What Would Walt Do...

Just the mention of Disney, creates the nostalgia of a childhood with a mountains of VHS tapes, a Mouse and happy memories.

In 2019 I was lucky enough to share my love of Disney with my toddler, taking her to Walt Disney World; Florida.  Which seems like an age, where the temperature was slightly warmer than this Baltic winter!

WDW is honestly one of my favourite places on earth, more so now with the New Star Wars land. What’s not to like, Disney, Rides and food with the Floridian Sun all year round.

Having been a few times before, it allows you to notice the smaller details in everything. Whether it’s the hidden Mickeys (the best one only comes along once a year on Mickey’s Birthday for a few minutes) or whether it’s the smelitizers to the animatronics.

But what helps Disney afford all these tiny details?

TECHNOLOGY

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths”

Walt Disney  

Disney and Technology go hand in hand like Chips and Gravy, Cheese and Crackers and Mickey and Minnie. 

Disney wanted people to forget the outside world and be lost in a world of happiness and magic.

To create this magic, Disney has entrenched themselves in technology. Its interwoven into the very DNA of Disney. And if you can’t see it, it’s because the Imagineers have done such a good job, to the point where it is invisible.

The Imagineers at Disney are responsible for every innovation that Disney has done in the past and now working on for the future. They spare no expense and explore every avenue with technology. They immerse themselves in every new advancement available to them.

Sounds like the best job in the world, right?

Wish they would have told me at school this was a viable option as a career.

In essence their job is to future proof Disney whilst keeping to the original nostalgia. Moving into the future with technology and advancing the company is interwoven into the fabric of Disney. From the near financial ruin in the early days, with Snow White.

Disney took a calculated risk with adding new technology to the industry, which led to the first full length feature cartoon. Following on from the aftermath of Great Depression, the movie ultimately changed the fortunes of Disney. It catapulted Disney into the Disney we know of today.

And ever since Disney has been immersed in the latest and greatest technology to further the growth of the company. From the launch of the first Disney Theme Park, Disneyland to the latest Marvel movie.

Being an avid Disney fan, in these times I often thin what would Walt do?

“Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future”

Walt Disney

I’m no expert on the man himself, but I am pretty sure he would be investing into technology that would grow and expand Disney during these times. You can see it now as we speak with the enhancements to parks. Whilst keeping the core of the company and just improving on what they have.

Disney created the division of Imagineers; whose sole purpose is to devise or implement new or highly imaginative concepts or technology. So basically, they look at the direction of technology and try and implement or create.

Some of the technology in the parks and movies are second to none. The networking in the park allows 10’s of thousands of people to connect to the Wi-Fi simultaneously. With next to no drops or lag.

The sophisticated systems also allow the park to set up importune Parades to ease traffic or queuing in certain locations. All done by the network and networking tools they have implemented at the parks.

To the increased use and development of the app that allows a seamless experience at the parks, to opening your hotel room, to booking your Fast Pass rides, to guidance system to your next destination. Now it has been developed to order food at a click of the button and no more queuing.

In these times, I can only assume Walt would have been looking at what ways they could overcome these times to ensure that Disney would continue to thrive. He would look at all the different technologies and look to see how they could introduce or develop further. 

Disney was a pioneer of using new technology, loved embracing new ideas for the advancement of Disney. He never shied away from experimentation or technologies and has gifted us with some of the most ground-breaking advancements in Theme Parks and Movies.

I think is safe to assume in these times, Disney would have been investing into new technologies to ensure the growth of the company. So, in answer to what would Walt do… I am sure he would have been developing or investing into new technologies

If you have Disney+ I recommend that you give the Imagineer Story a watch. this will show how Disney use technology to advance the Parks and cinema. It really does give you a perspective on the levels they will go to ensure that the magic is never lost. But will also show you how technology can drive growth.