“Do it like Disney” Recognize, Reimagine, Revise and Retool

Are you overly busy and overwhelmed but feel like even though you are putting in a lot of time energy and hard work you are not getting much accomplished?

Do you feel like life is on a “repeat loop” and the same problems keep popping up? “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

Do it like Disney, recognize, reimagine, re-engineer, revise, and reinvention were his secrets to success!

During the early 1950s Walt Disney visited many other amusement parks and carnivals. He recognized a need for cleaner, theme-based park for families. He wanted to share his love of movies and film through his theme parks. In 1952, with a small staff from the Walt Disney studio, he created a new reimagined theme park.

Disneyland opened on July 17,1955 day. Eleven thousand people were invited to the park. Opening day was filled with joy , but some major problems occurred. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride caused an overload of the park’s power grid. More issues popped up that day a nearby gas leak caused Fantasyland to have to be closed. When Disney discovered problems he did not give up. Walt had to re-engineer rides, multiple attractions, and even how he ran operations.

In the beginning the park had four lands and an all-American Main Street, U.S.A. for an admission fee of $1. Guests could purchase tickets for an extra 10-30 cents to experience the rides. Due to the massive popularity of his new theme park within four months Disneyland revised how they did things and began selling a higher priced ticket books that covered both the cost of admission, rides, and attractions all in one to increase their profit margins.

Through the years many attractions and rides were created based on movie film characters and stories. Land was purchased in Florida and EPCOT would end being in what is “the heart” of Walt Disney World. Continual adaption to the changing needs of guests or popular trends in cinemas as well as reinvention of rides and new attractions has been a key to Disney’s success. If you follow the “ways of Walt” by recognizing when change is needed, reimagining possible new ways of doing things.

Be willing to re-engineer, revise and even at times reinvent your methods and you will find success!