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The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

587 episodes — Page 5 of 12

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

Nov 21, 202245 min

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

Nov 14, 202243 min

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

Nov 7, 202247 min

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

Oct 31, 20221h 0m

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

Oct 24, 202253 min

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

Oct 17, 202249 min

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

Oct 10, 202243 min

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

Oct 3, 202236 min

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

Sep 26, 202228 min

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

Sep 19, 202256 min

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

Sep 12, 202248 min

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

Sep 5, 202241 min

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

Aug 29, 202240 min

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

Aug 22, 202240 min

Ep 387The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 387: Why Epcot’s World ShowPlace Pavilion really got built

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the most recent Disney earnings call. They then wrap up their series about WDW’s Millennium Celebration. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 15, 202242 min

Ep 360The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 386: How did the WDW Resort get ready to handle the Y2K bug

en Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a survey that reveals Universal Orlando’s keen interest in people’s most recent trips to WDW. They then take a look back at Epcot’s Millennium Celebration Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 8, 202247 min

Ep 385The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 385: MagicBands+ appear to have a power problem

Len Testa and Jim Hill welcome Mrs. Shannon Ford, who talks about her experience aboard the Disney Wish. They then discuss what’s happening with Disney’s “Hercules,” which may be the Company’s next animated feature to be headed to Broadway Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 1, 20221h 3m

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill - Episode 384: Disney World knows that its official website needs to be retooled

Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome back Christina Harrison from Touring Plans, who talks about the 2022 edition of the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. They then share Josh Gad’s memories of working on “Frozen Ever After” Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 25, 202258 min

Ep 383The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 383: Len Testa to speak at this year’s IAAPA convention

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by revealing which three WDW restaurants will begin offering character dining again. They then talk about why Epcot’s “SeaVenture” attraction got its name changed to “Maelstrom” Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 18, 202247 min

Ep 382The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 382: What’s in the works for the LEGOLAND Florida Resort

Banks Lee joins Jim Hill on a special edition of the Disney Dish. As they look at how Cypress Gardens (which was a favorite Central Florida attraction of Roy O. & Edna Disney) spent the past 10 years transforming into the 5th LEGO Park in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 11, 202250 min

Ep 381The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 381: How many trolls is too many trolls?

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Bob Chapek’s contract being extended by Disney’s Board of Directors. They talk about where the Brightline Train Service may be stopping in the Orlando area now that a station at Disney Springs is no longer in the cards Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 4, 202245 min

Ep 380The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 380: How the Disney Institute transformed into Saratoga Springs

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing some surveys that Guests who stayed at WDW’s monorail resorts recently received. They also talk about Michael Eisner’s 1985 trip to the Chautauqua Institute inspired him to start offering education-based vacation experiences to WDW visitors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 27, 202241 min

Ep 379The Disney Dish with Jim Hill - Episode 379: Aulani delivers the Disney Resort experience you used to get stateside

Christina Harrison reports on her recent stay at Disney’s resort & spa on Oahu. Then Jim Hill looks back at the history of the House of the Future at Disneyland Park Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 20221h 2m

Ep 378The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 378: Looking back on Fort Wilderness’ abandoned expansion plans from the mid-1970s

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by sharing a fairly blunt survey that the WDW Resort recently sent out about Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Then Jim Hill talks about how – once upon a time – Pioneer Hall was supposed to have been the very first part of Florida’s Frontier Town project Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 202249 min

Ep 377The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 377: How Walt Disney made his Imagineers walk in the Guests shoes

en Testa & Jim Hill welcome Arthur Levine from About Theme Parks, who then talks about his new Substack project. These three then talk about an intriguing bit of construction that’s now underway at WDW’s Blizzard Beach water park Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 6, 202253 min

Ep 376The Disney Dish with Jim Hill - Episode 376: How Walter Cronkite wound up narrating “Spaceship Earth”

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing some tips about how to score an ILL for “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.” They also answer some listeners' mail related to DVC members still being unable to purchase annual passes to the Disney Parks Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 30, 202241 min

Ep 375Disney Dish Episode 375: Survey sez: Disney World knows that Genie+ is a failure

Len Testa and Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing yet another survey. This one revealing that WDW officials have grown very concerned about visitors to Florida preferring Universal Express to Genie, Genie+ & Lightning Lane Show notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 22, 202250 min

Ep 374The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 374: Is Universal looking to add even more magic to its “Wizarding World” ?:

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a recent survey that the Universal Orlando Resort sent out to Harry Potter fans. Jim then continues his look back at “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” and how that film series made its way into the Disney Parks. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 16, 202245 min

Ep 373Disney Dish Episode 373: How “Cosmic Rewind” compares to other WDW attractions

Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome back Christina Harrison, who talks about the surprisingly tasty gluten-free offerings that can be found around WDW property. Jim then starts a new series about Disney’s science-based gimmick comedies of the 1960s & 1970s that led to the “Honey, I Shrunk” attractions in the Parks Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 9, 20221h 2m

Ep 372Disney Dish Episode 372: Why Florida’s attempt to dissolve the RCID is going to fail

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing a recent survey the Universal Orlando Resort sent out about an after-hours Mardi Gras hard ticket event they’re considering holding in the Parks. They then discuss the various legal reasons The Walt Disney Company is supremely confident they’ll prevail in court next year. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 2, 20221h 14m

Ep 371Disney Dish Episode 371:: Get ready for Victoria & Albert’s return

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by sharing some restaurant-related news that pertains to WDW’s monorail resorts. Jim Hill then continues his look back at the formation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 202254 min

Ep 370Disney Dish Episode 370: A closer look at the DVC being built next to WDW’s Polynesian Village Resort

