The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Drew Taylor returns with a detailed recap of what’s been going on with “Coyote vs Acme.” Then Jim Hill talks about the recently released trailer for “Iwaju,” that animated limited series from Disney & KugaliOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:When will the “Valley of the Witches” be opening at Ghibli Park over in JapanWho reportedly personally petitioned Disney execs & Dwayne Johnson to get Thomas Kail the job as director of the live-action version of “Moana”How did Pixar’s “Turning Red” do at the North American box office this past weekendWhere is “Tiana: The Series” (i.e., that new limited series for Disney+) being produced\Who handled the live-action portion of “Looney Tunes: Back in Action” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast discusses Universal-related Super Bowl trailers, the 7-minute-long Epic Universe video, a trimmed down version of the Broadway musical 'Wicked' at a Universal theme park, the 'House of Minalima' at Universal CityWalk, an over-sized spider at the still-under-construction Dreamworks Land, attractions previously staged in the USF show building, Disney's $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, Twister attraction at Universal Studios, the upcoming Universal theme park with unboxing videos and potential soft opening dates, interactive wand experiences at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the one-year anniversary of Super Nintendo World, the partnership between Nintendo and Universal Parks & Experiences, and the competition between Disney and Universal.

Disney Dish discusses potential WDW expansion, character appearances at 1900 Park Fare, recent earnings call insights, Disney's stake in Epic Games, and mistakes viewing 'Illuminations' premiere. Also touches on challenges of expanding Animal Kingdom and the history of nighttime shows at Epcot Center.

 Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by taking a close look at Epic Universe concept art. They then continue their discussion of the development “Illuminations,” EPCOT Center’s break-through nighttime showOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:When (just to be safe) one should go about ordering their tickets for Pride Nite at DisneylandWhy is the Universal Helios Grand Hotel positioned the way it is, facing into Epic Universe ParkHow Universal Studios Hollywood plans to use the cars themselves that Guests will ride in on that theme park’s new “Fast & Furious” coaster to mitigate noise pollution in the surrounding communityWhere did WDW Entertainment come across the searchlights that then added a popular feature to “A New World Fantasy”Why did Walt Disney Productions suddenly decide to buy the Gibson Greeting Card company in the Late Spring of 1984Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how much they’re looking forward to the final season of “Star Wars: The Bad Batch.” They also talk about where the upcoming “Great Circle” game fits in chronologically with the first three “Indiana Jones” filmsOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:Which character from the “Star Wars” prequels is Marvel Comics now honoring with his first-ever four issue, limited seriesHow many times – to date – has John Williams been nominated for an OscarHas Daisy Ridley read the script yet for “Star Wars: New Jedi Order”How did Bob Iger’s return as Disney’s CEO impact Patty Jenkins’ “Rogue Squadron” movieWhich Two-time Academy Award winner voices Jimmy, the mechanical soldier, in “Rebel Moon -- Part One: A Child of Fire” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the NextGen wands that may soon begin appearing in the Wizarding World over at the Universal Parks. They also discuss Disney’s possible plans to expand the Indiana Jones franchise.Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:What was especially innovative (circa 1982) about the barges that were used in “Le Carnaval de Lumiere”Why is the Magic Kingdom running its “Festival of Fantasy” parade twice daily on certain days during the month of FebruaryHow is Disney+ potentially impacting the Company’s spending with it comes to Disney’s theme parksWhen it comes to Disney theme park rides, what’s the difference between on-board audio and attraction narrationShould the Hatbox Ghost be counted as one of the 999 Happy Haunts that reside in Disney’s Haunted MansionShow Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Jim Hill & Eric Hersey kick off a brand-new show which offers a different take on Universal Parks & Experiences. Highlights include an interview with Carson Luter from Universal Creative about “Villain Con Minion Blast”Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:How did the 24 films that Universal Pictures released in 2023 do at the worldwide box officeWhich character from an Alfred Hitchcock film is paid tribute to in “Villain Con Minion Blast”What’s significant about the name Universal choses for its Texas park project, at least from a SEO perspectiveWhich Marvel-themed attraction just closed at Universal Studios JapanWhat’s the secret to racking up a big score on “Villain Con Minion Blast”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill starts off this week’s show with a solo news section. Then Drew Taylor joins the fun in a pre-taped segment that looks back at Gary Rydstrom’s animated filmsOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:How many Annie nominations did Pixar’s “Elemental” receive this yearWhich William Shakespeare play provided the inspiration for “Strange Magic”What Pixar movie were the blobby alien characters seen in “Lifted” originally designed forWhen is the sequel to “Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey” supposed to arrive in theatersHow well did Pixar’s “Soul” do when it was finally released to theaters earlier this month Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome Disney historian Dave Bossert to the show. They then discuss what made this Tomorrowland walk-thru exhibit so memorable to park guestsOver the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:Which sitcom star voiced Nine Eyes in the American version of “The Timekeeper”In what far-flung corner of the globe did Dave Bossert recently encounter a cocoanut chairWhat’s different about the 2024 edition of Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival ending on May 27thWhen is it expected that Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion will re-open to the public later this yearWhich Disney Legend was effectively the person in charge of the House of the Future / oversaw its three updatesShow Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the recently announced “Mandalorian & Grogu” film project. They also discuss how the first C3PO AA figure was created for “Star Tours”Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:What are Kylo Ren’s original story in the Disney-produced “Star Wars” trilogy supposed to have been likeWhy has production of the previous announced Rey-tries-to-revive-the-Jedi-Order film project been delayed yet againWhat scene was the first to be shot during production of “Return of the Jedi” back in January of 1982Which well-known British actors were reportedly considered to be inside of Darth Vader’s helmet when Luke finally removed his Dad’s face plate in Episode VIWho accidentally revealed that C3PO was supposed to the pilot of the StarSpeeder 1000 in “Sat Tours: The Adventures Continue” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices