May 13, 2024 • 8 mins
Join us in this enchanting episode where we dive deep into the world of Disney Imagineering. Explore the blend of creativity, technology, and storytelling that brings Disney parks and attractions to life. We'll uncover the history, innovations, and the talented Imagineers who dream up these magical experiences. Whether it's the adrenaline-pumping thrill of Space Mountain or the detailed storytelling of the Haunted Mansion, learn how these iconic creations are imagined and engineered.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Close your eyes and imagine you're sitting in a train
car and racing full speed down the track. You weave
in and then out of a cave, and then up
a steep hill and down, whipping to the right, and
through deep valleys that take you back into a dark cave.
The wind whips at your hair and rushes in your
face as you feel the butterflies in your stomach. Of
up and down and left and right, you hold on
(00:25):
tight to the sides of the train car as it
picks up speed and the momentum carries you down another
track and through a steam of rushing water. The water
splashes on you and the other passengers, and you cry
out in joy and surprise. What kind of train is this? Anyway?
As the train pulls into the station, you remember that
this wasn't a real train, but the ride thunder Mountain
(00:45):
Railroad at the theme park Disneyland Theme Park. Rides like
thunder Mountain Railroad and others are a blast to ride
and experience. But how do these rides come to be?
Who designs them, Who builds them and creates all of
the environments and machine means that are required to make
them work. Today we're going to talk about none other
than the world famous Disney Imagineers. The magical world of
(01:09):
Disney theme parks has captivated the hearts of millions around
the globe for decades. Behind the scenes of this enchanting
experience lies a rich history marked by creativity, ingenuity, and
a team of visionary individuals known as imagineers. The roots
of Disney's theme park legacy can be traced back to
Wed Enterprises and the birth of imagineering. When Walt Disney
(01:33):
first decided to build a theme park after his wild
success as an animation studio, Disney created a group called
Wed Enterprises. This was in nineteen fifty two, and Disney
formed the group because he knew he would need a
grow of very talented people help design and engineer his
theme park, which was still just a thing of his
(01:53):
dreams and imagination. Wed Enterprises included artists, engineers, architects, and
designers who would bring Walt Disney's dreams to life. They
were known for having more than just one skill, such
as being an architect or an engineer. They had to
have big imaginations and be ready to think outside the box.
At heart, they were storytellers responsible for creating immersive narratives
(02:18):
that would become park rides and other experiences. Their mission
was to blend creativity with new technology to create an
enchanting world for park visitors. In nineteen eighty six, WD
Enterprises changed its name to Walt Disney Imagineering. Imagineer is
the combination of the words engineer and imagine Imagineers are
(02:40):
expected to not only have the skills to do their job,
but to think creatively and come up with new, bold
ideas as they tell their stories in the form of attractions.
In fact, one of the imagineer's first principles is it
all begins with a story. Next, let's dive into the
life of some of the most famous imagineers. Mark Davis
would born in Bakersfield, California, and from a very young
(03:03):
age he loved drawing and art. He practiced during his
free time and eventually went to college in Kansas, where
he further developed his skills. In nineteen thirty four, Mark
joined Disney as an animator and helped illustrate for animated
classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Bambi.
He worked closely with Walt Disney to create these films
(03:24):
and When it came time to start designing Disneyland, Walt
Disney knew Mark would be the perfect fit to help
bring his dreams to life. One of his first projects
was designing characters for the Haunted Mansion. Mark had a
great sense of humor and was able to bring it
to life through art as he designed characters such as
the Hitching Ghost and the Ghostly Bride Constance Hatchaway. He
(03:46):
also worked on the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride and
many of the humorous pirates you can see and experience
throughout the ride. Mark also helped design the Enchanted Teaking Room,
the Jungle Crews, and Epcot's Journey into Imagination. Another early
imagineer was Harriet Burns. Harriet was born in San Antonio, Texas,
and early on had a passion for art and design.
(04:08):
She started at Disney in nineteen fifty five as a
set painter for many of the rides. She became one
of the first female imagineers and helped design and pink
characters on the Disney Railroad, It's a Small World, and
the Madterhorn Bob Sleds. Harriet was also known for her
strong will and personality. When she had a vision for
how something should be done. She worked hard at it
(04:30):
and made sure her opinion was known until she got results.
The history of imagineering wouldn't be complete without mentioning Tony Baxter,
whose first job at Disneyland was actually an ice cream
scooper at age seventeen. He loved being at the park
and was determined to help make it an even more
fun and enchanting place. He went to school and studied
(04:52):
landscape architecture and later theater design. At this time, he
also started helping with construction projects at Disneyland. In nineteen seventy,
Tony officially became an imagineer his dream job. He helped
redesign Fantasyland, then later came up with the idea that
became Splash Mountain. Splash Mountain showcased Baxter's ability to combine
(05:14):
storytelling with groundbreaking ride technology. The attraction became an instant classic,
enchanting generations with its whimsical charm. Baxter's gift for adventure
and storytelling reached new heights with the creation of the
Indiana Jones ride, open in nineteen ninety five, This dark
eyed blended film and theme park elements, plunging riders into
(05:36):
the heart of an ancient temple filled with scary sights.
