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• “Disney Prep and Landing” claims the top spot among this year’s holiday specials

  Jim Hill talks with Kevin Deters & Stevie Wermers-Skelton, the co-directors of this new Christmas show. Which airs again tonight on ABC Read More... Posted Wednesday, December 16, 2009 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, TV, ABC, CG, John Lasseter, ABC Family, Walt Disney Animation Studios, television, WDAS, Prep and Landing, Christmas, 2009, 2007, television program, TV show, Prep & Landing, TV special, holiday special, Christmas special, animated short, Chris Williams, Michael Giacchino , Stevie Wermers-Skelton, television show , holiday, holidays, elves, Disney Prep and Landing, Kevin Deters

• “Disney Prep & Landing” : The making of a modern Christmas classic

  Jim Hill talks with Dorothy McKim, veteran WDAS producer, about how what-was-originally-supposed-to-have-been-a-theatrical-short grew into Disney’s first-ever holiday special for ABC Read More... Posted Tuesday, December 08, 2009 12:05 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: Disney, TV, ABC, John Lasseter, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney Store, WDAS, Prep and Landing, Christmas, 2009, Lanny, TV show, Prep & Landing, holiday season , holiday perennial, TV special, holiday story , How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, holiday special, Christmas special, Magee, Wayne, story, holiday, elves, Dorothy McKim, Disney Prep and Landing

• Tube Tuesday: Xmas marks the spot for the Muppets in 2009

  According to Jim Hill, last week’s viral version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” is just the start of a holiday season that’s jam-packed with Muppety goodness Read More... Posted Tuesday, December 01, 2009 12:00 AM | 9 Comments Filed under: Disney, TV, Muppets, parade, ABC, Disney Channel, Muppet Studios, New York City, Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, NYC, WDW, puppetry, Christmas, New Year's Eve, 2009, The Walt Disney World Resort, Thanksgiving, TV special, Christmas special, Christmas present, ABC Inc, charity , charity event , 2010, Macy’s, Rockefeller Center, Muppet, FAO Schwarz, Muppet Whatnot Workshop, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Day Parade, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Christmas tree, FAO Schwarz flagship store, Christmas gift, Miss Piggy, puppeteering

• Tune Thursday: Why "The Lion King" gets the lion's share of the attention on the Las Vegas Strip

  Jim Hill talks about the ambitious promotional plan that the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino and Disney Theatrical put together to help hype this new sit-down production of that Tony Award-winning musical Read More... Posted Thursday, September 24, 2009 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: Disney, theater, Broadway, musical, ABC, promotion, The Lion King, Disney Theatrical, Dancing with the Stars, Julie Taymor, Las Vegas, hotel, Hairspray, The Producers, Broadway musical, stage version, promotional campaign, shows, show, 1997, Avenue Q , Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, lion, stage show , 1996 , stage, Mandalay Bay, Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family, Mandalay Place, Raleigh Studios, The Lion King Exhibit, The Strip, video marquee, key card, Results Show, Las Vegas Strip

• The John Hughes / ABC / Walt Disney Company connection

  In honor of the passing of this talented filmmaker, Jim Hill shares a few anecdotes that reflect on the times that Hughes worked for the Mouse Read More... Posted Friday, August 07, 2009 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: Disney, movies, Universal Studios, Walt Disney, ABC, Walt Disney Pictures, Michael Eisner, Hollywood Pictures, Disneyland, 101 Dalmatians, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Walt Disney Productions, The Walt Disney Company, Ron Miller, television, Harold Ramis, Jim Belushi, Walt Disney Studios, Home Alone, film, movie, Vacation '58, Mouse House, Walley World, 1950s, TV show, 1997, Mickey, The Absent-Minded Professor, film title, Spaceballs III: The Search for Spaceballs II, writer , The Breakfast Club, 1996 , Robin Williams, Great Oaks Entertainment, Jackie Chan, Warner Bros. , John Hughes, director , Pretty in Pink, National Lampoon, National Lampoon's Animal House, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, vacation, cross country trip , Michelle Pfieffer, The Bee, Flubber, Faber College, slapstick, family vacation, screenplay, script, Curly Sue, motion picture, Jaws 3 People 0, 1990, television show , Ricardo Mestres, 1990s, 1991, films, producer, 1979, Delta House, National Lampoon's Vacation, TV series, Sixteen Candles, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Disneyland Park, Eddie Bracken

• Is Disney looking to trade its 5th Avenue store in for a brand-new retail location down on Times Square?

