You’re racing down a track and twisting into a dark cave, then hanging on as you seem to free fall for a moment, only to twist back into more dark caves in a breathtaking roller coaster ride.
Scott Sabens imagined that. Then he designed it. And his project caught the eyes of a company that’s particularly well-versed in turning imagination into reality.
Sabens (whose parents live in Nipomo) and his engineering partner Dylan Olson won third place in the annual Walt Disney Imagineering ImagiNations Design Competition, designed and sponsored by Walt Disney Imagineering to encourage university students to consider careers in creative and technical fields, including digital arts, engineering, and architecture. Competing teams enter their concepts for designing a ride, attraction, hotel, or land within an existing Disney theme park or resort.
Sabens and Olson’s submission was “The Curse of Mythica Mine,” a thrill ride based on folklore of the Old West, combining the capabilities of an “Enhanced Motion Vehicle” system with the thrill of a roller coaster.
“It twists and turns in an abandoned cave where evil spirits try to stop you from leaving and spirits of old miners who were trapped in the cave try to help you out,” Sabens said.
Sabens explained that the storyline came to him because he’s always had an interest in the Old West—but he’s also always had an interest in creating theme park attractions.
“I had this in mind since I was 13, since riding my first roller coaster,” he said.
When he went off to attend San Diego State University, he met Olson, who coincidently had also always wanted to design theme park attractions. The two then found out about the ImagiNations competition and decided to enter.
“We came up with an elaborate story for this ride, and everything just sort of fell into place,” Sabens said.
This is the second year Sabens and Olson have entered, but the first year they were chosen as finalists.
The entries aren’t necessarily intended to be built by Disney, but they are a way for entrants to demonstrate their skill and creative abilities to the Imagineering teams.
As part of the competition, Sabens and Olson spent a week at Walt Disney Imagineering headquarters in Glendale to make professional presentations to the judging panel, interview for paid internships, and visit Disneyland. In all, 20 college students from six universities were finalists.
“It’s just amazing,” Sabens said in a phone call from the Imagineering headquarters prior to finding out about his third-place win. “We’ve taken tours of the facility, mingled with fellow Imagineers, met with other students. There’s a true sense of excitement.”
Sabens said he hopes to further his education and ultimately find his place at Disney and work with the Imagineering team.
Arts Editor Shelly Cone’s imagination needs a team to manage it. She can be reached at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 30 – Jul 7, 2011.