January, 2003

Set the Wayback for June of 1993. For Jim Hill's about to take us all back to get a peek at WDI's original concept for WDW's "Animal Kingdom" theme park....

Jim Hill returns with a review of Russell Schroeder's last DK Publications project, which casts an affectionate and authorative eye back on 100 years of Disney Company history....

In an update so big, it took a few extra days to complete, Jim answers your questions about "Song of the South," reveals the real story about Epcot's "Person of the Century" poll, as well as unveils which books Mr. Hill might have in the works. ...

Jim Hill reviews this new making-of book, which gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the latest film from the Japanese Walt Disney, animation legend Hayao Miyazaki....

Jim Hill takes a moment to reflect on the career of one of his favorite Imagineers....

Jim Hill returns with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim offers up info about ABC's made-for-TV musicals and Disney Feature Animation's new President David Stainton, then tells you how to get on the Disney lot in Burbank ... followed by another shameless pitch for contributions....

In today's somewhat informal installment, Jim Hill brings up to speed about what's going on with the site's "At Home Imagineering" feature as well as offering a brief review of the latest issue of "The 'E' Ticket" magazine....

Using "Kangaroo Jack" as his jumping off point, Jim Hill reveals how short sighted Disney studio execs robbed the Mouse House of its one big chance to become a major player in the digital film-making field....

As anticipation builds for next month's airing of "The Music Man" on ABC's "The Wonderful World of Disney," Jim Hill asks: What happens when you remake a musical that (perhaps) doesn't really need remaking?...

Jim Hill returns with even more answers to your Disney related questions. This time around, Jim talks about Disney Television Animation projects that didn't make the cut, a sequence that got cut from "Alice in Wonderland," and an update on The Tower of Terror stories......

Jim Hill returns with a review of Mark Cotta Vaz and Craig Barron's great new book about matte painting. If you love hearing behind-the-scenes stories about how your favorite movies were made, this really is the book for you!...

Why is the Guest Relations staff at the Disney theme parks no longer bending over backwards to please Mickey's pickier customers? Jim Hill explains why the Walt Disney Company abandoned its long standing customer service policy ... then reveals that a change may already be in the works....

Jim Hill explores many of the causes behind the under-performance of this recent Walt Disney Studios release....

In honor of January 6th (AKA the "Feast of Fools"), Jim tells you why a particular sequence ended up getting cut out of Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." ...

Jim Hill returns from his sojourn to Georgia with even more answers to your Disney related questions. This time around, he expounds on New England's recent snowfall rates, teases an upcoming "Treasure Planet" story, offers some additional insights about what's been going on with Disney and the Muppets, and -- before he heads back out into the snow -- even finds time to say something nice about Al Lutz....

It's been a long time coming, but its finally here. With all new information and more exciting material in hand, Jim Hill delves back into the long history behind the ill-fated streetacular. ...

In this first installment of the radically revamped version of his streetacular saga, Jim Hill shines a spotlight on "Light Magic"'s predecessor: Disneyland's "Main Street Electrical Parade," a show that DL Entertainment staffers really didn't care for ... but that the public loved....

In the second installment of the radically revamped version of his streetacular saga, Jim Hill takes you inside Disneyland's Entertainment Office, revealing why they did what they did. More importantly, Jim gives you a peek at the street shows that you almost got to see....

In the third installment of the radically revamped version of his streetacular saga, Jim Hill tells you about how the Lumins became pixies and how "Tinker Bell's Night Magic" became "Tinker Bell's Light Magic."...

As Jim Hill continues his revamped version of "Light Magic" saga, he takes a moment to explain the Disneyland Entertainment Office's side of the story. Why they did what they did. How "Tinker Bell's Light Magic"'s somewhat strange storyline ended up the way that it did....

As Jim Hill begins his trek south (to host the inaugural series of JHM WDW tours), he offers up the next installment of his "Light Magic" series, detailing what happened as the "streetacular" entered into its last week of previews and rehearsals. ...

As Jim Hill rolls out the next chapter of the revamped version of this continuing series, he gets to the real meat of the matter: how technical snafus and misleading PR pretty much tripped up the "streetacular" before "Light Magic" even had its world premiere....

Before Jim Hill gets started on the next installment of the revamped version of the of the "Light Magic" saga (which will detail the infamous annual passholders preview party), he reveals which well-intentioned divisions of the Disneyland Resort -- while trying to be supportive of the "streetacular" -- actually sent the show to its doom....

As Jim Hill continues the radically revamped version of his saga of Disneyland's ill-fated "streetacular," he details what actually happened the night of "Light Magic"'s infamous annual passholder preview....