Jim Hill

Disney Vacation Homes Great deals on vacation homes with private pools near Walt Disney World	Lake Buena Vista Hotels If you want to stay near Disney World then you need to check out the hotels in Lake Buena Vista

Disney Tickets From the largest ticket store in Orlando Orlando Fun Tickets JHM's Exclusive ticket provider

News, reviews, history and commentary about the entertainment industry
(But mostly about the Walt Disney Company)

Welcome to JimHillMedia.com Sign in | Join | Help

Jim Hill

Browse by Tags

All Tags » WDI » 2008

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

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

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 , senior Vice President of Creative Development , Tony Baxter , turn-of-the-century , Gene Kelly , Barbara Streisand , price tag , Hello

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

Monday Mouse Watch : Has WDI solved all of "Toy Story Mania" 's problems? Not Yeti

Jim Hill talks about Pixar's on-going frustration with the Imagineers. Who seem far more interested in protecting their own jobs than they do with delivering a quality product for the theme parks Read More...

Posted Monday, April 28, 2008 12:00 AM | 26 Comments

Filed under: Disney, theme park, Pixar, attraction, Imagineering, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Disneyland Paris, Pixar Place, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, DAK, Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, show building, 2008, theme park guest, Disney / Pixar, theme park fans, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, Imagineers, 2006

Why the Imagineers are still tinker(toy)ing with "Toy Story Mania"

Jim Hill brings you an update on this new DHS attraction. Which is still experiencing a few minor hiccups as it gets ready for next month's grand opening Read More...

Posted Tuesday, April 22, 2008 12:00 AM | 24 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Pixar, attraction, Imagineering, John Lasseter, Walt Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disney / Pixar, ride, Imagineers

Disney Consumer Products isn't getting its hopes up for "Up"

Jim Hill takes a close look at the retail side of the Mouse House. In particular why Disney Consumer Products is now taking a much more pragmatic approach toward the licensing of Pixar's next few pictures Read More...

Posted Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:00 AM | 21 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Pixar, toys, Disney Consumer Products, John Lasseter, Disney's California Adventure, Cars, Ratatouille, Brad Bird, Disney Store, Pixar Animation Studios, The Walt Disney Company, WDI, DCA, 2008, 2009, Disney / Pixar, animated feature, Cars Land, Pete Docter, 2006, retail chain , 2010, Up

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, the boys: the sherman brothers' story, 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 , Walt & El Grupo, Waking Sleeping Beauty, 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 , Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, Animal Kingdom , WDWCelebrations , fan-based , signature event , commemorative event, Flashdance, A Wild Decade, guest speaker, registrants , Magical Mountain, The Epcot Thing

Animation fans prematurely shoot off their mouths about "Bolt"

Jim Hill points out the parallels between what WDAS's next release is now going through and "Beauty & the Beast" & "The Lion King" 's troubled productions Read More...

Posted Wednesday, January 02, 2008 12:00 AM | 18 Comments