Walt Disney Imagineering Installs 3D Printed Prop at Disneyland's Jungle Cruise

Walt Disney Imagineering has shared a video that shows the behind-the-scenes installation of the first large-scale 3D-printed prop, located at the Disneyland version of the Jungle Cruise. We first reported on this boat coming late last year.

3D Printed Prop

picture of the disneyland jungle cruise entrance

The video opens with a large crane at night in Adventureland, after which Xavier Maline, the Lead R&D Imagineer, explains what we are looking at. “This is the first time we’re printing a prop to permanently live in one of our rides.”

This is not the first time 3D printed objects have been used at Walt Disney World; however, they had already been put into use at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Walt Disney Imagineering Installs First 3D Printed Prop at Disneyland, Hints At More Theme Parks the 3D printing process

Chris Hill, an associate R&D Imagineer, explains that the boat was designed within R&D, after which a collaboration with the vendor Haddy led to the printing.

Walt Disney Imagineering Installs First 3D Printed Prop at Disneyland, Hints At More Theme Parks haddy HQ

Nick Blackburn, an executive for the technical business operations, explains what led Imagineering to pick Haddy for the job. Jay Rogers, CEO & Co-Founder of Haddy, is then brought in to explain the “match made in heaven” that is Disney and 3D-printing developed over 40 years.

He then says the printing can be replicated in every park all over the world, which would appear to suggest the canoe or different 3D printed props to be installed at other parks.

Walt Disney Imagineering Installs First 3D Printed Prop at Disneyland, Hints At More Theme Parks picture of the old boat

Walt Disney Imagineering Installs First 3D Printed Prop at Disneyland, Hints At More Theme Parks picture of the 1960's boat

The old canoe (pictured above) was 3D-scanned to get its dimensions right for the new one. The boat is shown when explaining this before the installation of its replacement. The 3D-printed boat is actually a new design inspired by the 3D scanning of the old boat alongside a picture of what the boat looked like in the 1960’s.

Walt Disney Imagineering Installs First 3D Printed Prop at Disneyland, Hints At More Theme Parks new boat 1

This boat is the premier project to bring the parks to life faster and more effectively.
“We’ve got, you know, parks around the world that we’re going to be building in the next 5 to 10 years,” Nick Blackburn states.

This might be an allusion to Disneyland in Abu Dhabi, but the usage of “Theme Parks” could hint towards more coming soon, like the rumored Thailand Disneyland or the second gate for Shanghai Disneyland. Watch the full video below:

Haddy started as a furniture company, but after an investment thanks to the Disney Accelerator program, they appeared to have improved their processes to get up to the level of quality Disney expected of them.

3D printers use polymer pellets or strands, or liquid resin, to print an object based on a digital design. The process can save Imagineering time and money when creating special props — plus 3D printed items can be melted down, and the material can be reused.

Walt Disney Imagineering Installs First 3D Printed Prop at Disneyland, Hints At More Theme Parks new boat two

Are you going to notice this boat next time you’re on Jungle Cruise? Let us know in the comments below or on social media.

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