TPG goes behind the scenes as Disney unveils $60 billion towards way forward for theme parks
Walt Disney wasn’t shy about sharing even his most bold plans. In October 1954, whereas Disneyland was nonetheless underneath development, the “Disneyland” tv sequence debuted on ABC. Every episode gave viewers up-to-date progress reviews on Walt’s groundbreaking theme park in Southern California.
When Disneyland opened 9 months later, on July 17, 1955, Walt’s promotional tactic proved profitable. Throngs of excited guests descended upon the park on opening day (about twice as many because the park was ready for). The remainder, as they are saying, is historical past.
As we speak, The Walt Disney Firm is a multi-billion greenback leisure juggernaut – however the Disney of right now would not typically pull again the curtain in the identical method Walt did all these years in the past. Within the fashionable period, the corporate has historically held again particulars on new initiatives till they have been completely polished and totally fleshed out … till now.
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Disney not too long ago invited a small group of reporters, together with myself, to Walt Disney Imagineering headquarters in Glendale, California, sharing new know-how, new initiatives and what they actually plan to do with that $60 billion that they’ve earmarked to “speed up and increase funding” in its theme parks, cruise line and different trip experiences over the subsequent 10 years.
My peek backstage revealed that Disney’s future is brilliant, and they’re poised to proceed Walt’s legacy of curiosity, innovation and making desires turn into actuality.
This is what I found.
Rooted up to now, wanting towards the long run
Storytelling has been on the forefront of all the things Disney does for the reason that starting. Whereas that storytelling as soon as happened totally on the display screen, it now encompasses theme parks, cruise ships, inns and screens huge and small.
Disney CEO Bob Iger and Chairman of Disney Experiences Josh D’Amaro addressed our group throughout our go to. Josh shared that all the things Disney does is designed to evoke feelings like happiness, togetherness and assurance, whether or not the enjoyment that comes from spinning spherical and spherical on the Mad Tea Get together tea cups or the sense of camaraderie we really feel towards household and pals after defeating the First Order on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
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Equally, in his remarks the next day, on April 3, through the firm’s annual shareholders assembly, Disney CEO Bon Iger mentioned that Walt “understood the facility storytelling has to attach us all to 1 one other.”
Even with the advances in know-how and innovation, Disney has not overpassed this tenant. Rising applied sciences reveal what Disney is able to, however, extra importantly, they show Disney’s dedication to bringing fan-favorite tales to life in new and thrilling methods.
‘Past Huge Thunder’ at Walt Disney World
The trio confirmed idea artwork that exposed Disney was exploring what may lie “past Huge Thunder Mountain” at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park, discussing lands primarily based on “Coco,” “Encanto” and even Disney villains.
Revealing these blue sky ideas was a brand new method for Disney; one which left followers each excited and confused. Blue sky concepts are those who come early within the inventive course of, however D’Amaro was clear that these concepts weren’t simply daydreams.
Throughout our time with D’Amaro at Walt Disney Imagineering, he reiterated that no matter does lie past Huge Thunder Mountain “is actual and it’s taking place,” although followers must wait till this yr’s D23 Expo to learn the way intently it should resemble the idea artwork and concepts that Disney has already shared. Analysis journeys and conceptual designs are taking place now as Disney desires up methods to fill this house that’s concerning the dimension of Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Throughout the identical D23 presentation in 2022, D’Amaro and the crew introduced extra blue sky ideas for Disney World’s Animal Kingdom park, presenting idea artwork for ideas primarily based on “Moana” and “Zootopia” for the park’s DinoLand USA space.
Disney proved simply how a lot these ideas can change as a mission progresses throughout 2023’s Vacation spot D23 occasion held at Walt Disney World. The iteration of Dinoland’s “reimagination” that Disney displayed through the fan occasion had morphed into an all-new land impressed by the “tropical Americas,” (the northern a part of South America, stretching up into Central America, in response to Disney).
Extra particularly, Disney talked about that experiences primarily based on “Encanto” and “Indiana Jones” have been being thought-about.
Throughout my go to to the Walt Disney Imagineering campus, D’Amaro reiterated that work is effectively underway for this mission. He additional defined that Disney is conducting intensive analysis, together with analysis journeys to Mexico, to assemble the info and inspiration needed to actually transport company into the story.
D’Amaro additionally promised extra particulars on this mission would come at this yr’s D23 Expo that takes place in mid-August.
Tiana’s Bayou Journey
We additionally had the chance to see lots of the audio animatronic figures that may quickly take up residence within the Tiana’s Bayou Journey attraction, opening this yr at each Disney World and Disneyland.
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The quantity of testing and know-how that goes into making these audio animatronics really feel so actual is simply as a lot an artwork as a science. Ted Robledo, an government inventive director with Walt Disney Imagineering, advised our group that Tiana, Naveen, Mama Odie and all of the critters and creatures that company will encounter on the attraction have been designed to “join with the rider.”
We noticed firsthand the technical points essential to make company part of the story, from the 18-hour-a-day testing to make sure the animatronic figures can stand up to the duty of entertaining 1000’s of company every day to inserting a Tiana animatronic atop scaffolding so Imagineers can expertise the vantage level riders will see as they ascend the attraction’s five-story drop.
It’s at this intersection of artwork and know-how that Disney is ready to attract company into the surroundings, primarily making them a personality within the story. Regardless of how superior animatronics turn into, storytelling continues to be Disney’s guiding mild.
Avatar-themed land at Disneyland
Disney’s growth plans aren’t solely centered on Disney World. At Disneyland, Disney is investing within the success of 2022’s “Avatar: The Approach of Water” – the fourth-highest-grossing movie in historical past, incomes greater than $2.3 billion worldwide – with plans for an Avatar-themed land.
This plan was first introduced throughout Disney’s Feb. 8, 2023, first-quarter earnings name, with Iger, saying, “I am thrilled to announce that we are going to be bringing an thrilling Avatar expertise to Disneyland,” after commenting on the success of the movie franchise and Pandora – The World of Avatar land at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom park.
A yr later, throughout remarks made following Disney’s annual shareholders assembly, Iger elaborated on the corporate’s plans to convey an Avatar expertise to Disneyland.
“We’re thrilled about many potential new tales that our company may expertise at Walt’s unique theme park, together with the chance to embark on all-new Avatar adventures with a go to to the world of Pandora,” Iger mentioned. “Our Imagineers have been exhausting at work dreaming up what company would possibly count on.”
Disney additionally launched “inspirational art work” (pictured above) and a weblog put up, additional detailing what company may quickly see on the park.
Analysis and Improvement at Walt Disney Imagineering
Throughout our tour, Disney pulled the curtain all the best way again, displaying off concepts nonetheless within the analysis and growth stage. Some initiatives begin with a narrative primarily based on Disney movies or characters, however it’s this early-stage R&D that drives how they will convey these tales to life.
R&D permits Disney to prototype new concepts, transferring them from the brainstorming stage to the constructing stage to allow them to decide how they will work within the parks, each from an engineering and a visitor expertise standpoint.
The primary mission we noticed demonstrated was the HoloTile ground, an invention of Imagineer and inventor Lanny Smoot. So far, Smoot has amassed over 100 patents, 74 of which have been created throughout his time with Disney. He’s additionally the primary Disney Imagineer inducted into the Nationwide Inventors Corridor of Fame.
Smoot’s HoloTile ground is the world’s first multi-person, omnidirectional, modular, expandable treadmill ground. That is quite a lot of adjectives for a ground, however the HoloTile ground is not any odd ground. Smoot and his crew not solely walked on the ground with out ever operating into one another or strolling off the floor, however additionally they confirmed us how the ground could possibly be used to make “Disney magic.”
Smoot sat on a chair on the HoloTile ground whereas one other Imagineer moved the chair with the facility of his thoughts. Seems, it was really sensors choosing up the movement of his fingers, however it was no much less spectacular.
The ground has myriad purposes for theme park company and Imagineers. Imagineers can use it to just about “stroll” via the parks whereas creating new lands and points of interest. However, company may see it utilized in stage exhibits, rides, interactive experiences and extra.
We additionally met a trio of lovely BDX Droids who first appeared in Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland final yr for “playtesting.” The droids are managed by puppeteers utilizing distant controls, however they’re nothing like several distant management toy you will have at residence.
These droids have been educated utilizing computer-based reinforcement studying to create reasonable motions that make them sturdy sufficient to roam the parks whereas interacting with company. In truth, Imagineers ran 4,000 simulations on a single pc to coach the droids on numerous actions.
The droids have been so well-received throughout final yr’s check interval that they are going to return to Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland through the Season of the Power celebration from April 5 – June 2, 2024. The BDX Droids will make each day appearances at numerous areas all through the land.
Improvements like these permit Disney to attach with company in totally new methods, bringing company deeper into their favourite tales and nearer to beloved characters.
‘To infinity and past…’
Throughout our go to, each Iger and D’Amaro harassed what a brilliant and thrilling time that is for Walt Disney Imagineering and the Disney firm as an entire. D’Amaro mentioned Disney has the “property and the properties” to convey tales new and previous to life in up to date and thrilling methods.
In truth, Disney has greater than 1,000 acres of land – concerning the dimension of seven Disneyland parks – for doable future growth to increase capability throughout its current international theme parks. And, of the $60 billion Disney has earmarked for its parks and experiences over the subsequent 10 years, 70% – or round $42 billion – has been earmarked for “incremental capacity-expanding investments across the globe,” in response to Disney’s Chief Monetary Officer Hugh Johnston.
“With such a deep effectively of untapped IP and buildable land, there are such a lot of experiences which have but to be dropped at our parks world wide, Iger mentioned in his latest comment to shareholders, “and we plan to turbocharge progress on this sector with a sturdy quantity of strategic funding,” he mentioned.
Whereas it is clear that a few of Disney’s plans for that funding and acreage are already effectively underway, Iger additionally harassed that they’ve but to allocate all the cash as a result of there isn’t a telling what the subsequent ten years will convey. If Disney has one other mega-hit like “Frozen,” Iger desires to “depart room within the finances” to convey the subsequent huge story to life at its theme parks.
Whether or not your favourite tales are already being advised in Disney’s theme parks or you’re holding tight for what’s to return, relaxation assured Disney is difficult at work making the inconceivable doable.
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