Imagineering In a Box: free instructional video series from Disney and Khan Academy

Imagineering In a Box is a free lecture series on Khan Academy that covers a broad swathe of elements involved in storytelling in built environments, from theming a land to landscaping, architecture, sound design, robotics, smell design (!), color, material science, food-based theming, ride design from pitch to execution, animatronic programming, queue management (MY FAVORITE!), costuming, etc.

There's even an educators' guide.

This is an incredibly cool thing. Immersive built environments are one of my favorite art-forms and they're growing in complexity and reach (with things like Santa Fe's Meow Wolf) even as they are becoming more homespun and idiosyncratic (with local escape-rooms).

Lesson 1: Build your own worldThis lesson addresses the question: where do you want to go? It introduces the idea of experiential storytelling and the difference between an amusement park and a theme park. Well explore how storytelling and theme impact every decision made in the design of a land and how they engage all senses.You'll walk out of this lesson with a theme and high concept for a land of your own design along with a mood board and map that conveys the land.

Exercise requirements: All activities can be done with physical materials.

Time requirement: 2 hours minimum

Lesson 2: Build your own attractionsThis lesson addresses the question: what do you want to do in your themed land? It introduces students to the range of possible attractions within a themed land with a focus on dark rides. It exposes the importance of theme and storytelling in attractions in general.