Source: Rebecca Ruggles, 816-716-9115, rebeccaruggles@hotmail.com
News release prepared by: Abby McCullough, 785-532-6415

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

K-STATE STUDENT INTERNS WITH WALT DISNEY IMAGINEERING IN PARIS

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's Rebecca Ruggles, a senior in interior architecture and French, Lee's Summit, Mo., spent this past summer interning with Walt Disney Imagineering in Paris.

"Imagineering is many things," Ruggles said. "Their goal is to turn a fantasy into reality." According to Disney's Web site, Imagineering is the master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production, project management and research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company and its affiliates. Representing more than 150 disciplines, its corps of Imagineers is responsible for the creation of Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions, hotels, water parks, real estate developments, regional entertainment venues, cruise ships and new media technology projects.

Ruggles said Imagineering not only includes architects but also lighting designers, graphic designers, engineers, painters, sculptors and special effects professionals.

Ruggles said she wanted to intern for Disney Imagineering after hearing a lecture by a K-State grad who had worked for Disney Imagineering.

"I contacted my adviser and asked for names of other K-State alumni who still work for Disney. Through them, I was able to get an interview and tour their offices in Florida and then they helped me get in contact with the Disney offices in Paris," Ruggles said.

She said she was in contact with Disney for more than a year before she was offered the internship. Ruggles was studying in Nancy, France, when Disney finally contacted her and asked her to work during summer 2004 following her spring studies in France.

"Disney builds new rides, hotels, and adds onto their parks all the time. I don't think people understand how much goes on behind the scenes," Ruggles said. "There is a team of Imagineers that works for years to build one new amusement feature. It is a never-ending process."

In addition, Ruggles said that to improve the park, the employees have to experience the rides like everyone else and have first-hand knowledge of what works and what doesn't. As part of the training process, she was able to spend half a day riding the amusement rides at Disneyland Paris.

"The types of projects were so different," she said. "The Disney philosophy is to enter another world. So, we were designing everything down to the last detail. Even the vending machines are not allowed to look like vending machines. That would not fit within the fantasy that they have created."

Ruggles said there are internships within all the areas under Imagineering. She said interns could also design toys, packaging and store windows.

Ruggles said her experience abroad allowed her to immerse herself in another culture and see things from a different perspective. She said the work environment was entirely different.

"For example, they only work 35 hours per week and they get a minimum of five weeks off for vacation," Ruggles said. "Work is not their No. 1 priority in life. That's reflected in how the work day is set up. You take a long lunch and you start off every day talking to everyone over coffee. Everyone works hard, but their job doesn't seem to take over their lives, like it does with many Americans.

"I really enjoyed my internship and I would love to work for them again," Ruggles said. "I would definitely recommend this internship to anyone who is curious about the Imagineering field. Even though it was a competitive internship, it was well worth it."

---

Kansas State University is a comprehensive, research, land-grant institution first serving students and the people of Kansas, and also the nation and the world.