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• 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, "Pirates of the Caribbean", boat ride , treasure hunt , marshmallow, marshmallow roast , Treasure Island, Discovery Island, wilderness preserve , Blackbeard's Island , wizards of WED , 1950, "Treasure Island", 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 , food component, 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 & 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, "Toy Story Mania", "Toy Story Midway Mania", 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 , "Annie" , 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

• Mist Direction or How DAK Operations just slipped Joe Rohde a Mickey

  Jim Hill talks about "Expedition Everest" 's faltering effects. More importantly, WDW's long-standing tradition of bamboozling senior Disney officials whenever they come on property Read More... Posted Tuesday, May 27, 2008 12:00 AM | 20 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Pixar, Walt Disney, attraction, John Lasseter, Michael Eisner, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Dick Nunis, Joe Rohde, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, The Jungle Cruise, Expedition Everest : Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Disney Legend, The Magic Kingdom, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, 10th anniversary, WDW, Expedition Everest, DAK, "Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain", Operations, Disney World, Disney / Pixar, effects, guests, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, theme park attraction, Food Service, Chairman, Liberty Tree Tavern

• "Is there something you want to tell me, Roy?"

  As he tours Cypress Gardens, Jim Hill examines the Walt Disney Company's ties to "Florida's first theme park" Read More... Posted Wednesday, May 14, 2008 12:00 AM | 12 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney, attraction, Walt Disney Productions, The Walt Disney Company, Bay Lake, Florida tourism, Central Florida, Florida, WDW, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, Disney World vacation, Roy O Disney , WDW vacations, Dick Pope, Julie Pope, Cypress Gardens, 1948, 1936, Florida's first theme park, Polk County, Lake Eloise, Disneyland East, Project Florida, wooden coaster, sunshine, Sunshine State, Raz Island, Florida heritage, Panama City, Miracle Strip Amusement Park, cypress swamp, botanical garden, water skiing, Starliner, roller coaster, Edna Disney, parking lot, belles, Southern Belles, Southern Belle, topiary, topiaries, grandparent, grandparents, botanical gardens

• Tween favorites draw huge crowds to the 2008 Disney Channel Games

  Jim Hill looks back on last week's events at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Which culminated in a concert that sent thousands of Central Florida tweens into a Disney Channel-induced frenzy Read More... Posted Wednesday, May 07, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: Disney, Disney Channel, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Disney's Hollywood Studios, "Cory in the House", "Hannah Montana", Miley Cyrus, Mickey Mouse, Central Florida, WDW, Disney Channel Original, JHM, 2008, 2009, Disney World, TV special, tween, concert , TV movie, cable channel, tweens, concert film, "Camp Rock" , production team, Jonas Brothers, Disney's Wide World of Sports, 2008 Disney Channel Games , squealing , the Jonas Brothers , the Cheetah Girls , Cheetah Girls, "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" , "Wizards of Waverly Place" , Disney Channel Games , Mitchel Musso , Disney Channel star, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas, Selena Gomez , "Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place" , Disney Channel Games Parade , Champion Stadium, Central Florida sun , favorite performer, TV taping, PA, safety , buffer zone, performers, WDW Security, Sabrina Bryan, Kiely Williams , Adrienne Bailon, "See You Again", "Cheetah Girls – One World", "One World" , water , Demi Lovato , stage, Beatles , Beatlemania, 1960s, Jonas Brothers 3-D movie, 3-D movie, Disney officials , "Go" project, go project , taping , commemorative poster, Disboards , 2009 Disney Channel Games, ears ringing

• Monday Mouse Watch : WDI complains about all those complainers

  Whose side are you on? The WDW cast member who finds fault with "Toy Story Mania" 's acoustics? Or the veteran Imagineer who's grown tired of the online Disneyana community continually knocking WDI's efforts? Read More... Posted Monday, May 05, 2008 12:00 AM | 77 Comments Filed under: Disney, Jim Hill Media, theme park, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Disney's Hollywood Studios, "Toy Story", Spaceship Earth, Orlando International Airport, "it's a small world", Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, MiceAge, WDWMagic, Disneyana Enthusiasts, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, "Toy Story Mania", theme park fans, Disneyana fans, theme park attraction, Disney World vacation, Disneyana community , Imagineers, "Toy Story" characters

• Forget about giving a Mouse a cookie. Never feed a Gator a turkey leg

  As he gets ready to return to New England, Jim Hill shares one of the more bizarre stories that he's ever heard about the Walt Disney World Resort. Which involved actual alligator wrestling right in the middle of the Magic Kingdom Read More... Posted Wednesday, April 23, 2008 12:00 AM | 27 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, The Magic Kingdom, Disney Parks & Resorts, 10th anniversary, WDW, tourists, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Frontierland

• Why the Imagineers are still tinker(toy)ing with "Toy Story Mania"

  Jim Hill brings you an update on this new DHS attraction. Which is still experiencing a few minor hiccups as it gets ready for next month's grand opening Read More... Posted Tuesday, April 22, 2008 12:00 AM | 24 Comments Filed under: Disney, Pixar, attraction, Imagineering, John Lasseter, Walt Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, "Toy Story Mania", Disney / Pixar, ride, Imagineers

• Disney's Wide World of Sports looks to get even wider in 2009 & beyond

  Jim Hill brings you a brief photo tour of this WDW venue. Which will soon open the 80,000 square-foot Jostens Center as well as possibly adding a bowling alley in the not-so-distant future Read More... Posted Monday, April 21, 2008 12:00 AM | 12 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, WDW, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, WDWCelebrations , "A Wild Decade" , Disney's Wide World of Sports, Disney's Wide World of Sports Cafe, bowling alley, Jostens Center, The Milk House, Milk House, PBA, All Star Cafe

• Monday Mouse Watch : Lights out at Pleasure Island

  The future of WDW's nighttime entertainment district suddenly looks a whole lot darker, now that Disney has sold off PI's signature system of outdoor spotlights Read More... Posted Monday, March 31, 2008 12:00 AM | 27 Comments Filed under: Disney, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, WDW guests, WDW management , Pleasure Island, night club complex, night club, WDW officials , night clubs

• Will the Liberty Square bridge repairs lead to an abridged version of Disney's "Dreams Come True" parade ?

  Jim Hill brings you the latest news on this Magic Kingdom construction project. Which could result in a pretty intriguing parade route at that theme park for a few weeks this summer Read More... Posted Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:00 AM | 18 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, parade, fireworks, attraction, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Orlando, The Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney Parks & Resorts, Central Florida, WDW, Fantasyland, Liberty Square, resort, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Halloween, "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party", Frontierland, Main Street USA, attractions, Disney World vacation, customers, on property, on-property , July , construction, August, "Pirate & Princess Party" , "Disney's Pirate & Princess Party" , fireworks extravaganza , hard ticket , after-hours event, "Mickey's Pirate & Princess Party", June , parades

• Monday Mouse Watch : It's lights out for DAK's "Rivers of Light" parade, while Beastly Kingdomme makes a character-based comeback

  Jim Hill brings you the latest news on Disney's Animal Kingdom. Including how WDW has been meeting with DAK curators to see who'd be willing to go take care of the animals that will soon be on display over at Disney's Night Kingdom Read More... Posted Monday, March 24, 2008 12:00 AM | 36 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, parade, attraction, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, "Dinosaur", The Magic Kingdom, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, "it's a small world", 10th anniversary, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Beastly Kingdomme, DAK, "Finding Nemo -- The Musical", "Rivers of Light", Dan Haskett, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, theme park fans, attractions, rides, ride, show, theme park attraction, Animal Kingdom , WDWCelebrations , "A Wild Decade" , Pleasure Island, night club, Disney's Night Kingdom, DNK, Imagineers, Steve Davison, "It's Tough to Be a Bug", Japanese Lantern Parade, "ROL", "Pocahontas and her Forest Friends", "Festival of the Lion King", "Rafiki's Planet Watch", Camp Minnie-Mickey, character greeting area, "Quest for the Unicorn", "Dragon's Tower", horticulture, nighttime parade, after-hours extravaganza, character-friendly addition, pathway, night clubs, parades, Disney characters, Disney brand

• Why do Pirate & Princess Happy Meals make McDonald's managers want to walk the plank?

  Jim Hill talks about the hyper-sensitive times that we live in. Where mothers lecture fast food employees about gender identification and people puzzle at WDW's motives for changing its "Pirate & Princess" promotional art Read More... Posted Tuesday, March 18, 2008 12:00 AM | 52 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, promotion, Magic Kingdom, Disney Press, The Walt Disney Company, marketing, The Magic Kingdom, McDonald's, Happy Meal, Disney Dreams, Disney Princess, "Cinderella", "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", "Sleeping Beauty", Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, promotional campaign, 2008, Disney World, hard ticket event, Disney Publicity , WDW management , 2006, "Pirate & Princess Party" , hard ticket , after-hours event, "Mickey's Pirate & Princess Party"

• 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, "Move that bus", design team, volunteers, 2006, August, severe head trauma, ABC reality series, ranch house, production team, triathlete, Boston Marathon, February , snowstorms

• Monday Mouse Watch: Let the West Side Waltz begin

  Jim Hill brings you an update on what may be in the works for the westernmost portion of Downtown Disney. With the Virgin Megastore possibly exiting this dining, retail & entertainment district to then make room for an ESPN Zone Read More... Posted Monday, February 25, 2008 12:05 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Imagineering, Bob Iger, Downtown Disney, Orlando, The Walt Disney Company, Tokyo Disney Resort, Oriental Land Company, Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Disney Parks & Resorts, Oahu, Disney Parks & Resorts, Steve Jobs, WDW, Imagineer, 5th Avenue, Disney World, October, Disneyana fans, Mickey, Screamscape, the Cheesecake Factory , Cheesecake Factory, DisneyQuest , indoor interactive theme park, DQ , Lake Buena Vista , WDW Food & Beverage, Food & Beverage , corporate agenda , the West Side, retail dining and entertainment complex, Chairman, Location-based entertainments , oceanfront resort , urban entertainment centers , Singapore, board of directors , LBE , UBC, triage situation , triage, La Nouba , Virgin Megastore Orlando, Virgin Megastore, Virgin, the Mouse , Cirque du Soleil , parent company, renewal, Downtown Disney location, Imagineers, ESPN Zone , the World , WDW vacations, The Oriental Land Company, Oriental Land Co Ltd, showroom, Montreal, Cirque, July , 1996 , piece of the pie, Apple, Apple Store, balls in the air