October, 2008

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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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Which 1980s TV favorites almost voiced Ursula the Sea Witch for Disney's "The Little Mermaid"

Jim Hill

01-23-2015

by Jim Hill

As you read through the liner notes for Walt Disney Records ' Legacy Collection version of "The Little Mermaid" soundtrack (which is this...

How Walt Disney Animation Studios kept "Feast" from looking like a dog's dinner

Jim Hill

01-13-2015

by Jim Hill

Patrick Osborne tried something interesting back in 2012. He set up two 1 Second Everyday accounts. With one, he used this app to capture brief glimpses...
Why "Doctor Who" 's Peter Capaldi didn't make the final cut in Disney's "Maleficent"

Jim Hill

12-29-2014

by Jim Hill

Given that Nick Frost already had the beard as well as a Santa Claus-like shape, it probably didn't take all that much behind-the-scenes effort to...
Seth MacFarlane celebrates the classic Christmas albums of the 1940s & 1950s with "Holiday for Swing!"

Jim Hill

12-25-2014

by Jim Hill

So how much time does it take to craft a brand-new holiday album that has a timeless sound? To hear Joel McNeely (i.e., the Emmy Award-winning arranger...

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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"...
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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...
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"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...
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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...
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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...
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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"...
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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...
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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" ...
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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...
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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...
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"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...
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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"...
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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...
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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...
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"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...
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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...
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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...
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"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...