Michael Eisner’s Teen Crisis: The Birth of Videopolis (Ep. 537)

The Disney Dish with Jim Hill

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Leisure, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.8 • 979 Ratings

🗓️ 23 June 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Len Testa and Jim Hill look at recent updates across Walt Disney World and Epic Universe, including a new water play area in Animal Kingdom, a July reopening for Test Track, and a revealing Disney Cruise Line survey. Then in the main segment, Jim takes us back 30 years to the wild creation of Disneyland’s Videopolis—a teen dance club built in just 100 days that introduced churros, challenged norms, and (almost) ran over some tourists. New Indiana Jones-themed play area replaces Animal Kingdom’s Boneyard Test Track reopens July 22—why we still don’t know what’s inside Epic Universe adds stage permits and steampunk restaurant progress A Disney Cruise Line survey that might explain recent price drops The teen problem Disney had to solve—and how Videopolis became the answer Churros, breakdancing, and Michael Eisner’s MTV-fueled moonshot Videopolis wasn’t just a dance floor—it was a cultural reset, a churro revolution, and a crash course in fast-tracking theme park design. 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

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0:00.0	Hey Spotify, is Dampson Idris here to celebrate Tommy Hill Figures' Apex GP collection.
0:06.0	Fuelled by the thrill of speed and the power of style,
0:09.0	Tommy Hill Figures capsule collection merges performance-driven design with limitless confidence.
0:13.0	This isn't just a lot. It's the uniform for those on a journey to achieve their dreams.
0:18.0	Discover Tommy Hilfiger's limited edition Apex GP Collection, inspired by F1, the movie, only in
0:23.8	cinema's June 25th.
0:27.4	Welcome back to another edition of the Disney Dish podcast with Jim Hill.
0:31.5	It's me, Lan Testa, and this is our show for the week of Shmursday, June 23rd, 2025 on the show
0:37.4	today. Openings, closings, 23rd, 2025 on their show today.
0:37.9	Openings, closings, and construction, plus a new Disney cruise line survey.
0:42.9	In listener questions, rocket science.
0:45.5	Then in our main segment, Jim gives us the history of Disneyland's Videopolis on its 30th anniversary.
0:51.7	Let's get started by bringing in the man who says that traveling with kids isn't a
0:55.0	vacation. It's an away game. It's Mr. Jim Hill. Jim, how's it going? And you're playing defense
1:01.1	all the time. And the gear, the gear you have to. Yes, you're the equipment manager as well.
1:07.3	Oh, my God. You're doing, you're doing God. You're doing payroll.
1:12.1	You're doing everything. I mean, I remember when, and again, it just myself and Michelle would take Alice over to the
1:17.7	parks when we lived in Orlando back in the 90s.
1:20.4	And I was driving a geometric at the time, which was honestly tiny enough to double for the
1:25.8	clown car at Ringling Brothers.
1:28.2	You drive it directly on to the Marlon Speedway.
1:31.0	There we go.
	...

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