The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

Latest Episodes:

Todd Martens on Galaxy’s Edge Reimagined - Plus Muppets Take Over Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster (Ep. 585) May 25, 2026

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill review Walt Disney World’s latest wave of attraction updates, including the new Soarin’ Across America film, the Muppets’ chaotic takeover of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, and the newly refurbished Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Then Los Angeles Times columnist Todd Martens joins the show to discuss Disneyland’s evolving version of Galaxy’s Edge, why Disney is pivoting away from strict sequel-era storytelling, and how the updated Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run finally addresses years of guest feedback.

NEWS

• Len shares first impressions of Soarin’ Across America, including the updated Patrick Warburton pre-show and the new opening rocket launch sequence

• Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets debuts with extensive new ride scenes, classic rock parody album covers, and dozens of hidden gags

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens with a smoother ride experience and upgraded effects after its lengthy refurbishment

• Disney expands Walt Disney World luggage transfer service to American, United, and Southwest Airlines

• Universal announces a Sinners-themed Halloween Horror Nights house for both Orlando and Hollywood

FEATURE

• Todd Martens discusses Disneyland’s changing approach to Galaxy’s Edge and the return of classic Star Wars characters and locations

• Why the original immersive “live your own Star Wars story” concept struggled to fully materialize inside the land

• The updated Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run adds new destinations including Coruscant, Bespin, Endor, and Tatooine

• How Imagineering redesigned the attraction to improve gameplay for pilots, engineers, and gunners alike

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com

• Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | Website: touringplans.com

GUEST

• Todd Martens - Bluesky: @toddmartens.bsky.social | Instagram: @toddmartens

FOLLOW

• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews

• YouTube: @jimhillmedia

• TikTok: @jimhillmedia

• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey

Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com

SPONSOR

• UnlockedMagic.com - Save on your next Disney vacation with discounted Walt Disney World tickets: https://unlockedmagic.com/?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=disneydish

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The Great Disneyland Ticket Caper (Ep. 584) May 18, 2026

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill break down a busy week in theme park news, from Bluey crowd control at Animal Kingdom to Universal’s possible drone-show ambitions. Len also crunches the numbers on the best days to visit Magic Kingdom, because nothing says vacation like 22 million wait times and a spreadsheet with emotional damage. Then Jim digs into Disneyland’s opening-day ticket scandal and why Walt Disney may have had very good reasons to sour on Western Publishing.

NEWS

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom prepares for Bluey with a virtual queue and some serious toddler-capacity math.

• Len explains why Sundays may be your best Magic Kingdom bet from January through July, while party season flips the calendar.

• Disneyland’s Autopia goes electric in 2027, raising questions about batteries, car design, and Tomorrowland’s long-overdue tune-up.

• Universal Orlando surveys guests about pets, which may hint at Secret Life of Pets possibilities in Florida.

• A new Universal patent features an onboard animated figure, possibly a frog, possibly a nightmare with wheels.

FEATURE

• Jim revisits Disneyland’s chaotic 1955 opening day and the mysterious flood of “legitimate” invitations.

• The story points toward Western Publishing, one of Disneyland’s earliest investors and official printers.

• Walt’s later decision to buy out Western may have had more behind it than simple business strategy.

• Also discussed: C.V. Wood, Black Sunday, Bob Gurr, Richard Nixon, and why the Secret Service probably hated the monorail.

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia, Instagram: @JimHillMedia, Website: jimhillmedia.com

• Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social, Instagram: @len.testa, Website: touringplans.com

FOLLOW

• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews

• YouTube: @jimhillmedia

• TikTok: @jimhillmedia

• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey

Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com

SPONSOR

The Disney Dish is sponsored by UnlockedMagic.com, from the team at DVC Rental Store. Visit UnlockedMagic.com for great deals on Disney theme park admission.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Surprisingly Weird Origins of Disney Automation with Roland Betancourt (Ep. 583) May 11, 2026

Show notes

Jim Hill and Len Testa welcome Professor Roland Betancourt to discuss his new book, Disneyland and the Rise of Automation, which somehow connects Walt Disney, Ford factories, magnetic tape, Forest Lawn, Willy Wonka, and ride computers named Fred. They also cover big park updates, from Mythos closing at Universal Orlando to new Walt Disney World previews, Lakeshore Lodge concept art, Roger Rabbit’s safer spin, and Hocus Pocus 3 heading to theaters. Naturally, milk percentages are also examined with the seriousness they deserve.

NEWS

• Universal confirms Mythos will close with Lost Continent, while Thunder Falls Terrace becomes a new full-service signature restaurant in 2027.

• Walt Disney World sets AP preview dates for Soarin’ and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring The Muppets.

• Magic Kingdom prepares for a fourth ferry boat, the first new one since 1976.

• Disney reveals new Lakeshore Lodge concept art, including a large pool and lazy river area.

• Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin reopens at Disneyland with pre-programmed spinning.

• Disney officially greenlights Hocus Pocus 3, with the Sanderson Sisters reportedly heading beyond the stage show and into the parks.

FEATURE

• Roland Betancourt explains how Ford’s River Rouge plant helped shape Walt Disney’s thinking about automation.

• The discussion traces magnetic tape, Cold War technology, and the real roots of Audio-Animatronics.

• Big Thunder Mountain introduces “anti-Fred logic,” a wonderfully Disney solution to button-related human creativity.

• Harper Goff’s work on Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory reveals another strange and delightful bridge between factories and theme parks.

• Why Disneyland surveyed guests like a giant postwar science experiment - and how those surveys still shape the parks today.

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: ⁠⁠@JimHillMedia⁠⁠ | X: ⁠⁠@JimHillMedia⁠⁠ | Website: ⁠⁠JimHillMedia.com⁠⁠ • Len Testa - IG: ⁠⁠@len.testa⁠⁠ | Website: ⁠⁠touringplans.com⁠⁠

GUEST • Roland Betancourt - Book: ⁠⁠⁠Disneyland and the Rise of Automation

FOLLOW • Facebook: ⁠⁠JimHillMediaNews⁠⁠ • Instagram: ⁠⁠JimHillMedia⁠⁠ • TikTok: ⁠⁠JimHillMedia⁠⁠

SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at ⁠⁠Patreon.com/JimHillMedia⁠⁠.

PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - ⁠⁠Strong Minded Agency⁠⁠

SPONSOR The Disney Dish News is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Get discounted Walt Disney World tickets and plan your next trip at ⁠⁠UnlockedMagic.com⁠⁠

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, ⁠⁠reach out today.⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disney’s First Coffee Deal Was a Disaster (Ep. 582) May 04, 2026

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill return with a caffeinated mix of Disney news, listener questions, and one deeply researched (and slightly petty) rant about guitar accuracy. They also explore the mystery of Walt’s unfinished apartment bathroom and debate just how early is too early for Halloween. Then Jim brings the main event: the story of how Maxwell House coffee landed on Main Street, missed its big debut, and ultimately got shown the door - paving the way for a quieter, smarter coffee strategy at Disneyland.

NEWS

Preview dates announced for Soarin’ and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring the Muppets, with guests likely riding by mid-May
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run may finally make the engineer role matter (yes, really)
Bluey’s Animal Kingdom appearance may skip meet-and-greets entirely, possibly to avoid crowd-control chaos
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party now starts August 7, because apparently summer needed pumpkins
EPCOT Food & Wine Festival returns in late August, continuing Disney’s “why wait for fall?” strategy

FEATURE

The original deal that brought Maxwell House Coffee to Disneyland - complete with big promises and bigger expectations
Why the Main Street coffee house wasn’t ready for opening day (and stayed that way for months)
The rain-soaked grand opening that didn’t help Disney’s relationship with its coffee sponsor
How Hills Brothers stepped in, kept the New Orleans theming, and quietly made the concept work
The evolution of the location from sponsored coffee house to struggling restaurant to retail space

For this episode’s full show notes,⁠ click here.⁠

HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: ⁠@JimHillMedia⁠ | X: ⁠@JimHillMedia⁠ | Website: ⁠JimHillMedia.com⁠ • Len Testa - IG: ⁠@len.testa⁠ | Website: ⁠touringplans.com⁠

FOLLOW • Facebook: ⁠JimHillMediaNews⁠ • Instagram: ⁠JimHillMedia⁠ • TikTok: ⁠JimHillMedia⁠

SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at ⁠Patreon.com/JimHillMedia⁠.

PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - ⁠Strong Minded Agency⁠

SPONSOR The Disney Dish News is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Get discounted Walt Disney World tickets and plan your next trip at ⁠UnlockedMagic.com⁠

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, ⁠reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Gumbo That Imagineering Hid in Plain Sight and the WestCOT Dream That Almost Let You Sleep in the Park (Ep. 581) Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

Jim and Len are joined by Sporkful host Dan Pashman to dig into the surprisingly rich stories behind Disney theme park food, including how a handwritten gumbo recipe in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure connects to real culinary history. Along the way, they explore Imagineering’s obsessive attention to detail, from menu design to discarded ideas that probably would’ve attracted bees (and at least one very confused operations team). Then, Jim wraps up the story of WestCOT and Disney’s ambitious “Live the Dream” concept, where guests might have spent the night inside the park itself.

NEWS
• Disney quietly discontinues the Pirates Adventure Lightning Lane perk hours after it’s mentioned on the show
• Opening window set for Lakeshore Lodge at Walt Disney World in summer 2027
• Smugglers Run update tied to The Mandalorian and Grogu may arrive alongside the film’s May release
• On-site hotel perks confirmed through 2027, with Fort Wilderness campsites losing eligibility
• Disney Cruise Line rolls out “kids sail half off” promotions as future bookings soften

FEATURE
• The full story of WestCOT, Disney’s planned Epcot-style park for Disneyland’s expansion pad
• The “Live the Dream” concept, which would have placed hotel rooms directly on top of attractions
• How guest surveys pushed Imagineering to explore the idea of staying overnight inside a theme park
• The role of Michael Eisner in driving a more entertaining version of Epcot
• Why a 300-foot-tall golden version of Spaceship Earth nearly rose over Anaheim
• How budget cuts, Disneyland Paris struggles, and scope reductions led to the project’s cancellation
• The surprising ways this idea lived on in later projects like Tokyo DisneySea’s hotels and beyond

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill (@JimHillMedia) – jimhillmedia.com
• Len Testa (@lentesta.bsky.social) – touringplans.com

GUEST
• Dan Pashman – Host of The Sporkful
• Website: https://www.sporkful.com/
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sporkful/id350709629
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesporkful/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesporkful?lang=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sporkful

FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com

SPONSOR
Unlock deep discounts on Disney tickets and get your family onto Big Thunder Mountain (doctor’s orders) with Unlocked Magic – https://unlockedmagic.com/?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=disneydish

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NEW SHOW: Dis & Hers - The Utilidor Isn’t So Magical After All (Ep. 12) Apr 26, 2026

Show notes

Lauren and Eric go underground this week to unpack their unexpectedly viral TikTok and the surprisingly polarizing reactions to their utilidor-inspired basement. What started as a fun Disney homage quickly turned into a reality check from former cast members who know the tunnels all too well. Then, the conversation moves topside as they explore what it really costs to live near Walt Disney World, from Golden Oak luxury to the curious case of Celebration.

