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Jim Hill and Len Testa share Walt Disney World road and dining updates, a runDisney survey, and listener questions before taking a ride through the early history of Disneyland’s Skyway. Jim explains how Walt acquired a used aerial ropeway and what happened when its manufacturer saw it operating in Anaheim. NEWS New roundabouts near the Grand Floridian and the World Drive North project. The Grand Floridian Cafe reopens with new menu items. Universal’s Earl the Squirrel heads to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A runDisney survey and listener questions. FEATURE How a tight expansion budget led Walt Disney to buy used attractions for Disneyland. The European origins of the Skyway and its 1956 opening. The manufacturer’s concerns about the original installation and the changes that followed. How the Skyway’s early buckets evolved and what Jim and Len will explore next. For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com FOLLOW Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews YouTube: @jimhillmedia TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes at patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR The Disney Dish news is sponsored by Be Our Guest Vacations, from our friends at DVC Rental Store. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dig into the latest theme park attendance figures and what they could mean for Epic Universe and Universal’s other parks. They discuss construction around Universal Orlando and Hollywood, and how Comcast is responding to a softer quarter. Then Jim traces the story of MCA, Lou Wasserman and the decisions that turned a working studio tour into a major tourist attraction. NEWS What the latest attendance report says about Epic Universe and Universal’s parks. Comcast’s financial outlook and the challenges facing its theme park business. Construction and possible changes at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Hollywood. WWE’s upcoming events at ESPN Wide World of Sports. FEATURE How MCA and Lou Wasserman reshaped Universal and expanded its studio tour. The connection between a story from McHale’s Navy and the Universal backlot. Why Wasserman’s plans included a visitor attraction alongside a working movie studio. HOSTS Jim Hill – @JimHillMedia | https://jimhillmedia.comEric Hersey – @erichersey | https://strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW Facebook: @JimHillMediaNewsYouTube: @jimhillmediaTikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey – https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Planning a Universal Orlando Resort vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations offers free, personalized help with hotels, theme park tickets and more. Visit https://beourguestvacations.com/?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=epicjhm and mention the Epic Universal Podcast. Interested in sponsoring a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network? Visit https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauren and Eric Hersey tackle the Disney guest habits that can turn a great attraction into an exercise in patience. A discussion of crowd control and pre-show changes at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind leads to a bigger debate about line cutting, amateur comedians, and fans who insist on reciting the Ghost Host’s entire spiel. They also compare the pre-shows worth watching and ask whether a few alternate scripts could keep repeat visitors engaged. Plus, where’s the line between capturing a vacation memory and blocking everyone else’s view? HIGHLIGHTS Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind queue tests and the pre-show edit aimed at cutting off shouted jokes. From Runaway Railway to Rise of the Resistance, which Disney pre-shows still hold up on repeat visits? Haunted Mansion recitations and loud ride conversations: when participation becomes a distraction. Flash photography, phones held overhead, and the struggle to see fireworks behind someone’s shoulders. Respecting Cast Members and fellow guests without turning every park visit into a rules debate. HOSTS Lauren Hersey: Instagram @lauren_hersey_ | X @laurenhersey2 Eric Hersey: Instagram @erichersey | X @erichersey | Strong Minded Agency FOLLOW Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews YouTube: @jimhillmedia TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited and produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. JimHillMedia.com/sponsor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey compare books revisiting Disney leadership and look at Disney merchandise headed for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They discuss how a listing for Disney running shoes helped uncover a theft investigation, and share holiday finds from Winnie the Pooh. Jim also traces the making of A Day for Eeyore and why animator Ron Clements asked to have his name removed from its credits. NEWS • Bob Iger’s upcoming memoir joins books by Bob Chapek and Robbie Whelan examining Disney leadership. • A listing for Disney-themed Brooks shoes draws attention to an investigation into stolen merchandise. • Sorcerer Mickey joins the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, with Disney merchandise celebrating the occasion. • A new Roo joins the original Winnie the Pooh toys on display at the New York Public Library. FEATURE • Jim follows Disney’s Winnie the Pooh featurettes from the Honey Tree to A Day for Eeyore. • Why an outside studio animated A Day for Eeyore, and why Ron Clements asked to be removed from its credits. • How a request for a new merchandise character helped bring Lumpy the Heffalump to the screen. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Lauren Hersey - X: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: Patreon.com/JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR Be Our Guest Vacations can help plan a Disney or Universal vacation, find deals and handle the details at no additional cost. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. JimHillMedia.com/sponsor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the summer of 1996, WCW brought the chaos of the New World Order to Walt Disney World, complete with backstage brawls, baseball bats, and a visit from the Orlando police. But how did professional wrestling end up inside Disney-MGM Studios in the first place? In the debut episode of Soundstaged, Eric Hersey traces the rise of Vince McMahon's WWF, the collapse of wrestling's territorial system, and the financial struggles that nearly brought World Championship Wrestling to its knees. From Ted Turner's acquisition of WCW to Eric Bischoff's bold plan to reinvent its television production, this is the story of how a struggling wrestling company began its unlikely journey to the Most Magical Place on Earth. HIGHLIGHTS • WCW Invades Disney: Revisit the infamous 1996 New World Order backstage attack at Disney-MGM Studios featuring Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Rey Mysterio, and Randy Savage.• The Death of Wrestling's Territories: How Vince McMahon transformed the WWF into a national entertainment powerhouse and left regional wrestling promotions struggling to survive.• The Fall of Jim Crockett Promotions: Ric Flair, Starrcade 1987, and the financial disaster that helped bring one of wrestling's most influential companies to the brink of bankruptcy.• Ted Turner Buys WCW: Why the media mogul purchased Jim Crockett Promotions in 1988 and how years of executive turnover threatened the company's future.• Eric Bischoff's Big Idea: How a former wrestling announcer proposed a radical change in WCW's television production that would eventually lead the company toward Central Florida's theme parks. HOSTS• Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | Website: https://strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews• YouTube: @jimhillmedia• TikTok: @jimhillmedia• Website: https://www.jimhillmedia.com SUPPORTSupport the show and access the complete Soundstaged series, bonus episodes, and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITSWritten and Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIESIf 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

Can sleeping in actually cost you more time at Walt Disney World? Chris Cox and Len Testa finish their rope-drop debate with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, while Jim Hill presides over the proceedings. Len’s touring-plan data reveals how skipping just 30 minutes of early entry can add 90 minutes of waiting at Hollywood Studios. At Animal Kingdom, the case gets more complicated as shorter operating hours compete with the pleasure of slowing down and exploring. HIGHLIGHTS Why a 9 a.m. Hollywood Studios arrival sends you to Red Carpet Dreams first, and what later arrivals may have to sacrifice. When wait times finally ease for Slinky Dog Dash, Rise of the Resistance, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. How ride downtime makes a late start riskier, even when avoiding the morning rush sounds appealing. The Animal Kingdom trails, wildlife, and hidden Oasis bridge you might miss while racing toward Pandora. Why saving Flight of Passage for last can help late arrivals, and when sleeping in means cutting experiences. HOSTS Chris Cox - X/Twitter: @bigcox | Instagram: @magiccox | https://magiccox.com Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | https://touringplans.com Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia | https://jimhillmedia.com 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 If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Chris Cox, Len Testa, and Jim Hill weigh extra sleep against longer lines, missed shows, and a slower-paced Animal Kingdom visit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor revisit Disney’s unmade Don Quixote and the ambitious animation projects that slipped away as the studio grew more cautious. A graphic novel by the Brizzi brothers offers a new reason to explore their extraordinary visual storytelling. They also discuss Wildwood’s PG-13 rating, Jim’s visit to The Magic of Disney Animation, and the latest animation books and Pikmin shorts. NEWS Wildwood and the double standard facing PG-13 animation. Drew’s Cat in the Hat panel and his enthusiasm for its animation and score. The Magic of Disney Animation’s Once Upon a Studio touches and a nod to My Peoples. Animation books, from The Owl House to Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn. Patrick Stewart and Eric Bauza’s voice work, plus Nintendo’s charming Pikmin shorts. FEATURE How the Brizzi brothers’ work on Hunchback and Fantasia 2000 led to an ambitious Don Quixote proposal. Why Disney’s changing priorities left bold projects unmade, and how a graphic novel brings the brothers’ storytelling back into view. HOSTS Jim Hill: Instagram @JimHillMedia | X @JimHillMedia | JimHillMedia.com Drew Taylor: Instagram @drewtailored | X @DrewTailored | DrewTaylor.work FOLLOW Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews YouTube: @jimhillmedia TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR Be Our Guest Vacations offers free planning services for Disney and Universal vacations, including help with hotels, park admission, and dining reservations. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. JimHillMedia.com/sponsor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Len Testa kick off No Negative November with an expanded airport luggage service at Walt Disney World, fresh theme park attendance estimates, and a nighttime visit to Epic Universe. Listener questions cover park shade, a dream Food & Wine Festival tour, and Mickey Mouse's public-domain era. Then Jim traces the Disney Wilderness Preserve from cattle ranch to conservation success story, explaining how saving Florida wetlands also helped Disney World keep building. NEWS Airport luggage transfers expand to Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, and Port Orleans French Quarter. Universal discusses Epic Universe's capacity and ride reliability, while Jim and Len share their after-dark impressions. The 2025 theme park attendance estimates put Epic Universe's opening year into context. Listener questions explore more trees in the parks and a possible VIP Food & Wine Festival experience. Mickey Mouse's approaching centennial sparks a discussion of public-domain characters and animation history. FEATURE The Celebration-era controversy behind Disney's purchase of Walker Ranch and the creation of the Wilderness Preserve. How wetlands mitigation connects conservation efforts with development at Walt Disney World. The long restoration of former cattle land and the red-cockaded woodpeckers that helped reshape EPCOT's plans. How airport expansion, later land purchases, and a growing conservation corridor fit into the preserve's story. For this episode’s full show notes, click here.View transcript here. HOSTS Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com 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 GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR The Disney Dish news is sponsored by Be Our Guest Vacations, from our friends at DVC Rental Store. Visit Be Our Guest Vacations for help planning your Disney vacation. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Jim Hill and Len Testa trace the Disney Wilderness Preserve's surprising development history, plus Epic Universe attendance and Disney World luggage service news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill is back from Universal Orlando with firsthand reports from Wicked's Oztacular celebration at CityWalk and the after-hours Epic Universe Nights event. He and Eric Hersey discuss surprisingly short ride wait times, the magic of seeing Dark Universe after dark, and Earl the Squirrel's big Thanksgiving Day Parade debut. Then, inspired by a memorable encounter in Darkmoor, Jim pulls back the curtain on Universal's 1933 classic The Invisible Man, exploring director James Whale's complicated Hollywood career, Claude Rains' unforgettable performance, and the ingenious special effects that helped launch a monster movie franchise. NEWS Wicked's Oztacular takes over Universal CityWalk with Glinda and Elphaba meet-and-greets, LEGO displays, and a few confusing signs. Epic Universe Nights delivers nighttime access, remarkably short attraction waits, complimentary snacks, and a spectacular Celestial Goodnight fountain show. Universal introduces Florida resident single-day Epic Universe tickets, with some surprising differences in pricing and availability compared to annual passholder offers. Earl the Squirrel prepares for his balloon debut in the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade before heading to Universal Studios Florida for the holidays. Jim checks out CityWalk's new Fat One's and Five Guys locations while Eric previews their new eight-part Patreon series exploring professional wrestling and theme park history. FEATURE A nighttime encounter with the Invisible Man in Dark Universe leads to a look back at Universal's groundbreaking 1933 horror classic. How director James Whale went from Frankenstein and The Old Dark House to casting Claude Rains in The Invisible Man. The practical effects, elaborate camera tricks, and painstaking frame-by-frame work that made an invisible character believable nearly a century ago. How Universal reinvented the Invisible Man through sequels, comedies, wartime adventures, and Abbott and Costello crossovers. HOSTS Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia | https://jimhillmedia.com Eric Hersey - X/Twitter and Instagram: @erichersey | https://strongmindedagency.com 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 Universal Orlando Resort vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations can help take the guesswork out of your getaway. Their travel professionals work with you one-on-one to find the right hotel, theme park tickets, and extras to fit your budget, priorities, and travel style. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com and mention that the Epic Universal Podcast sent 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

Is Coco really a Halloween movie? Does Return to Oz belong on your spooky-season watchlist? Eric and Lauren Hersey debate what makes a Disney Halloween classic, revisit the wonderfully weird Ernest Scared Stupid, and explore why movies like Hocus Pocus arrived in theaters months before October. Plus, they uncover the fascinating story of how Jim Hill and his writing partner nearly brought their own Haunted Mansion movie to life at Disney, not once, but twice. HIGHLIGHTS • Coco sparks a Halloween debate, raising questions about the differences between Día de los Muertos and traditional Halloween celebrations.• Return to Oz, Casper, and Hocus Pocus challenge the idea that Halloween movies need October release dates.• From Halloweentown to Maleficent, Eric and Lauren question which Disney movies really deserve a spot on the Halloween watchlist.• Ernest Scared Stupid gets a family rewatch, complete with surprising details about its elaborate animatronic troll costumes and Nashville filming locations.• Jim Hill's unproduced Haunted Mansion screenplay resurfaces, revealing how Disney considered bringing his story to the screen twice during the 1990s. HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ | X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2• Eric Hersey - Instagram/X: @erichersey | https://strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews• YouTube: @jimhillmedia• TikTok: @jimhillmedia• Website: https://www.jimhillmedia.com SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.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

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey go shopping for Disney history as Jim shares highlights from his latest Florida trip. They check in on the Character Warehouse’s planned move, explore rare finds at Recycling the Magic, and celebrate World of Disney’s 30th anniversary. Then Jim reports from the Disney Hallmark Holiday Pop-Up Store at Disney Springs, where holiday merchandise is selling fast and some sought-after items are easier to find online. NEWS • An on-site update on the Character Warehouse’s move into the former Timberland space at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, including hopes for an opening before the holidays. • Recycling the Magic offers retired attraction props, park signs, and animation maquettes, plus a surprise Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster photo featuring Imagineer Jim Shull. • World of Disney marks 30 years, prompting memories of its original artwork, enormous layout, and longtime cast members. • Jim discovers Buc-ee’s travel-center spectacle, from character merchandise and seasonal displays to Beaver Nuggets. FEATURE • Inside the Disney Hallmark Holiday Pop-Up Store at Disney Springs and its merchandise tied to Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True. • How brisk sales changed the store’s selection between Jim’s visits, with spirit jerseys and pajamas proving especially popular. • Why checking the Hallmark Channel Store online helped Nancy find pajamas that were unavailable during their Disney Springs visit. 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 or Universal vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations can help you find the best options and handle the details, with planning services at no additional cost to you. Start planning 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

Jim Hill and Dan Graney are back with a packed week of Marvel news, from Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom and a new Loki theory to rumors surrounding the MCU's X-Men reboot. They also dig into the future of Marvel television, including VisionQuest, Zodiac, and Daredevil: Born Again, before checking in on Star Wars and DC Studios. Then, in the latest installment of Comic Book Movies That Never Were, Jim and Dan revisit the behind-the-scenes battle over Superman II and the Richard Donner version that audiences didn't get to see until decades later. NEWS • Avengers: Doomsday takes over the World Series, while Dan pitches a theory involving Loki, Steve Rogers, Thor, and Mjolnir. • X-Men casting rumors swirl around Peter Claffey as Beast and WWE's Cody Rhodes, while Ryan Gosling's Ghost Rider reportedly moves forward. • VisionQuest raises questions about Scarlet Witch's fate, and Marvel's upcoming spy series Zodiac fuels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. speculation. • Daredevil: Born Again's three-season plan, Finn Jones' Iron Fist return, and Brad Winderbaum's fight to save Wonder Man. • Star Wars heads to the Super Bowl, Starfighter's reported budget climbs, and Taika Waititi puts his long-delayed movie on ice. FEATURE • Superman II and the creative conflict that split the sequel between directors Richard Donner and Richard Lester. • How producer disputes, Marlon Brando's missing scenes, and extensive reshoots transformed the 1981 theatrical release. • The differences between Lester's Superman II and Donner's darker, more dramatic vision. • How the 2006 Richard Donner Cut gave fans a glimpse of the movie that might have been, years before Zack Snyder's Justice League. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Dan Graney - YouTube: @TheHubbubbery | Facebook: /thehubbubbery | thehubbubbery.com 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 legendary vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is an EarMarked by Disney travel agency at the Platinum level and a Universal U Preferred Platinum Planning Partner. From hotels and theme park tickets to dining reservations, cruises, and all the little details, their team can help you plan your next getaway at no additional cost to you. Start planning 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

Jim Hill opens the archives for a special look at Don Bluth, the animator whose departure from Disney helped change the industry. Drawing on past conversations with Drew Taylor and Eric Hersey, this retrospective follows Bluth from Disney’s animation department to the arcade success of Dragon’s Lair and his collaborations with Steven Spielberg. Along the way, they revisit The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, and the footage removed from The Land Before Time. HIGHLIGHTS • Why Don Bluth and a group of fellow animators left Disney, and how Banjo the Woodpile Cat helped set the stage. • The production pressures surrounding Pete’s Dragon, The Fox and the Hound, and The Black Cauldron. • How The Secret of NIMH’s box-office disappointment led to the unlikely arcade breakthrough of Dragon’s Lair. • How Steven Spielberg and George Lucas became involved in Bluth’s animated films, and why the Spielberg partnership eventually ended. • The Land Before Time’s deleted footage, its rivalry with Oliver & Company, and Bluth’s willingness to make animation a little scary. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia - https://jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored - Instagram: @drewtailored - https://drewtaylor.work • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter and Instagram: @erichersey - https://strongmindedagency.com 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 If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Jim Hill revisits Don Bluth’s Disney departure, Dragon’s Lair, and the Spielberg collaborations that helped reshape animation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa and Jim Hill look back at Halloween Hysteria, the Magic Kingdom’s 1979 party that brought the Police to the park. Jim traces Disney’s early Halloween celebrations before following Sting from that concert to the troubled production of Kingdom of the Sun. Plus, new resort room-request options, a Hollywood Studios survey with a confusing sense of direction, and a listener’s successful return with 1986 Disney tickets. NEWS • Disney updates My Disney Experience room requests, including new preferences and an early-check-in option that can override them. • Coronado Springs gets convention-center concept art, while Jim shares a memorable example of the resort’s service. • A Hollywood Studios survey asks about the park’s “east side,” prompting a look at its layout and possible future expansion. • Listeners weigh in on Disney Cruise Line survey pressure and share how decades-old park tickets found a new use. • Could Universal’s Shrek plans include a dark ride, and when will Skull Island’s Kong animatronic return? FEATURE • From Disneyland’s Parade of Pumpkins to free Haunted Mansion rides, Disney’s earliest Halloween events looked very different. • How the Magic Kingdom’s World Series of Entertainment brought Dr. Hook, Sea Level, and the Police to Halloween Hysteria. • Why Disney recruited Sting for Kingdom of the Sun, and how the project changed on its way to becoming The Emperor’s New Groove. • Jim discusses The Sweatbox and its unusually candid look at a Disney animated film in transition. HOSTS • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social - Instagram: @len.testa - touringplans.com • Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR The Disney Dish news is sponsored by Be Our Guest Vacations, from our friends at DVC Rental Store. Plan a fall Orlando getaway with Be Our Guest Vacations. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Len Testa and Jim Hill revisit Halloween Hysteria, trace Sting’s Disney animation detour, and unpack new resort room requests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey head back to Far Far Away to uncover how Universal's Shrek 4-D became an unlikely bridge between the first two Shrek movies. Jim reveals the creative challenges behind Shrek 2, the surprising connection to a shelved Disney animated project, and why Universal may be preparing to give its favorite ogre a much bigger theme park presence. Plus, the latest Universal Orlando holiday announcements, a troubling incident at Stardust Racers, and some monstrous Halloween surprises at Universal's resort hotels. NEWS Universal Orlando reveals its 2026 holiday lineup, including Snoggletog at Epic Universe, Super Nintendo World decorations, Grinchmas, and the return of the Macy's Holiday Parade. Could Shrek 5 bring updated characters to Universal's holiday parade, and is the Dronkey balloon being retired? A falling overhead fan at Stardust Racers raises new questions about the roller coaster's troubled first year. Universal Orlando's resort hotels embrace Halloween with Universal Monsters at Royal Pacific, alien invasions, zombie rockers, and the return of the Pumpkin Lord. Jim prepares for Universal's Oz-Tacular celebration and an after-hours visit to Epic Universe, while discovering that Buc-ee's might just be a theme park without rides. FEATURE How DreamWorks struggled to develop Shrek 2 after exhausting the story possibilities of William Steig's original 32-page children's book. Why Jeffrey Katzenberg gave Universal Creative a tiny window between Shrek and Shrek 2 to develop Shrek 4-D, and how the attraction became a clever continuation of the original film. Jim shares the surprising story of a Disney animation project inspired by The Frog Princess and its alleged connection to Shrek 2's development. With Shrek 5 arriving in 2027 and a Donkey spinoff planned for 2028, could Universal Orlando eventually build a full-fledged Shrek dark ride? HOSTS Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia - https://jimhillmedia.com Eric Hersey - X/Twitter and Instagram: @erichersey - https://strongmindedagency.com 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 trip to Universal Orlando or Walt Disney World? Be Our Guest Vacations takes the guesswork out of your vacation with free, personalized trip planning. Their travel professionals help you choose the right hotel, park tickets, dining reservations, and extras to fit your budget and travel style. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com and tell them Jim and Eric sent you. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore the creation of Shrek 4-D, the behind-the-scenes history of Shrek 2, and the latest Universal Orlando holiday and theme park news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much would you pay to own a piece of Disney history? Eric and Lauren Hersey take a deep dive into Disney's most expensive collectibles, from a $425,000 Enchanted Tiki Room bird to Haunted Mansion ghosts and the legendary Hollywood memorabilia once sold at Sid Cahuenga's. Inspired by Kelly Clarkson's viral mechanical bird controversy, they explore the surprising world of animatronic collecting, extravagant theme park purchases, and the practical challenges of getting oversized souvenirs home. Plus, a complaint at Magic Kingdom's Sunglass Hut brings the conversation right back to where it started. HIGHLIGHTS • Kelly Clarkson's viral dispute with New York's Art of Play over a mechanical singing bird takes an unexpected $15 million turn. • From Garner Holt's build-your-own Tiki birds to a $425,000 José animatronic, Eric and Lauren explore the surprising market for Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room collectibles. • Rare Disney auction treasures command staggering prices, including Haunted Mansion Hitchhiking Ghosts approaching $400,000 and original stretching room artwork. • How to ship large Walt Disney World souvenirs and artwork home, including combining purchases at resort gift shops and navigating shipping costs. • The extravagant crystal Cinderella Castle sculptures sold at Disney parks and the surprising stories behind their purchases. • A nostalgic look inside Sid Cahuenga's at Disney's Hollywood Studios, where authentic Hollywood props, celebrity memorabilia, and Dick Van Dyke's Mary Poppins jacket once carried hefty price tags. • From Stormtrooper armor to designer sunglasses, Eric and Lauren discuss the most expensive Disney purchases and a Magic Kingdom Sunglass Hut review that brings the story full circle. HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ | X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 • Eric Hersey - Instagram: @erichersey | X/Twitter: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Instagram: @JimHillMedia • X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia • Website: jimhillmedia.com SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.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

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey open the door to a Monsters, Inc. coaster project that surfaced back in 2008, long before the attraction announced at D23 in 2024. Jim explains how an accidental cast-member video revealed the plans, from a Celia-led reception area to a chaotic finale with Mike and Sulley. They also discuss changes at Disney’s Character Warehouse outlets and the appeal of McDonald’s Disney Villains Boo Buckets. NEWS Disney’s Character Warehouse at the Vineland outlets prepares to move into a larger space, while Jim and Lauren consider what outlet expansion could mean for leftover park merchandise. McDonald’s Disney Villains Boo Buckets mix Halloween nostalgia with familiar characters as the bucket tradition marks its 40th anniversary. Jim plans a visit to the Hallmark holiday pop-up at Disney Springs, and the hosts look at Monsters, Inc. anniversary merchandise. FEATURE Pete Docter’s door-hangar chase inspires an early coaster concept for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with the former Mickey Avenue soundstages in the mix. A video appearing on the cast-member portal in July 2008 gives Jim an unexpected look at a project envisioned for Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary in 2011. The proposed ride includes a Monsters, Inc. open house, scream and laugh canisters, and an explosive finale that leaves Mike and Sulley needing bigger canisters. Jim traces how the financial crisis shelved that proposal and reflects on the long road to the Monsters, Inc. land announced in 2024. HOSTS Jim Hill - X: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com Lauren Hersey - X: @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 your next Disney or Universal vacation? BeOurGuestVacations.com can help with hotels, theme park tickets, and dining reservations at no additional cost to you. As a Platinum-level EarMarked Disney travel agency and a Universal U-Preferred Platinum Planning Partner, their team can help you plan your next getaway. Be sure to tell them Lauren and Jim from I Want That Too sent you! 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 an early Monsters, Inc. coaster plan, Disney outlet changes, and the nostalgia behind McDonald’s Boo Buckets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Cox, Len Testa, and Jim Hill reopen the listener mailbag for another session of the Court of the Disney World Resort. A terrifying first date on Alien Encounter leads to a story of nearly 30 years of marriage, while other listeners explain when a ride spoiler can be a kindness. The court also weighs sleeping in at Magic Kingdom, finding a quiet corner, and choosing between Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Stick around after the closing remarks for a bonus quiz that pits Jim against Len over the listeners’ poll results. HIGHLIGHTS • An Alien Encounter date becomes an unlikely love story, alongside memories of the attraction’s scares and its place in Magic Kingdom.• Listeners make the case for pool mornings, later park arrivals, and After Hours tickets instead of an early alarm.• Quiet Magic Kingdom hideaways offer a break from the crowds, from Main Street’s train station to Storybook Circus seating.• Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach return to court, with shade, slides, theming, and a formidable wave pool entering the evidence.• Ride previews divide the jury: preserving a surprise versus preparing children and anxious riders, followed by a bonus listener-poll showdown. HOSTS • Chris Cox - X/Twitter: @bigcox | Instagram: @magiccox | magiccox.com• Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com 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 GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Chris Cox, Len Testa, and Jim Hill revisit listener verdicts on rope drop, Disney water parks, and ride spoilers, including one unforgettable Alien Encounter date. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor have plenty to discuss as Disney's upcoming animated feature Hexed takes center stage, with a fresh trailer, striking visual designs, and new details about the creative team. They also explore the latest animation announcements from New York Comic Con, a milestone anniversary for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and the next chapter for Disney's long-running Broadway productions. Plus, Don Bluth gets the documentary treatment, LAIKA prepares to unveil Wildwood, and KPop Demon Hunters heads to the Criterion Collection. HIGHLIGHTS • Disney's Hexed reveals more of its magical world ahead of its November 25 theatrical debut, with directors Jason Hand, Josie Trinidad, and Fawn Veerasunthorn at the helm. • Drew shares insights from Disney's recent press event, including a look at the new animated short Lilo & Scratch and the jewel-toned visual style of Hexed. • New York Comic Con brings updates on Avatar: Seven Havens, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and Marvel's upcoming animated projects. • It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown celebrates its 60th anniversary with a Starbucks merchandise collection that disappears almost as quickly as it arrives. • Disney's The Lion King prepares to reimagine its record-breaking North American tour, while BOOP! The Musical hits the road. • Animation legend Don Bluth gets a new documentary, while Ron Clements shares decades of Disney history in Making Disney Magic. • LAIKA's Wildwood heads to theaters, and KPop Demon Hunters receives a Criterion Collection release packed with bonus features. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | drewtaylor.work 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 fall getaway to Orlando? BeOurGuestVacations.com can help take the stress out of your next Disney or Universal vacation. As both a Platinum-level EarMarked Disney travel agency and a Universal U-Preferred Platinum Planning Partner, their team can assist with hotels, theme park tickets, and dining reservations at no additional cost to you. Be sure to tell them Jim and Drew from Fine Tooning sent you! If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Disney's Hexed takes the spotlight alongside New York Comic Con animation news, Peanuts' 60th anniversary, Broadway updates, and a celebration of Don Bluth's legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa and Jim Hill wrap up their Disneyland DVC history with a look at how Aulani’s ambitious price tag shaped the hotel projects that followed. Jim connects Disney’s Hawaiian resort to an unbuilt New Hampshire lodge, a canceled Disneyland luxury hotel, and the eventual Discovery Tower. They also discuss new playground plans, Disneyland ticket increases, and what Disney’s surveys might reveal about future attractions. Listener ideas offer fresh possibilities for EPCOT dining and a House of Mouse restaurant. NEWS • New playground plans at Hollywood Studios raise a practical question: what can younger children do while the rest of the family rides?• Len compares Disneyland’s latest ticket increases with Walt Disney World’s and asks whether Southern California is reaching a price ceiling.• The hosts discuss Pokémon possibilities at Universal, Disney Imagination’s planned debut in Japan, and a time-travel television tangent.• Disney Cruise Line survey pressure and an Avatar question prompt a discussion about how guest feedback influences decisions.• Listener proposals pair EPCOT dining with Lightning Lane perks and imagine a House of Mouse makeover for Hollywood Studios dining. FEATURE • The Grand Californian expansion brings Disney Vacation Club to the West Coast, setting the stage for a much bigger Hawaiian investment.• Jim explains how Aulani’s costs affected other resort ambitions, including Disney’s proposed White Mountain Lodge in New Hampshire.• A planned Disneyland luxury hotel runs into sightline concerns and an Anaheim tax-rebate dispute before its cancellation.• The story concludes with the smaller Disneyland Hotel DVC tower, its mix of accommodations, and construction through the pandemic. For this episode’s full show notes, click here.HOSTS • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com 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 GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Leave the holiday decorating to Disney and enjoy the lights from Main Street. Our friends at Be Our Guest Vacations can help plan your Walt Disney World holiday trip. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Len Testa and Jim Hill trace Aulani’s impact on Disneyland’s hotel plans, plus park playgrounds, ticket prices, and Disney guest surveys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey continue the story of Shrek, following the difficult decisions DreamWorks faced after the death of original star Chris Farley. Jim explains how Mike Myers came aboard and why a new voice for the ogre also led to a change for Princess Fiona. They also discuss Blumhouse joining Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show, lower prices at Horror Unleashed, and holiday plans on both coasts. Plus, a look at the early attempt to bring Wicked to the screen. NEWS • A new Glinda novel sparks a look back at Demi Moore’s early Wicked movie plans and the creative talent involved.• Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show prepares for a Blumhouse reimagining, raising questions about the balance between modern scares and classic monster history.• Eric rounds up Universal Orlando refurbishments and clarifies that Animal Actors on Location remains open until its announced November closure.• Horror Unleashed lowers selected Las Vegas ticket prices for November and December, while Jim and Eric check in on plans for Chicago.• Hollywood adds Merry Minions to its holiday lineup, and a licensing report hints at Snoggletog in Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk; the hosts caution that Orlando’s plans still need official confirmation. FEATURE • DreamWorks considers ways to finish Chris Farley’s version of Shrek before ultimately recasting the lead role.• Jim compares the challenge with other productions that had to continue after losing a performer, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Furious 7.• A chance meeting at the Saving Private Ryan premiere brings Mike Myers into Shrek’s story, changing the ogre’s personality and the balance of the cast.• Cameron Diaz replaces Janeane Garofalo as Fiona, and Shrek’s eventual success sets up a sequel and a future in Universal’s theme parks. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com• Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com 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 Universal getaway? The travel professionals at Be Our Guest Vacations can work with you one on one to find the right hotel, park admission, and extras for your budget, priorities, and travel style. Mention that Eric and Jim at the Epic Universal Podcast sent you. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore how Shrek’s recasting reshaped the film, plus Universal’s horror attractions, refurbishments, and holiday plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauren Hersey and Jim Hill explore how familiar favorites find new life, from Frozen’s latest merchandise push to Darth Vader’s holiday makeover. Lauren takes a closer look at Frozen Fan Fest, pajama-clad Anna and Elsa, and the Christmas joke becoming “Darth on the Hearth.” Jim shares highlights from his visit to the Land of Oz before revealing how a two-minute licensing limit cost the Great Movie Ride its tornado. Along the way, they discuss oversized Olaf hats, Oz at the Sphere, and the enduring appeal of the Yellow Brick Road. NEWS Frozen Fan Fest returns with a storybook-style YouTube adventure, new pajamas, and American Girl’s Anna and Elsa baby sets. Walt Disney World’s holiday merchandise includes plaid apparel, a miniature Christmas monorail, festive Buzz Lightyear, and a towering Olaf hat. “Darth on the Hearth” turns a Star Wars holiday joke into merchandise, with Lauren exploring what the trademark filing might suggest for its future. The Wizard of Oz gets new attention at the Sphere and on broadcast television, while Disney’s Hallmark holiday pop-up arrives at Disney Springs. FEATURE Jim visits Autumn at Oz on Beech Mountain and walks the restored Yellow Brick Road through the seasonal Land of Oz park. How Disney’s agreement to recreate two minutes of The Wizard of Oz shaped the Great Movie Ride’s finale. Why a planned tornado gave way to Fantasia, and how Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway finally brought a twister into the building. From classic-film collectibles to retro park T-shirts, Oz’s appeal keeps the merchandise moving. HOSTS Lauren Hersey - X: @laurenhersey2 - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ Jim Hill - X/Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com 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 your next getaway to Disney or Universal? Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and the details of your Central Florida vacation. As a Platinum-level EarMarked Disney travel agency and Universal U Preferred Platinum Planning Partner, their team knows both destinations. Their vacation planning services come at no additional cost to you. Visit Be Our Guest Vacations to start planning. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Lauren Hersey and Jim Hill unpack Frozen Fan Fest, Star Wars holiday merchandise, and the Wizard of Oz scene cut from the Great Movie Ride. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disney is bringing artificial intelligence into nearly every corner of its business, but how much AI is too much magic? This week, Lauren and Eric Hersey explore the debate surrounding Haunted Mansion PhotoPass Magic Shots, Disney's growing use of AI in employee performance reviews, and the company's ongoing restructuring and layoffs. They also examine AI-powered vacation planning, Disney+ search, shopping recommendations, and new technology designed to improve theme park operations. From helpful innovations to concerns about replacing human creativity, they're asking where Disney should draw the line. HIGHLIGHTS • Haunted Mansion Magic Shots: New PhotoPass images transforming guests into stone busts spark debate over possible generative AI use, artistic ownership, and Disney's creative standards. • AI in Employee Reviews: Disney reportedly encourages employees to use approved AI tools to prepare performance evaluations and goals, raising questions about efficiency and authenticity. • Disney Layoffs and Restructuring: Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw challenges Dana Walden about Disney's repeated workforce reductions and the company's push toward a more unified operation. • AI-Powered Vacation Planning: Disney explores personalized vacation planning tools while Eric and Lauren question whether AI can match the expertise of experienced travel advisors. • AI Across Disney's Businesses: New AI applications include Disney+ and ESPN search, Disney Store shopping recommendations, streaming advertising tools, ride safety systems, and animal monitoring at Kilimanjaro Safaris. • Efficiency vs. Creativity: Where should Disney embrace AI to simplify operations, and where does automation threaten the work of artists, animators, and other creative professionals? • Digital Performances and Voice Replication: A Gene Wilder-inspired AI voice in a Netflix game show sparks discussion about performer consent, legacy characters, and the future of voice acting. • Finding Disney's AI Boundaries: From improving attraction safety to generating new entertainment, the hosts debate which uses of AI enhance the Disney experience and which go too far. HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2 • Eric Hersey - Instagram: @erichersey | X: @erichersey | Strong Minded Agency FOLLOW • Website: JimHillMedia.com • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: @JimHillMedia • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited and Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.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

Jim Hill and Dan Graney open the case files on comic book movies that never made it to theaters, from Mahershala Ali’s Blade to Nicolas Cage’s Superman Lives. Their new recurring feature explores the creative clashes, production delays, and unlikely detours behind some of Hollywood’s most intriguing superhero projects. They also discuss Avengers: Endgame’s box office rematch with Avatar, the latest Avengers: Doomsday speculation, and Marvel’s New York Comic Con television and animation reveals. Plus, a spoiler-filled look at the Lanterns finale, Sean Gunn’s work beyond Rocket, and the latest Star Wars chatter. NEWS Avengers: Endgame’s encore run sparks another round of box office competition with Avatar, while Doomsday merchandise fuels new Doctor Doom theories. Jim and Dan sort through Doomsday casting chatter, Loki’s potential next chapter, and unconfirmed Secret Wars production rumors. Marvel’s New York Comic Con panel brings discussion of Daredevil: Born Again, Zodiac, Marvel Zombies, X-Men ’97, and VisionQuest. The hosts unpack the Lanterns finale with spoilers, discuss Clayface’s horror direction, and reflect on Sean Gunn’s on-set work as Rocket. Ahsoka, Timothy Zahn, and a Star Wars/Marvel crossover round out the conversation. FEATURE Why Blade earns a place in the hosts’ new “Comic Book Movies That Never Were” series after years of development. The unrealized Batman project that could have paired Bill Murray and Eddie Murphy, plus an early Batman sequel concept. Kevin Smith’s Superman Lives script, Jon Peters’ giant-spider demand, and the Nicolas Cage and Tim Burton production that never took flight. How George Miller’s Justice League Mortal became another ambitious superhero team-up that never reached the screen. HOSTS Jim Hill - X/Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com Dan Graney - YouTube: @TheHubbubbery - Facebook: /thehubbubbery - thehubbubbery.com 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 your next Disney or Universal vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, cruises, and more. As a Platinum-level EarMarked Disney travel agency and Universal U Preferred Platinum Planning Partner, their team can help you plan your getaway at no additional cost. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com and tell them Jim and Dan sent you. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Jim Hill and Dan Graney explore unmade superhero films, Avengers: Doomsday speculation, and Marvel’s New York Comic Con reveals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take a trip through animation history as they explore the life and legacy of Walter Lantz, the creator of Woody Woodpecker. Following Drew's visit to Lantz's historic Toluca Lake home, Jim traces the animator's unlikely career, from inheriting Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to becoming one of the last producers of theatrical cartoon shorts. Along the way, they discuss Disney's latest Netflix licensing strategy, the London Film Festival premieres of Wildwood and Ray Gunn, and the return of Coco to the concert stage. Plus, why Lantz's greatest contribution to animation may have been keeping his artists employed long after other studios had moved on. NEWS • Wildwood and Brad Bird's Ray Gunn make their London Film Festival debuts, with Tom Waits lending his voice to both animated features. • Disney licenses all five Ice Age films to Netflix ahead of Ice Age: Boiling Point, while keeping major franchises like Frozen and Toy Story exclusive to Disney+. • Pixar's Coco hits the road with a live-to-film concert tour as Disney continues developing a theatrical sequel. • The stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away prepares for its exclusive U.S. engagement in Los Angeles in 2027. • Forgotten Island continues its theatrical run as Wildwood and The Cat in the Hat prepare to enter the family animation market. FEATURE • Drew visits Walter Lantz's restored Art Deco home in Toluca Lake, where the legendary animator lived for decades. • Jim explores how Lantz inherited Oswald the Lucky Rabbit after Walt Disney lost the character, sparking a decades-long professional friendship and rivalry. • From Andy Panda to Woody Woodpecker, Lantz built an animation studio that followed industry trends while giving generations of artists steady work. • Why Walter Lantz Studios outlasted Disney and Warner Bros. in theatrical cartoon production, finally closing its doors in 1972. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X: @DrewTailored - Instagram: @drewtailored - drewtaylor.work 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 fall getaway to Orlando? Be Our Guest Vacations can help you book hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and more for both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. As a Platinum-level EarMarked Disney travel agency and Universal U Preferred Platinum Planning Partner, their team knows the ins and outs of both destinations. Best of all, their vacation planning services come at no additional cost to you. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com and tell them Jim and Drew sent 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

Len Testa and Jim Hill unpack Disney’s latest price increases, from annual passes and tickets to the quick-service meals taking a bigger bite out of vacation budgets. They also check out Monstropolis menu reveals, holiday ride soundtracks, and a Bluey survey that may hint at Animal Kingdom’s plans for next summer. Then Jim continues the history of Disneyland’s DVC resorts with the Grand Californian, the architect who once worked in its parking lot, and the soundproofing that solved one problem only to create another. NEWS• Disney’s annual-pass and ticket increases tell a different story from the sharper jumps in quick-service food prices.• Monstropolis previews eyeball fish cakes, ramen, and the mysterious Blort soda.• Holiday music is coming to Guardians of the Galaxy, Alien Swirling Saucers, and the Muppets’ ‘Obligatory Holiday Overlay.’• A Bluey guest survey prompts a discussion of Animal Kingdom’s summer 2027 entertainment plans.• Len shares a report from Universal Nights at Epic Universe, including short waits and included snacks. FEATURE• Jim remembers architect Peter Dominick, whose Disney resorts include Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the Grand Californian.• The unbuilt Cypress Point Lodge helps explain the site and history of Wilderness Lodge.• Building the Grand Californian meant balancing park views, Downtown Disney, the monorail, and resort amenities.• Coaster screams led to extra soundproofing for the Grand Californian’s villas, followed by an inventive solution for guests who could see World of Color but couldn’t hear it. For this episode’s full show notes, click here.View transcript here. HOSTS• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com• Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com FOLLOW• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews• YouTube: @jimhillmedia• TikTok: @jimhillmedia• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORTSupport the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITSEdited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSORPlanning a Walt Disney World vacation? Get started with Be Our Guest Vacations. 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 Len explore the Grand Californian’s design challenges, its DVC villas, and Disney’s latest price increases. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey catch up on Universal news, from a Wicked celebration at CityWalk to the closure of Po Live in DreamWorks Land. They also look at the international push for Shrek 5 and wonder whether more Shrek could return to Universal’s holiday parade. Then Jim traces DreamWorks Animation’s rocky early years and the version of Shrek that nearly starred Chris Farley, with a very different cast and creative direction. NEWS • Halloween Horror Nights’ 35th anniversary brings a commemorative coin to the public, and Jim previews his upcoming Orlando visit.• CityWalk Orlando’s free Oz-tacular Spectacular celebrates Wicked on October 24 with characters, costumes, and a Yellow Brick Road dance party.• Po Live closes in DreamWorks Land, prompting discussion of the area’s future and speculation about Universal’s wider plans.• Universal builds an international campaign for Shrek 5, while Eric asks whether Shrek’s holiday parade presence could make a comeback. FEATURE • Jim revisits Antz, The Prince of Egypt, and The Road to El Dorado as DreamWorks searches for its first breakout animated hit.• Jeffrey Katzenberg’s rivalry with Disney helps set the stage for Shrek’s irreverent approach to fairy tales.• Steven Spielberg’s early Shrek plans included hand-drawn animation and a proposed Bill Murray and Steve Martin pairing.• Chris Farley, Eddie Murphy, and Janeane Garofalo form an early Shrek cast before Farley’s death leaves the production facing a painful decision. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com• Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com 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 Universal getaway? The travel professionals at Be Our Guest Vacations can work with you one on one to find the right hotel, park admission, and extras for your budget, priorities, and travel style. Mention that Eric and Jim at the Epic Universal Podcast sent 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

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dig into Bob Chapek's memoir, Behind the Castle Walls, and his account of reshaping Disney Consumer Products. They examine his franchise-first strategy, his claims about Disney Store profitability, and the store closures that followed during his time as CEO. Then Jim reports from the limited-time Disney Store at New Jersey's Westfield Garden State Plaza, comparing its merchandise and atmosphere with Lauren's visit to the Pittsburgh location. Along the way, they consider whether these pop-ups signal a retail comeback or a deliberately fleeting shopping experience. NEWS • The Hallmark Holiday Pop-Up Store opens at Disney Springs, bringing another limited-time shopping experience to Disney fans.• Disney's consumer-products restructuring moves licensing and publishing closer to the entertainment teams creating its stories and franchises.• Jim visits New Jersey's limited-time Disney Store as he and Lauren consider how its retail partnership could shape future pop-ups. FEATURE • Lauren breaks down Chapek's shift from product categories to franchise teams, while Jim asks how much Frozen contributed to the division's growth.• The hosts examine Chapek's account of improving merchandise, raising prices, limiting discounts, and returning the Disney Store to profitability.• Disney's 2021 store closures raise a central question: why did the executive who championed the stores' turnaround later oversee their retreat?• Jim compares the New Jersey and Pittsburgh pop-ups, including location-specific merchandise, their anticipated January closing windows, and the uncertainty around further expansion. 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 GreyProduced 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 examine Bob Chapek's consumer-products claims and explore what Disney's limited-time stores reveal about the future of Disney shopping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bob Chapek’s new book has reopened one of Disney Parks’ trickiest debates: just how valuable are annual passholders? Lauren and Eric break down the math behind Disneyland Magic Keys and Walt Disney World annual passes, including Disney’s latest price increases, break-even points, crowding concerns, and the difference between loyal locals and once-in-a-lifetime vacationers. They also examine whether Disney risks alienating its biggest fans by focusing too heavily on per-visit spending. NEWS • Walt Disney World raises annual pass prices for the fourth consecutive October, including another increase for the top-tier Incredi-Pass. • Disneyland leaves Magic Key prices unchanged while increasing select ticket and Lightning Lane prices. • Bob Chapek’s new book revisits Disney’s concerns over annual passholders, park capacity, and per-guest spending. • Chapek says some Disneyland annual passholders once visited as many as 200 days per year. • Disney’s past comments about a more “favorable guest and ticket mix” raise new questions about how the company values passholders. • Lauren and Eric compare Disneyland and Walt Disney World annual pass economics, including how many visits it takes to break even. • Disneyland’s regional audience helps explain why annual passholders can have a much larger effect on crowding and capacity. • The hosts debate whether frequent passholders may still generate more annual revenue than higher-spending vacation guests. • Annual passholders also serve as unofficial Disney marketers, sharing park experiences and helping fuel interest among friends and family. HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com 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 Eric Hersey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.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

Can you sleep in and still see everything at EPCOT? Chris Cox and Len Testa bring the case against rope drop before Judge Jim Hill, comparing later arrivals without Lightning Lane. From a counterintuitive start at Spaceship Earth to the trade-offs of tackling Guardians of the Galaxy and Test Track first, they weigh more sleep against more walking and waiting. Along the way, the court considers festival grazing, World Showcase detours, and the ingredients for the worst touring plan imaginable. HIGHLIGHTS • Why a 9 a.m. arrival can favor Spaceship Earth, Mexico, and a post-opening dip at Frozen Ever After.• How a 10 a.m. start changes the touring order and adds walking to the day.• What visitors may have to give up when they arrive around 10:30 a.m. or later.• The pros and cons of starting in World Nature, World Showcase, or the Guardians and Test Track queues.• Festival dining, France’s crêpes, and a mischievous proposal for the worst EPCOT touring plan. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com• Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com• Chris Cox - X/Twitter: @bigcox | Instagram: @magiccox | magiccox.com 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 GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.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

With Drew Taylor sidelined by a broken foot, Jim Hill takes the controls for a solo edition of Fine Tooning packed with animation news and Disney history. Jim checks in on DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island, Studio Ghibli Fest, Dana Terrace's Knights of Guinevere, and Drew's new making-of book, The Art of Wildwood. Then he digs into Bob Chapek's new memoir, Behind the Castle Walls, and questions the former Disney CEO's account of how The Return of Jafar came to be. Along the way, Jim revisits The Rescuers Down Under, Disney's early sequel strategy, and the Robin Williams dispute that complicated any plans for another theatrical Aladdin adventure. NEWS • DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island shows encouraging word of mouth despite a disappointing start at the box office.• Studio Ghibli Fest brings Spirited Away: Live on Stage back to theaters for another special screening.• Episode Two of Dana Terrace's Knights of Guinevere arrives on Glitch's YouTube channel.• Drew Taylor's new Rizzoli book, The Art of Wildwood, goes behind the scenes of Laika's upcoming stop-motion feature. FEATURE • Jim examines Bob Chapek's claim that he pushed Disney Animation to create an Aladdin sequel after the original film became a VHS phenomenon.• The Rescuers Down Under complicates the idea that Disney's animation executives were fundamentally opposed to theatrical sequels.• Robin Williams' very public falling-out with Disney created a major obstacle to producing another Aladdin movie for theaters.• The Return of Jafar ultimately became a direct-to-video blockbuster after beginning life as material connected to Disney's Aladdin animated television series. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com• Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | drewtaylor.work 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 trip to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando? The team at BeOurGuestVacations.com can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and the details that go into building an Orlando vacation, all at no additional cost to you. Be sure to tell them Jim from Fine Tooning sent 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

Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into Disney’s newly released Monstropolis concept art, Lakeshore Lodge details, a new Kilimanjaro Safaris patent, and some revealing Disney vacation-planning surveys. They also tackle listener questions about Haunted Mansion plumbing, Fantasmic crowds, pricing psychology, and the upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie set at Walt Disney World. Then Jim begins the story of Disney Vacation Club’s long road to Disneyland, including abandoned plans for resorts in Colorado, Times Square, and Newport Beach - and why Disneyland’s Discovery Tower might hint at the future of Tomorrowland. NEWS• New Monstropolis concept art offers a closer look at the Globe Theater, Harryhausen’s, and what may be a new 3D Monsters, Inc. attraction.• Disney reveals additional Lakeshore Lodge artwork, including its expansive lobby and the colorful Branch and Bush Lounge.• Disneyland tests a grab-and-go approach at Rancho del Zocalo.• New Disney surveys may reveal how guest preferences could shape AI-powered vacation planning.• A Disney patent explores notifying guests when animals are especially active on Kilimanjaro Safaris. FEATURE• Jim traces Disney Vacation Club from Old Key West to the company’s early plans for resorts far beyond Walt Disney World.• Disney once considered major DVC properties in Colorado, Times Square, and Newport Beach before changing course in the 1990s.• The disappointing early response to Vero Beach and Hilton Head helped push Disney toward adding more vacation-club inventory at its theme park resorts.• Could Disneyland Hotel’s Discovery Tower be a clue to a future “Discoveryland” reimagining of Tomorrowland? For this episode’s full show notes, click here.HOSTS• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com• Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com FOLLOW• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews• YouTube: @jimhillmedia• TikTok: @jimhillmedia• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORTSupport the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITSEdited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSORPlanning a Walt Disney World vacation? Get started with BeOurGuestVacations.com. Jim and Len explore new Disney parks developments before tracing the surprising, decades-long path that finally brought Disney Vacation Club to Disneyland. 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

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dig into the latest Universal news, from Mardi Gras 2027 dates and a new Five Guys at CityWalk to Halloween Horror Nights collectibles, surveys, and seasonal offerings at Universal Kids Resort. They also tour the Academy Museum’s new horror exhibition before Jim traces the surprisingly tragic origins of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. The story goes back to the park’s short-lived 1986 event, an accident involving scare actor Paul Ribald, and the long road that eventually led Universal to revive the event in Hollywood. NEWS • Universal Orlando announces Mardi Gras 2027 dates, running February 6 through March 27. • Five Guys replaces the former Burger King Whopper Bar at Universal CityWalk Orlando. • Halloween Horror Nights 35 rolls out a series of limited-edition collectible magnets featuring Lil' Boo, Stranger Things, Hamikuma, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Ozzy Osbourne, Sinners, and more. • A new Halloween Horror Nights guest survey asks fans to rate scares, entertainment value, repeatability, and even how "Instagrammable" the scare zones are. • Universal Kids Resort in Frisco introduces a Gold Annual Pass and prepares for its first Halloween season. FEATURE • Jim traces Universal Studios Hollywood's first Halloween Horror Nights event back to October 1986, years before the version most fans recognize today. • The original Terror Tram featured classic Universal Monsters, scare actors across the backlot, and one of Universal Hollywood's earliest attempts at a large-scale Halloween event. • Jim recounts the fatal accident involving 20-year-old Universal employee Paul Ribald, who was struck by a moving tram while performing as a zombie. • Following the tragedy, Universal put its Hollywood Halloween event on hold, with later revivals placing strict safety limits on how scare actors could interact with the trams. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com 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 Universal getaway with Be Our Guest Vacations. Their travel professionals can help with hotels, park admission, and the details that make your Universal vacation easier to plan. Mention the Epic Universal Podcast when you reach out. 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

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disney built its reputation on immersive environments, elaborate backstories, and spaces where even the smallest details help tell a story. This week, Lauren and Eric look at the newly remodeled Disney Wonders store at Disneyland Paris and ask whether Disney's push toward modern minimalism is stripping away some of the personality fans expect. From the richly themed Disney Stores of the 1990s to Animal Kingdom Lodge, Cars Land, World Showcase, and Pandora, they explore what makes great theming work and why people notice immediately when it is missing. Plus, they consider whether changing tastes, operating costs, and the next generation of shoppers could eventually push themed retail back in the opposite direction. HIGHLIGHTS • Disneyland Paris replaces a heavily themed 1990s-era Disney Store with the more minimalist Disney Wonders boutique. • Lauren and Eric ask why modern Disney retail spaces increasingly resemble contemporary malls rather than immersive Disney environments. • A look back at the maximalist theming of classic Disney Stores, restaurants, and entertainment destinations from the 1990s. • Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, the Polynesian, Port Orleans, and other resorts show how detailed storytelling can transform a space. • Pandora, Cars Land, Liberty Square, World Showcase, and even Universal's Harry Potter lands demonstrate what happens when designers fully commit to a theme. HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | Website: strongmindedagency.com 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 Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.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

Jim Hill and Dan Graney dig into the surprising new footage added to Avengers: Endgame Encore and what it may reveal about Marvel’s road to Avengers: Doomsday. From Loki interrupting Steve and Peggy’s dance to Doctor Doom forging his mask, the re-release adds some major Multiverse Saga connective tissue. They also discuss the end of Daredevil: Born Again, new Spider-Man and Star Wars developments, and the wonderfully bizarre collision of Marvel and the Muppets. NEWS • Marvel launches its horror-themed Midnight imprint with a radically reimagined Spider-Man. • Miss Piggy takes command of the Milano in Marvel’s Muppets Take the Marvel Universe crossover. • Daredevil: Born Again is set to conclude after Season 3, potentially opening new doors for Matt Murdock in the wider MCU. • Jon Watts is reportedly attached to a developing new Star Wars trilogy, while Shawn Levy expands his relationship with Disney. • Miles Morales rumors, Vision Quest revelations, and the possible future of Marvel’s young heroes round out the week’s news. FEATURE • Avengers: Endgame Encore adds four new scenes connecting the film directly to Loki, Doctor Doom, and Avengers: Doomsday. • Loki interrupts Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter with a warning about an incursion, while the TVA monitors collapsing realities. • Bruce Banner receives an ominous visit from Doctor Doom as Marvel continues setting the stage for Doomsday. • Endgame’s famous final hammering sound takes on a new meaning as Doom forges his mask, paying off a prediction Dan made back in Episode 16. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com • Dan Graney - YouTube: @TheHubbubbery - Facebook: /thehubbubbery - thehubbubbery.com 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 Central Florida vacation with Be Our Guest Vacations, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and Universal planning partner. Their team can help with hotels, tickets, dining reservations, and the details that make an Orlando vacation easier to plan, 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

