Prerequisites for Imagineering?

Hey, I thought I would recommend some suggested reading for those thinking about trying to become an Imagineer.

Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real by The Imagineers
The Imagineering Way: Ideas to Ignite Your Creativity by The Imagineers
The Imagineering Field Guide to Magic Kingdom by The Imagineers
The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot by The Imagineers

And of course there are many more. These will give you a good foundation on what it's like to be an Imagineer! Best of luck to everyone!

I am majoring in Technical Theatre with a concentration in set design...Shouldn't that help me in any way in becoming an engineer? I draw plans, paint scenery, even build stuff...so...yeah...lol

I got the degrees, now I have to figure out how to get into the Disney Co.

In case anyone is wondering about what type of graphics WDI does it is environmental graphics, not web design or print graphics or computer graphics. If you are interested in that you should think about the Disney Design group.

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Originally Posted by grandmarshal22

In case anyone is wondering about what type of graphics WDI does it is environmental graphics, not web design or print graphics or computer graphics. If you are interested in that you should think about the Disney Design group.

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Do you mean environmental graphics referring to set design? I'm not sure I followed this post correctly.

its like signage, elevations, marquees, directional signage, road signs, operations signs, etc.

you can also go on the Disney website and find listings for internships with Imagineering. this was one of the first things i did when i got off the CP. the CP itsself is a great in to The Walt Disney Company. if any of you are still in college are going in you really wanna go after this program if a Disney job is where you want to go. on my first week Disney hosted a welcome party for the CPs at MK, we got to meet a lot of people from the different areas of Disney, including Imagineering.

I've been looking for a while on the Disney Professionals website for Imagineering Internships, but I haven't been able to find any. But I won't be able to apply for on for a while, so it is really irrelevant for me to be looking.

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Originally Posted by 04CP_ Nolan

you can also go on the Disney website and find listings for internships with Imagineering. this was one of the first things i did when i got off the CP. the CP itsself is a great in to The Walt Disney Company. if any of you are still in college are going in you really wanna go after this program if a Disney job is where you want to go. on my first week Disney hosted a welcome party for the CPs at MK, we got to meet a lot of people from the different areas of Disney, including Imagineering.

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CP? Not sure I know what that is. ;)

ah, sorry. i forget sometimes that not everybody knows what the CP is. the CP is the Walt Disney World College Program. they also have an international section for people from outside the U.S.. The college program is an internship program that people enrolled in college can join. if you have any other questions about it let me know.

I'm a CP right now! But we didn't have any kind of party like that.......although, the other night for Epcot's 25th, we watched Illuminations from Italy..and that must have been the best spot, because when we turned around Jim McPhee, Marty Sklar, and every other executive were standing behind us watching it too!

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Originally Posted by 04CP_ Nolan

ah, sorry. i forget sometimes that not everybody knows what the CP is. the CP is the Walt Disney World College Program. they also have an international section for people from outside the U.S.. The college program is an internship program that people enrolled in college can join. if you have any other questions about it let me know.

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Ahhh...cool. Yeah i didn't know what the CP acronym stood for. The College Program recruiters come to LSU a couple times a year I think. I'm planning on talking to them next time they come to campus. I'm currently enrolled in Mechanical Engineering and but I might be more interested in something dealing with set design. I don't think LSU has a specific program for it so I'm trying to figure out if there is something similar that they offer. :dizzy:

I noticed a lot of different engineering fields on the list, but I didn't see any aerospace engineering. Are some engineering fields preferable to others when it comes to trying to become an imagineer?

well im toying with becoming a recording or a sound engineer. im guessing theyll take that.

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Originally Posted by darthsakurachan

I noticed a lot of different engineering fields on the list, but I didn't see any aerospace engineering. Are some engineering fields preferable to others when it comes to trying to become an imagineer?

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Yeah, I definitely think that some engineering fields are more desirable than others when it comes to Imagineering. But, it also depends on the needs of the job. It kind of seems like the more "hardware oriented" fields tend to be more sought after by Disney. Fields like Mechanical, Structural, and Electrical engineering all seem to be highly sought after talents (in terms of engineering). I have a background in computer engineering and computer science and it seems like my skill set is still available at Imagineering but I might be better off going after something like the Walt Disney Internet Group or something like that.

When I was a CP I talked to Imagineering and I must have talked to one that wasn't all that thrilled about their job because they complained that Imagineering is all about ramping up for an attraction/park and then lays off everyone after the attraction/park is complete. While this is kinda, sorta true I have to believe that with all the money Disney is throwing into the parks lately (ahem...california adventure...cough) and the influence John Lasseter is beginning to have on Imagineering, this career field should begin to get a little more stable and just as fun and exciting as you imagined.

Sorry for the long post.....I definitely go back and forth whether or not I'd like to apply :-D