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• Monday Mouse Watch : Get ready for WDW's monstrous new coaster

  WARNING !! There be spoilers ahead as Jim Hill shares what he knows about the family-friendly attraction that will be opening at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the Fall of 2011 Read More... Posted Monday, July 21, 2008 12:00 AM | 29 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, theme park, Pixar, Jim Henson, attraction, Imagineering, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney's California Adventure, "Cars", Disney's Hollywood Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville, "A Bug's Life", "Toy Story", Disneyland Resort, Disney Princess, WDI, "Monsters Inc.", WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, DCA, Walt Disney Studios, animated character, Pixar campus, Disney World, "Toy Story Mania", animated feature, Carsland, Pete Docter, theme park attraction, soundstage , 2011, coaster, Imagineers, Disney Pixar , thrill ride, DHS

• 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, "Toy Story Mania", 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, Grand Finale, judges, Actors' Equity, "Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue" , Simon Cowell, finalist, Dream Ticket , guaranteed reservation, regional audition , "American Idol" TV show, jump the line, hopefuls, round of auditions, age limit , ineligible, Disney Legal , 19 Entertainment, 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

• 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

• 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

• Hard Rock ain't your Daddy's theme park

  JHM just got a sneak peek at Myrtle Beach's newest attraction. Which offered some pretty unique challenges to the Hard Rock's design team Read More... Posted Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:00 AM | 7 Comments Filed under: theme park, Universal Studios, fireworks, attraction, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Universal Orlando, WDW, Operations, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, show building, JHM, tourists, Universal Studios Orlando, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, hard ticket event, The Walt Disney World Resort, Halloween, theme park fans, attractions, rides, ride, show, theme park attraction, concert , SeaWorld Orlando, design team, hard ticket , June , Shamu Rocks , Universal Studios Florida , Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, rock 'n' roll , Hard Rock Park, media , roller soaker, "Slippery When Wet" , The Kinks, Kinks, "Maximum RPM" , ferris wheel, Myrtle Beach, Fantasy Lagoon , Fantasy Harbor , South Carolina, Waccamaw Factory Shoppes, hardcore music fans, Hard Rock , height restrictions , flight path , Myrtle Beach International Airport , HRP , FAA , FAA regulations, push the envelope , breaking the rules , "Led Zepplin : The Ride" , thrill ride, aircraft , looping coaster , inversions, lagoon show, nighttime water pageant, water pageant, Queen, "Bohemian Rhapsody" , dancing fountains, fountains, lasers, laser light, laser, low level fireworks, lagoon , Myrtle Beach community, Halloween hard ticket event , horror mazes , horror maze, maze, horror, rock legends , rock legend, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie , Marilyn Manson, sound check, soft opening, grand opening , concert performance, the Eagles , Eagles , the Moody Blues, Moody Blues, whimsical touches , whimsical touch, air guitar, signature attraction, signature attractions, snuff, queue, "Nights in White Satin: The Trip" , holographic glasses , black light, black light paint, stone cold sober, drugged, drugs , drugged out of your gourd

• 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

• 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

• Disney testing new ways to slow down FastPass counterfeiters

  Jim Hill talks about the plan that Disney Parks & Resorts has in the works to catch folks who are using bogus "Attraction Re-entry" tickets that they've purchased off of eBay. Which will involve scanning each individual FastPass for authenticity before the Mouse then allows that guest to enter a particular ride, show or attraction Read More... Posted Thursday, February 21, 2008 12:00 AM | 34 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, The Jungle Cruise, Anaheim, The Walt Disney Company, FastPass, The Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Resort, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDW, cast members, cast member, Disneyana Enthusiasts, Mouse, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, ticket sales, theme park fans, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, theme park attraction, admission , admission fee

• 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

• What a doll ! Remembering Joyce Carlson (1923 - 2008)

  Jim Hill pays tribute to this Disney Legend, who passed away this past Tuesday following a long bout with cancer Read More... Posted Friday, January 04, 2008 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Imagineering, WED, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Marc Davis, Anaheim, "Peter Pan", Disney Legend, The Walt Disney Company, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, John Hench, "Cinderella", Mary Blair, "Sleeping Beauty", Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney Parks & Resorts, WDI, "it's a small world", WDW, Imagineer, Fantasyland, Walt Disney Studios, LaughingPlace, The Walt Disney World Resort, animated feature, ride, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Disney Feature Animation, theme park attraction, Joyce Carlson, 1964 New York World Fair, New York World's Fair, retired, compliment, legacy, humble, concept phase, design phase, coloring, project development, detailed model, dimensional figure, Jim Korkis, 2003, "Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress", "America Sings", "The Haunted Mansion", doll, condolences, Hospice of the Comforter, Altamonte Springs, obituary