Disney fans have strong opinions when it comes to the parks, and EPCOT is a prime example. Many of us connected with the original version in the ’80s and ’90s. It’s changed so much during the past 38 years, and some updates have made it better.… Read more...

The post 110. Improving EPCOT (Part 1) appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

One of my favorite books about Walt Disney World is Building a Better Mouse: The Story of the Electronic Imagineers Who Designed Epcot. David Green and Steve Alcorn co-wrote the book, which gives us an insiders’ look at the atmosphere during EPCOT Center’s construction.… Read more...

The post 109. David Green on Building a Better Mouse and Engineering for EPCOT Center appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Garner Holt doesn’t work at Walt Disney Imagineering, but his company has played a key role in creating many of Disney’s most popular attractions. His company Garner Holt Productions is the leader in building animatronics and other figures at theme parks, including Disneyland.… Read more...

The post 108. Garner Holt on Creating Animatronics for Fantasmic!, Haunted Mansion Holiday, and Knotts Berry Farm appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

There is so much history to uncover about Disney’s theme parks, especially the more distant past. We’ve heard many of the stories about the work of the Imagineers at WED on the 1964 World’s Fair, Walt Disney World, and beyond. But what about the time before those big moments?… Read more...

The post 107. Former Imagineer Tom K. Morris on the Early Days of WED Enterprises appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Many of us visited Walt Disney World as a kid in the ’70s, ’80s, and beyond. My first trip that I remember clearly was in 1984, just two years after the opening of EPCOT Center. It’s easy to look back at those times and wish certain attractions or other aspects of those vacations was still in place.… Read more...

The post 106. Todd McCartney on Horizons Revisited and the Retro Disney World Podcast appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It’s such a challenging time in every field, and that includes businesses connected to Walt Disney World. The shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic has essentially stopped the flow of news from the parks. That changed last week when Disney announced their reopening plans for next month.… Read more...

The post 105. Shannon Albert on WDW Prep School and the Reopening of Walt Disney World appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We have come full circle this week on The Tomorrow Society Podcast with the return of my first interview guest from Episode 2. Ryan Ritchey appeared on that early show, originally released on August 28, 2015. We talked about his film After the Fair, which covered the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair.… Read more...

The post 104. Ryan Ritchey on the Future of Immersive Entertainment appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When you look beyond official histories of Walt Disney World and the Walt Disney Company in general, so many other interesting stories are out there. I enjoy reading about all the weird promotions and odd attractions that Disney has created over the years.… Read more...

The post 103. Michael Crawford on Progress City U.S.A., Horizons, and EPCOT the City appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It’s difficult to explain the allure of theme parks. Regular guests enjoy them but don’t have the obsessive need for details from behind the scenes. I love discovering the backgrounds of Imagineers that created Disneyland and parks around the world. Their stories are what makes The Imagineering Story such an incredible series.… Read more...

The post 102. Leslie Iwerks, Executive Producer and Director of The Imagineering Story appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

One of my favorite aspects of this podcast is learning about how attractions really work. The technical hurdles to make them function properly every time are massive, especially for new technologies. That makes it so interesting to talk with the brilliant thinkers working to make dreams a reality.… Read more...

The post 101. Bran Ferren, Former President of R&D at the Walt Disney Company appeared first on Tomorrow Society.