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• 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 , 14th Street , senior Vice President of Creative Development , Tony Baxter , turn-of-the-century , Gene Kelly , Barbara Streisand , price tag , "Hello, Dolly!"

• Monday Mouse Watch : Disney World's new grim grinning gracious ghosts

  Forget about fright. Now it's all about being polite. Or so says Jim Hill as he talks about the new spiel that cast members are expected to recite whenever they work at this Magic Kingdom attraction Read More... Posted Monday, June 02, 2008 12:00 AM | 14 Comments Filed under: Disney, attraction, Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, The Haunted Mansion, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, The Foyer, The Portrait Gallery, The Entrance Hallway, Liberty Square, cast members, Jeff Lange, cast member, JHM, guest, guests, "Grim Grinning Ghosts", butlers, maids, acting classes, "The Haunted Mansion", Imagineers, CD, script, The Ballroom, wretched bodies, blood red carpet , guest complaints , gruesome gags , PR team , acting coaches , dialogue , spiel , show narration , The Stretching Room, final arrangements, maid, butler, please, kindly , grim grinning ghosts, grim grinning gracious ghosts, polite, fright, retraining, plussing, material, blasé , fireplace, MouseSteps, JeffLangeDVD, photos, screensaver, Epcot Flower & Garden Festival, disc, Denise Preskitt

• Woo Hoo ! "The Simpsons Ride" officially opens at Universal Studios Florida

  JHM was there yesterday as the bright yellow ribbon was cut and celebrities, dignitaries & guests all surged in experience this brand-new attraction Read More... Posted Friday, May 16, 2008 12:00 AM | 8 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Universal Studios, attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, Imagineering, "The Simpsons", Orlando, Universal Orlando, WDI, Florida, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort, Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park River Adventure, "Jurassic Park River Adventure", theme park attraction, President, Universal Studios Florida , Lisa Simpson, Bart Simpson, Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Universal Creative Studio, Universal Creative, "The Simpsons Ride", Krusty the Clown, Krustyland, Mike West, Buddy Dyer, Joey Fatone, Mayor, *NSYNC, God's Waiting Room, Bill Davis, Gracie Films, "Pirates of the Caribbean", blue hairs, AARP, Universal Orlando guests, opening ceremony, Krusty clone, live orchestra, school children, chief operating officer, confetti, walkaround characters, walkaround character, ribbon, cut the ribbon

• Monday Mouse Watch : Why WDI is looking for a few good freelancers

  Jim Hill takes a look at why the start of the DCA revamp keeps getting pushed back. Which has a lot to do with how most of the top talent in the themed entertainment industry is now working on Dubailand Read More... Posted Monday, May 12, 2008 12:00 AM | 14 Comments Filed under: Disney, Imagineering, Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Tokyo DisneySea, Disneyland Resort, Jay Rasulo, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, DCA, Walt Disney Studios, WDI R & D, Imagineers, DCA revamp

• Monday Mouse Watch : WDI complains about all those complainers

  Whose side are you on? The WDW cast member who finds fault with "Toy Story Mania" 's acoustics? Or the veteran Imagineer who's grown tired of the online Disneyana community continually knocking WDI's efforts? Read More... Posted Monday, May 05, 2008 12:00 AM | 77 Comments Filed under: Disney, Jim Hill Media, theme park, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Disney's Hollywood Studios, "Toy Story", Spaceship Earth, Orlando International Airport, "it's a small world", Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, MiceAge, WDWMagic, Disneyana Enthusiasts, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, "Toy Story Mania", theme park fans, Disneyana fans, theme park attraction, Disney World vacation, Disneyana community , Imagineers, "Toy Story" characters

• 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, "Toy Story Mania", 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, "Toy Story Mania", Disney / Pixar, ride, Imagineers

• Monday Mouse Watch : It's lights out for DAK's "Rivers of Light" parade, while Beastly Kingdomme makes a character-based comeback

  Jim Hill brings you the latest news on Disney's Animal Kingdom. Including how WDW has been meeting with DAK curators to see who'd be willing to go take care of the animals that will soon be on display over at Disney's Night Kingdom Read More... Posted Monday, March 24, 2008 12:00 AM | 36 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, parade, attraction, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, "Dinosaur", The Magic Kingdom, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, "it's a small world", 10th anniversary, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Beastly Kingdomme, DAK, "Finding Nemo -- The Musical", "Rivers of Light", Dan Haskett, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, theme park fans, attractions, rides, ride, show, theme park attraction, Animal Kingdom , WDWCelebrations , "A Wild Decade" , Pleasure Island, night club, Disney's Night Kingdom, DNK, Imagineers, Steve Davison, "It's Tough to Be a Bug", Japanese Lantern Parade, "ROL", "Pocahontas and her Forest Friends", "Festival of the Lion King", "Rafiki's Planet Watch", Camp Minnie-Mickey, character greeting area, "Quest for the Unicorn", "Dragon's Tower", horticulture, nighttime parade, after-hours extravaganza, character-friendly addition, pathway, night clubs, parades, Disney characters, Disney brand

• "Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!" includes a tribute to a certain well-known website? Well, ain't that cool?

  In honor of the recent re-opening of this DCA dark ride, Jim Hill points out some unique recycling that the Imagineers did with this Hollywood Pictures Backlot attraction. Not to mention an internet-based in-joke that's really pretty "Cool" Read More... Posted Tuesday, March 11, 2008 12:00 AM | 23 Comments Filed under: attraction, Imagineering, Disney's California Adventure, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Disneyland Resort, AintItCool, WDI, "Monsters Inc.", Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, DCA, dark ride, attractions, ride, 2005, Imagineers, redo, Harry Knowles, Aint It Cool News, "Monsters Inc Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!", "Superstar Limo", minimatronic, Tim Allen, Drew Carrey, Cher, Cindy Crawford, Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Regis Philbin, Joyce Philbin, Jackie Chan, Whoopi Goldberg, safety gates

• Does WDI plan on gagging our next Commander-in-Chief as part of the 2009 redo of WDW's "Hall of Presidents" ?

  Jim Hill shares what he's heard about the upcoming revamp of this Magic Kingdom attraction. To be specific, how the Imagineers are looking to shave a few minutes off of the running time of this 36-year-old Liberty Square show Read More... Posted Tuesday, March 04, 2008 12:00 AM | 50 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Anaheim, The Magic Kingdom, Audio Animatronic, Bill Clinton, The President of the United States, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Liberty Square, wheelchair accessible, AA figure, Audio Animatronics, handicap access, 2009, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2001, show, theme park attraction, WDW guests, Imagineers, July , handicap-accessible, wheelchair-friendly, wheelchair, presidential primaries, presidential primary, primaries, primary, President, Commander-in-Chief, "The Hall of Presidents", promotional gimmick , Chief Executive , Blaine Gibson , George W Bush, Monica Lewinsky , scandal , approval rating , dignity , roll call , speech, "THOP" , THOP, Gettysburg Address, The Gettysburg Address , "Great Moments with Mr Lincoln", redo, revamp, recycling , back east, electric convenience vehicle , ECV, ECV - friendly, improvements , doorway , turnstile , "The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management" , Iago, Uh-Oa, Zzzs , bran muffin

• National Treasure 3 & 4 ?! Big Thunder Mountain ... The Movie ?!

  Why For returns with answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim Hill talks about the company's plans to expand its "National Treasure" franchise as well as reveals the studio's next theme park-based film. WARNING ! There be spoilers ahead ! Read More... Posted Friday, February 01, 2008 12:00 AM | 20 Comments Filed under: book, attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, Imagineering, Jerry Bruckheimer, Walt Disney Pictures, The Jungle Cruise, Disney Press, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", Big Thunder Mountain, Jack Sparrow, WDI, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, writers' strike, movie, WGA, theme park attraction, the Writer's Strike , books, "National Treasure", "National Treasure: Book of Secrets", "National Treasure 3", "National Treasure 4", "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl", "The Lone Ranger", "Big Thunder Mountain", "Big Thunder Mountain: The Movie", "The Jungle Cruise", "The Jungle Cruise: Heart of Darkness", "The Jungle Cruise: The Movie", Nicholas Cage, John Turtletaub, "Midnight Ride", "Changing Tide", "National Treasure" book series, Aqua de Vita, The Water of Life, Water of Life, Fountain of Youth, Atlantis, The Fountain of Youth, Captain Jack Sparrow, Barbossa, Captain Hector Barbossa, The Black Pearl, Black Pearl, "Pirates of the Caribbean 4", "Pirates 4", Pirates 4, "AVP", "Alien vs Predator", Captain Barbossa, Benjamin Gates, Ponce de León, Page 47, "National Treasure" theme park attraction, The Gates Family, Gates Family, Gates Family Mystery, Gates Family Mysteries

• Monday Mouse Watch : Disney has trouble convincing guests to come make a "Magic Connection"

  Jim Hill reports on the field test of these new handheld units. Which supposedly worked great ... Once you could actually convince a tourist to come take part in this test, that is Read More... Posted Monday, January 28, 2008 12:00 AM | 36 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, The Walt Disney Company, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort, The Magic Kingdom, handheld device, Space Mountain, WDI, WDW, Walt Disney Imagineering, Liberty Square, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, entrance area, My Pal Mickey, Disney Magic Connection, Town Square Exposition Hall, Nintendo DS, WDI R & D, hand-held device, wireless unit

• A PC Haunted Mansion ?! Now that's scary

  Jim Hill talks about the new script that the Imagineers have written for this attraction's Foyer area. Which is reportedly being added to the stateside versions of this classic attraction because a handful of guests complained about the macabre remarks that a few Disney cast members have made over the years Read More... Posted Thursday, January 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 43 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Anaheim, Orlando, The Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Resort, The Haunted Mansion, WDI, Glendale, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Paul Frees, Ghost Host, The Foyer, The Portrait Gallery, The Entrance Hallway, stretching room, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, guest, guests, "Grim Grinning Ghosts", macabre, ghoulish, butlers, maids, ad-lib lines, staging, blocking, acting classes, official script, 1401 Flower Street, sinister, theme park attraction, squeamish

• 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 Filed under: animation, Disney, movies, Pixar, DreamWorks, computer animation, John Lasseter, "Shrek", Walt Disney Pictures, "Beauty & the Beast", John Musker, "The Little Mermaid", "Ratatouille", Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, DreamWorks Animation, "Aladdin", Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Jeffrey Katzenberg, "Toy Story", WDAS, "The Lion King", "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", WDI, Ed Catmull, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Studios, "Bolt", Academy Award, film, movie, 2008, animated feature, Richard Purdum , "Cranium Command", Kirk Wise, Gary Trousdale, award, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Disney Feature Animation, "Mulan", "The Emperor's New Groove", "Kingdom of the Sun", "Kiskaloo", blind men and the elephant, Indian fable, pre-release image, teaser poster, November 2008, Bolt the dog, Mittens the cat, Rhino the hamster, Chris Williams, "American Dog", Chris Sanders, quirkiness, Jan Pinkava, George Scribner, Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers, S Gross, lemons into lemonade, November 28

• WDI's X-Scream Makeover of WDW's Haunted Mansion: Part 5

  Jim Hill concludes his series on this Magic Kingdom favorite by first talking about that state-of-the-art image capture system that was installed at this dark ride but never really turned on, then by discussing the exit area gift shop that will eventually be added to this attraction Read More... Posted Friday, October 26, 2007 12:00 AM | 16 Comments Filed under: Disney, TV, Walt Disney, attraction, Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Omnimover, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, The Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain, Audio Animatronic, The Haunted Mansion, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Fantasyland, Walt Disney Imagineering, Little Leota, The Graveyard, Liberty Square, Madam Leota, Doom Buggy, The Attic, Operations, The Séance Circle , AA figure, Audio Animatronics, dark ride, Hitchhiking Ghosts,