Welcome to Jim Hill Media - Entertainment News : Theme Parks Movies Television

Browse By Tags

  • Blog Post: Updated edition of "Building a Dream" covers even more of Disney's world

    Wow. Has it really been 15+ years since Beth Dunlop wrote " Building a Dream: The Art of Disney Architecture " ? Obviously Disney's world has gotten a whole lot bigger since 1996. Which is why I think it's terrific that Disney Editions recently decided to revisit Dunlop's book....
  • Blog Post: How many of you strolled down Disneyland's Afternoon Avenue and experienced "Disney Afternoon - Live!"

    Picture this: It's the Fall of 1990. And after a highly successful summer (with attendance levels at the Happiest Place on Earth reaching record highs thanks to this theme park's 35 th anniversary celebration as well as the popularity of the Party Gras Parade ), Disneyland management is now facing...
  • Blog Post: Why For aren't more Disney World attractions cloned for Disneyland?

    Maddy Mouse wrote in to say: I have kind of a weird question for you to answer. I notice that Walt Disney World has lots of rides, shows and attractions that the Imagineers originally designed for Disneyland . But when it comes to rides, shows and attractions that the Imagineers originally designed for...
  • Blog Post: Getting A-head at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

    As you walk through Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom these days and encounter all of those construction fences for the Fantasyland expansion project it's kind of hard to imagine what this part of the theme park will look like in just a few years. But me? I can't help but look at the attractions...
  • Blog Post: How a Toon Elevator helped Mickey Mouse learn how to talk

    By now, you’ve no doubt seen those online videos that made many a theme park fan go gaga. Where a few lucky Guests – as they were making a stop at Mickey’s House at Disneyland earlier this week – suddenly found themselves face-to-face with a NextGen walkaround character. A Mickey Mouse who not only addressed...
  • Blog Post: Sherman Brothers honored with their very own Window on Main Street at Disneyland

    Given the strong positive reaction that Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman ’s Window on Main Street ceremony received this past Thursday morning, Disneyland Resort President George Kalogridis remarked “ … we should open the Park like this every day.” But – then again -- how could you not love an event...
  • Blog Post: Disneyland history comes to life at D23's first anniversary party

    Though I must admit that back in January, when the D23 Anniversary event at Disneyland was first announced, I was skeptical as to how Disney would put together a three-hour party on a Wednesday that was worth a three-hour drive to the park.Three hours, each way, I might add. Having just attended the...
  • Blog Post: Tech Thursday: Greater Moments with Mr. Lincoln

    In a world buffeted by gargantuan amounts of electronic information delivered in bits of three to 30 seconds, what could be more retro than sitting in a theater for 15 minutes and watching what is essentially a gussied up slide show and listening to a robot talk? Photo by Paul Hiffmeyer. Copyright Disney...
  • Blog Post: Coaster Corner: Tomorrowland favorite gets a warp speed makeover

    It’s been the smash hit of this year’s Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort . That Ghost Galaxy-themed redo of Space Mountain . During which Tomorrowland visitors have a far-too-close encounter with an angry spectre from outer space. Disneyland Guests have just been marveling at some of the effects...
  • Blog Post: Does WDI plan on gagging our next Commander-in-Chief as part of the 2009 redo of WDW's "Hall of Presidents" ?

    While some of us are obsessing about the impact that today's primaries may have on the upcoming presidential race ... The Imagineers are already looking ahead. Nine months ahead, to be exact. To that period immediately after the U.S. has selected its next Commander-in-Chief. Which means that it will...