“Storytelling is the bridge between awe and understanding—whether you’re in a theme park or a national park.”
This episode was a full-circle moment for me. I had the chance to bring my friend Bob Weis, former president of Walt Disney Imagineering, into a conversation with the park community. Bob’s legacy of storytelling through immersive experiences is known around the world, but what struck me was how much of that passion was rooted in his own childhood road trip through America’s national parks.
From the start of our conversation, Bob drew connections between the natural wonder of parks and the emotional experience they provide. He shares how Walt Disney instructed designers to simply walk around Disneyland weekly to observe, feel, and learn from visitors. That same principle applies to park rangers: observe how people recreate, how they reconnect, and how awe transforms them.
Bob didn’t just reflect on Disney. He offered a thoughtful critique of how park lodges could be elevated. More intentional storytelling, improved guest experience, even food and retail rooted in authenticity. His point was simple but powerful: our lodges are national treasures, and the experience they provide should reflect that.
My biggest takeaway? We’re in the same business. Parks – natural or themed – are about creating space for people to reconnect, be inspired, and walk away with a story. That’s something all of us in parks can lean into with pride.
Connect with Bob Weis
Order the book – Dream Chasing
Resources
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Notable Moments
01:05 – Bob’s national park road trip that shaped his worldview
05:24 – “Recreation” vs. “Re-creation”: the true power of parks
06:10 – Walt Disney’s advice: walk the park, observe the guests
08:41 – How Disney draws inspiration from national parks
12:19 – Gaps in concessionaire storytelling at national park lodges
14:51 – Bob’s advice for elevating the lodge experience
16:15 – Lessons from Kennedy Space Center concessions
20:39 – Making food and retail part of the park’s story
28:16 – Advice for up-and-coming park leaders
32:14 – Why rangers are just as iconic as Disney cast members