October, 2008

Blog - News

Jim talks about the Disney villains attraction that never was on a Creepy Kingdom podcast - http://CreepyKingdom.com & a Disney Parks Update on MiceChat - http://mousechat.net/?s=jim+hill

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Ready to let go of "Let It Go" ? Disney isn't. Mouse has five year plan for "Frozen" franchise

Jim Hill

07-23-2014

by Jim Hill

You've no doubt already heard about all of the box office records that " Frozen " has broken over the past eight months (With the most recent...

Disneytoon Studios worked closely with CalFire to make "Planes: Fire & Rescue" as authentic as possible

Jim Hill

07-17-2014

by Jim Hill

"Do your research." That is the lesson that John Lasseter -- Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney & Pixar Animation Studios -- has repeatedly...
Tom Williams, Universal Parks Chairman & CEO, reflects on the Universal Orlando Resort's magical transformation

Jim Hill

07-10-2014

by Jim Hill

With everyone else looking forward to tomorrow's grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon Alley , it might seem kind of strange...
Disney hopes that "7D" 's stellar voice cast will make animation fans Happy, not Grumpy

Jim Hill

07-07-2014

by Jim Hill

So when Disney Television Animation decided to build a show around the Seven Dwarfs, how did they give this new animated series its own identity? Make...

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Jim Hill

How sometimes being in the wrong place is the right thing to do

Posted 10-31-2008

by Jim Hill
- 1 Comments
In this week's "Why For" column, Jim Hill shares a story that Wally Boag once told him. Which explains how -- thanks to being accidentally upstaged by Steve Martin -- this Disney Legend wound up appearing on "The Muppet Show"...
Jim Hill

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

Posted 10-30-2008

by Jim Hill
- 2 Comments
Jim Hill shares some photos of this beautiful corner of Kissimmee. Which The Nature Conservancy is working to restore to its original pristine condition...
Jim Hill

"Disney Dogs" showcases canine cartoon stars

Posted 10-29-2008

by Jim Hill
- 3 Comments
Jim Hill reviews this new hardcover from Disney Editions, which takes a detailed look at all of the dogs who have appeared in Disney animated shorts & features over the years...
Jim Hill

WDW's Galaxy Palace Theater to be replaced with ... Cast Member parking ?!

Posted 10-28-2008

by Jim Hill
- 14 Comments
Jim Hill shares what he knows about this upcoming Magic Kingdom demolition project. Which involves leveling this Tomorrowland performance venue to make room for additional employee parking out behind Main Street U.S.A....
Jim Hill

Pixar's first "Cars Toon" debuts tonight on Toon Disney

Posted 10-27-2008

by Jim Hill
- 2 Comments
Jim Hill shares what he knows about these new interstitials, which are designed to help keep this Pixar franchise fresh 'til "Cars 2" rolls into theaters during the Summer of 2011...
Jim Hill

Is everything on display in DCA's "Blue Sky Cellar" actually going to get built? Maybe. Maybe not

Posted 10-24-2008

by Jim Hill
- 4 Comments
In this week's "Why For," Jim Hill looks back over the history of the Disney Parks & Resorts at the rides, shows and attraction (some of them announced by Walt Disney himself) that ultimately didn't get built...
Jim Hill

Want the full picture when it comes to Disney's "Morning Light" ? Then see the movie AND pick up its companion book

Posted 10-22-2008

by Jim Hill
- 1 Comments
Jim Hill reviews this new true-life documentary from Walt Disney Pictures. Which -- to be honest -- could have used some of the stories that Jeff Kurtti included in "What the Sea Teaches Us: The Crew of the Morning Star"...
Jim Hill

Is Disney looking to trade its 5th Avenue store in for a brand-new retail location down on Times Square?

Posted 10-21-2008

by Jim Hill
- 8 Comments
Since the World of Disney's lease is up in 2010, the Mouse is already on the prowl for a new spot to set up shop in NYC. Jim Hill shares what he's heard about these on-going negotiations...
Jim Hill

Monday Mouse Watch : Disney's "High School Musical" cancels "Christmas" ?!

Posted 10-20-2008

by Jim Hill
- 7 Comments
Jim Hill's back with a tale that reveals the true power of the "HSM" franchise. Which has a Massachusetts theater postponing its long-proven holiday moneymaker so that it can then present the stage version of Disney's "High School Musical 2" ...
Jim Hill

A special "May the (Stephen) Schwartz Be With You" edition of Why For

Posted 10-17-2008

by Jim Hill
- 2 Comments
Jim Hill's back with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, he talks about "Enchanted" 's score evolves over the course of that motion picture, where Stephen drew his inspiration for "Out There" as well as talking up an event that's being held at Woodbury University this coming Monday night...
Jim Hill

Tube Thursday: Super Soap hits the road, while the "American Idol Experience" goes into overdrive

Posted 10-16-2008

by Jim Hill
- 7 Comments
Jim Hill has all sorts of news from Disney's Hollywood Studios. Including why ABC Daytime pulled the plug on its annual promotional event at that theme park as well as why construction is being sped up at Superstar Television Theater...
Jim Hill

"Creating Magic" reveals how the modern Magic Kingdom really operates

Posted 10-15-2008

by Jim Hill
- 8 Comments
Jim Hill reviews Lee Cockerell's new book, which recounts the many lessons that this Disney vet learned while he was the Executive Vice President in charge of Operations at the WDW Resort...
Jim Hill

Toon Tuesday : Will Disney Animation's latest "Rapunzel" rescue attempt have a negative impact on "Bolt" 's debut ?

Posted 10-14-2008

by Jim Hill
- 10 Comments
Jim Hill wonders if Glen Keane's exit will result in more reporters asking about why Chris Sanders was taken off of "American Dog"...
Jim Hill

WDW officials knew that '09 was going to be a real challenge

Posted 10-10-2008

by Jim Hill
- 8 Comments
Jim Hill talks about the cost containment procedures that Mouse House managers put in place over the past nine months, as they prepared for the current economic downturn...
Jim Hill

Disney World postpones Fantasyland's facelift

Posted 10-09-2008

by Jim Hill
- 17 Comments
Citing concerns over the economy, Mouse House managers have quietly pushed back a project that was to have revitalized the most popular section at WDW's oldest theme park. Jim Hill has the details...
Jim Hill

"The Alchemy of Animation" takes a look inside the modern Mouse Factory

Posted 10-08-2008

by Jim Hill
- 2 Comments
Jim Hill reviews Don Hahn's latest book. Which offers an in-depth look at how some of Disney & Pixar's very best films came together...
Jim Hill

Will the Credit Crunch & tech troubles trip up Disney's new Blu-ray push ?

Posted 10-07-2008

by Jim Hill
- 23 Comments
As the Hi-Def version of "Sleeping Beauty" hits store shelves today, Jim Hill talks about some of the issues that Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has been dealing with lately...
Jim Hill

Tune Thursday : Is Disney getting ready to launch a new record label?

Posted 10-02-2008

by Jim Hill
- 3 Comments
Jim Hill has some interesting info on Lyric Street, Disney Music's Nashville-based operation. Which appears to be gearing up for a launch of a second imprint...
Jim Hill

"Defying Gravity" details Stephen Schwartz's sometimes difficult dealings with the Walt Disney Company

Posted 10-01-2008

by Jim Hill
- 6 Comments
Jim Hill reviews Carol de Gieve's career biography of this Academy Award-winning songwriter, which features some great behind-the-scenes stories about the five Disney projects that Schwartz worked on...