Barbara Bouza, the President of Walt Disney Imagineering, has introduced that she’s leaving the corporate. This put up shares the information of her departure and provides commentary about what this might imply for the way forward for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and past.
Bouza joined The Walt Disney Firm in Summer time 2020, a couple of months into the Bob Chapek regime. Previous to becoming a member of Disney, she served as co-managing director for Gensler Los Angeles. In accordance with her Disney Parks bio, she introduced strategic design administration to Gensler and labored with shoppers reminiscent of Amgen, Metropolis of Hope, Debbie Allen, JPL/NASA and Netflix.
Whereas Bouza was at Disney, Imagineers introduced numerous experiences to life that embody Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris and Disney California Journey, the Disney Want ship for Disney Cruise Line, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON: Lightcycle Run at Walt Disney World, World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland, and Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort. Once more, all per her Disney Parks bio.
Bouza has been the President of Walt Disney Imagineering since November 2021, when she took over for Bob Weis. He didn’t formally retire, however somewhat, stepped into the position of International Imagineering Ambassador. That occurred forward of WDI’s deliberate transfer from Glendale, California to Lake Nona, Florida. As you doubtless know, that transfer didn’t occur.
It’s value remembering that Walt Disney Imagineering was hit actually laborious in 2020-2021. It’s not possible to say how most of the high-profile retirements have really been “retirements” (with heavy air quotes). Joe Rohde and Bob Weis shortly getting new jobs after leaving Disney strongly means that these have been “retirements.”
Anyway, Bouza shared the information by way of Instagram to say her goodbyes earlier than she leaves subsequent month. You may learn her full put up beneath:
Proudly constructing upon our extraordinary legacy, Imagineers are shaping a future that conjures up humanity. As one international group of progressive creators and storytellers, we immerse our visitors in experiences that make recollections of a lifetime.
As a licensed architect I used to be recruited by The Walt Disney Firm to problem the norm and produce broader international trade perspective and experience. Becoming a member of Walt Disney Imagineering in June of 2020, I actually believed humanity wanted Disney greater than ever. The world was making an attempt to grasp the influence of a worldwide pandemic, enterprise disruption, keep at dwelling orders, a looking on race, and the rising political divide. From there Imagineers endured the pressures of expertise reductions, unprecedented hyper-escalation on initiatives, political crosshairs, and the necessity to make life altering choices with their households across the relocation from California to Florida.
Via all of this, Imagineers relentlessly created and delivered a few of the most impactful initiatives within the historical past of The Walt Disney Firm. This success has fueled the turbocharged progress of Disney Experiences via $60 billion in funding over the subsequent 10 years that Bob Iger and Josh D’Amaro communicate of. So I need to take this second to personally thank all Imagineers, previous, current and future for making the not possible potential.
It’s bittersweet as I wrap up my work as President of Walt Disney Imagineering this month earlier than I create a fair greater influence for world. Keep tuned! WDI shall be in wonderful palms with my companion, Bruce Vaughn, Chief Artistic Officer, who’s an distinctive artistic chief.
“There’s actually no secret about our strategy. We hold shifting ahead, opening new doorways and doing new issues, as a result of we’re curious.”
Walt Disney
When it comes to commentary, there’s solely a lot I’m going to say. Bouza didn’t put herself on the market as a public determine and I believe it’s unseemingly to dissect the employment standing of others. Followers might valorize Imagineers as a result of it’s a extremely cool job, however that doesn’t make them really celebrities or whatnot.
What I’ll say is that each mission highlighted in Bouza’s Disney Parks bio began earlier than Summer time 2020. There may be not a single entry on that listing the place principal artistic or materials design choices have been made subsequent to her hiring. That is solely to say that, if you happen to like or dislike these issues, that’s probably not on Bouza.
As for which initiatives at Imagineering got here throughout the Bouza period? That’s additionally troublesome to say, since usually it’s a protracted street from incubation till fruition. CommuniCore Corridor can be the apparent one, since that was a very totally different design up till Summer time 2020.
Though it goes towards the narrative that it had been deliberate for some time, I think most of Tiana’s Bayou Journey began in mid-2020. (The outside appears to be like completely totally different from the unique idea artwork, which ought to be a powerful sign of that.) In all probability the DVC Cabins at Fort Wilderness and Polynesian Tower, in addition to Downtown Disney at Disneyland. She appeared happy with Disneyland Lodge in Paris, so most likely that, too.
All of this appears to take a look at if you happen to evaluate the initiatives web page on the Gensler Los Angeles web site. Loads of what’s there ought to look acquainted, and it appeared like Disney, for no matter cause, wished much less themed design and extra actual world architectural experience. As a normal matter, that is the reverse of what I need. From a personnel perspective, I’d desire management in Imagineering that works its means up from inside. They don’t essentially want wholly artistic backgrounds–however a stability of enterprise and inventive is vital.
With all of that stated, it’s troublesome/not possible in charge/give credit score to Bouza for Imagineering’s output throughout her tenure. That is one thing that usually appears to journey followers up. When a mission strikes too slowly, there’s cost-cutting, or the tip result’s uninspired, there’s typically a refrain of “Imagineering has misplaced their contact” or “the brand new guard isn’t nearly as good/artistic/and many others. because the outdated guard!”
That’s not how this works. Consider Imagineering like a chef at a restaurant, Walt Disney World administration because the visitor, and also you as a viewer watching on tv. Like The Menu, however family-friendly. For the restaurant on this instance, let’s use Cítricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. It’s among the finest Disney eating places anyplace, and the chef (Imagineering) has some actually formidable and envelope-pushing dishes on the menu. Sadly, the visitor (Walt Disney World administration) retains ordering the macaroni & cheese from the youngsters menu.
Now, the conclusion you possibly can draw is that Citricos sucks as a result of all they’re serving is macaroni and cheese. And also you may assume that, if you happen to didn’t have perception into the total menu. Or you possibly can conclude that perhaps the visitor is the issue, and the meal can solely be nearly as good as what’s ordered.
In a nutshell, that’s the dilemma with Imagineering and followers’ evaluation of it. From the surface wanting in, we solely see what Disney Parks administration is definitely ordering from the menu that Imagineering has ready. If that’s a bunch of mac & cheese dishes, who’s really in charge for that, chef or shopper? We don’t see all the artistic initiatives on the menu that aren’t ordered.
We all know Imagineering is able to extra, as a result of we’ve examples of that. I could also be unimpressed by World Celebration and assume there have been each budgetary (and inventive execution points, to be truthful!), however Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance “proves” to me that Imagineering is able to greatness. I’m hoping to be wowed by Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland, World of Frozen in Hong Kong and Paris, and Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea, too. All of that ought to likewise “show” that Imagineering has super expertise when creatively unleashed and given the finances.
Level being, I’ll not love WDI’s current output (and the dearth of it), and several other of the current designs might have a “Gensler look” to them, however that’s not essentially an indictment of Bouza or Imagineering as an entire. It may merely be that was what administration–whether or not that be Chapek, D’Amaro, or Vahle–ordered from a menu of selections offered to them. I may see Chapek as a person with mac & cheese tastes. He undoubtedly would’ve most well-liked the $13.50 price ticket of that entree over the $52 Guava-barbecued Brief Ribs!
Regardless, Bouza will quickly be gone. Based mostly on each the wording of her announcement and logic, because of this Bruce Vaughn will as soon as once more be the President of Imagineering. He returned to WDI final spring after leaving in 2016. Earlier than that, Vaughn had labored at Imagineering in management roles for 22 years, and had a powerful variety of mission credit, together with DisneyQuest! (Okay, he had loads of different a lot greater ones–I simply assume it’s humorous that one is usually listed first for some cause.)
With regards to Bruce Vaughn, particularly, my information can be restricted and has an outside-looking-in perspective. (A lot of what follows is my commentary from when he returned, recycled and up to date barely based mostly on sentiment I’ve heard since.) My understanding is that his 2016 departure was tied to value overruns and delays at Shanghai Disneyland–that rightly or wrongly, he was primarily the autumn man.
Timing-wise, Vaughn ascended to the highest of Imagineering in 2007, months earlier than the announcement of the Disney’s California Journey overhaul and solely a pair years earlier than New Fantasyland was greenlit for Magic Kingdom. These main initiatives precipitated a decade-plus of main growth within the home and worldwide parks. When it comes to spending on the parks, Vaughn’s observe document speaks for itself.
One probably fascinating angle of this information is that Vaughn was ousted shortly after Bob Chapek ascended to the position of Parks Chairman, and returned shortly after Chapek’s downfall. That may very well be fully coincidental, or not. If it isn’t, my honest hope is that that is the beginning of the return of earlier leaders who (allegedly) butted heads with Bob Chapek or in any other case have been seen as threats.
Following Vaughn’s return, numerous present and ex-Imagineers praised Iger for bringing him again and seen it as a massively constructive transfer. That is notably significant when coming from the previous Imagineers, as they will communicate extra freely–a lot of them are barely jaded, so something they few favorably usually carries extra weight.
Between the phrases of Imagineers and Vaughn’s tenure and observe document at Disney, he’s the one I’d somewhat have as President of Walt Disney Imagineering. Once more, that’s from the surface wanting in and with out figuring out something extra. On paper, Vaughn is the higher match for head of WDI.
Talking of homecomings, I’d like to see Joe Rohde, Bob Weis, Tony Baxter, Kevin Rafferty, and different Imagineers introduced again. Walt Disney Imagineering has been hit laborious within the final a number of years. Once more, it’s not possible to say how most of the current high-profile retirements have really been “retirements” (with heavy air quotes). I’d think about that not less than a few these people (and others) may very well be lured again to Disney.
Personally, I’m optimistic on Bruce Vaughn because the (presumptive) President of Walt Disney Imagineering. It’s noteworthy that he was on stage throughout final fall’s Vacation spot D23 and struck a a lot totally different (higher) tone in regards to the blue sky proposals–it struck me as doing a little bit of ‘restoration’ as he indicated that he wasn’t fully snug with Imagineering sharing plans earlier than they’re formally introduced.
In any case, I’ve been saying for a few yr now that I believe Imagineering is on the precipice of its subsequent huge growth cycle for the home parks. Disney may have introduced him again, and is now selling him to the highest spot as a result of he’s a very good chief and has extra expertise with each Imagineering and precise theme park work.
Vaughn was often called extra of a mission supervisor, however that’s every bit as wanted as good creatives who can dream up ingenious and envelope-pushing points of interest. Imagineering has turn into infamous for bloated budgets and mission delays, and there are many situations of current initiatives missing a coherent imaginative and prescient and focus. Creatives want guardrails, and maybe Bruce Vaughn is the kind of chief that may present that. I actually have no idea.
Speculating a bit, I may actually see a situation the place Bob Iger is gearing up for one more growth cycle and desires an ally at Imagineering. Iger and Vaughn labored collectively over the last huge increase for the theme parks, so this might not be even a remotely far-fetched situation.
In that case, it’s additionally believable that Imagineering must workers again up–and Vaughn could have a neater time working with or luring creatives to return than Bouza, who was an out of doors rent made proper as all of the layoffs began and relocation plans have been revealed. None of that was her fault, clearly, however she may “symbolize” a nasty period for Imagineering and be a casualty consequently.
In the end, that’s the place I’m at with this. I nonetheless imagine that Vaughn was introduced again as a result of constructive change is on the horizon and that Imagineering is gearing up for the subsequent huge growth cycle. Furthermore, that they’ve been so gutted within the final 4 years that they’re making an attempt to undo the harm and turning to a pacesetter in Vaughn who labored in Imagineering for 22 years and sure has the relationships and experience for precise theme park attraction and land design. I’d additionally like to see true creatives with institutional information and clearly-defined portfolios introduced again to Imagineering.
Then once more, Bruce Vaughn was on the high of Walt Disney Imagineering throughout the growth of the unique Pandora – World of Avatar (one other notorious ‘second’ of his was being Photoshopped out of groundbreaking pictures for that!). Maybe Imagineering is getting the gang again collectively for spherical two at Disneyland, and Joe Rohde would be the subsequent re-hire. All issues thought-about, I’m excited for the last decade to come back at Walt Disney World and Disneyland…and I actually hope this performs into that!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider this Imagineering information? Assume this shall be a constructive or detrimental–or a mix of each–for Imagineering and Disney followers? Ideas on this being WDI laying the groundwork for large growth plans which are on the horizon? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Be at liberty to share your perspective, however hold the feedback civil. This isn’t the place for politically-charged arguing, tradition wars, antagonism, private assaults, or low cost pictures. We shall be heavy-handed in deleting any feedback that cross the road, no matter viewpoint.
