Episodes

Here's the building in Trondheim, Norway, from which the Royal Sommerhus design was created: tinyurl.com/zdq7sk3

We also talk about the opening of Skull Island at IOA, and Frozen at Epcot

Special guest star: Laurel Stewart. We loved the meal at Tiffins. Kilimanjaro Safaris is interesting at night, not sure we'd make it our only visit to that attraction. Loved The Awakening.

Here's a Why For that Disney fans are sure to go ape over... the history of "Scruffy", one of the rock apes of Gibraltar. Jim reveals how this started as a live-action project only to almost end up as the follow-up to Disney's animated "Robin Hood".

Did you know that Walt and Ray Kroc (the guy who popularized the McDonald's restaurants) were in the same ambulance unit in World War I? There's a Disneyland tie-in there, and you can hear about it when Jim concludes the history of Splash Mountain.

Jim goes through the history of Animal Kingdom's Kali River Rapids ride. The combination of animals and raft rides dates back to Walt's days, and the evolution of whitewater-style rides in the 1980's brought the idea back to Disney.

Jim talks to Bruce Laval, the guy who invented the original FastPass system while working for Disney in the 1990's.

Jim Hill and Len Testa examine SeaWorld’s decision to end captive-orca breeding, Disney’s proposed resort fees, MagicBand personalization, Polynesian bungalows, and the future of animal attractions.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village Walk-Through!

Recorded live on Disney's Castaway Cay, Jim talks about the Disney Dream and the future of the Disney Cruise Line.creditsreleased November 26, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded live on Disney's Castaway Cay, Jim talks about how Disney got into the cruise business.creditsreleased November 1, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Released on Friday the 13th! Jim and Len swap ghost stories around a campfire at Fort Wilderness, and Jim recounts the history of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.creditsreleased September 13, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim outlines the history of The Little Mermaid-themed attractions in Disney's parks, from Storybook Canal Boats in Disneyland, to unbuilt Euro Disney attractions, to present-day DCA and Magic Kingdom.creditsreleased July 30, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim finishes up the history of how Disney's Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans, Dixie Landings (that's French Quarter for you young folk) and Coronado Springs resorts got built.creditsreleased July 19, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim was just back from the Transformers press junket, where he got to see Transformers, Springfield USA and a hard-hat tour of Diagon Alley. Hear what Jim saw!creditsreleased July 12, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testalicense Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim sorts through all of the rumors of a Star Wars-themed land going in to Disney's Hollywood Studios, including ride, restaurant, and entertainment options.creditsreleased July 1, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that the original plan for the Dixie Landings resort placed it next to Downtown Disney, near the riverboat-themed Fulton's Crab House? And that plans for the Grand Floridian pre-date Michael Eisner's tenure by half a decade? Learn this and many other details about Disney's hotel business as Jim goes through how Disney (eventually) developed their moderate resorts.creditsreleased June 17, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

Did you know Disney was producing a pirate-themed film before Pirates of the Caribbean opened as an attraction in 1967? Jim walks through that 1968 release, a Peter Ustinov-as-Blackbeard film that began the first cycle of stealing from movies to build attractions, which were then stolen from to make more movies. Lots of great Johnny Depp stories, too.creditsreleased June 3, 2013 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An update on the status of Disney's Next Gen project, including MagicBands, Fastpass+ and My Disney Experience.creditsreleased April 23, 2013 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Jim and Len as they discuss the history, development and evolution of Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Seas. Initially rebuffed in the 1960's by the Disney Company in its efforts to build a Disney theme park, the Oriental Land Company found itself in much better position in the late 1970's, when Disney needed cash to finish Epcot. Hear how those negotiations went and how the rides were designed, plus a lot more.creditsreleased July 25, 2016 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testalice...

Grab a soda (Jim and Len did!) and listen to us talk about Epcot's new fitness- and diet-themed Habit Heroes exhibit at Innoventions. Jim also talks about the new IBM Think! exhibit and gives some background on the history of Future World.creditsreleased March 18, 2013 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Jim and Len as they walk through the newly-refurbished Test Track pavilion and ride. We also discuss rumors about the future of the Imagination pavilion.creditsreleased March 18, 2013 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim tells how New Fantasyland came to be, from Walt's idea for a Seven Dwarfs coaster back in the 40's, to the first, estrogen-heavy plans for New Fantasyland in 2010. Think the Swiss Family Treehouse will be a good place for Pixie Hollow? Hear Len vow to fling himself from the branches.creditsreleased July 25, 2016 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim tells the story of how Disney's idea for a Western River Expedition complex ended up as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.creditsreleased July 25, 2016 Audio: Len Testa with Jim Hill Edited by: Len Testa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices