The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

In the 21st installment of this educational series, Shelly and Noe Valladolid talk about what happened when C.V. Wood (the original president of Disneyland) went off in 1956 and set up his own theme park design company. This episode takes a close look at Freedomland & Magic Mountain Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How many theme park designers did C.V. Wood take with him when he exited Disneyland What was the first theme park that Wood worked on after he stopped working for Walt How was Freedomland’s opening day much like the one that Disneyland experienced back in 1955 What similarities did Magic Mountain have with Walt’s original family fun park Who were some of the stars that performed at Freedomland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with another packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, diving into the latest Universal news, fan reports, and theme park history. Highlights this week include: Firsthand impressions of Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, thanks to listener John T. – from house walkthroughs to surprisingly short wait times. A look at Universal Orlando’s new “Deathly Afraid” necklace option at Halloween Horror Nights and the debate it’s sparked online. News from the West Coast, including the Slash Bar pop-up at HHN Hollywood and the arrival of Chainsaw Man. Updates on the new Museum of Antiquities Tribute Store packed with Easter eggs for longtime fans. Breaking down NBC’s Inside the Worlds of Epic Universe TV special and Steven Spielberg’s surprising connection to Dark Universe. Jim kicks off a new multi-part feature on the history of Dueling Dragons and whether Disney’s never-built Beastly Kingdom really influenced Universal’s iconic coaster. As

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dig into the world of Disney merch and history with a mix of spooky snacks and fascinating backstories: Why Jim bought Count Chocula, Boo Berry, and Franken Berry cereal he can’t eat—thanks to new Jim Henson puppet designs The launch of Bath & Body Works’ Disney Villains collection, from Maleficent’s plum scents to the Evil Queen’s apple blends Disney cracking down on resellers and what that means for collectors New Muppets merchandise teased for Destination D23, plus the latest on the Muppet redo of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster The untold story of Kay Kamen, the salesman who turned Disney into a merchandising powerhouse - before his career ended tragically From collectible cereal boxes to multi-million-dollar licensing deals, Jim and Lauren explore how Disney’s merchandising magic has shaped everything from your breakfast table to the theme parks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill is solo this week and breaks down the end of the 2025 summer movie season and why traditional blockbusters are struggling at the box office. From shocking second-weekend drop-offs to Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” taking the No. 1 spot in theaters, Jim covers the hits and misses of the season. How films like Fantastic Four: First Steps and 28 Years Later stumbled in their second weekends Why streaming habits continue to disrupt box office expectations “KPop Demon Hunters” theater debut and record-breaking soundtrack buzz The English-dubbed release of Ne Zha 2 and its global box office dominance “The Bad Guys 2” performance compared to the original Broadway news: Muppets joining Rob Lake’s magic show, Disney’s Broadway Week deals, and more New York attractions for animation fans, from Nightmare Before Christmas light trails to Black Cauldron’s 40th anniversary screening Plus, Jim shares updates on upcoming animation books, CTNX 2025, Pixar’s Elio, and what fans can expect from

Len Testa and Jim Hill welcome award-winning mind reader and performer Chris Cox (BBC and Broadway) for a deep dive into one of Disney’s most fascinating “what could have been” stories. The ambitious plans for David Copperfield’s Magic Underground restaurant How the New York flagship nearly opened before money troubles pulled the plug Michael Eisner’s enthusiasm for magic and themed dining in the 1990s Why Disney-MGM Studios was slated to host Copperfield’s magical dining experience How timing, costs, and the decline of themed restaurants caused the project to vanish From collapsing billboards in Times Square to a restaurant where your table might levitate, this is the story of the Disney dining experience that almost was — and why it disappeared. SHOW NOTES Support Our Sponsors Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with another packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast. This week, they cover everything from nostalgic movie anniversaries to Universal’s latest projects, before diving deep into the troubled history of Jaws: The Revenge. Universal’s fall movie lineup, including The Breakfast Club’s 40th anniversary and Casper’s big-screen return The abandoned “Casper” haunted ride concept with interactive bed vehicles A first look at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas and early guest reactions Farewell to Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and what could be replacing it Team Members now able to use comp tickets for Epic Universe admission The full behind-the-scenes story of Jaws: The Revenge – from rushed production to its infamous reception From shark sequels to theme park closures, Jim and Eric connect Universal history, news, and wild industry trivia in their signature style. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale M

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are back with a Halloween-packed episode of I Want That Too, diving into the latest spooky Disney merch and a century of witchy stories from the Mouse House. Haunted Mansion peel-and-stick wallpaper and Guillermo del Toro’s obsession The viral Cutie Ghost collection and why the Minnie Mouse ghost lamp is selling out fast A massive Nightmare Before Christmas collection, including a $160 countdown coffin and an epic Jack Skellington water bottle set Disney’s evolving portrayal of witches, from Snow White’s “old crone” to Witch Hazel and beyond How other studios — and even cereals — are cashing in on the witch trend From Halloween merch mania to deep Disney history, this episode delivers treats, trivia, and plenty of mischief. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magi

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with a packed episode of Fine Tooning, highlighted by an interview with legendary voice actor Jim Cummings. From Pooh and Tigger to Darkwing Duck, Jim shares behind-the-scenes stories from a career that shaped generations of animation fans. The shifting release date of Shrek 5 and what it means for DreamWorks Why Disney pulled back marketing on The Rocketeer opening weekend This week’s box office projections — and why Jim calls them “wild guesses” Streaming success of KPop Demon Hunters and Disney’s King of the Hill revival Pixar’s Elio box office performance and upcoming digital release Jim Cummings’ Disney origins with Dumbo’s Circus and Goof Troop Voicing legacy characters like Pooh, Tigger, and Pete — plus his work on Star Wars His hidden singing credits in Hollywood films and dream of a country album From industry news to animation nostalgia, this episode blends updates, history, and an in-depth conversation with one of th

Jim Hill and Len Testa dig into how fans really rate Disney’s nighttime spectaculars — and why those scores decide which shows stay and which ones fade away. Along the way, they cover the latest park news and wrap up the story of how Jack Sparrow sailed into Pirates of the Caribbean. TouringPlans survey data reveals the winners and losers among Disney’s fireworks and nighttime shows Why “average” ratings are the kiss of death for spectaculars like Enchantment New menus and a $65 all-you-can-eat croissant buffet at Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival Destination D23 schedule updates, including hints of a Villains Land presentation Construction progress on Disneyland’s new Marvel e-ticket attraction Universal’s permit filing that could mean another Epic Universe hotel How Johnny Depp, Captain Barbossa, and Davy Jones made their way into the Pirates of the Caribbean rides From fan-favorite fireworks to the behind-the-scenes drama of Pirates overlays, this episode blends data

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a jam-packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, starting with a surprising WWE–Disney streaming deal and ending with a behind-the-scenes look at the wild production of Jaws 3D. From scare zones to SeaWorld, this week’s show has it all. WWE’s $1.625 billion ESPN+ deal and what it means for fans and streaming Newly announced scare zones for Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood, including murderous clowns, giant crows, and Latin American witch legends First look at the Five Nights at Freddy’s haunted house and why Jim thinks the animatronics could be terrifying Changes to Universal Orlando’s Stay and Scream early entry for HHN Details on Volcano Bay Nights after-hours events in September and October The 3D movie craze of the early 1980s and how it led to Jaws 3D The SeaWorld connection – and how Universal almost owned it years before opening in Orlando From horror nights hype to theme park “what ifs,” Jim and Eric share history, r

Jim and Lauren serve up a feast of Disney news, collectibles, and one unforgettable personal tale. Recap of Disney’s quarterly earnings call, including streaming’s first profitable quarter Details on Hulu’s full integration into Disney+ by 2026 and the shift away from subscriber count reporting Hidden perks for Disney+ subscribers, including a free D23 Gold membership and exclusive sweepstakes A first look at “Single Riders” – a dating app for Disney and theme park fans Disney’s latest collectible craze from Japan: Rupoka-chan Jim shares his career origin story, starting with a phone call about Donald Duck that led to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a 40-year career covering the Disney Company From industry insights to adorable merch and a behind-the-scenes career journey, this episode is packed with stories you won’t want to miss. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings w

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with another jam-packed episode of Fine Tooning, covering everything from Sirius the Dog Star to the latest in animated film and TV news. This week’s stories span box office winners, Netflix premieres, and the challenges of recasting beloved characters. • The history of the “Dog Days of Summer” and why Sirius is more than just a bright spot in the sky • Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed - the long road to Netflix for this R-rated animated comedy • Box office breakdown - how Weapons, Freakier Friday, and The Bad Guys 2 are performing worldwide • Why The Bad Guys franchise may or may not be headed for a third installment • The $2.2 billion success of Ne Zha 2 and what’s ahead for Ne Zha 3 • King of the Hill revival on Hulu - navigating the absence of key characters • KPop Demon Hunters’ Netflix success and upcoming sing-along screenings • New and upcoming animation releases - The Twits, Zootopia 2, Spider-Punk, and Dr. Seuss projects including Cat in the Hat From nostalgic callbacks t

Len Testa and Jim Hill break down Disney’s latest earnings call, including park attendance trends, hotel occupancy shifts, and how Epic Universe may be quietly impacting Orlando tourism. They also review a fascinating new Disney Cruise Line survey that tests potential discounts and onboard perks — plus what those offers could mean for future sailings. Listener questions cover everything from the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow projection tech to Walt Disney World’s mysterious white bus lane lights, and Jim continues his multi-part history of how Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa found their way into the Pirates of the Caribbean attractions. Along the way, they explore the behind-the-scenes stories of the Pirate Tutorial, the Pirates League, and Disney’s new Beak and Barrel lounge at Magic Kingdom. Disney’s domestic attendance and hotel occupancy results How Epic Universe is influencing local tourism What a Disney Cruise Line survey reveals about future promotions Why Captain Jack’s meet-an

