July 15, 2026

From All-Stars to Art of Animation: Disney’s Value Resort Story (Ep. 108)

From All-Stars to Art of Animation: Disney’s Value Resort Story (Ep. 108)
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Season 1

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey kick off this week’s I Want That Too with concert merch sticker shock, a new family dog named Luna, and a surprising amount of Disney pet gear at Petco. They also dig into Disney’s new auction partnership with Heritage Auctions and the build-a-bag trend popping up in the parks. Then Jim traces the history of Walt Disney World’s value resorts, from the All-Stars to Pop Century to Art of Animation, and explains how 9/11 unexpectedly changed Disney’s hotel strategy.

NEWS

• Lauren shares the story of Luna the Wonder Dog and the Disney pet merchandise she discovered at Petco.

• Disney fans may soon be able to bid on real theme park props and set pieces through a new Heritage Auctions partnership.

• Jim explains why Disney Archives cannot keep everything, and how auctions can help fund the recovery of historically important items.

• Disney’s new Build-A-Bag line brings mix-and-match customization to park handbags, straps, charms, and wallets.

FEATURE

• Jim revisits how Disney’s moderate resorts led directly to the creation of the All-Star value hotels.

• The episode explores why Pop Century was built near Wide World of Sports, and how cheerleading and youth sports helped shape Disney’s hotel planning.

• Jim explains how 9/11 stalled Pop Century’s expansion and left the Legendary Years section unfinished for years.

• The story wraps with the rise of family suites and how Disney transformed that abandoned hotel space into Art of Animation.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - @JimHillMedia

• Lauren Hersey - @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

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