and offers tips on snagging a registration.

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Welcome back, to another magical episode of Traveling with the Mouse! This is episode 444, and today we’re diving into a beloved tradition with a twist – our annual March Madness Disney Bracket. But this year, we’re tuning our ears to the harmonies and melodies of the Disney universe as we pit iconic Disney songs against each other in the ultimate showdown to crown the best Disney song of all time!

Our bracket this year is divided into four enchanting categories: Classic Animation, Modern Animation, Live-Action (with a focus on original films), and Theme Park Attractions. We’ve carefully selected 16 matchups that promise to spark debates, tug at your heartstrings, and maybe even surprise you with some upsets. From the timeless charm of “When You Wish Upon a Star” to the powerful ballad “Let It Go,” every song in our bracket has left an indelible mark on Disney fans worldwide.

Until next time, keep dreaming, keep believing, and keep traveling with the mouse.

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Episode 441: Welcome back to “Traveling With The Mouse,” where episode 441 brings us an exciting blend of Disney enchantment both at sea and on the tabletop. This time, Jason returns to the fold, not just with tales from the high seas aboard the Disney Magic but with an infectious new obsession – Disney Lorcana, the latest card game craze sweeping through the Disney fandom.

Jason takes us through a detailed exploration of the game, highlighting some of the most interesting and valuable cards in his collection. For those uninitiated, Disney Lorcana is more than just a card game; it’s a dive into a richly imagined world where Disney characters wield incredible powers in stunning artwork

Jason also just returned from a 5-night voyage on the Disney Magic, setting sail from New Orleans. Despite the Disney Magic being one of the fleet’s older members, Jason reveals how its recent updates breathe new life into the vessel, making it stand shoulder to shoulder with its larger counterparts. He walks us through the highlights of his journey, from the unique ports of call to the onboard entertainment that makes Disney cruises unforgettable.

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Episode 411: Welcome back, Mouseketeers, to another exciting episode of “Traveling with the Mouse”! As always, we’re here to sprinkle a little pixie dust on your week and keep you up-to-date with everything happening at the Happiest Place on Earth. In this week’s episode, we dive into the latest news and rumors swirling around the magical kingdom of Walt Disney World. From Bob Iger’s contract extension to his comments on the Parks and the strike. Bob has been in the news a lot lately. But we’re not just stopping at the latest news! In our ongoing mission to help you make the most out of your Disney World adventure, we’re also sharing our current top picks for the best experiences across the Walt Disney World. From dining to unwinding, and even spending those hard-earned Disney dollars, our picks are sure to enhance your Walt Disney World experience. Remember, every Disney journey is unique and filled with its own magic. We hope our tips and insights will help you create memories that will last a lifetime.

Use our special link TWTM to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid
plan.

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Episode 383: It finally happened. Somebody wished upon a star and now Bob Iger is back as Disney’s CEO. We had already recorded an episode for this week but we recorded a new segment just to cover this major story. At first is was hard to believe it was actually true. We try to be realistic about this news and not get too excited even though we agree that this is good news for Disney fans. Also, in other news we did previously record a discussion on Festival of the holidays starting soon. Fantasmic is getting 2 shows per night through early 2023. Mando has interrupted the timeline at Batuu in Disneyland but we don’t care. Disney is acquiring a new partially built cruise ship to add to its fleet. Walt’s dreamers statue has arrived in Florida. We also do a mini review of Andor; the Star Wars series on Disney Plus.

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Episode 373: The D23 convention wrapped up yesterday and we have some thoughts! Jon and I go through each day of the conference and talk about the highlights and lowlights. The parks panel was a mixed bag of small updates and early concepts that are way out there. Our original predictions for Tron’s opening date are going to end up being pretty close. There are a few cool new updates coming and a lot of meet & greets. Let us know what was your favorite part of this D23? We all know that the pandemic effect is still a real thing and it showed in the parks panel. Josh tried his best to make it exciting and it still fell a little flat but there’s still some cool things on the horizon and there’s always hope that the next D23 will bring with it some more exciting news.

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Episode 363: Jon and I catch up on the Disney news of the past month. With all of our recent trips it we haven’t talked much about the latest news. I was impressed by the Indiana Jones merch that came out this month. If only these movie props could’ve been around when I was 10 years old! The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue has now officially reopened, We discuss what is new, what is the same and is it still a good value? There’s a lot of meet and greets returning over the summer. Things are slowly returning back. Christmas time this year is going to be a lot more like 2019! Except for the price tag 🙁 The Disney Wish made it into port but will it be ready for it’s first sailing? All this and more!

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Episode 361: Jason and I just returned from a Disney cruise! It was my first cruise and I talk about what it was like for a first timer. I bookended my trip with a stop at Walt Disney World. I got to ride Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind 4 times during the trip. Jason also got to ride it after the cruise. On the cruise we were dodging the tropical storm and had to postpone our day at Castaway Cay. Thankfully the weather cleared and we were able to still go! We review the food, the kids club, and the adult only areas of the ship. I also discovered the virtually unlimited supply of chicken fingers and ice cream! You certainly wont go hungry on a Disney Cruise!

