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• 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

• 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

• DreamWorks Animation bets big on digital 3-D

  Jim Hill shares the latest news from ShoWest 2008. Where Jeffrey Katzenberg revealed that, as of March 2010, DA will only be produced digital 3-D films Read More... Posted Wednesday, March 12, 2008 12:00 AM | 15 Comments Filed under: animation, DreamWorks, CG, Michael Eisner, Dick Cook, Epcot, Robert Zemeckis, Disney's California Adventure, DreamWorks Animation, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Marty Sklar, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Frank Wells, "Toy Story", "Toy Story 2", "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas", DCA, digital projection, 2008, "Toy Story Mania", "Shrek Goes Fourth", animation industry, CG feature, 3-D, Chairman, "Tales from the Laughing Place" , 1984, 3-D film , Warner Bros. , Paramount , 3-D theatrical release , "Comin' at Ya!" , "Jaws 3-D" , "Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone" , 3-D film format , red-and-blue lenses, digital 3-D , Ultimate 3-D, "Ultimate 3-D" , 2-D , "Monsters vs. Aliens", 2010, alien, alien spacecraft, digital 3-D production, "Beowulf" , "Chicken Little" , 2-D CG , 2-D CG film, 3-D releases , Disney Studios , 3-D digital motion pictures, 2-D movie , "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in Disney Digital 3-D" , digital 3-D conversion, "Toy Story 3" , Lee Unkrich, digital 3-D project, Disney Pixar , CG studio , digital 3-D format, Robert Coltrin, Kevin Rafferty, "Toy Story" characters

• The story that Walt didn't want you to hear

  Before hitting the road for Orlando, Jim Hill shares an excerpt from a long forgotten Reader's Digest feature condensation: Richard Collier's "Wish Upon a Star: The Magical Kingdoms of Walt Disney" Read More... Posted Thursday, February 07, 2008 12:00 AM | 13 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Universal Studios, Walt Disney, Disneyland, Epcot, Orlando, SeaWorld, Tom Sawyer Island, Spaceship Earth, Main Street U.S.A., The Haunted Mansion, Tutto Italia Ristorante, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", Universal Orlando, 1971, JHM, Universal Studios Orlando, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando Resort, October, television program, Main Street USA, construction site, New Hampshire, camera, pictures, Tuesday , publishing schedule, website , weekend , Orlando Fun Tickets, webmasters, webmaster, Aquatica, Yak & Yeti , hit-and-run trip, hit-and-run, Richard Collier, "Wish Upon a Star: The Magical Kingdoms of Walt Disney" , Feature Condensation , issue, Reader's Digest, 1955, Tennessee, 11-year-old , leukemia, Central Plaza , landscaping , train, Disneyland Railroad , locomotive , coal car , track, skyline, will-o'-the-wisp, Rainbow Caverns, Tom Sawyer's Island, "Snow White" , enchantment, childhood, Van France , train ride, worksite, picture, publicity, celebrities, celebrity, charity , charity event , cameras, private

• 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"

• The Russians are coming !! The Russians are coming !! ... to Epcot ?!

  Jim Hill shares the news that's been leaking out of Glendale since just before Christmas. Which is that the Mouse has recently revived its plans to add a Russia pavilion to Epcot's World Showcase Read More... Posted Tuesday, January 08, 2008 12:00 AM | 37 Comments Filed under: Disney, attraction, Imagineering, Michael Eisner, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Epcot Center, World Showcase, World Showcase Lagoon, television, Soviet Union, Russia, Imagineer, Disneyland Hotel, The Walt Disney World Resort, ride, show

• "Not a creature was stirring ...," not even the guy who writes all of those stories about the Mouse

  Jim Hill explains why JHM has been content-free for the past week. He also passes along some news about the Harwick family's holiday as well as promoting some upcoming stories for the site Read More... Posted Thursday, December 27, 2007 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Epcot, WDW, Steve Martin, cast members, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, "The Jerk" , record snowfall, snow, New England, New Hampshire, deer, "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid", the holidays, Elizabeth Harwick, Harwick family, the Harwick family, drifts, snowdrifts, digging out, New York Times, The New York Times

• Wanna make the holidays a bit more magical for one deserving family?

  Jim Hill's putting the word out to WDW cast members as well as JHM readers. He needs your help to make Christmas merrier for Elizabeth Harwick and her two daughters Read More... Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 12:00 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: theme park, Pixar, Walt Disney World, Epcot, "Ratatouille", Brad Bird, Pixar Animation Studios, Epcot Center, Spaceship Earth, WDW, movie, The Walt Disney World Resort

• Tube Tuesday: Gary Trousdale tries to "Shrek the Halls" without first wrecking DreamWorks Animation's most important franchise

  Jim Hill chats with this WDAS vet about many of the ogre-sized challenges he faced while directing this new holiday special. Which airs tomorrow night on ABC Read More... Posted Tuesday, November 27, 2007 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, DreamWorks, ABC, CG, Epcot, "Beauty & the Beast", "Shrek the Third", DreamWorks Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, television, WDAS, Future World , Christmas, film, gags , film franchise, Happy Holidays, "Tis the season" , feature film , "Shrek Goes Fourth", ratings, color coordinated , Godzilla, midnight snack, chimney, cookie plate, cookie, "It's the most wonderful time of the year" , holiday season , gingerbread man, "Twas The Night Before Christmas" , Gingy, holiday perennial, dated , timeless , film parody, in-joke, Disney in-joke, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers , recording session, DreamWorks campus, character bits , TV special, holiday story , "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" , "A Charlie Brown Christmas", Best Picture nominee, Richard Purdum , 1980s, "Cranium Command", Kirk Wise, holiday special, Christmas special, Gary Trousdale, fairytale, Santa's workshop, The North Pole, Puss in Boots, Donkey, Saint Nick, Saint Nicholas, naughty list, Santa Claus, ogre, Shrek, "Shrek's First Christmas", "Shrek the Halls"

• Remembering Bruce Gordon (1951 - 2007)

  Jim Hill pays tribute to this much beloved author & Imagineer, who passed away this past weekend at the far-too-young age of 56 Read More... Posted Wednesday, November 07, 2007 12:00 AM | 18 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, Imagineering, WED, Disneyland, Epcot, The Jungle Cruise, Epcot Center, Tokyo Disneyland, Jeff Kurtti, Bruce Gordon, WDI, Imagineer

• WDI's X-Scream Makeover of WDW's Haunted Mansion: Part 3

  Jim Hill continues his 5-part series on this recently revamped Magic Kingdom classic. This time around, Jim reveals how WDI recycled a creative concept that had originally been proposed for the 1999 redo of Epcot's "Imagination" pavilion. Which now adds a truly surreal touch to this WDW dark ride Read More... Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 12:00 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney, attraction, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Marc Davis, Omnimover, Disney Legend, Epcot Center, The Magic Kingdom, Audio Animatronic, The Haunted Mansion, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, Glendale, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Liberty Square, Madam Leota, Jeff Lange, Doom Buggy, The Attic, The Grand Staircase, The Corridor of Doors, The Music Room, The Endless Hallway, 1971, spider, wallpaper, The Séance Circle , Imagination pavilion, "Journey into Imagination" , Future World , M.C. Escher , "Relativity”, Kodak , Rochester N.Y., "Journey in Your Imagination" , "Journey into Imagination with Figment" , ghosts , spirits , Dreamfinder, Figment, AA figure, The Conservatory , The Grand Ballroom

• WDI's X-Scream Makeover of WDW's Haunted Mansion: Part 1

  Jim Hill begins a new series that takes an in-depth look at this Magic Kingdom favorite. Which recently underwent a three-month-long overhaul that significantly enhanced many of the effects found in this Liberty Square attraction Read More... Posted Monday, October 22, 2007 12:00 AM | 9 Comments Filed under: Disney, attraction, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, The Jungle Cruise, Disney Legend, Epcot Center, The Magic Kingdom, The Haunted Mansion, Imagineer, Paul Frees, Ghost Host, Gargoyles, The Colonnade, The Foyer, The Portrait Gallery, The Entrance Hallway, The Graveyard, stretching room, Liberty Square, Madam Leota, singing busts, Smellizer, Mr. Toad, Pet Cemetery, Dutch Gothic, wheelchair accessible, Master Gracey, "The Picture of Dorian Gray", digital projection, binaural sound, cast members, Jeff Lange

• Why For did the Mouse really rename MGM "Disney's Hollywood Studios" ?

  Did Disney's desire to finally create an after-hours event that would rival Universal's Halloween Horror Nights actually play a part in the renaming of Disney-MGM Studios? Jim Hill shares what he's heard from Mouse House insiders Read More... Posted Friday, October 12, 2007 12:00 AM | 19 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Why For, Universal Studios, Imagineering, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios theme park, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Hollywood , The Magic Kingdom, Tutto Italia Ristorante, Patina Group, L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, Disney's Horrorwood Studios, Disney's Hollyday Studios, Google Earth, Henry Selick, "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas", Glow in the Dark Parade, Haunted Halloween, Halloween Horror Nights, Hong Kong Disneyland, Universal Orlando, Al's Toy Barn, Backlot Theater, The Hunchback of Notre Dame: A Musical Adventure, Muppet Movie Ride, The Boneyard, Pixar Place, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW Entertainment, Halloweentown, Generation Gap Bridge, Hourglass Lake, Florida tourism, 9/11, The Legendary Years, The Classic Years, Disney's Pop Century Resort, value resorts, family suites, Disney's All Star Music Resort, Jazz Inn building, Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano, Tim Burton, WDI, Glendale, The Osbourne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

• Why For were there so few stories on JHM this week?

  This time around, Jim explains why JHM has been somewhat erratic over the past seven days, how he blew the Disney Hawaii story as well as why this website is going to continue to post articles about non-Disney films & theme parks Read More... Posted Friday, October 05, 2007 12:00 AM | 19 Comments Filed under: Why For, DreamWorks, attraction, Disney Vacation Club, NBC, Walt Disney World, Epcot, "The Simpsons", Fox, DreamWorks Animation, "Enchanted", Marty Sklar, The Walt Disney Company, The Magic Kingdom, "Bee Movie", The Haunted Mansion, Kevin Lima, Jerry Seinfeld, Disney Hawaii project, Oahu, Hawaii, Honolulu, DCL, DVC, Disney Cruise Line, DVCNews, 2719 Hyperion, Blue Sky Disney, Elvis Presley, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Simpsons simulator attraction, Shelly Smith, The Fabulous Disney Babe, Epcot's 25th anniversary celebration, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Texas

• Monday Mouse Watch : Down Under Disney Style

  Does a Kissimmee-based company hold the key to an Australian pavilion possibly being added to World Showcase? Jim Hill directs your attention to Lionsgate International LLC, a corporation that's now trying to insert itself in the negotiations that Disney typically holds with countries that are interested in sponsoring new Epcot pavilions Read More... Posted Monday, September 24, 2007 12:00 AM | 21 Comments Filed under: theme park, Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney Productions, The Walt Disney Company, World Showcase, World Showcase Lagoon, Brazil, Spain , Sweden, Lionsgate International LLC, Tutto Italia Ristorante, L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts, Sydney, Sydney Opera House, Ulura, Ayers Rock, Russia, Fortune 500, Australia, Kissimmee