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• 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 everything on display in DCA's "Blue Sky Cellar" actually going to get built? Maybe. Maybe not

  In this week's "Why For," Jim Hill looks back over the history of the Disney Parks & Resorts at the rides, shows and attraction (some of them announced by Walt Disney himself) that ultimately didn't get built Read More... Posted Friday, October 24, 2008 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Disney Theatrical, Disney's California Adventure, The Jungle Cruise, Anaheim, Orlando, Disney Press, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Productions, High School Musical franchise, Sleeping Beauty Castle, International Street, Alice in Wonderland, Disneyana, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, DCA, Disneyland Hotel, 1974, JHM, Disney World, Frontierland, Disneyana fans, attractions, shows, rides, New York Times, 1966 , Disneyana community , Rivers of America, shooting gallery, Walt Disney Company, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

• 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

• Is free admission to a Disney theme park on your birthday really a good enough reason to schedule a "Celebration Vacation" ?

  Jim Hill reports on yesterday's event at the Edison Ballroom. Where Jay Rasulo unveiled the Walt Disney Company's new "What will you celebrate?" promotional campaign for the Parks Read More... Posted Friday, September 19, 2008 12:00 AM | 19 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, promotion, Disneyland Resort, Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Disney Parks & Resorts, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, promotional campaign, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, celebration, year-long promotion, campaign

• What's in a (Disney domain) name?

  As he gets ready to cover this year's Comic-Con, Jim Hill shares some of the more interesting domain names that the Walt Disney Company has registered over the past month Read More... Posted Wednesday, July 23, 2008 12:00 AM | 11 Comments Filed under: Disney, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Weddings

• Still can't find Nemo? Then try looking inside of your room the next time you stay at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

  Jim Hill shares some shots of these newly rethemed rooms, which now feature characters from that 2003 Pixar Animation Studios release Read More... Posted Monday, July 14, 2008 12:00 AM | 13 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Pixar, Pirates of the Caribbean, resorts, Walt Disney World, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Pixar Animation Studios, Toy Story, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, hotel, resort, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Disney / Pixar, 2003, Disney World vacation, WDW guests, WDW vacations, Disney Pixar , Pirates of the Caribbean franchise , Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Shanghai, hotel rooms, WALL-E, Shanghai Disneyland, Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, retheming, Nemo, Dory, Buzz Lightyear

• Monday Mouse Watch : Inside "The American Idol Experience"

  Jim Hill shares what he's heard about this new DHS attraction. In particular how WDW Guests will make their way through the "American Idol" audition process Read More... Posted Monday, June 23, 2008 12:00 AM | 25 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Walt Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, FastPass, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, WDW, Operations, theme park guest, 2009, The Walt Disney World Resort, TV show, show, backstage, theme park attraction, WDW guests, December , tourist , high profile project, capacity , once-in-a-lifetime , Festival of the Lion King, performers, Kinks, January, singing, The American Idol Experience, DHS, Disney Guests, interactive entertainment , American Idol , closed-door sessions , Superstar Television, Doug Live ! , crowd-pleaser, onstage, audition, auditions, audition process , recording booth , solo, video screen , initial screening , pre-recorded instrumental track, a cappella, pre-recorded music, live instruments, perform live , talent pool , finalists, preliminary shows , finale, goldfish, judges, Actors' Equity, Simon Cowell, finalist, Dream Ticket , guaranteed reservation, regional audition , Club Penguin, jump the line, hopefuls, round of auditions, age limit , ineligible, Disney Legal , Peter Barsocchini, production company , operational issues, behind-the-scenes , vocal coach , hair , make-up , make the cut , Ops staff , simulcast, Jumbotron, Hollywood Boulevard, High School Musical 2: School's Out! , pep rally , Block Party Bash, working the bugs out , talent-free singer , WDW executives

• "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

• Mist Direction or How DAK Operations just slipped Joe Rohde a Mickey

  Jim Hill talks about "Expedition Everest" 's faltering effects. More importantly, WDW's long-standing tradition of bamboozling senior Disney officials whenever they come on property Read More... Posted Tuesday, May 27, 2008 12:00 AM | 20 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Pixar, Walt Disney, attraction, John Lasseter, Michael Eisner, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Dick Nunis, Joe Rohde, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, The Jungle Cruise, Expedition Everest : Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Disney Legend, The Magic Kingdom, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, the boys: the sherman brothers' story, WDW, Expedition Everest, DAK, Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Operations, Disney World, Disney / Pixar, effects, guests, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, theme park attraction, Food Service, Chairman, Liberty Tree Tavern

• 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

• Forget about giving a Mouse a cookie. Never feed a Gator a turkey leg

  As he gets ready to return to New England, Jim Hill shares one of the more bizarre stories that he's ever heard about the Walt Disney World Resort. Which involved actual alligator wrestling right in the middle of the Magic Kingdom Read More... Posted Wednesday, April 23, 2008 12:00 AM | 27 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, The Magic Kingdom, Disney Parks & Resorts, the boys: the sherman brothers' story, WDW, tourists, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Frontierland

• Monday Mouse Watch : Lights out at Pleasure Island

  The future of WDW's nighttime entertainment district suddenly looks a whole lot darker, now that Disney has sold off PI's signature system of outdoor spotlights Read More... Posted Monday, March 31, 2008 12:00 AM | 27 Comments Filed under: Disney, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, WDW guests, WDW management , Pleasure Island, night club complex, night club, WDW officials , night clubs