Epic Universal with Eric Hersey Ep 16:Discovering Diagon Alley: A Complete First-Timer's Experience

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss how the successful 15th-anniversary re-release of Coraline inspired Disney to bring back some of its beloved classics to theaters. Find out how The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus are making their return to the big screen this Halloween season. Join us as we cover: Coraline’s Box Office Success: How a cult classic reignited Disney’s interest in re-releases. The Return of Hocus Pocus: Why is this Halloween favorite back in theaters, and what does it mean for Disney's strategy? The Wild Robot’s DreamWorks Triumph: Early reviews from the Toronto premiere and its impact on the animation industry. Tune in for all this and more, as we dive into the latest animation news and Halloween favorites making their way back to theaters! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Disney Dish Podcast, Jim Hill and Len Testa bring you the latest Disney theme park news, listener questions, and a deep dive into Disney history. Tune in as they cover: Crane Permits and Fort Wilderness Construction: What’s going on at the old River Country site? Disney Cruise Line’s Future: How jumbo-ification could extend the life of Disney’s Magic and Wonder ships. The Evolution of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Jim continues his history of this Frontierland classic and the ambitious plans that never made it to Disneyland, including Discovery Bay and Dumbo’s Circus. Listener Questions: From Rise of the Resistance’s B-mode to the future of Disney’s IP-driven attractions. Listen now for a fun, fact-filled episode covering the latest updates and Disney history!  SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the tenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about the three great amusement parks that once occupied the southwesternmost section of Brooklyn.  For this episode, listeners will learn about: The rowdy early history of this island The Elephantine Colossus and her sisters How the arrest of Coney Island’s “boss” opened the door for Amusement Parks Sea Lion Park, which eventually became Luna Park The “Insanatorium” in Steeplechase Park And the life and death of Topsy the elephant  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey take a deep dive into the world of Monsters Inc.—but this time, it's all about the merchandise! Discover the surprising popularity of the Monsters University hat and learn why it continues to fly off the shelves nearly a decade after the movie's release. Plus, Jim shares some hidden gems from Disney’s past, including the evolution of Pixar Plaza and the backstory of Monsters Inc. character meet-and-greets. • The unexpected demand for Monsters University merchandise: Why does the famous "MU" hat keep selling out? • Behind-the-scenes stories from D23 Expo and the announcement of the new Monsters Inc. land. • A look back at the Monsters Inc. character meet-and-greets and their connection to Disney’s park expansion plans. • Why Pixar Plaza was never meant to be seen by guests—and how it became a fan-favorite spot for Disney die-hards. • Exclusive insights into the recently released Monsters University merchandise collection, including Lauren’s take on the standout items. You'll love this episode if you love Disney history mixed with modern-day merch magic! Tune in to hear all about the Monsters Inc. phenomenon and what’s coming next for Disney fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

n this episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey take listeners on a magical journey through Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. As Eric recounts his family's first experience, Jim provides insights into the park's history. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect: The Magic of Diagon Alley: Hear about the awe-inspiring entrance through the famous brick wall, along with the unique sound effects that bring this experience to life, Dragon Tales: Discover the story behind the fire-breathing Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon perched on Gringotts, and how it adds to the immersive world of Harry Potter. Escape from Gringotts: Eric shares his family’s reactions to this thrilling ride, while Jim provides insider info about the ride's unique storytelling elements and how it ties into Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Interactive Wands: Learn about the wand-purchasing experience at Ollivanders and the magic of spell-casting throughout Diagon Alley, including Jim's insights into how this feature evolved since opening. Dining and Shopping: From butterbeer obsession to British fare at the Leaky Cauldron, Eric recounts the best eats and shops in Diagon Alley. Bonus News: Tune in for a brief news update about the opening of a Hello Kitty Cafe at Universal CityWalk, plus a listener's message about their personal experience with the Star Trek Adventure at Universal Studios Hollywood. Join us for a first-timer's take on Diagon Alley, enhanced by Jim’s expert commentary on the history and creation of this immersive theme park land. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take you behind the scenes of Disney’s beloved Hocus Pocus and its unexpected connection to Steven Spielberg. Discover the untold story of how the Halloween classic was pitched, nearly lost, and ultimately stolen away from Spielberg. Tune in as we explore:   The Spielberg-Kirschner Drama: How did the An American Tail creator’s decision to pitch Hocus Pocusto Disney instead of Spielberg create tension in Hollywood? Disney's Billion-Dollar Halloween Gamble: What convinced Jeffrey Katzenberg to greenlight Hocus Pocus after an unconventional pitch? South Park Hiatus: Why Trey Parker and Matt Stone are putting South Park on pause until 2025 and how the Paramount-Skydance merger affects its future. The Wild Robot World Premiere: DreamWorks’ adaptation of The Wild Robot hits the Toronto International Film Festival, and Jim & Drew dive into the excitement leading up to its wide release, including a sneak peek at The Art of DreamWorks The Wild Robot. The Animated Opener of Joker: Folie à Deux: Learn how Sylvain Chomet brings a Looney Tunes-style sequence to life for the Joker sequel’s Venice Film Festival debut.  Join Jim and Drew for an inside look at one of Halloween’s most iconic films, plus the latest in animation news and commentary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Disney Dish, Jim Hill and Len Testa bring you the latest Disney theme park news, dive into listener questions, and share some fascinating theme park history. Tune in for an entertaining and informative discussion featuring: The History of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Learn how this beloved attraction evolved from the original Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland. Disney’s Tron Lightcycle Run Update: Why Disney is replacing the virtual queue with a traditional standby line and what it means for other park attractions. Universal Studios’ New How to Train Your Dragon Attraction?: Jim and Len break down a new survey hinting at a potential addition to Universal’s Epic Universe or Hollywood park. Listener Questions: A lively discussion on Disney’s attraction changes, including the high-cost failures like Galactic Starcruiser. Nostalgia in Disney Parks: Are Magic Kingdom’s attractions too geared toward older generations, or is there something for everyone? Join Jim and Len for a fun mix of history, humor, and theme park insights! Show Notes can be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauren Hersey & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking up the Halloween merch that just hit store shelves at the Disneyland Resort. They then discuss how the success of USF’s Halloween Horror Nights led to Disney developing its own seasonal after-hours hard ticket. Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Which “Inside Out” character is doing a meet-n-greet exclusively at the Pixar Place Hotel What was the original name for Universal Studios Florida’s Halloween event Which colors predominate with the Oogie Bash merch offered at the Disneyland Resort this year When did Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party debut at WDW’s Magic Kingdom When is “Vision Quest” (i.e., Marvel Studios’ second limited series that serves as a sequel-of-sorts to 2021’s “WandaVision”) supposed to premiere on Disney+ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive into various Universal Studios topics, from Halloween thrills to lost Star Trek adventures. Here’s what you can expect: Halloween Horror Nights 2024: We kick off the episode discussing the latest news from Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights. Squishmallows and Wicked Collaboration: Jim and Eric talk about Universal’s marketing collaboration with Squishmallows for the upcoming Wicked: Part One movie, where exclusive Glinda and Elphaba plush toys will be available. Harry Potter and the Ministry of Magic Ride: They discuss the upcoming ride at Universal’s Epic Universe based on Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry of Magic, featuring behind-the-scenes filming with Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge. The Return of Death Eaters at Diagon Alley: Eric explains how the Death Eaters will return to Diagon Alley during Halloween Horror Nights, creating an immersive, dark arts experience for visitors. FanFest Nights: A listener question sparks a deep dive into Universal’s newly announced FanFest Nights, an after-hours event celebrating sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, and anime fandoms. Could Star Trek make a comeback at the parks during this event? Revisiting the Lost Star Trek Experiences: The featured discussion of the episode takes us back in time as we explore Universal’s forgotten Star Trek attractions. From live-action stage shows to immersive experiences, we cover what made these attractions memorable and why they disappeared. Could Star Trek Return to Universal Parks?: With the rise of Star Trek in popular media, we speculate on whether Universal might revive the franchise for future theme park experiences. News About Upcoming Episodes: If you are wondering when Eric is going to review his first trip to Universal, we give you BIG news at the end of the show.  We want to hear from you! What franchise are you most excited about for Universal’s FanFest Nights? Or is there a franchise you wish Universal would bring to life at the parks?  Let us know by leaving a comment or messaging us on social media. Your input might just be featured in a future episode!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the three tiers of hotels that the Universal Orlando Resort just rolled out. They also talk about why Disney wants to know more about how you allocated your cash during your most recent trip to Orlando. For this episode, listeners will learn about: Why the Universal Theme Parks want to learn more about which brands & IPs your young daughter is interested Who was just placed in charge of the committee to find a successor for Disney CEO Bob Iger Why it’s likely that DCL will soon need to replace the Magic & the Wonder How many people visited the Magic Kingdom in Florida during the first full year that theme park was in operation Which opening day attraction for Walt Disney World did Tony Baxter go to the field to install back in 1971 SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices