I Want That Too - Disney History and Merchandise

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey explore the magical intersection of Disney history and merchandise with some fascinating stories and updates: High School Musical: Celebrating the anniversary of this unexpected hit, we uncover behind-the-scenes stories and its massive impact on Disney’s tween empire. Star Wars Merch: From Skeleton Crew collectibles to the franchise’s...

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive into the latest Disney news and fascinating history, including: A look at Epcot’s 2025 Festival of the Arts, featuring Figment-inspired merch, incredible Broadway performances, and more. The surprising story of A Bug’s Life, its connection to Animal Kingdom, and its legacy in Disney history. The evolution of DinoLand USA and what’...

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey ring in the New Year with exciting updates from Disneyland Resort, including its upcoming 70th anniversary celebration and the long-awaited opening of a Haunted Mansion-themed gift shop. What You’ll Hear: A sneak peek into Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebrations, including the “Celebrate Happy” theme and the return of fan-favorite n...

In this lively New Year episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey explore Disney’s unique take on wellness, the history of Sports Goofy, and a sneak peek at the latest Valentine’s Day merchandise. What You’ll Hear: Details on Disney Springs’ Wellness Month, including free fitness classes, discounts, and the surprising involvement of Everglazed Donuts. Lauren’s insights on the chocolat...

In this post-Christmas episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive into the world of Disney shopping, employee engagement, and the fascinating history of the Walt Disney Company. What You’ll Hear: Insider tips on scoring the best post-holiday Disney merchandise deals, from ornaments to exclusive Twice Upon a Year Sale items. Lauren’s experience at the Disney Institute’s engagement...

In this episode of I Want That Too, Lauren Hersey shares highlights from her recent holiday trips to Disney and Universal, spotlighting the first wave of Disney’s 2025 dated merch, viral trends making waves in the parks, and budget-friendly travel tips. Meanwhile, Jim Hill recounts his trip to Christmas Con and explores the surprising connections between Hallmark and Disney.   2025 Dated Disney Me...

In this special holiday episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey unwrap all things Disney for the holidays—from the exciting return of Prep & Landing to Disney Lorcana, the trading card game everyone’s talking about. Plus, they spotlight this season’s hottest collaborations and must-have merch, making it your ultimate guide to a Disney-filled holiday season What You’ll Hear: The Retu...

In this festive episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey take a trip down memory lane to explore Disney’s Fifth Avenue Store—once the largest Disney store in the world. From its stunning design to its unique collectibles, they’ll uncover what made this shopping destination so unforgettable and why it’s still missed today. The holiday cheer doesn’t stop there! Jim and Lauren dive into...

On This Week's Episode of I Want That Too: Join Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey as they explore the holiday season’s biggest Disney highlights! From Moana 2’s release and must-have merch to Disney’s surprising ties to The Wizard of Oz, this episode is packed with fun stories and shopping tips. What You’ll Hear: Moana 2: What to expect from Disney’s highly anticipated sequel and the top holiday toys ins...

In this festive episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey explore the rich history between Disney and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. From Mickey Mouse’s first parade appearance in 1934 to Minnie Mouse’s brand-new balloon debut in 2024, they uncover fascinating stories about Disney’s presence in this iconic holiday tradition. What We Cover: The origins of Disney’s involvement in t...

This week on I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey welcome a true icon in the theme park industry: Garner Holt, the mastermind behind Garner Holt Productions and the creative force behind some of the most jaw-dropping animatronics in Disney, Universal, and even Chuck E. Cheese locations worldwide! What We Cover: Learn how a young Garner transformed his passion for animatronics in his parents...

On this week’s episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are joined by veteran Disney Imagineer Jim Shull to take a deep dive into the world of Disney fun maps. These aren’t just park guides—they’re works of art that have captured the evolution of Disney parks from the earliest days of Disneyland. What We Cover: The origins of Disney fun maps, including Sam McKim’s first Disneyland ma...

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey take you back to EPCOT’s grand opening on October 1, 1982. They dive deep into how EPCOT evolved from Walt Disney’s ambitious dream of a futuristic living community to the park we know today. What We Cover: Walt Disney’s original vision for EPCOT as a living, breathing city How Disney leadership navigated the project after Walt's passi...

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey transport you back to October 1, 1971, for the grand opening of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. They explore what the park’s first day was really like, with low attendance, technical challenges, and some Disney magic that made it unforgettable. They also dive into the nostalgic merch from that era, including the famous A-E ticket bo...

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are joined by Brandon Sheddon, the founder and CEO of Cakeworthy, to discuss the brand that perfectly blends fan culture with fashion-forward designs. Brandon shares the story behind Cakworthy's humble beginnings and how it grew into a pop culture phenomenon. They dive into some of Cakeworthy’s most popular items, the inspiration behin...

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey discuss the fascinating history and rise of Disney Villains in the parks, from their early appearances to the exciting new Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom. They discuss how the villains have transformed from side characters to central attractions.  What We Cover: The announcement of Villains Land at Magic Kingdom and what we know...

In this spellbinding episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive deep into the magical world of Hocus Pocus. Discover the behind-the-scenes drama that almost changed the film and how it went from box office flop to a Halloween cult classic. If you're a fan of the Sanderson Sisters or curious about Disney's decision-making, this episode is packed with must-know details! The unexpect...

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill shares the untold story of the Monsters Inc. coaster Disney almost built over a decade ago. You'll learn about the original plans, why it was shelved, and what details were accidentally leaked to cast members before the official announcement. Lauren Hersey dives into the lasting popularity of Monsters University merch, especially the famous MU hat . If...

Long before Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Oogie Boogie Bash, Disneyland hosted an exclusive Halloween event that most fans have never heard of—Little Monsters on Main Street. In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dig into the history of this forgotten event, how it became a hit with cast members, and why it eventually disappeared.  Plus, hear about the rare mer...

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking up the Halloween merch that just hit store shelves at the Disneyland Resort. They then discuss how the success of USF’s Halloween Horror Nights led to Disney developing its own seasonal after-hours hard ticket. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Which “Inside Out” character is doing a meet-n-greet exclusively at the Pixa...

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by looking back at some of the more memorable pieces of merch offered at this year’s D23 Expo. They then shine a spotlight on some of the books that Disney Press will be bringing to market in the coming months. In this episode, listeners will learn about: When will the first “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” for 2024 be presented at WDW’s Magic...

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this show by talking about the merch currently available at the Universal Orlando Resort. They also talk about how exactly the Haunted Mansion is coming back online at Disneyland Park Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Which new variation of Butterbeer just became available in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Where was Disney Legend Marc Davis’...

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by checking out some of the bragging rights merch Disney has made available for its recently opened “Splash Mountain” redo. They also take a look back at when the Mouse had a store in virtually every mall in America Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How did The Walt Disney Company decide where the first 13 Disney Stores would be l...

In this episode of "I Want That Too," Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill discuss the history of Disney's first animated star. Then Oswald collector Noe Valladolid shares how he acquired some of his most valuable pieces. For this episode, listeners will learn about: How "Inside Out 2” blew past its initial box office projections Where at Disney Springs you can find the new Aloha Collection mini-store What ve...

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the teaser trailer for “Moana 2.” They also closely examine which Disney Princess moves the most merchandise. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Why did the Magic Kingdom eventually remove the Disney Princess float from its “Share a Dream Come True” parade What were the three robots in Universal Pictures’ “Silent...