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• Monday Mouse Watch : Get ready for WDW's monstrous new coaster

  WARNING !! There be spoilers ahead as Jim Hill shares what he knows about the family-friendly attraction that will be opening at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the Fall of 2011 Read More... Posted Monday, July 21, 2008 12:00 AM | 29 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, theme park, Pixar, Jim Henson, attraction, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney's California Adventure, "Cars", Disney's Hollywood Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville, "A Bug's Life", "Toy Story", Disneyland Resort, Disney Princess, WDI, "Monsters Inc.", WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, DCA, Walt Disney Studios, animated character, Pixar campus, Disney World, "Toy Story Mania", animated feature, Carsland, Pete Docter, theme park attraction, soundstage , 2011, coaster, Imagineers, Disney Pixar , thrill ride, DHS

• Look for Mickey to get Shanghai-ed in September

  Jim Hill shares what he knows about Disney's theme park for Mainland China. Which should be officially announced this Fall Read More... Posted Tuesday, July 15, 2008 12:00 AM | 20 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Pixar, attraction, Imagineering, Bob Iger, Pixar Animation Studios, Hong Kong Disneyland, WDI, Imagineer, Disney / Pixar, attractions, shows, rides, design phase, 2012, Shanghai, Shanghai Disneyland

• 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

• Monday Mouse Watch : Disney World's new grim grinning gracious ghosts

  Forget about fright. Now it's all about being polite. Or so says Jim Hill as he talks about the new spiel that cast members are expected to recite whenever they work at this Magic Kingdom attraction Read More... Posted Monday, June 02, 2008 12:00 AM | 14 Comments Filed under: Disney, attraction, Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, The Haunted Mansion, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, The Foyer, The Portrait Gallery, The Entrance Hallway, Liberty Square, cast members, Jeff Lange, cast member, JHM, guest, guests, "Grim Grinning Ghosts", butlers, maids, acting classes, "The Haunted Mansion", Imagineers, CD, script, The Ballroom, wretched bodies, blood red carpet , guest complaints , gruesome gags , PR team , acting coaches , dialogue , spiel , show narration , The Stretching Room, final arrangements, maid, butler, please, kindly , grim grinning ghosts, grim grinning gracious ghosts, polite, fright, retraining, plussing, material, blasé , fireplace, MouseSteps, JeffLangeDVD, photos, screensaver, Epcot Flower & Garden Festival, disc, Denise Preskitt

• Woo Hoo ! "The Simpsons Ride" officially opens at Universal Studios Florida

  JHM was there yesterday as the bright yellow ribbon was cut and celebrities, dignitaries & guests all surged in experience this brand-new attraction Read More... Posted Friday, May 16, 2008 12:00 AM | 8 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Universal Studios, attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, Imagineering, "The Simpsons", Orlando, Universal Orlando, WDI, Florida, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort, Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park River Adventure, "Jurassic Park River Adventure", theme park attraction, President, Universal Studios Florida , Lisa Simpson, Bart Simpson, Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Universal Creative Studio, Universal Creative, "The Simpsons Ride", Krusty the Clown, Krustyland, Mike West, Buddy Dyer, Joey Fatone, Mayor, *NSYNC, God's Waiting Room, Bill Davis, Gracie Films, "Pirates of the Caribbean", blue hairs, AARP, Universal Orlando guests, opening ceremony, Krusty clone, live orchestra, school children, chief operating officer, confetti, walkaround characters, walkaround character, ribbon, cut the ribbon

• Monday Mouse Watch : Why WDI is looking for a few good freelancers

  Jim Hill takes a look at why the start of the DCA revamp keeps getting pushed back. Which has a lot to do with how most of the top talent in the themed entertainment industry is now working on Dubailand Read More... Posted Monday, May 12, 2008 12:00 AM | 14 Comments Filed under: Disney, Imagineering, Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Tokyo DisneySea, Disneyland Resort, Jay Rasulo, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, DCA, Walt Disney Studios, WDI R & D, Imagineers, DCA revamp

