This Disney Dose podcast presents the audio from Imagineering 60 Years of Disneyland: Part 2 continuing Walt Disney’s legacy. The panel is moderated by Leslie Iwerks, the granddaughter of famed Disney Animator, Ub Iwerks. Leslie is directing the much anticipated documentary on Imagineering: The Imagineering Story.
Steve Davison, Kim Irvine, Kevin Rafferty, Charita Carter, Tony Baxter and Marty Sklar joined Leslie on the panel. Marty Sklar is the former principal creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering (a fancy way of saying he ran the show). Kim Irvine currently serves as Art Director for Disneyland Park and has worked on such projects at the recent Club 33 renovation, the newly refreshed Alice in Wonderland attraction, Disneyland Dream Suite, and many more projects. Kevin Rafferty led the Cars Land project and actually wrote the songs in “it’s Tough to Be a Bug” and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree. Charita Carter made the transition from the financial side of Imagineering to the creative special effects team. Tony Baxter is legendary for his work leading Indiana Jones Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain, Star Tours, Splash Mountain, and many more projects.
In this episode you will hear:
- What caused the big change at Walt Disney Imagineering
- How each of them got their big Disney break
- Which films were the biggest inspirations for their time at Disneyland
- What it means to be a “Disney Brat”
- What allows for people to find their passion and jobs at Disney
- How one received a masters class in parades
- What allowed the young Imagineers to work up the ranks
- How they thought about the Disneyland 60th Anniversary
- Which book you need to read to become an Imagineer
- How they created the floating head for the Haunted Mansion
