February, 2005

Jim Hill reveals a BERRY interesting story about where the Imagineers were thinking about resurrecting that history theme park that the Walt Disney Company originally had wanted to build in Virginia. (What's that? You say you don't like puns? Well, FARM be it from me to keep on torturing you, then. Here's the article ...)...

Jim Hill tries to describe what Disney's Long Beach theme park would have been like, reveals the schedule for this year's tours of Disneyland & Walt Disney World as well as telling LA-based JHM readers where they can go to try & score their very own copy of "Mr. 3000."...

Jim Hill takes another look at the aborted "Port Disney" project. In particular the rides, shows and attractions that were to have been presented in the resort's ocean-themed theme park....

The word is out that -- by June of this year -- the Walt Disney Company may be forced to remove any & all references to "MGM" at its WDW studio theme park. Jim Hill fills you in on the various twists & turns of this tale....

Jim Hill reveals detailed information about Disney's earlier, much more ambitious plans for this Future World addition. Prepare to be dazzled ... as well as depressed....

Jim Hill shares what he just heard from his sources deep inside Buena Vista Home Entertainment. That a DVD of this long supressed Disney classic will finally hit store shelves in the Fall of 2006....

As sort of a tease for next week's "From Page to Stage" series, Jim Hill serves up several "Mary Poppins" -related stories, including *** Van ***'s ability to see into the future, who almost played Admiral Boom in the movie as well as where to look to find a "Hidden Mary" in one of the "Poppins" books. Plus this week's JHM readers' trivia contest....

... frozen fish, to be precise. Did Jim Hill get a little green around the gills after sampling these new Disney-themed seafood products? Read and find out....

As WDW insiders buzz about the big-budget repairs that have to be made to Animal Kingdom's drainage system, Jim Hill reveals how this expensive ($67 million!?) pipe replacement project could actually prevent new rides & shows from being adding to DAK for the next few years....

Quite a bit, actually. Jim Hill talks about how the various domain names that the Walt Disney Company has registered over the past eight months reveal quite a bit about what the Mouse currently has in the works. Not to mention all of the other subjects that Mickey doesn't want you talking about. ...

In honor of Clint Eastwood's pair of Academy Award nominations, Jim Hill shares a seldom told tale about how that "Man with No Name" AA figure really wound up in Disney-MGM's "Great Movie Ride."...

... of certain rumors that are bouncing around about "Herbie: Fully Loaded." Plus we have an update on "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" as well as a brand new JHM readers contest! ...

Before he heads over to the convention center this morning to cover Disney's annual shareholders meeting, Jim Hill files a quick report about what he did last night. Which is attend an extremely well-recieved public screening of Tony West & Dan Lund's new movie about the demise of traditional animation at Walt Disney Studios....

It's less than two weeks 'til production is actually due to begin on those two high-anticipated follow-ups to "The Curse of the Black Pearl." But -- based on what Jim Hill has been hearing lately -- this Rolling Stone vet may have already passed on the opportunity to play Capt. Jack Sparrow's pop. Plus other "Pirates" -related news....