Ever wonder how Disney dreams become reality? This is called Imagineering!
If you're aspiring to be a future Walt Disney Imagineer and want to learn more about the stories behind your favorite Disneyland attractions, you've come to the right place. This blog is your direct path to new episodes imagineer, Now available in Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube Channel.
Check back often – we’ll be providing previews of the latest episodes, and Tom Morrow 2.0 uses his insider access to Walt Disney Imagineering to help answer questions and explain more about what’s going on behind the scenes.
December 22: How to create a fun smell like gingerbread?
The holidays are here, here’s a new episode Imagine that! Now available on the Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube channel! This time, Tom Morrow 2.0 heads to the Magic Kingdom Find out where all the holiday smells come from during Mickey's Christmas Parade. Luckily, Kaley from Disney Live Entertainment nose Answer.
For years, Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Live Entertainment have used scent as a tool because of its ability to trigger strong feelings of nostalgia. Attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Spaceship Earth and Around the World have iconic fragrances that have become synonymous with these rides and leave a lasting impression with scent memories.
Mickey’s Christmas Parade uses scent to connect guests to their own nostalgic holiday memories. Several floats in the parade smelled of scents like pine, gingerbread and peppermint as they passed visitors on the street. The smells come from devices hidden inside our parade floats. The jar contains sesame oil, which is heated until it evaporates and is pushed out by a fan.
If you have a question you'd like Tom Morrow 2.0 to answer, please leave it in the YouTube comments for this month's episode!
Nov. 17: Why do roller coasters feel faster in the dark?
in this episode Imagine that!Tom Morrow 2.0 takes you behind the scenes at Walt Disney Imagineering to answer an exciting question: Why do roller coasters feel faster in the dark?
With the help of amusement engineer Ugo and illusion expert Daniel, we discover that it's all about clever design and sensory tricks. When you can't see the track, your brain can't predict its twists and turns, making every dip and corner that much more exciting.
Imagineers use everything from low seats to close-up furniture and even sound illusions to create a feeling of speed and surprise. So next time you're running in the dark on Space Mountain, remember: It's the magic of Imagineering at work, getting your brain working and your heart racing.
Want your questions answered? Leave it in the comments for this month’s episode!
October 27: How did the Imagineers make things in the park so ancient and creepy?
Halloween is here and Tom Morrow 2.0 has found the perfect question to answer – “How did the Imagineers make things in the park so old and creepy?”
Imagineers use a variety of techniques to age the environment. Set decorators Nathaniel and Marielle explain how they use props and special tools to make something new look like it's been there a long time.
Sometimes Imagineers are able to source antiques from a specific period, and other times they'll apply paint to create a rust or patina effect. Cobwebs can also make a space feel older, and the effect will look even better as dust accumulates.
If you want to know how Imagineers create spider webs and more, listen to the latest episode Imagine that!
September 15th: How do Imagineers build mountains?
Here’s the scoop on the latest episode Imagine that! Michelle Khare, popular host challenge accepted On YouTube, yes huge fan Tom Morrow 2.0 and Walt Disney Imagineering. After 25 years of waiting, Tom helps answer Michelle’s question – “How do Imagineers build mountains?”
Turns out, building Disney Mountain is more complicated than you might think. Rockwork engineer Tammy explains the long process that started with the story.
Disney Hills come in all shapes and sizes. Some are based on real mountains, e.g. Matterhorn at Disneyland or Everest Expedition At Walt Disney World. Others are more fantastical, like the floating mountains in The Pandora World of Avatar.
Once Imagineers develop the story they want to tell, they create a model and scan it into a digital structure. The steel structure designed by Tammy's team was ultimately clad in curved steel bars, laths and concrete. An important part of this step is rock integration – The process of seamlessly integrating lights, speakers, foliage and technology into mountains and rocks. Finally, craftsmen made the mountains look authentic by carving and painting exquisite details on the concrete stucco.
August 25: How do Imagineers conceive of new rides?
Tom Morrow 2.0 is back and ready to answer your questions about Imagineering and how Imagineers bring Disney magic to life. First question from Ellie, Florida – “How do Imagineers envision new rides?”
No, Disney attraction ideas don’t come from nowhere. New rides were carefully considered during the “blue sky” period. This step in the creative process is more than just a bunch of imagineers sitting in a room discussing ideas.
Not all ideas make it out of the blue, but at Walt Disney Imagineering, no good idea ever dies completely. Attractions that emerge from the blue sky enter the concept stage, where Imagineers use sketches, sculptures and visualizations to determine how the experience will look, sound, smell and feel. Then, Imagineers make sure they can bring what they want to life during the feasibility phase, and then bring the details together during the design phase.
The final step in the creative process is production. Before visitors can experience the new attraction, everything is built, installed, tested and tweaked, and the design becomes a reality. The life cycle of a project can be 3 to 5 years, sometimes even longer.
all about Imagine that!
Imagine that! is a Disney Channel short film series from the late 1990s/early 2000s hosted by Housewife minion Tom Morrow 2.0 and later rebooted on the Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube channel. Tom Morrow 2.0 was also the presenter of the EPCOT Innovation Conference from 2000 to 2007.
If you'd like Tom to answer a question about Imagineering, please leave it in the YouTube comments. You can learn more about dreaming, designing and creating by following Imagineers on Instagram and reading more behind-the-scenes stories on the Disney Parks Blog.
August 25: “Imagine That!” Returns—The Reboot You Didn’t Know You Needed
* Contributor Tom Morrow 2.0
“Ever wonder how Disney's dreams become reality? It's called Imagineering!”
It's the year 2000 and you're watching the Disney Channel. If you've ever had the sudden urge to draw Mickey's ears with an imaginary wand, you probably also know who I am and I'm happy to tell you that I'm back. Yes, it's me, Tom Morrow 2.0! I'm as curious, chatty, and full of questions as ever, and ready to answer your thoughts in 2025.
But if you're new here and not a Millennial (that's what I've heard them called), you might be wondering who I am and why my return is so exciting. Good news, because I'm here to let you know about my glorious return faster than you can say, “Any questions?”
Who is Tom Morrow 2.0?
Why, this is a very philosophical question. I guess you want to know my history, right?
I'm a mini robot who loves hosting educational shows, making puns, and exploring the magic behind Disney experiences. I debuted at Innoventions at EPCOT (where I used to live) and quickly became a fan favorite because of my curiosity and my cars. My car is back but Imagineers says Innovation is not.
You may remember me from the early 2000s Disney Channel segment “Imagineer That!” Back then, I hung out with the Imagineers and uncovered the science, storytelling, and engineering principles behind rides, fireworks, audio animatronics…basically, anything that explodes, swooshes, or sparkles!
Where have I been?
My inventing career ended in 2007, and I retired to the not-so-quiet halls of Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, California. I spend my days recharging, diagnosing, and occasionally eavesdropping on imagineers’ conversations (while silently criticizing their coffee habits).
Sounds like a nice break, huh? You might be thinking, “Wow, Tom, why did you decide to come back now?”
Well, Imagineers are creating more magic than ever before—with projects currently in development around the world. With so much going on, there are more questions than ever about the situation at Walt Disney Imagineering, so the Imagineers must be committed to “rebooting the old circuits” – their words, not mine – because I'm the right robot for the job.
A team of dreamers and doers from across Imagineering came together to get me back online. First, they gave me an idea of what's trending today and what all the kids are saying. They then had me work with our R&D technicians to update my design and motion programming—aka a system upgrade that installed extra oomph.
They even refurbished my iconic car, redecorated my work space and basically made sure I was ready for my big comeback. That's it, here I am!
What's next for Tom?
With a shiny new parking spot, I'm ready to ask more questions, make some bad puns, and delve deeper into the magical minds of Imagineers around the world.
In this reboot of “Imagineer That!,” you'll hear directly from the creative minds behind the Disney experience. Yes, I will be with you every step of the way, asking you questions and some you didn't even know you had, and maybe telling a joke or two while I'm asking them.
Oh, here's a clue (you didn't hear from me), be sure to keep your eyes peeled for each episode. You never know what you'll find in the background.
Watch the first episode of “Imagineer That!” and check back here for more adventures with yours truly: Tom Morrow 2.0, Imagineering's smallest, chattiest and most curious host.
