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• 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 | 4 Comments Filed under: "Jurassic Park River Adventure", "Pirates of the Caribbean", "The Simpsons Ride", "The Simpsons", *NSYNC, AARP, attraction, Bart Simpson, Bill Davis, blue hairs, Buddy Dyer, chief operating officer, confetti, cut the ribbon, Disney, Florida, God's Waiting Room, Gracie Films, Homer Simpson, Imagineer, Imagineering, Joey Fatone, Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Krusty clone, Krusty the Clown, Krustyland, Lisa Simpson, live orchestra, Marge Simpson, Mayor, Mike West, opening ceremony, Orlando, Pirates of the Caribbean, President, ribbon, school children, theme park, theme park attraction, Universal Creative, Universal Creative Studio, Universal Orlando, Universal Orlando guests, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios, Universal Studios Florida , Universal Studios Orlando, walkaround character, walkaround characters, Walt Disney Imagineering, WDI, WDW

• "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: 1936, 1948, attraction, attractions, Bay Lake, belles, botanical garden, botanical gardens, Central Florida, Cypress Gardens, cypress swamp, Dick Pope, Disney, Disney World, Disney World vacation, Disneyland East, Edna Disney, Florida, Florida heritage, Florida tourism, Florida's first theme park, grandparent, grandparents, Julie Pope, Lake Eloise, Miracle Strip Amusement Park, Panama City, parking lot, Polk County, Project Florida, Raz Island, ride, rides, roller coaster, Roy O Disney , show, shows, Southern Belle, Southern Belles, Starliner, sunshine, Sunshine State, The Walt Disney Company, The Walt Disney World Resort, topiaries, topiary, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Productions, water skiing, WDW, WDW vacations, wooden coaster

• 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: DCA, DCA revamp, Disney, Disney Parks & Resorts, Disneyland, Disneyland Resort, Disney's California Adventure, Imagineer, Imagineering, Imagineers, Jay Rasulo, Tokyo DisneySea, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Studios, WDI, WDI R & D

• Indiana Jones and the ... JHM Podcast ?!

  Mouseketrips presents Jim Hill & Max Schilling , as they discuss perky but annoying Disney theme park hosts, attractions that desperately need updating as well as various other Mouse-related topics Read More... Posted Saturday, May 10, 2008 12:00 AM | 10 Comments Filed under: "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull", "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", "Stitch's Great Escape", 1989, 2009, cast member, cast members, Disney, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney-MGM Studios theme park, Disney's Hollywood Studios, George Lucas, Indiana Jones , Indiana Jones Adventure, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, JHM, JHM podcast, Jim Hill Media, Magical Definition, Magical Definition Podcast, Magical Mountain, MagicalMountain, Max Schilling, Nathan Rose, perky cast member, podcast, Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney World, WDW

• Arrrr you ready for an all-Pirates edition of Why For?

  There's plenty of POTC-related info to be found in this week's column. Including the current status of "Pirates 4," news on Disney's "Legends of the Brethren Court" book series as well as a review of that I-Drive favorite, the Pirate's Dinner Adventure Read More... Posted Friday, May 09, 2008 12:00 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: "Disney's Enchanted Adventures Parade" , "Disney's Pirate & Princess Party" , "Enchanted Adventures Parade" , "Legends of the Brethren Court", "Magic, "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party", "Mickey's Pirate & Princess Party", "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party", "Music, "Pirate & Princess Party" , "Pirates 4", "Pirates of the Caribbean 4", "Pirates of the Caribbean Online" , "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise , "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", "Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold" , "Pirates" book series , "Prince of Persia", "The Lone Ranger", 1996 , 2006, 2007, 3-D helmet, AA figure, AA figures, acrobats , audience, Bayshore Boulevard, Captain Jack Sparrow, Caribbean, Caribbean Beach Resort , CG version , character dining, Development , Disney, Disney franchise, Disney Parks & Resorts, Disney Press, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Dubai, fireworks, Freedom Festival, Gasparilla, Gasparilla experience, Gasparilla Extravaganza, Gasparilla season , Gore Verbinski, Halloween hard ticket event , hard ticket , hard ticket event, I-4 , I-Drive , International Drive, Johnny Depp, Jolly Roger, lagoon show, Liberty Square bridge, Magic and Mayhem", Magic Kingdom, massively-multiplayer online game, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, MMOG, Music & Mayhem", Pirate & Princess Party, Piratechnics, Pirates 4, Pirate's Dinner Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, Princess Anita, return on investment, scurvy crew , Sebastian the Black, Southwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines Gasparilla Pirate Fest , stunts, swordplay, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio , The Walt Disney Company, The Walt Disney World Resort, Tortuga restaurant, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Pictures

• 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: "Camp Rock" , "Cheetah Girls – One World", "Cory in the House", "Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place" , "Go" project, "Hannah Montana", "One World" , "See You Again", "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" , "Wizards of Waverly Place" , 1960s, 2008, 2008 Disney Channel Games , 2009, 2009 Disney Channel Games, 3-D movie, Adrienne Bailon, Beatlemania, Beatles , buffer zone, cable channel, Central Florida, Central Florida sun , Champion Stadium, Cheetah Girls, commemorative poster, concert , concert film, Demi Lovato , Disboards , Disney, Disney Channel, Disney Channel Games , Disney Channel Games Parade , Disney Channel Original, Disney Channel star, Disney officials , Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Wide World of Sports, ears ringing , favorite performer, go project , JHM, Joe Jonas, Jonas Brothers, Jonas Brothers 3-D movie, Kevin Jonas, Kiely Williams , Mickey Mouse, Miley Cyrus, Mitchel Musso , Nick Jonas, Orlando, PA, performers, production team, Sabrina Bryan, safety , Selena Gomez , squealing , stage, taping , the Cheetah Girls , the Jonas Brothers , TV movie, TV special, TV taping, tween, tweens, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney World, water , WDW, WDW Security

• Toon Tuesday : Are you ready for the walkaround versions of the Disney Fairies ?

