4. DisneyQuest

DisneyQuest is technically a theme park, referred to as an “indoor interactive” one, but it's very different to Disney's other parks. The first one built was a five-story, windowless building located in Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World Resort that focused on virtual reality rides and high-tech video games, meant to be a wave of “futuristic” Disney theme parks. Highlights included The Wonderland Cafe, home to the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, and an Aladdin-themed attraction featuring Genie, the unofficial mascot of DisneyQuest.

DisneyQuest was designed as a way for Disney attractions to reach people who couldn’t travel to its main theme parks like Disneyland, Disney World, et al. The second DisneyQuest was built in Chicago, but quickly closed due to low attendance. DisneyQuests planned for cities like Philadelphia and Toronto were subsequently cancelled. The original DisneyQuest is still going, but not necessarily going strong. Because it’s a lower-profit project, the fifteen year-old building has seen better days. It’s still worth exploring, though, especially as a piece of Imagineering history.

5. ABC Times Square Studios

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Conceived by Harry Grossman, former senior VP and general manager of corporate operations and real estate at Disney, ABC Times Square Studios was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering to broadcast a number of programs 24 hours a day that came from Disney and other media companies. It’s used for ESPN, marking another contribution the Imagineers have made to sports history, as well as the historic ABC News. Ongoing productions at ABC Times Square Studios include Good Morning America, Good Afternoon America, Nightline and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin’ Eve.

6. Anaheim Stadium

Another major addition to the sports scene made by Walt Disney Imagineering was Anaheim Stadium. In 1997, The Walt Disney Company took control of the baseball team the California Angels and renamed them the Anaheim Angels. The Imagineers played a big part in the renovation of Anaheim Stadium, which cost a fairly staggering $118 million. The City of Anaheim contributed $30 million, though, in exchange for the city included in the team and stadium names.

The Angels were eventually sold to businessman Arturo Moreno, the first Mexican-American to own a major sports team. He renamed the team the Los Angeles Angels to get them back to their LA roots. But it’s important not to forget that the Imagineering legacy graced the baseball franchise.