I Want That Too - Disney History and Merchandise

Jim Hill
  • 4.8 (14)
  • HOBBIES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Join Lauren Hersey and entertainment expert Jim Hill as they unpack the world of Disney products. From exclusive merchandise to magical collectibles, Lauren and Jim dive into not only what's available but also the stories and history behind these must-have items. Whether you're a collector or just a fan, get insider tips on the latest Disney finds and the fascinating tales that make each piece special.

  1. From Hand-Carved Signs to Theme Park Legends: The Disney Woodcraft of Raymond Kinman

    4D AGO

    From Hand-Carved Signs to Theme Park Legends: The Disney Woodcraft of Raymond Kinman

    Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey trade glass for grain in this I Want That Too deep dive into Disney’s hidden world of woodwork. From the Arribas Brothers’ new handcrafted photo albums to the retro-chic Mickey Christmas truck popcorn bucket, the episode celebrates the artistry behind Disney’s most tactile treasures. Then, master woodcarver Raymond Kinman joins the show to reveal how his marquees for Indiana Jones Adventure, Country Bear Playhouse, and Pooh Corner helped define the look and feel of Disney parks for generations. HIGHLIGHTS Discover Disney’s new Arribas Brothers wood collection, including carved photo albums and frames that blend luxury with nostalgia. The unexpected rise of wood-inlay trading pins — and why collectors should grab them now before they disappear into the secondary market. A seasonal favorite returns: the Mickey Christmas Truck popcorn bucket rolls into Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Raymond Kinman, Imagineering collaborator and artisan of countless attraction marquees, shares how a single white lie launched his Disney career. Learn the difference between a sign and a marquee—and why those subtle details matter to the storytelling of every attraction. Inside Kinman’s hand-tool craft: from carving Indiana Jones Adventure’s eight-foot mahogany marquee to shaping the beloved Big Al from Country Bear Jamboree. How Kinman overcame setbacks (and even carved one-handed after an accident) to deliver Disney magic on deadline. His modern “Hippie Camp” retreats in Grass Valley, CA—where he now teaches beginners the timeless art of woodcarving. GuestRaymond Kinman — Website: woodcarverguru.com | Facebook: facebook.com/RaymondKinman Hosts Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com Lauren Hersey — X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ PatreonSupport I Want That Too and the entire Jim Hill Media Podcast Network at patreon.com/jimhillmedia Follow UsFacebook: @JimHillMediaNews | YouTube: @jimhillmedia | TikTok: @jimhillmedia Producer CreditsEdited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey — Strong Minded Agency SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic — your trusted source for discounted Disney tickets and special-event savings. Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  2. Disney’s Hogwarts? Plus the Return of Bedknobs and Broomsticks

    OCT 30

    Disney’s Hogwarts? Plus the Return of Bedknobs and Broomsticks

    In this jam-packed episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive into Disney’s newest fantasy franchise in the making - and how “Impossible Creatures” could become the studio’s answer to Harry Potter. Along the way, they unwrap this year’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party merch, explore Disney’s surprising partnership with a British luxury retailer, and share the little-known story of how Angela Lansbury became Disney’s most magical apprentice witch in Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Why Disney’s new Impossible Creatures book deal has fans speculating about a new cinematic universe The history and evolution of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party merch — and what’s new this year How Disney Parks collectibles are showing up in high-end department stores overseas The rare story behind Angela Lansbury’s casting in Bedknobs and Broomsticks The surprising connection between Disney’s holiday magic and its next big fantasy gamble From collectible cards to Christmas merch to classic movie magic, this episode has something for every Disney fan. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠⁠Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min
  3. The Magic Behind Bedknobs and Broomsticks: How Disney’s Forgotten Fantasy Took Flight

    OCT 23

    The Magic Behind Bedknobs and Broomsticks: How Disney’s Forgotten Fantasy Took Flight

    This week, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dust off one of Disney’s most underappreciated classics, Bedknobs and Broomsticks. From its wartime origins and lost Mary Poppins connections to Angela Lansbury’s iconic role and Disney’s merchandising mysteries, the duo uncovers how this effects-filled musical became both a box-office sleeper and a cult favorite. Along the way, Lauren connects the dots on what’s next for Disney Consumer Products, from collectibles and nostalgia to digital universes and fashion collabs. The surprising ties between Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks How World War II witches and Walt Disney’s contingency plans shaped the movie Angela Lansbury’s spellbinding performance and the studio’s post-Walt reinvention Disney’s new consumer products strategy, collectibles, fashion, and Fortnite The holiday partnership between Disney and Macy’s that’s bringing Minnie to center stage From forgotten McDonald’s on Disney property to wartime witches flying over London, this episode of I Want That Too proves Disney history is always stranger and more magical than fiction. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠⁠Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 1m
  4. From Boo Buckets to Big Macs: Inside Disney’s Golden Era with McDonald’s

    OCT 16

    From Boo Buckets to Big Macs: Inside Disney’s Golden Era with McDonald’s

    Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are joined by former Disney Imagineer Jim Shull to unwrap the fascinating (and sometimes funny) story of Disney’s long-running partnership with McDonald’s. From the birth of the Happy Meal to fry carts in Frontierland, this episode explores how two of the world’s biggest brands became the ultimate marketing duo - and what really ended their 10-year deal. The surprising Star Trek connection that inspired Disney’s early talks with McDonald’s How Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg turned burgers and fries into box office gold The untold story of the McDonald’s-themed Splash Mountain that almost happened Why the partnership ended amid public pressure over kids’ meals and health The legacy of Disney Happy Meal toys—and how the relationship quietly returned today Whether you remember Boo Buckets, fry carts, or those elusive Happy Meal collectibles, this supersized episode proves that food and nostalgia are a marketing match made in Disney heaven. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠⁠Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 13m
  5. The Retail Giant That Almost Sponsored The Great Movie Ride

    OCT 9

    The Retail Giant That Almost Sponsored The Great Movie Ride

    Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey unwrap a holiday-sized story about Disney’s long, complicated relationship with Sears—from Mickey Mouse watches in the 1930s to the retail giant’s near-sponsorship of the Great Movie Ride at Disney-MGM Studios. Plus, the duo dives into the rare blue Disney name tag, Wicked-branded cleaning products, and the Jim Henson Company’s upcoming auction filled with Muppet history. The secret history behind Disney’s partnership with Sears—and how it fell apart months before MGM Studios opened How Mickey Mouse watches and Winnie the Pooh merch made Sears a Disney powerhouse The story behind the ultra-rare blue name tag that only 1% of Disney employees earn Wicked’s latest merch crossover with Gain and Cascade Jim Henson Company’s first-ever auction featuring pieces from Labyrinth and Fraggle Rock From rare collectibles to lost sponsorships, Jim and Lauren remind us that Disney history is filled with what-ifs, forgotten deals, and magical mementos worth remembering. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min
  6. The Sherman Brothers’ Disney Musical You’ve Never Heard Of

    OCT 2

    The Sherman Brothers’ Disney Musical You’ve Never Heard Of

    Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey kick off October with a witchy episode of I Want That Too. From the avalanche of Wicked merchandise filling store shelves to Disney’s own magical past, this week’s show dives into collectibles, streaming perks, and even a long-lost Sherman Brothers project that never made it to the screen. The rise of Wicked-themed merch, from dolls and Swarovski ornaments to water bottles and Care Bears Streaming price hikes - and Lauren’s clever tips to save money on Disney+, Hulu, and beyond Nostalgic returns like Disney-themed Lincoln Logs and Gentle Christmas advent calendars A tribute to Disney animator Rick Hopp and his lasting legacy The untold story of Walt Disney’s planned Hansel & Gretel TV musical with songs by the Sherman Brothers Whether you’re hunting the latest collectibles or craving untold Disney stories, this episode has a little magic for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    55 min
  7. Figment’s Merch Magic and the Movie That Never Was (Ep. 66)

    SEP 25

    Figment’s Merch Magic and the Movie That Never Was (Ep. 66)

    Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive into Disney’s favorite little purple dragon, Figment. From popcorn bucket mania to a live-action movie that never got off the ground, they trace Figment’s journey from Epcot icon to merchandising powerhouse. Along the way, they detour through Lowe’s and Spirit Halloween to check out exclusive Haunted Mansion décor and giant Rudolph displays that will test your willpower (and your storage space). Haunted Mansion animatronics and holiday mashups spotted at Lowe’s Figment’s rumored movie project with Seth Rogen’s production company The $250 million Imagination Pavilion redo that never happened How merchandise sales drive Disney’s storytelling choices Figment’s surprising cameos in Inside Out 2, Guardians, and beyond Even if the Figment movie remains a dream, Jim and Lauren show how one small dragon continues to cast a very big shadow over Disney history, merch, and fandom. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 2m
  8. Disney’s Abandoned Snow White Sequels and Frozen 3’s Royal Wedding Rumors

    SEP 18

    Disney’s Abandoned Snow White Sequels and Frozen 3’s Royal Wedding Rumors

    Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey take listeners from this year’s stealth Muppets capsule release all the way to the projects Disney almost made — including a trilogy of dwarfs prequels and a Snow White spinoff that never saw the light of day. Along the way, they break down Toy Story’s 30th anniversary tie-ins, the first wave of holiday 2025 ornaments, and speculation out of Shanghai that Frozen 3 may center on the “wedding of the century” in Arendelle. The ultra-limited Muppets drop at Mickey’s of Glendale Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin refurb timed to Toy Story’s 30th Holiday merch highlights — from Madame Leota to a blown-glass ticket book Frozen 3 rumors teased at a Disney licensing event in China The surprising history of Snow White sequels, re-releases, and theme park lore Closing out, Jim and Lauren reflect on Disney’s long tradition of reusing, reviving, and reimagining its classics — and why some stories get told while others sit on the shelf. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    49 min
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4.8
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Join Lauren Hersey and entertainment expert Jim Hill as they unpack the world of Disney products. From exclusive merchandise to magical collectibles, Lauren and Jim dive into not only what's available but also the stories and history behind these must-have items. Whether you're a collector or just a fan, get insider tips on the latest Disney finds and the fascinating tales that make each piece special.

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