Jason Smith ’00

Jason Smith’s career at Disney, which spans three countries and more than 24 years, is a testament to the power of hands-on learning and the versatility of an industrial engineering degree. As the current executive director of Downtown Disney & Arrivals Experience at Disneyland Resort, Smith leads a team responsible for enhancing the guest experience through retail, dining, transportation, and main entrance operations. His work also focuses on driving business growth by implementing innovative commercial strategies.

Over the years, Smith’s career has taken him from Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, to Disney’s international theme parks in Hong Kong and Tokyo. “I’ve had the opportunity to support a variety of new theme park offerings from an industrial engineering perspective, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Avengers Campus at the Disneyland Resort,” Smith reflects. “Our contributions included capacity/demand planning, virtual queue development, and post-opening measurement and support.” His diverse roles have allowed him to apply his skills across multiple areas, consistently delivering solutions that enhance the guest experience and optimize operations.

Smith credits RIT’s industrial engineering program and its co-op opportunities for preparing him to succeed in his career. “Beyond learning what a professional work experience looks like and what engineers really do, I was able to understand the industry and the type of company I wanted to work for,” he said. His final co-op with the industrial engineering team at Walt Disney World solidified his passion for the industry, ultimately paving the way for his full-time employment at Disney after graduation.

Looking back on his time at RIT, Smith emphasizes the adaptability of his degree. “Industrial engineering is an incredibly versatile degree that provides a wonderful foundation regardless of the path you choose to take,” he said. His ability to adapt and thrive across different roles within the Disney theme parks highlights the broad skill set he developed during his time at RIT, preparing him to excel in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.