From Disney Food Blog to Bookstore Shelves: AJ Wolfe’s Disney Adults (Ep. 543)
While Len Testa enjoys a well-earned week off, Jim Hill is joined by special guest AJ Wolfe of the Disney Food Blog to talk about her new book Disney Adults: Exploring and Falling in Love with a Magical Subculture. But first, Jim shares updates from around Walt Disney World, including real demolition progress for the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster, the curious lack of vertical construction for Encanto Land, and new details about the General Joe Potter ferry accident currently under investigation.
Why Disney Adults may be “the most hated group on the internet”
What’s missing from Animal Kingdom’s Encanto and Zootopia areas
The Monsters Inc. Door Coaster transforms Muppet Studios
Fantastic Four meet-and-greet rules (and international waters loopholes)
A heartfelt tribute to longtime podcast collaborator Brian Gaughan
AJ Wolfe also shares behind-the-scenes stories from her Disney Food Blog journey, the early days of Disney dining coverage, and why writing Disney Adults meant sharing some very personal truths—debt, joy, and all.
Buy the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Adults-Exploring-Falling-Subculture/dp/1668069210
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Disney Starlight gets off to a strong start at WDW’s Magic Kingdom (Ep. 542)
Len Testa & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by taking a close look at the recently announced plans to revamp the Animation Courtyard area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
They then continue their interview with Don Hahn & Chris Merritt, the authors of “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland”
For this episode, listeners will learn about:
·
What aspect of the actual entrance to Disney Studios out in Burbank is about to be replicated in Florida
Why do you want to pay close attention to those sets of dancers that are positioned between the floats for Disney World’s new nighttime parade
Where will the new “Drawn to Wonderland” aspect of DHS’s “Magic of Disney Animation” likely be located inside the old Walt Disney Feature Animation – Florida building
Which almost-built Disneyland attraction would
have sent you home with a perhaps unhealthy glow
Why is it already difficult to find an
on-property room at the WDW Resort for a reasonable price during mid-December of this year
SHOW NoTES
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Thinking about joining Disney Vacation Club or selling your contract? DVC Resale Market is the leader in the secondary market, with over 70,000 satisfied DVC members. Their expert team of 21 former DVC Cast Members brings unparalleled knowledge and experience to every transaction, making buying or selling DVC simple and stress-free.
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DVC Rental Store
Dreaming of deluxe Disney accommodations at a fraction of the cost? The DVC Rental Store connects guests with incredible savings on Disney Vacation Club resorts. Whether you’re a DVC member looking to rent your points or a guest looking to stay in style, the DVC Rental Store offers a seamless process for both. Don’t forget—they also offprovideciting point swaps for unforgettable experiences like cruises and adventures!
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Epic Universe wants to know when exactly you plan on visiting (Ep. 541)
Len Testa & Jim Hill welcome Don Hahn & Chris Merrit, the authors of “The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland.” This show kicks off a two-part interview that reveals how Walt’s family fun park first came to be.
For this episode, listeners will learn about:
Who bought the very first admission to Disneyland Park back in July of 1955
When is the third “Prep & Landing” holiday special – “The Snowball Protocol” – expected to debut on ABC
Who did Walt bring in to help the Evans brothers with the horticultural aspect of Disneyland Park
What did Adventures by Disney’s “Take Me Out to the Ballparks” trip entail
Why was DHS’s “Legend of Jack Sparrow” show so short-lived
SHOW NOTES
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Learn More
DVC Rental Store
Dreaming of deluxe Disney accommodations at a fraction of the cost? The DVC Rental Store connects guests with incredible savings on Disney Vacation Club resorts. Whether you’re a DVC member looking to rent your points or a guest looking to stay in style, the DVC Rental Store offers a seamless process for both. Don’t forget—they also offer exciting point swaps for unforgettable experiences like cruises and adventures!
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The Jack Sparrow Problem Disney Didn’t See Coming (Ep. 540)
Len Testa and Jim Hill look at Disney’s latest surveys, hotel rumors, and Halloween Horror Nights announcements—then plunge into the second half of their deep-dive on Pirates of the Caribbean. This time, Jim reveals how Disney navigated a real-life guest frenzy over Captain Jack Sparrow, the surprisingly expensive costume drama that followed, and the face character chaos that nearly derailed New Orleans Square. Plus, early plans for a pirates-themed restaurant, and how Dead Man’s Chest almost broke the box office and the parks.
