The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

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 GardensThroughout this episode, listeners will learn about:This long-running animated series just celebrated its 25th anniversary back in JanuaryWill Warner Bros. be releasing Genndy Tartakovsky’s “Fixed” anytime soonWhen will Pixar’s latest feature-length film be available for purchase on Blu-rayHow many movies did Robert Stevenson direct for Walt Disney StudiosWho almost played Nora, the daughter of the lighthouse keeper in “Pete’s Dragon” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 1953For this episode, listeners will learn about;Who did Roger Bart sing for in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Summer release for 1997Who wrote the songs for Disney’s full-length animated feature for 1953When is Disney on Broadway’s new stage production of “Hercules” supposed to open in London’s West EndWhich two animated features was WDI originally considering as their jumping-off point for their upcoming redo of DAK’s Dinoland U.S.A.When was Bob Hope’s sequel to his 1948 Western comedy, “The Paleface,” first released to theatersSHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 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 KingdomWhich two feature-length films did Stephen Anderson direct for Walt Disney Animation StudiosWhat phrase did Len Testa coin to describe the exhaustion that people feel whenever they wrestle with the ever-growing technical aspect of a WDW vacationWhat was the must-have collectible for Star Wars fans who attended this year’s D23 ExpoWhich once-a-box-office-flop / now-a-pop-culture-favorite Disney films from the 1990s just got its oral history published Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking about viewership for the Summer Games in Paris. They then take a look at how Universal Pictures’ recent releases have been doing at the domestic box officeThroughout this episode, listeners will learn about:When was Epic Universe originally supposed to open up in OrlandoIn what year does NBCUniversal’s deal with the IOC for the US broadcast rights for the Olympics run outWhich classic silent horror film is Universal Pictures remaking How many spots on the Top 10 box office chart for 2024 do Universal Pictures releases occupy For how many years now has the Broadway musical version of “Wicked” been presenting performances at NYC’s Gershwin Theatre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by looking back at some of the animation-related news that came out of the D23 Expo.They also discuss a number of the books that event attendees could pick up at this year’s eveOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:Who now is voicing Elio’s aunt in Pixar Animation Studios’ big release for June of 2025Why it’s kind of ironic that the Mouse House just decided to make Frank Oz a Disney LegendWhat’s the reported premise for “Hoppers,” Pixar’s Spring 2026What’s intriguing about the visual clues that were included in the “Frozen 3” concept art that Jennifer Lee showcases at the Honda CenterHow many episodes of Pixar’s “Dream Productions” did D23 members get to see at this year’s Expo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start today’s episode by discussing the changes that will soon be coming to Tom Sawyer Island at WDW’s Magic Kingdom.They also look back at when the “Be Our Guest” restaurant opened at that same theme park back in December of 2012Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:For which Disney animated feature from the 1990s did Ricky Martin voice the title character (for the Latin American / Spanish version of this film, that is)What did the Imagineers once toy with installing inside of the “Hall of Presidents” show buildingWhat does Universal Orlando’s new dining offer tell us about when Epic Universe will likely open to the publicWhy did Disney’s Central Reservations Office have to rethink the number of seatings they could book daily at “Be Our Guest” just six months after this new Magic Kingdom restaurant first openedWhy did the load-in of the Ballroom’s chandelier prove to be a challenge to the “Be Our Guest” construction teamSHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by getting the skinny on thinly sliced pieces of bacon.They then discuss whether the changes that have recently been made to DAS have actually lowered wait times at WDW’s parkThroughout this episode, listeners will learn about:Where did the wax figures from the “Davy Crockett Frontier Museum” eventually wind upWhy would Disney Procurement likely have bought pork products in bulk last yearWhen did the West Coast version of “Country Bear Jamboree” first openWhat’s the name of that Royal Caribbean stage show themed around superheroesWhich Harvard professor helped to turn the American cowboy into that mythic figure we know todaySHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In the eighth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about how savvy rail & beer companies took advantage of trolley downtime to create new entertainment destinations at the end of the line.Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:How Tivoli Gardens directly influenced the design of Disneyland A Ferris wheel from 1897 that is still operational today Early animatronics in Jenny’s Whim How the rise of the automobile signaled the death knell for trolley parks  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by looking back at the“Jurassic World: Chaos Panel” he moderated at last month’s San Diego Comic-Con.Then Jim Hill discusses the three feature-length films that were made at Fox AnimationStudios in PhoenixOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: What spot did Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” just claim on the list of all-time worldwide topgrossing films When will the Boomerang streaming service officially get folded into Max Which “Gravity Falls” -related book now tops the New York Times bestseller list On what television broadcast back in the Summer of 2016 did the “Moana” teasertrailer first appear Back when “Titan AE” was still supposed to be a live-action production, what wasthe title of this film originally supposed to be Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices