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• You don’t know Jack about Disneyland’s “Halloween Screams - A Villainous Surprise in the Skies"

  Jim Hill talks with John Addis, Senior Show Director for Disney Entertainment Productions, about how this new fireworks show came together Read More... Posted Wednesday, October 07, 2009 12:00 AM | 0 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, theme park, fireworks, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Anaheim, Disney Legend, The Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Resort, The Haunted Mansion, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Dumbo, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, WDW, Paul Frees, Ghost Host, Jack Skellington, spider, 2009, Disney World, Halloween, snow, 2005, November, Cinderella Castle , Walt Disney Creative Entertainment , Steve Davison, parades, fireworks display, flight path , trick-or-treat, trick or treat, Zero, Disneyland Park, Castle, John Addis, Scream-Along, shell, public performance, Senior Show Director, Disney Entertainment Productions, fireworks show, magical orb, spectaculars, magical, flight pattern, main street, snow falling, Disney Villains, Ursula the Sea Witch, Oogie Boogie, The Hub, The Ghost Host, Cruella De Vil, trick-or-treating, Ursula, spiders, Castle walls, Haunted Mansion, Halloween fireworks display, Corey Burton, Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, snow falling on Main Street, Halloween Time, Disneyland Guests, Halloween Screams, M.C., Halloween Screams - A Villainous Surprise in the Skies, Disney Villain, Happy HalloWishes, shimmering lights, Happy HalloWishes: A Grim Grinning Ghost Spectacular in the Sky

• Universal Orlando shares new concept art, video for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

  Jim Hill compares & contrasts two construction projects that will hopefully compel tourists to return to Central Florida: The Magic Kingdom’s Enchanted Forest as well as Islands of Adventure’s new Harry Potter-themed “land” Read More... Posted Friday, September 18, 2009 12:00 AM | 16 Comments Filed under: Universal Studios, Harry Potter, Beauty and the Beast, The Magic Kingdom, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios Orlando, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando Resort, Mickey, Belle, 2012, 2010, 2013, Universal Pictures

• Updated “The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies” is well worth adding to your Disney booo-k collection

  Jim Hill reviews the revised edition of this Disney Editions book. He also talks up Jason Surrell’s appearances at the D23 EXPO as well as tonight's 09-09-09 merchandise event Read More... Posted Wednesday, September 09, 2009 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Marc Davis, Disney Press, The Magic Kingdom, Disney Editions, Jason Surrell, The Haunted Mansion, The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Madame Leota, The Attic, The Grand Staircase, Constance, Leota Toombs, West Coast, 2009, 2003, merchandise , 1960s, The Stretching Room, East Coast, Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Park

• Monday Mouse Watch: Marvel acquisition offers significant challenges, huge potential rewards for The Walt Disney Company

  Jim Hill weighs in on this $4 billion deal. In particular the amount of time that will have to pass before Disney can then take full advantage of Marvel’s stable of superheroes Read More... Posted Monday, August 31, 2009 10:00 AM | 15 Comments Filed under: Disney, TV, Pixar, Universal Studios, Muppets, Jim Henson, John Lasseter, Bob Iger, 20th Century Fox, Fox, Magic Kingdom, Pixar Animation Studios, The Magic Kingdom, television, Fozzie Bear, Universal Orlando, film, Mouse, promotional campaign, Spider-Man, The Hulk, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, 2009, Halloween, Disney / Pixar, film franchise, film franchises, Mickey, Paramount Pictures, Disneyana community , Paramount , Universal Studios Florida , MMOG, Iron Man, television show , Donald Duck, films, MMO, video game, Muppet, Universal Pictures, Universal Pictures classic, Marvel Entertainment, Inc., Marvel, acquisition, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Thor, corporate culture, The Jim Henson Company, licensing agreement, film development, film distribution, television production, The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Sony, Universal Studios Japan, Sony Studios, stock, cash transaction, Spidey, pop culture, Howard the Duck, corporate family, shareholders, global reach, X-Men, Bear in the Big Blue House, TV distribution, video gaming, MMORPGs, retail giants, film rights, Marvel Super Hero Island, emerging technology, emerging technologies, retail, superhero, superheroes

• "The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World" will give you a renewed appreciation of the WDW Resort

  Jim Hill reviews Susan Veness’ new paperback, which features over 600 seldom-told tales about the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom Read More... Posted Wednesday, June 10, 2009 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Magic Kingdom, Main Street U.S.A., Central Florida, WDW, Imagineer, The Tree of Life, Liberty Square, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Main Street USA, entrance area, books, Imagineers, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Walt Disney World Resort

• "The Art of the Walt Disney World Resort" is worth going out of your way for

  Jim Hill reviews Jeff Kurtti & Bruce Gordon’s latest book. Which features some spectacular sketches & concept paintings for WDW rides and resorts that were never built Read More... Posted Wednesday, May 27, 2009 12:00 AM | 14 Comments Filed under: book, A Christmas Carol, Imagineering, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, The Magic Kingdom, Main Street U.S.A., Jeff Kurtti, Bruce Gordon, Disney Editions, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, hotel, resort, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, attractions, shows, rides, UK, Euro Disney, Charles Dickens, art of book, concept painting, artwork, sketches

• "Dream Castle Lights" dazzle at night, disappear during the day

  Jim Hill talks with Rob Hamberg, veteran WDW Entertainment show producer. Who discusses the development of this new holiday spectacle for the Magic Kingdom Read More... Posted Tuesday, December 02, 2008 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney World, The Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, WDW, Tokyo, Christmas, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2007, December , November, Cinderella Castle , 2006, August, Disney Weddings, Disney theme park, holiday, Walt Disney World Resort

• Seldom-seen concept art a highlight of "The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland"

  Jim Hill checks out the latest volume in Alex Wright's "Imagineering Field Guide" series and finds that this 128-page paperback does an excellent job of summing up the history & the appeal of the Happiest Place on Earth Read More... Posted Wednesday, November 12, 2008 12:00 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, Imagineering, Disneyland, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Magic Kingdom, Disney Editions, Herb Ryman, John Hench, Disneyana, WDI, it's a small world, WDW, Imagineer, Fantasyland, 2008, 2009, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyana fans, 1955, Imagineers, April , hippo

• WDW's Galaxy Palace Theater to be replaced with ... Cast Member parking ?!

  Jim Hill shares what he knows about this upcoming Magic Kingdom demolition project. Which involves leveling this Tomorrowland performance venue to make room for additional employee parking out behind Main Street U.S.A. Read More... Posted Tuesday, October 28, 2008 12:00 AM | 13 Comments Filed under: Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Magic Kingdom, Main Street U.S.A., Backlot Theater, WDW, Imagineer, cast members, cast member, 2009, Disney World, Thanksgiving, Main Street USA, attractions, shows, rides, holiday season , Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, high school, Imagineers, performances , Mickey's Toontown Fair , performers, January, dancers , 1989, parking lot, Buzz Lightyear, 1988, choir, choirs, dance troupe, dance troupes, cheerleader, cheerleaders, cheerleading, piano, Galaxy Palace Theater, piano crate, piano crates, Tomorrowland, Tomorrowland venue, performance space, Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas, parking, Mickey's Birthdayland, 20th anniversary, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, dancer, employee parking, paved, Paradise, Joni Mitchell, Magic Kingdom stage, demolition project, demolition, start date, Admin Office, Admin Offices, high school band, high school bands, E Ticket, real estate, parking area, Rockettower Plaza, performance

• "Creating Magic" reveals how the modern Magic Kingdom really operates

  Jim Hill reviews Lee Cockerell's new book, which recounts the many lessons that this Disney vet learned while he was the Executive Vice President in charge of Operations at the WDW Resort Read More... Posted Wednesday, October 15, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, parade, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Tinker Bell, The Walt Disney Company, The Magic Kingdom, Euro Disneyland, Cinderella, 9/11, Walt Disney : The Triumph of the American Imagination, The Animated Man : A Life of Walt Disney, Neal Gabler, Michael Barrier, WDW, cast members, cast member, David Koenig, Realityland: True-Life Adventures of Walt Disney World, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, September, guest, guests, Disney Publicity , publicity, 2006, pins, 1994, Lee Cockerell, Trapper Keeper, Charlie Ridgeway, Spinning Disney's World: Memories of a Magic Kingdom Press Agent, MMO, modern Mouse House, Doubleday, Grant's tomb, Alice Marriott, millennium celebration, Euro Disney, Publicity Department

• WDW officials knew that '09 was going to be a real challenge

  Jim Hill talks about the cost containment procedures that Mouse House managers put in place over the past nine months, as they prepared for the current economic downturn Read More... Posted Friday, October 10, 2008 12:00 AM | 8 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Magic Kingdom, character dining, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, promotional campaign, 2008, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, September, Pleasure Island, Rock n Roll Beach Club, reservations , February , WDW officials , Liberty Tree Tavern , January, WDW executives, PI, What Will You Celebrate, Wall Street, economic downturn, Walt Disney: One Man's Dream, bookings, Fantasmic, Garden Grill

• Disney World postpones Fantasyland's facelift

  Citing concerns over the economy, Mouse House managers have quietly pushed back a project that was to have revitalized the most popular section at WDW's oldest theme park. Jim Hill has the details Read More... Posted Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:00 AM | 17 Comments Filed under: Disney, Imagineering, Disney Vacation Club, Dick Cook, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Beauty and the Beast, Playhouse Disney, The Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain, The Hall of Presidents, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Disney Princess, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hollywood, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, Glendale, Burbank, Times Square, WDW, Imagineer, Fantasyland, Walt Disney Imagineering, DCA, show building, World of Disney, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, attractions, shows, rides, Hollywood history, Imagineers, 2012, Disney Studios , thrill ride, queue, motion picture, The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Disney theme park, Wall Street, The Great Depression, Great Depression, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, economic downturn, facelift, revitalization, revitalization plan, queue area, gift shop, hitting the brakes, tough times, spinner, East Coast, stock price, Alice Comedies, Central Florida tourism, 2013, 2014, 2015, economy, rehab, overhaul, fiscal year, retail area, Little Mermaid, Little Mermaid ride, Little Mermaid attraction

• "Disney at Dawn" continues the adventures of the Kingdom Keepers

  Jim Hill reviews the latest installment of this Ridley Pearson series, an adventure book for young adults which is primarily set at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park Read More... Posted Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, Walt Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Expedition Everest : Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Magic Kingdom, Disney Editions, Sleeping Beauty, WDW, Expedition Everest, 2008, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2005, Cinderella Castle , behind-the-scenes , Maleficent, Ridley Pearson, The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark, Kingdom Keepers II: Disney At Dawn, Kingdom Keepers, The Kingdom Keepers, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Conservation Station, Wishes, Yeti

• Characters come to the rescue at the Magic Kingdom

  Jim Hill explains how WDW officials used Mickey & friends as a diversion while repairs were being made on the Liberty Square bridge Read More... Posted Friday, August 29, 2008 12:00 PM | 5 Comments Filed under: Magic Kingdom, The Magic Kingdom, WDW, Fantasyland, Liberty Square, Operations, Christmas, 2008, The Walt Disney World Resort, guest, guests, holiday season , WDW guests, construction, August, WDW officials , Mickey's Pirate & Princess Party, Adventureland , Liberty Square bridge, operational issues

• 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 | 25 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