The Contemporary’s Surprisingly Smelly Origin Story (Ep. 109)
Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey unpack a whirlwind week of Disney and Universal discoveries, from a chaotic Lorcana release to a little-known Walt Disney World store hidden inside an Orlando parking garage. Lauren shares highlights from her latest theme park merchandise haul, including deeply discounted Universal gear and retro-inspired Contemporary Resort merchandise. Then Jim digs into the surprisingly smelly construction history connecting Seven Seas Lagoon, EPCOT, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Walt Disney World’s original hotels.
NEWS
• A limited-edition Disney Lorcana release creates massive crowds at Disney Springs and forces the cancellation of a London event.
• Jim and Lauren consider whether artificial scarcity and reseller demand are helping fuel Lorcana’s popularity.
• Lauren discovers an official Walt Disney World merchandise and ticket location hidden inside an International Drive parking garage.
• Universal Orlando’s Brown Derby shop offers select current merchandise at discounts of up to 70 percent.
• The Contemporary Resort leans into vintage Disney style with monorail merchandise, classic photography, and deep-cut references.
FEATURE
• The excavation of Seven Seas Lagoon required moving millions of cubic yards of ancient organic material.
• EPCOT guests encountered an unforgettable odor when construction crews disturbed old World Showcase Lagoon debris during development of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
• Jim explains how Walt Disney World’s original hotels were designed to extend the storytelling beyond the Magic Kingdom.
• Early resort concepts included Persian, Thai, Dutch, Cape Cod, and South Seas destinations positioned around Bay Lake.
HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com
• Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_
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
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