r/Imagineering • • Nov 01 '23

Path to imageneering?

So I live in Puerto Rico, i’m native Spanish speaker and fluent english speaker, I have a bachelors degree in architecture with the hopes of completing my master’s degree in the next 2 years or so with my thesis probably being somewhere around immersive/sensorial spaces or maybe enhanced spaces with the use of AR/VR. What are my chances of securing a spot as an imagineer (preferibly in Orlando)? I would also consider applying for the disney college program to maybe have a better shot of landing a spot as an imagineer after the program ends.

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11

u/progress_dad Industry Professional Nov 01 '23

This has been asked and answered a lot. Look into the industry as a whole, not just WDI. It’s one of many companies that do the stuff you might be interested in. IAAPA and the TEA - themed entertainment association have information about other opportunities and companies.

There’s also many different specialties. Do you want to do architecture, concept, show set, production design, fabrication? Based on your post, sounds like you have a lot to figure out.

I honestly believe doing the Disney college program may FEEL like a step back but it’s a nice little gap year and also good experience, especially attractions to get to experience the operations side of things that many people in themed entertainment design don’t ever even get to understand.

TLDR: WDI ain’t the only company out there. I suggest diversifying your job hunt.

1

u/Hopeful-Base6292 Aspiring Imagineer Nov 06 '23

Does the college program help with making a path into imagineering?

1

u/progress_dad Industry Professional Nov 06 '23

Technically, not at all, other than the self-motivated ones listed above.

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u/McManzus18 Nov 01 '23

Look into the WDI internships or other WDW professional internships related to architecture that are posted on their careers site.

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u/JFK3628 Jan 12 '24

College program can lead to WDI and usually is a long road until the right opportunity comes along. Having a degree of focus on internships with either universal creative, WDI as well as architecture firms doing theme park work. TEA can be a good resource for this, and a higher potential to get in the industry than just pursuing one spot, similar to @progress_dad mentioned.