The Tomorrow Society Podcast

Later this month, Disney will unveil the latest plans for Epcot’s “transformation” at the D23 Expo in Anaheim. I’m nervous about what we’ll hear during that event, but I realize that EPCOT Center was a product of its time.… Read more... The post TTSP #78: How Bowers on Retro Magic, EPCOT Center, and the Opening Day of the Disney/MGM Studios appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

St. Louis, Missouri is not exactly a mecca for theme parks. I’m envious of podcasters and bloggers that live close to Orlando or Anaheim and can easily visit those Disney resorts. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to visit nearby, however. Six Flags St.… Read more... The post TTSP #77: Silver Dollar City Trip Report appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

There is so much to appreciate when you think about the original EPCOT Center. For its second Walt Disney World park, Disney took a completely different approach and built something remarkable. Looking beyond the massive pavilions and stunning attractions, there are so many little touches that made EPCOT Center a success.… Read more... The post TTSP #76: Former Imagineer Jim Sarno on Disney’s Model Shop, SMRT-1, and The Land Pavilion Fountain appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

The 1970s were a tricky period for the Walt Disney Animation Studios. Legendary artists were getting older, and there wasn’t a new crop to take their place. The Character Animation Program at CalArts would help to fix that trend. Beginning in 1975, the first class included familiar names like Tim Burton, Brad Bird, and John Musker.… Read more... The post TTSP #75: Former Imagineer Joe Lanzisero on Mickey’s Toontown, Tokyo DisneySea, and Mystic Manor appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We’ve all heard stories of talented designers at Walt Disney Imagineering that created iconic attractions. Figures like Joe Rohde, Tony Baxter, and countless others receive well-deserved attention for those feats. There’s another group that also played an essential role in building Walt Disney World and other parks.… Read more... The post TTSP #74: David Snyder on Programming the Computer Systems for Walt Disney World and EPCOT Center appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We’re approaching the 64th anniversary of Disneyland’s opening, and the number of former cast members remaining from 1955 keeps getting smaller. Known as Club 55, this group saw the park at the beginning and have amazing stories about those experiences.… Read more... The post TTSP #73: Disney Legend Tom Nabbe on Opening EPCOT Center, Managing the Monorail, and Being Hired by Walt Disney appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

In our tech-driven world, there are so many options to stay connected. Podcasts, YouTube videos, and Instagram stories are just a small part of what’s out there. Despite the wide range of choices, few of them beat the enjoyment of a good book.… Read more... The post TTSP #72: Courtney Guth and Emily McDermott, Book of the Mouse Club Podcast appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It’s easy to look at Walt Disney Imagineering as a small group of brilliant designers that put their amazing dreams into the parks. However, the reality is a lot more complicated and includes so many contributors across a variety of disciplines.… Read more... The post TTSP #71: Former Disney Imagineer Bob Baranick on Disneyland Paris, Indiana Jones, and Updating Classic Attractions appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It’s not that hard to start a podcast, but doing one regularly for 14 years is another matter. When a passion project becomes a business, the pressure increases to put out a consistent show. Back in the mid-2000s when Lou Mongello started WDW Radio, podcasting was still in its infancy.… Read more... The post TTSP #70: Lou Mongello, WDW Radio appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When I started outlining my thoughts about Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa for a trip report, I realized there was far too much to contain within a single episode. In fact, I needed to seriously develop a plan to fit the material into two parts.… Read more... The post TTSP #69: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa (Part 2) appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

There was far too much to cover at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa within a single podcast episode. It’s one of those amazing places that seems pretty straightforward on the surface but offers a lot more than you expect. I thought that Aulani would be great, but the beautiful resort blew my assumptions out of the water.… Read more... The post TTSP #68: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa (Part 1) appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It’s easy to look at theme parks as the product of just a small group of brilliant designers. Creative leaders definitely lead projects at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), but they are only a small part of the picture. Numerous specialties fall under the umbrella of WDI and work together to create the ultimate attractions we enjoy at the parks.… Read more... The post TTSP #67: Greg Meader on Sound Design for Spaceship Earth, Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, and Phantom Manor appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When I think about monumental pop culture landmarks like Star Wars or The Muppets, it’s easy to feel like they’ve always existed. Both were a part of my life from an early age during the 1980s and well beyond. I’ve known about George Lucas and Jim Henson for a long time, but it’s mostly been the obvious material.… Read more... The post TTSP #66: Brian Jay Jones, Author of Jim Henson: The Biography and George Lucas: A Life appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

There is so much happening right now at Walt Disney World and beyond, and we’re on the cusp of massive changes. Theme parks continue to grow and look for new ways to draw guests, and Disney remains at the forefront. The impending arrival of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will have a huge impact on Disney’s U.S.… Read more... The post TTSP #65: Len Testa on Galaxy’s Edge, Disney Dining, and the Future of Disney World Transportation appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

I’m regularly amazed by the random chance that goes into the careers of even the biggest names in theme parks. Few had grand plans to become Imagineers or even work in the industry. The right personal connection or small choice prepared a trajectory into a specific role.… Read more... The post TTSP #64: Peggie Fariss on 50 Years at Disney and Producing Spaceship Earth appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

I’ve closely studied theme parks by visiting in person, reading books, and talking with experts. That information still pares in comparison to working at Walt Disney World. That close perspective gives a different outlook on what it takes to operate the parks.… Read more... The post TTSP #63: Skipper Ben Rebstock on Working at Walt Disney World, Inside the Magic, and the Disney/MGM Studios appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When we visit theme parks, part of the magic is how well everything works. Broken attractions and bad show stand out because they are so rare. When Disneyland is succeeding, you barely think about the behind-the-scenes efforts that make that day possible.… Read more... The post TTSP #62: Rand Boyd, Elbow Grease and Pixie Dust appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We can easily take the artistry of theme park attractions for granted, especially ones where the work is less obvious. We marvel at the animatronics of Pirates of the Caribbean or the thrills of Space Mountain because the work is right out in front.… Read more... The post TTSP #61: Rick Harper, Director of Impressions de France appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Disney’s history with theme park movie adaptations is mixed. Pirates of the Caribbean charmed audiences, but The Haunted Mansion and The Country Bears fell short. Consequently, I entered the theater to watch Tomorrowland back in 2015 with both trepidation and excitement.… Read more... The post TTSP #60: Producer John Walker on Disney’s Tomorrowland, The Incredibles, and The Iron Giant appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

It’s easy as theme park fans to focus solely on the design process when thinking about the parks. Walt Disney Imagineering excites us because it promises endless possibilities for new creations. This approach places less emphasis on how important the teams that operate the parks are to make them succeed.… Read more... The post TTSP #59: Dan Cockerell, Former Vice President of The Magic Kingdom appeared first on Tomorrow Society.