wannabe!

[pixiedust629]

Discuss ANY aspect of Imagineering? OKAY!

How about... I want to BE one!
And I figure this is as good of a place as any to start asking questions to see how I might go about becoming an official WDI. I really would love to be more of the concept designer or set/prop design side, rather than mechanical or show/ride engineering.

I know that there are real, live, breathing Imagineers on this forum. Maybe not many, but some. And maybe some that read it and aren't members. So I'm asking for your advice. PLEADING, in fact. In all honesty... this is my life that we're talking about. If you would rather, email me at m.l.chapman@sbcglobal.net. I will be happy to discuss where I am right now in pursuing this goal through email, and how to get from point A to point B. I know how to keep secrets, so your help isn't something I plan on broadcasting to the world. I just really need to talk to some people who know what's going on.

I anxiously await and appreciate any and all responses to this thread, either here or by email. Or I guess PM, I just don't really know how that works with this forum. Thank you so much, in advance.

 

[Kingdom WDW]

Did you ever try Lunch with an Imagineer at the Disney Studios? You can eat at Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge for Dinner or eat at the Brown Derby for lunch, like I will do.

So apparently, you go into a private room and ask Disney Imagineers anything you want!

 

[pixiedust629]

Nope, I sure haven't done that. I was there last week but didn't know about it... it's really too bad, because I doubt I'll be able to go again for a while unless I'm in the CP or something. DANG IT!

 

[Kingdom WDW]

Are you planning on becoming and Imagineer? Your occupation says design student.

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

Are they still doing the lunch with an Imagineer?
I thought I heard on here a while ago that they were going to discontinue that.:shrug:

It's great if it's still going, because I've always wanted to do that!!

 

[pixiedust629]

Are you planning on becoming and Imagineer? Your occupation says design student.

Yes, to both. I do want to, and I'm studying visual communication design. Mostly graphic and advertising, but I'm being trained to communicate visually and use conceptual strategies to approach projects. Any tips? I really don't know how to go about getting started towards that goal.

 

[Kingdom WDW]

Are they still doing the lunch with an Imagineer?
I thought I heard on here a while ago that they were going to discontinue that.:shrug:

It's great if it's still going, because I've always wanted to do that!!

They are still doing it. I'm doing it when I go down there. We have reservations.

pixiedust629-
If you want to be an Imagineer, you need experience. WDI only hires if you have had experience in the field, so you might want to plan on getting a job before you do WDI.
Or, you can be an intern as part of the college program.

As for your strategies, Imagineer That! on Disney Channel has some tips for kicking your creativity into gear. The 60 second segments might be geared toward the younger end of the age spectrum, but it's worth a shot. Try Googleing it.

Hope this helps.

Edit: I am not an Imagineer (I am a wannabe), so this is what I hear from others and numerous books etc.

 

[wickedfan07]

Are they still doing the lunch with an Imagineer?
I thought I heard on here a while ago that they were going to discontinue that.:shrug:

It's great if it's still going, because I've always wanted to do that!!

I have a reservation for Lunch With an Imagineer next Monday. :sohappy: So, as of right now, its still going on. However, when we called to make the reservation, the CM had next to idea what it was, but found it as soon as we mentioned the Brown Derby.

 

[pixiedust629]

If you want to be an Imagineer, you need experience. WDI only hires if you have had experience in the field, so you might want to plan on getting a job before you do WDI.
Or, you can be an intern as part of the college program.

As for your strategies, Imagineer That! on Disney Channel has some tips for kicking your creativity into gear. The 60 second segments might be geared toward the younger end of the age spectrum, but it's worth a shot. Try Googleing it.

what kind of job, do you think? I mean, there seems to be a billion different ways to have a job in the sort of field, you know?

And, I'm quite aware of the DC segments. haha I'm a dork that way.

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

Just get experience from a local company or a company that you internship for when your in college. I'm looking at colleges now. I also wish to be an imagineer but Disney wants experience. You got to start small to go up. If you go to the disney careers part of their website and look up jobs you can get a feel of what they are looking for.

 

[k.hunter30]

Did you ever try Lunch with an Imagineer at the Disney Studios? You can eat at Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge for Dinner or eat at the Brown Derby for lunch, like I will do.

So apparently, you go into a private room and ask Disney Imagineers anything you want!

That sounds like so much fun! Is there a cost in addition to the meal?

 

[Kingdom WDW]

That sounds like so much fun! Is there a cost in addition to the meal?

No, I do not believe there is. You just pay for lunch and then talk with Imagineer, as if he was part of your lunch. (That didn't come out right)

But it is very expensive.

 

[k.hunter30]

No, I do not believe there is. You just pay for lunch and then talk with Imagineer, as if he was part of your lunch. (That didn't come out right)

But it is very expensive.

I'm confused... so it IS more than a regular dinner at AP? Or are you saying a dinner at AP is "very expensive?"
Sorry, I'm just very interested in this and don't know any details about it.

 

[Kingdom WDW]

To clarify:
You can also have lunch/dinner with a Disney Artist, so you have a couple combinations.

It generally costs more than a regular lunch/dinner, but you don't have to pay extra for anything.

All of your food choices are included in the rate.
So that way you have an appetizer, entree, dessert, and drink.

 

[terp79]

Be Our Guest

The Dinner with an Imagineer books up fast so if you're thinking about doing act quickly. The price is about 65-75 dollars per person, which trust me is well worth it. I couldn't even eat everything they served, it was all so good but a lot! You also get a cool name tag that is almost like the cast members tag and you get a collectors WDI plate that the Imagineer will sign for you if you want! I'll be doing it again when I go down in Sept. I loved every min of it. I do find it odd that it's one of WDW best kept secrets. There's not very much information about it online or anywhere else for that matter.....just call dinning reservations.

 

[Kingdom WDW]

The Dinner with an Imagineer books up fast so if you're thinking about doing act quickly. The price is about 65-75 dollars per person, which trust me is well worth it. I couldn't even eat everything they served, it was all so good but a lot! You also get a cool name tag that is almost like the cast members tag and you get a collectors WDI plate that the Imagineer will sign for you if you want! I'll be doing it again when I go down in Sept. I loved every min of it. I do find it odd that it's one of WDW best kept secrets. There's not very much information about it online or anywhere else for that matter.....just call dinning reservations.

So I guess what are the chances that when I eat there there will be other people there too?

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

Isn't it like a group of 8-10 people you eat with?

 

[Kingdom WDW]

My guess is that during the off-season that you might have like just you and the Imagineers but during the on-season you will have a group of people, just guessing...

 

[terp79]

No....it will be you and 9 other guests. If there's not enough people they don't hold it. I was suppose to get Jason Surrell as our Imagineer but he had something come up and we had another Imagineer come in, Kevin Thomas, Senior graphic designer, WDI, Orlando. If you want to know the menu we had here it is:

APPETIZERS
Lobster Bisque with Sweet Corn, Truffle Creme Fraiche, and Snipped Chives

Individual Classic Cob Salad with finely chopped greens, turket breast, bacon, egg, tomatoes, crumbled blue chees, avacado, and cobb salad dressing



ENTREES
(Choice of one)
Grilled New York Strip Steak with Boniato Mash, Crisp Peppered Onions, and three sauces

-OR-

Thai Noodle Bowl with barbecue breast of chicken, sugar peas, bok choy, and shiitake mushrooms in red curry broth

-OR-

Pan-fired Grouper over roasted asparagus, citirus plugra butter sause, topped with sweet onion marmalade



DESSERT
Double Vanilla Bean Creme Bruless with Gingersnap sugar stick


DRINK
Coffee, Tea, and Non-alcoholic beverage


The lunch was about an hour long experience and it was soooooo fun. When you book they will tell you who the imagineer is that you're suppose to have. The dress code is casual. I felt bad for our Imagineer seeing how everyone thought he was Jason and kept asking him questions that where geared towards projects Jason had worked on.

The other guests where cool.
We had a mother and daughter from Canada that were spending 3 weeks at Disney and the daughter wanted to be an Imagineer. She was about ready to go into college so those two did a bit of talking. Then we had an older man and his mom, which was cute, he made her come to it. . .they were from Europe. They where quiet but nice. There was another mom with her daughter who was about 16 and her younger brother who was about 10. That boy knew how to talk and talk and talk. Then me and my friend, and then a husband and wife. I know that doesn't add up to 10. That adds up to 11, 12 including the imagineer.

I had to work my connections. One of my friends at WDI got me and my friend in. The dinner is normally only open to 10 guests and the imagineer. I called to make reservations 3 months before our trip and when I called they told me that they only had one spot left open and I wanted my friend to come....so i called for reinforcment!

 

[DisneyDellsDude]

No....it will be you and 9 other guests. If there's not enough people they don't hold it.

So what would they do? Call right before your trip and give you a refund?
Thanks for the review!