I Want That Too with Lauren Hersey

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill shares the untold story of the Monsters Inc. coaster Disney almost built over a decade ago.

You'll learn about the original plans, why it was shelved, and what details were accidentally leaked to cast members before the official announcement.

Lauren Hersey dives into the lasting popularity of Monsters University merch, especially the famous MU hat

. If you're curious about Disney's past plans, the latest in Monsters Inc. products, and future theme-park developments, this is the episode for you!

Long before Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Oogie Boogie Bash, Disneyland hosted an exclusive Halloween event that most fans have never heard of—Little Monsters on Main Street.

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dig into the history of this forgotten event, how it became a hit with cast members, and why it eventually disappeared. 

Plus, hear about the rare merchandise from the event that collectors still search for today. 

Don’t miss out on this nostalgic journey into one of Disney’s most exclusive Halloween traditions! Tune in now to hear the full story.

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking up the Halloween merch that just hit store shelves at the Disneyland Resort.

They then discuss how the success of USF’s Halloween Horror Nights led to Disney developing its own seasonal after-hours hard ticket.

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

• Which “Inside Out” character is doing a meet-n-greet exclusively at the Pixar Place Hotel

• What was the original name for Universal Studios Florida’s Halloween event

• Which colors predominate with the Oogie Bash merch offered at the Disneyland Resort this year

• When did Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party debut at WDW’s Magic Kingdom

• When is “Vision Quest” (i.e., Marvel Studios’ second limited series that serves as a sequel-of-sorts to 2021’s “WandaVision”) supposed to premiere on Disney+

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by looking back at some of the more memorable pieces of merch offered at this year’s D23 Expo.

They then shine a spotlight on some of the books that Disney Press will be bringing to market in the coming months.

In this episode, listeners will learn about:

• When will the first “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party” for 2024 be presented at WDW’s Magic Kingdom

• Which two feature-length films did Stephen Anderson direct for Walt Disney Animation Studios

• What phrase did Len Testa coin to describe the exhaustion that people feel whenever they wrestle with the ever-growing technical aspect of a WDW vacation

• What was the must-have collectible for Star Wars fans who attended this year’s D23 Expo

• Which once-a-box-office-flop / now-a-pop-culture-favorite Disney films from the 1990s just got its oral history published

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this show by talking about the merch currently available at the Universal Orlando Resort.

They also talk about how exactly the Haunted Mansion is coming back online at Disneyland Park

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

• Which new variation of Butterbeer just became available in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

• Where was Disney Legend Marc Davis’ home located in Los Angeles

• When did the National Forest Service award Walt Disney Productions the rights to develop a ski resort at Mineral King

• Who was supposed to have stayed in the Carriage House that’s now being built right by the exit to the Disneyland version of The Haunted Mansion

• How much “The Haunted Mansion” movie that Walt Disney Pictures released last July reportedly cost to make



 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

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:

 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:

 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:

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:

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.

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