Episodes

  • Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 477 : Why WDW’s “Fire Mountain” project flamed out

    Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 477 : Why WDW’s “Fire Mountain” project flamed out
    Apr 29 2024
    Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by congratulating Israel Perez & the team at WDW’s Victoria & Albert’s for the Michelin star they were just awarded. They then welcome back veteran Imagineer Jim Shull for a discussion of WDSP’s upcoming “Alice & the Red Queen: Back in Wonderland” show For this episode, listeners will learn about: Why – when WDW Cast Members finally get to preview “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” – they may come at this revamped flume ride from backstage How far along is the “Disneyland Forward” project when it comes to Anaheim’s approval process What’s interesting about that construction permit that just got pulled for Epcot’s “Journey into Imagination” pavilion The “Frozen” star recently got the opportunity to try his hand at conducting on the Disneyland Railroad Why – when it comes to updating and/or making significant changes to the African side of Disney’s Animal Kingdom – the Imagineers have very limited choices Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 476: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” gets ready for its grand opening

    Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 476: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” gets ready for its grand opening
    Apr 22 2024
    Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the Stella Nova & Terra Luna Resorts at Universal Orlando. They then look back at Disney’s reaction to Mattel’s 1972 announcement of its Circus World theme park project Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How many times will Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights be presented this year What’s the name of the bay that the “World of Frozen” is built alongside at the theme park formerly known as Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris What price range is Universal reportedly considering when it comes to admission to its new kid-friendly park currently under construction in Bliss, TX Why are the popcorn buckets sold at the Disney Parks in Anaheim & Tokyo so much nicer than the ones that are sold at the WDW Resort How were the elephants dressed at the groundbreaking ceremony for Circus World back in April of 1973 Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 475: Re-opened 1900 Park Fare serves up a superior character meal

    Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 475: Re-opened 1900 Park Fare serves up a superior character meal
    Apr 15 2024
    Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by deep-diving into the changes the Disney Parks are about to make to their DAS policy. They also continue their look back at WDW’s Tomorrowland Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How many episodes of “Law & Order: SVU” has Ice-T appeared in to date What were Disney Legend John Hench’s concerns about the version of World Showcase that was almost built next to WDW’s TTC How long did it take the team at WDW’s Food Labs to create that translucent fruit that was served aboard the “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” When was Phase One of “Project Florida” originally supposed to end construction How tall was Thunder Mesa (i.e., the table-top mountain that was supposed to house WDW’s “Western River Expedition” ride) supposed to be Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 474: Why Disney World’s Asian Resort never got built

    Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 474: Why Disney World’s Asian Resort never got built
    Apr 8 2024
    Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing how the Shooting Gallery at WDW’s Magic Kingdom will soon close to become a DVC lounge. They also take a look back at Tomorrowland in this same theme park circa late 1971 / early 1972. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Which then-husband & wife team were originally supposed to play the leads in Disney’s never-produced “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” sequel When does it appear that the Magic Kingdom will be opening its version of “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” Which “Avatar” film is the new experience that Bob Iger recently revealed was in the works for Disneyland in Anaheim supposed to be based on What significant eco-friendly change is supposedly in the works for Florida’s version of Autopia According to John Hench, which proposed WDW resorts were deliberately designed in such a way that they could then be seen from inside of the Magic Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 473: Do you remember WDW’s Treasure Island

    Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 473: Do you remember WDW’s Treasure Island
    Apr 1 2024
    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 24th Over 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
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    52 mins
  • Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 472: Why the “Disney Fairies” franchise faded out

    Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 472: Why the “Disney Fairies” franchise faded out
    Mar 25 2024
    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 Summe Over 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
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    43 mins
  • Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep. 471: When may “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” open at WDW’s Magic Kingdom

    Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep. 471: When may “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” open at WDW’s Magic Kingdom
    Mar 18 2024
    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 stories Over 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 located What happens when you make the Cast Members who drive the monorail nervous Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 470: How WDW fans plan on gaming that “free water park” perk

    Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 470: How WDW fans plan on gaming that “free water park” perk
    Mar 11 2024
    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 DisneySea On 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 theaters Which hit Fox TV series from the 1990s is The Walt Disney Company reportedly considering reviving When do young girls supposedly age out of being fans of the Disney Princess franchise How 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 DisneySea Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 11 mins