Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the series finale for that Lucasfilm Animation production, “Star Wars: The Bad Batch.” They then talk about how pleased Paramount+ is with the debut of its “Knuckles” mini-series

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

• Where did the “Bluey’s Big Play” traveling stage show make its North American debut
• When will “The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish” be debuting on Nickelodeon
• Who was supposed to voice the title character in Jorge Guiterrez’ “I, Chihuahua”
• When did the $70 million custom-built Walt Disney Feature Animation – Florida production facility officially come online
• Which animation historian will be creating original content for the Classic television Network’s soon-to-debut channel, MeTV Toons

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Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the latest news coming out about the Epic Universe project. They also talk about why Bay Lake Tower is undergoing a year-long refurbishment in the not-so-distant future

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

• Which crime figure from the 1930s inspired Ma Beagle & the Beagle Boys
• How is Fort Wilderness’ remote location reportedly impacting DVC sales for the cabins there
• How many animated series featuring Disney’s “Stitch” character have been produced to date
• How could the Beyond Big Thunder project potentially impact the Rivers of America at WDW’s Magic Kingdom
• Which two living character initiative shows plowed the road for “Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration”

Show Notes

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Star Wars Day, Disney-Henson Complex History and Rare Muppet Collectibles

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey start this week’s show by discussing the latest

developments in the "Disneyland Forward" project and what this means for future expansions.

They talk about Star Wars Day Merch and share the deep and complex history

between Disney and the Jim Henson Company, highlighting how this relationship

has evolved over the years.

In This Episode:

• New Pandora Merch lighting up Animal Kingdom
• Sneak Peek at Donald Duck's 90th Collection.
• Muppets in Space and the Disney-Henson Relationship: Learn about the significance of this project in their complex history.
• Jim's Rare Muppet Collection and the story behind it.

YouTube Title- Part 1: New Experience Coming to Disneyland, Pandora Merch, and Sneak Peek Donald Duck 90th Anniversary collection.

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey share the stories behind the Disney collectibles.

In this episode, they kick things off with the "Disneyland Forward" Updates and the exciting expansion plans at Disneyland.

They look at the New Pandora Merch coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and share a sneak peek of the highly anticipated Donald Duck 90th Anniversary Collection.

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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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Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up Pixar Fest (which starts this weekend at Disneyland Park).

They then look ahead to which studios will be doing presentations at this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival & Market

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

• How many Disney-related items are coming up for bid at Van Eaton Galleries’ next big event, “The Joel Magee Auction: Part Two”
• Which Pixar veteran is directing “Transformers One” for Paramount Animation
• When will “Robot Dreams” be released to select theaters in North America
• What became of the plaque in the lobby of NYC’s Broadway Theater which commemorates “Steamboat Willie” ‘s world premiere in that same space back in 1928
• Who was supposed to originally voice Fiona in the “Shrek” film series

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Eric Hersey & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the tram accident that happened this past weekend at Universal Studios Hollywood.

They then take a close look at the perks annual passholders will be able to enjoy at the Universal Orlando parks starting in May.

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

• Which Universal horror classic got transformed from a silent film to a sound picture in 1929
• Why did Universal Studios Florida push back the opening of “Twister … Ride It Out” from March of 1998 to early May of that same year
• Which store used to occupy the space in Universal CityWalk that’s now being transformed into the Epic Universe preview center
• Back in 1931, who did Universal Pictures originally announce was going to star in that Studio’s upcoming production of “Frankenstein”
• Which cartoon character is at the wheel of that popcorn bucket that Universal Hollywood is now selling to commemorate the 60th anniversary of that theme park’s tram tour

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Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start this week’s show by revisiting the whole did-Greedo-shoot-first issue.

They then talk about what the last few episodes of “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” seem to be setting up

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

• What honor will George Lucas be receiving at this year’s Cannes Film Festival
• Where can Disneyland visitors view that theme park’s “Fire of the Rising Moons” fireworks display
• What did Harrison Ford want to have happen to Han Solo in “Return of the Jedi”
• Which animated series was the first “Star Wars” show to be set in the era of the High Republic
• How did Leslie Headland – the showrunner for “Star Wars: The Acolyte” – describe this new limited series for Disney+

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Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the Stella Nova & Terra Luna Resorts at Universal Orlando. They then look back at Disney’s reaction to Mattel’s 1972 announcement of its Circus World theme park project

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

• How many times will Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights be presented this year

• What’s the name of the bay that the “World of Frozen” is built alongside at the theme park formerly known as Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris

• What price range is Universal reportedly considering when it comes to admission to its new kid-friendly park currently under construction in Bliss, TX

• Why are the popcorn buckets sold at the Disney Parks in Anaheim & Tokyo so much nicer than the ones that are sold at the WDW Resort

• How were the elephants dressed at the groundbreaking ceremony for Circus World back in April of 1973

Show Notes

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Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up "Ultraman: Rising.” They then discuss which animation studio is soon to be honored with a Palme D’Odr at this year’s Cannes Film Festival

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

• Which character in Pixar’s “Up” did Peter Docter’s daughter Elizabeth voice
• What does the future potentially hold for the “Bluey” animated series
• Which Pixar film was “B.O.O,” DreamWorks Animation’s cancelled supernatural comedy, supposed to go head-to-head with back in June of 2015
• How long is the “Mary Blair’s Wonderland: Imagining Disney’s Alice” exhibit running at the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University
• Which Animal Planet series from the 2000s is Warner Bros. Pictures Animation reportedly using as the jumping-off point for a feature-length project

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 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking about the merch locations that are being readied for the WDW version of “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.” 

They then discuss how Disney helped promote the U.S. Forest Service’s fire prevention program

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

• When did Walt Disney Animation Studios finally shut production of shorts for theatrical release
• What did Rankin-Bass produce as their follow-up to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
• When is Walt Disney World’s redo of “Splash Mountain” rumored to re-open
• What’s the name of the bear at the bottom of that totem pole that Guests encounter right outside of the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile
• 
  
• Which legendary big-screen romance first opened in theaters back in January of 1943

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 Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by deep-diving into the changes the Disney Parks are about to make to their DAS policy.

They also continue their look back at WDW’s Tomorrowland

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

• How many episodes of “Law & Order: SVU” has Ice-T appeared in to date
• What were Disney Legend John Hench’s concerns about the version of World Showcase that was almost built next to WDW’s TTC
• How long did it take the team at WDW’s Food Labs to create that translucent fruit that was served aboard the “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser”
• When was Phase One of “Project Florida” originally supposed to end construction
• How tall was Thunder Mesa (i.e., the table-top mountain that was supposed to house WDW’s “Western River Expedition” ride) supposed to be

Show Notes

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