Disney Institute on Map begs Question

[mark]

Hi Everyone,

After I posted the map from Disney News 1997 of WDW on my blog, I saw the Disney Institute, and it made me wonder: do you think we will ever see the likes of an Institute type experience again? I would have liked to experience some of the classes but never got the chance. Did any of you?

Mark

[disneytim]

The Disney Institute still exists, but not as a vacation experience anymore. Now, it's strictly leadership and customer service training for employers and businesses.

www.disneyinstitute.com

[mark]

Learn something new everyday! Thanks!

[MJMcB]

Originally Posted by mark

Hi Everyone,

After I posted the map from Disney News 1997 of WDW on my blog, I saw the Disney Institute, and it made me wonder: do you think we will ever see the likes of an Institute type experience again? I would have liked to experience some of the classes but never got the chance. Did any of you?

Mark

Nah. The idea was not a very good one, frankly. I know some people would enjoy it and thats great. But as I said in another thread, the number of people who would use time and money during their expensive Disney vacation to take classes was extremely limited. I doubt they would ever try it again

[Parisi]

I tried the studio production class... it was cool (I was really into tv production back when I was in college) but not something I would have done again.

But like others have said, for people to drop over $1k on a vacation (at least back then) to go spend it in a classroom, didnt make any sense. I can see why they got rid of it.

Now what I do miss is River Country

[nbodyhome]

I LOVED the Disney Institute! I think it was a great idea, but a location a little bit too off the beaten path for many guests. Plus, I don't think it was marketed well. I know I did an animation class, and I believe a cooking class (or two) as well.

[MJMcB]

Originally Posted by nbodyhome

I LOVED the Disney Institute! I think it was a great idea, but a location a little bit too off the beaten path for many guests. Plus, I don't think it was marketed well. I know I did an animation class, and I believe a cooking class (or two) as well.

But you live in the area, and I could see that those classes would be appealing. But this had very limited appeal to those guests who were there for a week of touring

[danyoung]

I've always thought that it was a great idea in the wrong spot. As others have said, people come to Disney to relax, park storm, eat and generally shut off the brain. There were many classes and concerts that I would have enjoyed, but I was not willing to take away from my park time to experience them.

[halltd]

I'm with Denise on this one. I loved the Institute. I took many classes there. This was also when I lived in Ohio so all the classes were done during vacation. I love learning new things though, so that's why I loved it so much.

[seenoevil]

I loved the Institute too. My son and I took a couple of classes there. This was on our first trip to WDW and we were really looking forward to it. He was about 13 at the time and I HAD to take the classes with him because of his age. We took the computer animation class with about 10 -12 other people and then we took the clay animation class and it was just the two of us! What a great experience to have the instructor and equipment all to ourselves. Afterwards, I was really glad they MADE me take the classes, it was such a great way to spend time with my son.

[jgmklmhem]

I also had a good time at DI. I went when I was in highschool. I actually did not go to the parks one or two days that the rest of my family did just so I could take some of the classes. I remember taking radio, tv news production, animation, rock climbing, and theater make-up. This was all on one trip. Now I still went to the parks at night on those days of class.