For Immediate Release: May 3, 2013, Today Mark Hickson, founder and editor-in-chief of Disney by Mark was interviewed by Atilla Seress for ThinkTechHawaii’s weekly business program on KGU radio, Honolulu. The topic “Into the looking glass with Disney” covered Mr. Hickson’s expert knowledge of The Walt Disney Company and the future of the Disney news website, DisneybyMark.com. You can listen to the interview here: ThinkTechFriday

About ThinkTechHawaii: ThinkTechHawaii, a Hawaii 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, was founded in 2001 in order to raise public awarenessabout the importance of tech to the diversification of Hawaii’s economy. ThinkTech has collaborated with various other local organizations, including the Hawaii Venture Capital Association, Pacific New Media of the University of Hawaii, the Anthology Marketing Group, TechHui, the Hawaii Science and Technology Council, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Public Relations Society of America, OLELO Community Television, Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) and Enterprise Honolulu.

Stories of the Magic

The Disney themed podcast Stories of the Magic has released a two part interview by Randy Crane of Disney by Mark’s Founder and Editor, Mark Hickson.

In part 1 Mark talks about:

• How he got hired by Walt Disney Imagineering
• What it was like coming in mid-project on Splash Mountain and some of the unique challenges they encountered
• Working on multiple projects for Tokyo
• Moving on to Epcot
• What it was like to be involved in the creation of Honey I Shrunk the Audience
• WDI being approached with special projects
• And a hint of the ideas they came up with for Disneyland’s 35^th birthday (hear the rest of that story in Part 2!)

In part 2 Mark shares:

• More details about what kind of things Imagineering did for “special projects”
• A couple of unused concepts forpark attractions
• The last project he worked on as an Imagineer
• What got him interested in working for Disney, particularly as an Imagineer
• The first time he remembers thinking, “I’m doing something really special”
• What he loved most about what he did
• The job he’d want to have with the Walt Disney Company
• What he never gets asked that he’d like to answer
• What inspires him
• His advice to you for following your dreams
• And, of course, his “Disney by Mark” websites.

This in-depth interview runs one and a half hours. You can listen to it here: Stories of the Magic Mark Hickson

Mark just concluded an extensive senior management consulting assignment working as an embedded consultant to the City and County of Honolulu as Chief of Project Controls on the $5.4 billion “Rail” project (3 years), and as Risk Manager (1 year) for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART). He has also been a judge for UH’s Shidler Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship business plan competition for the last three years.

Mark with an old friend at Aulani Resort’s Halloween Party

Disney by Mark – Your Independent Disney News Source

Created by Mark Hickson, Disney by Mark, a.k.a. DisneybyMark.com & DbM offers a unique look at Disney that only a former Imagineer can share. The website features news, stories, and editorials about the Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries. Disney by Mark also features consumer product, film, television, theme park, resort, and dining reviews.

Disney by Mark also has seven synergistic websites including: DbM YouTube, DbM Twitter, DbM Facebook, DbM Tumblr, DbM Pinterest, DbM Google+, and DbM Flickr. These sites drive guests to Disney by Mark’s content and advertisers. DbM’s weekly reach is over 120,000 with over 3 million “friends of friends” on Facebook alone. In October 2012 we reached one million page views, since the websites launched just over a year ago. Our latest YouTube Video had over 28,000 views in one week and was featured on Huffington Post.

News: February 28, 2013, Today a post on Disney by Mark’ s Facebook page reached a full half of a million views (500,000). Titled “How Not to Wear Your Disney T-Shirt” it shows an anonymous park guest with a Mickey Mouse shirt tied around her waist. Since it went-up it has received over 360 “Comments”, 2,850 “Likes”,  7,085 “Shares”, and over 500,000 people have now seen this post, making it the most viral post on DbM’s Facebook site since it’s launch.

Recent comments include:

“I’m Jessie, community manager here at Zeen. I’ve been researching Disney, and after getting lost in your site I wanted to reach out and say how much I’ve genuinely enjoyed browsing through Disney by Mark!”

“Love your site, and this has to be my favorite post from you so far. Not because of its cynical nature, but because it was a real snapshot of the past….warts and all. Thanks for sharing your memorabilia, your stories, and most of all, your humanity! It’s what sets this site above many others!” – Craig

“I for one, always appreciate an insiders view from someone who enjoys working for Disney and doesn’t have the mission to trash it.” – Van

“Thanks for posting a happy memory of WDI, Mark!” – Laura M.

“Fantastic piece, and love stuff like this…thank you for sharing your collections! You apparently have the keys to a treasure trove” – PMR

“Wow! Thank you for putting together this awesome blog and updating it so regularly. I’ve just spent an hour skimming it and look forward to coming back and looking at the posts more closely. Much appreciated!” – SWW

“HOW FUN IS THAT!? I love that you are the penguin. I am really enjoying your site I came across it one day (can’t remember now) but it brings a smile and today a giggle into my morning online newspaper/blog breakfast routine…so THANKS” – Erica

“Another fantastic share. So difficult to find Tokyo “stuff” like this in English. Thanks for sharing.” – Steve K

“Wow…thank you so much for sharing this bit of history” – DJ

“You are an inspiration” – Copper Cwww.DisneybyMark.com

Never Say It’s Impossible

Mark was an Imagineer during the “Disney Decade” which saw an unprecedented expansion of the company and its resources. On a daily basis new content was developed, new venues were located, and new technologies were explored to bring to the world the Disney theme park experience. In this presentation Mark will explore with the audience the creative and technical challenges faced by the Imagineering team and how these concepts that in the beginning seemed impossible to do, could become a reality.

Making Magic

From Concept to Reality, learn how the Imagineering process “Makes Magic” on a daily basis. From story board artists to rockwork carvers, Mark explains who does what and how it’s orchestrated into a quality Disney experience.

These programs are designed to appeal to all college students but will have special educational significance for those studying in the following fields: Architecture, Art & Humanities, Business, Civil Engineering, Communication Arts, Creative Media, Digital Media, Electrical Engineering, English, Facilities Engineering, Hospitality & Tourism, Information Technology, Performing Arts, Project Management, and Theatre.

Since leaving The Walt Disney Company, Mark has headed a video game company (Video Game of the Year, Adventure Game of the Year), a family entertainment production company (White House Internet Summit), a technology consultancy, launched a venture funded dot.com, a groundbreaking retail store, and was a stand-up comedian too (no joke). Mr. Hickson’s latest project is the website DisneybyMark.com. It offers a fresh and unique perspective to things Disney that only an ex-Imagineer can share.

“Thank you again for coming to speak. We received only positive feedback from the UF community. It was a great event for the University and I know it was an incredibly informational and motivational presentation for all of the students in attendance. Cheers, Victoria Jeter – Reitz Union, Director of Lecturers & Comedians, University Of Florida, Gainesville FL”

“Thank you so much for speaking tonight at UF. You were truly inspiring and the knowledge I gained about Disney was incredible. Kira K.”

“Thank you for the information that you provided and the opportunity to meet you. It was a pleasure. In my eyes, you are a legend to the Imagineering community, and it was a privilege to meet you and receive advice from you. I may not bleed as much pixie dust as you, but I hope to get there someday. Thanks to you I will be pursuing that career, and I will be going to Disney College Program Internship this summer. Hopefully we will meet again, so I can obtain more advice and wisdom. Mahalo and Thank You, Sincerely, Mohamad B.”

“Thank you for sharing all of the fun facts and information with Imagineering hopefuls and Disney nerds. I would like to thank you for agreeing to visit UF and for sharing your experiences with eager students. Also, thank you for all the magic you have created for the Disneyland Parks and Walt Disney World that the world enjoys. Sincerely, Lexi D.”

For more information on this and other custom speaking programs just drop us an E-mail at: Programs@DisneybyMark.com Or you can download and print the three-fold program brochure HERE

Design Concept: making the most of the available floor space the POS register area is seamlessly merged with the demonstration kitchen area. The center of the store is a designated flex space that converts after regular store hours into a 30 seat “kitchen theater” The back drop is designed to feel just like a home kitchen featuring Viking appliances that are used on a daily basis. Cooking “how-to” videos play during store hours on a large LCD video monitor in the center of the store.  

Culinary Program: Bringing the very best chefs from around the world our celebrity chef program gives our guests an exciting evening of fine food and entertainment. Seating is in a theater format facing the Viking Kitchen stage where guests are served portions of all courses prepared. Student volunteers from Maui Culinary Academy assist in all prep and serving under the direction of our celebrity chefs. All shows are recorded in HDTV for playback during store hours.

	Film & Video Production: The unique design of the flex space offers a studio like environment for visiting film crews.CBS TV pilot starring world-famous chef and author Sam Choy in production at Cucina Bella.		Special events and private parties are also held in the store for a one-of-a-kind Maui experience.Roast Lamb “Pepperonata” is plated for a Chaine des Rotisseurs dinner hosted at Cucina Bella.

	Cucina Bella is also about mentoring and giving back to the community. Student volunteers from the Maui Culinary Academy have a rare opportunity to work with some of the best chefs in the world. These hands-on, real world learning experiences are an invaluable complement to their developing skill sets.		Chef de Cuisine Jojo Vasquez of Ritz-Carlton’s Banyon Tree Restaurant with Pastry Chef Ashlie Koehler and Maui Culinary Academy student volunteers.
	Maui Culinary Academy instructor showing students how to finish the dessert course.		Mark Hickson receives Chaine des Rotisseurs Coat of Arms plate from the Maui Bailliage at the end of a wonderful evening.

Event Photos - Store Views

I wanted to be an Imagineer as long as I can remember. When I was in 3rd grade I spent an entire day drawing a big map of Disneyland on my desktop. I had rendered every attraction in the minutest detail. But my teacher caught eye of my masterpiece, made me scrub it off my desk and then sent me to the principal’s office to get paddled for my obsession. Mind you, I’m not really obsessed, but it seems that I had a little “pixie dust” flowing in my veins even then.As a young adult I tried to get hired but to no avail. So I eventually gave it up. Years past… and then one day I got a card in the mail. It was from Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) and it simply said, “We want to talk to you”. At that very moment I knew I had the job I always wanted.

That was the beginning of a seven-year journey. A journey into imagination, creativity, passion, pushing the envelope, and a lot of hard work with the most talented people you could ever find in one place. I started on the Splash Mountain/Critter Country project at Disneyland. For a year and a half I absorbed everything there was to know about the production, construction, installation, and operation of a Disney attraction. After the successful opening of Splash Mountain I was chosen to become part of the Tokyo Disneyland Project Office. Over a period of four years we conceived, produced, and with our Japanese partners, installed 13 attractions including their very own Splash Mountain, Adventureland Treehouse, and Mickey’s Toontown. I was a member of the high level policies & procedures team, corporate synergy team, new technology committee. I was also involved in contributing to some very special projects including the “Aida” and “Beauty and the Beast” Broadway Productions, Disneyland’s 35th Birthday celebration, and the development of Tokyo Disneyland 5, 10 & 20 year Master Plan. I concluded my Disney career working on the EPCOT development team and leading the S.S. Disney effort.

I couldn’t imagine working with a greater team than at Imagineering during those years. I had the distinct honor of working daily with true legends in their respective fields. And now that I have moved on, it feels like I was part of a most special fraternity. The experience challenged me and changed me, and lit in me a creative flame that still burns brightly today. Once an Imagineer, always an Imagineer….

Yes, that’s me performing at the world-famous Improv. My stage name is Mark Stephan (pronounced Steven). I found that by having a “stage” name anyone that I offend during my show won’t be able to find out where I live. My act has been best described as “a fresh and very twisted, no-holds-barred comedic style.” Trained in Jeff Jena’s comedy workshop, I have performed throughout Southern California and have actually been paid. I have been a regular at the Irvine Improv, and have performed and headlined at such comedy hotspots as The Ice House, Martini Blues, The Press Box, Don Cribb Theater, and The Artist Colony.

    

 

“MHC” starred Heather Wood, Leslie Bruce, Courtney Coons, and Joanna Beattie. The show was scripted by Judith Lutz and production took place at Mickey Hayden’s stables at Nellie Gail Ranch in Laguna Niguel, CA. The website contained the current and past webisodes, special features, a clubhouse, games, horse care tips, and a monitored Java Visual Chat room co-developed with Skunk NewMedia. In these rooms the girls could select a horse graphic and move through a photo realistic setting (like a barn or field) using their mouse and talk to each other via cartoon style dialogue boxes.Soon after it’s launch The Malibu Horse Club was chosen by “Yahoo” as a Yahooligans Cool Site after meeting their strict kid-safe review.For recognition of this groundbreaking teen-girl website, The Malibu Horse Club and it’s Visual Chat were invited to be showcased at the 1998 White House Internet Summit. MHC went “off the air” September 1998 after a successful nine month run.

REVIEWS: “Walt Disney had better look out, as Malibu Horse Club provides fun, intelligent entertainment for children. Congratulations to Mark Hickson for creating a Web Site that will provide a safe, fun place for boys and girls ages 6 to 18 that is technically sound and easy to use. Their Visual Chat Room may provide one of the safest age and gender appropriate communications areas for young girls on the Web.”- Joe Szadkowski, The Washington Times, March 17, 1998

“The Malibu Horse Club is best described as The Saddle Club meets Beverly Hills, 90210, on-line”. – Horse & Rider magazine, February 1998.

“The adventures in The Malibu Horse Club make you anxious for the next episode. It’s good clean fun! It is gratifying to know The White House is involved in giving recognition to those talented people who dedicate themselves in promoting and preserving quality family entertainment” – Ms. S. Griffin, May 1998.

Alain Littaye is a theme park specialist and co-author of the book Disneyland Paris: From Sketch to Reality.

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When I took over as Head of Development at SCi, I found that 70% of my staff was working on a game called Kingdom O’ Magic or KOM for short. It was a comedic spoof of JRR Tolkein’s “Lord of the Rings” and was the brainchild of a most gifted writer and gamer, Fergus McNeill. It was to be a non-linear adventure game, a game industry first or in other words, no one had ever succeeded in producing one that worked before!

KOM was game development run-amuck. It contained over 100 locations, more than 90 characters, a 70,000+ word script and 3 different quests for 2 separate characters. So here was a potentially great, ground breaking game that had a very funny script that was almost 2 years into production, was only 60 to 70% complete, and only 4 months away from our publishing deadlineKOM’s programming was to a point that reducing the game’s scope to get it back on schedule would literally kill it. My only option was to finish it without any more bells and whistles. I reorganized the development team into functional groups (Set Design, Collision Detection, Texture, Animation/Character Dynamics, and Game Play) each with a team leader and monitored their progress on a daily basis. In 2 months we had an Alpha version to play. Our beefed-up testing team (paid with coke & pizza) over the course of several weeks identified over 800 bugs. We categorized them into types and graded them by severity and went to work fixing them. It soon became apparent that the rate of fixes to days left would fall short of our deadline. Now I have distributors to contend with. They want product for the Holiday season. How can we appease them? By making a “Pocket” version!

By making a “Pocket” version we could show them how it played and convince them that this game was going to be a bigger hit than anyone thought. Yes, it would miss the Christmas holiday.. but it would garner a big profit in their traditionally slow first quarter. Assembling a “D” (demo) team we identified the most functional part of the game, cut it loose from the rest of the game (hard to do as this is a non-linear game), fixed all the bugs and showed it to the distributors. The loved it.. and they bought into the “delayed” release.

It was a great team effort by all my staff and a game I’m most proud to have been part of.Oh, by the way… KOM won the coveted Platinum Award from PC Power, a Golden Triad Award from Computer Game Report, and Adventure Game of the Year from Gamezilla – 1996.