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• Wanna get a sneak peek at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World? Then go conjure up a copy of the “Half-Blood Prince” DVD

  Jim Hill talks about the 11-minute long featurette that’s found on the just-released Blu-ray & 2-Disc Special Edition of this new Warner Home Video title. Which takes the most detailed look – to date – at this 20-acre addition to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure Read More... Posted Tuesday, December 08, 2009 12:00 AM | 0 Comments Filed under: theme park, Universal Studios, attraction, Harry Potter, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando, Blu-ray, DVD, Christmas, theme park visitor, theme park guest, Harry Potter films, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, 2009, IOA, Universal Orlando Resort, rides, ride, Christmas present, theme park attraction, Warner Bros. , Universal Creative Studio, Universal Creative, holiday, holidays, Christmas gift

• NFFC Disney World Holiday Extravaganza places the emphasis on in-park fun

  Jim Hill chats with Anita Schaengold, Special Events Chairperson for the NFFC-Disneyana Fan Club about this year’s programming changes. Which will leave more time to explore & enjoy WDW’s theme parks Read More... Posted Friday, November 27, 2009 12:00 AM | 1 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, convention, attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Anaheim, Orlando, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Wilderness Lodge, The Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain, Disney's Yacht Club Resort, The Haunted Mansion, Disneyana, WDW, Christmas, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, National Fantasy Fan Club, Disneyana Enthusiasts, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, holiday season , Disneyana community , operational issues, theme parks, The Princess and the Frog, Disneyana fan, holiday, Tomorrowland, Walt Disney World Resort, holidays, Disney's Beach Club Resort, Operational

• Coaster Corner: Tomorrowland favorite gets a warp speed makeover

  Jim Hill talks with Steve Roach, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy's show producer, about how the Imagineers turned this indoor coaster into a Halloween Time-themed attraction in record time Read More... Posted Friday, October 16, 2009 12:00 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: theme park, attraction, Disneyland, Anaheim, Space Mountain, Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, Imagineer, 2009, 2007, ride, Imagineers, redo, thrill ride, roller coaster, Tomorrowland, Disneyland Park, Halloween Time

• Monster Mansion comes roaring back to life at Six Flags Over Georgia

  Jim Hill brings you a report from the press preview for this newly enhanced & restored attraction. Which -- FYI -- features a surprising amount of numbers to The Walt Disney Company Read More... Posted Monday, May 18, 2009 12:00 PM | 1 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Imagineering, WED, Splash Mountain, Song of the South, Imagineer, dark ride, Chickapen Hill, 2008, 2009, theme park attraction, 1967, 1981, rehab

• Monster Plantation's makeover nearly complete, revamped attraction opens this Saturday

  Jim Hill talks about this popular Six Flags Over Georgia dark ride. Which – after 7 months of renovations – is about to invite its very first Guests to attend a newly enhanced Monster pic-nic Read More... Posted Thursday, May 14, 2009 12:00 AM | 5 Comments Filed under: theme park, attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, 2008, 2009, ride, theme park attraction, 1981, animatronic

• IAAPA Attractions Expo showcases the spectacular and the surreal

  Jim Hill reports in from the floor of the Orange County Convention Center. Where 25,000 themed entertainment professionals have gathered for their annual convention Read More... Posted Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: animation, theme park, attraction, Steve Martin, teen, tourists, 2008, 2009, The Walt Disney World Resort, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, tourist , theme parks, animatronic , exhibit, IAAPA, IAAPA Attractions Expo, OCCC, International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, conference, trade show, Orange County Convention Center, Andreas Petrides, Egyptian, King Tut, exhibition, exhibit space, exhibition space, cowpoke, stallion, climbing structure, Mark Hanson, exhibition floor, teens, Flogo, Walt Disney World Resort, concept painting, Lost Worlds of Jules Verne, Jules Verne, Pumpkin King, Mandalay Bay, inflatables

• The Disneyland expansion plan that never happened

  In this week's "Why For" column, Jim Hill talks about the contents of a three ring binder. Which contains WED's plans -- circa 1982 -- to radically expand Disneyland's capacity until this theme park could comfortably handle 17 million Guests every year Read More... Posted Friday, November 14, 2008 12:00 AM | 4 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean, Michael Eisner, WED, Disneyland, Epcot, America Sings, Country Bear Playhouse, Frank Wells, Walt Disney Productions, Epcot Center, The American Adventure, World Showcase, Tokyo Disneyland, France, WDI, it's a small world, Walt Disney Imagineering, attractions, shows, rides, ride, show, Mary Poppins, 1981, Tron , 1982, Tomorrowland

• What's so significant about that shaving creme can?

  Jim Hill reveals how Universal Creative used a particular prop in one of its USH attractions to help tie up a loose story thread from "Jurassic Park," the movie Read More... Posted Thursday, September 18, 2008 12:00 AM | 11 Comments Filed under: theme park, Universal Studios, attraction, Hollywood, Universal, ride, Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park River Adventure, Universal Creative, Universal Studios Hollywood , ride designer

• 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 | 31 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, animated feature, Cars Land, Pete Docter, theme park attraction, soundstage , 2011, coaster, Imagineers, Disney Pixar , thrill ride, DHS

• 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, theme park, Pixar, attraction, Imagineering, Bob Iger, Pixar Animation Studios, Hong Kong Disneyland, WDI, Imagineer, Disney / Pixar, attractions, shows, rides, design phase, 2012, Shanghai, Shanghai Disneyland

• 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

• 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

• 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, Orlando, Universal Orlando, WDI, Florida, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort, Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park River Adventure, theme park attraction, President, Universal Studios Florida , Lisa Simpson, Bart Simpson, Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Universal Creative Studio, Universal Creative, Krusty the Clown, Krustyland, Mike West, Buddy Dyer, Joey Fatone, Mayor, Richard Benefield, God's Waiting Room, Bill Davis, Gracie Films, Consumer Electronics, AARP, Universal Orlando guests, opening ceremony, Timex, live orchestra, school children, chief operating officer, confetti, walkaround characters, walkaround character, ribbon, Princess Mononoke

• 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 | 8 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, key franchises, lagoon , diecast car, 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, stunt director, 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 : 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