Jason Surrell 鈥�95 has spent decades shaping the stories behind some of the world鈥檚 most iconic theme park attractions. His credits include the Thea Award-winning Jurassic World Adventure, Halloween Horror Nights and Universal Epic Universe. He鈥檚 also contributed to Walt Disney World Resort鈥檚 Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor and enhancements to the Haunted Mansion.聽Now, the interdisciplinary studies alum returned to 麻豆原创 to share his storytelling expertise with students in the themed experience program.
We sat down with Surrell to talk about what storytelling means today 鈥� not just for theme parks, but for anyone looking to make an impact. Here are five insights he believes every student should know.
1. Storytelling Is a Universal Skill
Whether you’re designing a ride, writing a research paper or helping a patient, storytelling matters. It is how we connect, communicate and create meaning.
鈥淩egardless of your discipline …聽 we’re all storytellers,鈥� Surrell says. And it is particularly important in today鈥檚 entertainment options: 鈥淭he thing that separates theme parks from amusement parks is stories.鈥�
He encourages students to understand classic story structures, like the hero鈥檚 journey, because they help us make sense of life.
鈥淚鈥檝e mapped my own personal and professional life to the hero鈥檚 journey 鈥� and I鈥檒l be damned if it doesn鈥檛 work,鈥� he says.
2. Curiosity Is Your Superpower
Surrell believes curiosity is essential, not just for creatives but for anyone who wants to innovate.
鈥淵ou need to be a student of life. You need to be curious about everything, because you never know what’s going to come into play in this field.鈥�
While working on Disney鈥檚 Pal Mickey, Surrell had to learn about unfamiliar subjects to write dialogue for the interactive toy. It was a challenge that pushed him outside his comfort zone and led to the creation of a toy that entertained and educated guests at the parks, including Animal Kingdom.
鈥淎ll of a sudden I’m a zoologist聽 … literally having to learn about ring-tailed lemurs,鈥� he says.
3. Comfort, Reassurance and Escape Are Human Needs
Theme parks aren鈥檛 just entertainment 鈥� they鈥檙e emotional experiences. Nostalgia plays a big role in this, especially in places like Disney鈥檚 Magic Kingdom, Surrell says.
鈥淭here鈥檚 something inherently reassuring about going to a place that … remains the way you remembered it as a kid,鈥� he says.
He sees themed entertainment as a noble pursuit, one that supports mental and emotional well-being, which became very apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淭heme parks are explicit about it,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t’s comfort, reassurance and escape. There really is no more noble pursuit than to provide that for people. Our central product really is emotion.鈥�
4. Be Ready to Pivot
Surrell鈥檚 career path 鈥� from performer to Imagineer to professor 鈥� shows the power of flexibility.
鈥淵ou have to be ready to pivot and adapt to whatever life in the industry throws at you.鈥�
He shares how a mentor once advised him to gain more experience before applying to Disney. That advice led him to Universal, and eventually back to Disney.
鈥淔ive years later, a job opened up … That was a deviation from the path I thought I was on.鈥�
Students should be prepared to adapt, take risks, and embrace opportunities outside their original plans.
5. Themed Experience Is a Growth Industry
The themed entertainment industry is booming, and that extends beyond the opening of 聽Epic Universe and Disney鈥檚 expansions. Themed experience can be found everywhere now, including restaurants, hotels, libraries, cruise ships, hospitals, museums and retail. Surrell sees 麻豆原创 as the ideal place to study this field.
鈥淚t only makes sense. We鈥檙e in the theme park capital of the world … the go-to place for themed experience,鈥� he says.
He compares 麻豆原创鈥檚 program to film schools in the 1960s 鈥� a launchpad for a new generation of storytellers.
鈥淭his program offers young people a very clear and legitimate pathway into the industry.鈥�
Surrell鈥檚 message to students is clear: Be curious, be adaptable and embrace storytelling 鈥� no matter your field.
鈥淐harge forth now because you have everything on your side,鈥� he says. 鈥淏e fearless, be courageous and go for it.鈥�
