The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the parallels between “Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin” opening at Disneyland Park in January of 1994 and “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios getting its opening pushed back ‘til the Spring of next year. They also discuss what’s going on with “Frozen II” just seven months out from the theatrical release of this eagerly anticipated Walt Disney Animation Studios production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing what’s significant about that new Disney Cruise Line survey which is currently making the rounds. Jim then talks about how the Imagineers keep trying to get the theme park-going public to embrace an attraction that features binaural sound.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In a special Easter-themed episode, Michelle Valladolid & Jim Hill discussed how the Tokyo Disney Resort has turned this holiday into a two park, multi-week event. Jim then reviews the history of the Disney Bunnies, which is when DCP tried to build a brand around Thumper the Rabbit from “Bambi” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how the limited series that Marvel Studios is producing for Disney’s soon-to-launch subscription streaming service will be different from “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” & “Agent Carter.” Jim then does a deep dive on Disney’s August 2009 acquisition of Marvel Entertainment and reveals that – given the weird way that Hollywood does its books – it’s entirely possible that the Mouse has yet to recover the full $4.2 billion that it spent to buy that comic book company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the operational & safety challenges that Universal Studios Hollywood is now facing, thanks to all of those show drones this theme park is using to create that patronus effect in its new “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle” projection show. Jim also reveals the “Treehouse of Horror” -inspired storyline that “The Simpsons Ride” almost had Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Rich Moore’s decision to leave Walt Disney Animation Studios for Sony Pictures Animation. Drew also shares what he learned about “Toy Story 4” while taking part in the press day for this upcoming Pixar Animation Studios’ release Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off by talking about how “Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy” will use promotion to try & overcome its unfortunate, out-of-the-way positioning at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They also talk about a patent that The Walt Disney Company has recently filed which  Mouse House managers hope will get Guests to look up from the screens on their iPhones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how “Avengers: Endgame” ‘s three-hour-plus run-time may prevent this Russo Bros. movie from topping “Infinity Wars” record-breaking opening weekend box office take. They also talk about how the positive reaction that “Dark Phoenix” got at WonderCon last month really helped turn the toxic reputation that this X-Men movie had acquired around. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill look back at when Don Bluth resigned from Walt Disney Animation Studios in September of 1979 and then took 15% of that studio’s artists & animators with him. Drew then shares the interview that he did with Chris Butler, the director of “Missing Link” (i.e., Laika’s latest stop motion movie)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about Disney Villains After Hours, that new hard ticket for WDW’s Magic Kingdom which will be offered on select nights in June, July & August. They also do a deeper dive on that Universal Parks & Resorts survey which offers some clues about what sorts of rides, shows & attractions are possibly in the mix for Universal Orlando’s Fantastic Worlds theme park Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Zehr reports back on his recent trip to Chicago, where he scoped out McCormick Place (i.e., the massive convention center where Star Wars Celebration is being held this year). Jim Hill then shares some behind-the-scene stories about George Lucas’ involvement in the production of “Captain EO” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill kick off this week’s show by talking about “Steven Universe” ‘s win at the GLAAD Media Awards. Drew then shares an interview he did with Danny Devito at the press junket for Disney’s live-action “Dumbo” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how The Walt Disney Company is still struggling with “Song of the South.” Jim then continues his Chronological Disneyland series by revealing why the Rockets Rods went down for rehab in September of 2000 and never re-opened Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill talk about how James Gunn’s offensive Tweets problem forced Kevin Feige to change up Marvel Studios’ batting order. They also wonder whether – after “The Infinity Saga” wraps – moviegoers will continue to turn out in record number for new Marvel Cinematic Universe releases or whether Marvel film fatigue will set in Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill share what they’ve learned about the work that’s been going on down on the Lower Lot of Universal Studios Hollywood. They also talk about why – when it came time to turn “Jurassic Park” into the jumping-up off point for a theme park attraction – Universal Creative opted to build a boat ride rather than a jeep-based experience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Michelle Valladolid & Jim Hill discuss how Disney hopes lightning will strike twice in 2019. First by following up 2017’s Rose Gold craze with its new Briar Rose Gold line. And then by sequelizing 2018’s wildly successful Mickey Memories merch with its Disney Wisdom collection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by trying to sort out where exactly Disney & ABC now stand in regards to all those animated “Peanuts” specials. Then Drew shares the interviews that he did with Danny Elfman & Rick Heinrichs at the “Dumbo” media event.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa starts off this episode with an enthusiastic review of Disney Spring’s latest addition, Jaleo by José Andrés. Len & Jim then share a survey that Universal Parks & Resorts is using to zero in on just the right mix of rides, shows & attractions for Theme Park No. 4 (i.e., Universal’s Fantastic Worlds)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s episodes by talking about how Disney & Universal actually came together to plus Stan Lee’s cameo appearance in “Captain Marvel.” They then discuss the role that Disney’s acquisition of Fox & ABC’s firing of Roseanne played in the “Guardians” director debacle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Zehr & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the factors involved with The Walt Disney Company’s decision to move up the opening of Disneyland Park’s Black Spire Outpost to May 31st. They then take an in-depth look at “Star Wars Resistance” and offer conjecture on where this Lucasfilm Animation production might be headed when Season 2 starts up on the Disney Channel later this Fall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices