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• Toon Tuesday: How to have a rockin' good time on Mickey Mouse’s birthday

  Looking for different ways to spend November 18th? Jim Hill's suggestions takes you from a museum to Broadway, from rock 'n' roll memorabilia auctions to theme park attractions Read More... Posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:00 AM | 3 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, theme park, TV, Walt Disney, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland Paris, Miley Cyrus, Chicago, Mickey Mouse, Michael Jackson, Walt Disney Studios, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Paris, animated character, Broadway musical, 1998, 2009, TV show, animated short, Hannah Montana , 1996 , Jonas Brothers, rock 'n' roll , thrill ride, rock legends , rock legend, roller coaster, national tour, theme parks, 1999, Shrek the Musical, Broadway Theatre, Walt Disney Company, 1928, Colony Theater, Steamboat Willie, birthday, 2002, Disney XD, TV series, rock star

• "Clown Prince of Disneyland" is a must-own ... If you can find a copy to purchase, that is

  Jim Hill wonders why there's plenty of room at the Happiest Place on Earth for WALL-E merchandise, but no shelf space to spare when it comes to Disney Legend Wally Boag Read More... Posted Wednesday, November 11, 2009 12:00 AM | 6 Comments Filed under: book, theme park, Walt Disney, Disneyland, The Walt Disney Company, Bruce Gordon, Disney Editions, Disneyana, Disney Parks & Resorts, theme park guest, 2009, The Walt Disney World Resort, Golden Horseshoe , Wally Boag, 2007, WALL-E, Walt Disney Company, Golden Horseshoe Revue, Disneyland Park, The Walt Disney Family Museum

• 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

• ... and then go behind-the-screams at Knott's Scary Farm

  Jim Hill reveals photos that Angela Ragno took last month while they toured two still-under-construction mazes for Halloween Haunt. WARNING: This article contains at least one shot that is somewhat grotesque Read More... Posted Friday, October 09, 2009 12:00 AM | 0 Comments Filed under: theme park, theme park visitor, theme park guest, 2009, Halloween, September, Knott's Berry Farm , props, construction, design team, maze, finale, set, costumes, Santa, Santa's sleigh, Halloween Haunt, Knott's Scary Berry, Buena Park, Knott's Merry Farm, Terror of London, sets, design, mazes, walk-thru, still-under-construction, year-round, 13 Axe Murder Manor , Brooke Walters, propping, bodies, scare, Scare Force, Lockdown: The Asylum, The Asylum, Ghost Town, electrocution, chain link, finale sequence, picnic table, seasonal event, maze designer, picnic, picnic tables

• You don’t know Jack about Disneyland’s “Halloween Screams - A Villainous Surprise in the Skies"

  Jim Hill talks with John Addis, Senior Show Director for Disney Entertainment Productions, about how this new fireworks show came together Read More... Posted Wednesday, October 07, 2009 12:00 AM | 0 Comments Filed under: animation, Disney, theme park, fireworks, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Anaheim, Disney Legend, The Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Resort, The Haunted Mansion, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Dumbo, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, WDW, Paul Frees, Ghost Host, Jack Skellington, spider, 2009, Disney World, Halloween, snow, 2005, November, Cinderella Castle , Walt Disney Creative Entertainment , Steve Davison, parades, fireworks display, flight path , trick-or-treat, trick or treat, Zero, Disneyland Park, Castle, John Addis, Scream-Along, shell, public performance, Senior Show Director, Disney Entertainment Productions, fireworks show, magical orb, spectaculars, magical, flight pattern, main street, snow falling, Disney Villains, Ursula the Sea Witch, Oogie Boogie, The Hub, The Ghost Host, Cruella De Vil, trick-or-treating, Ursula, spiders, Castle walls, Haunted Mansion, Halloween fireworks display, Corey Burton, Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, snow falling on Main Street, Halloween Time, Disneyland Guests, Halloween Screams, M.C., Halloween Screams - A Villainous Surprise in the Skies, Disney Villain, Happy HalloWishes, shimmering lights, Happy HalloWishes: A Grim Grinning Ghost Spectacular in the Sky

• The Muppets lead the way with Disney Parks & Resorts' new "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" promotion

  Jim Hill talks up this new Walt Disney Company initiative. Which hopes to inspire a million people to do volunteer work in their local communities Read More... Posted Wednesday, September 30, 2009 12:00 AM | 10 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Muppets, Jim Henson, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, promotion, Anaheim, Orlando, Desperate Housewives, The Walt Disney Company, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Kermit the Frog, Canada, Chicago, Disney Parks & Resorts, Mr. Toad, LA, promotional campaign, 2009, legacy, December , website , worksite, 2010, January, campaign, free admission, birthday, What Will You Celebrate?, What Will You Celebrate, Disney theme park, online, Walt Disney World Resort, Muppet, Robin, framing, Habitat for Humanity, Give a Day Get a Disney Day, Miss Piggy, Mad Tea Party, volunteer, volunteer work, local community, local communities, initiative, Teri Hatcher, James Denton, Bethune School of Excellence, Photo ID, Puerto Rico, 18 years of age, volunteering, free ticket, terms & conditions, Muppet-themed, terms and conditions, Get a Disney Day, Give a Day

