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Credit: DisneyWalt Disney’s original concept for his parks was a place where families could come together and enjoy each other’s company. Beyond that, he wanted to create an immersive world that pulled guests away from their day-to-day lives and transported them to the world Walt’s Imagineers created.
However, now that Walt has been gone for 59 years and nearly all of the Imagineers who worked with him have passed away, the torch has been passed to a new generation of Disney Imagineers, who may not share the same ideals that carried Walt. With Disney Parks worldwide undergoing major refurbishments, fans are starting to notice that they are lacking that cohesive storyline, and one Imagineer explained why that was.
In a recent interview, Disney Imagineer Michel Den Dulk admitted that the driving force behind some of the updates at Disney Parks hasn’t necessarily been storytelling, but the inclusion of “Instagrammable” features and Disney IP.
“Times have changed, and the Instagrammable aspect of each project has become quite important,” Den Dulk said. “We want to make sure that our guests return home with a photo that’s perfect for their social media and is a great memory.”
Den Dulk was born in the Netherlands and was recruited by legend Tony Baxter to Walt Disney Imagineering. One of his first major projects was overseeing the transformation of the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT, removing the Maelstrom and replacing it with Frozen Ever After.
He was then able to bring Frozen Ever After to Hong Kong Disneyland before heading back to Europe to work at Disneyland Paris. He is now the Portfolio Executive Creative Director for Disneyland Paris, overseeing the opening of the World of Frozen at the Parks and the transformation of the Walt Disney Studios Park into Disney Adventure World.
Many Disney fans point to Disney Adventure World as what’s wrong with Den Dulk’s idea of creating a park based on its “Instagrammablility” and Disney’s IP. Adventure World will include the World of Frozen, Marvel Avengers Campus, and World of Pixar, with future plans to bring a Lion King-themed land and Pixar’s Up to the park.
When it comes to Disney’s IP, Den Dulk said, “Within the company, we have groups that track the popularity of Disney films worldwide. We consult with our colleagues at Disney+ to find out what audiences are watching. Then, we ask ourselves what kind of attractions we need.”
Based on what’s coming to Disney World and Disneyland, it appears that this is the new approach at Disney Imagineering, with IP driving the rides rather than the other way around. It’s a departure from what Walt Disney created, with rides that immerse guests in great stories first, and worrying about selling merchandise later.
What do you think of Disney Imagineering creating rides that look good on social media, but lack the depth of previous Disney attractions? Let us know in the comments.