The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

By Jim Hill Media Podcast NetworkSociety & CultureLeisurePlaces & Travel
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    55 min

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    46%

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The Disney Dish with Jim Hill episodes

  • Did Disney Hide Tomorrowland’s Future in a Hotel Tower? (Ep. 604)

    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/

    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 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

    57 min
  • The Little Disneyland That Never Was: Walt Disney’s Lilliputian Land (Ep. 603)

    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

    45 min
  • The PeopleMover Business Disney Almost Built (Ep. 602)

    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

    54 min
  • How Nickelodeon Helped Inspire Disney’s Family Suites (Ep. 601)

    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

    51 min
  • How Epcot’s Food Booths Became a Permanent Festival Fixture (Ep. 600)

    Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into the latest Disney parks news before tracing how Epcot’s humble festival food booths evolved into permanent Global Marketplaces with open kitchens. TouringPlans researchers Amy Schinner and Christina Harrison join the show to talk Food & Wine, while Disney surveys hint at possible themed cruises, Halloween party strategy, and how much guests trust Disney’s planning tools. Plus, listener questions cover Tomorrowland, attraction relocations, parking garages, underwater pool music, and one extremely ambitious Carousel of Progress Halloween overlay.

    NEWS

    • Lakeshore Lodge gets a July 1, 2027 opening date, while Tiana’s Bayou Adventure prepares for its first major refurbishment.

    • Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is set for an extensive refurbishment, and Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill is preparing to close at Disney Springs.

    • Disneyland breaks ground on its new eastern parking and transportation hub as Universal prepares to open Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift.

    • Disney Cruise Line is returning to New York in 2027, while a new survey tests guest interest in themed Disney cruises.

    • Amy Schinner and Christina Harrison join Len and Jim for a look at this year’s EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.

    FEATURE

    • Jim traces the roots of EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival back to the Walt Disney World Village Wine Festival and its move to EPCOT in 1996.

    • The California Grill’s successful open-kitchen concept helped inspire a new approach to festival food booths around World Showcase.

    • Permanent gas, electrical, and water connections transformed temporary booths into the more elaborate Global Marketplace locations guests know today.

    • With EPCOT operating festivals through much of the year, Disney continues converting temporary food locations into permanent festival infrastructure.

    For this episode’s full show notes, click here. (Coming Soon)

    HOSTS

    • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia - Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com

    • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social - Instagram: @len.testa - touringplans.com

    GUEST

    • Amy Schinner - TouringPlans researcher

    • Christina Harrison - TouringPlans researcher

    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

    The Disney Dish news is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com from our friends at DVCRentalStore.com. Whether you’re planning Disney or Universal, Be Our Guest Vacations can help make the trip easier for the whole family.

    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

    1 hr 8 min
  • How Disney’s Family Suites Finally Found Their Home at Art of Animation (Ep. 599)

    Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into the long road that eventually led Disney to build Art of Animation Resort, from an abandoned Toontown-inspired family suites hotel near the Contemporary to the unfinished half of Pop Century. Along the way, they explore how the success of Nickelodeon’s family-suite hotel caught Disney’s attention, why Bob Iger brought Steve Jobs into the evaluation process, and how Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid became the resort’s defining themes. Plus, Len and Jim discuss Lakeshore Lodge, Disney’s latest premium credit card survey, potential Epic Universe annual pass perks, and listener questions about fireworks, cruise ports, Star Tours, and monorail capacity.

    NEWS

    • Disney reveals new Lakeshore Lodge room categories ahead of its July 1, 2027 opening.

    • A Disney credit card survey tests premium perks including Lightning Lane access, resort benefits, complimentary park tickets, and club-level access.

    • Universal Orlando surveys guests about Epic Universe annual passes, reservations, Express benefits, parking, and Halloween Horror Nights perks.

    • Epcot adjusts opening hours for select RunDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend dates.

    • Universal Orlando debuts the new Nightmare Fuel: Blood Noir show for Halloween Horror Nights.

    FEATURE

    • Disney once considered a highly exclusive Toontown-inspired family suites hotel beside the Contemporary Resort.

    • The financial troubles surrounding Disneyland Paris helped derail Disney’s early family-suite plans.

    • The success of Nickelodeon’s all-suite Orlando hotel convinced Disney there was significant demand for larger themed accommodations.

    • Disney transformed the long-abandoned Legendary Years section of Pop Century into Art of Animation Resort.

    • Bob Iger invited Steve Jobs to review prototype Art of Animation rooms before Disney committed to the project.

    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, helping guests plan their next 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/

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

    1 hr 8 min
  • D23 Brings Back Tomorrowland Hope, Dreamfinder, and the Yeti (Ep. 598)

    Len Testa and Jim Hill unpack a packed slate of D23 parks announcements, from Disneyland’s newly promised Tomorrowland overhaul to major additions coming to Walt Disney World. They dig into Tropical Americas, Piston Peak, Villains Land, Monstropolis, Figment and Dreamfinder’s return to EPCOT, and Disney’s surprising promise to finally address Expedition Everest’s Yeti. Then Jim looks back at the history of Disney-MGM Studios’ Ewok Village, its connection to Star Tours, and the unusual road that brought George Lucas’ galaxy to a Hollywood-themed park.

    NEWS

    • Disneyland plans a Tomorrowland overhaul inspired by the land’s original sense of hope and optimism.

    • Disney California Adventure’s Pandora project moves behind Tomorrowland while Avengers Infinity Defense, Stark Flight Lab, and the Coco attraction continue taking shape.

    • Walt Disney World reveals new details for Tropical Americas, Piston Peak National Park, Villains Land, and the phased opening of Monstropolis.

    • Dreamfinder and Figment are headed back to EPCOT in a still-mysterious new “flight of fancy” into Imagination.

    • Disney says Expedition Everest’s long-static Yeti will finally be addressed, though exactly what “fixing” the figure means remains to be seen.

    FEATURE

    • Jim traces the 1989 opening of the Ewok Village at Disney-MGM Studios, months before Florida’s Star Tours began carrying guests to Endor.

    • Learn why Florida’s Star Tours wound up at the Studios instead of Tomorrowland and how Disney tried to make George Lucas part of the park’s identity.

    • The story explores George Lucas’ inspirations for the Ewoks, the abandoned Wookiee plans for Return of the Jedi, and Disney’s enthusiasm for the franchise’s most marketable forest dwellers.

    • Plus, Jim revisits unrealized ideas including a Sci-Fi Channel UFO headquarters and the Roger Rabbit-themed Toontown Transit simulator.

    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, from our friends at DVCRentalStore.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

    1 hr 19 min
  • Anaheim Before Disneyland: From Vineyards to the Packing House (Ep. 597)

    Len Testa and Jim Hill are on the ground in Anaheim for D23, where they dig into the week's Disney news before exploring how Anaheim evolved from vineyards and citrus groves into the home of Disneyland. Along the way, they examine a Disney patent that could create the illusion of elevation changes on future attractions, a proposed Spaceship Earth television series, and Bob Chapek's upcoming book. Then Jim traces the fascinating history of the Anaheim Packing House and the agricultural economy that helped make Walt Disney's land purchase possible.

    NEWS

    • A newly published Disney patent could make riders feel as though they're climbing or dropping while their ride vehicle remains on a flat surface.

    • Could the technology be destined for the upcoming Encanto attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom?

    • Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is already selling out select dates at both ends of the 2026 event calendar.

    • Another infrastructure problem hits Disney's Wilderness Lodge, this time involving water service at Boulder Ridge.

    • Disney is developing a Spaceship Earth-inspired television project built around teenagers, time travel, and a threat to Earth's future.

    • Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek prepares to tell his side of the story in his upcoming book, Behind the Castle Walls.

    FEATURE

    • Jim traces Anaheim's beginnings to 50 German families who established a thriving wine-growing community in the 1850s.

    • Root rot pushed the region from vineyards toward orange groves and walnut farms, helping reshape Anaheim's agricultural economy.

    • Railroad expansion turned the Anaheim Packing District into a major hub for shipping fresh California produce across the country.

    • Falling agricultural land values helped Harrison "Buzz" Price identify Anaheim as the ideal location for Walt Disney's new family park.

    • Disneyland's arrival accelerated Anaheim's transformation from an agricultural community into a tourism destination.

    • The historic Anaheim Packing House survived redevelopment pressure and reopened in 2014 as a modern food hall that preserves a piece of the city's past.

    For this episode’s full show notes, click here. (Coming Soon)

    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. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is underway, and Be Our Guest Vacations can help you plan a Walt Disney World trip filled with Halloween fun, costumes, and plenty of candy.

    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

    36 min
  • How 9/11 Changed Disney’s Pop Century Plans (Ep. 596)

    Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into Disney’s latest theme park attendance numbers, new Lakeshore Lodge concept art, Disneyland’s possible return to an old favorite, and some surprisingly revealing guest surveys. Listener questions cover everything from GLP-1 drugs and Disney dining to the possible return of Tables in Wonderland and new retail ideas for Disney Springs. Then Jim begins the history of Disney’s family suites by tracing how global events repeatedly reshaped Walt Disney World hotel plans, culminating in the stalled second half of Disney’s Pop Century Resort after 9/11.

    NEWS

    • Walt Disney World reports a 3% increase in domestic theme park attendance during Disney’s fiscal third quarter.

    • Disney adds a new preshow to Zootopia: Better Zoogether to help guests follow the attraction’s story.

    • New Lakeshore Lodge concept art reveals the resort lobby, Moon Glade restaurant, Bay Lake Provisions, and other dining spaces.

    • Disneyland rumors suggest the Main Street Electrical Parade could once again return in 2027.

    • Universal announces Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness and Killer Klowns from Outer Space for Halloween Horror Nights.

    FEATURE

    • Jim looks back at Disney hotel projects that were dramatically altered by world events, including the proposed Asian Resort at Seven Seas Lagoon.

    • The COVID-19 pandemic upends Disney’s ambitious plans for EPCOT and Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration.

    • Disney begins developing Pop Century as another massive value resort near the Wide World of Sports complex.

    • After 9/11 sends tourism and hotel occupancy plunging, Disney halts work on Pop Century and leaves the unfinished Legendary Years buildings standing for nearly a decade.

    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

    • 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. Plan your Walt Disney World vacation, including a trip to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, with the team at 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/

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

    1 hr 6 min
  • Zootopia Gets a Better Beginning, Plus the Many Lives of Turtle Talk (Ep. 595)

    Jim Hill and guest co-host Drew Taylor explore the newly updated version of “Zootopia: Better Zoogether” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including fresh dialogue designed to make the show’s storyline easier to follow. They also examine the water-pressure failure that temporarily disrupted operations across Disneyland and Anaheim, along with Disney’s long history of conserving and recycling water inside its parks. Then Jim completes his history of “Turtle Talk with Crush,” tracing the interactive show from EPCOT and Disney California Adventure to cruise ships and children’s hospitals.

    NEWS

    • “Zootopia: Better Zoogether” receives new introductory dialogue from Mayor Winddancer.

    • Judy Hopps’ closing lines are revised to clarify Dawn Bellwether’s role in disrupting Zootopia Day.

    • The changes may help prepare the attraction for a possible future home at Disney California Adventure.

    • A citywide water-pressure drop temporarily closes Disneyland restaurants and restrooms.

    • Universal Studios Hollywood begins soft-opening “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.”

    FEATURE

    • “Turtle Talk with Crush” evolves from an unrealized Columbia-based attraction into a global Disney favorite.

    • The interactive show expands from EPCOT and Disney California Adventure to Hong Kong, Tokyo and Disney Cruise Line.

    • Disney adapts Crush’s conversations for cruise-ship dining rooms and smaller audiences.

    • A Children’s Hospital of Orange County installation gives young patients a more intimate opportunity to interact with Crush.


    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

    The Disney Dish news is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com. Their vacation-planning team can help make your next Walt Disney World trip a little more magical.

    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

    59 min

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