The Spirit of the Time

PASSENGER 50: Legendary Disney Imagineer, Animator, Illustrator, Designer, Author, Speaker, & Cocktail Connoisseur Joe Lanzisero After graduating from the inaugural 1975 CalArts Character Animation class ("the Class that Roared"), Joe Lanzisero fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a Disney animator before working his way up to the top of Walt Disney Imagineering. Over 37 years, Joe served as creative lead on some US$9 billion in E-Ticket lands and attractions, including Mystic Point (Mystic Manor), the world's first Toy Story Land and Grizzly Gulch at Hong Kong Disneyland; Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, Mermaid Lagoon and Arabian Coast at the Tokyo Disneyland Resort; Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland; and the Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course at Walt Disney World. Joe also oversaw the creative development and implementation of multiple entertainment and dining experiences for Disney Cruise Lines, including the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Castaway Cay. Set your pocket watch now for our 50th time travel journey as we explore the wild, wonderful and whimsical world of Joe Lanzisero!

Flight 49: Former VP of Creative for Walt Disney Imagineering & Universal Creative, Paul Osterhout

Serving as a senior creative executive for the two most successful theme park owner/operators on the planet in the same decade requires a unique set of skills and talents. Paul Osterhout possesses that rare ability to liaise between creative development, production design, architecture, and construction while simultaneously managing corporate leaders and IP stakeholders. If you've experienced MuppetVision 3D, Rock'n'RollerCoaster starring Aerosmith, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, the updated Carousel of Progress, or multiple attractions at the Universal Beijing Resort, then you have been immersed in all things Paul Osterhout! Set your timepiece now to join us as Paul climbs aboard the time machine to share the wisdom and antidotes he's collected over his 42 years of making magic around the globe.

PART II: Flight 48: Author and industry veteran, Thea Lifetime Achievement Recipient, and former President of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Weis.

When Bob Weis joined WED Enterprise in 1980, Disney owned two theme parks. Forty-five years later, Disney operates twelve parks worldwide and Bob Weis played a role in at least half of them, including Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney Studios Parc, Disney California Adventure, and Shanghai Disneyland. After a short stint at his own firm, (Bob) Weis Design Island (WDI!), and Gensler, Bob is now a successful author, having recently published his autobiography, "Dream Chasing," and his first work of fiction, "Ghost Dog." Set your pocket watch now to join us as Bob climbs aboard the time machine to relive the trials and tribulations of overseeing the design and production of multiple Disney theme parks and being one only four individuals to ever hold the title of president of the world's first and most beloved themed entertainment design company.

Flight 47: Former President & COO, Universal Destinations & Experiences, Tom Mehrmann

While the focus of The Spirit of the Time Zoomcast tends to be on the creative minds who have designed some of the world's most beloved theme parks and attractions, equal creedence must be given to those who operate these projects and ensure, day by day, that the design intent is not just maintained, but improved. Tom Mehrmann is one of our industry's most respected operators, having spent some five decades overseeing major theme parks around the globe — from Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flags Marine World to Ocean Park, Warner Bros. Movie World Madrid, and Universal Studios Beijing. Set your timepiece now and plan to join us as we welcome the nicest guy in the industry aboard our time machine for a master class in how to successfully operate a theme park and ensure that both guests and employees are your biggest fans!

Flight 46: Iconic former domestic and international planning and development executive for both Disney and Universal, Frank Stanek.

When you view construction photos or videos of Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Japan and other major themed entertainment projects around the globe, the focus is typically on those crazy creative folks — not the guys in the suits. But the truth is that if it weren't for the guys in the suits who secured the site and the funding, strategically planned the project, and oversaw the budgets and schedules, those crazy creative folks wouldn't have anything to design or build! Frank Stanek is probably the most famous "suit" in our industry today, having worked for Walt and Roy Disney on the New York World's Fair and Mineral King before joining WED Enterprises to oversee business planning and development. He helped to create Walt Disney World, Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris before working directly with Michael Eisner and Frank Wells as the Walt Disney Company's first Corporate Vice President of Planning. After a stint with the Japanese firm Dentsu, Frank was recruited to MCA/Universal, where he became President of International Business Development and oversaw the Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal projects in Spain, Korea, and China. Set your timepiece now and plan to join us as one of the themed entertainment industry's most storied planning and development execs shares his wisdom and tales from the trenches in what promises to be Zoomcast for the ages!

Flight 45: Former VP of Interactive Projects, Show Producer & Interactive Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, Joe Garlington

By 1990, it was believed that Disney park guests were tired of passive attractions and so the company brought back former EPCOT Center "Arcade of the Future" designer and the owner of LA-based Art & Technology Joe Garlington to tap into the latest computer hardware and software and transform Disney experiences into communal, personalized, and yes, interactive experiences. If you've ever immersed yourself in Stitch Encounter, Turtle Talk with Crush, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Disneyquest or dozens of early interactive experiences at museums, aquariums and theme parks around the country, you've no doubt enjoyed the creative visions of Joe Garlington. Set your interactive calendar now and plan to join us as USC's Adjunct Professor and Advisor of Themed Entertainment Design climbs aboard the time machine to share his career highlights, collected wisdom, and predictions for the future of interactive technology in themed entertainment. It promises to be, well, interactive!

Flight 44: If it moves on wheels at Disneyland, it was probably designed by 93-year old Disney Legend and Thea Lifetime Achievement recipient, Bob Gurr.

Walt Disney was so impressed with his knowledge and skill, that he invited Bob Gurr to join WED Enterprises to design the very first Autopia cars that debuted at Disneyland in 1955. Over the past 74 years, Bob has made transportation magic worldwide, developing such legendary Disneyland ride vehicles as the Monorail, the Flying Saucers, the Haunted Mansion "Doom Buggies," the Submarine Voyage sub fleet, the PeopleMover, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. After "retiring" in 1981, Bob went on to co-found Sequoia Creative and design the massive King Kong animatronic for Universal Studios Hollywood. He designed the flying spaceship for the 1984 Olympics opening ceremonies, effects for The Jacksons' Victory tour, and dinosaurs for Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park." Plan now to join us as Bob climbs aboard a vehicle with no wheels for a journey across ten decades on one of the most incredible time travel adventures we've ever had!

Flight 43: Forty-five-year industry veteran, Thea Lifetime Achievement Recipient, and former President of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Weis.

When Bob Weis joined WED Enterprise in 1980, Disney owned two theme parks. Forty-five years later, Disney operates twelve parks worldwide and Bob Weis played a role in at least half of them, including Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney Studios Parc, Disney California Adventure, and Shanghai Disneyland. After a short stint at his own firm, (Bob) Weis Design Island (WDI!), and Gensler, Bob is now a successful author, having recently published his autobiography, "Dream Chasing," and his first work of fiction, "Ghost Dog." Set your pocket watch now to join us as Bob climbs aboard the time machine to relive the trials and tribulations of overseeing the design and production of multiple Disney theme parks and being one only four individuals to ever hold the title of president of the world's first and most beloved themed entertainment design company.

FLIGHT 42: Veteran media, VFX, and show producer for Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, Sony, MacGillivray Freeman Films and more, Valerie Johnson-Redrow!

Today's immersive attractions feature tremendous amounts of media - often presented on tremendous screens. While owners and operators often take the credit for these groundbreaking E-Ticket experiences, it's the media and show producers who make the magic happen.

Plan now to join us as veteran media, VFX, and show producer Valerie Johnson-Redrow climbs aboard the time machine to share stories and wisdom accumulated during her 30-year career, including show producing the "King Kong 360-3D" and "Reign of Kong" (media only) attractions at Universal parks, producing media for Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot and developing concepts for Conservation Station at Disney's Animal Kingdom, producing all media for Sony's Metreon in San Francisco, as well as her work on IMAX films, Chinese flying attractions, TV shows, and her latest project, "Adventures Beneath the Seas!"

Flight 41: Writer, creative director, past TEA president, and founding principal and chief creative officer of Thinkwell Group, Craig Hanna

From Iwerks to Kevin Biles Design to Jack Morton to Universal Creative to founding Thinkwell Group, Craig Hanna's 30+ year career in the location-based entertainment industry has been a thrill ride unto itself. Plan now to join us as Craig climbs aboard the time machine to share his stories, learnings, and humor from such groundbreaking projects as Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter, Ski Dubai, and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. **Apologies for the technical difficulties. You will notice 2 sections later in the podcast that cut out.