The Tomorrow Society Podcast

The world of themed entertainment has expanded beyond resorts and parks. Museums, zoos, aquariums, and other destinations present well-crafted exhibits to convey their message. One reason for their success is the work of skilled professionals behind the scenes. These artists work on projects for Disney and Universal as well as smaller attractions.… Read more... The post 173. Adam Bezark on Terminator 2: 3D, the Amazing Spider-Man, and Shanghai Disneyland appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Six Flags Great America is one of the company’s flagship parks and definitely worth a visit. Located in Gurnee, Illinois just north of Chicago, this 304-acre park includes 15 roller coasters among its wide range of rides. The water park Hurricane Harbor Chicago sits rest next to the main site but is now a separate park.… Read more... The post 172. Six Flags Great America Trip Report appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When we look back at EPCOT Center’s beginning, it’s easy to focus on classics like Horizons and World of Motion. That really just scratches the surface of what made the park so special during that era. Each Future World pavilion offered surprising gems beyond the headliners.… Read more... The post 171. Imagineer Scott Hennesy on Kitchen Kabaret, Tokyo, and Innoventions appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

When Disney fans talk about our most recent theme park trips, the most common topic is probably Disney Genie Plus. The line-skipping service replaced FastPass Plus last fall and has drawn mixed reactions to say the least. While prepping for our March return to Walt Disney World, I studied everything that I could find with hopes of mastering this service.… Read more... The post 170. Becky Gandillon of Touring Plans on Strategies for Disney Genie Plus appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Ray Spencer has a love of railroads and an interest in Walt Disney, and that passion has carried over into his time as an Imagineer. During his 19 years at Disney, he worked closely on many great attractions. This included updates to classic rides and shows from the early days of Disneyland.… Read more... The post 169. Ray Spencer on The Hatbox Ghost, Trader Sam’s, and the Matterhorn appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

I’ve really enjoyed the influx of roller coasters opening during 2022 after several years of delays. In particular, SeaWorld Entertainment has added many cool new rides during the past four months. This includes Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa, Ice Breaker at SeaWorld Orlando, and Emperor at SeaWorld San Diego.… Read more... The post 168. Mary Kwiatkowski on Pantheon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We’re back for Part 2 of this detailed trip report from my recent Walt Disney World vacation. Last time, I played clips recorded during our five-night stay and then provided more details on our park days. I also covered the pros and cons of the Disney Genie Plus service and how it worked on our trip.… Read more... The post 167. Walt Disney World Trip Report: The Return (Part 2) appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

During the past few years of the pandemic, a return trip to Walt Disney World in 2022 seemed unlikely. That made the opportunity for a last-minute vacation this March a cool surprise. We planned the family vacation in early February and arrived there a little over six weeks later.… Read more... The post 166. Walt Disney World Trip Report: The Return (Part 1) appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

I’ve been a fan of game shows like Jeopardy! and The Price is Right since I was a kid, so it’s not a stretch to extend that fun to theme parks. This mix of two things that I like sums up why the Theme Park Trivia Show works for me.… Read more... The post 165. Ryan Ritchey, Host of the Theme Park Trivia Show appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Theme park attractions largely began as passive experiences where guests observed action from a safe distance. Even a classic like Pirates of the Caribbean largely occurs separate from our experience. This changed with the growing popularity of gaming in the ’90s and beyond.… Read more... The post 164. Jonathan Ackley on Creating Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, Menehune Adventure Trail, and Play Disney Parks appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

The world of theme parks continues to evolve as technologies change and new stories emerge. Imagineer Josh Shipley has been a close part of those updates during the past few decades. Josh is my guest on this episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about his career.… Read more... The post 163. Josh Shipley on Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Marvel, and Disney Kingdoms appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

There’s no single path to reaching Walt Disney Imagineering, and many didn’t plan to even work on theme parks. Quite a few Imagineers share a background in theater, which makes sense given the connections between the two mediums. Karen Connolly Armitage began her career as a scenic designer in theater before joining Larkins Associates in St.… Read more... The post 162. Karen Connolly Armitage on Designing for Walt Disney Imagineering appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We’ve come to expect a lot more from theme parks than just passive entertainment. Competition from video games, streaming series, and other new technologies gives us plenty of choices every day. Even popular destinations like Walt Disney World need to offer innovative experiences and kept evolving.… Read more... The post 161. Imagineer Daniel Joseph on Space 220, Flight of Passage, and Rise of the Resistance appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

We often hear from Disney Imagineers about developing the concepts that ultimately become attractions and lands at the parks. But what about the artists that bring those visions to life on the ground? The best ideas still need talented people to put everything in place on site.… Read more... The post 160. Brandon Kleyla on Creating Sets for Trader Sam’s, Pandora, and Waterworld appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

There’s no easy way to update a classic Disneyland attraction. We connect with them emotionally and want to preserve that feeling. Disney Imagineers faced this challenge when they refreshed The Jungle Cruise last year. This beloved attraction has changed frequently since its original version in 1955, but it’s tricky to balance keeping it modern and retaining the atmosphere.… Read more... The post 159. Imagineer Kevin Lively on Being a Skipper and Updating The Jungle Cruise appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Movies and theme parks have always had a clear connection; Disney’s animators worked closely on Disneyland. While the industry has expanded, visual effects advances in movies have carried over to the parks. Along with creating remarkable effects in Hollywood, talented artists have delivered attractions for Disney, Universal, and more.… Read more... The post 158. Imagineer Tim Landry on Creating Effects for Movies and Theme Parks appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

The life of Abraham Lincoln has played a key role in multiple attractions at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. His connection goes back to the original Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. It seems fitting that a museum exploring Lincoln’s background would feel like a theme park attraction.… Read more... The post 157. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum Trip Report appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has grown on me since its early days; I’d argue it’s the most beautiful Disney park in the United States. Its theme has largely remained intact even with the addition of Pandora: The World of Avatar. The one exception is DinoLand, U.S.A.,… Read more... The post 156. Improving DinoLand, U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

What makes a theme park attraction connect with us emotionally? How do characters stand out when we’re zooming by them in a fast-paced dark ride? There’s no easy answer to these questions, so I’ve brought in two experts to help. Ethan Reed and Joe Lanzisero are back for an Imagineering Roundtable on this episode of The Tomorrow Society Podcast.… Read more... The post 155. Imagineering Roundtable with Ethan Reed and Joe Lanzisero appeared first on Tomorrow Society.

A love for trains played such a key role in Walt Disney’s life and the creation of Disneyland in 1955. It’s no surprise that a similar passion continues to inspire designers that have worked for Walt Disney Imagineering. A perfect example is Ray Spencer, who brought that interest for railroads to his work at Disney.… Read more... The post 154. Imagineer Ray Spencer on Buena Vista Street, Grizzly Peak Airfield, and a New Disney California Adventure appeared first on Tomorrow Society.