Disney is setting the stage for theme park announcements and updates this weekend as Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman take the spotlight at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas.
The annual festival, known for showcasing the latest in film, music, and interactive media, will feature Disney's presentation, "The Future of World-Building at Disney," on Saturday, March 8, at 12:30 p.m. ET. The session promises insights into the future of storytelling at Disney Parks and beyond, focusing on the intersection of imagination and innovation. Disney is encouraging fans to follow along for live updates and announcements from the event.
Ahead of tomorrow's panel, D’Amaro and Bergman talk about what brings Disney to SXSW, how the interplay between innovation and storytelling comes together.
The Walt Disney Company is not thought of as a technology company. So, why is it holding a presentation that focuses on innovation at SXSW?
D’Amaro: Innovation is one of the core principles of our company — and has been for more than 100 years. We use — and invent — new technology to tell our stories in exciting, compelling ways. From robotics to ride vehicles to how we render the media in our attractions and so much more, technology is integrated into everything we do. So, of course, it makes sense for us to tell that story at SXSW, to demonstrate how we use technology to give our guests experiences they never dreamed possible.
We live in a world right now where even some of the best storytelling can be forgotten. However, Disney stories are generational. How does the interaction between the studios and the parks make the company’s stories everlasting?
Bergman: Everything we do starts with great storytelling, and we’re fortunate to have the very best storytellers at Disney no matter where you look within the company. A big reason our storytelling can withstand the test of time is the ability for people to experience our stories in so many ways — from our movies and TV shows to our parks, cruise ships, and consumer products. Those experiences are meaningful and can be shared and passed down across generations.
At the heart of it all is the creative collaboration that’s built into how we operate. The first Imagineers were actually drawn from Walt’s filmmaking team, and they developed many attractions based on films like Snow White, Peter Pan, and Dumbo that are still beloved today.
How is the interplay between on-screen storytelling and experiential storytelling something that only Disney can do?
D’Amaro: One of our company’s core strengths is the incredible collection of storytellers we have under one roof. They all work together to make imagined worlds feel real. Those stories take many forms — from movies and TV to parks, cruise ships and consumer products — and that’s what makes Disney so special. Our storytellers collaborate across disciplines to bring our characters to life in new ways. Because a Disney story doesn’t end when the credits roll or when you walk out the park’s front gate — they keep growing and evolving.
What is the most important aspect of the connection between artistry and technology?
Bergman: Since Disney was founded, it’s been driven by bringing art and technology together. That’s put us at the forefront of many advancements, from Walt’s early shorts and the first animated feature, Snow White, to the many innovations in production technology and animatronics from our teams across the company including ILM, Pixar, and Imagineering.
We view technology as an essential tool that makes us better storytellers and helps us create more immersive and compelling entertainment experiences. It’s especially helpful to have artists who understand technology and vice versa, and we’re lucky to have incredibly talented people like that who can also collaborate really well together.
How does Disney Experiences fuel innovative storytelling at the Studios?
D’Amaro: Storytellers across our company are constantly spurring one another on to do great work. We’ve seen classic park attractions inspire major motion pictures — Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion and the Jungle Cruise, just to name a few. And it goes deeper than that. Because Imagineers work so closely with our studios, our filmmakers are often excited to explore how their worlds might translate into immersive experiences for our guests.
How does storytelling at the Studios fuel innovations at Disney Experiences?
Bergman: They go hand in hand, and you see that every time you step into one of the parks. The influence of the films has been there since the beginning and has grown as the company has grown. Our studio’s creative teams build incredible worlds, and Disney Experiences takes those worlds and brings them to life, allowing guests to become part of the adventure. And in some cases, like with Pirates of the Caribbean, it can even go the other way. Not to mention that many of the creative leaders and storytellers at the Studio are huge Disney Parks fans themselves. So the teams draw inspiration from one another and we ensure that we maintain close connections throughout the storytelling process and in how we bring those stories to life in the parks and elsewhere.
You can watch the event livestream below, and stay tuned for more as Disney shares what's next.
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