The Budget Mouse - A Disney Podcast

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Tips, tricks, hacks, and advice for planning a magical Disney World vacation on a shoestring budget! It is possible to actually enjoy your trip to Walt Disney World when you haven't spent a small fortune. In this podcast I share - Tips and tricks for an incredible and affordable Disney vacation - Reviews of budget-friendly resorts, dining locations, and more - Creative ideas for visiting Disney World more often even on a tight budget - Ways to bring more Disney magic into your everyday life if you can’t visit as often as you’d like! I'm a 30 -year veteran visitor to Walt Disney World and I'm sharing all of my tricks with you so you can have the incredible vacation you deserve!

Leah Althiser

North Carolina, USA


    • May 14, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 22m AVG DURATION
    • 105 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Budget Mouse - A Disney Podcast is a must-listen for any Disney fan. Hosted by Leah, this podcast provides listeners with all the insider details on how to save money and navigate the Disney parks. With a five-star rating, it's clear that listeners are loving what this podcast has to offer.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is Leah's ability to make Disney exciting and realistic. She not only provides information but presents it in a detailed and descriptive manner, making it easy for listeners to plan their own Disney trips on a budget. Her tips and advice are actionable and she goes beyond just discussing current events; she helps listeners navigate every aspect of planning their magical trip.

    Another great aspect of The Budget Mouse is its helpfulness. Listeners find the content to be concise, informative, and straight to the point while still being fun. Whether it's learning how to save money or finding websites and links for additional resources, Leah shares valuable tips and tricks that can be applied immediately. Each episode is usually around 30 minutes or less, which is perfect for those who have commutes or limited time.

    On the downside, some listeners may feel that The Budget Mouse doesn't offer anything new if they are already experienced in all things Disney. However, even seasoned Disney enthusiasts have admitted to learning a lot from this podcast. Leah shares information that goes beyond basic knowledge, providing tips and strategies that even experienced fans may not have considered before.

    In conclusion, The Budget Mouse - A Disney Podcast is a fantastic resource for anyone planning a trip to Disney World. Leah's expertise and passion for Disney shines through in each episode, making it an informative and enjoyable listen. Whether you're on a tight budget or just looking for more ways to save money at the parks, this podcast has got you covered. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from Leah and join her online community of fellow "Budget Mouse" families.



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    Latest episodes from The Budget Mouse - A Disney Podcast

    Early Entry at Walt Disney World

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 18:19


    Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Welcome to episode 107 of The Budget Mouse podcast! This show is all about how Early Theme Park Entry works at Walt Disney World. Here are some resources I mention in the show:  Guide to Disney Resort Perks and Benefits How to Book Disney Resorts on Priceline (how to link your reservation to My Disney Experience) Disney World Visual Guidebook  

    Disney World in the Rain, Rental Car Tips, Port Orleans Riverside and more

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 23:50


    Welcome to episode 106 of The Budget Mouse podcast! This episode covers my recent trip to Walt Disney World and I discuss navigating Disney World in the rain, renting a car at Orlando International airport, park hopping, and my stay at Port Orleans Riverside.  Here are some resources I mention: Free Intro to Reward Travel course Visitor Toll Pass program Disney World Visual Guidebook The Budget Mouse on Instagram

    November Trip Report: Good Snacks, Epcot Crowds, and More

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 25:53


    Welcome to episode 105 of The Budget Mouse podcast. This is a report from my family trip to Disney World in November. Here are some of the resources I mention in this show:  Neverland Travel Club Away We Go Transportation Standby Skipper Burner Ride Episode FREE Intro to Reward Travel Course

    Trip Report: Standby Skipper, Under The Sea Rooms, and MUCH More

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2024 31:08


    Welcome to epsiode 104 of The Budget Mouse podcast! This show is a trip report from my quick trip to Walt Disney World in October 2024. Here are some of the resources I mentioned in this episode:  Neverland Travel Club Standby Skipper Chase Disney Rewards Visa Lightning Lane Ultimate Guide

