January, 2009

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

Featured ContentEditor In Chief

Cedar Fair CEO Matt Ouimet reveals the secret of running a successful amusement park

Jim Hill

7 hours ago

by Jim Hill

For Matt Ouimet , the President and CEO of Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. , a typical day at the office really is a walk in the park. Matt Ouimet at the...

Dan Povenmire & Swampy Marsh's New Hope is that they get to make more "Phineas & Ferb Star Wars" specials for the Disney Channel

Jim Hill

07-28-2014

by Jim Hill

So just how quickly after the Disney - Lucasfilm acquisition was officially announced was tonight's "Phineas & Ferb Star Wars" special...
How Glenn Casale helped "The Little Mermaid" find her feet after this Disney stage show stumbled on Broadway

Jim Hill

07-26-2014

by Jim Hill

It took the stage version of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" quite a while to finally find its sea legs. When the original Broadway production...
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...

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Jim Hill

Why For are Tigger & Pooh getting out of the super sleuthing business ?

Posted 01-30-2009

by Jim Hill
- 15 Comments
Jim Hill's back with answers to even more of your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim talks about why the Company stopped production of "My Friends Tigger & Pooh," why he prefers the new version of Epcot to the old as well as explaining his take on the term "Disney dweeb"...
Jim Hill

Which "Princess Protection Program" star will emerge as Disney's new tween queen ?

Posted 01-28-2009

by Jim Hill
- 7 Comments
As the Walt Disney Company works to sustain its "Hannah Montana" franchise, Jim Hill wonders who Mickey will choose as Miley Cyrus' successor...
Jim Hill

Forget about attention to detail. It's attention to retail that's really driving DCA's Buena Vista Street project

Posted 01-27-2009

by Jim Hill
- 20 Comments
Jim Hill shares what he knows about the Sunshine Plaza redo. How this affectionate recreation of 1920s LA will also allow Disney to double the amount of retail space found towards the front of this troubled theme park...
Jim Hill

Looking for some concrete information on Disney's World of Color? Then check out this week's Why For

Posted 01-23-2009

by Jim Hill
- 4 Comments
Jim Hill returns with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, he talks about DCA's lack of advance planning, what Dick Nunis once called Walt and why it's important to take a two-tiered approach when discussing Disney World these days...
Jim Hill

Disney hopes that buyout offer will help prevent layoffs of WDW managers

Posted 01-22-2009

by Jim Hill
- 8 Comments
Jim Hill shares what he knows about yesterday's announcement. To be specific, how long this buyout has been in the works. More importantly, how many managers & directors Disney hopes will take part in the Company's voluntary separation plan...
Jim Hill

"Street Gang" takes a hard look at Jim Henson's dealings with Disney

Posted 01-21-2009

by Jim Hill
- 5 Comments
Jim Hill reviews Michael Davis' new book. Which -- while it looks back at Sesame Street's creation -- also goes into great detail about The Walt Disney Company's first attempt to acquire Jim Henson Productions back in 1989...
Jim Hill

Never mind about Obama's inaugural address. Mickey wants Barack to record his HOP speech ASAP

Posted 01-20-2009

by Jim Hill
- 14 Comments
Jim Hill brings you the latest news on Disney World's Hall of Presidents. Which is in kind of a holding pattern until our next Commander-in-Chief can complete his contribution to this revamped Magic Kingdom attraction...
Jim Hill

Tube Thursday : Will a roaming "Stone" gather new audience members for Disney XD ?

Posted 01-15-2009

by Jim Hill
- 10 Comments
Jim Hill talks up the ambitious promotional campaign that the Mouse has mapped out for this new cable series. Which involves "Aaron" moving across multiple platforms over a three week period before this show finally, officially debuts on February 13th...
Jim Hill

"Disney's California Adventure Detective" looks back at the Park that was

Posted 01-14-2009

by Jim Hill
- 6 Comments
Jim Hill reviews Kendra Trahan's newest book. Which celebrates a lot of the stuff that made the original version of DCA truly unique...
Jim Hill

Are Disney World's recession worries starting to recede ?

Posted 01-13-2009

by Jim Hill
- 16 Comments
Tired of all the bad news coming out of Orlando? Then let Jim Hill shares some numbers & construction news with you. Which suggest that things may be turning around a whole lot faster at WDW than anyone ever anticipated...
Jim Hill

Monday Mouse Watch : Shanghai Disneyland begins its approval process

Posted 01-12-2009

by Jim Hill
- 10 Comments
Now that the news of this long-in-development project has finally been picked up by the mainstream media, Jim Hill talks about the particulars of this deal. Including some hints about what this new Disney theme park may look like...
Jim Hill

Preview audiences praise Disney World's new American Idol attraction

Posted 01-08-2009

by Jim Hill
- 24 Comments
Jim Hill shares what he's heard from WDW Cast Members who attended tech rehearsals for this new DHS attraction. Who say that -- despite some obvious flaws -- The American Idol Experience is already a surprisingly solid show...
Jim Hill

Paperback version of "Designing Disney" is both affordable & essential

Posted 01-07-2009

by Jim Hill
- 2 Comments
Jim Hill reviews the new softcover edition of Disney Legend John Hench's 2003 book, which features great insights on how Walt Disney Imagineering perfected the Art of the Show...
Jim Hill

Toon Tuesday : Disney tries to figure out why "Bolt" missed its box office target

Posted 01-06-2009

by Jim Hill
- 24 Comments
Jim Hill shares what he's heard coming out of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Which suggests that executives there are puzzled as to why a movie that was as well reviewed as "Bolt" was still managed to under-perform domestically...
Jim Hill

A special "Gnome place like Home for the Holidays" edition of Why For

Posted 01-02-2009

by Jim Hill
- 3 Comments
Jim Hill returns with answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim talks about what WDW is doing to entice Guests to return to that Resort in 2009, a seasonal scavenger hunt at the Gaylord Palms, a pointer to a Roger Colton podcast as well as a somewhat bizarre "Little Mermaid" -themed bath product...
Jim Hill

"The Art of Bolt" takes a look at how things have changed at Walt Disney Animation Studios

Posted 01-01-2009

by Jim Hill
- 4 Comments
Jim Hill reviews Mark Cotta Vaz's latest volume, which goes behind-the-scenes on Disney's newest animated feature...