The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network
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The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network features weekly shows hosted by Jim Hill and his collaborators. The lineup includes The Disney Dish with Len Testa, Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Epic Universal Podcast with Eric Hersey, I Want That Too with Lauren Hersey, Marvel Us Disney with Dan Graney, The Case For with Chris Cox, and more. Each series offers industry reporting, history, analysis, and insider stories spanning Disney, Universal, animation, film, streaming, and themed entertainment. With over 25 years of online storytelling and thousands of hours of content, the network delivers trusted, in-depth coverage for fans, enthusiasts, and industry professionals.

  1. 11h ago

    Sleeping In at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom: What Does It Cost?

    Can sleeping in actually cost you more time at Walt Disney World? Chris Cox and Len Testa finish their rope-drop debate with Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, while Jim Hill presides over the proceedings. Len’s touring-plan data reveals how skipping just 30 minutes of early entry can add 90 minutes of waiting at Hollywood Studios. At Animal Kingdom, the case gets more complicated as shorter operating hours compete with the pleasure of slowing down and exploring. HIGHLIGHTS Why a 9 a.m. Hollywood Studios arrival sends you to Red Carpet Dreams first, and what later arrivals may have to sacrifice. When wait times finally ease for Slinky Dog Dash, Rise of the Resistance, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. How ride downtime makes a late start riskier, even when avoiding the morning rush sounds appealing. The Animal Kingdom trails, wildlife, and hidden Oasis bridge you might miss while racing toward Pandora. Why saving Flight of Passage for last can help late arrivals, and when sleeping in means cutting experiences. HOSTS Chris Cox - X/Twitter: @bigcox | Instagram: @magiccox | https://magiccox.com Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | https://touringplans.com Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia | https://jimhillmedia.com 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 If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Chris Cox, Len Testa, and Jim Hill weigh extra sleep against longer lines, missed shows, and a slower-paced Animal Kingdom visit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Sleeping In at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom: What Does It Cost?

  2. 1d ago

    Disney’s Unmade Don Quixote and the Brizzi Brothers’ Next Chapter

    Jim Hill and Drew Taylor revisit Disney’s unmade Don Quixote and the ambitious animation projects that slipped away as the studio grew more cautious. A graphic novel by the Brizzi brothers offers a new reason to explore their extraordinary visual storytelling. They also discuss Wildwood’s PG-13 rating, Jim’s visit to The Magic of Disney Animation, and the latest animation books and Pikmin shorts. NEWS Wildwood and the double standard facing PG-13 animation. Drew’s Cat in the Hat panel and his enthusiasm for its animation and score. The Magic of Disney Animation’s Once Upon a Studio touches and a nod to My Peoples. Animation books, from The Owl House to Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn. Patrick Stewart and Eric Bauza’s voice work, plus Nintendo’s charming Pikmin shorts. FEATURE How the Brizzi brothers’ work on Hunchback and Fantasia 2000 led to an ambitious Don Quixote proposal. Why Disney’s changing priorities left bold projects unmade, and how a graphic novel brings the brothers’ storytelling back into view. HOSTS Jim Hill: Instagram @JimHillMedia | X @JimHillMedia | JimHillMedia.com Drew Taylor: Instagram @drewtailored | X @DrewTailored | DrewTaylor.work FOLLOW Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews YouTube: @jimhillmedia TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR Be Our Guest Vacations offers free planning services for Disney and Universal vacations, including help with hotels, park admission, and dining reservations. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. JimHillMedia.com/sponsor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. 2d ago

    How Saving Wetlands Helped Disney World Keep Growing

    Jim Hill and Len Testa kick off No Negative November with an expanded airport luggage service at Walt Disney World, fresh theme park attendance estimates, and a nighttime visit to Epic Universe. Listener questions cover park shade, a dream Food & Wine Festival tour, and Mickey Mouse's public-domain era. Then Jim traces the Disney Wilderness Preserve from cattle ranch to conservation success story, explaining how saving Florida wetlands also helped Disney World keep building. NEWS Airport luggage transfers expand to Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, and Port Orleans French Quarter. Universal discusses Epic Universe's capacity and ride reliability, while Jim and Len share their after-dark impressions. The 2025 theme park attendance estimates put Epic Universe's opening year into context. Listener questions explore more trees in the parks and a possible VIP Food & Wine Festival experience. Mickey Mouse's approaching centennial sparks a discussion of public-domain characters and animation history. FEATURE The Celebration-era controversy behind Disney's purchase of Walker Ranch and the creation of the Wilderness Preserve. How wetlands mitigation connects conservation efforts with development at Walt Disney World. The long restoration of former cattle land and the red-cockaded woodpeckers that helped reshape EPCOT's plans. How airport expansion, later land purchases, and a growing conservation corridor fit into the preserve's story. For this episode’s full show notes, click here.View transcript here. HOSTS Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Instagram: @len.testa | touringplans.com 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 GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR The Disney Dish news is sponsored by Be Our Guest Vacations, from our friends at DVC Rental Store. Visit Be Our Guest Vacations for help planning your Disney vacation. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Jim Hill and Len Testa trace the Disney Wilderness Preserve's surprising development history, plus Epic Universe attendance and Disney World luggage service news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    How Saving Wetlands Helped Disney World Keep Growing

  4. 5d ago

    The Invisible Man's Hollywood History Comes Out of Hiding

    Jim Hill is back from Universal Orlando with firsthand reports from Wicked's Oztacular celebration at CityWalk and the after-hours Epic Universe Nights event. He and Eric Hersey discuss surprisingly short ride wait times, the magic of seeing Dark Universe after dark, and Earl the Squirrel's big Thanksgiving Day Parade debut. Then, inspired by a memorable encounter in Darkmoor, Jim pulls back the curtain on Universal's 1933 classic The Invisible Man, exploring director James Whale's complicated Hollywood career, Claude Rains' unforgettable performance, and the ingenious special effects that helped launch a monster movie franchise. NEWS Wicked's Oztacular takes over Universal CityWalk with Glinda and Elphaba meet-and-greets, LEGO displays, and a few confusing signs. Epic Universe Nights delivers nighttime access, remarkably short attraction waits, complimentary snacks, and a spectacular Celestial Goodnight fountain show. Universal introduces Florida resident single-day Epic Universe tickets, with some surprising differences in pricing and availability compared to annual passholder offers. Earl the Squirrel prepares for his balloon debut in the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade before heading to Universal Studios Florida for the holidays. Jim checks out CityWalk's new Fat One's and Five Guys locations while Eric previews their new eight-part Patreon series exploring professional wrestling and theme park history. FEATURE A nighttime encounter with the Invisible Man in Dark Universe leads to a look back at Universal's groundbreaking 1933 horror classic. How director James Whale went from Frankenstein and The Old Dark House to casting Claude Rains in The Invisible Man. The practical effects, elaborate camera tricks, and painstaking frame-by-frame work that made an invisible character believable nearly a century ago. How Universal reinvented the Invisible Man through sequels, comedies, wartime adventures, and Abbott and Costello crossovers. HOSTS Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia | https://jimhillmedia.com Eric Hersey - X/Twitter and Instagram: @erichersey | https://strongmindedagency.com 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 Planning a Universal Orlando Resort vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations can help take the guesswork out of your getaway. Their travel professionals work with you one-on-one to find the right hotel, theme park tickets, and extras to fit your budget, priorities, and travel style. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com and mention that the Epic Universal Podcast sent you. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Invisible Man's Hollywood History Comes Out of Hiding

  5. 6d ago

    A Hallmark Holiday Shopping Spree at Disney Springs

    Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey go shopping for Disney history as Jim shares highlights from his latest Florida trip. They check in on the Character Warehouse’s planned move, explore rare finds at Recycling the Magic, and celebrate World of Disney’s 30th anniversary. Then Jim reports from the Disney Hallmark Holiday Pop-Up Store at Disney Springs, where holiday merchandise is selling fast and some sought-after items are easier to find online. NEWS • An on-site update on the Character Warehouse’s move into the former Timberland space at Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, including hopes for an opening before the holidays. • Recycling the Magic offers retired attraction props, park signs, and animation maquettes, plus a surprise Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster photo featuring Imagineer Jim Shull. • World of Disney marks 30 years, prompting memories of its original artwork, enormous layout, and longtime cast members. • Jim discovers Buc-ee’s travel-center spectacle, from character merchandise and seasonal displays to Beaver Nuggets. FEATURE • Inside the Disney Hallmark Holiday Pop-Up Store at Disney Springs and its merchandise tied to Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True. • How brisk sales changed the store’s selection between Jim’s visits, with spirit jerseys and pajamas proving especially popular. • Why checking the Hallmark Channel Store online helped Nancy find pajamas that were unavailable during their Disney Springs visit. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/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 Planning a Disney or Universal vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations can help you find the best options and handle the details, with planning services at no additional cost to you. Start planning at BeOurGuestVacations.com. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    A Hallmark Holiday Shopping Spree at Disney Springs

  6. 6d ago

    What Really Counts as a Disney Halloween Movie?

