The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the truce-of-sorts that’s recently been brokered between the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District & Disney.They also talk about the drone show that will debut at Disney Springs on May 24thOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: Which annual event – which is held over in Tampa – made the Imagineers hesitant to bring Disneyland’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride to Florida Why is much of Epcot’s Morocco pavilion currently hidden behind construction fences When did Walt Disney make his very last visit to the Studios that he & his brother Roy built in Burbank What is Tiana asking Guests to help out with when they set sail on her “Bayou Adventure” How did WDI upset the turkey vultures who frequent the WDW Resort Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Eric Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by taking a look back at the “How to Train Your Dragon” film franchise.They then pivot to discussing the latest land to be unveiled for Epic UniverseOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: Which character did Wayne Brady almost get heat stroke playing at a Disney Park How many different movie studios have released “How to Train Your Dragon” films over the past 14 years What was especially cool about the “Casper the Friendly Ghost” ride that Universal Creative developed for that Company’s theme parks Who was originally supposed to be the lead of the first “Ghostbusters” movie Residents of which two states can take advantage of the latest Universal Orlando ticket offer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about “Imperial March.” They then discuss why “Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny” wound up being such a disappointmentOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:Who threw the switch at the Empire State Building to start a celebration of Star Wars villainyWhich UK Prime Minister played a part in the launching of “May the Fourth Be With You” as a popular phrase among Star Wars fansWho’s writing that “Star Wars ICONS Darth Vader” book that Insight Editions will be publishing later this Fall Which “Rebel Moon” star auditioned to play the role of Anakin Skywalker in “Attack of the Clones” When did Captain Rex, Captain Gregor & Commander Wolffe first appear on “Star Wars: Rebels” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the construction permits that just got filed for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. They then discuss the “Encanto” -themed show that will be presented in front of CommuniCore Plaza later this SummeOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: What’s the difference between a Milky Way bar and Three Musketeers Which Dinoland U.S.A. structures are supposed to survive this side of Disney’s Animal Kingdom being transformed into an “Encanto” -themed area What toy line did Disney Consumer Products launch in the mid-2000s with the hope that it would then become a “Disney Princesses” -like success with little boys Which “Clueless” star did Disney originally cast as Tinker Bell’s speaking voice How did Tom Staggs alter Jay Rasulo’s original plans for the Fantasyland expansion that was first announced back in September of 2009 Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start off this edition of “I Want That Too!” by talking about 90s Con. They then take a look at the merch that was offered at this year’s International Flower & Garden Festival at EpcotOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: Which national tragedy tripped the original theatrical release of Disney’s “Sword in the Stone” Who was originally supposed to be Mickey Mouse’s neighbor in the original version of Toontown at Disneyland Park in Anaheim What was some of the corporations who originally signed on to be Walt Disney World sponsors How did Chuuby the bird in “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway” get his name Which sequence from a Disney animated feature from the 1960s do John Lasseter, Glen Keane & Andreas Deja cite as a reason that they pursued careers in animation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Drew Taylor starts off by revealing what he saw at the preview event for this year’s D23 Expo. Then Jim Hill shares a history of Genndy Tartakovsky’s never-completed “Popeye” Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:Which D23 Expo events are going to presented this time around over at the Honda Center, rather than inside of the Anaheim Convention CenterWhy did Robin Williams want Walt Disney Productions to fly some Imagineers over to Malta back in 1980Which sequel did Sony Pictures Animation officials ask Genndy Tartakovsky to work on out ahead of proceeding with his feature-length animated version of “Popeye”Why did Bluto get replaced with Brutus back in the early 1960sHow did the cancellation of the “Sprockets” movie factor into Mike Myers agreeing to play the title role in Universal Pictures’ “The Cat in the Hat” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Disney World’s latest ticket offer for Florida residents.They’re then joined by veteran Imagineer Jim Shull who shares some behind-the-scenes storiesOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:What’s significant about the dates that WDW’s latest ticket offer is available for Where is the control booth for DCA’s “Grizzly River Run” attraction located Why are Universal Orlando officials so interested in learning where people plan on starting their next Florida vacation Where was the NYC version of David Copperfield’s Magic Underground restaurant supposed to be locatedWhat happens when you make the Cast Members who drive the monorail nervous  Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Hersey & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing the various ways to park-hop at the Universal Orlando Resort. They then talk about how Universal Studios Hollywood is celebrating its 60th anniversaryOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:When did Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure first begin operates at IOAHow much did “Kung Fu Panda 4” earned over its opening weekend in North AmericaWhen did Hot Butterbeer go from being a seasonal thing at the Universal Parks to becoming a beverage you could get all year roundHow much did NBCUniversal spend to acquire Dreamworks Animation back in 2016Which Disney Imagineer designed the original Glamour Tram for Universal Studios Hollywood back in 1964 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the 96th Academy Awards. They then take a look at how well “Kung Fu Panda 4” did at the domestic box office over this past weekend. Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:What did Totie Fields say to Gene Simmons when they met backstage at “The Mike Douglas Show” Which animated feature did many Hollywood insiders think was going to take home the Oscar this year Who is the author of the best-selling series of books that DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” is based on Which sitcom star from the 1970s played the villain in Disney’s “Scandalous John” How many people lost their jobs last week when Warner Bros Discovery announced that they were shutting down Roosters Teeth after 21 years Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill are joined by Christina Harrison, who talks up the very best eats to be found at the 2024 edition of Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival. Len & Jim then take a closer look at Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySeaOn this episode, listeners will learn about:Which attraction in Dreamworks Land will key off of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”Why are stores at the Disney theme parks still stocking “Monsters University” merch, more than a decade after this Pixar film was first released to theatersWhich hit Fox TV series from the 1990s is The Walt Disney Company reportedly considering revivingWhen do young girls supposedly age out of being fans of the Disney Princess franchiseHow soon after the first “Frozen” film first opened in theaters did the Oriental Land Company announce that it would be adding a land keying off of that Academy Award-winning animated feature to Tokyo DisneySeaShow Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices