The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

In this episode of The Disney Dish Podcast, Len Testa and Jim Hill discuss the latest updates and history behind Mickey’s PhilharMagic. Tune in for: Autonomous Vehicles at Fort Wilderness?: Could self-driving vehicles soon be delivering food and merchandise around this iconic resort? Jim and Len explore the potential future of tech at Disney. Occupancy Rates for Disney Vacation Club Resorts: Disco...

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 episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive into the fascinating tale of how the Looney Tunes almost became part of Universal Orlando’s second gate. A listener question sparked a deep dive into the history of these iconic characters and their long-standing presence at Six Flags. Jim uncovers the intricate details behind Universal’s interest in the Looney Tunes, and...

Jim Hill starts a solo edition of this podcast by discussing how well “The Wild Robot” did at the domestic box office this past weekend. He then discusses the Halloween-themed “The Bad Guys” special which will soon be debuting on Netflix Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How will Warner Bros. Discovery be celebrating Scooby Doo this month Who will be introducing “The Day the Ear...

Len Testa and Jim Hill start this week’s episode by sharing a survey the Universal Orlando Resort recently sent out. They then look back at the 3D movie that eventually led to “Mickey’s PhilharMagic” Over the course of this show, listeners will learn about: Why Rodney Dangerfield’s obituary may be the funniest story that the Los Angeles Times ever ran How does an RIP Tour compare to a HHN Express...

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 the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive into the fascinating and perplexing world of Toon Lagoon at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. They unravel the mystery behind this quirky theme park area and explore why Universal chose to dedicate an entire land to classic comic strip characters. From the backstory of its creation to the impact it has on park guests, Jim...

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss the surprising news of Jennifer Lee stepping down as Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and what it means for the future of Disney’s animated films. They explore: Jennifer Lee’s New Role: How she’s shifting her focus to the upcoming Frozen 3 and Frozen 4. Jared Bush Takes the Lead: What does this creative shake-...

In this episode of The Disney Dish Podcast, Len Testa and Jim Hill bring you the latest updates and an in-depth look at Disney’s past, present, and future. Tune in as they cover: Exclusive Interview: Special guest Ricky Debler Jr. from Palmas Restaurant Group shares the inside story behind their iconic Disney dining locations and the evolution of La Cava del Tequila. Disney Treasure Updates: Get t...

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...

In this episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive deep into Universal Studios' unbuilt Cartoon World, a project meant to pave the way for Islands of Adventure. Jim shares fascinating insights into the concept's early stages and how it evolved into what fans know today. Highlights include: Jim's stories about the behind-the-scenes development of Cartoon World and its tran...

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss how the successful 15th-anniversary re-release of Coraline inspired Disney to bring back some of its beloved classics to theaters. Find out how The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus are making their return to the big screen this Halloween season. Join us as we cover: Coraline’s Box Office Success: How a cult classic reignit...

In this episode of The Disney Dish Podcast, Jim Hill and Len Testa bring you the latest Disney theme park news, listener questions, and a deep dive into Disney history. Tune in as they cover: Crane Permits and Fort Wilderness Construction: What’s going on at the old River Country site? Disney Cruise Line’s Future: How jumbo-ification could extend the life of Disney’s Magic and Wonder ships. The Ev...

In the tenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about the three great amusement parks that once occupied the southwesternmost section of Brooklyn.  For this episode, listeners will learn about: The rowdy early history of this island The Elephantine Colossus and her sisters How the arrest of Coney Island’s “boss” opened the door for Amusement Parks Sea Lion Park, w...

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey take a deep dive into the world of Monsters Inc.—but this time, it's all about the merchandise! Discover the surprising popularity of the Monsters University hat and learn why it continues to fly off the shelves nearly a decade after the movie's release. Plus, Jim shares some hidden gems from Disney’s past, including the evolution of P...

n this episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey take listeners on a magical journey through Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. As Eric recounts his family's first experience, Jim provides insights into the park's history. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect: The Magic of Diagon Alley: Hear about the awe-inspiring entrance through the famous brick wall, along with...

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take you behind the scenes of Disney’s beloved Hocus Pocus and its unexpected connection to Steven Spielberg. Discover the untold story of how the Halloween classic was pitched, nearly lost, and ultimately stolen away from Spielberg. Tune in as we explore:   The Spielberg-Kirschner Drama: How did the An American Tail creator’s decision to p...

In this episode of The Disney Dish, Jim Hill and Len Testa bring you the latest Disney theme park news, dive into listener questions, and share some fascinating theme park history. Tune in for an entertaining and informative discussion featuring: The History of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Learn how this beloved attraction evolved from the original Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland. Disney’...

 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...

In this episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive into various Universal Studios topics, from Halloween thrills to lost Star Trek adventures. Here’s what you can expect: Halloween Horror Nights 2024: We kick off the episode discussing the latest news from Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. Squishmallows and Wicked Collaboration: Jim and Eric talk about Universal’s mark...

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the three tiers of hotels that the Universal Orlando Resort just rolled out. They also talk about why Disney wants to know more about how you allocated your cash during your most recent trip to Orlando. For this episode, listeners will learn about: Why the Universal Theme Parks want to learn more about which brands & IPs your young daughter...

 In the ninth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about how – as the 19th Century gave way to the 20th – amusement parks as we know them today began to pop up around the country  Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How Lake Compouce sprang up from a failed explosives experiment How Disney’s Boardwalk Resort was originally supposed to feature a sele...

Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start this week’s show by looking back at the D23 Expo. They also discuss what “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” seems to have in common with Joe Dante’s “Explorers” In this episode, listeners will learn about: When did the Disney family sell off the Silverado Vineyards How did Barry Diller leaving Paramount to go run 20th Century Fox in the Fall of 1984 result in Michael Eisner...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by seeing how “Inside Out 2” ‘s worldwide box office stacks up against Jon Favreau’s photo-realistic “Lion King.” They also talk about that Nightmare Before Christmas-themed light trail that’s coming to New York’s Botanical Gardens Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: This long-running animated series just celebrated its 25th anniversar...

In a special solo show, Jim Hill first talks about which Disney Villains just made their debut at DCA’s “Oogie Boogie Bash.” He then looks back at how Walt adapted J.B. Barrie’s play & novel to the screen back in 1953 For this episode, listeners will learn about; Who did Roger Bart sing for in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Summer release for 1997 Who wrote the songs for Disney’s full-length anima...