Oh, I HATE those over-sugary Disney hosts. HATE THEM.

The worst is when you get one on Jungle Cruise. Jungle Cruise is a fun ride IF you get a decent guide, but when your guide sucks the ride sucks, and you've wasted your time waiting on line.

The best Disney hosts are the ones who blend the mandatory whimsy with a slightly dark, ironic sense of humor. One time in the Magic Kingdom, I had a Jungle Cruise operator who, when we headed into the tunnel, started singing "It's A Small World" and informed us that if we lose our children, they became property of the Disney corporation. And this was a good eight years before that "Family Guy" episode where that exact thing happened to Stewie.

I know that when you apply for a job as a cast member, they ask you who your favorite Disney character is, to get a sense of the type of person you are. Some days I wish the park could only be staffed by people who reply "Donald Duck."

Great . . . But if you are going to do this regularly, you need to put it in a format where people can subscribe.

Hi Jim -

I just listened to the first podcast and have a few comments and suggestions.  First, I do hope they make updates to the Indy show, but nothing from Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.  Nothing that I have seen on TV or the internet leads me to believe that movie is going to be good.  Plus, can you really trust anything George Lucas or Steven Spielberg touch these days?

As for my suggestions, let me preface this by saying I work in radio and I think I can help with your audio problems.  First, if you are using the kind of mic that one would use for web chats, than that is your problem.  They aren't made for vocal performances, so they can't pick up sound as well as professional grade mics.  

Second, have you considered having either Max or yourself on the telephone?  I know you think it will sound bad, but think about talk radio.  90% of a host's guests are on the phone.  It's just an easier way to record.  If you need further convincing check out the college football podcast at ESPN.com.  Beno Cook always does his half over the phone and it sounds fine.  If you scan eBay you might be able to find what's called a "phone hybrid" for very little money.  

Hope this helps.  You might also want to talk to the folks at mousketrips to kick in for some studio time.  

D

I think you're missing the point of Disney, Jim.  Strange but true.  I just got back from a trip to Tokyo, and did make it over to TDL, where somehow there's been a bizarre rip in the space-time continuum and the Disneyland of 1983 has taken up residence there -- sparkling, pristine walkways without a lick of trash; lovingly maintained attractions without incessant cartoon overlays (though that appears to be coming and inevitable); a system of regulating crowds that results in manageable queues despite being the world's No. 1 theme park; and, most importantly, incredibly happy, sweet, genuine, helpful Cast Members.

Cast Members are what MAKE the Disney experience, particularly for children.  For kids, it's a rare chance to see adults being NICE and helpful, something that is less and less frequent in the real world.

It is a shame that you feel  they are too "perky."  In the U.S., frankly, they're not perky enough.  They are supposed to be upholding and maintaining a sense of hyper-reality, the way things could be in our own world if only we cared enough to make them so.  They are supposed to be showcasing what is good about people's behavior toward people.

Too perky?

Perhaps you're just too cynical.

I know that folks like you and Evil Uncle Frank think Disney is for you, but it's not ... it's for the young and the young at heart, where "age" is supposed to "relive fond memories of youth."  This is not our world, but a perfect version of that.  It's a SHOW.  It's not real.  Put yourself in the mindset of a child experiencing this for the first time.  Do you want him to experience sardonic humor, indifferent service and lackidaisical attitude?  Or do you want him walking away thinking that there is a possible world out there in which people smile at each other and treat each other with respect?

I'd prefer the latter.  If you're in the camp of the former, head over to Six Flags ... or, sadly, to more and more U.S. Disney theme parks.

One other question, Jim -- you say that you were there for a media preview in May 1989, but Disney-MGM Studios opened May 1, 1989, and the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectactular opened in August 1989.  Curious about that ... ?

Also, Lucasfilm is NOT headquartered in San Rafael, but in San Francisco.  Yes, Skywalker Ranch is in San Rafael, but Lucasfilm itself is based at the Letterman Digital Arts Center.

Lastly, why repeat so many rumors about "Indiana Jones"?  These are kind of silly rumors -- that LUCAS (not Spielberg, the director) was trying to get Sean Connery in the last few WEEKS?  Ummmmmmmmm ... they shot the movie six months ago.  It's silly to think that, especially after Ford, Lucas and Spielberg all said that they were OK with Connery not being in the movie, they'd be trying to get Connery in there in post-production.  Also, all three (Lucas, Spielberg and Ford) have said that they are NOT planning new movies with LaBeouf in an Indy role.  This is simply rumor-mongering, Jim ... not based on any sort of reality.  Unless you have some direct tie to Lucas that you haven't mentioned? Do you have any sort of hard facts to back you up on your assertations about Lucas?

I'm gonna listen to it momentarily, but I have to admit I prefer text.  Podcasts aren't very friendly to deaf folks (not that I am one), and I never know what to do with my eyes and hands while I'm listening.  Plus I can read the equivalent text faster than I can listen to it.

Sorry Jim, I'll stick with text.  Easier to be selective, and you can recheck comments like "Copyright 2009 Paramount Pictures."

More podcasts, please. I like to listen while driving, and sometimes the live aspect means we hear more interesting tidbits as a result of the 'rabbit hole' effect. Another plus is the length, so even more information is given than in a normal JimHillMedia.com article. Keep 'em coming, gents!

--to dvranos,

If Jim is going to hook up an XLR to a phone line, I actually think that he'll need something like a digital innkeeper, rather than a hybrid.  I never got very good results from my hybrid.

Lemme say I'm not a podcast guy. Usually don't have a lot of time to sit and listen to them.

But I made the leap and did this time. Jim and Max need someone to stand over them and keep them on the topic. Probably could have cut about half of the stuff and still been enjoyable.

Rambling guys, they are after this thing.

Kinda felt like I had wandered into someone's private joke.

Sorry.

George Lucas spoke to Fox news while in Cannes; the subject of a post CRYSTAL SKULL Indy project came up.

   "I haven’t even told Steven or Harrison this," he said. "But I have an idea to make Shia [LeBeouf] the lead character next time and have Harrison [Ford] come back like Sean Connery did in the last movie. I can see it working out.

   "And it’s not like Harrison is even old. I mean, he’s 65 and he did everything in this movie. The old chemistry is there, and it’s not like he’s an old man. He’s incredibly agile; he looks even better than he did 20 years ago, if you ask me."

Couldn't have said it any better