  Since the World of Disney's lease is up in 2010, the Mouse is already on the prowl for a new spot to set up shop in NYC. Jim Hill shares what he's heard about these on-going negotiations Read More... Posted Tuesday, October 21, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, musical, ABC, Walt Disney World, The Lion King, Disney Theatrical, Beauty and the Beast, Lunt-Fontanne Theater, Disney Store, ABC Studios, The Walt Disney Company, New York City, Mickey Mouse, restaurant, New Amsterdam Theatre, Minskoff Theatre, The Legendary Years, Disney's Pop Century Resort, NYC, Times Square, WDW, 5th Avenue, flagship store, World of Disney, Broadway musical, tourists, 2008, 2009, Disney World, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Walt Disney World Resort, Halloween, 2007, Mary Poppins, tourist , retail establishment , stage show , retail dining and entertainment complex, Virgin Megastore, Virgin, 1996 , 2010, stage, 2004, New York, Disney Stores, The Little Mermaid, movie theater, musical theater, 1990s, Wall Street, retail area, negotiations, trick-or-treat, trick or treat, square feet, retail space, commercial retail space, Wart, king, retailer, retailers, foot traffic, exposure, Paul Hoen, HoJos, Howard Johnson, American Eagle, American Eagle Outfitters, Pittsburgh, square foot, lease, Jeff Sutton, SL Green Realty Corp, Vornado, arcade, Alice's Wonderland, Toys R Us, Toys R Us Times Square, Virgin Megastore Times Square, ABC Times Square Studio, ABC Times Square Studios, retail entertainment complex, pre-show, post-show, preshow, posters, The Related Companies, retail presence, negotiating table, Rockefeller Center, Trump Tower, company representatives, real estate opportunity, real estate opportunites, construction project, construction projects

• Tube Thursday: Super Soap hits the road, while the "American Idol Experience" goes into overdrive

  Jim Hill has all sorts of news from Disney's Hollywood Studios. Including why ABC Daytime pulled the plug on its annual promotional event at that theme park as well as why construction is being sped up at Superstar Television Theater Read More... Posted Thursday, October 16, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: Disney, ABC, Disney's California Adventure, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Star Wars Weekends, Backlot Theater, Central Florida, WDW, DCA, Night of Joy, 2009, The Walt Disney World Resort, ratings, Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids , construction, DCA revamp, The American Idol Experience, DHS, American Idol , Jumbotron, ABC Daytime, Brian Frons, All My Children, AMC, One Life to Live, OLTL, General Hospital, GH, Tom Joyner, Tom Joyner Family Reunion, ESPN The Weekend, Rock the Soap, American Idol Experience, Rebecca Budig, Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group, ABC SOAPnet Super Soap Weekend, Thorsten Kaye, Kelly Monaco, CMA Music Festival, Bobbie Eakes, Kassie De Paiva, overseas tourists

• Well, so much for that conspiracy theory ...

  Jim Hill shares a funny story about a domain name that the Walt Disney Company recently registered. Which led one reporter to believe that the WDW & Disneyland resorts were in some real trouble this Fall Read More... Posted Wednesday, August 06, 2008 12:00 AM | 8 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, ABC, Disneyland, promotion, Tom Staggs, The Walt Disney Company, Disneyland Resort, television, Emmy Awards, WDW, promotional campaign, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, September, occupancy rate , domain name , attendance levels, occupancy rates, conspiracy theories, Thomas Staggs, National Stay At Home Week, domain names

• In just one week, the Con is on !

