The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by looking back at some of the more memorable pieces of merch offered at this year’s D23 Expo. They then shine a spotlight on some of the books that Disney Press will be bringing to market in the coming months. In this episode, listeners will learn about: When will the first “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” for 2024 be presented at WDW’s Magic Kingdom Which two feature-length films did Stephen Anderson direct for Walt Disney Animation Studios What phrase did Len Testa coin to describe the exhaustion that people feel whenever they wrestle with the ever-growing technical aspect of a WDW vacation What was the must-have collectible for Star Wars fans who attended this year’s D23 Expo Which once-a-box-office-flop / now-a-pop-culture-favorite Disney films from the 1990s just got its oral history published Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking about viewership for the Summer Games in Paris. T hey then take a look at how Universal Pictures’ recent releases have been doing at the domestic box office Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: When was Epic Universe originally supposed to open up in Orlando In what year does NBCUniversal’s deal with the IOC for the US broadcast rights for the Olympics run out Which classic silent horror film is Universal Pictures remaking How many spots on the Top 10 box office chart for 2024 do Universal Pictures releases occupy For how many years now has the Broadway musical version of “Wicked” been presenting performances at NYC’s Gershwin Theatre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by looking back at some of the animation-related news that came out of the D23 Expo. They also discuss a number of the books that event attendees could pick up at this year’s eve Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: Who now is voicing Elio’s aunt in Pixar Animation Studios’ big release for June of 2025 Why it’s kind of ironic that the Mouse House just decided to make Frank Oz a Disney Legend What’s the reported premise for “Hoppers,” Pixar’s Spring 2026 What’s intriguing about the visual clues that were included in the “Frozen 3” concept art that Jennifer Lee showcases at the Honda Center How many episodes of Pixar’s “Dream Productions” did D23 members get to see at this year’s Expo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start today’s episode by discussing the changes that will soon be coming to Tom Sawyer Island at WDW’s Magic Kingdom. They also look back at when the “Be Our Guest” restaurant opened at that same theme park back in December of 2012 Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: For which Disney animated feature from the 1990s did Ricky Martin voice the title character (for the Latin American / Spanish version of this film, that is) What did the Imagineers once toy with installing inside of the “Hall of Presidents” show building What does Universal Orlando’s new dining offer tell us about when Epic Universe will likely open to the public Why did Disney’s Central Reservations Office have to rethink the number of seatings they could book daily at “Be Our Guest” just six months after this new Magic Kingdom restaurant first opened Why did the load-in of the Ballroom’s chandelier prove to be a challenge to the “Be Our Guest” construction team SHOW NOTES Learn more about yo

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 Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by getting the skinny on thinly sliced pieces of bacon. They then discuss whether the changes that have recently been made to DAS have actually lowered wait times at WDW’s park Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Where did the wax figures from the “Davy Crockett Frontier Museum” eventually wind up Why would Disney Procurement likely have bought pork products in bulk last year When did the West Coast version of “Country Bear Jamboree” first open What’s the name of that Royal Caribbean stage show themed around superheroes Which Harvard professor helped to turn the American cowboy into that mythic figure we know today SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In the eighth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about how savvy rail & beer companies took advantage of trolley downtime to create new entertainment destinations at the end of the line. Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How Tivoli Gardens directly influenced the design of Disneyland A Ferris wheel from 1897 that is still operational today Early animatronics in Jenny’s Whim How the rise of the automobile signaled the death knell for trolley parks  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by looking back at the “Jurassic World: Chaos Panel” he moderated at last month’s San Diego Comic-Con. Then Jim Hill discusses the three feature-length films that were made at Fox Animation Studios in Phoenix Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:  What spot did Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” just claim on the list of all-time worldwide top grossing films  When will the Boomerang streaming service officially get folded into Max  Which “Gravity Falls” -related book now tops the New York Times bestseller list  On what television broadcast back in the Summer of 2016 did the “Moana” teaser trailer first appear  Back when “Titan AE” was still supposed to be a live-action production, what was the title of this film originally supposed to be Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by reviewing Universal Orlando’s plans for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic.” They then talk about which WDW DVC may soon be expanding Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: What’s significant about the survey Universal Orlando recently distributed about possible price points for annual passes Where does Steven Tyler get the scarves that he uses to decorate his mic stand How tall was Walt Disney Which moment from the third episode of the “Davy Crockett” limited series did Disneyland’s Frontier Museum recreate Why were Fess Parker & Buddy Ebsen wet when they made their entrance in “Dateline Disneyland” SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this show by talking about the merch currently available at the Universal Orlando Resort. They also talk about how exactly the Haunted Mansion is coming back online at Disneyland Park Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Which new variation of Butterbeer just became available in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Where was Disney Legend Marc Davis’ home located in Los Angeles When did the National Forest Service award Walt Disney Productions the rights to develop a ski resort at Mineral King Who was supposed to have stayed in the Carriage House that’s now being built right by the exit to the Disneyland version of The Haunted Mansion How much “The Haunted Mansion” movie that Walt Disney Pictures released last July reportedly cost to make Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s show, Len Testa & Jim Hill are joined by veteran Imagineer Jim Shull & Len’s twin sister, Linda. These four then discuss the news of the day and look back at the grand opening of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith. For this episode, listeners will learn about: What idea did the Imagineers explore for improving DCA’s Grizzly River Run? How long has it been since a major new thrill ride opened at one of the theme parks found at the Universal Orlando Resort? How has the roll-out of Lightning Lane Multi-Pass been going so far What contributed to Disney’s decision to only present “Rogers: The Musical” in the Hyperion Theater for a single summer Who influenced Kelsey Mann to find a place for Figment in “Inside Out 2” SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In the seventh installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about what happened in themed entertainment at the start of the 20th Century.  