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Episodes

June 1, 2025

Can You Really Conquer Epic Universe Without an Express Pass? (Ep. 534)

This week, Len Testa reveals how to take on Universal’s Epic Universe without shelling out for an Express Pass—and still live to tell the tale. Meanwhile, Jim Hill looks back at how long Disney & Kodak worked together and how...
May 25, 2025

From Pop-Up to Permanent: Disney’s Tent Obsession and the Accidental Origins of Toontown (Ep. 533)

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill reveal how Disney’s “temporary” structures - from party tents to prefab domes - have a habit of overstaying their welcome. What starts as a stopgap often becomes a staple, and nowhere is that...
May 19, 2025

Mission: Space – Disney’s Most Ambitious Ride That Guests Don’t Want to Ride Twice (Ep. 532)

Len Testa and Jim Hill break down the surprisingly intense history of Epcot’s Mission: Space —from launch-day astronauts and jetpack stunts to the guest experience that made this ride one of Disney’s most regretted one-and-do...
May 12, 2025

The $25 Disaster: Why Disneyland’s Light Magic Parade Failed Spectacularly (Ep. 531)

Len Testa and Jim Hill dive deep into the infamous debut of Light Magic , Disneyland’s ill-fated replacement for the Main Street Electrical Parade. What was promised as a “street-tacular” became a technical and creative misfi...
May 5, 2025

How Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland Almost Changed New Fantasyland (Ep. 530)

Jim reveals Disney World’s scrapped plan to retheme the Mad Tea Party with Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland —a move that would’ve introduced clever nods to the film like “Drink Me” and “Eat Me” food stands and tied directly i...
April 28, 2025

Why it took 25 years to change the name of King Stefan's Banquet Hall (Ep. 529)

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 ...
April 21, 2025

Villains, Funhouses, and the Alice Ride That Was Almost Too Dangerous to Build (Ep. 528)

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 pus...
April 14, 2025

Tariff concerns and a peek at Epic Universe (Ep 527)

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 sto...
April 7, 2025

Fiberglass Heads and Forbidden Mountains (Ep. 526)

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 Lightyea...
March 31, 2025

The Red Car That Never Was: Sunset Boulevard’s Lost History and Epic Universe’s Survey (Ep. 525)

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 Ep...
March 24, 2025

Reflections Complete: The Full Story of Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge and the Evolution of DVC (Ep. 524)

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill are joined by DVC expert Paul Krieger to finally wrap up the long-running series on Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge—now Lakeshore Lodge. They explore how this project evolved from concep...
March 17, 2025

Disney Concept Art vs. Reality: Why Your Favorite Rides Look So Different (Ep. 523)

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill break down new details about the Indiana Jones ride at Animal Kingdom, explore the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster ride system, and take a deep dive into how Disney’s concept art often differs fro...
March 10, 2025

The Indiana Jones Ride at Animal Kingdom: What We Know So Far (Ep. 522)

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill reveal new details about the Indiana Jones ride planned for Animal Kingdom’s Tropical Americas land, including early concept art, ride storylines, and how Imagineering is staying true to Maya...
March 3, 2025

The Untold Story of Ron Miller and Disney’s Lost Era (Ep. 521)

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill are joined by award-winning journalist Neil O’Brien to explore the most under-reported period in Disney’s history—the years between Walt’s death and Michael Eisner’s arrival. Neil’s new book,...
Feb. 24, 2025

Buffalo Junction: Disney’s Forgotten Frontier Resort (Ep. 520)

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill, joined by former Imagineer Jim Shull, dive into the fascinating history of Buffalo Junction, the resort Disney almost built between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge. Inspired by Disneyla...
Feb. 17, 2025

Is D23 the New Magic Kingdom Club… and Is It Worth It? (Ep. 519)

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill break down Hollywood Studios’ unannounced Villaintines Day event, Disney’s history of lost resort projects, and Universal’s wild new food lineup for Epic Universe. Villaintines Day at Hollywo...
Feb. 10, 2025

How Disney Tried (and Failed) to Sell a Ticket Book for Fort Wilderness (Ep. 518)

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill dive into the history of Fort Wilderness and River Country, including the expansion that almost happened and how Disney’s first water park became a fan favorite before shutting down. Plus, Ji...
Feb. 3, 2025

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

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 R...
Jan. 27, 2025

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

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 La...
Jan. 20, 2025

How to Beat Animal Kingdom Before Breakfast (and What Happened to Reflections?) (Ep. 515)

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill share how to conquer Animal Kingdom faster than you can finish a Mickey waffle and dig into the curious case of Disney’s Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge. Animal Kingdom Touring Plan : Len’s ste...
Jan. 13, 2025

Taking on Hollywood Studios Without Lightning Lane (and Winning) (Ep. 514)

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill reveal how to take on Hollywood Studios during peak crowds without relying on Lightning Lane, plus a look at Disney’s music legend George Wilkins and other park updates: Hollywood Studios Tou...
Jan. 6, 2025

How Disney’s George Wilkins Created the Soundtrack to Your EPCOT Dreams (Ep. 513)

Jim looks at the theme park music of George Wilkins
Dec. 30, 2024

How Expensive Can WDW’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass Get? (Ep. 512)

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill break down the jaw-dropping prices of Disney’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which sold out at a whopping $478 per person during the holidays. Premier Pass Sticker Shock : Is there a limit to ...
Dec. 23, 2024

Why Disney’s Polynesian Tower Might Be the Best Magic Kingdom Hotel (Ep. 511)

Join Len Testa and Jim Hill as they dive into the fascinating and occasionally outrageous story of how Disney transformed Caribbean Beach into their 15th DVC property: Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Resort : Len reviews ...