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  • Unlocking Disney Magic: Dive into the Imagineering Video Series

    Ever wondered how Disney brings its incredible worlds to life? The “We Call It Imagineering” video series pulls back the curtain, letting us peek into the minds of the brilliant Imagineers who create the magic. Just like Walt Disney himself shared the making of Disneyland, this series shows us how they dream up new lands, thrilling attractions, and captivating entertainment for all of us.

    This fantastic series, inspired by Walt’s original behind-the-scenes specials, blends stunning imagination with world-class engineering. It’s the legendary Disney way!

    So far, six episodes have dropped, taking us deep inside Walt Disney Imagineering. We’ve seen everything from building iconic castles to meticulously designing the newest rides for Disney Parks worldwide.

    Want to catch up? You can find all episodes on the Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube channel. Make sure to enable notifications so you never miss a new release!

    Disney Architecture: Shaping Our Worlds

    Imagineers don’t just build buildings; they craft entire worlds you can step right into. The story isn’t just at the end of a queue – it’s woven into the scale of a doorway, the curve of a street, the materials under your feet, and every view they choose to reveal around the next corner. It’s all about creating believable environments!

    This episode of “We Call It Imagineering” explores the architectural decisions behind Disneyland’s original construction and how that legacy continues today. You’ll get an exclusive look at projects like the exterior facade work for Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

    • Walk the sample yard for Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see Imagineers testing themed finishes.
    • Go behind the wall at Piston Peak National Park in Magic Kingdom for the project team’s balloon testing.
    • Visit Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge, where Imagineers blend physical and digital architecture to push immersive storytelling further.

    They also spotlight Animation Courtyard and Pandora—The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, showing how architecture and landscape design work hand-in-hand to create truly breathtaking places. Technology keeps evolving, but the core goal remains constant: building believable worlds.

    Setting Sail with Disney Cruise Line: Adventures on the High Seas

    Sometimes, magic starts from a blank page, but often, it builds upon a fantastic legacy – just like with Disney Cruise Line! In this episode of “We Call It Imagineering,” we set sail on the Disney Adventure, watching Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Live Entertainment put the finishing touches on its amazing entertainment and immersive spaces.

    The Disney Adventure marks a new chapter for Disney Cruise Line, which began in the 1990s when Disney Legend Wing Chao envisioned cruise ships that felt classic, modern, and unmistakably Disney. For this particular ship, Imagineers tackled a unique challenge: bringing iconic Disney stories to an existing vessel, introducing it to a new market in Singapore.

    They spent months researching the local culture, ensuring the stories resonated perfectly with guests in the region. This was also their chance to build the very first castle at sea, bringing theme park-level storytelling and Disney magic to new audiences!

    Every Disney Cruise Line ship showcases incredible technical ingenuity, with groundbreaking entertainment, immersive environments, and pioneering technology. From Marvel’s first rollercoaster at sea to dynamic multimedia dining and world-class stage shows, the Disney Adventure is truly the most innovative ship to join the fleet.

    And the journey doesn’t stop here! Disney Cruise Line plans to expand to thirteen ships by 2031, with five new ones already in various stages of development. See how Imagineers redefine what’s possible on the water in “Setting Sail”!

    Now Streaming: Catch “We Call It Imagineering” on Disney+!

    Great news! You can now watch “We Call It Imagineering” on Disney+, giving you even more ways to dive into the magic. The Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube series has explored fascinating topics, including Research & Development, the Haunted Mansion, Disney Castles, and Disney Live Entertainment.

    New episodes will continue to debut on YouTube first, so keep an eye out there. They will then join the collection on Disney+ at a later date. Don’t worry, all current episodes will remain freely available on YouTube!

    Research and Development: The Future is Now!

    New worlds, new characters, new possibilities… and Olaf?! This episode of “We Call It Imagineering” takes us inside Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development and Disney Research labs. Prepare to see how they innovate, pushing the boundaries of emerging technologies, new forms of storytelling, and groundbreaking creative tools that will shape the future of Disney Experiences.

    “Today’s R&D is a direct extension of those first Imagineers Walt tasked with creating innovative ride systems and Audio-Animatronics figures,” explains Bruce Vaughn, President & Chief Creative Officer. “These innovations let guests step into incredible worlds in ways previously impossible.”

    One of their newest innovations is none other than Olaf! He’s the first Walt Disney Animation Studios character brought to life through their groundbreaking entertainment robotics efforts. You’ll see Olaf appearing at the Arendelle Bay show in World of Frozen, coming soon to Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris, and even making special limited-time appearances in World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

    This innovation thrives on a collaborative, cross-company approach, amplified by the latest in machine and reinforcement learning. Kyle Laughlin, Senior Vice President, Research & Development – Technology & Engineering, tells us: “Reinforcement learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, allows us to take animated figures, bring them into simulation, and then teach them how to walk. We can do 10,000 hours of training in days! It used to take years to develop robots; now, with reinforcement learning, we bring them to life in mere months.”

    Imagineers even built a tool called J.A.R.V.I.S. – trained on all their research, learnings, documentation, and collective knowledge. This amazing tool will help them bring experiences to life faster than ever!

    They also continue to develop new innovations, like the HoloTile, and collaborate with industry leaders. Working with NVIDIA and Epic Games on a new mission powered by Unreal Engine 5, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will soon offer guests an even richer, more dynamic gameplay experience. All this incredible technology and more is available in this episode!

    Welcome to the Haunted Mansion!

    Welcome, foolish mortals, to a chillingly delightful episode of “We Call It Imagineering”! Just in time for Halloween season, Imagineers share the ghostly origin stories of these happy haunts and reveal how they materialized into beloved experiences around the world. Get ready for some spooky fun!

    Building Castles: Icons of Magic

    In this episode of “We Call It Imagineering,” we go behind the scenes of the iconic Disney castles around the world with the Imagineering team. These aren’t just stunning landmarks; they symbolize Disney’s storytelling, innovation, and artistry for cast members and guests alike.

    Ever wondered why Disneyland’s castle is themed to Sleeping Beauty instead of Snow White, Disney Animation’s first princess? Former Disney Imagineer Tom Morris explains: Disney Studios was producing Sleeping Beauty during the castle’s design. Walt Disney thought it would be a wonderful idea to have the castle inspired by the beloved film, helping to promote it!

    Looking for more castle-inspired fun facts? This episode delivers!

    On with the Show! Disney Live Entertainment

    Walt Disney famously described Disneyland as a show where everyone was on stage. Disney Live Entertainment, the theatrical heart of Walt Disney Imagineering, is the incredible team that creates, produces, and delivers all the entertainment at Disney Experiences worldwide. Think parades, character greetings, stage shows, special events, and breathtaking nighttime spectaculars!

    This episode of “We Call It Imagineering” takes you backstage to learn more about “Disney Tales of Magic” at Disneyland Paris, the “Friendtastic!” Parade for the Hong Kong Disneyland 20th Anniversary, “World of Color Happiness!” for the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration, and even a first look at “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” at Walt Disney World.

    If you love grabbing an ice cream and catching a nighttime parade on Main Street, U.S.A., or cheering on Mickey Mouse in the heroic finale of “Fantasmic!”, this episode is absolutely for you!

    Stories in Motion: Bringing Rides to Life!

    For all you thrill-seekers and dedicated Disney Parks fans, this episode is a must-watch! It takes you behind the scenes to see how rides at parks around the world truly come to life. Get an inside look at the Stark Flight Lab coming to Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure, discover new details about one of the Cars-themed attractions heading to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, and even snag a sneak peek at the Monsters, Inc. rollercoaster coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

    Plus, hear directly from Disney Legend and former Imagineer Bob Gurr about what it was like to build attractions for the opening of Disneyland park, which celebrates its 70th Anniversary this year. He shares his incredible insights and favorite memories!

    Soundscapes: The Music of Disney Magic

    Let’s dive into “Soundscapes,” an episode that takes you behind the scenes of how music is created for Disney attractions and entertainment! Walt Disney deeply understood the power of music and what it could convey. It transcends language barriers, making it a universal medium that truly resonates with audiences worldwide.

    As Imagineers continue their legacy of creating iconic tunes and look toward the future, they collaborate with award-winning talent and industry experts to bring new sounds to life. From the invigorating melodies of New Orleans to the rich music history of Nashville, we pull back the musical curtain on some of their latest projects!

    You’ll get a first look at the grand finale of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, featuring the brand-new original song “Special Spice,” and even a peek at new music coming to the Country Bear Musical Jamboree. Get ready to listen to an array of knee-slapping and toe-tapping songs in this fantastic musical jubilee!

    Audio-Animatronics Figures: Bringing Characters to Life

    Have you ever wondered how birds sing, elephants fly, and countless other great moments come to life in Disney Parks? The very first video in this amazing series takes you behind the scenes of Imagineering’s Audio-Animatronics figures!

    These figures are an integral part of the Disney Parks experience, a truly revolutionary innovation that has evolved tremendously over the years. As new attractions continue to take shape, the future looks bright for this impressive technology.

    Audio-Animatronics technology traces its roots back to Walt Disney’s dedication to advancing narratives through a unique blend of innovation and creativity. This journey began about 80 years ago and continues to push new boundaries today. Get an insider’s look at this incredible journey in the inaugural episode!

    If you love “We Call It Imagineering,” be sure to check out other fantastic series like “Great Moments with Imagineering” and “Imagineer That!” on the Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube channel.

    For even more behind-the-scenes content on what Imagineers are dreaming up, designing, and creating, follow them every step of the way on Instagram and YouTube, and Disney Live Entertainment on Instagram. Don’t forget to turn on those notifications so you don’t miss a thing!

    Max

    Max (aka Maxence P.) is the founder and director of "DLP Welcome," a media outlet where he also serves as manager and content creator. He brings over 15 years of expertise in the leisure industry—developed both professionally and personally—having visited more than 100 theme parks across three continents. Press FR/EN : contact@dlpwelcome.com
    10 mins