Disney Historian and Former Imagineer Christopher Merritt Takes on New Role at Universal Creative
The author of many popular books on theme park history has a new role with Universal Creative.
Former Walt Disney Imagineer and theme park historian Christopher Merritt is taking on a new role at Universal Creative.
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What’s Happening:
- Christopher Merritt, known by Disney fans for authoring a number of books on the parks and other niche theme park topics, is heading to the other team, becoming a Creative Director at Universal Creative.
- Merritt has over 20 years of ride and show design, working on attractions such as the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough, The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure and Radiator Springs Racers during his time at WDI.
- He went on to become a prolific author on the topic of theme parks, writing a number of Disney and non-Disney books, including, but not limited to:
- Pacific Ocean Park: The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles' Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier
- Knott's Preserved: From Boysenberry to Theme Park, the History of Knott's Berry Farm
- Knott’s Bear-y Tales: The Complete History of the Whimsical Attraction
- Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks
- Merritt’s latest book, co-authored with Disney Legend Don Hahn, is The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland, a celebration of the Disneyland Resort’s 70th anniversary.
- We had the chance to talk to Merritt and Hahn about the book in a recent edition of the Laughing Place “On Balance" Podcast.
- This news was initially shared by Boardwalk Times on X.
More Universal Destinations & Experiences News:
- Even more Halloween Horror Nights merchandise is now available in the lead up to the event – including the U.S. debut of a rather spooky teddy bear.
- The final pieces of the puzzle for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood have been revealed – including a haunted house themed to the 1982 classic Poltergeist.
- Universal Destinations & Experiences is pumping up the excitement for the opening of Universal Kids Resort in 2026 with a new commercial.
- NBC is set to take viewers inside the portals of Universal Epic Universe in a new one-hour special hosted by Joe Manganiello.
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