Jim Hill

Monday Mouse Watch : The Winter of Disney's Discontent

With late 2008 / early 2009 projected to be an extremely challenging time for the WDW resort, Mouse House managers are already getting aggressive about cost containment. Jim Hill details some of the changes that are now being made around property Read More...

Posted Monday, July 07, 2008 12:00 AM | 22 Comments

Filed under: Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Disney's Contemporary Resort, The Magic Kingdom, WDW, Disney World, Pleasure Island, The Adventurers Club, Adventurers Club, Disney's Boardwalk Inn, Liberty Tree Tavern

Tune Tuesday : "Hello, WALL-E! Well, Hello, WALL-E ..."

Forget about Pixar's latest production. Jim Hill talks about the many other ways that Jerry Herman's Tony Award-winning musical has popped up at the Mouse House Read More...

Posted Tuesday, July 01, 2008 12:00 AM | 20 Comments

Filed under: movies, Pixar, musical, Imagineering, CG, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, 20th Century Fox, Magic Kingdom, James Bond, Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Productions, The Magic Kingdom, New York City, Main Street U.S.A., Eddie Sotto, Euro Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, television, The Haunted Mansion, Rotten Tomatoes, Tony Award winner, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, film, movie, 2008, 1970s , opening weekend grosses, opening weekend, Disneyana fans, Main Street USA, Tony Award, Andrew Stanton, Tony Award-winner , CG feature, 1970 , Imagineers, Disney Pixar , "Kung Fu Panda", "WALL-E" , New York, domestic release, 1969, Jerry Herman, showtunes , futuristic fable , "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" , "It Only Takes a Moment" , CHUD, robot, "Elegance" , "Before the Parade Passes By" , area music , E.J. Peaker , "Disneyland Showtime" , "The Wonderful World of Disney" , Donny Osmond, Merrill Osmond , introduction, Miss Molloy, dress shop , Minnie Fay , movie star, Love Bug Parade , "Condorman" , spoof , 1981, Woody Wilkins , Michael Crawford , Barbara Carrera , Cornelius Hackl , original Broadway production, "Phantom of the Opera", Dolly Levi , extras , 14th Street , senior Vice President of Creative Development , Tony Baxter , turn-of-the-century , Gene Kelly , Barbara Streisand , price tag , "Hello, Dolly!"

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

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

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 | 6 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Universal Studios, fireworks, Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp, Gore Verbinski, Walt Disney Pictures, Magic Kingdom, Disney Press, The Walt Disney Company, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", character dining, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Disney Parks & Resorts, AA figure, hard ticket event, The Walt Disney World Resort, "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party", "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party", Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, 2007, "The Lone Ranger", Captain Jack Sparrow, "Pirates of the Caribbean 4", "Pirates 4", Pirates 4, 1996 , 2006, Pirate & Princess Party, "Pirate & Princess Party" , "Disney's Pirate & Princess Party" , Disney franchise, "Disney's Enchanted Adventures Parade" , hard ticket , "Mickey's Pirate & Princess Party", "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, CG version , lagoon show, Halloween hard ticket event , "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise , "Pirates of the Caribbean Online" , MMOG, massively-multiplayer online game, "Pirates" book series , "Legends of the Brethren Court", Development , Ted Elliot, Terry Rossio , "Prince of Persia", Tortuga restaurant, AA figures, "Enchanted Adventures Parade" , return on investment, Liberty Square bridge, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort , "Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold" , 3-D helmet, Caribbean, Jolly Roger, I-4 , Gasparilla Extravaganza, Gasparilla season , Tampa Bay, Piratechnics, Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa, Southwest Airlines Gasparilla Pirate Fest , Gasparilla, Southwest Airlines, Gasparilla experience, Pirate's Dinner Adventure, International Drive, acrobats , Freedom Festival, Sebastian the Black, scurvy crew , Princess Anita, audience, Dubai, swordplay, stunts, I-Drive , "Magic, "Music, Music & Mayhem", Magic and Mayhem"

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: Disney, fireworks, Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Disney Fairies, "Peter Pan", Tinker Bell, Walt Disney Productions, The Walt Disney Company, WDW, Ariel's Grotto, Ariel, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 2008, 2009, 2005, home premiere, 2011, Disney franchise, face character , 2010, Disney characters, "Tinker Bell", 1951, animated version, pixie, fireworks display, fireworks displays , Disney's Character Programs & Development , Character Programs & Development, walkaround version, CG version , walkaround face character , Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist , Fawn, Tink , Judge's Tent, Mickey's Toontown Fair , "Pixie Hollow", Pixie Hollow, virtual world , Internet-connected toys , Clickables, "Tinker Bell: North of Never Land" , "Tinker Bell: A Midsummer Storm" , "Tinker Bell: A Winter Story", remote control , WowWee , FlyTech , faith hope and pixie dust

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 | 33 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,

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