Inside Disney’s ‘Area 51,’ Where Lightsabers and Other Tech Are Invented | WSJ

Disney’s most prolific inventor, Lanny Smoot, is behind some of the company’s most advanced tech, from “Star Wars” lightsabers to “magic” floors. Disney’s long-secretive R&D lab helps build creations that are crucial to Disney’s $60 billion investment in the division that includes its theme parks. Smoot gives WSJ a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process and the technology that could make the next must-see attraction for Disney parks. Chapters: 0:00 Disney’s R&D lab 1:10 How ideas are born 2:36 Making it out of the lab 5:03 Testing creations 7:09 National Inventors Hall of Fame News Explainers Some days the high-speed news cycle can bring more questions than answers. WSJ’s news explainers break down the day’s biggest stories into bite-size pieces to help you make sense of the news. #Disney #Inventions #WSJ