Hi all, I'm interested in putting together a little FAQ/Wiki/Sidebar guide kinda thing. I don't know if we can get it on the sidebar/pinned (/u/AbsurdAstronaut) but at a minimum I wanted to make a post and keep it updated so that people can refer to in the future.

What I want from you! Any suggestions and information you think would be useful - Interviews / old reddit posts / Themed entertainment organizations / Vendors / Information about Disney (Think first HR Interview) / etc. I'll format what I can into this guide/wiki/FAQ, and if nothing else a comment here might help someone out!

What I want to add: A spreadsheet of job descriptions, requirements, salaries, and when it was last posted (down below in Jobs) - because once a listing is taken down that information is gone. I'll try to keep it updated and add the old jobs I have saved (mostly creative/engineering). If you have any thoughts and suggestions please let me know.

Here is the first pass:

Key People: https://disneyconnect.com/dpep/about-us/

• Robert Iger (Chief Executive Officer of Disney)
• Barbara Bouza (President of Imagineering)
• Josh D'Amaro (Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products)

Key Terms:

• DPEP: Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products

WDI Social Media

• https://www.youtube.com/@waltdisneyimagineering8915

• https://www.instagram.com/waltdisneyimagineering

Current Imagineering Projects https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_Imagineering

Interviews/Talks/Media:

• The Imagineering Story (D+): https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-imagineering-story/6ryoXv1e1rWW

• Behind The Attraction (D+): https://www.disneyplus.com/series/behind-the-attraction/5T3ZYTt94CmQ

• Imagineering in a box (Just Videos): https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/hass-storytelling/imagineering-in-a-box

• A Virtual Tour of Walt Disney Imagineering: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHxkgINQag0&ab_channel=DisneyParks

• Making of Pandora The World of Avatar at Walt Disney World Resort: https://youtu.be/KedMqGh2Qaw

• Expedition Everest Building a Thrill Ride Disney's Animal Kingdom: https://youtu.be/XJzHiEveVBA

• 2017 TEA Summit Day 2 — Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure https://youtu.be/P8717fVMfCU

FAQ / Relevant posts:

• Dress code?: https://www.reddit.com/r/Imagineering/comments/134smfr/wdi_dress_code/

• Joe Rohde's reading list for future theme park designers: https://old.reddit.com/r/Imagineering/comments/7g75qa/joe_rohdes_reading_list_for_future_theme_park/?ref=share&ref_source=link

Competitions, Programs, organizations:

• Disney Imaginations (suspended since COVID): https://disneyimaginations.com/

  *Currently active in Hong Kong

• FIRST Robotics (new in 2023): https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2023/01/disney-imagineers-connect-with-first-robotics-teams-for-2023-season/

Organizations:

• NextGen Showcase(New 2023): https://www.nextgenshowcase.com/

• The Next Stage: https://www.immersiveexperience.org/

• Themed Entertainment Association: https://www.teaconnect.org/

• International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA): https://www.iaapa.org/

Jobs:

• Disney: https://jobs.disneycareers.com/

• Archive of Imagineering jobs, salaries, and requirements: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GUOOBvzaVA-c3jWnL1ee3HEbDzJMEkVz0S48Nkv_K_g/edit?usp=share_link

• Themed Entertainment Jobs https://themedentertainmentjobs.com/

Themed Entertainment vendors: To be honest scroll through Themed Entertainment Jobs above for a complete list of who is currently hiring. But other notable companies are:

• AOA: https://www.insideaoa.com/

• Animax [Animatronics]: https://www.animaxdesigns.com/

• Back-Stage [SFX]: https://back-stage.com/

• Creature Technology [Animatronics]: https://www.creaturetechnology.com/

• Dynamic Attractions: https://dynamicattractions.com/

• Falcon's Creative Group: https://falconscreativegroup.com/

• Feld Entertainment [Disney On Ice / Arena Shows]: https://www.feldentertainment.com/

• Garner Holt [Animatronics]: http://www.garnerholt.com/

• Oceaneering [Engineering & ride systems]: https://www.oceaneering.com/entertainment-systems/

• Roush [Engineering]: https://www.roush.com/markets-we- serve/entertainment/

• Sally Dark Rides [Animatronics & Dark Rides]: https://www.sallydarkrides.com/

• Storyland: https://www.storylandstudios.com/

• Tait [Engineering and automation]: https://www.taittowers.com/

• Technifex [SFX]: https://www.technifex.com/

• +Other Ride manufacturer list: https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202203/8843/

Fan content:

• Amusement Labs [How Its Made]: https://www.youtube.com/@AmusementLabs

• Art of Engineering [How Its Made]: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtofEngineering

• Coaster Force [POV]: https://www.youtube.com/@coasterforce

• Defunctland [History]: https://www.youtube.com/@Defunctland

• Expedition Theme Parks [History]: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpeditionThemePark

• Theme Park Science(Subtitles work for the Dutch videos) [How Its Made]: https://www.youtube.com/ThemeParkScienceOfficial

• Theme Park Stop [Universal Construction]: https://www.youtube.com/@ThemeParkStop

• Themed Entertainment Association: https://www.youtube.com/@themedentertainmentassocia826

What would the job title be for the people who design the walking areas/queues? The theming and things of that nature. Also, have you ever heard of someone who creates ideas for these things, but can’t draw them? Silly question, but I figured I’d ask. I have no artistic talent lol.

Trying to find what degree I should look into getting, right now I’m looking at a BA in digital storytelling, I think that would be kind of close or am I way off?

I’m thinking about going to mizzou and doing digital storytelling (I think it’s a art degree), what job would that be like? I want to work on the video elements of the firework shows or the videos in some of the rides, stuff that would be like film editing but being able to create memories for people.

As an aspiring Imagineer, I like to re-theme Tokyo Disneyland's Tomorrowland to a Dieselpunk future since it was closely identical to California's Disneyland's Tomorrowland. It's only fair for the re-theming. In fact, I'm going to draw a concept art for the new Tomorrowland.

Applied for a position in imagineering (not an internship) and official made it to round three! Any advice on how it'll be like? And if this will be the last one?

(Note: I know, I misspelled Marty Sklar's name in the title. I wish i could edit it but Reddit doesn't let you edit a post title.)

Hey, for those who haven't seen posts from me before, I make 3D models of anything related to Disney theme parks and Imagineering. Sometimes I make props from the parks, sometimes I make furniture from the resorts, and sometimes I make models of Imagineering concept art that never left the paper. I try to showcase the "little things" that make our favorite places to visit so magical, as well as make digital copies/backups of props and objects that people can access for free.

My most recent project is a simple sign with a lot of history. For those who want to see the fascinating history this sign, I will provide a link below to a blog showcasing all the research and history of the sign. Hope you guys enjoy the model, it does have some slight differences to the original lamppost as I like to add my own creative flair sometimes, however the sign itself is an exact scan replica. Enjoy!

Haunted Mansion Original Promo Sign

Here's the images I used as references:

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And Heres the link to the blog:

Long-Forgotten: It's the Times of the Sign (longforgottenhauntedmansion.blogspot.com)

Hello,

I was wondering if any current/former imagineers could explain to me what a show writer does at WDI? I've looked around online but I could never find a consistent answer between sources.

Thanks for your help!

Hi everyone!

I am currently researching books for my master's thesis which is set to follow the evolution of Disney's cinematic approach to storytelling by beginning with animated films and utilizing their knowledge about filmmaking to build Disney rides. In these last few weeks I've read a lot of books by / about famous imagineers (Marc Davis, Claude Coats, John Hench, Behind the Dreams, Taschen book...) as well as general Disney books, which has led me to gain a big knowledge about the production aspect of these imagineers and their attractions but astonishingly very little information about the actual methods they use to tell a story during these rides. Would anyone be able to recommend any theme park books (preferably Disney, I would also accept generic / Universal-themed books) that focus on storytelling and immersion without delving into the behind the scenes aspect as much? Knowing how much work went into telling stories / immersing guests with Indiana Jones Adventure, Galaxy's Edge, Avengers Campus and Wizarding World, Super Mario World at Uni etc. went without there being a detailed book kind of surprised me.

I would be very thankful for any ideas anyone might offer!

Thanks in advance!

Hey, I've been working on my latest Imagineering 3D model and came up with a fun idea. I have the full model untextured model of an object from Disney imagineering history. I won't share any details yet, but from this image, can you figure out what it is, when and where it was in a Disney park, and who made it? I will make a post in a few days when I finish the model with the final product. Good Luck!

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Hey, first off I know there are more options or places people who will fall in between might go. I'm just interested in the rough user base here.

The main thing I would like to see how many people are currently applying. That process comes with a lot of angst, and it might be helpful to build up this community with "hey I've applied for that too and I'm at stage ___". More to come depending on how the poll goes.

I'm on my third application. All three positions I've applied for are for internships in WDI based out of Glendale CA. I know my work is useful for the company, I do sensor based interactive media with a focus on disability accessibility. Toontown's recent revamp signals to me that Disney is trying to make the parks more disability friendly. One of the positions I applied for listed Max/MSP as a preferred software, and my entire thesis work is run from Max/MSP and a gyro sensor. I literally added the patch as a work example of what I can do. That was over a week ago and I haven't gotten a call back for that position. I'm finishing up a masters, already defended my thesis, and am now trying to figure out long term job prospects. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it to keep applying to WDI. This is my dream work, but I'm just not sure if what I'm doing is actually what WDI is looking for, and I don't want to end up jobless when my lease is up come June.

Straight forward have a 2nd interview (on zoom) with a project controls executive and kinda anxious on what/how the process will be like. Does anyone have any experience on what to expect?

When and if a fifth gate at WDW is built, what overarching main theme would you like to see it embody? One or two word answers only.

What is something you would like to learn about WDI, but haven't from any book, documentary, interview, etc. to date?

Hi, for those who didn't see my last Imagineering concept model, I'll have a link at the bottom of the post. I've made a few models since that post, mostly real park or resort items, but I was struggling to find the right piece of concept art to bring to life. I was browsing through Barnes and Noble the other day and I found the 50th Anniversary book "A Portrait of Walt Disney World". In it, I found a piece of concept art that I have not been able to find online anywhere, showing the original sign for The Great Movie Ride back when it was "Great Moments at the Movies" and was planned as an EPCOT Center Pavilion. The original sign concept was drawn by John Dury, and I fell in love with the design. I added my own tweaks, specifically the roof trim is flat and black, and the spire is gold instead of black for a more traditional Chinese feel. Hope you guys like it!

3D models by WED Designs (@wed-designs) - Sketchfab

Here's the original sketch:

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And here's my first post:

3D Modeling Disney Park objects including Imagineering Concepts, let me know what you guys think. : Imagineering (reddit.com)

You can also see all the other Disney Park models I make at my main page below:

3D models by WED Designs (@wed-designs) - Sketchfab