Claude Coats!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into an amazing Disney Imagineer and artist who was hand selected by Walt Disney himself, Claude Coats! I was even lucky enough to ask the author of “Claude Coats: Disney’s Imagineer- The Building of Disneyland”; David Bossert, a couple of questions!

Claude Coats was born on January 17, 1913, in San Francisco, California. After earning a degree in architecture from the University of Southern California, he joined Walt Disney Studios in 1935 as a background painter. His architectural precision and artistic training made him an ideal fit for Disney’s ambitious animated features. Coates contributed to “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937), “Pinocchio” (1940), and “Fantasia” (1940), creating watercolor backgrounds that gave animated films depth, structure, and atmosphere; elements that distinguished Disney’s visual storytelling from its contemporaries.

When Walt Disney began developing Disneyland, Coates was among the first artists invited to translate film artistry into physical design. Joining WED Enterprises in 1955, he worked on “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride”, “Snow White’s Adventures”, “Pirates of the Caribbean” (1967), and “The Haunted Mansion” (1969). His architectural sensibility shaped the spatial layout of attractions, while his command of color and lighting built mood and tone. Every shadow and hue served a narrative purpose, allowing guests to experience story through environment rather than dialogue.

Within Walt Disney Imagineering, Coates became known for combining technical discipline with creative experimentation. He explored how perspective, scale, and motion could influence audience emotion, helping establish the design principles that continue to guide Disney’s immersive experiences today. His measured, analytical approach complemented Walt’s imagination, making him one of the quiet but foundational architects of modern themed entertainment.

In 2021, Disney historian David Bossert published “Claude Coates: The Making of Disneyland – From Toad Hall to the Haunted Mansion and Beyond”, a detailed examination of his life and work. Using rare concept art and firsthand accounts, Bossert traced Coates’ evolution from studio artist to senior Imagineer. Coates passed away in 1992, but his influence endures in every Disney park to this day!

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: What is something most people don’t know about Claude Coats?

David: Most people don't know that Claude went to school for architecture, which came in very handy when Walt Disney asked him to build a model of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Giancarlo: What was/is your favorite Disney attraction that Claude was involved in?

David: My favorite Claude Coats' attraction is The Pirates of the Caribbean. It is by far one of the most immersive theme park attractions and I never get tired of riding it. It was the last Disneyland attraction that Walt Disney had a hand in and sadly he died a few months before Pirates opened.

Giancarlo: What is your favorite aspect of Claude’s story?

David: What I love about the Claude story is that he was such a gentle soul, very approachable. He never tried to be in the spotlight but rather emphasized the team he worked with. A very humble and tremendously talented individual who deserves much more credit than he has received. That is one reason why I did a book on him.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

David: The best advice I've gotten was to say "yes" to any project or requested that came my way. Regardless of whether I knew how to do something or not. If I had never done what was be requested, I simply went and figured it out.

Check out the book: https://a.co/d/2osOcVT

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again soon!

-Giancarlo