Touring Disney Animation Studios and Tokyo Disney Sea with alumni executives, attending Q&A sessions with Disney engineers and having dinner with Mickey Mouse are just some of the highlights 29 students from The Ohio State University experienced during the inaugural Around the World with Disney Imagineering global education program.
Open to all majors, the four-week summer course allows students from diverse backgrounds to explore how their interests can contribute to collaborative creations like Disney parks. Students from 15 disciplines took part, including 16 engineering majors and one architecture major.
“The course was designed around Disney Imagineering as a model for large-scale creative collaboration, bringing together engineers, designers, storytellers, technologists, artists and business professionals to create immersive experiences,” said Yuri Melendez, an instructional designer for the College of Engineering. “What made the concept especially appealing from an educational standpoint was the opportunity for students from different academic backgrounds to see how their own skills could contribute to complex, multidisciplinary projects.”
The brainchild of Engineering Instructional Technology Director Chris Strasbaugh, it is the first course offered by the Office of International Affairs at Ohio State to combine both domestic and international travel.
Visiting Disneyland Resort in California and Disney Tokyo, students enjoyed a unique behind-the-scenes peek into the creative force behind Disney’s immersive experiences.
“We had the opportunity to learn about the behind-the-scenes processes that go into designing Disney parks through backstage tours and panels with Imagineers in Disneyland in California and in Tokyo,” said Haven Tan, a civil engineering major. “We learned about attraction design, interdisciplinary collaboration within Imagineering, and theming within the Disney intellectual property. This was a dream come true experience and I am so thankful for all that I was able to learn.”
The coursework included a group project focused on designing a new park attraction, individual response papers on how students envision their academic careers fitting into the Imagineering ecosystem, and maintaining a travel journal to document their experiences.
“As a part of our coursework, we worked in teams to create and film an attraction pitch. Our group was inspired by Pixar’s film, ‘Hoppers,’ which we used to theme a unique boat ride attraction,” said Kaylin Kerrick, a computer science and engineering major. “Individually, I explored interactive queue design through the Disney mobile app for my problem portfolios relating to computer science. This course was an incredible opportunity to combine my interests in both computer science and animation and see how it relates directly to Disney Imagineering.”
Ohio State alumni were essential in making the trip an impactful learning experience for students, organizers said.
“Planning for the course included contributions from Ohio State alumni and Disney professionals, which I believe is one of its strengths,” Melendez explained. “Meeting with alumni in person helps students feel a sense of belonging and realize that they are in this wonderful Buckeye community.”
In California, students toured Disney Animation Studios and shared an insightful Q&A with Technical Supervisor Rebecca Thompson, a computer science and engineering alumna. In Tokyo, landscape architecture alumnus Mark Schirmer, the recently retired executive portfolio creative producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, spent a day with students exploring Tokyo DisneySea, including the newest addition, Fantasy Springs, and sharing some of the park's unique aspects.
“Our walkabout provided the students with an up-close look into the storytelling and level of detail that Imagineers strive to produce at our parks,” Schirmer said. “The students and faculty were truly engaged and curious with their questions. Throughout the day, we shared our experiences in creating and operating these parks and attractions. Their interest and enthusiasm was an inspiration for us and we hope the time together will inspire them to look to their future and believe, ‘If you can dream it - you can do it.’”
Fellow alumni Brad Okeson, Kelli Ross, Machi McGuire and Robert Anderson also provided invaluable insight that made the trip successful.
“It’s the alumni who made this trip special,” Strasbaugh said.
In summer 2027, the program will travel to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando and Disneyland Paris. Student applications are due January 7, 2027.