
The Disney Dish with Jim Hill
509 episodes — Page 4 of 11

Ep 437The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 437: How the “Magical World of Barbie” show wound up at Epcot
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the new DreamWorks-themed land that was just announced for Universal Studios Florida. They then take a look at the Lightning-Lane-to-Stand-By ratio which TouringPlans just noted for WDW’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 436The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 436: Who’s moving into WDW’s Haunted Mansion next month
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about Bob Iger’s contract extension at The Walt Disney Company through December of 2026. They also take a look at the Florida version of “Toy Story Midway Mania” Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 435The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 435: What changes is Disney World reportedly considering for Genie+
Len Testa starts off this week’s show by discussing how Guests using WDW’s DAS may be impacting Lighting Lane. Jim Hill then talks about the challenges that the Imagineers faced during the construction phase of “Toy Story Midway Mania” Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 434The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 434: Why are Walt Disney World’s listed wait times so often flat-out wrong?
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the per-park pricing that went into effect at WDW for Genie+. They then wrap up their look back at the Walt Disney World Speedway Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 433The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 433:: When Disney World fast tracked construction of its Speedway
Len Testa and Jim Hill start off of this week’s episode by sharing some listener questions. They then talk about how Mr. Eisner’s trip to Indiana in May of 1985 led to an ambitious project being built in the parking lot for WDW’s Magic Kingdom. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 432The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 432: Remembering Disneyland’s “Flights of Fancy” parade
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the jump in attendance levels that Universal’s two Florida parks have recently experienced. They also look back at the Summer of 1983 and how Walt Disney Productions celebrated its 60th anniversary. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 431The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 431: Is Disney World readying a redo of its Animal Kingdom theme park
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about a survey that the Universal Orlando Resort just sent out to recent Guests. Jim Hill also concludes his look back at the development of the Disneyland Hotel Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 430The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 430: Does “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” really need to be that authentic?
While Len Testa explores the State of Maine, Jim Hill discusses the recent closure of Disneyland’s version of Splash Mountain. He also continues his look back at the expansion of the Disneyland Hotel in the 1960s & 1970s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 429The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 429: Where the mermaids in Tomorrowland Lagoon came from
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about all of the annual passholder discounts & exclusives that will be available at WDW through the end of June. They also discuss how the Disney Parks has begun setting the stage for “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 428The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 428: Lake Nona Town Center project canceled, “Galactic Starcruiser” to close
In a super-sized episode, Len Testa & Jim Hill discuss all of this past week’s breaking news coming out of Florida. They also take a look at when Disneyland tried to get an Indiana Jones-inspired “Jedi Training Academy” -like experience up & running in Anaheim. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 427The Disney Dish Episodwith Jim Hill Episode 427: Why “Aladdin’s Oasis” was only open for 14 months in the 1990s
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episodes by reviewing the changes Walt Disney World has in the works for 2024. They then look back at that short-lived Disneyland show which replaced the Tahitian Terrace Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 426Disney Dish Episode 426: Do you remember Disney-MGM’s “Star of the Day” program?
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the new trip planning service that the Mouse is making available to DVC members. They also look back at what happened when the air conditioning for every attraction but one broke down at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 425The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 425: The other times fires broke out at Disney theme parks
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the lawsuit The Walt Disney Company just filed against Florida governor Ron DeSantis. They also discuss what happened with the dragon prop featured in Disneyland’s “Fantasmic! . Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 424The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 424: The edible landscape at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how the Fort Wilderness Cabins will soon be getting a facelift. They also share the latest news in regard to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District debacle. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 423The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 423: What may replace “Poseidon’s Fury” at Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the new “Star Tours” ride film that will reportedly debut at the Disney Parks in 2015. They also discuss the latest State-of-Florida / Reedy Creek developments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 422The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 422: Remember when “Let’s Make a Deal” was produced at Disney-MGM
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by reviewing what’s been going on with Reedy Creek over the past few weeks. They then look back at when DHS had game show-based attractions like “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – Play It!” Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 421The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 421: Which division at Disney just disappeared during the 1st round of lay-offs
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a very interesting survey that just got sent out to WDW annual passholders. They then look back at what influence the look & the layout of the Casting Center that Robert A.M. Stern designed for Disney World back in the late 1980s Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 420The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 420: What’s the origin story for WDW’s Dolphin & the Swan Hotels
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about their recent behind-the-scenes adventures out in Southern California. Then Chrissy Harrison reports in from the very first day that Roundup Rodeo BBQ is open to the public at DHS’ Toy Story Land Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 419The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 419: Remembering Rolly Crump (1930 – 2023)
Jim Hill welcomes guest host Jim Shull to a special edition of Disney Dish. Where these two then take listeners behind-the-scenes at two classic theme park attractions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 418The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 418: Looking back at WDW’s Cinderellabration
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by celebrating the 10th anniversary of the launch of the “Disney Dish” podcast. They then talk about the Tokyo Disneyland import that eventually led to the creation of Disney Princess Fairytale Hall Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 417The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 417: Why the original “Partners” statue was placed where it was at Disneyland
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the After Hours events that have just been announced for Epcot & Typhoon Lagoon. They also offer up some opinions on where the very best places at the WDW Resort are when it comes to outdoor dining Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 416The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 416: Who played Walt Disney in movies & TV shows
In a special solo edition of Disney Dish, Jim Hill shares a survey about Disneyland’s new nighttime show, “Wonderous Journeys.” He also answers listener mail about an Abraham Lincoln attraction that was once proposed for Frontierland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 415The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 415: Why Universal Orlando is conducting surveys on WDW’s reservation system
Len Testa starts off this week’s show by sharing what he knows about the State of Florida’s upcoming overhaul of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Then Jim Hill looks back at when Walt & Roy O. Disney brawled over WED Enterprises Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 414The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 414: What’s it like to ride TRON: Lightcycle Run at WDW’s Magic Kingdom
Len Testa reports in from his experience at the Cast Member Preview for Tomorrowland’s newest addition. Then Jim Hill talks about how KUKA arms went from being a tool used on industrial assembly lines to theme park attractions Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 413: Trails End restaurant to close at WDW’s Fort Wilderness
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a Disneyland guest opinion poll from April of 1960. They also look back at when the Happiest Place on Earth used to be closed on Mondays & Tuesdays during the off-season Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 412The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 412: “Mirror, Mirror for Us All” takes up-close look at Disney theme parks
Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome two guests to this week’s show: Christina Harrison from TouringPlans.com (who talks about the food items that can be found at the 2023 edition of Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts) & Bethanee Bemis (museum specialist at the Smithsonian Museum of American History) Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 411The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 411: Looking back on the early days of DAK’s Wild Africa Trek
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing the dates for the 2023 edition of Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival. They also discuss a new set of surveys which suggest that Disney officials are getting increasingly concerned about how many of the Company’s formerly loyal customers seem to have soured on the Mouse. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 410The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 410: What Len learned at that Reedy Creek Improvement District public meeting
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the two projects that Universal just announced. They also discuss what can now be heard as one wanders through Epcot’s Morocco pavilion Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 409The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 409: Why Disneyland’s stagecoach was so short-lived
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show talking about the modified dining plan that WDW is offering Guests who book rooms between June 25th & September 14th. They then shared what they’ve learned about those “Disney After Hours” hard ticket events being held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 408The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 408: Looking back at Epcot’s “World of Motion” pavilion
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the return of the Walt Disney World Railroad after a four year-long rehab. They also talk about when “Super Nintendo World” will be opening at Universal Studios Hollywood in the coming year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 407The Disney Dish with Jim Hill - Episode 407: Disney News Round-up: Looking back at 2022
Len Testa & Jim Hill take a close look at all of the people & stories that helped shape the past year in theme parks & entertainment. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 406The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 406: What would staying at WESTCOT have been like
