Overview
- Walt Disney Imagineering confirmed a permanently installed 3D-printed outrigger canoe as its first guest-facing use of large-scale additive manufacturing.
- The canoe was designed by Imagineering R&D, 3D-scanned from an existing boat, printed by partner Haddy, and finished using details drawn from a 1960s photo.
- A newly released WDI video shows the installation and presents large-format printing as a way to speed fabrication and cut material waste.
- Disney invested in Haddy through its Disney Accelerator, and Haddy’s CEO says the process yields reliable pieces that are cheaper, faster to develop, and easy to replicate worldwide.
- Imagineer Michael Hundgen pointed to potential applications like full-size set pieces for the planned Monsters, Inc. coaster, while some fans question impacts on craftsmanship and park distinctiveness.