Episode 501: In this week’s episode of Traveling with the Mouse, we’re celebrating Disney milestones, peeking behind the construction walls, and asking the real question: Does the new Walt Disney animatronic actually look like Walt?

Disneyland is celebrating its 70th anniversary this week, and to mark the occasion, the spotlight is on a brand-new Walt Disney audio-animatronic set to debut in a new show at the Main Street Theater. It’s a bold move by Disney but will it deliver? We share our thoughts on the design of this brand new show that is sure to get a lot of attention.

Meanwhile, over in Florida, we’ve got our ears to the tracks. Recent permits and backstage construction photos show a possible Walt Disney World Railroad expansion, or at least some form of reconfiguration of the current layout. Also on deck: Disney Starlight, the brand-new nighttime parade coming to Magic Kingdom next week. We look at new images of the lead float and see if it adds to our anticipation of the new nighttime spectacular.

This week’s episode is a special one, folks. Episode 500. That’s right five hundred episodes of Disney banter, ride breakdowns, trip reports, armchair imagineering, and more Magical opinions than any one podcast probably needs.

We start this milestone episode by hopping in our time-traveling Doombuggy and heading all the way back to Episode 1. Yep, remember when we nervously hit record in 2017 and started talking about what drew us to Disney in the first place? Back when FastPass+ was still a thing and we all couldn’t wait for Galaxy’s Edge to open? Good times.

But, we couldn’t just celebrate the past we had to speculate wildly about the future too. So what will we be talking about in another 500 episodes?

Will there be a 5th Gate or at least blue sky concept art for one?

Will Spaceship Earth finally get that long-promised update?

Will Figment finally get a new ride?

Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just hopped on for the ride recently, we’re so grateful you’re part of this community. Here’s to another 500 episodes filled with magic, mayhem, and Mickey pretzels.

Thank you!

In this week’s episode of Traveling with the Mouse, we’re catching up on all the latest Disney Parks news because things are moving fast, and in true Disney fashion, we’re saying farewell to old favorites while getting hyped for what’s on the horizon.

Let’s start with the big announcement that has set the Disney fandom ablaze: Rivers of America has just one month left before it officially closes to make way for the all-new Piston Peak National Park, We take a close look at the concept art released by Disney and share our thoughts.

It’s official—Muppet*Vision 3D is no more. Walls have gone up around the theater as Disney begins transforming this space into Monsters, Inc. Land. As for Monsters, Inc., we’re curious to see how this new land shapes up. Since Disneyland announced the closing of the Monster Inc. attraction out there will it (or parts of it) be moving to Florida?

Speaking of Disneyland there’s new updates on the new Avatar Land and CoCo attractions coming to California. We take a look at those updates and where they are going to be placed.

We also look at other construction projects going on. Astro Orbiter is looking closer to re-opening as Buzz lightyear is getting ready for its much needed refresh. The Polynesian Village resort is going to get some modifications to the entrance. We also look through the Menu of the newly opened adults only lounge at Epcot Geo 82.

Episode 471: Buckle up because we’ve got a lot to cover this week! In this episode, we dive into the major refurbishment plans coming to Big Thunder Mountain at Magic Kingdom, Universal’s big news for Epic Universe, and Disney’s latest paid perks for DVC members and deluxe resort guests. Let’s break it down.

Big Thunder Mountain’s Upcoming Refurbishment: What’s Going On?

Big Thunder Mountain is set to undergo a significant refurbishment, and it’s raising some eyebrows. This iconic ride is already a fan favorite, but could Disney be planning something even bigger? With Rivers of America seeing a major update with the construction of the new cars attraction we can’t help but wonder if there’s more going on behind the scenes. Could this be part of the larger reimagining of Frontierland? You know Disney loves to keep us guessing.

Epic Universe at Universal: Mark Your Calendars for 2025

While Disney is busy with refurbishments, Universal has set an official opening date for Epic Universe in 2025. This massive new park has been highly anticipated, and now we’re finally getting details on some of the lands and attractions. From Super Nintendo World to the rumored Universal Monsters area, Epic Universe is shaping up to be a game-changer. We discuss what this means for Disney and how the competition between the two entertainment giants could impact the guest experience.

Disney’s New Paid Perks: Worth the Price?

Disney just rolled out some new paid perks, and of course, we had to dig into the details. DVC members and guests staying at deluxe resorts now have access to some pretty exclusive add-ons, but are they worth the extra cost? The Lightning Lane Premiere Pass will test how far people will go for a little extra convenience we break down what each perk offers and answer the burning question: is the convenience really worth the price? Are you better off sticking with Genie+ or splurging for the premiere access? We’ve got opinions, and we’re not holding back!

CBJ_TWTMToday we are talking all things Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom! We go through the history of the land and the attractions that have come and gone through the years. We reminisce over our favorite experiences in this land from when we were kids coming here in the 80’s up to now. We talk about the food and entertainment options as well. What is your favorite thing about Frontierland?