The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

In this spellbinding episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive deep into the magical world of Hocus Pocus. Discover the behind-the-scenes drama that almost changed the film and how it went from box office flop to a Halloween cult classic. If you're a fan of the Sanderson Sisters or curious about Disney's decision-making, this episode is packed with must-know details! The unexpected origins of Hocus Pocus and how An American Tail influenced its creation. Why Hocus Pocus struggled at the box office in 1993 but found its footing in the mid-2000s. How Bette Midler’s insistence on her character’s “rat teeth” almost led to a showdown with Disney executives. The evolution of Hocus Pocus merch, from Target tees to limited-edition Monster High dolls. Insider stories from Shannon Carlin’s Witches Run Amok, featuring never-before-heard details about the making of the movie. If you love Hocus Pocus or want to know more about Disney’s journey with this iconic film, don’t miss this episode! Lis

In this episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive into the fascinating and perplexing world of Toon Lagoon at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. They unravel the mystery behind this quirky theme park area and explore why Universal chose to dedicate an entire land to classic comic strip characters. From the backstory of its creation to the impact it has on park guests, Jim shares insider stories and industry insights that shed light on the often-overlooked Toon Lagoon. Highlights include: The origins of Toon Lagoon and the vision behind its development. How the park navigated licensing and character rights for this unique area. Behind-the-scenes stories about the creation of water rides like Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls. The lasting influence (or lack thereof) of Toon Lagoon on Universal’s theme park strategy. Whether you’re a fan of splash-filled adventures or curious about the decision-making that goes into building a theme park land

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss the surprising news of Jennifer Lee stepping down as Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and what it means for the future of Disney’s animated films. They explore: Jennifer Lee’s New Role: How she’s shifting her focus to the upcoming Frozen 3 and Frozen 4. Jared Bush Takes the Lead: What does this creative shake-up mean for Disney, and what projects might be on the horizon? Pixar’s Pressure to Perform: The intense working conditions at Pixar and the studio’s struggle to produce hits like Inside Out 2 and Elio amidst high expectations and long hours. Plus, hear the latest updates on DreamWorks’ Dog Man, The Wild Robot, and more! Don’t miss this deep dive into the latest animation industry news and insights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Disney Dish Podcast, Len Testa and Jim Hill bring you the latest updates and an in-depth look at Disney’s past, present, and future. Tune in as they cover: Exclusive Interview: Special guest Ricky Debler Jr. from Palmas Restaurant Group shares the inside story behind their iconic Disney dining locations and the evolution of La Cava del Tequila. Disney Treasure Updates: Get the scoop on the newest details for Disney Cruise Line’s upcoming ship. Disney Surveys: Find out what surprising questions Disney is asking guests about their park experiences. The Untold Story of Big Thunder Mountain: Jim wraps up his series on the history of this beloved attraction and reveals the ambitious plans that never made it to Disneyland. Dive into the latest news, fascinating history, and a few laughs in this can’t-miss episode! SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill shares the untold story of the Monsters Inc. coaster Disney almost built over a decade ago. You'll learn about the original plans, why it was shelved, and what details were accidentally leaked to cast members before the official announcement. Lauren Hersey dives into the lasting popularity of Monsters University merch, especially the famous MU hat . If you're curious about Disney's past plans, the latest in Monsters Inc. products, and future theme-park developments, this is the episode for you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive deep into Universal Studios' unbuilt Cartoon World, a project meant to pave the way for Islands of Adventure. Jim shares fascinating insights into the concept's early stages and how it evolved into what fans know today. Highlights include: Jim's stories about the behind-the-scenes development of Cartoon World and its transformation into Islands of Adventure. How Warner Brothers and Universal nearly partnered for a superhero and Looney Tunes theme park. The hidden history behind Universal’s decision to bring Dr. Seuss and Dudley Do-Right into Toon Lagoon. A fun discussion on the replacement of Hello Kitty with the new Wicked experience and how Universal is preparing for the movie’s release. Join us for this in-depth discussion on the park that could have been and its impact on the theme park landscape we enjoy today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss how the successful 15th-anniversary re-release of Coraline inspired Disney to bring back some of its beloved classics to theaters. Find out how The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus are making their return to the big screen this Halloween season. Join us as we cover: Coraline’s Box Office Success: How a cult classic reignited Disney’s interest in re-releases. The Return of Hocus Pocus: Why is this Halloween favorite back in theaters, and what does it mean for Disney's strategy? The Wild Robot’s DreamWorks Triumph: Early reviews from the Toronto premiere and its impact on the animation industry. Tune in for all this and more, as we dive into the latest animation news and Halloween favorites making their way back to theaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Disney Dish Podcast, Jim Hill and Len Testa bring you the latest Disney theme park news, listener questions, and a deep dive into Disney history. Tune in as they cover: Crane Permits and Fort Wilderness Construction: What’s going on at the old River Country site? Disney Cruise Line’s Future: How jumbo-ification could extend the life of Disney’s Magic and Wonder ships. The Evolution of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Jim continues his history of this Frontierland classic and the ambitious plans that never made it to Disneyland, including Discovery Bay and Dumbo’s Circus. Listener Questions: From Rise of the Resistance’s B-mode to the future of Disney’s IP-driven attractions. Listen now for a fun, fact-filled episode covering the latest updates and Disney history!  SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the tenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about the three great amusement parks that once occupied the southwesternmost section of Brooklyn.  For this episode, listeners will learn about: The rowdy early history of this island The Elephantine Colossus and her sisters How the arrest of Coney Island’s “boss” opened the door for Amusement Parks Sea Lion Park, which eventually became Luna Park The “Insanatorium” in Steeplechase Park And the life and death of Topsy the elephant  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey take a deep dive into the world of Monsters Inc.—but this time, it's all about the merchandise! Discover the surprising popularity of the Monsters University hat and learn why it continues to fly off the shelves nearly a decade after the movie's release. Plus, Jim shares some hidden gems from Disney’s past, including the evolution of Pixar Plaza and the backstory of Monsters Inc. character meet-and-greets. • The unexpected demand for Monsters University merchandise: Why does the famous "MU" hat keep selling out? • Behind-the-scenes stories from D23 Expo and the announcement of the new Monsters Inc. land. • A look back at the Monsters Inc. character meet-and-greets and their connection to Disney’s park expansion plans. • Why Pixar Plaza was never meant to be seen by guests—and how it became a fan-favorite spot for Disney die-hards. • Exclusive insights into the recently released Monsters University merchandise collection, including Lauren’s

