<img src="http://www.thedibb.co.uk/webimages/mm12.jpg" align="right">With the launch of the groundbreaking Mission: SPACE attraction at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney has established yet another theme park landmark in keeping with Walt Disney's simple philosophy, "I believe in being an innovator."
Through a rich combination of storytelling, guest service, imagination and complex engineering born out of years of research and development, Disney's resorts around the world have become synonymous with cutting-edge achievements in themed entertainment since Disneyland opened in 1955.
Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), the most diverse creative design and development company in the world, is responsible for the creation -- from concept through installation -- of all Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions, real estate development and new entertainment venues.
The Imagineering team includes show designers, artists, writers, project managers, engineers, architects, filmmakers, audio and visual specialists, animators, manufacturing groups, computer programmers, land planners, ride system designers, finance experts and researchers. Together they are responsible for all phases of project development -- from concept initiation to field at direction and show installation. WDI maintains facilities in Glendale, Calif., Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort and Disneyland Resort Paris.
Walt Disney Imagineering has been granted more than 115 company-owned patents in areas including ride systems, special effects, interactive technology, live entertainment, fiber optics and advanced audio systems. Its technological landmarks first introduced in Disney's theme parks include:
A 360-degree motion picture technology using multiple synchronized cameras (Circarama, U.S.A., Disneyland, 1955); later refined and updated for multiple attractions around the world including Le Visionarium (Disneyland Paris, 1992)
The first daily operating monorail system in the United States (Disneyland, 1959)
The first roller coaster to use cylindrical rails and urethane wheels (Matterhorn Bobsleds, Disneyland, 1959)
The creation of Audio-Animatronics® figures, which allow humans, animals and creatures of fantasy to be animated in three dimensions with an astonishing degree of realism (Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, Disneyland, 1963)
The first computer-controlled thrill ride (Space Mountain, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, 1975)
An advanced 3-D motion picture photography system (Magic Journeys, Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort, 1982); later enhanced for multiple attractions around the world including the forthcoming Mickey's PhilharMagic (Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, 2003)
A thrilling free-fall attraction with random programming for an unpredictable ride experience (The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror, Disney-MGM Studios, Walt Disney World Resort, 1994)
State-of-the-art vehicles that move through three-dimensional environments with a capacity for random motion-simulator effects (Indiana Jones Adventure, Disneyland, 1995)
Trackless ride vehicles that follow a random path by relying upon unseen transmitters in the floor (Pooh's Hunny Hunt, Tokyo Disneyland, 2000)
A virtual hang-gliding experience that provides a panoramic view of sweeping landscapes augmented by scents released during key scenes (Soarin' Over California, Disney's California Adventure, 2001)
As Walt Disney once said, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
Years in the making, Mission: SPACE represents a continuation of Walt's vision to an unprecedented degree. The bold new attraction is an unparalleled blend of imagination and engineering that define the company's signature "E-ticket" theme park attractions. Combining leading-edge aerospace technology with Disney's storytelling magic, the Epcot attraction launches guests on an exhilarating astronaut adventure that takes them from the realistic rush of liftoff to a high-speed rocket ride to Mars, much in the same way NASA trains its astronauts.
TUNING UP -- Disney music meets Disney magic in "Mickey's PhilharMagic," a new 3-D film spectacular coming to the Magic Kingdom in the fall of 2003 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Fantasyland guests will delight in seeing Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other Disney characters animated like never before, accompanied by popular Disney music and special effects. It all unfolds on a 150-foot-wide canvas, one of the largest 3-D screens in the world. EDITOR'S NOTE: This image is a computer-enhanced montage portraying the spirit of Mickey's PhilharMagic, not depicting the actual guest experience.
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