disney world imagineering tour

I Toured Walt Disney Imagineering – New Technologies & Park Plans Revealed

From the exterior of 1401 Flower Street, it's difficult to comprehend the magic that's made inside. This building is one of many located in Glendale, California that house Disney's theme park wizards who lead the design of Disney's theme parks, cruise ships, and resorts around the world.

The people who work at Walt Disney Imagineering have training in over 140 disciplines that range from model making to writing to computer engineering to financial planning. This group was originally created by Walt Disney himself when he brought some of his favorite artists from the film studio into a special group to focus on creating his first theme park, Disneyland. Originally called WED for Walter Elias Disney, the group's name was shifted to Imagineering combining “Imagination” and “Engineering” – two skill sets required to develop any Disney project.

Recently I had the opportunity to join a rare media tour of Walt Disney Imagineering where they pulled back the curtain to reveal amazing aspects of the facilities I have only ever seen in my now dog-eared copies of the Walt Disney Imagineering coffee table books . I have visited this location before, but have never been permitted to visit anything beyond a blank-walled conference room when I interviewed ( now Disney Legend ) Joe Rohde. So, it was a longtime wish fulfillment to get to go inside and the day didn't disappoint.

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Surprise Guests Before Our Imagineering Tour

Before our media tour of Walt Disney Imagineering could begin, we sat down in a decked-out conference room featuring aerial photos of Disney Parks around the world and photos of the Imagineering process.

We settled in for the presentation and thankfully I ended up in a seat in the front row. Moments later one of the public relations people introduced the Disney executive leadership and CEO Bob Iger and Parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro came out to present to the twenty or so media in attendance. You could tell that the entire room was shocked to see the two of them – Iger in particular who was joining us the day before the contested shareholder board vote – kicking off this day for us.

Iger expressed how the time he spends at Walt Disney Imagineering is some of the time he enjoys most in his work as CEO and how excited he is for the future of the parks. He expressed that if he could, he'd spend all of his time at Imagineering which he called one of his favorite places.

He talked about how much time he and Josh are spending at Imagineering as the company shifts their focus to the $60 billion turbocharge investment for the Disney theme parks . Iger shared that he is extremely optimistic about the parks and, with ease, explained some of the reasoning around why they are now ready to ramp up investment in the expansion of the theme parks.

Reflecting on something that former Disney Animation and Pixar Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter – a name I haven't heard mentioned by anyone at the company for a long time – shared with him, Iger talked about the magic of marrying technological advancement with artistry. He said that the artists create new ideas that push the technologists and the technologists create new ideas that then further art. Their intermingling leads to the magic of the Disney theme parks and films.

Then D'Amaro shared similar remarks we have heard from him previously about his excitement for the expansion of the parks. He emphasized that this day touring Imagineering was meant to reflect his previous efforts to pull back the curtain on what they are working on while on stage at D23.

After D'Amaro spoke, Iger jumped back in with additional context that we hadn't heard put as plainly before. In essence, he said that Disney Parks are a good business with a great return on investment for Disney and that there is strong demand among guests for more experiences. He also addressed the key concern around all of the expansion news. He said something along the lines of, “We know all the fans would like to know everything we are building, but if we flushed out the full decade then we wouldn't be able to nimbly react to a Frozen-sized hit a couple of years from now”. The positive takeaways from these comments are that Iger has a great sense of the sentiment in the community right now, believes in investments in the theme parks, and wants to bring in new franchises to the parks as they happen.

That unprompted comment from Iger alone signals that he understands that Disney fans are waiting with bated breath for a big set of announcements from Disney.

I have been fortunate to see both of these leaders speak several times at different functions and every time I am blown away by the way they hold the entire room's attention. Iger has a certain magnetic quality about him. He spoke off the cuff but with a complete grasp of every detail of the expansion plan for the parks. It felt almost as if there was a teleprompter in the room.

Then the two leaders turned it over to the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bruce Vaughn. He briefly shared his story of how he previously spent many years at Imagineering, eventually rising to president, and then left the company to focus on family. He came back to Imagineering a little over a year ago. He has a stellar background of leading teams at Imagineering during periods of growth and it was exciting to see his confidence in what they are developing right now.

After Vaughn spoke, the Imagineering leads for Walt Disney World shared new concept artwork for the Tropical Americas area coming to Animal Kingdom and that a new permit would be filed to begin work on the area “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” in Magic Kingdom. They again teased that there would be many more announcements at the D23 Expo .

Our Imagineering Tour

Then, it was time for our tour of Imagineering. We were hosted by Jonathan Friday, who is a Senior Creative Director who most recently led Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland . Friday led us through different sections of Imagineering giving us a general look at some of the creative process and how new technology pushes the envelope for the parks.

Our first stop on the tour was a walk through a very cool monorail hallway that flashes graphics from Disney destinations around the world through the windows of a monorail.

Then we walked down a “graffiti” hallway that's now dedicated to John Hench, one of Disney's most famed artists. There were funny caricatures and artwork here that poked fun at the concept of corporate theme park ownership and general corporate life at Imagineering. Definitely no photos allowed here!

Next was our stop at the model shop. We learned how models at Imagineering are a tool and not something meant to last forever. They are used to allow executives and cross-functional teams to understand what scenes and structures will look like before they are built. Models start very small and then increase in size to serve different purposes. For instance, some of the bigger models actually end up in the field to assist rockwork carvers as a guide to how the rockwork should look.

We were able to photograph some of the models on display, many of which were previously exhibited in the Imagineering pavilion at the D23 Expo in 2022. Models included looks at Mickey's Toontown, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, an unbuilt version of a Frozen land that eventually became Fantasy Springs , a model of the Pirates of the Caribbean changing skull to pirate figure that was added at Disneyland, a car from Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind , and more.

From here we went into an amazing room that houses maquettes and miniature sculptures used for the design of Audio-Animatronics and other characters at the parks. This room was lined with glass cabinets that were stuffed with all sort of designs including the heads of presidents for the Hall of Presidents, figures modeling how the costumed characters at the parks work, and creatures that have made appearances throughout the parks. It also had the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs figures which were gifted to Walt Disney. Replicas of these are positioned at the wishing well in Disneyland.

We learned about the sculpting process from the Imagineer who sculpted the Walt Disney statue that was added to Hong Kong Disneyland. He shared with me that when you are sculpting something you are considering the final form of the sculpture. For instance when he was sculpting what would become a metal statue of Walt Disney he tried to bring in as much fluidity and motion to the statue as he could.

Then we journeyed on to the part of the tour that was the most newsworthy and earned a separate blog article where we looked at Disney's Impressive Audio-Animatronics For It's Newest Ride . We got to see many of the new figures coming to Tiana's Bayou Adventure which was just incredible.

Before seeing those figures we also wandered through the main Audio-Animatronics workshop where Imagineers work on figures headed to parks around the world. Here we spotted some fun classic figures decorating the halls like the baby elephant from the end of Jungle Cruise and a bird from the Tiki Room Under New Management. On one desk we also spotted a model of The Candle Man from the Museum of the Weird concept. Perhaps this is destined for the new Haunted Mansion Bar on the Disney Cruise Line ?

