Imagneer

[big_ol_lineman]

Hey i about to start college and i was wondering what classes am i going to have to major in? oh and i want to be a R&D.

[big_ol_lineman]

bumpty

[crzyred]

do you mean what classes you have to take for a specific major? also have a brain fart....what is R&D?

[LoveBWVVBR]

You want to be an R+D what? Engineer? Scientist? Are you saying that you want to be a design engineer and work for WDW as an Imagineer? If so, browse the Imagineering job listings on Disney.com and see what would appeal to you. You can go from there to choose a major. Definitely go to an ABET-accredited engineering school (or engineering program at a larger university).

I'm an engineer, as is my DH, and I browse their listings from time to time. From what I can tell, they seem to have a lot of Controls-type Electrical Engineering jobs. They also seem prefer it if you have your EIT or PE already. For Mechanical Engineers, many the jobs look to be applications-oriented to me anyways.

[big_ol_lineman]

never mind

[McPoncho]

Hey, LoveBWVVBR, what engineering are you? I am a freshman at the University of Cincinnati, in the College of Engineering as a Mechanical Engineer. Next winter, I have to take part in a mandatory co-op, which is similar to a professional internship. I am strongly considering Disney as a location for such a role. I was wondering if you had any insight on the topic. Thank you.

[big_ol_lineman]

im starting college this fall im just need a little info on what i might need to major in. bc i have no idea and neither does anyone else. i dont mean to sound picky but im not an engineer i want to be a Disney Imagneer. Research and deisgn

[travelgirl06]

I would say electrical or mechanical engineering, if you are interested in the engineering aspects of Imagineering. Either of these will include lots of math and basic science courses, followed by lots of engineering fundamentals. These are not easy majors though, and a very small percentage of students in these majors actually get jobs with WDI, so be sure you like what you're doing!

Obviously they look for what most jobs do: good grades, work experience, extra-curriculars, people skills, etc. If you want to go into R & D get some design experience under your belt as soon as possible (engineering clubs offer this on most campuses). Also, you may want to try to get your face known by attending career fairs.

From what I've heard/seen at career fairs its really tough to get in, but all the Disney people I've spoken to have been kind and encouraging. They deffinately seem to hire the best and it shows.

best wishes

[big_ol_lineman]

thanky you very much

[DancinDaisyDuck]

im starting college this fall im just need a little info on what i might need to major in. bc i have no idea and neither does anyone else. i dont mean to sound picky but im not an engineer i want to be a Disney Imagneer. Research and deisgn

Can I just ask why you want to be an Imagineer?

[orangekid13]

that's a silly question....
It's only the best job ever for a Disney fanatic who likes to invent things!

that's my reason anyways... gonna do the CP in spring '09 to get my foot in the door then see what kind of PI I could get either that summer (if not just stay for the summer) or the following summer when i've graduated... *crosses fingers*

[DancinDaisyDuck]

that's a silly question....
It's only the best job ever for a Disney fanatic who likes to invent things!

that's my reason anyways... gonna do the CP in spring '09 to get my foot in the door then see what kind of PI I could get either that summer (if not just stay for the summer) or the following summer when i've graduated... *crosses fingers*

Actually, it's not. From this person's first post, I got the feeling he/she really isn't sure what they want to do at all, so I am interested in what his/her motivation is to major in some sort of engineering field and why they want to work for Disney. Luckily for you, you have a plan already in place. Many people don't and chose to major in something they really don't want to but do just to satisfice themselves or parents' wishes.

[big_ol_lineman]

IM A DUDE!!!!! Research and Development this is the caption in the book Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney world.

R&D stands for Research and Development. WDI R&D is the group that gets to play with the coolest toys. The investigate and invent all the latest technologies from every field of study and look for ways to apply them to Disney entertainment. WDI R&D serves as a resource for the entire Walt Disney Company.

AGAIN I AM A DUDE!!!!

[orangekid13]

Luckily for you, you have a plan already in place. Many people don't and chose to major in something they really don't want to but do just to satisfice themselves or parents' wishes.

true,
I have stucc it planned out so i don't have to take too many credits each semester because it's hard, i don't want to, and my dad works at IBM and pays for my college... this means it will take me 9 semesters to graduate but I don't want to graduate indoors in the winter in the dark and rain/snow/yuck so it works out very well that I can try to take the college program a couple times before my last semester (or two). That leaves me two summers to get a job or internships to build up my resume for Disney and for after I graduate, PI at Disney or otherwise. I'm a Computer Science major but I need to look at a minor in Mech-E... I'll do it if I can without taking chem... no way I'd be able to pass chem...

[LoveBWVVBR]

Hey, LoveBWVVBR, what engineering are you? I am a freshman at the University of Cincinnati, in the College of Engineering as a Mechanical Engineer. Next winter, I have to take part in a mandatory co-op, which is similar to a professional internship. I am strongly considering Disney as a location for such a role. I was wondering if you had any insight on the topic. Thank you.


I'm also a Mechanical Engineer:) Do you know for sure if Disney offers engineering co-ops? If so, great...they are a well-respected big company for sure, and it wouldn't hurt to have them on your resume. If you'd get stuck doing the "College Program," this isn't something you want to do as a co-op, though. You need a real engineering co-op for your resume and to make contacts.

Also, try to pass the EIT before graduation, while everything is still fresh in your mind. Disney seems to like engineers who either have their EIT or PE already. It never hurts to have it anyways.

One other thing...are you definitely in an ABET-accredited engineering program? That would be a dealbreaker for ever getting your EIT/PE, and a lot of companies require a degree from such a program anyways.

Good luck and try to enjoy your undergrad! Easier said than done once you get into the throes of Fluids, Heat Transfer, and the other dreaded courses though, eh?!

[LoveBWVVBR]

im starting college this fall im just need a little info on what i might need to major in. bc i have no idea and neither does anyone else. i dont mean to sound picky but im not an engineer i want to be a Disney Imagneer. Research and deisgn

I guess I don't understand your question. To me, R+D would require an engineering degree. Are you opposed to majoring in an engineering discipline:confused3 There are wonderful benefits to being an engineer, at Disney or elsewhere. For one thing, it's unlikely that you'd ever be poor:laughing: That's always a plus!

[LoveBWVVBR]

true,
I have stucc it planned out so i don't have to take too many credits each semester because it's hard, i don't want to, and my dad works at IBM and pays for my college... this means it will take me 9 semesters to graduate but I don't want to graduate indoors in the winter in the dark and rain/snow/yuck so it works out very well that I can try to take the college program a couple times before my last semester (or two). That leaves me two summers to get a job or internships to build up my resume for Disney and for after I graduate, PI at Disney or otherwise. I'm a Computer Science major but I need to look at a minor in Mech-E... I'll do it if I can without taking chem... no way I'd be able to pass chem...

Don't worry...college chem. for ME's is just the same as high school chem. I don't see why you'd need to take chem. to minor in ME, though. Chem is one of the ABET requirements for a major in ME. I don't know why it would be required for a simple minor, though. There were no minors in any kind of engineering at my engineering college, so I'm not 100% sure, though.

[LoveBWVVBR]

IM A DUDE!!!!! Research and Development this is the caption in the book Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney world.

R&D stands for Research and Development. WDI R&D is the group that gets to play with the coolest toys. The investigate and invent all the latest technologies from every field of study and look for ways to apply them to Disney entertainment. WDI R&D serves as a resource for the entire Walt Disney Company.

AGAIN I AM A DUDE!!!!

I hate to burst your bubble, but I don't think they're looking for liberal arts majors to work in Imagineering R+D. You earn the right to play with the coolest toys by paying your dues in engineering undergrad ;)

[big_ol_lineman]

uh.....ok

[orangekid13]

I hate to burst your bubble, but I don't think they're looking for liberal arts majors to work in Imagineering R+D. You earn the right to play with the coolest toys by paying your dues in engineering undergrad ;)

uh.....ok

oh snap

[PrincessRianne]

So, chalk me up for wanting to be an imagineer too. How to get there? I am not entirely sure. Right now I'm finishing up my double bachlor degrees in civil engineering and art, and then I plan on going to get my Masters of Architecture. With all that, (Including my EIT (Called the FE nowadays) and my Architecture License) I would hope Disney would have a place for little ol me. I don't care if its designing turkey carts! lol.

As for R&D I think you definatly have to pay your dues and work your way up that ladder. Go in for an engineering they need alot of, like mechanical or electrical, because if you want to play with all the new things someday, they are probably going to be along the mechanical/electrical lines. That way, you know what you're doing! Just my thoughts though. Best of luck. :figment:

[LoveBWVVBR]

So, chalk me up for wanting to be an imagineer too. How to get there? I am not entirely sure. Right now I'm finishing up my double bachlor degrees in civil engineering and art, and then I plan on going to get my Masters of Architecture. With all that, (Including my EIT (Called the FE nowadays) and my Architecture License) I would hope Disney would have a place for little ol me. I don't care if its designing turkey carts! lol.

As for R&D I think you definatly have to pay your dues and work your way up that ladder. Go in for an engineering they need alot of, like mechanical or electrical, because if you want to play with all the new things someday, they are probably going to be along the mechanical/electrical lines. That way, you know what you're doing! Just my thoughts though. Best of luck. :figment:

Your double major undergrad. and architecture grad. plan sounds perfect to me. Architecture is a tough major, but it really pays off! Also, Civil is a versatile engineering field. You can't really go wrong there.

I didn't know that they changed the name of the EIT to the FE exam. I must have sounded a little outdated:laughing: My apologies!

[ArchieImagineer]

So, chalk me up for wanting to be an imagineer too. How to get there? I am not entirely sure. Right now I'm finishing up my double bachlor degrees in civil engineering and art, and then I plan on going to get my Masters of Architecture. With all that, (Including my EIT (Called the FE nowadays) and my Architecture License) I would hope Disney would have a place for little ol me. I don't care if its designing turkey carts! lol.

As for R&D I think you definatly have to pay your dues and work your way up that ladder. Go in for an engineering they need alot of, like mechanical or electrical, because if you want to play with all the new things someday, they are probably going to be along the mechanical/electrical lines. That way, you know what you're doing! Just my thoughts though. Best of luck. :figment:

Just make sure the Masters program you get into is NAAB acredited. Other wise your degree means nothing. Plus having a acredited degree means less time interning before you get you license. see you there!:thumbsup2

[PrincessRianne]

Don't worry, you arent that outdated. I think they just changed it recently. I got really confused my first two years when people would talk about the EIT then the FE and PE. Turns out that they changed it over from Engineer in Training to Fundamentals of Engineering.

But thanks for the words of encouragement. Now I just gotta make my dreams come true. hehe. ;)

[spbink]

If research and design is what you want to do, you may think about being a design major. Imagineering involves all sorts of disciplines, so if engineering is not your thing and you seem to want to think up and design stuff, well that's part of what the Design major does.

[big_ol_lineman]

If research and design is what you want to do, you may think about being a design major. Imagineering involves all sorts of disciplines, so if engineering is not your thing and you seem to want to think up and design stuff, well that's part of what the Design major does. discipline i have no problem with and i finally found what i need.... ok im going to an art school yes this will help to be an imagneer bc in the discription it says will help with fruniture, art and theme park creation. so that is wut im gonna do

[XImagineer]

As a former Imagineer, I can tell you that there are many, many different types of jobs within WDI, each and every one challenging and important to the development of Disney theme parks.

If I were to give you one piece of advice, it is this: do not plan your major around something you think would be cool to do at one company. Study something that you love, and that you have a passion and aptitude for. If you truly love what you're doing, then you will be set for the rest of your life.

If you were to beg me for one more piece of advice, it would be to get lots of real-world experience before coming to WDI. The people in R&D are seasoned professionals with tons of experience & education under their belt - they didn't just get the job to play with cool toys. They could have gone to work at Sharper Image if that was their goal.

WDI can be a great place to work, but it is very volatile when it comes to job security (note the "X" in my name!). The focus of WDI has changed over the years, and some might say its only a shell of what it used to be. I was fortunate to work with Marty Sklar, John Hench, Marc Davis, and many many more veterans who's lives were devoted to Disney and its mission. Today, there are very, very few in the company who share that passion, and it's beginning to show in the work. My hope is that John Lasseter will turn it around, but my last advice to you, or anyone looking to get into WDI, is to please have a solid back-up plan in case he can't.