From All-Stars to Art of Animation: Disney’s Value Resort Story (Ep. 108)

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey kick off this week’s I Want That Too with concert merch sticker shock, a new family dog named Luna, and a surprising amount of Disney pet gear at Petco. They also dig into Disney’s new auction partnership with Heritage Auctions and the build-a-bag trend popping up in the parks. Then Jim traces the history of Walt Disney World’s value resorts, from the All-Stars to Pop Century to Art of Animation, and explains how 9/11 unexpectedly changed Disney’s hotel strategy. NEWS • Lauren shares the story of Luna the Wonder Dog and the Disney pet merchandise she discovered at Petco. • Disney fans may soon be able to bid on real theme park props and set pieces through a new Heritage Auctions partnership. • Jim explains why Disney Archives cannot keep everything, and how auctions can help fund the recovery of historically important items. • Disney’s new Build-A-Bag line brings mix-and-match customization to park handbags, straps, charms, and wallets. FEATURE • Jim revisits how Disney’s moderate resorts led directly to the creation of the All-Star value hotels. • The episode explores why Pop Century was built near Wide World of Sports, and how cheerleading and youth sports helped shape Disney’s hotel planning. • Jim explains how 9/11 stalled Pop Century’s expansion and left the Legendary Years section unfinished for years. • The story wraps with the rise of family suites and how Disney transformed that abandoned hotel space into Art of Animation. HOSTS • Jim Hill - @JimHillMedia • Lauren Hersey - @lauren_hersey_ FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @jimhillmedia • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Before you book your next Disney or Universal vacation, visit UnlockedMagic.com, powered by the trusted team behind the DVC Rental Store. They have helped guests save more than $20 million on theme park tickets, making your next trip just a little more magical. 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