CoasterRadio.com Book Club - Walt Disney Imagineering

There are a lot of great theme park related books out there that can educate us all about our favorite hobby.

Of course, the CoasterBoy in all of us probably knows many of the included facts, but sometimes you can learn an interesting tidbit or two that you didn't know before.

So, I was thinking... if Oprah can have a book club, maybe we can too!

The first book I'd like to recommend is Walt Disney Imagineering - A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real.

When EB reads this post, he'll roll his eyes and make a smarmy comment about my unhealthy devotion to WDI... but this book is one of the favorite items in my library.

The book is a carefully written look at the history of Walt Disney Imagineering.  It was first printed in 1996, but it doesn't seem outdated.  The forward by Michael Eisner talks about how he was against any book that gave away the "secrets" of Disney's attraction development team.  But that once he saw how it would be more of a tribute, he signed on to the project.

There are great stories about the iconic Disney attractions that we all know and love, but the best parts of this book are the pictures that are included.  The authors went into the Imagineering archives and found dozens of amazing blueprints, images and renderings of attractions past and present, as well as many that were never built.

The book is a great thing to share with someone who doesn't quite understand your love for theme park design.   If they get a chance to flip through the pages of this book, they'll come a little bit closer to understanding your obsession.

Join the Book Club discussion in the CoasterRadio.com forums!

 

Featured Blog - Arthur's Theme Park Blog

You'll notice that one of the new features of this site is a list of our favorite blog links. It can be found on the right-hand sidebar of this page. One thing we'll do every now and then is highlight a particular blog or website that we think you'd enjoy.

Today's selected blog is Arthur's Theme Park Blog.

The blog is a part of About.com, which is owned by The New York Times Company. It's filled with hundreds of helpful experts who write articles about their particular area of expertise. The section on theme parks is written and edited by veteran writer Arthur Levine.

I like reading Arthur's blog because he reports on the amusement industry in a straight-forward, no nonsense manner. He also travels around the country to give first-hand reports on new attractions, whereas many other sites rely on press releases and ridethrough videos.

He also manages to secure some excellent interviews with amusement industry personalities. Arthur has brought us interesting conversations with people like Six Flags CEO Mark Shapiro, and most recently Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter. The Baxter interview was particularly interesting because he admitted to Arthur that Disney has been "experimenting" with something that will be the answer to Universal's Spiderman. Baxter said that Imagineering has created "something that goes beyond that."

Arthur has also always been a good friend to CoasterRadio.com. We had him as a guest on one of our podcasts and he recently wrote a nice article about our return to the web. So check out Arthur's blog!

An Imagineering attraction... about Imagineering?

Word got out the other day about how Walt Disney World is doing some construction work on the Imagination Pavilion at EPCOT.

I’ve always thought that the attractions there have been pretty good. I especially liked all of the interactive “Image Works” exhibits.

But what surprises me is that Disney Imagineering has not developed an attraction based on Disney Imagineering. It seems to me like this pavilion at EPCOT would be the perfect place to do it.

I don’t know the names of the people who create attractions for Cedar Fair, Busch Gardens, Six Flags or even Universal. But we do know that the people who create attractions for Disney Parks have a unique name created by Walt Disney himself…. Imagineers.

So I think it would be completely appropriate to have some type of attraction based upon the ideas and principals of WDI. I suppose they did this a few years ago when they had the “Imagineering Labs” at EPCOT. Here, you could test out some of the latest WDI innovations such as Aladdin’s Virtual Reality Flying Carpets.

But that attraction didn’t give anyone an insight into what it’s like to be an imagineer. Actually, it just gave me motion sickness.

Here’s my idea….

What better way to celebrate Imagination then by giving people a chance to somehow participate in the Imagineering process. Imagine giving people the opportunity to create an engaging storyline and then tell the story with some type of ride system… sort of like Cyberspace Mountain at DisneyQuest.

This attraction would be entertaining, interactive and most importantly… educational.

What do you think? Join our discussion on this topic in our fourms.

Why(fi) do we need interactivity at the parks?

So, I was reading this article over at Jim Hill Media today about a new wireless device that Walt Disney Imagineering is testing in Orlando.

They're calling it the "Disney Magical Connection".

Essentially, it's a handheld device that will allow guests to view wait times at specific attractions, whether there are FastPasses available and even where their favorite Disney characters are located throughout the park.

The device also will feature interactive graphical maps that will show you where the rides, restrooms, shops and bathrooms are located.

We are definitely an information society and we want it as fast as we can get it. That's why there has been an explosion of wi-fi devices and hotspots all over the world.

When I first read about this Disney device, I loved the idea. I'd be one of the first people to sign up for the whole "Disney's Magical Connection" thing because I love having the latest tech gadget.

As a theme park junkie though, I'd figure out how to use this thing to get a jump ahead of the other lame suckers who didn't have one.

I'd become the ultimate techno-tourist.

While everyone was waiting in the 120-minute line for Splash Mountain, I'd use my "Disney Magical Connection" to see that Space Mountain only had a 20-minute wait... and I'd be there.

If I had kids with me, I'd love to receive an instant message that said "Mickey has just arrived at the entrance to Frontierland!" I'd pull my kids out of the "Buzz Lightyear's Astroblasters" queue and make a bee-line directly for the Mouse.... before any of those non-technological a-holes could figure out that he was there. Who cares if the kids are crying for missing out on Buzz! MICKEY IS WAITING!

I'd use my "DMC" to book the last dinner reservation at Victoria and Albert's... before that annoying couple from Omaha who wanted to celebrate their anniversary could get in there. Screw them! Let them go eat at one of the fast food places over at Downtown Disney.

I'd be the technological master of the world.... Walt Disney World.

But, after a day of constantly checking this device to see how I could get a jump on the crowds... would it have made my day any more enjoyable? Or, would it have made it more stressful?

Would I be so distracted by the technology that I didn't pay enough attention to the good time I was supposed to be having with my friends and family?

Sadly, I've done this type of thing before.

Sometimes when I go to a sports bar for dinner with friends, I'll start playing that addicting NTN Bar trivia. Sometimes I get so into the game and the technology, I stop talking with the people that I'm eating with.

At the end of the night, I might have won a meaningless game... but I also missed out on good conversation with friends.

I'd hate for that to happen when I'm on vacation with the people I love.

To me, "Disney's Magical Connection" is similar to FastPass. Both are interesting ideas and can be helpful at times. But they add another layer of something that must be done to ensure that you get the most out of your vacation.

I miss the days when we didn't need special tickets or special gadgets to have a fun time. I miss the days when everyone bought the same ticket and everyone had fun together.

But I'm a hypocrite... I'd probably still pick one of these up and use it throughout my vacation.

I'm a tech junkie.... and I need the information NOW!

What do you guys think? Click Here to join the discussion on our forums.