Pictures: D23 Expo 2022: Walt Disney Imagineering: 70 Years of Making the Impossible, Possible

September 11, 2022 Jason @disneygeek.com D23 Expo, Imagineering

The Walt Disney Imagineering: 70 Years of Making the Impossible, Possible presentation was on the Premiere Stage from 1:00-2:30 on Sunday during the D23 Expo 2022. Here is the official description: For 70 years, Walt Disney Imagineering has blended imagination with cutting-edge technology to create groundbreaking experiences. Join Imagineers past and present as they discuss the core elements of storytelling and innovation that bring dreams to life for guests from all around the world.

Below are some pictures from the two panels.

Introduction:
Barbara Bouza, President of Walt Disney Imagineering gave some brief opening remarks and then turned the event over to Leslie Iwerks who moderated the two panels. A video celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Imagineering was played during the introduction of the panel. WDI has shared the video:

2022 09 11 131003 — Barbara Bouza, President of Walt Disney Imagineering

2022 09 11 131023 — Barbara Bouza, President of Walt Disney Imagineering

2022 09 11 IMG 5144 — Leslie Iwerks was the moderator for the panels.

First Panel: Creativity and Story Telling:
The initial panel focus was on creativity and storytelling featuring Kevin Rafferty, Charita Carter, Kim Irvine, Jeanette Lomboy, and Bob Weis. The Imagineers shared some stories from over the years as well as some of their philosophies.

2022 09 11 IMG 5149 — Kevin Rafferty, Charita Carter, Kim Irvine, Jeanette Lomboy, and Bob Weis and Leslie Iwerks

2022 09 11 140118 — (L-R) Ron Hamming, Alfredo Ayala, Emily Dow, Leslie Evans, Tommy Jones and Leslie Iwerks

2022 09 11 IMG 5146 — Bob Weis – The Imagineers were asked about their history with the company and Bob shared his one of his earliest experiences was working at Disneyland and one day he was assigned to sell balloons and realized quickly that was not for him and threatened to quit if assigned it again.

2022 09 11 132226 — Kim Irvine grew up at Disney with her mom and Imagineer and her dad an Animator. She shared stories of how she would walk the park with many of the orginal Imagineers and just soak in their stories and now she is continuing on this tradition walking the park with young imagineers and sharing those stories plus hers.

2022 09 11 132220 — Kim shared a story of talking with John Hench about the various parks and the question they always get asked of which is the best. John’s answer was simple.. Dinseyland because it ws the first.

2022 09 11 132732 — Bob spent time working on Tokyo Disneyland and was involved with the pitch for the 2nd park there. They kept trying to sell OLC on a Studio park and were shot down each time. They spent a week and came up witht he pitch for Tokyo DisneySea.

2022 09 11 134501 — Kevin Rafferty – Talked about the Toy Story Midway Mania Pitch and how he was called with no prep time to give it and the execs bought it.. that was good news and bad news. Since they then had to figure out how to do it.

Second Panel: Technology and Innovation
The second panel took a more technical turn and featured Imagineers – Ron Hamming, Alfredo Ayala, Emily Dow, Leslie Evans, Tommy Jones.