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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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Episode 488: If you had a time machine and could visit Walt Disney World at any point in its 54-year history, what year would you choose? That’s the big question we’re tackling in this week’s episode of Traveling with the Mouse!

After covering the latest Disney news—including a look at ticket prices for Epic Universe compared to Disney, New looks into the Monsters Inc attraction, and the new cars attraction coming to Magic Kingdom—we dive into a fun discussion: What would be the ideal year for each of us to visit Disney World if we could time travel?

Jason is going back to 2019, the height of the FastPass+ era and the perfect year for a ride challenge. Disney’s skip-the-line options were at their best, and Parkeology challenges were still possible without the hassle of boarding groups and Lightning Lane headaches. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge had just opened, and the Riviera Resort (his home DVC resort) was brand new. It was a golden age for ride efficiency and planning mastery.

Adam, who balances nostalgia with a love of modern attractions, would time travel to 2000—a sweet spot where the Disney of the ‘90s was still alive, but new innovations were coming in. The paper FastPass system was fully operational, allowing for strategic planning without overcomplicating the experience. Plus, Test Track was brand new, Splash Mountain was at its peak, and EPCOT still had its classic charm before the big changes of the 2000s took hold.

Jon, the biggest EPCOT Center purist among us, is traveling back to 1993. This was the golden age of original EPCOT, where Horizons, World of Motion, and the original Journey into Imagination were all still thriving. FastPass didn’t exist yet, so there was more spontaneity, and the Polynesian Resort was still affordable enough to stay at without breaking the bank. No need to plan every minute—just vibes, monorail rides, and classic Disney experiences.

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Episode 483: This week on Traveling with the Mouse, Jon takes us on a journey through his latest trip to Walt Disney World! He shares all the details about his stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, his experience using Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, and some first impressions of the latest attractions added to the parks.

Staying at Wilderness Lodge
Jon’s home base for this trip was Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, one of the most beloved deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World. Nestled along Bay Lake, this resort offers the perfect mix of rustic charm and Disney magic. He shares his thoughts on the atmosphere, amenities, and why it might just be one of the best places to stay for a more relaxed Disney experience.

He also dives into the transportation options, including the pros and cons of taking the boat to Magic Kingdom versus relying on buses to other parks. Plus, he weighs in on whether the dining options at Wilderness Lodge—like Geyser Point and Whispering Canyon Cafe—lived up to the hype!

Multi-Pass and new Attractions

Jon gives his take on the Multi-pass skip the line system. He gives his pros and cons of Multi-pass his take on how it stacks up to previous versions. This trip also gave Jon the chance to experience some of the newer rides at Walt Disney World for the first time. He shares his thoughts on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Journey of Water among others.

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Episode 470: In this week’s episode of Traveling with the Mouse, we dive into the storm that shook things up at Walt Disney World—Hurricane Milton. We talk about how the parks responded, why Jon ultimately canceled his much-anticipated trip, and what this means for Disney fans going forward.

Beyond Milton, we take a journey through the history of every time Disney has had to close its doors over the past 53 years. From other hurricanes and 9/11 to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s fascinating to see how Disney has navigated these unprecedented challenges. These closures were rare, but are happening more frequently in recent years.

Finally, we wrap up the episode with some of the latest Disney news, including updates on park operations post-Milton.

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Episode 464: Welcome back, Disney fans, to another exciting episode of Traveling with the Mouse! Today we dive deep into the ripple effects of the recent D23 announcements and how they’re shaping the future of Walt Disney World. Now that a couple of weeks have passed since the dust settled, we’ve had time to digest the news and reflect on what these changes mean for the parks, the resorts, and our beloved Disney experience.

Shifting gears, we take a look at the highly anticipated Polynesian DVC Tower, which is set to open later this year. There’s no doubt this new addition will be a hit, especially with the DVC crowd. But, as we reflect on the history of changes at the Polynesian, it’s clear that not all updates have been warmly received. The Polynesian is a resort that’s very dear to many Disney fans, and with each renovation, there’s always a question of whether it will enhance or detract from its iconic status.

While we’re on the topic of resorts, we also take a moment to reflect on the value of staying at Disney resorts in general. There’s no denying that location is the biggest draw for many of Disney’s on-property hotels. Being able to hop on a monorail, walk to a park, or be a short bus ride away from the magic is a convenience that’s hard to beat. But with the prices of these resorts climbing higher and higher, we have to ask: is location the only thing keeping these resorts relevant?

Lastly, we wrap up the episode with a discussion on Virtual Queues. Disney has kept Virtual Queues around for the most popular attractions, like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run, and now, the big question is: when will they retire the Virtual Queue for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure?

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Episode 434: Today we’ve packed a delightful mix of news, nostalgia, and fun challenges that will whisk you away to the enchanting world of Disney. We delve into the nostalgic closure of the Country Bear Jamboree. This beloved attraction has been a part of Disney’s magic for decades, and we discuss its legacy and the our hopes for the updated show. Disney is showing some love to the locals with a brand-new Florida Resident Discount this winter. The long-awaited lifting of Park Hopping restrictions is finally here! Now Annual Passholders and guests with Park hopper tickets can hop between parks as often and as early as you like. Finally, Jon turns up the excitement by challenging Adam to a game of Disney Trivia!

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Episode 358: Today we take a trip down memory lane and discuss our favorite things about Disney’s Polynesian Village resort. James joins us as we talk about the resort that where we have spent the most of our nights at Walt Disney World…especially during our childhood years. We do discuss some of the news as well like that today, May 27th is a big day. Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind has officially opened to the public and the first two episode of the Obiwan series on Disney+ premiered. We all have Disney trips coming up over the next few weeks so there will be plenty of new content coming but for now we take a look back and we had a really fun time discussing our Disney roots. Most of them took place at the Polynesian resort.