The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

Len and Jim follow the money, the zoning maps, and at least one imaginary contractor from 79 A.D. to figure out where new Magic Kingdom hotels might go—and whether you’ll one day be able to literally sleep inside Villains Land. Then Jim digs into one of Disneyland’s strangest early attractions: a fully gold-plated “Bathroom of Tomorrow” that proves Walt Disney could, in fact, make plumbing both educational and slightly terrifying. Along the way: after-2pm tickets, summer crowd tea leaves, and why your next Disney vacation might come with a side of afternoon thunderstorms and existential ride downtime.

NEWS

FEATURE

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Len shares a first-hand look at the newly updated Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, breaking down what’s changed and whether it improves gameplay. The show also covers Bluey’s wildly popular debut at Disneyland and the operational ripple effects already being felt. In the main segment, Jim unpacks the complicated series of business decisions, ownership changes, and industry shifts that ultimately led to Miss Piggy & pals making their home at the Mouse House.

NEWS

Len reviews the updated Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, including new handheld blasters that significantly improve aiming and gameplay

Enhanced laser visibility and dual-color targeting (red vs. green) make it easier to track shots and differentiate players

Targets are now digital with dynamic scoring tied to color and animation, increasing replayability and challenge

A new practice room at the start of the ride helps guests learn the updated system before gameplay begins

Bluey’s Best Day Ever at Disneyland sees overwhelming demand, forcing immediate changes to show operations and crowd management

FEATURE

Jim breaks down why Bear in the Big Blue House ended after four seasons despite its popularity

The financial collapse of EMTV and its impact on the Jim Henson Company’s ability to continue production

Which companies -- besides Disney -- was interested in acquiring the Muppets back in 2003

Why the Henson family ultimately decided that The Walt Disney Company should be Kermit & Co's "forever home"

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Len Testa - IG: @len.testa | Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Website: TouringPlans.com

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic, offering discounted Walt Disney World theme park tickets at prices lower than Disney’s direct rates.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

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

Len Testa and Jim Hill unpack a newly discovered Disney patent that may hint at the ride system for Piston Peak, along with updates from Disneyland construction, Disney Cruise Line, and Epic Universe. They also dig into recent survey data revealing how Disney is tracking guest spending and behavior. Then, in the first installment of a new series, Jim explores how Bear in the Big Blue House became a key piece in Disney’s long pursuit of the Muppets and how that history connects directly to Bluey today.

NEWS

FEATURE

Show Notes for this episode can be found here.

HOSTS

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If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

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This week’s Disney Dish mixes a packed Walt Disney World news round-up with a deeply nostalgic trip through one of Disney-MGM Studios’ most beloved lost attractions. Jim and Len break down a wave of reopening dates, new discount strategy, annual passholder survey oddities, and a fresh round of listener questions before returning to Jim’s ongoing history of The Great Movie Ride. The main story this time shifts backstage, focusing on the cast members, timing, choreography, and split-second performance work that made the attraction feel so alive. It is part park operations deep dive, part oral history, and pure Disney nerd catnip.

NEWS

• Walt Disney World rolls out a cluster of reopening dates, including Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin on April 8, Soarin’ Around America and Bluey at Animal Kingdom on May 26, plus more returning offerings later this summer.

• Disney also unveils new summer and fall offers, including free dining and a 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket, signaling a coordinated push to fill rooms after the spring reopening window.

• Universal Studios Hollywood begins ride cycling Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, offering a first look at the drifting ride vehicle tech expected to influence the Orlando version.

• Disney names Thomas Mazloum chairman of Disney Experiences, setting off a broader leadership reshuffle across Disneyland, Parks International, and Consumer Products.

• A new annual passholder survey raises eyebrows by spotlighting Zootopia-themed offerings at Animal Kingdom, fueling more speculation about where Disney may lean with that IP in the future.

FEATURE

• Jim continues the history of The Great Movie Ride by focusing on the cast members who brought the attraction to life, from auditioning tour guides to the performers who earned the right to play the gangster and bank robber.

• The episode explores the ride’s hidden operational complexity, including synchronized tram timing, live performance beats, emergency exits, and the backstage choreography required to make two different versions of the attraction work at once.

