The Fireworks Villains Win, Plus the Final Mad Dash to Open EPCOT (Ep. 569)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Places & Travel, Society & Culture, Tv & Film

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 2 February 2026

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, Jim and Len unpack a packed Disney Dish that starts with theme park news and surveys before taking a deep dive into the frantic, sleep-deprived final months of EPCOT Center construction. Along the way, they translate Disney survey-speak, speculate on where Pokémon could land at Universal, and stumble onto what might be the most diabolically smart fireworks idea Disney has never tried. NEWS • Disney’s guest surveys decoded - What EPCOT and resort questions really reveal about future cuts, changes, and monetization • Animal Kingdom and Disneyland food updates - Harambe Market speeds up its opening while Napa Rose returns with a $188 price tag • Pokemon at Universal - Why Springfield, Lost Continent, or Epic Universe are all in play • Cruise line discounts and CityWalk rethink - What Universal and Disney Cruise Line data gathering tells us about demand • A subtle Josh D’Amaro change - Could a missing voice hint at bigger leadership news? FEATURE • Inside EPCOT’s construction crunch - From 4,000 workers to 10,000 almost overnight • Why most builders had no idea what they were building - And how Disney fixed that problem • The overnight concrete pours and brutal schedules - 75 straight days on the job in Florida heat • How worker preview days helped push EPCOT across the finish line For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Len Testa - IG: @len.testa | Website: TouringPlans.com FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR • Be Our Guest Vacations - beourguestvacations.com • DVC Rental Store - dvcrentalstore.com • DVC Resale Market - dvcresalemarket.com • Unlocked Magic - unlockedmagic.com 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.
0:04.0	It's me, Len Testa.
0:05.0	And this is our show for the week of Schmer's Day, February 2nd, 2026.
0:09.0	On the show today, news.
0:11.0	In surveys, we translate some Disney terminology for you.
0:15.0	And listener questions, the greatest fireworks idea since gunpowder.
0:19.0	Then in our main segment, Jim continues the story of what Epcot construction was like
0:23.8	in the hectic months before it opened.
0:26.4	Let's get started by bringing in the man who asks how his car's check engine light
0:30.5	knows when he's finally got a little bit of money in the bank.
0:33.7	It's Mr. Jim Hill.
0:34.5	Jim, how's he going?
0:35.3	It's going well, Lemon.
0:36.5	I'm so glad you bring this topic up because, well, Nancy and I have a
0:40.6	2004 Super Roadback, and we largely bought this car because it's a four-wheel drive and good
0:46.7	road clearance, which is crucial this time of year, especially we have to get up and down the driveway
0:51.9	on days when our plow guy is like, yeah, no, you're on, you're on.
0:55.2	But anyway, in the middle of the dashboard, there is this 11-inch touchscreen.
1:01.2	And I've got to tell you, for weeks now, it's been constantly telling me how far away I am from our local Rite Aid.
1:09.6	And never mind, Len, this store closed in July of 2025,
1:15.5	or that I didn't really ever go to Rite Aid all that often. I'll just, I'll be in the car,
1:20.5	I'll be driving, and then I'll look over at the thing. And it's like, and the car's like,
	...

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