Jim Hill

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

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

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

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, "Toy Story Mania", 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, "Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue" , 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

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

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 : 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

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

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

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