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• Let George Do It: One-time WDW busboy becomes Disneyland’s newest president

  Jim Hill looks back over this Park & Resorts vet's 38-year-long career with the Company. In particular why George Kalogridis was chosen to help guide the Disneyland Resort through its upcoming transitional period Read More... Posted Tuesday, October 13, 2009 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Disney, Downtown Disney, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Disney's California Adventure, The Walt Disney Company, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, Disney Parks & Resorts, Disneyland Hotel, Walt Disney Studios, cast members, cast member, 1971, 1976, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, pin, 2012, 2010, Rich Ross , pins, 1988, millennium celebration, opportunity, Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Park, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, DLP, Ed Grier, regional theme park, Al Weiss, George Kalogridis, busboy, senior management, senior management position, UCF, Contemporary Resort Hotel, Disney Wonder, University of Central Florida, training issues, adversity, Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadershio Strategies from a Life at Disney, transition period, transitional period, Winter Olympics, Nagano, Olympic pins, IBM, Coca-Cola, Happiest Place on Earth, Resort Operations, maintenance, general manager, 15th anniversary, Sunshine Plaza, Anaheim property, Grand Flo, development team, Disney's World of Color, gay

• Monday Mouse Watch: Will Pop Century be rebranded as Disney's Animation Inn and Suites?

  Jim Hill talks about what the future may hold for this troubled WDW Value Resort. Which involves completing construction of the Legendary Years and then turning both sections into a family-friendly suites-based hotel Read More... Posted Monday, November 10, 2008 12:00 AM | 14 Comments Filed under: Disney, Michael Eisner, Walt Disney World, The Walt Disney Company, Shelly Smith, Disney Parks & Resorts, Disney's Pop Century Resort, value resorts, Disney's All Star Music Resort, WDW, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2001, 2003, WDW management , WDW officials , 1994, economic downturn, TouringPlans.com, FabRocks.com, Value Resort, model rooms

• Will Disney World's new "Buy 4 Get 3 FREE!" promotion really be enough to get you to book a trip to Orlando in early 2009?

  Jim Hill talks about that new WDW incentive program that Bob Iger revealed as part of yesterday's earnings call. Which includes a free $200 Disney Gift Card for those who buy a vacation package before December 20th Read More... Posted Friday, November 07, 2008 12:00 AM | 13 Comments Filed under: Disney, Bob Iger, Walt Disney World, promotion, The Walt Disney Company, marketing, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW Entertainment, 9/11, Central Florida, WDW, Christmas, 2008, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, annual passholders, guest, Disney World vacation, WDW guests, Disney Dining Plan, WDW management , advance reservations, advance reservation, WDW vacations, WDW officials , cost over-runs , WDW executives, bottom line , 911, Walt Disney Company, Disney theme park, business plan, fiscal year, bookings, earnings, earnings call

• Disney hopes that our next Commander-in-Chief can inspire some consumer confidence

  According to Jim Hill, Mickey doesn't really care who the next President is. Just as long as this guy can then convince the American people to once again start planning trips to Anaheim & Orlando Read More... Posted Monday, November 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 20 Comments Filed under: Disney, resorts, Bob Iger, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Anaheim, Orlando, The Walt Disney Company, The Hall of Presidents, Disneyland Resort, Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts, Russia, Disney Parks & Resorts, 9/11, WDI, Burbank, WDW, resort, White House, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disney World vacation, high profile project, niche park , advance reservations, advance reservation, WDW vacations, President, Commander-in-Chief, George W Bush, CEO, 2010, President of the United States , consumers, Thomas Staggs, Jungle Trek, Disney's Jungle Trek, Walt Disney Company, Disney theme park, China, Wall Street, economic downturn, economy, fiscal year, Presidential election, consumer spending, earnings, CFO, quarter, Vice President, Vice Presidents, Joe Biden, Sarah Palin, Congress, intellectual property, The White House, piracy, anti-piracy, Valerie Edwards, Director of Sculpture, Barack Obama, chainmail, fashion magazines, Obama Biden, fashion magazine, consumer confidence, recession, Presidential candidate, Presidential candidates, earnings call, Four Seasons, The Four Seasons

• Is Disney looking to trade its 5th Avenue store in for a brand-new retail location down on Times Square?

  Since the World of Disney's lease is up in 2010, the Mouse is already on the prowl for a new spot to set up shop in NYC. Jim Hill shares what he's heard about these on-going negotiations Read More... Posted Tuesday, October 21, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: Disney, Broadway, musical, ABC, Walt Disney World, The Lion King, Disney Theatrical, Beauty and the Beast, Lunt-Fontanne Theater, Disney Store, ABC Studios, The Walt Disney Company, New York City, Mickey Mouse, restaurant, New Amsterdam Theatre, Minskoff Theatre, The Legendary Years, Disney's Pop Century Resort, NYC, Times Square, WDW, 5th Avenue, flagship store, World of Disney, Broadway musical, tourists, 2008, 2009, Disney World, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Walt Disney World Resort, Halloween, 2007, Mary Poppins, tourist , retail establishment , stage show , retail dining and entertainment complex, Virgin Megastore, Virgin, 1996 , 2010, stage, 2004, New York, Disney Stores, The Little Mermaid, movie theater, musical theater, 1990s, Wall Street, retail area, negotiations, trick-or-treat, trick or treat, square feet, retail space, commercial retail space, Wart, king, retailer, retailers, foot traffic, exposure, Paul Hoen, HoJos, Howard Johnson, American Eagle, American Eagle Outfitters, Pittsburgh, square foot, lease, Jeff Sutton, SL Green Realty Corp, Vornado, arcade, Alice's Wonderland, Toys R Us, Toys R Us Times Square, Virgin Megastore Times Square, ABC Times Square Studio, ABC Times Square Studios, retail entertainment complex, pre-show, post-show, preshow, posters, The Related Companies, retail presence, negotiating table, Rockefeller Center, Trump Tower, company representatives, real estate opportunity, real estate opportunites, construction project, construction projects

• "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

• Monday Mouse Watch : The Adventurers Club gets ready for its exit while the American Idol Experience delays its entrance

  Jim Hill talks about all of the changes that have been made at this Pleasure Island institution. He also shares what he knows about Disney's decision to push back the opening of DHS's newest attraction Read More... Posted Monday, September 15, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: Disney, attraction, Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Fox, Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Walt Disney Company, WDI, Glendale, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, 2008, 2009, Disney World, September, guests, Saturday , library, Pleasure Island, The Adventurers Club, Adventurers Club, night club complex, night club, capacity , Imagineers, Friday, night clubs, grand opening , May, January, DHS, PI, Spring , Walt Disney Company

• Well, so much for that conspiracy theory ...

  Jim Hill shares a funny story about a domain name that the Walt Disney Company recently registered. Which led one reporter to believe that the WDW & Disneyland resorts were in some real trouble this Fall Read More... Posted Wednesday, August 06, 2008 12:00 AM | 8 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, ABC, Disneyland, promotion, Tom Staggs, The Walt Disney Company, Disneyland Resort, television, Emmy Awards, WDW, promotional campaign, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, September, occupancy rate , domain name , attendance levels, occupancy rates, conspiracy theories, Thomas Staggs, National Stay At Home Week, domain names

• Will pirates soon be returning to Treasure ... er ... Discovery Island?

  In this week's Why For, Jim Hill talks about the history of Treasure / Discovery Island. More importantly, how WDW Entertainment and Food & Beverage are allegedly thinking of using the "Pirates of the Caribbean" characters to help get this place re-opened Read More... Posted Friday, June 06, 2008 12:00 AM | 14 Comments Filed under: Disney, Why For, Imagineering, ABC, Johnny Depp, WED, Walt Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Tom Sawyer Island, Lost, The Walt Disney Company, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake, WDW Entertainment, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, cast members, cast member, Leota Toombs, 1974, 1998, 1976, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, marshmallows, Food Service, Blackbeard's Ghost , 1967, Peter Ustinov , Captain Jack Sparrow, Food & Beverage , Imagineers, April , rum , Pirates of the Caribbean films, 1960s, Disney officials , Pirates of the Caribbean franchise , January, interactive, Capt. Jack Sparrow, Raz Island, boat ride , treasure hunt , marshmallow, marshmallow roast , Treasure Island, Discovery Island, wilderness preserve , Blackbeard's Island , wizards of WED , 1950, Robert Louis Stevenson , Ben Gunn's Cave, Future Attraction, Future Attractions , The Blockhouse , Long John Silver, buccaneer, buccaneers, Spy Glass Hill , Wreck of the Hispaniola, Hispaniola, bird sanctuary , skeleton, aviary, enclosure, buzzard, buzzards , vulture, vultures, treasure map , operational hours , Yo-Ho-Ho , dough-dough-dough, snack bar, honeymoon, honeymoon cottage, honeymoon cottages , interactive gaming , Myst, pirate-themed adventure , O-Pin House, WDW Food Services, corporate groups, rum drinks , Johnny Depp lookalike

• "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 and 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, 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 , 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

• "Is there something you want to tell me, Roy?"

  As he tours Cypress Gardens, Jim Hill examines the Walt Disney Company's ties to "Florida's first theme park" Read More... Posted Wednesday, May 14, 2008 12:00 AM | 12 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney, attraction, Walt Disney Productions, The Walt Disney Company, Bay Lake, Florida tourism, Central Florida, Florida, WDW, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, Disney World vacation, Roy O Disney , WDW vacations, Dick Pope, Julie Pope, Cypress Gardens, 1948, 1936, Florida's first theme park, Polk County, Lake Eloise, Disneyland East, Project Florida, wooden coaster, sunshine, Sunshine State, Raz Island, Florida heritage, Panama City, Miracle Strip Amusement Park, cypress swamp, botanical garden, water skiing, Starliner, roller coaster, Edna Disney, parking lot, This is It!, Southern Belles, Southern Belle, topiary, topiaries, grandparent, grandparents, botanical gardens

• 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, hard ticket , after-hours event, Mickey's Pirate & Princess Party

• 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, star crossed lovers

• 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 | 34 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

• Will making WDW seem more appealing to young urban professionals really be enough to turn around this resort's merch per capita problem?

  Jim Hill shines a spotlight on Disney World's recent efforts to recruit guests with deeper pockets. With the hope that an influx of affluent theme park goers will then help shore up WDW's sliding souvenir sales levels Read More... Posted Wednesday, February 20, 2008 12:00 AM | 50 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, The Walt Disney Company, Euro Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney Parks & Resorts, Year of a Million Dreams, souvenir, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, ticket sales, ride, theme park attraction, Disney World vacation, 2011, Disney's Night Kingdom