40-467: WDI may refer to: Walt Disney Imagineering Web data integration Windows Diagnostic Infrastructure, a component of Microsoft Windows Wood Destroying Insect World Development Indicators , a World Bank database Workforce Development Institute Women's Declaration International Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with
80-450: A portmanteau , was introduced in the 1940s by Alcoa to describe its blending of imagination and engineering, and used by Union Carbide in an in-house magazine in 1957, with an article by Richard F. Sailer called "BRAINSTORMING IS IMAGination engINEERING". Disney filed for a trademark for the term in 1989, claiming first use of the term in 1962. Imagineering is a registered trademark of Disney Enterprises, Inc. Walt Disney, Inc. (WDI)
120-457: A Story 2. Creative Intent 3. Attention to Detail 4. Theming 5. Long, Medium, and Close Shots Tier 2: Wayfinding 6. Wienies 7. Transitions 8. Storyboards 9. Pre-Shows and Post-Shows Tier 3: Visual Communication 10. Forced Perspective 11. "Read"-ability 12. Kinetics Tier 4: Making It Memorable 13. The " It's a Small World " Effect 14. Hidden Mickeys Tier 5: Walt’s Cardinal Rule 15. Plussing Walt Disney coined
160-952: A bold idea in extreme detail, initially disregarding budgetary or physical constraints. It can take up to five years for an idea to turn into a finished attraction. The company considers this the beginning of a design process, believing, "if it can be dreamt, it can be built". WDI partnered with the Khan Academy to create a series of online video classes called Imagineering in a Box , to allow students to "explore different aspects of theme park design, from characters to ride development..." The classes, which are organized into three main categories ( Creating Worlds , Designing Attractions , and Bringing Characters to Life ), are presented by WDI employees using multimedia lessons and exercises. Past Disney Imagineers have shared 15 principles of Disney Imagineering, divided into five tiers. These are: Tier 1: Foundations of Imagineering 1. It All Begins with
200-548: A licensing fee to the Disney company for 5% to 10% of the income from all of Disney's merchandising deals. In light of objections from Roy as well as those of potential stockholders, WDI was renamed WED Enterprises (WED) in 1953 based on Walt's initials of Walter Elias Disney. Walt also licensed Zorro TV rights from Mitchell in February 1953. WED Enterprises developed some scripts for the proposed Zorro TV series and shopped
240-999: A number of projects for Disney Stores . The first store, in Glendale , was designed and constructed by a group of architectural Imagineers. Imagineering developed the now-defunct Walt Disney Gallery at the Main Place Mall in Santa Ana, California , and a Roman themed Disney Store at The Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas . After the purchase of the Disney Stores by The Children's Place in 2004, Imagineering helped design an exclusive chain of flagship stores, called World of Disney . These are located in resorts, Lake Buena Vista, Florida and Anaheim, California , as well as New York City. Another flagship store arrived at Disneyland Paris in 2012. An overhaul of Disney Stores
280-1010: A quiet monorail in the lobby. These details reinforce the hotel's contemporary nature. In 2010, Disney Educational Products produced a series of videos called The Science of Disney Imagineering . Each video was presented by Imagineer Asa Kalama and focused on a different science subject. Each video featured at least one Disney attraction, to show how science was used in them. These science subjects include Gravity , Trajectory , Levers & Pulleys , Fluids , Energy , Design & Models , Magnetism , Motion , Animal Adaptations: Communication , Friction , and Electricity . In 1991, Marty Sklar (then-president of Imagineering) presented ten commandments attributed to Mickey Steinberg (the vice president of Imagineering). They are: Imagineering has been granted over 300 patents in areas such as advanced audio systems, fiber optics , interactive technology, live entertainment, ride systems and special effects. Imagineering pioneered technological advances such as
320-549: A version of this system which had rubber wheels placed every 9 feet along the guide-way. Since 1952, Imagineering has created twelve theme parks, a town, five cruise ships, dozens of resort hotels, water parks, shopping centers, sports complexes and various entertainment venues. Former creative director John Hench designed the "Tower of Nations" for the opening and closing ceremony of the 1960 Winter Olympics , whilst Walt Disney served as Pageantry Committee chairman. Imagineering has collaborated with Disney Consumer Products on
