The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Join Jim Hill and co-hosts Len Testa, Dustin Fuhs, Drew Taylor, Aaron Adams, Michelle C. Valladolid and Dan Zehr as they talk about the multi-faceted Walt Disney Company - including Pixar, Lucasfilm and Disney Studios - as well as Universal Studios and the world of collectibles.

  • 54 minutes 59 seconds
    The Day Boris Karloff Walked Into the Commissary and Changed Hollywood (Ep. 82)

    Jim and Eric kick off this week’s show with a very on-brand travel mishap from Jim’s latest Hallmark-fueled road trip, then pivot back to the stuff you came for - Universal news, theme park weirdness, and one surprisingly deep dive into how Frankenstein’s Monster became the pop culture template we all still recognize today. Along the way: Epic Universe breadcrumbs, a Vegas horror venue that might be scarier for its empty queue than its monsters, and why Boris Karloff’s dentures deserve their own credit line.

    NEWS
    • Universal’s proposed UK theme park clears another hurdle, with the project advancing in the approvals process and still targeting a 2031 opening
    • Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas adds a holiday horror overlay, but reports suggest the venue can feel eerily empty even during a supposedly busy week
    • A new “Galactic Expo” mural lands inside the Men in Black Alien Attack gift shop, packed with sci-fi Easter eggs
    • A new Men in Black film is reportedly in development - and Jim has thoughts on what that could mean for the long-running attraction
    • Universal’s latest “Whatever Makes You Happy” merch drop leans hard into 1980s nostalgia, mashing up brands that make Eric do a double-take

    FEATURE
    • Why Universal rushed Frankenstein (1931) into production after Dracula hit big - and how it helped the studio dig out of debt
    • The behind-the-scenes moment when director James Whale spots Boris Karloff in the commissary and decides his face has “startling possibilities”
    • The unglamorous reality of monster-making: punishing makeup sessions, 65 pounds of costume, and the physical toll that followed Karloff for years
    • The lost-but-legendary Technicolor Frankenstein footage from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty that fans have been hunting for decades

    HOSTS
    • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
    • Eric Hersey - IG: @erichersey | X: @erichersey

    FOLLOW
    • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
    • Instagram: JimHillMedia
    • TikTok: JimHillMedia

    SUPPORT
    Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Edited by Dave Grey
    Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

    SPONSOR
    Be Our Guest Vacations - plan your next adventure with a platinum-level, earmarked travel agency offering concierge service for Universal Orlando, Universal Hollywood, Disney parks, cruises, and more. Get started at beourguestvacations.com.

    If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    19 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 24 seconds
    Dynamic Pricing Raises Eyebrows as Disney Sing-Alongs Raise the Volume (Ep. 78)

    Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are back for a very seasonal edition of I Want That To - and Jim’s latest “project” involves tracking down tiny reindeer snowmobiles to complete his Cars holiday display (because apparently Santa’s sleigh rules apply to Radiator Springs too). From there, the conversation jumps into Disney’s new “Find Merchandise” test inside My Disney Experience, the company’s eye-popping $1 billion investment in OpenAI, and why dynamic pricing is suddenly giving everyone Instacart flashbacks. Then Jim takes Lauren (and all of us) on a deep-dive into the origin story of Disney’s Sing-Along VHS line - including how a Max Fleischer Rudolph short ended up inside Disney’s Very Merry Christmas Songs tape.

    NEWS
    • Disney is testing a new “Find Merchandise” feature in the My Disney Experience app to help guests search for specific items and check availability at select locations (including World of Disney at Disney Springs).
    • Disney’s reported $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI sparks a debate about guardrails, character usage, and curation, especially as AI-generated content gets easier to make (and easier to misuse).
    • The latest Instacart dynamic pricing controversy raises alarms about different customers seeing different prices, prompting the big question: is Disney heading down a similar road with ticket pricing?
    • Disney’s CFO signals dynamic pricing for domestic parks in 2026, with Jim and Lauren weighing the business upside against the guest-side pain of budgeting and “reading the room.”

