I Want That Too - Disney History and Merchandise – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey take you back to EPCOT’s grand opening on October 1, 1982. They dive deep into how EPCOT evolved from Walt Disney’s ambitious dream of a futuristic living community to the park we know today. What We Cover: Walt Disney’s original vision for EPCOT as a living, breathing city How Disney leadership navigated the project after Walt's passing How close Disney actually came to breaking ground on Walt’s original city vision – spoiler: they nearly did! The creation of Future World and World Showcase, born from two distinct Imagineer pitches EPCOT’s rocky opening day, including malfunctioning rides and a surprising merchandising misstep The pivotal role EPCOT played in Michael Eisner’s rise to power at Disney, and how his vision reshaped the park Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey transport you back to October 1, 1971, for the grand opening of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. They explore what the park’s first day was really like, with low attendance, technical challenges, and some Disney magic that made it unforgettable. They also dive into the nostalgic merch from that era, including the famous A-E ticket books, early park maps, and the iconic vintage logo that still has fans hunting down collectibles today. What We Cover: Magic Kingdom’s surprising first-day turnout and the early technical hiccups. Why Disney chose to open the park in the fall off-season. The original A-E ticket system and how it shaped the park experience. Collectible opening day merchandise and how its value has grown over the years. The stories behind the original Magic Kingdom logo and other vintage keepsakes. Tune in for a trip down Main Street U.S.A. as we discuss the magic and the merch of Magic Kingdom’s opening day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by checking out some of the bragging rights merch Disney has made available for its recently opened “Splash Mountain” redo. They also take a look back at when the Mouse had a store in virtually every mall in America Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How did The Walt Disney Company decide where the first 13 Disney Stores would be located When did the Critter Co-op open at WDW’s Magic Kingdom How many different categories did Disney Parks, Products & Experiences opt to break its “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” / “Princess & the Frog” merchandise down into Whatever became of the “Mickey’s Kitchen” fast food chain Out of the eight studios operating in Hollywood back in the early 1980s, where was Disney ranked when Michael Eisner came on board as the Company’s new CEO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of "I Want That Too," Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill discuss the history of Disney's first animated star. Then Oswald collector Noe Valladolid shares how he acquired some of his most valuable pieces. For this episode, listeners will learn about: How "Inside Out 2” blew past its initial box office projections Where at Disney Springs you can find the new Aloha Collection mini-store What veteran sports broadcaster did Disney trade to NBCUniversal in exchange for a certain cartoon rabbit Where on the Disney Lot in Burbank Oswald was hiding in plain sight for decades Which souvenir from Universal Studios Japan do Oswald collectors especially lust after  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the teaser trailer for “Moana 2.” They also closely examine which Disney Princess moves the most merchandise. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Why did the Magic Kingdom eventually remove the Disney Princess float from its “Share a Dream Come True” parade What were the three robots in Universal Pictures’ “Silent Running” called Which “Will & Grace” star read the role of the Snow Queen in one of the earliest table reads done for Disney’s “Frozen” What happened inside of the Magic Kingdom on the morning of 9/11 When did the delayed version of WDW’s “100 Years of Magic” celebration finally get underway Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by discussing a rare Disney book found at the Brimfield Flea Market. They then take a look at Disney-MGM’s old Streetmosphere program Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: What “Star Trek” vet directed “Three Men & a Baby” for Touchstone Pictures Which forest creature recently turned up on Jim’s front porch When was “Lady & the Tramp” first released to theaters How much did it originally cost to build the Disney-MGM Studio theme park What will you find at the corner of Mickey Avenue & Dopey Drive on the Disney Lot in Burbank Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Star Wars Day, Disney-Henson Complex History and Rare Muppet Collectibles Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey start this week’s show by discussing the latest developments in the "Disneyland Forward" project and what this means for future expansions. They talk about Star Wars Day Merch and share the deep and complex history between Disney and the Jim Henson Company, highlighting how this relationship has evolved over the years. In This Episode: New Pandora Merch lighting up Animal Kingdom Sneak Peek at Donald Duck's 90th Collection. Muppets in Space and the Disney-Henson Relationship: Learn about the significance of this project in their complex history. Jim's Rare Muppet Collection and the story behind it. YouTube Title- Part 1: New Experience Coming to Disneyland, Pandora Merch, and Sneak Peek Donald Duck 90th Anniversary collection. Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey share the stories behind the Disney collectibles. In this episode, they kick things off with the "Disneyland Forward" Updates and the exciting expansion plans at Disneyland. They look at the New Pandora Merch coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and share a sneak peek of the highly anticipated Donald Duck 90th Anniversary Collection. SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: patreon.com/jimhillmedia WEBSITE: jimhillmedia.com SUBSCRIBE to JIM HILL MEDIA: https://www.youtube.com/user/jimhillmedia SUBSCRIBE TO DISNEY UNPACKED! https://www.youtube.com/@DisneyUnpacked LISTEN TO THE JIM HILL MEDIA PODCAST NETWORK ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1aaVkv92h4H7kGxrZE5qMH STAY CONNECTED: LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/JimHillMediaNews X (TWITTER): https://twitter.com/JimHillMedia INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jimhillmedia EMAIL: jim@jimhillmedia.com, lauren@laurenhersey.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking about the merch locations that are being readied for the WDW version of “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.”  They then discuss how Disney helped promote the U.S. Forest Service’s fire prevention program Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: When did Walt Disney Animation Studios finally shut production of shorts for theatrical release What did Rankin-Bass produce as their follow-up to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” When is Walt Disney World’s redo of “Splash Mountain” rumored to re-open What’s the name of the bear at the bottom of that totem pole that Guests encounter right outside of the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile Which legendary big-screen romance first opened in theaters back in January of 1943 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 4 of "I Want That Too," where we venture into the world of Disney merchandise, with a special focus on the Tiki culture found within the Disney universe. Join entertainment writer Jim Hill and co-host Lauren Hersey as they uncover the stories behind Disney collectibles, explore the history of the Enchanted Tiki Room, and dive into the resurgence of Tiki culture among Disney fans and collectors. In This Episode: The Significance of April 5th in Disney Park History: Discover why this date holds a special place in the hearts of Disney fans. Spotlight on Tiki Culture: A deep dive into the history of the Enchanted Tiki Room and its controversial management change, exploring how Tiki culture has been integrated into the Disney parks and merchandise. Featured Merchandise: The newly released Zazu shoulder plush in celebration of "The Lion King's" 30th anniversary and a look at the coveted Tiki mugs that have become a collector's dream. Book Review: "Before the Birds Sang Words" by Ken Bruce, offers an in-depth exploration of Disney's feathered friends and the technology behind their creation. Sponsor Shoutout: A big thank you to TouringPlans.com for making this deep dive into Disney's Tiki culture possible. Listener Engagement: We invite our listeners to share their Disney collections and stories. Reach out to us at Lauren@laurenhersey.com or Jim@jimhillmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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