The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

The Disney Dish Podcast with Jim Hill and Len Testa Dive into the fascinating world of Disney with theme park historian Jim Hill and Len Testa as they uncover the stories behind the magic. From breaking news and in-depth analyses to quirky historical tidbits and behind-the-scenes secrets, The Disney Dish offers a unique blend of humor, expertise, and insider knowledge. Whether you're a die-hard Disney fan, a theme park aficionado, or just curious about the history and future of Disney parks and resorts, this podcast has something for everyone. What to Expect: Breaking Disney News: Stay up to date on the latest happenings at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney's global parks. Historical Deep Dives: Learn how classic attractions were created, the stories behind Disney's biggest decisions, and the Imagineering ingenuity that brought it all to life. Listener Q&A: Get answers to your burning questions about the parks, attractions, and Disney culture. Exclusive Insights: Gain access to insider details and stories you won’t find anywhere else. Fun & Humor: Enjoy the wit and camaraderie of two Disney enthusiasts who know how to make even the most technical details entertaining. With decades of combined experience and an unmatched passion for all things Disney, Jim and Len guide you through the parks, the stories, and the magic in a way only they can. Your journey to the happiest podcast on earth starts here. Subscribe today!

Episodes

From Disney Food Blog to Bookstore Shelves: AJ Wolfe’s Disney Adults (Ep. 543)

August 4, 2025 • 48 mins

While Len Testa enjoys a well-earned week off, Jim Hill is joined by special guest AJ Wolfe of the Disney Food Blog to talk about her new book Disney Adults: Exploring and Falling in Love with a Magical Subculture. But first, Jim shares updates from around Walt Disney World, including real demolition progress for the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster, the curious lack of vertical construction for Encanto Land, and new details about the Ge...

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Disney Starlight gets off to a strong start at WDW’s Magic Kingdom (Ep. 542)

July 28, 2025 • 71 mins

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by taking a close look at the recently announced plans to revamp the Animation Courtyard area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They then continue their interview with Don Hahn & Chris Merritt, the authors of “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland” For this episode, listeners will learn about: · What aspect of the actual entrance to Disne...

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Epic Universe wants to know when exactly you plan on visiting (Ep. 541)

July 21, 2025 • 64 mins

Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome Don Hahn & Chris Merrit, the authors of “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland.” This show kicks off a two-part interview that reveals how Walt’s family fun park first came to be. For this episode, listeners will learn about: Who bought the very first admission to Disneyland Park back in July of 1955 When is the third “Prep & Landing” holiday special –...

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The Jack Sparrow Problem Disney Didn’t See Coming (Ep. 540)

July 14, 2025 • 58 mins

Len Testa and Jim Hill look at Disney’s latest surveys, hotel rumors, and Halloween Horror Nights announcements—then plunge into the second half of their deep-dive on Pirates of the Caribbean. This time, Jim reveals how Disney navigated a real-life guest frenzy over Captain Jack Sparrow, the surprisingly expensive costume drama that followed, and the face character chaos that nearly derailed New Orleans Square. Plus, early plans fo...

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How Jack Sparrow Made It Into the Ride (and Why the Curse Wasn’t His) (Ep. 539)

July 7, 2025 • 52 mins

Len Testa and Jim Hill tackle a packed show, from new Eat to the Beat concert acts and Test Track Lightning Lane changes to a survey that hints at Disney bundling sports vacations with ESPN and Adventures by Disney. Then in the main segment, Jim unpacks the wild story behind the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise—including how one clever Imagineer added a cursed treasure twist to the ride years before it hit the big screen, a...

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Rebuilding the Future: How Innoventions Replaced CommuniCore (Ep. 538)

June 30, 2025 • 49 mins

Len Testa and Jim Hill cover the latest Disney news, including a major update to the dining reservation system, a rerouted parade to improve park flow, and the latest tweaks at Epic Universe. Then, Jim dives into the real story of how Epcot’s CommuniCore was shut down and transformed into Innoventions—Disney’s answer to a park in crisis. With budgets tight and tech aging fast, Michael Eisner turned to Las Vegas for inspiration, res...

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Michael Eisner’s Teen Crisis: The Birth of Videopolis (Ep. 537)

June 23, 2025 • 55 mins

Len Testa and Jim Hill look at recent updates across Walt Disney World and Epic Universe, including a new water play area in Animal Kingdom, a July reopening for Test Track, and a revealing Disney Cruise Line survey. Then in the main segment, Jim takes us back 30 years to the wild creation of Disneyland’s Videopolis—a teen dance club built in just 100 days that introduced churros, challenged norms, and (almost) ran over some touris...

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How Miami Nice, Pizza P-eye, and the Imagination Pavilion All Nearly Happened (Ep. 536)

June 16, 2025 • 66 mins

Len Testa and Jim Hill break down the newest Monstropolis concept art and speculate on Disney’s next big land grab near Blizzard Beach. They also examine Disneyland’s expansion strategy, a Coco boat ride, and why the Avatar land plans are quietly devouring backstage space. Then, in part three of the Journey Into Imagination saga, Jim reveals how Figment almost got replaced by Michael Jordan—and how one flubbed line at an NBC upfron...

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Why Disney’s New Lounge Smells Like Crab Cakes (and Kodak Regrets) (Ep. 535)

June 9, 2025 • 62 mins

Len Testa reviews Epcot’s swanky new GEO82 Lounge—crab cakes, price tags, and time limits included—while Jim Hill breaks down the surprisingly tangled history of film companies at Disney Parks. Plus, thoughts on the reimagined Rivers of America concept art, Disney trains going backwards, and how one bear-loving park ranger is making a comeback. The show ends with Part 2 of the wild saga behind Journey into Imagination’s 2002 reopen...

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Can You Really Conquer Epic Universe Without an Express Pass? (Ep. 534)

June 2, 2025 • 52 mins

This week, Len Testa reveals how to take on Universal’s Epic Universe without shelling out for an Express Pass—and still live to tell the tale. Meanwhile, Jim Hill looks back at how long Disney & Kodak worked together and how that relationship then led to EPCOT's "Journey into Imagination pavilion. Epic Universe Touring Plan – Why you definitely want to return Universal's newest theme park later in the day Film Fight --...

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From Pop-Up to Permanent: Disney’s Tent Obsession and the Accidental Origins of Toontown (Ep. 533)

May 26, 2025 • 59 mins

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill reveal how Disney’s “temporary” structures - from party tents to prefab domes - have a habit of overstaying their welcome. What starts as a stopgap often becomes a staple, and nowhere is that more obvious than in the strange evolution from Mickey’s Birthdayland to Toontown. Mickey’s Birthdayland - The 18-month quick fix that morphed into a 20-year land. Festival of the Lion King - The sh...

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Mission: Space – Disney’s Most Ambitious Ride That Guests Don’t Want to Ride Twice (Ep. 532)

May 19, 2025 • 68 mins

Len Testa and Jim Hill break down the surprisingly intense history of Epcot’s Mission: Space—from launch-day astronauts and jetpack stunts to the guest experience that made this ride one of Disney’s most regretted one-and-dones. The Grand Opening – Jetpacks, Walter Cronkite, Buzz Aldrin, and a fireworks display that nearly gave journalists flashbacks. What Went Wrong – Mission: Space didn’t just thrill—it made people sic...

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The $25 Disaster: Why Disneyland’s Light Magic Parade Failed Spectacularly (Ep. 531)

May 12, 2025 • 55 mins

Len Testa and Jim Hill dive deep into the infamous debut of Light Magic, Disneyland’s ill-fated replacement for the Main Street Electrical Parade. What was promised as a “street-tacular” became a technical and creative misfire that left tens of thousands of annual passholders asking for refunds - and left behind glitter that haunted ride systems for months. The Unraveling of Light Magic – A show so complex it couldn’t complete...

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How Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland Almost Changed New Fantasyland (Ep. 530)

May 5, 2025 • 58 mins

Jim reveals Disney World’s scrapped plan to retheme the Mad Tea Party with Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland—a move that would’ve introduced clever nods to the film like “Drink Me” and “Eat Me” food stands and tied directly into Pixie Hollow. Len adds context with stories about Fantasyland’s expansion, while the duo discusses why Haunted Mansion Holiday never came to Florida, and why Tim Burton’s working relationship with Disney end...

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Why it took 25 years to change the name of King Stefan's Banquet Hall (Ep. 529)

April 28, 2025 • 48 mins

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into one of the strangest goofs in Disney history—how the restaurant inside Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom was originally named after the wrong king, and why it took over two decades (and a flood of guest complaints) to finally correct it. Also in this episode: The King Stefan Banquet Hall Backstory – Why Imagineering picked the wrong king in the first place—and how nobody caught it b...

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Villains, Funhouses, and the Alice Ride That Was Almost Too Dangerous to Build (Ep. 528)

April 21, 2025 • 67 mins

Len Testa, Jim Hill, and Imagineer Jim Shull dig into the wild, weird, and wonderfully unsafe history of Disney’s unbuilt Alice in Wonderland walkthrough attraction—complete with collapsing stairs, spinning barrels, and push-bag trees. Also in this episode: Disneyland’s Funhouse That Never Was – Concept art and site plans reveal a walkthrough filled with rotating platforms, disorienting ramps, and a healthy disregard for OSHA. ...

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Tariff concerns and a peek at Epic Universe (Ep 527)

April 14, 2025 • 110 mins

Len Testa & Jim Hill are joined this week by veteran Imagineer Jim Shull for a super-sized edition of this podcast. As these three first recap Len’s recent visit to Orlando’s newest theme park and then discuss what recent stock market fluctuations might mean for Disney’s previously announced plans for its Florida Resort Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Which “Isle of Berk” attraction might remind Epic Univers...

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Fiberglass Heads and Forbidden Mountains (Ep. 526)

April 7, 2025 • 73 mins

This week, Jim Hill is joined by special guest Ruben Bolling, the award-winning cartoonist behind Tom the Dancing Bug, while Len Testa is off cruising with a buffet (hopefully). From sweaty Brer Bear suits to Buzz Lightyear’s chiropractor bills, Jim and Ruben explore the history—and hazards—of Disney character costumes. Plus, they dive into the future of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, the legacy of Expedition Everest, and how ...

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The Red Car That Never Was: Sunset Boulevard’s Lost History and Epic Universe’s Survey (Ep. 525)

March 31, 2025 • 64 mins

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill take you back to a time when Hollywood Studios had no Sunset Boulevard and how a red car, a Rocketeer supper club, and Roger Rabbit rides nearly changed everything. Plus, Universal’s first Epic Universe guest survey raises big questions about whether there’s enough to do on opening day. Sunset Boulevard: The Original Plan – A deep dive into the never-built red car route, the South Seas Club from ...

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Reflections Complete: The Full Story of Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge and the Evolution of DVC (Ep. 524)

March 24, 2025 • 48 mins

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill are joined by DVC expert Paul Krieger to finally wrap up the long-running series on Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge—now Lakeshore Lodge. They explore how this project evolved from concept to construction, what’s next for the Fort Wilderness area, and how Disney Vacation Club is changing the way it builds and brands new resorts. Reflections Becomes Lakeshore Lodge – How Disney quietly rebrand...

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The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}From Disney Food Blog to Bookstore Shelves: AJ Wolfe’s Disney Adults (Ep. 543)

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Disney Starlight gets off to a strong start at WDW’s Magic Kingdom (Ep. 542)

Epic Universe wants to know when exactly you plan on visiting (Ep. 541)

The Jack Sparrow Problem Disney Didn’t See Coming (Ep. 540)

How Jack Sparrow Made It Into the Ride (and Why the Curse Wasn’t His) (Ep. 539)

Rebuilding the Future: How Innoventions Replaced CommuniCore (Ep. 538)

Michael Eisner’s Teen Crisis: The Birth of Videopolis (Ep. 537)

How Miami Nice, Pizza P-eye, and the Imagination Pavilion All Nearly Happened (Ep. 536)

Why Disney’s New Lounge Smells Like Crab Cakes (and Kodak Regrets) (Ep. 535)

Can You Really Conquer Epic Universe Without an Express Pass? (Ep. 534)

From Pop-Up to Permanent: Disney’s Tent Obsession and the Accidental Origins of Toontown (Ep. 533)

Mission: Space – Disney’s Most Ambitious Ride That Guests Don’t Want to Ride Twice (Ep. 532)

The $25 Disaster: Why Disneyland’s Light Magic Parade Failed Spectacularly (Ep. 531)

How Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland Almost Changed New Fantasyland (Ep. 530)

Why it took 25 years to change the name of King Stefan's Banquet Hall (Ep. 529)

Villains, Funhouses, and the Alice Ride That Was Almost Too Dangerous to Build (Ep. 528)

Tariff concerns and a peek at Epic Universe (Ep 527)

Fiberglass Heads and Forbidden Mountains (Ep. 526)

The Red Car That Never Was: Sunset Boulevard’s Lost History and Epic Universe’s Survey (Ep. 525)

Reflections Complete: The Full Story of Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge and the Evolution of DVC (Ep. 524)

Popular Podcasts

From Disney Food Blog to Bookstore Shelves: AJ Wolfe’s Disney Adults (Ep. 543)

Disney Starlight gets off to a strong start at WDW’s Magic Kingdom (Ep. 542)