n this episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey take listeners on a magical journey through Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. As Eric recounts his family's first experience, Jim provides insights into the park's history. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect: The Magic of Diagon Alley: Hear about the awe-inspiring entrance through the famous brick wall, along with the unique sound effects that bring this experience to life, Dragon Tales: Discover the story behind the fire-breathing Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon perched on Gringotts, and how it adds to the immersive world of Harry Potter. Escape from Gringotts: Eric shares his family’s reactions to this thrilling ride, while Jim provides insider info about the ride's unique storytelling elements and how it ties into Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Interactive Wands: Learn about the wand-purchasing experience at Ollivanders and the magic of spell-casting throughout Diagon Alley, including Jim's insights into how

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take you behind the scenes of Disney’s beloved Hocus Pocus and its unexpected connection to Steven Spielberg. Discover the untold story of how the Halloween classic was pitched, nearly lost, and ultimately stolen away from Spielberg. Tune in as we explore:   The Spielberg-Kirschner Drama: How did the An American Tail creator’s decision to pitch Hocus Pocusto Disney instead of Spielberg create tension in Hollywood? Disney's Billion-Dollar Halloween Gamble: What convinced Jeffrey Katzenberg to greenlight Hocus Pocus after an unconventional pitch? South Park Hiatus: Why Trey Parker and Matt Stone are putting South Park on pause until 2025 and how the Paramount-Skydance merger affects its future. The Wild Robot World Premiere: DreamWorks’ adaptation of The Wild Robot hits the Toronto International Film Festival, and Jim & Drew dive into the excitement leading up to its wide release, including a sneak peek at The Art of DreamWorks The Wild R

In this episode of The Disney Dish, Jim Hill and Len Testa bring you the latest Disney theme park news, dive into listener questions, and share some fascinating theme park history. Tune in for an entertaining and informative discussion featuring: The History of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Learn how this beloved attraction evolved from the original Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland. Disney’s Tron Lightcycle Run Update: Why Disney is replacing the virtual queue with a traditional standby line and what it means for other park attractions. Universal Studios’ New How to Train Your Dragon Attraction?: Jim and Len break down a new survey hinting at a potential addition to Universal’s Epic Universe or Hollywood park. Listener Questions: A lively discussion on Disney’s attraction changes, including the high-cost failures like Galactic Starcruiser. Nostalgia in Disney Parks: Are Magic Kingdom’s attractions too geared toward older generations, or is there something for everyone? Join Jim and Len for

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking up the Halloween merch that just hit store shelves at the Disneyland Resort. They then discuss how the success of USF’s Halloween Horror Nights led to Disney developing its own seasonal after-hours hard ticket. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Which “Inside Out” character is doing a meet-n-greet exclusively at the Pixar Place Hotel What was the original name for Universal Studios Florida’s Halloween event Which colors predominate with the Oogie Bash merch offered at the Disneyland Resort this year When did Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party debut at WDW’s Magic Kingdom When is “Vision Quest” (i.e., Marvel Studios’ second limited series that serves as a sequel-of-sorts to 2021’s “WandaVision”) supposed to premiere on Disney+ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive into various Universal Studios topics, from Halloween thrills to lost Star Trek adventures. Here’s what you can expect: Halloween Horror Nights 2024: We kick off the episode discussing the latest news from Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. Squishmallows and Wicked Collaboration: Jim and Eric talk about Universal’s marketing collaboration with Squishmallows for the upcoming Wicked: Part One movie, where exclusive Glinda and Elphaba plush toys will be available. Harry Potter and the Ministry of Magic Ride: They discuss the upcoming ride at Universal’s Epic Universe based on Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry of Magic, featuring behind-the-scenes filming with Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge. The Return of Death Eaters at Diagon Alley: Eric explains how the Death Eaters will return to Diagon Alley during Halloween Horror Nights, creating an immersive, dark arts experience for visitors. FanFest Nights: A listene

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the three tiers of hotels that the Universal Orlando Resort just rolled out. They also talk about why Disney wants to know more about how you allocated your cash during your most recent trip to Orlando. For this episode, listeners will learn about: Why the Universal Theme Parks want to learn more about which brands & IPs your young daughter is interested Who was just placed in charge of the committee to find a successor for Disney CEO Bob Iger Why it’s likely that DCL will soon need to replace the Magic & the Wonder How many people visited the Magic Kingdom in Florida during the first full year that theme park was in operation Which opening day attraction for Walt Disney World did Tony Baxter go to the field to install back in 1971 SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In the ninth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about how – as the 19th Century gave way to the 20th – amusement parks as we know them today began to pop up around the country  Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How Lake Compouce sprang up from a failed explosives experiment How Disney’s Boardwalk Resort was originally supposed to feature a selection of classic theme park attractions How a young immigrant went from sleeping under an Atlantic City pier to owning it The precursor to Disney’s Ford Wonder Rotunda at the 1964 New York World’s Fair West Coast amusement parks in Venice and Long Beach, California  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start this week’s show by looking back at the D23 Expo. They also discuss what “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” seems to have in common with Joe Dante’s “Explorers” In this episode, listeners will learn about: When did the Disney family sell off the Silverado Vineyards How did Barry Diller leaving Paramount to go run 20th Century Fox in the Fall of 1984 result in Michael Eisner becoming Disney’s new Chairman & CEO What role did Disney’s “Flight of the Navigator” play in Paul Reubens being selected to voice Rex in “Star Tours” How many “Tarzan” movies starring Johnny Weissmuller make for MGM between 1932 & 1942 What did that StarSpeeder 3000 replica that was sold at this year’s D23 Expo wind up selling for Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by seeing how “Inside Out 2” ‘s worldwide box office stacks up against Jon Favreau’s photo-realistic “Lion King.” They also talk about that Nightmare Before Christmas-themed light trail that’s coming to New York’s Botanical Gardens Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: This long-running animated series just celebrated its 25th anniversary back in January Will Warner Bros. be releasing Genndy Tartakovsky’s “Fixed” anytime soon When will Pixar’s latest feature-length film be available for purchase on Blu-ray How many movies did Robert Stevenson direct for Walt Disney Studios Who almost played Nora, the daughter of the lighthouse keeper in “Pete’s Dragon” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a special solo show, Jim Hill first talks about which Disney Villains just made their debut at DCA’s “Oogie Boogie Bash.” He then looks back at how Walt adapted J.B. Barrie’s play & novel to the screen back in 1953 For this episode, listeners will learn about; Who did Roger Bart sing for in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Summer release for 1997 Who wrote the songs for Disney’s full-length animated feature for 1953 When is Disney on Broadway’s new stage production of “Hercules” supposed to open in London’s West End Which two animated features was WDI originally considering as their jumping-off point for their upcoming redo of DAK’s Dinoland U.S.A. When was Bob Hope’s sequel to his 1948 Western comedy, “The Paleface,” first released to theaters SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices