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• CTN X brings animation community together to network, help out their fellow artists

  Jim Hill talks up this weekend’s event at the Burbank Marriott. He also spotlights Tony Bancroft & Chad Frye’s efforts to help the Hodges family Read More... Posted Friday, November 20, 2009 12:00 AM | 0 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, Ron Clements, John Musker, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Cinderella, WDI, Burbank, Walt Disney Imagineering, Eric Goldberg, animation student, 2009, Pete Docter, animators , animation community, animation industry, animation fan, Up, The Princess and the Frog, animation historian

• Monday Mouse Watch: What to make of Mickey’s mixed signals

  Jim Hill talks about all of the recent changes at the Mouse House. More importantly, what Bob Iger will be looking for from Rich Ross, the new Chairman of Walt Disney Studios Read More... Posted Monday, October 05, 2009 12:00 AM | 8 Comments Filed under: Disney, music, Pixar, High School Musical, Disney Channel, John Lasseter, Bob Iger, Jerry Bruckheimer, Dick Cook, Magic Kingdom, Disney Theatrical, Robert Zemeckis, Tom Staggs, Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville, The Walt Disney Company, cell phone, High School Musical 3, Tim Burton, WDI, John Carter of Mars, WDW, Fantasyland, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Studios, Steven Spielberg, Blu-ray, DVD, D23, 5th Avenue, flagship store, World of Disney, Pixar campus, 2009, Mouse House, animated feature, TV show, TV shows, Andrew Stanton, taking it in the shorts, animated features, Miramax Films , Hannah Montana , Camp Rock , 2011, Chairman, 2010, virtual world , Rich Ross , Enchanted Adventures Parade, Utah, Shanghai, HSM3, Shanghai Disneyland, Fall, strategy, Disney Music Group, D23 EXPO, High School Musical 3: Senior Year, fiscal year, live action, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, mobile, Marvel Entertainment, Inc., Marvel, acquisition, superhero, superheroes, soundtrack, Disney Double Dare You, Lasseter Family Winery, Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient, The Queen, Emeryville campus, corporate headquarters, Nancy Lasseter, Pixar expansion plans, live-action, DVD sales, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, Verizon, Vancouver, production slate, heritage, plan, long term strategy, tradition, long term, cell phone user, stable of characters, quality content, cell phone users, storefront, mobile storefront, Disney Mobile, instant-messaging, widgets, business initiatives, division, widget, business initiative, divisions, content, animated film, animated films, Disney Channels Worldwide, prestige picture, prestige pictures, Miramax

• Mickey & Minnie say "Farewell" to Toontown Fair, "Hello" to the Town Square Exhibition Hall

  Jim Hill brings the latest news of the Fantasy Forest project. Which involves the Toontown crew packing up and moving to new digs down on Main Street USA Read More... Posted Tuesday, September 29, 2009 12:00 AM | 18 Comments Filed under: theme park, Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Disney Fairies, Dumbo Circus, Mickey Mouse, Dumbo, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Studios, D23, animated feature, Disneyana fans, Main Street USA, 2001, guest, guests, 1401 Flower Street, Town Square Exposition Hall, autographs, Goofy , character , coaster, Imagineers, characters , Disney characters, Mickey's Toontown Fair , D23 EXPO, Disneyana fan, Walt Disney World Resort, 1941, The Barnstormer, Barnstormer, Goofy's Wiseacre Farm, kiddie coaster, Casey Jr., Casey Jr. Circus Train, circus train, Casey Jr. Jr., clearance issues, Wiseacre Farm, smokestack, off the table, pies, seltzer, expansion, Fantasy Forest, Magic Kingdom expansion, country house, country home, Town Square, Minnie, Minnie Mouse, 100 Years of Magic, Toontown Fair, photographs, country mouse, city mouse, Zoo Crew, Big Cheese, friend-of-Mickey, homeless, friends-of-Mickey, air conditioning, Operational, motion picture industry, Duckburg, heat, Duckburg USA, humidity, USA, Operational standpoint, The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm

• Cars Land construction continues, Golden Vine Winery to close in January

  Jim Hill shares what he’s heard about the DCA redo project. Including the upcoming three month-long rehab of this theme park’s high-end eatery Read More... Posted Monday, September 14, 2009 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: Disney, Imagineering, Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Cars, Anaheim, Anaheim Convention Center, Disneyland Resort, WDI, DCA, California, D23, Cars Land, Imagineers, DCA revamp, D23 EXPO

• 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

• Lasseter sprinkles Pixar dust over Disney Consumer Products, Imagineering

  Jim Hill talks about the impact that John Lasseter’s personal involvement has had on the Toy Story Definitive project as well as on DCA’s “Radiator Springs Racers” attraction Read More... Posted Friday, August 28, 2009 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: toys, Disney Consumer Products, John Lasseter, Cars, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Feld Entertainment, YouTube, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, Walt Disney Imagineering, DCA, 2009, Radiator Springs Racers, 2006, 2012, 2010, Toy Story 3, Woody , Toy Story characters, DCP , Buzz Lightyear, Radiator Springs, Lightning McQueen, Mater, toy line, Toy Story Definitive, Disney On Ice, Disney On Ice: Worlds of Fantasy, Feld, Ultimate Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody, Disney Living, DisneyLiving, Thinkway Toys