360-711: Is Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World . The scale of architectural elements is much smaller in the upper reaches of the castle compared to the foundation, making it seem significantly taller than its actual height of 189 feet. The attraction, Pirates of the Caribbean , evokes a “rollicking buccaneer adventure,” according to Hench. In contrast, the Disney Cruise Line ships create an elegant seafaring atmosphere. Minor details in theme park shops and restaurants are crucial; these include
400-621: Is Walter spelled backwards. Walt Disney Miniature Railroad was formed by Walt Disney in 1950 to manage the Carolwood Pacific Railroad , his elaborate backyard miniature railroad . The company's name was changed to Walt Disney, Inc. (WDI) on December 16, 1952, and its purpose was changed to supposedly produce TV shows. However, he soon started the Disneyland designing and engineering division within WDI. He also assigned
440-555: Is the research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company , responsible for the creation, design, and construction of Disney theme parks and attractions worldwide. The company also operates Disney Live Entertainment and The Muppets Studio and manages Disney's properties, from Walt Disney Studios in Burbank to New Amsterdam Theatre and Times Square Studios Ltd. in New York City. Founded by Walt Disney to oversee
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#1732766122736480-582: The Circle-Vision 360° film technique and the FastPass virtual queuing system. Imagineering is known for its development of Audio-Animatronics, a form of robotics, used in shows and theme park attractions that animate objects in three dimension (3D) . The idea originated from Walt Disney's fascination with a mechanical bird that he purchased in New Orleans , which later led to the development of
520-920: The Port Discovery children's museum at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore , Maryland , as well as the "Below Deck" sound show depicting Blackbeard 's final battle as part of the Pirate and Treasure Museum in St. Augustine, Florida . From 1995 to 1997, Imagineering oversaw the renovation of the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City. Imagineering also remodeled the Times Square Studios in New York City in 1996, following
560-545: The Walt Disney World Resort . There are also offices located at: Retlaw Enterprises Retlaw Enterprises , originally Walt Disney Miniature Railroad , then Walt Disney, Inc. ( WDI ), and then WED Enterprises ( WED ), was a privately held company owned by the heirs of entertainment mogul Walt Disney . Disney formed the company to control the rights to his name and to manage two Disneyland attractions that he personally owned. The name, Retlaw,
600-534: The 1960s, Imagineering's headquarters have been located in nondescript office buildings on the site of the former Grand Central Airport in Glendale, California , about two miles (3.2 km) east of Disney's corporate headquarters in Burbank . Many of these employees were set to be relocated to a new facility in Lake Nona, Orlando, Florida . There are field offices at Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios at
640-493: The Caribbean , The Haunted Mansion , The Hall of Presidents , Country Bear Jamboree , Star Tours—The Adventures Continue , and Muppet*Vision 3D . Guests have also had the opportunity to interact with Audio-Animatronic characters, such as Lucky the Dinosaur , WALL·E , and Remy from Ratatouille . The next wave of Audio-Animatronic development focuses on completely independent figures, also known as " Autonomatronics ". Otto,
680-495: The Disney family sold the naming rights and rail-based attractions to Walt Disney Productions for 818,461 shares of Disney, stock then worth $ 42.6 million, none of which went to Retlaw. Retlaw's remaining divisions, after the majority of the company was sold to Walt's larger public company, were several television stations and real estate holdings that continue to be owned by the Disney family. Per Securities and Exchange Commission filings, Retlaw received $ 75 million in net income from
720-470: The Disney stock, worth an estimated $ 300 million; while Forbes estimates their stock to be worth $ 600 million, down from 1989's $ 850 million. WFXG was purchased in May 1998. In 1999 Retlaw sold its remaining 11 television stations to Fisher Communications , including all of the related assets to those properties, for $ 215 million in cash. In 2005, the remaining divisions of Retlaw officially became part of
760-576: The Disney studio's operations that Walt Disney Productions bought it on February 5, 1965, along with the WED Enterprises name. The unit was renamed as of January 1986 to Walt Disney Imagineering. In 1996, Disney Development Company , the Disney conglomerate's real estate development subsidiary, merged into Imagineering. Imagineering created Disney Fair , a U.S. traveling attraction, which premiered in September 1996. With poor attendance,