Why a cleared canal near Magic Kingdom might be future hotel space
Christmas party dates, Festival of the Holidays updates, and DJ Dance Pants
How Disneyland kept guests from mobbing Jack Sparrow face characters
The $60,000 costume that sparked a parade of cease and desist letters
A scrapped pirates dining experience that had Jack eating off your plate
Also: Warner Bros. surveys some Vegas-worthy IP ideas, Morrissey or Horror Night house?, and why Robin Williams’ mime days live on in Disney animation trivia.
SHOW NOTES
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Thinking about joining Disney Vacation Club or selling your contract? DVC Resale Market is the leader in the secondary market, with over 70,000 satisfied DVC members. Their expert team of 21 former DVC Cast Members brings unparalleled knowledge and experience to every transaction, making buying or selling DVC simple and stress-free.
Learn More
DVC Rental Store
Dreaming of deluxe Disney accommodations at a fraction of the cost? The DVC Rental Store connects guests with incredible savings on Disney Vacation Club resorts. Whether you’re a DVC member looking to rent your points or a guest looking to stay in style, the DVC Rental Store offers a seamless process for both. Don’t forget—they also offer exciting point swaps for unforgettable experiences like cruises and adventures!
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Planning your next Disney vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is a Platinum-level Earmarked travel agency with concierge-level service to make every trip magical. Their team of expert agents plans vacations across the globe, from Disney and Universal to cruises and adventures, ensuring you have the best possible experience without the stress.
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How Jack Sparrow Made It Into the Ride (and Why the Curse Wasn’t His) (Ep. 539)
Len Testa and Jim Hill tackle a packed show, from new Eat to the Beat concert acts and Test Track Lightning Lane changes to a survey that hints at Disney bundling sports vacations with ESPN and Adventures by Disney. Then in the main segment, Jim unpacks the wild story behind the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise—including how one clever Imagineer added a cursed treasure twist to the ride years before it hit the big screen, and why Michael Eisner insisted on a subtitle that technically made no sense.
New Eat to the Beat lineup adds Bowling for Soup, Jordin Sparks, and The Beach Boys
Disney files plans for the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster building—yes, it’s a real land
ESPN and ABD surveys tease premium sports-based vacation packages
What really happened to Pixar’s Elio, and how politics may have changed the movie
Behind the scenes of Curse of the Black Pearl: casting, rewrites, and a fake curse
Plus, Len pitches a villains-themed restaurant where customer service is intentionally bad, and Jim explains why Tower of Terror on TV paved the way for Jack Sparrow in theaters.
SHOW NOTES
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Thinking about joining Disney Vacation Club or selling your contract? DVC Resale Market is the leader in the secondary market, with over 70,000 satisfied DVC members. Their expert team of 21 former DVC Cast Members brings unparalleled knowledge and experience to every transaction, making buying or selling DVC simple and stress-free.
Learn More
DVC Rental Store
Dreaming of deluxe Disney accommodations at a fraction of the cost? The DVC Rental Store connects guests with incredible savings on Disney Vacation Club resorts. Whether you’re a DVC member looking to rent your points or a guest looking to stay in style, the DVC Rental Store offers a seamless process for both. Don’t forget—they also offer exciting point swaps for unforgettable experiences like cruises and adventures!
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Planning your next Disney vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is a Platinum-level Earmarked travel agency with concierge-level service to make every trip magical. Their team of expert agents plans vacations across the globe, from Disney and Universal to cruises and adventures, ensuring you have the best possible experience without the stress.
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The Disney Dish Podcast with Jim Hill and Len Testa
Dive 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 happenings at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney's global parks.
Historical Deep Dives: Learn how classic attractions were created, the stories behind Disney's biggest decisions, and the Imagineering ingenuity that brought it all to life.
Listener Q&A: Get answers to your burning questions about the parks, attractions, and Disney culture.
Exclusive Insights: Gain access to insider details and stories you won’t find anywhere else.
Fun & Humor: Enjoy the wit and camaraderie of two Disney enthusiasts who know how to make even the most technical details entertaining.
With decades of combined experience and an unmatched passion for all things Disney, Jim and Len guide you through the parks, the stories, and the magic in a way only they can.
Your journey to the happiest podcast on earth starts here. Subscribe today!