The Secret World of Property Control and the History Behind Gertie the Dinosaur (Ep. 45)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey return with a jam-packed episode that blends Disney shopping secrets and animation history. Lauren shares her behind-the-scenes visit to Disney’s elusive Property Control store, a cast member-exclusive outlet full of discounted resort furniture, rare park merch, and even frozen food. Hear what she found, what she bought, and why it may be Disney’s best-kept secret.

Then Jim dives into the fascinating history of Gertie the Dinosaur—Hollywood Studios’ lakeside icon—tracing her roots back to a 1914 vaudeville act that helped inspire Walt Disney himself. From stamp collecting to Loungefly obsessions, this episode covers the quirky side of fandom and the legacy of one animated Brontosaurus.

• What Property Control is and how Lauren got in

• The limited merch, props, and even snacks for sale inside

• The new Gertie merch spotted at Hollywood Studios

• How Windsor McCay’s 1914 cartoon dinosaur changed animation forever

• The real story behind Disney’s ice cream-slinging sauropod

From the backlots of Walt Disney World to the foundations of early animation, this episode of I Want That Too digs into Disney history where you’d least expect it.

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