HIGHLIGHTS

A TikTok featuring their utilidor-themed basement sparks viral attention and unexpected cast member reactions
Former Disney cast members reveal the less magical side of the utilidor, including smells, noise, and daily operations
The surprising divide between Disney fan perception and cast member reality when it comes to backstage areas
A breakdown of Golden Oak living, including home prices ranging from $4M to $18M and steep HOA fees
Celebration, Florida examined as Disney’s original master-planned community, with mixed reviews from residents on charm versus “uncanny valley” vibes

For this episode’s full show notes, ⁠click here⁠.

HOSTS

Eric Hersey – X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@erichersey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@erichersey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Lauren Hersey – X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurenhersey2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lauren_hersey_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FOLLOW – DIS & HERS

FOLLOW – JIM HILL MEDIA

SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/JimHillMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited & Produced by Eric Hersey – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strong Minded Agency⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠reach out today.⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hotels on Top of Attractions, Muppets at 60 MPH, and the Return of Deluxe Dining (Ep. 580) Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill sprint through a packed week of Disney and Universal news, from Rock 'n' Roller Coaster's Muppets makeover to the return of Walt Disney World's deluxe dining plan. Along the way, they dig into Universal's new day-of Express offering, answer listener questions about everything from BioReconstruct to Main Street nostalgia, and somehow still find room for pistachio-based trauma. In the main segment, Jim continues the fascinating story of Disney's ambitious "Live the Dream" concept for Disneyland's second gate, including the idea of building hotels directly on top of attractions.

NEWS

• Disney has officially brought back the deluxe dining plan for 2027, adding a higher-end option as the company looks for new ways to fill table-service restaurants.
• Rock 'n' Roller Coaster reopens on May 26, 2026, with the Electric Mayhem taking over the ride and a set list that mixes classic rock with a few curveballs.
• Celebrity cameos for the reimagined coaster include Awkwafina, John Stamos, Neil Patrick Harris, Wayne Brady, Travis Barker, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Trejo, Darren Criss, and Weird Al Yankovic.
• A rumor out of Adventureland suggests that completing A Pirate's Adventure may once again unlock a Lightning Lane for Pirates of the Caribbean.
• Universal Orlando has launched Universal Express Now, a smartphone-based, day-of skip-the-line option that sounds a bit like Lightning Lane's less patient cousin.

FEATURE

• Jim continues the history of Disneyland's "Live the Dream" project, a bold expansion concept tied to the resort's long-discussed second park.
• This chapter explores Disney's growing realization that hotels were a license to print money, especially after the company began operating its own resorts.
• The episode also connects that thinking to Anaheim's old "Disney cone" zoning rules, which helped protect Disneyland's sightlines from looming high-rises.
• Most intriguingly, Jim tees up the wildest part of the story: a version of Disneyland's future where hotels would have been built directly above attractions.

For this episode's show notes click here.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com
• Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | Website: touringplans.com

FOLLOW

• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com

SPONSOR

• Today's episode is sponsored by UnlockedMagic.com, with discounted theme park tickets for Disney's newest and reopening attractions.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Muppets Take the Coaster & Disney’s “Live the Dream” Park Plan (Ep. 579) Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill return with a mix of Disney Parks news, listener questions, and a fascinating deep-dive into a forgotten concept for Disneyland’s second gate. They discuss Big Thunder Mountain’s updated height requirement, rumors around Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster’s Muppet makeover, and whether Disney might follow Las Vegas into immersive Sphere-style storytelling. Then Jim explores Disney’s ambitious “Live the Dream” project—an Imagineering concept that would have placed hotels directly inside a theme park.

NEWS
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens May 3 with a lowered height requirement, allowing more younger guests to ride
• Rumblings of a preview for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring the Muppets, including possible Electric Mayhem music
• Media event timing hints at a potential Memorial Day launch window for the updated attraction
• Discussion of how ride vehicles or track changes might support the new height requirement

FEATURE
• The origins of Disney’s “Live the Dream” concept for a second Disneyland park
• Dorothea Redmond’s vision of boutique hotel rooms built inside Magic Kingdom’s Main Street structures
• How early Imagineering explored placing full-scale hotel experiences inside theme parks
• The role of Walt Disney’s obsession with “visual intrusion” in shaping park design
• Why corporate decisions and risk aversion ultimately shelved these ambitious ideas

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Len Testa - IG: @len.testa | Website: touringplans.com

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
The Disney Dish News is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Get discounted Walt Disney World tickets and plan your next trip at UnlockedMagic.com

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Villains Land Hotels & Disneyland’s Golden Bathroom of Tomorrow (Ep. 578) Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Len and Jim follow the money, the zoning maps, and at least one imaginary contractor from 79 A.D. to figure out where new Magic Kingdom hotels might go—and whether you’ll one day be able to literally sleep inside Villains Land. Then Jim digs into one of Disneyland’s strangest early attractions: a fully gold-plated “Bathroom of Tomorrow” that proves Walt Disney could, in fact, make plumbing both educational and slightly terrifying. Along the way: after-2pm tickets, summer crowd tea leaves, and why your next Disney vacation might come with a side of afternoon thunderstorms and existential ride downtime.

NEWS
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin soft-opens at Magic Kingdom with updated gameplay and improved interactivity
• Walt Disney World introduces new after-2pm summer tickets with lower per-hour cost—but higher exposure to Florida’s daily thunderstorm roulette
• Summer 2026 discounts (tickets + hotels) hint at softer-than-expected demand and rising travel costs impacting attendance
• Deposition reveals Disney explored building one or two hotels near Magic Kingdom—raising big questions about location, zoning, and long-term expansion
• Universal quietly moves forward with demolition at Islands of Adventure’s Lost Continent as speculation swirls (Zelda, anyone?)

FEATURE
• The real story behind Disneyland’s Bathroom of Tomorrow (1956–1960), designed by industrial legend Henry Dreyfuss
• Why everything in the exhibit was gold-plated—and why diamonds were, regrettably, ruled out
• How Walt Disney’s practical, farm-raised approach to plumbing influenced early park design (and yes, restroom priorities)
• The clash between Dreyfuss’s elegant bathroom design and Monsanto’s… “efficient” House of the Future facilities
• How Disney parks later became a real-world testing lab for product design—including a Polaroid camera shaped by guests fumbling with popcorn-greased fingers

For this episode’s full shownotes click here.
View transcript here.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Len Testa - IG: @len.testa | Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Website: TouringPlans.com

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Get discounted Walt Disney World theme park tickets—often below Disney’s direct pricing—at UnlockedMagic.com.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buzz Lightyear Gets a Major Upgrade, Plus How Disney Finally Acquired the Muppets (Ep. 577) Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Len shares a first-hand look at the newly updated Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, breaking down what’s changed and whether it improves gameplay. The show also covers Bluey’s wildly popular debut at Disneyland and the operational ripple effects already being felt. In the main segment, Jim unpacks the complicated series of business decisions, ownership changes, and industry shifts that ultimately led to Miss Piggy & pals making their home at the Mouse House.

NEWS

Len reviews the updated Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, including new handheld blasters that significantly improve aiming and gameplay
Enhanced laser visibility and dual-color targeting (red vs. green) make it easier to track shots and differentiate players
Targets are now digital with dynamic scoring tied to color and animation, increasing replayability and challenge
A new practice room at the start of the ride helps guests learn the updated system before gameplay begins
Bluey’s Best Day Ever at Disneyland sees overwhelming demand, forcing immediate changes to show operations and crowd management

FEATURE

Jim breaks down why Bear in the Big Blue House ended after four seasons despite its popularity
The financial collapse of EMTV and its impact on the Jim Henson Company’s ability to continue production
Which companies -- besides Disney -- was interested in acquiring the Muppets back in 2003
Why the Henson family ultimately decided that The Walt Disney Company should be Kermit & Co's "forever home"

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Len Testa - IG: @len.testa | Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Website: TouringPlans.com

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic, offering discounted Walt Disney World theme park tickets at prices lower than Disney’s direct rates.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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