The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network
Join Jim Hill and co-hosts Len Testa, Drew Taylor, Brian Gaughan, Eric Hersey, and Lauren Hersey as they talk about the multi-faceted Walt Disney Company - including Pixar, Lucasfilm and Disney Studios - as well as Universal Studios and the world of collectibles.
Episodes
In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor cover a busy week in animation and theme park news, including:
Drew’s full report from FanFest Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, including Back to the Future Hill Valley experiences, new anime tie-ins, and what could be coming to the East Coast.
King of the Hill revival update – A new panel announced for the ATX TV Festival, with co-creators Mike Judge and Gr...
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April 28, 2025 • 48 mins
This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into one of the strangest goofs in Disney history—how the restaurant inside Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom was originally named after the wrong king, and why it took over two decades (and a flood of guest complaints) to finally correct it.
Also in this episode:
The King Stefan Banquet Hall Backstory – Why Imagineering picked the wrong king in the first place—and how nobody caught it b...
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April 26, 2025 • 48 mins
In the sixteenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid continued their look back at the history of themed entertainment.
This time around, they focus on some of the innovations Walt Disney helped introduce with his family fun park.
Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:
How far back in history do automatons go?
Who was the first creator to use pneumatics
What sort of cont...
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Jim Hill and Eric Hersey share Eric’s full first impressions after visiting Epic Universe—just 27 days before its grand opening. From ride reviews to immersive lands, they explore how Universal’s newest park lives up to the hype. Plus, they discuss Annual Passholder perks, new cosplay merch, and Universal’s latest theme park innovations.
Eric shares his thoughts after previewing Epic Universe for the first time
New Dungeons & Dr...
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April 24, 2025 • 52 mins
Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey sit down with actor and author Colin Egglesfield (All My Children, Something Borrowed) to revisit one of Disney’s most passionate fan events: Super Soap Weekend. Colin shares what it was like to meet thousands of soap fans at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, parade through the park with Goofy, and be part of the event’s final years.
They also discuss Colin’s time on All My Children, his unforgettable character...
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In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down with filmmakers Eric Kimelton, Christopher Ninness, and Scott Seibold to talk about the making of Not Just a Goof, the heartfelt new Disney+ documentary celebrating the 30th anniversary of A Goofy Movie. They discuss lost footage, creative challenges, pop culture legacy, and their unexpected journey from fans to contributors in Goofy’s story.
Also in this episode:
...
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April 21, 2025 • 67 mins
Len Testa, Jim Hill, and Imagineer Jim Shull dig into the wild, weird, and wonderfully unsafe history of Disney’s unbuilt Alice in Wonderland walkthrough attraction—complete with collapsing stairs, spinning barrels, and push-bag trees.
Also in this episode:
Disneyland’s Funhouse That Never Was – Concept art and site plans reveal a walkthrough filled with rotating platforms, disorienting ramps, and a healthy disregard for OSHA.
...
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April 20, 2025 • 62 mins
Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking up Season Two of “Andor.”
They then closely examine the “Star Wars” -related panels & programming at this year’s WonderCon.
For this episode, listeners will learn about:
Which Cole Porter song features the line “ … what a swell party this is”
How many films based-on-Stephen-King-stories films will Mark Hamill be appearing in this year
Who was a last-minute replacement...
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April 18, 2025 • 57 mins
Jim Hill and Eric Hersey take a closer look at Hop, Illumination’s forgotten holiday hopeful, and why Easter has never quite found its Elf or Home Alone. From Universal’s big swings to nostalgic flops, they explore what makes holiday movies stick - and why the Easter Bunny keeps missing the mark.
• Why Hop had all the ingredients for success… but still faded into obscurity
• A look back at forgotten Easter specials like T...
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April 17, 2025 • 50 mins
Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey hop into the season with stories of springtime mishaps, Disney merch drops, and a full breakdown of the difference between spoilers and Easter eggs (the movie kind, not the chocolate kind).
The infamous Disneyland orchid drop of the 1950s and other early Easter entertainment ideas
A look at this year’s Easter basket-ready merch, from plush Stitch bunnies to adorable Ewok Village Dorables
Disney’s new L...
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April 15, 2025 • 52 mins
Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by offering birthday greetings to a modern animation master. They then welcome Neil O’Brien, author of “After Disney,” to discuss what it was like to work on the Burbank Lot back in the Late 1970s / Early 1980s
Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:
When did “BOOP: The Musical” do its out-of-town try-out in Chicago
How long after Charles Dickens’ death was his sho...
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April 14, 2025 • 110 mins
Len Testa & Jim Hill are joined this week by veteran Imagineer Jim Shull for a super-sized edition of this podcast. As these three first recap Len’s recent visit to Orlando’s newest theme park and then discuss what recent stock market fluctuations might mean for Disney’s previously announced plans for its Florida Resort
Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:
Which “Isle of Berk” attraction might remind Epic Univers...
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April 11, 2025 • 56 mins
Jim Hill and Eric Hersey break down the biggest stories in the Universal Parks universe, including new details on Epic Universe’s Annual Passholder preview days and Universal’s officially announced theme park in the UK. Plus, they wrap up their deep dive into Universal Studios Hollywood’s 1960s Mardi Gras de Mexico and explore what these early events meant for the future of theme park entertainment.
Epic Universe preview day tick...
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April 10, 2025 • 51 mins
Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey celebrate the 30th anniversary of A Goofy Movie with new Loungefly backpacks, wild Powerline-themed hats, and a deep dive into the film’s fan-favorite status. Then, they break down some of Disney’s latest merch trends - including crossbody water bottle holders, park-inspired baseball jerseys, and popcorn bucket Christmas ornaments… in April.
Plus, Jim shares the fascinating story of how Disney built Who ...
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In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down the biggest stories shaking up the animation world, including:
The explosive box office debut of A Minecraft Movie – Surpassing expectations with $157 million, becoming the biggest opening ever for a video game adaptation.
Disney pauses its live-action Tangled remake – After Snow White’s underperformance, the studio rethinks its strategy for adapting more rec...
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April 7, 2025 • 73 mins
This week, Jim Hill is joined by special guest Ruben Bolling, the award-winning cartoonist behind Tom the Dancing Bug, while Len Testa is off cruising with a buffet (hopefully). From sweaty Brer Bear suits to Buzz Lightyear’s chiropractor bills, Jim and Ruben explore the history—and hazards—of Disney character costumes. Plus, they dive into the future of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, the legacy of Expedition Everest, and how ...
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April 4, 2025 • 61 mins
In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey take a wild detour into Universal’s 1960s event history—when guests could watch a ceremonial Aztec princess sacrifice as part of the “Mardi Gras to Mexico” celebration. Yes, really.
They also dive into the latest Universal news and rumors leading up to Epic Universe’s debut.
Universal’s new Epic Universe Portal Tour and how it’s drawing nationwide attention
...
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April 3, 2025 • 57 mins
In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey explore the colorful world of theme park merchandise—from Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival to Universal’s Epic Universe rollout—and spotlight a pastel plush lineup that’s taking over Japan (and maybe your shelf next).
Figment’s Flattening at Flower & Garden – Lauren shares her thoughts on Disney’s 3D-printed topiaries, the orange spirit jersey, and whether Figment is...
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In this milestone 300th episode, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into the biggest animation stories of the week, including:
GKIDS’ 4K re-release of Princess Mononoke – How this Studio Ghibli classic led the box office in per-screen average nearly three decades after its debut.
Disney’s Snow White struggles at the box office – What the 66% second-week drop means for the future of live-action remakes.
Jon Lovitz and Al Jean hint ...
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March 31, 2025 • 64 mins
This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill take you back to a time when Hollywood Studios had no Sunset Boulevard and how a red car, a Rocketeer supper club, and Roger Rabbit rides nearly changed everything. Plus, Universal’s first Epic Universe guest survey raises big questions about whether there’s enough to do on opening day.
Sunset Boulevard: The Original Plan – A deep dive into the never-built red car route, the South Seas Club from ...
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