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• 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

• 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"

• 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

• Monday Mouse Watch : Will a new name really be enough to boost ticket sales for WDW's "Pirate & Princess Party" ?

  Jim Hill brings you a pile of "Pirates of the Caribbean" -related news. Including the tabling of the "Tortuga" restaurant project Read More... Posted Monday, March 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 39 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Visual Effects, fireworks, Pirates of the Caribbean, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Best Buy, The Magic Kingdom, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", Jack Sparrow, Disney Princess, restaurant, WDW, Disney Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, The Crystal Palace, movie, The Walt Disney World Resort, "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party", "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party", ticket sales, 2007, merch, full service, Saturday , Tuesday , merchandise , WDW management , Captain Jack Sparrow, The Black Pearl, Black Pearl, "Pirates of the Caribbean 4", "Pirates 4", Pirates 4, 2006, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" , Pirate & Princess Party, "Pirate & Princess Party" , "Disney's Pirate & Princess Party" , Disney franchise, "Disney's Enchanted Adventures Parade" , fireworks extravaganza , "Music Magic and Mayhem" , Walt Disney Creative Entertainment , hard ticket , after-hours event, break even , Rivers of America, Hershey's Treasures , WDW officials , financial success , Monday, Friday, April , "Mickey's Pirate & Princess Party", "POTC" , POTC, "Tortuga" project, Tortuga project, Adventureland Veranda, Adventureland , "Cinderella's Royal Table" , dining experience, Caribbean cuisine , rum , development pipeline, mock-up , test kitchen, Bonfamille's , French Quarter , Disney's Port Orleans Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, test meal , face character , quick service restaurant , full service restaurant, Liberty Tree Tavern , lunch , dinner , dining facility , occupancy rate , 2012, "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, retail chain , Hi-def , disc player, flat screen , HDTV , retail world, equation

• 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

• 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

• Monday Mouse Watch : Hannah Montana & High School Musical-themed makeovers soon to be offered at Disney's Hollywood Studios

  Jim Hill talks about this variation on "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique" that's about to be built at the Walt Disney World Resort. Only this time around, this pricey beauty parlor will help your child look like their favorite Disney Channel star Read More... Posted Monday, February 04, 2008 12:00 AM | 22 Comments Filed under: Disney, movies, theme park, "High School Musical", Disney Channel, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Disney's Hollywood Studios, "High School Musical 2", The Magic Kingdom, "High School Musical 3", "High School Musical" franchise, "High School Musical 2: Extended Edition", "Hannah Montana", Dwayne Johnson, "The Rock", Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Disney Princess, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, WDW, Ariel, film, movie, World of Disney, Disney Channel Original, HSM, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, film franchise, merch, tween, merchandise , merchandise location , TV movie, TV movies , tweens, "Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both World Concert" , concert film, 3-D, Disney Digital 3D, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, beauty parlor, Cinderella Castle , Belle, Jasmine, Gabriella , Sharpay , Hannah Montana , Hannah Montana wig , Ashley Tisdale , Sharpay Evans , retail establishment , concert tour , "Camp Rock" , "The Cheetah Girls 3", mini-Miley

• Monday Mouse Watch : Disney has trouble convincing guests to come make a "Magic Connection"

  Jim Hill reports on the field test of these new handheld units. Which supposedly worked great ... Once you could actually convince a tourist to come take part in this test, that is Read More... Posted Monday, January 28, 2008 12:00 AM | 36 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, The Walt Disney Company, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort, The Magic Kingdom, handheld device, Space Mountain, WDI, WDW, Walt Disney Imagineering, Liberty Square, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, entrance area, My Pal Mickey, Disney Magic Connection, Town Square Exposition Hall, Nintendo DS, WDI R & D, hand-held device, wireless unit

• 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

• "The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at Its Peak" will be a tiptop addition to any Disneyana fan's library

  Jim Hill checks out Jason Surrell's latest book. Which offers an entertaining & formative look back at how the Imagineers went about creating all of those "mountains" that you now find inside of the various Disney theme parks Read More... Posted Wednesday, September 19, 2007 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, theme park, attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, Imagineering, Disneyland, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Disney's California Adventure, Expedition Everest : Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Splash Mountain, Tokyo DisneySea, The Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Disney's Blizzard Beach, Tokyo Disneyland, Disney Editions, Disneyland Paris, The Matterhorn, Mount Prometheus, Big Thunder Mountain, Thunder Mesa, Forbidden Mountain, Jason Surrell, "The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at Its Peak", "The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies", "Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies", Holiday Hill, Bill Evans, American Bridge, Arrow Development, John Hench

• Another Kingdom That Never Came: Disneyland expansion plans circa 1976

  As a follow-up to last week's "Why For," Jim Hill shares some excerpts from the Disneyland Long Range Masterplan. Which goes into great details about such never-built "lands" as the Lost Continent, Big Town U.S.A. and World Holiday Land Read More... Posted Friday, September 07, 2007 12:00 AM | 11 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Why For, attraction, Imagineering, WED, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney's California Adventure, California Screamin', The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Anaheim, Mysterious Island, Norway pavilion, The Magic Kingdom, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, The Hall of Presidents, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Charles Boyer, American Waterfront, Maelstrom, The Sun Wheel, Discovery Bay, "Dumbo Circus"

• A special "What's in a name" edition of Why For

  Jim Hill's back with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim talk about yesterday's Disney-MGM name change announcement as well as revealing how adding the word "Walt" to "Disney's California Adventure" could profoundly change the story that that theme park tells Read More... Posted Friday, August 10, 2007 12:00 AM | 34 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Why For, Walt Disney, attraction, Imagineering, "High School Musical", Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios theme park, Disney's California Adventure, "Cars", Anaheim, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

• Confused about what the Walt Disney Company wants to do next in Anaheim? Then maybe it's time to take a second look at thirdthemepark.com

  Jim Hill shares images from a long-dormant Disney website. Which offers some clues about the Mouse's future plans for its Southern California resort Read More... Posted Thursday, August 09, 2007 12:00 AM | 25 Comments Filed under: Disney, other, theme park, attraction, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Disney's California Adventure, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, thirdthemepark.com, Anaheim, Orlando, Discovery Cove, Omnimover, Fujishige family, SeaWorld, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon