While in college, he got a job as a Jungle Cruise skipper, and since then, he has never looked back. Over the course of his career, Tatham has spent nearly 30 years with the Walt Disney Co., many of them in theme park design with Imagineering. More recently, Tatham worked at Universal Creative for more than a decade and was the executive creative director of Epic Universe, the company\u2019s impressive new Florida park<\/a>. <\/p>\n Today, Tatham is turning his focus toward the next generation of theme park designers, having recently been tapped by USC to lead the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Themed Entertainment <\/a>program, which is offered out of the cinema school. The four-year program is designed to prep students for a myriad of fields \u2014 modern theme park design firms work not only on new attractions but readily contribute to museums, zoos<\/a>, immersive marketing events<\/a> and more. <\/p>\n And yet theme park designer can feel like an elusive dream job, one based on connections, mentoring or even just luck. Part of that myth was shaped by the initial Disney Imagineers, many of whom were simply making up the job as they went along<\/a>. As a longtime admirer of Tatham\u2019s work, I recently chatted with the newly crowned academic leader on how one should prep for a career in the field, hoping to demystify it just a little bit. <\/p>\n Steve Tatham, photographed in Florida\u2019s Epic Universe, is leading USC\u2019s undergraduate program in theme park design. <\/p>\n (Steve Tatham)<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need to major in themed entertainment to work in theme parks<\/p>\n There aren\u2019t too many universities that offer a theme park design degree. (Along with USC, Purdue offers a themed entertainment design major and the Savannah College of Art and Design has one of the best-known and longest-running programs in the country.)<\/p>\n But Tatham notes that when he began his career in the industry, it generally wasn\u2019t a field accounted for by universities. And many theme park designers I meet as a reporter, whether relatively new to the industry or veterans, created their own paths into the biz. <\/p>\n Tatham\u2019s own background still provides a solid template for those students looking to enter themed entertainment design, as not everyone will have the means or the ability to attend a program such as USC\u2019s. \u201cI wrote my own major,\u201d he says of his time as an undergrad at UC Berkeley, where he targeted theme parks as his career goal. He majored in film design but took courses that combined theater, architecture, environmental psychology and film studies. After graduating, Tatham went to UCLA for a masters in architecture. <\/p>\n Architecture was a career path pushed to Tatham by longtime scenic designer Henry May<\/a>, who was his advisor at Berkeley. It was an early recognition that theme park design is an offshoot of urban design, requiring principles necessary in both stagecraft and real-world planning. <\/p>\n Think beyond theme parks<\/p>\n People are hungry for themed experiences. Global theme park attendance topped 246 million in 2024, a 2.5% increase, according to the Themed Entertainment Assn., which also charted a nearly 15% growth in attendance at the world\u2019s top 20 museums, which are often a fertile industry for theme park designers. And that says nothing of the domestic trend of smaller, more locally-focused entertainment centers (think Netflix House<\/a> or Meow Wolf<\/a>). <\/p>\n It\u2019s why Tatham tells his USC students to think beyond a Disney or Universal creation.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you look in the world out there, there\u2019s marketing firms doing pop-up retail and pop-up dining, and they are doing immersive design in museum spaces<\/a>,\u201d Tatham says. \u201cIn addition to theme parks, there are opportunities within marketing and within architecture. Students who get this interdisciplinary training, which involves coding, architecture, design, exhibition work, landscape architecture and lighting, it\u2019s a growing field.\u201d<\/p>\n Steve Tatham once served as a tour guide on Universal Studios Hollywood\u2019s behind-the-scenes tram tour.<\/p>\n (Genaro Molina \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n The best lessons come from observing guests<\/p>\n Long before Tatham was designing Epic Universe, he was working as a tour guide at Universal Studios Hollywood. As a film buff, he enjoyed the early-career job, but says one lesson from those days continues to stick with him. <\/p>\n \u201cI would go on and on, because I love movie history, and I would be like, \u2018Right here is where Jimmy Stewart worked, and Edith Head designed costumes,\u2019\u201d Tatham says. \u201cThey would politely listen, but then when ducks walked across, they would get excited and take pictures. People love things that are alive and immediate and happening now. People respond to what is immediate.\u201d<\/p>\n The best theme park design is in conversation with guests. I think of Epic\u2019s \u201cHow to Train Your Dragon\u201d-inspired land and the bounty of movement found in the space via animatronic dragons (if you promise dragons, guests better see dragons!), or Disneyland\u2019s New Orleans Square, where the curved, winding paths encourage constant discovery. <\/p>\n AI won\u2019t replace great original ideas<\/p>\n Tatham is careful when speaking on the subject of artificial intelligence. He doesn\u2019t want to dismiss its potential to be used as a development tool. And yet Tatham is direct when it comes to AI and creativity. <\/p>\n \u201cI think there are a lot of challenges with AI. I think there are a lot of things that are scary,\u201d he says. \u201cBut I think, ultimately, if it\u2019s used as a tool, it can be useful to artists.\u201d<\/p>\n But there are limits.<\/p>\n \u201cAI is never going to come up with a great idea,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s just going to recombine and reconfigure and spit back to you ideas that others have had. So I think this is an opportunity for original thought to stand out even more than it has in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n Jennifer Bascom of Disneyland, gives a telegram to Disneyland guest Keith Kocienski of Fullerton while playing a live-action role-playing game in Frontierland called Legends of Frontierland back in 2014. <\/p>\n (Christina House \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n But the integration of smartphones remains a challenge<\/p>\n While Disney recently shuttered its Play Disney Parks mobile app, the park is experimenting with connectivity<\/a> between the video game \u201cFortnite\u201d and its attraction Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Tatham cautions that any time a theme park invites someone to use a smartphone during their day at the park, designers are then pulling them away from the curated experience. <\/p>\n \u201cThe problem is when you\u2019re in Universal or Disneyland, you\u2019re now competing with all the opportunities that people have to explore their own entertainment,\u201d Tatham says. \u201cAre they going to be on Instagram or playing Solitaire online? So now you\u2019re competing with that.\u201d<\/p>\n And yet Tatham thinks there are lessons to be learned from the interactive world, as long as designers focus on real-world play. Tatham, after all, worked on what was once of my favorite Disneyland projects, the great but short-lived Legends of Frontierland<\/a>. Some of those who contributed to it brought it to Knott\u2019s Berry Farm, where it has been fine-tuned into the terrific Ghost Town Alive!<\/a> The latter is a rarity in the theme park space.<\/p>\n Yes, it\u2019s possible to make a decent salary<\/p>\n So how much can one expect to make? This isn\u2019t an easy question to answer, as there\u2019s only so many slots at Walt Disney Imagineering and Universal Creative, and the theme park design industry encompasses so much more.<\/p>\n There are independent themed entertainment firms to marketing outposts to studios to museums to architecture companies to theaters and more. And salaries can vary greatly between the public or private sector, as well as entry level versus senior positions. Even recruiting sites have a broad range, from around $50,000 to above $200,000.<\/p>\n The good news, says Tatham, is there is a high ceiling. Additionally, that there is a breadth of industries to work in should help any potential graduates. \u201cThere are many different job descriptions with different salaries in the themed entertainment field,\u201d Tatham says.<\/p>\n And yet he knows it\u2019s a concern of parents.<\/p>\n \u201cI want students and parents to know that it is possible to make a solid steady income in the arts and that they shouldn\u2019t focus on a backup plan but rather on putting together a killer portfolio because there is work for those who have honed their skills,\u201d he says. \u201cI would tell them that they should be prepared to live in Orlando, Fla., or Glendale, Calif., and be open to international assignments. Top directors can make in excess of $250,000 a year, but they should be prepared for starting salaries similar to architecture, graphic design or similar creative fields.\u201d<\/p>\n A Disneyland cast member playing the role of Alice in Wonderland interacts with guests.<\/p>\n (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Remember why theme parks still matter<\/p>\n Anytime I have an opportunity to chat with someone with Tatham\u2019s experience I want to hear their take on one question in particular, and that\u2019s why they love theme parks and why they believe the spaces resonate with so many people. As someone charged with creating passion among the next generation of theme park designers, I was especially interested in Tatham\u2019s response.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you go to a theme park, there is something for every demographic,\u201d he says. \u201cThere are things for kids. There are things for grandparents. There are things for everyone in between. People can enjoy those times together, which was the original intent of Walt Disney. He was looking for a place while in Griffith Park<\/a> where he could go do things with his daughters. He created it because it did not exist.\u201d<\/p>\n For Tatham, it\u2019s about the memories.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you ask people about their experience in theme parks, they will remember in great detail which parks they went to and who they were with,\u201d he continues. \u201cAsk them about going to the movies, they might say, \u2018Sure, I went with my family, but can\u2019t tell you what movies and who I was with.\u2019 But they will remember those moments with theme parks. It\u2019s a great bonding experience. That\u2019s the reason they exist and the reason I love to create them.\u201d<\/p>\n This week in SoCal theme parks Plans are underway to refurbish the Griffith Park merry-go-round.<\/p>\n (Christina House \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n The Griffith Park carousel will spin again. Assessments are underway to see what it will cost to once again get the Griffith Park merry-go-round spinning. Theme park fans best know it as the site that is said to have inspired Walt Disney to dream up what would become the Disneyland Resort, and it has been shuttered since 2022. Curiously, there\u2019s also a Disney connection with the carousel today, as some of those who work at Walt Disney Imagineering are volunteering their time and efforts to restore this treasure in Griffith Park. Read my story here<\/a>. The dinosaurs on the Disneyland Railroad. <\/p>\n (Todd Martens \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n It\u2019s always a good idea to hop on a Disneyland attraction that has been recently refurbished. It\u2019s generally a chance to see the ride in tip-top shape. And so I was eager to get on the Disneyland Railroad on a recent trip to the park, as the dinos in the Primeval World world section of the attraction had recently been hidden behind illustrated tarps. Good news, as the dinosaurs are looking as sharp as they ever have. No real changes were made to the figures, but they\u2019re all moving as they should, be it munching on grass, rattling out of an egg or getting ready for battle. <\/p>\n The theatrical lighting overall feels a little brighter, and the few digital effects \u2014 a volcano erupting in the background, for instance \u2014 are all in working order and bring an added sense of dimension to the diorama scenes. Be sure to add it to your day. The Disneyland Railroad is also a fine reminder to slow down during your Disneyland visit. <\/p>\n Tell us your stories. Ask us your questions.<\/p>\n Have a theme park tale to share? Whether it was a good day or less-than-perfect day, I would love to hear about it. Have a question? A tip? A fun photo from the parks to share? Email me at todd.martens@latimes.com<\/a>. I may feature your note in an upcoming newsletter. <\/p>\n Ride on, <\/p>\n Todd Martens<\/p>\n P.S. What is \u201cEggs in Space\u201d?<\/p>\n (Todd Martens \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n A cinematic mystery is brewing, one that seemingly has connections to the local immersive entertainment community. What, for instance, is \u201cEggs in Space\u201d? A recent sci-fi event at indie nonprofit movie theater and store Vidiots ended with the beginnings of a puzzle. <\/p>\n The screening appeared to be interrupted by a film that was taking control of the projectors. The film? \u201cEggs in Space.\u201d As an abstract image of an egg appeared on screen, performers began walking toward the front of the theater in a transfixed, cult-like fashion. <\/p>\n There is, of course, no record of a film titled \u201cEggs in Space,\u201d although there is a website dedicated to its disappearance<\/a>. So dig in. A new alternate reality game just dropped. I have a hunch you\u2019ll want to know where it leads. <\/p>\n \u2014<\/p>\n This newsletter is free thanks to the support of L.A. Times subscribers. If you\u2019re not yet a subscriber, explore subscription packages<\/a> to unlock unlimited digital access and support award-winning local reporting.<\/p>\n![\"Steve](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791987532_477_.jpeg\")
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Six Flags Magic Mountain shuts down second coaster. Six Flags is closing several rides across the U.S. and Canada \u2014 including the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia \u2014 after a man fell to his death from a roller coaster at one of its parks in Georgia. Park officials said Tuesday that the closures were out of an abundance of caution and were temporary. Times writers Hailey Branson-Potts and Fedor Zarkhin have more on this story<\/a>.
Merry Minions. Universal Studios Hollywood has unveiled its slate of holiday of programming<\/a>, and returning this year are its popular \u201cGrinchmas\u201d offerings, including the 65-foot winding, drooping, Dr. Seuss-inspired Christmas tree. There will be meet-and-greets, including a reading of \u201cHow the Grinch Stole Christmas,\u201d as well as holiday carolers and ornament decorating. New this year will be holiday festivities in the park\u2019s kid-focused Minion Land, complete with Minions in holiday attire. Super Nintendo World, Wizarding World of Harry Potter and other areas will also be dressed for the season, beginning Nov. 21 and lasting through Jan. 3.
A heads-up for \u2018Cars\u2019 fans. It\u2019s the 20th anniversary of the \u201cCars\u201d franchise, and those with a special affinity for the series will want to find their way to Disneyland\u2019s Pixar Place Hotel and park themselves on the hotel\u2019s second floor art gallery<\/a>. That\u2019s where the hotel is hosting an exhibit honoring the film with drawings, paintings, sculptures and behind-the-scenes footage that document how Radiator Springs Racers was brought to life. And before you go, read my story<\/a> on how Route 66 inspired the film and Cars Land.
Step into the world of \u2018Dune.\u2019 Tickets are now on sale for an immersive \u201cDune\u201d exhibition<\/a> in downtown L.A. that promises spectacle, as well as a bit of mystery. Step around, and potentially inside, awe-inspiring vehicles from the film, or come face-to-face with the Bene Gesserit, a group of priestesses who possess, among other things, the ability to bend the will of others. \u201cDune: The Experience\u201d opens Nov. 20 and and is currently set to run through Dec. 20, although an extension is likely. Standard tickets<\/a> start at $42 but there are various ticket packages available. Ride Report ![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791987536_616_.jpeg\")
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