James Warda, author of Where Are We Going So Fast?: Finding the Sacred in Everyday Moments, has written for the Chicago Tribune, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Pioneer Press, and has contributed to numerous Disney publications and sites includ- ing Celebrations magazine, Disney Magazine, and WDW Maga- zine. He is a speaker and workshop facilitator, a former adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago, and guest speaker for DePaul University of Chicago. A professional musician on the side, James has served in executive communication and mar- keting roles for several Fortune 100 companies, a national non- profit, and a number of advisory boards. Theron Skees, founder of The Designer's Creative Studio, is a former Walt Disney Imagineering creative executive with over 30 years of experience leading cross-functional teams in the themed entertainment industry for large-scale global projects. He is an international speaker, has presented for The Disney Institute, lectured for multiple organizations and universities, and is a workshop facilitator. He has guided a variety of com- panies, from pharmaceuticals and design firms to e-commerce and retail, in the art of story-based brand experience creation. Theron is a founding member of The World Experience Organi- zation (WXO) and sits on several advisory boards.
"""This very fun-to-read book is a heartfelt study of the science, creativity, and just plain hard work that makes Disney magic so uniquely potent. (As Arthur C. Clarke famously said, 'Magic's just science that we don't understand yet.') Anyone who has been swept away by Bambi, or Mary Poppins, or the Haunted Mansion, or whatever first 'got them into Disney' will enjoy this deep dive into Disney's creative process, told through the author's personal experience and interviews with Imagineers, themed entertainment designers, authors, and other Disney fans."" -The Walt Disney Birthplace ""In How Does Disney Do That? James Warda explores an important subject. You see, Walt Disney was many things: a film maker, a dreamer, an innovator, an idealist and a futurist, but perhaps his greatest title was that of ""storyteller."" Indeed, perhaps Disney was the greatest storyteller of the 20th century. Certainly, the company he created was an extension of his genius. Ultimately, it's through the storytellers, visionaries, and architects of today that we learn to draw the blueprints for tomorrow. Could there be any more important instruction manual than one that teaches us how to do just that?"" -Robert J. Sherman, chairman, Sherman Theatrical Entertainment, Ltd. and son of songwriter and Disney Legend Robert B. Sherman ""James Warda invites us to board the emotional roller coaster of Disney's enchanting universe, where every ride, every detail, is a testament to the power of imagination. With anecdotes that blend humor and sincerity, he peels back the layers of wonder and invites us to ask, 'How does Disney do that?' Strap in, hold tight, and prepare for a journey that will touch your heart and reignite your sense of awe."" -David A. Bossert, former producer and creative director, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and author of The House of the Future and The Nightmare Before Christmas Visual Companion ""If you ever wondered, 'How Does Disney Do That?, ' then you will enjoy this book by the same name. With it, James Warda has figured out what I have known for a long time. That Disney does it with a special kind of Magic. But it's not magic that makes Disney World work; it's the way we work that creates the magic. Magic is actually created when you perform so well that nobody can figure out how you did it."" -Lee Cockerell, former executive vice president at Walt Disney World Resort (retired & inspired) and author of Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life At Disney"