Dreaming with Disney Imagineers

It isn’t everyday you get to sit down and have a discussion with Disney Imagineers. Sitting around a circle banquet table inside Disneyland in Anaheim California, 5 bloggers, myself and a couple special Disney imagineers had some neat conversations about dreams, incredible projects and inspiration.

Charita Carter

Charita has worked for Walt Disney Imagineering for 17 years. She started in the accounting department since her degree is in accounting. Through her own ambitions and her experience on set as a hand model (totally cool, right?) she learned more about directing and producing. She has been able to bring those experiences into her role now as the Senior Creative Producer and Development Manager of the Scenic Illusion team. She has delivered attraction projects in both the Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort portfolios. And has lead several special projects such as the Maker Faire Exhibit and Parks and Resort’s D23 Exhibit (a convention for Disney fans).

Talking to Charita it was very clear that she has a passion for living life. She said many times to always take advantage of every situation you are in because there is always something to learn. Even in times of trouble or when things aren’t going as planned there is something to learn and a way to grow. I loved her enthusiasm for life and learning.

I often say dreams are wonderful because they’re those things that motivate you and they contain your hope and they inspire you. But the real end game is your destiny. You want to find your destiny. You want to find that thing that just you were put here to do.

Charita also gave us awesome advice of getting to know yourself. Find things that you are passionate about and excite you and then find a group of people that share those passions. They will be your support group and encourage you in your endeavors. They will be there to help you when your having doubts. Charita also encouraged us to be open to new experiences because some things that you might want to do might not exist, you could be the first person doing it.

I loved listening to her words of wisdom and applying it to my life. I don’t consider myself to be very creative and yet here I am with a blog and a job that requires some creativity. As I pondered myself after speaking with her I have decided to be more brave. To try new experiences and give things a try I would have turned down before. It’s really interesting, just since the 3 weeks I spoke with Charita, the difference in opportunities I’ve gotten from being more open minded about things. It definitely makes life more exciting!

Mike Goslin

Talk about a dreamer, Mike is the dreamer behind Playmation, the newest toy that crosses electronic toys with imaginary play. “Back in the day” I used to pretend to be a power ranger with my neighborhood friends. We did have the toy beepers that would make the power ranger theme sounds and that was good, but this Playmation sounds incredible. Now kids don’t have to pretend to be superheroes with powers, they can actually be that hero and feel the results of their powers. I am so excited about Playmation and its purpose. My kids loved to play with their electronic toys and get annoyed when I try to limit it, so now they can be active, you their imaginations and still get their electronic fix.

Mike has worked to create a lot of role playing games. He said that education has been so important to his creation process. His advice is to get an education, read, learn about all topics because everything will help you create. You never know when something from art, history or geography will inspire an idea and influence a creation.

My biggest take away from speaking with these Imagineers is to follow your dreams. Even if it seems hard or impossible, persistence pays off. It is just like young “Frank” from Tomorrowland. As a boy “Frank” created a rocket pack to take to the World’s Fair. The rocket pack wasn’t perfect but it was an innovative idea. “Frank” continued a life of inventions throughout the film. He kept trying new things that results in some incredible events in Tomorrowland.

If you have ideas and dreams find your support group who can help lift you and your ideas. Be open to change and new ideas. Go for it! Dreams can come true if you work for it and persist!