    Why You Need a “Burner Ride” in Your Lightning Lane Selections

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2024 9:09


    Welcome to episode 103 of The Budget Mouse podcast! This show is about a tactic for using Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Magic Kingdom and other parks. Click here to check out the reel I mention in the show Click here to sign up for my FREE Lightning Lane Cheat Sheet Click here to learn more about The Budget Mouse Academy

    Two-Person Strategy For Making Reservations at Disney World

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 15:48


    Welcome to episode 102 of The Budget Mouse podcast which is all about how to have two people make dining reservations and Lightning Lane selections for a Disney World vacation.  Here are some resources I mention in the show:  Free Lightning Lane Cheat Sheet sign up Podcast episode about how the new Lightning Lane system works The Budget Mouse Academy Course 

    How To Save Money on a Disney Cruise

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 30:08


    Welcome to episode 101 of The Budget Mouse podcast! This episode is packed with tips for savings money on Disney Cruise Line. I'm joined by special guest my partner Andy.  Here are some resources I mention in the show:  Get a Cruise Quote From Siera Current Guaranteed Discounts from Disney Cruise Line David's DVC Rental  Chase Disney Visa

    Listener Questions Answered About Lightning Lane And More

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2024 19:06


    Welcome to episode 100 of The Budget Mouse podcast! Thank you so much for listening over the years. Here are the resources I mention in this show: Touring Plans Line App Lightning Lane Ultimate Guide + Cheat Sheet FREE Intro to Reward Travel Course The Budget Mouse Academy

    Tips & Tricks For Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Magic Kingdom

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 18:11


    Welcome to episode 99 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is all about using the new Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Magic Kingdom. Here are some resources I mention in the show: Disney World Lightning Lane Guide + FREE Cheat Sheet Lightning Lane Tiers at Disney World Explained The Budget Mouse Academy

    The Most Affordable Character Meals at Disney World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2024 11:01


    Welcome to episode 98 of The Budget Mouse podcast which is all about Character Dining at Disney World and how to find the most affordable options.  Here are some resources I mention in this episode:  Should You Get The Chase Disney Rewards Visa? Cheapest Character Meal at Disney World The Budget Mouse Academy

    New Lightning Lane Fastpass System Starting July 24th at Disney World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 15:41


    Welcome to episode 97 of The Budget Mouse Disney World podcast! This show is all about the big changes coming to Disney's line skipping pass. Formerly know as Fastpass, Fastpass Plus, and Genie Plus, the newest iteration is called Lightning Lane Multi Pass. I break down the good, bad, and ugly of this new program. 

    All About Disney World Resort Refillable Mugs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2024


    Welcome to episode 96 of The Budget Mouse podcast which is all about Resort Refillable mugs.  Here are some resources related to this episode:  Disney Dining Plan Ultimate Guide 13 Disney World Park Bag Essentials How To Rent Disney Vacation Club Points at Disney World

    Typhoon Lagoon Review & Money Saving Tips

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024


    Welcome to episode 95 of The Budget Mouse podcast which is all about Typhoon Lagoon! Here are links that I mentioned in the show:  Typhoon Lagoon Discount Tickets Free Intro to Points & Miles Course

    May Trip Report: $600 for Four Days At Disney World

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2024 22:21


    Welcome to episode 94 of The Budget Mouse podcast! This is a Disney World trip report from my May 2024 visit which including TONS of money-saving strategies. I talk Disney Springs, Typhoon Lagoon, the Disney All-Star Resorts, and more. Here are the resources I mention in the show: FREE Intro to Reward Travel course How To Travel To Disney World And Beyond With My Favorite Travel Card Book Disney Hotels on Undercover Tourist Get a free vacation quote from my travel agent partner How I Fly to Disney World for Free How to earn free Disney World travel with Capital One Venture Rewards Visitor Toll Pass

    Should I Get The Disney Dining Plan in 2024?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2024 9:51


