Writing the Unofficial Guide: Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios in Transition (Ep. 82)

Jim Hill and Len Testa continue assembling anecdotes for the 2016 Unofficial Guide, this time focusing on Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They discuss the operational challenges of a nighttime Animal Kingdom, the evolving plans for Star Wars and Pixar, and the transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs. Recorded in 2015, this conversation captures proposals, expectations, and uncertainties before those projects took their final forms.

Original Air Date: July 1, 2015 (estimated)
Original Title: Anecdotes for the 2016 Unofficial Guide - DHS and Animal Kingdom

HIGHLIGHTS

• How Wilderness Explorers and the macaw encounters add experiences beyond Animal Kingdom’s ride lineup.
• The crowd flow and animal-care challenges behind Rivers of Light and nighttime safaris.
• Pandora’s planned attractions and the goal of making Animal Kingdom a full-day park.
• Ideas for Conservation Station and the hopes surrounding the upcoming Zootopia film.
• Hollywood Studios’ attraction closures and the evolving proposals for Star Wars and Pixar expansions.
• The pressure to deliver compelling park announcements at the 2015 D23 Expo.
• Disney Springs’ waterfront transformation and the potential impact on Saratoga Springs.
• DisneyQuest’s uncertain future, the proposed NBA Experience, and questions about La Nouba.

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.
View transcript here.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill: X and Instagram @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com
• Len Testa: Bluesky @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram @len.testa | touringplans.com

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Jim and Len explore Animal Kingdom’s nighttime plans, Hollywood Studios’ uncertain future, and Disney Springs while preparing the 2016 Unofficial Guide.

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