The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Avengers: Endgame heads back to theaters, the Road to Doomsday widens, theme park tectonics start shifting, and Hulk’s stair-related temper sets off an unintended butterfly effect across the entire MCU. Jim and Dan break down Marvel’s theatrical chess moves, assemble Sam Wilson’s emerging Avengers roster, and dive into a feature story where one very irritated green guy accidentally rewrites the multiverse. It’s a packed episode that swings from box office strategy to deep-cut timeline chaos. NEWS • Avengers: Endgame returns to theaters in September 2026 as a strategic warm-up for Avengers: Doomsday • Dan unveils a new theory about the Endgame metal-pounding audio, suggesting the 2026 rerelease could reveal Doctor Doom forging his mask as a symbolic handoff from Tony Stark • Early Doomsday lineup reveals Sam Wilson’s Avengers team, including Thor, Loki, Shang-Chi, Falcon, and Ant-Man • Universal reportedly explores DC character licensing, creating the possibility of Marvel and DC living side-by-side in Orlando • Rumor Corner: Destin Daniel Cretton may direct the first post–Secret Wars Avengers film; She-Hulk’s MCU future remains uncertain FEATURE • How one joke in Endgame – Hulk being forced to take the stairs – becomes the domino that creates the entire Multiverse Saga • Loki’s escape, the TVA’s rise and fall, and the chain of events that leads to No Way Home, Wanda’s rampage, and Steve and Tony’s emotional finales • Why Hulk’s bad stair day may be the secret narrative blueprint the Russos lean on for Avengers: Doomsday HOSTS • Jim Hill – IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Dan Graney – YouTube: @TheHubbubbery | Facebook: /thehubbubbery | Website: thehubbubbery.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey – Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR UnlockedMagic.com – Save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes upwards of 12 percent off. Planning a 2026 trip? Choose your dates, grab your tickets, and enjoy the savings. And be sure to tell them Jim and Dan sent you.Unlocked Magic If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and Drew unpack one of the biggest industry shakeups in years as Netflix snaps up Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that reshapes everything from Adult Swim to the broader animation marketplace. Then the guys follow the yellow brick road into this week’s feature, exploring the strange, stop-and-start history of Hollywood’s many attempts to revisit Oz, from Disney’s abandoned visions to Filmation’s long-delayed Journey Back to Oz. NEWS • Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Discovery for $82.7 billion and what this lightning-fast deal could mean for Paramount, cable networks, and Adult Swim. • How the sale compares to Disney’s 2017–2019 acquisition of Fox once you adjust for inflation. • Industry chatter around the merger’s approval process amid concerns from competing studios. FEATURE • A colorful tour through Hollywood’s many post-MGM attempts to return to Oz. • Disney’s near-miss projects, including the almost-produced “Rainbow Road to Oz.” • Rankin/Bass, Chuck Jones, and the surprising number of animated Oz interpretations in the 1960s. • Filmation’s turbulent decade-long journey to complete Journey Back to Oz, featuring Liza Minnelli, missing dialogue tapes, and recycled Sammy Cahn music. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic — where you can save up to 12 percent on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets. Planning a 2026 trip? Pick your dates, grab your tickets, and let Unlocked Magic handle the rest. And don’t forget to tell them Jim and Drew sent you.UnlockedMagic.com If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len and Jim race through a packed week of Disney and Universal updates before diving into how the Roy E. Disney Animation Building went from an architectural showpiece to the creative model for Hollywood Studios’ upcoming Magic of Disney Animation attraction. NEWS • Disney outlines major 2026 refurbishments, Bluey offerings on both coasts, and new character entertainment. • EPCOT confirms Flower & Garden dates, attraction reopenings, and steep winter hotel discounts for Visa cardholders. • Universal celebrates FIA honors while advancing a three-phase transit plan connecting its resorts and parks. • Listener questions lead to discussions on vacation packages, Tron Ares timing, and the rise of non-alcoholic beverage offerings. • Jim and Len break down New Year’s Eve crowd patterns, phased closures, and survival strategies for the busiest days of the year. FEATURE • Jim revisits architect Robert A.M. Stern’s Disney work, from Casting Center to Celebration to the Roy E. Disney Animation Building. • The building’s iconic exterior contrasts with an interior layout that frustrated traditional animation workflows. • Lasseter’s renovation sends teams to a former WDI fabrication site where films like Zootopia and Moana take shape amid industrial ambiance. • The redesigned building’s collaborative layout now inspires Hollywood Studios’ upcoming Magic of Disney Animation experience. For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | IG: @len.testa | Website: touringplans.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR The Disney Dish news segment is sponsored by UnlockedMagic.com from DVC Rental Store, offering discounted 2026 Disney theme park tickets. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim kicks off this week’s show with a wild winter travel saga involving airport shutdowns, missing donuts, and a 3 a.m. pickup run that somehow beats the incoming snowstorm. From there, he and Eric dive into a new Universal survey aimed squarely at teens, explore construction movement in Lost Continent, and track down the long-missing Monsters Café icons now hiding backstage in Dark Universe. They also unpack the Grinch’s sudden takeover of holiday marketing before shifting into a deep-dive feature on the long, winding, neon-lit creation of Universal CityWalk Hollywood—a project Lou Wasserman first dreamed up nearly three decades before it opened. NEWS • Teen-focused Universal survey hints at interest in genre preferences, event awareness, and horror-driven engagement. • Activity in Lost Continent sparks renewed speculation about future land plans and potential tie-ins to Wicked’s box office momentum. • Classic Monsters Café statues resurface behind Dark Universe, raising questions about their next life in the parks. • McDonald’s unveils a Grinch meal, highlighting the odd licensing divide between animated, live-action, and promotional designs. • Universal updates its disability access program, shifting to a more streamlined digital Attractions Assistance Pass. FEATURE • How Lou Wasserman’s 1966 idea evolved into the modern, open-air entertainment district known as CityWalk. • Why Universal insisted CityWalk be “not a mall,” but a curated neighborhood blending neon art, unique shops, and LA culture. • The surprising role of historic neon, UCLA programming, and an 18-screen movie palace in shaping the development. • Early expansions, closures, and how CityWalk continues to evolve ahead of Universal Hollywood’s third on-site hotel. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Eric Hersey - IG: @erichersey | X: @erichersey FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic.com, powered by the DVC Rental Store. Planning a 2026 trip to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando? Save 10 percent or more on deluxe accommodations at:UnlockedMagic.com If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh off the long Thanksgiving weekend, Jim and Lauren crawl out from under their leftover Pilgrim sandwiches to talk about Zootopia 2 absolutely owning the holiday box office, how that might shape Disney’s sequel strategy, and the must-have merch that is already slithering into the parks. They also dig into McDonald’s massive 70th anniversary Happy Meal promotion, Disney’s official holiday book guide, and a couple of doorstop tomes that are now living in the Hersey household. In the back half, Jim takes Lauren on a whirlwind tour through nearly 80 years of Disney’s talking-animal history - from Song of the South all the way to Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. NEWS • Zootopia 2’s Thanksgiving opening pulls in a projected 156 million dollars domestically and around 400 million dollars overseas in just five days - more than half a billion total and one of the biggest Thanksgiving hauls ever. • How those numbers stack up against Wicked for Good and last year’s Moana 2, plus why Universal probably is not panicking while it waits for the inevitable Wicked sing-along edition and a newly announced Galinda prequel novel. • The debut of Gary the Snake - a gloriously weird Zootopia 2 sipper at Disneyland - and Jim’s crusade to track down Nog the snow seal pup plush that was gifted to Disney Television Animation staffers. • McDonald’s 70th celebration Happy Meal, featuring 70 different Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and classic character toys with two figures per box - plus online grumbling over who made the cut (hello, Clarabelle) and who suspiciously did not (sorry, Cinderella). • Disney Parks Blog’s holiday book guide, from deep-dive art and history titles like the X Atencio tribute and John Landau’s memoir to Moana’s “What if she stole the heart?” Twisted Tale, kid-friendly atlases, scratch-n-sniff adventures, and the giant Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks and Bring the Magic Home books currently threatening Lauren’s fingernails. FEATURE • A crash course in Disney’s history with anthropomorphized animals - starting with the animated sequences in 1946’s Song of the South and why so many artists remembered that era as their happiest time at the studio after returning from World War II. • The rise and fall of the abandoned Chanticleer project, the “Roy’s Boys” money feud with Walt, and how that detour accidentally sent Mark Davis to Imagineering where he helped create icons like Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion. • How The Aristocats, Robin Hood, and even The Jungle Book paved the way for modern animal worlds - including the infamous animation recycling in Robin Hood’s “Phony King of England” sequence that sharp-eyed fans still spot today. • The long development path from the shelved spy thriller Savage Seas, starring Jack Savage, to the fully realized animal metropolis of Zootopia - including John Lasseter’s notes, Jared Bush’s CIA family background, and the last-minute decision to swap Nick Wilde out for Judy Hopps as the true lead. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Lauren Hersey - IG: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2 FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode of I Want That Too is brought to you by our friends at UnlockedMagic.com - the same trusted team behind the DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market. If you are planning a trip to Central Florida to visit Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando, the Unlocked Magic crew has some of the best deals on tickets, so do yourself a favor and use UnlockedMagic.com to make your next vacation just a little more magical. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Case For, Jim and Chris dive deep into the foamy, sugary mystery of Butterbeer – from its first mention in Prisoner of Azkaban to its billion-calorie domination of Universal’s theme parks. Along the way, they track the near-miss Disney deal, J.K. Rowling’s taste-testing power, and exactly why Len Testa is currently horizontal. It’s a sweet, strange, and slightly sticky journey through theme park history. FEATURE • How Butterbeer evolved from J.K. Rowling’s books to real-world theme park phenomenon • Disney’s early plans for a Harry Potter mini-land – and how the deal slipped through their fingers • Universal’s long development process, the top-secret taste test in Scotland, and why the drink became a runaway hit • The many forms of Butterbeer across the Wizarding World, from frozen to fudge to the notorious cream puff HOSTS • Jim Hill – IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Chris Cox – IG: @magiccox | X: @bigcox | Website: magiccox.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey – Strong Minded Agency If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim goes solo this week while Drew speeds back toward LA for an early press screening of “Avatar: Fire & Ash.” In the meantime, Jim catches us up on a very eventful week in animation news, from the monster launch of “Zootopia 2” in China to Disney Parks animatronics already slipping into B mode. He also spotlights new shorts, holiday specials, and takes a deep dive into the surprising Hollywood history behind “The Wizard of Oz.” NEWS • Zootopia 2 shatters expectations with a $156M domestic debut and a staggering $275M in China. • Shanghai Disneyland’s Zootopia Land proves to be a major factor in the sequel’s overseas success. • Early operational issues arise with the Clawhauser animatronic at Animal Kingdom’s new “Zoobetter Together” attraction. • Plymptoons launches a TikTok account and announces a December studio art sale in NYC. • Locksmith Animation debuts “Cardboard,” a touching new short drawing awards-season buzz. FEATURE • Jim traces the fascinating Hollywood history of “The Wizard of Oz,” from Disney’s thwarted attempt to acquire the rights to the abandoned “Rainbow Road to Oz.” • How MGM’s 1939 classic became a television institution and shaped Disney’s musical ambitions. • A preview of next week’s continuation on animated Oz adaptations of the 1960s and 70s. For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic.com, where you can save up to 12 percent on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets. Just pick your dates, grab your tickets, and go. And when you do, please let the folks at Unlocked Magic know that Drew and Jim sent you.Unlocked Magic If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a week wandering Walt Disney World with Len and Jim Shull, Jim goes solo this episode to share fresh Orlando observations, big theme park news, and the triumphant tale of finally getting inside Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto after a decade of trying. From Zootopia 2’s massive box office to the latest on dynamic pricing, Magic Kingdom expansion hints, and some curious choices around holiday traditions at the Grand Floridian, this one covers a lot of ground. And yes, there will be tiki mugs. NEWS • Disney