Joe Lanzisero began working at Disney as a Feature Animator just a few days after graduating from CalArts in 1979, working on movies like the Fox & and the Hound and The Great Mouse Detective. Less than a decade later, Joe made the jump to Walt Disney Imagineering, where he eventually rose to the rank of a Creative Senior Vice President. Perhaps what’s most amazing about Joe is that his projects literally span the globe. He developed attractions at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line. Some of Joe's most notable attractions include Toontown, Mystic Manor, Tower of Terror at Tokyo DisneySea, Grizzly Gulch, Toy Story Land (Hong Kong Disneyland), and more. After nearly three decades at Imagineering, Joe retired from Disney in 2015, but his work continues today through his own company, Lanzisero Creative.
In this podcast episode, I chat with Joe about his early years growing up near Disneyland, his time at Disney Animation, and his many years at Imagineering, plus his work since retiring from Disney. Be sure to also follow Joe on Instagram for some inspiring and educational content about Disney and beyond.
Which of Joe's attractions is your favorite? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show:
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EPCOT Flower and Garden | Disney Food Blog
Walt Disney | Stories of Walt at Disneyland | Part Two
Walt Disney | Stories of Walt at Disneyland | Part One
Lanny Smoot | Disney Research Fellow | Imagineer | National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee
Disney Cruise Line: What To Expect
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Music of Pixar Early Years | Finding Nemo to Up
Music of Pixar Early Years | Toy Story to Monsters Inc.
Haunted Mansion Holiday | Disneyland | Nightmare Before Christmas Overlay
Dave Goelz | 50 Years with The Muppets
Disney Jollywood Nights | Opening Night Review | Event Strategy
it’s a small world | Disneyland | 1964-1965 World’s Fair
Oogie Boogie Bash | Disney California Adventure | Disneyland
Disney Holiday Travel | Honeymoons | Annual Passes | Listener Questions
Destination D23 2023 | Disney News | Recap
Roundup Rodeo BBQ | Toy Story Land | Full Review (Part 2)
Roundup Rodeo BBQ | Toy Story Land | Full Review (Part 1)
Imagineering Concepts for Walt Disney World
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