Walt Disney Imagineering is stepping into the future — and augmented reality is leading the way. Imagineers are now using AR technology to sculpt the environments for their projects, and they're already exploring even more ways to put it to work.
Augmented Reality in Action
Kendall Harvey, Software Product Engineer for Walt Disney Imagineering, has been sharing how Disney is looking into new and emerging technologies and applying them to create bigger and better attractions.
Harvey takes us inside Disney's Lakeshore Lodge, which is set to open on July 1, 2027. There, Imagineers are using augmented reality to preview how final products will look by projecting images directly onto surfaces through a headset. The result is a full three-dimensional model that shows crews exactly what they need to do in order to execute the creative vision — no more relying on flat, 2D images to guide the work.
The goal? Hit the target the first time, every time.
Because everything is handled on the device itself, teams can note adjustments directly in the headset, making the entire process significantly more efficient. According to the source, this approach shaves off months of work.
What's Next for the Technology
Imagineers aren't stopping at environment sculpting. Going forward, they're exploring how augmented reality can be applied to other projects — including nighttime shows, animatronics, and more.
The video below covers additional topics, including:
- Piston Peak balloon tests
- Dark Avenue in Monstropolis
- Tropical Americas construction
- Fake palm trees for the Encanto casita