    FEATURE
    • A surprisingly twisty history lesson on how Disney’s early VHS strategy helped create the Sing-Along Songs phenomenon - and why making kids sing along was (possibly) the point.
    • The story behind Very Merry Christmas Songs (1988), including how it had to be assembled on a brutal retail timeline to hit shelves in early October.
    • How Disney licensed (cheaply) a hand-drawn Max Fleischer Rudolph (1948) short originally made for Montgomery Ward store Santa lines - and why it looks better on YouTube than it did on VHS.
    • Why this tape became a yearly tradition: the “one remaining VHS player” holiday background classic for tree-decorating season.

    HOSTS
    • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
    • Lauren Hersey - IG: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2

    FOLLOW
    • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
    • Instagram: JimHillMedia
    • TikTok: JimHillMedia

    SUPPORT
    Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Edited by Dave Grey
    Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

    SPONSOR
    This episode of I Want That To is brought to you by our friends at UnlockedMagic.com, the same trusted team behind DVC Rental Store and the DVC Resale Market. If you’re planning a Disney trip, they’ve got the best deals on Walt Disney World tickets - visit UnlockedMagic.com to grab the best ticket deals and make your next Disney trip just a little bit more magical.

    If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    18 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 19 minutes 38 seconds
    Snack Credits: A Fudge Judge Renders the Verdict (Ep. 8)

    Snack credits are either the best little “vacation cheat code” Disney ever slipped into the Dining Plan - or a spreadsheet-powered trap that turns your family trip into a competitive sport. This week in the Court of the Disney World Resort, Len Testa and Chris Cox argue whether snack credits are a smart way to stretch your Walt Disney World dollars, or just a confusing system that rewards the deeply committed and mildly deranged. Along the way, there is Starbucks math, Epcot festival strategy, and at least one Easy-Bake oven-related conflict of interest.

    HIGHLIGHTS
    • Why snack credits can be a secret weapon at EPCOT festivals - especially when you know which items creep up toward that $10 “sweet spot.”
    • The maddening part of the Dining Plan - there is no consistent rule for what counts as a snack, so you’re stuck hunting for the logo like it’s a scavenger hunt.
    • The “snack credit endgame” - realizing on your last day you have a pile of credits left, and suddenly you’re importing Rice Krispies treats through customs.
    • Using snack credits for “breakfast” (because apparently cheesecake counts as dairy and eggs) and other vacation logic that only makes sense inside the Disney bubble.
    • The philosophical divide - gaming the system for maximum value vs. enjoying the feeling that “past you paid for this,” so present you can just say yes and keep moving.

    For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

    HOSTS
    • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
    • Len Testa - IG: @len.testa | Website: TouringPlans.com
    • Chris Cox - IG: @magiccox | X: @bigcox | Website: magiccox.com

    FOLLOW
    • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
    • Instagram: JimHillMedia
    • TikTok: JimHillMedia

    SUPPORT
    Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Edited by Dave Grey
    Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

    If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    17 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 52 minutes 19 seconds
    Disney’s 200-Character OpenAI Bet and a Detour Down the Yellow Brick Road (Ep. 337)

    Drew Taylor and Jim Hill kick off this week’s show with a genuinely wild media landscape where holiday releases, awards season, and corporate maneuvering are all colliding at once. From a brewing battle over Warner Bros. Discovery to Disney’s latest tech-flavored swing, the first half is a rapid tour through what’s breaking (and what might be breaking next). Then Jim takes the wheel solo for a longer, history-packed trip over the rainbow, tracing how animation veterans, studio deals, and a certain pair of feuding cartoon animals keep finding their way back to Oz.

    NEWS
    • Netflix and Paramount Skydance are reportedly lining up competing bids for Warner Bros. Discovery, with the situation edging into hostile takeover territory
    • Disney signs a three-year OpenAI licensing and investment deal, reportedly tied to short-form character content and platform experimentation
    Zootopia 2 clears the $1 billion worldwide mark, adding to a renewed “WDAS is back” narrative after recent holiday stumbles
    • The trailer drops for Andy Serkis’ Animal Farm, with Seth Rogen voicing Napoleon and Angel Studios handling distribution
    • A quick remembrance of animator Tony Benedict, whose career path traced the industry’s mid-century churn from Disney to TV animation

    FEATURE
    • Why Chuck Jones left Termite Terrace, briefly detoured to Disney, then later set up shop at MGM
    • How Disney’s MGM licensing deal and the later Turner-Time Warner corporate shuffle complicated who “owned” what in the Oz rights maze
    • The surprisingly effective mash-up of MGM legacies in Tom & Jerry and the Wizard of Oz (and why it was successful enough to inspire a return trip)
    • A lightning round of other animated Oz side-quests, including costly misfires and international oddities

    HOSTS
    • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
    • Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

    FOLLOW
    • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
    • Instagram: JimHillMedia
    • TikTok: JimHillMedia

    SUPPORT
    Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Edited by Dave Grey
    Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

    SPONSOR
    Unlocked Magic - Get real savings on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes up to 12% off. Unlocked Magic is run by the same team behind the DVC Rental Store and the DVC Resale Market, so you can pick your dates, grab your tickets, and go. Visit UnlockedMagic.com and let them know Drew and Jim sent you.

    If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    16 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Why Disney Is Quietly Letting 3D Die in the Parks (Ep. 562)

    Construction at Animal Kingdom’s upcoming Encanto attraction is finally starting to pop above the fence line, and Jim and Len do what they do best - stare at aerial photos until they start seeing ride-height changes and possible “big thing” anchors. Then the show veers into a surprisingly tight math problem: is it actually cheaper for an American couple to fly to Japan and do Tokyo Disney than it is to do a weekend at Walt Disney World? (Spoiler: the internet is almost right, which is somehow worse.)

    NEWS
    • Aerial photos suggest the Encanto ride site at Animal Kingdom may include a ride-height change (and at least one very suspicious hole in the ground).
    Orange County tourist tax collections hit a new record for October, up 15 percent year over year - yes, people are still going to Orlando.
    Disney Cruise Line Port Canaveral numbers show strong October sailings - Disney Magic at 81 percent occupancy, Treasure and Wish at 89 percent.
    • Hallmark and Disney team up for the first in-park holiday movie, “Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True,” arriving in 2026.
    • Disney’s surprise AI headline: a reported $1 billion OpenAI investment tied to Disney characters appearing in Sora, and what Disney might really be building toward.

    FEATURE
    • Why Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (and its Paris counterpart) reportedly switched from 3D to 2D - guest comfort, visibility, and the ongoing cost of 3D glasses.
    • The long history of Disney’s ever-changing 3D eyewear “story names,” from MuppetVision safety goggles to opera glasses and beyond.
    • The wild near-miss: Avatar: Flight of Passage allegedly came close to becoming 2D, and how producer Jon Landau pushed back.

    For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

    HOSTS
    • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
    • Len Testa - IG: @len.testa | Website: TouringPlans.com

    FOLLOW
    • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
    • Instagram: JimHillMedia
    • TikTok: JimHillMedia

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Edited by Dave Grey
    Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

    SPONSOR
    This episode’s Disney-ish News is sponsored by UnlockedMagic.com - from our friends at DVCRentalStore.com.

    If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 55 minutes 11 seconds
    The Dracula Gamble That Built Universal’s Monster Empire (Ep. 81)

    From queue changes to construction walls to nighttime lagoon testing, the parks offer plenty to parse this week. The guys then pivot from the Epic Universe lagoon to Universal’s classic monsters, using the buzz around Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein to explore how the 1931 film lurched into existence. Expect lost projects, studio pivots, and a Monster role Bela Lugosi famously refused.

