Disney Hour Express

Our 2026 Walt Disney World vacation continues with Part 3 as we head to Magic Kingdom for the 30th anniversary of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! After a relaxing morning at Art of Animation, we head to Magic Kingdom for lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern before spending the rest of the day and night inside the park. We talk about whether using a regular park ticket before MNSSHP made sense for o...

Our 2026 Walt Disney World vacation recap continues! In Part 2, we head to EPCOT for a full family day—but this time, we intentionally skip rope drop and try to experience the park at a slower pace. After taking the Disney Skyliner from Art of Animation, we meet Stitch near the International Gateway and quickly discover a problem with our Lightning Lane plans. We share our actual wait times and ho...

Our long-awaited 2026 Walt Disney World vacation recap is finally here! In Part 1, we cover our arrival day, our first impressions of the Finding Nemo Family Suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and a chaotic dinner that wasn’t exactly the magical start we had envisioned. The next morning, we rope drop Magic Kingdom and put a popular Disney planning theory to the test: Is Magic Kingdom real...

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is officially back for 2026, and opening night gave us plenty to talk about. We break down what looked new and different this year, including the Haunted Mansion-inspired Market Street entrance, the Stitch masquerade, new pirate entertainment, Powerline Max, character waits, Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade, Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, Disney’s Not-S...

Halloween Horror Nights 2026 is celebrating 35 years of fear at Universal Orlando. With 10 haunted houses, several ticket options, an expanded Stay & Scream experience and major changes to Express Pass options, planning a night at HHN 35 can quickly become confusing. In this episode, Abbie and Rob break down what first-time visitors should know before entering Universal Studios Florida after d...

Disney World’s 2026 holiday parties are almost here. We’re breaking down Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney Jollywood Nights and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party—including 2026 dates, ticket prices, entertainment, attraction overlays and what’s new this year. In Episode 145 of Disney Hour Express, we explain what each separately ticketed event includes and share our experience attend...

Abbie and Rob wrap up their Disney Destiny series with an honest family review of their first Disney Cruise Line vacation — and answer the big question: was it worth it? After several episodes covering embarkation day, dining, entertainment, kids clubs, Castaway Cay, and Cozumel, this finale looks back at the full trip: what they loved, what disappointed them, and what they would do differently ne...

In episode 143 of Disney Hour Express, Abbie and Rob bring back their annual Walt Disney World Dining Draft and try to choose the table service restaurants for their upcoming family trip. They debate Magic Kingdom dining options like The Plaza Restaurant, Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Tony’s Town Square, talk through whether a sit-down meal makes sense before Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Hallo...

We're back with Part 3 of our Disney Destiny review series, and somehow we're still not done talking about Disney Cruise Line's newest ship... or at least the newest one they're okay talking about.  In this episode, we're diving into the entertainment, lounges, bars, port stops, and some of the biggest surprises from our sailing. We share our thoughts on Disney Hercules, Frozen: A Musical Spectacu...

Episode 141 continues Rob and Abbie’s in-depth first Disney Destiny cruise review, and this time it’s all about the food, dining experiences, breakfast, quick service, room service, and kids clubs. From Pride Lands, 1923, and Worlds of Marvel to Marceline Market, Mickey churro waffles, Goofy’s Grill, pizza, tacos, and specialty coffee, Rob and Abbie break down what actually felt worth it, what sur...

Thinking about your first Disney cruise? Here’s what it’s actually like from the moment you arrive to your first night onboard. In this episode of the Disney Hour Express, we share our real first-day experience aboard the Disney Destiny as a family of first-time cruisers. We went in thinking we’d cover the entire cruise… and quickly realized Day 1 alone is a lot. From embarkation confusion to that...

Thinking about a Disney Cruise but not sure where to start? We’re preparing for our first sailing and breaking down everything you need to know before you book. In this episode of Disney Hour Express, we walk through the full Disney Cruise Line experience—from ship classes and onboard activities to dining, kids clubs, and what actually makes Disney cruises different from other cruise lines. If you...

Abbie and Rob are back with the latest Disney World updates and Walt Disney World news after a short break from the podcast. In Episode 138 of Disney Hour Express, they cover several major changes happening across the parks, including the upcoming Muppets retheme of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, the return of Soarin’ Across America, and the arrival of Bluey and Bingo at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. They al...

In this episode, Abbie and Rob take the Podineers on a deep dive into Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — from its quirky Imagineering roots in the 1970s to the massive changes coming when it reopens in Spring 2026. We explore the original Thunder Mesa plans, Tony Baxter’s reimagining of the ride, and how Big Thunder became one of the most iconic attractions in Disney history. Then we look at how it f...

In this festive episode of Disney Hour Express, Abbie and Rob dive into Rob’s whirlwind two-night adventure across Walt Disney World’s biggest holiday parties. Night one takes him into the heart of Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios, where surprise character encounters with Life Day Chewbacca and Mando & Grogu steal the show, and a lucky walk-on for Rise of the Resistance turns the evening...

Zootopia has officially taken over the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! In this week’s episode, Rob and Abbie dive deep into Zootopia: Better Zoogether — the all-new show replacing It’s Tough to Be a Bug. They explore how Disney Imagineering transformed the attraction, what guests can expect from the experience, and how this update fits into the park’s evolving direction. Plus, they catch...

Disney has announced Soarin’ Across America for 2026—Abbie and Rob break down what’s changing, what’s returning, and why fans are so excited. Take flight with the Disney Hour Express crew as they explore the full journey of Soarin’, from its early days as Soarin’ Over California to today’s global adventure Soarin’ Around the World. The hosts share fun facts about the ride’s origins, the Imagineeri...

Get to know Abby and Rob from Disney Hour Express in a relaxed live chat, plus park strategy and honest takes on the latest news. Highlights include: • How Disney hooked us, from solo trips to Treehouse Villas nostalgia. • Rope-drop strategy tips for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON. • Why early morning safaris show more animals. • Our favorite snacks—Gaston’s cinnamon roll and the Confectionery’s...

Our very first Disney Hour Express livestream didn’t go exactly as planned thanks to some early audio glitches, but the second half of the show is packed with Disney magic and news you don’t want to miss. We share tips for first-time Disney visitors, including how to avoid feeling overwhelmed and why meal planning makes such a big difference. We dive into Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2025...

This episode of Disney Hour Express brings you a spoiler-light review of Pixar’s new film Elio, including its emotional tone, pacing, and whether it’s worth watching on Disney+. We also cover the latest Walt Disney World news from Jollywood Nights 2025, where guests can catch the new Little Mermaid musical and Disney Villains Unfairly Ever After shows. At EPCOT, fans will notice a nostalgic World...

This week on Disney Hour Express, we share our full 2025 Disney World family trip wrap-up and answer the big question: is the Disney Dining Plan worth it in 2025? From real numbers and receipts to character dining and quick service meals, we break down what worked, what didn’t, and how much value the plan actually gave our family. We also reveal why Magic Kingdom came out on top over Hollywood Stu...

This week on Disney Hour Express, Abbie and Rob share the ultimate surprise—a last-minute family trip to Walt Disney World. From packing bags in secret to revealing the vacation with a prank “Magical Minute,” you’ll hear the full story of how the kids reacted, where they stayed, and what made this trip one to remember. We review Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa with honest details about t...

Get ready to roll down Hollywood Boulevard with us on Part Four of our annual family Disney World trip series! In this episode, we dive deep into our full Hollywood Studios day—from the excitement of Toy Story Land to the thrills of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Food was a big highlight of our Hollywood Studios visit. We finally tried the famous tachos at Woody’s Lunchbox, grabbed lunch at Backlot Exp...

Welcome to Part 3 of our 2025 Family Disney World Trip Series! 🚂✨ In this episode of the Disney Hour Express Podcast, Abbie and Rob take you along for a full day at Magic Kingdom, where plans changed, rides broke, parades got competitive, and snack choices got... sticky. Whether you're a first-timer or a Disney diehard, we’ve got everything you need to know about making the most of Magic Kingdom...

Join Abbie and Rob as they tackle an action-packed Disney day—starting at Animal Kingdom and ending at Epcot. From rope-dropping Navi River Journey and braving the Dinosaur ride one last time, to spotting active lions on Kilimanjaro Safaris and sipping sweet Night Blossom drinks in Pandora, this episode is packed with insider tips and Disney know-how. They’ll share the smart rope drop strategy tha...