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• Coaster Corner: Tomorrowland favorite gets a warp speed makeover

  Jim Hill talks with Steve Roach, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy's show producer, about how the Imagineers turned this indoor coaster into a Halloween Time-themed attraction in record time Read More... Posted Friday, October 16, 2009 12:00 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: theme park, attraction, Disneyland, Anaheim, Space Mountain, Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, Imagineer, 2009, 2007, ride, Imagineers, redo, thrill ride, roller coaster, Tomorrowland, Disneyland Park, Halloween Time

• You don’t know Jack about Disneyland’s “Halloween Screams - A Villainous Surprise in the Skies"

  Jim Hill talks with John Addis, Senior Show Director for Disney Entertainment Productions, about how this new fireworks show came together Read More... Posted Wednesday, October 07, 2009 12:00 AM | 0 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, theme park, fireworks, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Anaheim, Disney Legend, The Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Resort, The Haunted Mansion, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Dumbo, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, WDW, Paul Frees, Ghost Host, Jack Skellington, spider, 2009, Disney World, Halloween, snow, 2005, November, Cinderella Castle , Walt Disney Creative Entertainment , Steve Davison, parades, fireworks display, flight path , trick-or-treat, trick or treat, Zero, Disneyland Park, Castle, John Addis, Scream-Along, shell, public performance, Senior Show Director, Disney Entertainment Productions, fireworks show, magical orb, spectaculars, magical, flight pattern, main street, snow falling, Disney Villains, Ursula the Sea Witch, Oogie Boogie, The Hub, The Ghost Host, Cruella De Vil, trick-or-treating, Ursula, spiders, Castle walls, Haunted Mansion, Halloween fireworks display, Corey Burton, Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, snow falling on Main Street, Halloween Time, Disneyland Guests, Halloween Screams, M.C., Halloween Screams - A Villainous Surprise in the Skies, Disney Villain, Happy HalloWishes, shimmering lights, Happy HalloWishes: A Grim Grinning Ghost Spectacular in the Sky

• The Muppets lead the way with Disney Parks & Resorts' new "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" promotion

  Jim Hill talks up this new Walt Disney Company initiative. Which hopes to inspire a million people to do volunteer work in their local communities Read More... Posted Wednesday, September 30, 2009 12:00 AM | 10 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Muppets, Jim Henson, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, promotion, Anaheim, Orlando, Desperate Housewives, The Walt Disney Company, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Kermit the Frog, Canada, Chicago, Disney Parks & Resorts, Mr. Toad, LA, promotional campaign, 2009, legacy, December , website , worksite, 2010, January, campaign, free admission, birthday, What Will You Celebrate?, What Will You Celebrate, Disney theme park, online, Walt Disney World Resort, Muppet, Robin, framing, Habitat for Humanity, Give a Day Get a Disney Day, Miss Piggy, Mad Tea Party, volunteer, volunteer work, local community, local communities, initiative, Teri Hatcher, James Denton, Bethune School of Excellence, Photo ID, Puerto Rico, 18 years of age, volunteering, free ticket, terms & conditions, Muppet-themed, terms and conditions, Get a Disney Day, Give a Day

• Cars Land construction continues, Golden Vine Winery to close in January

  Jim Hill shares what he’s heard about the DCA redo project. Including the upcoming three month-long rehab of this theme park’s high-end eatery Read More... Posted Monday, September 14, 2009 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: Disney, Imagineering, Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Cars, Anaheim, Anaheim Convention Center, Disneyland Resort, WDI, DCA, California, D23, Cars Land, Imagineers, DCA revamp, D23 EXPO

• Pins & mini-posters await “Walt & El Grupo” fans in Anaheim, NYC & LA

  Jim Hill talks about some of the fun freebies that can be had if you attend the initial engagements of this new Ted Thomas film Read More... Posted Tuesday, September 08, 2009 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Walt Disney, Walt Disney Pictures, Anaheim, New York City, Anaheim Convention Center, Disneyana, Los Angeles, NYC, South of the Border with Walt: Walt Disney and the Good Neighbor Program 1941 - 1948, LA, movie, Tom Sito, D23, Disneyana Enthusiasts, 2009, Disneyana fans, Ted Thomas , Walt & El Grupo, pin, J B Kaufman, South American , Saludos Amigos, Orange, pins, New York, D23 EXPO, documentary, Egyptian, 1941, Kuniko Okubo

