Part Two: How Disney used psychology to become the happiest place on Earth

What this episode covers

In 1954, Walt Disney did something a little crazy. A successful filmmaker, he took a break from the movies and decided to create a theme park. Disney bought 160 acres in rural Anaheim, California, and started building Disneyland. Walt Disney had some ambitious ideas, so he assembled a team of “creative engineers” — called Imagineers — to get it done. While creating Disneyland (and later Disney World), the Imagineers developed a playbook for creating magical but effective customer experiences. Crystallized as “Mickey’s 10 Commandments” by Imagineer Marty Sklar, they’re a cheat sheet for creating a brand that people obsess over. But these principles aren’t just best practice — their effectiveness is also due to the psychological principles underlying each. Join me today for the second part of a two-part series, where I explore some of the many ways DISNEY used psychology and behavioral science - consciously or not - to become the happiest place on Earth.