The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

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Gargoyles May Take Flight Again on Disney+ (Ep. 371) Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Fine Tooning is back with a packed post-D23 week of animation news, as Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into fresh trailers, release dates, box-office milestones, and one potentially very big Disney revival. The conversation ranges from Laika’s long-awaited Wildwood and Warner Bros. Animation’s Margie Claus to Blue Eye Samurai, LEGO Star Wars, and the remarkable theatrical run of Toy Story 5. Jim and Drew also discuss Brent Spiner’s unexpected suggestion that a new Gargoyles series may be headed to Disney+, and remember Hayden Panettiere and her early voice work as Princess Dot in A Bug’s Life.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Brent Spiner may have accidentally revealed that a Gargoyles revival is in development for Disney+.

• Laika unveils the first trailer for Wildwood ahead of its October 23 theatrical release.

• Margie Claus sets a November 12, 2027 release date with Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Octavia Spencer, and Andrew Scott.

• Blue Eye Samurai previews Season 2 while Netflix announces a third and final season for 2028.

• Jim and Drew look at the latest animation-related box-office numbers, including Toy Story 5 and Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie.

• Jim remembers Hayden Panettiere and her performance as Princess Dot in Pixar’s A Bug’s Life.

• Panettiere’s memoir offers a revealing look at the demanding voice-recording process behind the Pixar film.

• Drew reflects on Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and the continuing legacy of Light the Fuse.

HOSTS

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

• Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | drewtaylor.work

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

Planning a fall getaway to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando? Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and the details that can make an Orlando vacation easier to manage. Their vacation-planning services come at no additional cost to you. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com to start planning.
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D23 Brings Back Tomorrowland Hope, Dreamfinder, and the Yeti (Ep. 598) Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill unpack a packed slate of D23 parks announcements, from Disneyland’s newly promised Tomorrowland overhaul to major additions coming to Walt Disney World. They dig into Tropical Americas, Piston Peak, Villains Land, Monstropolis, Figment and Dreamfinder’s return to EPCOT, and Disney’s surprising promise to finally address Expedition Everest’s Yeti. Then Jim looks back at the history of Disney-MGM Studios’ Ewok Village, its connection to Star Tours, and the unusual road that brought George Lucas’ galaxy to a Hollywood-themed park.

NEWS

• Disneyland plans a Tomorrowland overhaul inspired by the land’s original sense of hope and optimism.

• Disney California Adventure’s Pandora project moves behind Tomorrowland while Avengers Infinity Defense, Stark Flight Lab, and the Coco attraction continue taking shape.

• Walt Disney World reveals new details for Tropical Americas, Piston Peak National Park, Villains Land, and the phased opening of Monstropolis.

• Dreamfinder and Figment are headed back to EPCOT in a still-mysterious new “flight of fancy” into Imagination.

• Disney says Expedition Everest’s long-static Yeti will finally be addressed, though exactly what “fixing” the figure means remains to be seen.

FEATURE

• Jim traces the 1989 opening of the Ewok Village at Disney-MGM Studios, months before Florida’s Star Tours began carrying guests to Endor.

• Learn why Florida’s Star Tours wound up at the Studios instead of Tomorrowland and how Disney tried to make George Lucas part of the park’s identity.

• The story explores George Lucas’ inspirations for the Ewoks, the abandoned Wookiee plans for Return of the Jedi, and Disney’s enthusiasm for the franchise’s most marketable forest dwellers.

• Plus, Jim revisits unrealized ideas including a Sci-Fi Channel UFO headquarters and the Roger Rabbit-themed Toontown Transit simulator.

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

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

Disney Dish News is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com, from our friends at DVCRentalStore.com.

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

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Stranger Things Comes Full Circle at Halloween Horror Nights (Ep. 116) Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey trace the unlikely journey of Stranger Things from the Duffer Brothers' rejected pitch to one of Netflix's defining franchises - and a recurring Halloween Horror Nights favorite. They revisit how Universal translated Hawkins and the Upside Down into elaborate haunted houses, why the creative partnership worked so well, and how those early attractions helped prove that fans wanted to physically step inside Netflix's worlds. Then Jim and Eric bring the story up to the present with Netflix House in Philadelphia and the latest Stranger Things experience headed to Halloween Horror Nights 35.

FEATURE

• How Matt and Ross Duffer turned their original Montauk concept into Stranger Things after a string of network rejections.

• Why the show's mix of Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, 1980s nostalgia, and breakout young performers became a cultural phenomenon.

• How Stranger Things first came to Halloween Horror Nights in 2018, with the Duffer Brothers giving Universal extensive creative access.

• The painstaking work behind recreating Hawkins, the Byers house, the Upside Down, and the Demogorgon for Universal Orlando and Hollywood.

• Why the 2019 and 2023 Stranger Things houses evolved differently on each coast rather than becoming simple clones.

• Jim and Eric's visit to Netflix House at King of Prussia and its immersive Stranger Things experience.

• How Netflix expanded Stranger Things into touring experiences, live theater, permanent attractions, and other extensions beyond the streaming series.

• What Halloween Horror Nights 35 could represent as one of the final major theme park celebrations of Hawkins and its characters.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.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

Planning a Universal Orlando Resort vacation? The travel professionals at BeOurGuestVacations.com offer personalized concierge service to help with resort stays, theme park tickets, and special extras for your Universal adventure. Be sure to mention that the Epic Universal Podcast sent you.
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What Disney Got Right - and Wrong - at D23 (Ep. 30) Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Eric and Lauren are back from Anaheim with a firsthand look at the highs, lows, long lines, virtual queues, and very passionate Disney fans of D23. They break down what worked at the convention, what frustrated attendees, and whether the experience is worth the trip. Then they turn to Disney's Parks presentation, where exciting updates involving Figment, Dreamfinder, the Expedition Everest Yeti, and more sometimes got lost inside an unusual celebrity-heavy production. From Alan Menken and Bedknobs and Broomsticks to merchandise resellers and one unforgettable Reddit discussion about convention hygiene, this is D23 from his, hers, and your perspective.

HIGHLIGHTS

• D23 brought together theme park fans, collectors, cosplayers, gamers, movie fans, and nearly every corner of Disney fandom.

• Eric and Lauren compare the convention's virtual queues, reservation system, merchandise lines, and the planning required to get the most out of the weekend.

• Resellers and professional line-waiters sparked frustration as high-demand D23 merchandise became increasingly difficult for some guests to access.

• Attendees suggested fixes ranging from tighter purchase limits to badge-linked reservations and better communication.

• Transportation to the Honda Center became another pain point, including reports of lengthy delays when a shuttle bus broke down.

• Eric and Lauren review the D23 Parks presentation and question whether its talk-show-style production delivered enough substance for hardcore Disney fans.

• Neil Patrick Harris, Sheryl Crow, Beck, Gloria Gaynor, Los Lobos, and other performers gave the presentation plenty of spectacle, though the pacing sometimes overshadowed the announcements.

• The return of Dreamfinder and Figment generated excitement, but the lack of specifics left fans wondering exactly what Disney has planned.

• Expedition Everest's long-broken Yeti is finally getting attention, giving longtime Disney Parks fans one particularly memorable announcement.

HOSTS

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

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D23 Shopping, Popcorn Bucket Chaos, and Joe Rohde’s “Floating Mountains” (Ep. 113) Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Fresh from D23 in Anaheim, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey unpack what it was really like to shop the show floor, from virtual queues and coveted merchandise to fans finding creative ways around the reservation system. Lauren shares what surprised her about D23 Day at Disneyland, the new Imagineering apparel collection, and Disney’s increasingly social-media-driven activations. Then Jim and Lauren turn to legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde and his new book, Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible, including how Rohde’s work connects the Adventurers Club to Disney’s later Living Character Initiative.

NEWS

• D23 Day at Disneyland brings massive merchandise lines, exclusive releases, and the Hatbox Ghost popcorn bucket frenzy.

• Disney’s D23 shopping system puts fans up against limited virtual queues for the Marketplace, Mickey’s of Glendale, the Company Store, and other high-demand locations.

• Lauren explains how some attendees gamed shopping reservations, paid others to hold places in line, and bought merchandise in bulk.

• Disney+ and Hulu lean heavily into photo activations and social sharing across the D23 show floor.

• The new Walt Disney Imagineering apparel collection turns out to be understated clothing designed by Imagineers for Imagineers - with a very unusual mobile-order shopping process.

FEATURE

• Jim and Lauren discuss Joe Rohde’s Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible and what sets it apart from a traditional Disney memoir.

• Rohde offers a behind-the-scenes look at Imagineering’s creative process, leadership style, and the development of experiences such as the Adventurers Club.

• Jim traces the roots of Disney’s interactive “living characters” from the Adventurers Club back to an unusual talking vulture once installed inside Disneyland’s Club 33.

HOSTS

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

• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_

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

Plan your next Disney or Universal vacation with Be Our Guest Vacations. Their team can help with hotels, tickets, reservations, cruises, and the details that make vacation planning easier, all at no additional planning cost.

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

Doomsday Answers Questions and Marvel Opens the Multiverse Floodgates (Ep. 24) Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Jim Hill returns from the D23 Expo with a firsthand look at Marvel’s latest reveals, while Dan Graney digs into a new Avengers: Doomsday trailer that appears to answer several theories from Episode 23. They break down Doctor Doom’s motivations, Marvel’s newly revealed X-Men cast, Vision Quest, and the latest trailer for Ahsoka Season 2. Then the conversation turns to a crossover that once sounded like a Patton Oswalt punchline but is now real: Marvel and Star Wars are officially colliding in the five-issue Hope Assembles comic series.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The new Avengers: Doomsday trailer offers fresh clues about Victor Von Doom, his lost family, and his plans for the multiverse.

• Jim reports from D23 on Marvel’s TVA-style experience, Doom’s throne room, and a detailed blueprint of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.

• Marvel reveals a new X-Men cast including Sadie Sink, Kit Connor, Christopher Abbott, Samara Weaving, Indy Navarrette, and Adam Driver as Mister Sinister.

• Vision Quest brings White Vision face-to-face with manifestations of familiar MCU artificial intelligences, including JARVIS and Ultron.

• Ahsoka Season 2 sets up Thrawn’s war, Ahsoka’s continuing questions about her Jedi identity, and new mysteries involving Baylan Skoll and the Mortis mythology.

• Marvel and Star Wars collide in Hope Assembles, a five-issue comic series written by Kevin Smith with art by David Marquez.

• Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca cross into Marvel’s Earth-616, where heroes including Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Widow, and Hulk enter the fight.

• Doctor Doom and Marvel villains join forces with Darth Vader and the Empire in a crossover that makes Patton Oswalt’s legendary Parks and Recreation filibuster feel strangely prophetic.

HOSTS

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

• Dan Graney - YouTube: @TheHubbubbery | Facebook: /thehubbubbery | thehubbubbery.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.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey

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

SPONSOR

Planning ahead is never too soon, whether it is for a movie ticket or your next Disney or Universal trip. Visit UnlockedMagic.com.

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

Exciting Animation News from the D23 Expo (Ep. 370) Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Drew and Jim take a break from Disney’s D23 fan expo festivities to talk about everything they learned in a jam-packed set of panels and announcements!

NEWS

• The End of Oak Street beats Paw Patrol at the box office but Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into first place again

• The threequels are coming! Zootopia 3, Frozen 3, and The Incredibles 3 are all on their way

• Jodie Foster has her first animated role in Hexed alongside Walton Goggins as Beef Roger Crumbchuck

• Kingdom Hearts finally gets an animated series along with a new entry in the Final Fantasy meets Disney video game series

• Pixar gets spooky with the upcoming Ghost Market, in what is being described by Pete Docter as its first ‘horror movie’

• Drew is hosting a special 15th anniversary screening of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica, California on August 22nd at 7:30PM featuring a live virtual Q&A with director Brad Bird (and another mystery in-person guest along with other surprises!)

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - X: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Drew Taylor - X: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW

• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @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 - StrongMindedAgency.com

SPONSOR

This episode is sponsored by UnlockedMagic.com, the go-to source for great deals on Disney and Universal theme park tickets. If a 2026 theme park vacation is on your radar, their team can help you save money while making the planning process easier.

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

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Anaheim Before Disneyland: From Vineyards to the Packing House (Ep. 597) Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill are on the ground in Anaheim for D23, where they dig into the week's Disney news before exploring how Anaheim evolved from vineyards and citrus groves into the home of Disneyland. Along the way, they examine a Disney patent that could create the illusion of elevation changes on future attractions, a proposed Spaceship Earth television series, and Bob Chapek's upcoming book. Then Jim traces the fascinating history of the Anaheim Packing House and the agricultural economy that helped make Walt Disney's land purchase possible.

NEWS

• A newly published Disney patent could make riders feel as though they're climbing or dropping while their ride vehicle remains on a flat surface.

• Could the technology be destined for the upcoming Encanto attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom?

• Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is already selling out select dates at both ends of the 2026 event calendar.

• Another infrastructure problem hits Disney's Wilderness Lodge, this time involving water service at Boulder Ridge.

• Disney is developing a Spaceship Earth-inspired television project built around teenagers, time travel, and a threat to Earth's future.

• Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek prepares to tell his side of the story in his upcoming book, Behind the Castle Walls.

FEATURE

• Jim traces Anaheim's beginnings to 50 German families who established a thriving wine-growing community in the 1850s.

• Root rot pushed the region from vineyards toward orange groves and walnut farms, helping reshape Anaheim's agricultural economy.

• Railroad expansion turned the Anaheim Packing District into a major hub for shipping fresh California produce across the country.

• Falling agricultural land values helped Harrison "Buzz" Price identify Anaheim as the ideal location for Walt Disney's new family park.

• Disneyland's arrival accelerated Anaheim's transformation from an agricultural community into a tourism destination.

• The historic Anaheim Packing House survived redevelopment pressure and reopened in 2014 as a modern food hall that preserves a piece of the city's past.

For this episode’s full show notes, click here. (Coming Soon)

HOSTS

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

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

Disney Dish News is sponsored by BeOurGuestVacations.com. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is underway, and Be Our Guest Vacations can help you plan a Walt Disney World trip filled with Halloween fun, costumes, and plenty of candy.

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

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How Universal’s Prop Plaza Turned a Lunch Stop Into Theme Park History (Ep. 115) Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dig into the latest Universal news before tracing the surprisingly humble origins of Universal Studios Hollywood’s Prop Plaza. They cover Art the Clown taking over the Terror Tram, new Halloween Horror Nights experiences, Fast & Furious coaster construction on both coasts, and Universal Hollywood’s efforts to address neighborhood noise concerns. Then Jim tells the story of MCA executive Albert Dorskind, the struggling Universal commissary, and how a simple tourist lunch stop helped set the stage for the modern Studio Tour.

NEWS

• Art the Clown from the Terrifier films takes over the Terror Tram at Universal Studios Hollywood for Halloween Horror Nights 2026.

• Nikki from Obsession is set to roam Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood as a surprise character encounter.

• Universal Hollywood introduces daytime Unmasking the Horror lights-on tours through select Halloween Horror Nights houses.

• Additional sound barriers are being installed near Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift as Universal responds to neighborhood noise concerns.

• Track installation is now complete on the new Fast & Furious coaster under construction at Universal Studios Florida.

FEATURE

• How MCA executive Albert Dorskind transformed Universal’s money-losing studio commissary by inviting Hollywood sightseeing buses onto the lot.

• Why tourist demand convinced Universal that visitors wanted more than lunch - they wanted to see how movies and television were made.

• How the success of the original 1964 Universal Studio Tour led to the creation of Prop Plaza as a midway stop for food, restrooms, props, and entertainment.

• From giant Land of the Giants props and a coin-operated Model T to early stunt performers and the A-Team van, Prop Plaza became an early blueprint for interactive Universal attractions.

HOSTS

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

• Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.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.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey

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

SPONSOR

Planning a Universal vacation? The travel professionals at BeOurGuestVacations.com can work with you one-on-one to build a trip around the hotel, tickets, and extras that matter most to you. Whether you are headed to Universal Orlando Resort, Epic Universe, or Universal Studios Hollywood, mention that the Epic Universal Podcast sent you.

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

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Auditing the D23 Announcements: What Disney Actually Delivered (Ep. 29) Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Lauren and Eric audit Disney’s major D23 parks announcements from 2019 through 2024 to see which projects opened, changed, stalled, or quietly disappeared. Using their new “D23 Promise Meter,” they examine the difference between blue-sky concept art and projects concrete enough to influence a future Disney vacation. They also look ahead to the 2026 showcase, weighing likely updates for Villains Land, Piston Peak, Tropical Americas, DisneylandForward, Figment, Tomorrowland, and other rumored projects. The big question is whether Disney needs another wave of announcements or simply needs to prove that its existing plans are moving forward.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Lauren’s audit tracks dozens of Disney Parks announcements from the 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024 D23 events.

• The D23 Promise Meter separates blue-sky ideas from named projects, active construction, and confirmed opening dates.

• Piston Peak, Villains Land, Tropical Americas, Monsters, Inc., and Disneyland expansion plans still need important details.

• Eric and Lauren evaluate community predictions involving Figment, Tomorrowland, Spaceship Earth, Animal Kingdom, and a possible resort near the parks.

• The hosts debate whether the 2026 showcase should reveal new attractions or focus on delivering what Disney has already promised.

HOSTS

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

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