The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Latest Episodes:

How DreamWorks Almost Made a Very Different How to Train Your Dragon (Ep. 37) Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey take a deep dive into the history of How to Train Your Dragon and how it became one of DreamWorks’ most beloved franchises. Plus, they break down all the latest Universal news!

First-Time Viewing Experience: Eric shares his reaction to watching How to Train Your Dragon for the first time and how it changed his excitement for Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk.
The Making of How to Train Your Dragon: How DreamWorks nearly made a very different version of the film before Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois took over.
Dog Man Comes to Universal Orlando: Meet & greets and themed food debut in DreamWorks Land just days after the movie’s release.
Dark Universe Updates: BioReconstruct captures street performers inside Darkmoor Village, hinting at the immersive experience ahead.
Mardi Gras 2025 Kicks Off: Huge crowds pack into Universal Orlando for opening weekend, with T-Pain headlining the first concert.
New Tribute Store – Legends of the Bayou: Universal embraces cryptid lore, with rooms themed to the Moss Man and Grunch Road Monster.
Rip Ride Rockit’s Closing Date Announced: The ride will officially shut down on September 20, 2025, with speculation on when demolition will begin.

This episode is packed with theme park updates, animation history, and plenty of dragon talk. Whether you’re a longtime How to Train Your Dragon fan or just excited for Epic Universe, this one’s for you!

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The Marketing Genius Behind "I’m Going to Disneyland" (Ep. 34) Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill, Lauren Hersey, and special guest Eric Hersey dive into the surprising crossover between Disney and the biggest sporting event of the year—the Super Bowl.

The origins of the legendary "I'm Going to Disneyland" phrase and how it all started with Jane Eisner’s brilliant idea.
Michael Eisner’s deep love of sports and how it led to Disney owning The Mighty Ducks and The Anaheim Angels.
The Super Bowl commercial game—why brands pay millions and how Disney’s new cruise line ad is making waves.
The collectible side of sports: Disney trading cards, vintage Mighty Ducks jerseys, and the rarest Disney sports merch.
A sneak peek at RunDisney Princess Half Marathon merch and the eBay resale market that has runners fuming.

If you love Disney, sports, and the fascinating stories behind marketing magic, this episode is a must-listen. Available now on your favorite podcast platform!

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How Dog Man Became DreamWorks’ First Big Hit of 2025 (Ep. 292) Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss:

Dog Man’s impressive $36M opening weekend and what it means for DreamWorks Animation.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the fascinating history behind Splash Mountain’s reimagining.
Will Ferrell’s viral Buddy the Elf moment at an LA Kings game and his surprising reason for rejecting Elf 2.
Updates on The Simpsons’ upcoming season and exclusive Disney+ episodes.
The changing landscape of animated indie films like The Day the Earth Blew Up and Wed Wabbit.

Tune in as Jim and Drew break down the latest animation news, industry trends, and behind-the-scenes stories!

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Annual Passes and the Mystery of Disney’s Vanishing Resort (Ep. 517) Feb 03, 2025

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This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill explore the surprising history of annual passes—how Disneyland accidentally created a theme park membership program and what Disney might have in store next. Plus, Jim continues the saga of Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge, the resort that made it to the concept art phase but never to reality.

The Origins of Annual Passes: How Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom Club set the stage for the modern theme park pass and why Disney might be rethinking it.
Hollywood Studios Updates: What’s closing, what’s opening, and why Muppet*Vision 3D, Mama Melrose’s, and Pizza Rizzo are all saying goodbye.
Universal’s New Events: Mardi Gras, Volcano Bay Nights, and Butterbeer Season—because Universal understands that food-based festivals are the true theme park superpower.
Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge: Jim dives into Disney’s big plans for Bay Lake, why they hit pause, and whether this project will ever return.
Muppets at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster?: Is Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem really taking over from Aerosmith? And is that actually a bad thing?

Join Len and Jim as they break down Disney history, park updates, and whether we’ll ever see a new resort built before the next iteration of Genie+.

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Addams Family and The Munsters: How Two Spooky Sitcoms Battled for Prime Time (Ep. 36) Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore Universal’s updates and dive into the rich history of The Munsters. Highlights include:

The Munsters’ Origins: How a pitch for an animated series turned into one of TV’s most beloved sitcoms.
Wicked’s Box Office Success: Its award potential and the announcement of the new subtitle, For Good.
Universal Studios Florida Updates: New entrance music and digital signage enhancing the guest experience.
Stella Nova Resort: First impressions of Universal’s sleek, space-themed hotel.
Wolfman and Monster Movies: A look at Wolfman’s mixed reviews and its impact on Universal’s monster movie future.
Shrek 5 and Minions 3 News: The latest updates on Universal’s animated franchises.

