Need to talk to an imagineer! Please help!

[BenAllen]

I am doing a enormous research paper in my advanced English class in College. It's all about attractions and the things it needs to be considered a great attraction. This paper goes in great depth and I need help from an imagineer. Is there a chance anyone here is an imagineer or knows one? Any help will be greatly appreciated. I tried calling Walt Disney Imagineering in California and they told me I needed a name of an actual imagineer to be able to talk to one. Thanks for any help!

 

[englanddg]

I tried calling Walt Disney Imagineering in California and they told me I needed a name of an actual imagineer to be able to talk to one.

Um...google? I can list about a dozen WDI employees off the top of my head. Only one have I met in person though.

There are some who poke around the forums who either know people who are or were with WDI, and probably a few others who keep quiet (just a guess).

The only one I'll tag (because he's publicly said who he is) is @Eddie Sotto.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Sotto

He's no longer with WDI, and he doesn't poke around as much as he used to, so, I'm not sure if he'll respond to your query...and he's a busy guy, so again, not sure if he'll even have time. But, if you read his thread (Eddie Sotto's take on the current state of the parks (Part II)) you may find some interesting information there.

They'll speak up if they want to help. But, in the meantime, have you tried reaching out to someone aside from WDI in Glendale? Maybe someone in Park Operations?

Other options (which are far more likely to get success than cold calls to corporate) are to look for recruiting and networking events attended by WDI employees...? For that you can contact Disney Careers.

http://wdi.disneycareers.com/en/default/

 

[Tom]

Just call and ask for Tom.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Maybe try Steve Alcorn. He is the author of Building a Better Mouse: The Story of the Electronic Engineers Who Built Epcot which is mostly about his experiences building The American Adventure and Theme Park Design: Behind the Scenes with an Engineer. He also runs the Theme Park Design Workshop, an internet course on attraction design that works through the topics discussed in Theme Park Design, and is the CEO of Alcorn-McBride, a company that makes audio, video, lighting and show control systems. At the very least you can look at the Theme Park Design Workshop website and Theme Park Design book.

http://www.imagineeringclass.com
http://www.alcorn.com

 

[Sage of Time]

Get a twitter account and go talk to @43SquareMiles and @27000Acres, among others. I'm sure they'd be willing to help you.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Get a twitter account and go talk to @43SquareMiles and @27000Acres, among others. I'm sure they'd be willing to help you.

This would not really apply to those posting anonymously using pseudonyms, but there are some Imagineers with an online presence, like Joe Rohde, who refuse to discuss Disney so as not to chance running afoul of their non-disclosure agreements.

 

[Sage of Time]

This would not really apply to those posting anonymously using pseudonyms, but there are some Imagineers with an online presence, like Joe Rohde, who refuse to discuss Disney so as not to chance running afoul of their non-disclosure agreements.

Considering that Jason Grandt and Alex Wright both have their names attached to the formally mentioned accounts...? I don't think it would be too hard to engage them. Jason is quite nice to chat with.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I am doing a enormous research paper in my advanced English class in College. It's all about attractions and the things it needs to be considered a great attraction. This paper goes in great depth and I need help from an imagineer. Is there a chance anyone here is an imagineer or knows one? Any help will be greatly appreciated. I tried calling Walt Disney Imagineering in California and they told me I needed a name of an actual imagineer to be able to talk to one. Thanks for any help!

Go have lunch with an imagineer.

 

[englanddg]

Go have lunch with an imagineer.

That's more of a group thing, and it's on a time schedule. Also, you never know who you are going to get (it could be someone who works on the rides, or marketing, or a librarian...you don't know until VERY close to the meal).

Not a bad idea though, to get some face time.

 

[Hakunamatata]

That's more of a group thing, and it's on a time schedule. Also, you never know who you are going to get (it could be someone who works on the rides, or marketing, or a librarian...you don't know until VERY close to the meal).

Not a bad idea though, to get some face time.

Meh. I should have used my sarcasm font. If the poster was serious he could have searched the previous threads on this topic.

 

[Voxel]

I am doing a enormous research paper in my advanced English class in College. It's all about attractions and the things it needs to be considered a great attraction. This paper goes in great depth and I need help from an imagineer. Is there a chance anyone here is an imagineer or knows one? Any help will be greatly appreciated. I tried calling Walt Disney Imagineering in California and they told me I needed a name of an actual imagineer to be able to talk to one. Thanks for any help!

This is a very hard quest to follow. It helps to know people sadly.. Which reminds me I need to make so phone calls.