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the new technology that will soon be powering image capture at WDW’s meet-n-greets. They also continue their look back at the formation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 18, 202243 min

Ep 369Disney Dish Episode 369: The Origin of the Reedy Creek Improvement District

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing WDW’s latest set of surveys (which -- this time -- touch on annual passholders). They then talk about Walt’s first meeting with Florida officials & local business leaders back in November of 1965 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 202238 min

Disney Dish Episode 368: Love Bug Days at Disneyland

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by reviewing a survey that the Universal Orlando Resort recently sent out which reveals possible pricing structures that are being considered for its opening-in-2025 Epic Universe theme park. They also reveal which WDW attractions have -- on average -- the most downtime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 202258 min

Ep 367Disney Dish Episode 367: Which modern Disney attractions should be considered classics

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how WDW’s theme parks will be adjusting their operating hours over the rest of Spring Break. They also reveal that Mouse House managers still seem very concerned with how Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebration is being perceived Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 28, 202251 min

Ep 366Disney Dish Episode 366: What’s good to eat at this year’s Flower & Garden Festival

Len Testa & Jim Hill are joined by Christina Harrison from TouringPlans. Who -- having just returned from Epcot -- gives them the full run-down of what not to miss at this year’s International Flower & Garden Festival Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 202250 min

Ep 365Disney Dish Episode 365: Which attraction inspired the AquaMouse on the Disney Wish

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about “Festival of Fantasy” ‘s return to WDW’s Magic Kingdom. They also talk about the challenge that the Imagineers faced when they decided to add a water coaster to Typhoon Lagoon Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 14, 202236 min

Ep 364Disney Dish Episode 364: What the first public cruise aboard the Halcyon was like

Len Testa & Christina Harrison have just disembarked from the “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.” In a special edition of Disney Dish, these two share with Jim Hill their fresh-off-the-boat impressions of this immersive experience Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 4, 20221h 18m

Ep 363Disney Dish Episode 363: Looking back on “One More Disney Day”

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about what Disney’s new Chief Corporate Affairs Officer may have just revealed about “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.” They then reminisce about how the 2012 Leap Year was celebrated at WDW’s Magic Kingdom as well as at Disneyland Park in California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 28, 202248 min

Ep 362Disney Dish Episode 362: Will Storyliving by Disney work without a theme park nearby

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing whether Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is getting ready to re-open. They also share a recent “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” survey that suggests that WDW execs are growing increasingly concerned about this soon-to-open Resort Show notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 21, 202248 min

Ep 361Disney Dish Episode 361: How WDW Entertainment wants to fix “HarmonioUS”

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing the Disney Parks news that came out of the Company’s most recent earnings call. They then continue their look at what CommuniCore was like when EPCOT Center first opened back in October of 1982 Show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 14, 202248 min

Ep 360Disney Dish Episode 360: The Very Best Eats at EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts

Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome back Chrissy Harrison from TouringPlans, who offers up her take on what foodies should definitely seek out at the 2022 edition of Festival of the Arts. They then talk about how Imagineer George Rester designed EPCOT’s CommuniCore section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 7, 202252 min

Ep 359Disney Dish Episode 359: Why WDI struggled when it came to Communicore

Len Testa starts things off by sharing a survey that wouldn’t allow WDW visitors to say that they didn’t use all of the benefits of staying onsite at that Resort. Jim Hill then looks back at EPCOT Center in the months just prior to the opening of Disney World’s second theme park Show Notes are here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 31, 202230 min

Ep 358Disney Dish Episode 358: Disney World fumbles for a 50th anniversary fix

Len Testa & Jim Hill share a recent WDW survey that asks would-be Orlando visitors what it’s going to take for them to fully commit to booking a vacation package to that Resort in the near future. They also conclude their look at the development of “The Iron Man Experience” at Hong Kong Disneyland Show notes are here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 24, 202238 min

Ep 357Disney Dish Episode 357: How Iron-Man wound up at Hong Kong Disneyland

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing what they’ve heard about when “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” might open at Epcot. They then talk about the very first Disney theme park attraction to be built around a Marvel Superhero Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 17, 202237 min

Ep 356Disney Dish Episode 356: On which 10 WDW attractions does Genie+ save you the most time

Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome special guest Becky Gandillon. This data storyteller then explains which Genie+ reservations will save Guests the most time in line at all four Walt Disney World theme parks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 10, 202256 min

Ep 355Disney Dish Episode 355: When Disneyland was closed two days a week

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by sharing some off-site suggestions where WDW visitors can stay if they’re looking to vacation with multiple family members. Jim Hill then talks about why Disney’s Board of Directors was initially reluctant to fund the construction of Disneyland’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Show Notes here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 3, 202237 min

Ep 354Disney Dish Episode 354: When Baby New Year flew over Sleeping Beauty Castle

In their last podcast for 2021, Len Testa & Jim Hill revealed which WDW water park will be opening on January 2nd. They also look back at the colorful career of Paul Castle, who was Disneyland’s “Main Mouse” from 1961 - 1986 Show Notes are here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 27, 202143 min

Ep 353Disney Dish Episode 353: Remembering the Disney family feud

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing several surprising surveys. They then talk about how Disneyland Cast Members got a flood-damaged “it’s a small world holiday” up & running earlier this month Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 20, 202156 min

Ep 352Disney Dish Episode 352: When Henry Kissinger got stuck on the Matterhorn

This week, Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome two guests: Kevin Perjurer of Defunctland and Christina Harrison from TouringPlans.com. They talk about the role that Nixon’s National Security Advisor played in the creation of Epcot-the-theme-park Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 13, 20211h 29m