    Is Coco really a Halloween movie? Does Return to Oz belong on your spooky-season watchlist? Eric and Lauren Hersey debate what makes a Disney Halloween classic, revisit the wonderfully weird Ernest Scared Stupid, and explore why movies like Hocus Pocus arrived in theaters months before October. Plus, they uncover the fascinating story of how Jim Hill and his writing partner nearly brought their own Haunted Mansion movie to life at Disney, not once, but twice. HIGHLIGHTS • Coco sparks a Halloween debate, raising questions about the differences between Día de los Muertos and traditional Halloween celebrations.• Return to Oz, Casper, and Hocus Pocus challenge the idea that Halloween movies need October release dates.• From Halloweentown to Maleficent, Eric and Lauren question which Disney movies really deserve a spot on the Halloween watchlist.• Ernest Scared Stupid gets a family rewatch, complete with surprising details about its elaborate animatronic troll costumes and Nashville filming locations.• Jim Hill's unproduced Haunted Mansion screenplay resurfaces, revealing how Disney considered bringing his story to the screen twice during the 1990s. HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ | X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2• Eric Hersey - Instagram/X: @erichersey | https://strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews• YouTube: @jimhillmedia• TikTok: @jimhillmedia• Website: https://www.jimhillmedia.com SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    What Really Counts as a Disney Halloween Movie?

  7. Oct 28

    The Superman II That Never Was

    Jim Hill and Dan Graney are back with a packed week of Marvel news, from Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom and a new Loki theory to rumors surrounding the MCU's X-Men reboot. They also dig into the future of Marvel television, including VisionQuest, Zodiac, and Daredevil: Born Again, before checking in on Star Wars and DC Studios. Then, in the latest installment of Comic Book Movies That Never Were, Jim and Dan revisit the behind-the-scenes battle over Superman II and the Richard Donner version that audiences didn't get to see until decades later. NEWS • Avengers: Doomsday takes over the World Series, while Dan pitches a theory involving Loki, Steve Rogers, Thor, and Mjolnir. • X-Men casting rumors swirl around Peter Claffey as Beast and WWE's Cody Rhodes, while Ryan Gosling's Ghost Rider reportedly moves forward. • VisionQuest raises questions about Scarlet Witch's fate, and Marvel's upcoming spy series Zodiac fuels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. speculation. • Daredevil: Born Again's three-season plan, Finn Jones' Iron Fist return, and Brad Winderbaum's fight to save Wonder Man. • Star Wars heads to the Super Bowl, Starfighter's reported budget climbs, and Taika Waititi puts his long-delayed movie on ice. FEATURE • Superman II and the creative conflict that split the sequel between directors Richard Donner and Richard Lester. • How producer disputes, Marlon Brando's missing scenes, and extensive reshoots transformed the 1981 theatrical release. • The differences between Lester's Superman II and Donner's darker, more dramatic vision. • How the 2006 Richard Donner Cut gave fans a glimpse of the movie that might have been, years before Zack Snyder's Justice League. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Dan Graney - YouTube: @TheHubbubbery | Facebook: /thehubbubbery | thehubbubbery.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/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 Planning a legendary vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is an EarMarked by Disney travel agency at the Platinum level and a Universal U Preferred Platinum Planning Partner. From hotels and theme park tickets to dining reservations, cruises, and all the little details, their team can help you plan your next getaway at no additional cost to you. Start planning at BeOurGuestVacations.com. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Superman II That Never Was

  8. Oct 27

    How Don Bluth’s Disney Exit Changed Animation (Ep. 380)

    Jim Hill opens the archives for a special look at Don Bluth, the animator whose departure from Disney helped change the industry. Drawing on past conversations with Drew Taylor and Eric Hersey, this retrospective follows Bluth from Disney’s animation department to the arcade success of Dragon’s Lair and his collaborations with Steven Spielberg. Along the way, they revisit The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, and the footage removed from The Land Before Time. HIGHLIGHTS • Why Don Bluth and a group of fellow animators left Disney, and how Banjo the Woodpile Cat helped set the stage. • The production pressures surrounding Pete’s Dragon, The Fox and the Hound, and The Black Cauldron. • How The Secret of NIMH’s box-office disappointment led to the unlikely arcade breakthrough of Dragon’s Lair. • How Steven Spielberg and George Lucas became involved in Bluth’s animated films, and why the Spielberg partnership eventually ended. • The Land Before Time’s deleted footage, its rivalry with Oliver & Company, and Bluth’s willingness to make animation a little scary. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia - https://jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored - Instagram: @drewtailored - https://drewtaylor.work • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter and Instagram: @erichersey - https://strongmindedagency.com 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 If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Jim Hill revisits Don Bluth’s Disney departure, Dragon’s Lair, and the Spielberg collaborations that helped reshape animation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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About

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network features weekly shows hosted by Jim Hill and his collaborators. The lineup includes The Disney Dish with Len Testa, Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Epic Universal Podcast with Eric Hersey, I Want That Too with Lauren Hersey, Marvel Us Disney with Dan Graney, The Case For with Chris Cox, and more. Each series offers industry reporting, history, analysis, and insider stories spanning Disney, Universal, animation, film, streaming, and themed entertainment. With over 25 years of online storytelling and thousands of hours of content, the network delivers trusted, in-depth coverage for fans, enthusiasts, and industry professionals.

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Hill Media Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2011 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.7K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Jim Hill Media 2026
  • Show Website
    The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

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