The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the opening weekend of performances of “Disney Dreams That Soar.”They then look back at how fireworks got started at Disneyland Park in the late 1950sIn this episode, listeners will learn about: Why Universal Orlando decided to change the name of Epic Universe’s racing coaster When will work begin on the retheming of Dinoland U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Which musical acts is Universal Creative reportedly considering using as the jumping-off point for a maze at a future Halloween Horror Night Why are dining reservations suddenly far easier to get at WDW’s sit-down restaurants Where will road improvements soon begin on Disney World property Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In the third installment of this new educational series, Noe & Shelly Valladolid look back at the first World’s Fairs. More importantly, the impact that these ambitious expositions had on societyIn this episode, listeners will learn about: Where in London was the Great Exposition staged Which structure at the Great Exposition inspired a popular WDW restaurant What marvels from the Victorian Age were on display during this 5-month-long event Which event held in France just four years later attempted to throw the Great Exposition of London into eclipse Why is the Palais d’Industrie considered Napoleon III’s “ego building” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Jim Hill first talks about how “The Garfield Movie” did domestically over the long Memorial Day Week.He then discusses that new YouTube documentary, “Beyond the Glass: The WDW Animation Building”Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Which fairy tale classic was supposed to have served as the basis of Disney’s first-ever live-action musical for television How much of the staff up in Emeryville was reportedly let go as part of the recent round of lay-offs at Pixar Animation Studios Which two movie musicals did the Sherman Brothers write the score AND the screenplays for How many films have been produced to date as part of the “Mad Max” movie series Which installment has been the highest-grossing film (to date) in the “Kung Fu Panda” series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa shares what it was like to watch Disney Springs’ new nighttime show from Saratoga Springs. Jim Hill then finishes his history of the miniature golf courses at the WDW ResortThroughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Why do Disney execs really need to pay attention to what Jenny Nicolson shared throughout her four-hour-long “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” video What makes the Bacchus hole at “Fantasia Gardens” so difficult for golfers How long after the theme for “Winter Summerland” was selected did this miniature golf course open up right next door to Blizzard Beach What did Tiger Woods have to say about “Fantasia Fairways” Which buildings at Disney’s Saratoga Springs should offer the very best views of “Disney Dreams That Soar” (EDITOR’S NOTE: on the side facing Disney Springs Lake) Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by discussing a rare Disney book found at the Brimfield Flea Market.They then take a look at Disney-MGM’s old Streetmosphere programThroughout this episode, listeners will learn about: What “Star Trek” vet directed “Three Men & a Baby” for Touchstone Pictures Which forest creature recently turned up on Jim’s front porch When was “Lady & the Tramp” first released to theaters How much did it originally cost to build the Disney-MGM Studio theme park What will you find at the corner of Mickey Avenue & Dopey Drive on the Disney Lot in Burbank Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the media preview that was recently held for Universal Studios Florida’s reimagining Kidzone area. They then look back at the “Pink Panther” film seriesThroughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Where did Duffy AKA the Disney Bear initially exclusively sell on Disney World property back in 2002 Why is the new entrance sign for USF’s “E.T. Adventure” attraction deliberately designed to look like something you associate with a forest How did MGM/UA decide to cash in on the “Muppet Babies” craze back in the mid-1980s Which classic Universal cartoon character is reportedly being given the “Hidden Mickey” treatment inside of DreamWorks Land What are the themes of the first three mazes announced for Universal Orlando’s 2024 edition of Halloween Horror Nights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the first full trailer for Netflix’s “Ultraman: Rising.” They then talk about “Flow,” the dialogue-free post-apocalyptic animated feature which will be debuting at Cannes next weekIn this episode, listeners will learn about: Who will be voicing Garfield’s Dad in the new animated feature that Sony will be sending out to North American theaters on May 24th Which George Lucas-produced film was Marvel Productions trying to turn into an animated series in 1984 What company did Illuminations get into bed with back in 2017 to help promote the release of “Despicable Me 3” How many “South Park” specials have Matt Stone & Trey Parker produced for Paramount+ so far What was the name of the very first puppet-based series that Jim Henson produced for television Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing who gets to experience “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” when as part of that WDW attraction’s month-long grand opening event.They then take a look at the interior of the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian ResortThroughout this episode, listeners will learn about: What does Disney’s Hollywood Studios do when the IT system at the WDW Resort crashes When might we see a second Taylor Swift concert film show up on Disney+ How did Jack Wrather deal with Disneyland being closed on Mondays & Tuesdays during that theme park’s off-season starting back in the late 1950s What does the future hold for Magic Bands Why is it very appropriate that the road directly behind the Disneyland Hotel is called Walnut Street Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In the second installment of this new educational series, Noe & Shelly Valladolid discuss the ancestors of today’s Renaissance fairs. To be specific, some of the primitive “rides” that could be found at these medieval entertainmentsIn this episode, listeners will learn about:  Elephants walking across the frozen Thames What fairs were like in faraway India How an exhibition of two goats led to today’s county fairs Why Canada’s Hants County Exhibition, the first major fair in North America, is still in operation today What it was like to attend a Frost Fair in the heart of London Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how well the 25th anniversary re-release of “Star Wars – Episode One: The Phantom Menace.”They also share Ahmed Best’s conflicted memories of portraying Jar Jar BinksOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:  According to Josh Gad, which specific brand of cookie is repeatedly visually referenced within the “Star Wars” universe How many Star Wars fans took part in the shoot for the video which promotes the iPhone 15’s “Precision Finding” feature Which big box store currently has TruMoo’s Star Wars Blue Milk in stock (Bonus question: Which direct competitor of this store does NOT have Blue Milk) Who did President Joe Biden recently personally give a tour of the Oval Office to When is Star Wars Celebration Japan being held next year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices