Eric Hersey & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the Universal-related trailers that aired during Super Bowl LVIII. They then pivot to talking about that 7-minute-long Epic Universe video that debuted online last week

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

• Which Universal theme park offered its Guests the opportunity to view a trimmed down version of the Broadway musical, “Wicked”

• Why are fans of the Harry Potter films really going to want to check out the “House of Minalima” at Universal CityWalk

• Where in the still-under-construction Dreamworks Land at Universal Studios Florida can you find an over-sized spider

• Which two attractions were previously staged in the USF show building that currently houses “Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon”

• How could Disney’s $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games potentially impact the Universal theme parks

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Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing a new land use plan that’s recently been revealed for the WDW Resort. They also wrap their series on the history of “Illuminations”

SHOW BREAKDOWN:

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

• Why did the Imagineers just hate Epcot’s “Surprise in the Sky” show

• Which characters will soon begin making appearances at 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

• What did the most recent earnings call reveal about attendance level & hotel room occupancy rates at the WDW Resort

• How will Disney, taking a $1.5 billion equity stake in Epic Games, potentially impact the Company’s rivals in the themed entertainment business

• Why would it have been a mistake to view the world premiere of “Illuminations” from the Norway pavilion back in late January 1988

Show Notes

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 Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by taking a close look at Epic Universe concept art. They then continue their discussion of the development “Illuminations,” EPCOT Center’s break-through nighttime show

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

• When (just to be safe) one should go about ordering their tickets for Pride Nite at Disneyland

• Why is the Universal Helios Grand Hotel positioned the way it is, facing into Epic Universe Park

• How Universal Studios Hollywood plans to use the cars themselves that Guests will ride in on that theme park’s new “Fast & Furious” coaster to mitigate noise pollution in the surrounding community

• Where did WDW Entertainment come across the searchlights that then added a popular feature to “A New World Fantasy”

• Why did Walt Disney Productions suddenly decide to buy the Gibson Greeting Card company in the Late Spring of 1984

Show Notes

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Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how much they’re looking forward to the final season of “Star Wars: The Bad Batch.” They also talk about where the upcoming “Great Circle” game fits in chronologically with the first three “Indiana Jones” films

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

• Which character from the “Star Wars” prequels is Marvel Comics now honoring with his first-ever four issue, limited series

• How many times – to date – has John Williams been nominated for an Oscar

• Has Daisy Ridley read the script yet for “Star Wars: New Jedi Order”

• How did Bob Iger’s return as Disney’s CEO impact Patty Jenkins’ “Rogue Squadron” movie

• Which Two-time Academy Award winner voices Jimmy, the mechanical soldier, in “Rebel Moon -- Part One: A Child of Fire”

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Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the NextGen wands that may soon begin appearing in the Wizarding World over at the Universal Parks. They also discuss Disney’s possible plans to expand the Indiana Jones franchise.

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

• What was especially innovative (circa 1982) about the barges that were used in “Le Carnaval de Lumiere”

• Why is the Magic Kingdom running its “Festival of Fantasy” parade twice daily on certain days during the month of February

• How is Disney+ potentially impacting the Company’s spending with it comes to Disney’s theme parks

• When it comes to Disney theme park rides, what’s the difference between on-board audio and attraction narration

• Should the Hatbox Ghost be counted as one of the 999 Happy Haunts that reside in Disney’s Haunted Mansion

Show Notes

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 Jim Hill & Eric Hersey kick off a brand-new show which offers a different take on Universal Parks & Experiences. Highlights include an interview with Carson Luter from Universal Creative about “Villain Con Minion Blast”

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

• How did the 24 films that Universal Pictures released in 2023 do at the worldwide box office

• Which character from an Alfred Hitchcock film is paid tribute to in “Villain Con Minion Blast”

• What’s significant about the name Universal choses for its Texas park project, at least from a SEO perspective

• Which Marvel-themed attraction just closed at Universal Studios Japan

• What’s the secret to racking up a big score on “Villain Con Minion Blast” 

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Jim Hill starts off this week’s show with a solo news section. Then Drew Taylor joins the fun in a pre-taped segment that looks back at Gary Rydstrom’s animated films

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

• How many Annie nominations did Pixar’s “Elemental” receive this year

• Which William Shakespeare play provided the inspiration for “Strange Magic”

• What Pixar movie were the blobby alien characters seen in “Lifted” originally designed for

• When is the sequel to “Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey” supposed to arrive in theaters

• How well did Pixar’s “Soul” do when it was finally released to theaters earlier this month

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Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome Disney historian Dave Bossert to the show. They then discuss what made this Tomorrowland walk-thru exhibit so memorable to park guests

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

• Which sitcom star voiced Nine Eyes in the American version of “The Timekeeper”

• In what far-flung corner of the globe did Dave Bossert recently encounter a cocoanut chair

• What’s different about the 2024 edition of Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival ending on May 27th

• When is it expected that Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion will re-open to the public later this year

• Which Disney Legend was effectively the person in charge of the House of the Future / oversaw its three updates

Show Notes

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 Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the recently announced “Mandalorian & Grogu” film project. They also discuss how the first C3PO AA figure was created for “Star Tours”

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

• What are Kylo Ren’s original story in the Disney-produced “Star Wars” trilogy supposed to have been like

• Why has production of the previous announced Rey-tries-to-revive-the-Jedi-Order film project been delayed yet again

• What scene was the first to be shot during production of “Return of the Jedi” back in January of 1982

• Which well-known British actors were reportedly considered to be inside of Darth Vader’s helmet when Luke finally removed his Dad’s face plate in Episode VI

• Who accidentally revealed that C3PO was supposed to the pilot of the StarSpeeder 1000 in “Sat Tours: The Adventures Continue”

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 In a solo show this week, Jim Hill starts things off by recapping what happened at this year’s Golden Globe. He shares what he’s heard about the lay-offs that are reportedly coming to Pixar Animation Studios later this year.

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about;

• When will the Blu-ray version of Disney’s “Wish” be hitting store shelves

• Where did Bill Hanna & Joe Barbera set up their first animation-for-television studio in Hollywood

• What do Disneyland fans have to say about the “Pixar Fest” marquee / photo-up that weill be set in that theme park later this Spring

• Which infamous Hollywood mogul from the 1940s & 1940s helped fund the creation of H-B Enterprises, Inc.

• Why is the “Superman” TV series from the 1950s (i.e., the one that starred George Reeves) sometimes associated with Charlie Chaplin

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