The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

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!

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Top 10 The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Disney Dish with Jim Hill episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Disney Dish with Jim Hill for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Disney Dish with Jim Hill episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 479: What became of that “Typhoon Lagoon” movie Disney was going to make

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

05/13/24 • 56 min

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking about what happens next with Disneyland Forward now that the Anaheim City Council has officially approved this project. They also discuss what Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed at the Company’s most recent earnings call.

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

How long will the WDW version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad be down for rehab
What’s interesting about Disney’s decision to extend the permit it had with the South Florida Water Management District for the area between Fort Wilderness & Wilderness Lodge for another 5 years
Which moderate resort at WDW will be having its guest room refurbished now through November
What did Michael Eisner want to originally call the water thrill park that the Company first announced for Florida back in December of 1985
Who did Disney initially hire to write the screenplay for that Studio’s “Typhoon Lagoon” movie

Show Notes

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The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 455: Which WDW theme park is next slated for expansion

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

11/27/23 • 35 min

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

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Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 470: How WDW fans plan on gaming that “free water park” perk

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

03/11/24 • 70 min

Len Testa & Jim Hill are joined by Christina Harrison, who talks up the very best eats to be found at the 2024 edition of Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival. Len & Jim then take a closer look at Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea

On this episode, listeners will learn about:

Which attraction in Dreamworks Land will key off of “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”
Why are stores at the Disney theme parks still stocking “Monsters University” merch, more than a decade after this Pixar film was first released to theaters
Which hit Fox TV series from the 1990s is The Walt Disney Company reportedly considering reviving
When do young girls supposedly age out of being fans of the Disney Princess franchise
How soon after the first “Frozen” film first opened in theaters did the Oriental Land Company announce that it would be adding a land keying off of that Academy Award-winning animated feature to Tokyo DisneySea

Show Notes

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Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 474: Why Disney World’s Asian Resort never got built

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

04/08/24 • 50 min

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing how the Shooting Gallery at WDW’s Magic Kingdom will soon close to become a DVC lounge. They also take a look back at Tomorrowland in this same theme park circa late 1971 / early 1972.

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

Which then-husband & wife team were originally supposed to play the leads in Disney’s never-produced “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” sequel
When does it appear that the Magic Kingdom will be opening its version of “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure”
Which “Avatar” film is the new experience that Bob Iger recently revealed was in the works for Disneyland in Anaheim supposed to be based on
What significant eco-friendly change is supposedly in the works for Florida’s version of Autopia
According to John Hench, which proposed WDW resorts were deliberately designed in such a way that they could then be seen from inside of the Magic

Show Notes

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Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 480: When the Disneyland Hotel had a miniature golf course

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

05/20/24 • 53 min

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing who gets to experience “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” when as part of that WDW attraction’s month-long grand opening event.

They then take a look at the interior of the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

What does Disney’s Hollywood Studios do when the IT system at the WDW Resort crashes
When might we see a second Taylor Swift concert film show up on Disney+
How did Jack Wrather deal with Disneyland being closed on Mondays & Tuesdays during that theme park’s off-season starting back in the late 1950s
What does the future hold for Magic Bands
Why is it very appropriate that the road directly behind the Disneyland Hotel is called Walnut Street

Show Notes

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Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 486: How Lightning Lane Multi Pass is supposed to work

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

07/01/24 • 53 min

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing

WDW’s Genie+ replacement.

They then walk through exactly what happened backstage at

Disneyland prior to the launch of that Park’s “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

 How far in advance will on-site Guests be able to book Multi Pass reservations

 When is this new ride reservation system supposed to officially come online at

the Walt Disney World Resort

 What holiday-themed projection show is supposed to be updated as part of the

2024 edition of “Jollywood Nights”

 Where did Disneyland used to store its fireworks back in the 1980s

 Why did Disneyland’s firemen go around backstage checking doors & windows

an hour before “Fantasy in the Sky” launched

Show Notes

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Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 494: How did the Imagineers just update WDW’s “Peter Pan Flight”

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

08/26/24 • 38 min

In a special solo show, Jim Hill first talks about which Disney Villains just made their debut at DCA’s “Oogie Boogie Bash.”

He then looks back at how Walt adapted J.B. Barrie’s play & novel to the screen back in 1953

For this episode, listeners will learn about;

Who did Roger Bart sing for in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Summer release for 1997
Who wrote the songs for Disney’s full-length animated feature for 1953
When is Disney on Broadway’s new stage production of “Hercules” supposed to open in London’s West End
Which two animated features was WDI originally considering as their jumping-off point for their upcoming redo of DAK’s Dinoland U.S.A.
When was Bob Hope’s sequel to his 1948 Western comedy, “The Paleface,” first released to theaters

SHOW NOTES

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The Disney Dish with Jim Hill Episode 456: Is Jollywood Nights now worth spending your Christmas cash on

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

12/04/23 • 49 min

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

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Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep. 471: When may “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” open at WDW’s Magic Kingdom

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

03/18/24 • 48 min

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Disney World’s latest ticket offer for Florida residents.

They’re then joined by veteran Imagineer Jim Shull who shares some behind-the-scenes stories

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

What’s significant about the dates that WDW’s latest ticket offer is available for
Where is the control booth for DCA’s “Grizzly River Run” attraction located
Why are Universal Orlando officials so interested in learning where people plan on starting their next Florida vacation
Where was the NYC version of David Copperfield’s Magic Underground restaurant supposed to be located
What happens when you make the Cast Members who drive the monorail nervous

Show Notes

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Disney Dish with Jim Hill Ep 477 : Why WDW’s “Fire Mountain” project flamed out

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

04/29/24 • 64 min

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by congratulating Israel Perez & the team at WDW’s Victoria & Albert’s for the Michelin star they were just awarded.

They then welcome back veteran Imagineer Jim Shull for a discussion of WDSP’s upcoming “Alice & the Red Queen: Back in Wonderland” show

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

Why – when WDW Cast Members finally get to preview “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure” – they may come at this revamped flume ride from backstage
How far along is the “Disneyland Forward” project when it comes to Anaheim’s approval process
What’s interesting about that construction permit that just got pulled for Epcot’s “Journey into Imagination” pavilion
The “Frozen” star recently got the opportunity to try his hand at conducting on the Disneyland Railroad
Why – when it comes to updating and/or making significant changes to the African side of Disney’s Animal Kingdom – the Imagineers have very limited choices

Show Notes

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