The Disney Dish with Jim Hill - podcast cover

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

Jim Hill Media Podcast Networkwww.podpage.com
The Disney Dish Podcast with Jim Hill and Len Testa Dive into the fascinating world of Disney with theme park historian Jim Hill and Len Testa as they uncover the stories behind the magic. From breaking news and in-depth analyses to quirky historical tidbits and behind-the-scenes secrets, The Disney Dish offers a unique blend of humor, expertise, and insider knowledge. Whether you're a die-hard Disney fan, a theme park aficionado, or just curious about the history and future of Disney parks and resorts, this podcast has something for everyone. What to Expect: Breaking Disney News: Stay up to date on the latest happenings at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney's global parks. Historical Deep Dives: Learn how classic attractions were created, the stories behind Disney's biggest decisions, and the Imagineering ingenuity that brought it all to life. Listener Q&A: Get answers to your burning questions about the parks, attractions, and Disney culture. Exclusive Insights: Gain access to insider details and stories you won’t find anywhere else. Fun & Humor: Enjoy the wit and camaraderie of two Disney enthusiasts who know how to make even the most technical details entertaining. With decades of combined experience and an unmatched passion for all things Disney, Jim and Len guide you through the parks, the stories, and the magic in a way only they can. Your journey to the happiest podcast on earth starts here. Subscribe today!

Episodes

Disney Dish Episode 267: How the Disney Princesses came to rule Restaurant Akershus

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by reviewing some of the safety policies & procedures that Disney & Universal may employ as they begin to re-open their theme parks. They then look back at the Summer of 2002. Which is when EPCOT’s Norway pavilion received a royal makeover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 27, 202050 min

Disney Dish Episode 266: It’s not an elevator. It’s a vertical vehicle conveyance

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week by talking about which of the Bobs is really in charge of the Mouse House these days. Then they discuss how DCA’s Twilight Zone Tower of Terror got transformed into “Guardians of the Galaxy -- Mission: BREAKOUT !” in just 5 months Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 20, 202045 min

Disney Dish Episode 265: Bob Chapek didn’t invent relying too heavily on Disney’s IPs

Len Testa starts off this week’s episode by sharing a survey that was recently sent out to Disney Vacation Club members. Then Jim Hill looks back at the Fall of 1997 and the role that the “Jurassic Park” franchise played in Disney’s decision to change out three attractions at WDW’s Magic Kingdom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 13, 202040 min

Disney Dish Episode 264: How Flower & Garden really got started at Epcot ‘94

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the 26.3 acres of land that Disney just bought to the west of WDW’s Magic Kingdom. They then go on to discuss how the construction of Innoventions impacted Future World Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 06, 202034 min

Disney Dish Episode 262: Why isn’t there more Muppet stuff in the Disney theme parks

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by sharing what they’ve learned about COVID-19’s impact on the themed entertainment industry. Then Jim talks about how Kermit & Co. continue to be crowded out by other Disney-owned properties like Pixar, Marvel & Lucasfilm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 23, 202047 minEp. 262

Disney Dish Episode 261: How is the coronavirus is impacting the Walt Disney Company

Len Testa & Jim Hill talk about the impact that COVID19 has been having on the Disney Parks (Editor’s note: This was before Disney Parks announced on the evening of March 12th that they’d be closing all of their theme parks in the United States & France). Then Jim takes a look at how WDW’s Typhoon Lagoon wound up with a water coaster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 16, 202045 min

Disney Dish Episode 260: The road to “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway”

Len Testa starts off this week’s episode by reviewing some of the food offerings found at this year’s International Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot. Then Jim Hill talks about how Disney’s earlier trackless attractions influenced the design of “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 09, 202047 min

Disney Dish Episode 259: How long will Spaceship Earth be closed?

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by reviewing many of the menu offerings at the Regal Eagle Smokehouse, which recently opened at Epcot’s American Adventure pavilion. Then Jim Hill looks back at the career of Disney CEO Bob Iger. More importantly, how Iger has been trying to exit the Mouse House since 2016. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 02, 202051 min

Disney Dish Episode 258: Making sense of Epcot’s construction fences

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by talking about how all of the construction that’s been going on towards the front of Future World has been negatively impacting Epcot’s “The Seas with Nemo & Friends” pavilion. Then Jim Hill does a deep dive on the development of “Ratatouille: L’Adventure” for Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 24, 202044 minEp. 258

Disney Dish Episode 257: How Epcot’s festivals continue to change this theme park

Len Testa starts off this week’s episode by talking about the very best way to plan out your FastPasses while visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Jim Hill then talks about why Epcot’s Liberty Inn was recently transformed into the Regal Eagle Smokehouse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 202033 min

Disney Dish Episode 256: What became of the Disney Institute?

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by reviewing some of the patents that The Walt Disney Company has recently filed (Including one or two that soon may be in use as part of the Avenger Campus). Then Jim talks about Michael Eisner’s decade-long effort to get a Chautauqua-inspired resort built at Walt Disney World. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 10, 202044 min

Disney Dish Episode 255: Was Superstar Limo the worst Disney ride ever?