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the Universal Creative vets who recently opted to take early retirement packages. They also talk about the various Disneyland second gate plans WDI cooked up before finally settling on DCA. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 405The Disney Dish with Jim Hill - Episode 405: How the Emerald of Anaheim became a Disneyland Resort hotel
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the new “Villain Con: Minion Blast” attraction that just got officially announced for Universal Studios Florida. They also take a look back at the mid-1980s when The Walt Disney Company decided to start acquiring hotels in Orange County, CA Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 404The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 404: The Sorcerer’s Hat is still a sore spot with some Disney World fans
Len Testa starts off this week’s show by sharing a recent survey where WDW visitors were asked to share their opinions of Disney’s Riviera Resort. Jim Hill then looks back at Walt Disney World’s “100 Years of Magic” celebration Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 403The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 403: How WDW’s McDonald’s continue to innovate
Len Testa starts off this week’s show by revealing which Epcot attractions have already received their seasonal overlays. Jim Hill then finishes up his history of McDonald’s relationship with the Walt Disney Company Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 402The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 402: How Bob Chapek learned he wasn’t Disney’s CEO anymore
en Testa & Jim Hill share everything that they’ve been told by Mouse House insiders about Bob Iger’s return. Likewise how long Chapek’s dismissal has actually been in the works Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 401The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 401: Looking back at Mickey’s Kitchen
Len Testa and Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a trip-planning surveythat Disney Visa recently sent out. They then continue their look at Disney Corporate’s decades-long relationship with the McDonald’s restaurant chain Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 400The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 400: When Disneyland almost got its first McDonalds
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by paying tribute to the late Disney Legend, Alice Estes Davis. They then talk about Villains Lair, the new fireworks dessert party being offered at the Top of the World lounge at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 399The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 399: Why “Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge” didn’t go forward
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a survey which suggests that WDW officials are getting increasingly concerned about the Universal Orlando Resort. They then take a look at when the Disney Vacation Club began concentrating its expansion plans around Seven Seas Lagoon. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 398The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 398: How Epcot is getting ready for the holidays
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the entertainment line-up for this year’s International Festival of the Holidays. They also look back at what led up to the ill-fated 1999 update of Future World’s “Journey into Imagination” pavilion. Show notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 397The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 397: How Figment found his way back into Epcot’s “Journey into Imagination”
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by revealing that the recently re-opened Monsieur Paul now has a dress code. They also talk about how Walt Disney World will soon begin cutting back on character greetings across property Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 396The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 396: How to make “Galaxy Edge” appeal to ALL Star Wars fans
Len Testa and Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the price increases that were just announced for the Disneyland and WDW Resorts. They then continue their look at the controversial “Journey into Imagination” redo that went live in October of 1999 Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 395The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 395: How Epcot is getting ready for the holidays
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the entertainment line-up for this year’s International Festival of the Holidays. They also look back at what led up to the ill-fated 1999 update of Future World’s “Journey into Imagination” pavilion. Show Notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 394The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 394: After Hours Events return to WDW in early 2023
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show with a brief recap of their recent “Disney Dish on the Disney Wish” event. They then take a look at the dark rides that the Imagineers were originally development for WDW’s Magic Kingdom back in the late 1960s Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 393The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 393: What happens when a hurricane heads towards Walt Disney World
In a show that suddenly became far more newsworthy than they’d initially intended, Len Testa and Jim Hill talk about how the WDW Cast readies that Resort when a tropical storm is bearing down on Central Florida. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 392The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 392: How the pandemic tripped up “Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana”
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this Journey of Water and Blue Sweek’s show by talking about why the opening of TRON Lightcycle Run has been pushed ‘til the Spring of 2023. They also discuss the Blue Sky Projects that were talked about at the Parks presentation at this year’s D23 Expo Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 391The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 391: Captain EO’s 60 hour-long opening event at Disneyland Park
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing what may turn out to be Universal Orlando’s next big promotional campaign. They then look back at how Michael Eisner started adding celebrities to Disney theme park attractions in the mid-to-late 1980s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 390The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 390: Why WDW’s “20,000 Leagues” supposedly closed temporarily & then never re-opened
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by musing on when performances of “Fantasmic!” may begin at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They then look back at the Fall of 1995. Which is when Magic Kingdom managers snookered Michael Ovitz, the then-President of The Walt Disney Company. Show notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 389The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 389: How Skull Rock came to be at Disneyland Park
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing some long-needed changes that were recently made to Disney’s park reservation system. They also take a look back at the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship Restaurant at Disneyland Park show notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 388The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 388: Remember when WDW’s Halloween event only ran for one night
Jim Hill welcomes Chrissy Harrison from TouringPlans.com. Who then shares her impressions of the latest booths to open at Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival as well as the 2022 edition of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices