The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Latest Episodes:

Michael Eisner’s Teen Crisis: The Birth of Videopolis (Ep. 537) Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill look at recent updates across Walt Disney World and Epic Universe, including a new water play area in Animal Kingdom, a July reopening for Test Track, and a revealing Disney Cruise Line survey. Then in the main segment, Jim takes us back 30 years to the wild creation of Disneyland’s Videopolis—a teen dance club built in just 100 days that introduced churros, challenged norms, and (almost) ran over some tourists.

New Indiana Jones-themed play area replaces Animal Kingdom’s Boneyard
Test Track reopens July 22—why we still don’t know what’s inside
Epic Universe adds stage permits and steampunk restaurant progress
A Disney Cruise Line survey that might explain recent price drops
The teen problem Disney had to solve—and how Videopolis became the answer
Churros, breakdancing, and Michael Eisner’s MTV-fueled moonshot

Videopolis wasn’t just a dance floor—it was a cultural reset, a churro revolution, and a crash course in fast-tracking theme park design.

SHOW NOTES

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How Abbott & Costello (and a Baseball Bit) Saved Universal (Ep. 56) Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey step up to the plate with the unbelievable true story of how a simple comedy sketch—Who’s on First—helped pull Universal Studios back from the brink of bankruptcy. Along the way, they cover the box office power of How to Train Your Dragon, a surprising coaster IP twist, and the last remaining piece of the Jaws ride hiding in plain sight.

Abbott & Costello’s rise from burlesque to box office saviors
How Who’s on First became a studio-saving sensation
Fast & Furious coaster car reveal—and Orlando’s unexpected pivot
The Dragon’s Father’s Day box office fire and epic synergy
New Halloween Horror Nights house starring Jason Voorhees
A mysterious old bathroom with Jaws-sized history

From the backlot to the ballfield, it’s one of the most unexpected—and most entertaining—episodes yet.

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Scents, Sweets, and Storytelling: How Disney Hooks You with Smell (Ep. 52) Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey follow their cult-favorite “cup” episode with a deep dive into the most powerful sense in the Disney parks—smell. From Mickey’s PhilharMagic to burning Rome and popcorn-scented blowers, this episode explores how Imagineering has used fragrance for decades to spark emotion, trigger nostalgia, and boost sales. Plus, they dig into scented merch like candles, oils, and the plushie line that smells good enough to eat.

How scent became a secret weapon in Disney park design
Walt Disney’s original plan to use smells in Fantasia
The evolution of “Smellitizers” and where they show up in classic attractions
The rise of smell-based merch: Scenty, Magic Candle Co., and Disney oils
What munchlings are—and how they combine snacks, scent, and plushies

If you’ve ever chased the smell of Main Street popcorn or hunted for the perfect Polynesian candle, this one’s for you.

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Beauty and the Beast at 30, Elio Projections, and the Live-Action Dragon’s Box Office (Ep. 311) Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers the latest from the animation and box office world while Drew Taylor wraps up his trip to Annecy and Disneyland Paris. This week’s highlights include:

Live-action How to Train Your Dragon opens to $197M globally, including a $83M domestic debut that surpasses every previous entry in the franchise.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch nears the billion-dollar mark, with over $858M earned just four weeks after release.
Pixar’s Elio faces a soft box office forecast, but Jim urges caution against writing it off before opening weekend.
Peter Sohn tapped to direct Incredibles 3, with a screenplay by Brad Bird and expectations riding high after Elemental's surprise turnaround.
Jim interviews Matt West, director of the 30th Anniversary Tour of Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical, and shares the story of how the animated film came together after a theme park pre-show opened doors for new talent.

From billion-dollar contenders to Broadway anniversaries and surprise animation industry milestones, it’s a jam-packed episode filled with insight, stories, and a little history.

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How Miami Nice, Pizza P-eye, and the Imagination Pavilion All Nearly Happened (Ep. 536) Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill break down the newest Monstropolis concept art and speculate on Disney’s next big land grab near Blizzard Beach. They also examine Disneyland’s expansion strategy, a Coco boat ride, and why the Avatar land plans are quietly devouring backstage space. Then, in part three of the Journey Into Imagination saga, Jim reveals how Figment almost got replaced by Michael Jordan—and how one flubbed line at an NBC upfront helped create The Golden Girls.

Updated Monstropolis plans hint at a larger land—and a suspiciously vacant cast parking lot
Could a new DVC resort be rising near Blizzard Beach? Western Way roadwork says yes
Disneyland's expansion plan: Coco, Avatar, and the final frontier of backstage space
The doomed celebrity era of Imagineering, featuring Cheers-inspired Tiki Room and Wallace & Gromit
Journey Into Imagination 3.0: how a triage effort (and stored figment AAs) saved the ride
The DVC lounge dilemma: why redoing Imagination may need a bit more imagination

Big plans, big ideas, and one very unfortunate cheese room.

⁠SHOW NOTES⁠

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Slime, Slapstick, and the Secret History of Nickelodeon Studios (Ep. 55) Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey rewind to the green-slime-soaked days of Universal Studios Florida with a deep dive into the rise (and fall) of Nickelodeon Studios. From Double Dare to the slime geyser, they break down how Nick turned Universal into must-see TV—and what happened when the camera crews packed up for Hollywood. Plus, the hosts share this summer’s biggest park updates, movie tie-ins, and a few theme park throwbacks that might be making a comeback.

Why Nickelodeon built a studio in Orlando—with 13 years of free rent
The slime geyser, baked beans, and septic trucks of Double Dare
Universal’s latest Ghostbusters tribute sparks ride rumors
Megan hordes, Wicked meet-and-greets, and summer movie tie-ins
FanFest returning in 2026—and the dream of bringing it to Orlando
Blue Man Group’s history with Nick’s old soundstages

The episode wraps with a nostalgic tribute to the Nickelodeon generation and the unexpected ways its legacy still echoes through the Universal parks.

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The Cookie King of Disney Springs: Inside the Story of Gideon's Bakehouse with Steve Lewis (Ep. 51) Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey welcome Steve Lewis, the founder of Gideon’s Bakehouse, for a deliciously detailed conversation about how a dark, whimsical cookie shop became one of the most sought-after stops at Disney Springs. From his early days as a musician and comic shop owner to perfecting a cookie recipe over 15 years, Steve shares the creative, emotional, and business journey behind Florida’s favorite bakery.

The music major turned baker who built Gideon’s from scratch—literally
How a secret cookie deal at Polite Pig helped land a spot at Disney Springs
The role of community, storytelling, and heartbreak in shaping the brand
Why you’ll never see Gideon’s cookies shipped or wholesaled
The Edward Gorey-inspired art behind the eerie, yet inviting design
What’s next for Steve, his characters, and maybe even a lemon-orange love story

Learn more about Gideon’s by visiting https://www.gideonsbakehouse.com

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Lilo & Stitch Still Soars, Dragon Whoppers Reviewed, and Fantasia’s Forgotten Soundtrack (Ep. 310) Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers a whirlwind of animation news, box office milestones, and fast food tie-ins—while Drew Taylor checks in from Annecy. Topics include:

Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch nears $800M globally, but with How to Train Your Dragon, Elio, and Jurassic World approaching, can it hold on?
A live-action Tangled revival is gaining momentum, possibly hitting theaters in 2029.
Burger King’s How to Train Your Dragon menu gets taste-tested, including the Dragon Flame-Grilled Whopper and Viking’s Chocolate Sundae.
Universal’s Simpsons rights could end in 2028, putting attractions like Krusty Burger on the clock.
The forgotten Dolby stereo Fantasia soundtrack from 1982, featuring a 125-piece orchestra, Jimmy Macdonald’s new click track, and backlash from classical music fans.

Plus: LEGO’s $200 Krusty Burger, Seth Rogen’s porcine resume, and why blue drinks raise red flags. It’s a classic Jim-only episode packed with oddball insight and animation industry intel.

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Why Disney’s New Lounge Smells Like Crab Cakes (and Kodak Regrets) (Ep. 535) Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

Len Testa reviews Epcot’s swanky new GEO82 Lounge—crab cakes, price tags, and time limits included—while Jim Hill breaks down the surprisingly tangled history of film companies at Disney Parks. Plus, thoughts on the reimagined Rivers of America concept art, Disney trains going backwards, and how one bear-loving park ranger is making a comeback. The show ends with Part 2 of the wild saga behind Journey into Imagination’s 2002 reopening, featuring a side of Art Linkletter, Henry Fonda, and bitter corporate rivalries.

First thoughts on Disney’s new Piston Peak National Park concept art
The EPCOT GEO82 Lounge: gorgeous views, high prices, strict timers
Disney trains to run in reverse—literally
Why a DVC rental checkbox could be tied to speculative booking issues
The forgotten film war: Kodak, Polaroid, and the $10M that didn’t pay off
How Art Linkletter turned a favor into Disneyland’s most profitable deal

Whether you’re craving peanut brittle from a charcuterie plate or just here for vintage theme park trivia, this episode has you covered.

⁠SHOW NOTES⁠

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Harry and the Hendersons, Spielberg’s Lost Alien Film, and the Birth of E.T. (Ep. 54) Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey go deep into the surprising history behind Harry and the Hendersons—including how a scrapped alien horror film called Night Skies ultimately led to E.T. and Bigfoot comedy gold. From Oscars to animatronic controversies, this episode reveals the untold story behind one of Spielberg’s most fascinating creative pivots.

How Night Skies went from alien horror to E.T.
Rick Baker’s original designs for a much scarier alien crew
Why the Bigfoot suit in Harry and the Hendersons almost wasn’t eligible for an Oscar
John Lithgow’s role in reshaping the script (and the heart) of the film
The connection between Predator, Harry, and Universal Studios Hollywood
Why the movie’s emotional ending still holds up after 38 years

Also in this episode: a new Wicked trailer drop, Hagrid’s joins Express Pass, Rip Ride Rockit gets a closing date, and Halloween Horror Nights adds Fallout and Five Nights at Freddy’s to the mix.

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