I would urge you to take a look at the Audio-Animatronics coming to Tiana's Bayou Adventure . Be sure to check out that separate article that shows off those figures and some thoughts from Imagineers that worked on them.

From here we headed to the Research and Development building. This was super cool. Earlier this year we shared the story of Lanny Smoot, the second Disney employee ever besides Walt Disney himself, to be welcomed into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame .

Lanny joined the tour to introduce us to his HoloTile technology. This is a modular treadmill floor that keeps one or multiple people walking on the floor regardless of the direction they are walking. Using LIDAR technology the floor reacts to movements to create a kind of stay-in-place treadmill.

The invention could eventually be used for VR and gaming or some applications in the theme parks. Smoot emphasized that it could be coming to a stage sometime soon to be used by actors, performers, or even props. Seeing the floor in person was impressive though it is very loud.

They continued to impress when multiple Imagineers went on the HoloTile floor and walked on it without intercepting. It was amazing to see all the monitors tracking the complex motions that then allowed for the treadmill-style experience.

Before we moved on from that room we also got to see how one of the coolest props Disney has built in recent years. They pulled out their “working” lightsaber which comes fully out of the hilt the way a saber does in the movies. While I wasn't one of the three people who got to try the saber, they shared that it felt emotional to have that childhood Luke Skywalker dream realized. The prop appeared pretty fragile which is why we probably haven't seen anything like this put on sale anywhere.

We first saw these lightsabers used in front of guests at the now closed Star Wars Starcruiser Hotel .

Next, we got to spend time with the BD-X droids that are headed to Disneyland for a limited time . These droids are super cute and really impressive. Read here more about the droids coming to the parks soon .

Finally, we viewed the Duke Weaselton figure that was shown off during the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Disney Zootopia area . This figure is super impressive as it isn't attached to any base and moves freely. The figure first appears to be “pushing” a rolling base that is fitted to look like a roaming vendor stand and then it holds on to a rope to get pulled up from the ground level to stand on the top of the moving stand. The figure detaches and reattaches. The Imagineers shared that the stand and the figure actually two separate moving devices and the combination of the two creates the illusion that the figure is pushing the stand. The figuring jumping up uses strong magnets that “catch” the figure when it gets pulled up.

Here's a video featuring some of the Imagineers and the figure so that you can get a better sense of how it works.

This same team also designed the stuntronic figure that allows Spider-Man to fly in Avengers Campus and a dynamic Judy Hopps figure that moved around on roller skates and could be picked up and put on someone's shoulders.

Of course we ended the day with some more fun photos and I spotted an easter egg that I just had to share.

They have an old Heimlich train car, a spinner from Bug's Land, and an old skyway bucket.

How cool are those! I am still not completely over the fact that Heimlich didn't stick around in some form when Bug's Land was switched over to Avengers Campus.

My visit to Walt Disney Imagineering brought me the same sense of joy that I found as a kid opening up my Imagineerig coffee table books and thinking that maybe someday I could become one of these magic makers. Today I'll settle for this look behind the curtains.

Seeing the campus bustling with life and creative energy gives me the same great optimism about the future of Walt Disney Imagineering that radiated off of Bob Iger. After a frustrating attempt to force a relocation of Imagineers to Florida that led to a mass exodus, it feels like Imagineering is finding its footing again.

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Peek into the Mouse Hole at Disney Imagineering

Arthur Levine.

It was a surreal moment in a day filled with surreal moments. Rounding a corner in the room containing Walt Disney Imagineering's art history archives, there it was: the famous 1950s concept drawing of Disneyland that designer Herb Ryman completed in one weekend with Walt Disney standing over his shoulder.

This wasn't a reproduction; it was the actual legendary piece. Casually propped up on a pallet (it was either arriving from or en route to an exhibit), Ryman's drawing sat among some of the other 80,000 pieces of artwork that Disney Imagineers, as the band of creative gurus charged with designing the company's theme parks have come to be known, subsequently created through the years. “It was all started by a mouse,” Walt Disney once famously said. With deference to Mickey, Disneyland and the very idea of a “theme park” really all began with that drawing.

So how was it that I came to be ogling Ryman's historical drawing and roaming the hallowed halls of Imagineering in Glendale, California? Among the industry professionals who read my articles was Jon Georges, director of Blue Sky Development at Walt Disney Imagineering. In 2007, he invited me to speak to a group of Imagineers as part of the organization's Insight Out speaker series.

(When my wife learned that I was going to be making a presentation to the Imagineers, she said, incredulously, "So let me get this straight. You are going to talk to them about the theme park industry?" Admittedly, the notion seemed a bit nuts, but the Imagineers were a wonderful audience, and we had a lively exchange about parks and themed entertainment.) After my presentation, I was treated to an extensive tour of the sprawling campus.

While I did get to peer behind the scenes, I wasn't granted unfettered access. There were plenty of hush-hush projects and Imagineers secreted away in their workshop lairs. This article isn't meant to be a comprehensive overview of Imagineering; rather, it's a casual review of some of my observations that day—a geek's ramblings, if you will.

Imagineers Get Goofy

It was surprising to discover that the folks who design iconic castles and grandiose geodesic domes conduct their work in distinctly bland and nondescript buildings. There wasn't even a sign, modest or otherwise, to indicate Imagineering's headquarters. Driving down Flower Street in Glendale, it would have been impossible to locate the campus without knowing its street address. Inside, however, there were characteristic traces of Imagineering whimsy everywhere.

In the courtyard outside the commissary, for example, gondolas from Disneyland's defunct Skyway served as makeshift picnic tables. The Environmental Design and Engineering building, which houses architects, engineers, and interior designers, was once a bowling center that was open to the public. Remnants of its kitsch past remained, including a conference room with a maple table fashioned out of the lanes' floorboards and a podium that looked like a score table.

One hallway in the main building is known as the John Hench Graffiti Gallery. An influential and beloved artist and designer, Hench worked at the Disney company for over 60 years and was senior vice president for Imagineering. The hallway was lined with lively portraits, sketches, montages, and other displays contributed by Imagineers in homage to Hench, who died in 2004. (For more on John Hench and Imagineering, consider reading his wonderful book, " Designing Disney: Imagineering and the Art of the Show ." )

Perhaps the oddest (and geekiest?) experience I had at Imagineering came about midway through my tour. My guide escorted me into the sculpture studio and left me by myself for a few moments to wander the musty room and gaze at plaster busts of highly expressive pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean, Hollywood celebrities from The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and lots of other Disney statuary. In one corner of the room, the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs figures that once delighted guests at Disneyland laid in state. It was both eerie to be alone with all of the silent figures and a tad overwhelming to see so much theme park history.

Cataloguing Yesterland

History is important at Imagineering. The art history archives are part of a wing devoted to preserving the parks' past. There is also a slide library with over 2 million actual and digitized images of attractions as well as the research that went into developing them. For example, Diane Scoglio, who oversees the slide library, said that there were many photos of Africa chronicling the trips that Joe Rohde and other Imagineers took as they were designing Disney's Animal Kingdom.

A separate show documentation library included a dossier of information for each Disney attraction with things like color samples, design references, and unusual items such as Tiki Bird feathers and fur patterns from the Yeti who resides inside the  Expedition Everest  coaster. There were even undergarments worn by the animatronic characters (who knew?) stored here.

Georges pointed out some color swatches of bright paints and said that they were for one of the dark rides that incorporated black light effects. "We include samples of what the paint looks like in natural light and how it appears under black lights," he noted. "Black light painting is becoming a lost art."

Georges said that the libraries, particularly the show documentation library, help Imagineering and the Disney parks maintain the attractions. It's known as "show quality standards," or SQS in Disney-speak. I guess when it's time to trade out Richard Nixon's undergarments in the Hall of Presidents, it helps to have a record of what size and brand he wears.

From Blue Sky to Gray Patio

Of course, the libraries aren't used to exclusively focus on the past. Imagineers frequent them to explore new concepts and do research for attractions under development as well. Georges used another hallway display to take me through Imagineering's development process. The walls were filled with photos, illustrations, and text depicting the stages, including: blue sky (the department that Georges oversees), which provides the seeds that evolve into attractions; concept development and feasibility, where ideas take shape in the form of two- and three-dimensional renderings as well as computer-generated models; design and production, during which capital is approved, play-testing is conducted, and systems are developed; construction and installation, where all of the Imagineering disciplines work collaboratively to build the actual attraction; test and adjust, to tweak the attraction; grand opening; and patio party, when the team members celebrate the completion of the project (and doubtless hang out in the old Skyway vehicles).

I didn't get a lot of information about parks or attractions that may be in the Disney pipeline, but I did get the feeling that great things are brewing. There is a palpable sense of optimism and creativity emanating from the nondescript Glendale buildings. "Disneyland will never be completed...as long as there is imagination left in the world," is another famous Walt-ism. Thankfully, there appears to be plenty of imagination to go around among today's Imagineers.

Returning to the Hallowed Halls

Since my original visit, I've had the opportunity to return to Walt Disney Imagineering a few times. (It's one of the wonderful perks of being a theme park journalist.) One time, I got to experience play-testing by participating in a mockup of the Toy Story Mania attraction while it was still under development. For the record, I trounced the other participants in the 3-D game.

In 2019, I visited Imagineering as part of a preview of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , the over-the-top lands at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios. During the visit, I attended a series of panels presented by Imagineers, Walt Disney Parks executives, and folks from Lucasfilm. I also was part of a tour that included a sneak peek of animatronic characters in the design shop that were headed to Galaxy's Edge and a look at the how Imagineers programmed the trackless vehicle used in the attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

By the way, you can now visit Walt Disney Imagineering.  Adventures by Disney , a guided tour company, includes a stop on its Disneyland Resort and Southern California Escape itinerary.

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Go behind the scenes with Disney's Imagineering tours and see how the magic gets made

Apr 9, 2020 • 2 min read

Walt Disney Imagineering's virtual tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at the company's creative headquarters. Here, Imagineers sculpt maquettes for Jessie’s Critter Carousel, an attraction that opened last year at Disney California Adventure park © Aaron Poole/Disneyland Resort

Disney’s theme parks may be closed worldwide , but the company is giving its fans an online treat instead, welcoming remote visitors for virtual tours of the rarely seen Imagineering HQ. 

The series is designed to show off “some of the unique spaces where innovation and storytelling combine to bring Disney stories, characters and worlds to life,” the Disney Parks Blog reports . While the release schedule isn’t publicly available yet, at this point it looks like the series will comprise just a handful of videos. The first debuted on March 31 and introduced the general public to Walt Disney Imagineering – “the only think tank created by Walt Disney himself,” according to the blog post. 

The second episode premiered this week , with host Jonathan Friday giving a quick peek inside the Sculpture Studio, a space once overseen by Blaine Gibson, the legendary sculptor and animator responsible for some of the studio’s most iconic pieces, from the Haunted Mansion’s ghosts to the statue of Walt and Mickey Mouse that greets guests at some of the parks. It’s where Gibson’s pieces are stored to this day, as well as more recent work from the Imagineers.

No word yet on what subjects the rest of the series will cover, but for those in search of a more hands-on experience, there’s also a free online course called Imagineering in a Box , an interactive deep-dive into design and engineering that teaches participants to create their own theme park experience. The comprehensive program features 32 videos to show them the ropes, and it’s suitable for all ages. 

“When I was growing up, I would visit the Disney Parks with my family and ask, ‘how did they do that!?’” creative development exec Josh Gorin wrote in mid-March. “I watched Disney’s behind-the-scenes TV specials and realized that Imagineering was an actual ‘job’ — it inspired what I studied in school and ultimately led to my current role… We are so excited to share with learners of all ages the unique ways that science, technology, engineering, and math can be combined with creativity and design to create larger-than-life entertainment for millions all around the world.”

Read more: 

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Hi, do you offer any tours around Imagineering? I am interested in seeing behind the scenes around design, rides and the parks. Thanks, Harriet ”

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Tour of Walt Disney Imagineering Headquarters

In the Spring of 2014, I conducted a few interviews about the creation of Disneyland Paris’ new attraction “Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy” at the Walt Disney Imagineering Headquarters in Glendale, California, USA.

It was my first visit to the campus and left a very profound impression on me. While I can imagine that you might be interested in learning how the Walt Disney Imagineering Headquarters look like from the inside, I decided to write down and share my experiences.

Standing in front of the Walt Disney Imagineering Headquarters gave me an extraordinary feeling. For people walking by, this was just an ordinary set of buildings. But for me, it wasn’t! After all, this is the place were legendary Disney theme park attractions such as Big Thunder Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean were born. It left me wondering if Glendale’s local residents realize that the magic that creates happiness for millions of people is made just at their doorstep.

The Imagineering campus in Glendale consists of various buildings. The main structure houses (among other things) a reception desk, offices, conference rooms, a restaurant, a sound studio, the special effects department, the model shop and the sculpture department. The “Digital Immersive Showroom”, the Walt Disney Imagineering Library and the employee-only store called “Mickey’s of Glendale” are located in smaller structures scattered around it.

After registering at the reception desk, I was ushered to a conference room in the heart of the main building. The logo of Walt Disney Imagineering and photos of artists at work line the walls of the lobby. The corridors of the main building are decorated with colorful murals (that often pay tribute to legendary Imagineers like mister John Hench) and beautiful pieces of concept art.

At noon, I had lunch at the campus. The canteen is open, light and airy and has a contemporary décor with stylish wood and chrome iron accents. The outdoor patio in front of the restaurant features colorful chairs and tables, fountains, the famous Disney Parks signpost and a statue of Sorcerer Mickey. After lunch, I went shopping for WDI merchandise at “Mickey’s of Glendale”.

At the end of the interviews, the Walt Disney Imagineers invited me for a tour of the campus. First we went over to the “Digital Immersive Showroom”. This facility features a 360-degree, wrap-around 3D screen equipped with high-tech head tracking virtual reality technology that allows Imagineers to check all visual aspects of new projects long before these actually get built.

