I sat down with Bob Weis, the former President of Walt Disney Imagineering at our booth at the recent D23 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. We dive deep into the magic behind Disney’s parks and beyond with Bob, who shares his journey of nearly four decades of creativity, leading to the release of his inspiring new book on Dream Chasing.
Summary
In this special episode of WDW Radio, host Lou Mongello sits down with the former president of Walt Disney Imagineering, Bob Weis, to discuss his illustrious career and his new book, “Dream Chasing.” Recorded live at D23, Lou and Bob delve deep into the multifaceted journey of one of Disney’s most influential creative leaders. Bob shares intimate stories from his early visits to Disneyland, working as a cast member, and how those experiences shaped his approach to themed entertainment and guest experiences.
Bob recounts how his passion for Disneyland guided him to architecture school and ultimately to a dream career at Walt Disney Imagineering. The conversation highlights the significant projects Bob has worked on, including Tokyo Disneyland and the transformation of Shanghai Disneyland. Through these anecdotes, Bob emphasizes the importance of maintaining passion, perseverance, and collaboration when chasing any dream, whether it be in the creative industry or beyond.
Lou and Bob also explore the cultural influences that have enriched Disney’s international parks and how these experiences have impacted Bob’s vision and leadership style. This episode offers invaluable lessons for Disney fans, business leaders, and aspiring creators, as Bob’s book aims to inspire readers to chase their dreams with unrelenting dedication. In addition to discussing his book, Bob teases upcoming projects, including a new book that delves into the archives of Marty Sklar, another Disney legend.
Tune in to this episode for an enriching conversation packed with behind-the-scenes stories, leadership insights, and the timeless wisdom of a man who played a pivotal role in shaping Disney’s beloved theme parks. Whether you’re a fan of Disney history or looking for inspiration for your own dream-chasing journey, this episode is a treasure trove of insights that you won’t want to miss.
– If you could have any role at a Disney park what would it be and why?
Buy Dream Chasing on Amazon.com
Share your thoughts in the WDW Radio Clubhouse at WDWRadio.com/Clubhouse, or call the voicemail at 407-900-9391 (WDW1) and share your story on the show.
Subscribe, recommend, share, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the WDW Radio Nation to help support the show… and help make children’s wishes come true.
Takeaways
- Guest Introduction: Former Walt Disney imagineering president Bob Weis discusses his new book on dream chasing.
- D23 Expo: The episode takes place during the D23 Expo, highlighting its significance for Disney fans and industry experts.
- Career Retrospective: Bob Weis reflects on his 40-year career with Disney, sharing insights and lessons learned.
- Passion for Disneyland: Weis shares his personal connection to Disneyland, growing up near the park and experiencing its evolution from a young age.
- Imagineering Origins: Weis began his Disney career selling popcorn and ice cream at Disneyland, teaching him valuable lessons about guest interaction and park design.
- Guest Experience Philosophy: Importance of treating visitors as “guests,” a fundamental Disney principle that significantly enhances customer satisfaction.
- Chasing Dreams: Weis’ book aims to inspire others to pursue their dreams, emphasizing persistence and collaboration.
- Global Projects: Discussion on Weis’ work on international Disney parks, including Tokyo Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland, and the cultural influences that shaped them.
- Challenges in Imagineering: Insight into the obstacles and setbacks faced while working on major projects, such as Disney’s America.
- Cultural Influences: Exploration of how working in different countries impacted Weis’ approach to park design and guest experience.
- Leadership Lessons: Weis shares leadership advice, especially the importance of adaptability and maintaining passion in the face of adversity.
- COVID-19 Impact: The episode touches on the challenges posed by the pandemic and how Disney Imagineering navigated them.
- Book Recommendations: Weis’ book is available for pre-order on major platforms, including Amazon and Target, and he encourages supporting local bookstores.
- Future Projects: Weis hints at upcoming work, including another book and a project involving the extensive archives of legendary imagineer Marty Sklar.
Quotes
- From Architecture Dreams to Popcorn Streets: “Well, I always loving Disneyland, and I went to architecture school at Cal Poly, which is in Pomona, which is also, you know, less than an hour from Disneyland. And a lot of the students, I found out, had part time jobs, summer jobs, part time jobs at Disneyland. And so I said, well, what the heck? I’ll apply. And I got a job out there, and I thought I was going to do some high tech cool run the Pirates of the Caribbean or, you know, head of entertainment parades or something like that, you know? And they handed me my little envelope, and it said, you’re going to be an ice cream popcorn guy. And I’m what? That’s the best I could possibly get here. But I ended up loving it, because when you do ice cream and popcorn, you’re on the street all the time. You’re out there with the guests, and you get to change your position every day. So you’re in Fantasyland one day, Tomorrowland another day, and there’s kind of a bubble over Disneyland.” — Bob Weiss [00:02:48 → 00:03:50]
- The Importance of Cast Members at Disneyland: “So your interaction with them, just because you might have a bad day, this is their trip to Disneyland. Right. So the cast member really has to be, has to be on it all the time. You have to be really giving yourself all the time.” — Bob Weiss [00:04:56 → 00:05:11]
- Chasing Dreams: “It is a great thing to have dreams, but you have to be willing to really keep going and keep pushing them or chasing them to make them happen.” — Bob Weiss [00:09:02 → 00:09:10]
- The Power of Passion and Hard Work: “You have to bring all those people together, and they all have to believe it, and they all have to be willing to work really, really hard for five, six, seven years to make something happen.” — Bob Weiss [00:09:31 → 00:09:41]
- “Authentically Disney, but Distinctly Chinese”: “One of the great lines that I include in the book is when Bob Iger came up with this way to describe Shanghai Disneyland as we’re going to do something which is authentically Disney, but distinctly Chinese.” — Bob Weiss [00:12:27 → 00:12:40]
- The Magic of Imagineering Explained: “One of the great quotes from Walt that I put in the book was that he said it was like walking eight dogs. You know, dogs go wherever they want to go.” — Bob Weiss [00:14:22 → 00:14:31]
- Dream Chasing at Disney: “Sometimes you work really hard, and it’s just not the right idea. In that case, it was. It was probably the wrong location.” — Bob Weiss [00:16:11 → 00:16:20]
- “Secrets of Business Innovation”: “It is all about that passion and how you get a lot of people together to try to do things and that you can have great ideas, but.” — Bob Weiss [00:21:05 → 00:21:14]
- Unexpected Leadership Lessons from the Pandemic: “Leadership is not about knowing how to do the things that you need to do, at least in my mind. It’s not just about knowing how to do it. It’s about knowing how to approach the things you have no idea what to do.” — Bob Weiss [00:22:41 → 00:22:56]
- Disney Imagineering History Unveiled: “We have a massive archive at imagineering of Marty’s collections that I’m talking about from 1955 to when he retired 50 years later, having worked on all twelve and had been at every park opening.” — Bob Weiss [00:26:25 → 00:26:38]
Timestamped Overview
- 00:00 Loved Disneyland, worked there, enjoyed being with guests.
- 04:29 Disneyland: Vital to remember it’s special for visitors.
- 09:31 Passion, collective hard work, belief drive success.
- 11:57 Shanghai Disneyland: Authentically Disney, distinctly Chinese, culturally unique integration.
- 15:22 Experience at Disney highlights challenges of dream chasing.
- 17:26 Tokyo disliked Disney MGM concept; different movie culture.
- 22:31 Unpredictable events require adaptive, innovative leadership to manage uncertainty effectively.
- 25:52 Advising globally, writing books, digitizing Marty Sklar’s archives.
Upcoming WDW Radio Events and Cruises!
Let me help you build your brand and business and turn your passion into your profession, or speak at your event, conference, or school! – Learn more at LouMongello.com
Comment and share your questions, thoughts, and tips in our WDW Radio Clubhouse Community on Facebook or call the Voicemail and be heard “On the Air” at 407-900-9391
Listen to this week’s show and use the form below to enter our weekly trivia contest for a chance to WIN a Disney Prize Package!
