Did you know Imagineering designed attractions for non-Disney companies?

PeterAlt

PeterAlt

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Did you know that Disney Imagineering designed some attractions for companies other than Disney? I know a few off-hand. Can anyone add to my list? Here's what I know...

The chocolate ride at Hershey Park
A film with special effects for New York City (forgot the name)
A huge AA figure for Club Safari in Palm Beach Gardens
 
RPMdfw

RPMdfw

New Member
Prime examples of this would be the exhibits designed for the 1964 Worlds Fair. They were all contracted by outside companies. Once the World's Fair was over, of course, Carousel of Progress, It's a Small World, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln found homes in Disney theme parks. I think that there have been other World's Fair exhibits since, as well. I seem to recall the 3-d Movie at the 1984 New Orleans World Fair in the American Pavilion being created by WDI, but I could be mistaken.
 
N

niteobsrvr

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by jrriddle
Do you mean people who used to work at WDI? Or WDI contracted out?
I had no idea.
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Imagineering isn't just the research and development arm for Disney. Walt set it up originally as an entity separate from the other lines of business so that they could concentrate on what they do best without the politics of park operations etc. It should only follow that Imagineering would also perform work for businesses other than Disney so long as a conflict of interest doesn't arise.
 
josh_e_washie

josh_e_washie

New Member
Thats really an interesting fact! You know, when I was at Hershey and went on the Chocolate World tour, I thought it was a little too good to be truly independent from Disney!! Although I must say it isn't of course near Disney standards!!!!!:) :lol:
 
WDWspider

WDWspider

New Member
Originally posted by niteobsrvr
Imagineering isn't just the research and development arm for Disney. Walt set it up originally as an entity separate from the other lines of business so that they could concentrate on what they do best without the politics of park operations etc. It should only follow that Imagineering would also perform work for businesses other than Disney so long as a conflict of interest doesn't arise.
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Is DisneySeas a good example of this? ...or no?
 
PixieTinkerbell

PixieTinkerbell

New Member
It is also interesting to point out that Imagineering didn't design all of the attractions found at WDW. They have to bid on projects along with outside companies. One example is Rock'nRollercoaster.
 
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pan11435

New Member
It is also interesting to point out that Imagineering didn't design all of the attractions found at WDW. They have to bid on projects along with outside companies. One example is Rock'nRollercoaster.
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Thats not exactly true. WDI did in fact design Rock'n Roller Coaster as well as all other Walt Disney World attractions. Some like RnRC have outside suppliers such as Vekoma, Intamin, and most recently ETC. However these companies just supply various parts and equiptment for the attractions. The attractions themselves from concept, to story, to creation is 100% WDI.
 
PeterAlt

PeterAlt

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by PixieTinkerbell
It is also interesting to point out that Imagineering didn't design all of the attractions found at WDW. They have to bid on projects along with outside companies. One example is Rock'nRollercoaster.
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Well, a better example would be most of DCA. Origianlly, Paul Pressler (yayyyy... he's OUT!) wanted the entire park to be designed by Disney Development Co. (the same guys who design non-attraction properties, such as the hotels). Eisner vetoed his wish and had Imagineering involved in a limited form. Some parts of the fascades were designed by Imagineering, and the rest by DDC. Imagineering only designed ONE ride for DCA... Soaring Over California. A Bugs Life and MuppetVision 3D were copies from the East Coast, so Imagineering didn't have to develop those. The rest are generic carnival-style rides (probably from the same people that brought you DinoRama), which weren't 'Imagineered'.

BTW, who developed Super Star Limo? Was that DDC's first and only attempt at ride design? I can't believe Imagineering had anything to do with it... or did they?
 
Horizons_03

Horizons_03

Member
Originally posted by PeterAlt
Did you know that Disney Imagineering designed some attractions for companies other than Disney? I know a few off-hand. Can anyone add to my list? Here's what I know...

The chocolate ride at Hershey Park
QUOTE]

Actually,
from what i have heard, talking to people whom have worked at hersheypark, they actually contracted arrow dynamics to develop the ride system for chocolate world at hersheypark. Arrow dynamics, also designed spaceship earth omnimover system along with The Matterhorn at disneyland and Space mountain at Disneyworld.
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Main Street USA

Main Street USA

Well-Known Member
Re: Re: Did you know Imagineering designed attractions for non-Disney companies?

Actually,
from what i have heard, talking to people whom have worked at hersheypark, they actually contracted arrow dynamics to develop the ride system for chocolate world at hersheypark. Arrow dynamics, also designed spaceship earth omnimover system along with The Matterhorn at disneyland and Space mountain at Disneyworld. [/B]
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Once again, in this case, you're most likely talking ride parts, rather that the concept and development of the entire attraction.

Of course there are other companies out there that specialize in certain things, AND because of experience in that particular area, can do them better than imagineering can. Rollercoasters are a great example. Imagineering would never think to develop the actual track parts when there are specialists out there who can do it more easily.

The most recent example, as mentioned above, is ETC. They are experts when it comes to centrifuges, so WDI sought them out for development of the multi arm centrifuge that is used in M:S.
 
ArsonWinter

ArsonWinter

New Member
Re: Re: Did you know Imagineering designed attractions for non-Disney companies?

Originally posted by Horizons_03
Actually,
from what i have heard, talking to people whom have worked at hersheypark, they actually contracted arrow dynamics to develop the ride system for chocolate world at hersheypark. Arrow dynamics, also designed spaceship earth omnimover system along with The Matterhorn at disneyland and Space mountain at Disneyworld. [/B]
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Well, that may be, but living 20 miles from Hershey, and I've worked in the Hershey Museum a few summers ago in the Past Master program. Never have I heard anything about WDI being involved in Chocolate World (which is owned by Hershey Foods, not Herco, which owns and operates Hersheypark and Dutch Wonderland).

I know that the ride has changed over the years. One example that comes to mind is when they had the ride hosted by a robot that would pop up in various places from time to time. In fact, they keep changing the ride, upgrading scenes (and in a one case, removed a scene entirely) every few years.

So, if WDI did, in fact, build this ride (which if true, would be news to me), the question then remains what version of the ride did they design? It's been around since the 70's, so this would be interesting to see what WDI designed, and what has changed since then.
 
M

Meyers

New Member
Originally posted by PeterAlt
Did you know that Disney Imagineering designed some attractions for companies other than Disney? I know a few off-hand. Can anyone add to my list? Here's what I know...

The chocolate ride at Hershey Park
A film with special effects for New York City (forgot the name)
A huge AA figure for Club Safari in Palm Beach Gardens
Click to expand...

I think Disney did the exhibits for NASA at the Houston Space Center. Doubt though if they did the ride at Hershey Park.

Meyers

www.disneysky.com
 
WDWspider

WDWspider

New Member
OK, I was being serious about DisneySeas. I think this is the ultimate example of Imagineers creating things for a non-Disney company. I know some of the people who posted know DisneySeas is not a Disney park in the truiest sense. The rest of you understand that to right? Imagineers were hired to help create the park for an outside company.
 
EvilMortimer

EvilMortimer

Account Suspended
Now where have I seen that before? Oh yes, Islands of Adventure! Most of the stuff there is from WDI. WDI never deviates from the hidden mickey rule. ;)
 
Lee

Lee

Adventurer
Tokyo DisneySea is not really a good example.
They are pretty much required to use WDI, it's part of the deal.

A side project nobody has mentioned: "Encounters", the restraunt at LAX.

As for Arrow, they pretty much built, and to some degree designed, every ride at Disneyland on opening day. There was no WDI at that point, only WED Enterprises which was mostly artists and story men who had no idea how to build a ride.
Find a copy of "Roller Coasters, Flumes, and Flying Saucers". Its the story of Arrow, and to some extent, early Disneyland as well.
 

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