  Jim Hill reviews the programming for Comic-Con 2008 and then points out some panels & signings that Disneyana fans should probably seek out while they're down in San Diego Read More... Posted Thursday, July 17, 2008 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: Disney, TV, Pixar, ABC, Disney Channel, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, television, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, Bolt, film, movie, Eric Goldberg, 2008, 2009, Disney / Pixar, TV show, feature film , Chris Sanders, The Little Mermaid -- Ariel's Beginning, comic book, comic books , ABC reality series, Up, Prince of Persia

• Will pirates soon be returning to Treasure ... er ... Discovery Island?

  In this week's Why For, Jim Hill talks about the history of Treasure / Discovery Island. More importantly, how WDW Entertainment and Food & Beverage are allegedly thinking of using the "Pirates of the Caribbean" characters to help get this place re-opened Read More... Posted Friday, June 06, 2008 12:00 AM | 14 Comments Filed under: Disney, Why For, Imagineering, ABC, Johnny Depp, WED, Walt Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Tom Sawyer Island, Lost, The Walt Disney Company, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake, WDW Entertainment, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, cast members, cast member, Leota Toombs, 1974, 1998, 1976, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, marshmallows, Food Service, Blackbeard's Ghost , 1967, Peter Ustinov , Captain Jack Sparrow, Food & Beverage , Imagineers, April , rum , Pirates of the Caribbean films, 1960s, Disney officials , Pirates of the Caribbean franchise , January, interactive, Capt. Jack Sparrow, Raz Island, boat ride , treasure hunt , marshmallow, marshmallow roast , Treasure Island, Discovery Island, wilderness preserve , Blackbeard's Island , wizards of WED , 1950, Robert Louis Stevenson , Ben Gunn's Cave, Future Attraction, Future Attractions , The Blockhouse , Long John Silver, buccaneer, buccaneers, Spy Glass Hill , Wreck of the Hispaniola, Hispaniola, bird sanctuary , skeleton, aviary, enclosure, buzzard, buzzards , vulture, vultures, treasure map , operational hours , Yo-Ho-Ho , dough-dough-dough, snack bar, honeymoon, honeymoon cottage, honeymoon cottages , interactive gaming , Myst, pirate-themed adventure , O-Pin House, WDW Food Services, corporate groups, rum drinks , Johnny Depp lookalike

• "High School Musical 5 & 6" ?! "Beauty & the Beast" headed back to Broadway ?!

  Jim Hill shares some of the domain names that the Walt Disney Company has recently registered. Including a new year-long promotion for 2009 that looks & sounds an awful lot like 2003's "Magical Gatherings" campaign Read More... Posted Tuesday, June 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 22 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, musical, High School Musical, ABC, Disney Channel, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Theatrical, Beauty and the Beast, Anaheim, Orlando, The Walt Disney Company, High School Musical 3, High School Musical 4, High School Musical franchise, Disneyland Resort, Jay Rasulo, Disney Parks & Resorts, Aida, WDW, Year of a Million Dreams, hotel, Broadway musical, Disney Channel Original, 2008, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2007, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Broadway production, 2003, on property, TV movie, TV movies , hotels, 2006, Disney franchise, theatrical release, 2010, My School Musical, High School Musical: Get in the Picture, High School Musical 5 , High School Musical 6, Wildcats, East High, Matt Prokop, Justin Martin , Jemma McKenzie-Brown, HSM3, domain name , Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas - The Musical, St. James Theatre , Paul Kolnik, Big Apple , holiday treat, seasonal run , seasonal production, revival , Old Globe Theatre, Hilton Theatre, national tour, Magical Gatherings, Disney vacation, Disney's Magical Celebration, Disney's Magical Celebrations, Regular Unleaded, gasoline, DP&R, year-long promotion, heads in beds, consumers, theme park tickets, plane reservations, hotel rooms, birthday buttons, pins, plush

