The Disney Dish Podcast with Jim Hill and Len TestaDive 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 episodes
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47 min
When the Police Played the Magic Kingdom’s Halloween Party
Len Testa and Jim Hill look back at Halloween Hysteria, the Magic Kingdom’s 1979 party that brought the Police to the park. Jim traces Disney’s early Halloween celebrations before…
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52 min
How Aulani’s Price Tag Reshaped Disneyland’s Hotels
Len Testa and Jim Hill wrap up their Disneyland DVC history with a look at how Aulani’s ambitious price tag shaped the hotel projects that followed. Jim connects Disney’s Hawaiian…
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54 min
When the Grand Californian’s Soundproofing Worked Too Well
Len Testa and Jim Hill unpack Disney’s latest price increases, from annual passes and tickets to the quick-service meals taking a bigger bite out of vacation budgets. They also che…
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57 min
Did Disney Hide Tomorrowland’s Future in a Hotel Tower?
Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into Disney’s newly released Monstropolis concept art, Lakeshore Lodge details, a new Kilimanjaro Safaris patent, and some revealing Disney vacation-plan…
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44 min
The Little Disneyland That Never Was: Walt Disney’s Lilliputian Land
Disney surveys are asking increasingly pointed questions about discounts, trip costs, and what actually gets guests to book, while Disneyland history takes center stage with the st…
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53 min
The PeopleMover Business Disney Almost Built
Len Testa and Jim Hill cover the latest Walt Disney World news, from a Toy Story 5 overlay at Hollywood Studios and shifting timelines for Tropical Americas to Disney’s experiments…
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51 min
How Nickelodeon Helped Inspire Disney’s Family Suites
Len Testa and Jim Hill are back with Disney news, listener questions, and the conclusion of Jim’s history of Disney family suites. They check out the latest Walt Disney World updat…
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1 h 07
How Epcot’s Food Booths Became a Permanent Festival Fixture
Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into the latest Disney parks news before tracing how Epcot’s humble festival food booths evolved into permanent Global Marketplaces with open kitchens. T…
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1 h 07
How Disney’s Family Suites Finally Found Their Home at Art of Animation
Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into the long road that eventually led Disney to build Art of Animation Resort, from an abandoned Toontown-inspired family suites hotel near the Contempo…
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1 h 18
D23 Brings Back Tomorrowland Hope, Dreamfinder, and the Yeti
Len Testa and Jim Hill unpack a packed slate of D23 parks announcements, from Disneyland’s newly promised Tomorrowland overhaul to major additions coming to Walt Disney World. They…
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35 min
Anaheim Before Disneyland: From Vineyards to the Packing House
Len Testa and Jim Hill are on the ground in Anaheim for D23, where they dig into the week's Disney news before exploring how Anaheim evolved from vineyards and citrus groves into t…
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1 h 05
How 9/11 Changed Disney’s Pop Century Plans
Len Testa and Jim Hill dig into Disney’s latest theme park attendance numbers, new Lakeshore Lodge concept art, Disneyland’s possible return to an old favorite, and some surprising…
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58 min
Zootopia Gets a Better Beginning, Plus the Many Lives of Turtle Talk
Jim Hill and guest co-host Drew Taylor explore the newly updated version of “Zootopia: Better Zoogether” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including fresh dialogue designed to make the s…
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51 min
Do You Trust Disney? And How Stitch’s Photophone Paved the Way
Len Testa and Jim Hill examine a revealing new Disney survey asking whether guests trust DisneyWorld.com, whether the site acts in their best interest, and whether it should be con…
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1 h 04
Why Turtle Talk Outlived Stitch’s Great Escape
Disneyland’s sold-out evening tickets, Walt Disney World dining trends, and a possible Space Mountain overhaul lead off this week’s Disney Dish. Len and Jim also answer listener qu…
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60 min
How Finding Nemo Taught Disney Characters to Talk
Disneyland’s bargain evening tickets disappear, Universal Orlando rolls out an unusually affordable Florida resident pass, and Epic Universe lights up the night with Celestial Good…
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59 min
Luxo Jr. Takes a Rain Check at Pixar Place
Len Testa and Jim Hill start this week’s Disney Dish with news from Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Orlando, and the wider entertainment industry before digging into liste…
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57 min
When Gingerbread Houses Move Out and Dinosaurs Move In
Len Testa and Jim Hill start with snow shovels, snapping turtles, and New Hampshire’s ongoing audition for “America’s Australia,” then move into a packed Disney Dish. This week, th…
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58 min
Lucky the Dinosaur, Allegedly
This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill cover a packed Disney Dish news lineup, from Disney’s “virtual reservations” patent to new Disney Springs transportation checks, rare two-day tick…
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1 h 05
The Night Disneyland Locked In 8,500 High School Seniors
Jim Hill and Len Testa start with Monstropolis, Disney park capacity, Universal patents, and the sort of tequila event that makes you check whether your Epcot admission is included…