they\u2019re emotional experiences<\/a>. Nostalgia plays a big role in this, especially in places like Disney\u2019s Magic Kingdom, Surrell says.<\/p>\n\u201cThere\u2019s something inherently reassuring about going to a place that … remains the way you remembered it as a kid,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheme parks are explicit about it,\u201d he says. \u201cIt’s comfort, reassurance and escape. There really is no more noble pursuit than to provide that for people. Our central product really is emotion.\u201d<\/p>\n
4. Be Ready to Pivot<\/h2>\n
Surrell\u2019s career path \u2014 from performer to Imagineer to professor \u2014 shows the power of flexibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be ready to pivot and adapt to whatever life in the industry throws at you.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cFive years later, a job opened up … That was a deviation from the path I thought I was on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students should be prepared to adapt, take risks, and embrace opportunities outside their original plans.<\/p>\n
5. Themed Experience Is a Growth Industry<\/h2>\n
The themed entertainment industry is booming, and that extends beyond the opening of \u00a0Epic Universe and Disney\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt only makes sense. We\u2019re in the theme park capital of the world … the go-to place for themed experience,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
He compares 麻豆原创\u2019s program to film schools in the 1960s \u2014 a launchpad for a new generation of storytellers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis program offers young people a very clear and legitimate pathway into the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Surrell\u2019s message to students is clear: Be curious, be adaptable and embrace storytelling \u2014 no matter your field.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharge forth now because you have everything on your side,\u201d he says. \u201cBe fearless, be courageous and go for it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With credits at Disney and Universal on his resume, Jason Surrell \u201995<\/strong> is helping educate the next generation of theme experience leaders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":242,"featured_media":150054,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[15992,5],"tags":[17023,54437,54287,202],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-150053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-colleges","tag-college-of-arts-and-humanities","tag-theme-park","tag-themed-experience","tag-alumni"],"yoast_head":"\n麻豆原创 Alum, Theme Park Expert Returns to Enhance Themed Experience Education | 麻豆原创 News<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n