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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 357: Today we answer the age old question…Will the Disneyland PeopleMover ever return to operation? Actually, we don’t answer that definitively because nobody knows for sure. What we do know is what it will take and that will require a lot of work and a lot of money. We also cover some news and we start a conversation on Disney’s Polynesian resort but it evolves into discussing Disney resorts in general. We do have a lot of fond memories at the Polynesian and we will dig into that more in future episodes. However, in the short term we have a lot of travel coming up. Jason and I have a Disney cruise (my first one) and Jon and James are both taking trips to Walt Disney World in June. There’s lots of content coming up for what will be a busy summer!

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Episode 351: Today we catch up on the latest Disney news and one of us just booked their first Disney Cruise! We start with the news and even though we don’t talk about Bruno, we had to talk about the Oscars. Encanto won best animated feature but it lost for best song. Oh yeah, and there was a little incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock. We give our take on that. There’s more drama in Florida with Bob. Connections Café will have some cool new features. The queue for Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind has been revealed and speculation is running wild about previews! Jon and I end this episode by having some fun Disney conversation.

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Episode 340: We have returned from the holidays and we have a double trip report for you! Yes, Jason returned from a New Year’s Disney Cruise and Adam and Jason both had trips to Walt Disney World. Both of them got to experience Harmonious at Epcot and the New Year’s fireworks at Magic Kingdom. Jason informs us about his first cruise experience since covid-19 began. Also, with Omicron surging we get to see what if any precautions Disney is taking. Jason has an announcement about something that happened while on his cruise.

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Episode 335: We are back this week with another stellar episode! We discuss what we like about the being Annual Passholders at Walt Disney World. Jason is excited after booking his second Disney cruise so we talk about Disney Cruise line and what we can expect while sailing during the times that we are in. We also cover some news like the petition to fire a certain CEO, parking lot trams wont be coming back until at least 2022, and club level is starting to come back to the resorts at Walt Disney World. Oh yeah, we also give some updated thoughts on the Disney Genie and what we think of it two weeks since it went live. Jason doesn’t hold back.

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Episode 315: We take a deep dive into the Haunted Mansion! We explore the history and details of this attraction. Plus did you know that Walt had a favorite stretching room portrait? We do start with the news and cover several of the developing stories this week. Covid-19 guidelines continue to loosen on both coasts. The three caballeros are back at the gran fiesta tour! The Grand Floridian is getting new DVC studios added soon. The dark saber made its way to Galaxy’s Edge. Disney Cruise line released the pricing on the Wish’s inaugural sailing…my wish was for lower pricing! The later sailings in 2022 look better as far as price though.

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Episode 313: This week we have a lot of Disney news to cover…From Disneyland to Cruise line and Star Wars! We begin with the re-opening of Disneyland and talk about some of the things that have changed like having to shorten Rise of the Resistance, The secret entrance to Haunted Mansion and the new Snow White attraction. It’s good to see Disneyland open again. We move on to the Disney Cruise Line news and cover the new info on the Disney Wish and Jon talks about whether or not he want to book this ship for his next cruise. Next we discuss some of the updates at Walt Disney World like the upcoming removal of the temperature screenings and the return of some more character meals. Lastly, we cover the Star wars news of the week. The new lightsaber that everyone want but probably isn’t anywhere near ready to sell made its debut this week in a short video. The Star Wars cruiser looks to be delayed until next year but we got to see some new concept art. Is anyone going to book this as soon as it is available?

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Episode 309: Today Jon and I discuss some of the top headlines of the week and then we go through Jon’s trip report to Legoland and a park-less trip to Disney at Art of Animation. You can now go mask less for outdoor photos at Walt Disney World. There’s some more delays on Disney Cruise line. Josh D’Amaro teased some new technology coming to the Disney parks as well as a working retractable light saber?!?!? I can’t wait to find out more about that! We get into Jon’s trip report and he walks us through is experience at Legoland. It was a mixed bag of long waits but good service and food that was included with his stay. Next he stayed a few days at the Art of Animation resort to check out the newly refurbished Little Mermaid rooms. He got to have a day at the big blue pool the day that it re-opened. He also had a good meal at Art Smith’s Homecomin’ and an unforgettable dinner at the California Grill. (Recently voted by us as the best thing at Walt Disney World) He capped it all of with Dole whips at the Polynesian and some great Disney cast interaction that reminds us why Disney is still a step above when it comes to service!

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Episode 290: We start the show by lamenting about the state of Georgia’s sports teams. They seem to always snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. After that we dive into the big Disney news of the week which is not good news for Disneyland in California. The official regulations are out now and the biggest hurdle is that orange county must be in the yellow tier in order for them to be able to open (they are currently in the red tier). It could be well into 2021 before Disneyland is allowed to re-open. In some good news, we are happy that Gran Destino along with the rest of Coronado Springs resort has now re-opened. Adventures by Disney may be cancelled for the rest of this year but next year they are planning to roll out private tours. How much do we think that will cost? In refurbishment news, the People Mover keeps being pushed back. It is now not scheduled to re-open until January 2021. Disney released some new hotel Discounts for early 2021 that are actually good discounts! Start booking them now if you want a good deal because these will probably go fast. We end the news on a rumor about more attractions being test piloted for a virtual queue. Jon recently went to the Pigeon Forge area and spent some time at Dollywood. He walks us through his trip there as well as some museum tours that he experienced.