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235. Imagineer Joe Garlington on Creating Interactive Disney Attractions

07.01.2024 by Dan Heaton // Leave a Comment

Imagineer Joe Garlington joins the Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about his work on many Disney attractions.


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During the late ’90s and early 2000s, we saw a wave of interactive attractions that went beyond just shooting games. Along with separate destinations like DisneyQuest, a new take on interactivity arrived with Turtle Talk with Crush; Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor; and more. At the center of these attractions was Imagineer Joe Garlington, who worked on many innovative rides and shows during his career at Disney.

Joe is my guest on this episode of the Tomorrow Society Podcast to talk about his background and career in themed entertainment. He first joined Disney in the early ’80s and worked on projects for the original EPCOT Center including the unbuilt TRON Arcade. The next step was starting his own company Art & Technology, Inc. before returning to Walt Disney Imagineering in 1990.

During this episode, Joe and I talk about his background and interactive attractions like DisneyQuest and Turtle Talk. He explains how the latter helped to save the Seas Pavilion and drew massive crowds from the start. Joe also describes his work on updating Innoventions and bringing interactivity to Test Track 2.0. I really enjoyed talking with Joe and learning a lot more about his career and such cool attractions.

Test Track remains very popular in Future World East at Epcot.
Photo by Dan Heaton

Show Notes: Joe Garlington

Listen to Joe Garlington’s appearance on the Tammy Tuckey Show from March 17, 2019. It’s a fun interview that’s definitely worth your time.

Read this interview with Joe Garlington on Park World on November 10, 2014.

Support the Tomorrow Society Podcast with a one-time contribution and buy me a Dole Whip!

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Categories // Tomorrow Society Podcast Tags // Disney Cruise Line, DisneyQuest, EPCOT, Interviews, Magic Kingdom, Podcasts, Walt Disney World

About Dan Heaton

Dan’s first theme-park memory was a vacation at the Polynesian Resort in 1980 as a four-year-old. He’s a lifelong fan who has written and podcasted regularly about the industry. Dan loves both massive Disney and Universal theme parks plus regional attractions near his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. His favorite all-time attraction is Horizons at EPCOT Center.

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