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast featuring news from Universal Orlando, Hollywood, and Las Vegas - plus a deep-dive interview with Brian Krosnick, the creative force behind Parklore. First, the guys pay tribute to Rip Ride Rockit as its closure looms, reminisce about secret soundtracks, and preview this year’s Behind the Screams tours for Halloween Horror Nights, including the new WWE-themed haunted house and Fallout-inspired attractions. They also discuss the exclusive lights-on walkthroughs for pass members and the eerily immersive new Horror Unleashed experience opening in Las Vegas. Then, Jim and Eric sit down with Brian Krosnick for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about his background in education, immersive museums, and how that experience led to creating Parklore - a site known for in-depth ride histories, creative full park build-outs, and innovative data visualizations that reimagine how we think about theme parks. Saying goodbye to Ri

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey trace the surprising origins of Disney’s licensing empire - back to a time when Walt needed just $300 to keep the studio running. From the Alice Comedies to Donald Duck orange juice and Peter Pan peanut butter, this episode explores how early merchandise deals weren’t just about profit - they were survival. Jim unpacks how licensing set the foundation for everything from Disneyana collectors to the modern parks. Meanwhile, Lauren shares her latest finds in the merch world, including: Why the Fantastic Four landed in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland The rise of Cakeworthy and modern Disney collabs Inside Disney’s $63 billion licensing empire How a peanut butter deal helped fund Disneyland The origins of Donald Duck Orange Juice and collectible Ariel dolls Disney's licensing strategy from the 1920s to today From peanut butter tins to popcorn buckets, this episode dives into how Disney turned product placement into a legacy. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Ma

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down with Alan Siegel from The Ringer to discuss his new book Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed Television and America Forever. Together, they revisit how Matt Groening’s crude interstitials on The Tracey Ullman Show evolved into a cultural juggernaut, what nearly derailed the series before it ever aired, and why The Simpsons continues to matter nearly four decades later. Along the way, the guys dig into: • The box office performance of The Bad Guys 2 and Paramount’s Smurfs• The cautious rollout of the Zootopia 2 trailer• How Netflix’s K-Pop: Demon Hunters is shaping up to be the next Frozen• The surprising backstories behind Homer’s voice, Bart’s balloon, and the show's first merchandising blitz• Why “Mr. Plow” might be the perfect Simpsons episode Stick around for tales of drone shows, disaster movie homages, and the writer’s room prank that involved fake stairway carnage and a box of trash. Plus, Alan shares his favorite episode and what The

While Len Testa enjoys a well-earned week off, Jim Hill is joined by special guest AJ Wolfe of the Disney Food Blog to talk about her new book Disney Adults: Exploring and Falling in Love with a Magical Subculture. But first, Jim shares updates from around Walt Disney World, including real demolition progress for the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster, the curious lack of vertical construction for Encanto Land, and new details about the General Joe Potter ferry accident currently under investigation. Why Disney Adults may be “the most hated group on the internet” What’s missing from Animal Kingdom’s Encanto and Zootopia areas The Monsters Inc. Door Coaster transforms Muppet Studios Fantastic Four meet-and-greet rules (and international waters loopholes) A heartfelt tribute to longtime podcast collaborator Brian Gaughan AJ Wolfe also shares behind-the-scenes stories from her Disney Food Blog journey, the early days of Disney dining coverage, and why writing Disney Adults meant sharing

 In the 19th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about what happened in September of 1953 prior to Roy O. Disney’s fateful flight out to NYC. They also talk about how the material that Walt’s brother showed to executives at CBS, NBC & ABC to sell them on Disneyland was created. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How did Herbie Ryman’s “Lost Weekend” with Walt REALLY go down Which “Lands” were initially proposed for Walt’s family fun park How did Walt go about securing all of the funding that was needed to build Disneyland Who were the Park’s original sponsors How did C.V. Wood go about recruiting Disneyland’s participants  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return from a summer packed with parks, previews, and one sold-out Friday at Epic Universe. In this episode, the duo reflects on the dramatic changes between their April preview visit and a mid-July return - sharing firsthand insight on crowd flow, character absences, ride downtime, and that sweltering Florida heat. From WWE's Wyatt 6 haunting Halloween Horror Nights to Hulk Hogan’s long-standing Universal ties, this episode blends news, nostalgia, and heat-induced honesty. Plus: hidden gems at Confisco Grille, underwhelming face paint stats, and the rising need for more shade, shows, and slow days at Epic. Hulk Hogan’s history at Disney-MGM and Universal Wyatt 6 and WWE join Halloween Horror Nights First impressions of Terra Luna Resort Surging summer crowds and Epic Universe challenges Hidden spots, great meals, and what could make Epic better Next week, the guys are joined by Brian from Parklore.com to talk expansion plans and what Epic Universe cou

Lauren returns from an epic summer road trip across nine parks and five hotels, with stories (and shopping bags) in tow. She and Jim break down: The best-kept secret for scoring free Disney water park access How the new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom stacks up (and where to sit) What it’s really like inside Disney’s exclusive Property Control store A merch-lover’s guide to Universal Studios’ 35th anniversary finds Why the new Epic Universe resort Terra Luna is gorgeous—but far The Hersey family’s hot take on Epic Universe’s sold out Friday From Boo Boos to Back to the Future bucket hats, this episode is packed with tips, deals, and first impressions from Disney and Universal. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠Learn More Learn more about your ad