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!
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how WDW’s Entertainment team turned Jollywood Nights around. They then look at the 44 year-long career of the man who started as an hourly employee at Disneyland and eventually became the Chairman of Disney Parks worldwide Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2023•46 min•Ep 458•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show with a brief recap of the 2023 Gingersnap Challenge. Then they discuss Epcot’s new nighttime extravaganza, “LuminoUS: The Symphony of Us” Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 11, 2023•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill offer up their opinions of the new holiday hard ticket that’s being presented on select nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They then talk about how Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures roadside attraction eventually grew into a full-sized Dino-Rama Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 04, 2023•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Jim Hill starts off a solo edition of this podcast by discussing the changes that have recently been made to Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. He also wraps up his “Disney Princesses in the Parks” series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 27, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill are joined by Christina Harrison, who offers up her take on Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ new holiday hard ticket. They then continue their look at Disney Princesses in the Parks Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20, 2023•57 min•Ep 454•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by revealing which Disney songs will be featured in Epcot’s new nighttime show, “Luminous: The Symphony of Us.” They then also share some patents for new technologies that could be coming into the Disney Parks very soon Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13, 2023•43 min•Ep 453•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing what happened to Monorail Yellow at the WDW Resort last week. They also take a look at recent price hikes when it comes to Universal Orlando’s theme parks Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 06, 2023•37 min•Ep 452•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a survey that the Universal Orlando Resort recently sent out about the use of QR codes at the restaurants in their theme parks. They then look back at when Walt Disney Productions celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1973. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 30, 2023•51 min•Ep 451•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa starts off this week’s show by looking back on his recent VIP tour of the two theme parks at the Universal Orland Resort. Then Jim Hill talks about why Rolly Crump was one of Walt Disney’s favorite Imagineers Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 23, 2023•39 min•Ep 450•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a survey that reveals what the Universal Orlando Resort has in the works to keep Guests coming in 2024 out ahead of Epic Universe opening in 2025. They then look back at what WDW Entertainment originally wanted to present as a nighttime spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa starts off this week’s show by discussing the meal he recently had at EPCOT’s Shiki-Sai restaurant (which recently opened at the Japan pavilion in World Showcase. Then he & Jim Hill discuss the latest round of discounts which are now being offered for vacation packages to WDW & the Disneyland Resort Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 09, 2023•36 min•Ep 448•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a one-on-one survey that was recently done on “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.” They also take a close look at the most recent round of hotel room discounts offered at Walt Disney World Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 02, 2023•52 min•Ep 447•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa starts off this week’s show by sharing some thoughts on what that proposed $60 billion investment really means for Disney Parks, Experiences & Products. Jim Hill then shines a spotlight on the “Disney Rock’n Rockets” show Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 25, 2023•47 min•Ep 446•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing many of the upcoming projects for the Disney Parks that were recently revealed at Destination D23. FYI: They group these items from “Very Likely to Happen” to “Hey, Pal. You Should Live So Long” Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep 445•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing what the Disney Cruise Line recently revealed about the Treasure’s features. Mr. Testa also offers up his take on the “Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana” walk-thru at Epcot Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 11, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing whether Disney’s Animal Kingdom may be reviving its nighttime offerings. They then share some surveys coming out of Florida which suggest that the Resort is rethinking how it showcases its Food & Beverage opportunities online Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 04, 2023•53 min•Ep 443•Transcript available on Metacast
im Shull returns to discuss how WDI justifies tearing down entire parts of parks (EX: The Streets of America at DHS) to then build brand-new lands like “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.” He also shares with Len & Jim how WDW’s drainage canal system was altered to make way for the Feature Animation – Florida building Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 28, 2023•53 min•Ep 442•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa start off this week’s show by sharing Christina Harrison’s experiences at the first two presentations of this year’s trick-or-treat hard ticket event at WDW. Then Jim Hill finishes his series about the Spain pavilion which was almost built at Epcot. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 21, 2023•40 min•Ep 441•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa returns from his European vacation with tales of his time aboard the Disney Wish. Then he & Jim Hill review the news highlights coming out of The Walt Disney Company’s most recent quarterly earnings call. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14, 2023•46 min•Ep 440•Transcript available on Metacast
What do you do when Len Testa goes on vacation? You bring in a genuine Disney Legend to discuss topics that range from "Once Upon a Studio" (i.e., that soon-to-be-released Disney100 short) to Epcot's Spain pavilion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 07, 2023•58 min•Ep 439•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome back longtime Imagineer Jim Shull, who then talks about the many years he spent working on both Toy Story Land & the Toy Story Hotel for the Shanghai Disneyland Resort Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31, 2023•54 min•Ep 438•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the new DreamWorks-themed land that was just announced for Universal Studios Florida. They then take a look at the Lightning-Lane-to-Stand-By ratio which TouringPlans just noted for WDW’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 24, 2023•42 min•Ep 437•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about Bob Iger’s contract extension at The Walt Disney Company through December of 2026. They also take a look at the Florida version of “Toy Story Midway Mania” Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 17, 2023•46 min•Ep 436•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa starts off this week’s show by discussing how Guests using WDW’s DAS may be impacting Lighting Lane. Jim Hill then talks about the challenges that the Imagineers faced during the construction phase of “Toy Story Midway Mania” Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 10, 2023•42 min•Ep 435•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the per-park pricing that went into effect at WDW for Genie+. They then wrap up their look back at the Walt Disney World Speedway Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 03, 2023•41 min•Ep 434•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa and Jim Hill start off of this week’s episode by sharing some listener questions. They then talk about how Mr. Eisner’s trip to Indiana in May of 1985 led to an ambitious project being built in the parking lot for WDW’s Magic Kingdom. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26, 2023•43 min•Ep 433•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the jump in attendance levels that Universal’s two Florida parks have recently experienced. They also look back at the Summer of 1983 and how Walt Disney Productions celebrated its 60th anniversary. Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 19, 2023•41 min•Ep 432•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about a survey that the Universal Orlando Resort just sent out to recent Guests. Jim Hill also concludes his look back at the development of the Disneyland Hotel Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 12, 2023•49 min•Ep 431•Transcript available on Metacast
While Len Testa explores the State of Maine, Jim Hill discusses the recent closure of Disneyland’s version of Splash Mountain. He also continues his look back at the expansion of the Disneyland Hotel in the 1960s & 1970s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 05, 2023•41 min•Ep 430•Transcript available on Metacast
Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about all of the annual passholder discounts & exclusives that will be available at WDW through the end of June. They also discuss how the Disney Parks has begun setting the stage for “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 29, 2023•40 min•Ep 429•Transcript available on Metacast