Len Testa starts off this week’s show by sharing a fairly blunt survey that the WDW Resort recently sent out about Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Then Jim Hill talks about how – once upon a time – Pioneer Hall was supposed to have been the very first part of Florida’s Frontier Town project Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 13, 2022•52 min•Ep. 378
en Testa & Jim Hill welcome Arthur Levine from About Theme Parks, who then talks about his new Substack project. These three then talk about an intriguing bit of construction that’s now underway at WDW’s Blizzard Beach water park Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 06, 2022•55 min•Ep. 377
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing some tips about how to score an ILL for “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.” They also answer some listeners' mail related to DVC members still being unable to purchase annual passes to the Disney Parks Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 30, 2022•42 min•Ep. 376
Len Testa and Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing yet another survey. This one revealing that WDW officials have grown very concerned about visitors to Florida preferring Universal Express to Genie, Genie+ & Lightning Lane Show notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2022•53 min•Ep. 375
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a recent survey that the Universal Orlando Resort sent out to Harry Potter fans. Jim then continues his look back at “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” and how that film series made its way into the Disney Parks. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 16, 2022•48 min•Ep. 374
Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome back Christina Harrison, who talks about the surprisingly tasty gluten-free offerings that can be found around WDW property. Jim then starts a new series about Disney’s science-based gimmick comedies of the 1960s & 1970s that led to the “Honey, I Shrunk” attractions in the Parks Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 09, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 373
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing a recent survey the Universal Orlando Resort sent out about an after-hours Mardi Gras hard ticket event they’re considering holding in the Parks. They then discuss the various legal reasons The Walt Disney Company is supremely confident they’ll prevail in court next year. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 02, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 372
Len Testa starts off this week’s show by sharing some restaurant-related news that pertains to WDW’s monorail resorts. Jim Hill then continues his look back at the formation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 25, 2022•56 min•Ep. 371
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the new technology that will soon be powering image capture at WDW’s meet-n-greets. They also continue their look back at the formation of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 18, 2022•45 min•Ep. 370
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing WDW’s latest set of surveys (which -- this time -- touch on annual passholders). They then talk about Walt’s first meeting with Florida officials & local business leaders back in November of 1965 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 11, 2022•40 min•Ep. 369
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by reviewing a survey that the Universal Orlando Resort recently sent out which reveals possible pricing structures that are being considered for its opening-in-2025 Epic Universe theme park. They also reveal which WDW attractions have -- on average -- the most downtime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 04, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how WDW’s theme parks will be adjusting their operating hours over the rest of Spring Break. They also reveal that Mouse House managers still seem very concerned with how Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebration is being perceived Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 28, 2022•54 min•Ep. 367
Len Testa & Jim Hill are joined by Christina Harrison from TouringPlans. Who -- having just returned from Epcot -- gives them the full run-down of what not to miss at this year’s International Flower & Garden Festival Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 21, 2022•53 min•Ep. 366
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about “Festival of Fantasy” ‘s return to WDW’s Magic Kingdom. They also talk about the challenge that the Imagineers faced when they decided to add a water coaster to Typhoon Lagoon Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 14, 2022•38 min•Ep. 365
Len Testa & Christina Harrison have just disembarked from the “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.” In a special edition of Disney Dish, these two share with Jim Hill their fresh-off-the-boat impressions of this immersive experience Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 04, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 364
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about what Disney’s new Chief Corporate Affairs Officer may have just revealed about “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.” They then reminisce about how the 2012 Leap Year was celebrated at WDW’s Magic Kingdom as well as at Disneyland Park in California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 28, 2022•50 min•Ep. 363
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing whether Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is getting ready to re-open. They also share a recent “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” survey that suggests that WDW execs are growing increasingly concerned about this soon-to-open Resort Show notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 21, 2022•51 min•Ep. 362
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing the Disney Parks news that came out of the Company’s most recent earnings call. They then continue their look at what CommuniCore was like when EPCOT Center first opened back in October of 1982 Show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 14, 2022•51 min•Ep. 361
Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome back Chrissy Harrison from TouringPlans, who offers up her take on what foodies should definitely seek out at the 2022 edition of Festival of the Arts. They then talk about how Imagineer George Rester designed EPCOT’s CommuniCore section Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 07, 2022•54 min•Ep. 360
Len Testa starts things off by sharing a survey that wouldn’t allow WDW visitors to say that they didn’t use all of the benefits of staying onsite at that Resort. Jim Hill then looks back at EPCOT Center in the months just prior to the opening of Disney World’s second theme park Show Notes are here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31, 2022•33 min•Ep. 359
Len Testa & Jim Hill share a recent WDW survey that asks would-be Orlando visitors what it’s going to take for them to fully commit to booking a vacation package to that Resort in the near future. They also conclude their look at the development of “The Iron Man Experience” at Hong Kong Disneyland Show notes are here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 24, 2022•40 min•Ep. 358
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing what they’ve heard about when “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” might open at Epcot. They then talk about the very first Disney theme park attraction to be built around a Marvel Superhero Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 17, 2022•40 min•Ep. 357
Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome special guest Becky Gandillon. This data storyteller then explains which Genie+ reservations will save Guests the most time in line at all four Walt Disney World theme parks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 10, 2022•59 min•Ep. 356
Len Testa starts off this week’s show by sharing some off-site suggestions where WDW visitors can stay if they’re looking to vacation with multiple family members. Jim Hill then talks about why Disney’s Board of Directors was initially reluctant to fund the construction of Disneyland’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Show Notes here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 03, 2022•39 min•Ep. 355
In their last podcast for 2021, Len Testa & Jim Hill revealed which WDW water park will be opening on January 2nd. They also look back at the colorful career of Paul Castle, who was Disneyland’s “Main Mouse” from 1961 - 1986 Show Notes are here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 27, 2021•46 min•Ep. 354
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing several surprising surveys. They then talk about how Disneyland Cast Members got a flood-damaged “it’s a small world holiday” up & running earlier this month Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 20, 2021•59 min•Ep. 353
This week, Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome two guests: Kevin Perjurer of Defunctland and Christina Harrison from TouringPlans.com. They talk about the role that Nixon’s National Security Advisor played in the creation of Epcot-the-theme-park Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 13, 2021•2 hr 32 min•Ep. 352
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the recent changes that have been made at WDI & to Disney’s Board of Directors. These two also answer their last batch of listener mail. Show Notes: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 06, 2021•51 min•Ep. 351
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how Walt Disney World paused sales of three different annual passes for that Resort’s theme parks. They also look back at “100 Years of Magic” & the four parades that were created for this 15-month-long celebration. This episode's show notes are here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 29, 2021•51 min•Ep. 350
Len Testa & Jim start off this week’s show by revealing where the 2022 Disney Dish Live event will be held. They then answer listener mail that touches on issues like Easter Eggs that can be spotted in the “Mission: SPACE” ride film & how one might get a 3D printed kidney & bladder by WDW Security Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 22, 2021•46 min