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Dis & Hers: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Eric Hersey & Lauren Hersey
Dis & Hers is a Disney podcast where real conversations from the Disney community meet honest opinions. This show is not about ride strategies, Lightning Lane tutorials, or park basics. Instead, Eric and Lauren focus on the culture around Disney - what fans are debating online, what’s trending on Reddit, TikTok, and X, and the questions people keep asking but rarely get straight answers to. Using real-time online conversations, search behavior, and firsthand experience, Dis & Hers explores the bigger picture behind Disney decisions and fan reactions - sometimes agreeing, sometimes disagreeing, and always keeping it honest.
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- 1 weeks ago33 min
You Paid HOW Much for a Disney Tiki Bird? (Ep. 39)
How much would you pay to own a piece of Disney history? Eric and Lauren Hersey take a deep dive into Disney's most expensive collectibles, from a $425,000 Enchanted Tiki Room bird to Haunted Mansion ghosts and the legendary Hollywood memorabilia once sold at Sid Cahuenga's. Inspired by Kelly Clarkson's viral mechanical bird controversy, they explore the surprising world of animatronic collecting, extravagant theme park purchases, and the practical challenges of getting oversized souvenirs home. Plus, a complaint at Magic Kingdom's Sunglass Hut brings the conversation right back to where it started. HIGHLIGHTS • Kelly Clarkson's viral dispute with New York's Art of Play over a mechanical singing bird takes an unexpected $15 million turn. • From Garner Holt's build-your-own Tiki birds to a $425,000 José animatronic, Eric and Lauren explore the surprising market for Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room collectibles. • Rare Disney auction treasures command staggering prices, including Haunted Mansion Hitchhiking Ghosts approaching $400,000 and original stretching room artwork. • How to ship large Walt Disney World souvenirs and artwork home, including combining purchases at resort gift shops and navigating shipping costs. • The extravagant crystal Cinderella Castle sculptures sold at Disney parks and the surprising stories behind their purchases. • A nostalgic look inside Sid Cahuenga's at Disney's Hollywood Studios, where authentic Hollywood props, celebrity memorabilia, and Dick Van Dyke's Mary Poppins jacket once carried hefty price tags. • From Stormtrooper armor to designer sunglasses, Eric and Lauren discuss the most expensive Disney purchases and a Magic Kingdom Sunglass Hut review that brings the story full circle. HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ | X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 • Eric Hersey - Instagram: @erichersey | X/Twitter: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Instagram: @JimHillMedia • X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia • Website: jimhillmedia.com SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago35 min
Disney's AI Takeover: Magic Shots, Layoffs, and the Human Touch (Ep. 38)
Disney is bringing artificial intelligence into nearly every corner of its business, but how much AI is too much magic? This week, Lauren and Eric Hersey explore the debate surrounding Haunted Mansion PhotoPass Magic Shots, Disney's growing use of AI in employee performance reviews, and the company's ongoing restructuring and layoffs. They also examine AI-powered vacation planning, Disney+ search, shopping recommendations, and new technology designed to improve theme park operations. From helpful innovations to concerns about replacing human creativity, they're asking where Disney should draw the line. HIGHLIGHTS • Haunted Mansion Magic Shots: New PhotoPass images transforming guests into stone busts spark debate over possible generative AI use, artistic ownership, and Disney's creative standards. • AI in Employee Reviews: Disney reportedly encourages employees to use approved AI tools to prepare performance evaluations and goals, raising questions about efficiency and authenticity. • Disney Layoffs and Restructuring: Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw challenges Dana Walden about Disney's repeated workforce reductions and the company's push toward a more unified operation. • AI-Powered Vacation Planning: Disney explores personalized vacation planning tools while Eric and Lauren question whether AI can match the expertise of experienced travel advisors. • AI Across Disney's Businesses: New AI applications include Disney+ and ESPN search, Disney Store shopping recommendations, streaming advertising tools, ride safety systems, and animal monitoring at Kilimanjaro Safaris. • Efficiency vs. Creativity: Where should Disney embrace AI to simplify operations, and where does automation threaten the work of artists, animators, and other creative professionals? • Digital Performances and Voice Replication: A Gene Wilder-inspired AI voice in a Netflix game show sparks discussion about performer consent, legacy characters, and the future of voice acting. • Finding Disney's AI Boundaries: From improving attraction safety to generating new entertainment, the hosts debate which uses of AI enhance the Disney experience and which go too far. HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ | X: @laurenhersey2 • Eric Hersey - Instagram: @erichersey | X: @erichersey | Strong Minded Agency FOLLOW • Website: JimHillMedia.com • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: @JimHillMedia • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited and Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago37 min
Are Disney Annual Passholders Still Worth It? (Ep. 37)
Bob Chapek’s new book has reopened one of Disney Parks’ trickiest debates: just how valuable are annual passholders? Lauren and Eric break down the math behind Disneyland Magic Keys and Walt Disney World annual passes, including Disney’s latest price increases, break-even points, crowding concerns, and the difference between loyal locals and once-in-a-lifetime vacationers. They also examine whether Disney risks alienating its biggest fans by focusing too heavily on per-visit spending. NEWS • Walt Disney World raises annual pass prices for the fourth consecutive October, including another increase for the top-tier Incredi-Pass. • Disneyland leaves Magic Key prices unchanged while increasing select ticket and Lightning Lane prices. • Bob Chapek’s new book revisits Disney’s concerns over annual passholders, park capacity, and per-guest spending. • Chapek says some Disneyland annual passholders once visited as many as 200 days per year. • Disney’s past comments about a more “favorable guest and ticket mix” raise new questions about how the company values passholders. • Lauren and Eric compare Disneyland and Walt Disney World annual pass economics, including how many visits it takes to break even. • Disneyland’s regional audience helps explain why annual passholders can have a much larger effect on crowding and capacity. • The hosts debate whether frequent passholders may still generate more annual revenue than higher-spending vacation guests. • Annual passholders also serve as unofficial Disney marketers, sharing park experiences and helping fuel interest among friends and family. HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Eric Hersey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Oct 1, 202634 min
When Disney Theming Goes Minimalist (Ep. 36)
Disney built its reputation on immersive environments, elaborate backstories, and spaces where even the smallest details help tell a story. This week, Lauren and Eric look at the newly remodeled Disney Wonders store at Disneyland Paris and ask whether Disney's push toward modern minimalism is stripping away some of the personality fans expect. From the richly themed Disney Stores of the 1990s to Animal Kingdom Lodge, Cars Land, World Showcase, and Pandora, they explore what makes great theming work and why people notice immediately when it is missing. Plus, they consider whether changing tastes, operating costs, and the next generation of shoppers could eventually push themed retail back in the opposite direction. HIGHLIGHTS • Disneyland Paris replaces a heavily themed 1990s-era Disney Store with the more minimalist Disney Wonders boutique. • Lauren and Eric ask why modern Disney retail spaces increasingly resemble contemporary malls rather than immersive Disney environments. • A look back at the maximalist theming of classic Disney Stores, restaurants, and entertainment destinations from the 1990s. • Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, the Polynesian, Port Orleans, and other resorts show how detailed storytelling can transform a space. • Pandora, Cars Land, Liberty Square, World Showcase, and even Universal's Harry Potter lands demonstrate what happens when designers fully commit to a theme. HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | Website: strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Sep 24, 202633 min
Disney Parks Are Rethinking How You Wait in Line (Ep. 35)
Disney is changing how guests spend - and skip - their time in line. Lauren and Eric look at the retirement of the Disney Play Parks app, what could happen to interactive experiences like Galaxy’s Edge and DuckTales World Showcase Adventure, and the many ways families keep themselves occupied while waiting for attractions. Then they head to Animal Kingdom, where Expedition Everest has ended its longtime single rider option, raising questions about whether Disney is beginning to rethink single rider lines across Walt Disney World. HIGHLIGHTS • The Disney Play Parks app officially retired on September 16, ending years of interactive games, trivia, and in-park experiences. • Lauren and Eric explore what the shutdown could mean for Galaxy’s Edge activities, Soarin’ trivia, DuckTales World Showcase Adventure, and future MagicBand+ integration. • From Heads Up! and Hidden Mickeys to editing vacation photos, they look at the many ways guests keep themselves occupied in Disney attraction queues. • Expedition Everest has discontinued its single rider line as Disney tests a different loading process designed to improve standby efficiency. • Could staffing, queue design, loading efficiency, and Lightning Lane strategy lead Disney to rethink single rider lines at attractions across Walt Disney World? HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey | strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Sep 17, 202634 min
Whatever Happened to Disney’s Vacation Planning Videos? (Ep. 34)
Disney vacation planning has never offered more information, so why can it still feel harder than ever to know where to begin? Lauren and Eric look back at Disney’s beloved VHS and DVD planning videos, the TV specials that once helped families get excited for a trip, and the shift toward YouTube, TikTok, creators, and influencers. They also discuss Disney’s new AI-powered vacation planning experience and whether technology can replace the simple, polished overview that once introduced newcomers to Walt Disney World. HIGHLIGHTS • Disney is testing a new AI-guided vacation planning experience designed to help guests compare resorts, dates, festivals, and activities. • Disney’s Created in LA event brings together hundreds of creators, storytellers, and executives as the company deepens its relationship with online creators. • Influencers and creator partnerships are increasingly filling the promotional role once occupied by traditional Disney vacation specials. • Lauren and Eric revisit the Disney vacation planning VHS tapes and DVDs that helped generations of guests prepare for and get excited about their trips. • They explore why Disney moved away from long-form planning videos in favor of shorter online content through PlanDisney, YouTube, and social media. • Classic Travel Channel and television specials captured the parks with polished, host-led storytelling that is increasingly rare today. • Disney Plus documentaries such as The Imagineering Story and Behind the Attraction offer deeper looks at the parks, but serve a different audience than first-time vacation planners. • Could an annual Disney planning special on Disney Plus or YouTube give first-time visitors the simple starting point they still need? HOSTS • Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @laurenhersey2 - Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter: @erichersey - Instagram: @erichersey - strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Sep 10, 202634 min
How Much Halloween Candy Is Too Much Candy? (Ep. 33)
A thousand pieces of candy from one Oogie Boogie Bash sounds impressive, but is collecting that much really the best way to spend a Disney Halloween party? Lauren and Eric dig into one guest's massive candy haul, debate the best and worst Halloween treats, and compare America's favorite candies. Then they turn to Disney attractions and ask whether guests actually enjoy becoming part of the story - from being "That Guy" at Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor to getting picked as the Rebel Spy on Star Tours. HIGHLIGHTS• An Oogie Boogie Bash guest reportedly collected more than 1,000 pieces of Halloween candy in a single night.• Lauren and Eric debate whether maximizing your candy haul is worth the price and limited time of a Disney Halloween party.• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups lead the candy rankings, while alternative trick-or-treat handouts and divisive favorites spark a Halloween debate.• Do Disney fans prefer simply observing an attraction's story, or being pulled into the action at Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, Star Tours, and beyond?• Eric shares possible strategies for becoming "That Guy" or the Rebel Spy, while Lauren revisits her quest to get noticed by the Mandalorian and Grogu. HOSTS Eric Hersey – X: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey Lauren Hersey – X: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ FOLLOW – DIS & HERS Website: DisAndHers.com Instagram: @disandhers TikTok: @disandhers Facebook: Dis and Hers YouTube: Dis & Hers FOLLOW – JIM HILL MEDIA Facebook: JimHillMediaNews Instagram: JimHillMedia TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited & Produced by Eric Hersey – Strong Minded Agency 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
- Sep 3, 202632 min
When Does Halloween Actually Start? Plus Disney’s NFL Mascot Matchups (Ep. 32)
Halloween keeps arriving earlier, but when does spooky season actually begin? Lauren and Eric look at Disney’s ever-expanding Halloween calendar, the rise of “Summerween,” and whether August is becoming the new October. Then they tackle Disney’s new NFL character collection, debating the pairings that scored big, the choices that left fans scratching their heads, and which characters might have made better hometown mascots. HIGHLIGHTS • When should Halloween season officially begin - July, August, September, or October?• How Disney’s Halloween parties and merchandise keep creeping earlier on the calendar• Why “Summerween” searches and early Halloween shopping are surging• Disney’s character pairings for all 32 NFL teams• The best, worst, and most confusing Disney-NFL mascot choices, from Pete and the Steelers to Darth Vader and the RaidersHOSTS Eric Hersey – X: @erichersey | Instagram: @erichersey Lauren Hersey – X: @laurenhersey2 | Instagram: @lauren_hersey_ FOLLOW – DIS & HERS Website: DisAndHers.com Instagram: @disandhers TikTok: @disandhers Facebook: Dis and Hers YouTube: Dis & Hers FOLLOW – JIM HILL MEDIA Facebook: JimHillMediaNews Instagram: JimHillMedia TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited & Produced by Eric Hersey – Strong Minded Agency 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
About Dis & Hers
Dis & Hers is a Disney podcast where real conversations from the Disney community meet honest opinions. This show is not about ride strategies, Lightning Lane tutorials, or park basics. Instead, Eric and Lauren focus on the culture around Disney - what fans are debating online, what’s trending on Reddit, TikTok, and X, and the questions people keep asking but rarely get straight answers to. Using real-time online conversations, search behavior, and firsthand experience, Dis & Hers explores the bigger picture behind Disney decisions and fan reactions - sometimes agreeing, sometimes disagreeing, and always keeping it honest.
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