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Episode 478: In this week’s episode of Traveling with the Mouse, we’re diving into Disney’s big year at the box office, looking ahead to what 2025 holds for the company, and covering some major updates that Disney fans won’t want to miss. From the surprising success stories of 2024 to the latest theme park changes, there’s a lot to talk about. Let’s break it all down!

Disney’s Box Office Domination in 2024

2024 was a banner year for Disney at the box office. Moana 2 continues to perform strong and with Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine making billions, all eyes are now on Mufasa: The Lion King, set to release this week. In the episode, we discuss whether Mufasa can live up to the hype and continue Disney’s winning streak into 2025.

Another Unexpected Ride Closure for Refurbishment

This week we were surprised to learn that Gran Fiesta Tour is closing for refurbishment in early 2025. It will be closed from January 6th through March 15th. We speculate on whether this is just a standard routine maintenance or is this enough time to convert the ride to a Coco themed attraction?

Updates to the Run Disney Marathon Course

Calling all Run Disney fans! The 2025 Marathon course map has been released, and there are some changes to look out for. This year’s course offers a few changes to the Magic Kingdom section of the route, including a run through Cinderella Castle!

Previewing the 2025 Epcot Festivals

Epcot’s festivals are always a highlight of the Disney calendar, and 2025 is shaping up to be no different. From the International Festival of the Arts to the 30th year for the Flower and Garden Festival. We did notice that Disney seems to be returning to a more traditional schedule for these festivals. It looks like 2025 will have more weeks of “diet Epcot” than any other year since the pre-covid era.

Exploring the Disney Treasure

Last but not least, we take a closer look at the Disney Treasure, the latest addition to Disney’s cruise ship fleet. This ship brings a whole new level of storytelling to the high seas with its unique design, themed dining experiences, and entertainment options. We discuss what sets the Treasure apart from Disney’s other cruise ships and why it should be on your travel bucket list.

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Episode 442: Welcome back to “Traveling With The Mouse,” where in this episode, we dive into the latest happenings in the Disney universe and take a nostalgic trip down memory lane to celebrate the upcoming 35th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. First up, we discuss the exciting news coming out of Disney, including the introduction of a new multi-day dining search feature soon to be available on the My Disney Experience app. This update promises to make meal planning easier for visitors, enhancing the overall park experience. We also touch on the fresh additions to “Living with the Land” at EPCOT. Also, the debut of the first projection-mapped topiary for the Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT marks a new era of creativity and technological integration in the park’s displays.

The main topic today is Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As we approach its 35th anniversary, we reflect on the park’s evolution since its opening in 1989. From its early days as a working film studio to its current status as a land of immersive experiences and thrilling attractions, Hollywood Studios has undergone significant transformations. We’ll reminisce about past attractions, discuss the additions and changes that have shaped its identity. (or lack thereof).

Check out this video of then MGM Studios from May of 1989 from our Youtube Channel

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Episode: 395. In this episode, we’ll be discussing the most relaxing attractions at each park, and we’ll be inviting our listeners to share their opinions on what rides they think are the most calming. In particular, which attractions do you think are the most relaxing at Hollywood Studios? We found that to be the most difficult park to find a truly relaxing attraction. In other news, there’s been some drama surrounding the Florida governor and the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which oversees Disney’s land in Florida. We won’t go into too much detail here, but suffice it to say that there are some concerns about the governor’s influence over the district. On a happier note, the Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing, and guests are raving about the new topiaries featuring beloved Disney characters. And speaking of beloved characters, Mando and Grogu from The Mandalorian have finally made their way to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios. Guests can now see the duo wandering around the land and posing for photos.

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Today on the show, I go over the highlights of my 9 day March trip to Walt Disney World. I talk about staying at an off property hotel…(Hilton Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs). I got to explore Disney Springs while I was there so I give my thoughts on the dinning and shopping options that are available. I then stayed for a few days at the Dolphin hotel where I had a different experience than I did the last time I stayed there. I also, tried the Minnie van service so I give a short review on that. I give an overview of the Flower & Garden festival and I finally got to experience Flight of Passage at Pandora!