# The Contemporary’s Surprisingly Smelly Origin Story (Ep. 109)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-jim-hill-media-podcast-network-530663/the-contemporary-s-surprisingly-smelly-origin-story-ep-109
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-jim-hill-media-podcast-network-530663/the-contemporary-s-surprisingly-smelly-origin-story-ep-109.md
Podcast: [The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-jim-hill-media-podcast-network-530663)
Published: 2026-07-23T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/JHM9650695892.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/JHM9650695892.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-jim-hill-media-podcast-network-530663/episodes/the-contemporary-s-surprisingly-smelly-origin-story-ep-109
Duration seconds: 3537

## Resource

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey unpack a whirlwind week of Disney and Universal discoveries, from a chaotic Lorcana release to a little-known Walt Disney World store hidden inside an Orlando parking garage. Lauren shares highlights from her latest theme park merchandise haul, including deeply discounted Universal gear and retro-inspired Contemporary Resort merchandise. Then Jim digs into the surprisingly smelly construction history connecting Seven Seas Lagoon, EPCOT, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Walt Disney World’s original hotels. NEWS • A limited-edition Disney Lorcana release creates massive crowds at Disney Springs and forces the cancellation of a London event. • Jim and Lauren consider whether artificial scarcity and reseller demand are helping fuel Lorcana’s popularity. • Lauren discovers an official Walt Disney World merchandise and ticket location hidden inside an International Drive parking garage. • Universal Orlando’s Brown Derby shop offers select current merchandise at discounts of up to 70 percent. • The Contemporary Resort leans into vintage Disney style with monorail merchandise, classic photography, and deep-cut references. FEATURE • The excavation of Seven Seas Lagoon required moving millions of cubic yards of ancient organic material. • EPCOT guests encountered an unforgettable odor when construction crews disturbed old World Showcase Lagoon debris during development of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. • Jim explains how Walt Disney World’s original hotels were designed to extend the storytelling beyond the Magic Kingdom. • Early resort concepts included Persian, Thai, Dutch, Cape Cod, and South Seas destinations positioned around Bay Lake. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com • Lauren Hersey - X/Twitter: @…

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## Transcript

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