Disneyland and the Rise of Automation

Join author Roland Betancourt for a delightful deep dive into how Disney turned the cold logic of factory assembly lines into the "happiest place on earth."

Discover the surprising secrets behind your favorite rides, like how missile-testing technology brought the Enchanted Tiki Room's parrots to life and how car factory robots helped build the Matterhorn. This talk reveals how Disneyland didn't just entertain us but actually taught a generation to love automation by hiding the gears of industry inside magical adventures. It’s a fun journey showing how the magic of the theme park quietly shaped everything from our traffic patterns to modern AI.

Come ready to see your next visit to the parks with a whole new appreciation for the engineering wizardry behind the smiles!

We will have copies of Betancourt’s book for sale in our gift shop prior to the event and signed copies available the night of.

As a courtesy to our speaker, our door policy stipulates that all guests must arrive before 7pm.

This presentation is part of our Science and Society speaker series, which explores the history of science embedded in our everyday lives. We invite scientists, historians, policymakers, and educators for engaging, in-depth conversations that expand our perspectives. Program formats include lectures, interviews, roundtables, and book launches. Science and Society events are curated for an adult audience, fostering curiosity, conversation, and interactivity. Each evening concludes with a free reception with the speakers.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Science History Institute, 315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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