    Welcome to episode 93 of The Budget Mouse podcast! In this episode I'll answer the question "should I get the Disney Dining Plan or NOT?" with some insight into who most benefits from the plans.  Here are some resources I mention in the show:  Disney World Dining Cheat Sheets (with special discount for podcast listeners!) Ultimate Guide to the Disney Dining Plan How to Rent DVC Points and Save up to 70% at Disney World Where To Buy Discount Disney Gift Cards

    Disney World Summer 2024 Ticket Deals Unpacked

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 9:25


    Welcome to episode 92 of The Budget Mouse podcast! Disney World has some special ticket deals for summer 2024... but are they REALLY a good deal?  Check out these resources:  Cheapest Disney World Tickets How I Earn Free Disney World Tickets With Capital One Venture Rewards

    November Trip Report: Disney World Low Cost Fun (Mini Golf, Cookie Stroll, Elephant Tour)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2023 21:01


    Here's episode 91 of The Budget Mouse podcast. This is a trip report from my November 2023 visit to Walt Disney World. I cover some of our low-cost fun, such as Disney World miniature golf at Fantasia Gardens, the Epcot Festival of the Holidays Cookie Stroll, and the Animal Kingdom Caring For Giants Backstage Tour.  Here are the resources I mentioned in the show:  How to Rent DVC Points at Disney World How to Use Priceline to Save on Disney World Hotels How to make Room Requests at Disney World Sign up for my email newsletter here

    Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Overview & Tips

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2023 16:33


    Here's episode 90 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is an overview of Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. I share the pros and cons of this Disney moderate resort, and why you may want to stay there on your next Disney World vacation. 

    September 2023 Trip Report

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2023 18:26


    Here's episode 89 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is all about my quick September trip to Walt Disney World.

    April 2023 Trip Report

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 23:41


    Here's episode 88 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is a trip report from my April 2023 trip to Walt Disney World. I checked out TRON Lightcycle / Run, Typhoon Lagoon, a Contemporary Main Tower room, Fantasmic Dining Package, and more! Click here for info on the Chase Sapphire Preferred offer I mention in this episode. 

    Beauty and the Beast in Disney World

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2023 31:49


    Here's episode 87 of The Budget Mouse podcast! This episode is about all things Beauty and the Beast in the Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts.  I'm joined by guest host Dave Rich of the Add More Mouse podcast!

    Disney World Transportation Tips & Tricks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 27:47


    Here's episode 86 of The Budget Mouse podcast! I'm excited to introduce the NEW host of the podcast, Dave Rich! In this show, we talk about how to use Walt Disney World transportation and share some general advice plus our tips and tricks. 

    Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (no spoilers)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2022


    Here's episode 85 of The Budget Mouse podcast which is about how to ride the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction in Epcot.

    Disney Swan & Disney Dolphin Resorts

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 18:23


    Here's episode 84 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is about the Disney Swan and the Disney Dolphin resorts.  Here are some resources:  Disney Dolphin Resort Review Disney Genie Plus Tips Extended Evening Theme Park Hours

    Genie+ Update: Slinky Dog Dash, Stacking, & New Options

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022


    Here's episode 82 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is a quick update on Disney Genie+. And here's my updated post: Disney Genie Plus Tips & Ultimate Guide

    January 2022 Trip Report – Day 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2022


    Here's episode 82 of The Budget Mouse, which is a report from day three of our January trip to Walt Disney World. 

    January 2022 Trip Report Day Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2022


    Here's episode 81 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is the second nightly trip report from my January 2022 trip to Walt Disney World. 

    January 2022 Trip Report Night 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2022


    Here's episode 80 of The Budget Mouse podcast, the first nightly trip report from my January 2022 trip to Walt Disney World.  Hyatt Card

    Disney Genie Plus & Lightning Lanes Overview

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 24:40


    Welcome to episode 79 of The Budget Mouse podcast! In this episode I will walk you through how to use Disney Genie Plus, give you my tips and tricks for getting the most from it, and share how to decide if you should spend the extra money on it or not.  Here's my blog post about the same topic:  Disney Genie Plus Ultimate Guide

    November Trip Report

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021


    Here's episode 78 of The Budget Mouse podcast, a report from my quick November trip to Walt Disney World. 

