Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Process Panel - D23 2026

Main Ideas, Concepts, and Lessons

What Blue Sky Is

Blue Sky is both:

• A process used in the earliest stages of Disney Imagineering ideas.
• A dedicated group of people (a small but “mighty” team) responsible for nurturing those early creative efforts.

The team aims to generate and develop the best possible guest experiences by exploring ideas broadly and creatively.

Core Philosophy: “Live in the What-If Space”

Blue Sky emphasizes early-stage ideation where they explore every possible direction an experience could take. The goal is to find the most promising guest-impacting ideas before committing significant resources.

An Early, Data-Informed Creative Workflow (Not Isolated Ideation)

Blue Sky does not work “in a void.” They partner across the company and gather input from:

• Franchise partners and business partners
• Parks teams (to understand what’s working and what isn’t in the guest experience)
• Creative leaders (to track what experiences are happening in the world)

This information becomes the foundation for brainstorming.

Large, Cross-Discipline Brainstorming

Brainstorms bring many Imagineers together to ask questions like:

• “Wouldn’t it be fun if we do XYZ?”

They pull in people from many disciplines (e.g., estimators, construction managers, creative directors, story teams, concept artists, etc.). They also encourage the idea that good ideas can come from anywhere, not only traditional creative roles.

Idea Development as “Gardening”

Early ideas are treated like seeds/fragile plants that require:

• Research
• Tending and nourishment
• Iteration—including tossing out weaker ideas and replacing them with stronger ones

Research + Play/Testing to Inspire Future Experiences

Research is positioned as one of the most important parts of the process.

They also stress the value of hands-on play and immersion to generate inspiration, including:

• Trying things themselves
• Exploring environments even when it’s challenging (e.g., being in places where you can’t speak the language)

Ideate Every Aspect, Then Test with Prototypes

After initial concept shaping, Blue Sky explores every possible facet of the idea, such as:

• Emotion and story arc
• Ride system and mechanics
• Details like smell
• Audience age fit
• Visual/physical qualities (shape, color, texture)

They then test rather than relying only on sticky notes. Prototyping is used to verify whether there’s “a there there.”

Tools and Examples of Prototyping

They mention using:

• Large-scale mockups (e.g., building something that later becomes a real attraction)
• VR headsets
• Robot arms
• Collaboration with R&D and ride partners
• Working with trackless ride platforms to choreograph experiences and evaluate fun/emotion

Constraints and Efficiency as Building Blocks

When ideas mature, Blue Sky seeks the most efficient ways to do things and how to innovate without excessive delay. Constraints are treated as embraced requirements that help projects flourish.

Handoff to Project Teams

Once ideas are built, tested, and proven, Blue Sky hands the work off (“tosses the bouquet”) to project teams. Project teams then build and refine the experience further—often adding improvements Blue Sky didn’t envision.

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Methodology: Step-by-Step Process (Detailed)

1. Start with early-stage creative champions

   • Assemble a small, specialized group focused on the earliest idea phases.
   • Recruit and coordinate best creative minds across Imagineering (cross-disciplinary).

2. Gather data and information before ideating

   • Partner with:
     • Franchise/business partners
     • Parks teams (current guest experience performance)
     • Creative leaders monitoring global experience trends
   • Use this input to inform what possibilities to explore.

3. Convene brainstorming sessions (“brainstorm → seeds”)

   • Bring together large groups of Imagineers to ask: “Wouldn’t it be fun if…?”
   • Generate hundreds of sticky notes, sketches, and idea fragments.
   • Encourage contributions from any discipline/role.

4. Turn seeds into a concept by nurturing the idea

   • Form a team to develop the strongest directions.
   • Treat early ideas like fragile plants requiring careful tending.

5. Research deeply

   • Investigate the subject area so the emerging concept is grounded.
   • Use research to support creativity rather than guesswork.

6. Ideate on every experiential dimension

   • Explore “every nook and cranny” of the concept, including:
     • Ride systems / mechanics
     • Emotional journey and story arc
     • Detail elements (e.g., smell)
     • Visual and physical qualities (shape, color, texture)
     • Guest audience fit (e.g., very small kids vs thrill seekers)
   • Iterate continually:
     • Ideas can be discarded or replaced
     • Keep strengthening the creative direction

7. Prototype and test

   • Build prototypes to validate whether the concept works.
   • Use multiple testing approaches, including:
     • VR headsets
     • Robot arms
     • Collaboration with R&D and ride partners
     • Trackless ride vehicle platform experimentation
   • Evaluate both:
     • Emotion and story integration
     • The core question: Is it fun?

8. Shape and optimize with constraints

   • Develop efficient approaches (including reducing time-to-parks).
   • Treat constraints as building blocks to enhance the project.

9. Prove, then hand off

   • After building/testing/proving, transfer the work to project teams.
   • Allow project teams to add additional creative improvements during full production.

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Recent Projects / Outcomes Mentioned

Updates to Existing Attractions (Examples)

• Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin (Magic Kingdom)

  • Updated the targeting system
  • Added/featured a new character: “Bunny,” described as a testing robot
  • Mentioned improved guest response (“guest lift”) and family friendliness

• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

  • Highlighted mention of Grogu appearing in connection with the attraction

• Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster (re-theme)

  • Added Muppets colorful humor
  • Described as moving the band “down the street” to G-Force Records

Re-theme / New Venue Concept

• We Finders Table (Hong Kong)
  • Moana-inspired restaurant
  • Blue Sky helped shape how to bring new vibrant story elements and IP to an area that didn’t previously have them

Broader Scope Beyond Attractions

• Mentioned ideation for resort-level builds, including:
  • A new east esplanade entry experience and parking structure for Disneyland Resort
• Mentioned new attraction work:
  • Coco attraction coming to Disney California Adventure

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Speakers / Sources Featured

• Thomas — Creative Director, Blue Sky (Disney Imagineering)
• Jillian — Creative Producer, Blue Sky (Disney Imagineering)
• Walt Disney — quoted: “Disneyland will never be completed…”