Disney history enthusiasts have a major event to circle on their calendars. Wayback WED, a two-day gathering billed as the largest assembly of former Disney Imagineers and creatives ever organized, is scheduled for October 2–3, 2026, at Disney's Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. The event is presented by WDW News Today.
The weekend is built around more than a dozen panels and presentations covering decades of Disney Parks history, from the earliest days of Walt Disney World's opening to international attractions and projects that never made it off the drawing board. Attendees can expect never-before-seen concept artwork, archival photographs, rare video footage, and meet-and-greet opportunities with the people who actually built the parks. Autograph sessions are also part of the plan.
Among the most anticipated presentations is a Journey Into Imagination reunion featuring Disney Legend Tony Baxter, along with Ron Schneider and Steve Taylor, both of whom portrayed the original Dreamfinder character at EPCOT. Other sessions will cover the controversial unbuilt Disney's America theme park once proposed for Virginia, the origins of the DisneySea concept, the creation of The American Adventure, and early Walt Disney World memories from cast members who were there from the start. A full session dedicated to the women of Walt Disney Imagineering is also on the schedule.
The guest list reads like a who's-who of Disney creative history, including former Imagineering President Bob Weis, former Senior Vice President Tony Baxter, and more than two dozen additional former executives, designers, performers, architects, and show producers. More guests are expected to be announced before the event.
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Complete schedules, ticket information, and presenter details are available at WaybackWED.com. This story was first reported by The Main Street Mouse.
