Themed Experiences Archives | University of Central Florida News Central Florida Research, Arts, Technology, Student Life and College News, Stories and More Tue, 17 Jun 2025 18:25:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/blogs.dir/20/files/2019/05/cropped-logo-150x150.png Themed Experiences Archives | University of Central Florida News 32 32 UCF Partners with Universal Creative to Inspire Next Generation of Themed Entertainment Leaders /news/ucf-partners-with-universal-creative-to-inspire-next-generation-of-themed-entertainment-leaders/ Wed, 06 Nov 2024 15:00:39 +0000 /news/?p=143829 Each semester, UCF students work on-site at Universal Orlando Resort, gaining first-hand experience in developing theme park rides and experiences, including the upcoming Universal Epic Universe.

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This summer, Universal Creative gave 16 students from the University of Central Florida (UCF) a behind-the-scenes look at creating a world-class theme park as part of the . First introduced in 2023, this is the first-ever themed experiences program offered anywhere. Its unique immersive learning experience allows students to gain insight directly from the industry 麻豆精品 S檚 top professionals.

Universal Creative is responsible for bringing to life the most relevant stories and popular characters through innovative attractions, immersive destinations and more at Universal Destinations & Experiences locations around the world.

Each semester, students join the Universal Creative team on-site at Universal Orlando Resort, where they learn first-hand what it takes to develop theme park rides and experiences, including the upcoming new Universal Epic Universe theme park.

Universal Creative Team Members also participate as speakers and as part of panel sessions where they share their areas of expertise. These focus areas include storytelling, design, engineering and safety, legal, budgeting, business analytics and other key skills needed when creating an attraction. Over 90 speakers from Universal Creative have participated since the program 麻豆精品 S檚 inception.

麻豆精品 S淯niversal has gone above and beyond what I had originally proposed for the class, 麻豆精品 S says Peter Weishar, founding director of . 麻豆精品 S淭hey 麻豆精品 S檙e showing us projects in progress like Epic Universe. They 麻豆精品 S檙e talking to us transparently about challenges they had and things they would have done differently. That kind of access is invaluable. 麻豆精品 S

麻豆精品 S淥ne of the benefits of the program being in Central Florida is that this is the epicenter for themed entertainment, 麻豆精品 S says Chris Oliver, vice president of engineering and safety for Universal Creative. 麻豆精品 S淭he students are learning from those who are creating the future of this rapidly growing industry. We try and show them everything that 麻豆精品 S檚 involved in creating and building attractions, to get holistic exposure from ideation to completion. 麻豆精品 S

Male stands in front of a TV delivering a presentation to a panel of Universal Creative leaders
Students present their original design concepts to a panel of Universal Creative leaders, gaining valuable feedback on their creativity, project design, management and presentation skills. (Photo courtesy of Universal Creative)

At the end of each semester, students have the unique opportunity to present their original design concepts to a panel of Universal Creative leaders. The students receive productive critiques of their creative thinking, project design, management and presentation skills.

麻豆精品 S淚 have a better understanding of how rides are designed [and] how theme parks are created, 麻豆精品 S says Christopher Harris, a current engineering student in the class. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e gained so much knowledge and connections. To be able to talk to Chris Oliver and all the other professionals 麻豆精品 S I think that 麻豆精品 S檚 the best part of this class. 麻豆精品 S

“[Universal Creative has] brought in 聽professionals [with] 30 years experience. The exposure to those professionals is incredible.” 麻豆精品 S Karlyn Leander, themed experiences student and Universal Creative intern

Throughout the course, students meet with esteemed Universal Creative professionals from all different backgrounds and disciplines at Universal, such as engineering, operations, guest experience, ride design, finance and more. Many students 麻豆精品 S including Karlyn Leander, a current themed experiences student and intern with Universal Creative 麻豆精品 S say the networking opportunities are one of the top benefits of the class.

麻豆精品 S淯niversal is investing in this program 麻豆精品 S training a new generation and finding a place for us, 麻豆精品 S Leander says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey 麻豆精品 S檝e brought in professionals that have 30 years of experience creating theme parks all over the world. The exposure to those professionals is incredible. It 麻豆精品 S檚 an industry of mentorship. 麻豆精品 S

Since UCF Creative Lab launched in Spring 2023, Universal has hired almost 40% of students who have participated in the class. Leander is one of those students. Through this program and partnership with UCF, Universal Creative strives to promote knowledge of careers in themed entertainment and inspire students who may not have originally considered it as a potential career path.