The attraction success showed Baxter's ability to translate movie magic
into an immersive and exhilarating theme part experience. Other famous
imagineers worth mentioning are the artist Mary Blair, Exantensio Waing,
t Chow, Alice, SD's Davis Yale, Gracie, Bob Kerr, Joe Road,
(06:00):
and Marty Schuyler. Because Disney parks are worldwide, imagineers of
many different nationalities, races, and backgrounds are now part of
the imagineering team. Something else exciting about imagineers is that
as they are working on new rides, they often invent
entirely new technologies that are not only used at Disneyland,
(06:20):
but in other theme parks and attractions around the world.
One of their most famous innovations are audio animatronics. These
are lifelike robots that become characters on the different Disney rides.
They often look very realistic and move in real ways
that make parkoers feel like they're experiencing the characters and
the environments for real. The animatronics on some of these
(06:43):
rides were ahead of their time to date. One of
the most advanced and realistic animatronics is the Shaman on
the Novi River Journey at Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.
Animatronics like this require many designers and engineers to figure
out how to make them move in life like ways.
You'll have to check out a video of this one
because you won't believe your eyes. Many of the vehicles
(07:06):
for Disney's rides also feature very advanced designs in order
to move guests around the attraction. This includes trackless rides
that use magnets to orient them along the path. Another
example is the jeep in Indiana Jones that makes passengers
feel like they're bumping up and down on a wild
jeep ride, which has the flexibility to move many different directions.
(07:28):
They've also designed RFID wristbands, and guests are able to
open their hotel room, inner parks, and even make purchases
using radio frequencies. Many of these technologies feel like magic
when they're being used, but under all of the electronics
are smart engineers who design every piece of the advanced
equipment to make it work. Other technologies include projection mapping,
(07:50):
augmented reality, and virtual reality simulators, all with the goal
of making guests feel like they've been transported to a
different place in time and are living the actual experience.
It's pretty amazing, right. Does becoming an imagineer sound interesting
to you? If so, be sure to look up their
principles of design and think of ways you can apply
them to your own interests. Do you like to be creative?
(08:12):
If so, think of the kind of ride you would
create if you were a Disney imagineer. Drop a plan
and maybe even make a miniature version of it using
cardboard and other materials. You might even simulate how it
works using a space in your backyard or living room.
Be sure to run it by your parents first, of course,
But remember that all of these imagineers were once kids
like you, who are passionate about art and design and
(08:35):
had big imaginations. We hope you enjoyed learning about Disney Imagineering.
Be sure to tune in next Monday for a new episode.
Close your eyes and imagine you're sitting in a train
car and racing full speed down the track. You weave
in and then out of a cave, and then up
a steep hill and down, whipping to the right, and
through deep valleys that take you back into a dark cave.
The wind whips at your hair and rushes in your
face as you feel the butterflies in your stomach. Of
up and down and left and right, you hold on
(00:25):
tight to the sides of the train car as it
picks up speed and the momentum carries you down another
track and through a steam of rushing water. The water
splashes on you and the other passengers, and you cry
out in joy and surprise. What kind of train is this? Anyway?
As the train pulls into the station, you remember that
this wasn't a real train, but the ride thunder Mountain
(00:45):
Railroad at the theme park Disneyland Theme Park. Rides like
thunder Mountain Railroad and others are a blast to ride
and experience. But how do these rides come to be?
Who designs them, Who builds them and creates all of
the environments and machine means that are required to make
them work. Today we're going to talk about none other
than the world famous Disney Imagineers. The magical world of
(01:09):
Disney theme parks has captivated the hearts of millions around
the globe for decades. Behind the scenes of this enchanting
experience lies a rich history marked by creativity, ingenuity, and
a team of visionary individuals known as imagineers. The roots
of Disney's theme park legacy can be traced back to
Wed Enterprises and the birth of imagineering. When Walt Disney
(01:33):
first decided to build a theme park after his wild
success as an animation studio, Disney created a group called
Wed Enterprises. This was in nineteen fifty two, and Disney
formed the group because he knew he would need a
grow of very talented people help design and engineer his
theme park, which was still just a thing of his
(01:53):
dreams and imagination. Wed Enterprises included artists, engineers, architects, and
designers who would bring Walt Disney's dreams to life. They
were known for having more than just one skill, such
as being an architect or an engineer. They had to
have big imaginations and be ready to think outside the box.
At heart, they were storytellers responsible for creating immersive narratives
(02:18):
that would become park rides and other experiences. Their mission
was to blend creativity with new technology to create an
enchanting world for park visitors. In nineteen eighty six, WD
Enterprises changed its name to Walt Disney Imagineering. Imagineer is
the combination of the words engineer and imagine Imagineers are
(02:40):
expected to not only have the skills to do their job,
but to think creatively and come up with new, bold
ideas as they tell their stories in the form of attractions.
