Podcast Episodes
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The Theme Park Dream That Outgrew Walt’s Backyard
Episode 25
Jim Hill and Len Testa separate Disneyland history from familiar mythology to uncover what truly pushed Walt Disney toward building a theme park. The…
13 years, 9 months ago
How Disney Finally Gave California Adventure a Heart
Episode 24
Jim Hill and Len Testa trace the long, expensive effort to rescue Disney California Adventure after its disappointing 2001 debut. They revisit the pa…
13 years, 9 months ago
When California Adventure Had a Giant Sun and a Serious Identity Crisis
Episode 23
Jim Hill and Len Testa walk through Disney’s California Adventure as it appeared during its difficult first years, from the park’s February 2001 open…
13 years, 10 months ago
Building a New Disneyland Resort, One California Dream at a Time
Episode 22
Jim Hill and Len Testa explore how Disney transformed Disneyland from a regional theme park into a multi-day resort built around Disney’s California …
13 years, 10 months ago
From River Country to Blizzard Beach: Disney World’s Water Park Story
Episode 21
Jim Hill and Len Testa trace the history of Walt Disney World’s water parks, beginning with the Polynesian Village Resort’s original themed pool and …
13 years, 11 months ago
The Hidden Storytelling of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Episode 20
Recorded on location, Len Testa and Jim Hill continue their walk from Fort Wilderness to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and explore how one of Walt Disney…
13 years, 11 months ago
How Fort Wilderness Was Carved Out of the Florida Wilderness
Episode 19
Recorded on location at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, Len Testa and Jim Hill walk through the campground while exploring how Disney first conceive…
13 years, 11 months ago
Hollywood Studios’ Sorcerer Hat Problem, Lord of the Rings Talks, and Star Wars Expansion Plans
Episode 18
Len Testa and Jim Hill take a 2012 tour through Disney’s Hollywood Studios, from its neon-lit streets and surprisingly affordable restaurants to the …
14 years, 1 month ago
Animal Kingdom’s Avatar Plans, Panda Dreams, and Safari Shake-Ups
Episode 17
Len Testa and Jim Hill explore the projects Disney was considering for Animal Kingdom in 2012, from James Cameron’s still-evolving Avatar land to lon…
14 years, 1 month ago
EPCOT’s Future Was Full of Figment, Flying, and Fountain Plans
Episode 16
Len Testa and Jim Hill examine the projects, controversies, and blue-sky concepts being considered for EPCOT in 2012. Their tour of potential changes…
14 years, 2 months ago