• It's time to cash in those Disney Dollars. D23 Expo tickets go on sale today

  Jim Hill talks up some of the high points of this first-ever "Ultimate Disney Fan Experience." Which will be presented at the Anaheim Convention Center September 10 - 13th Read More... Posted Wednesday, June 03, 2009 8:05 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: Disney, convention, Disneyland, Anaheim, The Walt Disney Company, Anaheim Convention Center, Disneyland Resort, Disneyana, 2009, Disneyana community , Comic-Con , Comic-Con International, Disneyana fan, Disneyland Park

• Disney hopes that our next Commander-in-Chief can inspire some consumer confidence

  According to Jim Hill, Mickey doesn't really care who the next President is. Just as long as this guy can then convince the American people to once again start planning trips to Anaheim & Orlando Read More... Posted Monday, November 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 20 Comments Filed under: Disney, resorts, Bob Iger, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Anaheim, Orlando, The Walt Disney Company, The Hall of Presidents, Disneyland Resort, Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts, Russia, Disney Parks & Resorts, 9/11, WDI, Burbank, WDW, resort, White House, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disney World vacation, high profile project, niche park , advance reservations, advance reservation, WDW vacations, President, Commander-in-Chief, George W Bush, CEO, 2010, President of the United States , consumers, Thomas Staggs, Jungle Trek, Disney's Jungle Trek, Walt Disney Company, Disney theme park, China, Wall Street, economic downturn, economy, fiscal year, Presidential election, consumer spending, earnings, CFO, quarter, Vice President, Vice Presidents, Joe Biden, Sarah Palin, Congress, intellectual property, The White House, piracy, anti-piracy, Valerie Edwards, Director of Sculpture, Barack Obama, chainmail, fashion magazines, Obama Biden, fashion magazine, consumer confidence, recession, Presidential candidate, Presidential candidates, earnings call, Four Seasons, The Four Seasons

• How sometimes being in the wrong place is the right thing to do

  In this week's "Why For" column, Jim Hill shares a story that Wally Boag once told him. Which explains how -- thanks to being accidentally upstaged by Steve Martin -- this Disney Legend wound up appearing on "The Muppet Show" Read More... Posted Friday, October 31, 2008 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Muppets, Jim Henson, Disneyland, Anaheim, Disney Legend, Saturday Night Live, YouTube, Hollywood, Steve Martin, Steven Spielberg, Golden Horseshoe , Wally Boag, opening night, backstage, London, audience, Universal Studios Hollywood , Woody Allen , 1978, Ellen Boag, The Muppet Show, The Golden Horseshoe Revue, Muppet Show, Golden Horseshoe Revue, Universal Amphitheater, Jake, Dan Ackroyd, Elwood, John Belushi, vaudeville, Jack Nicholson, vaudevillian, vaudevillians, Elwood Blues, Hollywood royalty, Jake Blues, Hollywood party, Jake and Elwood, Hollywood crowd, The Blues Brothers, Adam, Blues Brothers, first class, Bernadette Peters, comfort zone, dressing room, right place, wrong place, Wild and Crazy Guy, A Wild and Crazy Guy, Pecos Bill, Mexican, opportunity, engagement, 80% of success is showing up, apology, special guest, special guests

• Is everything on display in DCA's "Blue Sky Cellar" actually going to get built? Maybe. Maybe not

  In this week's "Why For," Jim Hill looks back over the history of the Disney Parks & Resorts at the rides, shows and attraction (some of them announced by Walt Disney himself) that ultimately didn't get built Read More... Posted Friday, October 24, 2008 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Disney Theatrical, Disney's California Adventure, The Jungle Cruise, Anaheim, Orlando, Disney Press, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Productions, High School Musical franchise, Sleeping Beauty Castle, International Street, Alice in Wonderland, Disneyana, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, DCA, Disneyland Hotel, 1974, JHM, Disney World, Frontierland, Disneyana fans, attractions, shows, rides, New York Times, 1966 , Disneyana community , Rivers of America, shooting gallery, Walt Disney Company, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

• "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

• Does WDI plan on gagging our next Commander-in-Chief as part of the 2009 redo of WDW's "Hall of Presidents" ?

  Jim Hill shares what he's heard about the upcoming revamp of this Magic Kingdom attraction. To be specific, how the Imagineers are looking to shave a few minutes off of the running time of this 36-year-old Liberty Square show Read More... Posted Tuesday, March 04, 2008 12:00 AM | 50 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Anaheim, The Magic Kingdom, Audio Animatronic, Bill Clinton, The President of the United States, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Liberty Square, wheelchair accessible, AA figure, Audio Animatronics, handicap access, 2009, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2001, show, theme park attraction, WDW guests, Imagineers, July , handicap-accessible, wheelchair-friendly, wheelchair, presidential primaries, presidential primary, primaries, primary, President, Commander-in-Chief, promotional gimmick , Chief Executive , Blaine Gibson , George W Bush, Monica Lewinsky , scandal , Robin Williams, dignity , roll call , speech, THOP, Gettysburg Address, The Gettysburg Address , Great Moments with Mr Lincoln, redo, revamp, recycling , Great Oaks Entertainment, electric convenience vehicle , ECV, ECV - friendly, improvements , doorway , turnstile , The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management, Iago, Uh-Oa, Zzzs , bran muffin

• Disney testing new ways to slow down FastPass counterfeiters

  Jim Hill talks about the plan that Disney Parks & Resorts has in the works to catch folks who are using bogus "Attraction Re-entry" tickets that they've purchased off of eBay. Which will involve scanning each individual FastPass for authenticity before the Mouse then allows that guest to enter a particular ride, show or attraction Read More... Posted Thursday, February 21, 2008 12:00 AM | 34 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, The Jungle Cruise, Anaheim, The Walt Disney Company, FastPass, The Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Resort, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, cast members, cast member, Disneyana Enthusiasts, Mouse, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, ticket sales, theme park fans, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, theme park attraction, admission , admission fee

• What a doll ! Remembering Joyce Carlson (1923 - 2008)

  Jim Hill pays tribute to this Disney Legend, who passed away this past Tuesday following a long bout with cancer Read More... Posted Friday, January 04, 2008 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Imagineering, WED, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Marc Davis, Anaheim, Peter Pan, Disney Legend, The Walt Disney Company, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, John Hench, Cinderella, Mary Blair, Sleeping Beauty, Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, it's a small world, WDW, Imagineer, Fantasyland, Walt Disney Studios, LaughingPlace, The Walt Disney World Resort, animated feature, ride, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Disney Feature Animation, theme park attraction, Joyce Carlson, 1964 New York World Fair, New York World's Fair, retired, compliment, legacy, humble, concept phase, design phase, Disney Netpal, project development, detailed model, dimensional figure, Jim Korkis, 2003, Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, doll, condolences, Hospice of the Comforter, Altamonte Springs, obituary

• A PC Haunted Mansion ?! Now that's scary

  Jim Hill talks about the new script that the Imagineers have written for this attraction's Foyer area. Which is reportedly being added to the stateside versions of this classic attraction because a handful of guests complained about the macabre remarks that a few Disney cast members have made over the years Read More... Posted Thursday, January 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 43 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Anaheim, Orlando, The Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Resort, The Haunted Mansion, WDI, Glendale, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Paul Frees, Ghost Host, The Foyer, The Portrait Gallery, The Entrance Hallway, stretching room, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, guest, guests, macabre, ghoulish, butlers, maids, ad-lib lines, staging, blocking, acting classes, official script, 1401 Flower Street, sinister, theme park attraction, squeamish

• A meet the author / artist / filmmaker edition of Where For

  Jim Hill bounces from Orlando to Anaheim, New York to Hollywood and then back again. As he talks up a number of signings & screenings that are being held all over the country over the next eight days Read More... Posted Friday, December 07, 2007 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, theme park, Disneyland, Anaheim, Orlando, Disney Press, Disney Legend, Disney's Contemporary Resort, New York City, Disney Editions, Hollywood, The Pixar Story, NYC, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disney / Pixar