• Mickey & Minnie say "Farewell" to Toontown Fair, "Hello" to the Town Square Exhibition Hall

  Jim Hill brings the latest news of the Fantasy Forest project. Which involves the Toontown crew packing up and moving to new digs down on Main Street USA Read More... Posted Tuesday, September 29, 2009 12:00 AM | 18 Comments Filed under: theme park, Imagineering, Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Disney Fairies, Dumbo Circus, Mickey Mouse, Dumbo, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, Walt Disney Studios, D23, animated feature, Disneyana fans, Main Street USA, 2001, guest, guests, 1401 Flower Street, Town Square Exposition Hall, autographs, Goofy , character , coaster, Imagineers, characters , Disney characters, Mickey's Toontown Fair , D23 EXPO, Disneyana fan, Walt Disney World Resort, 1941, The Barnstormer, Barnstormer, Goofy's Wiseacre Farm, kiddie coaster, Casey Jr., Casey Jr. Circus Train, circus train, Casey Jr. Jr., clearance issues, Wiseacre Farm, smokestack, off the table, pies, seltzer, expansion, Fantasy Forest, Magic Kingdom expansion, country house, country home, Town Square, Minnie, Minnie Mouse, 100 Years of Magic, Toontown Fair, photographs, country mouse, city mouse, Zoo Crew, Big Cheese, friend-of-Mickey, homeless, friends-of-Mickey, air conditioning, Operational, motion picture industry, Duckburg, heat, Duckburg USA, humidity, USA, Operational standpoint, The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm

• Gary Vaynerchuk wants you to think outside of the box wine

  Jim Hill reports in from the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Where the “King of Social Media” held court this past Friday Read More... Posted Monday, September 28, 2009 12:00 AM | 0 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Orlando, World Showcase, Brazil, Mickey Mouse, Hollywood, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, international, Variety, November, Food & Beverage , Green, Red, marketplace, Walt Disney World Resort, rock star, Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival, International Food and Wine Festival, Food and Wine Festival, wine seminar, education, entertainment, Gary Vaynerchuk, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, sheep butt, socks, Odyssey, Odyssey restaurant, vintage, vintages, WDW visitor, King of Social Media, mantra, You gotta try new things, chianti, Chianti Classico, Shiraz, Green Point Reserve, Green Point Reserve Shiraz, Satori Di Verona, wine world, wine, Napa, Washington State, Walla Walla, reds, white, whites, vintner, vintners, authentic experience, Misha, WDW visitors, food, drink, U.S., Pinot, varieties, webcast, The Thunder Show, confidence, box wine, cuisine, international marketplaces, marketplaces, Rio de Janeiro, Bangkok, foodie, 14th annual International Food & Wine Festival

• Why the bloom is never off the rose at Epcot's International Flower & Garden Festival

  Jim Hill chats with Eric Darden, horticultural manager for this WDW annual event. Who reveals what goes on after-hours so that Guests will always see beautiful bedding plants whenever they attend this 75-day-long festival Read More... Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, Epcot, WDW, theme park visitor, 2009, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2006, Epcot Flower & Garden Festival, theme parks

• 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

• Have you ever wondered what Central Florida was like before the Mouse moved in? Then go check out the Disney Wilderness Preserve

  Jim Hill shares some photos of this beautiful corner of Kissimmee. Which The Nature Conservancy is working to restore to its original pristine condition Read More... Posted Thursday, October 30, 2008 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, Walt Disney World, Kissimmee, WDI, Central Florida, Jeff Lange, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, brush, Disney World vacation, natural environment , wilderness preserve , theme parks, original, The Disney Wilderness Preserve, Disney Wilderness Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, Nature Conservancy, Lake Russell, restoration, sand crane, wildlife, Preserve, undeveloped, wild turkeys, turkeys, trails, trail, visitor center, saw palmetto, palmetto, rental car, eco-friendly, ecology, ecological restoration, ecological, brush clearing, controlled burn, natural plant growth, plant growth, nature, Walker Ranch, original state, pristine condition, pristine

• Mickey Mouse balloons brighten a grey day in Boston

  One of the Disney Parks Celebrations Teams rolled into Beantown yesterday to help promote 2009's "What Will You Celebrate" campaign. And Jim Hill was there as they began handing out 2500 free balloons to shoppers at Downtown Crossing Read More... Posted Tuesday, September 30, 2008 12:00 AM | 2 Comments Filed under: Disney, theme park, promotion, Boston, Disney Parks & Resorts, promotional campaign, 2008, 2009, Downtown Crossing, balloons, Mickey Mouse balloons, Registration Station, Washington Street, Tremont Street, Beantown, Disney Parks Celebrations Team, free admission, free balloon, free balloons, birthday, Blue Monday, Boston Common, grey day, What Will You Celebrate?, What Will You Celebrate, Disney theme park, theme park admission, Mickey Mouse balloon