officially announces that The World of Frozen opens at Disneyland Paris on March 29, 2026. • CFO Hugh Johnston publicly confirms dynamic pricing expansions at Disney parks after a year of corporate pushback. • Zootopia 2 posts a remarkable $556 million global opening weekend. • Ongoing fan hunt for the hidden Joe Rohde at Zootopia Zoo Better Together—Jim Shull reveals where to look. • Early visuals emerge around the Magic Kingdom expansion, with notable activity near Seven Seas Drive and Floridian Way. FEATURE • The full saga of Jim’s 10-year quest to enter Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. • Why going late - very late - is the key to getting inside this tiny tiki temple. • Comparisons between Trader Sam’s, the new Beacon Barrel in Adventureland, and The Perch at the Grand Floridian. • Updates on this year’s missing Grand Floridian Gingerbread House and what might happen next. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by UnlockedMagic.com, the same team behind the DVC Rental Store. If you're planning a trip to Central Florida and want discounted tickets to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando - often 10 to 12 percent less than elsewhere - visit UnlockedMagic.com. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and Eric unwrap a very different kind of holiday story this week: the wild, demanding, and downright unbelievable making of How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). Fresh from Jim’s trip to IAAPA and holiday visits to the Universal parks, the guys trace how the film’s production shaped today’s Grinchmas offerings, from the makeup performers wear to the version of Whoville Universal still uses. Along the way, they dig into this year’s seasonal additions, Wicked’s strong opening, and the latest rumblings from Epic Universe. NEWS• Universal Orlando and Hollywood launch their holiday seasons, including new decorations, Tribute Store theming, and Grinchmas updates • Wicked for Good posts a massive opening weekend, powering Universal’s awards-season buzz• Epic Universe construction heats up with a major new permit near the Ministry of Magic• Butterbeer expands again with Coffee Mate creamers arriving nationwide soon FEATURE• The unbelievable true story of making the 2000 Grinch.• The intense Hollywood bidding war that secured Dr. Seuss’s beloved book for Universal• What Jim Carrey endured inside a full yak-fur bodysuit, yellow contacts, and nine-hour makeup sessions• The military-level torture survival training Carrey received just to get through filming• How Ron Howard, Rick Baker, and even Eddie Murphy tried to keep morale up on set• And how all of this still influences the Grinch performers greeting guests at Universal today HOSTS• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com• Eric Hersey - IG: @erichersey | X: @erichersey | Website: strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews• Instagram: JimHillMedia• TikTok: JimHillMedia PRODUCTION CREDITSEdited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSORThis week’s episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic. Save on regular Disney theme park tickets and discounted after-hours event tickets when you book through UnlockedMagic.com. Lock in your winter plans while deals last! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and Lauren celebrate Thanksgiving with a whirlwind mix of Disney history, holiday nostalgia, and a merch-filled New York adventure. From Wicked-branded ice rinks and a Zootopia 2 takeover at JFK to Macy’s exclusive parade collection and a stop at the Harry Potter Store, Lauren brings back a suitcase full of stories. Jim then dives into the legacy of Don Knotts, his long relationship with Disney, and how he ended up voicing Mayor Turkey Lurkey in Chicken Little. A cozy, funny, and very seasonal edition of I Want That Too. HIGHLIGHTS Lauren’s NYC trip featuring massive Wicked and Zootopia 2 marketing across Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and JFK Inside Macy’s Disney Thanksgiving Day Parade collection, plus Marvel arcade surprises A butterbeer meetup at the Harry Potter Store and standout Potter merch finds Jim’s holiday watchlist, including the debut of Prep and Landing: Snowball Protocol A deep dive into Don Knotts’ Disney career and his final animated role as Turkey Lurkey HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Lauren Hersey - IG: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2 FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by unlockedmagic.com, the trusted team behind the DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market. Planning a Disney trip? They can help you secure the best deals on Walt Disney World tickets—sometimes as much as 12 percent off. Pick your dates, grab your tickets, and be sure to tell them Jim and Lauren sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices