The International Marina & Boatyard Conference (IMBC) will include a behind–the–scenes “Disney By Design” tour facilitated by Disney Institute, the nationally recognized leader in experiential training for business professionals across the globe. IMBC—produced by the Association of Marina Industries (AMI)—is scheduled for February 1–3, 2012, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

The optional tour will take place on Wednesday, February 1, from 12:30 pm–3:30 pm and costs $99. Participants will discover the techniques and “tricks of the trade” used by Disney artists, designers, and landscapers to turn resorts, theme parks, and office buildings at the Walt Disney World® Resort into masterpieces of illusion. The three-hour adventure will make attendees privy to the inside story of how Disney uses architecture, color, landscaping, furnishings, and an acute attention to detail to evoke a variety of themes. The tour will include a trip to:

Walt Disney World• ® Resort Casting, where participants will learn how the design and décor of a building helps represent the corporate culture.

Epcot• ®, where participants will step behind the scenes to see how Disney recreates the international landmarks and landscapes of World Showcase, a collection of highly visited international pavilions.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, where participants will experience how nine elements of design can transform • an ordinary hotel into a world of fantasy.

Central Shops, where participants will explore the world of the “can do” builders of the Disney “magic.”•

“We are excited to be able to offer this unique opportunity to our attendees,” Jim Frye, AMI’s president and chair, says. “Disney’s design secrets transfer to any hospitality organization and will certainly benefit our audience.”

Registration for IMBC will open in September. Full-conference and one-day passes will be available.