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The Disney Dish with Jim Hill — Places & Travel
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:

Writing the Unofficial Guide: Magic Kingdom and Epcot in 2015 (Ep. 81) Jun 15, 2015

Show notes

Jim Hill and Len Testa pull back the curtain on the conversations that became anecdotes in the 2016 Unofficial Guide. In this extended first installment, they work through Magic Kingdom and Epcot attraction by attraction, discussing projects, operational challenges, and ideas being considered in 2015. It is a snapshot of the parks at that moment, including predictions and proposals whose outcomes were still uncertain.

Original Air Date: June 15, 2015 (estimated)
Original Title: Anecdotes for the 2016 Unofficial Guide

HIGHLIGHTS

How New Fantasyland’s larger crowds affected restaurants, restrooms, stroller parking, and the Magic Kingdom hub.
Plans for the Jungle Cruise restaurant and the backstage kitchen supporting several dining locations.
Interactive queues, Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, and ideas tied to Disney’s movie slate.
Character greetings, live entertainment, and the anticipated move of Anna and Elsa to Epcot.
Proposed changes to the Hall of Presidents, Carousel of Progress, and Magic Kingdom’s nighttime entertainment.
Frozen’s Norway attraction and meet-and-greet, plus Soarin’s additional theater and digital projection.
Possible drone elements for nighttime shows and the operational challenges behind them.
Epcot dining, Innoventions, and ideas for the future of the Imagination pavilion.

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

HOSTS

Jim Hill: X and Instagram @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
Len Testa: Bluesky @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram @len.testa | touringplans.com

FOLLOW

Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
X and Instagram: @JimHillMedia
YouTube and TikTok: @jimhillmedia

SUPPORT

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

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

Jim and Len build the 2016 Unofficial Guide’s stories, exploring Magic Kingdom crowd flow, dining changes, character plans, and Epcot’s next chapter.

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Storybook Land’s Tiny Details and Big Unbuilt Ideas (Ep. 80) Jun 01, 2015

Show notes

Jim Hill and Len Testa sit down in Disneyland’s Fantasyland after riding the Storybook Land Canal Boats. Jim traces the attraction from its unfinished opening-day form to the miniature fairy-tale landscapes that became one of Walt Disney’s favorites. Along the way, they explore abandoned ride concepts, intricate design details, and the newly added Frozen scenes.

Original Air Date: June 1, 2015 (estimated; recorded May 2015)
Original Title: Disneyland’s Storybook Land Canal Boats - Live!

HIGHLIGHTS

Walt’s miniature-building hobby and the unbuilt Lilliputian Land concept in the original Disneyland proposal.
How Canal Boats of the World became Storybook Land after a rough opening in 1955.
Tiny windows, working lights, miniature landscaping, and the details Walt insisted guests should see.
The proposed sleeping giant finale and the careful relationship between Storybook Land and the Matterhorn.
The additions of Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, and the response to removing Toad Hall.
Arendelle, Elsa’s ice palace, and the Frozen update to an opening-day attraction.
The unbuilt Big Rock Candy Mountain and Wizard of Oz scenes intended for the boats and Casey Jr.

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

HOSTS

Jim Hill: X and Instagram @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
Len Testa: Bluesky @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram @len.testa | touringplans.com

FOLLOW

Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
X and Instagram: @JimHillMedia
YouTube and TikTok: @jimhillmedia

SUPPORT

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

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

Recorded live at Disneyland, Jim and Len trace Storybook Land’s miniature worlds, Walt’s exacting details, and the grand finales that never reached the canal.

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Earth Day Bonus Episode: Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village Walk-Through! May 22, 2015

Show notes

To celebrate Earth Day, Jim and Len walk through Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village, talking about the construction, architecture, crafts, and animals that you see around the resort.

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The Day the Yippies Came to Disneyland (Ep. 79) May 15, 2015

Show notes

Jim Hill and Len Testa continue their Disneyland history series with the turbulent years from 1967 through 1970. They follow Roy Disney’s efforts to keep the company moving after Walt’s death while financing the Florida project and completing major attractions in Anaheim. The discussion culminates in the Yippies’ visit to Disneyland and a difficult year that tested the park’s management and morale.

Original Air Date: May 15, 2015 (estimated)
Original Title: The Hippies Invade Disneyland

HIGHLIGHTS

Roy Disney’s search for new leadership and the challenge of continuing Walt’s creative plans.
How the Florida project moved forward while Disneyland opened Pirates of the Caribbean and New Tomorrowland.
The financing, licensing, and touring entertainment that helped support Disney’s growing ambitions.
Disneyland’s evolving attractions and entertainment, from the PeopleMover to the Haunted Mansion.
The arrival of the Yippies, the confrontation on Main Street, and the decision to close the park early.
Labor unrest and changing priorities as Disneyland approached a new decade.

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

HOSTS

Jim Hill: X and Instagram @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
Len Testa: Bluesky @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram @len.testa | touringplans.com

FOLLOW

Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
X and Instagram: @JimHillMedia
YouTube and TikTok: @jimhillmedia

SUPPORT

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

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

Jim and Len explore Disneyland from 1967 to 1970, as Roy carries Walt’s plans forward and the Yippies bring a turbulent era onto Main Street.

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

How Springfield Transformed Universal Studios Hollywood (Ep. 78) May 01, 2015

Show notes

Jim Hill and Len Testa explore how Universal turned Springfield into a place guests could eat, shop, and step inside the world of The Simpsons. Jim shares details from his visit to Universal Studios Hollywood and traces the ideas that first proved successful in Florida. They also look at how Springfield fits into Hollywood’s larger transformation ahead of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Original Air Date: May 1, 2015 (estimated)
Original Title: Springfield USH (Universal Studios Hollywood)

HIGHLIGHTS

How the Kwik-E-Mart and Simpsons merchandise helped demonstrate demand for a larger Springfield experience.
The creative work behind The Simpsons Ride, including jokes, queue details, and a nod to Back to the Future.
Fast Food Boulevard’s character-inspired menu, Duff Beer, and the Flaming Moe.
Hollywood’s extra attention to detail, from Krustylu Studios portraits to the contrasting personalities of its restaurants.
How a new master plan made Universal’s upper lot easier to navigate and turned individual attractions into themed lands.
The design choices connecting Springfield, the lower lot, and the future Hogsmeade area.
Nighttime tram tours, CityWalk, and the changing competition for Southern California visitors.

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

HOSTS

Jim Hill: X and Instagram @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
Len Testa: Bluesky @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram @len.testa | touringplans.com

FOLLOW

Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
X and Instagram: @JimHillMedia
YouTube and TikTok: @jimhillmedia

SUPPORT

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

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

Jim and Len explore Springfield’s food, jokes, and hidden details, and how the Simpsons helped reshape Universal Studios Hollywood’s upper lot.

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

Disneyland 1962-1966: Walt’s Last Great Chapter (Ep. 77) Apr 15, 2015

Show notes

Jim Hill and Len Testa continue their chronological history of Disneyland with the ambitious years from 1962 through 1966. They explore how the 1964 New York World’s Fair, new attractions, and plans beyond Anaheim reshaped Walt Disney’s park. The conversation closes with Walt’s final days and Roy Disney’s determination to carry the Florida project forward.

Original Air Date: April 15, 2015
Original Title: Disneyland 1962 - 1966

HIGHLIGHTS

The Swiss Family Treehouse, Enchanted Tiki Room, and Disneyland’s expanding use of Audio-Animatronics.
How development around Anaheim influenced New Orleans Square and Disney’s search for more space.
Early Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain concepts, and the work diverted to the New York World’s Fair.
Disneyland’s tenth anniversary and Walt’s commitment to reinvesting in attractions, entertainment, and dining.
The return of World’s Fair attractions, including “it’s a small world,” as Disneyland entered 1966.
Walt’s final visits with filmmakers and Imagineers, and the impact of his death on Disneyland’s cast.
Roy Disney’s decision to postpone retirement and continue the Florida project.

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

HOSTS

Jim Hill: X and Instagram @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
Len Testa: Bluesky @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram @len.testa | touringplans.com

FOLLOW

Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
X and Instagram: @JimHillMedia
YouTube and TikTok: @jimhillmedia

SUPPORT

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

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

Jim and Len trace Disneyland’s growth from 1962 through 1966, from World’s Fair innovations to Walt Disney’s final days and Roy’s promise to carry on.

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

How the Grand Floridian Became Disney’s American Castle (Ep. 76) Apr 01, 2015

Show notes

The Grand Floridian’s Victorian style draws on more than one grand old hotel. Jim Hill and Len Testa finish their history of the resort, tracing the design choices, construction, and theatrical details behind Disney’s “American castle.” They also explore royal visitors, the Wedding Pavilion, the Disney Vacation Club villas, and the traditions that keep guests coming back.

Original Air Date: April 1, 2015 (estimated)
Original Title: History of the Grand Floridian Resort, part 2

HIGHLIGHTS

Dick Nunis’s early Grand Floridian plans and secluded honeymoon cottages connect to later waterfront development.
The Hotel del Coronado, Mount Washington Resort, and other historic hotels contribute to the Grand Floridian’s architectural mix.
The resort’s orientation and Victorian monorail station help connect its story to Main Street, U.S.A.
Construction budgets, opening room rates, and carefully chosen materials reveal the practical work behind the luxury setting.
Princess Diana’s visit brings real royalty to the resort’s “American castle.”
The Wedding Pavilion turns Cinderella Castle into a ceremony backdrop, until the 25th-anniversary castle cake complicates the picture.
Len shares his experience of the Grand Floridian’s DVC villas, from spacious rooms to the Mary Poppins penguin fountain.
Parasol parades, live lobby music, and holiday decorations help establish the resort’s enduring traditions.

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

HOSTS

Jim Hill: X and Instagram @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
Len Testa: Bluesky @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram @len.testa | touringplans.com

FOLLOW

Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
X and Instagram: @JimHillMedia
YouTube and TikTok: @jimhillmedia

SUPPORT

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

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

Jim Hill and Len Testa explore the Grand Floridian’s architectural inspirations, royal guests, wedding stories, and enduring resort traditions.

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

Walt Plusses Disneyland While Roy Buys It Back (Ep. 75) Mar 15, 2015

Show notes

Walt Disney keeps finding ways to improve Disneyland, while Roy works on a different kind of park project: buying out its other owners. Jim Hill and Len Testa revisit the early 1960s, from Nature’s Wonderland and the Jungle Cruise’s growing sense of humor to the deals that brought Disneyland under Walt Disney Productions. They also explore how those business negotiations strained the brothers’ relationship and why Walt held on to his beloved trains.

Original Air Date: March 15, 2015 (estimated)
Original Title: Disneyland 1960-ish to 1964-ish

HIGHLIGHTS

Sleeping Beauty’s financial disappointment and Mary Poppins’ later success bookend a changing era for Disney and Disneyland.
Nature’s Wonderland expands the Mine Train experience with animal figures and new scenery in 1960.
Walt’s insistence on giving returning guests something new helps explain Disneyland’s tradition of “plussing.”
Marc Davis’s humorous Jungle Cruise scenes and the skippers’ evolving narration change the attraction’s personality.
Roy negotiates to buy out Western Publishing and ABC as television commitments complicate Disney’s business relationships.
Walt’s personal interests in Disneyland and WED become a source of tension as Roy seeks company ownership.
The settlement leaves Walt with the railroad and monorail interests associated with Retlaw.
Skull Rock, Snow White Grotto, and the monorail extension to the Disneyland Hotel illustrate the park’s continuing reinvestment.

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

HOSTS

Jim Hill: X and Instagram @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
Len Testa: Bluesky @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram @len.testa | touringplans.com

FOLLOW

Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
X and Instagram: @JimHillMedia
YouTube and TikTok: @jimhillmedia

SUPPORT

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

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

Jim Hill and Len Testa explore Disneyland’s early 1960s improvements and Roy Disney’s campaign to bring the park fully under company ownership.

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

The Resorts That Never Were: Before the Grand Floridian (Ep. 74) Mar 01, 2015

Show notes

Before the Grand Floridian, Walt Disney World had some very different plans for the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. Jim Hill and Len Testa explore the Venetian, Persian, and Asian resorts that never welcomed a guest, along with the financial and construction problems that reshaped Disney’s hotel ambitions. Along the way, they connect those abandoned ideas to the Grand Floridian’s beginnings and the Polynesian’s new overwater bungalows.

Original Air Date: March 1, 2015 (estimated)
Original Title: Disney's Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom resorts

HIGHLIGHTS

The Polynesian’s Bora Bora Bungalows revive a waterfront cottage idea discussed decades earlier.
Project Florida’s master plan uses Seven Seas Lagoon to connect the Magic Kingdom with an ambitious collection of themed hotels.
The proposed Venetian Resort promises Italian canals, but difficult ground conditions complicate its future.
Plans for a Persian Resort intersect with a proposed Iranian pavilion at EPCOT and the upheaval of 1979.
The Asian Resort’s Thai-inspired design and U.S. Steel’s role reveal how different Disney’s original hotel expansion might have looked.
The 1973 oil crisis forces difficult choices between additional hotel rooms and new theme park attractions.
Dick Nunis’s early 1980s hotel plans set the stage for the Grand Floridian before Michael Eisner arrives.
The Electrical Water Pageant, transportation routes, and parking pressures offer more clues to the resort’s changing shoreline.

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

HOSTS

Jim Hill: X and Instagram @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
Len Testa: Bluesky @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram @len.testa | touringplans.com

FOLLOW

Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
X and Instagram: @JimHillMedia
YouTube and TikTok: @jimhillmedia

SUPPORT

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

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

Jim Hill and Len Testa trace the unbuilt Magic Kingdom resorts and the plans that paved the way for the Grand Floridian.

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

How Disneyland Found Its Footing: The Growing Pains of 1955-1959 (Ep. 73) Feb 15, 2015

Show notes

Opening Disneyland was only the beginning of Walt Disney's problems. Len Testa and Jim Hill continue their Disneyland history series with the park's first growing pains, from its frantic 1955 debut through the ambitious expansion of 1959. Along the way, they explore the television deals, unlikely sponsors, operational improvisations, and rival parks that helped turn Walt's experiment into a lasting success.

Original Air Date: February 15, 2015
Original Title: The History of Disneyland from 1955 to 1959

HIGHLIGHTS

How ABC's investment and television agreement helped finance Disneyland while giving the network a substantial stake in the park.
Why C. V. Wood recruited everyone from railroad operators to lingerie manufacturers to help fund Walt's increasingly expensive project.
How the Davy Crockett phenomenon brought in badly needed revenue as Disneyland raced toward opening day.
The opening-week shortcuts, early ticket books, and improvised queues that reveal how Disney learned to operate a theme park.
How television props became the Mike Fink Keel Boats, and why Walt kept adding capacity and new experiences.
The unbuilt International Street and Liberty Street concepts, plus the unusual vision behind Tomorrowland's domestic exhibits.
How C. V. Wood's competing parks and Pacific Ocean Park helped spur Disneyland's push toward the Matterhorn, Monorail, and Submarine Voyage.
Why Walt's growing frustration with ABC and outside concession operators set up his next battle for control of Disneyland.

HOSTS

Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | TouringPlans.com
Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia | JimHillMedia.com

FOLLOW

Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
YouTube: @jimhillmedia
TikTok: @jimhillmedia

SUPPORT

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

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

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