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how the Imagineers are using survey results to help them determine how scary Epcot’s “Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind” ride should be. They then review some of the more short-lived rides, shows & attraction at the Disney theme parks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 03, 202051 minEp. 255

Disney Dish Episode 254: Does Disney’s Riveria Resort have a hidden room

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by talking about the FastPass-related changes that will be coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting on February 19th. Then Jim Hill looks back at the history of what was once considered the gateway to Future World, Epcot’s Communicore / Innoventions area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 27, 20201 hr 1 min

Disney Dish Episode 253: Rating Epcot’s newest films

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by sharing his thoughts about “Awesome Planet,” “Canada: Far and Wide” as well as the “Beauty & the Beast Sing-along.” Jim Hill then talks about the carousel theater show that was originally supposed to be the centerpiece attraction at World Showcase’s Japan pavilion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 20, 202050 minEp. 253

Disney Dish Episode 252: Imagineering Epcot’s Space pavilion

Len Testa starts out this week’s show by revealing how Disney World is using an upcoming Free Dining promotion to deliberately steer people away from visiting that Resort over the long Fourth of July Weekend. Then Jim Hill talks about the Imagineers kept circling back on a certain set of ideas when it came to Epcot’s long-in-development Space pavilion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 13, 202045 minEp. 252

Disney Dish Episode 250: Remembering WDW’s “Glory and Pageantry of Christmas” show

Len Testa starts off this week’s episode by revealing how TouringPlans actually cracked Priceline’s code when it came to unnamed WDW resorts. Then Jim Hill talks about the living nativity that used to be a holiday highpoint at the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 30, 201929 minEp. 250

Disney Dish Episode 249: Reviewing WDW’s Riviera Resort

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by sharing his impressions of the latest Disney Vacation Club property to open at Walt Disney World. Then Jim Hill shares the history of the hotel that shares this space with WDW’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 201958 minEp. 249

Disney Dish Episode 248: From CircleVision to “Soarin’ “

Len Testa starts off this show by talking about the challenges that WDW Guests still face if they want to experience DHS’ “Star Wars: The Rise of the Resistance” attraction in the coming weeks. Then Jim Hill does a deep dive on the history of CircleVision 360 at the Disney theme parks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 16, 201944 minEp. 248

Disney Dish Episode 247: “Rise” is great. It’s also not ready

Len Testa shares his experiences from both the press event for “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance” as well as opening day for this new Disney’s Hollywood Studios attraction. He then offers his advice on how to increase your chances of actually getting to experience this ambitious ride while the Imagineers work out its kinks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 09, 201933 minEp. 247

Disney Dish Episode 246: Snow White is a problematic Disney Princess. Discuss.

First Len Testa previews some of the cutting-edge tech that will possibly power Guest interactions at WDW’s “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” resort. Then Jim Hill talks about how the Imagineers have tweaked the “Snow White and her Adventures” attraction since this dark ride first opened at Disneyland Park back in July of 1955. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 02, 201939 minEp. 246

Disney Dish Episode 245: Make way for DAK’s Merry Menagerie

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how a patent Disney Parks & Resorts recently filed may eventually impact classic attractions like Space Mountain. Then Jim talks about some of the newer holiday offerings he enjoyed during a recent visit to the Walt Disney World Resort Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 25, 201947 minEp. 245

Disney Dish Episode 244: Why Hyperion Wharf Didn’t Happen

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how Leslie Iwerks' “Imagineering” documentary series on Disney+ is a must-see for theme park fans. They then discuss why the construction of Hyperion Wharf (i.e., the Downtown Disney renewal project that was originally supposed to replace Pleasure Island) never went forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 18, 201940 minEp. 244

Disney Dish Episode 243: The long road to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing how Disney & Las Vegas’ never-ending battle for your tourism dollars would up impacting Epcot’s “Space 220” restaurant. Then Jim walks listeners through WDI’s 66-year-old long struggle to get a Mickey Mouse-themed ride built at a Disney theme park Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 11, 201946 minEp. 243

Disney Dish Episode 242: Shining a spotlight on the Osborne Lights

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing why Disney Parks & Resorts is exploring the idea of a subscription-based service and/or a loyalty program out ahead of WDW’s 50th anniversary celebration. Then Len & Jim look back at that WDW holiday favorite, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 04, 201944 minEp. 242

Disney Dish Episode 241: Testa and Scopa! Together again!

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about Disney’s recent test of easier-to-understand names for the menu items served at “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.” Then Len reunites with his old “WDW Today” co-host Mike Scopa as these two discuss this year’s offering at Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 28, 201958 minEp. 241

Disney Dish Episode 240: 364 days of staying in WDW hotel rooms

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the changes that have been made to the menus found inside of “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.” Then Len shares an interview that he recently did with Robert & Alyssa Simmons, a couple who are spending a solid year only staying in hotel rooms at various Walt Disney World resorts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 21, 201958 minEp. 240

Disney Dish Episode 239: Inside the Skyliner malfunction

Len Testa starts off this week’s episode by sharing a first-person account about what it was like to be stranded on WDW’s Skyliner back on Saturday, October 5th. Jim Hill then talks about the changes that have recently been made to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 14, 201940 minEp. 239

Disney Dish Episode 238: An Illuminating look at “Epcot Forever”

Len Testa starts off this week’s show by talking about some of the operational issues WDW’s Skyliner has had. Len & Jim then talk about “Epcot Forever,” the new nighttime show which debuted out on/over World Showcase Lagoon this past week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 07, 201940 minEp. 238