Disney World Imagineering?

[Imagineer Mitch]

So this might not be the right forum to ask this question, if not you can move it but i'm pretty sure there are some Imagineers, or close to it, on this site and i would absolutely love if they could give me a little information on what you have to do to become an imagineer. thanks

 

[raven]

School, school, school. Then apply...and hope they choose you over the other 2,000+ applicants going for the same job.

 

[SeaCastle]

I believe that extensive work experience in the industry is also desired.

 

[FlaMel]

Also, along with the proper schooling and the related experience, be prepared to enter the company in a different part of the organization and move your way towards WDI. Once in the company, begin to build relationships. It is those connections that will get you the interview(s) with WDI more so than a resume in Disney JOBS.

 

[DisneyparkFreak]

From what I have heard, you dont apply to be an imagineer... They find you. Be the best in your field of study and more than likely WDI will knock on your door.

 

[spbink]

What I said in the other thread holds true here:

What would you want to do at Imagineering? Imagineering hires people in all different areas, from writers to artists to engineers to HR to librarians. Ultimately it's more important to love what you do then to work for a particular company or department!

Also, look into joining industry groups like the Themed Entertainment Association. There are a lot of location based entertainment projects beyond Disney, if that is your passion. If it isn't, then why do you want to work for Imagineering? :shrug:

 

[Imagineer Mitch]

Well ever since i was little i loved to design roller coasters, i have tons and tons of ride layouts and designs and not just a basic roller coaster, i usally go all out on there with scenery to the actual movements of the trains. I don't know what exactly the part to get into Imagineering other than i just wanna make things up and create them for Disney. Or design them on the computer which i'm currently in college for. The reason why i want to be with Disney is because they put so much detail and design in their rides and that's exactly how i draw mine up, just tons of detail.

 

[CaptainShortty]

Well ever since i was little i loved to design roller coasters, i have tons and tons of ride layouts and designs and not just a basic roller coaster, i usally go all out on there with scenery to the actual movements of the trains. I don't know what exactly the part to get into Imagineering other than i just wanna make things up and create them for Disney. Or design them on the computer which i'm currently in college for. The reason why i want to be with Disney is because they put so much detail and design in their rides and that's exactly how i draw mine up, just tons of detail.

Try entering the ImagiNations contest if you're still in college. Also, STRONGLY consider a Disney College Program Internship (CP). Disney hires a lot of people in upper level jobs from within (most actually) so having worked with them before goes a long way. Unfortunately you're not alone in dreaming in detail when it comes to wanna be imagineers. That's where the ImagiNations contest comes in. It takes those ideas and puts them on paper and gets you noticed by the best of the best in Imagineering. Here are the links if you're interested...

https://www.wdwcollegeprogram.com/sap/its/mimes/zh_wdwcp/index.html

and

http://disney.go.com/disneycareers/imaginations/

If you have any questions PM me. I was a CP and have had a few friends that have entered into the ImagiNations contest.

 

[spbink]

I agree with the suggestion to do ImagiNations - it's a great experience, whether you get a prize or not.

For more ideas of how the Imagineering process works and what each person does, you might want to try reading Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind The Magic Look at Making The Magic More Real, the recent update to an older book with a lot of new material.

Also, depending on your budget, there's a course called the Theme Park Design Workshop. It costs $200 and isn't affiliated with Imagineering directly, but Steve Alcorn who runs the class used to be an imagineer and he makes a lot of equipment for them now. (His company, Alcorn-McBride, makes the show control system that most of imagineering uses, and his wife still works there.) I can't post links yet, but if you search for Theme Park Design Workshop or Imagineering Class, you'll find it.