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are back with a packed week of animation news, including Disney+ finally ordering its long-in-development Darkwing Duck reboot to series with Mark Hamill, Seth Rogen, and Lizzy Caplan among the announced voice cast. They also check in on DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island, react to the trailer for Skydance Animation's Ray Gunn, and look ahead to the next chapter of Dana Terrace's Knights of Geneviere. Plus, Drew previews the Animation Is Film Festival, Netflix brings KPop Demon Hunters into the real world, and Sherri Shepherd prepares to make Disney Broadway history. NEWS • Disney+ orders the Darkwing Duck reboot to series, 35 years after Drake Mallard's original animated adventures. • Mark Hamill voices Darkwing Duck, with Seth Rogen as Launchpad McQuack and Lizzy Caplan as Gosalyn Mallard. • DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island arrives in theaters as Universal looks to build another fall animation success. • Skydance Animation's Ray Gunn heads to Netflix in December, with select theatrical and 70mm screenings beginning earlier in the month. • Netflix expands KPop Demon Hunters with an immersive experience featuring Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird. • Dana Terrace's Knights of Geneviere returns with its second episode on October 9 and a decidedly twisted new trailer. • Drew previews the 2026 Animation Is Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theatre and some of the animation headed to the big screen this fall. • Sherri Shepherd prepares to make Broadway history as the first woman to play the Genie in Disney's Aladdin. • Drew looks ahead to The Art of Wildwood, while Jim flags Ron Clements' upcoming Making Disney Magic. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter & Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter & Instagram: @DrewTailored - drewtaylor.work 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 vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, cruises, and all the details that go into your getaway, with planning services at no additional cost to you. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com to start planning your next trip. 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 surveys are asking increasingly pointed questions about discounts, trip costs, and what actually gets guests to book, while Disneyland history takes center stage with the story of Walt Disney’s never-built Lilliputian Land. Len Testa and Jim Hill also cover changes at Expedition Everest, Haunted Mansion construction, Oogie Boogie Bash availability, and rumors about Darkmoor’s next attraction at Epic Universe. Then Jim traces how Walt’s fascination with miniatures, model trains, and mechanical figures helped shape an unrealized Disneyland land - and eventually Storybook Land. NEWS • New Disney surveys dig into whether resort discounts actually persuade guests to book, stay longer, or change hotels. • Expedition Everest replaces its single rider line with an odds-and-evens loading system designed to improve capacity. • Walt Disney Imagineering files a Haunted Mansion construction permit as work prepares the area for future Magic Kingdom expansion. • Oogie Boogie Bash tickets remain available at Disneyland while Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party sells out at Walt Disney World. • Rumors point toward a Bride of Frankenstein indoor coaster as a possible future expansion for Darkmoor at Epic Universe. FEATURE • Jim explores Walt Disney’s original plans for Lilliputian Land, a miniature world once envisioned between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. • Walt’s backyard Carolwood Pacific Railroad and his fascination with miniature Americana helped inspire the proposed land. • Project Little Man revealed the technical challenges of building tiny mechanical performers and helped push Disney toward full-sized Audio-Animatronics. • One piece of the Lilliputian Land concept survived, evolving from the opening-day Canal Boats of the World into Disneyland’s Storybook Land Canal Boats. For this episode’s full show notes, click here.HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com 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 your next Disney vacation? Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com to get started. 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

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey catch up on the latest Universal news, from King Kong’s temporarily modified return at Islands of Adventure to fresh progress on Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift in Orlando. They also look at Universal’s surprisingly deep catalog of classic characters, including Felix the Cat, and new clues surrounding Universal’s planned UK resort. Then Jim concludes the story of Abbott and Costello with a look at the personal tragedy, professional tensions, health struggles, and Hollywood twists that shaped the comedy team’s final years. NEWS • Skull Island: Reign of Kong reopens at Islands of Adventure while its giant Kong animatronic remains hidden for maintenance. • Construction walls and rerouted pathways appear near Toon Lagoon, reviving discussion about how Universal could eventually reuse that part of Islands of Adventure. • Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift in Orlando reaches the pull-through testing stage, while the Hollywood version gets a special Halloween Horror Nights ride add-on. • Universal’s plans for 2027 and beyond spotlight Shrek 5, How to Train Your Dragon, Jurassic World, Universal Monsters, and the unexpected return of Felix the Cat. • New information surrounding Universal’s proposed UK resort points toward six themed areas, with properties such as Paddington, Back to the Future, Jurassic World, Wizarding World, and Minions among the possibilities. FEATURE • Jim concludes the story of Abbott and Costello by examining how Lou Costello’s health problems and personal tragedies affected the legendary comedy team. • The unusual production history of Fireman Save My Child reveals how Buddy Hackett and Hugh O’Brian stepped in after Costello became ill. • A tragic 1943 radio broadcast became one of the most remarkable moments of Lou Costello’s career after the death of his infant son. • Jim traces the growing tensions between Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, their eventual reconciliation, and the creation of the Lou Costello Jr. Youth Foundation. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com 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 your next Universal getaway? Be Our Guest Vacations can help take the guesswork out of choosing the right hotel, tickets, and trip extras, whether you are headed to Epic Universe or Universal Studios Hollywood. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com and let them know the Epic Universal Podcast sent 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 is changing how guests spend - and skip - their time in line. Lauren and Eric look at the retirement of the Disney Play Parks app, what could happen to interactive experiences like Galaxy’s Edge and DuckTales World Showcase Adventure, and the many ways families keep themselves occupied while waiting for attractions. Then they head to Animal Kingdom, where Expedition Everest has ended its longtime single rider option, raising questions about whether Disney is beginning to rethink single rider lines across Walt Disney World. HIGHLIGHTS • The Disney Play Parks app officially retired on September 16, ending years of interactive games, trivia, and in-park experiences. • Lauren and Eric explore what the shutdown could mean for Galaxy’s Edge activities, Soarin’ trivia, DuckTales World Showcase Adventure, and future MagicBand+ integration. • From Heads Up! and Hidden Mickeys to editing vacation photos, they look at the many ways guests keep themselves occupied in Disney attraction queues. • Expedition Everest has discontinued its single rider line as Disney tests a different loading process designed to improve standby efficiency. • Could staffing, queue design, loading efficiency, and Lightning Lane strategy lead Disney to rethink single rider lines at attractions across Walt Disney World? HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com 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 Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.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’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

What happens if you skip rope drop at Magic Kingdom and deliberately start your Disney day at 9, 10, or even 11 a.m.? Len Testa and Chris Cox explore how late arrivals can still build a smart touring strategy, from starting in Adventureland to exploiting mid-morning wait-time lulls and saving Tomorrowland for after dark. They also look at the trade-offs, including extra walking, afternoon weather, and the point when arriving late makes a comprehensive Magic Kingdom tour impossible. Plus, Jim Hill considers how Piston Peak and Villains Land could completely change these strategies in the years ahead. HIGHLIGHTS • Why Adventureland and Jungle Cruise make a strong starting point for a 9 a.m. arrival. • How Haunted Mansion and "it's a small world" can experience useful mid-morning wait-time lulls. • Why sleeping in can mean significantly more walking when you're chasing lower waits around Magic Kingdom. • How thunderstorms, nighttime atmosphere, and party days can reshape a late-start strategy. • Why Piston Peak and Villains Land could eventually shift Magic Kingdom's touring "center of gravity." HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia - Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social - Instagram: @len.testa - touringplans.com • Chris Cox - X/Twitter: @bigcox - Instagram: @magiccox - magiccox.com 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 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

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into Hasbro’s “Transformers: The Apology Tour,” marking 40 years since Transformers: The Movie traumatized a generation by killing Optimus Prime. They also look at Peter Cullen’s final performance as the Autobot leader, his lesser-known Disney animation work, and Jim Cummings’ pointed reaction to the latest class of Disney Legends. Plus, there’s animation news from DreamWorks, Netflix and Laika, along with a box-office milestone for Coyote vs. Acme. HIGHLIGHTS • DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island heads to theaters on September 25 as the studio previews an extended opening sequence. • Netflix keeps KPop Demon Hunters in the spotlight with new General Mills cereals while unveiling the trailer for its Cinderella-inspired animated musical Steps. • Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn is headed to Netflix in December, while Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory is slated for a theatrical run before its 2027 streaming debut. • Coyote vs. Acme crosses $50 million at the domestic box office, passing the reported price Ketchup Entertainment paid for its distribution rights. • Hasbro’s “Transformers: The Apology Tour” revisits the still-infamous death of Optimus Prime in the 1986 animated feature. • The 40th-anniversary theatrical release pairs Transformers: The Movie with the new CG short Optimus Prime: Awakening, featuring Peter Cullen’s final performance as Optimus Prime. • Jim and Drew trace Cullen’s Disney animation history, including his work as Eeyore and the original voice of Monterey Jack on Chip ’n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers. • Jim Cummings’ reaction to the latest Disney Legends ceremony sparks a larger discussion about who the honor should recognize. • Laika releases the final trailer for Wildwood ahead of its October theatrical debut, with Drew’s The Art of Wildwoodarriving from Rizzoli Universe. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored - Instagram: @drewtailored - drewtaylor.work 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 Orlando vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and the details that make vacation planning easier, all at no additional cost to you. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com to start planning your next getaway. 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

Len Testa and Jim Hill cover the latest Walt Disney World news, from a Toy Story 5 overlay at Hollywood Studios and shifting timelines for Tropical Americas to Disney’s experiments with themed cruises and DVC owner surveys. They also answer listener questions about Moana’s missing ride presence, Coral Reef surprises, and annual pass payment plans for out-of-state DVC members. Then Jim digs into the surprising history of the Walt Disney Transportation Company, when Disney seriously considered selling PeopleMover technology to airports, shopping centers, and planned communities around the world. NEWS • Alien Swirling Saucers gets a Toy Story 5-inspired overlay, complete with new music. • The Magic of Disney Animation settles into limited daytime hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. • Disney quietly removes the 2027 date from its Tropical Americas project page as major domestic attraction openings appear to shift toward 2028. • Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-Up Show remains closed, with work expected to accelerate after Halloween Horror Nights. • New DVC and Disney Cruise Line surveys explore member finances, contract sales, and just how deeply guests want themed cruises to go. FEATURE • Jim traces the origins of the Walt Disney Transportation Company and Disney’s effort to commercialize its theme park transportation technology. • The Magic Kingdom’s PeopleMover was envisioned as a working showroom for potential clients building airports, shopping centers, and communities. • Disney once planned an extensive transportation network linking the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village with nearby development. • Houston Intercontinental Airport became the rare real-world customer, installing a Disney-designed PeopleMover system that has operated for decades. For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com 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 Disney Dish News is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com. Whether your team is already struggling through football season or you simply need a Walt Disney World getaway to look forward to, Be Our Guest Vacations can help plan the trip. 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

Jim and Eric dig into a busy week of Universal news, from unexpected trouble with the King Kong animatronic at Islands of Adventure to fresh signs of expansion behind Dark Universe at Epic Universe. They also check out Universal Monsters collectibles at Sonic, a new CityWalk hot dog destination, and The Traitors taking over part of Universal’s Great Movie Escape. Then Jim continues the story of Abbott and Costello, revealing how Lou Costello’s push to change the comedy team’s financial arrangement helped set the stage for serious tensions behind the scenes. NEWS • The King Kong animatronic at Skull Island: Reign of Kong is damaged during maintenance, leaving questions about when the attraction will fully return. • New construction behind Dark Universe fuels speculation about Epic Universe’s first major post-opening expansion. • Fat One’s Hot Dogs and Italian Ice prepares to open at Universal CityWalk with Joey Fatone on hand for the festivities. • The Traitors brings themed décor to Universal’s Great Movie Escape as NBCUniversal promotes the series across CityWalk. • Sonic celebrates Halloween with a Universal Monsters Wacky Pack collection featuring Frankenstein, Dracula, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and more. FEATURE • Jim explains why Universal eventually honored Abbott and Costello with their own building on the studio lot. • Lou Costello pushes to change the team’s traditional salary split after their films become enormous hits for Universal. • Abbott and Costello tour the country selling more than $85 million in war bonds during World War II. • A devastating 1943 phone call sets the stage for the troubled final chapter of the comedy team’s story. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com 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 your next Universal getaway? Be Our Guest Vacations can help you choose the right hotel, tickets, and extras, whether you’re visiting Epic Universe in Orlando or heading west to Universal Studios Hollywood. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com and mention that the Epic Universal Podcast sent 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 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 vacation planning has never offered more information, so why can it still feel harder than ever to know where to begin? Lauren and Eric look back at Disney’s beloved VHS and DVD planning videos, the TV specials that once helped families get excited for a trip, and the shift toward YouTube, TikTok, creators, and influencers. They also discuss Disney’s new AI-powered vacation planning experience and whether technology can replace the simple, polished overview that once introduced newcomers to Walt Disney World. HIGHLIGHTS • Disney is testing a new AI-guided vacation planning experience designed to help guests compare resorts, dates, festivals, and activities. • Disney’s Created in LA event brings together hundreds of creators, storytellers, and executives as the company deepens its relationship with online creators. • Influencers and creator partnerships are increasingly filling the promotional role once occupied by traditional Disney vacation specials. • Lauren and Eric revisit the Disney vacation planning VHS tapes and DVDs that helped generations of guests prepare for and get excited about their trips. • They explore why Disney moved away from long-form planning videos in favor of shorter online content through PlanDisney, YouTube, and social media. • Classic Travel Channel and television specials captured the parks with polished, host-led storytelling that is increasingly rare today. • Disney Plus documentaries such as The Imagineering Story and Behind the Attraction offer deeper looks at the parks, but serve a different audience than first-time vacation planners. • Could an annual Disney planning special on Disney Plus or YouTube give first-time visitors the simple starting point they still need? HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey - Instagram: @erichersey - strongmindedagency.com 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 Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.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

Kevin Feige is promising major “pinch-me” moments for Avengers: Secret Wars, and all signs increasingly point to Doctor Doom sitting at the center of Marvel’s next big reset. Jim Hill and Dan Graney break down the newest Avengers: Doomsday rumors, the Russo Brothers’ unusual script process, Wanda speculation, and the possible future of Vision Quest. They also dig into new Marvel casting, Avengers Campus construction, Jack Kirby tributes, Star Wars’ post-sequel plans, and the return of classic Indiana Jones comics. HIGHLIGHTS • Kevin Feige calls Doctor Doom the centerpiece of Secret Wars and teases crossover moments Marvel fans have never seen on screen. • The Russo Brothers reveal Avengers: Doomsday began production without a finished script, describing the screenplay as a “living organism.” • New rumors point toward Wanda Maximoff’s possible return and suggest Doom may be targeting characters whose lives were changed by time travel and the multiverse. • Noah Jupe joins Secret Wars in a mystery role, sparking theories ranging from Franklin Richards and Doom’s son to Molecule Man and the Beyonder. • Vision Quest is now positioned around the same point in the MCU timeline as Spider-Man: Brand New Day and may be laying groundwork for Avengers: The Children’s Crusade. • Marvel casting chatter includes Asa Germann as Angel, reported Al Pacino talks, Emma Myers rumors, and Destin Daniel Cretton returning for another Spider-Man movie. • Disney’s World Builders offers a closer look at Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab, including the ride systems and Marvel technology behind the attractions. • Jack Kirby’s legacy gets new attention through an Avengers Campus tribute, a New York street dedication, and upcoming books exploring his career. • Star Wars begins moving beyond the sequel trilogy with its New Jedi Order era while the original 1977 film prepares for a 50th-anniversary IMAX release. • Marvel’s classic Indiana Jones comics return in deluxe collections alongside a brand-new series set after Raiders of the Lost Ark. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Dan Graney - YouTube: @TheHubbubbery | Facebook: /thehubbubbery | thehubbubbery.com 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 vacation can get complicated fast. Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotels, tickets, reservations, and the many details that go into a Central Florida trip, with planning services provided at no additional charge. Start planning 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

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick things off with Drew’s behind-the-scenes perspective on moderating the press day for DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, the studio’s Filipino mythology-inspired adventure. Then they run through the latest animation and box office news, from Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Coyote vs. Acme to Toy Story 5, Haunted Mansion Holiday, and Aardman’s anniversary celebrations. Finally, Drew shares an early look inside the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles and how it compares with the nearby Academy Museum. HIGHLIGHTS • Drew goes behind the scenes of DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island press day and the film’s celebration of Filipino mythology and folklore. • Spider-Man: Brand New Day closes in on another major domestic box office milestone as Practical Magic 2 takes the weekend’s top spot. • Coyote vs. Acme continues its theatrical run while details begin emerging about its eventual 4K Steelbook release. • Pixar Place Hotel gets a Monsters, Inc. Halloween makeover as Disney marks 25 years of both the Pixar classic and Haunted Mansion Holiday. • Aardman celebrates its 50th anniversary with a Wallace & Gromit pop-up and the theatrical arrival of Shaun the Sheep and the Beast of Mossy Bottom. • Drew gets an advance tour of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park and compares it with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | drewtaylor.work 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 vacation? The team at BeOurGuestVacations.com can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, cruises, and all the details that go into making your trip easier to plan - 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

Len Testa and Jim Hill are back with Disney news, listener questions, and the conclusion of Jim’s history of Disney family suites. They check out the latest Walt Disney World updates, from Magic of Disney Animation previews and EPCOT festival dates to Jollywood Nights demand and new vacation discounts. Then Jim traces how a stalled Pop Century expansion, the success of Nickelodeon Family Suites, and Disney’s experiments at All-Star Music ultimately led to Art of Animation. Plus, the guys look at Disney Cruise Line’s intriguing adults-only survey and wonder what an expanded Skyliner network might have looked like. NEWS • Magic of Disney Animation previews reveal Olaf Draws, Off the Page, Once Upon a Studio Theater, and the colorful Drawn to Wonderland play area. • EPCOT sets dates for Festival of the Arts and Flower & Garden while Coral Reef prepares to reopen ahead of the holiday season. • Strong Jollywood Nights sales could point toward an even larger role for the after-hours event in future holiday seasons. • Universal Orlando rolls out an aggressive Florida resident ticket offer covering Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe. • Disney Cruise Line surveys guests about adults-only sailings, while dozens of upcoming cruises receive special offers and discounted fares. FEATURE • Jim finishes the story of Disney’s family suites, beginning with Pop Century’s ambitious original plans and the unfinished Legendary Years section. • The surprising success of Nickelodeon Family Suites helped convince Disney that larger family accommodations could be a major draw. • All-Star Music became Disney’s testing ground before the company transformed Pop Century’s abandoned expansion into Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. • Jim explains how Art of Animation’s opening was strategically paired with New Fantasyland - and how the Skyliner later transformed the appeal of Disney’s value and moderate resorts. For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com 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 The Disney Dish News is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com. If the back-to-school rush has already worn you out, the team can help you plan some much-needed rest and relaxation at Walt Disney World. Our friends at DVCRentalStore.com can also help you explore Disney Vacation Club rental options for your next stay. 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