The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin’s decision to switch over from WDW’s bus system to Mears. Then they welcome their special guest, Smithsonian museum specialist Bethanee Bemis, who talks about Disney theme parks and the American Experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Zehr & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how The Walt Disney Company’s recent reorganization will impact Lucasfilm. Then Jim takes a look at the Young Indiana Jones-themed stunt show that the Imagineers wanted to build at Disneyland in the early 1990s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shelley Valladolid & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how the prolonged closure of the Disneyland Resort has impacted certain shops at Downtown Disney Anaheim. Jim then looks back at a sequence that was cut out of “Hocus Pocus” that then left this Kenny Ortega film with a fairly sizable plot hole Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how Pixar’s “Soul” will now premiere on Disney+. They also look back at how Disney’s family-friendly reputation actually prevented Walt from making the sorts of movies he wanted his Studio to produce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Len Testa starts out this week’s show with an enthusiastic review of Foxx Nolte’s “Boundless Realm” book, which takes its readers behind-the-scenes at the Haunted Mansion. Then Jim Hill concludes his Disney Princesses in the Parks series by talking about how WDW’s New Fantasyland project changed course in mid-construction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about “Helstrom,” the first series from Marvel’s “Adventures in Fear” franchise. They then talk about how last week’s layoffs at The Walt Disney Company will impact WDI’s Marvel-related plans for the Disney Parks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing what’s different about the Universal Orlando Resort’s decision to close its Volcano Bay water theme parks for the winter. They then look back at the film (or should we says films) that actually launched the Universal Classic Monsters franchise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about what David Lowery is doing to bring a little diversity to Neverland. They also look back at the stop motion movie that Disney stopped production on just 14 months before it was due to be released to theaters. Check out six clips of Henry Selick's work on "Shadow King" here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the recent round of layoffs at Disney Parks & Resorts. Jim then explains how Tom Staggs swapping jobs with Jay Rasulo impacted WDI’s original expansion plans for Fantasyland at WDW’s Magic Kingdom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Zehr & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how well the 40th anniversary re-release of “The Empire Strikes Back” has been doing at the box office. Then -- in honor of Star Wars Reads -- they reflect on the very first book they purchased which was related to this franchise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Tailor starts off this week’s episode by talking about the SparkShort that Madeline Sharafian directed which will debut in front of Pete Doctor’s “Soul.” Then Jim Hill looks at “Animal Crackers,” the 3D computer-animated feature that got tangled up in Harvey Weinstein’s legal troubles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa starts off this week’s show with an update on the walkway being constructed between Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and WDW’s Magic Kingdom. Jim Hill then talks about why the Imagineer were initially reluctant to embrace the Disney Princess brand  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the significance of a bottle of wine in that “WandaVision” trailer. They then offer an update on the “Disney’s Hotel New York -- The Art of Marvel” project at the Disneyland Paris Resort Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about those two Halloween Horror Nights houses that opened at Universal Studios Florida this past weekend. They also talk about the “Casper the Friendly Ghost” attraction that Universal Creative planned but never built. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill celebrate “Harley Quinn” getting picked up for a third season (Though not at DC Universe, but -- rather -- over on HBO Max). They also look back at “Freakazoid !,” Steven Spielberg’s third collaboration with Warner Bros. Animation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by answering a listener question about those “Oseola Class” sidewheelers that used to cruise around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. They then discuss the role draining the Rivers of America back in the Fall of 1972 played in the construction of WDW’s version of Tom Sawyer Island Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how Chris Hemsworth will NOT be following in Robert Downey Jr. & Chris Evans’ footsteps. They then talk about Warner Bros. decision to turn “Wonder Woman 1984” into a Christmas Day release doesn’t bode well for “Black Widow” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Z starts off this week’s show by describing a very special delivery he received just yesterday from General Mills. Then Dan & Jim talk about how you can use Sims 4 and -- later this year -- Oculus Quest to experience Black Spire Outpost in a way that’s just not possible at a Disney theme park right now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about “Once Upon a Snowman,” the new short from Walt Disney Animation Studios which will be premiering on Disney+ on October 23rd. Jim also shares a letter that Bugs Bunny supposedly sent to Mickey Mouse back in January of 1984 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how COVID-19 is forcing The Walt Disney World Resort to deck its halls a little differently in 2020. They then discuss why it took WDAS 30 years after “Sleeping Beauty” was first released to theaters to make another Disney Princess movie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices