DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
In honor of the themed entertainment creative division’s 70 years in operation, current employees at Walt Disney Imagineering received exclusive new nametags.
Credit: Disney Parks Blog
First started as Walt Elias Disney (or W.E.D.) Enterprises in 1953, Walt Disney created a collective of animators, set designers, and engineering to help orchestrate the construction of the now Disneyland Resort. In fact, the first unofficial “Imagineer” was concept artist Herbert Ryman, who completed an aerial rendering of Disneyland Park for Walt.
Then, WED Enterprises would move from offices on the Walt Disney Animation Studios lot to an industrial space in Glendale, California in 1961. Of course, the creative team would not become “Walt Disney Imagineering” (WDI) until rebranding in 1986.
Credit: Walt Disney Imagineering
RELATED:Â Former Imagineering Executive Clears Up Common Animal Kingdom Misconception
Now, WDI holds the same location on Flower Street that it has since 1964, and in 1965 became an official subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company. Today, the Company division handles all theme park offerings including new attractions, dining experiences, and entertainment, as well as the planning and execution of entire new Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide!
As described on its website by the entertainment “pioneers:”
Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative force that imagines, designs and brings to life all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions and cruise ships worldwide. Working across a spectrum of disciplines that range from creative and conceptual to scientific and technical, Imagineers blend an innovative mixture of storytelling, art, science and technology to create immersive experiences, memorable destinations, and innovative entertainment for families around the globe.
Credit: Disney Parks Blog
RELATED:Â So You Want to Be An Imagineer; Read This First!
Later, the division would expand again to a bowling alley next door on Flower Street to provide more office space to the Imagineers, and eventually even open corporate locations on-property at the Walt Disney World Resort to help expand the Magic Kingdom’s second gate, and two additional theme parks. Moreover, most recently, it was announced during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic that WDI would begin a mass relocation to Lake Nova in Florida from Southern California.
Even so, for now, many Imagineers remain right where it all started in Socal, and all of them have received shiny new metallic nametags in honor of WDI’s 70-year history. To celebrate this pivotal anniversary, Disney gave each Imagineer a special embossed nametag commemorating the creative division’s legacy! Disney Imagineer Scott Trowbridge shared photos of his tag on Instagram recently:
View this post on Instagram
What do you think of the new designs? Happy 70th to Walt Disney Imagineering!
