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• 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 | 7 Comments Filed under: Disneyland Resort, The Walt Disney World Resort, WDW, Disney Parks & Resorts, Disney Weddings, Disneyland, Disney, Walt Disney World

• Peter David maps out a campaign to save the Adventurers Club

  Jim Hill talks with this award-winning author, who has come up with a pretty clever plan to get the attention of Disney senior management Read More... Posted Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:00 AM | 8 Comments Filed under: John Lasseter, Disney CEO, Disney executives, Mr. Toad, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, night club, Cinderella Castle , The Walt Disney World Resort, campaign, cast member, cast members, Peter David, PI, Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, Pleasure Island, 1989, 1990, WDW, award, award-winning, Bob Iger, Steve Jobs, CEO, Disney Weddings, Disney World, Disneyana fans, Save Mr. Toad, Save the Adventurers Club, Adventurers Club, compass, compasses, Robert Iger, postage, proposal, The Adventurers Club, map, maps, writer , Walt Disney World

• 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: "A Bug's Life", "Cars", Jim Henson, theme park attraction, thrill ride, Emeryville, "Toy Story Mania", "Toy Story", coaster, animated character, animated feature, animation, Disneyland Resort, Disney's California Adventure, Disney's Hollywood Studios, theme park, Carsland, soundstage , Pete Docter, Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, Pixar campus, 2011, WDI, WDW, attraction, "Monsters Inc.", Disney Pixar , Disney Princess, Disney World, Disneyland, DCA, DHS, Disney, Imagineer, Imagineering, Imagineers, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney World

• Just how spectacular was WDW's Bicentennial spectacular?

  In this week's Why For column, Jim Hill looks back to July of 1976. To be specific, all of the advance preparation that WDW officials put into that resort's Bicentennial fireworks display Read More... Posted Friday, July 18, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: January, Jeff Lange, JeffLangeDVD, theme park guest, Epcot, parade, parades, visually stunning , Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort, The Walt Disney World Resort, theme park, cast member, cast members, show, Sleeping Beauty Castle, soft opening, sound check, fireworks, fireworks display, fireworks extravaganza , Crowne Plaza, 1974, 1976, water , water pageant, water skiing, WDW, WDWCelebrations , audience, staging, Disney World, Disneyland, lagoon , lagoon show, Seven Seas Lagoon, Disney, promotion, hotel, Why For, World Showcase, World Showcase Lagoon, Walt Disney World

• In just one week, the Con is on !

  Jim Hill reviews the programming for Comic-Con 2008 and then points out some panels & signings that Disneyana fans should probably seek out while they're down in San Diego Read More... Posted Thursday, July 17, 2008 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: "Bolt", Disney / Pixar, Disney Channel, "Prince of Persia", "Up", "The Little Mermaid -- Ariel's Beginning", TV, TV show, Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, film, 2008, 2009, Chris Sanders, Eric Goldberg, feature film , Disney, ABC, ABC reality series, movie, comic book, comic books , television, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Home Entertainment

• Look for Mickey to get Shanghai-ed in September

  Jim Hill shares what he knows about Disney's theme park for Mainland China. Which should be officially announced this Fall Read More... Posted Tuesday, July 15, 2008 12:00 AM | 20 Comments Filed under: Disney / Pixar, theme park, shows, Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, 2012, Hong Kong Disneyland, WDI, attraction, attractions, Bob Iger, Shanghai, Shanghai Disneyland, design phase, Disney, rides, Imagineer, Imagineering

• 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 / Pixar, Nemo, "Toy Story", "WALL-E" , "Finding Nemo", "The Incredibles", Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, The Walt Disney World Resort, theme park, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, 2003, 2009, WDW, WDW guests, WDW vacations, "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise , Dory, Disney Parks & Resorts, Disney Pixar , Disney World, Disney World vacation, Shanghai, Shanghai Disneyland, Buzz Lightyear, Disney, resort, resorts, retheming, hotel, hotel rooms, Walt Disney World

• Tune Thursday : Looking back at the development of Broadway's "Lion King"

