Imagineering info!

[luna99]

Are there any behind the scene tours that have to deal with Imagineering? I was talking to my husband last night about Tower of Terror (he's never ridden it) and he got really interested in the science behind it and how they make it work asking questions like "well, how do they stop it?" (I said I think they use magnets? ) and I just started wondering if there was an Imagineering backstage tour or just any websites or places I could look to find out more about the Imagineering aspect of Disney and how they do what they do!

thanks!

 

[disneyaggie]

I suggest Lunch with an Imagineer. It is awesome! I believe they also have Dinner with an Imagineer, but I believe that price tag is a bit higher.

At our Lunch, there were only about 12 people. There is like a 12-person limit per Lunch. You have to make reservations ahead of time. Our Imagineer was wonderful. We had lunch at MGM's Brown Derby and had a very private area and table just for us. We were able to ask questions and get to know more about Imagineering. I truly recommend this for you and your hubby. I would definitely do this again.

 

[bradk]

for mgm, not really. the other parks have tours geared towards their design, but it's more of a show than technical (although the guides are usually well versed).

the lunch/dinner is a good idea but it's a bit on the expensive side and remember imagineering is a wide field and can encompass one of many different things so you may not get someone who is intimately involved in attractions.

but to answer your question as well as i can (which is not saying much), TOT is not a freefall. the vehicle is actually pulled down (and pushed up) at a rate faster than gravity (which is why objects rise, not float). a really interesting question is what happens to all that air when the vehicle compresses it at such a high rate of speed. the answer lies in the wall they blew out when initially testing the attraction.

there's also the imagineering field guides.. MGM's should be out next summer

 

[selina4disney]

We have Lunch with an Imagineer scheduled next Monday. Every review I have ever read, the people who went were very impressed and thought it was well worth the price, no matter who they got. As long as you go in not expecting Joe Rhode (how cool would that be?!?!) you should not be disappointed. Now to get that list of questions ready...

 

[Dan Murphy]

Check the tour descriptions here.....


http://allearsnet.com/btp/tours.htm

and reviews here.....

http://allearsnet.com/reviewpost/showcat.php?cat=66

Wild By Design is a good Imagineeiring type tour.

I have done the Lunch with an Imagineer, it was very good also....

http://allearsnet.com/din/dine_imag.htm

 

[luna99]

wow, thanks for all the info! I really think I would enjoy lunch or dinner with an imagineer as well.. not just my hubby. Maybe we'll check it out the next time we go! thanks again!

 

[kaytieeldr]

The other thing your husband can do is... just ask! The CMs on duty had to get me a manager, but now I know how some things are done at "Little Mermaid".

If he can't get his answers at/near an attraction, head over to Guest Services.

Lunch with an Imagineer is GREAT (will do it again!), but you may or may not get an Imagineer who can answer the questions your husband has - ours was a Graphic Artist.

eta: Dan's right - Wild by Design is REALLY interesting! I got lucky - of the fifteen or so Guests waiting for Animal Kingdom tours 'my' morning... I was the ONLY one for Wild by Design!!!! Now, obviously, there's no guarantee this would be your experience - but the Safari tour is much more popular. You/he can ask anything; of course, it's possible your tour guide won't know, but... anyway, I chose that tour because of the History Channel special about the parks - I was impressed by the frame for the Tree of Life, and wanted to learn more...