• 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

• Monday Mouse Watch : Has WDI solved all of "Toy Story Mania" 's problems? Not Yeti

  Jim Hill talks about Pixar's on-going frustration with the Imagineers. Who seem far more interested in protecting their own jobs than they do with delivering a quality product for the theme parks Read More... Posted Monday, April 28, 2008 12:00 AM | 26 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Pixar, attraction, Imagineering, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Disneyland Paris, Pixar Place, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, DAK, "Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain", show building, 2008, theme park guest, "Toy Story Mania", Disney / Pixar, theme park fans, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, Imagineers, 2006

• 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

• 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

• 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, "The Hall of Presidents", promotional gimmick , Chief Executive , Blaine Gibson , George W Bush, Monica Lewinsky , scandal , approval rating , dignity , roll call , speech, "THOP" , THOP, Gettysburg Address, The Gettysburg Address , "Great Moments with Mr Lincoln", redo, revamp, recycling , back east, electric convenience vehicle , ECV, ECV - friendly, improvements , doorway , turnstile , "The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management" , Iago, Uh-Oa, Zzzs , bran muffin

• Will Liberty Square bridge repairs actually force the Mouse to reroute the Magic Kingdom's parades?

  Jim Hill talks about the contingency plan that WDW officials just put in place, should that theme park suddenly need to close this vital connection to the Hub Read More... Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:00 AM | 17 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, parade, Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, The Magic Kingdom, Herb Ryman, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Liberty Square, 1971, The Walt Disney World Resort, 1975

• 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

• Do-it-yourself Epcot celebration leads to new fan-based business

  Jim Hill reveals how "Celebration 25" led to the creation of "WDWCelebrations." Which will be presenting "A Wild Decade" at Disney's Animal Kingdom this April in honor of that theme park's 10th anniversary Read More... Posted Thursday, January 24, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: Disney, Imagineering, Disneyland, Epcot, promotion, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Orlando, Innoventions, Marty Sklar, The Walt Disney Company, Epcot Center, concept art, 2719 Hyperion, WDI, Central Florida, 10th anniversary, WDW, Imagineer, "Year of a Million Dreams", DAK, Figment, Nathan Rose, MagicalMountain, WDWMagic, tourists, promotional campaign, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2007, merch, Disneyana fans, Disney World vacation, Disneyana community , Deb Wills , AllEars.net , Brad Rex, 25th anniversary , "The Happiest Celebration on Earth" , 50th anniversary , Central Florida resort , 100th birthday , "100 Years of Magic" , tourist , Jenn Waitt , discussion boards , "Celebration 25" , Adam Roth, Jason Diffendal , get-together , Disney webmasters , John Corigliano , Mouse Times, Lou Mongello , Disney World Trivia , Jeff Pepper , day-long event, history walk , dessert party, rededication ceremony, temporary exhibit , props, models , MC , history talks, Fountain of Nations , Mouse Gear, limited edition , merchandise , commemorative , Figment plush , merchandise location , manager , Animal Kingdom , WDWCelebrations , fan-based , signature event , commemorative event, April 22 1998, "A Wild Decade" , guest speaker, registrants , Magical Mountain, "The Epcot Thing"

• Monday Mouse Watch : Get ready to make the "Disney Magic Connection"

  Jim Hill talks about the field tests that are being held at WDW's Magic Kingdom this week. Which involve a new hand-held device that could potentially revolutionize the Disney theme park going experience Read More... Posted Monday, January 14, 2008 12:00 AM | 40 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Imagineering, Magic Kingdom, FastPass, The Magic Kingdom, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, resort, Disney World, attractions, rides, ride, show, "Disney Magic Connection", "My Pal Mickey", My Pal Mickey, Disney Magic Connection, Town Square Exposition Hall, Nintendo DS, WDI R & D, R & D, hand-held device, wireless unit, wait time, real time, trivia