Join Lauren Hersey and entertainment expert Jim Hill as they unpack the world of Disney products. From exclusive merchandise to magical collectibles, Lauren and Jim dive into not only what's available but also the stories and history behind these must-have items. Whether you're a collector or just a fan, get insider tips on the latest Disney finds and the fascinating tales that make each piece special.
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Données mises à jour le 02/10/2026
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Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey kick off October with a look at Toys "R" Us and the surprising return of large-scale pop-up retail, including a connection to Disney's own limited-time stores. Then Jim digs into Disney's history of taking theme park promotion on the road, from the enormous Ear Force One hot-air balloon and the Lim Mouse Zine to Mickey's Mouse-O-Rail and an eight-story inflatable Maleficent. The main event is the 1993 Mickey's Toontown mall tour, which brought Disney characters and elaborate installations directly to shoppers across the West Coast.
NEWS
• Toys "R" Us prepares to expand its physical retail presence with 120 new shops ahead of the holiday season.
• Lauren explores the Go Retail Group connection between Toys "R" Us locations and Disney's recent limited-time retail stores.
• The rise of "kidulting" helps explain why major toy and entertainment brands are taking another look at brick-and-mortar retail.
• Jim checks out The Art of Gravity Falls, a new coffee-table book celebrating Alex Hirsch's enduring animated series.
FEATURE
• How the 1993 Mickey's Toontown mall tour promoted Disneyland's newest land by bringing Mickey, Minnie, and elaborate sets directly to shoppers.
• Jim traces Disney's oversized promotional stunts back to Ear Force One, a nearly 100-foot-tall Mickey Mouse hot-air balloon created for Walt Disney World's 15th anniversary.
• The Lim Mouse Zine turned a dramatically stretched Lincoln Town Car into a traveling Disney-MGM Studios publicity machine.
• Disneyland's Mickey's Mouse-O-Rail transformed part of an actual monorail into a road-going promotional vehicle for the park's 35th anniversary.
• An eight-story inflatable Maleficent helped promote the nighttime spectacular that eventually became Fantasmic!, even as Disney repeatedly changed the show's name.
• Jim explains how those ambitious road tours eventually helped steer Disney toward elaborate mall promotions like Mickey's Toontown, Hercules, and A Bug's Life tours.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com
• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com
SPONSOR
Planning a Disney or Universal getaway? Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotel reservations, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and the details that make a Central Florida vacation easier to plan, all at no additional cost to you. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com to start planning your trip.
If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Jim and Lauren explore Toys "R" Us's retail comeback and Disney's wild history of promoting Disneyland with hot-air balloons, custom vehicles, giant inflatables, and the 1993 Mickey's Toontown mall tour.
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Cars Keeps Rolling: 20 Years of Lightning McQueen, Mater, and Merch (Ep. 118)
Épisode 118
jeudi 24 septembre 2026 • Durée 31:03
Disney’s Cars is turning 20, and Lightning McQueen and Mater are still racing through Disney’s merchandise machine with new Loungefly releases, Formula 1 collaborations, and more on the horizon. Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey also explore the merchandise inside the newly opened Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including its animation-inspired Ink & Paint collection. Plus, they look at Disney’s latest experiment in collectible cast member dolls and wonder which theme park roles should get the doll treatment next. Along the way, Lauren reports back from a massive Ohio flea market and what longtime collectors are saying about the changing market for Disney memorabilia.
NEWS
• The Magic of Disney Animation is now fully open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, complete with exclusive studio-inspired merchandise.
• Disney’s new Ink & Paint collection leans into model sheets, character sketches, and the look of the animation process.
• Cars celebrates its 20th anniversary with new Lightning McQueen merchandise, Loungefly designs, and fresh collaborations.
• A new Disney Parks collectible doll inspired by Guest Relations raises a bigger question: Which Cast Member role should Disney turn into a doll next?
• Lauren’s trip to Rogers Flea Market reveals how longtime collectors are downsizing while a new generation searches for nostalgia and authenticity.
FEATURE
• Jim looks back at how Cars grew from a successful Pixar film into a massive merchandise franchise.
• Mater’s breakout popularity helped reshape the series, from Cars 2 to Mater’s Tall Tales and decades of collectibles.
• With a new preschool series and a Walt Disney World attraction on the way, Disney continues introducing Cars to another generation of fans.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia - Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com
• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com
SPONSOR
Plan your next Orlando getaway with BeOurGuestVacations.com, a Disney travel agency and Universal planning partner that can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and the details that go into planning your vacation - all at no additional cost for their planning services.
If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Disney Grows Up: Kidulting, Collectibles, and the Toys That Started It All (Ep. 117)
Épisode 117
jeudi 17 septembre 2026 • Durée 38:37
Disney is leaning harder than ever into adult collectors, and Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey look at how "kidulting" is reshaping the company's merchandise strategy. They also dig into Disney's upcoming anniversary-driven retail plans, the unusual merchandising challenge surrounding Walt Disney Animation Studios' Hexed, and the growing importance of collectibles aimed squarely at grown-up fans. Then Jim heads back to the earliest days of Disney toys for the story of Marx, Disney Kins, a massive West Virginia toy factory, and one tiny Timothy Mouse who may have gone on a very unexpected adventure.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Disney's Hexed faces an unusually compressed merchandise rollout after a major character change late in production.
• Star Wars prepares for its 50th anniversary with new theatrical activity and a major consumer-products push.
• Disney is already looking ahead to Mickey's 100th and Marvel's 90th as year-long merchandising opportunities.
• "Kidulting" is becoming an increasingly important part of Disney's strategy as adults drive demand for toys, dolls, collectibles, and premium collaborations.
• From limited-edition dolls to high-end fashion partnerships, Disney is finding new ways to reach fans wherever they already shop.
• Listener Mike inspires a look back at Louis Marx and Company, one of Disney's earliest major toy partners.
• The Marx factory in Glen Dale, West Virginia once became one of the world's largest toy-manufacturing operations.
• Jim revisits Disney Kins, the tiny hand-painted figures that brought Mickey, Ludwig Von Drake, classic animated characters, and more to toy shelves beginning in the 1960s.
• A childhood encounter with a very small Timothy Mouse Disney Kin gives Jim one of his more unusual collecting stories.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com
SPONSOR
Plan your next Disney or Universal vacation with Be Our Guest Vacations, a platinum-level EarMarked Disney travel agency and Universal Preferred Platinum planning partner. Their vacation-planning services come at no additional cost to you.
If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Disney World Turns 55 as Disney Rethinks the Future of Merch (Ep. 116)
Épisode 116
jeudi 10 septembre 2026 • Durée 32:10
Disney World is getting ready to celebrate its 55th anniversary with a retro-inspired merchandise collection, and Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dig into why this milestone may be getting more attention than expected. They also look at Disney's decision to close several international online stores and what that move could signal about the company's evolving retail and licensing strategy. Plus, Lauren breaks down Disney's push into premium athleisure and a new mash-up of two popular merchandise trends: customizable headbands and mystery collectibles.
NEWS
• Walt Disney World's 55th anniversary collection brings retro colors, classic Mickey artwork, and merchandise celebrating all four parks.
• A limited-edition Cinderella doll inspired by Prince Charming Regal Carrousel could become one of the anniversary's most sought-after collectibles.
• Disney is closing its online stores in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia as the company leans on authorized retail partners in those markets.
• Disney's new understated athleisure collection takes aim at the park-going audience already wearing brands like lululemon and Alo.
• Disneyland combines customizable character headbands with mystery collectibles for a new Disney Villains release featuring Maleficent, Ursula, Hades, Yzma, and more.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com
SPONSOR
Plan your next Disney or Universal vacation with Be Our Guest Vacations. Their experienced travel planners can help with hotels, tickets, dining reservations, and the details that make vacation planning easier, all at no additional cost to you.
If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Disney Merch Goes Quiet Luxury - and D23 Exclusives Go Wide (Ep. 115)
Épisode 115
jeudi 3 septembre 2026 • Durée 30:58
Disney merchandise is changing fast, and this week Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dig into the trends coming out of D23, from bag charms and high-end collectibles to the rise of "quiet luxury" fandom. They also look at the frustration surrounding supposedly special D23 merchandise appearing on DisneyStore.com almost immediately after the event. Then the conversation shifts to World Princess Week, where Disney is pushing its princess brands into fitness, jewelry, fashion, and other lifestyle categories aimed squarely at grown-up fans.
NEWS
• Disney's next limited-time pop-up store heads to Paramus, New Jersey, following the crowds and long lines seen in Pittsburgh.
• Licensing industry observers see Disney moving beyond character T-shirts toward bag charms, premium collectibles, home decor, publishing, and understated "quiet luxury" merchandise.
• Limited-edition D23 collectibles continue to command huge demand - and eye-popping prices on the secondary market.
• Fans question the value of D23 merchandise access after many convention items appeared on DisneyStore.com just one day after the event.
• Disney continues expanding major brand collaborations, with new collections tied to Vera Bradley, Loungefly, Crocs, ColourPop, Pandora, and more.
• World Princess Week's "Create Your World" campaign pushes Disney Princess into lifestyle categories built around confidence, personal interests, and self-expression.
