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Episode 489: Hey Disney fans, it’s that magical time of year again—no, not the blooming of spring flowers—it’s time for our annual March Madness bracket here at Traveling with the Mouse! We’re on a thrilling quest to crown the ultimate extinct Walt Disney World attraction. We started with 64 beloved, nostalgic rides, shows, and experiences from across all four parks and beyond, and in this exciting episode, we’ve narrowed it down to the Sweet 16!

Which cherished classics have survived the tough battles so far? Did fan favorites like Horizons, The Great Movie Ride, or Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride cruise safely into the next round, or did we witness shocking upsets by sleeper hits like Kitchen Kabaret or a classic fireworks spectacular?

Join us as we debate, reminisce, and passionately defend our favorites while moving closer to deciding which Disney attraction we miss the most. Will your favorite make it through to the Elite Eight, or did it sadly say goodbye too soon?

Listen in as the magic and memories unfold, and don’t forget to share your thoughts with us on social media—which attraction are YOU rooting for? Let’s see who will take home the prestigious title of “Best Extinct Attraction” from Walt Disney World!

May the best attraction win!

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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 443: In this installment of “Traveling With The Mouse,” we dive into some of the latest Disney news, Spring break is in full force, and we share a unique trip report from a visitor experiencing the magic of Disney World after a hiatus of over three decades. Furthermore, we continue our nostalgic journey from last week’s episode, with a deeper dive into Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We share our own experiences, tracing the transformation of this iconic park over the years. From its early days as a tribute to the golden age of Hollywood to its current status as a hub of thrilling adventures and immersive storytelling, we discuss how Disney’s Hollywood Studios has grown and changed, shaping our memories and experiences along the way.

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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 300: We made it to 300 Episodes! We take a trip down memory lane and discuss our earliest Disney memories and what got us hooked! As a way of celebrating we are going to give away a Traveling with the Mouse Shirt! Click Here to Enter First we do cover some news. There was a few big stories this week like the announcement that current Disneyland passholders will now be called legacy passholders. The PeopleMover refurbishment is delayed yet again. The Jungle cruise will be seeing some significant changes in the near future. Primeval whirl is starting to be dismantled or at least it seems that way. We also (mainly me) discuss our favorite bathrooms in the parks. I for one am a big fan of the companion bathrooms. We wrap up the episode by each explaining what keeps us coming back to Disney today. Here’s to 300 more episodes!

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Episode 198 – Today we are covering the past 50 years of Walt Disney World history starting with 1969 and the skipping to the next decade sort of in a carousel of progress type of way. We are only focusing on the major events of the year ending in 9 for that decade. From 1969 we jump to 1979 and then 1989, 1999, 2009 and finally recapping the current year 2019. It is remarkable to see the major changes that take place in each decade. This is a fun way to look at Walt Disney World History.

 

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In today’s episode, we continue where we left off in our tour of Disney’s Hollywood studios. We cover Grand Avenue, Commissary Lane, Pixar Place and the Animation courtyard. We also preview Toy Story Land and go through the menu at Woody’s Lunchbox (the new quick service location that is opening soon). If you aren’t familiar with the series…Every Friday we have been taking a walk-through of every land at the Walt Disney World parks and discuss the past and present rides, attractions, shows, shopping and dinning options that are available. Next Friday we will wrap up Hollywood Studios!

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Today we begin our walk-through of Disney’s Hollywood Studios! We talk about the rides, attractions, shows, dinning and shopping in the Hollywood Boulevard and Echo Lake areas. We give a brief history of the park and talk about some of our favorite experiences. Be sure to join us every Friday as we continue to journey through all of the lands of the Disney parks. Be sure to check out some of our older episodes in this series as well.