The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Len Testa starts off this week’s episode by sharing some patents that are sure to impact Guests’ experiences at WDW’s still-under-construction “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” resort. Then Jim Hill looks back at all of the shows that have been presented at the “Monster Sound Show” theater over the past 30+ years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Zehr & Jim Hill start off this episode by talking about how they’ve been enjoying the “Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian” docu-series. Dan & Jim then look back at the many challenges George Lucas faced while he was trying to mount a sequel to the original “Star Wars” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how much they’ve been enjoying Dan Lanigan’s “Prop Culture” on Disney+. They then talk about “Monkeys of Mumbai,” the ambitious animated musical that got canceled when NBCUniversal bought DreamWorks back in April of 2016 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing how the phased re-opening of Shanghai Disneyland might impact the Company’s stateside parks. Jim then reveals how Mr. Toad -- a character that Walt didn’t much like -- got his own ride at Disneyland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shelly Valladolid & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the challenge of chasing down merchandise associated with Epcot’s Land pavilion. They also discuss why those Joe Rohde-designed Mickey Ears wound up on eBay selling for upwards of $350 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about what exhibitors are now threatening to do with Universal Pictures’ upcoming releases. They then talk about a survey that Universal Orlando recently sent out to annual passholders seeking their input on a new Halloween Horror Night-like event that this resort might now have in the works Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the very best way to get started watching the movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in chronological order. They then discuss what Disney’s most recent earnings call revealed about the future of this film franchise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill answer listener questions about the challenges that the WDW Resort faces as execs there search for ways to safely reopen those theme parks. They then look back at how “The Wind in the Willows” (a book that Walt himself said was “… awful corny”) wound up being animated by Disney Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Zehr & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how moving up “The Rise of Skywalker” ‘s Disney+ premiere by two months helps that subscription streaming service. They then discuss how the Imagineers originally wanted to expand the Star Wars-themed portion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by saying “So long” to “Doc McStuffins,” which ended its 5-season run on Disney Junior back on April 18th. They then look back at why “Loonatics Unleashed” crashed & burned on the WB back in 2005 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by reviewing some of the safety policies & procedures that Disney & Universal may employ as they begin to re-open their theme parks. They then look back at the Summer of 2002. Which is when EPCOT’s Norway pavilion received a royal makeover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about when Season Seven of Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” will begin airing on ABC. They look back at what the director of what-will-soon-be the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy recently revealed about these films via social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how Comic-Con’s cancellation doesn’t bode well for other big fan events that were supposed to be staged in Southern California this Summer. They then share a phone interview that Drew & Jim recently did with the writer & director of Netflix’s latest animation feature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week by talking about which of the Bobs is really in charge of the Mouse House these days. Then they discuss how DCA’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror got transformed into “Guardians of the Galaxy -- Mission: BREAKOUT !” in just 5 months 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 pandemic has impacted Disney’s plans for “Indiana Jones V.” They then look back at October of 1977, which is when a certain Sith Lord drew record crowds to the Walt Disney World Village Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill starts off this episode by talking about how there’s far more going on with DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls” franchise than this week’s world-premiere-at-home of “Trolls World Tour.” Then Drew Taylor shares all sorts of behind-the-scene stories about Disney’s “A Goofy Movie” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa starts off this week’s episode by sharing a survey that was recently sent out to Disney Vacation Club members. Then Jim Hill looks back at the Fall of 1997 and the role that the “Jurassic Park” franchise played in Disney’s decision to change out three attractions at WDW’s Magic Kingdom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill share the latest news when it comes to the revised release dates for Marvel Studios’ slate of films & limited series. They then talk about the role that a street stunt show may have played in that master licensing agreement that the Universal Parks signed with Marvel Entertainment back in 1994. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about whether shifting the release date of “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” will impact the launch of Nickelodeon’s new animated series, “Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years.” They then look back at how poor tickets for “The Secret of NIMH” back in the Summer of 1982 led to Don Bluth getting in the arcade game business in 1983. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the 26.3 acres of land that Disney just bought to the west of WDW’s Magic Kingdom. They then go on to discuss how the construction of Innoventions impacted Future World Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Zehr & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by paying tribute to Andrew Jack, the “Star Wars” film performer who sadly passed away from the Coronavirus earlier this week. They then look back at when the Imagineers worked with George Lucas on a simulator attraction that was originally called (if you can believe it) “Star Bus.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about NATO’s veiled threat when it comes to “Trolls World Tour” being available on demand April 10th. They also look back at the career of Stuart Gordon, the late filmmaker who helped develop Disney’s “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” back in the late 1980s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by offering an update on the impact COVID-19 has had on Disney Parks & Resorts. Jim then shares a story about the “Carousel of Progress / Horizons” hybrid that the Imagineers once pitched to General Electric Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how COVID-19 is impacting “Black Widow” & “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Not to mention the first three limited series that Marvel Studios is producing for Disney+ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by wondering how many animated features will wind up being pushed off of their original release dates this year thanks to COVID-19. They also look back at when John Lasseter took home a Special Achievement Oscar in March of 1996 for the creation of the original “Toy Story” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by sharing what they’ve learned about COVID-19’s impact on the themed entertainment industry. Then Jim talks about how Kermit & Co. continue to be crowded out by other Disney-owned properties like Pixar, Marvel & Lucasfilm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Zehr & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up “The Star Wars Book: Expand your knowledge of a galaxy far, far away” (which a certain podcaster co-wrote for DK with Pablo Hidalgo & Cole Horton). Then Jim talks about the role that the “Special Editions” of “A New Hope,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” & “Return of the Jedi” played in the creation of one of the more popular seasonal events ever to be staged at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill first talk about the “Song of the South” news that just came out Disney’s annual shareholders meeting. Then Drew & Jim discuss some of the characters & storylines that Dan Scanlon & his team at Pixar Animation Studios explored for “Onward” but ultimately abandoned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michelle Valladolid & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the impact that COVID19 has been having on Disney’s international theme parks (EDITOR’S NOTE: This podcast was recorded back in early March before the rest of Disney’s theme parks were closed). Then Jim talks about “The Black Hole,” and how this 1979 Walt Disney Productions release was originally supposed to be Disney’s response to “The Poseidon Adventure” & “The Towering Inferno” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill talk about the impact that COVID19 has been having on the Disney Parks (Editor’s note: This was before Disney Parks announced on the evening of March 12th that they’d be closing all of their theme parks in the United States & France). Then Jim takes a look at how WDW’s Typhoon Lagoon wound up with a water coaster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how excited they were to learn that Sam Raimi may get the chance to direct “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” They then discuss why Disney doesn’t really have the option of doing what Sony & Universal did with “No Time to Die” (i.e., push Bond 25’s release date back to November) with “Black Widow” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how Universal Studios Singapore may hold a clue as to how stateside theme parks will deal operationally with the corona virus. They then take a look at “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash,” which will be opening at Universal Studios Hollywood on March 27th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill starts off this week’s show by talking about the difference between Pixar films that are well reviewed and Pixar films that produce strong revenue streams. Then Drew Taylor reveals what he learned at the long lead day for Warner Animation Group’s next big release, “Scoob!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa starts off this week’s episode by reviewing some of the food offerings found at this year’s International Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot. Then Jim Hill talks about how Disney’s earlier trackless attractions influenced the design of “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Zehr starts off this week’s episode by talking about how much he’s been enjoying watching Season Seven of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” on Disney+. Then Jim Hill talks about the many factors that contributed to Steven Spielberg’s decision to not direct “Indiana Jones V.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by reminiscing about what it was like to write “The Art of Pixar’s Onward” for Chronicle Books. Then Jim Hill tells the story of the role that the original “Ice Age” played in the downsizing of Disney’s hand-drawn animation operation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by reviewing many of the menu offerings at the Regal Eagle Smokehouse, which recently opened at Epcot’s American Adventure pavilion. Then Jim Hill looks back at the career of Disney CEO Bob Iger. More importantly, how Iger has been trying to exit the Mouse House since 2016. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s episode by talking about what it was like to attend the world premiere of Pixar Animation Studios’ latest at the El Capitan Theater. Then Jim Hill takes a look at one of the weirder promotional events ever staged at a Disney theme park, “Pooh for President.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by talking about how all of the construction that’s been going on towards the front of Future World has been negatively impacting Epcot’s “The Seas with Nemo & Friends” pavilion. Then Jim Hill does a deep dive on the development of “Ratatouille: L’Adventure” for Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by offering an update on the Universal Studios Beijing project. They then talk about how Kenan Thompson is the perfect choice to serve as a spokesperson for Universal Parks & Resorts’ new “Let Yourself Woah” promotional campaign Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa starts off this week’s episode by talking about the very best way to plan out your FastPasses while visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Jim Hill then talks about why Epcot’s Liberty Inn was recently transformed into the Regal Eagle Smokehouse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episodes with a quick recap of the 92 nd Academy Awards. They then talk about how Winnie-the-Pooh went from a literary property that Walt pursued for decades to Disney’s most profitable IP next to Mickey Mouse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by reviewing some of the patents that The Walt Disney Company has recently filed (Including one or two that soon may be in use as part of the Avenger Campus). Then Jim talks about Michael Eisner’s decade-long effort to get a Chautauqua-inspired resort built at Walt Disney World. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the two Marvel Studios-related commercials that aired during this year’s Superbowl broadcast. They then reveal what Disney+ has to do with Scott Derrickson’s decision to step down as the director of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” 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 success of “The Mandalorian” is supposedly impacted Lucasfilm’s plans for that “Obi-Wan” limited series it’s producing for Disney+. They also talk about how Indiana Jones fans will be wanting to pay close attention to what Harrison Ford has to say about his next project as he’s out doing publicity later this month for “Call of the Wild” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off by discussing how Emma Watts’ decision to step down as head of 20th Century could potentially impact Blue Sky Studios. They also talk about how the series finale of “Bojack Horseman” sort of syncs up perfectly with everything that’s going on in & Around LA right at this moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how the Imagineers are using survey results to help them determine how scary Epcot’s “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” ride should be. They then review some of the more short-lived rides, shows & attraction at the Disney theme parks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how Skydance Animation’s decision to hire Peggy Holmes to replace Alessandro Carloni as the director of “Luck” could actually be a lucky break for that animated feature. They then rate all 14 films from the first round of Disney Short Circuit productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Zehr & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about this year’s Star Wars Celebration (which will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center August 27th – 30th). They then look back at Lucasfilm’s efforts in the late Summer of 1977 to keep “A New Hope” front-of-mind by arranging for the Star Wars characters to appear on NBC’s “Richard Pryor Show” and ABC’s “Donny & Marie” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by talking about the FastPass-related changes that will be coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting on February 19th. Then Jim Hill looks back at the history of what was once considered the gateway to Future World, Epcot’s Communicore / Innoventions area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices