Notes from Marty Sklar’s Dream It! Do It!
Ch. 1 – Walt’s death
Sklar started as a writer. Ch. 2 – Transition after Walt Chaotic, no leader EPCOT “Keep moving forward” – Disney Ch. 3 – The beginning at UCLA The Disneyland News Sklar was one of the first 100 cast members on Disneyland’s payroll. Moving to CA and family life Ch. 4 – reporting for the Daily Bruin travels with the sports team Coach John Wooden The “Last Lecture” series was around in 1955. It was revived with a twist in 2010. Ch. 5 – Vignettes of Walt Disney Ch. 6 – Focus on the audience. Imagineering Prominent imagineers Ch. 7 – Disneyland Anaheim Disneyland’s opening and Sklar’s experience including the fix Grad Nite Eddie Meck Lindquist and Halloween hijinks Attractions vs. rides “Disneyland Holiday” “Vacationland” Writing for Disneyland Ch.8 – World’s Fair: Ford, GE, Illinois Audioanimatronics Ride capacity The People Mover – transportation Ch. 9 – WED in 1967 after Walt Disney Walt Disney World in development Walt Disney World and civil rights Attraction sponsorship Space Mountain development Roy Disney Walt Disney World opening Ch. 10 – IBM versus AT&T Stages of EPCOT development EPCOT conferences Storytelling for technology GM’s Ty Nagy The Wienie – come this way or you’ll miss the fun Pavilions Creating new music for EPCOT Selling EPCOT Spaceship Earth The Land – plants pollinated by hand China Pavilion Ub Iwerks created the first Circlevision Camera system. Ch. 11 – Tokyo Disneyland Dick Nunis Ch. 12 – Michael Eisner and Frank Wells “I’m going to Disneyland” ad campaign Disney Hollywood Studios Ch. 13 – Quotes The pinnable wall Ch. 14 – EuroDisney Ch. 15 – Tokyo DisneySea The three other parks built at the same time as Tokyo DisneySea had fallen prey to the new Disney standard – “build it small, for less money, and they will come anyway.” Sklar calls it the Paul Pressler phenomenon. The Last Lecturer Randy Pausch consulted on DisneyQuest Ch. 16 – Michael Eisner’s 21 years Walt established a tradition of innovation. Plants for Animal Kingdom Paul Pressler – huckster Sketch of Sklar – Mickey’s Ten Commandments by Don Lowe Pressler closed the Skyway and submarines to save money. Pressler let paint peel and wood rot. Ch. 17 – Ambassador Sklar Courageous Creativity Ch. 18 – In this chapter, Sklar talks about and lists Mickey’s 10 Commandments. If you have made it this far in the notes, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Do It! Dream It! if for no other reason than to read the other 30 commandments that Sklar has written. (There is an easy to do so link on the side of this page.) Here is a list of 10 commandments, but if you like this type of content and you want more of it, then buy Sklar’s book. 1. Know your audience 2. Wear Your guests’ shoes 3. Organize the flow of people and ideas 4. Create a wienie 5. Communicate with visual literacy 6. Avoid overload and create turn-ons 7. Tell one story at a time. Good stories are clear, logical and consistent 8. Avoid contradictions and maintain identity 9. For every ounce of treatment provide a ton of treat. You can educate people – but don’t let them know that you’re doing it 10. Keep it up! Everything must work. Poor maintenance is poor show. Writings that Sklar likes the best Do you have to make the first mark, or do you get to? Ch. 19 – Positive notes for Sklar Craig Russell lists ten things that Sklar taught him. Ch. 20 – Leaders make decisions. The answer is “yes!” What was the question? Can do! Be Optimistic. If you are not, who will be? No idea is a bad idea. Share ideas and experiences. The 4 Cs – curiosity, courage, confidence, consistency; confidence is key. |
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