Buzz Lightyear Gets a Major Upgrade, Plus How Disney Finally Acquired the Muppets (Ep. 577)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Tv & Film, Places & Travel, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 30 March 2026

⏱️ 75 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Len shares a first-hand look at the newly updated Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, breaking down what’s changed and whether it improves gameplay. The show also covers Bluey’s wildly popular debut at Disneyland and the operational ripple effects already being felt. In the main segment, Jim unpacks the complicated series of business decisions, ownership changes, and industry shifts that ultimately led to Miss Piggy & pals making their home at the Mouse House. NEWS Len reviews the updated Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, including new handheld blasters that significantly improve aiming and gameplay Enhanced laser visibility and dual-color targeting (red vs. green) make it easier to track shots and differentiate players Targets are now digital with dynamic scoring tied to color and animation, increasing replayability and challenge A new practice room at the start of the ride helps guests learn the updated system before gameplay begins Bluey’s Best Day Ever at Disneyland sees overwhelming demand, forcing immediate changes to show operations and crowd management FEATURE Jim breaks down why Bear in the Big Blue House ended after four seasons despite its popularity The financial collapse of EMTV and its impact on the Jim Henson Company’s ability to continue production Which companies -- besides Disney -- was interested in acquiring the Muppets back in 2003 Why the Henson family ultimately decided that The Walt Disney Company should be Kermit & Co's "forever home" For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com• Len Testa - IG: @len.testa | Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social | Website: TouringPlans.com FOLLOW• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews• Instagram: JimHillMedia• TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORTSupport the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITSEdited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSORThis episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic, offering discounted Walt Disney World theme park tickets at prices lower than Disney’s direct rates. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome back to another edition of the Disney Dish podcast with Jim Hill. It's me, Lentesta, and this is our show for the week of Shmursday, March 30th, 2026. On the show today, I ride the new Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, plus a new Epic Universe construction permit and survey. In listener questions, let's come up with names for the Piston Peak Ride. And then in our main
0:21.0	segment, Jim continues the Disney Park history of Bear in the Big Blue House. Let's get started by
0:26.7	bringing in the man who says whoever first spelled subtle with a B really knew what they were doing.
0:32.4	It's Mr. Jim Hill. Jim, how's he going? It's going well, Len. But what exactly did the letter B do to offend somebody?
0:40.1	I mean, we not only have a silent being subtle, but we've also got a silent bill in bomb, climb, comb, debt, doubt, dumb, lamb, limb, numb, plumber, succumb, thumb, tomb, and womb.
0:54.6	I, which is why...
0:56.5	Yeah, anything that ends in M.B.
0:58.5	Might as well just end an M, right?
0:59.8	Well, this is why I've got to ask,
1:01.6	does among our Disney disc listeners,
1:04.3	do we have any living relatives of Samuel Johnson?
1:07.6	He wrote the first dictionary back in 1755, And Len, there has got to be a story
1:14.4	there. How about how young Samuel perhaps got stung by a bee, which is why he made the letter
1:23.5	be silent in so many words? I mean, there's got to be a story there, land.
1:27.6	Gotta be. I'm thinking his family must have been in the guild of people that made typeset,
1:33.5	you know, printing press things. And they were like, well, you know, we can just throw a silent
1:37.7	B in every word and make more money. I also like that idea. You know, that's just me.
1:42.7	I'm being cynical right there. Okay, there we go. There we go.
1:47.0	All right, Jim, and speaking over subscribers, let's do a quick shout out to everyone who subscribes over at patreon.com slash jim hellmedia, including Brian Fanning, Clay Benton, John S. Hernandez, Sarah Brame Holland, Eric Apple, and Michael Toby.
2:00.7	Jim, this is the culinary team working
2:02.9	on a 1960s-inspired menu for Epcot's upcoming Food and Wine Festival with dishes like
2:08.8	molded salad surprise and cream of mushroom something. Look for this new booth, working title
	...

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