• Keep an eagle eye out for The Haunted Mansion’s Hatbox Ghost

  Ever wonder what became of this infamous AA figure? Jim Hill shares what he knows about the alleged final resting place of Ol’ Hatbox Read More... Posted Wednesday, August 12, 2009 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: Disney, attraction, Imagineering, WED, Disneyland, Marc Davis, America Sings, Critter Country, Splash Mountain, Bruce Gordon, Audio Animatronic, The Haunted Mansion, Sleeping Beauty Castle, big fig, Shelly Smith, Sleeping Beauty, WDI, Imagineer, Fantasyland, Walt Disney Imagineering, Madame Leota, The Séance Circle , AA figure, Audio Animatronics, Hatbox Ghost, album, Ed Squair, D23, 1970s , attractions, 1980s, backstage, Security, Haunted Mansion O-Pin House, magazine article, pin, Disney twenty-three magazine , Imagineers, August, magazine , Disneyland the Nickel Tour: A Postcard Journey Through 40 Years of the Happiest Place on Earth, big figure, goons, AA figures, The Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion, pins, O-Pin House, Security Host, 1969, Tony Baxter , Comic-Con , Comic-Con International, poster , Maleficent, posters, Tomorrowland, E Ticket, David Mumford, Disney Photo Library, Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-thru, Disney twenty-three

• Marty Sklar honored with Window on Main Street

  On the occasion of this Disney Legend’s retirement, Jim Hill uses a Newsreel from 1983 to reflect on the Company’s past, present and future Read More... Posted Friday, July 17, 2009 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: Walt Disney, Imagineering, computer animation, CG, John Lasseter, Walt Disney Pictures, Disneyland, Marty Sklar, Disney Legend, Walt Disney Productions, The Walt Disney Company, Main Street U.S.A., WDI, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Studios, computer, Glen Keane, 2009, Golden Horseshoe , Main Street USA, Where the Wild Things Are, The Brave Little Toaster, retired, 1955, Tron , Tron Sequel, choreography, choreographer, Golden Horseshoe Revue

• "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

• WDI panel to be a high point of Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ 20th anniversary celebration

  Jim Hill showcases some early DHS construction shots as he talks up next Friday’s festivities at the studio theme park Read More... Posted Thursday, April 23, 2009 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Disney, Imagineering, Michael Eisner, Walt Disney World, Disney-MGM Studios theme park, Bob Weis, Orlando, George Lucas, Disney's Hollywood Studios, WDI, WDW, Walt Disney Imagineering, MagicalMountain, panel discussion, Disney-MGM Studios, studio theme park, The Walt Disney World Resort, studio , WDWCelebrations , Magical Mountain, Imagineers, construction, CEO, 1989, 1986, plussing, Superstar Television, 1988, swamp, 20th anniversary, Walt Disney World Resort, Studio 20, The Studios Thing, Bob Hope, Eric Jacobson, Tom Fitzgerald, Disney-MGM Studio Tour, Slapstick Stunt Theater, Disney Film Festival, scrub pine, swampland, Disney-MGM Studio and Studio Tour Attraction, Chinese Theater, movie palace, Premiere Theater, Starring Rolls Cafe

• The Disneyland expansion plan that never happened

  In this week's "Why For" column, Jim Hill talks about the contents of a three ring binder. Which contains WED's plans -- circa 1982 -- to radically expand Disneyland's capacity until this theme park could comfortably handle 17 million Guests every year Read More... Posted Friday, November 14, 2008 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, Michael Eisner, WED, Disneyland, Epcot, America Sings, Country Bear Playhouse, Frank Wells, Walt Disney Productions, Epcot Center, The American Adventure, World Showcase, Tokyo Disneyland, France, WDI, it's a small world, Walt Disney Imagineering, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, Mary Poppins, 1981, Tron , 1982, Tomorrowland

• 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

• 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

• Have you ever wondered what Central Florida was like before the Mouse moved in? Then go check out the Disney Wilderness Preserve

  Jim Hill shares some photos of this beautiful corner of Kissimmee. Which The Nature Conservancy is working to restore to its original pristine condition Read More... Posted Thursday, October 30, 2008 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, Kissimmee, WDI, Central Florida, Jeff Lange, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, brush, Disney World vacation, natural environment , wilderness preserve , theme parks, original, The Disney Wilderness Preserve, Disney Wilderness Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, Nature Conservancy, Lake Russell, restoration, sand crane, wildlife, Preserve, undeveloped, wild turkeys, turkeys, trails, trail, visitor center, saw palmetto, palmetto, rental car, eco-friendly, ecology, ecological restoration, ecological, brush clearing, controlled burn, natural plant growth, plant growth, nature, Walker Ranch, original state, pristine condition, pristine

• 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