“The Dish” is a powerful tool! After spending about ten minutes in the virtual worlds it creates, my mind was tricked into believing that the footage I saw was real. I really felt the sensation of speed when I took a simulated ride aboard Magic Kingdom’s new “Seven Dwarfs Mine Train” attraction or through the refrigerator scene of Disneyland Paris’ new “Ratatouille” attraction.

The next stop on my tour was the Walt Disney Imagineering Library, a building filled with thousands of books for Imagineers to consult when working on projects. Its vault stores iconic pieces of concept art such as the maps of Disneyland by Herb Ryman and Peter Ellenshaw or the paintings by Dan Goozee that served as the basis for the Disneyland Paris Plaza Gardens Restaurant murals. The art of “Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy” was recently added to the collection as well. I never felt so close to Disney theme park history as I did when I was admiring these masterpieces.

In the Special Effects Department, I met the Imagineers who developed the “blinking eyes” or the “flickering candle” effects that can be seen inside Disneyland Paris’ new “Ratatouille” attraction. They demonstrated some special effects under development of which one was so convincing that I didn’t realize that it was an illusion until someone told me at the end of the day.

With hundreds of loudspeakers encircling the entire room, The Walt Disney Imagineering Sound Studio is a technological and historical marvel in itself. It was here that the programming was done for circle-vision theaters constructed in Disney Theme Parks across the globe. During my visit, the Imagineers let me hear an early WDI sound experiment featuring the fictitious sounds a new employee of The Walt Disney Company might hear during its first day at work.

The next stop on my tour was the Model Shop. Visiting this part of the campus was special to me since many photos of Walt were made in there. In the Model Shop, elaborate models of “Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy” were on display.

To conclude we visited the Sculpture Department. These rooms are stowed with sculptures of which a (larger) replica can be found in the Parks, like the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs figures standing next to the wishing well in Disneyland. In the Sculpture Department, the beautiful fountain of “La Place de Rémy” was designed.

At the end of the tour, I had a cup of coffee (brewed by the on campus Starbucks Coffee location) and thought back to all the people I had met earlier that day. It occurred to me that just like some of Glendale’s local residents might not realize that the magic that creates happiness for millions of people around the world is made just at their doorstep, I wasn’t fully aware of the fact that this magic is made by so many different people active in so many disciplines. There are Lighting Designers, Graphic Designers, Landscape Architects, Character Painters...

While most of their names might be unknown to me, each and everyone in Glendale and at Walt Disney Imagineering’s field offices (in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai) is playing a crucial role in bringing the magic to live. It’s their daily effort, dedication and determination that leads to the creation of the immersive Disney theme park environments that have been enchanting me for almost twenty years now. And that’s why I’m grateful to every single one of them.

Thank you for making me smile… and Walt proud!

Discovering Ratatouille – Description & Design

Discovering Ratatouille – Creating The Score

Discovering Ratatouille – The Pixar Connection

Discovering Ratatouille – Creating The Animation

Discovering Ratatouille – Review Attraction

Creating Disney Magic – Lighting Design

Creating Disney Magic – Landscape Architecture

Celebrating the Lion King

Midnight reflections on Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel

Halloween at the Tokyo Disney Resort

Shanghai Disneyland – Mickey Avenue

Take a Virtual Tour of Walt Disney Imagineering

The Disney Parks are some of the most magical places on Earth and all that magic comes from Walt Disney Imagineering. Now, thanks to the Disney Parks Blog , you can take a virtual tour of Walt Disney Imagineering and see some of the unique spaces where Disney dreams are made.

• This is the last stop to Walt Disney Imagineering  and Disney is taking fans on a tour of the Art Library.
• The Art Library is home to more than 135,000 pieces of original concept art—including the original map of Disneyland park.
• Curators Mike Jusko, Denise Brown and Vanessa Hunt give a quick glance inside the library and share some of the amazing projects they’re working on.  

• This next entry  gives fans a look at the Research and Development department where Disney Imagineers create future experiences that guests will enjoy at parks and resorts around the world.
• Mike Honeck reveals there’s more than just science and engineering going on behind the scenes. The team consists of puppeteers, coders, artists and more.

• Part 3  has Garrett Clark take audiences inside the Digital Immersive Showroom or DISH where Imagineers and designers can take a complete, 360° virtual tour of Disney Parks and attractions.
• Viewing attractions Inside the DISH allows Imagineering teams to picture exactly how things will look from a guest perspective.
• The best part? You can hop from Walt Disney World to Disneyland in a matter of seconds!

• The latest tour  shares a look at the Sculpture Studio, which Disney Legend Blaine Gibson once supervised.
• Gibson’s sculpts were used to create various figures and bronzes in Disney Parks and the Sculpture Studio still houses his masterpieces.
• Be sure to check back for the next part of this virtual tour of Walt Disney Imagineering.

• Anne Myers guides you along this tour of the think tank created by Walt Disney himself.
• The first part of this virtual tour of Walt Disney Imagineering introduces you to the concept of just what the imagineers do.
• It also provides a look at the monorail hallway, modeled after the monorail at Walt Disney World .

• Want to learn more about Walt Disney Imagineering and can’t wait for the next video? Check out Disney’s Imagineering in a Box , an online learning experience from Disney Imagineers.

- CONCEPT -

What is it.

Once we have our big idea, we move it forward into high-level creative development to begin to understand the specifics of how the experience will look, sound, smell and feel. Discipline by discipline, we collect expert recommendations and thoughts about how we can begin to enumerate and visualize all components of the project, from a special effect to the smart infrastructure in the facility that keeps it protected, cooled and powered. We sketch, we sculpt, we experiment, we learn. At this phase, we bring together a team with the specific kinds of know-how that will be required to make this particular creative idea sing.

- FEASIBILITY -

What will it take to make it real.

Now that we know what we want to create, we have to make sure that we can . Making the impossible possible takes a lot of foresight, careful consideration, planning, estimating and dedication. The team works together to iterate and determine how we can support and reliably deliver all parts of the project, be it ship or show, restaurant or roller coaster. As ideas evolve, Imagineers work together to find ways to balance all of the parameters that will allow us to deliver something great. And that evolution is an important part of design. Because ultimately, even when our team of world-class designers sets out to offer the world something it’s never seen before, we still have to obey the laws of physics.

What are the details that bring it to life?

For many Imagineers, design is the heart of the project. The team focuses their attention on the details of each component, finding ways to thoughtfully develop and communicate plans for the thousands of individual pieces that will one day come together as a cohesive whole. Design is all about iteration: refining version after version of an item or scope of work until we know that we’ve gotten it right. Whether it’s new ride systems or specialty paint finishes, fireworks or fire alarms, visual effects or lighting fixtures, trees or trash cans, we set down on paper (or more likely, in a digital model) exactly how we want to see it made. And we define materials and methodologies that will make it real. We cross check the work of different disciplines to make sure they will integrate properly. We mock up items and spaces at full scale. And we use sophisticated prototyping and previsualization tools to be certain that we never lose sight of what we want our guests to ultimately experience.

- PRODUCTION -

How do we build it.

Now, designs become reality. Production is the phase where Imagineers oversee the fabrication and creation of every part of the project. And this can be a worldwide process; we literally travel to the ends of the Earth to create the best possible version of every piece, be it art glass or ironwork, game engine or precision optic. We collaborate across time zones and continents, and we get our hands dirty. We amass mountains of steel and concrete and entire cities’ worth of infrastructure. And we track it all with phenomenal project management tools and expert logistics to make sure it all goes exactly where we need it, when we need it. Imagineers take as much care with what guests experience as they do with the behind-the-scenes elements that support and preserve the show. Whether it’s onstage or off, built or programmed, Imagineers are behind it all, guaranteeing that our designs and intent are achieved with integrity, fidelity and quality.

- INSTALLATION -

How does it all fit together.

Hard hats on heads and boots on the ground, Imagineers hit the field as the hundreds of systems and thousands of details are installed, constructed, tested and adjusted on the project site. In the dead of night, parades are rehearsed, seams are welded, and rivers are filled. Engineers and designers program Audio-Animatronics® figures, tune sound systems and ride attractions over and over until the feeling of the motion and the timing of the show are just right. A sense of thrill at seeing the project come together is inevitable. As the dust is swept away and the finishing touches are put in place, Imagineers can actually experience their vision firsthand — as thousands of guests soon will.

- OPENING DAY -

How did we do.

There’s nothing quite like watching the first guests as they exit a brand-new Disney experience. Opening day is the truest test of Imagineers’ design prowess. Did the attraction thrill? Did the theatrical experience awe? Does the land feel immersive? Is the café enticing, the shop charming, and the hotel room comfortable? When the results are spectacular, the celebration is genuine but brief because there’s still work to be done. Documentation must be archived and support must be available to the cast members who will run and maintain the experience. And soon enough, that itch to invent something new can no longer be ignored. It’s time for Blue Sky again.

Disney Hints Final Moments Before Mass Character Exodus from Park, Dozens to be Removed

in Disney Parks , Walt Disney World

It looks like Disney has further hinted that a future goodbye is going to be a big one.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is set to welcome its first-ever “Monsters, Inc.”-themed land.

The exciting news was revealed at D23, where Billy Crystal, the voice of Mike Wazowski in the original Monsters, Inc. film, its prequel Monsters University, and the Disney+ series Monsters at Work, made a special appearance. “Humans will be in Monstropolis. Did you clear that with HR?” Crystal quipped during the announcement.

He then delighted the audience with a rendition of “I Wouldn’t Have Nothing If I Didn’t Have You” from the original movie, earning a standing ovation.

“In this new land, humans have been invited to Monstropolis. As part of this experience, you’re going to tour the Laugh Factory,” explained Josh D’Amaro, head of Disney Experiences.

One of the major highlights will be the first-ever suspended rollercoaster in a Disney park, themed around “Monsters, Inc.” Construction is set to begin next year. “There is so much excitement at Imagineering for the land,” D’Amaro added, though further details remain under wraps.

While there have been “Monsters, Inc.” attractions at Disney California Adventure and Tokyo Disneyland, this marks the franchise’s biggest presence in any Disney park to date.

Monsters, Inc. , which premiered in 2001 and was nominated for the first-ever Best Animated Feature Oscar (ultimately losing to Shrek ), remains one of Disney’s most beloved and enduring franchises.

With the new  “Monsters, Inc.” land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is exciting, it also means that something will need to go in order to make room for the new attractions and theming.

One section that guests have speculated is the area to the right of the park, Animation Courtyard, where the future The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure show lives, as well as Star Wars Launch Bay and the Disney Junior Play and Dance! show can be found.

This area seems to have some of the least activity in the park, which could make a good home to the land if the space behind it, which is executive office space at this point, can be torn down.

That change will cost Disney millions before the project even starts, however.

Another option that just became a lot more viable is Muppets Courtyard. If taken over, this would mean the unstoppable removal of MuppetVision 3D, Mama Melrose’s, Studio 1 Shop, Days of Christmas, and PizzeRizzo. Inevitably, it would also mean the removal of The Muppets at Walt Disney World Resort, eliminating the IP entirely.

Now, our eyebrows have been raised after Disney confirmed that MuppetVision 3D would be removed from all Extended Evening Hours events.

Disney has made an update to the attraction lineup for Extended Evening Hours, removing MuppetVision 3D from the list of available attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for resort hotel guests.

Starting Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Extended Evening Hours will resume at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World, running from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. This schedule coincides with the Magic Kingdom’s busy season of hard-ticket events, including Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Just last week, Disney unveiled the list of available attractions for the upcoming Extended Evening Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which initially included MuppetVision 3D.

While the recent removal of MuppetVision 3D from the Extended Evening Hours lineup at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom has sparked speculation about its connection to the upcoming Monsters, Inc. Land expansion, no official announcements have been made regarding the attraction’s future.

Despite the removal from the Extended Evening Hours schedule, MuppetVision 3D remains listed for daily operation through late October 2024 according to the official operating hours calendar. This discrepancy raises questions about the attraction’s long-term status.

Disney has not provided any definitive information regarding the potential closure of MuppetVision 3D or the specific location of the new Monsters, Inc. Land. As the park continues to evolve, the future of this beloved attraction remains uncertain.

As for other Disney announcements that were made at D23, we’ve got you covered.

For fans of Disney’s iconic villains, there was an exciting announcement: the introduction of Villains Land at Magic Kingdom.

Disney Parks TikTok shared the news, giving fans a glimpse of what to expect from the new land. The video featured some of the most famous animated villains, including Ursula from The Little Mermaid , the Evil Queen from Snow White , and Jafar from Aladdin , among others.

@disneyparks 😈 BREAKING 😈 Villains Land is coming to Magic Kingdom with two major attractions, dining, and shopping at Walt Disney World! 👀🖤 #D23 #Horizons #D23 #Horizons #WaltDisneyWorld #DisneyWorld #DisneyNews ♬ original sound – Disney Parks

“Villains Land is coming to Magic Kingdom with two major attractions, dining, and shopping at Walt Disney World”.

Additionally, at D23 on August 10, it was revealed that a Zootopia show will debut at Animal Kingdom in 2025, Test Track will reopen at Epcot the same year, and a new nighttime parade will arrive at Magic Kingdom in 2025. Moreover, two new Cars -themed attractions are set to be constructed in Frontierland at the park.

Disney Imagineers also previously announced plans for a Tropical Americas expansion at Animal Kingdom, replacing the Dino-Land U.S.A. area. This new area will highlight the most biodiverse regions on the planet, focusing on areas just north and south of the equator in the Western Hemisphere.

At Destination D23 in Florida last September, D’Amaro elaborated on the concept, saying, “It’s a beautiful region to explore and has been the inspiration for so many magical stories over the years.”

Earlier this year, Walt Disney Imagineering submitted a 25-page permit package to the South Florida Water Management District for Animal Kingdom, hinting at the expansion. Last month, another construction permit was filed to further advance the project.

In July, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District agreed to let Disney proceed with its plans to invest up to $17 billion in its Orlando resort. These plans include expanding Walt Disney World with a fifth major theme park, along with two smaller parks and hotels.

Would you be sad to see Muppets Courtyard go from Disney’s Hollywood Studios?

How To Get Behind the Scenes at Disney

W e all expect a visit to a Disney theme park to be an escape from reality – and, let’s face it, that’s what we love about it – but as theme parklands and attractions get more interactive and immersive, it’s also become more challenging for parents to gauge whether the experience will be too much for their kids, especially kids who are young, easily scared, and/or sensitive to their surroundings.

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Disneyland’s Origins

When Disneyland opened in 1955, Walt Disney intended the park to be a place where families could do things together, as opposed to other amusement parks at the time where the children rode the rides and the parents just watched. 60 years ago, Walt’s focus was to tell stories that resonated with his guests and not necessarily to create experiences that were immersive and interactive, but as Disney storytelling evolved, so did technology, and what started as developing a storyline for one attraction became developing a storyline for a land (like Frontierland or Adventureland), and from there – with the help of further advancements in technology combined with more sophisticated park goers – creating a storyline for an entire theme park world.

Disney’s D23

At a panel called “Immersive Worlds: Bringing Stories to Life in Disney Parks” during Disney’s D23 Expo 2019 – a fan-focused event that takes place every two years in Anaheim – four of Disney’s top Imagineers take visitors behind the scenes for Disney Parks . They discussed how they approach creating interactive worlds that are immersive but not intimidating. The panel, moderated by Joe Rohde, Senior VP Creative for Walt Disney Imagineering who led the team that designed Pandora – World of Avatar also included Jeanette Lomboy, VP at Walt Disney Imagineering who oversaw Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa ; Luc Mayrand, VP and Creative Portfolio Executive for Walt Disney Imagineering who oversaw the creation of Pirates of the Caribbean – Battle for the Sunken Treasure and Treasure Cove at Shanghai Disneyland; and Scott Trowbridge, Portfolio Creative Executive who oversaw Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in California and Florida.

Preconceived Notions

Long before families set foot into Disney’s immersive worlds, Imagineers have already taken into account what their preconceived notions might be – regardless of whether those notions are accurate or not.

In the case of Aulani, families are being immersed in a world that’s real, so the immersion is not intended to introduce people to an imaginary place, but to offer more detailed information about a real place. Lomboy pointed out that many people who visit Hawaii have ideas about the destination based on what they’ve seen on television or in the movies, but she says, preconceived notions about the Hawaiian culture are not always right, so Disney Imagineers knew they needed to create a place where they were telling the accurate Hawaiian story.

At Aulani, Uncle shares stories of Hawaiian history and culture – Photo by Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

Learn how Disney’s Imagineers create interactive worlds that are immersive, believable, and magical for kids and adults.

People might also come into imagined lands with some information about the story, so the goal for creating those worlds becomes integrating the information people already have into the way those stories are told, rather than correcting misconceptions. For example, when Imagineers created Treasure Cove, Maynard said they considered several sources of information since the Pirates of the Caribbean story is partially based in the real world, is partially imagined, and in the case of this specific world, it’s even partially newly-imagined. Then, all those sources were combined to celebrate the things people have seen before while also introducing new experiences.

When Imagineers created Treasure Cove, they added layers of fantasy to Pirates of the Caribbean  – Photo by Shanghai Disneyland

Don’t Miss Disney For Adults: How to Re-Light That Spark

Pirates of the Caribbean: all the feels! – Photo by Shanghai Disneyland

An Invitation; Not an Obligation

Another critical aspect of creating any Disney world is determining how to let people know who they are in this world – and, more importantly, what is expected of them. Unlike a “haunted” experience where everyone is entering with the knowledge that they are going to be scared (and in theory, they agree to that in advance), when a family visits a Disney theme park, they do not necessarily agree to be an active participant in the experience (and in most cases, are definitely not agreeing to be scared or intimidated by it).

Kids can play along with the story in Galaxy’s Edge, but they know that everything is safe – © Samantha Davis-Friedman

Rohde described the process as “the solicitation to be involved” and noted that Imagineers know that people need different levels – especially kids – and that everyone needs to be able to “seat themselves” where they want to be in a land so they can comfortably engage in it.

“With Animal Kingdom, we’re always are assuming that you are you, it is today, but you are not home,” Rohde explained. “We generally don’t ask people to make a very big transit, so in the case of Pandora, they get that it’s safe to be there, they’re not expected to do something they’re not prepared to do, but there will be opportunities to engage and to learn.”

The colorful landscape in Pandora – The World of Avatar makes you forget you’re in Orlando – Photo by Walt Disney World

Pandora’s bioluminescent plants make it an even more magical world at night – Photo by Walt Disney World

Trowbridge also noted that Imagineers aren’t necessarily increasing the level of reality, but they are increasing the level of believability in the story they’re presenting. In that way, park guests – and kids in particular – can play along with the story, but they know that everything is safe. Because of that, all four panelists agreed that it should always be an invitation to participate, but never an obligation. Plus, they said, even guests who are willing to be actively involved in a world, don’t all want to engage at the same level.

Trowbridge illustrated those levels in Galaxy’s Edge by saying that each person has the freedom to decide whether to talk to a character or take on a mission for the Resistance, but if they just want to hang out at the cantina “and watch the space world go by,” their Star Wars experience can be just as rewarding. Although the goal was to create story-driven immersion, guests can participate in that story as much (or as little) as they want. In that way, it’s totally okay for Star Wars-loving kids to brandish lightsabers at passing stormtroopers, but it’s equally okay not to.

Don’t Miss Your New Friend at Disney Parks, Genie+

In Galaxy’s Edge, young Jedi’s can build their own lightsabers and fight against the First Order – Photo by Joshua Sudock / Disneyland

Imagineers don’t want anyone to be afraid, but they’re giving guests permission to play along – © Samantha Davis-Friedman

Plus, the Wookie is so cute! – Photo by Walt Disney World

Rohde describes it as a line between a world that seems to be real and the real world, and that line is what allows families to interact as opposed to being afraid or feeling threatened, Trowbridge notes that when kids go to Treasure Cove or Galaxy’s Edge, they should never worry about being kidnapped by pirates or storm troopers.

“We don’t want anyone to be worried about that,” he said. “But we’re [still] trying to immerse you into a believable story, so there are things that give you permission to play along.”

Imagineers went out of their way to inject Aulani with Disney storytelling elements – Photo by Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

For families who visit Aulani , the line between what seems to be real and the real world is very narrow because they are in Hawaii and not at a theme park version of Hawaii (which is why Disney characters at Aulani are also on a Hawaiian vacation). Nevertheless, Imagineers still went out of their way to inject the resort with Disney storytelling elements that invite guests to delve deeper into the Hawaiian culture through experiences like learning to hula or to play the ukulele.

Kids can become immersed in Hawaiian culture at Aulani by dressing up as their favorite characters – Photo by Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

Kids can catch the Aloha spirit through experiences like learning to play the ukulele – Photo by Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

“The Hawaiian culture is embedded in every decision we made because we wanted to provide opportunities to ask questions that would enrich the ability to connect and learn more,” Lomboy said.

One of my favorite learning opportunities at Aulani is The Olelo Room. In this café and lounge, everything is labeled with its Hawaiian name, so kids (keiki) can learn how to say table (pakaukau) or chair (noho) while they’re enjoying their snacks (pupus). Plus, every cast member who works in the Olelo Room speaks Hawaiian, so guests can further immerse themselves in local culture by learning a few Hawaiian phrases to share with family and friends back home.

DON’T MISS! Aulani; A Disney Resort and Spa, Seeing the Real Hawaii

Everything in the Olelo Room is labeled with its Hawaiian name so kids can learn to speak Hawaiian – Photo by Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

“When Walt first built Disneyland, he wanted to create a place where guests felt transported, leaving their daily lives for a moment that was fantastical,” said Jeffrey Epstein, Director of Corporate Communications at The Walt Disney Company. “For more than 60 years, the incredible talents at Walt Disney Imagineering have continued to pioneer groundbreaking and innovative ways to immerse guests in new worlds. Whether riding on the back of a banshee or piloting the Millennium Falcon, enjoying an authentic Hawaiian luau or facing off against pirates in the ocean’s depths, Disney brings these worlds to life like no one else.”

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Disney Magic at Home: A Virtual Tour of Walt Disney Imagineering-Part 1

Disney has created lots of ways to bring magic into your home with #DisneyMagicalMoments. We’ve already shared some posts such as the Imagineering in a Box , learning how to draw the true original Mickey Mouse ,  learning about the amazing animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom,   a virtual viewing of the all-new “Magic Happens” parade at Disneyland , and free Disney content to enjoy . Disney has shared a virtual tour of Walt Disney Imagineering. Catch all the details below!

Here are all the details from Disney Cast Member Kevin Rafferty, Jr.:

Walt Disney Imagineering is known for making the impossible possible. That’s why—despite our offices being closed—we are opening up our headquarters virtually for a tour.

Tours of Walt Disney Imagineering are rare. So rare, in fact, we are excited to bring you this video series to show you some of the unique spaces where innovation and storytelling combine to bring Disney stories, characters, and worlds to life.

A creative force, a historical treasure, a dream factory, and a hub of science and technology, Walt Disney Imagineering is a place of legend and the only think tank created by Walt Disney himself. Ann Myers is ready to welcome you—let’s go!

Stay tuned for the next video in our virtual tour series.

RELATED ARTICLE: 14 Amazing Imagineering Feats We Love at Disney Parks

by Matt and Kim

Imagineers…the Disney heroes and heroines responsible for designing and building theme parks, resorts, cruise ships, attractions, plus the endless entertainment venues at all levels. Imagineers are carrying on Walt’s vision with their wonderfully creative minds! So, let’s key in on Walt Disney World as we share fourteen amazing Imagineering feats we love.

14 – Cinderella Castle

One of the most well-known structures in the world, the iconic Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom seems to make dreams come true with just one glance at the fairytale castle! Opening in 1971, after only 18 months of construction, Cinderella Castle stood tall at 189-feet. Imagineers used what they call “forced perspective” which is when the scale of architectural elements is much smaller in the upper portions of the castle compared to the foundation – allowing for superb height. Plus, let’s not forget the unbelievable Cinderella Castle Suite, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and Cinderella’s Royal Table all located inside!

13 – Audio-Animatronics

The Enchanted Tiki Room, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Hall of Presidents… what do these have in common? These are just a few of the Disney World attractions that boast Disney’s Audio-Animatronics – a form of robotics that allows Disney to animate things in 3-dimensions. Walt was present for this never used technology with singing birds in the Tiki Room in 1963 at Disneyland. Get this – Disney is already perfecting the next wave of Audio-Animatronics known as “Autonomatronics” which are independent figures that can see, hear, sense a person’s presence and emotions and have a conversation!

12 – Monorail & Contemporary Resort

Opening in 1971, Disney World’s Monorail System and The Contemporary Resort are partners in crime with their highly “contemporary” advancements at the time. Known as Disney’s “highway in the sky” the monorail now stretches almost 15 miles throughout Disney World property, making transportation easy for their guests. An especially amazing Imagineering feat was designing an A-frame structured resort (The Contemporary) to allow the Monorail to glide through the lobby every few minutes.

11 – Spaceship Earth

What might look like a giant golf ball as Epcot’s iconic symbol, is really an 18-story geodesic sphere! Take a ride through this giant geodesic sphere with the Spaceship Earth attraction which takes guests through time by following communication advancements beginning with prehistoric time to the invention of the computer. After 26 months of construction, Spaceship Earth was ready to roll in October of 1982. With slight modifications in the past years, Spaceship Earth remains a timeless attraction on our must-do list.

10 – Summit Plummet

Deep breath! Summit Plummet is only a near-vertical drop and the third tallest, fastest freefall body slides in the world! With Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park opening in 1995, Summit Plummet has been the main attraction with its sheer 120-foot slope with speeds of 60 miles per hour. We can’t help but wonder which Imagineer lost the beat to be the first one to try this slide!

9 – Tree of Life

Tree hugger or not, the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom is a must-see! Opening on Earth Day in 1998, this 145-foot sculpted tree represents Animal Kingdom beautifully with its 325 animal carvings intricately designed around the trunk and massive roots of the tree. Check out the Tree of Life at various positions in the park or walk the Discovery Island Trails to spot the numerous creatures. We also recommend It’s Tough To Be A Bug (a 4-D attraction held within the tree), as well as the Tree of Life Awakenings which lights up the tree with vibrant colors at night.

8 – Kilimanjaro Safaris

Also opening on Earth Day in 1998, a 110-acre Harambe Wildlife Reserve awaits at Animal Kingdom in the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction. This 18-minute expedition takes guests through the savanna which houses 34 different exotic African wildlife. This attraction is so large, that Magic Kingdom (107 acres) could fit inside of it! The best part is, it’s well-known as a sanctuary dedicated to the protection of African animals.

7 – Soarin’

An erector set made this one possible! That’s right, the three-level mechanical lift seating that allows guests to glide over incredible film displayed on an Omnimax screen, was created by an Imagineer that used an erector set to design the featured seating. Opening at Epcot’s in 2005, this attraction became an instant hit at Disney World. Piping in artificial scents and wind to simulate a hang gliding flight over several locations, this feat is one we thank erector sets for!

6 – Expedition Everest

A Yeti is loose in the Himalayas, and you are about cruise through his path of destruction on a steel roller coaster located in Animal Kingdom! Opening in 2006, this is on feat Imagineers planned for over 6 years with 3 years of complicated construction to go along with it. The tallest attraction at Disney World at 199.5 feet; the tallest artificial mountain in all Disney Parks; a Guinness Book of World Records winner for the most expensive roller coaster ever built at $100-million; and a Yeti that is the largest and most complex audio-animatronic figure ever built by Walt Disney Imagineering… let’s just say the Imagineers on this job had their hands full!

5 – Toy Story Midway Mania!

Imagineers opened Toy Story Midway Mania at Hollywood Studios in 2007, and we’ve been singing “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” since! Not only is this 4-D attraction full of fun mini-games along a quick to moving path. Dropping roughly $80-million on the design and build, we believe it’s paid off with the mass popularity this attraction draws in. Boasting the first use of “industrial Ethernet” (real-time control) for a ride’s control system – this baby has more bells and whistles behind the scenes than we can even begin to imagine.

4 – MyMagic+ & MagicBands

Another Disney first in implementing… the Imagineering feat of MyMagic+ technology launched in 2008 and Disney hasn’t been the same since! MyMagic+ technology allows Disney to offer services to its guests by providing a wearable system that is designed to consolidate functions including payments, resort room access, ticketing access, and tracking. Placed in an RFID chip inside a trendy MagicBand, we now have ease of Disney enjoyment right on our wrist – and right in our hands via online services and mobile apps.

3 – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT introduces a whole new kind of rollercoaster – the omnicoaster. If you’re familiar with the Haunted Mansion, you may have heard about the omnimover. This technology turns the buggies to where Imagineers want guests to look. When developing Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Imagineers took this idea and used it for the attraction. In fact, the attraction is the first Disney Omnicoaster, where vehicles make controlled rotations to always keep guests focused on the action. The attraction is also the first reverse launch for a Disney coaster and is the longest fully enclosed coaster in any Disney theme park and one of the longest enclosed coasters in the world. Finally, the attraction covers more than 200,000 square feet, with its main show building stretching longer than an American football field. This massive structure’s foundation contains more than 80 miles of rebar and 9,000-plus cubic yards of concrete. By volume, four Spaceship Earths would fit inside this show building. The attraction is an amazing imagineering feat.

2 – Avatar’s Flight of Passage

Opening May 27, 2017, Avatar Flight of Passage is one of the two attractions located in the new Pandora – The World of Avatar area within Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Flight of Passage is known as the “Centerpiece of Pandora” not just because of its location within Pandora but because it truly is the peak experience. Prepare to straddle what feels somewhat like one of those motorcycles at an arcade, be secured in, and then using 3D screen technology, awesome 4D effects, and motion simulation – feel like you are literally flying on the back of a mountain banshee in the most exhilarating way. Your banshee (somewhat like a flying dragon) will soar through the sky as it takes you on the ride of a lifetime through Pandora – The World of Avatar. Flight of Passage is not only our favorite ride at Disney World, but it is also one of the most technologically advanced attractions ever built.

1 – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Now open in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the crowning achievement for Disney Imagineering. The attraction uses multiple ride systems working together to create a seamless story on a cinematic scale. “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the most ambitious, immersive, advanced, action-packed attraction we’ve ever created. We threw out the rulebook when designing this attraction to deliver experiential storytelling on a massive, cinematic scale,” said Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance sets a new standard for what a theme park experience can be – just like Galaxy’s Edge, itself. None of this would be possible without the incredible teams at Walt Disney Imagineering, Disneyland and Walt Disney World, who brought not one, but two award-winning lands to life at the same time.” The teams that designed and worked on this attraction deserve the praise. The attraction is a mind-blowing experience that is not to be missed !

For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.

Chad & Cindy Nykamp

Want to own a piece of Disney's Fort Wilderness history? It can be yours ... for a price

Now you can quite literally bring a piece of Disney home with you. Just make sure you have space for it.

Disney is making some changes to the Fort Wilderness area at Disney World in Orlando.

New "cabins" are part of the renovations and the old cabins are being sold by Dream Life Mobile Homes , which listed the cabins on its  website  and  Facebook Marketplace .

What could they be used for? They would make a "great investment property option for Airbnb, Vrbo, tiny home resort or rental," according to Orlando Resort Cabin's website.

Here's what you should know, whether you're interested in a cabin or just feeling nostalgic.

First thing first: How much do the old Fort Wilderness cabins cost?

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The cabins are being sold for $49,900 , sight unseen.

"The price is firm and no volume discounts are available," according to Orlando Resort Cabin's website.

There currently are a limited number of units available for purchase.

"Cabins will be delivered to buyers as they are removed from the resort and may not be viewed nor inspected in advance."

The Orlando Resort Cabin project is a partnership between JCQ Services Inc. and Friedrich Watkins Co. in Orlando, which describes its mission as helping local resorts minimize waste during construction. The project helps to remove and relocate log cabins, with sales going through the brokerage firm Dream Life Mobile Homes.

Fort Wilderness cabins being sold. Here are the details

Just in case it's been a while, or maybe you had a few too many s'mores with Chip ‘n’ Dale at the Campfire Sing-Along, here are the details about the cabins you may have forgotten, according to Orlando Resort Cabins:

➤ Take a virtual tour of a cabin

• Built between 1998-2001 and "have been renovated over the years in keeping with the resort’s quality standards."
• Approximately 500 square feet; overall dimensions are 12 feet by 42 feet.
• One bedroom, one bathroom.
• Sleeps six.
• Offered with all the original furniture. Also included are the appliances, water heater and an air conditioner unit.
• The exterior deck, stairs and side skirting are not included.
• The cabins are being sold "as is" and without any form of warranty.
• Interested? Email [email protected] .
• There are no financing options available.

Once sold, Fort Wilderness cabins will need to be relocated

A set amount of cabins will be available each month, which started in March.

The cabins are located in Orlando and will need to be moved to the buyers' property, according to Orlando Resort Cabins .

Local delivery is included with the sale within 25 miles of the cabin’s original location in Orlando.

Outside of 25 miles, delivery fees will apply. These cabins are considered oversized loads and will require rigs and permits for delivery. Buyers are responsible for researching zoning and permits before purchase, Orlando Resort Cabins said.

Changes coming to Fort Wilderness in 2024

Walt Disney World announced in 2023 that it planned to refresh the cabin hideaways at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The company said it would replace the existing cabins at the resort with 350 new cabins.

The new cabins are part of several projects at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, including improvements at the pool and walking trail. The resort campground first opened in 1971.

The new Fort Wilderness cabins were designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney World’s Facility Asset Management team.

When will the new cabins be available at Fort Wilderness?

The first loop of cabins will open July 1, with more loops opening in phases throughout the year, according to Disney Parks.

Reservations for the cabins opened on March 19 for Disney Vacation Club members, to Walt Disney World Annual Passholders on March 20, and to all guests on March 21.

Make reservations either online  or by calling 407-934-7639.

Features of new cabins coming to Fort Wilderness

The new cabins — which feature floor-to-ceiling windows — will sleep up to six people and some can accommodate dogs, according to Disney Vacation Club's website.

➤ Take a virtual tour of the new cabins

There are two types of cabins , according to Disney's website. We checked online and found costs ranged from $504 to $655 for two adults, depending on dates:

The one-bedroom cabin

• The one-bedroom cabin features one queen bed, a queen-size pull-down bed and a bunk bed. It sleeps up to six adults.
• Fully equipped kitchen with a fridge, microwave and full-size oven/range, and a patio deck.
• A large convertible seating and sleeping area with a comfy sofa and a fold-down, queen-size Inova bed.
• Available for stays beginning Sept. 27.
• Wheelchair and hearing-accessible cabins available.

The wilderness cabin

• The wilderness cabin features one queen bed, a double-size sleeper sofa, and a bunk bed.
• Features include a kitchen with two countertop burners, a fridge and microwave, and a patio.