Episodes

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

Join Jim and Len as they discuss the history, development and evolution of Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Seas. Initially rebuffed in the 1960's by the Disney Company in its efforts to build a Disney theme park, the Oriental Land Company found itself in much better position in the late 1970's, when Disney needed cash to finish Epcot. Hear how those negotiations went and how the rides were designed, plus a lot more.creditsreleased July 25, 2016 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testalice...

Grab a soda (Jim and Len did!) and listen to us talk about Epcot's new fitness- and diet-themed Habit Heroes exhibit at Innoventions. Jim also talks about the new IBM Think! exhibit and gives some background on the history of Future World.creditsreleased March 18, 2013 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Jim and Len as they walk through the newly-refurbished Test Track pavilion and ride. We also discuss rumors about the future of the Imagination pavilion.creditsreleased March 18, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim tells how New Fantasyland came to be, from Walt's idea for a Seven Dwarfs coaster back in the 40's, to the first, estrogen-heavy plans for New Fantasyland in 2010. Think the Swiss Family Treehouse will be a good place for Pixie Hollow? Hear Len vow to fling himself from the branches.creditsreleased July 25, 2016 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim tells the story of how Disney's idea for a Western River Expedition complex ended up as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.creditsreleased July 25, 2016 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From early demos using the head of Confucius, to then state-of-the-art animatronics for Abe Lincoln, Jim tells the story of how Walt got the idea for a patriotic show, then iterated through its design to its current form.creditsreleased February 26, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From PBS to ABC to Disney to German conglomerates, Jim tells the story of how Disney and the Muppets came together. It's a four-decade story, and you may be surprised that one of the people that comes out well from it is Michael Eisner! He was, apparently, a big Henson fan from very early on.creditsreleased January 22, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Len Testa explore the history of Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland Theater, from the Mickey Mouse Revue and Legend of the Lion King to Mickey’s PhilharMagic and its role in Disney computer animation.

Jim Hill and Len Testa trace Disneyland Tomorrowland history through Rocket to the Moon, Space Mountain, Star Tours, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, and decades of unbuilt futuristic attractions.

Referencing everything from Schrodinger's cat, the rise of videotape in the 1980s, the cartoon short in front of Spielberg's Arachnaphobia, to how EuroDisney impacted Toontown's construction budget, Jim tells the tale of how Toontown gets built.creditsreleased December 27, 2012 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fantasyland is one of the most frequently updated areas in Disneyland. Jim describes what Fantasyland was like when it opened, the changes made during its fitst big re-do, and Fantasyland's role in today's park environment.creditsreleased December 22, 2012 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Len Testa reveal how Breezy Osborne’s Christmas wish, a neighborhood lawsuit, millions of lights, and a misplaced purple Halloween cat created Disney’s Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.

When Disneyland's big bet on Country Bear Jamboree falls short of expectations, Disney execs explore how to draw people back into this remote section of the park. Ideas included a stand-up Mark Twain show, a flume ride with shooting, moonshining bears, and a vampire-themed Halloween overlay for Country Bears itself. Recorded live at Disneyland. Presented by AAA.creditsreleased December 17, 2012 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...

Jim Hill and Len Testa trace Disneyland Frontierland history from Davy Crockett and Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland to Big Thunder Mountain and Disney’s lost expansion plans.

Jim Hill and Len Testa explore the history of Disneyland’s New Orleans Square, including Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, Fantasmic, and the Rivers of America.

Jim Hill and Len Testa explore the history of Disneyland’s Adventureland, including the Jungle Cruise, Enchanted Tiki Room, Swiss Family Treehouse, Indiana Jones Adventure, and Tarzan’s Treehouse.

Jim Hill and Len Testa explore the surprising shops, financing schemes, abandoned expansions, and cinematic design behind Disneyland’s original Main Street U.S.A.