麻豆精品 S淲hen [students] start this program, they start to see it as an aspirational goal to work at [Universal Creative], 麻豆精品 S Weishar says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 one of those classes that really confirms your passion for what you want to do for the rest of your life. 麻豆精品 S

The Creative Lab is offered through the themed experiences program in the UCF College of Arts and Humanities. Two courses are currently offered annually: a graduate-level spring course and a six-week summer course open to graduate and upper-level undergraduate students from any accredited college or university.

And there’s a plan to broaden the concept and expand the program into additional disciplines.

麻豆精品 S淭his is the start of something bigger. I look forward to seeing it grow and exposing more students to what we do, 麻豆精品 S Oliver says. 麻豆精品 S淚t is important to all of us at Universal Creative who are involved in this program to teach the next generation what we do, and have what we built here continue on. 麻豆精品 S

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2024 Universal Creative Lab presentations
One Knight’s Journey to Walt Disney Imagineering /news/one-knights-journey-to-walt-disney-imagineering/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 17:24:30 +0000 /news/?p=143673 Corey Clancy 麻豆精品 S21 shares how his journey at UCF prepared him for his role as a project coordinator for Walt Disney Imagineering and his work on the new Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure ride.

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The stories of alumni are a constant reminder of the power of dreams and hard work. Few journeys embody that spirit more than Corey Clancy 麻豆精品 S21 麻豆精品 S檚, whose path from Rosen College classrooms to Walt Disney Imagineering is one fueled by imagination, determination and a little bit of magic. His most recent achievement 麻豆精品 S the completion of Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure 麻豆精品 S highlights not only his success but also the unique relationship between Rosen College and Disney that allows dreams like his to come true.

A Dream Begins at Rosen College

Corey 麻豆精品 S檚 fascination with Disney started long before his time at Rosen, but it was at the college that his dream took shape and found direction.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e always been obsessed with Disney 麻豆精品 S檚 ability to tell stories that transport people to another world, 麻豆精品 S Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know how to turn that fascination into a career until I came to Rosen. 麻豆精品 S

麻豆精品 S淚 didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know how to turn that fascination [with Disney’s storytelling] into a career until I came to Rosen.” 麻豆精品 S Corey Clancy 麻豆精品 S21, project coordinator for Walt Disney Imagineering

Graduating with a degree in entertainment management, a minor in theatre studies, and a certificate in theme park and attraction management, Clancy 麻豆精品 S檚 academic excellence was undeniable. But his commitment extended far beyond the classroom. Clancy was heavily involved in UCF’s Burnett Honors College, served on the Rosen College Leadership Council, was an undergraduate admissions student ambassador and participated in numerous student organizations while also volunteering outside of school.

His hard work and dedication didn 麻豆精品 S檛 go unnoticed. Clancy earned multiple scholarships, including the Harris Rosen Scholarship, and culminated his undergraduate achievements by receiving the Order of Pegasus, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 highest student honor. After graduation, Clancy was accepted into the themed experience track of the MFA in theatre program, where he is currently continuing his studies.

Like many Rosen College students, Clancy got his start working in the parks at Walt Disney World Resort.

麻豆精品 S淚 worked as a quick service food and beverage cast member, a safari driver at Kilimanjaro Safaris, and even sold balloons in the parks, 麻豆精品 S he says with a laugh. 麻豆精品 S淭hose roles taught me more than I could have imagined about creating moments of joy for guests. 麻豆精品 S

What sets Rosen College apart is its deep connection to Walt Disney World Resort, the top employer of Rosen students. With Disney Day events and direct pathways into internships, Rosen College students like Corey have a unique window into the world of Disney. 麻豆精品 S淲orking at Disney while studying at Rosen gave me a perspective that I couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 get anywhere else, 麻豆精品 S Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淚 wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 just learning about hospitality in theory 麻豆精品 S I was living it, every day. 麻豆精品 S

But the real turning point for Clancy came in the classroom, where he found the tools and mentorship to chart his course toward Walt Disney Imagineering.

麻豆精品 S淐lasses like Theme Park and Attraction Management and Leading in the Entertainment Industry were pivotal for me, 麻豆精品 S Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey didn 麻豆精品 S檛 just teach me technical skills; they helped me figure out what kind of leader I wanted to be and how to turn my passion for themed entertainment into something tangible. 麻豆精品 S

Bringing Hospitality to Themed Entertainment

The lessons Clancy learned at Rosen College went far beyond textbooks and tests.

“At Rosen, I learned that hospitality is about more than just service 麻豆精品 S it 麻豆精品 S檚 about people,” Clancy reflects. “That 麻豆精品 S檚 something I 麻豆精品 S檝e carried with me into every role I 麻豆精品 S檝e had at Disney. Whether I 麻豆精品 S檓 working on a small project or something as big as Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure, I always keep the human connection at the forefront.”

Clancy 麻豆精品 S檚 time at Rosen was filled with experiences that mirrored the collaborative nature of Walt Disney Imagineering. “Those group projects taught me how to lead, how to collaborate, and how to pivot when things didn 麻豆精品 S檛 go as planned 麻豆精品 S all skills I use every day at Disney,” Clancy says. “Rosen really prepared me for the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of Imagineering.”

“At Rosen, I learned that hospitality is about more than just service 麻豆精品 S it 麻豆精品 S檚 about people,” Corey Clancy 麻豆精品 S21, project coordinator for Walt Disney Imagineering

His professors played a significant role in his development, with Dr. Carissa Baker particularly recalling his blend of enthusiasm and drive.

“[Clancy] has always been immensely enthusiastic about the industry, but he combined that with strong motivation to achieve,” she says. “He is bright and inquisitive, really wanting to delve into industry topics to thoroughly understand them. Clancy is also conscientious and has a positive personality, making it easy to want to collaborate with him. He exemplifies our hospitality core.”

Baker, an assistant professor of theme park and attraction management at Rosen College who also sits on Clancy 麻豆精品 S檚 thesis committee, expressed her excitement for Clancy 麻豆精品 S檚 role in Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure. “He has always been passionate about The Princess and the Frog, and to see him tasked with this project was amazing. He is an emerging leader in the industry, and I cannot wait to see what he accomplishes next,” she adds.

Bringing Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure to Life

For Clancy, Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure was more than just a job 麻豆精品 S it was a deeply personal project.

麻豆精品 S淧rincess Tiana has always been my favorite Disney character, 麻豆精品 S Clancy says with a smile. 麻豆精品 S淗er story of resilience and hard work has always resonated with me, so when I found out I 麻豆精品 S檇 be working on her attraction, it felt like everything had come full circle. 麻豆精品 S

a man wearing a Rosen College shirt standing in front of Walt Disney World's Bayou Adventure
Corey Clancy 麻豆精品 S21

As a project coordinator, Clancy played a crucial role in bringing the reimagined attraction to life, overseeing the installation of cutting-edge technology, including brand-new Audio-Animatronics figures.

The attraction immerses guests in Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 world after the events of The Princess and the Frog, showing her expansion into Tiana’s Foods, where visitors can explore her vibrant gardens and the artistic touches she brings to the bayou. Guests even become part of her Mardi Gras celebration, helping to find the missing band for the party. The audio-animatronic figures, including new critters and familiar faces, showcase some of the most advanced technology ever seen at a Disney attraction.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 not an engineer, but Rosen taught me how to ask the right questions and collaborate with the technical teams, 麻豆精品 S Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淭he project was a massive team effort, and my job was to keep the communication flowing between all the different departments. 麻豆精品 S

麻豆精品 S淸Clancy] always brought enthusiasm and energy to any project, 麻豆精品 S adds Jessica Richards, associate instructor in the events management program. 麻豆精品 S淗e is a great example of the values we hold at Rosen 麻豆精品 S professionalism, leadership, and service. 麻豆精品 S

One of the highlights for Clancy was seeing how the attraction represented a new era for Disney.

