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This week, we celebrate Walt Disney Imagineering’s birthday by answering an enduring question: Where did the universally worn brown WDI hard hat come from? Our own Tom and Mike spoke with mentors Jack Blitch, retired WDI Project Management Executive Vice President who led iconic Disney projects for nearly 30 years, and Jerre Kirk, WDI Construction Management Executive who oversaw four Disney parks and numerous attractions worldwide. Together, they shared the origin story of the brown WDI hard hat. Mike O.: What’s the origin of the brown WDI hard hat tradition? They were around when I started in the mid-90s, including some hand-painted ones. Jack: A building specialties vendor on the Wonders of Life project made the first one as a gift for [former Walt Disney Imagineering executive] Allen Moyer. It was hand-painted on a brown fiberglass ironworker’s hard hat and became our style. I received the second ever made and still have it. Soon, every Imagineer on the Wonders of Life project at EPCOT had one. The idea spread to other projects, overwhelming the painter. We found a vendor at Walt Disney World Central Shops who switched to stencils to keep up with demand. Tom: That was Gary Strachan, the WDW Central Shops artist. I worked with him from the day I was hired. He was an old-school sign painter and a great guy. Whenever there was a need for classic techniques like gold leafing, everyone called Gary. The Epcot France Ice Cream shop was the last thing he painted before he passed away in his 60s. I bet he made hundreds—maybe more—of the brown hard hats. Mine had a Sorcerer Mickey and Imagineer decal, but my name was hand-painted by Gary. As WDI grew, Jack’s tradition expanded, and they eventually went full decal to keep up. Jack: Yes, it was Gary! After he passed, his family continued the work. Allen’s first hard hat had five stars; mine had four. In Florida, these hard hats symbolized authority and were universally respected by contractors. I maintained the tradition for 28 years, and it grew to a worldwide standard for Walt Disney Imagineering. Jerre: Jack is right. We took this to Hong Kong and Shanghai. In Hong Kong, 240 Imagineers had custom hard hats. In Shanghai, 550. Each featured names in Chinese and English, Sorcerer Mickey on the side, and “Imagineer” on the back. They truly symbolized what it meant to be an Imagineer. Now you know the story behind the iconic brown WDI hard hats. Thanks to Jack Blitch, Jerre Kirk, (and Mike Lentz, too) for sharing this incredible legacy. And thank you, Jack, for turning Disney art on a hard hat into a lasting tradition. From all of us at AOA, Happy 72nd Birthday to Walt Disney Imagineering! If you have one, share your WDI hard hat in the comments! #DreamCreateBuild #InsideAOA #WaltDisneyImagineering #DisneyHistory Walt Disney World The Walt Disney Company #Icon #SafetyFirst

IMMERSE fest - from Creative City Project and presented by AdventHealth - returns to the streets and public spaces of Downtown Orlando this February 21-23, 2025! Don’t miss our community’s premiere arts and culture festival! City of Orlando Orange County Government United Arts of Central Florida Visit Orlando

💬 Our friends at Blooloop sat down with the team behind Saudi Entertainment Ventures | SEVEN’s Transformers-themed entertainment destinations to talk about details on the project’s progress. 👏 We’re immensely proud to partner with SEVEN and Hasbro and help bring more than 107,000 square feet of action-packed indoor experiences to life in Saudi Arabia. 👂 Speaking about the team at SEVEN and Hasbro, our own Tom Acomb shares, “The courage and confidence that they have shown with this project, and their deep commitment to the creative process has been exemplary.” 📖 To read more, visit: https://lnkd.in/ezFAATiv #DreamCreateBuild #InsideAOA #SEVEN #Hasbro #Transformers #FEC

🌟 Celebrating a Legend: Rick Rothschild 🌟 We are thrilled that Rick Rothschild has been recognized by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) with the prestigious Buzz Price Lifetime Achievement Award. This honor could not be more well-deserved, as Rick has spent over 50 years shaping the themed entertainment industry as a creative visionary and leader and shaped the TEA itself over many years of leadership. At AOA, we’ve had the immense privilege of working with Rick since our humble beginnings 15 years ago. His guidance, mentorship, and unwavering support have profoundly impacted our team — both personally and professionally. Rick’s ability to inspire and elevate those around him is unmatched, and his contributions to our growth and the broader themed entertainment community are immeasurable. Rick, this award is a testament to your remarkable legacy and the countless lives you’ve touched along the way. From all of us at AOA, thank you for your belief in us, your wisdom, and your endless encouragement. A heartfelt and unique congratulations to you on this incredible achievement — you’ve truly earned it! Here’s to celebrating your past accomplishments and the exciting chapters still to come. #TEA #BuzzPrice #ThemedEntertainment

From rides to retail: we chat to Damien Latham about Saudi Entertainment Ventures | SEVEN's Transformers-themed entertainment destinations. https://lnkd.in/etwgJjHC

Thank you to everyone that joined 4Roots to celebrate the completion of the Education Phase of the Farm Campus at today's "Carrot Pull!" 🥕 This dream couldn't come alive without support from the community! Special thanks to our Founding Farmers, Phase I Supporters, and many more that helped along the way including: Dr. Phillips Charities The City of Orlando Pepsico Dayle Seneff The Parable Foundation Orlando City & Orlando Pride The Harvey & Carol Massey Foundation KI Furniture Stay tuned...this is just the beginning! #4Roots #4RootsFarmCampus #CarrotPull #RibbonCutting #PackingDistrict #UrbanFarming

Grupo Vidanta and VidantaWorld, leaders in Latin American luxury hospitality and immersive experiences, are proud to announce VidantaWorld’s BON Luxury Theme Park, the world’s first luxury theme park. Combining nature, adventure, entertainment, and elevated amenities, VidantaWorld’s BON Luxury Theme Park will offer 23 thrilling attractions, 25 world-class restaurants and lounges, 16 retail shops and kiosks, and luxury resort hotels across 150 acres of lush Mexican landscape at VidantaWorld Nuevo Vallarta. This project will redefine the theme park, entertainment, and tourism industries on a global scale. We are proud to support our clients at Grupo Vidanta in helping to bring this unique luxury theme park to life. Our shared mutual respect and deep friendship certainly strengthen the celebration of this announcement. Congratulations to all involved and buena suerte to VidantaWorld’s BON Luxury Theme Park! #VidantaWorld #NuevoVallarta #Coaster #IAAPA #ThemeParks #DreamCreateBuild #InsideAOA 📸 1: BON Luxury Theme Park at VidantaWorld Nuevo Vallarta will be the world’s first-ever luxury theme park. 📸 2: BON Plaza will be the gastronomy and luxury shopping hub at VidantaWorld’s BON Luxury Theme Park. 📸 3: Tecuani Beast, double launch roller coaster with the first double roll-over top hat in the world at VidantaWorld’s BON Luxury Theme Park. 📸 4: Cirque du Soleil LUDÕ at VidantaWorld’s BON Luxury Theme Park promises to be the most epic water dinner show ever created.

📢 Announcing our 2025 summer internships in Florida and California! We’re looking for some cool cats who want to get their kicks in the immersive experience industry. 🕺 From design and production to project management and beyond, we want fresh faces with impressive resumes and unique skillsets who’ve got it made in the shade. 😎 The AOA internship program is unlike any other – full of dynamic project experience, behind-the-scenes tours, and exclusive mentorship. 🎉 Have a blast with AOA in 2025 and check out our internship page here: https://lnkd.in/gQ2yfTgF #DreamCreateBuild #InsideAOA #SummerInternships #2025Interns #ScenicPaint #InteriorDesign #Architecture #Technology #ProjectManagement #MasterPlanning #ConceptDesign #Engineering

Way back around the turn of the century, Disney Legend Blaine Gibson, my lifelong friend, mentor, and inspiration in so many ways, asked me to give him a hand scaling up his sculpture of Roy Disney for a tribute in the Magic Kingdom (and later, at the Disney Studios in Burbank.) I had started at WDI after Blaine had retired, so it was my first chance to sculpt together with him. It was one of the best weeks of my life- though we spent many hours each day in quiet work- and I worked very hard to not disappoint him. Years later, when I was the WDI Art Director for Magic Kingdom, and after Blaine had passed at 93 years old, I would stop every single day, and just commune with his kind spirit for a moment. I still miss you Ira.