Kevin Rafferty News & Updates

Disney100: The Exhibition Opens Walt’s Vault, Unlocking Scores Of Disney Treasures

September 8, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

The Disney100: The Exhibition ran from Feb. 18 through August 27 at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, was curated Becky Cline and members of the Disney Archives, who opened up the Disney vault and unveiled a boatload of Disney treasures for Disney fans to savor.

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Imagineers’ Recent Trip To New Orleans Is Another Example Of Their Boots-On-The-Ground Quest For Authenticity

July 10, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

One of the most important tools used by the members of Walt Disney Imagineering in creating cutting-edge attractions and adventures is – believe it or not – hitting the road. A recent trip by a group of Disney Imagineers to New Orleans is just another example of the Imagineers' commitment to authenticity.

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RETURN TO DISNEYLAND, PART 3: From The Matterhorn Bobsleds to a Runaway Railway: Doing The Impossible, Six Decades Apart

March 13, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

Over the years, members of Disney’s creative team have, on occasion, been asked to do the impossible. And most often than not, they have accomplished the task ... with spectacular results. "One heck of an assignment," is how Disney Legend Bob Gurr described his work on the Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction at Disneyland. "Like fitting a ship in a bottle," was Kevin Rafferty's way of describing his work on Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway in the Chinese Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

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Yes, The Great Movie Ride Is Missed…But Let’s Celebrate The Whacky World of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

January 16, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

If The Great Movie Ride isn’t the most-missed attraction in all of Walt Disney World, it’s certainly among the Top 5. But let's celebrate its replacement, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.

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The Smells That Permeate Disney Park Attractions

October 3, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

When people return home after visiting Disneyland or Walt Disney World, they’re likely to remember the sites, the sounds and the thrills they’ve experienced. Whether they realize it or not, they’ll also remember the smells.

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The Story Behind Kal David, Sonny Eclipse and George Wilkins’ Laundry Room

September 5, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

Former Disney Imagineering creative director Kevin Rafferty. the genius behind Sonny Eclipse’s songs and witty repartee, offers his unique insight into the creation of Sonny's out-of-this-world lounge act.

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SAILING WITH DISNEY, PART 1: Walt, The Train Guy, Takes To The High Seas

April 18, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

Sailing vessels – from cartoon props to park attractions to resort launches to majestic ocean liners – have been woven into the fabric of the Disney experience almost from the day Mickey Mouse was created. Whether it’s the rickety wooden boat piloted by Mickey in the 1928 animated classic Steamboat Willie or the awe-inspiring Disney Cruise Line fleet, sailing with Disney has always been a unique, fun-filled, family friendly trip over bodies of water … be they great, small or animated.

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After Nearly Two Decades, Pixar Animation Finally Made It Into Mickey’s PhilharMagic

February 22, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

The addition of scenes from the movie "Coco" into Mickey's PhilharMagic --now a Disney Animation AND Pixar production -- have given the show a fresh vibe.

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Zinger at the End of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway’s Was Imagineer’s Way to ‘Leave ‘Em Laughin’’

November 15, 2021 by Chuck Schmidt

It turns out that the gentle nudge at the end of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway wasn’t in the original plans for the ride. After years of meticulous planning down to the smallest detail, Kevin Rafferty admits he was winging it for that last surprise ... a trademark of the now-retired Disney Imagineer.

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A Stroll Down Memory Lane: Marty Sklar’s Disneyland-Themed Retirement Party

May 18, 2021 by Chuck Schmidt

When Marty Sklar retired from the Walt Disney Company on July 17, 2009, after 53 years of service, he received the type of sendoff that was worthy of … well, Marty Sklar. The night before his official retirement date, family, friends and colleagues gathered for a party at Walt Disney Imagineering’s Glendale, California, campus. The night was filled with laughter, nostalgia and good-natured fun … with a smattering of emotion sprinkled in for good measure.

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