WDWithMe

The official page for WDWithME.com. Learn about Disney & other theme parks through the eyes of a former Imagineer. Design, technology & more!

Former Walt Disney Imagineer now a full-time UCF professor teaching courses in themed entertainment, event production, new and emerging technologies, and other related courses to the next generation! Love to have fun while sharing the World with others.

10/09/2024

Some last minute Hurricane Hacks as we wait for Milton to arrive in all his glory. Hope some may still be of use.

Stay safe everyone and best wishes to come out the other side as best as possible!!

07/27/2024

Note: As a former Walt Disney Imagineer, I’m flattered to get a lot of individual friend requests. I have stopped accepting those on my personal page, but I would encourage you to please join my Facebook group “The Mouse in The Imagineer“ which is where I post a lot of great Disney related content…and you can too.

I’m trying to build up my following, so if you (or other friends you know of) are interested in a fun drama-free group offering a unique Imaginnering perspective, please join me here:

The Mouse and the Imagineer

06/15/2024

Cheering on #2 son Kylie as he’s a little bit more than halfway through an ultra marathon over in the UK. That’s just over 62 miles! As of about noon EST he’s been running for nearly 10 hours, with about five more to go! 🤯 I can’t even imagine…

05/16/2024

Will be at Epcot today. If you see me in my trademark fedora and wearing a sorcerer Mickey T-shirt, come say hi!

05/11/2024

This is a podcast interview I did with the most engaging Steve Harper, host of The Ripple Effect, a few weeks ago. and was just released! Thanks for a great conversation Steve-and next time, we’ll do one from the parks!

Top link is the video interview and bottom link is the audio podcast.
🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGbJB8EalaA https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YGbJB8EalaA

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ripple-effect-podcast-with-steve-harper/id955516265?i=1000655259927

05/05/2024

Don’t forget what today is.
Go to the dark side.
You might just like it…

05/05/2024

Check out xImagineer_Brian’s video.

05/04/2024

A Star Wars story…

Back in my Imagineering days, one of our Art Directors was given the task to mock up some ideas for a photo opportunity at the (then) Disney-MGM Studios. He asked if I could be his “model“ to help him out. 📷

We did three different versions: One was based on the movie Dick Tracy which had just come out and starred Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Madonna, and many other A-list stars of the time 🌟.

A second was based on Raiders of the Lost Ark where guests would’ve been able to take a photo of them stealing the golden Idol, a’la Indiana Jones 😎.

The last one we did would have guests speeding through the forest of Endor, outrunning Storm Troopers as seen in Return of the Jedi 🎬.

There’s a whole story about the fun we had doing that photo shoot. Each set-up had its own unique twist. For our Star Wars mock up we actually used one of the actual Land Speeders that was a prop in the movie… Lucas film had sent us a few of those those that we just had lying around. 😜 Needless to say, I was a bit nervous hopping up on it, but as soon as I did I had a great time trying my best to look like I was out running Storm Troopers.

Fortunately, I still have a copy of one of the photos we took – this was far before cell phone cameras, so I’m really grateful that it survived. How many people can say they have a picture of themselves on an iconic prop like this! 🤯

Eventually, that was the one the higher-ups asked us to create. For many years afterwards people would tell me how much they enjoyed having their picture taken doing the same. Some of you may have photos taken in that very spot. 👉🏼(If you do, please post them below!)

Needless to say, I was sad when they removed it to build some bathrooms in its place, and honestly a bit surprised they didn’t move it into Galaxy’s Edge. 🤷🏽. While it was available though, I know a lot of people made some great memories and it was fun to know I had a small part in helping that come together. ☺️

I’m not sure if it’s the exact same prop I got to ride, but there is a beautifully refurbished Land Speeder on display now in the Star Wars Launch Bay 🫶🏼. I’d like to think that it’s my old friend-but since we had a few of them, there’s no way to actually tell…

In any event, hope you enjoyed this little behind-the-scenes story.

May the fourth be with you today.

05/01/2024

In commemoration of the Disney-MGM Studios opening May 1, 1989:

FULL RIDE-THROUGH OF THE GREAT MOVIE RIDE!

Enjoy!

(I was fortunate to have worked on plussing this attraction as a young Imagineer. 💖)

04/26/2024

A couple fun little Easter eggs tucked away on a bookshelf in the UK’s world showcase… If you know where to look! 😉

04/24/2024

I think many of you know that I’ve been working on a book for quite some time now. I’m happy to report that I’ve got one great, solid offer from a large, well-known publisher, but waiting to hear back from some literary agents I sent my query to. If I can get one to pick it up then hopefully I can get an even better offer! (Any literary agents out there who want to take a look, please message me.)

In the meantime, waiting on just a few more contributions and working on expanding my word count. Otherwise, this book is pretty much ready to go!! Hoping to have a deal signed and get the publishing processs started in the next 60-90 days. Maybe sooner if the planets align…

Stay tuned for updates…

04/23/2024

While Drinking Around the World has its place, would anyone up for doing a decadent "Desserts Around the World" meet-up sometime next month?

04/16/2024

It's been a while since I've done anything with the page, but time to get it going again! Please follow me for fun and interesting insights on all things Disney from a former Imagineer's point-of-view!

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Orlando, FL

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http://www.wdwithme.com/

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Videos

In commemoration of the Disney-MGM Studios opening May 1, 1989: FULL RIDE-THROUGH OF THE GREAT MOVIE RIDE! Enjoy! (I was fortunate to have worked on plussing this attraction as a young Imagineer. 💖)