  Jim Hill chats with Derek Smith, the actor who's now playing Scar in this Tony Award-winning musical. But whose ties to this show actually go all the way back to the costume & mask tests that Julie Taymor did in her workshop Read More... Posted Friday, July 11, 2008 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Tony Award, Tony Award winner, "The Green Bird", musical, New Amsterdam Theatre, New York, New York City, "The Lion King", "The Madness of King Scar", 1997, rehearsal, rehearsal pianist, NYC, stage, stage manager, stage show , stage version, staging, Disney Theatrical, Julie Taymor, Scar, Broadway, Broadway musical, Broadway production, Derek Smith, Disney, Minskoff Theatre, costume concept, costume designer , costumes, mask, workshop

• Watch out, Toontown ! Here come the Tappet Brothers

  Are TV viewers really ready for a toon tune-up show? Jim Hill shares what he knows about PBS's newest series, "As the Wrench Turns" Read More... Posted Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:00 AM | 8 Comments Filed under: "Cars", Tom Sito, animated feature, animated series , animation, sitcom , TV, TV show, Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, Disney

• Monday Mouse Watch : The Winter of Disney's Discontent

  With late 2008 / early 2009 projected to be an extremely challenging time for the WDW resort, Mouse House managers are already getting aggressive about cost containment. Jim Hill details some of the changes that are now being made around property Read More... Posted Monday, July 07, 2008 12:00 AM | 24 Comments Filed under: Magic Kingdom, Disney's Boardwalk Inn, Disney's Contemporary Resort, The Magic Kingdom, Pleasure Island, WDW, Downtown Disney, Disney World, Liberty Tree Tavern , Adventurers Club, The Adventurers Club, Walt Disney World

• 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: "Before the Parade Passes By" , introduction, James Bond, Jerry Herman, robot, Rotten Tomatoes, Tony Award, Tony Award winner, Tony Award-winner , Tony Baxter , "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" , musical, New York, New York City, E.J. Peaker , Eddie Sotto, "WALL-E" , 14th Street , Love Bug Parade , Magic Kingdom, CHUD, "Hello, Andrew Stanton, Disneyland Paris, "It Only Takes a Moment" , "Kung Fu Panda", The Magic Kingdom, showtunes , turn-of-the-century , Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, film, "Condorman" , "Disneyland Showtime" , "Elegance" , 1969, 1970 , 1970s , 1981, 2008, 20th Century Fox, WDI, WDW, area music , Barbara Carrera , Barbara Streisand , opening weekend, opening weekend grosses, original Broadway production, "Phantom of the Opera", "The Wonderful World of Disney" , spoof , CG, CG feature, Euro Disneyland, extras , Dolly Levi , Dolly!", domestic release, Donny Osmond, dress shop , Merrill Osmond , Michael Crawford , Disney Pixar , Disneyana fans, Disneyland, senior Vice President of Creative Development , futuristic fable , Gene Kelly , Minnie Fay , Miss Molloy, movie, movie star, movies, Cornelius Hackl , price tag , Imagineer, Imagineering, Imagineers, television, The Haunted Mansion, Main Street U.S.A., Main Street USA, Woody Wilkins , Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Productions, Walt Disney World

• Monday Mouse Watch : Why Pleasure Island has to close

  Jim Hill talks about the real reason WDW's night club complex is shuttering. Which is Mickey's desire to create a seamless Guest experience for all those shopping & dining at Downtown Disney Read More... Posted Monday, June 30, 2008 12:00 AM | 54 Comments Filed under: night club, night club complex, night clubs, guest, The Walt Disney World Resort, the West Side, Pleasure Island, WDW, attraction, Downtown Disney, Disney Village Marketplace, Disney World, Adventurers Club, Walt Disney World

• What's in store for the Disney Stores

  With nearly a hundred of these shops closing around the country this week, Jim Hill looks to the future of this troubled retail chain. To be specific, Disney Consumer Products' plans to make the Disney Stores seems special & unique again Read More... Posted Friday, June 27, 2008 12:00 AM | 25 Comments Filed under: "Back to the Future" , unique , units , Rockford IL, today's marketplace , Toronto, Disney Consumer Products, Naples FL, New York State, Macy’s, MAGIC Guest Service program, Greet Your Guest, Palm Springs , Pennsylvania, Andrew Mooney , Canada, cast member, cast members, special , customer loyalty , reignite , relaunch, repeat customer, Assess Your Guest, Nordstrom, North America , best customers , specialty retailer, chain, Chairman of Disney Consumer Products, exceed expectations, DS, Michigan, Disney Store, Disney Stores, Disneyana fans, scarcity , selling space , bottom line , brand loyalty, Buffalo, Licensing International Expo, Licensing International Expo 2008, liquidation , Davenport, DCP , Disney, mid-1990s, Missouri, Conclude, restructuring, retail chain , revival , premier retailers , public perception , Individualize Service, industry average , The Gap , Maintain Your Presence, mall

• 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: "American Idol" , "American Idol" TV show, "Block Party Bash" , interactive entertainment , January, round of auditions, theme park attraction, theme park guest, tourist , Disney Guests, Disney Legal , "The American Idol Experience" , "Toy Story Mania", 19 Entertainment, talent pool , talent-free singer , closed-door sessions , "High School Musical 2: School's Out!" , "Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue" , Grand Finale, guaranteed reservation, hair , pep rally , perform live , performers, video screen , vocal coach , Disney's Hollywood Studios, The Walt Disney World Resort, theme park, capacity , show, Simon Cowell, simulcast, singing, solo, TV show, finale, finalist, finalists, "Doug Live !" , "Festival of the Lion King", crowd-pleaser, 2009, high profile project, Hollywood Boulevard, hopefuls, WDI, WDW, WDW executives, WDW guests, recording booth , regional audition , attraction, audition, audition process , auditions, backstage, behind-the-scenes , once-in-a-lifetime , onstage, operational issues, Operations, Ops staff , "Superstar Television", FastPass, Dream Ticket , Disney Parks & Resorts, judges, Jumbotron, jump the line, Kinks, live instruments, December , DHS, Disney, a cappella, Actors' Equity, age limit , preliminary shows , pre-recorded instrumental track, pre-recorded music, production company , ineligible, initial screening , make the cut , make-up , working the bugs out , Walt Disney World

• Stage version of "Mary Poppins" draws a lot of its inspiration from ... Well, drawings

  Jim Hill looks back at the development of this Disney / Cameron Mackintosh production. Which is not just based on the 1964 film, but also draws its inspiration from P.L. Travers' stories and Mary Shepard's illustrations Read More... Posted Friday, June 20, 2008 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: "A Spoonful of Sugar" , "Anything Can Happen If You Let It", "Bad Wednesday" , Robertson Ay, Royal Doulton , Ruth Gottschall, title role, Tony Award, "Practically Perfect" , Mrs Corry , musical, national tour, Neleus, New Amsterdam Theatre, New York, Ed Wynn, England, 1934, 1943, 1964, London, talking shop, governess, "The Marble Boy", P L Travers , penguins, Annie, Anthony Drewe , "Jolly Holiday", "Let's Go Fly a Kite" , "Mary Poppins Comes Back" , "Mary Poppins in the Park" , "Mary Poppins Opens the Door" , "Mary Poppins", Theatre Royal Plymouth , Cameron Mackintosh , film, footman, creative team , 2009, Ashley Brown , bake shop, barley-sugar, North American National Tour , NYC, birdcage , Bob Crowley, stage, stage show , stage version, Starlighter , statue , statues, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", "Temper Temper" , chapter, Chicago, Fannie, Drama Desk Award, Disney Theatrical, Julian Fellowes, Julie Andrews, Karen Dotrice, set, set designer , setting, Broadway, Broadway musical, Broadway production, Cadillac Palace Theatre, Gavin Lee , George Stiles , gilt stars , gingerbread , Gingerbread Stars , Dick Van Dyke, Disney, Academy Award, Miss Andrew, motion picture, movie, constellations , costume designer , costumes, Richard Eyre, road company, production team, illustration, illustrations, March, Mary Poppins, Mary Shepard , Matthew Bourne , Matthew Garber