    NEWS
    VelociCoaster ends its single rider line, likely due to party sorting and load-efficiency issues.
    Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly shopping DC theme park rights to Universal, raising big questions for Marvel, Six Flags, and international parks.
    • Removal of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit sparks speculation, though new construction-wall posters suggest general theming rather than a specific IP.
    • Nighttime testing at the Epic Universe lagoon shows projection effects featuring a bird-or-dragon silhouette.
    Universal Studios Hollywood opens sales for FanFest Nights and a late-night New Year’s Eve event, prompting questions about noise control before Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift debuts.

    FEATURE
    • Guillermo del Toro’s long-gestating Frankenstein began as a Universal concept more than a decade ago.
    • Jim walks through how Universal’s early monster era took shape under financial pressure following the 1929 crash.
    • The studio acquired stage rights to Frankenstein after Dracula’s success, initially planning it for Bela Lugosi, who rejected the role.
    • The episode ends as Universal begins hunting for a new star, eventually leading James Whale to discover Boris Karloff in the studio lunchroom.


    HOSTS
    • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com

    FOLLOW
    • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia

    SUPPORT
    Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

    SPONSOR
    This episode is sponsored by Be Our Guest Vacations, a platinum-level earmarked travel agency offering concierge planning for Universal, Disney, cruises, and more.

    If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    12 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 54 minutes 46 seconds
    How Disney Wants You to Shop This Holiday Season (Ep. 77)

    Jim and Lauren ring in the holidays with a very merchy episode of I Want That Too, recorded just after Lauren’s family Polar Express adventure. From Disney Visa mailers and annual passholder calendars to Stitch-heavy gift guides, they dig into how Disney is trying to steer your holiday shopping.



    • Disney’s “Home for the Holidays” Disney Rewards Insider issue and the surprise AP calendar reveal a full-court press of plush, Stitch, cruises, and watch-list marketing aimed at shaping your seasonal shopping.
    • Stitchmas dominates both online and in-park displays, with plush, pajamas, and matching family sets claiming a massive share of holiday floor space.
    • Disney Parks Blog releases multiple holiday gift guides spotlighting games, books, Frozen favorites, Zootopia tie-ins, and Lorcana must-haves for fans of all stripes.
    • While Disney pushes big-ticket items like the $399 LEGO castle, Jim and Lauren highlight personal picks including Dick Van Dyke’s new book, Disney-branded Crocs, the Tokyo Disney Mickey gnome, and the classic monorail set.
    • Despite limited Cars Land holiday merch in the parks, Jim notes stronger Cars Christmas selections at Kohl’s, Walmart, and BoxLunch, plus his near-purchase of Target’s leftover 2021 Winter Series die-casts.
    • A listener tip confirms the red truck Mickey popcorn bucket sells out nightly at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, creating steep eBay markups.
    • Looking ahead, Zootopia 2’s box office success is backed by a large retail program, while Pixar’s Hoppers gets a lighter rollout as Disney gears up for major Toy Story 5 merchandising.
    • 2025’s Toy Story and Tangled anniversary lines show mixed traction, as Jim previews everything from collector dolls to Woody’s Clint Eastwood-inspired poncho look and recommends watching for Twice Upon a Year markdowns.

    HOSTS
    • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
    • Lauren Hersey - IG: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2

    FOLLOW
    • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia

    SUPPORT
    Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Edited by Dave Grey
    Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

    SPONSOR
    This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic, your go-to source for top-tier deals on Disney and Universal trips, offering discounted tickets and planning tools to make your next Central Florida vacation even more magical.

    If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    11 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 46 minutes 16 seconds
    The Endgame Encore and the Multiverse Mess Hulk Made (Ep. 6)

    Avengers: Endgame heads back to theaters, the Road to Doomsday widens, theme park tectonics start shifting, and Hulk’s stair-related temper sets off an unintended butterfly effect across the entire MCU. Jim and Dan break down Marvel’s theatrical chess moves, assemble Sam Wilson’s emerging Avengers roster, and dive into a feature story where one very irritated green guy accidentally rewrites the multiverse. It’s a packed episode that swings from box office strategy to deep-cut timeline chaos.

    NEWS
    • Avengers: Endgame returns to theaters in September 2026 as a strategic warm-up for Avengers: Doomsday
    • Dan unveils a new theory about the Endgame metal-pounding audio, suggesting the 2026 rerelease could reveal Doctor Doom forging his mask as a symbolic handoff from Tony Stark
    • Early Doomsday lineup reveals Sam Wilson’s Avengers team, including Thor, Loki, Shang-Chi, Falcon, and Ant-Man
    • Universal reportedly explores DC character licensing, creating the possibility of Marvel and DC living side-by-side in Orlando
    • Rumor Corner: Destin Daniel Cretton may direct the first post–Secret Wars Avengers film; She-Hulk’s MCU future remains uncertain

    FEATURE
    • How one joke in Endgame – Hulk being forced to take the stairs – becomes the domino that creates the entire Multiverse Saga
    • Loki’s escape, the TVA’s rise and fall, and the chain of events that leads to No Way Home, Wanda’s rampage, and Steve and Tony’s emotional finales
    • Why Hulk’s bad stair day may be the secret narrative blueprint the Russos lean on for Avengers: Doomsday


    HOSTS
    • Jim Hill – IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
    • Dan Graney – YouTube: @TheHubbubbery | Facebook: /thehubbubbery | Website: thehubbubbery.com

    FOLLOW
    • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia

    SUPPORT
    Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey – Strong Minded Agency

    SPONSOR
    UnlockedMagic.com – Save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes upwards of 12 percent off. Planning a 2026 trip? Choose your dates, grab your tickets, and enjoy the savings. And be sure to tell them Jim and Dan sent you.
    Unlocked Magic

    If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    10 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 48 minutes 24 seconds
    Netflix Buys Warner Bros. Discovery and an Animated Trip Over the Rainbow (Ep. 336)

    Jim and Drew unpack one of the biggest industry shakeups in years as Netflix snaps up Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that reshapes everything from Adult Swim to the broader animation marketplace. Then the guys follow the yellow brick road into this week’s feature, exploring the strange, stop-and-start history of Hollywood’s many attempts to revisit Oz, from Disney’s abandoned visions to Filmation’s long-delayed Journey Back to Oz.

    NEWS
    • Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Discovery for $82.7 billion and what this lightning-fast deal could mean for Paramount, cable networks, and Adult Swim.
    • How the sale compares to Disney’s 2017–2019 acquisition of Fox once you adjust for inflation.
    • Industry chatter around the merger’s approval process amid concerns from competing studios.

    FEATURE
    • A colorful tour through Hollywood’s many post-MGM attempts to return to Oz.
    • Disney’s near-miss projects, including the almost-produced “Rainbow Road to Oz.”
    • Rankin/Bass, Chuck Jones, and the surprising number of animated Oz interpretations in the 1960s.
    • Filmation’s turbulent decade-long journey to complete Journey Back to Oz, featuring Liza Minnelli, missing dialogue tapes, and recycled Sammy Cahn music.


    HOSTS
    • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
    • Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

    FOLLOW
    • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
    • Instagram: JimHillMedia
    • TikTok: JimHillMedia

    SUPPORT
    Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Edited by Dave Grey
    Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

    SPONSOR
    This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic — where you can save up to 12 percent on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets. Planning a 2026 trip? Pick your dates, grab your tickets, and let Unlocked Magic handle the rest. And don’t forget to tell them Jim and Drew sent you.
    UnlockedMagic.com

    If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    9 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 54 minutes 58 seconds
    From Burbank Backlot to Hollywood Studios - The Roy E. Disney Building’s Second Act (Ep. 561)

    Len and Jim race through a packed week of Disney and Universal updates before diving into how the Roy E. Disney Animation Building went from an architectural showpiece to the creative model for Hollywood Studios’ upcoming Magic of Disney Animation attraction.

    NEWS
    • Disney outlines major 2026 refurbishments, Bluey offerings on both coasts, and new character entertainment. • EPCOT confirms Flower & Garden dates, attraction reopenings, and steep winter hotel discounts for Visa cardholders. • Universal celebrates FIA honors while advancing a three-phase transit plan connecting its resorts and parks. • Listener questions lead to discussions on vacation packages, Tron Ares timing, and the rise of non-alcoholic beverage offerings. • Jim and Len break down New Year’s Eve crowd patterns, phased closures, and survival strategies for the busiest days of the year.

    FEATURE
    • Jim revisits architect Robert A.M. Stern’s Disney work, from Casting Center to Celebration to the Roy E. Disney Animation Building. • The building’s iconic exterior contrasts with an interior layout that frustrated traditional animation workflows. • Lasseter’s renovation sends teams to a former WDI fabrication site where films like Zootopia and Moana take shape amid industrial ambiance. • The redesigned building’s collaborative layout now inspires Hollywood Studios’ upcoming Magic of Disney Animation experience.

    For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

    HOSTS
    • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | IG: @len.testa | Website: touringplans.com

    FOLLOW
    • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia

    SUPPORT
    Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Edited by Dave Grey
    Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

    SPONSOR
    The Disney Dish news segment is sponsored by UnlockedMagic.com from DVC Rental Store, offering discounted 2026 Disney theme park tickets.

    If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    8 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 56 minutes 56 seconds
    The 27-Year Idea: Uncovering the Surprising Origins of CityWalk (Ep. 80)

    Jim kicks off this week’s show with a wild winter travel saga involving airport shutdowns, missing donuts, and a 3 a.m. pickup run that somehow beats the incoming snowstorm. From there, he and Eric dive into a new Universal survey aimed squarely at teens, explore construction movement in Lost Continent, and track down the long-missing Monsters Café icons now hiding backstage in Dark Universe. They also unpack the Grinch’s sudden takeover of holiday marketing before shifting into a deep-dive feature on the long, winding, neon-lit creation of Universal CityWalk Hollywood—a project Lou Wasserman first dreamed up nearly three decades before it opened.

    NEWS
    Teen-focused Universal survey hints at interest in genre preferences, event awareness, and horror-driven engagement.
    Activity in Lost Continent sparks renewed speculation about future land plans and potential tie-ins to Wicked’s box office momentum.
    Classic Monsters Café statues resurface behind Dark Universe, raising questions about their next life in the parks.
    McDonald’s unveils a Grinch meal, highlighting the odd licensing divide between animated, live-action, and promotional designs.
    Universal updates its disability access program, shifting to a more streamlined digital Attractions Assistance Pass.

    FEATURE
    • How Lou Wasserman’s 1966 idea evolved into the modern, open-air entertainment district known as CityWalk.
    • Why Universal insisted CityWalk be “not a mall,” but a curated neighborhood blending neon art, unique shops, and LA culture.
    • The surprising role of historic neon, UCLA programming, and an 18-screen movie palace in shaping the development.
    • Early expansions, closures, and how CityWalk continues to evolve ahead of Universal Hollywood’s third on-site hotel.


    HOSTS
    Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
    Eric Hersey - IG: @erichersey | X: @erichersey

    FOLLOW
    • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
    • Instagram: JimHillMedia
    • TikTok: JimHillMedia

    SUPPORT
    Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Edited by Dave Grey
    Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

    SPONSOR
    This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic.com, powered by the DVC Rental Store. Planning a 2026 trip to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando? Save 10 percent or more on deluxe accommodations at:
    UnlockedMagic.com

    If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    5 December 2025, 5:00 am
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