Disney Creators Share Their Magic Making Process

A panel discussion on the Disney Worldbuilders documentary took place at D23, featuring Leslie Iwerks and several creative leaders from Disney.

The film explores how Disney Imagineers bring stories to life in theme parks. Leslie Iwerks explained that she became interested in the subject after seeing a photo of Walt Disney riding the Mine Train through Nature's Wonderland.

Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer of Pixar, recalled his first experience walking through a land themed to Pixar stories and characters: 'For us at Pixar, it's all in the computer. You've seen it only two-dimensionally on the screen.'

The panelists discussed how Disney theme parks allow fans to interact with their favorite stories in new ways. Dave Filoni noted that kids now have 'vastly more' ways to engage with stories than he did as a child.