Jim Hill Media Vault

Jim reviews the concepts that *didn't* get built for Shanghai's Main Street, including "Enchanted Forest" made entirely of trees; one with literal architecture (a giant hat for the hat store, coffee shop in the shape of a coffee cup, etc.), and Hollywood-meets-China.

In the late '70s/early '80s, Disneyland considered a couple of different designs for a Fantasyland update. We all know what got built, but Jim brings concept art and background to show two other designs that might have been.

Jim's got some news on the new Club Villain event at DHS for 2016, plus some speculation on the latest DHS plans Disney has filed with the state of Florida.

The years 1983-1984 were big turning points in the history of the Disney company. They were the target of several takeover attempts, resulting in a complete change of management and the hiring of Michael Eisner. How did it start? Would you believe it was Roy?

The rise of the Internet in the mid-1990s led to the first notable fan protest of a WDW ride closure, for Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Hear the history of how it all went down.

Jim and Len go back to Disneyland in the early 1980s.

Back in 2011, Jim and Len walked through every land in Disney's Magic Kingdom. During this almost 2-hour adventure, they discussed what was then happening behind the scenes at attractions, restaurants, and shopping, and what guests were likely to see in 2012 and beyond.

Did you know that Walt and Ray Kroc (the guy who popularized the McDonald's restaurants) were in the same ambulance unit in World War I? There's a Disneyland tie-in there, and you can hear about it when Jim concludes the history of Splash Mountain.

' Jim goes through the history of Animal Kingdom's Kali River Rapids ride. The combination of animals and raft rides dates back to Walt's days, and the evolution of whitewater-style rides in the 1980's brought the idea back to Disney.

April 2016 - Jim Hill and Len Testa discuss the history of FastPass in the Disney theme parks.