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Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing what’s about to happen to the NBA Experience at Disney Springs. They then talk about why kids back in the 1950s were absolutely crazed when it came to Disneyland’s “Autopia”  Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: Which “Star Wars” movie director just got hired by Universal Pictures to direct their next “Jurassic World” movie Why did the Imagineers insert all of those CG animals into “Soarin’ Around the World” What was originally supposed to transport Disneyland visitors from the Hub all the way to the very back of that theme park’s “World of Tomorrow” Where in World Celebration Gardens should you go if you want to do some people watching When did Disneyland’s Junior Autopia get renamed the Fantasyland Autopia Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the construction permit that has just been filed down in Florida for “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.” They then talk about how the characters from the “Young Jedi Adventures” animated series just visited Black Spire Outpost Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How many mattresses did General George Washington reportedly carry with him over the course of the Revolutionary War Who is supposedly funding Gina Carano’s wrongful termination suit against The Walt Disney Company & Lucasfilm How many episodes have been produced for Season Three of “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” Which Star Wars character is rumored to be getting his own first-person video game from Respawn Entertainment How much did Harrison Ford’s copy of the fourth draft of the “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope” script go for at auction this past weekend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Len Testa & Jim Hill are joined by veteran Imagineer Jim Shull. Who then explains how Hong Kong Disneyland’s version of Sleeping Beauty Castle was transformed into the Castle of Magical Dreams Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How many ECVs can the new bus that’s joining the WDW transportation fleet carry at one time Why – when you’re given the opportunity by the Disney Cruise Line – you should always take the GYT How close does the Ultidor system at the Magic Kingdom get to that theme park’s Tomorrowland Speedway What was the difference between the construction materials that were used to build Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park in Anaheim back in 1955 versus the materials that were used to build a second version of this iconic structure at Hong Kong Disneyland  Why did LegCo turn down the opportunity to have a “Star Tours” attraction added to Hong Kong Disneyland in the 2010s Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the “Disney Eats” line of home goods, accessories and apparel. They then talk about what’s been going on with the live-action version of “Lilo & Stitch” Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: When did the Mickeyhead balloon initially come on the market How many popcorn carts in the Magic Kingdom did you have to visit if you wanted to collect a full set of the WDW 50th anniversary version of the Mickey Balloon-Shaped Popcorn Buckets What does “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” have in common with Disney’s upcoming live-action “Lilo & Stitch” movie Which Disney theme park treat have the Mouse’s masters of merch used as their inspiration for a new pet bed According to Licensing Magazine, why are millennials & Gen Z such big buyers of Stitch-themed merchandise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew Taylor returns with a detailed recap of what’s been going on with “Coyote vs Acme.” Then Jim Hill talks about the recently released trailer for “Iwaju,” that animated limited series from Disney & Kugali Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: When will the “Valley of the Witches” be opening at Ghibli Park over in Japan Who reportedly personally petitioned Disney execs & Dwayne Johnson to get Thomas Kail the job as director of the live-action version of “Moana” How did Pixar’s “Turning Red” do at the North American box office this past weekend Where is “Tiana: The Series” (i.e., that new limited series for Disney+) being produced \ Who handled the live-action portion of “Looney Tunes: Back in Action” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Hersey & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the Universal-related trailers that aired during Super Bowl LVIII. They then pivot to talking about that 7-minute-long Epic Universe video that debuted online last week Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: Which Universal theme park offered its Guests the opportunity to view a trimmed down version of the Broadway musical, “Wicked” Why are fans of the Harry Potter films really going to want to check out the “House of Minalima” at Universal CityWalk Where in the still-under-construction Dreamworks Land at Universal Studios Florida can you find an over-sized spider Which two attractions were previously staged in the USF show building that currently houses “Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon” How could Disney’s $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games potentially impact the Universal theme parks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing a new land use plan that’s recently been revealed for the WDW Resort. They also wrap their series on the history of “Illuminations” SHOW BREAKDOWN: Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Why did the Imagineers just hate Epcot’s “Surprise in the Sky” show Which characters will soon begin making appearances at 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa What did the most recent earnings call reveal about attendance level & hotel room occupancy rates at the WDW Resort How will Disney, taking a $1.5 billion equity stake in Epic Games, potentially impact the Company’s rivals in the themed entertainment business Why would it have been a mistake to view the world premiere of “Illuminations” from the Norway pavilion back in late January 1988 Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by taking a close look at Epic Universe concept art. They then continue their discussion of the development “Illuminations,” EPCOT Center’s break-through nighttime show Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: When (just to be safe) one should go about ordering their tickets for Pride Nite at Disneyland Why is the Universal Helios Grand Hotel positioned the way it is, facing into Epic Universe Park How Universal Studios Hollywood plans to use the cars themselves that Guests will ride in on that theme park’s new “Fast & Furious” coaster to mitigate noise pollution in the surrounding community Where did WDW Entertainment come across the searchlights that then added a popular feature to “A New World Fantasy” Why did Walt Disney Productions suddenly decide to buy the Gibson Greeting Card company in the Late Spring of 1984 Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Gaughan & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how much they’re looking forward to the final season of “Star Wars: The Bad Batch.” They also talk about where the upcoming “Great Circle” game fits in chronologically with the first three “Indiana Jones” films Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: Which character from the “Star Wars” prequels is Marvel Comics now honoring with his first-ever four issue, limited series How many times – to date – has John Williams been nominated for an Oscar Has Daisy Ridley read the script yet for “Star Wars: New Jedi Order” How did Bob Iger’s return as Disney’s CEO impact Patty Jenkins’ “Rogue Squadron” movie Which Two-time Academy Award winner voices Jimmy, the mechanical soldier, in “Rebel Moon -- Part One: A Child of Fire” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the NextGen wands that may soon begin appearing in the Wizarding World over at the Universal Parks. They also discuss Disney’s possible plans to expand the Indiana Jones franchise. Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: What was especially innovative (circa 1982) about the barges that were used in “Le Carnaval de Lumiere” Why is the Magic Kingdom running its “Festival of Fantasy” parade twice daily on certain days during the month of February How is Disney+ potentially impacting the Company’s spending with it comes to Disney’s theme parks When it comes to Disney theme park rides, what’s the difference between on-board audio and attraction narration Should the Hatbox Ghost be counted as one of the 999 Happy Haunts that reside in Disney’s Haunted Mansion Show Notes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Jim Hill & Eric Hersey kick off a brand-new show which offers a different take on Universal Parks & Experiences. Highlights include an interview with Carson Luter from Universal Creative about “Villain Con Minion Blast” Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How did the 24 films that Universal Pictures released in 2023 do at the worldwide box office Which character from an Alfred Hitchcock film is paid tribute to in “Villain Con Minion Blast” What’s significant about the name Universal choses for its Texas park project, at least from a SEO perspective Which Marvel-themed attraction just closed at Universal Studios Japan What’s the secret to racking up a big score on “Villain Con Minion Blast”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill starts off this week’s show with a solo news section. Then Drew Taylor joins the fun in a pre-taped segment that looks back at Gary Rydstrom’s animated films Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How many Annie nominations did Pixar’s “Elemental” receive this year Which William Shakespeare play provided the inspiration for “Strange Magic” What Pixar movie were the blobby alien characters seen in “Lifted” originally designed for When is the sequel to “Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey” supposed to arrive in theaters How well did Pixar’s “Soul” do when it was finally released to theaters earlier this month Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices