The Tomorrow Society Podcast

There is so much history to uncover about Disney’s theme parks, especially the more distant past. We’ve heard many of the stories about the work of the Imagineers at WED on the 1964 World’s Fair, Walt Disney World, and beyond. But what about the time before those big moments?… Read more... The post 107. Former Imagineer Tom K. Morris on the Early Days of WED Enterprises appeared first on Tomorrow...

Many of us visited Walt Disney World as a kid in the ’70s, ’80s, and beyond. My first trip that I remember clearly was in 1984, just two years after the opening of EPCOT Center. It’s easy to look back at those times and wish certain attractions or other aspects of those vacations was still in place.… Read more... The post 106. Todd McCartney on Horizons Revisited and the Retro Disney World Podcast...

It’s such a challenging time in every field, and that includes businesses connected to Walt Disney World. The shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic has essentially stopped the flow of news from the parks. That changed last week when Disney announced their reopening plans for next month.… Read more... The post 105. Shannon Albert on WDW Prep School and the Reopening of Walt Disney World appeared fi...

We have come full circle this week on The Tomorrow Society Podcast with the return of my first interview guest from Episode 2 . Ryan Ritchey appeared on that early show, originally released on August 28, 2015. We talked about his film After the Fair , which covered the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair.… Read more... The post 104. Ryan Ritchey on the Future of Immersive Entertainment appeared first on...

When you look beyond official histories of Walt Disney World and the Walt Disney Company in general, so many other interesting stories are out there. I enjoy reading about all the weird promotions and odd attractions that Disney has created over the years.… Read more... The post 103. Michael Crawford on Progress City U.S.A., Horizons, and EPCOT the City appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

It’s difficult to explain the allure of theme parks. Regular guests enjoy them but don’t have the obsessive need for details from behind the scenes. I love discovering the backgrounds of Imagineers that created Disneyland and parks around the world. Their stories are what makes The Imagineering Story such an incredible series.… Read more... The post 102. Leslie Iwerks, Executive Producer and Direc...

One of my favorite aspects of this podcast is learning about how attractions really work. The technical hurdles to make them function properly every time are massive, especially for new technologies. That makes it so interesting to talk with the brilliant thinkers working to make dreams a reality.… Read more... The post 101. Bran Ferren, Former President of R&D at the Walt Disney Company appeared...

It’s been an incredible five years since I started The Tomorrow Society back in June 2015. I started the site as a blog focused largely on EPCOT, but the scope quickly expanded to a lot more. When I recorded the first interview for The Tomorrow Society Podcast in August of that year, I was hooked.… Read more... The post 100. My Theme Park Story and Listener Questions appeared first on Tomorrow Soc...

When I started The Tomorrow Society Podcast back in 2015, I had few expectations about getting the chance to speak to guests that worked at Walt Disney Imagineering. I still have to pinch myself sometimes when I’m talking with such talented theme park designers.… Read more... The post 99. Imagineering Roundtable with Don Carson and Joe Lanzisero appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

I love hearing stories about what it’s actually like to work at theme parks. We all can assume that each day is glorious, but the reality is a lot more complicated. Even so, I’ve learned from people that work there about plenty of highlights from the experience.… Read more... The post 98. Skipper Ben Rebstock on the Disney/MGM Studios, The Jungle Cruise, and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures appeared fir...

Back in 2015 when I started The Tomorrow Society , I didn’t expect to start a podcast alongside the blog. I planned to write regularly about Disney and theme parks and maybe do some interviews for the site. During that summer, I started co-hosting a podcast about the Amazing Race Canada for Rob Has a Podcast .… Read more... The post 97. Jessica Liese on the Underrated Charms of Universal Orlando a...

We sometimes over use the term “ magic ” when referring to Disney’s theme parks. However, I often get that sense when thinking about sounds that support our experiences in the parks. I definitely take the skills of sound designers for granted, especially on attractions.… Read more... The post 96. Media Designer Joe Herrington on How to Create Sound Effects at Walt Disney Imagineering appeared firs...

It’s easy to just focus on Disney’s latest offerings at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. That only tells part of the story, especially when you consider incredible locations like Tokyo DisneySea. I really enjoy learning more about Disney’s other resorts, and former Imagineer Joe Lanzisero is the perfect guest for that project.… Read more... The post 95. Joe Lanzisero on Hong Kong Disneyland, Toky...

So much has been written about Disney’s animated films and the life of Walt Disney, and it’s easy to think we know the whole story. There are always new avenues to explore, but the main components are known. That makes it surprising when an author uncovers a part of Disney history that few have discussed.… Read more... The post 94. Nathalia Holt on The Queens of Animation appeared first on Tomorro...

It’s a busy, chaotic time for the world of theme parks. More news updates keep arriving every day, and the pace rarely lags. Covering the parks as a journalist has become a full-time job, especially when you consider Disney’s rapid expansion.… Read more... The post 93. Carlye Wisel on Rise of the Resistance and Becoming a Theme Park Journalist appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

It’s been three weeks since Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker premiered in theaters, and we’ve seen a major split among fans. Many appreciate the return to more familiar ground, while others complain of the safe approach. Rian Johnson broke the mold with The Last Jedi , and certain moments here feel like a response to fan criticism.… Read more... The post 92. Brian Jay Jones on The Ris...

When I’ve talked to former Disney Imagineers about colleagues they admire, a name that comes up frequently is Don Carson. His expertise in theme park design is evident through his diverse career at Disney and well beyond. Carson joined Walt Disney Imagineering in 1989 and quickly began work as the lead show designer on Splash Mountain in Florida.… Read more... The post 91. Imagineer Don Carson on...

One thing I love about doing this podcast is hearing the wide range of stories about how Imagineers came to Disney and progressed through various roles there. Back in February, I really enjoyed t he chance to talk with Peggie Fariss about her 50 years at Disney.… Read more... The post REBROADCAST: 64. Peggie Fariss on 50 Years at Disney and Producing Spaceship Earth appeared first on Tomorrow Soci...

It’s common for Disney fans to dream about the perfect trip. It could involve doing all four Walt Disney World parks in one day or visiting Walt’s original park at Disneyland. More ambitious souls look overseas to Tokyo, Shanghai, and beyond for an epic worldwide trip.… Read more... The post 90. Dustin Engels, Around the Worlds in 80 Days appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

When we consider all Disney’s resorts around the world, the one that receives the least attention is Hong Kong Disneyland. It opened in 2005 with a limited number of attractions and has struggled to draw crowds. Disney has added three lands to the park — Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point, and Toy Story Land.… Read more... The post 89. Andy Sinclair-Harris on Imagineering, Dr. Who: The Experience, and Ho...

I’m fascinated by the different ways that people have become Imagineers. Very few plan for that role at a young age, and many don’t even realize it’s a possibility. Former Imagineer Mark Rhodes is a perfect example. He had written several novels and sold a screenplay prior to working at Disney.… Read more... The post 88. Former Imagineer Mark Rhodes on Maelstrom, Splash Mountain, and 25 Years at D...

It’s a great time for Disney fans when it comes to learning more about theme parks and their history. There are so many valuable resources out there, especially online. Former Imagineers are now actively telling their stories through podcasts and social media.… Read more... The post 87. My Latest Disney and Theme Park Reads appeared first on Tomorrow Society .

Photo by Dan Heaton It’s the perfect time to talk with Tim Grassey, who is a co-host on the Marty Called podcast. It’s a hectic time for Disney’s theme parks, especially at Walt Disney World. I visited Orlando in early September, and we’ve had several major openings since that point.… Read more... The post 86. Tim Grassey on Pandora, Galaxy’s Edge, and A Changing Epcot appeared first on Tomorrow S...

We’ve all heard the major stories about Walt Disney, the opening of Disneyland, and the Florida Project that appear in official histories from The Disney Company. But what about the history beyond the general story line? A valuable resource to dig further into Disney’s past is DisneyDocs.net … Read more... The post 85. Ted Linhart on Disney Docs.net and Preserving Disney History appeared first on...

I’m always interested to learn more about how Disney Imagineers got started early in their careers. Few take the predictable route to a job in theme parks. Glenn Barker played drums in parades at Disneyland before ultimately joining Disney’s sound department.… Read more... The post 84. Glenn Barker on Creating Sound at Walt Disney Imagineering for More Than 45 Years appeared first on Tomorrow Soci...