• Jim also shares stories about effects changes, guest complaints, on-the-job mishaps, and the strong sense of community that kept former cast members emotionally attached to the attraction long after its 2017 closure.

• The result is a vivid look at why The Great Movie Ride was not just a ride system and a script, but a live performance machine that depended on timing, talent, and nerves.

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

View transcript here.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com

• Len Testa - Website: TouringPlans.com

FOLLOW

• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews

• Instagram: JimHillMedia

• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey

Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR

Our friends at Unlocked Magic have discounted theme park tickets starting at just one day of admission, with prices better than Disney’s. Get your Walt Disney World tickets now and see all the new and returning offerings opening soon.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

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

Jim Hill and Len Testa discuss Villains Land expansion permits, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster’s refurbishment timeline, and how negotiations over the Chinese Theatre helped shape Disney’s use of Carthay Circle as a park icon. Plus, listener questions, MuppetVision’s future on Apple Vision Pro, and a standout cheesecake discovery at Walt Disney World. 

NEWS

• Updated permits show Villains Land attractions expanding, with both the dark ride and coaster buildings increasing in size.

• Infrastructure work for Piston Peak and Villains Land is currently scheduled to be completed by December 2027.

• Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith has closed for refurbishment, with a possible Memorial Day reopening target.

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s refurbishment permit has been extended through August 31, 2026.

• Brian Henson says MuppetVision 3D is coming to Apple Vision Pro with selectable viewing seats.

• Len shares a rave review of the brulée Basque cheesecake at Bourbon Steak in the Walt Disney World Dolphin.

FEATURE

• Jim continues the history of The Great Movie Ride and Disney’s negotiations with theater owner Tedd Mann.

• The story explains why Disney insisted on calling the building simply the Chinese Theatre.

• Jim also details how the Carthay Circle Theatre eventually became the icon of Disney California Adventure.

• Early plans for the building included a ride, stage show, film attraction, and museum before it became a restaurant.

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - IG: https://www.instagram.com/JimHillMedia | X: https://twitter.com/JimHillMedia | Website: https://JimHillMedia.com

• Len Testa - IG: https://www.instagram.com/len.testa | Website: https://touringplans.com

FOLLOW

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JimHillMedia
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.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 our friends at Unlocked Magic. Looking for discounted Walt Disney World theme park tickets - including hard-to-find 1- and 2-day options? Head to unlockedmagic.com to find deals that can beat Disney’s direct pricing.

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

This week, Jim and Len explore how the most famous movie palace in Hollywood became the centerpiece of Disney’s Hollywood Studios… and somehow never its official icon. Along the way, Olaf teaches drawing lessons (to himself), Millennium Falcon gets a name that even Disney couldn’t commit to, Butterbeer achieves new levels of sugar density, Disneyland Paris flirts with character hotel makeovers, and Disney Cruise Line tries to figure out exactly how much of a discount it takes to get you off the couch.

NEWS

• Olaf hosts a new drawing experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including a wonderfully meta segment where Olaf learns to draw Olaf.

• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run briefly adds “A New Mission” to its name before Disney quietly rethinks the branding.

• Universal’s Butterbeer Season returns with waffles, cream puffs, and what your cardiologist calls “concerns.”

• Joe Rohde releases “Floating Mountains,” blending travel stories and creative philosophy.

• Disneyland Paris surveys suggest Newport Bay Club rooms may soon feature aquatic Disney IP overlays.

• A Disney Cruise Line survey reveals how many clicks it takes before 30 percent off starts sounding persuasive.

FEATURE

The History of The Great Movie Ride – Part 2

• Why the Chinese Theatre replica sits in icon position but never officially became the park’s symbol.

• How Sid Grauman turned an earthquake, a tent, and a projector into a Hollywood empire.

• Walt Disney’s long affection for the Chinese Theatre, from Flowers and Trees to the Mary Poppins premiere.

• The subtle design tweaks that made Florida’s version taller, shinier, and occasionally slippery.

• How The Great Movie Ride building carried more history than most guests ever realized.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com

FOLLOW

• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey

SPONSOR

This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets at prices better than gate rates by visiting UnlockedMagic.com.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

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

Len reports on a behind-the-scenes rethink of Magic Kingdom’s upcoming Villains Land, with Imagineering now under pressure to deliver not just “like” but “love.” The guys also touch on Epic Universe’s revenue strategy, Universal’s aggressive 2026 ticket bundles, and what a Mayan archaeology conference might reveal about the future of Indiana Jones at Animal Kingdom.

NEWS
• Magic Kingdom reverses the second Disney Starlight parade route to ease Main Street exits.
• Universal debuts a 6- or 7-day ticket with Epic Universe access and a $300 hotel dining credit.
• Epic Universe updates Early Park Admission again, adding Battle at the Ministry and more Dragon experiences.
• Universal taps The Boring Company for a potential next-gen transportation system.
• “Project Atlas” is believed to be Shanghai Disneyland’s second gate.
• Villains Land concepts revisited post-holidays, with Imagineering asked to go bigger and bolder.
• The indoor dark ride is now positioned as the long-term Lightning Lane Single Pass anchor.
• Restaurant design shaped by fixed-price dining and per-cap revenue goals.
• Mayan mythology themes - bats, jaguars, owls - surface at an archaeology conference tied to Indy research.

FEATURE
• The 1992 debut of Disney’s Hotel New York at Euro Disneyland and Michael Eisner’s “architecture patron” era.
• How architect Michael Graves’ postmodern, Art Deco-inspired design celebrated early 20th-century Manhattan.
• Why the 561-room hotel closed in 2019 for a full reinvention into Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel.
• Inside the 2021 reopening: 350+ Marvel artworks, exclusive commissioned pieces, and Tony Stark’s wall of armor.
• The new coffee table book, Disney Hotel New York: The Complete Art Collection, and why it finally makes every piece viewable.

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | Website: touringplans.com

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
The Disney Dish is sponsored by UnlockedMagic.com from our friends at DVCRentalStore.com. Save on Walt Disney World theme park tickets - often below Disney’s direct pricing - and get expert help planning your next trip. Visit UnlockedMagic.com to start planning today.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

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

Jim and Len dig into multimodal transportation news, Epic Universe’s shifting early entry lineup, and a possible successor to Josh D’Amaro before launching a new series on the history of The Great Movie Ride - including how a live performer in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion helped inspire one of Disney-MGM Studios’ most ambitious opening-day attractions.

NEWS

FEATURE

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS

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If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

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

A major leadership change headlines this week’s Disney Dish, as Disney officially names Josh D’Amaro its next CEO. Len and Jim break down what this move really means for the company, why Dana Walden’s new role matters just as much, and how this leadership shuffle could shape the future of Disney parks, entertainment, and creative decision-making. After a news-heavy first half, Jim then steps back in time to explain how Universal’s Jurassic Park strategy once forced Disney to rethink Animal Kingdom from the ground up.

NEWS
• Josh D’Amaro is named Disney’s next CEO, officially replacing Bob Iger
• Dana Walden remains with the company as president and chief creative officer, easing industry concerns
• Disney Parks earnings show strong spending but hint at softer attendance trends
• New permits reveal expanded ferry capacity at the Magic Kingdom ahead of major land expansions
• Disneyland-area bus service faces cancellation, raising guest transportation concerns

FEATURE
• How Universal’s Jurassic Park success pressured Disney in the 1990s
• Why DinoLand USA moved ahead of Beastly Kingdom in Animal Kingdom’s original plans
• How Disney used dinosaurs to counter Universal’s Islands of Adventure before it opened
• Why the Indiana Jones ride system became the foundation for Dinosaur the Ride

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Len Testa - Instagram: @len.testa | Website: TouringPlans.com

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

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

This week, Jim and Len unpack a packed Disney Dish that starts with theme park news and surveys before taking a deep dive into the frantic, sleep-deprived final months of EPCOT Center construction. Along the way, they translate Disney survey-speak, speculate on where Pokémon could land at Universal, and stumble onto what might be the most diabolically smart fireworks idea Disney has never tried.

NEWS

FEATURE

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS

FOLLOW

SUPPORT

PRODUCTION CREDITS

SPONSOR

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

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