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Welcome to another episode of “Traveling with the Mouse.” This week in Episode 430, we take a slight detour from our usual Disney-centric discussions for a special segment on Jon’s recent trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Then, we dive headfirst into the latest happenings in the world of Disney, from executive interviews to unexpected park incidents.

Jon takes us on a journey beyond the Disney parks to the charming town of Pigeon Forge in Tennessee. He shares his experiences with the local attractions, the unique vibe of the Smokies, and how they compare to our beloved Disney destinations. Jon specifically talks about the Sky Fly attraction and how it compares to Soarin and Flight of Passage.

Back in the realm of Disney, we dissect the recent interview with Disney CEO Bob Iger. Iger’s insights were not only revealing but also painted a vivid picture of where the company stands and the direction it’s headed before his tenure wraps up in 2026. We then discuss the current state of Disney movies and why this year has been a particularly tough year at the box office. From theatrical releases to streaming strategies, we ponder what could reinvigorate Disney’s cinematic magic.

Recently, Disneyland witnessed an unusual and concerning event: a guest streaking on the “It’s a Small World” attraction. We discuss this incident, reflecting on why such occurrences seem to be on the rise and what, if anything, can be done to prevent similar events in the future. And Finally, the iconic Hatbox Ghost has officially taken up residence in the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World. We share our impressions of this spooky addition to a beloved attraction.

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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.