Jim Hill

WDW officials knew that '09 was going to be a real challenge

Jim Hill talks about the cost containment procedures that Mouse House managers put in place over the past nine months, as they prepared for the current economic downturn Read More...

Posted Friday, October 10, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Magic Kingdom, character dining, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, promotional campaign, 2008, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, September, Pleasure Island, Rock n Roll Beach Club, reservations , February , WDW officials , Liberty Tree Tavern , January, WDW executives, PI, What Will You Celebrate, Wall Street, economic downturn, Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, bookings, Fantasmic, Garden Grill

Disney World postpones Fantasyland's facelift

Citing concerns over the economy, Mouse House managers have quietly pushed back a project that was to have revitalized the most popular section at WDW's oldest theme park. Jim Hill has the details Read More...

Posted Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:00 AM | 14 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Imagineering, Disney Vacation Club, Dick Cook, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Beauty & the Beast, Playhouse Disney, The Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain, The Hall of Presidents, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Disney Princess, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hollywood, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, Glendale, Burbank, Times Square, WDW, Imagineer, Fantasyland, Walt Disney Imagineering, DCA, show building, World of Disney, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, attractions, shows, rides, Hollywood history, Imagineers, 2012, Disney Studios , thrill ride, queue, motion picture, The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Disney theme park, Wall Street, The Great Depression, Great Depression, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, economic downturn, facelift, revitalization, revitalization plan, queue area, gift shop, hitting the brakes, tough times, spinner, East Coast, stock price, 5th gate, Central Florida tourism, 2013, 2014, 2015, economy, rehab, overhaul, fiscal year, retail area, Little Mermaid, Little Mermaid ride, Little Mermaid attraction

"Marching Along, We're Adventurers. Singing the Song of Adventurers ..."

Before the lights go out on PI tomorrow night, Jim Hill looks back at his favorite spot on that Island. Which is the Adventurers Club Read More...

Posted Friday, September 26, 2008 12:00 AM | 10 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Dick Nunis, restaurant, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, shops, retail establishment , Pleasure Island, Adventurers Club, night club complex, night club, Imagineers, night clubs, PI

"Disney at Dawn" continues the adventures of the Kingdom Keepers

Jim Hill reviews the latest installment of this Ridley Pearson series, an adventure book for young adults which is primarily set at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park Read More...

Posted Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:00 AM | 3 Comments

Filed under: book, Disney, Walt Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Expedition Everest : Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Magic Kingdom, Disney Editions, Sleeping Beauty, WDW, Expedition Everest, 2008, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2005, Cinderella Castle , behind-the-scenes , Maleficent, Ridley Pearson, The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark, Kingdom Keepers II: Disney At Dawn, Kingdom Keepers, The Kingdom Keepers, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Conservation Station, Wishes, Yeti

Monday Mouse Watch : The countdown begins for Pleasure Island's final public night

Jim Hill talks about WDW's crowd control plans for PI. Which may involve allowing Guests to line up the night before in order to then guarantee them entry onto the Island on the 28th Read More...

Posted Monday, September 22, 2008 12:00 AM | 9 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney's California Adventure, Disney's Hollywood Studios, WDW, DCA, MGM, The Walt Disney World Resort, WDW guests, Pleasure Island, 2011, WDW Security, Disney executives, PI

Is free admission to a Disney theme park on your birthday really a good enough reason to schedule a "Celebration Vacation" ?

Jim Hill reports on yesterday's event at the Edison Ballroom. Where Jay Rasulo unveiled the Walt Disney Company's new "What will you celebrate?" promotional campaign for the Parks Read More...

Posted Friday, September 19, 2008 12:00 AM | 19 Comments

Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, promotion, Disneyland Resort, Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Disney Parks & Resorts, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, promotional campaign, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, celebration, year-long promotion, campaign

The Adventurers Club that we almost got

Jim Hill talks about how WDI's original plans for Pleasure Island were changed to due to cost concerns. He also reminds JHM readers about Peter David's map-mailing campaign to save the Adventurers Club Read More...

Posted Thursday, August 07, 2008 12:00 AM | 11 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Imagineering, Bob Iger, Michael Eisner, Walt Disney World, Joe Rohde, Marty Sklar, Tokyo DisneySea, The Haunted Mansion, restaurant, Hong Kong Disneyland, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, resort, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, September, Pleasure Island, The Adventurers Club, Adventurers Club, night club complex, night club, Imagineers, night clubs, 1989, 1986, Peter David, Robert Iger, Disney CEO, Save the Adventurers Club, PI

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

What's in a (Disney domain) name?

As he gets ready to cover this year's Comic-Con, Jim Hill shares some of the more interesting domain names that the Walt Disney Company has registered over the past month Read More...

Posted Wednesday, July 23, 2008 12:00 AM | 11 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Weddings

Just how spectacular was WDW's Bicentennial spectacular?

In this week's Why For column, Jim Hill looks back to July of 1976. To be specific, all of the advance preparation that WDW officials put into that resort's Bicentennial fireworks display Read More...

Posted Friday, July 18, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments

Filed under: Disney, theme park, Why For, parade, fireworks, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, promotion, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, World Showcase, World Showcase Lagoon, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Seven Seas Lagoon, WDW, cast members, Jeff Lange, cast member, hotel, 1974, Crowne Plaza, 1976, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, show, staging, WDWCelebrations , fireworks extravaganza , parades, fireworks display, water , lagoon show, water pageant, lagoon , sound check, soft opening, January, audience, water skiing, JeffLangeDVD, visually stunning

Still can't find Nemo? Then try looking inside of your room the next time you stay at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

Jim Hill shares some shots of these newly rethemed rooms, which now feature characters from that 2003 Pixar Animation Studios release Read More...

Posted Monday, July 14, 2008 12:00 AM | 13 Comments

Filed under: Disney, theme park, Pixar, Pirates of the Caribbean, resorts, Walt Disney World, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Pixar Animation Studios, Toy Story, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, hotel, resort, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disney / Pixar, 2003, Disney World vacation, WDW guests, WDW vacations, Disney Pixar , Pirates of the Caribbean franchise , Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Shanghai, hotel rooms, WALL-E, Shanghai Disneyland, Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, retheming, Nemo, Dory, Buzz Lightyear

Monday Mouse Watch : Inside "The American Idol Experience"

Jim Hill shares what he's heard about this new DHS attraction. In particular how WDW Guests will make their way through the "American Idol" audition process Read More...

Posted Monday, June 23, 2008 12:00 AM | 25 Comments

Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Walt Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, FastPass, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, WDW, Operations, theme park guest, 2009, The Walt Disney World Resort, TV show, show, backstage, theme park attraction, WDW guests, December , tourist , high profile project, capacity , once-in-a-lifetime , Festival of the Lion King, performers, Kinks, January, singing, The American Idol Experience, DHS, Disney Guests, interactive entertainment , American Idol , closed-door sessions , Superstar Television, Doug Live ! , crowd-pleaser, onstage, audition, auditions, audition process , recording booth , solo, video screen , initial screening , pre-recorded instrumental track, a cappella, pre-recorded music, live instruments, perform live , talent pool , finalists, preliminary shows , finale, Grand Finale, judges, Actors' Equity, Simon Cowell, finalist, Dream Ticket , guaranteed reservation, regional audition , American Idol TV show, jump the line, hopefuls, round of auditions, age limit , ineligible, Disney Legal , 19 Entertainment, production company , operational issues, behind-the-scenes , vocal coach , hair , make-up , make the cut , Ops staff , simulcast, Jumbotron, Hollywood Boulevard, High School Musical 2: School's Out! , pep rally , Block Party Bash, working the bugs out , talent-free singer , WDW executives

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 , 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, 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

"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