800-809: The Grand Central Creative Campus redesign of the industrial park with a new office-studio complex anchored by Disney Imagineering. Some of the buildings were demolished to make way for new buildings. The additional space would be for sound stages, production facilities and offices. As part of The Walt Disney Company 's March 2018 strategic reorganization, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts merged with Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media segments into Disney Parks, Experiences and Products (DPEP), giving Disney Imagineering oversight of merchandise, games and publishing development. In July 2021, DPEP chairman Josh D'Amaro announced that approximately 2,000 DPEP positions would be transferred over
840-954: The Walt Disney Family Foundation, a non-profit organization led by Diane Disney Miller . Retlaw Broadcasting acquired KIMA-TV and its two semi-satellite stations, KLEW-TV and KEPR-TV, for $ 17 million in October 1986. The six stations owned in 1990 had purchased, over the years, for $ 37 million, and were estimated then to be worth $ 100 million. In 1996, Retlaw Broadcasting acquired KVAL-TV , KVAL semi-satellite stations KCBY and KPIC, as well as station KBOI-TV , all from Northwest Television of Eugene, Oregon . Retlaw Broadcasting purchased WFXG in May 1998, its last acquisition before agreeing, in November 1998, to sell all 11 of its stations to Fisher Companies (later known as Fisher Communications ) for $ 215 million. The deal
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#1732766122736880-541: The acquisition of ABC . In 1997, Disney purchased the California Angels and renamed the team to Anaheim Angels. Shortly after, Imagineering renovated the Anaheim Stadium . Imagineering worked with a charity, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology , to create the teaser video and the story, as well as the theming of the 2016 FIRST Robotics Competition , FIRST Stronghold . Since
920-533: The attraction, The Enchanted Tiki Room . The attraction, which featured singing Audio-Animatronic birds, was the first to use this technology. In the 1964 World's Fair , a 3D figure of Abraham Lincoln was represented. The animated Lincoln delivered part of the Gettysburg Address for the " Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln " exhibit, the first human Audio-Animatronic figure. Today, Audio-Animatronics are featured in many attractions, including Pirates of
960-493: The fair was pulled after a few stops. Disney Entertainment Projects (Asia Pacific), Inc., a new Disney Asian Pacific subsidiary, selected a renamed fair called DisneyFest as its first project, taking it to Singapore to open there on October 30, 1997. By 1997, Imagineers were in several buildings in Grand Central Business Park when Disney purchased the park. In September 1999, Disney Imagineering announced
1000-591: The first Autonomatronic figure, debuted at the 2009 D23 Expo and can see, hear, sense a person's presence and emotions, and have a conversation. WEDway is a people mover system using linear induction motor (LIM) technology to propel vehicles along a pair of steel rails. This system was developed in the company's early years. The system is in operation at Walt Disney World Resort 's Magic Kingdom and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston , Texas , United States . From 1967 to 1995, Disneyland utilized
1040-650: The menus, names of the dishes and the Cast Members ’ costumes. When guests walk down the area of Main Street, U.S.A. , they are likely to notice a bakery fragrance, reminiscent of suburban America in the 1900s. In addition to theme parks, Imagineering has devised retail stores, galleries, and hotels which have "stories" and create a specific mood. For instance, the Disney's Contemporary Resort features an A-frame structure, modern décor and futuristic features including
1080-650: The monorail and railroad from 1955 to late 1981. Roy E. Disney objected to the overvalued purchase price of the naming rights and voted against the purchase as a Disney board director. By 1990, Retlaw holdings included 6 CBS affiliated TV stations, a small jet charter service operating out of Van Nuys Airport , 580 acres of farmland in Palmdale, 220 acres of vacant land in Riverside County, and 330 acres of avocado groves in Riverside County and Escondido. The family shares received in 1982 would be in 1990 2% of
1120-518: The next couple of years to the Lake Nona area of Orlando, Florida . In November 2021, it was reported that as many as 90% of the positions to be transferred are Walt Disney Imagineering positions, as DPEP relocates Imagineering's headquarters from Glendale to a new 60-acre corporate campus in Lake Nona. The only Imagineering positions reportedly exempt from relocation were those dedicated to Disneyland or certain international parks. The relocation
1160-484: The present The Haunted Mansion . Disney theme parks are storytelling and visual experiences, also known as “The Art of the Show.” The use of theming, atmosphere, and attention to detail are essential in the Disney experience. Creative director John Hench noted the similarities between theme park design and film making, such as the use of techniques, including forced perspective . One notable example of forced perspective
1200-400: The production of Disneyland , it was originally known as Walt Disney, Inc. , then WED Enterprises , from the initials meaning "Walter Elias Disney", the company co-founder's full name. Headquartered in Glendale, California , Imagineering is composed of "Imagineers", who are illustrators, architects, engineers, lighting designers, show writers and graphic designers. The term "Imagineering",
1240-666: The rights to his name and likeness to the company, as well as ownership of the Disneyland Railroad , Mark Twain Steamboat , Viewliner Train of Tomorrow (defunct), and Disneyland Monorail attractions in Disneyland. Roy O. Disney objected to Walt's creation of the company as he considered it a diversion of a larger portion of the Walt Disney Productions income to Walt's family. WDI charged
WDI - Misplaced Pages Continue
1280-644: The series to the CBS and NBC TV networks. Both networks requested to see a pilot show. However, with the construction of Disneyland ongoing, the Zorro show was put on hold, and the rights were sold later that year to Walt Disney Productions. In July 1953, Clement Melancon, a small shareholder of Walt Disney Productions stock, took Walt Disney and WED Enterprises, to court over the WED deal, believing that Walt had improperly funneled profits from Walt Disney Productions. The case
1320-508: The term "plussing" for the process of constantly striving to perfect Imagineering work. Disney believed that there is always room for innovation and improvement, stating, "Disneyland will never be completed as long as there's imagination left in the world." This sometimes takes the form of returning to previously abandoned ideas, such as the rework of the Museum of the Weird wax museum concept into
1360-551: The title WDI . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WDI&oldid=1098881743 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Walt Disney Imagineering Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, Inc. , commonly referred to as Imagineering ,
1400-399: Was designed to help guests experience the sensation of flight. During development, Imagineer Mark Sumner found an erector set in his attic, which quickly inspired the solution to create this experience. The ride effectively simulates hang gliding . One of Imagineering's techniques, "blue sky speculation", is a process in which ideas are generated without limitations. Imagineers may develop
1440-502: Was formed by Walt Disney on December 16, 1952, with an engineering division tasked with designing Disneyland . In light of objections from his brother Roy as well as those of potential stockholders, WDI was renamed WED Enterprises in 1953 based on Disney's initials. In 1961, WED moved into the Grand Central Business Park . WED Enterprises 's theme park design and architectural group became so integral to
1480-885: Was launched at Disney Springs in Lake Buena Vista, Florida . Another DisneyQuest in Chicago was launched a year later. In 2007, Imagineering oversaw design and construction of ships, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy . They also helped design exhibitions for the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles and developed the Encounter Restaurant, which is located at the top of Theme Building in Los Angeles International Airport . Moreover, they provided exhibits for
1520-566: Was planned in 2009 with the help of Apple CEO Steve Jobs . Disney hoped to transition from a traditional retail model to an interactive entertainment hub. In the 1990s, Imagineering designed the 24,000 square feet (2,200 m ) Club Disney interactive family fun center in Thousand Oaks, California . Although now closed, it was the first of several location-based entertainment (LBE) venues. In 1998, DisneyQuest , an 80,000 square feet (7,400 m ) high-tech, virtual reality arcade
1560-481: Was reportedly motivated in part by $ 570 million in tax breaks from the state of Florida, as well as Florida's business-friendly climate, lower cost of living , and lack of a state income tax . This relocation was cancelled in May 2023 amidst a feud with Florida governor Ron DeSantis . New concepts and improvements are often created to fulfill specific needs. For instance, the Soarin' Over California ride system
1600-665: Was settled in January 1955. In 1961, the park design group, the future Walt Disney Imagineering , opened a creative workshop in the Grand Central Business Park . The theme park design and architectural group became so integral to Walt Disney Productions' operations that the studio bought it on February 5, 1965, along with the WED Enterprises name. Thus the Corporation needed a new name, Retlaw Enterprises. In 1968, Retlaw started to diversify by acquiring its first TV station with its Fresno station purchase. Finally, in 1982,
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