In fact, one of the imagineer's first principles is it
all begins with a story. Next, let's dive into the
life of some of the most famous imagineers. Mark Davis
would born in Bakersfield, California, and from a very young
(03:03):
age he loved drawing and art. He practiced during his
free time and eventually went to college in Kansas, where
he further developed his skills. In nineteen thirty four, Mark
joined Disney as an animator and helped illustrate for animated
classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Bambi.
He worked closely with Walt Disney to create these films
(03:24):
and When it came time to start designing Disneyland, Walt
Disney knew Mark would be the perfect fit to help
bring his dreams to life. One of his first projects
was designing characters for the Haunted Mansion. Mark had a
great sense of humor and was able to bring it
to life through art as he designed characters such as
the Hitching Ghost and the Ghostly Bride Constance Hatchaway. He
(03:46):
also worked on the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride and
many of the humorous pirates you can see and experience
throughout the ride. Mark also helped design the Enchanted Teaking Room,
the Jungle Crews, and Epcot's Journey into Imagination. Another early
imagineer was Harriet Burns. Harriet was born in San Antonio, Texas,
and early on had a passion for art and design.
(04:08):
She started at Disney in nineteen fifty five as a
set painter for many of the rides. She became one
of the first female imagineers and helped design and pink
characters on the Disney Railroad, It's a Small World, and
the Madterhorn Bob Sleds. Harriet was also known for her
strong will and personality. When she had a vision for
how something should be done. She worked hard at it
(04:30):
and made sure her opinion was known until she got results.
The history of imagineering wouldn't be complete without mentioning Tony Baxter,
whose first job at Disneyland was actually an ice cream
scooper at age seventeen. He loved being at the park
and was determined to help make it an even more
fun and enchanting place. He went to school and studied
(04:52):
landscape architecture and later theater design. At this time, he
also started helping with construction projects at Disneyland. In nineteen seventy,
Tony officially became an imagineer his dream job. He helped
redesign Fantasyland, then later came up with the idea that
became Splash Mountain. Splash Mountain showcased Baxter's ability to combine
(05:14):
storytelling with groundbreaking ride technology. The attraction became an instant classic,
enchanting generations with its whimsical charm. Baxter's gift for adventure
and storytelling reached new heights with the creation of the
Indiana Jones ride, open in nineteen ninety five, This dark
eyed blended film and theme park elements, plunging riders into
(05:36):
the heart of an ancient temple filled with scary sights.
The attraction success showed Baxter's ability to translate movie magic
into an immersive and exhilarating theme part experience. Other famous
imagineers worth mentioning are the artist Mary Blair, Exantensio Waing,
t Chow, Alice, SD's Davis Yale, Gracie, Bob Kerr, Joe Road,
(06:00):
and Marty Schuyler. Because Disney parks are worldwide, imagineers of
many different nationalities, races, and backgrounds are now part of
the imagineering team. Something else exciting about imagineers is that
as they are working on new rides, they often invent
entirely new technologies that are not only used at Disneyland,
(06:20):
but in other theme parks and attractions around the world.
One of their most famous innovations are audio animatronics. These
are lifelike robots that become characters on the different Disney rides.
They often look very realistic and move in real ways
that make parkoers feel like they're experiencing the characters and
the environments for real. The animatronics on some of these
(06:43):
rides were ahead of their time to date. One of
the most advanced and realistic animatronics is the Shaman on
the Novi River Journey at Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.
Animatronics like this require many designers and engineers to figure
out how to make them move in life like ways.
You'll have to check out a video of this one
because you won't believe your eyes. Many of the vehicles
(07:06):
for Disney's rides also feature very advanced designs in order
to move guests around the attraction. This includes trackless rides
that use magnets to orient them along the path. Another
example is the jeep in Indiana Jones that makes passengers
feel like they're bumping up and down on a wild
jeep ride, which has the flexibility to move many different directions.
(07:28):
They've also designed RFID wristbands, and guests are able to
open their hotel room, inner parks, and even make purchases
using radio frequencies. Many of these technologies feel like magic
when they're being used, but under all of the electronics
are smart engineers who design every piece of the advanced
equipment to make it work. Other technologies include projection mapping,
(07:50):
augmented reality, and virtual reality simulators, all with the goal
of making guests feel like they've been transported to a
different place in time and are living the actual experience.
It's pretty amazing, right. Does becoming an imagineer sound interesting
to you? If so, be sure to look up their
principles of design and think of ways you can apply
them to your own interests. Do you like to be creative?
(08:12):
If so, think of the kind of ride you would
create if you were a Disney imagineer. Drop a plan
and maybe even make a miniature version of it using
cardboard and other materials. You might even simulate how it
works using a space in your backyard or living room.
Be sure to run it by your parents first, of course,
But remember that all of these imagineers were once kids
like you, who are passionate about art and design and
(08:35):
had big imaginations. We hope you enjoyed learning about Disney Imagineering.
Be sure to tune in next Monday for a new episode.
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