A new opportunity to step behind the creative curtain just opened, and you don’t need to be in the Disney Parks to access it. The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco is hosting an Imagineer talk with Jason Surrell, spotlighting the magic behind two beloved Disney classics, Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion. It’s happening on October 25, 2025, at 1 PM in the museum’s theater, and tickets are now available for members and the general public, so it’s a great moment to treat yourself to some genuine Disney storytelling magic.
Jason Surrell isn’t just any speaker; he’s a former Senior Show Writer and Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering, whose creative fingerprints helped shape attractions like New Fantasyland, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, and updates to both Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion systems. He’s also the author of fan-favorite books such as The Art of the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies. This one-of-a-kind talk is your chance to hear insider stories straight from someone who helped bring these classic worlds to vibrant life.
The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean: Imagineering Disney Classics with Former Imagineer Jason Surrell
Cost: $15 members, $35 adults | $30 seniors and students (with ID) | $25 youths
FREE for children ages 5 and under, Registration RequiredDate: Sat, Oct 25 | 1pm Location: Theater
Join us for a spooky, swashbuckling time as author and former Imagineer Jason Surrell discusses his work on two beloved Disney attractions, Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion. In addition to his work for Walt Disney Imagineering, Surrell has developed dozens of attractions for Universal Creative and has written several Disney art books including Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies and The Art of the Haunted Mansion.
Learn more here.
