terp79
Member
it's all about the experience. . .
Words of wisdom, I spoke with an Imagineer in Glendale (one that worked with Tony Baxter developing Disneyland Paris, she helped design the castle among many other things) and she told me that higher education or design experience in the entertainment industry is key.
She stressed the "professional work experience" over high education but also mentioned that a masters degree is always good. She said that just because one has a masters degree won't automatically get them in WDI but the portfolio of professional work experience will. They really want to see how one applies their talents/degree(s) outside of the classroom and how it will relate and translate to WDI. She said that it's all about how one applies them self in the real world.
I was going to go straight into grad school after college but I didn't want to stay in school forever and not try to put my bachelors degree to work. I did what the Imagineers suggested and I'm currently working at a company that works with Disney so I am getting some design experience that relates. I really enjoy it but on the same note I haven't lost track of the higher education factor. I'm planning on going and getting my MFA within the next 2 years. I have been shopping around looking at various schools that have relations with Disney/WDI and one's that will let me tailor my own master's degree to benefit what I want to do in the future.
I understand what Figment571 means with all the "what ifs" because getting into WDI isn't easy. I've been trying for four years, now granted I did enter the ImagiNations design contest that opened a lot of doors and I have been freelancing for the Show Production Department in Glendale for the last 2 years on various blue sky projects and I'm still not there. It's tough and the journey is long and hard so be prepared for a lot of rejection. I will stress that one should always have at least 2 back up plans to fall on. Don't put all your eggs into one basket.
There are many ways into WDI and none are laid out for any of us. You make your own path....so good luck to all on the wild and crazy journey that is wanting to become an Imagineer.
Words of wisdom, I spoke with an Imagineer in Glendale (one that worked with Tony Baxter developing Disneyland Paris, she helped design the castle among many other things) and she told me that higher education or design experience in the entertainment industry is key.
She stressed the "professional work experience" over high education but also mentioned that a masters degree is always good. She said that just because one has a masters degree won't automatically get them in WDI but the portfolio of professional work experience will. They really want to see how one applies their talents/degree(s) outside of the classroom and how it will relate and translate to WDI. She said that it's all about how one applies them self in the real world.
I was going to go straight into grad school after college but I didn't want to stay in school forever and not try to put my bachelors degree to work. I did what the Imagineers suggested and I'm currently working at a company that works with Disney so I am getting some design experience that relates. I really enjoy it but on the same note I haven't lost track of the higher education factor. I'm planning on going and getting my MFA within the next 2 years. I have been shopping around looking at various schools that have relations with Disney/WDI and one's that will let me tailor my own master's degree to benefit what I want to do in the future.
I understand what Figment571 means with all the "what ifs" because getting into WDI isn't easy. I've been trying for four years, now granted I did enter the ImagiNations design contest that opened a lot of doors and I have been freelancing for the Show Production Department in Glendale for the last 2 years on various blue sky projects and I'm still not there. It's tough and the journey is long and hard so be prepared for a lot of rejection. I will stress that one should always have at least 2 back up plans to fall on. Don't put all your eggs into one basket.
There are many ways into WDI and none are laid out for any of us. You make your own path....so good luck to all on the wild and crazy journey that is wanting to become an Imagineer.
We automatically get US citizenship at birth. But to cover my , I was born in Boston, and I also have an EU citizenship, should I opt to send a CV to the WDI Europe people that I've met.
