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• 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, 10th anniversary, 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

• "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, belles, Southern Belles, Southern Belle, topiary, topiaries, grandparent, grandparents, botanical gardens

• Remembering Ollie Johnston (1912 - 2008)

  Jim Hill asks you to remember this remarkable individual. Who passed away in Washington State earlier today Read More... Posted Monday, April 14, 2008 8:00 PM | 14 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Productions, Walt Disney Studios, animated feature, animation fan, Ollie Johnston

• The story that Walt didn't want you to hear

  Before hitting the road for Orlando, Jim Hill shares an excerpt from a long forgotten Reader's Digest feature condensation: Richard Collier's "Wish Upon a Star: The Magical Kingdoms of Walt Disney" Read More... Posted Thursday, February 07, 2008 12:00 AM | 13 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Universal Studios, Walt Disney, Disneyland, Epcot, Orlando, SeaWorld, Tom Sawyer Island, Spaceship Earth, Main Street U.S.A., The Haunted Mansion, Tutto Italia Ristorante, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", Universal Orlando, 1971, JHM, Universal Studios Orlando, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando Resort, October, television program, Main Street USA, construction site, New Hampshire, camera, pictures, Tuesday , publishing schedule, website , weekend , Orlando Fun Tickets, webmasters, webmaster, Aquatica, Yak & Yeti , hit-and-run trip, hit-and-run, Richard Collier, "Wish Upon a Star: The Magical Kingdoms of Walt Disney" , Feature Condensation , issue, Reader's Digest, 1955, Tennessee, 11-year-old , leukemia, Central Plaza , landscaping , train, Disneyland Railroad , locomotive , coal car , track, skyline, will-o'-the-wisp, Rainbow Caverns, Tom Sawyer's Island, "Snow White" , enchantment, childhood, Van France , train ride, worksite, picture, publicity, celebrities, celebrity, charity , charity event , cameras, private

• Toon Tuesday: Disney's "The Aristocats" ... The Animated Series ?!

  Jim Hill takes a look at a show that was proposed for the Disney Channel back in 2003. One that would have ditched Duchess & O'Malley and made Marie, Berlioz & Toulouse teenagers Read More... Posted Tuesday, February 05, 2008 12:00 AM | 24 Comments Filed under: theme park, Pixar, Walt Disney, Disney Channel, John Lasseter, Michael Eisner, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Toon Disney, Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Productions, The Walt Disney Company, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Glen Hanson, "The Aristocats", Marie, Disney Feature Animation Florida, teen, teenager, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, WDSHE, DVD, movie, Mouse, animated feature, franchise, merch, Walt Disney Feature Animation, 2003, merchandise , animated series , "The Aristocats: Special Edition", 1970 , single disc edition, Duchess, Thomas O'Malley , alley cat , Toulouse, Berlioz, bonus material , Richard M Sherman, Robert B Sherman, Zzzz, Sherman Brothers , DisneyToon Studios , "The Aristocats 2" , home premiere, "Disney’s Aristocats: The Animated Series" , O'Malley , teenagers, Delancey, Justin Timberlake , Usher, Street Cats , classic Disney characters , Flash, unnecessary sequel business, unnecessary sequel, unnecessary sequels, "The Aristocats II" , "Chicken Little 2", "Meet the Robinsons 2" , "Aristocats: The Animated Series" , Frank Wells building, Dick Sherman , Maurice Chevalier

• Remembering Suzanne Pleshette (1937 - 2008)

  Jim Hill looks back on the Disney-related portion of this Emmy nominated actress's career as well as commenting on the role that smoking may have played in her untimely demise Read More... Posted Monday, January 21, 2008 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: Disney, TV, Universal Studios, Walt Disney, ABC, Disneyland, Walt Disney Productions, television, Burbank, film, movie, TV show, Disneyana fans, condolences, Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette , Emily Hartley, Bob Hartley , "The Bob Newhart Show" , Dean Jones, 1966 , "The Ugly Dachshund" , 1968, "Blackbeard's Ghost" , 1975, "The Shaggy DA" , Roddy McDowell , 1967, "The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin" , "The Lion King II: Simba's Pride" , English language version, Hayao Miyazaki, "Spirited Away" , Tony Curtis , "40 Pounds of Trouble" , 1962 , Norman Jewison , Damon Runyon, "Little Miss Marker" , St. Joseph's Hospital , studio , Roy O Disney , Peter Ustinov , Disney lot, James Garner, Laura Hennessy , 2002 - 2005 , ABC sitcom, sitcom , "8 Simple Rules'', smoker, lung cancer, smoking-related illnesses , Emmy-nominated