麻豆精品 S淭his ride is about more than just fun 麻豆精品 S it 麻豆精品 S檚 about representation, 麻豆精品 S Clancy says proudly. 麻豆精品 S淭iana 麻豆精品 S檚 story brings a new voice and new experiences to the parks, and I 麻豆精品 S檓 honored to have been part of something that helps more guests feel seen and celebrated. 麻豆精品 S

The attraction opened in June 2024 to widespread excitement, and for Clancy, it 麻豆精品 S檚 a career milestone he 麻豆精品 S檒l always cherish.

麻豆精品 S淲orking on Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure has been the highlight of my career so far, 麻豆精品 S he reflects. 麻豆精品 S淏eing part of something that has such a lasting impact on people is what I 麻豆精品 S檝e always dreamed of. 麻豆精品 S

Guiding Future Disney Leaders

Clancy 麻豆精品 S檚 path from Rosen College to Walt Disney Imagineering wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 just built on passion 麻豆精品 S攊 t was built on taking advantage of every opportunity that came his way.

麻豆精品 S淚nternships were critical, 麻豆精品 S Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淲ithout my professional internship at Walt Disney Imagineering, I wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 be where I am today, 麻豆精品 S he says. 麻豆精品 S淢y advice to current students is to apply for every opportunity, and don 麻豆精品 S檛 be afraid to step out of your comfort zone 麻豆精品 S you never know what skills you 麻豆精品 S檒l pick up that could help you later on. 麻豆精品 S

麻豆精品 S淭he relationship between Rosen and Disney is invaluable. It 麻豆精品 S檚 what made my career possible. 麻豆精品 S 麻豆精品 S Corey Clancy 麻豆精品 S21, project 聽coordinator聽for Walt Disney Imagineering

Rosen College 麻豆精品 S檚 deep connection to Disney opens doors that other institutions simply can 麻豆精品 S檛. Events like Disney Day bring Disney leaders to campus, giving students direct access to potential mentors and future employers. 麻豆精品 S淭he relationship between Rosen and Disney is invaluable, 麻豆精品 S Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 what made my career possible, and I know it 麻豆精品 S檚 helping so many other students achieve their dreams, too. 麻豆精品 S

Corey 麻豆精品 S檚 work on Tiana 麻豆精品 S檚 Bayou Adventure is just one chapter in what promises to be a long and exciting career. His journey from Rosen College to Disney is proof that with the right education, opportunities and a little bit of imagination, dreams really do come true.

As Corey looks to the future, he 麻豆精品 S檚 excited about what lies ahead, both for himself and for the field of themed entertainment.

麻豆精品 S淲e create experiences that allow guests to escape, to leave the real world behind for a little while and just have fun, 麻豆精品 S Clancy says. 麻豆精品 S淭o know that I 麻豆精品 S檓 part of that process is incredibly rewarding. I can 麻豆精品 S檛 wait to see what we can accomplish next. 麻豆精品 S

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Director of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Themed Experience Programs Wins a 2022 TEA Award /news/director-of-ucfs-themed-experience-programs-wins-a-2022-tea-award/ Mon, 21 Nov 2022 15:22:44 +0000 /news/?p=132584 Peter Weishar received a Peter Chernak Distinguished Service Award from the Themed Entertainment Association, considered to be one of the greatest honors in the themed experience industry.

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Peter Weishar, director of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 , received a Peter Chernak Distinguished Service Award from the Themed Entertainment Association () for his educational and volunteer service to the themed experience industry. Weishar is one of 20 recipients from around the world to receive a 29th annual award from the TEA, announced on Nov. 15 at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo in Orlando. This is the first time the organization has recognized an academic with a TEA award.

The TEA is an international nonprofit association representing the world’s leading creators of compelling places and experiences. Receiving this award from the TEA is considered one of the highest honors in the themed experience industry. Hundreds of international companies, individuals and attractions are judged each year against the industry 麻豆精品 S檚 highest standards of achievement.

The Peter Chernak Distinguished Service Award honors exceptional volunteer service to the TEA. According to an announcement from the TEA, Weishar was given the award for 麻豆精品 S渉is exceptional promotion of our themed entertainment industry through education, program development and support of our TEA NextGen members. 麻豆精品 S

Apart from his many years of service to the TEA, Weishar believes the award affirms the impact of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experience programs on the industry.

麻豆精品 S淚 share this recognition with all of the individuals at UCF that have partnered and supported the Themed Experience programs and our students, 麻豆精品 S Weishar says. 麻豆精品 S淲hile the award is for many years of service, I believe it was given now due to the tremendous impact being made on industry by the programs at UCF. 麻豆精品 S

Since 2018, Weishar has helped to establish UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experience MS and MFA degrees as the first聽 program of its kind at a public university. The themed experience program focuses on giving students hands-on industry experience through partnerships with industry leaders like Universal Creative and Meow Wolf. Through involvement with TEA 麻豆精品 S檚 NextGen Initiative, students also connect with industry recruiters and professional development programs.

麻豆精品 S淭he TEA is an incredible organization that brings a great deal of value to my students and me. Through its NextGen initiative, events, conferences and Summit, the TEA connects our aspiring professionals with industry leaders, 麻豆精品 S Weishar says. 麻豆精品 S淚t is quite an honor to be recognized by industry for the work we do at UCF. 麻豆精品 S

Weishar continues to pave the way for the next generation of leaders in the themed experience industry. On Tuesday, Nov. 22, Weishar will host a themed experience graduate program info session for those interested in enrolling in the program.

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UCF, Universal Creative Launch 麻豆精品 S楥reative Lab 麻豆精品 S to Bring Immersive Design Learning to Students /news/ucf-universal-creative-launch-creative-lab-to-bring-immersive-design-learning-to-students/ Wed, 19 Oct 2022 13:30:19 +0000 /news/?p=131829 The lab offers unique blend of classroom and on-site learning from some of the most creative minds in the industry and builds on long-term relationship between the two organizations.

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Universal Creative, the team that designs, develops, and delivers attractions, shows, hotels, restaurants, and resorts across the globe for Universal Parks & Resorts, has selected UCF as a preferred partner for .

Called the UCF/Universal Creative Lab, the offering provides students with specially designed coursework and on-site sessions at Universal Orlando Resort, a unique vacation destination that has been creating epic vacations for the entire family and experiences that place guests in the heart of powerful stories and adventures. Class members will also have opportunities to interact with Universal show producers, engineers, creative directors, executives, and other industry professionals with the goal of providing students with an in-depth look at the design and development process.

麻豆精品 S淧eople love the energy and thrill of experiencing epic stories and exhilarating adventures and Universal is an incredible place to build a career, 麻豆精品 S says Mike Hightower, president, Universal Creative. 麻豆精品 S淭he Creative Lab with UCF gives students immersive, hands-on, real-world experience through instruction from our talented team. This kind of learning is great for UCF students, great for our theme parks and entertainment and great for Universal Creative as we help grow and inspire the next generation of creators. 麻豆精品 S

Further, the UCF/Universal Creative lab will help prospective theme park attraction designers and storytellers learn the skills and build the relationships needed to explore career opportunities while giving employers like Universal Parks & Resorts the opportunity to help shape real-world training programs that develop prospective talent.

麻豆精品 S淯niversal Parks & Resorts has closely collaborated with UCF for many years, providing learning opportunities for students and faculty, 麻豆精品 S says John Sprouls, executive vice president and chief administration officer at Universal Parks & Resorts. 麻豆精品 S淭he Creative Lab is a natural next-step, and we are proud to support the next generation of themed entertainment innovators. 麻豆精品 S

UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experience program 麻豆精品 S which includes an Master of Science degree and a theatre MFA with a track in the specialty 麻豆精品 S began in 2019 to meet the growing demand for creating experiences across the tourism, hospitality and events industry in Orlando and beyond. Themed entertainment experiences extend beyond the theme parks 麻豆精品 S to hotels, restaurants, retail establishments and even venues like zoos and museums. UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 first cohort of themed experience graduates completed their studies this spring, and quickly found themselves in an in-demand, rapidly growing industry in Central Florida before they even crossed the commencement stage. This fall, 62 students are enrolled in the two programs.

麻豆精品 S淥rlando is the international hub of the themed entertainment industry,” says Peter Weishar, founding director of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experience program. 麻豆精品 S淲orld-leading organizations, like Universal Creative, are right here at our doorstep. We know our students need first-hand knowledge of the cutting-edge innovation and industry best practices to become the next generation of themed entertainment. We are grateful Universal Creative shares that vision. 麻豆精品 S Weishar has more than 20 years of experience leading academic programs and has held a variety of roles within the industry.

The first class will be offered to graduate students enrolled in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experience program. A second class will take place in Summer 2023 and be open to graduate and upperclass students from any accredited college or university. Students will split time between trips to Universal Orlando and on-campus workshops focused on developing original themed designs.

The partnership also comes with some scholarships opportunities to defray tuition costs that are designed to attract new students and talent to the field.

麻豆精品 S淭his partnership will provide incredible opportunities for students, 麻豆精品 S says Jeff Moore, dean of the UCF College of Arts and Humanities. 麻豆精品 S淪tudents from academic programs around the university have benefited from interning or working at Universal over the years. This new collaboration ensures that these opportunities are open to a range of aspiring professionals in an in-demand industry. 麻豆精品 S

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Makers of the Next New Worlds: UCF’s First Themed Experience Cohort Graduates /news/makers-of-the-next-new-worlds-ucfs-first-themed-experience-cohort-graduates/ Fri, 06 May 2022 18:21:37 +0000 /news/?p=128398 The first graduating class from UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 themed experience track in the theatre Master of Fine Arts program is prepared to create lands and parks that we can only imagine.

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Commencement weekend. Some UCF graduates will head into backyards to celebrate with family and friends. Some will board planes to take long-awaited escapes. But eleven graduates will travel across Orlando to Universal Studios, which for them is a bridge from the completion of their master 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees into a world beyond school 麻豆精品 S and maybe beyond reality.

麻豆精品 S淚t makes perfect sense for this group, 麻豆精品 S says Alex Marcello 麻豆精品 S14 of the entire cohort from UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 inaugural themed experience track, which happens to be the only program of its kind accredited by the National Association of Schools Theater. 麻豆精品 S淲e entered the program so we can design theme parks and bring stories to life for people just like us. 麻豆精品 S

You 麻豆精品 S檇 think Marcello had all the perspective she needed before joining the program in 2019. She already worked at Universal, first as a show coordinator and then as assistant manager of intellectual property. It 麻豆精品 S檚 natural to wonder if an untested master 麻豆精品 S檚 track would be worth her time.

麻豆精品 S淚f I could go back three years and show myself the portfolio I 麻豆精品 S檝e built through this program, it would blow my mind, 麻豆精品 S she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 had no idea of the possibilities it would open to us. 麻豆精品 S

Marcello 麻豆精品 S檚 classmate, Jordan Zauha, echoes her wonder. 麻豆精品 S淭he program gave me exactly what I needed: a new beginning. 麻豆精品 S

From Cornfields to the Big Apple to UCF

Zauha grew up in the heartland of Nebraska. His high school senior class totaled 41 students. He studied musical theater at Nebraska Wesleyan, which provided him the opportunity to perform in 25 stage productions while earning a degree.

麻豆精品 SGlee was a thing at the time, 麻豆精品 S says Zauha, who turns 30 in July, 麻豆精品 S渁nd Broadway was the goal for anyone in theater. 麻豆精品 S

Jordan Zauha (Photo by Carly Hollowell ’14 ’20MS)

Ten days after accepting his diploma, Zauha moved to New York. He worked in restaurants, stood in line for auditions as early as 5:45 a.m., and tried to make the story he imagined come to life. It didn 麻豆精品 S檛 take long for him to go broke.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 the reality for a lot of young adults who love theater and chase the dream, 麻豆精品 S he says. 麻豆精品 S淎 friend of mine said it best: 麻豆精品 S楴ew York is not what we imagined. This is not a city where experimenting will go well for us. 麻豆精品 S I began to question the entertainment industry and whether I 麻豆精品 S檇 ever have a place in it. 麻豆精品 S

Zauha did some research and saw that regional markets were open to new ideas, new art, and new people. Orlando was one of those places. He 麻豆精品 S檇 been to Orlando as a seven-year-old when his dad took him and his grandmother to Disney World. He vividly remembers entering the gates, walking down Main Street, and believing he 麻豆精品 S檇 truly entered a different world. When he asked how it could all be possible, his dad said, 麻豆精品 S淧eople created this. 麻豆精品 S

麻豆精品 S淲hen he said that, I started thinking about a group of people creating this living story for others to enjoy, 麻豆精品 S he says. 麻豆精品 S淎fter I moved to Orlando almost 20 years later, certain moments triggered that memory. 麻豆精品 S

The most important moment happened while Zauha helped a customer in a clothing store where he worked. The man 麻豆精品 S檚 shirt depicting Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas and his Disney Visa card became the conversation starters. The man said his name was Peter Weishar and that he was about to start a new master 麻豆精品 S檚 program at UCF in themed experience.

“The … Themed Experience (program) was designed to educate and train the next generation of creative leaders in the themed entertainment industry,” says Weishar, a professor and director of UCF’s themed experience graduate programs. “Themed experience is more than theme parks. It is utilized in exhibitions, museums, zoos, retail, dining, libraries and can be applied to almost any compelling space designed to convey a story. There could not be a better fit for this program than at UCF, located in the heart of the themed entertainment industry.”

From the very first week, students rethought whatever they believed about theme parks. Adjunct faculty shared stories about the nuances of design, the creative processes that few people will ever know about, and the people required to turn fiction an actual experience.

麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 also a rule of thumb, 麻豆精品 S Zauha says, 麻豆精品 S渢hat if you want to create themed places, then you have to immerse yourself in them yourself. 麻豆精品 S

He took a notebook whenever the class went to food truck gatherings or themed restaurants or the parks. He 麻豆精品 S檇 write about facades and architecture 麻豆精品 S the subtleties that opened his eyes wide as a 5-year-old, but later faded into the periphery of his tunnel vision to be an entertainer. The idea of actually creating an immersive narrative like a Harry Potter Experience or Super Nintendo World electrified him.

麻豆精品 S淭he program has given me assurances that there 麻豆精品 S檚 a place for me in this industry, 麻豆精品 S says Zauha, who already has multiple job offers. 麻豆精品 S淚 have a peace about my future that I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 have three years ago. 麻豆精品 S

Creating the Rest of Her Life

Marcello has always wanted what so many kids and grown-ups want: to make pretend places come to life. Growing up, she and her friends played the The Legend of Zelda and fantasized what it might be like in a real-life theme park.

麻豆精品 S淚t was a dream of mine to explore Hyrule in real life, 麻豆精品 S Marcello says. 麻豆精品 S淚 still wish it existed. 麻豆精品 S

She developed a talent for art and hoped one day to build a career around it. After earning a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree from UCF in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on art administration, Marcello landed a job at Universal Creative.

Alex Marcello ’14 (Photo courtesy of Alex Marcello ’14)

麻豆精品 S淚 had no idea I 麻豆精品 S檇 fall in love with the industry and the collaborative environment, 麻豆精品 S she says. Marcello worked with a team that helped build Universal Beijing and she could see a clear career path in creative project management. But something kept tugging at her.

She 麻豆精品 S檇 always known she was an artist. Deep down she wanted to be the one who started with an empty blue sky, sketched out concepts, painted props and facades and made it possible for people to spend an entire day in an imaginary place. To do that, she needed to learn from people who have done it and she needed to build a portfolio.

麻豆精品 S淭he themed experience program came along at just the right time and place, 麻豆精品 S Marcello says. 麻豆精品 S淧eter has the credentials. The vendors who do a lot of the art are right here. We toured private creative studios that work directly with the parks, companies that are crucial in the process but that we wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 know existed if we hadn 麻豆精品 S檛 seen them for ourselves. 麻豆精品 S

In the coming months, Marcello, Zauha, and the rest of the first themed experience cohort will begin to weave their childhood imaginations into actual experiences for future theme-park guests. 麻豆精品 S淚t isn 麻豆精品 S檛 as impossible as we once thought, 麻豆精品 S Marcello says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut for now, we 麻豆精品 S檙e just going to enjoy a weekend at the park. 麻豆精品 S

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UCF_Themed Experience_Jordan Zahua Jordan Zahua (Photo by Carly Hollowell '14 '20MS) UCF_Themed Experience_Alex Marcello Alex Marcello '14 (Photo courtesy of Alex Marcello '14)