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IMAGINEERINGLAND
Jul. 10th, 2010 06:01 pm
Years ago, Walt Disney Imagineering used to do an "open house" called "Imagineeringland", where family and friends of Imagineers were invited into the normally very secretive Imagineering campus to see selected works-in-progress. The last one was in 1997 -- why they stopped I'm not sure, perhaps due to increasing fears of internet leaks, or changes in management.
More than a decade later, Disney has definitely made great strides evolving their business in terms of inviting the public "under the Sorcerer's hat" a bit (just like Walt did -- remember a little TV series called "Disneyland"?). Imagineering's own Blue-Sky Cellar and the membership-driven D23 Club are both very clever bits of marketing that reveal just enough about their creative process to keep the fans engaged and wanting more.
Today was the first "Imagineeringland" in thirteen years, and a pal of mine who's currently working there invited me along on his ticket. Strict security was, of course, enforced -- all guests had to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and cameras (as well as phones with cameras) were not allowed. Once inside, however, it was amazingly hospitable and a ton of fun. I saw a lot of friends and colleagues who are currently working there, and Disney really pulled out the stops in terms of free food, entertainment, fun swag, and great surprises (including free Disney PhotoPass photos throughout the day -- I even got to meet the animated Wall*E!).
Most of the stuff being shown has loosely been revealed to the public already on Disney's own fan-outreach sites, but there were many bits and pieces throughout the day that were far more secretive and mind-blowing -- which I can't talk about. Needless to say, it was definitely a day-long nerdgasm for me, and I loved every minute. Also, it's quite wonderful to see Disney cultivating their thriving "Imagineering Culture" on their newly-remodeled campus. Watching designers present their work is always inspiring, not to mention a big boost for team morale -- which definitely shows in the awesome work they're doing these days. Here's to more ongoing Disney magic!
