Disney dreamers are people with innovation and vision. They make things happen and aren’t afraid to take a less than direct path to make “it” happen. Recently I sat down with two Disney dreamers to learn about their paths.
Charita Carter is senior creative producer and development manager of the Walt Disney Imagineering Scenic Illusion Team. The Scenic Illusion Team is an application and integration team focused on developing new tools and techniques to supply Imagineers who designer theme park attractions with new and expanded capabilities for storytelling. Under her management, the Scenic Illusion Team has been awarded in access of 20 patents on the company’s behalf. As a senior creative producer, Charita has been part of creative teams who have brought incredible attractions and innovations to life in Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
With so many incredible accomplishments, one would think that Charita’s path as a creative innovator would have been one that began in an art studio or other creative outlet. However, Charita’s career began in a much different way. She holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from California State University Northridge. Yes, that’s “accounting.” For years, she worked as an accountant for a food-related company in a building neighboring Imagineering in Glendale, California. When the company she worked for got bought out and her job was eliminated, she literally walked across the street to Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) to inquire about accounting positions.
“When I first interviewed for Imagineering,” recalls Charita when she thinks back to her days before Imagineering, “I was sitting outside the accounting manager’s office and waiting for my interview. He was actually talking to two individuals who had been in accounting who were transitioning to creative. And at the time I thought that was the craziest thing I’d ever heard, but it planted a seed with me.”
It was then that Charita realized that Imagineering was really a special place where someone could have formal training in one area and then be able to pursue other areas and discover their gifts deep, down inside. Charita began her career at WDI as a senior accountant and was quickly promoted to finance manager and strategic business partner of the creative development division.
Charita is a Disney dreamer who broke her own mold and took the path less traveled to realize just the right career.
Mike Goslin is vice president of production and content for Disney Consumer Products & Interactive Media. This Disney dreamer has spent the last several years developing Playmation – Disney’s next step in the evolution of physical play.
“[Playmation] is a system of toys and wearables that work together to create a new kind of play experience,” says Goslin. “We’re basically bringing old school play into the twenty first century using technology and wrapping in Disney stories.”
Mike and his team set out to give kids superhero powers in the real world. The new, incredible play system let’s kids feel what it is like to put on Iron Man’s glove and battle robots or slip on the Hulk’s super strong hands to battle against Ultron. Disney has already announced that they are working on Star Wars Playmation sets for 2016. They have also already started on early concepts for Frozen. Just imagine Elsa’s magic powers or using the Force as a Jedi.
A decade ago, interactive smart play experiences were a dream, but because of Mike and his team of dreamers, they are now a reality for this generation. They have given kids technology that gets them up off the couch and away from the television and immerses them into their own imaginative world mixed with Marvel magic.
This post was written as part of my participation in a special media event to celebrate the home video release of Tomorrowland! It will be available starting October 13 on DVD and Disney Movies Anywhere. If you haven’t seen Tomorrowland yet (or even if you have), check out 5 fun facts about the movie by clicking here and see my boys’ video review of the movie by clicking here.
As part of this event, I am giving away a fabulous Disneyland 60th coffee mug! You can enter to win by clicking here.
