Imagineer Question?

[MAC3]

Hello,

My DD(12) wants to be a Disney Imagineer when she gets older. She wrote a letter to the "Imagineers" in general of an idea she has.

Does anyone know of where I can forward this letter? I thought it was too cute and wanted her to get some feedback from a person that she deems as having the ultimate job!

Thanks,

 

[ziggystardust]

I don't know if these links will help, but heres trying.

http://www.themedattraction.com/theme_design.htm

and

www.disneycareers.com

The first is a group of imagineers from all over the world and not just Disney. You might be able to get some good info there. The 2nd is obvioiusly Disney related.

Good Luck to you DD, its an amazing dream. (If she's really interested in this when she gets to college she should definatly do the Disney College program, but you have a ways to wait for that!)

 

[chrissyk]

The Disney College Program isn't for people majoring in engineering, LOL! You can't lose a semester like that when you're studying engineering. If you do, you'll have to spend more than 4 years in college.

I am an engineer, as are my DH and my sis. We are moving to Celebration, FL because my DH wants to have his dream of being an imagineer now. He's already had a successful career as an engineer first. One BIG thing about Imagineering is that it just doesn't pay like other engineering jobs do.

From my totally-biased engineer's view, I would say that your DD should major in Electrical/Computer Engineering or Mechanical Engineering, get a good job and make the dough in her 20's. She needs to put that money back so that in her 30's, she can take the lower-paying but very satisfying Imagineering job. That's what we did, and I think that it will be very worthwhile once DH gets that dream job.

Also, she needs to get that engineering degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program. Maybe you can get her into a mentoring program through SWE (Society of Women Engineers) or something in the meantime. I wish that more girls would become interested in careers in engineering!

 

[MAC3]

Thanks for the great info! I will print it out and give this to her to read. Maybe hearing it from the proverbial "horse’s mouth” will help her concentrate on what has to be done in order to achieve her goal!

Thanks so much!

 

[RedxPanda]

yay for women engineers!

i'm FINALLY graduating this Fall!! maybe i can get a trip to Epcot out of my family to celebrate.

MAC3: since your DD is still young you can get her to build a strong math background, and physics as well. Electrical Engineering is tough, i had some troubles with the math since i didn't quite reach Calculus in high school. And the Calc 1 teacher i had was brutal once i started college.
Silly me for not deciding what i wanted to study until i HAD to apply to colleges

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Just wanted to chime in. I'm not an engineer (i'm very mechanically UNinclined) but my friends new landlady is and I think it's so cool. Also, DN 12 is really into math and science and wants to be an engineer when she grows up!

It's a good thing!

 

[chrissyk]

RedxPanda, my DH had a lot of trouble with some Calc. courses as well, but he's an excellent engineer anyways. His favorite saying is that you don't need math to be an engineer, LOL! I don't think that I support that statement, but I guess it works for him

 

[KristaTX]

What a great goal for your daughter. I wish I'd known about Imagineering when I was 12 (or even 20!) .

If she doesn't already have them, you might think about buying two books for her: The Imagineering Way: Ideas to Ignite Your Creativity and Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real. I have them both and they are wonderful.

 

[RedxPanda]

you may not need it as much working, but you sure do need it to get that degree!

School tortures you, then you get a $50k job! (in FL)
i'll take that deal!

my BF dbl majored comp and electrical eng. and now he gets 52k to research cables and other sources of sending information/storing info for computer systems in an airplane! + other odd jobs and reports. talk about not needing calculus!

 

[orvilleair]

I am an engineer. I agree with all of the replies on the high demand for women engineers. It is a career worth investing the time into. Instead of an engineering degree, a degree in architecture could be an alternative. Finally, we hired an engineer whom has a "lighting design" degree from Colorado. Not a lot schools offer degrees in lighting design, but it is worth checking out. As long as there is construction, there will be a demand for architects and engineers. She could pass the FE test and the PE test as she advances in her profession.

As for me, I came back from a high school renovation. I like the variety. I can't comment on the salary vs. Disney's, but I know some firms in town are doing Disney type stuff such as Goofy Candy Stores.

Edited to add: Saw you are from Mass. There is a firm from Boston whom is designing all of the lighting for a new parking garage at our local airport.

 

[MAC3]

Originally posted by KristaTX
If she doesn't already have them, you might think about buying two books for her: The Imagineering Way: Ideas to Ignite Your Creativity and Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real. I have them both and they are wonderful.

KristaTX,

Are they books that will be understandalbe for a 12 yr old? I think I saw then on Mousesavers on sale. hum I may have to go back and check.

Thanks to everyone, with this thread, I might just be able to get DD to try harder in Math this year!

 

[KristaTX]

The Imagineering Way is written in fairly short chapters and paragraphs, but it doesn't have many pictures (a few black and white drawings of Figment). It might be a little bit boring for a 12 year old. But Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real has LOTS of color pictures. So even if she's not ready to read much text (and the text isn't overwhelming), if she is familiar with the parks she will enjoy it. Especially since she's already interested in the topic. There seems to be lots of behind the scenes and how'd-they-do-that stuff. I guess I'd describe it as sort of coffee-table sized. My mom just bought it for me this week (and I'm 33 ).

 

[chrissyk]

Wow, I feel old. Right out of college I made like 33K to start, and I thought that I was rich, LOL! Does anyone on here actually have their PE? It's not as imporant in my field (ME), but I've considered it anyways. I never bothered with the EIT when I was in school, though. ARRRRGH! My sister (also an engineer) has convinced me that having a PE is antiquated and ridiculous for everyone but Civils. It seems like it might be nice to have though.

As for women engineers being highly desirable, it's true. However, I wanted to be desirable because I was a GOOD engineer, and not because I was female. I think that my first job hired me to fill a quota. It was a miserable office to work in. I got my second job based upon my qualifications, though. That was a great job and a great office! Believe me, getting a job because you're the "woman engineer" is just lousy all the way around. It's nice to be wanted, but only if they care about your talent and not just your gender!!

 

[orvilleair]

ChrissyK: I am a PE, and here is where it is useful for enginners in the construction business.

On any blueprint (take a new Coldwater Creek store) for example, there is a space on the print for a PE stamp. In this State, buildings can't be built without drawings stamped by a PE and a registered architect. I'm an EE so my drawings would consist of the lighting, outlet, and panelboard locations. The ME would have drawings consisting of the plumbing (water and sanitary) routing and the HVAC (equipment and ductwork). So if you are involved in this type of work, a PE can be rewarding. I don't use my stamp, my bosses use their own. I need more seasoning. Maybe down the road, I would be promoted as a partner and that's where the $$$ is. Your sister is correct in civil, but a PE can help for MEs and EEs too.

 

[chrissyk]

If you're an EE, the money is in the options, not the partnership, LOL! I did do some buildings-related work in the past, but nothing that would have required me to have my stamp. I always pondered getting it, though. My old boss (an EE) also pondered getting his...neither of us ever did anything about it though!

Oddly, a guy in my office randomly decided to take the PE exam, and he passed with no studying! He kept right on working his same thankless job, though. I had no clue that he even had a PE until it came up in conversation one day. I don't think that anyone in my office knew! It was weird.