WDW Radio: The Disney Podcast for Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and More

836 · Inside Imagineering: Zsolt Hormay on Sculpting Stories in Disney Parks

Jul 16, 2025
Zsolt Hormay, a Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering and renowned sculptor, shares his journey from Hungary to shaping iconic Disney environments like the Tree of Life and Galaxy's Edge. He discusses how rockwork transforms into storytelling and the cultural depth behind Disney's spaces. Hormay elaborates on the balance between artistry and technology in theme park design, the significance of handcrafted art, and the importance of collaboration. Listeners gain insight into the magical process that brings immersive experiences to life.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Humble Artistic Beginnings

  • Zsolt Hormay emigrated from communist Hungary to America at 22 with no English but strong artistic roots.
  • He first learned construction skills working on a small golf course project in Michigan, which shaped his career path.
INSIGHT

Sculpting Tree of Life's Authenticity

  • The Tree of Life required pioneering new sculpting techniques and an international team for authenticity.
  • Achieving anatomical correctness under layers of cement was a key technical challenge.
ADVICE

Adapt Designs for Guest Perspective

  • Design changes happen during full-scale execution due to scale and guest perspective.
  • Focus efforts only where guests will see and appreciate details to maximize impact.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app