Disneyland 65th Anniversary, the online event, streamed for D23 members is hosted by Leslie Iwerks. The host is the executive producer and director of The Imagineering Story, the series which is currently streaming on Disney+. She is also the granddaughter of Ub Iwerks, the animator who worked with Walt Disney on the first Disney cartoons. She interviews a group of Imagineers; Tony Baxter, Kim Irvine, whose father worked at the animation studio, her mother played Madame Leota, Scott Trowbridge, he led development on Galaxy's Edge, and Janette Lomboy, Vice President of Disney Imagineering. Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955 and is currently closed to the public. The group had just visited Disneyland yesterday. Of course, I have to note that I’m a former DLand cast member. The park doesn’t show its age.
Kim Irvine worked with John Hench, she was asked what she would say to upcoming Imagineers, she said it would be to be at the parks with the guests, “out there all the time.” Trowbridge oversaw the Galaxy Edge expansion. He noted about being careful about how Galaxy’s Edge added to the Disneyland experience, “it belongs to them (the guests).” He said about going to the park without cast members that he realized “how much life they bring to the place.” I think this is an important point. Cast members make guest experiences. I was busing tables at a restaurant, a family liked my energetic busing so much, they asked to take a picture with me! Baxter said he will be consult with the team on the Splash Mountain (which he worked on) remodeling with The Princess and the Frog. Again, I went on the cast member testing of the ride, and the film was just a setting for the attraction, not central to it.
Scott Trowbridge showed the Rise of the Resistance toy that will be available when the park opens. Baxter talked about innovations with the simulator used in the military and bringing it for Star Tours. Lomboy spoke about installing a project at Innovation at EPCOT and saw some women who spoke in a different language, but was impressed all the same. The international scale of the parks is important. I think this is one of the aspects that also impressed me, guests come from all over the world, it is a microcosm of cultures. Irvine said, “Disneyland gives people hope.” She said she was at the park with no music or people and she felt that the wind through the trees was like the park “quivering” in anticipation of guests. Yes, we can only wait until returning to the park, but I find since I've first been to DLand that is always something new to find in some corner or it is great to see things that are familiar! It is great to hear from Imagineers who helped build the parks!
#DisneylandPark6thAnniversary, #LeslieIwerks, #TonyBaxter, #KimIrvine, #ScottTrowbridge, #JanetteLomboy
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