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Women of Walt Disney Imagineering: 12 Women Reflect on their Trailblazing Theme Park Careers
A dozen female Imagineers recount their trailblazing careers!
Capturing an era―and preserving the stories they have told their daughters, their mentees, their husbands, and their friends―a dozen women Imagineers have written personal stories from their decades designing and building the Disney world-wide empire of theme parks. Illustrated with the women’s personal drawings and photos in addition to archival Imagineering images, the book represents a broad swath of Imagineering’s creative disciplines during a time of unprecedented expansion. Intertwined with memories of Disney legends are glimpses of what it takes behind the scenes to create a theme park, and the struggles unique to women who were becoming more and more important, visible and powerful in a workplace that was overwhelmingly male.
Each chapter is unique, from a unique Imagineer’s perspective and experience. These women spent their careers telling stories in three dimensions for the public. Now they’ve assembled their stories in print, with the hope that their experiences will continue to entertain and illuminate.
Capturing an era―and preserving the stories they have told their daughters, their mentees, their husbands, and their friends―a dozen women Imagineers have written personal stories from their decades designing and building the Disney world-wide empire of theme parks. Illustrated with the women’s personal drawings and photos in addition to archival Imagineering images, the book represents a broad swath of Imagineering’s creative disciplines during a time of unprecedented expansion. Intertwined with memories of Disney legends are glimpses of what it takes behind the scenes to create a theme park, and the struggles unique to women who were becoming more and more important, visible and powerful in a workplace that was overwhelmingly male.
Each chapter is unique, from a unique Imagineer’s perspective and experience. These women spent their careers telling stories in three dimensions for the public. Now they’ve assembled their stories in print, with the hope that their experiences will continue to entertain and illuminate.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published March 15, 2022
93 people are currently reading
887 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
May 12, 2024
”Imagineering” is a Disney term for the creative part of Disney’s enterprises. Most of what is discussed here happened after the death of Walt in the mid 1960s so we see how his “imagination” is monetized by the corporation in things that ranged far from the movies he was known for. Many of the efforts centered around theme parks, which began with Disneyland and spread far through the affluent world.
What we are presented with are the life-stories of women, told in the first person, and ostensibly entirely written by each of them. They confirm that, like most corporations in America in the mid-20th century, women were considered much more the “worker bees” and given few opportunities for leadership. When they were given any managerial role they were often under-cut or marginalized. Yet these women prevailed.
Each offers their own experiences and it is up to the reader to winnow the conflicting testimony and decide where the core of truth lies. Well worth the effort.
What we are presented with are the life-stories of women, told in the first person, and ostensibly entirely written by each of them. They confirm that, like most corporations in America in the mid-20th century, women were considered much more the “worker bees” and given few opportunities for leadership. When they were given any managerial role they were often under-cut or marginalized. Yet these women prevailed.
Each offers their own experiences and it is up to the reader to winnow the conflicting testimony and decide where the core of truth lies. Well worth the effort.
April 7, 2022
This was not a well written book. I wish they had hired a writer to interview these women. The book read more like a resume than a learning tool. Even when it talked about the challenges these women met, they almost brushed them off. There was no real learning to be had.
I really wish I could celebrate this book. There are far too few books written about women in technical fields.
I really wish I could celebrate this book. There are far too few books written about women in technical fields.
September 21, 2022
Disappointing and tone deaf.
As someone who has worked for the Walt Disney Company for many years, I can agree on something this book made clear. It’s all about who you know and what connections you have. True for many jobs.
But the amount of times a chapter would start with one of these women talking about how their dads got them the job, or how they worked part time operating attractions (while making good money and having benefits no less) and then were quickly promoted to an imagineering project, drove me absolutely insane.
As soon as the book listed the requirements for being a contributor, I knew what I was in for. And I understand it was a different time, but they way these women spoke about it was almost tone deaf. Nowadays cast member are living in their cars because they don’t make enough money pushing the same attraction buttons.
This book was not what I was expecting it to be.
Sad.
As someone who has worked for the Walt Disney Company for many years, I can agree on something this book made clear. It’s all about who you know and what connections you have. True for many jobs.
But the amount of times a chapter would start with one of these women talking about how their dads got them the job, or how they worked part time operating attractions (while making good money and having benefits no less) and then were quickly promoted to an imagineering project, drove me absolutely insane.
As soon as the book listed the requirements for being a contributor, I knew what I was in for. And I understand it was a different time, but they way these women spoke about it was almost tone deaf. Nowadays cast member are living in their cars because they don’t make enough money pushing the same attraction buttons.
This book was not what I was expecting it to be.
Sad.
April 24, 2025
As indicated in the foreword, the women largely do not see themselves as feminists and to me that really worked for this book and in fact made the woman power message more impactful and it's insights into Disney culture and the world views at large to feel deeper. That many of the authors recognized that other minorities along with people with looked down upon traits and mannerisms had suffered in ways very similar to women made its message so much more powerful and impressive.
Disney truly has had some problems during its time, but it equally does have some magic to it that keeps it pushing through the problems encountered. This book beautifully illustrates those facts with an upbeat note that can leave one hoping for the best.
Disney truly has had some problems during its time, but it equally does have some magic to it that keeps it pushing through the problems encountered. This book beautifully illustrates those facts with an upbeat note that can leave one hoping for the best.
March 27, 2022
March Women's History Month Book of the Mouse Club Podcast Selection (episode releasing 3/29/22). As an annual tradition our podcast dedicated to Disney books, we like to honor Women's History Month. When we first heard about this book's upcoming publication, it was an easy choice!
I greatly enjoyed hearing the stories of a dozen women in various disciplines throughout Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI). I also appreciated the criteria for contribution:
1. Had to be retired from WDI with a minimum of 20 years experience.
2. A women who was a team player and a team leader,
3. Expressed an interest in encouraging future generations and were willing to write about their experiences (especially the negative ones),
4. No longer a Disney employee.
The reflections included honesty about challenging moments and celebrated career highlights. You don't have to be in the theme park industry to appreciate their stories, but Disney fans will certainly relish some behind the scenes at what these women contributed to the building of attractions and theme parks over the past five decades.
I greatly enjoyed hearing the stories of a dozen women in various disciplines throughout Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI). I also appreciated the criteria for contribution:
1. Had to be retired from WDI with a minimum of 20 years experience.
2. A women who was a team player and a team leader,
3. Expressed an interest in encouraging future generations and were willing to write about their experiences (especially the negative ones),
4. No longer a Disney employee.
The reflections included honesty about challenging moments and celebrated career highlights. You don't have to be in the theme park industry to appreciate their stories, but Disney fans will certainly relish some behind the scenes at what these women contributed to the building of attractions and theme parks over the past five decades.
May 2, 2024
I had very high hopes for this book and they were not quite reached. I enjoyed listening to each of these women’s careers and their various Disney paths. However, this book was not so much about overcoming adversity in the work place as it was about their accomplishments. It was still interesting to hear, but not what I expected. While reading this book, I also listened to the audiobook and it left out Katie Olson’s chapter. I went back to read her chapter last, and it was quite literally the best one!! I feel like she was one of the only ones who gave helpful advice in the industry and I had hoped that that would be the point of the whole book. It was good but a little bit of a let down.
March 25, 2022
Such an inspiring read for fans of Imagineering and Disney theme parks. We follow the authors as they tell their stories, including all if their trials and tribulations. And how they made the world a better place for themselves, their coworkers, and future imagineers. There are some disturbing moments, mostly relating to very misogynistic actions, but the perseverance and success shines through. Most of the stories do relate to the modern, foreign parks, but they are still fascinating reads.
October 22, 2023
One of my favorite things about being a Disney Cast Member is getting to ask other Cast Members about their Disney story - their career journey so far. Reading this book is like getting to hear twelve more of these stories. It’s a bit of a slow read at times (not all incredible creative people are writers, after all), but well worth it.
October 6, 2022
Women of Walt Disney Imagineering 4⭐️ Loved this!. OK, I may be a little biased being a Disney fan and an engineer. A wonderful compilation of pioneers looking back on their projects and careers. Great mix of Disney history with reflection on diversity and how they were able to be successful and enjoy their careers. A collection from women who want to encourage and inspire future generations. Also a beautiful book; one of the few actual books I purchased (most are digital).
March 20, 2022
REVIEW ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED AT LAUGHINGPLACE.COM
Women of Walt Disney Imagineering is, in the words of Ginger Zee, “a compilation of mentors for all of us.” It is a refreshing Disney history book because it features not one, but twelve, different accounts of influential and inspirational former Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) employees in their own words and offers game-changing advice and encouragement to its readers.
Each chapter is unique, from a unique Imagineer’s perspective. Capturing an era ― and preserving the stories they have told their daughters, their mentees, their husbands, and their friends ― a dozen women Imagineers share their decades designing and building the Disney world-wide empire of theme parks. They have assembled their stories as brief accounts in this book and their experiences continue to entertain and illuminate.
The Women of Walt Disney Imagineering are:
Maggie Irvine Elliott, Senior Vice President, Creative Development Administration
Kathy Rogers, Executive Show Producer
Katie Olson, Principal Color Concept Designer
Julie Svendsen, Concept Show Designer
Paula Dinkel, Principal Show Lighting Designer
Elisabete (Eli) Minceff Erlandson, Principal Concept Architect
Tori Atencio McCullough, Executive, Interior Design
Pam Rank, Principal Show Lighting Designer
Becky Bishop, Principal Landscape Artist
Karen Connolly Armitage, Concept Designer
Lynne Macer Rhodes, Producer
Peggie Fariss, Executive, Creative Development
I was curious about how these women were selected or otherwise came to write this book. Eli Minceff Erlandson explains that the prerequisites for authors to be featured were that they had to be:
1) A woman who had retired from Walt Disney Imagineering with a minimum of twenty years’ work experience in the Imagineering arm of The Walt Disney Company.
2) A woman who was a team player and team leader.
3) A woman who wanted to encourage future generations and would write about the challenges they faced and how they managed them.
4) A woman who was no longer a Disney employee.
Importantly, Women of Walt Disney Imagineering represents a broad swath of Imagineering’s creative disciplines during a time of unprecedented expansion (from the 1960s up to about 2016). Intertwined with memories of Disney legends are glimpses of what it takes behind the scenes to create a theme park, and the struggles unique to women who were becoming more and more important, visible and powerful in a workplace that was overwhelmingly male. Many of the women acknowledge and recall examples of bias, discrimination and mistreatment that they address candidly and professionally.
