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, 2019•39 min•Ep 238•Transcript available on Metacast Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about that Universal Orlando team member who was fired for making the “White Power” symbol while working at a character meet ‘n’ greet. Then Jim shares an interview he recently did with themed entertainment pioneer Ron Schneider, where Schneider reveals how Universal Studios Florida’s very first Halloween hard ticket came together Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 04, 2019•53 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how well “Abominable” did over its opening weekend. Then Drew shares a recent interview that he did with Lisa Keene, the co-production designer on “Frozen 2,” & David Wormersley, the art director of environments on this highly anticipated Walt Disney Animation Studios production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 03, 2019•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Len Testa starts off this week’s episode by sharing his experience at a Cast Member Only preview of WDW’s new Skyliner system. Then Jim Hill looks back at “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth,” the millennium-themed nighttime show that was originally only supposed to run at Epcot for 18 months but wound up wowing the crowds around World Showcase Lagoon for 19 years instead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 30, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Ep 237•Transcript available on Metacast Jim had the Flu, so it was very fortuitous that Dan packed an extra co-host, Tom, in his travel bags. Also, Aaron Adams showed up because he was looking for someone to hang out with that day. They all chat about Star Wars, and Marvel. We even corralled some strangers into a room so we could pretend that we had an audience. (they were released shortly afterward, and no SWAT teams needed to be called in.) So here is the live show that was recorded, and almost lost, but found at the last minute so ...
Sep 28, 2019•48 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the rumors that are making the rounds about which members of the Sinister Six may show up in the next Tom Holland “Spider-Man” movie. Then Jim shares what he’s learned from “The Ride of a Lifetime,” Bob Iger’s recently published memoir, about what went on behind-the-scenes as The Walt Disney Company was pursuing Marvel back in 2008 & 2009. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 26, 2019•35 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about what Bob Iger revealed about Disney’s 2006 acquisition of Pixar in his new book, “The Ride of a Lifetime.” Drew then shares an interview that he did with Jill Culton, the co-director of the soon-to-be-released DreamWorks Animation / Pearl Studios co-production, “Abominable” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 26, 2019•43 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the Universal Orlando Resort’s efforts to keep its plans for the Epic Universe project under wraps. They then talk about how the Universal Studios Hollywood version of the “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle” show differed from the version now being presented at Universal’s Islands of Adventure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 24, 2019•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Len Testa starts off this week’s show by talking about some rare home movies that he’s recently seen from the early days of Disneyland Park. Jim Hill then talks about how the roles that castles play at the Disney Parks have evolved over the past 64 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 23, 2019•43 min•Ep 236•Transcript available on Metacast Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by speculating about how MGM’s “Addams Family” may do over its opening weekend. They then continue their “Where are they now” feature by discussing the post-Disney careers of Andreas Deja & Glen Keane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 17, 2019•51 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about why it’s crucial that WDW’s new Skyliner transportation system has a trouble-free debut. Jim then reveals how WDI used fossil fuels as an excuse to recycle one of the more popular aspects of the Ford Wonder Rotunda at the 1964 – 1965 New York World’s Fair Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 16, 2019•47 min•Ep 235•Transcript available on Metacast Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by sharing what Disneyland Cast Members were told about DCA’s Avengers campus area. They then talk about how “Hawkeye” & “Wandavision” (i.e., those two limited series that Marvel Studios is producing for Disney+) are shaping up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 13, 2019•41 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast Dan Zehr starts off this week’s show with a recap of his experience at this year’s Official Disney Fan Club event at the Anaheim Convention. Jim Hill then looks back at those two “Ewok” TV movies that George Lucas produced for ABC back in the early 1980s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 12, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how much they enjoyed “Steven Universe: The Movie.” They then reflect on the challenges of covering some animators’ post-Disney careers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 10, 2019•43 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast Len Testa starts off this week’s show by describing what the Disney’s Hollywood Studios version of “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” was like on opening day. He then describes what it was like to go straight from Batuu to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 09, 2019•48 min•Ep 234•Transcript available on Metacast Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing several of the television animation-related panels at this year’s D23 Expo. Jim then looks back at what happened with the “Disney Afternoon” during the waning years of this syndicated animation programming block. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 04, 2019•40 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episodes by talking about the “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” Coca-Cola “thermal detonator” controversy. Then special guest Christina Testa-Harrison offers her take on the 2019 edition of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at WDW’s Magic Kingdom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 02, 2019•46 min•Ep 233•Transcript available on Metacast Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this episode by talking about the bozos who put a damper on Universal Orlando's most recent passholder appreciation night. Jim also details the sort of theme park that Universal originally wanted to build in Florida when they first revealed their plans for this project back in July of 1981 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 01, 2019•59 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast Aaron Adams & Jim Hill start things off by explaining how Marvel Studios wound up helping Columbia Pictures with its “Spider-Man” reboot back in 2015. They then shine a spotlight on a number of the Marvel-related rides, shows & attractions that were announced at the most recent D23 Expo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 30, 2019•52 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about why “Angry Birds 2” failed to take flight. Then Drew shares what he learned this past weekend about Pixar’s “Onward” & “Soul” as well as Walt Disney Animation Studios’ November 2020 release, “Raya and the Last Dragon” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 27, 2019•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Pass & Mid-Day Magic ticket that the WDW Resort recently began offering. Jim then shines a spotlight on how – back in the mid-1970s – the Imagineers turned Disneyland’s “Mine Train thru Nature’s Wonderland” attraction into the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 26, 2019•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan Zehr & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about “Indiana Jones V” (which is supposed to begin shooting in London next April). Then Dan & Jim look back at “Tucker, The Man and his Dream” and how George Lucas made this 1988 Francis Ford Coppola film possible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 25, 2019•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how “Angry Birds 2” garnered better reviews & sold more tickets over its opening weekend than the original “Angry Birds” movie did back in 2016. Drew & Jim then go on to discuss how both Disney & Comcast are struggling to carve out distinctive identities for all of the animation studios these two media giants currently control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 22, 2019•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jim Hill and guest host Dan Zehr talk about how Halloween is celebrated at Disney theme parks around the globe. Dan then looks back at the three different experiences he had while participating in WDW’s College Program Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 19, 2019•1 hr•Ep 231•Transcript available on Metacast n honor of “Avengers: Endgame” being released on Blu-ray & DVD, Aaron Adams & Jim Hill discuss some of the lesser-known aspects of this Russo Brothers movie. Jim then reads an excerpt from J. Michael Straczynski’s terrific memoir, “Becoming Superman: My Journey from Poverty to Hollywood” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 16, 2019•45 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast Shelly Valladolid & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the 50th-anniversary celebration of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. Shelly then unboxes a Pulp Hero Snap Bot from Far Out Toys’ Marvel-inspired line Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 15, 2019•45 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Dustin Fuhs & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the Velocicoaster, the new thrill ride that’s now in the works for the Jurassic Park section of Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Jim then talks about why there’s typically a huge difference between a finished theme park and the first piece of concept art that’s released for that project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 15, 2019•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Drew Taylor & Jim Hill talk about some of the Disney theme park-related projects that animation master Eric Goldberg created new footage for. They also look back at how Walt Disney Animation Studios struggled in the late 1930s / early 1940s to create a full-length animated feature to follow the hugely successful “Snow White” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14, 2019•52 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this episode with a run-down of the past week’s news, including Universal Orlando’s announcement of their Epic Universe project. Jim then shines a spotlight on Walt Disney Productions’ second attempt to build a ski resort up in Northern California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 12, 2019•46 min•Ep 230•Transcript available on Metacast Aaron Adams & Jim Hill discuss how Professor Hulk was originally supposed to make his cinematic debut in “Avengers: Infinity War” rather than in “Endgame.” Aaron then goes on to explain how Marvel Comics’ “House of X” & “Power of X” could impact Phase V of the MCU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 09, 2019•43 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast