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The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

The Disney Dish Podcast with Jim Hill and Len Testa
Dive into the fascinating world of Disney with theme park historian Jim Hill and Len Testa as they uncover the stories behind the magic. From breaking news and in-depth analyses to quirky historical tidbits and behind-the-scenes secrets, The Disney Dish offers a unique blend of humor, expertise, and insider knowledge.
Whether you’re a die-hard Disney fan, a theme park aficionado, or just curious about the history and future of Disney parks and resorts, this podcast has something for everyone.
What to Expect:

Breaking Disney News: Stay up to date on the latest happenings at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney’s global parks.

Historical Deep Dives: Learn how classic attractions were created, the stories behind Disney’s biggest decisions, and the Imagineering ingenuity that brought it all to life.

Listener Q&A: Get answers to your burning questions about the parks, attractions, and Disney culture.

Exclusive Insights: Gain access to insider details and stories you won’t find anywhere else.

Fun & Humor: Enjoy the wit and camaraderie of two Disney enthusiasts who know how to make even the most technical details entertaining.

With decades of combined experience and an unmatched passion for all things Disney, Jim and Len guide you through the parks, the stories, and the magic in a way only they can.
Your journey to the happiest podcast on earth starts here. Subscribe today!

Copyright: © Copyright Jim Hill Media 2022

Latest Episodes:

Inside Tony Baxter’s 1976 Presentation: Big Thunder’s Forgotten Neighbors (Ep. 497) Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Disney Dish Podcast, Jim Hill and Len Testa bring you the latest Disney theme park news, listener questions, and a deep dive into Disney history.

Tune in as they cover:

Crane Permits and Fort Wilderness Construction: What’s going on at the old River Country site?

Disney Cruise Line’s Future: How jumbo-ification could extend the life of Disney’s Magic and Wonder ships.

The Evolution of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Jim continues his history of this Frontierland classic and the ambitious plans that never made it to Disneyland, including Discovery Bay and Dumbo’s Circus.

Listener Questions: From Rise of the Resistance’s B-mode to the future of Disney’s IP-driven attractions.

Listen now for a fun, fact-filled episode covering the latest updates and Disney history!

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Big Thunder's Wild History, Tron’s Queue Overhaul, and Universal’s Next Big Attraction (Ep. 496) Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of The Disney Dish, Jim Hill and Len Testa bring you the latest Disney theme park news, dive into listener questions, and share some fascinating theme park history.

Tune in for an entertaining and informative discussion featuring:

The History of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Learn how this beloved attraction evolved from the original Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland.

Disney’s Tron Lightcycle Run Update: Why Disney is replacing the virtual queue with a traditional standby line and what it means for other park attractions.

Universal Studios’ New How to Train Your Dragon Attraction?: Jim and Len break down a new survey hinting at a potential addition to Universal’s Epic Universe or Hollywood park.

Listener Questions: A lively discussion on Disney’s attraction changes, including the high-cost failures like Galactic Starcruiser.

Nostalgia in Disney Parks: Are Magic Kingdom’s attractions too geared toward older generations, or is there something for everyone?

Join Jim and Len for a fun mix of history, humor, and theme park insights!

Show Notes can be found here.

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How a Western River led to Big Thunder Mountain (Ep. 495) Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the three tiers of hotels that the Universal Orlando Resort just rolled out.

They also talk about why Disney wants to know more about how you allocated your cash during your most recent trip to Orlando.

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

Why the Universal Theme Parks want to learn more about which brands & IPs your young daughter is interested

Who was just placed in charge of the committee to find a successor for Disney CEO Bob Iger

Why it’s likely that DCL will soon need to replace the Magic & the Wonder

How many people visited the Magic Kingdom in Florida during the first full year that theme park was in operation

Which opening day attraction for Walt Disney World did Tony Baxter go to the field to install back in 1971

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How did the Imagineers just update WDW’s “Peter Pan Flight” (Ep. 494) Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

In a special solo show, Jim Hill first talks about which Disney Villains just made their debut at DCA’s “Oogie Boogie Bash.”

He then looks back at how Walt adapted J.B. Barrie’s play & novel to the screen back in 1953

For this episode, listeners will learn about;

Who did Roger Bart sing for in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Summer release for 1997

Who wrote the songs for Disney’s full-length animated feature for 1953

When is Disney on Broadway’s new stage production of “Hercules” supposed to open in London’s West End

Which two animated features was WDI originally considering as their jumping-off point for their upcoming redo of DAK’s Dinoland U.S.A.

When was Bob Hope’s sequel to his 1948 Western comedy, “The Paleface,” first released to theaters

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Frontierland to trade steamboat ride for “Cars” -themed road rally (Ep. 493) Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

Len Testa & Jim Hill start today’s episode by discussing the changes that will soon be coming to Tom Sawyer Island at WDW’s Magic Kingdom.

They also look back at when the “Be Our Guest” restaurant opened at that same theme park back in December of 2012

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

For which Disney animated feature from the 1990s did Ricky Martin voice the title character (for the Latin American / Spanish version of this film, that is)

What did the Imagineers once toy with installing inside of the “Hall of Presidents” show building

What does Universal Orlando’s new dining offer tell us about when Epic Universe will likely open to the public

Why did Disney’s Central Reservations Office have to rethink the number of seatings they could book daily at “Be Our Guest” just six months after this new Magic Kingdom restaurant first opened

Why did the load-in of the Ballroom’s chandelier prove to be a challenge to the “Be Our Guest” construction team

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Disney Dish with Jim Hill Special Bonus Episode: What’s next for the Disney Parks Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

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Remembering Disneyland’s Indian Village (Ep. 492) Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by getting the skinny on thinly sliced pieces of bacon.

They then discuss whether the changes that have recently been made to DAS have actually lowered wait times at WDW’s park

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

Where did the wax figures from the “Davy Crockett Frontier Museum” eventually wind up

Why would Disney Procurement likely have bought pork products in bulk last year

When did the West Coast version of “Country Bear Jamboree” first open

What’s the name of that Royal Caribbean stage show themed around superheroes

Which Harvard professor helped to turn the American cowboy into that mythic figure we know today

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Disney Destiny Puts Villains in the Spotlight (Ep. 491) Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by reviewing Universal Orlando’s plans for “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic.”

They then talk about which WDW DVC may soon be expanding

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

What’s significant about the survey Universal Orlando recently distributed about possible price points for annual passes

Where does Steven Tyler get the scarves that he uses to decorate his mic stand

How tall was Walt Disney

Which moment from the third episode of the “Davy Crockett” limited series did Disneyland’s Frontier Museum recreate

Why were Fess Parker & Buddy Ebsen wet when they made their entrance in “Dateline Disneyland”

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In what month of 2025 is Epic Universe going to open? (Ep. 490) Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

On this week’s show, Len Testa & Jim Hill are joined by veteran Imagineer Jim Shull & Len’s twin sister, Linda. These four then discuss the news of the day and look back at the grand opening of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith.

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

What idea did the Imagineers explore for improving DCA’s Grizzly River Run?

How long has it been since a major new thrill ride opened at one of the theme parks found at the Universal Orlando Resort?

How has the roll-out of Lightning Lane Multi-Pass been going so far

What contributed to Disney’s decision to only present “Rogers: The Musical” in the Hyperion Theater for a single summer

Who influenced Kelsey Mann to find a place for Figment in “Inside Out 2”

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How does WDW’s new “Country Bear” show stack up (Ep. 489) Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

Len Testa starts this week’s show by revealing which attractions will be open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during Extended Evening Hours at that theme park later this year.

And then Jim Hill wraps up his history of Epcot’s “Maelstrom” attraction.

In this episode, listeners will learn about:

Why was the original version of “Country Bear Jamboree” trimmed down back in October 2012

What land does Hong Kong Disneyland that is traditionally found at other castle parks

Why did the Imagineers dial back the North Sea scene in “Maelstrom” just before this World Showcase attraction officially opened in July of 1988

Which animatronic figure from “The Hall of Presidents” can also be found as a eunuch along “Spaceship Earth” ‘s ride track

When – according to the U.S. census – did the wide open spaces of the American West officially come to a close

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