Another important acknowledgement that is addressed upfront is that all authors are white women. This is explained in part as “a sign of the times when we were starting our careers between forty and fifty years ago.” Since then, “a number of Black women, Native American Women, Asian women, and other women (and men) of color have become Imagineers…. We hope these women will write their stories.” I, too, hope that future volumes of this book engage more diverse writers, as well as an even broader swath of creative disciplines.
The foreword is written by meteorologist and author, Ginger Zee. Ginger’s writing style is succinct, frank and matter of fact. Her foreword follows this pattern as she shares some of her own experiences before enthusiastically inviting the reader to partake in the trailblazing careers and reflections of the WDI wonder women that follow.
Women of Walt Disney Imagineering is a quick and exhilarating read. The chapters are short and the tone of the writing conversational. It is not a dense recount of humdrum work experiences nor is it a hyper-technical textbook on Imagineering; it is a well of knowledge, reflection, inspiration, and contribution. It basks in the fun of experiences like working with Jim Henson on the Muppets attraction and consulting with Johnny Depp on Pirates of the Caribbean’s Jack Sparrow Audio-Animatronics figure. It also encourages readers to, as Eli writes, “have the courage to divert an ugly situation to an alternate path” and, as Kathy Rogers suggests, “never lose sleep over a problem; focus on solutions, stay positive and move forward.” For a quick, succinct “chat” with some of WDI’s best, there are infinite takeaways.
While this book is not short on hard-learned lessons and uncomfortable situations, the equal-parts-magic, equal-parts-grit of each Imagineer’s resilience, ingenuity and faith in their creative process will stay with readers long after they finish this book. If you do not come away from reading Women of Walt Disney Imagineering with a burning passion to learn, pursue, create and make a difference, perhaps you didn’t pick up the book at all.
Women of Walt Disney Imagineering was released on March 15th, 2022.
Women of Walt Disney Imagineering is, in the words of Ginger Zee, “a compilation of mentors for all of us.” It is a refreshing Disney history book because it features not one, but twelve, different accounts of influential and inspirational former Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) employees in their own words and offers game-changing advice and encouragement to its readers.
Each chapter is unique, from a unique Imagineer’s perspective. Capturing an era ― and preserving the stories they have told their daughters, their mentees, their husbands, and their friends ― a dozen women Imagineers share their decades designing and building the Disney world-wide empire of theme parks. They have assembled their stories as brief accounts in this book and their experiences continue to entertain and illuminate.
The Women of Walt Disney Imagineering are:
Maggie Irvine Elliott, Senior Vice President, Creative Development Administration
Kathy Rogers, Executive Show Producer
Katie Olson, Principal Color Concept Designer
Julie Svendsen, Concept Show Designer
Paula Dinkel, Principal Show Lighting Designer
Elisabete (Eli) Minceff Erlandson, Principal Concept Architect
Tori Atencio McCullough, Executive, Interior Design
Pam Rank, Principal Show Lighting Designer
Becky Bishop, Principal Landscape Artist
Karen Connolly Armitage, Concept Designer
Lynne Macer Rhodes, Producer
Peggie Fariss, Executive, Creative Development
I was curious about how these women were selected or otherwise came to write this book. Eli Minceff Erlandson explains that the prerequisites for authors to be featured were that they had to be:
1) A woman who had retired from Walt Disney Imagineering with a minimum of twenty years’ work experience in the Imagineering arm of The Walt Disney Company.
2) A woman who was a team player and team leader.
3) A woman who wanted to encourage future generations and would write about the challenges they faced and how they managed them.
4) A woman who was no longer a Disney employee.
Importantly, Women of Walt Disney Imagineering represents a broad swath of Imagineering’s creative disciplines during a time of unprecedented expansion (from the 1960s up to about 2016). Intertwined with memories of Disney legends are glimpses of what it takes behind the scenes to create a theme park, and the struggles unique to women who were becoming more and more important, visible and powerful in a workplace that was overwhelmingly male. Many of the women acknowledge and recall examples of bias, discrimination and mistreatment that they address candidly and professionally.
Another important acknowledgement that is addressed upfront is that all authors are white women. This is explained in part as “a sign of the times when we were starting our careers between forty and fifty years ago.” Since then, “a number of Black women, Native American Women, Asian women, and other women (and men) of color have become Imagineers…. We hope these women will write their stories.” I, too, hope that future volumes of this book engage more diverse writers, as well as an even broader swath of creative disciplines.
The foreword is written by meteorologist and author, Ginger Zee. Ginger’s writing style is succinct, frank and matter of fact. Her foreword follows this pattern as she shares some of her own experiences before enthusiastically inviting the reader to partake in the trailblazing careers and reflections of the WDI wonder women that follow.
Women of Walt Disney Imagineering is a quick and exhilarating read. The chapters are short and the tone of the writing conversational. It is not a dense recount of humdrum work experiences nor is it a hyper-technical textbook on Imagineering; it is a well of knowledge, reflection, inspiration, and contribution. It basks in the fun of experiences like working with Jim Henson on the Muppets attraction and consulting with Johnny Depp on Pirates of the Caribbean’s Jack Sparrow Audio-Animatronics figure. It also encourages readers to, as Eli writes, “have the courage to divert an ugly situation to an alternate path” and, as Kathy Rogers suggests, “never lose sleep over a problem; focus on solutions, stay positive and move forward.” For a quick, succinct “chat” with some of WDI’s best, there are infinite takeaways.
While this book is not short on hard-learned lessons and uncomfortable situations, the equal-parts-magic, equal-parts-grit of each Imagineer’s resilience, ingenuity and faith in their creative process will stay with readers long after they finish this book. If you do not come away from reading Women of Walt Disney Imagineering with a burning passion to learn, pursue, create and make a difference, perhaps you didn’t pick up the book at all.
Women of Walt Disney Imagineering was released on March 15th, 2022.
January 12, 2025
I loved this book ! It is from the perspective of 12 women who had careers at Wed and worked to shatter the glass ceiling of male dominated fields. I liked that it was the individual personal story and written by women who lived and experienced the challenges and the triumph of working, surviving, and balancing in corporate culture
February 25, 2025
Really shallow. I picked up this book to learn ways to empower women in the workplace, on creative projects that involve a mix of backgrounds, disciplines, ages, and skill levels. The way these stories were told, I don't feel like I understand any better how they navigated team dynamics, because everything was too matter-of-fact, cut-and-dry, this-happened-then-that-happened. Challenges overcome, happy retirements reached.
The writers from Disney tell stories and reflect on their careers at Disney, but the telling is too superficial to be of any use.
For example, one writer spent pages laying out the timeline of her internship leading to another project, to another... but all I learned was that A happened, then B, then C. It felt like all they did was spend years at the company; I'm sure they accomplished more, but the scenes were never concrete, the projects only ever spoken about at a high, 1000m aerial level.
Another recounted the difficulty of being taken seriously by male colleagues. At a preschool level, people can relate, but the takeaways don't feel like tactics or strategies that girls growing up today can apply to specific scenarios like a difficult salary negotiation, or altering visibility and perception on a large-scale team project like a theme park ride. A better way to inspire would have been to spend more time in the trenches, describing in-depth how she got involved with a new attraction or restaurant, how she first introduced her idea, how she pushed or led others to realizing that attraction... Actions and results, dramatized in scene and Disney-quality storytelling. Instead, we just get the gloss-over, like a post-graduation pat on the back.
TLDR: Don't talk about titles and accomplishments. Dramatize situations and share strategies for getting things done at Disney Imagineering. Share: Tactics. Emotions. Conversations verbatim. Telling of a task. Motivational speeches. Navigating difficult people, but at the personal level.
Tell me something I don't know, and that we wouldn't know just by looking at the advancement of a person's title and responsibilities. Tell us the inner strategies and the counter-intuitive ways you contributed, led, or otherwise moved creative projects forward, but tell it in a way that makes me feel like I am there, in your shoes.
The writers from Disney tell stories and reflect on their careers at Disney, but the telling is too superficial to be of any use.
For example, one writer spent pages laying out the timeline of her internship leading to another project, to another... but all I learned was that A happened, then B, then C. It felt like all they did was spend years at the company; I'm sure they accomplished more, but the scenes were never concrete, the projects only ever spoken about at a high, 1000m aerial level.
Another recounted the difficulty of being taken seriously by male colleagues. At a preschool level, people can relate, but the takeaways don't feel like tactics or strategies that girls growing up today can apply to specific scenarios like a difficult salary negotiation, or altering visibility and perception on a large-scale team project like a theme park ride. A better way to inspire would have been to spend more time in the trenches, describing in-depth how she got involved with a new attraction or restaurant, how she first introduced her idea, how she pushed or led others to realizing that attraction... Actions and results, dramatized in scene and Disney-quality storytelling. Instead, we just get the gloss-over, like a post-graduation pat on the back.
TLDR: Don't talk about titles and accomplishments. Dramatize situations and share strategies for getting things done at Disney Imagineering. Share: Tactics. Emotions. Conversations verbatim. Telling of a task. Motivational speeches. Navigating difficult people, but at the personal level.
Tell me something I don't know, and that we wouldn't know just by looking at the advancement of a person's title and responsibilities. Tell us the inner strategies and the counter-intuitive ways you contributed, led, or otherwise moved creative projects forward, but tell it in a way that makes me feel like I am there, in your shoes.
March 20, 2024
Not really sure how to feel about this one !¡
An interesting read into some very different career paths within WDI but most of the stories within the book all seemed to stem from very similar experiences - especially to have a friends/family ‘leg up’ into the company which can still be seen in the business world of today.
The requirements to contribute to the book (retired with at least 20 years experience in WDI) do contribute to similarities between the women e.g. working around the EPCOT era, 1970 onwards etc - just hard to visualise what it’s like within Imagineering today as an aspiring engineer with my dream company. But the book was about looking into the past and how these women challenged society norms within male dominated spaces.
Some nice boss gal quotes for future boss gal Grace:
“One must be open to understanding that the perception of an issue is different among different individuals. We must recognise those differences and present the issue in a way each audience will understand and value”
“Learn your craft, pay your dues and be persistent”
“Be willing to embrace the assignment with your whole heart; to be curious, resourceful and relentless”
An interesting read into some very different career paths within WDI but most of the stories within the book all seemed to stem from very similar experiences - especially to have a friends/family ‘leg up’ into the company which can still be seen in the business world of today.
The requirements to contribute to the book (retired with at least 20 years experience in WDI) do contribute to similarities between the women e.g. working around the EPCOT era, 1970 onwards etc - just hard to visualise what it’s like within Imagineering today as an aspiring engineer with my dream company. But the book was about looking into the past and how these women challenged society norms within male dominated spaces.
Some nice boss gal quotes for future boss gal Grace:
“One must be open to understanding that the perception of an issue is different among different individuals. We must recognise those differences and present the issue in a way each audience will understand and value”
“Learn your craft, pay your dues and be persistent”
“Be willing to embrace the assignment with your whole heart; to be curious, resourceful and relentless”
April 20, 2022
This book does an excellent job describing what it was like to work for WED Enterprises throughout the decades; I really enjoyed how different each author's story was with different roles and projects. It brings together such a talented group of women whose contributions deserve a lot more attention. This book presents both the highlights of making cool attractions and the obstacles faced in a male-dominated field. Each story is gripping, and it should be a must-read for anyone interested in Disney or the parks.
March 21, 2023
I wanted to love this book, I really did and it IS a “good” book, but it does indeed read more like extended resumes than a telling of women overcoming difficult or challenging situations. Whole, *some* chapters detail difficulties in being a woman in a male dominated, other chapters skip this entirely.
I’ve read and researched Disney history deeply and I wanted so much more from this book.
You should read it too or pass it along to your daughters in the hope that it inspires them to follow their dreams…
I’ve read and researched Disney history deeply and I wanted so much more from this book.
You should read it too or pass it along to your daughters in the hope that it inspires them to follow their dreams…
April 22, 2023
This was just ok and I have to admit, a didn't quite meet my expectations for it. Some chapters were definitely better than others. Some of the anecdotes were vague and while I understand why those choices were made, it left me feeling as very much an outsider.
It was a quick read though with some good advice. I enjoyed the stories from the creative roles more that the management side of things.
It was a quick read though with some good advice. I enjoyed the stories from the creative roles more that the management side of things.
July 17, 2022
This book was interesting but, the chapters were lengthy
April 20, 2024
I received this book as a Christmas gift, though I believe I put it on my wishlist after seeing it on Amazon or in the Disney parks. I am an engineer and a woman, so I think it’s important to hear stories about the women who came before me. For anyone who may be weary about too much technical discussion in this book, have no fear. There is not a ton of discussion around nitty gritty math and science details. In fact, I’d say this book showed me that Imagineering, in particular, is probably more about creative problem-solving and artistry than calculus and CAD. Some women did discuss sexism in the workplace, but I feel it was a bit downplayed or brushed off as “a sign of the times” more than it would have today.
I loved Lynne Macer Rhodes’ section because she had such an untraditional path and I feel like it exemplifies the majority of the challenges and rewards as a woman in Imagineering. Becky Bishop’s sections were also interesting because she focused on distinct events that highlighted her beliefs of high risk, high reward work. She didn’t just give a summary of her career. There are some reviews I’ve seen that complain that many of the women got their positions via nepotism and are not a very diverse group (mostly white, straight women). There is some truth to this, but it is also addressed in 2 ways. The preface specifies that the women chosen required at least 20 years of experience with the Disney company and is no longer with the company. Due to sexism, racism, and American history in general, this severely limits the pool of candidates. Another point, made by Tori McCullough in her section, is that, while nepotism may have gotten you in the door, it didn’t always mean a long-term or successful career. There is still plenty all of these women have to be proud of.
I ended up going back and forth between my print book and an audiobook. While the content was the same and I didn’t mind reading either of them, the audiobook I used didn’t have the chapters labeled with the chapter author’s name. I found that annoying and difficult when I wanted to go back and highlight or note something. Additionally, if you are not already familiar with the Disney parks, including ones overseas, I recommend watching or listening to a quick history of them. Otherwise, it may be difficult to understand the big-picture happenings and contributions each woman made. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I think it would be useful for a discussion group or weekly reading if the subject interests you. Hopefully, maybe in another 20 years, a sequel could come out focusing on other minorities in Imagineering.
I loved Lynne Macer Rhodes’ section because she had such an untraditional path and I feel like it exemplifies the majority of the challenges and rewards as a woman in Imagineering. Becky Bishop’s sections were also interesting because she focused on distinct events that highlighted her beliefs of high risk, high reward work. She didn’t just give a summary of her career. There are some reviews I’ve seen that complain that many of the women got their positions via nepotism and are not a very diverse group (mostly white, straight women). There is some truth to this, but it is also addressed in 2 ways. The preface specifies that the women chosen required at least 20 years of experience with the Disney company and is no longer with the company. Due to sexism, racism, and American history in general, this severely limits the pool of candidates. Another point, made by Tori McCullough in her section, is that, while nepotism may have gotten you in the door, it didn’t always mean a long-term or successful career. There is still plenty all of these women have to be proud of.
