“I guarantee someone watching right now is a future Imagineer.”

These powerful words, from one of Mark Rober’s famous CrunchLabs videos on YouTube, inspired countless viewers. But for Brian Chung, a former Disney intern and now a financial analyst for Walt Disney Imagineering, they sparked something much bigger.

Brian had watched a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the constant innovation happening at Walt Disney Imagineering. He discovered a side of Disney that beautifully blended creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving, opening his eyes to possibilities he hadn’t considered. He quickly turned that inspiration into action, setting a new course for his career.

Before landing his full-time role as a financial analyst with Walt Disney Imagineering, Brian gained valuable experience through two internships with The Walt Disney Company. First, he worked with the WDI finance team in Glendale, California, then moved to the franchise strategy team in Orlando, Florida.

However, his journey with Imagineering truly started even earlier.

Watching that Mark Rober video, which highlighted the incredible work at Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, completely opened Brian’s eyes. He saw a new blend of advanced engineering, endless creativity, and captivating storytelling that he hadn’t known existed within Disney. It immediately caught his attention and pushed him to explore an internship with the company.

“It didn’t even really get on my radar until I watched that Mark Rober video where he did the walkthrough at the Glendale Imagineering campus. I knew it was just one small part of Disney, but it sounded so interesting. I was always so interested in design engineering, and I thought, well, maybe they have something open in finance as well,” Brian explained.

While Brian shared that his family visited the parks about once every ten years, most recently Walt Disney World, this moment with Mark Rober marked a turning point. It solidified his push toward a dream career at Disney.

After securing his first internship with The Walt Disney Company on the finance team in Glendale, Brian decided to take a bold step. As a way to show his appreciation for his early career start, he reached out to Mark Rober’s team with a personal email.

Brian shared how Rober’s Imagineering video, and many others over the years, had inspired him to take creative risks and tackle challenging projects. From building derby cars as a child to joining his high school robotics team, Brian explained the huge impact these videos had on people like him worldwide.

He noted that even as his interests evolved, his passion for creativity and innovation never faded. This mindset guided him to where he is today, entering a dream role with endless possibilities ahead.

Just a few weeks into his new job in Orlando, Brian was settling in when his team presented an unexpected opportunity: a work trip to California in April. He would support one of his team’s operational planning meetings.

Initially surprised by this last-minute addition to his calendar, Brian embraced the moment. He was determined to learn as much as possible and ask countless questions. Though nervous, this reflected a key part of his career philosophy: always saying “yes” to experiences that push him out of his comfort zone. It’s an inspiring attitude we can all learn from!

So, with this outlook, Brian set off for Anaheim. He connected with several cast members from across The Walt Disney Company, all eager to welcome him to his first work trip at Disneyland Resort. But soon after arriving in sunny Southern California, something felt a little off. Several cast members from the WDI communications team discreetly asked Brian to film some “day in the life” content on his phone. This made Brian curious. Could this work trip actually be a setup for something much bigger?

“You’re asking the finance guy to do this? That might not be the very best content that you’ll get, but it sounded fun,” Brian recounted. Driven by his philosophy of saying “yes” to exciting-but-unclear opportunities, Brian agreed. He stepped into a larger picture that would lead to something far beyond his wildest dreams.

Upon arriving at Disney California Adventure park for his supposed “meeting,” Brian was excited to finally meet several Walt Disney Imagineering colleagues in person. But when they asked him to wear a mic to help record his “day in the life” content, he knew something was definitely up.

Then, his leaders revealed the big surprise: they wanted him to meet one last person. Mark Rober.

Still thinking it was just a coincidence, Brian casually approached Mark, expecting a quick hello before his next scheduled “meeting.”

But as cameras gathered and this shining moment stretched on, he realized this was no accident. Outside the Animation Building inside Disney California Adventure park, Brian had his golden chance to connect with Mark in person. He shared his journey, referenced the email he sent months ago, and explained how Mark had inspired him every step of the way. Brian’s managers had orchestrated this once-in-a-lifetime surprise perfectly, complete with staged meetings, pre-packed bags, and meticulously coordinated logistics to keep everything a secret. It was clear: this entire moment was planned just for him.

Brian’s recent months have been an incredible roller coaster. He graduated from the University of Washington in December (with a major in Finance and Supply Chain) and will soon walk at his graduation ceremony. Brian also shared that he closely followed the Disney Careers website and LinkedIn during his internship search, which fueled his interest and ultimately inspired him to pursue a future with Walt Disney Imagineering.

As our conversation ended, Brian reflected on this special moment with immense gratitude. He described the experience as truly unexpected.

“I see this all the time for many guests at Disney who get to experience these ‘surprise and delights’ or ‘magical moments,’ but I never expected them to do something like this for a cast member, especially one who’s only three weeks into a new role… that’s one of the big reasons why, even after my internships ended, I knew I wanted to come back to Disney for a job. The culture here is just so supportive.”

It’s a powerful full-circle moment that perfectly illustrates why he chose this path. It also reminds us all that those key moments of inspiration can truly shape where you end up and who you are meant to become, driven by a pure passion for creativity and the endless pursuit of innovation.