  As the Disney theme parks get ready for the Fall arrival of Tink & her pals, Jim Hill shares some shots that he's received of these new face characters Read More... Posted Tuesday, May 06, 2008 12:00 AM | 26 Comments Filed under: "Peter Pan", "Pixie Hollow", "Tinker Bell", "Tinker Bell: A Midsummer Storm" , "Tinker Bell: A Winter Story", "Tinker Bell: North of Never Land" , 1951, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, animated version, Ariel, Ariel's Grotto, CG version , Character Programs & Development, Clickables, Disney, Disney characters, Disney Fairies, Disney franchise, Disneyland, Disney's Character Programs & Development , face character , faith hope and pixie dust, Fawn, fireworks, fireworks display, fireworks displays , FlyTech , home premiere, Internet-connected toys , Iridessa, Judge's Tent, Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Toontown Fair , Orlando, pixie, Pixie Hollow, remote control , Rosetta, Silvermist , The Walt Disney Company, Tink , Tinker Bell, virtual world , walkaround face character , walkaround version, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Productions, WDW, WowWee

• 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: "it's a small world", "Toy Story Mania", "Toy Story", "Toy Story" characters, Disney, Disney World, Disney World vacation, Disneyana community , Disneyana Enthusiasts, Disneyana fans, Disneyland, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Imagineer, Imagineering, Imagineers, Jim Hill Media, MiceAge, Orlando, Orlando International Airport, Spaceship Earth, The Walt Disney World Resort, theme park, theme park attraction, theme park fans, theme park guest, theme park visitor, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney World, WDWMagic

• Disney rarities to be screened tonight at Newport Beach Film Festival

  Jim Hill gives animation fans a "heads up" about an extra-special event that's being held this evening at the Lido Theater. Where some seldom-seen shorts will be hauled out of the Disney vault for a one-time-only screening Read More... Posted Wednesday, April 30, 2008 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: "A Spoonful of Sugar and Song with Richard Sherman" , "Destino" , "Fantasia 2000", "How to Hook-Up Your Home Theater", "Lorenzo" , "Oilspot & Lipstick" , "Redux Riding Hood", "The Little Match Girl" , "The Pixar Story", animated feature, animated short, animation, animation fan, animation industry, animators , Disney, Disney animation rarities, Disney Feature Animation, Don Hahn , film festival, Leslie Iwerks, Lido Theater, Newport Beach, Newport Beach Film Festival, Oscar nominee, Richard M Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, Roy E. Disney

• Toon Tuesday : Was John Lasseter stung by that mean caricature of him that appears in "Bee Movie" ?

  Did an awkward conversation between Jerry Seinfeld & John Lasseter at Vanity Fair's 2006 Oscar party actually lead to an unflattering joke being inserted into this DreamWorks Animation release ? Jim Hill shares the story that's making the rounds in Hollywood Read More... Posted Tuesday, April 29, 2008 12:00 AM | 32 Comments Filed under: "A Bug's Life", "Bee Movie", "Tin Toy", "Toy Story", 2006, 2007, animated feature, animated short, Disney, Disney / Pixar, Disney Feature Animation, DreamWorks Animation, Jerry Seinfeld, John Lasseter, Renee Zellweger

• 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: "Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain", "Toy Story Mania", 2006, 2008, attraction, attractions, DAK, Disney, Disney / Pixar, Disney Parks & Resorts, Disneyland Paris, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Imagineer, Imagineering, Imagineers, Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, Pixar Place, ride, rides, show, show building, shows, theme park, theme park fans, theme park guest, Walt Disney Imagineering, WDI, WDW

• 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: 10th anniversary, Disney, Disney Parks & Resorts, Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Frontierland, The Magic Kingdom, The Walt Disney World Resort, theme park, theme park guest, theme park visitor, tourists, Walt Disney World, WDW

• 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: "Toy Story Mania", 2008, attraction, Disney, Disney / Pixar, Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Imagineer, Imagineering, Imagineers, John Lasseter, Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, ride, The Walt Disney World Resort, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney World, WDI, WDW

• 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: "A Wild Decade" , 2008, All Star Cafe, bowling alley, Disney, Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Wide World of Sports, Disney's Wide World of Sports Cafe, Jostens Center, Milk House, PBA, The Milk House, The Walt Disney World Resort, Walt Disney World, WDW, WDWCelebrations

• Remembering Ollie Johnston (1912 - 2008)

  Jim Hill asks you to remember this remarkable individual. Who passed away in Washington State earlier today Read More... Posted Monday, April 14, 2008 8:00 PM | 14 Comments Filed under: animated feature, animation, animation fan, Disney, Ollie Johnston, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Productions, Walt Disney Studios