# The Great Disneyland Ticket Caper (Ep. 584)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-jim-hill-media-podcast-network-530663/the-great-disneyland-ticket-caper-ep-584
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-jim-hill-media-podcast-network-530663/the-great-disneyland-ticket-caper-ep-584.md
Podcast: [The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-jim-hill-media-podcast-network-530663)
Published: 2026-05-18T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/JHM2373748723.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/JHM2373748723.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-jim-hill-media-podcast-network-530663/episodes/the-great-disneyland-ticket-caper-ep-584
Duration seconds: 3058

## Resource

Len Testa and Jim Hill break down a busy week in theme park news, from Bluey crowd control at Animal Kingdom to Universal’s possible drone-show ambitions. Len also crunches the numbers on the best days to visit Magic Kingdom, because nothing says vacation like 22 million wait times and a spreadsheet with emotional damage. Then Jim digs into Disneyland’s opening-day ticket scandal and why Walt Disney may have had very good reasons to sour on Western Publishing. NEWS • Disney’s Animal Kingdom prepares for Bluey with a virtual queue and some serious toddler-capacity math. • Len explains why Sundays may be your best Magic Kingdom bet from January through July, while party season flips the calendar. • Disneyland’s Autopia goes electric in 2027, raising questions about batteries, car design, and Tomorrowland’s long-overdue tune-up. • Universal Orlando surveys guests about pets, which may hint at Secret Life of Pets possibilities in Florida. • A new Universal patent features an onboard animated figure, possibly a frog, possibly a nightmare with wheels. FEATURE • Jim revisits Disneyland’s chaotic 1955 opening day and the mysterious flood of “legitimate” invitations. • The story points toward Western Publishing, one of Disneyland’s earliest investors and official printers. • Walt’s later decision to buy out Western may have had more behind it than simple business strategy. • Also discussed: C.V. Wood, Black Sunday, Bob Gurr, Richard Nixon, and why the Secret Service probably hated the monorail. For this episode’s full show notes, click here. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia, Instagram: @JimHillMedia, Website: jimhillmedia.com • Len Testa - Bluesky: @lentesta.bsky.social, Instagram: @len.testa, Website: touringplans.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube:…

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## Transcript

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