Fiberglass Heads and Forbidden Mountains (Ep. 526)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Tv & Film, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 7 April 2025

⏱️ 68 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, Jim Hill is joined by special guest Ruben Bolling, the award-winning cartoonist behind Tom the Dancing Bug, while Len Testa is off cruising with a buffet (hopefully). From sweaty Brer Bear suits to Buzz Lightyear’s chiropractor bills, Jim and Ruben explore the history—and hazards—of Disney character costumes. Plus, they dive into the future of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, the legacy of Expedition Everest, and how Imagineers tell stories without saying a word. Costume Carnage – Why early walk-around characters were sweaty, heavy, and occasionally hazardous (spoiler: fiberglass and rebar were involved). Buzz Lightyear’s Evolution – From the world’s heaviest action figure costume to a full ride refresh coming soon to Magic Kingdom. Expedition Everest Turns 19 – A look at Animal Kingdom’s mountain masterpiece and whether the Yeti might finally get his glow-up. Drone Shows Grounded – Following an incident in Orlando, all drone shows are on pause—but what does that mean for Disney’s nighttime future? Pixar’s 30th Anniversary in the Parks – New shows, character appearances (hello, Rex!), and nostalgic celebrations at Disneyland Resort. Visual Storytelling 101 – Jim and Ruben connect the dots between comics and Imagineering, from panel layouts to queue design. It’s a theme park deep dive with a dash of satire and a nod to back problems. Tune in for stories, speculation, and the weirdly enduring smell of Muppet herring. SHOW NOTES Support Our Sponsors DVC Resale Market 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! Learn More Be Our Guest Vacations 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. Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Ready to launch your business? Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs.
0:04.8	Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and grow your business with easy customizable themes that let you build your brand.
0:12.5	Marketing tools that get your products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time.
0:17.5	From startups to scaleups, online, in, and on the go. Shopify is made for
0:22.9	entrepreneurs like you. Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
0:30.1	Welcome back to the Disney Dish. It is me, Jim Hill, and this is our show for Shmursday, April 7th.
0:37.3	And yes, I know, this is normally the part of the podcast that Len Testa handles.
0:42.0	But Mr. Testa is away this week.
0:43.8	He and his beautiful daughter, Hannah, are somewhere out in the briny blue on a boat, I hope.
0:49.3	I mean, Len did say he was going on a cruise, but he didn't specify what sort of vessel he and his daughter were traveling on.
0:58.0	And, I mean, I hope it's a boat of some size that at least has a buffet.
1:03.0	Anyway, imagine spending seven days at sea, a kayak with just a sleeve of saltines, which, but enough about how Nancy and I spend our 28th anniversary,
1:13.2	and I'm sure with time, that woman will someday forgive me.
1:17.3	Oh, and on a completely unrelated topic, my bride and I are already making plans for
1:22.6	2006 to travel with our very good friends, the Browns,s will be doing one of the Disney cruises to
1:28.7	Alaska where I'm pretty sure it'll be entirely a coincidence when I suddenly find myself
1:34.1	surrounded on an ice floe with floating out to sea with just a chunk of ambergris to chew on.
1:40.0	But fun times. Anyway, Mr. Testa, before he headed out the door in search of the Lido deck,
1:47.3	he did make sure that I would not be doing this week's show solo. Len invited a special guest to sit in for him on this week's show.
1:59.8	And as someone who grew up in the 1960s,
2:01.9	I have to tell you,
2:02.7	I am so excited about our special guest co-host this week, folks.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 3 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Jim Hill Media Podcast Network and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.