Disney Imagineer Just Second Disney Employee – Only Other Was Walt – to Receive Prestigious Award

The Disney Research Fellow and Imagineer Lanny Smoot is being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Lanny, whose work is behind special effects like making Madame Leota float in the Haunted Mansion attraction and Disney's Star Wars lightsabers, is the second person from The Walt Disney Company to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. The first was Walt Disney, who was honored posthumously for the multiplane camera.

“At Disney Experiences, we’re committed to world-class storytelling, creativity and innovation in everything we do, and Lanny Smoot embodies every one of those ideals,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. “As Disney’s most prolific inventor, Lanny continues to amaze all of us with his artistic ingenuity, technical expertise and endless imagination.”

Keep reading for more details about Lanny's incredible work and how he has impacted Disney and beyond!

Imagineer Lanny Smoot's Impact

During his impressive career, Lanny Smoot has worked as a theatrical technology creator, inventor, electrical engineer, scientist, and researcher, holding over 100 patents. Out of these patents, 74 of them were created during his 25 years at The Walt Disney Company.

As a child, Lanny's STEM role models were Uhura from “Star Trek” and Barney from “Mission Impossible.” Lanny went to Brooklyn Technical High School and was selected as a Bell Labs Engineering Scholar, which earned him a full scholarship to Columbia University, summer work at Bell Labs, and guaranteed full-time work with the company after his graduation.

Before he joined Disney, Lanny worked at Bell Labs and later Bell Communications Research. He patented some of the first fiber-optic technologies to be used in the Bell Telephone network and developed and patented early video streaming and teleconferencing systems.

Lanny has developed special effects, interactive experiences, ride vehicle and robotic concepts, and more technological advancements for Disney Parks and experiences around the world. He worked on special effects including making Madame Leota float in the Seance Room, Disney Cruise Line's Magic Playfloor interactive game, Tokyo DisneySea's Fortress Explorations adventure, and more.

Lanny and his team patented a realistic, extendable, and retractable lightsaber that mimics movie effects, as well as another interactive lightsaber experience that allows guests to battle a training droid and deflect blasts like in the Star Wars movies. Lanny also holds patents on large-scale interactive games, robotic eyes, new concepts for ride vehicles, creating free-floating images, 3D without glasses, and more.

When deciding which patent to list as part of his National Inventors Hall of Fame induction, Lanny chose “Where's the Fire?” at Innoventions, which was previously featured at EPCOT. The exhibit educated guests on the importance of fire safety and fire prevention through engaging challenges. Guests could shine a special flashlight on the walls of a house, and through Lanny's technology, spot fire dangers and learn how to prevent them from happening.

Lanny has received several awards and honors, including three Thea Awards from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) for his work on attractions including Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Kim Possible: World Showcase Adventure, and the Ghost Post experience. He also earned the title of TEA Master in 2020 for his expertise in theatrical technology.

“As a life-long inventor, I am excited, delighted, and humbled to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame,” Lanny shared. “To be included alongside my childhood hero, Thomas Edison, and my lifelong role model, Jim West — the inventor of the electret microphone, is both exciting and humbling. And as someone who’s had the privilege of working at The Walt Disney Company, it’s especially meaningful to know that Walt Disney himself is also an inductee.”

Lanny's inventions have not only shaped Disney's entertainment landscape but have also empowered the broader theatrical community to create new illusions and entertainment.

Lanny is currently working on the HoloTile floor, which is a treadmill floor that enables omnidirectional movement, and it can allow a number of people to have a shared virtual reality experience and walk in any direction without colliding or walking off the surface.

While the HoloTile floor has the potential to be used for VR, gaming, and theme parks, it could also be used in a theatrical stage to open up new exciting possibilities for performers and set pieces.

See a look at the HoloTile as well as a tour of Lanny's lab in the video below:

National Inventors Hall of Fame 2024 Class Announcement

The National Inventors Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2024 inductees at a ceremony at Walt Disney Imagineering's campus in Glendale, California on Wednesday. Among those in attendance were kids participating in Camp Invention, which is run by the National Inventors Hall of Fame, as well as participants of one of the local FIRST Robotics teams mentored by Disney Imagineers. Wednesday was also National Kid Inventors' Day, so the ceremony was a perfect opportunity to inspire future inventors.

See Lanny Smoot's National Inventors Hall of Fame inductee video below:

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