This episode is packed with Universal updates, classic monster nostalgia, and exciting insights into upcoming projects!

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The Cinderella Story You’ve Never Heard: How a Bank Saved Disney and Built an Empire (Ep. 33) Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive into Disney anniversaries, exciting new merch, and the bittersweet farewell to a fan-favorite attraction.

Cinderella’s 75th Anniversary: The surprising history of how Bank of America played a role in bringing this Disney classic to life.
Muppet Vision 3D’s Closure: What we know about the end of this beloved attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and what’s rumored to replace it.
Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary Merch: A brand-new rotating themed store is coming to Downtown Disney.
The Most Expensive Disney Collectible: A $285,000 crystal Cinderella Castle—who’s buying it?
Mini Collectibles & New Merch: The latest must-haves, including the irresistible new Cinderella mini ears and limited-edition collections.

Whether you’re a fan of Disney history, rare collectibles, or just keeping up with what’s new in the parks, this episode has something for every Disney fan. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

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Animated Oscars Buzz: The Wild Robot, Flow, and Surprising Snubs (Ep. 291) Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss:

Warner Bros. Animation’s ambitious adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and its 2028 release plans.
The marketing genius behind DreamWorks’ Dog Man, including a new The Bad Guys short premiering with the film.
Animated Academy Award nominees, from The Wild Robot to Flow, and surprising snubs like Moana 2.
The evolving Oscars strategy for animated features, including Disney’s hits and misses in the Best Song category.
Changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including new animation-themed shows replacing MuppetVision 3D.

Join Jim and Drew for an in-depth look at animation news, awards buzz, and how studios are shaping the future of family entertainment!

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Conquering Epcot’s Festival of the Arts and the Mystery of Disney’s Reflections (Ep. 516) Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill are joined by Christina Harrison to explore the best (and worst) of Epcot’s Festival of the Arts while diving into the intriguing history of Disney’s shelved resort project, Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge.

Festival of the Arts Food Tour: Christina breaks down the must-try dishes, including the return of Japan’s Taiyaki and the surprising stars of the Painted Panda booth.
Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge: Jim continues the story of Disney’s abandoned Bay Lake resort and what might take its place.
Lightning Lane Premier Pass: Is it worth the cost when crowd levels drop below a 5?
Universal’s Stella Nova Resort: Christina shares her review of Universal’s new value hotel, including the perks of staying near Epic Universe.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Update: Why is Disney adjusting operating hours so soon after its debut?

Join Len, Jim, and Christina for a delicious deep dive into Epcot’s festival eats, Disney history, and Universal’s latest addition.

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Skeleton Crew Reflections, Dawn of the Jedi, and the Unexpected Journey of David Lynch (Ep. 102) Jan 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Looking at Lucasfilm, Jim Hill and Brian Gaughan dive into a mix of Lucasfilm updates, thought-provoking stories, and industry reflections:

A retrospective on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, exploring its strengths, challenges, and future prospects.
Insights into James Mangold’s ambitious Dawn of the Jedi project, a sweeping tale exploring the origins of the Force.
The fascinating story of George Lucas’s attempt to recruit David Lynch for Return of the Jedi—and why Lynch ultimately said no.
Warwick Davis’s prestigious BAFTA Fellowship and his legacy as Wicket the Ewok.
Updates on upcoming Star Wars projects, including Andor Season 2 and The Mandalorian & Grogu movie.

From nostalgic reflections to exciting updates, join Jim and Brian for a lively discussion that delves deep into the Lucasfilm universe and beyond.

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How Looney Tunes Helped Shape Universal’s The Munsters (Ep. 35) Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey tackle a variety of Universal Studios updates and dive into the history of The Munsters. Highlights include:

Wildfires and Universal Hollywood’s Closure: How recent California wildfires forced a rare closure of Universal Studios Hollywood, plus ways to support relief efforts.
Rock the Universe: A preview of Universal Orlando’s Christian music festival and why it’s a great weekend to visit the parks.
The Stella Nova Resort: First impressions of Universal’s newest resort, featuring a sleek space-themed design and unique guest experiences.
Skull Island Q&A with Mike West: Insights from the former Imagineer on the design and storytelling behind Reign of Kong.
The Munsters Origin Story: How Universal’s iconic sitcom emerged during the 1960s and its connection to the studio’s classic monsters.

Whether you’re a fan of Universal’s latest attractions or nostalgic for classic monster lore, this episode has something for everyone!

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