• Disney partners with Peloton on a princess-inspired Pilates class while Crowned Athletics brings princess branding into fitness apparel.
• Pandora expands the franchise into higher-end jewelry with a Disney Princess lab-grown diamond collection featuring Tiana, Jasmine, Moana, and Snow White.
• Jim and Lauren look ahead to how projects including live-action Tangled and Frozen 3 could fuel the next wave of Disney Princess merchandise.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews• YouTube: @jimhillmedia• TikTok: @jimhillmedia• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com
SPONSOR
Planning a Disney or Universal vacation can get complicated fast. The team at BeOurGuestVacations.com can help with hotels, tickets, reservations, and the many details that go into planning your trip - all at no additional cost for their planning services.
If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Dolly Parton Disney Movie That Almost Was (Ep. 114)
Épisode 114
jeudi 27 août 2026 • Durée 30:04
Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey remember Dolly Parton by exploring her long and surprisingly deep connection to Disney. Jim recounts the ambitious Feature Animation Florida project that nearly gave Dolly a starring role in a hand-drawn/CG hybrid set in Appalachia, variously known as My Peoples, Angel and Her No Good Sister, and A Few Good Ghosts. They also look back at Dolly's appearances with Disney, her relationship with Miley Cyrus, the growth of Dollywood and the Imagination Library, and Jim's own conversation with the country music legend.
HIGHLIGHTS
• How Dolly Parton became Miley Cyrus's Aunt Dolly on Hannah Montana.
• Dolly's Disney connection stretching back to Walt Disney World's 15th anniversary celebration.
• The story behind Barry Cook's abandoned Feature Animation Florida project My Peoples.
• Why Disney paired traditional human animation with CG Appalachian folk-art characters.
• The all-star voice cast that included Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, Ashley Judd, Travis Tritt, Hal Holbrook, and more.
• How the project evolved through titles including Elgin's Peoples, Once in a Blue Moon, Angel and Her No Good Sister, and A Few Good Ghosts.
• Michael Eisner's enthusiastic reaction shortly before Disney ultimately shut the project down.
• How changing attitudes toward hand-drawn animation and Disney's strained relationship with Pixar helped bring the film - and Feature Animation Florida - to an end.
• Jim remembers interviewing Dolly about the Imagination Library and asking her about the Disney movie that never made it to theaters.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com
SPONSOR
Planning a Disney or Universal vacation can get complicated fast. The team at BR Guest Vacations can help with hotels, tickets, reservations, and all the little details that go into planning your trip, with planning services offered at no additional cost. Start planning your next vacation at BeOurGuestVacations.com.
If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
D23 Shopping, Popcorn Bucket Chaos, and Joe Rohde’s “Floating Mountains” (Ep. 113)
Épisode 113
jeudi 20 août 2026 • Durée 43:00
Fresh from D23 in Anaheim, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey unpack what it was really like to shop the show floor, from virtual queues and coveted merchandise to fans finding creative ways around the reservation system. Lauren shares what surprised her about D23 Day at Disneyland, the new Imagineering apparel collection, and Disney’s increasingly social-media-driven activations. Then Jim and Lauren turn to legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde and his new book, Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible, including how Rohde’s work connects the Adventurers Club to Disney’s later Living Character Initiative.
NEWS
• D23 Day at Disneyland brings massive merchandise lines, exclusive releases, and the Hatbox Ghost popcorn bucket frenzy.
• Disney’s D23 shopping system puts fans up against limited virtual queues for the Marketplace, Mickey’s of Glendale, the Company Store, and other high-demand locations.
• Lauren explains how some attendees gamed shopping reservations, paid others to hold places in line, and bought merchandise in bulk.
• Disney+ and Hulu lean heavily into photo activations and social sharing across the D23 show floor.
• The new Walt Disney Imagineering apparel collection turns out to be understated clothing designed by Imagineers for Imagineers - with a very unusual mobile-order shopping process.
FEATURE
• Jim and Lauren discuss Joe Rohde’s Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible and what sets it apart from a traditional Disney memoir.
• Rohde offers a behind-the-scenes look at Imagineering’s creative process, leadership style, and the development of experiences such as the Adventurers Club.
• Jim traces the roots of Disney’s interactive “living characters” from the Adventurers Club back to an unusual talking vulture once installed inside Disneyland’s Club 33.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com
SPONSOR
Plan your next Disney or Universal vacation with Be Our Guest Vacations. Their team can help with hotels, tickets, reservations, cruises, and the details that make vacation planning easier, all at no additional planning cost.
If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
D23 Merch, Park Surprises, and the Return of Atari (Ep. 112)
Épisode 112
jeudi 13 août 2026 • Durée 52:01
Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are packing their bags for Anaheim and previewing what Disney fans can expect from D23 Day and the 2026 D23 Ultimate Fan Event. They dig into Disneyland exclusives, anniversary merchandise, rare character appearances, and some unexpected collectibles hitting the show floor. Along the way, Jim explains the history behind the Disneylandia name, Lauren investigates Disney's growing interest in repurposing park materials, and both try to make sense of Atari's surprising return to the Disney gaming conversation.
HIGHLIGHTS
• D23 Day at Disneyland brings exclusive merchandise, commemorative ears, a character cavalcade, and rare appearances by Merlin and the Blue Fairy.
• The Disneylandia collection revives a name with roots in one of Walt Disney's earliest pre-Disneyland concepts.
• Hunchback of Notre Dame and Alice in Wonderland anniversary merchandise join a packed lineup of D23 collectibles.
• Atari arrives at D23 with new Toy Story releases, retro Disney games, and an exclusive convention pin.
• Harveys turns retired Soarin' Over California seat belts into collectible bags as Jim and Lauren explore Disney's history of repurposing park materials.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com
SPONSOR
Planning a Disney vacation can get complicated in a hurry. The experienced team at BeOurGuestVacations.com can help plan your Disney vacation, Universal vacation, cruise, or next big adventure without the stress of handling every detail yourself.
If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Disney’s Merch Machine Moves Closer to the Movies (Ep. 111)
Épisode 111
jeudi 6 août 2026 • Durée 56:48
Jim and Lauren examine Disney’s decision to move Consumer Products under the studio umbrella and what it reveals about the company’s larger “One Disney” strategy. They explore how films such as Toy Story 5 can generate value far beyond the box office through streaming, merchandise, and long-term franchise growth. The conversation also covers Disney’s new NFL merchandise collection before Jim concludes his three-part history of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, from its Mary Blair mural and Top of the World restaurant to Bay Lake Tower and the expansion of Disney Vacation Club.
NEWS
• Why Disney is moving Consumer Products closer to its film studios.
• How merchandise, streaming, and box office results combine to measure the true value of Disney intellectual property.
• Disney’s NFL collection pairs all 32 teams with characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.
• Woody joins the Dallas Cowboys, Captain America represents the New England Patriots, and Darth Vader meets the Las Vegas Raiders.
• Lauren and Jim suggest Disney character pairings for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles.
FEATURE
• How the Contemporary Resort developed an identity around its monorail, architecture, and towering Mary Blair mural.
• The rise and fall of the Gulf Coast Room, Top of the World, Broadway at the Top, and the Fiesta Fun Center.
• Why Disney added Bay Lake Tower and continued expanding Disney Vacation Club around the Magic Kingdom monorail loop.
• The construction challenges that still shape the Contemporary Resort and Disney’s plans near the Transportation and Ticket Center.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com
SPONSOR
Plan your next Disney, Universal, cruise, or adventure vacation with the experienced team at BeOurGuestVacations.com.
If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Disney Outlets, Yen Sid Style, and the Contemporary’s Construction Chaos (Ep. 110)
Épisode 110
jeudi 30 juillet 2026 • Durée 01:01:28
Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey explore how Disney is rethinking retail, from temporary Disney Store locations and outlet oddities to Imagineering’s new Yen Sid lifestyle brand. They also recap their Pennsylvania road trip, including Netflix House, the surviving Disney Store outlet in Lancaster, and some surprisingly stubborn souvenir prices. Then Jim continues the story of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, revealing how prefabricated rooms, U.S. Steel, and a costly construction crisis nearly derailed Walt Disney World’s opening.
NEWS
• Disney Store pop-ups in Pittsburgh and Paramus appear set to remain open through the 2026 holiday season.
• Lauren and Jim assess whether Pennsylvania’s isolated Disney Store outlet is worth a dedicated road trip.
• Disneyland merchandise turns up in surprising quantities at an East Coast Disney outlet.
• Netflix House offers a compelling new model for immersive entertainment, dining, and retail inside a former department store.
• Walt Disney Imagineering introduces Yen Sid, a subtle lifestyle apparel brand designed for knowledgeable Disney fans.
FEATURE
• Why Disney’s Contemporary Resort was briefly promoted as the Tempo Bay Resort.
• How U.S. Steel’s prefabricated hotel-room system fell behind schedule before Walt Disney World’s opening.
• Why Roy O. Disney authorized a $100 million buyout to regain control of the Contemporary and Polynesian projects.
• How rushed construction led Disney to begin repairing Contemporary Resort rooms less than two years after opening.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com
• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com
SPONSOR
Plan your next Disney or Universal vacation, cruise, or adventure with the experienced team at BeOurGuestVacations.com.
If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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