The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network features weekly shows hosted by Jim Hill and his collaborators. The lineup includes The Disney Dish with Len Testa, Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Epic Universal Podcast with Eric Hersey, I Want That Too with Lauren Hersey, Marvel Us Disney with Dan Graney, The Case For with Chris Cox, and more. Each series offers industry reporting, history, analysis, and insider stories spanning Disney, Universal, animation, film, streaming, and themed entertainment. With over 25 years of online storytelling and thousands of hours of content, the network delivers trusted, in-depth coverage for fans, enthusiasts, and industry professionals.
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The Dark Origins of Halloween Horror Nights (Ep. 122)
Episode 118
Friday, October 2, 2026 • Duration 46:14
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
When Disney Took Toontown to the Mall (Ep. 119)
Episode 119
Thursday, October 1, 2026 • Duration 33:21
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
When Disney Theming Goes Minimalist (Ep. 36)
Episode 36
Thursday, October 1, 2026 • Duration 34:57
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
Endgame Encore Rewrites the Road to Doomsday (Ep. 27)
Episode 27
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 53:00
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
Darkwing Duck Gets Dangerous Again as Disney+ Orders the Reboot (Ep. 376)
Episode 376
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 • Duration 29:08
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
The Little Disneyland That Never Was: Walt Disney’s Lilliputian Land (Ep. 603)
Episode 603
Monday, September 28, 2026 • Duration 44:10
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
Abbott & Costello’s Final Act, Plus Felix the Cat’s Universal Future (Ep. 121)
Episode 121
Friday, September 25, 2026 • Duration 52:31
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
Cars Keeps Rolling: 20 Years of Lightning McQueen, Mater, and Merch (Ep. 118)
Episode 118
Thursday, September 24, 2026 • Duration 31:03
Disney’s Cars is turning 20, and Lightning McQueen and Mater are still racing through Disney’s merchandise machine with new Loungefly releases, Formula 1 collaborations, and more on the horizon. Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey also explore the merchandise inside the newly opened Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including its animation-inspired Ink & Paint collection. Plus, they look at Disney’s latest experiment in collectible cast member dolls and wonder which theme park roles should get the doll treatment next. Along the way, Lauren reports back from a massive Ohio flea market and what longtime collectors are saying about the changing market for Disney memorabilia.
NEWS
• The Magic of Disney Animation is now fully open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, complete with exclusive studio-inspired merchandise.
• Disney’s new Ink & Paint collection leans into model sheets, character sketches, and the look of the animation process.
• Cars celebrates its 20th anniversary with new Lightning McQueen merchandise, Loungefly designs, and fresh collaborations.
• A new Disney Parks collectible doll inspired by Guest Relations raises a bigger question: Which Cast Member role should Disney turn into a doll next?
• Lauren’s trip to Rogers Flea Market reveals how longtime collectors are downsizing while a new generation searches for nostalgia and authenticity.
FEATURE
• Jim looks back at how Cars grew from a successful Pixar film into a massive merchandise franchise.
• Mater’s breakout popularity helped reshape the series, from Cars 2 to Mater’s Tall Tales and decades of collectibles.
• With a new preschool series and a Walt Disney World attraction on the way, Disney continues introducing Cars to another generation of fans.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia - Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com
• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/
SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com
SPONSOR
Plan your next Orlando getaway with BeOurGuestVacations.com, a Disney travel agency and Universal planning partner that can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and the details that go into planning your vacation - all at no additional cost for their planning services.
If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Disney Parks Are Rethinking How You Wait in Line (Ep. 35)
Episode 35
Thursday, September 24, 2026 • Duration 33:13
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
Sleeping In at Magic Kingdom: The Case Against Rope Drop (Ep. 28)
Episode 28
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 27:10
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
