Episodes

It's interesting to go back and see how Disney was thinking the same thing, for Coronado Springs.

Here's the building in Trondheim, Norway, from which the Royal Sommerhus design was created: tinyurl.com/zdq7sk3

Here's the building in Trondheim, Norway, from which the Royal Sommerhus design was created: tinyurl.com/zdq7sk3

We also talk about the opening of Skull Island at IOA, and Frozen at Epcot

Special guest star: Laurel Stewart. We loved the meal at Tiffins. Kilimanjaro Safaris is interesting at night, not sure we'd make it our only visit to that attraction. Loved The Awakening.

Here's a Why For that Disney fans are sure to go ape over... the history of "Scruffy", one of the rock apes of Gibraltar. Jim reveals how this started as a live-action project only to almost end up as the follow-up to Disney's animated "Robin Hood".

Did you know that Walt and Ray Kroc (the guy who popularized the McDonald's restaurants) were in the same ambulance unit in World War I? There's a Disneyland tie-in there, and you can hear about it when Jim concludes the history of Splash Mountain.

Jim goes through the history of Animal Kingdom's Kali River Rapids ride. The combination of animals and raft rides dates back to Walt's days, and the evolution of whitewater-style rides in the 1980's brought the idea back to Disney.

Jim talks to Bruce Laval, the guy who invented the original FastPass system while working for Disney in the 1990's.

Jim Hill and Len Testa examine SeaWorld’s decision to end captive-orca breeding, Disney’s proposed resort fees, MagicBand personalization, Polynesian bungalows, and the future of animal attractions.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village Walk-Through!

Jim Hill and Len Testa explore the history of the Osborne Family Lights, Christmas at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, and Walt Disney World’s most unusual New Year’s Eve traditions.

Jim Hill and Len Testa trace the growth of Christmas at Disney, from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Candlelight Processional to Haunted Mansion Holiday, Disneyland snowfall, and Frozen-inspired attractions.

Jim Hill and Len Testa explore how Disneyland’s earliest Christmas experiments grew into enduring holiday traditions.

Recorded live on Disney's Castaway Cay, Jim talks about the Disney Dream and the future of the Disney Cruise Line.creditsreleased November 26, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded live on Disney's Castaway Cay, Jim talks about how Disney got into the cruise business.creditsreleased November 1, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Released on Friday the 13th! Jim and Len swap ghost stories around a campfire at Fort Wilderness, and Jim recounts the history of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.creditsreleased September 13, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim outlines the history of The Little Mermaid-themed attractions in Disney's parks, from Storybook Canal Boats in Disneyland, to unbuilt Euro Disney attractions, to present-day DCA and Magic Kingdom.creditsreleased July 30, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim finishes up the history of how Disney's Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans, Dixie Landings (that's French Quarter for you young folk) and Coronado Springs resorts got built.creditsreleased July 19, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim was just back from the Transformers press junket, where he got to see Transformers, Springfield USA and a hard-hat tour of Diagon Alley. Hear what Jim saw!creditsreleased July 12, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testalicense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim sorts through all of the rumors of a Star Wars-themed land going in to Disney's Hollywood Studios, including ride, restaurant, and entertainment options.creditsreleased July 1, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that the original plan for the Dixie Landings resort placed it next to Downtown Disney, near the riverboat-themed Fulton's Crab House? And that plans for the Grand Floridian pre-date Michael Eisner's tenure by half a decade? Learn this and many other details about Disney's hotel business as Jim goes through how Disney (eventually) developed their moderate resorts.creditsreleased June 17, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

Did you know Disney was producing a pirate-themed film before Pirates of the Caribbean opened as an attraction in 1967? Jim walks through that 1968 release, a Peter Ustinov-as-Blackbeard film that began the first cycle of stealing from movies to build attractions, which were then stolen from to make more movies. Lots of great Johnny Depp stories, too.creditsreleased June 3, 2013 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An update on the status of Disney's Next Gen project, including MagicBands, Fastpass+ and My Disney Experience.creditsreleased April 23, 2013 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices