Imagineer Podcast

"Execute order 66!" For Emperor Palpatine that might mean one thing, but for Imagineer Podcast it means it's time to discuss Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. This innovative attraction opened in Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World on December 5, 2019 and at Disneyland California on January 17, 2020. This attraction might very well be the best theme park attraction ever created, with a captivating storyline told seamlessly from beginning to end, a thrilling ride design, multiple preshows and ride experiences, impeccable attention to detail, stunning special effects, and so much more. Scott Trowbridge and his team of Walt Disney Imagineers have created a genius attraction in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and I believe it's a masterpiece that Walt would be proud to see come to life. In this episode, we'll dive into Rise of the Resistance in detail, covering its storyline, special effects, ride design and sequences, music, Cast Member interactions,

Disney Plus launched this November and has already delighted millions of fans with countless on-demand movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Fox. With so much to choose from, I gathered together a few members of the Imagineer Society to discuss our favorites and share our recommendations for what to watch next. What are your favorite movies and shows so far on Disney Plus? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerNews Facebook Group (ImagiNation): https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ Share your feedback via voicemail: 516-406-8376 Be sure to check out our sponsor WDW Magazine, the premier magazine focused on Walt Disney World, available in print or digital. Disney news and travel tips: Be sure to visit o

At least once every month, I open up Instagram and engage in a live Q&A discussion with some of the Instagrammers who follow Imagineer Podcast. Because not everybody has Instagram, I decided to record one of these events as a bonus episode for the show. Since the discussions cover a wide range of tips and ideas for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney+ (Disney Plus), and more, my hope is that you'll find the discussion interesting and perhaps will consider following me on Instagram for future Q&A's (although you don't have to wait for one to appear to ask me a question; simply DM me and I'll get back to you as soon as I can). Speaking of which, what other questions can I help to answer over the air on a future episode? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/Imag

The Candlelight Processional has been a part of Disney history since Disneyland's opening year, 1955, when Walt Disney invited 12 Dickens Carolers from the University of South Carolina to sing Christmas carols throughout the park. Since that day, the Candlelight has been an annual tradition at Disneyland, and an annual tradition at Walt Disney World since its opening year, 1971. Since 1994, Candlelight Processional has taken place at Epcot's America Gardens Theater, and I had the pleasure of attending this year's event with celebrity narrator Gary Sinise thanks to a trip #hosted by Academy Travel (I encourage you to plan a trip for the holidays next year using their free service, which can actually help you save money: https://apps.itams.com/AcademyCRM/form/waltdisney/IP). In this episode, we'll discuss the history of the Candlelight Processional, and I'll take you along with me to experience this year's event. What are your holiday traditions, do they include any Disney magic at home or away from home, and

Test Track has been a fan favorite at Walt Disney World since it opened at Epcot in 1999, but its history with Walt Disney Imagineering dates back as far as 1976 when Bob Gurr met with Bill Mitchell (then General Motors Head of Design) to discuss a potential partnership between Disney and GM. When it replaced World of Motion, Test Track became the fastest attraction not only at Walt Disney World but at any Disney Park around the world, a title it still holds 20 years later. In this episode, we'll dive into the history of Test Track, discuss some fun ride details and trivia, and enjoy a binaural recording of both the original and current versions of Test Track.  What do you love most about Test Track, and which version do you love more (the original or current iteration)? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/Ima

It's time for another exciting episode of Disney This or That! While Volume 1 compared Disney animated heroes and Volume 2 compared Disney animated villains, in Volume 3 we will pick our favorite Disney Duo from the world of Walt Disney Animation and Pixar. In particular, we'll begin with a preselected group of 16 famous Disney Duos and utilize a bracket-style tournament to narrow the list down to one winner. Who will win this episode? Tune in to find out! From the preselected list, who would you choose as the best Disney Duo? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerNews Facebook Group (ImagiNation): https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ Share your feedback via voicemail: 516-406-8376 Be sure to check out our sponsor WDW Magazine, the premier maga

One of the many pleasures of visiting the Walt Disney World Resort is turning on your in-room TV to Must Do Disney (formerly known as the Top 7 Must Sees at Walt Disney World), and if you've turned on this station at any point since May 5, 2005, Stacey J. Aswad has been your host. For the last 15 years, Stacey has guided us through Walt Disney World, telling us the must-do attractions at the four Walt Disney World theme parks, two water parks, Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney), and countless other recreation and activities around the resorts. In this episode, I have the honor of chatting with Stacey directly about her work for Disney, her early life growing up in upstate New York, her career since graduating from the prestigious Julliard School in New York City, her championship roller skating skills, her work on VO Buzz Weekly, and more. Be sure to follow Stacey and VO Buzz Weekly on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/staceyjaswad/ https://www.facebook.com/StaceyJAswadHost/  https://www.ins

With Thanksgiving officially kicking off the winter holiday season here in the United States, I wanted to formally close out the fall season at Disney by sharing some binaural audio of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (offered as a ticketed event on select nights between August and November at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World). In particular, this episode will include a recording of Mickey's Boo-to-You Parade and the all-new Disney's Not So Spooky Spectacular, which debuted this Halloween season. December Charity Event: Join the Imagineer Society in December and 100% of the proceeds (for new and existing members) will be forwarded to DonorsChoose.org to support education. Imagineer Society is a monthly membership that offers exclusive perks and benefits not available to the general public. Membership can be canceled at any time (no additional fees are associated with joining or canceling). Learn more and sign up at Patreon.com/imagineerpodcast (and again, all of the profits for December will be fo

The Land Pavilion has been a staple at Epcot since it opened on the park's official dedication, October 1, 1982. While many guests now visit this pavilion because of the signature attraction, Soarin' (something we'll be sure to cover in a future episode), the other attractions here, especially Living with the Land, have a long, rich history at Walt Disney World. In this episode, we'll discuss how The Land is perhaps the closest to Walt's original vision for EPCOT Center and explore the pavilion's attractions past and present (Listen to the Land, Kitchen Kabaret, Symbiosis, Living with the Land, Food Rocks, Circle of Life: an Environmental Fable, and the various restaurants throughout the pavilion's history). What do you love most about The Land Pavilion? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Tw

Jim Sarno was a Walt Disney Imagineer working on the opening team for Epcot. He worked in the model shop with Harriet Burns, Joe Rohde, and many more classic Imagineers. Working on many of the pavilions we know and love at Epcot - including The Land Pavilion, Imagination Pavilion, Communicore, and Spaceship Earth - Jim was responsible for creating SMRT-1, the fountain that once lived in the center of the Land Pavilion, and much more. In this episode, I interview Jim as we discuss how he came to work at Walt Disney Imagineering, the projects he worked on, and advice he has for those looking to work for Walt Disney Imagineering in the future. Which of Jim's creations at Epcot do you love most? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerNews Facebook Group (ImagiNati

Bret Iwan has been the official voice of Mickey Mouse for the last 10 years and is only the fourth voice actor in Mickey's lifetime to officially play the role (first was Walt Disney, then Jimmy MacDonald, then Wayne Allwine). Whether it's Disney on Ice, a new attraction in the Disney Parks, a video game, TV show or animated short, Bret is the one who gets to bring Mickey's voice to life. In this episode, I have the honor of interviewing Bret as we discuss his love of Disney from the time he was a kid, his original career interests, how he came to play the role of Mickey, and what it means to play the most iconic character in history. You're not going to want to miss this one! What do you love most about Mickey Mouse? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerNews

This episode is my love letter to IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. On September 30, 2019, I was lucky enough to be in attendance of this Epcot nighttime spectacular's final curtain call. In the spirit of nostalgia, I turned on the mics and stood in the back of the crowd to record the best audio I possibly could for YOU, the Imagineer Podcast listener, so you could be with me at the final showing through this episode! So grab some headphones, pull up your favorite armchair, and enjoy this bonus episode of Imagineer Podcast, featuring my longest end credit audio ever (a grand exit for a grand show). How many times have you seen IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth? What's your favorite part? Where does it rank on your list of favorite nighttime shows? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twit

McNair Wilson is a retired Walt Disney Imagineer who coined the term "Streetmosphere" (now commonly used in the theme park industry) and created street theater performances across the Disney Parks, especially at Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios (at the time it was still called Disney-MGM Studios). McNair is also responsible for creating the name "Downtown Disney" and for creating the Adventurers Club at Pleasure Island. In addition, NcNair developed concepts for many of the Disney attractions we know and love today, most notably the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. In this podcast episode, I have the pleasure of chatting directly with McNair about his work at Walt Disney Imagineering and his experiences meeting and working with Claude Coats, Marty Sklar, Michael Eisner, Frank Wells, Mel Brooks, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and even Walt Disney. Which of McNair Wilson's creations do you love most? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission]

Harriet Burns was known as Walt Disney's First Lady of Imagineering, not only because of her contributions to the organization but also because she truly was the first woman hired at WDI in a creative capacity. Harriet is a Disney Legend and even has a window on Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland. Working directly with Walt Disney, Harriet helped to create many of the classic attractions we know and love today, including Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Carousel of Progress, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. She also built the robin that Mary Poppins sings "Spoonful of Sugar" to in the original film. Harriet passed away in 2008, but her legacy still lives on today. In this episode, I have the distinct privilege of interviewing Haley Clair, the granddaughter of Harriet Burns. Haley and I chat about her grandmother's life, legacy, work at Walt Disney Imagineering, and interactions with Walt Disney. Which of

This year, The Walt Disney Company made hundreds of announcements at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. Even as I was preparing this list of major announcements, I was amazed at how much Disney news was revealed between Disney Plus, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation, Disney Studios, Disney Legends, and the Disney Parks and Resorts. Some of the biggest highlights include updates about Epcot's future, Marvel Avengers Campus coming to Disney California Adventure, two new Pixar films, incredible new shows coming to Disney Plus, and so much more. In this bonus episode, we'll recap the major highlights from D23 Expo 2019 and share our thoughts and opinions about the future of Disney. Which of these announcements are you most excited about? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter

The American Adventure was an opening day attraction at Epcot on October 1, 1982, and has been a part of the park's history ever since. Whenever I take a trip to Walt Disney World, I always enjoy experiencing this attraction, so in today's episode, we'll talk about the history of the show, share some fun facts and details you might not have known about this attraction and pavilion, and share a binaural 360-degree audio recording of the American Adventure and the Voices of Liberty. What do you love most about The American Adventure? If you haven't experienced it before, which show in World Showcase at Epcot is your favorite? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerNews Facebook Group (ImagiNation): https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ Share your fee

The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Park just celebrated its 50th anniversary, so now more than ever seems the perfect time to discuss this classic attraction. Of all the attractions at Disney Parks around the world, there are few that can beat The Haunted Mansion's popularity. Although there have been a few incremental updates to the original versions at Disneyland Park in California and Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, the rides remain virtually the same as they were when they first opened, including the special effects. In today's episode, we'll dive into the history and details of The Haunted Mansion, and we'll ride through the attraction together via binaural audio. What do you love most about The Haunted Mansion? Which version of this attraction is your favorite? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/Imag

Some of the biggest events of the year at Walt Disney World are the RunDisney races. There are so many aspects of RunDisney that make it special: it turns runners into Disney fans and Disney fans into runners, it encourages people to be their very best, and it creates a positive community of goal-setting go-getters, just to mention a few! In this two-part series, our group discusses everything you need to know about RunDisney, including which races to choose, how to register, how to plan your Walt Disney World vacation around the events, how to train for the races, the RunDisney experience, and the emotional gratification of completing a RunDisney event. Which RunDisney events have you done before (and how many)? Are there any additional tips you would offer first-time runners? If you haven't run with RunDisney before, which race do you think you might start with? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message i

Some of the biggest events of the year at Walt Disney World are the RunDisney races. There are so many aspects of RunDisney that make it special: it turns runners into Disney fans and Disney fans into runners, it encourages people to be their very best, and it creates a positive community of goal-setting go-getters, just to mention a few! In this two-part series, our group discusses everything you need to know about RunDisney, including which races to choose, how to register, how to plan your Walt Disney World vacation around the events, how to train for the races, the RunDisney experience, and the emotional gratification of completing a RunDisney event. Which RunDisney events have you done before (and how many)? Are there any additional tips you would offer first-time runners? If you haven't run with RunDisney before, which race do you think you might start with? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message i

There's no denying Disney's cultural impact on the world. Ever since Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse in 1928, countless cultures around the globe have come to recognize the three-circled Disney icon. A smaller facet of Disney's cultural impact that not many know about is an international program known as Disney English, a division of Disney Publishing through which Cast Members teach English language courses (utilizing some Disney magic) to students in various countries. In this episode, I chat with Daniel Morris, a former Disney English Cast Member and author of the book, Teaching with Disney: A Memoir of Disney English, about his experiences with this part of the organization. If you were to build a new Disney theme park around the world, which new location would you select? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.