Roger Colton shows off his latest acquisition: All 22 of the vehicles that are currently featured in this new toy line which is based on characters from Pixar's newest release...

Jim Hill explains why it's going to be a rather nervous Fourth of July for Dick Cook and Nina Jacobson. As these two Mouse House honchos hope & pray that their $450 million (and counting) investment in back-to-back "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequels eventually pays off. PLUS Jim announces a brand-new JHM readers contest!...

Since " Zeke and Luther " proved that there's a fairly sizable young-male audience out there which enjoys sitcoms that mix slapstick & extreme sports, Disney XD is revisiting this theme tomorrow night with " Kickin' It ." Which is a brand-new half-hour-long comedy that debuts on this cable channel tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. ET / PT following the Season 2 premiere of " Pair of Kings ." "So how does 'Kickin' It' compare to "Zeke and Luther'...

Jim Hill talks about a new trend that's really disturbing studio heads as well as exhibitors. The fact that young adult males are seeing this year's crop of summer blockbusters only once. While families aren't seeing them at all. Prefering to wait for the DVD versions of these new movies come out...

Jim Hill shares a story that one WDFA insider told him yesterday. Which explains how "Meet the Robinsons" earning less than "Chicken Little" did over its own opening weekend could actually turn out to be good news for traditional animation fans...

Jim Hill runs the numbers for this John Lasseter film's second weekend in theaters. Which the folks back in Burbank supposedly found rather depressing. Jim also shares some info about a possible sequel that Pixar's college recruiters have reportedly been talking up...

Jim Hill talks about all of the finger-pointing that's going on in Burbank & Emeryville, as execs try to find someone to blame for this Pixar picture's perceived under-performance ...

As the investment community and the mainstream media begins to turn on Pixar because of low foreign ticket sales & because John Lasseter, Ed Catmull & Steve Jobs' names have begun popping up in the stock options scandal coverage, Jim Hill wonders: What can the Walt Disney Company do to turn this particular PR problem around?...

Here's an article that's almost sure to upset all you animation fans out there. Jim Hill shares what he's heard about the projected domestic box office for Brad Bird's newest movie. Which suggests that "Ratatouille" is going to earn significantly less than "Cars" did last year...

Disney's spin machine went into overdrive yesterday, as the Mouse tried to explain away why it wasn't actually disappointed that "Cars" (Which had originally been projected to take in $70 - $75 million) only managed to pull in $60.1 million over its opening weekend. Jim Hill now shares some of the more interesting rationalizations that are currently making the rounds...

Jim Hill talks with Chuck Viane, head of distribution for Walt Disney Studios. Who says that the real test for this new Pixar production comes in the coming week. When we see how well tickets sell for Brad Bird's latest over the extended Fourth of July holiday...

Jim Hill runs the numbers on Walt Disney Studios' two latest releases. And while Gore Verbinski's new film is literally putting hundreds of millions of dollars in Mickey's wallet, thanks to the shift in the box office split for "Cars," John Lasseter's new movie is now making more for exhibitors than it is for the Mouse...

Jim Hill shares what he knows about WDW's 5th theme park. Which will be an after-hours venue that will offer guests the chance to have all sorts of once-in-a-lifetime, hands-on adventures...

Jim Hill once again chats with Chuck Viane, head of Distribution at Walt Disney Studios. Who puts a very positive spin on the box office performance of Pixar's latest release...

Jim Hill reveals why the Mouse's PR department has gone into overdrive in their attempt to defuse the PC controversy that currently surrounds Ron'n'John's next movie. You see, it's not just the future of traditional animation at Walt Disney Studios that may be riding on "The Princess and the Frog." But also the DVD release of "Song of the South"

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Jim Hill brings you the latest buzz from Burbank. Which suggests that -- unless "Prince Caspian" does huge business when it's released to theaters in May -- Disney may opt to pull the plug on the "Narnia" series. Replacing that film franchise with a trio of Pixar-produced "John Carter of Mars" movies ...

It's been a bruising couple of months for the Imagineers. What with Universal Studios acquiring the theme park rights to J.K. Rowling's characters as well as gaining exclusive use of a technology that the guys in Glendale already had plans for. But Jim Hill details how WDI hopes to bounce back with a little help from Pixar...

Jim Hill shares what he knows about the on-going overhaul of this WDFA project. What new director Chris Williams is doing to get this animated feature ready for its 2008 release date...

Are you concerned about the Chris-Sanders-being-forced-off-of-"American-Dog" story? Jim Hill asks you to consider the bigger picture. How this moment of pain may lead to something truly extraordinary for animation fans everywhere...

Whose side are you on? The WDW cast member who finds fault with "Toy Story Mania" 's acoustics? Or the veteran Imagineer who's grown tired of the online Disneyana community continually knocking WDI's efforts?...

JHM's most popular column finally emerges from its long winter's nap, as Jim Hill answers your questions about a cut scene from "The Rocketeer," Goofy's original voice as well as soliciting your opinions about this site's editorial direction...

Jim Hill takes a moment to answer his critics. Particularly those folks who have grown tired of the JHM articles that touch on the $7.4 billion that the Walt Disney Company spent to acquire Pixar Animation Studios...

If you look around the Web, you can see that the reaction (among Disney theme park fans, anyway) to the xPASS - related articles that I've written so far seem to have been pretty negative. With the gist of their comments being that "I would never ever pay for a service like this" and "booking ride times for attractions weeks in advance would rob my WDW vacation of spontaneity." Addressing the latter complaint first ... Let me blunt here: A Walt Disney World vacation is hardly...

Jim Hill shares some interesting comments from this past Wednesday's quarterly earnings conference call. Which suggest that Mouse House officials have finally accepted the fact that "Ratatouille" won't actually do as well domestically as "Cars" did last year...

Jim Hill's back with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim talks about why the Mouse was willing to abandon its negotiations with J.K. Rowling, what rethemed rides you can expect to find when you visit the "Wizarding World of Harry Potter," as well as what Disney's response to IOA's new addition might be...

First up, Jim Hill offers some corroboration of his Wall-Street's-initial-financial-projections-has-been-having-a-negative-impact-on-Hollywood's-attitude-toward-this-year's-crop-of-top-grossing-films theory. Then Jim goes on to talk about Mickey's plans to increase "Cars" DVD sale levels at the Big Box stores...

Jim Hill takes you behind-the-scenes on the creation of this new Brad Bird film. Which actually wasn't ever intended to be a Walt Disney Pictures release. But -- rather -- Pixar's first film for another studio after their co-production deal with the Mouse expired in 2005...

Though Mouse House managers are reportedly over the moon about the studio's new deal with the Academy Award-winning director, Disney animators are wondering: If Pixar's doing CG films and Robert Zemeckis' new company is going to produce performance capture pictures, what's left for WDFA to do? ...

Jim Hill returns with even more answers to your Mouse-related questions. This time around, Jim addresses Disneyana fans' concerns with the growing number of Pixar-related rides & shows that are being added to the Disney theme parks...

It's being called the " ... little film with the great big heart." Which is perhaps a polite way of saying that the folks at Disney Studios don't expect this new Brad Bird film to do all that well at the box office next month. Jim Hill explains why the Mouse now appears to be working behind-the-scenes to help lower industry expectations for Pixar's next big release...

Jim Hill shares some info about changes that appear to be in the works for the Mouse's virtual queuing system. Some that are pretty good, and some that are sure to upset right-to-privacy fans...

Jim Hill discusses Disney's growing concern with Pixar Animation Studios' next release. Mind you, it's not the movie itself that worries the Mouse. But -- rather -- the challenge that the company's PR department faces in coming up with just the right marketing campaign for this new Brad Bird film ...

Jim Hill has noticed something interesting about the title sequence for ABC's new "Wonderful World of Disney" movie anthology series. He also sees some disturbing trends in the new box office numbers for Brad Bird's latest film...

) "MAKE YOUR MARK: ULTIMATE DANCE OFF - 'SHAKE IT UP' EDITION" DISNEY CHANNEL'S FIRST NATIONAL DANCE TALENT SEARCH,"MAKE YOUR MARK: ULTIMATE DANCE OFF - 'SHAKE IT UP' EDITION" KICKS OFF AT THE AMERICANA AT BRAND IN GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA "Shake It Up" stars Zendaya and Bella Thorne help kick-off a five-city talent search for "Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off - 'Shake It Up' edition," Disney Channel's first national dance talent...

Jim Hill talks about the real reason WDW's night club complex is shuttering. Which is Mickey's desire to create a seamless Guest experience for all those shopping & dining at Downtown Disney...

Jim Hill shares what he knows about Andrew Stanton's next film. Which is a significant departure from everything that Pixar Animation Studios has done to date. WARNING !! There be spoilers ahead ! ...

And how was your weekend? Mine contrasted sharply with last weekend. Instead of being inside of the brightly-lit Anaheim Convention Center surrounded by thousands of Disney fans, I was sitting in the dark here at home with Nancy, Alice and the cats. What with all the wind & wet weather associated with Hurricane / Tropical Storm Irene, it took Public Service of New Hampshire upwards of 15 hours to finally get the electricity flowing again in our neck of the woods. Which - I know - sounds like...

It's the joke that senior members of Mouse House management have never found to be all that funny. That it now costs so much to vacation at the WDW Resort they should probably change the name of the place to Wallet Disney World. (L to R) Larry Silverstein, president and CEO of Silverstein Properties; Mickey Mouse; Meg Crofton, president, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, U.S. and France; and Kathleen Taylor, president and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Copyright Disney Enterprises...

Jim Hill discusses some of the more aggravating aspects of the on-line Disneyana community. Which is its almost incessant need to intially attack virtually every change that's proposed for the Disney theme parks as well as the massive disconnect between what the Web community says is important and the general public feels...

Jim Hill talks about the hyper-sensitive times that we live in. Where mothers lecture fast food employees about gender identification and people puzzle at WDW's motives for changing its "Pirate & Princess" promotional art...

Jim Hill asks: What's it going to take to make the domestic release of a new Pixar film seem like a special event again? Will live action projects like "John Carter of Mars" & "1906" really be enough to re-energize this animation studio's U.S. fanbase?...

Dave dropped me a note last night which reads: Jim, We saw " The Muppets " over the weekend (fun film, by the way), and noticed that the familiar castle logo at the beginning of the film now just says "Disney," instead of " Walt Disney Pictures ." We also noticed this for the trailers for " Beauty and the Beast 3-D " and " Brave " that preceded the movie. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved Was this a sudden change? Why are they...

Jim Hill shines a spotlight on Disney World's recent efforts to recruit guests with deeper pockets. With the hope that an influx of affluent theme park goers will then help shore up WDW's sliding souvenir sales levels...

Jim Hill shares what he's heard about the upcoming revamp of this Magic Kingdom attraction. To be specific, how the Imagineers are looking to shave a few minutes off of the running time of this 36-year-old Liberty Square show...

Jim Hill freshens up a JHM readers' favorite as he talks about the pending redo of Disney's Animal Kingdom's ride-through zoo attraction...

Jim Hill reveals how Downtown Disney's indoor theme park will soon be closing its doors to make way for a brand-new ESPN Zone. ...

There were a number of articles late last week about how the actors who worked on " All My Children " and " One Life to Live " were blindsided by ABC's decision to cancel these long-running soaps . But when you really think about it, there were some pretty obvious signs over the past three years that The Walt Disney Company was losing its enthusiasm for daytime drama. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved Perhaps the most obvious sign was Walt Disney Parks...

Okay. There are obviously a lot of people out there talking about " The Muppets " this morning. In particular how ticket sales for this James Bobin film reportedly fell off by 62% during its second weekend in domestic release . But - to be fair here - given that the No. 1 film in the country, Summit Entertainment 's " Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 " also experienced a pretty steep fall-off in ticket sales this past weekend (i.e. an estimated 60%), it wasn't as though...

Mark Hickson writes: Thanks Jim for the great article. I have shared it with my readers via facebook. Please stay on top of the NextGen story for all of us! Mahalo, Mark Hickson Will do. In fact, let me share something that a certain Godfather fan pass was nice enough to pass along to me. Which is the definitive list of the 70 experiences which will be available to WDW Guests are part of the xPASS program. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved Now note that word "experience...

Jim Hill reports that it's been a really rough week for managers & servers at Disney World restaurants. Who've had to deal with all of the customers who are complaining about the "no more free gratuity" portion of this "Magic Your Way" add-on...