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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!

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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.

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Episode 494: Welcome back to Traveling With the Mouse! This week’s episode is packed tighter than a Jungle Cruise boat during rope drop. We’ve got big news, emotional farewells, spicy park debates, and a challenge that will test your park-hopping stamina (and possibly your sanity).

New Park Announced in Abu Dhabi

Let’s start with the headline heard ‘round the globe: Disney is building a new resort and theme park in Abu Dhabi! That’s right—Mickey and the gang are heading to the UAE, bringing a new kind of magic to the Middle East. We dive into what this means for Disney’s global strategy and speculate on what kinds of lands and attractions might make up this new park.

Mama Melrose’s Closed, Muppets are next

We pour one out for Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, which has officially closed its doors. It’s the end of an era for Hollywood Studios—and soon for PizzaRizzo and MuppetVision 3D, too. This quirky little corner will soon be transforming into Monster’s Inc. Land. But, hey the Muppets have a new skyliner wrap so that makes up for everything.

The Beak and Barrel – Yo Ho, Let’s Lounge!

We break down everything we know so far, from the parts of the story Disney has revealed to the new details on its theming. Will this lounge have a similar time limit and drink limit to Oga’s Cantina? We think Disney will try to maximize throughput but also keep people relatively sober at Magic Kingdom.

Are the Rafts a Ride?

It’s time to answer an age-old question: What counts as a ride at Disney? With AI as our trusty sidekick, we dig deep to define what is actually considered to be a “ride” at Disney parks.

  • Do the Tom Sawyer Island Rafts qualify as a ride, or are they just themed transportation?
  • Are the Friendship Boats inside Epcot a ride?
  • What about the Main Street Vehicles—they move, they’re charming, but are they rides?

We establish a scientific(-ish) framework using Disney’s own classifications, challenge rules and a little sprinkle of theme park philosophy. If you love a good nerdy debate, this segment is for you.

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Episode 482: This week on Traveling with the Mouse, I’m taking you through my first-ever experience running in the Walt Disney World Half Marathon! From the moment I decided to sign up to crossing the finish line, it was an unforgettable journey filled with early mornings, thrilling moments, and, of course, a well-earned margarita at La Cava del Tequila.

The Road to RunDisney: Signing Up and Training

If you’ve ever looked into a RunDisney event, you know that signing up is an event in itself! Spots fill up fast, and you’ve got to be ready when registration opens. Once I secured my spot, then the real work began—training.

Race Weekend: The Energy, The Magic, and the Early Wake-Up Call

Race weekend is a full experience, and Disney does it BIG. From the expo, where I picked up my race bib and some exclusive merch, to the pre-race energy on race morning, everything was electric. Except for the rain! The 3:00 AM wake-up call was tough but the adrenaline and excitement take over. Being there with thousands of other runners and a touch of Disney magic, it was worth it.

The race itself? Absolutely incredible. Running through Epcot and Magic Kingdom as the sun began to rise was surreal. Seeing The electric water pageant boats our in the lagoon to welcome us into the Magic Kingdom was a fun surprise. (We love the Electric Water Pageant) Seeing my family as I ran down Main Street, U.S.A., was a highlight I will never forget, and the character stops along the way is what makes a Disney event truly unique. The crowd support, cast members cheering, and Disney’s impeccable organization made for an unforgettable experience.

Final Thoughts: Would I Do It Again?

Absolutely! The Walt Disney World Half Marathon was a one-of-a-kind experience that blended my love for Disney with the personal challenge of a race. The community, the energy, and the magic of running through the parks made every step worth it. If you’re considering doing a RunDisney event, I say go for it—you won’t regret it.

So, what’s next? Maybe a full marathon? We’ll see!

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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 462: Hey Disney fans! In this week’s episode of Traveling with the Mouse, we dive deep into all the major announcements from this past weekend’s D23 parks panel. If you missed it, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with all the details, updates, and, of course, our own thoughts and speculations.

The Monster’s Inc. Land Surprise
Let’s start with the biggest surprise of the event – the announcement of a brand new Monster’s Inc. land coming to Hollywood Studios! Ever since the film first graced our screens, fans have been dreaming of a roller coaster that lets us experience the wild ride of those suspended doors, and now it’s finally happening! The only question now is – where exactly is this land going to fit in Hollywood Studios? We discuss the potential locations and what it could mean for the future layout of the park.

Goodbye Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer’s Island
In a twist that left us all stunned, Disney also announced (after D23) the closure of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer’s Island to make way for a Cars attraction at Magic Kingdom. The loss of these iconic areas is sure to be felt by many long-time Disney goers, but we’re curious to see how the Cars theme will be integrated into the Magic Kingdom experience. Will it be worth the trade-off? Only time will tell.

Villains Land – It’s Official!

On the flip side, one of the most highly anticipated announcements was the official confirmation of Villains Land. After years of speculation and fan theories, it’s finally happening! Will it live up to the hype? We discuss our expectations and what we hope to see when it finally opens.

Worldwide Parks Updates

But it wasn’t just the domestic parks that got some love during the panel – there were announcements for Disney parks worldwide. We go over the key highlights and what they mean for Disney fans globally.

The Missing Announcements
While we were thrilled with most of what we heard, there were a few things that left us scratching our heads. We share our disappointments and speculate on what might be coming down the pipeline, even if it wasn’t ready for the D23 stage.

What are you most excited about, and what left you wanting more? Let us know in the comments or over on our social media!

Until next time, keep traveling with the mouse!

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Episode: 312. Yeah, we waited 7 hours to ride the PeopleMover this week, but it was totally worth it! We were among the very first park guests to ride after being down for over a year. Jason and I recently returned from a trip to Walt Disney World where we got upgraded to the Grand Floridan. We enjoyed several trips to our favorite bars and lounges on property. We watched the Electric Water Pageant from our hotel room. We had one fantastic table service meals and one not so fantastic meal. We explored Tom Sawyer island and compared the experience to that of Rise of the Resistance….You’ll see what we mean. In the news we discuss the newest update to the Jungle Cruise and Disneyland is open once again! We talk about the latest Ride Every points challenge and the recent controversy surrounding it.

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Episode 291: The Hurricane slowed us down a little bit this week but better late than never to discuss the latest Disney News. Today we cover more of the depressing layoffs news within the Disney Parks. This week the majority of the performance cast members have been laid off. There’s still drama out in California but Disney is being creative by using some of California Adventure park as a retail space. Rise of the resistance saw a few new changes roll out this week. More maintenance projects have been announced and some have been delayed yet again. Bob Chapek finally responds to Senator Elizabeth Warren’s letter from a couple of weeks ago. Also, we have some new merchandise! If you believe that the Tom Sawyer Island Rafts are a “Ride” then we have the merch for you! Visit our Spreadshirt store to check it out!