Imagineer?

[the_rich]

hi guys,

does anybody know what it takes to become an imagineer. i am going to college for computer science. is that something that would be good for becoming an imagineer? i know i won't be hired right out of college. so would it be good to become a cast member first or to do something in my field to show disney i'm good at what i do?

thanks in advance

 

[DisneySaint]

I'm not an expert on this by any means, but I'm going to take a swing at it. I know for sure that "imagineer" is Disney's way of saying "engineer", so I'm pretty sure you'll have to get into engineering, mechanical engineering, construction management, landscape architecture, architecture, or some related field. Computer science would be more used to create different programs FOR the imagineers to use or to manage network or Internet systems (which could also be related to Information Systems and Decision Sciences).
Disney comes off as a company who does the vast, vast majority of their professional level positions internally based on mostly who you are and what your talents are rather than credentials (although they do, of course, play a significant role). The exception may be imagineering in which a guy with a PhD or a Masters in Mechanical Engineering will have preference over a guy who's good with Lego's, if you can see what I'm saying.
At the very least, you should consider either a minor or double-major in a field of engineering.

 

[mkt]

Get real world experience and some Disney experience in the field you want, but don't limit yourself to it. Then excel at it.

WDI only takes the best of the best, and almost never (and that's an overstatement) hires out of college for anything worthwhile (ie, anything but a secretary...and those are usually internally staffed)

 

[the_rich]

Originally posted by DisneyJoey
I'm not an expert on this by any means, but I'm going to take a swing at it. I know for sure that "imagineer" is Disney's way of saying "engineer", so I'm pretty sure you'll have to get into engineering, mechanical engineering, construction management, landscape architecture, architecture, or some related field. Computer science would be more used to create different programs FOR the imagineers to use or to manage network or Internet systems (which could also be related to Information Systems and Decision Sciences).
Disney comes off as a company who does the vast, vast majority of their professional level positions internally based on mostly who you are and what your talents are rather than credentials (although they do, of course, play a significant role). The exception may be imagineering in which a guy with a PhD or a Masters in Mechanical Engineering will have preference over a guy who's good with Lego's, if you can see what I'm saying.
At the very least, you should consider either a minor or double-major in a field of engineering.

i get what you are saying. but wouldn't computer programmer 's be needed to make the programs that run the rides? and wouldn't they be considered imagineer's too? thanks for your responses.

 

[SpaceRangrQueen]

There are many Imagineering roles from artists to engineers and everything in between. I am sure that there is a role in which a Computer Science degree would be useful. I say that if Computer Science is something you love, go for the degree.

 

[mkt]

hehe...

many imagineers I know are college educated...

and most not in any field relating to what they do for WDI



look at Joe Rohde (WDI VP in charge of AK)... he was an Art Teacher before coming onto WDI.


Just get a degree and have some fun and be the best in your field... WDI will come

 

[DisneySaint]

Yeah, I'd agree with MKT here. It seems more and more to me that Disney loves association with company, who you are, and experience (in that order) as the most important things. It's a good way to run a business, if you ask me. I know people with bachelor's that are 100x better at what they do than some Masters and people with no degrees at all but great at a profession.

 

[DisneySaint]

On the Imagineer program today on The Travel Channel, they mentioned computer scientists as one of the positions held by imagineers, so it looks like you're in the good zone. I, personally, would HIGHLY HIGHLY reccomend either a double-major or minor in one of the following:

Engineering (any type except Chemical)
Landscape Architecture
Construction Management
Art
Architecture
Interior Design
Communications
Information Systems (ISDS)