• Small town preps big welcome for "Extreme Makeover" family

  Jim Hill reports on the preparations that are now underway in Maynard, MA. Where the production team for this popular ABC reality series -- working with local volunteers -- has just built a brand-new house for the Giunta family Read More... Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 12:00 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: Disney, TV, ABC, Walt Disney World, WDW, wheelchair accessible, handicap access, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2007, TV show, construction site, snow, Disney World vacation, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Ty Pennington, Maynard, Massachusetts, audition tape, Paul Giunta Jr, Renee Giunta, Brianna Giunta, Cameron Giunta, Dylan Giunta, Giunta family, handicap-accessible, wheelchair-friendly, wheelchair, construction, makeover, World Grand Prix, design team, volunteers, 2006, August, severe head trauma, ABC reality series, ranch house, production team, triathlete, Boston Marathon, February , snowstorms

• Tune Tuesday: Get ready for the stage version of "High School Musical 2"

  Jim Hill shares all sorts of tidbits from the Disney Theatrical side of the fence. Including the tour schedule for both the North American & UK version of "Mary Poppins" as well as "The Little Mermaid" CD release celebration Read More... Posted Tuesday, February 19, 2008 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: Disney, theater, Broadway, High School Musical, ABC, Walt Disney Pictures, Disney Theatrical, High School Musical 2, The Walt Disney Company, High School Musical 3, High School Musical franchise, New York City, Washington D.C., Australia, Chicago, Los Angeles, NYC, LA, Broadway musical, stage version, Disney Channel Original, 2009, October, Cameron Mackintosh , Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids , autographs, co-production, stage show

• Oscar Watch '08: Miramax maxes out while the Mouse gets skunked

  Was today a good day or a bad day at Walt Disney Studios? Well, as Jim Hill points out, it all depends on whether you work at Miramax Films or on the Walt Disney Pictures side of the house Read More... Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:00 PM | 37 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, movies, Pixar, ABC, NBC, Brad Bird, Pixar Animation Studios, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Amy Adams, How to Hook-Up Your Home Theater, Academy Award, film, movie, actress, 2008, Disney / Pixar, animated feature, 2007, feature film , Best Picture nominee, Disney Feature Animation, animated short, picket line, Jan Pinkava, animated features, Oscar-winning , Norman Jewison , The Man I Love, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, good news day, Amy Ryan, nomination , Wicked Queen, Gone Baby Gone, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, ABC Inc, Best Actress , Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Achievement in Music – Original Song, Original Song , nominee, nominations , Happy Working Song, So Close, That's How You Know , Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, Jim Capobianco, Best Original Screenplay, Captain Nemo: 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, Achievement in Sound Editing, Laurence Juber, Randall Wallace, Oscar, Oscars, Best Animated Short Film, Academy Award winner, Academy voters , school year, Virginia Davis McGhee, actors , picket lines, Academy Award nominations , Academy Award nominees, Academy Award winners, Miramax Films , No Country for Old Men , Paramount Vantage, Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role , Theodore Thomas, Poppin' Guitars: A Tuneful of Sherman, The Black Cauldron , Adapted Screenplay, There Will Be Blood, Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role , Ted Thomas , The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Pathé Renn , co-production, Michael Giacchino , Achievement in Music – Original Score, Original Score, Oscar broadcast, Golden Globes, hand-drawn animation

• Remembering Suzanne Pleshette (1937 - 2008)

  Jim Hill looks back on the Disney-related portion of this Emmy nominated actress's career as well as commenting on the role that smoking may have played in her untimely demise Read More... Posted Monday, January 21, 2008 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: Disney, TV, Universal Studios, Walt Disney, ABC, Disneyland, Walt Disney Productions, television, Burbank, film, movie, TV show, Disneyana fans, condolences, Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette , Emily Hartley, Bob Hartley , The Bob Newhart Show , Dean Jones, 1966 , The Ugly Dachshund, 1968, Blackbeard's Ghost , 1975, The Shaggy DA, Roddy McDowell , 1967, The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin , The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Noah Cyrus, Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away, Tony Curtis , 40 Pounds of Trouble, 1962 , Norman Jewison , Damon Runyon, Little Miss Marker , St. Joseph's Hospital , studio , Roy O Disney , Peter Ustinov , Disney lot, James Garner, Laura Hennessy , West High Knights, ABC sitcom, sitcom , Virginia Davis, smoker, lung cancer, smoking-related illnesses , Emmy-nominated