The Magic of Imagineering: How Walt Disney Inspired Me to Do the Impossible
The Magic Kingdom: A Source of Technological Inspiration
Growing up in the late 50s and early 60s, like so many other kids, I was so excited about this new “theme park” called Disneyland. Sure, the rides and displays were fun and entertaining, but I was fascinated by the technology, always wanting to know how it was all done. I would ride the “Carousel of Progress” and pay more attention to the control panel on the wall than the animatronic figures on the stage. Any ride that gave a technical hint to its operation immediately caught my attention.
Disney had a weekly show on television that would often feature a behind the scenes look at how things were done. The explanations were fascinating for a pre-teen kid like me. I learned that the animatronic characters were controlled by a series of tones, recorded on separate tracks with a multi-track tape machine. The tones were decoded into control signals, which worked valves, which in turn worked pneumatic cylinders to create movement.
Though these systems were crude by today’s standards, where modern computers control every movement and coordinate those movements with digitally reproduced sound, they embraced a practical simplicity to getting the job done. When it started, the “Small World” ride had an entire floor of equipment that was basically the size of the ride it supported. Now it’s all done with a small amount of rack space, placed strategically in what is now a massive empty space.
Innovative Experiences, Trailblazing Entertainment
The lesson here is not about how technology has improved, but Walt’s approach to making things happen. Walt Disney’s background was animation, and early on he pioneered many innovations in that field. He didn’t look at the current state of the art, or what was possible. Instead he focused on what was needed to create the results he wanted, even if that required technology that was completely untried, such as an entire floor full of synchronized tape decks. Or, as in the Haunted Mansion, synchronized film projectors. Or even technology that hadn’t even been thought of yet.
I looked up to Walt as a kindly grandfather-type, who also just happened to run the coolest place on the planet. He wasn’t some “boring old man” to me, but rather more of a friend who visited once a week via the TV set. I wanted to meet him one day, but sadly, that was not in the cards. On my thirteenth birthday Walt passed away, having lost his battle with lung cancer. His illness was not publicized, so his death came as a surprise and shock. To say that it affected me deeply would be an understatement, but his passing only served to inspire me even more to be like him. It was truly a turning point in my life.
Walt’s Legacy: The Imagineering Philosophy
Walt always focused on making things possible, even if it meant pushing the envelope. The experiences of my early childhood made me want to do the same sorts of things as Walt did. It is why the Disney philosophy of “Imagineering” is a core guiding principle of Radio Design Group, and a reminder of the inspiration we find by combining curiosity with technical capability. Though Walt Disney left this world the same day I became a teenager, his approach to “doing the impossible” continues to inspire me, even today.
RDG strives to do the impossible for our customers. We find ways to take on the challenges that other engineering firms won’t or aren’t able to do. Instead of looking at what is, we search for what could be, and how it can be done; our curiosity leading us down new paths.