I ended up going back and forth between my print book and an audiobook. While the content was the same and I didn’t mind reading either of them, the audiobook I used didn’t have the chapters labeled with the chapter author’s name. I found that annoying and difficult when I wanted to go back and highlight or note something. Additionally, if you are not already familiar with the Disney parks, including ones overseas, I recommend watching or listening to a quick history of them. Otherwise, it may be difficult to understand the big-picture happenings and contributions each woman made. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I think it would be useful for a discussion group or weekly reading if the subject interests you. Hopefully, maybe in another 20 years, a sequel could come out focusing on other minorities in Imagineering.
March 19, 2024
This was a fantastic read! I'm a bit of a Disney nerd, but I think this book would actually appeal to a pretty wide audience. In addition to the Disney content, there's a lot of good content about women in the workplace.
All 12 of the women featured in the book were super successful in their respective fields at WDI. Some were moms, others not, a couple were single moms, a couple had husbands who also worked for Disney, and one married late in life. They worked in different areas and roles including summer internships, at attractions, in art and design, landscape architecture, lighting, producing and more. Of the 12, 4 had dads who worked at Disney, and at least two met Walt.
I connected with all of the women featured, except for one. Many of these women would have enough stories and other content to write an entire book on their own. My favorite was Tori Atencio McCollough. Tori is the daughter of legendary imagineer X Atencio and she had incredible stories of both her childhood and her career.
I would have liked to know more on when/if the featured authors crossed paths at work. Obviously Disney is a huge company, but almost all of these women worked on Epcot, several worked on Animal Kingdom, Euro Disney, Tokyo Disney and/or Disneyland Hong Kong. I would have enjoyed a final chapter to tie all of this together. Interestingly enough, the park now known as Hollywood Studios came up very little in the book. As a life-long California girl, I really appreciated the nostalgia many of these women have for Disneyland, and the book's focus on the original Disney park.
All 12 of the women featured in the book were super successful in their respective fields at WDI. Some were moms, others not, a couple were single moms, a couple had husbands who also worked for Disney, and one married late in life. They worked in different areas and roles including summer internships, at attractions, in art and design, landscape architecture, lighting, producing and more. Of the 12, 4 had dads who worked at Disney, and at least two met Walt.
I connected with all of the women featured, except for one. Many of these women would have enough stories and other content to write an entire book on their own. My favorite was Tori Atencio McCollough. Tori is the daughter of legendary imagineer X Atencio and she had incredible stories of both her childhood and her career.
I would have liked to know more on when/if the featured authors crossed paths at work. Obviously Disney is a huge company, but almost all of these women worked on Epcot, several worked on Animal Kingdom, Euro Disney, Tokyo Disney and/or Disneyland Hong Kong. I would have enjoyed a final chapter to tie all of this together. Interestingly enough, the park now known as Hollywood Studios came up very little in the book. As a life-long California girl, I really appreciated the nostalgia many of these women have for Disneyland, and the book's focus on the original Disney park.
January 7, 2024
It took me some time to finish this one, I’ll admit. This was my “work” book. The one you read at work, while you have one to read at home and while you have an audiobook you listen to while driving.
Or is that just me?
Anyway, when I saw this book at a store in one of the resorts at Walt Disney World, I knew I had to get it.
I’m a Disney Cast Member with a deep fascination of Disney History, and interest in Imagineering.
So it’s safe to say this was right up my alley.
I will say that I was a little disappointed in the amount of stories that started off with “My Dad worked at Disney and got me this summer job.”
It felt discouraging to think that the only way to get in and stay in was by having the right connections.
I’m glad I kept reading, because one of these ladies whose story was included acknowledged that nepotism was “alive and well” in the 1970’s.
I was thrilled to read stories of the women who got in and stayed in by their own merits.
I was particularly encouraged by one woman’s sentiment about not being “made” to network, and having to grow in that department.
Overall though, it was cool to read about women, regardless of how they got to their positions, excelling and playing roles in giving the world the theme parks we know and love today.
Here’s hoping we can hear more women’s stories within the Walt Disney Company.
Or is that just me?
Anyway, when I saw this book at a store in one of the resorts at Walt Disney World, I knew I had to get it.
I’m a Disney Cast Member with a deep fascination of Disney History, and interest in Imagineering.
So it’s safe to say this was right up my alley.
I will say that I was a little disappointed in the amount of stories that started off with “My Dad worked at Disney and got me this summer job.”
It felt discouraging to think that the only way to get in and stay in was by having the right connections.
I’m glad I kept reading, because one of these ladies whose story was included acknowledged that nepotism was “alive and well” in the 1970’s.
I was thrilled to read stories of the women who got in and stayed in by their own merits.
I was particularly encouraged by one woman’s sentiment about not being “made” to network, and having to grow in that department.
Overall though, it was cool to read about women, regardless of how they got to their positions, excelling and playing roles in giving the world the theme parks we know and love today.
Here’s hoping we can hear more women’s stories within the Walt Disney Company.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2022
I am biased, because I purchased this book at an event where I met 4 of the 12 writers, so I was pre-disposed to enjoy it from the start. The only common thread in these stories is that these women have all worked for Disney Imagineering for at least 20 years and have retired. With my own technical background, I fell into these stories of adventures, new skills and problem-solving with delight.
They acknowledged in person and in the book the lack of diversity, but that is reflective of the timeline, as Disney now has a wide range of women of color in the Imagineering, they are all currently employed with the company and actively working on projects.
I enjoyed the various "voices" and writing styles, that might put others off. But that was the draw of the book for me, to see situations and opportunities from a variety of angles and experiences, not one long book about a single career. There is no question (even before I read the book) that nepotism was a decisive factor in many careers, but it was not the only way to get your foot in the door, nor would it keep you there, if you didn't have talent and a work ethic to back it up.
I recommend this ride through the history of expansion from one amusement park to the variety that are on multiple continents today.
They acknowledged in person and in the book the lack of diversity, but that is reflective of the timeline, as Disney now has a wide range of women of color in the Imagineering, they are all currently employed with the company and actively working on projects.
I enjoyed the various "voices" and writing styles, that might put others off. But that was the draw of the book for me, to see situations and opportunities from a variety of angles and experiences, not one long book about a single career. There is no question (even before I read the book) that nepotism was a decisive factor in many careers, but it was not the only way to get your foot in the door, nor would it keep you there, if you didn't have talent and a work ethic to back it up.
I recommend this ride through the history of expansion from one amusement park to the variety that are on multiple continents today.
March 23, 2023
When I first saw this book online I assumed it would be like all the other imagineer books I’d read. Fun stories and info with pictures and (concept) art on every page. Turns out I was very wrong. It is 95% story and some photos (on picture paper) in the middle. Which (later) made sense since this is about the experience of these women and not so much imagineering as a whole.
Unfortunately this book looks like it was made in Word. It seems to me as though (after a lot of convincing) this book was finally made with a low budget because there was a thought there wouldn’t be many people interested in it anyways. It could have been so much better.
That having said, I thought it would be hard to get through it. I was wrong again; it actually read quite nicely because the stories were entertaining enough.
I also didn’t understand why Becky Bishop’s story was weirdly chopped in two parts and was combined much less story than that of the other imagineers, which is a shame because I thought her storytelling was great!
All in all a very interesting and fun read anyways.
Bonus (for me): I got this book second hand and I only noticed later on that Pam Rank signed it!!
Unfortunately this book looks like it was made in Word. It seems to me as though (after a lot of convincing) this book was finally made with a low budget because there was a thought there wouldn’t be many people interested in it anyways. It could have been so much better.
That having said, I thought it would be hard to get through it. I was wrong again; it actually read quite nicely because the stories were entertaining enough.
I also didn’t understand why Becky Bishop’s story was weirdly chopped in two parts and was combined much less story than that of the other imagineers, which is a shame because I thought her storytelling was great!
All in all a very interesting and fun read anyways.
Bonus (for me): I got this book second hand and I only noticed later on that Pam Rank signed it!!
March 22, 2023
A very brief history on some remarkable careers of a few handpicked women from Walt Disney Imagineering (formerly WED Enterprises). I’ll admit I was skeptical once I read the criteria to be featured in the book, but it doesn’t take away from much since the focus is on the early beginnings of what was once an unknown company. Critics will call them nepo babies but I think it’s what some of these women had to do to get their foot in the door, especially with a company like Disney. Even with their fathers being well known animators or imagineers, they were still overlooked in their career and faced gender discrimination. Throughout each woman’s chapters, you can see how the company changed from a male centric culture at the beginning of the years to where now these women served in chief/management positions. It’s not deep in detail, but the book does offer suggestions at the end if you would like a deeper history of the Imagineering team. Overall it’s a book that would be enjoyed by many Disney fans.
May 6, 2023
As a life long Disney fanatic, female entrepreneur, and author of a memoir myself, there were so elements of this book that hit me right in the feels. I loved the overarching messages of this book: speak up, ask questions, work hard, find your passion, and keep dreaming big.
As much as I loved certain elements of this book, I do feel it missed the mark in a lot of ways. Reading the forward and intro to this book I was SO ready to be inspired and to hear the different heartfelt stories of these women. However as each chapter went on, it felt more and more redundant. Another reviewer commented that it felt like she was dreading a resume, and I have to agree. It started to feel like I was reading the same exact story over and over again each chapter. While I can appreciate that women from this era at Disney all seemed to have a universal experience, it was just too repetitive.
I think had this book been set up differently it would have been a 5 star book for me rather than a 3.
As much as I loved certain elements of this book, I do feel it missed the mark in a lot of ways. Reading the forward and intro to this book I was SO ready to be inspired and to hear the different heartfelt stories of these women. However as each chapter went on, it felt more and more redundant. Another reviewer commented that it felt like she was dreading a resume, and I have to agree. It started to feel like I was reading the same exact story over and over again each chapter. While I can appreciate that women from this era at Disney all seemed to have a universal experience, it was just too repetitive.
I think had this book been set up differently it would have been a 5 star book for me rather than a 3.
February 25, 2023
As a fan of the Disney parks, this book was a super interesting look at how these places got built. For anyone upset by nepotism, this is not the book for you. Most (but not all) of these ladies got their start at Disney because of inside connections (usually being their Dad worked there). I enjoyed that each chapter was told in the author's own voice and reflected her personal experiences. All of these ladies were smart, savvy, and had a penchant for continuing to grow and learn. Most of them got to travel the world during their careers. It was fantastic to read about successes and failures along the way. Most of us do not have jobs this exciting, but the experiences still seemed relevant to regular life.
September 23, 2023
One of our more recent additions to our personal library Disney collection. This collective memoir spans over 60 years in the history of WED/WDI (and mirroring the evolution of women in corporate America) with the stories of 12 women Imagineers.
There is a lot of project management referenced in these reflections - and I really enjoyed that aspect as a former project manager (albeit in an entirely different industry).
This book could easily have been double in size - some of these women had 30-50 year careers at Disney. Their stories just scratch the surface in some cases.
There is a lot of project management referenced in these reflections - and I really enjoyed that aspect as a former project manager (albeit in an entirely different industry).
This book could easily have been double in size - some of these women had 30-50 year careers at Disney. Their stories just scratch the surface in some cases.
April 7, 2024
These women’s stories of Disney Imagineering we’re very interesting. They worked on, and oversaw a lot of cool projects. The building of Epcot, different attractions that we all know and love, and even the overseas Disney Parks. What unfortunately stood out the most was how hard they had to work against the men. These women had to stay in the good graces of (most of) the men in order to keep their job or not get demoted or transferred to another department. How they had to prove they were worthy of respect. Even how they dressed was under the scrutiny of men.
April 6, 2025
What a fantastic book! We get to follow the careers of a dozen women in Imagineering’s diverse fields, and they don’t hold back—they talk about their mistakes, their challenges, their successes, and their experiences with harassment and belittling from the mostly male Imagineers. I gained a deeper appreciation for jobs like lighting design, the decisions for which tell its own story in the parks. And I liked seeing how the women cooperated internationally with teams developing the parks around the world.
November 2, 2022
A glimpse inside of the magical Imagineering department at the Walt Disney Company is fascinating; that the stories told are by the women who forged their way through often male dominated industries and thrived in their careers both at Disney and beyond is spectacular. This well-crafted anthology shares the stories of 12 women who worked within WED Enterprises for some or all of their Disney career. We are granted access into their memories of astonishing experiences - people, places, and things - and their reflections on treasured shows, attractions, restaurants, parks and more that they created.
The book sets the stage by explaining how the authors were chosen, and I appreciate the selection process and the perspective it gives both author and reader. These are women who spent significant chunks of their career with the Disney company (20+ years), have already retired (free to share their honest recollections and opinions), loved being part of a team (not glory-seekers), and most importantly wanted to be a part of sharing their stories for the benefit of future Imagineers (and frankly women in the workforce across all industries). We get a quick bio on each of the women, an overview of terms unique to Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), and then we launch into the individual chapters - the stories of these 12 respected women responsible for many of the pieces of Disney Parks and Resorts that fans hold so dear.
Each woman presents her story in a different way, with different focus and from a different perspective. These women are from different backgrounds (though several come from families with one or more members who also worked at Disney, including Maggie Irvine Elliott's father Dick Irvine). They had different reasons for arriving at WDI, and different roles and responsibilities once they were there. All of them showed exceptional creativity, work ethic, strength of character, and determination as they faced obstacles both gender-related and not. All of the parks around the globe are represented here, and some of these stories go back all the way to the early years at Disneyland. Disney fans will be delighted, and women will be inspired. In the center of the book are 16 pages of captioned color photos, and at the end is a list of additional reading recommended by the authors. I found many quotes and pieces of advice to go back to and reflect on throughout all the stories; this is a resource to be treasured.
The book sets the stage by explaining how the authors were chosen, and I appreciate the selection process and the perspective it gives both author and reader. These are women who spent significant chunks of their career with the Disney company (20+ years), have already retired (free to share their honest recollections and opinions), loved being part of a team (not glory-seekers), and most importantly wanted to be a part of sharing their stories for the benefit of future Imagineers (and frankly women in the workforce across all industries). We get a quick bio on each of the women, an overview of terms unique to Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), and then we launch into the individual chapters - the stories of these 12 respected women responsible for many of the pieces of Disney Parks and Resorts that fans hold so dear.
Each woman presents her story in a different way, with different focus and from a different perspective. These women are from different backgrounds (though several come from families with one or more members who also worked at Disney, including Maggie Irvine Elliott's father Dick Irvine). They had different reasons for arriving at WDI, and different roles and responsibilities once they were there. All of them showed exceptional creativity, work ethic, strength of character, and determination as they faced obstacles both gender-related and not. All of the parks around the globe are represented here, and some of these stories go back all the way to the early years at Disneyland. Disney fans will be delighted, and women will be inspired. In the center of the book are 16 pages of captioned color photos, and at the end is a list of additional reading recommended by the authors. I found many quotes and pieces of advice to go back to and reflect on throughout all the stories; this is a resource to be treasured.
January 14, 2023
I absolutely loved it. I felt there was a great balance of the "Hey, I worked at Disney and there were some real equality issues at times" while also discussing the great and positive impact of working with Imagineering and many of the imagineers we all know by name. This warmed my heart. Honestly I could have read an entire memoir by some of these women just to hear more and more of the details of the projects they were on.
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