The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

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 interestedWho was just placed in charge of the committee to find a successor for Disney CEO Bob IgerWhy it’s likely that DCL will soon need to replace the Magic & the WonderHow many people visited the Magic Kingdom in Florida during the first full year that theme park was in operationWhich opening day attraction for Walt Disney World did Tony Baxter go to the field to install back in 1971SHOW 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 experimentHow Disney’s Boardwalk Resort was originally supposed to feature a selection of classic theme park attractionsHow a young immigrant went from sleeping under an Atlantic City pier to owning itThe precursor to Disney’s Ford Wonder Rotunda at the 1964 New York World’s FairWest 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 VineyardsHow 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 & CEOWhat 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 & 1942What 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 GardensThroughout this episode, listeners will learn about:This long-running animated series just celebrated its 25th anniversary back in JanuaryWill Warner Bros. be releasing Genndy Tartakovsky’s “Fixed” anytime soonWhen will Pixar’s latest feature-length film be available for purchase on Blu-rayHow many movies did Robert Stevenson direct for Walt Disney StudiosWho 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 1953For this episode, listeners will learn about;Who did Roger Bart sing for in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Summer release for 1997Who wrote the songs for Disney’s full-length animated feature for 1953When is Disney on Broadway’s new stage production of “Hercules” supposed to open in London’s West EndWhich 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 theatersSHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 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 KingdomWhich two feature-length films did Stephen Anderson direct for Walt Disney Animation StudiosWhat phrase did Len Testa coin to describe the exhaustion that people feel whenever they wrestle with the ever-growing technical aspect of a WDW vacationWhat was the must-have collectible for Star Wars fans who attended this year’s D23 ExpoWhich 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. They then take a look at how Universal Pictures’ recent releases have been doing at the domestic box officeThroughout this episode, listeners will learn about:When was Epic Universe originally supposed to open up in OrlandoIn what year does NBCUniversal’s deal with the IOC for the US broadcast rights for the Olympics run outWhich 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 eveOver 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 2025Why it’s kind of ironic that the Mouse House just decided to make Frank Oz a Disney LegendWhat’s the reported premise for “Hoppers,” Pixar’s Spring 2026What’s intriguing about the visual clues that were included in the “Frozen 3” concept art that Jennifer Lee showcases at the Honda CenterHow 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 2012Over 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 buildingWhat does Universal Orlando’s new dining offer tell us about when Epic Universe will likely open to the publicWhy 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 openedWhy did the load-in of the Ballroom’s chandelier prove to be a challenge to the “Be Our Guest” construction teamSHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices