The Disney+ Docuseries THE IMAGINEERING STORY Is a Must Watch for Any Disney Theme Park Fan!
As a huge fan of Disneyland and the history and story behind its creation, one of the shows on Disney+ that I was looking forward to watching most was the documentary series The Imagineering Story. This is a six-part series that takes a fascinating deep dive into the creation of these incredible Disney theme parks. It pulls back the curtain and offers a detailed behind-the-scenes look at what went into creating the attractions for these parks and what goes into keeping them running.
I had the opportunity to watch the first couple of episodes of the series and they show us some incredibly cool things that I’ve never seen before! They also share information on certain things that I’ve never heard before. The series is filled with wonderful and fascinating information that I know for a fact Disney fans will love and appreciate.
The series, which was directed by Leslie Iwerks, is filled with old vintage footage from the building of the park and the attractions and it features interviews with the people involved who helped bring it all to life! It also includes footage of Walt Disney himself sharing his vision for these parks and how a theme park like Disneyland will never be completed.
Here’s the synopsis for the series:
Creating happiness is hard work. This six-hour saga by Academy Award nominated director, Leslie Iwerks, chronicles the sixty-seven year history of Walt Disney Imagineering, a place best described as equal parts artist studio, design center, think tank and innovation laboratory. This is where an eclectic group of creative people bring ideas to life. They’re responsible for building twelve theme parks around the world - the Happiest Places on Earth.
Here’s the description for Episode 101: The Happiest Place on Earth:
Walt Disney gathers a group of artists and engineers for the purpose of building a dream into reality. These ‘Imagineers’ formulate a set of design principles that transport people from their everyday lives to lands of imagination. Never has there been a place with themed environments, faithful to a story. Walt Disney vows, unlike a film that gets finished, Disneyland will never be completed.
While there are a lot of interesting things in this episode, this one also takes you behind the scenes of the Matterhorn and shows you what the long-rumored basketball court in the ride really is.
Here’s the description for Episode 102: What Would Walt Do?:
Without Walt’s guidance, the development of Florida’s Walt Disney World is a risky endeavor, but Roy O. Disney fulfills his brother’s wish. A second generation of designers carry out the last of Walt’s ideas - EPCOT, where the Imagineers achieve a higher purpose beyond entertainment. Simultaneously, the first international park opens in Japan. No future plans threaten the survival of the company.
One of my favorite parts of this episode was the part that focuses on what went into the creation of The Haunted Mansion. The Haunted Mansion is one of my favorite Disneyland attractions, so being able to learn new things about it was really cool for me! I just wish they would have gone into it a little more. They could make a whole documentary series based on The Haunted Mansion alone.
If you plan on subscribing to Disney+, The Imagineering Story is a must watch. I can’t wait to watch the rest of the series when the streaming service launches on November 12th!