Jim Hill

"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, "Toy Story Mania", "Toy Story Midway Mania", 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 , "Annie" , 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

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

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

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

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

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: Let the West Side Waltz begin

Jim Hill brings you an update on what may be in the works for the westernmost portion of Downtown Disney. With the Virgin Megastore possibly exiting this dining, retail & entertainment district to then make room for an ESPN Zone Read More...

Posted Monday, February 25, 2008 12:05 AM | 7 Comments

Filed under: Disney, theme park, Imagineering, Bob Iger, Downtown Disney, Orlando, The Walt Disney Company, Tokyo Disney Resort, Oriental Land Company, Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Disney Parks & Resorts, Oahu, Disney Parks & Resorts, Steve Jobs, WDW, Imagineer, 5th Avenue, Disney World, October, Disneyana fans, Mickey, Screamscape, the Cheesecake Factory , Cheesecake Factory, DisneyQuest , indoor interactive theme park, DQ , Lake Buena Vista , WDW Food & Beverage, Food & Beverage , corporate agenda , the West Side, retail dining and entertainment complex, Chairman, Location-based entertainments , oceanfront resort , urban entertainment centers , Singapore, board of directors , LBE , UBC, triage situation , triage, La Nouba , Virgin Megastore Orlando, Virgin Megastore, Virgin, the Mouse , Cirque du Soleil , parent company, renewal, Downtown Disney location, Imagineers, ESPN Zone , the World , WDW vacations, The Oriental Land Company, Oriental Land Co Ltd, showroom, Montreal, Cirque, July , 1996 , piece of the pie, Apple, Apple Store, balls in the air

Steal a glimpse and/or glimpse some steel at the "Harry Potter" construction site

Jim Hill brings you an update on "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," including news on the role that Dr. Suess' widow played in making this Islands of Adventure addition a reality Read More...

Posted Monday, February 11, 2008 12:00 AM | 20 Comments

Filed under: attraction, Harry Potter, Orlando, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando, movie, Universal Studios Escape, Universal Studios Orlando, Harry Potter films, Harry Potter books, "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter", Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, 2009, J K Rowling, Universal Orlando Resort, ride, show, Jurassic Park

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

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, "The Rock", Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Disney Princess, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, WDW, Ariel, film, movie, World of Disney, Disney Channel Original, HSM, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, film franchise, merch, tween, merchandise , merchandise location , TV movie, TV movies , tweens, "Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both World Concert" , concert film, 3-D, Disney Digital 3D, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, beauty parlor, Cinderella Castle , Belle, Jasmine, Gabriella , Sharpay , Hannah Montana , Hannah Montana wig , Ashley Tisdale , Sharpay Evans , retail establishment , concert tour , "Camp Rock" , "The Cheetah Girls 3", mini-Miley

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"

Monday Mouse Watch : Changes to Disney Dining Plan infuriate WDW guests

Jim Hill reports that it's been a really rough week for managers & servers at Disney World restaurants. Who've had to deal with all of the customers who are complaining about the "no more free gratuity" portion of this "Magic Your Way" add-on Read More...

Posted Monday, January 07, 2008 12:00 AM | 48 Comments

Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Guest Relations, restaurant, Universal Orlando, WDW, Mouse, 2008, Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, The Walt Disney World Resort, guest, pre-paid dining, Walt Disney World Resort website, placate, compensation, keeping tabs, running tally, complaints, wages, tips, waiters, credit cards, Disney World vacation, frontline staff, lodge a formal complaint, implementing policy, Central Reservations, certain expectations, gratuity included, appetizer included, January 1 2008, taking it in the shorts, Food Service, discounted meals, customers, recreational facilities, shops, on property, off property, credits, room key, gratuity, snack, meal, counter service, table service, vacation package, "Magic Your Way", 2005, SeaWorld Adventure Park, WDW guests, Disney's Magical Express Transportation, Disney's Magical Express, Disney Dining Plan, Security, patron, parent, camera, Coke, Mickey, server, eatery, full service

A PC Haunted Mansion ?! Now that's scary

Jim Hill talks about the new script that the Imagineers have written for this attraction's Foyer area. Which is reportedly being added to the stateside versions of this classic attraction because a handful of guests complained about the macabre remarks that a few Disney cast members have made over the years Read More...

Posted Thursday, January 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 43 Comments

Filed under: Disney, theme park, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Anaheim, Orlando, The Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Resort, The Haunted Mansion, WDI, Glendale, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Paul Frees, Ghost Host, The Foyer, The Portrait Gallery, The Entrance Hallway, stretching room, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, guest, guests, "Grim Grinning Ghosts", macabre, ghoulish, butlers, maids, ad-lib lines, staging, blocking, acting classes, official script, 1401 Flower Street, sinister, theme park attraction, squeamish

A meet the author / artist / filmmaker edition of Where For

Jim Hill bounces from Orlando to Anaheim, New York to Hollywood and then back again. As he talks up a number of signings & screenings that are being held all over the country over the next eight days Read More...

Posted Friday, December 07, 2007 12:00 AM |

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