Tonight during Horizons: A Carousel of Progress at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa, filmmaker Leslie Iwerks took the stage with Walt Disney Imagineering President and Chief Creative Officer Bruce Vaughn to share exciting news with Disney fans: a second season of The Imagineering Story is officially in production and the first few episodes will debut on Disney+ next year.
For nearly 75 years, Walt Disney Imagineers have been turning those ideas into experiences that connect with generations of guests around the world. During the presentation, Bruce reflected on that legacy, tracing Imagineering’s roots back to the creative team Walt Disney assembled to help bring Disneyland to life.
Today, that spirit of innovation continues through a global team who are constantly finding new ways to bring Disney stories to life.
Before looking ahead, Bruce paused to recognize some of the Disney Legends whose creativity helped shape the Disney experiences fans know and love today, including Tony Baxter, Wing Chao, Robert Coltrin, Bob Gurr, Joe Rohde, and Kim Irvine, who all joined him onstage. Their influence continues to inspire the next generation of Imagineers creating the future.
Leslie Iwerks Returns to Tell the Next Chapter
To help tell the ever-evolving Imagineering story, Bruce welcomed filmmaker Leslie Iwerks to the stage. As the creator of The Imagineering Story (and recently helmed Disneyland Handcrafted, along with Disney Worldbuilders, streaming August 20 on Disney+, she helped pull back the curtain on Walt Disney Imagineering, giving audiences a rare look at the creativity, challenges, and determination that go into building Disney Experiences.
Leslie’s grandfather, Disney Legend Ub Iwerks, helped shape the earliest days of Disney animation. Her father, Disney Legend Don Iwerks, spent decades pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation. Growing up surrounded by Imagineers left a lasting impression, as she told the crowd, “I was really raised by Imagineers.”
A Front-Row Seat to the Future
When the first season of The Imagineering Story debuted in 2019, it chronicled decades of Disney history. But this next season will capture something different — it will follow Imagineers as they help shape one of the most ambitious periods in Disney Experiences history.
According to Bruce, Leslie has been there as many of those projects have moved from blue sky concept to “dirt is moving!” reality.
“So a few years ago when it was revealed that dozens of new projects were on the way, you and I started talking about how there may be a new chapter in this tale,” Leslie told Bruce, “Turns out … there are several.”
“Leslie has been with us as we’ve put all these new projects in motion,” Bruce shared, adding that she has been granted unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the creative process. For fans, that means an opportunity to see not only what Imagineers are building, but how they think.
“My goal is to make you all feel like you’re right there with me on this journey,” Leslie explained. And we won’t have to wait long to see it. The Imagineering Story Season 2 debuts in 2028 on Disney+.
