Every time you step into Disneyland, you are entering a world that has been carefully crafted by a skilled team that blends engineering with creativity. One contributor – towering both literally and figuratively – is the legendary Claude Coats. Known as “The Gentle Giant,” Coats was a master of mood, color, and immersive design, both […] Read more…
Every Imagineer brings a little bit of their own magic into the parks—whether through art, engineering, or design. On the art side of the magic formula sits Peter Ellenshaw, a creative who’s work influenced the screen just as much as the park’s first visual representation. Source: D23 Born in London in 1913, William Samuel Cook […] Read more…
All Imagineers bring a magic touch to the parks – from artists to engineers to architects. And some don’t neatly fall into one category. That’s the case for today’s spotlight, C. Randy Bright, a true renaissance man within Imagineering. Source: D23 Long Beach native Bright (born in 1938) started out on a very non-artistic track, […] Read more…
Sometimes the most important details in Disneyland are the ones you never think twice about. Easy example: landscape architecture. Do you notice the subtle changes in trees from land to land? Probably not. But these kinds of design elements shape the storytelling and help distinguish each land. Today, let’s talk about the woman behind this […] Read more…
In the era of Disney blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels, fans have access to more behind-the-scenes information than ever before. I’m loving the newfound excitement around celebrating Imagineering and celebrating contributions of particular Imagineers, which is why I started this “Imagineer Influence” series. Unfortunately, there are still tons of amazingly talented people that remain in […] Read more…
If you have any interest in Imagineering or the development of Disney Parks, you’re likely already familiar with Marty Sklar. He started working on Disney Parks before the first one ever opened, and left his mark on every single park that followed (until Shanghai, which opened after his death). Let’s get to know his story. Source: […] Read more…
Imagineers contribute to more than just the parks – and sometimes, they’re best known for their work outside of Disneyland. Meet Marc Davis, the designer behind some of Disney’s most instantly recognizable animated characters. Source: 50 Most Influential Disney Animators Marc didn’t start out in Hollywood. Born in 1913, his dad’s oil field development job […] Read more…
Imagineers leave traces of their artistry in everything they create. But one Imagineer left a special legacy behind: she shaped one of the most famous attraction characters ever to come out of the Disney parks…a character that was named after her. Let’s meet Leota Toombs Thomas. Source: Disney Parks Blog Thomas started her career at […] Read more…
Imagineers undoubtedly pave the way for future theme park designers, often being the first to implement a new technology, style, or even standard that raises the industry bar. But sometimes, Imagineers themselves achieve firsts within Disney itself. Meet Harriet Burns, the first female Imagineer. Source: D23 A born and raised Texan, Burns and her family […] Read more…
A few weeks ago, I shared the first of a new series highlighting some amazing Imagineers that shaped Disneyland. For this post, I’d like to share the contributions of a lesser-known Imagineer: Alice Davis. Source: The Kingdom Insider Alice Davis, born 1929, never set out to be an Imagineer. As a student as the Chouinard […] Read more…
Most Disneyland fans know that Imagineers are amazingly talented people. They design and create one-of-a-kind attractions, pushing the boundaries of both storytelling and technology. And unfortunately, many park visitors know so little about the people that created their favorites spaces within the parks. So welcome to a new series: Imagineer Influence, where we’ll take a […] Read more…