The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill, Lauren Hersey, and special guest Eric Hersey dive into the surprising crossover between Disney and the biggest sporting event of the year—the Super Bowl. The origins of the legendary "I'm Going to Disneyland" phrase and how it all started with Jane Eisner’s brilliant idea. Michael Eisner’s deep love of sports and how it led to Disney owning The Mighty...

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: Dog Man’s impressive $36M opening weekend and what it means for DreamWorks Animation. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the fascinating history behind Splash Mountain’s reimagining. Will Ferrell’s viral Buddy the Elf moment at an LA Kings game and his surprising reason for rejecting Elf 2. Updates on The Simpsons’ upcoming season and exc...

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill explore the surprising history of annual passes—how Disneyland accidentally created a theme park membership program and what Disney might have in store next. Plus, Jim continues the saga of Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge, the resort that made it to the concept art phase but never to reality. The Origins of Annual Passes: How Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom Club s...

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore Universal’s updates and dive into the rich history of The Munsters. Highlights include: The Munsters’ Origins: How a pitch for an animated series turned into one of TV’s most beloved sitcoms. Wicked’s Box Office Success: Its award potential and the announcement of the new subtitle, For Good. Universal Studios Florida U...

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive into Disney anniversaries, exciting new merch, and the bittersweet farewell to a fan-favorite attraction. Cinderella’s 75th Anniversary: The surprising history of how Bank of America played a role in bringing this Disney classic to life. Muppet Vision 3D’s Closure: What we know about the end of this beloved attraction at Disney’s...

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: Warner Bros. Animation’s ambitious adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and its 2028 release plans. The marketing genius behind DreamWorks’ Dog Man, including a new The Bad Guys short premiering with the film. Animated Academy Award nominees, from The Wild Robot to Flow, and surprising snubs like Moana 2. The evolving...

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill are joined by Christina Harrison to explore the best (and worst) of Epcot’s Festival of the Arts while diving into the intriguing history of Disney’s shelved resort project, Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge. Festival of the Arts Food Tour: Christina breaks down the must-try dishes, including the return of Japan’s Taiyaki and the surprising stars of the Painted Panda...

In this episode of Looking at Lucasfilm, Jim Hill and Brian Gaughan dive into a mix of Lucasfilm updates, thought-provoking stories, and industry reflections: A retrospective on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, exploring its strengths, challenges, and future prospects. Insights into James Mangold’s ambitious Dawn of the Jedi project, a sweeping tale exploring the origins of the Force. The fascinating sto...

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey tackle a variety of Universal Studios updates and dive into the history of The Munsters. Highlights include: Wildfires and Universal Hollywood’s Closure: How recent California wildfires forced a rare closure of Universal Studios Hollywood, plus ways to support relief efforts. Rock the Universe: A preview of Universal Orlando’s...

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 Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: A behind-the-scenes look at Disney’s Hercules, from the creation of Hades to Jeffrey Katzenberg’s surprising influence on the character. The passing of legendary filmmakers David Lynch and Robert Verrall, celebrating their lasting impact on cinema and animation. Box office highlights, including Moana 2 crossing the billion-dollar m...

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill share how to conquer Animal Kingdom faster than you can finish a Mickey waffle and dig into the curious case of Disney’s Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge. Animal Kingdom Touring Plan: Len’s step-by-step guide to finishing all major rides in under two hours—because who has time to wait in line? Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge: Jim uncovers the rise, fall, and possible r...

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey howl into the legacy of The Wolfman and explore Universal’s iconic monster history. Plus, they cover a variety of Universal Studios updates and nostalgic gems. Highlights include: The Wolfman’s Legacy: From Lon Chaney Jr.’s classic transformation to Blumhouse’s new reimagining, how the Wolfman defined Universal’s horror legacy...

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 Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: The devastating wildfires in Southern California and their impact on the animation industry. Updates on box office hits like Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The intriguing backstory of Olaf’s creation in Frozen and Josh Gad’s journey to voicing the beloved character. Changes to Fox’s Sunday night “Animatio...

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill reveal how to take on Hollywood Studios during peak crowds without relying on Lightning Lane, plus a look at Disney’s music legend George Wilkins and other park updates: Hollywood Studios Touring Plan: Len’s step-by-step guide to beating a 9/10 crowd level in six hours flat—without Lightning Lane. George Wilkins Tribute: The Disney composer who wrote EPCOT’s sound...

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore the fascinating and hilarious story behind Your Studio and You, a parody film created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker before South Park. Highlights include: The Making of Your Studio and You: How Matt and Trey enlisted A-list celebrities like Steven Spielberg, Angela Lansbury, and Michael J. Fox to poke fun at Universal...

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 episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: The 82nd Golden Globes nominees for Best Animated Motion Picture, including Inside Out 2, Moana 2, and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Hayao Miyazaki’s enduring creative spirit as the Studio Ghibli legend celebrates his 84th birthday. Disney’s history of using Donald Duck to rally Americans during WWII, including the creatio...

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill explore the remarkable career of Disney composer George Wilkins, the man behind EPCOT’s most iconic music, and discuss the latest park updates and strategies. George Wilkins Tribute: How a 45-year-old jingle writer turned EPCOT into his personal symphony. Free Dining Returns: Disney’s 2025 dining offer is back, but is its timing a response to Universal’s Epic Univ...

In the fifteenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid continued\ their look at the history of themed entertainment. This episode emphasizes how the industry changed after the First World War. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: What are the specific components of an Old Mill Ride What is typically found inside of a Tunnel of Love attraction (Besides kiss...

In this first episode of 2025, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey recap Universal’s most exciting moments from the past year, discuss insights from a Universal guest survey, and share bold predictions for the year ahead. Highlights include: Universal’s Guest Survey: Jim and Eric analyze intriguing survey questions about vacation planning, accessibility, and the impact of Universal’s Wicked-themed offerings...

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 final episode of Fine Tooning for 2024, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor explore: How Mufasa: The Lion King roared back at the box office, edging out Sonic 3 during the holiday weekend. Updates from Pixar, including Tim Allen’s return as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5 and the lingering delays around Win or Lose. A sneak peek at 2025’s animated lineup, from Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl to P...

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill break down the jaw-dropping prices of Disney’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which sold out at a whopping $478 per person during the holidays. Premier Pass Sticker Shock: Is there a limit to how much Disney fans will pay for shorter wait times? Bluey Comes to Disney: The beloved pup makes her way to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line. Universal O...