Hey everyone, I’m Mike, she’s Sophie, that’s Brenda, and he’s Grogu, and we’re On the Road with Mickey! This is episode 249 and this week our feature topic is our Tips for getting the most out of your Winter Trip to Disney! This week, we’re talking about ways to get the most out of your winter trip! Here’s what we talked about:

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• Cheddar from the Big Cheese:
  
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  • Sophie: Recently over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, Corra, the baby African elephant born to Mom Nadirah, just celebrated her first birthday! Here’s a video of her enjoying her party: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyZltefP0KI
    
  • Mike: Over at Universal Studios Florida, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket will be closing in September of 2025 to make way for a new attraction. 
    
  • Brenda: Disney just released a new free dining promotion for Walt Disney World! Bookings are from January 2nd – February 10, 2025, with travel dates from May 27 – June 26, and July 7 – August 6, 2025.
    
  
  
  
• Connect with us! Here’s how: 
  
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• Cast Member Shoutouts:
  
• Listener Feedback: Christmas Trip Recap
  
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  • We had an email from my client and friend Pam, who wanted to share a Christmas memory that her family has:
    
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    • “I just got time to listen to your recap of your Christmas trip and I really enjoyed it.  I have a favorite Christmas Disney memory to share.  Once we were there at what was then MGM Studios during the days of the Osborne Family Christmas lights.  All of a sudden it was time for them to come on and as we stood there on the streets, BAM, they turned on and the snowflakes started falling and we just stood there taking in all the beautiful lights.  We just happened to be at the right place at the right time!”
      
    
    
    
  
  
  
• Feature Topic: Tips for getting the most out of your Winter Trip to Disney!
  
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  • This tip applies for all of the seasons at Walt Disney World, but perhaps even more so for winter: Stay on top of the weather conditions.
    
  • Be prepared for seasonal refurbishments of some attractions.
    
  • RunDisney events: January 8-12, 2025 for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend; February 20-24, 2025 for the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.
    
  • You will still want to plan to dress in layers as the weather can be pretty unpredictable – warm one day and freezing the next (and don’t forget the humidity which can make it feel like you’re freezing)
    
  • Festival of the Arts at Epcot – January 17 – February 24, 2025.
    
  • Dance competitions/cheer competitions – they will be staying at the Value resorts.
    
  • Enjoy being at Walt Disney World
    
  • Park hours are shorter than other times of the year, so plan your days accordingly.
    
  • Consider doing rope drop if you don’t normally because of the shorter park hours.
    
  • Blizzard Beach on your arrival date is a brand new perk for resort guests, so enjoy the day at BB if you like!
    
  • Don’t forget that Disney has after hours events in the evening, January is Magic Kingdom, other times for Epcot and Hollywood Studios.
    
  
  
  
• This Day in Disney History for 1/6/2025:
  
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  • 2002: The Ninth Annual Walt Disney Marathon is held.
    
  • 1940: My Dad is born. Happy Birthday Dad!
    
  • 2020: The first episode of On the Road with Mickey is published!
    
  
  
  
• Stump the Soph!
  
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  • Teresa Jean (Sergeant Calhoun), Duncan and Wyntchell, and Sour Bill – Wreck-It Ralph
    
  
  
  
• A little bit of Walt
  
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  • “Here we experience the story of our country’s  past… the colorful drama of Frontier America in the exciting days of the covered wagon and the stagecoach… the advent of the railroad… and the romantic riverboat. Frontierland is a tribute to the faith, courage, and ingenuity of the pioneers who blazed the trails across America.” (On Frontierland at Disneyland) – Walt Disney
    
  
  
  
• Coming next week: Our 250th Episode, plus “Top 5 International Destinations”
  

As always, thank you for listening. We are having a lot of fun talking Disney, and I’m glad you are enjoying it as well! Remember, you can reach us in many ways — by email to info@ontheroadwithmickey.com. You can also talk to us on our Facebook Page, On the Road with Mickey or in our On the Road with Mickey Group. Feel free to join us! Have a great week, and we’ll be back to talk with you again next week!