The Country Bear Jamboree Shattered My Dreams

To think I have Dave Snyder from Walt Disney Imagineering to blame for this! The year was 1975. My dad was doing a project for work (as a computer programmer) and ended up meeting him. Truly, a very nice man to agree to meet up a young fan of Disneyland and theme park design. He is quoted in Leslie Iwerk's excellent book The Imagineering Story as well as being interviewed in the Disney+ series of the same name.

He agreed to meet, taking us backstage of the Country Bear Jamboree at Disneyland, actually below stage. Henry was huge! All those Audio-Animatronics were! Since we were there during park hours and the show was actually playing, watching how complex the work was mechanically, I was just so impressed. Of course, over lunch in the employee cafe, we talked about what it took to be an Imagineer. 

When I got home, into the library I went to investigate it further, and I realized the incredible artists who worked there were the very best in the industry. World class as a matter of fact.

My artwork was pitiful in comparison. I had no other skills to market (or so I thought at that point in time) nor did I realize there were jobs like show writers, engineers, or hundreds of other jobs that were represented by Disney in that division. So, that was that. 

But thanks to my Dad for arranging something so special. And to Mr. Snyder for investing his time to bless and encourage a young teenager.

I eventually ended up in the travel business as my first real career... But as you can tell from reading the blog, Imagineering is still my dream job and my first career love!

(Photograph copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Imagineering Story Sheds an Honest Light on Disney's Failures- with One Notable Exception

Leslie Iwerk's incredible The Imagineering Story is one captivating read! Perhaps my favorite Disney related book ever. Much like her Disney+ series of the same name, she digs deep into the history of Imagineering and all its successes and failures. 

We Stateside fans have seen firsthand the failure of laughingstock California Adventure 1.0, the cheaply made mini park Hong Kong Disneyland, and for those who have traveled to France, the absolute disaster of Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris. All these parks built under Michael Eisner's second decade were a stark and very disappointing contrast to Tokyo Disney Resort's amazing Tokyo Disneysea park built and opened around the same time. 

 

Iwerks covers these disasters with breathtaking honesty and evaluation of its shortfalls. She talks about projects that never made it off the drawing boards as well, such as smaller projects like the unbuilt Burbank located Disney Backlot (above). Think Downtown Disney with actual attractions thrown in among the shops and restaurants.

In an utter journalistic fail, Iwerks dedicated a whole four paragraphs to the creation of Harry Potter lands at Universal Orlando Resort, mentioning how Warner Brothers fumbled their attempt to get Disney interested. Really? As we all know and is well documented, that is not how the story actually played out. (The real story is here.)

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey set in Hogsmeade became the theme park news of the decade and beyond, turning the often very innovative Islands of Adventure and the whole resort into a must-see destination for theme parks fans. Diagon Alley at Universal Studios next door only added to the resort's popularity, now costing Disney two full days of lost visitors. Like me, once they discovered the "new" Universal, these parks would now become a permanent piece of any Florida vacation. Things will only get worse once Epic Universe opens with yet another Potter themed land as well as one based on Super Mario World from Nintendo. Disney better get going.

How will the next chapter of an Imagineering history book read? That remains to be told.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

The Hottest Disney Read of the Year

It has finally arrived! My Wintertime "fun" reading: Leslie Iwerk's The Imagineering Story. A companion piece of sorts to the Disney+ series. This authorized version tells the history of my favorite branch of the Walt Disney Company. It should be a very entertaining read. Perhaps a bit sanitized to present folks in the best light possible, but a good read none the less. I can't wait to dig in!