Have you ever been walking through a Disney theme park, or riding on one of the many attractions and suddenly thought to yourself, “How did they ever come up with this?”

I have.

In fact, it was that very question that really sparked my interest in the whole world of Disney. But what is the answer to that question? How do these ideas get dreamed up? What sorts of things go into the designs? How do they get them built? These are the sort of questions I will attempt to answer in this series.

This week, we’ll start with the idea – the spark that starts it all. I once read that the “idea time” is really only a very small percentage of time spent on any given project. WDI (Walt Disney Imagineering – for those who aren’t familiar with the Disney acronyms) has no shortage of ideas, they really only have a shortage of resources to see them all completed.

But where does an idea come from? Well, they can actually come from anywhere! Imagineers have had countless ideas for different effects, ride vehicles, ride concepts, stories and much more. The idea may have come out of the need for a new attraction in a certain park or area, or it could just be some crazy off-the-wall idea that really is not meant for anywhere specific.

These ideas are jotted down or sketched out to a point where they can be shared with other Imagineers. Ideas can come from anywhere, and may be sparked by anything. Therefore, Imagineers are infamous for scratching out concepts or sketches on napkins in restaurants, or on anything they can find to write on when the idea comes to them. I know I’ve experienced this before when working on a creative project. I’ll often wake up in the middle of the night with an idea so grand that I have to write it down immediately for fear that I will forget parts or all of it later when it comes time to share it with others!

Once an idea has gathered enough interest and/or approval, a design team is assembled to take this idea from concept to reality. The first step in this process is what many refer to as the “blue sky” process. This occurs in the very beginning when the idea is still fresh. The team of designers (all of which have different talents and backgrounds) get together to discuss the idea and share their creativity with one another. The creative ideas begin to feed off of one another as each member of the team tries to “plus” the concept. This is the “what if…” portion of the process.

It has been said many times that Imagineers don’t believe that there are any bad ideas. Creativity is encouraged constantly, and all ideas are taken into account in the creative process. That is what the “blue sky” process is all about – taking a single spark of an idea, and igniting the imaginations of each member of the design team, so they all can contribute their creative ideas and make the concept better. With different backgrounds, each member of the design team contributes new and unique ideas. They will continue to plus the idea and add to it until it is just so fantastic that it can’t possibly be any better. This is done for two reasons…

First, the concept has to be bought off by management, so the designers want to show it in the best possible light. Only the best of the best ideas are ever put into production, so the Imagineers are going to give it their all when they pitch their idea.

Secondly, it is just a given that budget constraints will prevent every aspect of this idea to be developed. Cuts will undoubtedly need to be made. However, if you start with just a good idea, then budget cuts will turn it into a sub-par idea. But if it is an exceptionally great, wonderful, creative idea, then budget cuts may still allow it to be a great idea. Basically, budgets will be cut. That is just a given. If you dream small to start with, you’ll be left with nothing. But if you dream as big as you can, you’ll still be left with something!

Another job of the design team is to take this grand idea and start to look at it from the standpoint of reality. This is when the question is asked, “Now, can we really DO that?” Some “blue sky” concepts are so far advanced that the technologies required to see them completed don’t even exist yet. This is when the project enters the next segment of the design: Research and Development (or R&D as some like to call it).

So, what all is involved in R&D? Well, I’m afraid that will have to wait until next week! Until then, I’ll see ya real soon!