Episodes

Episode 12: Urban Design with Sam Gennawey - Frontierland and Liberty Square

Episode 11: Urban Design with Sam Gennawey - Adventureland

Episode 10: Urban Design with Sam Gennawey - Main Street U.S.A.

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey tour Islands of Adventure while exploring Universal’s storytelling choices, Marvel rights issues, and the rise of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

A walking tour of Universal Studios Florida explores the park’s studio roots, Disney rivalry, opening-day challenges, and the early signs of Diagon Alley.

Len Testa and Jim Hill tour Downtown Disney in 2012, exploring Pleasure Island’s decline, DisneyQuest’s unrealized promise, and the changes that paved the way for Disney Springs.

Join Jim Hill and Len Testa as they continue their early Walt Disney World walk-around series with a tour of Disney's Hollywood Studios. Originally recorded in 2012, this episode explores the park's origins, how Epcot influenced its design, and the many ambitious attractions and expansions that never made it beyond the drawing board. Along the way, Jim shares stories about Roger Rabbit, Muppet Studios, Indiana Jones Adventure plans, Sunset Boulevard concepts, and the fascinating history behind o...

Jim Hill and Len Testa take a walking tour around Walt Disney World's Epcot resort area, exploring the history, design, and unrealized plans behind Disney's BoardWalk, Yacht & Beach Club, and Swan & Dolphin resorts. Along the way, they uncover ambitious concepts that never made it off the drawing board, discuss Michael Eisner's influence on resort development, and share behind-the-scenes stories about architecture, weddings, conventions, and Disney's evolving hotel strategy. This episode offers ...

Len Testa and Jim Hill take listeners on a real-time stroll through Epcot during the 2011 Food & Wine Festival, offering an on-the-ground snapshot of Future World before many of its biggest changes. Along the way, they discuss everything from the controversial Leave A Legacy monoliths and the challenges of corporate sponsorships to lost attraction concepts, abandoned pavilion ideas, and the evolving identity of Epcot itself. The episode captures a fascinating moment in Disney Parks history, with...

Len Testa and Jim Hill take a detailed walk through Disney’s Animal Kingdom in this early Disney Dish field-recorded episode from 2011, exploring the park’s design philosophy, abandoned concepts, operational challenges, and hidden details that most guests miss entirely. From the Oasis to DinoLand U.S.A., Asia, Africa, and Discovery Island, the duo discusses everything from the original plans for Beastly Kingdom and Discovery River Boats to the infamous Disco Yeti problem on Expedition Everest. A...

Jim Hill and Len Testa take a detailed, on-the-ground tour of Walt Disney World’s iconic monorail resorts, exploring their design, history, and hidden quirks. Starting at Bay Lake Tower and moving through the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian, they unpack how these hotels evolved - and what their future might hold. Along the way, they dig into everything from Disney’s early resort struggles to modern DVC strategy and infrastructure challenges. It’s part walking tour, part history les...

Jim Hill and Len Testa stroll through the Magic Kingdom in 2011, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, expansion rumors, and early details on Fantasyland’s biggest changes.