Disney Parks fans fascinated by the stories, creativity, and people behind their favorite attractions will have a new event to look forward to this fall. Wayback WED, a two-day celebration of Disney Parks history, will take place October 2–3, 2026, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World.
Presented by WDW News Today, the event is being billed as the largest gathering of former Disney Imagineers, Disney creatives, and industry legends ever assembled. The weekend will give fans an opportunity to hear directly from many of the people who helped create Walt Disney World attractions, resorts, entertainment, and experiences that continue to inspire guests today.
From a major Journey Into Imagination reunion to a closer look at the never-built Disney’s America theme park, Wayback WED promises two days filled with rarely heard stories and behind-the-scenes Disney history.
A Celebration of the People Behind the Magic
Wayback WED is designed to preserve and celebrate Disney Parks history through the voices of those who helped create it.
Throughout the two-day event, attendees will be able to experience more than a dozen panels and presentations featuring former Disney Imagineers, executives, performers, designers, and other influential creatives.
The event is expected to include:
- Never-before-seen concept artwork
- Archival photographs and rare video footage
- Behind-the-scenes stories about Disney attractions, resorts, shows, and entertainment
- Opportunities to meet and interact with Disney Legends and former Imagineers
- Autograph opportunities with participating special guests
For longtime Disney fans, this will be a chance to go beyond the finished attractions and learn about the ideas, challenges, creative decisions, and personalities that helped bring them to life.
Journey Into Imagination Reunion with Tony Baxter
One of the featured presentations will be “The Ultimate Journey Into Imagination Reunion — Celebrating the Return of an Old Friend.”
The reunion will feature Disney Legend Tony Baxter, original Dreamfinder performers, and additional participants connected to the beloved EPCOT attraction.
Former Dreamfinder performers Ron Schneider and Steve Taylor are included among the announced guests. Together with Baxter and others, they will revisit the history and legacy of Journey Into Imagination and its unforgettable original characters.
For generations of EPCOT fans who still hold Dreamfinder and Figment close to their hearts, this presentation could become one of the weekend’s most anticipated experiences.
Stories From Walt Disney World’s Earliest Days
Wayback WED will also shine a spotlight on the opening and early development of Walt Disney World.
“Class of ’71: Stories from Walt Disney World’s Early Years” will explore memories from the resort’s formative era. Another presentation, “The Original Walt Disney World You Thought You Knew,” promises previously unseen media and stories from the creation of what was promoted as the Vacation Kingdom of the World.
These programs will give attendees a closer look at the cast members, leaders, and creative teams who helped transform an ambitious Florida project into one of the world’s most famous vacation destinations.
Exploring Disney Attractions, Entertainment, and Unbuilt Ideas
The announced lineup reaches across decades of Disney Parks history and covers attractions and experiences from around the world.
Scheduled presentations include:
- “The Ultimate Journey Into Imagination Reunion — Celebrating the Return of an Old Friend”
- “The Women of Walt Disney Imagineering”
- “The Original Walt Disney World You Thought You Knew: Never-Before-Seen Media and Unheard Stories from Making The Vacation Kingdom of the World”
- “Class of ’71: Stories from Walt Disney World’s Early Years”
- “The Perseverance of Singing Bears & Birds: The Evolution of The Country Bears Jamboree and Enchanted Tiki Room”
- “All-American Entertainment: A Celebration of America on Parade, Electrical Water Pageant, and the Main Street Electrical Parade”
- “Disney’s America: The Glory and Controversy of the Unbuilt Theme Park”
- “DisneySea: From Long Beach to Tokyo Bay”
- “25 Years of Adventure in California: The Fall & Rise of Disneyland’s 2nd Gate”
- “Demystifying the Manor: The Secrets, Lore, and Artistry of Mystic Manor”
- “Big Thunder, Western River, and the American Frontierland”
- “Recounting The Hall of Presidents: 55 Years of Liberty’s Leaders (and It Almost Didn’t Happen)”
- “Golden Dreams: The Creation of Disney’s Ultimate American Attraction — The American Adventure”
The subject matter ranges from classic Walt Disney World entertainment to international attractions, unrealized projects, and the evolution of Disney California Adventure.
One especially interesting presentation will examine Disney’s America, the controversial theme park once proposed for Virginia but never built. Another will trace the DisneySea concept from its proposed Long Beach origins to the celebrated park that ultimately opened at Tokyo Disney Resort.
Disney Imagineers and Industry Legends Scheduled to Appear
Wayback WED has already announced an extensive lineup of former Imagineers, Disney executives, performers, and other individuals connected to Disney Parks history.
Scheduled special guests include:
- Bob Weis — Former President, Walt Disney Imagineering
- Tony Baxter — Disney Legend and former Senior Vice President of Creative Development
- Tom Morris — Former Senior Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering
- Joe Lanzisero — Former Creative Senior Vice President, Walt Disney Imagineering
- Tom Nabbe — Disney Legend
- Rick Rothschild — Former Senior Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering
- Eric Jacobson — Former Senior Vice President, Walt Disney Imagineering
- Paul Osterhout — Former Creative Vice President, Walt Disney Imagineering
- Kathy Rogers — Former Executive Creative Show Producer
- Jim Bockstall — Former Walt Disney Imagineering Graphic Designer
- Jerry Schneider — Former Walt Disney Imagineering Photographer
- Don Dorsey — Former Disney Show Designer
- Eli Erlandson — Former Principal Concept Architect
- Peggie Fariss — Former Executive, Creative Development
- Paula Dinkel — Former Principal Lighting Designer
- Becky Bishop — Former Executive Landscape Architect
- Tim Delaney — Former Walt Disney Imagineering Executive
- Jim Mulder — Former Principal SPFX Designer
- Bill Bieberbach — Former Director of Resorts at Walt Disney World
- Sandy Quinn — Former Marketing Director for the Opening of Walt Disney World
- Dick Evans — Former Operations Manager
- Ron Schneider — Former Dreamfinder from Journey Into Imagination
- Steve Taylor — Former Dreamfinder from Journey Into Imagination
Additional special guests are expected to be announced as the event approaches.
Wayback WED Event Details
When:
Friday, October 2, 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Where:
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
4600 World Drive
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
Complete schedules, presenter information, ticket details, and future guest announcements are available at WaybackWED.com.
Wayback WED is shaping up to be a special weekend for fans who love learning how Disney Parks were created. With Imagineering legends, original Walt Disney World cast members, rare archival material, and stories covering everything from Figment to Disney’s America, the event will celebrate not only the attractions guests remember, but also the creative minds who made those memories possible.
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