    Taking a Girls Trip To Walt Disney World

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2021 31:22


    Here's episode 77 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is all about taking a girls trip to Walt Disney World! Here are the resources I mention in the show:  Kelly's blog Trial and Eater Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Review Kelly's review of the vegetarian dishes at Food & Wine Fest  

    October 2021 Trip Report Day 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021


    Here is the third nightly trip report from my October 2021 trip to Walt Disney World. 

    October 2021 Trip Report Day 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2021


    Here's the second nightly trip report from my October 2021 trip to Disney World. 

    October 2021 Trip Report Day 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021


    Here's the first nightly report from my October 2021 trip to Walt Disney World.  Here are resources on some of what I mention in this episode:  How To Rent DVC Points Boma at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

    How To Get To Disney World From the Airport in 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2021 16:01


    Here's episode 64 of The Budget Mouse podcast! Disney's Magical Express service is ending December 31st so here's how to get to your resort from the airport starting in 2022. Mears Connect reservations Tips For Using Uber & Lyft at Disney World How to Rent DVC Points and Save Thousands at Disney World

    Disney World 50th Anniversary Celebration

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 12:19


    Here's episode 63 of The Budget Mouse podcast! I'm sharing details on what all is going on for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration. 

    April 2021 Trip Report – Day 5

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2021


    Here's the last nightly report from my April 2021 trip to Disney World. 

    April 2021 Trip Report Day 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2021


    Here's day four of my April 2021 trip report.

    April 2021 Trip Report Day 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2021


    Here's day three of my April 2021 trip report.

    April 2021 Trip Report Day 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2021


    Here's night 2 of our April trip report.

    April 2021 Trip Report Day 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021


    Here's the report from day one of my April 2021 trip! 

    Flying Free To Disney World With Lyn Mettler

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021 33:32


    Here's episode 61 of The Budget Mouse podcast! I talk to Lyn Mettler (also known as the Go To Travel Gal) about how to fly your family to Disney World for free using points and miles.  Get her free guide 101 Ways To Earn Southwest Miles here! Click here to learn more about her Families Fly Free program. Be sure to use code BUDGETMOUSE to save 10% if you join in the month of February 2021! And here is my post on how I regularly fly to Disney World for free on Southwest points. 

    November Trip Report Day 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020


    Final nightly report from our November 2020 trip to Disney World. 

    November Trip Report Day 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2020


    Nightly report from our November 2020 trip to Disney World.

    November Trip Report Day 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2020


    Nightly report from our November 2020 trip to Disney World.

    November Trip Report Day 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020


    The first nightly report from our November 2020 trip to Disney World.

    Disney World Resort-Only Trips!?!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2020 17:03


    Here is episode 59 of The Budget Mouse podcast which is all about resort-only trips to Walt Disney World. 

    Should You Visit Disney World Soon? July 2020 Trip Report with Siera Duiser

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2020 40:55


    Welcome to episode 58 of The Budget Mouse podcast! In this show I talk to our amazing travel agent Siera about her July 2020 trip to Walt Disney World with her kids. I think you will learn SO much about traveling to Disney World in the age of coronavirus - I sure did! Click here to get a free quote from Siera for a trip to Disney World in 2020 or beyond Click here for my post about using Mobile Order at Disney World Get info about my Disney World Made Easy online course here!  

    What A Disney World Reopening May Look Like & 2021 Vacation Thoughts

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 15:59


    Here's episode 57 of The Budget Mouse podcast! I'm sharing my thoughts on what a Disney world reopening may look like and why 2021 will be a big year at Disney World.  Here is a link to where you can get a quote from my travel agent partner Siera with Destinations in Florida: Get a free Disney vacation quote

    How Walt Disney Overcame Adversity

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2020 44:47


    Here is episode 56 of The Budget Mouse podcast! I interview Dave Rich of the Add More Mouse podcast about Walt Disney's life.  We both highly recommend this biography of Walt Disney by Bob Thomas. Enjoy!

    February Trip Report – Day 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2020


    Here is the third and final update from my February trip to Disney World. 

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