The Art and History of Disney Fun Maps with Special Guest Imagineer Jim Shull (Ep. 21)

ver exciting updates and wrap up a beloved EPCOT attraction’s history in the grand finale of their series on El Rio del Tiempo. Here’s what’s in store: Cake Bake Shop Review: Len shares his experience at the newly opened Cake Bake Shop, highlighting the quality of their offerings and discussing the pricing. Universal's Animatronic Monsters: The hosts discuss Universal Orlando's recent trailer featuring 14 advanced animatronic monsters for the upcoming Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment attraction. They marvel at the lifelike fluidity of these figures, comparing them to Disney's Na’Vi Shaman and Rise of the Resistance animatronics. Disney's Tropical Americas Plans: Len and Jim examine Disney's new permit filings, revealing plans to transform Dinoland into Tropical Americas. They explore potential attractions, including a character greeting area, a Mayan-themed play area, and expansive queue designs for upcoming rides. Listener Questions and Surveys: The episode answers listener questions about various Disney experiences and discusses recent surveys from Universal Orlando and Disney Cruise Line, touching on possible new ticketing options and guest feedback. Additionally, join us for the grand finale in Jim’s multi-part series on the history of EPCOT’s El Rio del Tiempo boat ride, where he shares fascinating details about the journey to the Gran Fiesta Tour. Catch all the latest Disney news, updates, and in-depth theme park insights in this jam-packed episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore the jaw-dropping Classic Monsters animatronics coming to Epic Universe, with exclusive insights on Creature from the Black Lagoon, Dracula, and more. Discover Universal Orlando’s must-see holiday festivities, from Grinchmas magic to exclusive Holiday Tour perks.  Pricing tiers and annual pass options for Epic Universe Hotel updates: Stella Nova and Terra Luna resort details Universal's permanent horror attraction and what to expect in Vegas Holiday offerings at Universal Orlando, including exclusive tours and Grinchmas More Wicked! Get ready to be thrilled and enchanted by what’s in store this season at Universal! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are joined by veteran Disney Imagineer Jim Shull to take a deep dive into the world of Disney fun maps. These aren’t just park guides—they’re works of art that have captured the evolution of Disney parks from the earliest days of Disneyland. What We Cover: The origins of Disney fun maps, including Sam McKim’s first Disneyland map in the 1950s How these maps became collector’s items and influenced future Disney park designs Jim Shull’s personal connection to Disney fun maps, how they inspired his career, and the role they played in shaping attractions like Toon Studio and Mickey’s Toontown Why these artistic maps were more than just souvenirs—they were a marketing tool that encouraged guests to return to the parks A sneak peek into Jim Shull’s own map projects, including his post-retirement fun map collection covering all 12 Disney parks around the world Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor explore a wide range of animation news and insights: Netflix's Spellbound and Disney’s Thanksgiving Line-Up: A look at Netflix’s upcoming animated feature Spellbound set to compete with Disney’s holiday releases, plus details on Disney’s latest Thanksgiving promotions. King of the Hill Returns: A sneak peek at Hulu’s revival of King of the Hill, including aged-up characters and exclusive artwork reveals. Inside Out Universe Expands: Updates on Pixar’s Inside Out spinoff series, Dream Productions, and what fans can expect from Riley’s imaginative world. SpongeBob’s New Stop-Motion Christmas Special: Details on SpongeBob and Sandy’s Country Christmas, the latest festive stop-motion treat featuring everyone's favorite sea sponge. Disney's Lost Hitchcock Tribute: A deep dive into Frady Cat, Disney's ambitious but abandoned Hitchcock-inspired animated film. Discover the story of how it almost became a Halloween classic. Tune in for all this and more on this week’s Fine Tooning! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Disney Dish Podcast, Len and Jim explore more of Epcot’s rich history with part two of their series on the Mexico Pavilion’s beloved boat ride, El Rio del Tiempo. Join them as they delve into the ride’s development challenges, the inspiration behind its immersive scenes, and how Disney Imagineers used clever design and technology to bring Mexican culture to life in World Showcase. Tune in for: The latest on Epic Universe’s ticket launch and sold-out opening day Behind-the-scenes of Disney’s Cake Bake Shop pricing A dive into the fascinating design details and lesser-known facts of El Rio del Tiempo’s original storyline Don’t miss this captivating episode filled with Disney lore, Epcot nostalgia, and exclusive theme park insights! SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the twelfth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid talk about how a small, roadside berry stand in Buena Park, CA eventually grew to become one of America’s most popular theme parks Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How an abandoned berry plant found in a ditch became a thriving family business How the tea room at Knott’s Berry Place eventually transformed into Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant How was the piece for Knott’s “Ghost Town Village” acquired Which piece of the Roaring ’20s is still in operation within the Park How did Knott’s annual Halloween Haunt hard ticket get its start Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 22 of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey discuss the latest details about the highly anticipated Epic Universe theme park, set to open in May 2025. They dive into ticket pricing strategies, hotel deals, and how Universal is setting the stage for an unforgettable guest experience. Highlights include: Epic Universe ticket pricing and vacation packages breakdown. Key details on the hotels launching alongside Epic Universe. A spooky look back at Universal Studios Florida’s former haunted attractions. The story behind Universal's original Halloween events, including Beetlejuice's Graveyard Tours. A tribute to the iconic Alfred Hitchcock attractions and their eerie impact on Universal's history. Get ready for an episode packed with news, travel tips, and spooky Universal nostalgia! 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 curtain of Moana 2, diving deep into the highlights from Drew’s recent panel at the Animation is Film festival. They explore the exciting details shared by directors David Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand, including Moana’s continued journey, new characters, and thrilling challenges in this upcoming sequel. Jim Hill and Drew Taylor also explore some of the biggest news and exciting developments in animation: "Creature Commandos" Preview: Dive into DC Studios' upcoming animated series, set to premiere on Max this December. With James Gunn at the helm and voice talents like Alan Tudyk and David Harbour, this series is set to shake up the DC animated universe. Halloween-Themed Animated Shorts: From The Simpsons to Sing, we break down the latest Halloween-inspired shorts, including a nod to Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" and Disney+’s spooky surprises. The Wild Robot's Box Office Success: The Wild Robot continues to dominate, having surpassed $100 million domestically. What’s next for this DreamWorks hit? "Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur" Cancellation: Disney Channel's beloved animated series wraps up after two seasons, but the character still has some exciting crossovers in store with "Spidey and His Amazing Friends." New Marvel Preschool Show: Get ready for Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends, a new show for Disney Junior and Disney+ slated for 2025, introducing preschoolers to the Marvel Universe. Tune in for these topics and more on this week’s Fine Tooning! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey take you back to EPCOT’s grand opening on October 1, 1982. They dive deep into how EPCOT evolved from Walt Disney’s ambitious dream of a futuristic living community to the park we know today. What We Cover: Walt Disney’s original vision for EPCOT as a living, breathing city How Disney leadership navigated the project after Walt's passing How close Disney actually came to breaking ground on Walt’s original city vision – spoiler: they nearly did! The creation of Future World and World Showcase, born from two distinct Imagineer pitches EPCOT’s rocky opening day, including malfunctioning rides and a surprising merchandising misstep The pivotal role EPCOT played in Michael Eisner’s rise to power at Disney, and how his vision reshaped the park Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s Disney Dish, Len and Jim dive into the rich history of one of EPCOT’s lesser-known attractions, "El Rio del Tiempo." Join us for Part 1 of a two-part series as Jim takes us back to the 1982 dedication of EPCOT's Mexico Pavilion and shares the fascinating origin of the pavilion's boat ride. Learn about the ambitious plans for "Las Tres Culturas de Mexico," the mysterious German Rivers ride, and how tight budgets and changing politics reshaped EPCOT's World Showcase. Tune in as they cover: ·      Epic Universe News: Universal Orlando’s newest park is set to open in May 2025! Jim and Len share exclusive details on the opening, soft launches, and breathtaking new effects. ·      Lightning Lane Premier Pass: Get the scoop on Disney’s newest pass option for skipping the lines—what it costs, what it covers, and whether it's worth it. ·      The History of El Rio del Tiempo: In Part 1 of this two-part series, Jim takes you back to the 1980s to explore the creation and evolution of Epcot's original Mexico Pavilion boat ride. Plus, listener questions, Disney news, and the latest park happenings! Don’t miss out on this jam-packed episode's history, updates, and insider scoops. SHOW NOTES Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices