Good day, explorers and adventurers! With D23 coming up from August 14th to 16th, the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.) is now ready to explore a new frontier: the Imagineering Pavilion. While everyone has been getting ready for the summer, S.E.A. has been busy working with Walt Disney Imagineering for a special appearance at D23.
Hold on, what is the S.E.A.?
For the uninitiated, the Society of Explorers and Adventurers is devoted to, well, adventure and exploration! S.E.A.’s mission is to reveal truths, right wrongs, and live to tell the tale. You might’ve heard of their original motto, “Exploratio continua” in Latin or “continued exploration” in English. In the modern day, that saying is coupled with “wonder, explore, and discover.”
That also means the Society is always looking for the next blood-rushing, exciting adventure to embark on! From mounting expeditions into the unknown to chronicling the explorations of other adventurers, S.E.A. is proud to protect the artistic achievements of human society. Society members climbed the highest mountain peaks, rowed through the world’s longest rivers, and built countless imaginative inventions that expanded the organization’s ability to explore.
With humble beginnings dating as far back as the 1500s, S.E.A. was founded by a distinguished body of mariners, scientists, inventors, and artists. The Society traces its origins back to the mythic Fortress Exploration; its earliest known headquarters. Here, early explorers exchanged information about daring adventures, new inventions, and shared their collective knowledge for innovation for all.
Since then, S.E.A. remained a hub of ingenuity and discovery, passionately dedicated to exploring what is not yet understood. To accomplish this, members meticulously document their long history—from finding lost artifacts to retracing the steps of their adventurer alumni—and embark on modern expeditions to under-researched locations. Or, to put it simply: they identify, conserve, and curate the world’s unknowns around us. After all, a mystery is only the catalyst to adventure!
Who makes up S.E.A.?
Do the names of Mary Oceaneer, Dr. Albert Falls, or Lord Henry Mystic sound familiar? If you’ve heard of them, then you’ve almost certainly heard of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers.
In keeping with the Society’s traditions, their modern-day members are more than adventurers. Members are academics, artists, athletes, and everyone in-between. In fact, most of their members are proud interdisciplinarians! For example, Imagineering is in contact with a particularly enthusiastic archivist, who takes care of S.E.A.’s massive collection of artifacts as a part-time historian, part-time curator, and full-time explorer. Or, for a historical example, Society member Camellia Falco was an avid aviator who invented her own devices to further humanity’s understanding of flight as well as embark on new adventures throughout the sky.
In fact, traces of S.E.A. members can be found all over the world and across history. You might’ve seen Dr. Falls’ map of the world’s rivers or Lord Mystic’s manor of various historical curiosities. For eagle-eyed readers, you might’ve even spotted oars with their members’ names and notable expeditions engraved on them!
At their core, all Society members possess natural curiosity and an unbreakable desire for adventure. Speaking of exploring new frontiers…
What is S.E.A. doing at D23 this year?
Excellent question! This summer, S.E.A. is collaborating with Walt Disney Imagineering to show the world more about the organization. In particular, S.E.A. wants to share more about the adventurers who demonstrate an insatiable curiosity for the world’s mysteries who make up their organization. While there’s no shortage of secrets across history and even in your everyday life, they might (emphasis on might!) discuss some enigmas which even eluded the Society.
And keep this private, but S.E.A. has a new, well, “newly rediscovered” artifact ready for the presentation! For the past three months, an S.E.A. archivist has been cataloguing all the artifacts in the Society’s collection. They’ve re-discovered incredible pieces of S.E.A. history, such as intricate Greek amphoras from Lord Henry Mystic or “acquired” sarcophagi courtesy of Harrison Hightower III. One crate unearthed from the archives, unopened for at least a century, is making its way to D23. But, the surprise is…neither Imagineering or S.E.A. has any clue what’s inside! It’s just one of S.E.A.’s enigmas, like what the Voynich manuscript really says or what exact books were lost in the Burning of the Library of Alexandria. So, the Society is eager to reveal a piece of S.E.A. and share the spirit of discovery together with you!
If you’re curious about what the artifact is, or you just want to learn more about S.E.A., then stop by the Society’s D23 presentation, “An Inside Look at the Society of Explorers and Adventurers,” on August 14th!
If you can’t attend in-person, then don’t worry about it. Imagineering will be updating the Walt Disney Imagineering Instagram with every detail. Make sure to follow the Instagram account to get all new updates. From the Society of Explorers and Adventurers and Imagineering: we’re excited to explore something new with everyone!