• Tons of Toontown's secrets revealed in "Animation Magazine: 20 Year Collection"

  Jim Hill reviews this new coffee table table that commemorates the 20th anniversary of this very popular publication. Which includes some great behind-the-scenes stories from animation industry vets Read More... Posted Wednesday, January 09, 2008 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: animation, book, Disney, Walt Disney, John Lasseter, "Ratatouille", Walt Disney Animation Studios, coffee table book

• "Anything Can Happen If You Let It" chronicles Mary Poppins' journey from page to stage

  Jim Hill reviews Brian Sibley & Michael Lassell's great new making-of book. Which -- through a trio of artfully designed books -- covers the history of this much beloved character Read More... Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2007 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: book, Broadway, musical, Walt Disney, Disney Theatrical, Disney Editions, Chicago, Disneyana, Walt Disney Archives, "Mary Poppins", Walt Disney Studios, Academy Award, film, movie, stage version, 2008, 2009, show, Thomas Schumacher, Broadway production, Brian Sibley, Michael Lassell, Bert, Cameron Mackintosh , scenic designer , 17 Cherry Tree Lane , Cherry Tree Lane , nursery, touring version , Plymouth , North American tour , "Jolly Holiday", Bob Crowley, design folio , Mary Poppins, costume concept, Guardsmen, Busby, "Mary Poppins: Anything Can Happen If You Let It", PL Travers, Gregory Wakabayashi , Clark Wakabayashi

• Monday Mouse Watch: Is there really such a thing as putting too much Walt into a Disney theme park?

  Jim Hill offers a different take on the upcoming DCA redo. Where the proposed revamp of this theme park has more to do with appeasing specific market segments than it has to do with making California Adventure better Read More... Posted Monday, November 26, 2007 12:00 AM | 37 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Pixar, Walt Disney, attraction, Imagineering, Disneyland, "The Little Mermaid", Disney's California Adventure, Pixar Animation Studios, The Walt Disney Company, Disneyland Resort, Main Street U.S.A., television, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyana, Hollywood, WDI, Southern California, Imagineer, DCA, dark ride, tourists, theme park fans, nostalgia, 1923, Disneyana fans, tribute, tributes, critic, critics, vocal critics, too much Walt, window dressing, Walt-centric, per-square-foot sales ratio, retail corridor, annual passholders, Main Street USA, 2001, entrance area, girl-friendly, 5-to-8-year-old girls, "Golden Dreams", "The Indiana Jones Adventure", "GM Test Track", "Radiator Springs Racers", Carsland, 18-to-25-year-old males, E-Ticket, corporate symbol, Colonel Sanders, Betty Crocker, The Disneyland Resort, Generation X, Generation Y, Disneyphiles, Disneyphile, guest, guests, pie-eyed Mickey, "Partners" statue, The "Partners" statue, Partners statue, attractions, shows, rides, Ol' Mousetro, ride, show

• Monday Mouse Watch: Will MGM's upcoming name change really allow the Universal Orlando Resort to nudge Disney out of the spotlight?

  Jim Hill shares what he's heard about Universal's bold new plan to reposition that Central Florida Resort. He also offers up additional information about that after-hours Halloween party that's now in the works for Disney's Hollywood Studios. And would you believe "Holidays at Hogwarts" ? Read More... Posted Monday, November 19, 2007 12:00 AM | 36 Comments Filed under: theme park, Universal Studios, Walt Disney, Walt Disney World, Disney-MGM Studios theme park, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Magic Kingdom, television, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Orlando, Central Florida, Florida, WDW, Walt Disney Studios, Steven Spielberg, California, Christmas, Universal, 1998, Universal Studios Escape, Disney-MGM Studios, studio theme park, Disney's Orlando Studios, Disney-Pixar Studios, 1976, "Jaws", Universal Studios Orlando, 2008, The Blockbuster Capital of the World, The Feature Attraction, theme park visitor, theme park guest, "The Hulk", "Jurassic Park", "Harry Potter" films, "Harry Potter" books, "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter", Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, 2009, TV commercials, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", "Holidays at Hogwarts", The Great Hall, Universal Orlando Resort, Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas", "The Nightmare Before Christmas", The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Walt Disney World Resort, Halloween, "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party", "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party", "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror", 5th Dimension, The 5th Dimension, The Weasley family, Weasley family, "Halloween at Hogwarts", Halloween at Hogwarts, Alfred E Newman, what me worry, Toy Story Mania, "Toy Story Mania", Toy Story Midway Mania, "Toy Story Midway Mania", me worry?, What, me worry?", "What

• 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, The Yankee Trader, scrim, Headless Knight, Opera Singer, Headsman, The Crypt, souvenir, Chickapen Hill, carnotaur, Time Rover, image capture, Disney PhotoPass, Smart Chip, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, handicap access, The Mausoleum, privacy concerns, show building, "Minority Report", Steven Spielberg, computer, hotel

• WDI's X-Scream Makeover of WDW's Haunted Mansion: Part 3

  Jim Hill continues his 5-part series on this recently revamped Magic Kingdom classic. This time around, Jim reveals how WDI recycled a creative concept that had originally been proposed for the 1999 redo of Epcot's "Imagination" pavilion. Which now adds a truly surreal touch to this WDW dark ride Read More... Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 12:00 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: Disney, Walt Disney, attraction, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Marc Davis, Omnimover, Disney Legend, Epcot Center, The Magic Kingdom, Audio Animatronic, The Haunted Mansion, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, Glendale, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Liberty Square, Madam Leota, Jeff Lange, Doom Buggy, The Attic, The Grand Staircase, The Corridor of Doors, The Music Room, The Endless Hallway, 1971, spider, wallpaper, The Séance Circle , Imagination pavilion, "Journey into Imagination" , Future World , M.C. Escher , "Relativity”, Kodak , Rochester N.Y., "Journey in Your Imagination" , "Journey into Imagination with Figment" , ghosts , spirits , Dreamfinder, Figment, AA figure, The Conservatory , The Grand Ballroom

• Good Grief ! Family members very unhappy with new Charles M. Schulz bio

  Jim Hill doesn't quite know what to make of "Schulz and Peanuts." Given that David Michaelis's biography of the late "Peanuts" creator has really upset the surviving members of the Schulz clan Read More... Posted Wednesday, October 17, 2007 12:00 AM | 17 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, Walt Disney, "Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography", "Walt Disney : The Triumph of the American Imagination", "The Animated Man : A Life of Walt Disney", Neal Gabler, Charles M. Schulz, Monte Schulz, Diane Disney Miller, Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, Michael Barrier

• "Walt Disney's Cinderella" is a picture-perfect picture book

  Jim Hill reviews this new hardcover from Disney Press. Which features a spectacular selection of Mary Blair's concept art for Walt Disney Productions' 1950 release Read More... Posted Thursday, October 04, 2007 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: animation, book, Disney, DVD / Video, movies, Walt Disney, traditional animation, Disney Press, "Peter Pan", Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Productions, "Walt Disney's Cinderella", "Cinderella", "Alice in Wonderland", Mary Blair, concept art, Newbury Medal, Cynthia Rylant, Animation Research Library, ARL, Jon Scieszka, WDAS

• "Walt Disney's Legends of Imagineering" looks to be worth the wait

  Jim Hill interviews Jeff Kurtti, the author of this long-delayed Disney Editions book. Who explains how expanding the scope of "The Genesis of the Disney Theme Park" wound up putting this eagerly-awaited paperback behind schedule Read More... Posted Wednesday, September 12, 2007 12:00 AM | 16 Comments Filed under: book, Disney, theme park, Walt Disney, attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, Imagineering, Disneyland, Marty Sklar, Walt Disney Productions, Jeff Kurtti, Bruce Gordon, Claude Coats, Harriet Burns, Fred Joerger, Eddie Sotto, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Julie Riehm, Buddy Baker, George Bruns, X Atencio, Plaza Inn Restaurant, Euro Disneyland, Disney Editions, "Walt Disney's Legends of Imagineering and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park", Herb Ryman, Disneyland Paris, The Matterhorn