The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey return with a jam-packed episode of I Want That Too, covering the latest Disney merch, clever marketing strategies, and holiday surprises. The rise of popcorn buckets in parks and movie theaters – from talking Mickey to mummy Stitch to a Tron lightcycle How Disney uses psychology to nudge us into spending more, from limited releases to sneaky menu tricks Nightmare Before Christmas merch expansions, books, and light trails around the globe Early Christmas décor spotted at Disneyland Paris – and why Disney (and retailers) get a head start on the holidays The surprising history of Winnie the Pooh at Disney, including cereal crossovers and rare collectibles From ghost Mickey buckets to glow-in-the-dark villain sneakers, Jim and Lauren unpack the ways Disney keeps fans coming back for “just one more thing.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Awards season is heating up, and Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are here to break it all down. From the Venice Film Festival and TIFF premieres to box office shocks and studio shakeups, this episode dives into the films and animated projects making headlines around the globe. Highlights include: Venice Film Festival winners and early buzz from TIFF “The Conjuring: Last Rites” breaking horror records Updates on “The Bad Guys 2” and Aaron Blaise’s hand-drawn short “Snow Bear” Disney’s new animated feature “Hexed” and “Ice Age: Boiling Point” What’s ahead for “Zootopia 2,” LEGO Disney Princess, and Bluey’s big-screen debut Whether you’re tracking festival favorites, the latest box office trends, or Disney’s evolving animation slate, this episode offers insights, context, and commentary you won’t want to miss. Support Our Sponsors Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa and Jim Hill return with a Disney Dish full of hard-hitting questions like: is a popcorn bucket a collectible, a food container, or proof of life’s absurdity? Along the way, they tackle Disney’s latest surveys, new overlays, and a franchise that almost stalled out before becoming a billion-dollar juggernaut. Disney sets the closing date for Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom and spruces up Carousel of Progress with a new Walt Disney animatronic Tron Lightcycle Run trades neon blue for Nine Inch Nails red in a Tron: Ares overlay Disneyland Paris ticket pricing hints at when World of Frozen may open in 2026 Universal ponders the true meaning of souvenir popcorn buckets, from Aristotle to social media influencers Jim explains how Pixar’s Cars almost didn’t get made — and how Radiator Springs ended up saving Disney California Adventure From castle cake flashbacks to Schrödinger’s popcorn, this episode mixes history, news, and a little bit of existential dread — all with the usual Testa-Hill banter. SHOW NOTES Support Our Sponsors Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a loaded episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, blending Halloween Horror Nights buzz with theme park history and rumors. Opening weekend reactions to HHN 2024, including Terrifier, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and the controversial “deathly afraid” lanyards RIP Ride Rockit demolition updates and Ghostbusters speculation for Universal’s front gate Could Back to the Future replace Fast & Furious? The latest whispers from insiders The Tooniversal deal that almost brought Looney Tunes and DC to Universal — and how its failure led to the Lost Continent Who really stole what? Disney borrowing from Knott’s, Universal borrowing from Disney, and the chain of “borrowed” ideas that shaped Dueling Dragons From HHN news to the “battle of borrowed rides,” Jim and Eric serve up insider scoops, history, and plenty of banter. Follow Eric on X and Instagram @EricHersey Follow Jim on X and Instagram @JimHillMedia Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey return with a new episode of I Want That Too, diving into Disney Princess Week, new merchandise drops, and the latest Disney history feature. From LEGO sidekicks to Bath & Body Works villains, they’ve got the stories (and opinions) Disney fans will want to hear. Highlights from Disney Princess Week, including merchandise, sidekick collections, and special events The “Meant to Be” adult rom-com book series reimagining Disney Princesses in modern settings Early fan reactions to Bath & Body Works’ Disney Villains collaboration EPCOT Food & Wine Festival merch, featuring Muppet Labs, Figment, and Chef Mickey collections Jim and Lauren revisit the story of Kay Kamen and continue their Disney cereal history deep dive From modern merch drops to classic collectibles, this episode blends Disney history, fan culture, and insider stories from Jim and Lauren. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick off September with a packed episode of Fine Tooning, covering the biggest stories in the world of animation: The record-shattering success of KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix and what’s next for the franchise Updates on Big Mouth, its Emmy legacy, and the upcoming series Mating Season Aardman’s latest projects, including Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom Pixar’s Elio and how its international release stood out in unexpected ways 30 years of Toy Story returning to theaters, plus collectibles and nostalgia Bill Plympton and “Weird Al” Yankovic team up for a one-of-a-kind animation retrospective Jim and Drew also revisit classic shorts once shown at Disney-MGM Studios, share news from Studio Ghibli Fest, and look ahead at Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is park hopping the best way to squeeze every drop of Disney magic out of your vacation - or just an overpriced bus pass with extra steps? In this first episode of The Case For with Chris Cox, mind reader and performer Chris Cox squares off against theme park expert Len Testa, while Disney historian Jim Hill dons judge’s robe to deliver a verdict. What’s on trial this week: The strange history of park hopping at Walt Disney World (including a giant ticket costume) Costs, trade-offs, and whether that money is better spent on Dole Whip or dinner The joy - or misery - of buses, monorails, and the Disney Skyliner How Lightning Lane, rope drops, and UK vs. US vacation styles change the debate Why some families say “yes” to more rides, while others say “slow down and enjoy the parks” The verdict? You be the judge. Tell us if park hopping is your go-to Disney strategy - or just a fast pass to frustration. Follow the Hosts Chris Cox – https://www.magiccox.com Instagram - @magiccox Twitter/X - @bigcox Len Testa – https://www.touringplans.com Instagram - @len.testa BlueSky - lentesta.bsky.social Jim Hill – https://jimhillmedia.com Instagram - @jimhillmedia Twitter/X - @jimhillmedia Next case: rope dropping at Disney Parks - because nothing says “vacation” like a 5 a.m. wake-up call. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa and Jim Hill return with a packed episode of The Disney Dish to discuss Magic Kingdom’s brand new Beak & Barrel Lounge, an immersive pirate-themed bar near Pirates of the Caribbean. Len shares firsthand impressions of the decor, the elusive animatronic pirate Rummy, and why it’s already drawing Trader Sam’s comparisons. Also in this episode: Why Disney villains might be the next big meet and greet trend Early entry’s 70 million dollar cost-cutting math Len’s thoughts on all-inclusive dining plans (and horrifying Gold Key memories) A hard truth about Jungle Cruise’s future in the Magic Kingdom The story behind Cars Land’s origins and how an unrealized DCA parade inspired it Plus: shoutouts to Surrey bike designers, a blood alcohol calculator for Food & Wine, and ashtray trauma from the 1970s. SHOW NOTES Support Our Sponsors Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 21st installment of this educational series, Shelly and Noe Valladolid talk about what happened when C.V. Wood (the original president of Disneyland) went off in 1956 and set up his own theme park design company. This episode takes a close look at Freedomland & Magic Mountain Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How many theme park designers did C.V. Wood take with him when he exited Disneyland What was the first theme park that Wood worked on after he stopped working for Walt How was Freedomland’s opening day much like the one that Disneyland experienced back in 1955 What similarities did Magic Mountain have with Walt’s original family fun park Who were some of the stars that performed at Freedomland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with another packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, diving into the latest Universal news, fan reports, and theme park history. Highlights this week include: Firsthand impressions of Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, thanks to listener John T. – from house walkthroughs to surprisingly short wait times. A look at Universal Orlando’s new “Deathly Afraid” necklace option at Halloween Horror Nights and the debate it’s sparked online. News from the West Coast, including the Slash Bar pop-up at HHN Hollywood and the arrival of Chainsaw Man. Updates on the new Museum of Antiquities Tribute Store packed with Easter eggs for longtime fans. Breaking down NBC’s Inside the Worlds of Epic Universe TV special and Steven Spielberg’s surprising connection to Dark Universe. Jim kicks off a new multi-part feature on the history of Dueling Dragons and whether Disney’s never-built Beastly Kingdom really influenced Universal’s iconic coaster. As always, Jim and Eric mix news, rumors, and personal stories—including Eric sending his son off to college and Jim recalling how he helped break Disney’s Animal Kingdom news decades ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices