The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor wrap up July with box office milestones, Comic-Con exclusives, and some major animation developments: Chris Sanders returns to write Lilo & Stitch 2 – After the billion-dollar success of the live-action film, Disney is moving forward with a sequel, with Sanders bringing fresh ideas from the original “Pitch to Stitch.” Inside the “Magic of Disney Animation” revival – A massive reimagining of the former Star Wars Launch Bay at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is on the way, with tributes to Mulan, Brother Bear, and hand-drawn classics. Comic-Con highlights – Drew and Jim reflect on activations for Lilo & Stitch, Godzilla at 70, King of the Hill, and more from San Diego. Box office report – Fantastic Four: First Steps opens strong, Jurassic World: Rebirth crosses $700M, and Elio slips out of the Top 10. Animation updates – Warner Bros. finally sets a date for Coyote vs. Acme, DreamWorks teases Bad Guys 2, and Mrs. Claus heads to the

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by taking a close look at the recently announced plans to revamp the Animation Courtyard area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They then continue their interview with Don Hahn & Chris Merritt, the authors of “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland” For this episode, listeners will learn about: ·       What aspect of the actual entrance to Disney Studios out in Burbank is about to be replicated in Florida   Why do you want to pay close attention to those sets of dancers that are positioned between the floats for Disney World’s new nighttime parade     Where will the new “Drawn to Wonderland” aspect of DHS’s “Magic of Disney Animation” likely be located inside the old Walt Disney Feature Animation – Florida building Which almost-built Disneyland attraction would have sent you home with a perhaps unhealthy glow  Why is it already difficult to find an on-property room at the WDW Resort for a reasonable price during mid-De

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with the latest from Universal Parks and the unbelievable story of how Jaws 3 nearly became a full-blown comedy. From Spielberg’s pivot to Close Encounters to the moment Universal almost partnered with National Lampoon, this episode unpacks the sequel that nearly torpedoed the franchise before it began. This week’s highlights include: • Wicked: Part Two gets a primetime concert special and early merch leaks• Jimmy Buffett’s plane, the Hemisphere Dancer, returns to CityWalk• Starfall Racers responds to guest feedback with roomier seats• Monster Makeup Experience signage gets an eerie refresh• Steven Spielberg chose aliens over sharks, turning down Jaws 2• Universal’s near-miss with Jaws 3: People Nothing, a spoof that almost happened From deleted scenes and shark pups to Hollywood rewrites and parody panic, this one’s packed with trivia, hindsight, and a few "what ifs" that might’ve changed blockbuster history. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and

In this packed episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey tackle everything from the ZOMBIES 4 merch drought to the 52-item Haunted Mansion collection and the bittersweet farewell line for Animal Kingdom’s Dinosaur ride. But the real surprise? A 1950s Disneyland board game that may have smuggled in Bugs Bunny. Plus, Jim dives into the earliest examples of Disney’s merchandise strategy—souvenir trays, ashtrays, temporary tattoos, and the guidebook Walt insisted on selling at a loss just to get it on coffee tables across America. Disney’s ZOMBIES 4 and why merch is mysteriously missing (for now) A look at the Haunted Mansion’s biggest collection drop yet The final merch line for Dinosaur before it goes extinct in 2025 Why Muppet Vision 3D fans got left out of the goodbye merch party A secret cameo by Bugs Bunny in a 1955 Disneyland board game How Walt used guidebooks and charm bracelets to spread Disney magic From ashtrays to action figures and park maps to pl

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by discussing “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” that new show at Disneyland Park in Anaheim. examineThey then look at how Paramount Pictures’ new “Smurfs” film performed at the domestic box office. For this episode, listeners will learn about: Who did Chris Buck & Kevin Lima originally want to voice Tantor the elephant in Disney’s animated version of “Tarzan” Which role will Josh Gad be playing in the live concert version of “Jesus Christ Superstar” (which will be presented at the Hollywood Bowl August 1 – 3rd) How many songs from the soundtrack of “KPop Demon Hunters” (i.e., Netflix’s latest hit animated film) wound up in Billboard’s Hot 100 Why did Sony Pictures Animation opt to push back the release date of “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” When will San Diego Comic-Con be celebrating Fox’s Animation Domination programming block Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome Don Hahn & Chris Merrit, the authors of “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland.” This show kicks off a two-part interview that reveals how Walt’s family fun park first came to be. For this episode, listeners will learn about: Who bought the very first admission to Disneyland Park back in July of 1955 When is the third “Prep & Landing” holiday special – “The Snowball Protocol” – expected to debut on ABC Who did Walt bring in to help the Evans brothers with the horticultural aspect of Disneyland Park What did Adventures by Disney’s “Take Me Out to the Ballparks” trip entail Why was DHS’s “Legend of Jack Sparrow” show so short-lived SHOW NOTES Support Our Sponsors DVC Resale Market Thinking about joining Disney Vacation Club or selling your contract? DVC Resale Market is the leader in the secondary market, with over 70,000 satisfied DVC members. Their expert team of 21 former DVC Cast Members brings unparall

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a jam-packed episode that swings from Halloween Horror Nights updates to the troubled legacy of Jaws 2. First, they unpack the latest HHN announcements, including the debut of the Terrifier haunted house and the moody new scare zone, Origins of Horror. Eric finally learns the difference between houses and zones - only took 60 episodes. Then, the duo gears up for a future trip to Philadelphia, where Universal Parks is launching their first-ever traveling exhibit at the Franklin Institute. Meetups, cheesesteaks, and nostalgia await. In the second half, Jim dives back into the shark-infested waters of Jaws 2—revealing mob-backed plotlines, studio politics, and why Spielberg nearly came back to save the franchise. Plus: • Frequent Fear Passes are already sold out• A new Universal theme park docuseries is coming to Peacock• The real reason Jaws 2 moved from Martha’s Vineyard to Florida• How Lorraine Gary’s husband (the head of Universal) helped get the original director fire

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are back with a full dose of Disney merch, from the long-awaited debut of the Starlight Dream the Night Away parade to a viral collector toy that's creeping its way into the parks. Lauren breaks down everything she’s learned about La Boo Boos (and their knockoff cousins), while Jim connects the dots between Disney’s 1950s television strategy and why your Christmas ornaments now cost $80. Also in this episode: What to expect from Disney’s first nighttime parade in a decade Meet Whimsy: the LED-faced character pulling the finale float Why Main Street is now a runway for fashion-obsessed toy monsters A closer look at the $29 popcorn bucket ornaments and $80 vault collection set The real reason Disneyland’s Opera House almost became a TV studio Walt Disney’s early embrace of television—and how it changed everything From collectibles to castle corridors, this episode is packed with surprises and nostalgia. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered b

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a wide-ranging conversation about box office trends, Comic-Con reveals, and the growing debate around casting A-list celebrities in animated films. Highlights include: Paramount debuts the first teaser for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Mark Hamill joins as the Flying Dutchman, and Jim reflects on the franchise’s enduring magic. Godzilla’s 70th anniversary celebration hits San Diego Comic-Con – Drew previews his panel, and Jim geeks out over Super7’s pop-up recreating the “Godzilla Minus One” train scene. Chris Pratt returns for Garfield 2 – But should Hollywood rely less on celebrities and more on trained voice actors? Jim revisits old rants and Billy West’s take on the trend. Michelle Yeoh joins the English dub of Ne Zha 2 – Now the highest-grossing animated film globally, the dubbed version hits U.S. theaters in August. Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires – Warner Bros. Animation unveils a visually stu

Len Testa and Jim Hill look at Disney’s latest surveys, hotel rumors, and Halloween Horror Nights announcements—then plunge into the second half of their deep-dive on Pirates of the Caribbean. This time, Jim reveals how Disney navigated a real-life guest frenzy over Captain Jack Sparrow, the surprisingly expensive costume drama that followed, and the face character chaos that nearly derailed New Orleans Square. Plus, early plans for a pirates-themed restaurant, and how Dead Man’s Chest almost broke the box office and the parks. Why a cleared canal near Magic Kingdom might be future hotel space Christmas party dates, Festival of the Holidays updates, and DJ Dance Pants How Disneyland kept guests from mobbing Jack Sparrow face characters The $60,000 costume that sparked a parade of cease and desist letters A scrapped pirates dining experience that had Jack eating off your plate Also: Warner Bros. surveys some Vegas-worthy IP ideas, Morrissey or Horror Night house?, and why Robin

In the 18th installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid explore how Walt Disney’s lifelong fascination with trains impacted the development of his family fun park. Special guest Roger Colton sheds light on this specific aspect of Disneyland history. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: * Why is Walt’s visit to the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1948 considered such an important moment in the development history of Disneyland * Which specific Disneyland attraction was inspired by Walt & Ward Kimball’s stop at Greenfield Village * How the miniature steam train Walt had set up in the backyard of his Holmby Hills home influenced the design of Disneyland *Which lands at Disneyland Park were directly influenced by what Walt & Ward saw at the Chicago Railroad Fair * How many steam trains did Disneyland Park have in its fleet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric is packing for his return trip to Epic Universe - but before he battles the Florida heat, Jim takes him on a wild ride through box office records, coaster rumors, and a deep dive into the troubled waters of Jaws 2. In this episode: • Jurassic World Rebirth dominates globally—why Scarlett Johansson is now the highest-grossing lead actor• Updates on Universal UK: massive coaster plans, HHN expansion, and hotel additions• Universal Kids in Texas—new concept art reveals hotel details and TrollsFest changes• A fan question about Florida mosquitoes leads to... canal trivia and boat logistics• Jim’s deep-dive into Jaws 2 and why the original sequel idea was shut down by the U.S. Navy• The true story behind the USS Indianapolis—and why it almost became the basis of a Spielberg-less sequel• A surprise appearance by “angry, burned shark” and the focus group line that changed movie posters forever Plus: Canceled directors and what a $9 million overage feels like in 1974. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey continue their Toy Story series with a deep dive into the franchise's merchandising legacy—and how a scrappy unknown toy company landed the rights that Mattel and Hasbro turned down. From the earliest Thinkway figures to today's collector's items worth thousands, they explore how Toy Story became one of the most profitable and collectible Disney properties of all time. Plus, Jim shares a personal behind-the-scenes story about the original vision for Toy Story 4, including his lost interview with John and Nancy Lasseter—and how a Valentine turned into something very different. Why Thinkway got the Toy Story license when everyone else passed What Barbie’s deleted scene tells us about Pixar’s early struggles The rise of collector culture—and what a boxed Buzz goes for now Jim’s first-day-of-release trip to MGM Studios and the Toy Story parade The real story behind the development and derailment of Toy Story 4 How John Lasseter’s personal life reshape

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a packed slate of animation and entertainment news—including box office wins, deep animation history, and Broadway updates: Universal celebrates a huge opening for Jurassic World Rebirth with $318M globally, while How to Train Your Dragon crosses the half-billion mark. Disney’s Lilo & Stitch nears the billion-dollar club, expected to cross the threshold by the time Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters later this month. Pixar’s Elio struggles at the box office, with $96M worldwide after three weekends and its Disney+ debut now supposedly slated for September. “Boop the Musical” to close on Broadway, while Disney’s Frozen the Musical West End run hits Disney+ with a professionally filmed version. Ward Kimball’s The Mouse Factory – Jim revisits Disney’s forgotten answer to The Muppet Show, cancelled after just two seasons to protect the studio’s Sunday night ratings. Plus: Updates on Camp Cretaceous: Chaos Th

Len Testa and Jim Hill tackle a packed show, from new Eat to the Beat concert acts and Test Track Lightning Lane changes to a survey that hints at Disney bundling sports vacations with ESPN and Adventures by Disney. Then in the main segment, Jim unpacks the wild story behind the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise—including how one clever Imagineer added a cursed treasure twist to the ride years before it hit the big screen, and why Michael Eisner insisted on a subtitle that technically made no sense. New Eat to the Beat lineup adds Bowling for Soup, Jordin Sparks, and The Beach Boys Disney files plans for the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster building—yes, it’s a real land ESPN and ABD surveys tease premium sports-based vacation packages What really happened to Pixar’s Elio, and how politics may have changed the movie Behind the scenes of Curse of the Black Pearl: casting, rewrites, and a fake curse Plus, Len pitches a villains-themed restaurant where customer service is intent

In this explosive Fourth of July episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey ride the rails of ghostly New England folklore and land in the middle of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights house reveals. From Norwegian monsters and homicidal dolls to the surprise announcement of Universal Horror Unleashed in Chicago, this episode is packed tighter than a holiday fireworks box. Then, Jim takes us on a moonshot-level deep dive into Apollo 13—the real mission, the Ron Howard film, and how a $25 model rocket and a bottle of Avian became movie magic. Along the way, they cover: The “Ghost Train” of New Boston, New Hampshire Universal’s new horror experience heading to Chicago All the newly announced HHN houses (creepy dolls, cursed villages, and more) Pizza Moon’s controversial to-go box policy Jim’s breakdown of Apollo 13, its real-life mission, and the making of the film Whether you’re into horror houses or lunar modules, this episode has something for every them

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey unpack what Disney’s upcoming Toy Story 5 might really be about - and why it hits closer to home than you think. From Woody’s absence to Jessie’s promotion, and a new iPad-inspired character named Lilypad, this fifth entry isn’t just a sequel - it might be Disney’s most self-aware film yet. Jim and Lauren discuss how streaming, AI, and even shoppable shows are reshaping how Disney tells stories - and sells them. They also reflect on the history of Toy Story merch, John Lasseter’s mint-in-box rule, and a deeply personal Jessie doll story that brings it all full circle. Toy Story 5’s new challenge: an iPad named Lilypad How Jessie becomes the new Woody in Bonnie’s room The real reason Toy Story 4’s ending felt like closure Disney’s experiments with QR codes, GoPuff, and “Shop the Stream” The merchandising legacy of the Mickey Mouse Club Jim’s personal story of meeting John Lasseter with his daughter’s Jessie doll

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor reunite (despite a case of post-Annecy crud) to cover a wide range of animation and industry news, including: Disney officially announces Lilo & Stitch 2 after the live-action original crosses $945M globally. Elio holds better than expected with a solid second weekend as it climbs past $42M domestically. Live-action Tangled delayed to 2029, reportedly to make room for the Lilo & Stitch sequel. Warner Bros. loses the rights to Akira after years of development—setting the stage for a new studio to reimagine the cyberpunk classic. Laika’s ParaNorman returns to theaters for Halloween 2025 as part of the studio’s 20th anniversary celebration. Also in this episode: KPOP Demon Hunters debuts at #2 globally on Netflix, Broadway updates on Beauty and the Beast and Hercules, and what’s really in those Dragon Flame-Grilled Whoppers at Burger King. It’s a shorter episode while Drew recovers—but packed with news, box office insight

Len Testa and Jim Hill cover the latest Disney news, including a major update to the dining reservation system, a rerouted parade to improve park flow, and the latest tweaks at Epic Universe. Then, Jim dives into the real story of how Epcot’s CommuniCore was shut down and transformed into Innoventions—Disney’s answer to a park in crisis. With budgets tight and tech aging fast, Michael Eisner turned to Las Vegas for inspiration, resulting in a CES-style exhibit hall packed with rotating sponsors, interactive demos, and a built-in refresh cycle. Disney’s new patent could make Haunted Mansion feel spookier A smarter parade route helps clear Main Street faster Why Tron still isn’t available during Early Entry Epic Universe’s early admission strategy evolves again The creation, success, and legacy of Innoventions It’s a look at how Disney reimagined the future—and managed to sell it to sponsors one booth at a time. SHOW NOTES Support Our Sponsors DVC Resale Market Thinking abou

In the seventeenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid continue their look back at the history of themed entertainment. This time around, they're joined by veteran Imagineer Joe Lanzisero, who looks back at how AA figures were developed for the Disney Parks. Throughout today's episode, listeners will learn about: How Electro the Robot wowed folks at the 1939 New York World's Fair How "Project Little Man" influenced the creation of "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" Where Disneyland's animatronic graveyard is located How animatronics wizard Garner Holt got his start with Chuck E. Cheese Plus Joe's terrific new kids book, " Lemonade, the Yellow Bear" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices