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Theme park insight to be shared at third annual Entertainment Designer Forum featuring Disney, Universal, Busch Gardens

in Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World

Posted on by Ricky Brigante 1 Comment
Top theme park creatives take the stage at the Entertainment Designer Forum, seated in director’s chairs with iconic attraction posters in the background, as they share exclusive behind-the-scenes stories and design secrets with a packed audience of fans and industry insiders.

The highly-successful, informative, and enjoyable Entertainment Designer Forum is returning later this month for its third year, offering a chance for fans to talk with leading theme park experience designers from Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Busch Gardens.

This year’s event will take place on Feb. 24, 2012 in a new location, at the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando, currently home to “The Serious Art of Make-Believe” exhibit featuring artwork from a variety of Universal Orlando entertainment offerings.

But the event itself showcases talent from more than just Universal Orlando. This year’s group of panelists also includes designers from Walt Disney Imagineering, Nickelodeon Recreation, and Busch Gardens. The event is split into two sessions, each separately ticketed, with 100% of proceeds donated to the American Cancer Society in honor of the late Stephanie Girard, Universal Orlando designer.

Here’s full line-up of panelists for each session:

6:30 p.m. Session

  • Scott Swenson – Director of Creative Services, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
  • Mike West – Executive Producer, Universal Creative (and former Walt Disney Imagineer)
  • David Hughes – Senior Designer, Universal Art & Design, Entertainment
  • Lora Wallace – Show Director, Universal Entertainment Production
  • Ron Hines – Sr. Studio Director, Nickelodeon Recreation
  • TJ Mannarino – Director, Universal Art & Design, Entertainment

    • 9:00 p.m. Session

  • Mike Wallace – Designer, Universal Creative
  • Curtis Hopkins – Designer, Universal Art & Design, Entertainment
  • Guy Petty – Principal Art Director, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment
  • Vicki Bowlin – Art Manager, Universal Art & Design, Entertainment
  • Kenny Babel – President, White Bird Entertainment
  • Kim Gromoll – Designer, Universal Art & Design, Entertainment

    • Moderating both sessions will be Mike Aiello, Show Director, Universal Entertainment Production.

    In addition to hearing about the process of designing theme park attractions, shows, and other experiences, attendees will have a chance to ask questions and mingle with the panelists, the ultimate opportunity to get to know those who create what goes into Orlando’s theme parks in a personal, relaxed environment.

    While photography is permitted during the sessions, recording of any kind is not, as the event is put on separately from each of the theme park companies. But a similar event was recently also held at the History Center, featuring a panel of many of the same Universal designers, plus a few more, detailing how their ideas grow from concept to completion. To get an idea of the type of insight and conversation that will be shared during the Entertainment Designer Forum, you can watch the full video of that presentation below:

    You can also read our recap of the first Entertainment Designer Forum, offering tips on how you can become a theme park designer.

    Between sessions, Universal manager and “prosthetics wizard” Michael Burnett will offer a makeup demonstration straight out of Halloween Horror Nights. Last year, Burnett transformed his daughter into a Who from Grinchmas:

    A makeup artist expertly airbrushes a performer backstage, bringing monster magic to life in front of a dramatic Frankenstein painting—the kind of immersive artistry and industry collaboration that makes the Entertainment Designer Forum an essential gathering for Disney Imagineers and theme park creatives.

    A silent auction of theme park memorabilia will also take place between sessions, featuring a variety of rare and normally unavailable-for-purchase items from Halloween Horror Nights, other events and attractions, and a few unforgettable and unique experiences. Here’s a preview of a few of the Horror Nights items that will be up for auction at this year’s event:

    Vintage wooden sign displays “British Red Cross Society Casualty Cleaning Station No. 4” alongside two bold red crosses—an evocative prop that could electrify an Entertainment Designer Forum, exemplifying the immersive historical detail often found in Disney parks and attractions.

    A hyper-realistic severed hand clutching a pocket watch, displayed in a coffin-shaped box lined with deep red velvet—an eye-catching prop sure to delight Theme Park Insight fans and entertainment industry pros for its immersive theatricality and potential as an unforgettable queue or attraction detail.

    A gruesomely realistic severed hand prop, complete with hair, sits among a greeting card and gift boxes on weathered wood—showcasing the spine-tingling artistry and immersive detail theme park fans expect from Disney Imagineering legends at the Entertainment Designer Forum.

    Tickets are $25.00 per session and can be purchased by calling 407-836-7010. More information about the Entertainment Designer Forum can be found on their Facebook page.

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