How World’s Fairs continued to grow and develop  Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: The 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis In what ways did the Brussels International Exposition of 1910 influence the design of Main Street, USA How did the Exposition Universelle impact Disneyland Paris Where was the other “White City” built Why was the Panama-California Exposition considered a rogue event  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Eric Hersey returns from the Universal Orlando Resort and gives Jim Hill a brief glimpse of what he & his family experienced down in Central Florida. Eric & Jim then take a look at the Rock’s first film role Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: Why you should go straight to the Trolls Trollercoaster as soon as Universal Studios Florida opens for the day How much was Dwayne Johnson paid to appear in “The Mummy Returns” What’s the origin story for Seven Bucks Productions How does “Disney Dreams That Soar” stack up against the drone component of USF’s new nighttime show, “Cinesational: A Symphonic Spectacular” How did Comcast’s earnings for the second quarter of 2024 compare to that company’s earning for the same period in fiscal 2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start this week’s show by spotlighting some of the “Star Wars” -related panels being presented at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. They then do a deep dive in on Lucasfilm’s latest limited series for Disney+ Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How big (square foot-wise) is the San Diego Convention Center Which room do you want to be in this Friday morning to experience three solid hours of “Star Wars” goodness What role did Craig Miller play in helping to make “A New Hope” the success that it was How soon after “Russian Doll” debuted on Netflix was Leslye Headland recruited to come work on a new limited series for Lucasfilm Who is Shawn Levy working with to develop a script for his proposed “Star Wars” film Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking about how “Inside Out 2” just became the highest-grossing animated feature of all time (barring Disney’s photo-realistic “Lion King” of 2019). They also take a look back at “The Rescuers” Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about; Which character was Phil Harris originally supposed to voice in “The Rescuers” How many art students did Disney initially invite to take part in the Studio’s inaugural animation boot camp? What advice did Bob Newhart give Don Rickles in regards to voicing Mr. Potatohead in Pixar’s “Toy Story” Which Disney featurette from the mid-1970s did the Studio’s animation trainees cut their teeth on? What film did better than the original “Star Wars” when it was finally released in France in 1977 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa starts this week’s show by revealing which attractions will be open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during Extended Evening Hours at that theme park later this year. And then Jim Hill wraps up his history of Epcot’s “Maelstrom” attraction. In this episode, listeners will learn about: Why was the original version of “Country Bear Jamboree” trimmed down back in October 2012 What land does Hong Kong Disneyland that is traditionally found at other castle parks Why did the Imagineers dial back the North Sea scene in “Maelstrom” just before this World Showcase attraction officially opened in July of 1988 Which animatronic figure from “The Hall of Presidents” can also be found as a eunuch along “Spaceship Earth” ‘s ride track When – according to the U.S. census – did the wide open spaces of the American West officially come to a close SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking up the “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” panel Drew will be hosting at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. They then talk about which animated film franchise is currently the top earner  Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How many people have been to every single Comic-Con since the first event was held in San Diego back in 1970 When did Disney Legend Ken Anderson retire from the Company? Why was Disney forced to make “The Story of Robin Hood” in the UK back in the early 1950s How many days will separate the release of “Toy Story 5” & “Shrek 5” during the Summer of 2026 Where is William Stout’s booth located in the San Diego Convention Center? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome Disney author & historian Foxx Nolte. Who gives them a preview of his latest book, “Scoundrels, Villains, & Knaves: Disneyland, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Popular Culture”  Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: What are the differences between the VIP tours offered at WDW versus those made available to visitors at the Universal Orlando Resort Which train show staged back in the mid-1940s reportedly influenced the design of New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park What’s the rumored reason that character greetings are not being offered as part of Lightning Lane Multi-pass Which scene was originally designed for the Escher Staircase area for WDW’s version of the Haunted Mansion What’s kind of intriguing about the fact that the Themed Entertainment Association has yet to release its annual Theme Park Index (which lists theme park attendance numbers) has yet to be released for 2024 Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking up the two books that Josh Gad will be bringing to the marketplace in the next six months. They then take a look at how “Inside Out 2” & “Despicable Me 4” have been doing at the box office Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How many episodes for “Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs: The Animated Series” were produced When does Season 12 of “Futurama” get underway on Hulu Who did Tim Burton share an office with when he worked at Walt Disney Animation Studios back in the 1980s Which member of the “Inside Out” cast joined Joy & Sadness at DCA’s Pixar Pier Bandstand last month When will “Shrek 5” be arriving in theaters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by checking out some of the bragging rights merch Disney has made available for its recently opened “Splash Mountain” redo. They also take a look back at when the Mouse had a store in virtually every mall in America Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How did The Walt Disney Company decide where the first 13 Disney Stores would be located When did the Critter Co-op open at WDW’s Magic Kingdom How many different categories did Disney Parks, Products & Experiences opt to break its “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” / “Princess & the Frog” merchandise down into Whatever became of the “Mickey’s Kitchen” fast food chain Out of the eight studios operating in Hollywood back in the early 1980s, where was Disney ranked when Michael Eisner came on board as the Company’s new CEO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices