Probably a stupid question...

[DisneyparkFreak]

So with WDW so large is there just one all mighty imagineer or does each park have their own head imagineer and if so who does that person report to?

Imagineering is the only organization like this on the planet (that i know of) and it hierarchy intrigues me.

On a side note, how many departments are there and who does Imagineering report to?

Sorry for the questions, just wondering how things work.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

The one I've heard the most is Joe Rhode when Animal Kingdom was created..I haven't heard of anyone else for DHS, MK or Epcot..

 

[ErickainPA]

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_Imagineering

• Chief Creative Executive - Bruce Vaughn
• Chief Development and Delivery Executive - Craig Russell
• Principal Creative Adviser - John Lasseter
• Senior Vice President, Executive Designer - Joe Rohde
• Senior Vice President, Creative Development - Tony Baxter
• Senior Vice President, Creative Development - Eric Jacobson
• Executive Vice President, Senior Creative Executive - Tom Fitzgerald
• Executive Vice President, Resort Development - Don Goodman
• Executive Vice President, New Ship Development - Frank de Heer
• Executive Vice President, Creative Research and Development - Scott Trowbridge
• Executive Vice President, Producer - Kathy Mangum
• Executive Vice President, - Bob Weiss
• Creative Vice President for Tokyo Disney Resort - Joe Lanzisero
• Senior Concept Writer - Kevin P. Rafferty
• Senior Show Producer/Director - Kathy Rogers
• Senior Concept Designer - John Gritz
• Senior Concept Writer, Creative Development - Michael Sprout
• Senior Fabrication Designer - James George "Jim" Armagost
• Director, Art - Kim Irvine
• Principal Plastics Technician - Michael Traxler
• Principal Concept Designer - Scot Drake
• Principal Show Artist - Heather Greene
• Principal Show Artist - Tod Mathias
• Show Writer, Creative Development - David Fisher'
• Mechanical Lead - Rick Taylor
• Sculpturer - Scott Goodard

Prior to 2007, Walt Disney Imagineering was headed by a President. After a corporate shake up, It was decided that the President role would be dropped. Bruce Vaughn and Craig Russell now both head the division. All creative executives now directly report to Vaughn and Russell.
Walt Disney Creative Entertainment

• Vice President, WDI Creative Entertainment - Kevin Eld
• Vice President, Creative Development; WDI Creative Entertainment - Michael Jung
• Creative Director and Vice President, Parades and Spectaculars - Steve Davison

Walt Disney Imagineering Legends

• Ken Anderson - Worked on most of the original Disneyland Fantasyland attractions
• Xavier Atencio - Works include Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion
• Mary Blair - Designed the overall style and sets for It's A Small World
• Roger E. Broggie - The first Imagineer. Oversaw development of AudioAnimatronics, CircleVision 360, WedWay Peoplemover, Viewliner, the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad, the Disneyland Monorail, the Matterhorn Bobsleds and dark ride transportation systems.
• Harriet Burns - WDI's first female Imagineer; helped design Audio-Animatronics attractions like The Enchanted Tiki Room and designed The Plaza Inn - official website
• Rolly Crump - Re-design of the Adventureland Bazzar, Tower of the Four Winds and Epcot
• Claude Coats - Designed the sets for Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, Adventure Through Inner Space, If You Had Wings, and many other classic attractions
• Bill Cottrell - Known as 'Uncle Bill'. He was the First President of WDI and later became President of Retlaw
• Marc Davis - Designed most of the characters in The Jungle Cruise, The Enchanted Tiki Room, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Carousel of Progress, Country Bear Jamboree, America Sings and many other classic attractions.
• Alice Estes Davis - Designed Costumes for Audio-Animatronics in many rides including It's A Small World and Flight to the Moon
• Morgan "Bill" Evans - WDI'S Chief of Landscape
• Joe Fowler - Helped build both Disneyland and Walt Disney World
• Blaine Gibson - Chief sculptor who created many Audio-Animatronics figures, including most in the Hall of Presidents
• Harper Goff - In charge for the Jungle Cruise. Help design the look of Disney's early live action flims.
• Yale Gracey - Best known for the Haunted Mansion and inventing new attraction technologies.
• Bob Gurr - Responsible for designing ride vehicles.
• John Hench - Most famous work is Space Mountain's exterior look. Worked on Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Spaceship Earth and EPCOT Center in addition to multiple other projects.
• Richard Irvine - Master of Planning and designing attractions.
• Bill Martin - Helped Design the Monorail, Fantasyland attractions, Pirates of the Caribbean and Walt Disney World.
• Sam McKim - Responsible for creating sketches of the early Disneyland attractions including Main Street, U.S.A.
• Wathel Rogers - Known for programming and designing Audio-Animatronics
• Herb Ryman - Most famous for his bird's-eye drawing of Disneyland. Did many conceptual drawings for WDI and contributed to numerous projects.
• Richard and Robert Sherman - Created musical scores such as There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow from the Carousel of Progress, It's A Small World after all and In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Room from Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.

Former Walt Disney Imagineering Management

• Vice Chairman, Walt Disney Imagineering 2005-2007 - Marty Sklar

• President, Walt Disney Imagineering 2005-2007 - Don Goodman
• President, Walt Disney Imagineering 1987-1996 - Marty Sklar
• President, Walt Disney Imagineering 1979-1989 - Carl Bongirno
• President, Walt Disney Imagineering 1952-1964 - Bill Cotrell

 

[JustInTime]

Great info! Knew it was a large team but glad to have it broken down.

 

[Thrill]

The one I've heard the most is Joe Rhode when Animal Kingdom was created..I haven't heard of anyone else for DHS, MK or Epcot..

Tony Baxter is in charge of Imagineering for Disneyland Resort, to my understanding.

 

[Jim L Clifton]

Only 10 VP'S....FPL has over 30!:brick:
Jim

 

[raven]

Also these are just VP's of Imagineering. There are many, MANY others that work below them that do all of the work and don't get much credit. Any one project could have 50 people or more working on it. An example would be the new Animation resort. A few could be taking on all flooring projects (carpet, tile, wood, rubber and theamed concrete). Meetings are held constantly with every team on the project to keep everyone on the same page. It's not uncomon to work 6 months on a simple guest room alone.